rick santorum, and that's a virtual dead heat. romney as a little more breathing room in arizona. all of it, though, making for an interesting night of debating tonight. what could be the last debate of this primary season. david hawkings, karen hunter a pulitzer-prize winning journalist. welcome to all of you. >> nice to be here. >> and david, the detroit news endorsed romney this morning, the governor got behind him last week. will any of that make a difference? >> well, every little bit helps, i guess, and seems like he's now the -- he's now in position to label himself sort of the comeback kid if he pulls this off, which is an amazing feat. >> would you say right now -- >> i have to admit i haven't been in michigan the last couple of weeks. i've only been washington and here, but to see everything you read, he doesn't look like the

favorite. it looks like from what i understand is that romney is doing really well with the people who have already voted in michigan, but a statistical tie or maybe a point behind santorum until actual primary. >> and the same problems we've seen before for mitt romney. rick santorum beating him among tea party supporters, extreme conservatives. we know that often on the right and the left those really rabid voters are the ones that tend to go to the polls. >> exactly. and it's the same old story, where is if he is leading in the polls it's because rick santorum and his friends are making missteps in the public that are creating a problem for them. they're losing it not so much mitt romney is winning it. >> i don't know, do you think the social issues are moving it? do you think it is why he is where he is? >> the statements about satan and taking over america and everything, it's a little whacky. you can be a little wacky, but

not that wacky. >> go out and vote. because we all know that you can vote if you are an independent or a democrat in the republican primary. we've seen this before, what do you think this chances are this is going to happen? and if it is as tight of a race as we think it is, could it make a difference? >> it could make a difference. democrats and independents, they have nobody else to vote for next tuesday, and if they want to make hay, and if they're organized, the question is, is somebody trying to organize them to go out to the polls? and is somebody going to help them get there? >> they're particularly pushing unions and saying go to the polls to vote against mitt romney because of his opposition to the auto bailout. >> isn't this fun? only in america, i think i'm going to michigan to vote. >> i don't think you could vote. >> well, i have residency in a bunch of places like mitt romney. multiple homes like mitt romney. i think it's so exciting you can be in this time and still not have a definitive front-runner.

still not have -- your talking about him as a comeback kid. everyone had ordained him from the beginning and now there's all this opposition. it's wonderful right now to be an american. >> well, you know, it makes all of this a lot more fun watching the debate tonight. we're only on debate 273. but we're still interested for some reason. there's a disagreement in the romney camp about how to approach this. what do you do about rick santorum? and obviously it's a critical question. is it time to go after him hard on social issues? or is it likely to come back and bite him because then it shines a light somewhere that he doesn't want it to shine? what would you tell him to do? >> well, i don't think romney is going to go after rick santorum on social issues. i think, you know, santorum's weaknesses have to come from the right. you can't go after him from the left. i think that would be a disaster for mitt romney. and my advice to the governor would be -- >> just let it go? do you leave it up to the moderator? >> no, my advice to the

governor, would be, don't throw the first punch. i disagree that he's not the favorite. i think mitt romney is the favorite still. he may not be the front-runner, but he still has the best infrastructure and resources and i think that makes him the favorite to win michigan. and your numbers show he's back in the lead in michigan where, you know, santorum had had a nine, ten point lead a few days ago. so, you know, i think that he's not going to go after the governor on social issues or go after senator santorum on social issues. >> but the questions will be asked and the question is then what does rick santorum do about it? and here's a guy who it's all about the authenticity issue. so when he talks about these things, people see a passion and they like that. but he can also tend to look a little bit judgmental, i think, sometimes when he talks about these issues. where does he find that line between passion and preachy? and what would you say to rick santorum? >> well, rick santorum's got to

get back on message. he has really been off message for the last few days. santorum's best message is when he's toting the blue collar, i'm -- >> i'm for you. >> this election is still about the economy. and while social issues are important, the family is important certainly to republican primary voters. still, even on their minds, they're looking for the person who can best handle the economy. and santorum has a great message. he's got to get back on that message. and so, i think that he's got to pivot off of the social issues tonight, explain what he meant by the comments, put those to bed and then get back on to his message. he had a great message on energy the other day. those are the kinds of things he needs to be talking about -- >> and tonight's his chance to be heard. i've got to ask you about newt. he's the wild card. he's the guy that can pull out an incredible debate performance and he has done it. he's also had a couple of good debates. a lot of people are saying this is it for him. if he's going to make his mark,

