on the broadcast tonight, the long run. it was supposed to streamline the gop race, but super tuesday did anything but. tonight, what the romney campaign is saying about that nomination. frozen in time. nearly a year after the nuclear disaster, an exclusive visit to the dead zone in japan. richard engel is just back with a rare firsthand look at what's left. second chance, the incredible story of a mother of three who was dying of melanoma and is now alive and well. what her doctors did for her that could turn out to be a turning point for others. the end zone. an emotional fair wael for a beloved champion. a question now, is the game over? and the coming solar storm. racing toward earth at 4 million

miles an hour and what could happen when it gets here overnight. happen when it gets here overnight. "nightly news begins now." captions paid for by nbc-universal television good evening. if anybody was looking for super tuesday to simplify the gop race for the nomination, if mitt romney was hoping to use center tuesday to clinch the nomination, it didn't happen. four candidates went into last night's primaries. today four candidates woke up and went on. this race goes on. it now takes a turn for the south where for the short-term at least the romney team may need all that money and all that organization to try to turn the tide in the race that has gone on longer than most had predicted. it's where we begin tonight with our political director chuck todd. chuck, good evening. >> reporter: good evening.

they hoped it would win the republican field as it has in the past. while the delicate math is very much on his side, he's still struggling to get real momentum. it was after midnight when mitt romney finally learned he eeked out a tnarrow row victory in ohio. >> i must admit i feel pretty good. >> reporter: and he has good reason to feel that way. he won 7 of the 11 states voting last night. an outright majority of the 424 delegates at stake. altogether he got half a million more raw votes than his closest rival. still, romney wasn't the only candidate feeling good. >> we had a good night last night, but so did governor romney. that's why we have to start anew here. we have to do well here in kansas. no, we have to win here in kansas. >> reporter: rick santorum, who should do well in the kansas caucuses, wants to be the only conservative a lot 1/2 to romney. he pleaded with newt gingrich who won in his home state of

georgia last night to drop out. >> we are staying in this race because i believe that it's going to be impossible for a moderate to win the general election. >> reporter: romney hunkered down in boston today while his campaign team used show-and-tells to make the case that neither santorum nor gingrich has a realistic shot at the nomination saying it would take an act of god for one of them to win. >> if the governor think he's ordained by god, then let's just have it out. >> reporter: to win, he would need 2 of every 3 delegates going forward. it's something no candidate has ever achieved in the modern era. romney also wants this primary battle over because even his victories seem to enforce his weaknesses. like michigan the week before, romney won in ohio, despite the fact that he lost very conservative voters to santorum by 18 points and middle-income voters by eight. as for romney, he seems resigned to the fact that it's going to

be a long slow. >> we have the time, resources and plan to get all the delegates, and we think that will get done before the convention. >> reporter: well, ron paul, by the way, he's staying in this race despite the fact that he's now the only candidate in this race that is yet to win any of the 23 contests. by the way, brian, newt gingrich's campaign team said if he doesn't win alabama and mississippi next week they don't have a credible campaign going forward. so it sounds like if he doesn't win one he will get out. >> chuck todd after the long night here in new york. chuck, thanks. >> reporter: yeah. >> last night's primaries weren't just about the gop nomination race. there were other primaries decided and in one of them in ohio, a big name in congress went down to defeat dennis kucinich. long hero of the left lost his race last night after his district lines were redrawn.

among those vying for his seat in the house, a man we all came to know as joe the plumber who will now try to become congressman wurtzelbacher. now to syria. as the whole country watches the killing they continue to inflict on its own people, more than 8,000 dead by one estimate with no end in sight, now the pressure is mounting on the u.s. to take some sort of military action to stop the slaughter there. today in washington this debate really erupted into the open. our report from our chief foreign affairs correspondent andrea mitchell. >> reporter: sporadic gunfire on amateur video. the rebel neighborhood of homs, perhaps the last resistance after a devastating month-long government siege. syrian state tv showed workers cleaning up for the onslaught as residents escape with what little they have left. the op session calls this an effort to hide a massacre, war crimes. after being barred for a week, finally today a u.n. official is permitted to see for herself.