he better do it tonight. >> the stakes couldn't be higher for newt gingrich. he's been out of the conversation for the last few weeks, couple of weeks because he's had no momentum. and he's got to get back into the conversation. now, newt is at his best when he's debating the media and the moderator. and interestingly enough, tonight john king is the moderator and that's who he took to task in the debate in south carolina over the comments on his ex-wife and infidelity. it'll be interesting to see how that dynamic goes down. newt is at his worst when he's really debating the other people on the stage and going after them. because it doesn't come off very well. so, you know, the chances for newt to have a big moment are if he gets back into that mode where he is able to go after obama, go after the media, and have a big moment where he's able to basically grand stand. and we'll see if that happens. >> yeah, we haven't talked a lot about what their strategy is.

although santorum has said, karen, that he's going to standby what he says. that's his plan, he believes what he says, he's going to standby what he says, including the comments he made about satan setting his sights on attacking the u.s. that came out over the last 24 hours or so. what are you looking for tonight? >> i think that newt is going to be the wild card. i think he's going to throw some because he's an ego maniac and wants attention, and i think he's going to clobber mitt romney and probably put some banana peels out for santorum so he can rise. and i think ron paul's still in this, as well. he's going to make some quips and definitely excite his base. i don't know if santorum can not back away from this stuff. i think it's hurt him. and i disagree that, you know, this is the social issues are great, but he's gone a little too far and he's turned off a lot of people. and i think the polls are showing that. >> do we think this is so important that the winner of tonight's debate is going to win

michigan? could it be that consequence? >> the debates have proven that important. this is the 20th and the last. this may be the last. >> yeah, could be. >> and this could be the last impression that is indelibly on the voters' minds and proven very important all along. i'll say one thing, which is that santorum and gingrich were terrific to cover when they were in congress because they would always answer the question you asked them. and that's the thing they need to resist tonight. they -- i would think it's like debate rule number one, which is don't answer what they ask you. it's terrible for us, answer what you want to say, and i would be amazed if, you know, santorum will do really well if he sticks to that and so will gingrich. >> you know, i wonder. you've got to take us inside that room now. because newt gingrich -- and his campaign has actually said they think he was tired the last couple of times. he has no events this time.

the other guys took the morning off. what's it like for that? >> it depends on what makes them comfortable heading into the debates. some candidates want to go through the issues, peppered with questions, others want to think about the issues on their own. that's probably what newt does. >> do you say to mitt romney, go out there and be the alpha male? >> well, you know -- it's strategic. you definitely do talk about strategy. you talk about are we going to throw the first punch? are we going to counter punch? how are we going to take on different candidates? what are our answers on certain issues? those sorts of things. how are we going to get our message out? debates are affirmative message opportunities. so you get the chance to deliver your message without the frame of the campaign. and voters tend to pay attention to it. >> i'm asking you this. mitt romney, go out there and --

>> and be the front runner. be the visionary. >> rick santorum, go out there and -- >> get on message. >> newt gingrich? >> have a big moment to get in the conversation. >> and ron paul? >> be relevant. >> oh. >> don't talk about corporate tax reform. >> can i ask you about one more thing beyond the debate? and that is rick santorum has gotten here really on a shoe string. he's got some money that's been coming in since he won those three contests, but basically he got a long way on not very much compared certainly to mitt romney. if you're advising the santorum campaign right now given the stakes and given what it'll mean to mitt romney if he does not mean his home state of michigan, would you say throw in the kitchen sink here? spend every penny you can, borrow everything you can, get money from everyone you can and take out a second mortgage on your house? would you go all in? >> absolutely. if he wins in michigan, the

money will pour in. he can pay back everything he would take out now. >> put it all in and stop talking about satan. >> he has to go all in. because if he loses michigan and loses arizona -- >> and loses that momentum. >> that'll give incredible momentum to governor romney headed into super tuesday. he has to go all in. if he doesn't, i think it spells the end for his campaign eventually. i mean, i don't think he'll have the momentum necessary. remember, the contests he won were not primaries. these are two primary states. people will make a big deal about both of these states. >> what a great panel. thank you all for coming in. david hawkings, good to see all of you. big story coming out over the american embassy in kabul is in lockdown this morning. so far six people have been killed in the demonstrations and more than three dozen injured. it all began, of course, at the u.s. military inadvertently

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just a day after president obama told congress to keep going and not stop with the payroll tax cuts, he is pushing for a sweeping overhaul of corporate taxes. the plan slashes the top tax rate to 28%. that would be down from 35%. the tax rate for manufacturers would top out at 25%. but the plan would also eliminate a lot of popular loopholes like deductions. i'm joined by los angeles mayor villaraigosa, this summer's national democratic convention

chairman, and just announced as the national co-chairs. where do you find the time, mr. mayor? good morning. >> good morning, chris. good to be on your show again. >> it's good to have you here. overhauling the corporate tax code is complicated stuff. can it get done in an election year? and frankly whether it can or not, is the proposal a smart political move? >> well, it's the right move. the corporate tax is just too high. it's too complicated, too many loopholes, we've got to fix it. if not now, when? and i think it can get done if there's a congress that wants to work with the president. both sides have said for a very long time that the corporate tax rate is too high. well, let's lower it. the president has the proposal to do that, to cut out loopholes, and to streamline it. and i think congress ought to except the challenge and work with him to do that. >> well, when california sneezes, the rest of the country gets a cold. if they could reform the

corporate tax code in this way -- >> it's sunny outside right now. >> it's always sunny in l.a. what would it mean for your city? for your state, do you think? >> it would be great. our corporate tax is too high. and we've got to lower it here in california, as well. in l.a., i'm moving to reform our business tax to make it more competitive with the cities in the region. all across the country, we've got to make it easier for business to do business and importantly lower their tax rate, but close tax loopholes, as well. and that's what the president's trying to do on a national level and we're trying to do here locally, as well. >> let me ask you about election. new university poll out this morning, it shows president obama and mitt romney are running neck-and-neck and look only one point more between barack obama and rick santorum. both of those within the margin of error. are you surprised it's that close? >> nope. i've said for some time now that

the country's evenly divided, that this is going to be a very close election. i expect we're going to have to work hard all the way to the end. it's just the way it is. and i think the president's ready for that. and we're ready for that, as well. >> well, it is the republican primary. so we've talked a lot about the social issues. but there seems to be general agreement that in the end this is going to be a pocketbook election as you could argue all of them are. the president's going to talk about rising gas prices this afternoon. nobody knows more about this than folks in your state. he's going to call for a diverse energy plan. but in the end, will those words matter? will proposals matter if in november, gas prices are $5 a gallon? >> well, first of all, let me talk about what you mentioned when you talked about the republican debate. it is unfortunate that there's been such a focus in those debates on divisive issues on the social issues and not enough of focus on the economy. because it is the economy that's going to make or break this

election. and, yes, you're right. here in l.a., we're feeling the pinch, if you will, of high gasoline taxes, and we need to do something to address that. and i think the president's making the proposal that says let's get off of this dependence on foreign oil. let's make sure that we have alternative energy sources that we don't have to depend so much on, you know, oil and carbon sources. >> but you well know, mr. mayor, that even if we moved in that direction right now, that's not going to happen quickly enough to affect gas prices by november. are you with the folks who say gas prices will be a major driver in november for this election? >> yes. i would say. >> so $5 gas is very bad news for barack obama? >> well, from $5 gas bad news

for america's consumers. and the president is going to do everything he can to make sure prices are stable. but as you know, he doesn't have complete control over that. in the end, yes, what's going on, the economy's going to have a very big impact on the election. i hope the people look to the fact that the economy is starting to come back, that we're reclaiming more jobs last month than the month before than we were last year, that the president's policies are starting to help us get out of this rut we've been in. and, remember, when he took over this economy was in a freefall. we were in two wars, we've withdrawn from one of them. he's doing everything he can, but he needs cooperation from the congress, he needs the support. they could pass this effort to reduce the corporate tax, and work together on a bipartisan