and relief workers resume distributing some aid. but regime forces have reportedly now turning their fire on other towns, near the turkish border, terrifying residents. will anyone come to their aid? today john mccain demanded to the u.s. arm the rebels. >> how many more have to die? 10,000 more? 20,000 more? how many more? >> before i recommend that we put our sons and daughters in uniform in harm's way, i've got to make very sure that we know what the mission is. >> well, let me tell you what's wrong with your statement. you don't mention american leadership. americans should lead in this. >> but the administration said stopping syria's president assad is much tougher than it was with libya's gadhafi. they are disorganized. the regime's air defenses are five times more than libya's. nato won't back military action. president obama made it clear the u.s. won't go it alone. >> for us to take military

action unilaterally, as someone suggested, or to think there's a simple mistake i think is a mistake. >> today hillary clinton increased the pressure to stop arming assad. >> it is also pastime for those nations who continue to arm and support the regime to bring an end to the bloodshed. >> reporter: syria has blocked most humanitarian aid. now, saudi arabia and other arab states are talking about the arming the rebels. u.s. officials acknowledge the growing pressure to do something is going to be hard to resist. brian? >> it got a little tense at that meeting today. we have a health news story to report tonight that's getting a lot of attention and doctors hope it can be a turning point in the fight against one of the most prevalent forms of skin cancer. this is just one case, but it could be a major clue in how to

use the body's immune system to take on melanoma which strikes more than 76,000 americans every year. we get details tonight from our chief science correspondent. >> valerie esposito was a 42-year-old mother of three living with a death sentence. end stage melanoma throughout her body meant she was out of options. >> it went into the right lung, lymph nodes, the spleen. and at that point the key mow didn't work. >> rick wilke also had stage 4 melanoma. both patients were taking a drug which treats advanced skin cancer by prompting the body's immune system to destroy it. when it works the results can be sensational. >> the nurses -- >> everybody was jumping up and down. >> everybody came into this tiny little room and gave us the good news. >> the drug only works in 10% to 20% of patients. when valerie esposito took it, her cancer continued to spread.

one tumor was pushing up against her spine causing severe pain. doctors used radiation to treat it. >> look at what happens three months after the radiation. >> and what happened then was astonishing. these dark spots which is where cancer spread to the spleen, disappeared, along with other tumors throughout her body. >> that is melanoma. gone. >> we're very excited about this result because we treated just one tumor with radiation therapy in this patient. and as a result, distant tumors regressed. >> dr. jed and his team at memorial sloan kettering kept blood and other samples from esposito and believe they know exactly how the radiation prompted the immune system to destroy the other tumors. >> it felt like a battle that i wasn't going to win. it definitely was a miracle. >> and now a nationwide clinical trial is getting under way with the hope that this new understanding could help

thousands more melanoma patients have a brighter prognosis. last night, while we were on the air covering super tuesday, there was a storm on the surface of the sun. and that energy, those waves are traveling toward us at over 4 million miles an hour right now, which means it could arrive as early as between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. eastern time tonight. it could affect a lot of things. past storms like this have knocked out power grids here on earth, attacked communications and gps, and already some commercial airlines have rerouted flights to avoid interference from hit. tom costello has a look at what we might be in for. tom tkpwrbgs evening good evening. >> reporter: i have been on the folks with noaa. in simple terms the atmosphere around the sun has been blown away, leaving charged particles and magnetic field which are now speeding towards the earth, as you said, 4 million miles per hour.