basis. i don't speak as a partisan here when i say mayors across the country are sick and tired of the lack of bipartisanship, of cooperation and collaboration. we want to see a congress working with the president to help lower gas prices, to help put this economy back on track. >> i think there's a long line of people to get behind you on that one. i can't let you go without saying, look who's on the front cover, that is antonio villaraigosa with his smiling face. and look at the headline is. "los angeles mayor --" >> i love my job. >> well, your job is going to end through no fault of your own. los angeles mayor sets sights on bigger democratic stage. have you set your sights on a bigger stage? >> you know, i love the guy who wrote that article, but i know he didn't do the headline. look, i'm focused on this job, i'm focused on making sure that we keep our promises, we

shepherd out of this economic crisis. we do everything we can do invest in our transportation infrastructure. and i'll finish on a strong note. all i'm looking at right now and after that, i've said to people i'm going to take a time-out and write and read and work a little bit. >> and maybe think about running for something again in the future? >> well, you know, reflection is good. >> i wasn't expecting to get anything out of you this morning on that, but you can't blame a girl for trying. can you, mayor? >> no. >> good to see you again. thank you. >> good to see you. well, everybody should have a plan for the future, right, don? >> absolutely. >> and maybe the president after reelection has something else in mind. now with some coaxing from buddy guy and mick jagger, check him out singing the blues with b.b. king. ♪ come on ♪ baby don't you wanna go

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so it's easier than ever to keep your house smelling just the way you want it. purina tidy cats. keep your home smelling like home. did you happen to hear what chris christie told you to do last night? >> just write a check and shut up. really, and just contribute. and, you know, the fact of the matter is that i'm tired of hearing about it. if he wants to give the government more money, he's got the ability to write a check. go ahead and write it. >> mitt romney had an interesting exchange with a canadian yesterday over a much smaller amount of money. 5 bucks. >> before i drove down here three hours from ontario i tried to send you the five bucks you asked me for, but it wouldn't take my credit card because of a

canadian address. >> are they worth more? >> it's almost the same. >> it's almost the same again. >> you can't have my health card. >> i don't want it. >> which one of these things is not like the others? check out secretary of state hillary clinton in this g-20 photo. of course the only one not wearing a white shirt. i guess somebody didn't send her the memo. and we wanted to show you some other moments from the white house last night. there he is, mick jagger, he got the president and first lady out of their seats for the concert. and 86-year-old b.b. king can still rock. he kicked off the night. but earlier in the everyone a, the first lady sponsored a workshop for kids where she told them today we've got the blues in a good way. the entire event was designed to recognize black history month. and speaking of black history month, a ground-breaking ceremony is taking place for the

new smithsonian national museum of african-american history and culture. it will take three years to build, and it will showcase different years in black history. $100 million has already been donated and can congress has pledged to provide half the cost of this $500 million project. president obama and former first lady laura bush are scheduled to speak about 20 minutes from now. that's so 42 seconds ago. thanks for the flowers guys. [ both ] you're welcome. oooh are you guys signing up for the free massage? [ both ] so 32 seconds ago. hey guys you hear frank's cat is sick? yeah, we heard. wanna sign the card? did you know the guys from china are in the office... [ speaking chinese ] [ male announcer ] stay a step ahead with the 4g lte galaxy s ii skyrocket. only from at&t. ♪

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specifically talking about the incident with the two journalists. it happened this morning. the two journalists and they were among others, but these two journalists who were killed were in a media center, a makeshift media center in a garden apartment in the center of homs. and this was in one particular neighborhood in homs that was controlled by or is still very tenuously controlled by the rebel movement by the free syrian army. one of the only places where journalists can sort of operate and gather and have an internet signal once in a while. in the morning hours, several journalists were in this media center when a rocket landed, destroyed the media center and killed the two journalists. several other, at least two other journalists were also injured and are being given some kind of basic medical treatment by the opposition inside homs. but homs is surrounded, the

syrian forces have snipers posted throughout the city. they are pounding the center of the city. more than a dozen people in addition to the two journalists were killed in homs just today. >> and richard, obviously the question is what to do. there's been talk about negotiations to end the fighting there. what are the chances this would change anything? >> well, there was an interesting statement today from the king of saudi arabia who told the russian president that talks with the syrian regime are futile. and we're also seeing statements out of russia that they are in favor of allowing some sort of humanitarian convoy to enter the country. that could potentially be a softening of the russian position. that would be very significant because right now there is a tremendous amount of international pressure on the syrian government, but they still have allies in iran, russia, and china. so if you see russia softening its position, that would be a

significant blow, at least for the syrian regime into some sort of compromise. on the ground, however, this is just talk. this is just potential indications of maybe some sort of breakthrough. the reality on the ground in homs is that the syrian government is pushing on full force and it is trying to kill all -- every member of the opposition it can find. >> richard, as always, take good care out there and thank you so much. and let's get caught up on stories people are talking about right now. another failed round of talks between the nuclear agency and iran. the iaea seen visiting tehran had hoped to talk with key nuclear scientists, inspect documents and secure future visits. but they say they couldn't find a way forward. he is claiming his country is not seeking nuclear weapons. a man walked into a spa in suburban atlanta and shot four people before killing himself.

the question is why. and police don't know the answer. the video shows him getting into an argument before he opens fire. jury deliberations are underway in the trial of george hughley charged with killing his girlfriend. prosecutors say he killed 22-year-old love during an argument in 2010. the defense says hugueley was drunk when he went into her apartment that night but left her alive. he faces life in prison if he's guilty. after taking the morning off, mitt romney and rick santorum have events in arizona. ahead of tonight's debate and next week's primary in michigan, richard lui is here with more on the voters are battling to win over by the numbers. >> good morning, chris. mitt romney, he's hoping more spending means more winning. according to tpm, he is pummelling rick santorum. look at this, 14 to 1 in

spending in arizona. that's campaign and super pac spend. michigan is a little bit different. romney's spend lead lowers to 3 to 1. the super pac add spending stronger here, though, and went over about $1 million in one week. the delegates at stake, 5% needed to win the nomination, lighter michigan and arizona. michigan is proportional, come in second, you'll still get delegates, arizona is winner take all, go big or go home. so-called michigan mischief voters. 30% of gop primary voters could be democrats and independents. now, the mischief, they could vote intentionally for the perceived weaker gop candidate. and the hope, an easier win for the president in the general in november. 7%, that's the hispanic vote in the gop primary. it's just a prelude in 2008 general election, almost a third of voters were hispanic. and since we're on 2008, the

general election numbers, i want to show you these right here. when you look at that, michigan, obama won that by 16% with its above average african-american population. but lost to arizona's favorite son, john mccain. so when you look at all of that, chris, it could be a squeaker. that may mean the endorsement of mccain of romney could make the difference. >> going to be interesting to see what happens there. let's get a look from the ground. the editor and publisher of inside michigan politics, and joining me from phoenix, national political reporter for the arizona republic. good morning, gentlemen. >> good morning, chris. >> bill, let me ask you something richard lui talked about, and that's the potential for mischief voting in michigan. how much of a factor do you think that could be? especially with this race being so close right now? >> i don't think it's going to be as much a factor as it was let's say back in 2000, a famous race where independents and democrats raided the republican

primary and voted overwhelmingly for john mccain and he stole the primary from george w. bush. look at democrats and independents today. they're not going to find any of the four candidates people that they really like. there's not really anybody there that is less objectionable than the others, possibly ron paul, that might be the only one. the other motive as you implied is that they want to get in to the republican primary and mess it up by voting for somebody they perceive as the weakest candidate. but generally that is not usually the motive that impels somebody to enter another's primary. i think it's going to be probably 20% of the vote, no more than that is going to be independents and democrats. >> 20% could be enough to swing things if it's that tight, couldn't it? >> it could. if it's overwhelmingly for one candidate as it was for mccain over bush in 2000, but if you look at the four candidates