it's been several years since we have had a storm like this. there is the potential it could interfere with power grids, but that likelihood is low. it can also interfere and affect gps systems, and it could cause communication problems affecting radio and satellite systems, especially high-frequency kinds. while it is a good dose of radiation, it's big, not extreme, though. nasa is monitoring it but doesn't feel the need to take any unusual precautions on the orbiting space station. but flights they're rerouting because they want to stay in continuous communication. noaa tells me the peak of the storm could come around 5:00 a.m., they think. 1:00 and 5:00 a.m. eastern time. but 5:00 a.m. is a good time. they also insist no danger to us on earth other than the communications. brian, it could mean some really incredible northern lights perhaps as far south as the great lakes tonight. back to you. >> all right. tom costello with the latest from washington.

we'll keep an eye on it, obviously. well, the folks who track our weather for a living officially told us what we have all known or expected for months. this has been one of the warmest winters ever. in fact, it's the fourth hottest in the lower 48 since they started keeping records of such things back in the 1890s. the same scientists at noaa say only the state of new mexico had temperatures below average. and with the mild winter comes a lack of snow. it's the third smallest winter snow cover across this country in the 46 years they've started keeping satellite records. still ahead as we continue here tonight, a year after japan's nuclear disaster, richard engel is back with a rare look at what has become a no man's land in japan. and later, an american city, a champion and the tearful end of a great era. earful end of a great era. i habe a cohd.

i toog nyguil bud i'm stild stubbed up. [ male announcer ] truth is, nyquil doesn't un-stuff your nose. really? [ male announcer ] alka-seltzer plus liquid gels fights your worst cold symptoms, plus it relieves your stuffy nose. [ deep breath ] thank you! that's the cold truth! ttd#: 1-800-345-2550 let's talk about how some companies like to get between ttd#: 1-800-345-2550 you and your money.

ttd#: 1-800-345-2550 at charles schwab, we believe your money should be available ttd#: 1-800-345-2550 to you whenever and wherever you want. ttd#: 1-800-345-2550 which is why we rebate every atm fee worldwide. ttd#: 1-800-345-2550 and why our mobile app lets you transfer funds, ttd#: 1-800-345-2550 execute trades, even deposit checks just by ttd#: 1-800-345-2550 taking a picture, right from your phone. ttd#: 1-800-345-2550 so talk to chuck and put those barriers behind you. ttd#: 1-800-345-2550 is the pain reliever orthopedic doctors recommend most for arthritis pain, think again. and take aleve. it's the one doctors recommend most for arthritis pain. two pills can last all day. ♪ it's bn almost a year now

since the ear >> it's been almost a year now six the earthquake and tsunami that triggered that disaster of japan's fukushima nuclear plant, a disaster that so contaminated the environment around it that the area is now real a ghost town. people left there in a hurry, remember, and no one has been allowed to go back. but now a few journalists, including our chief foreign correspondent richard engel, have gotten a rare look inside the area, a place that's really been frozen in time. >> reporter: the fukushima nuclear power plant is in ruins. these rare images show it can never be used again. but it remains highly radioactive. when the plant exploded a year ago, it belched a cloud of steam, mixed with tiny radioactive particles. the particles settled and today a 12-mile radius around the plant is abandoned and uninhabitable. it's called the exclusion zone, a warning to what can happen when science we barely control

gets out of control. the town of ohkuma is four miles from the plant. 10,000 people lived here. now no one. the exclusion zone is sealed off, but former residents are allowed occasional quick visits in to collect valuables. he showed us his old electronics factory. >> this was my office. >> this was your office? you still have your jackets and ties ready to go. his house is nearby. the fridge is still full. >> you still have food in the fridge. >> expiration date, march 11th. >> it reminds me of when i was a kid. they used to show in school these day-after movies, what would happen in the event of a nuclear holocaust, how the world would become radiated. that's what it feels like here. >> people left ohkuma in a hurry. clothing still sits at a

laundromat. a traffic light signals cars that aren't there. the only sign of life, cows that broke out of their pens. they have the run of the town now. the radiation is in the land. it's in the plants. it's in the water. it's in the trees. it's been eaten by the animals. the insects, the birds. how do you get rid of that? like many former residents, he doesn't think a cleanup here is possible. >> in my mind there's no more ohkumo. this isn't just a ghost town, it's a town of death. >> reporter: visiting this area, brian, was haunting. i had never been to a place that has been effectively removed from the map. when there's a natural disaster or even a war, you can rebuild if you have enough money. not here. this area will be contaminated for decades. the radiation is all throughout the food chain. >> richard, thank you for your reporting. we wanted to let the folks know richard will be back with us

tonight for more, more of his reporting from japan's radioactive exclusion zone where very few people have gone. that's tonight on "rock center." moving to our new time, 10:00, 9:00 central. richard, thanks. we'll see you later. up next, some good news for a change for travelers. and it's happened again. apple has debuted something else people are going to want to want. apple has debuted something else people are going to want to want. when bp made a commitment to the gulf, we knew it would take time, but we were determined to see it through. today, while our work continues, i want to update you on the progress: bp has set aside 20 billion dollars to fund economic and environmental recovery. we're paying for all spill- related clean-up costs. and we've established a 500 million dollar fund so independent scientists can study the gulf's wildlife and environment for ten years. thousands of environmental samples from across the gulf have been analyzed by independent labs under the direction of the us coast guard.

i'm glad to report all beaches and waters are open for everyone to enjoy. and the economy is showing progress with many areas on the gulf coast having their best tourism seasons in years. i was born here, i'm still here and so is bp. we're committed to the gulf for everyone who loves it, and everyone who calls it home. helping strengthen our bones. caltrate delivers 1200 milligrams of calcium and 800 iu of vitamin d plus minerals. women need caltrate. caltrate helps women keep moving because women move the world. forty years ago, he wasn't looking for financial advice. back then, he had something more important to do. he wasn't focused on his future but fortunately, somebody else was. at usaa we provide retirement planning for our military, veterans and their families.

now more than ever, it's important to get financial advice from people who share your military values. call now for our free guide and tips on planning for your retirement this tax season. bayer aspirin... ohh, no no no. i'm not having a heart attack, it's my head. this is made for pain. [ male announcer ] bayer advanced aspirin enters the bloodstream fast, and rushes extra strength relief to the sight of your pain. feel better? yeah...thanks for the tip! oh there's tons. french presses, espresso tampers, filters. it can get really complicated. not nearly as complicated as shipping it though. i mean shipping is a hassle. not with priority mail flat rate boxes from the postal service. if it fits it ships, anywhere in the country for a low flat rate. that is easy. best news i've heard all day! i'm soooo amped! i mean not amped. excited. well, sort of amped. really kind of in between. have you ever thought about decaf? do you think that would help? yeah. priority mail flat rate shipping starts at just $5.15, only from the postal service. a simpler way to ship.

well, it happens every few months, apple comes out with a new product which makes you think that the apple product you already own, perhaps just received, is suddenly a steam-powered relic of the past. today in san francisco they unveiled the new ipad, the first new rollout of the post-steve jobs era at apple. while it's technically the ipad 3 they're calling it simply, the new ipad. even though the new screens are

gorgeous, the new display is stunning. it runs on 4g, not 3g, 5 megapixel camera, though it means aiming the tablet as opposed as to say using a camera. it is heavier. longer battery life. comes in at the same price as ipad 2. we have a complete report on today's rollout on our website, nbcnightlynews.com. the associated press is reporting overhead bins are about to get better. united and delta are retrofitting their aircraft with the more cavernous containers. united estimates 87% of their passengers carry their bags on these days and those bags, as you know, are getting bigger. and for all of those of us who think we can get our bag to fit up there, they don't all make it, as you know. and with bag fees approaching 450 bucks, it will mean savings. perhaps you heard this new theory explaining by the "titanic", believed to be the unsinkable ocean liner, might