here, ron paul, santorum, gingrich, and romney, i think you're going to find it pretty well split up. >> all right. well, dan, our poll shows romney has a big advantage over santorum in arizona. but i've seen some other polls that show a much tighter race. what's your sense of things on the ground there. is it as far apart? or is it closer than the poll might indicate? >> i think most of the polls have showed it tightening up considerably. but i think romney's saving grace may be early voting in arizona. arizona had a liberal early voting system compared to some other states like michigan. so already, you know, thousands and thousands of republican voters have already cast their ballots by mail here in arizona. romney is really the only guy with any kind of organization in arizona. he's the only one who is chasing ballots. has an early voting strategy here in arizona. so they're telling me the romney people are quietly confidence, i think they're a little bit

nervous. but they've told me they always thought they've had that little bit more cushion than the public polling revealed. and i think if early voting is taken into account, which i believe the nbc poll did take into account, his lead widened. >> the thing about mitt romney in michigan is like you just said in arizona. he is confident. he stated publicly he was born and raised in michigan. playing up that connection. let me play up a famous sound bite from him. >> i love this state. it seems right here. trees are the right height. i like -- i like seeing the lakes. i love the lakes. >> bill, our new poll shows frankly most voters don't care about mitt romney's connection to michigan. does that surprise you at all? >> well, i think in the republican primary, there are going to be a lot of voters who do remember the romneys fondly, his father as the governor. i think he's playing it up and doing the right thing.

particularly in the metro detroit area. a poll showed only one quarter of the electorate knew or thought of mitt romney as a michigander. i think he wants to get that up to 60% or 70% thinking he's a michigander. and if he does, i think it's going to be good for him. >> another part of our poll, when it comes to the auto bailout, 50% of republicans say it was a bad idea. although, the number that splits a lot wider when you look at the general electorate. but do you think basically the auto bailout is a wash for mitt romney in this primary? or will it have an impact? >> i do think it's a wash in this primary because his three opponents, gingrich, santorum, and paul take a position not unlike romney's. romney has been more outfront about it. but they have the same attitude on that issue. and that's not going to matter. and if you're an independent or democrat, who do you punish by crossing over and voting in the republican primary?

all of these people are going to be on the opposite side of you think the right stance on that issue is. and that is, there should have been a federal bailout. but, chris, where it's really hurting the republicans in michigan is in the general election. polls just out last night show that barack obama has widened his lead over mitt romney if mitt romney is the republican nominee to 18 points. all because romney's negatives have been driven up and he is being identified very strongly now as opposing the auto bailout. >> and dan, i've finally got to ask you about the big debate happening in your state tonight in mesa. what are you watching for? >> well, i think people are looking at romney's tone. if he's going to go on the attack against santorum or if he's going to try to appear more presidential. i think that might give some insight into his psyche and how confident he is in arizona and michigan. if he, you know, really needs to hit santorum hard tonight.

>> have you gotten -- watching him on the campaign trail there that he's got confidence? do you think that the way you've seen him out among the crowds that it's working for him? >> yeah, i think it's getting a little bit better for him. i don't know he feels he's done enough. >> good to talk to both of you. dan, bill, thank you, gentlemen, it's good to see you both. we shall watch tonight. and as if sometimes you feel the politicians don't get your woes, take heart, the government's top consumer watchdog is demanding answers from the big banks about those overdraft fees on bounced checks, some of them as high as $35. mandy drury is here with what's moving your money. andmandy, what are they looking for? and how might this help the little guy? >> looking at ways to make the fees on checking account statements basically just easier to understand. and yes, the latest target is the overdraft fees. bottom line, it's to help you

avoid unexpected charges. it all comes at a time banks are planning to increase their checking account fees essentially to make up for the cost of regulations. the concern is that some banks may be charging and calculating the fees in a way that is perhaps misleading or even confusing for us, the consumer. it can also add up, a 2008 study from the federal deposit insurance corp., the fdic found that customers who overdrew their accounts 20 or more times a year paid an average of $1,610 in overdraft fees annually. so it really can add up. >> yeah. and we just got a new report on the housing market. what's the latest on that? >> yeah, we've got existing home sales for the month of january. they totaled $4.57 million analyzed. that was, however, below expectations and december was also revised lower. so if you take those two months together, sales were quite a lot less than initially expected. obviously going forward, a key

for sales and for pricing over the next few months is going to be whether or not we see a flood of foreclosures now that the banks have settled with the state. a.g. clearing out the backlogs built up in the aftermath of the huge robo signing scandal. >> thank you. and, you know, speaking of sticking it to the man, singer ad adele decided to stick it to the suits after getting cut off in the middle of her acceptance speech because the show was running too late. >> nothing makes me prouder than coming on the grammys and then coming to the brits and winning album of the year. i'm so proud to be british and flying our flag and i'm so proud to be in the room with all of you. >> and i can't believe i'm about to cut off -- >> can i just say then good-bye and i'll see you next time around. >> oh. so we've fuzzed that out.