have met its end. stkaoeufpbt scientists now say the moon could be to blame. the moon was unusually close to earth on that night in early 1912, leading to an unusually high tide. more icebergs floating south. the captain, who was familiar with the route, didn't expect the icebergs to be there and didn't believe the warnings. the folks at a tokyo aquarium put out an a.p.b. for a fugitive penguin. like shaw shank redemption, penguin number 337 scaled a rock wall, squeezed through a fence during a daring escape sometime in the last week. nobody is talking. someone claims to have snapped a picture of the penguin swimming to freedom in tokyo basement so far that's the only lead in this case. in case you see anything. up next here tonight, a tearful farewell for a legend who lost his job today.

the earth's gravitational pull and hurtle us all into space, which would render retirement planning unnecessary. but say the sun rises on december 22nd and you still need to retire, td ameritrade's investment consultants can help you build a plan that fits your life. we'll even throw in up to $600 when you open a new account or roll over an old 401(k). so who's in control now, mayans? to put more giddy-up in our get-along. it's time to start gellin' with dr. scholl's... ... and mix a little more hop in our hip-hop. with the energizing support and cushioning of dr. scholl's massaging gel insoles ... you'll want to get up and go. but my nose is still runny. [ male announcer ] truth is, dayquil doesn't treat that. really? [ male announcer ] alka-seltzer plus fights your worst cold symptoms, plus it relieves your runny nose. [ deep breath ] awesome. [ male announcer ] yes, it is. that's the cold truth! why you fell in love with her in the first place.

and why you still feel the same. but your erectile dysfunction -- that could be a question of blood flow. cialis for daily use helps you be ready anytime the moment's right. you can be more confident in your ability to be ready. and the same cialis is the only daily ed tablet approved to treat ed and symptoms of bph, like needing to go frequently or urgently. tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medications, and ask if your heart is healthy enough for sexual activity. do not take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, as this may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. do not drink alcohol in excess with cialis. side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache. to avoid long term injury, seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than four hours. if you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision, or if you have any allergic reactions such as rash, hives, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, stop taking cialis and get medical help right away. ask your doctor about cialis for daily use and a 30-tablet free trial.

finally here tonight, even those of us who are big football fans sometimes catch ourselves calling them the baltimore colts. though they've been the indianapolis colts since '84. and ever since 1998, this has been the peyton manning era in

indianapolis. he made them champions. he was the player of the decade. and for 14 years he's been synonymous with that city and their beloved colts until today when it came to an end. ow report tonight from nbc's kevin tibbles. >> reporter: he's been a company man the whole of his career. same boss, same position, same team. he's one of those rare athletes who transcend sport. >> i've been a colt for almost all of my adult life. but i guess in life and in sports we all know nothing lasts forever. >> reporter: but today peyton manning is no longer an indianapolis colt. >> it's a difficult day here of shared pain between peyton, myself, the fans, everyone. >> reporter: after 14 record-breaking years, injury kept 35-year-old manning off the field for all of last season. now the team is looking to rebuild. still, news of his being let go

stopped many in their tracks. >> i understand it's a business and they have to do what they have to do. but it's going to be crushing to see peyton in another jersey. >> i think there's something wrong with the nfl that you can't have a guy finish his career where he started. >> to many peyton manning was indianapolis. he certainly was the colts. he increased the value of the team by $233 million. they even called the colts's home field the house that manning built. >> indianapolis certainly would not have lucas oil stadium and probably would not have been hosting the super bowl if not for peyton manning and the success he brought. >> you can watch all your favorite players, like peyton manning. >> number 18 became an icon for advertisers. he even got to host "saturday

night live." >> my team the colts won the super bowl. >> reporter: and he will ever be revered for his charity work with children. several teams appear to be interested in signing him if healthy. >> i won't retire. nobody loves their job more than i do. >> reporter: in indy, nobody will ever wear the number 18 again. >> that's our broadcast for this wednesday night. thank you for being here with us. i'm brian williams. we hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. and later tonight,