adele said, i was about to thank the british public for their support and they cut me off. i'm sorry if i offended anyone, but the suits offended me. thank you very much for your support. i had enough of feeling embarrassed about my skin. [ designer ] enough of just covering up my moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. i decided enough is enough. ♪ [ spa lady ] i started enbrel. it's clinically proven to provide clearer skin. [ rv guy ] enbrel may not work for everyone --

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this idea has taken nearly 100 years. but this morning, the president will break ground on the mall in d.c. for the national museum for african-american history and culture. the ceremony and the president's live remarks coming your way at the top of the hour. raising arizona, the battle between mitt romney and rick santorum to win that state. msnbc contributor megan mccain will join me this hour. and have you heard the lyrics of the new rihanna/chris brown song? it's raising eyebrows in the music world. have you seen this? the obama campaign is putting family out front in a new web ad. it shows mrs. obama posing with the president and their two daughters sasha and malia. as far as politics goes, family's a valuable asset. same reason mitt romney and rick santorum are playing up their own families. it's good to see you salinda, good morning. >> good to see you. >> 73% of americans, for

example, have vaifavorable viewf the first lady. she's going to be out on the campaign trail three days a week. the girls are a little older than they were last campaign. does a web ad like this help? >> it helps a lot. and in fact, remember, 3/4 of the voters also personally approved of the president and did so even when they were negative about his job performance. so for this president, family's a huge asset and this is one of the most popular first ladies we've ever had. >> just the idea he seems like a good guy and they seem in love and like a great family is very important. >> very important. and also the fact that, you know, he's raising daughters and they seem like very devoted parents and also normal parents and in touch parents. and the only thing i suggest is the next time they ought to add the dog to the ad. >> because you know people love their dogs. >> they do. >> family is also a huge part of rick santorum's campaign. you obviously see them when he walks out on stage. he always has some of his kids

with him. often he'll reference his wife who is in this picture isn't there, he'll say she's home taking care of the kids. and he does talk about his youngest quite frequently. let me play a little clip. >> once the mother and father find out that that child is going to be less than they were expecting. we find the same situation in the condition of my daughter, trysome 18, down syndrome is try try trysome 21. >> yeah, people -- he is so willing to impose his view of family on everyone else. and of course, of a more traditional family view than most people have in this country at this time. and also this situation now where most people have only a couple of children, over half of america is unmarried. so i think it does create an empathy rather than a harshness.

and you see him bounce back and forth. in debates, statements about satan, kind of getting away from that message that makes him less judgmental and more empathetic. >> thank you so much. >> nice to be here. today's tweet of the day comes from matt lewis. my take is that romney needs a brand identity. steve forbes equals flat tax, herman cain equals 9-9-9, paul ryan equals entitlement reform. what's romney's brand? with alka seltzer plus. it's specially formulated to speed relief to every inch of you. liquidate your flu symptoms with alka seltzer plus. and hello to "whoa, yum." use campbell's cream of chicken soup to make easy enchiladas, cheesy chicken & rice, and other chicken dishes that are oh...so...whoa. campbell's. it's amazing what soup can do. you walk into a conventional mattress store, it's really not about you. they say, "well, if you want a firm bed you can lie onne of those."

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and we are waiting for the former first lady laura bush to speak at the ground breaking of the smithsonian national museum of african-american history and culture. and we will have that for you and the president coming up, as well. but that's going to wrap up this hour of "jansing and company" i'm chris jansing, and i'll see you back here tomorrow. our car , we give you the money for a car one model year newer. liberty mutual auto insurance.

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