hopefuls and political editor david chalian examines president obama's response as he kicks off a three-day "economy and jobs" bus tour in the midwest. >> ifill: then, margaret warner gets an update on the fighting in libya as rebels gain new ground. >> woodruff: we talk with the norwegian foreign minister about how his country is coping in the aftermath of mass killings that left 77 dead. >> we will be marked forever after by the 2nd of july. such an experience collect tifl has marked us in addition to the terrible suffering of those affected directly. >> ifill: and jeffrey brown talks with australian actors cate blanchett and richard roxburgh about the challenges of bringing chekov to the stage. >> it's very easy to make chekov very small and it's epic. it's epic moments in people's very small domestic lives. >> ifill: that's all ahead on tonight's "newshour." major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: >> oil companies have changed my country. >> oil companies can make a difference. >> we have the chance to build the economy. >> create jobs, keep people healthy and improve s

watching tonight's debate in a press corps of over 800, will be our own political editor david chaliand he joins us now from the studios of iowa public television in des moines. hello, david. >> hello, judy, thank you. >> woodruff: so i guess there is truly an elephant in the room tonight in this debate with governor perry's announcement. what effect do you think this is going to have, and the timing is interesting. >> right, it will be interesting tonight at the debate since obviously rick perry won't be on the stage how the other candidates, the cate an datas that are done -- the eight candidates on the stage respond to this news. earlier today i was with mitt romney on at the state fair. and somebody asked him what he thought of rick perry. and he wouldn't take the bait. he simply offered a platitude, saying oh he's a good friend and a good guy. i don't know that anyone is going to take on rick perry tonight. but it does, as you said, shake up the race. he has already been polling in the top tier of the field. he's the longest serving governor in the nation and well-known in republi

what was interesting, and i credit david chalian from pbs on this, he noted last night after the debatet was interesting was that she came very prepared to go at him. not just to count wlaer has he to say but make a case against him. it suggests both of them understand saturday's going to be a very big day for them. >> could it be we're down to a three-person race for all intents and purposes on sunday? that is, bachmann, perry and romney, if pawlenty can't seem to break through? >> don't forget ron paul. i mean -- >> he's there, he's a factor, but is he a nominatable factor? >> no. interesting about ron paul is he's one candidate whom win or lose straw poll, he's the same ron paul the next day. probably not possible as a nominee. >> all right. beth, dan, i got to leave it there. you know who i got coming up next. >> who's that? >> the man himself. >> mr. iowa. >> you can't come to iowa without him. anyway, trivia time, how many winners of the ames straw poll have gone on to win the iowa caucuses, did you know? >> some. >> some is a good answer. people not in my kitchen is another answe

david chalian and judy assess the political blame game after the downgrade of the u.s. credit rating, and they preview the iowa republican straw poll on this week's political checklist. plus our global health unit reports on a new solution for water shortages, a technology that converts seawater into drinking water. that's on the rundown blog. all that and more is on our web site, newshour.pbs.org. gwen? >> ifill: and that's the newshour for tonight. on tuesday, we'll look at what the federal reserve can do to boost the sagging economy. i'm gwen ifill. >> woodruff: and i'm judy woodruff. we'll see you online, and again here tomorrow evening. thank you, and good night. major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: chevron. we may have more in common than you think. >> and by bnsf railway. and by the alfred p. sloan foundation. supporting science, technology, and improved economic performance and financial literacy in the 21st century. and with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. and... this program was made possible by the corporation fo

that's our daily e-mail dispatch from david chalian and the newshour political team. plus find out what our science unit is reading this week, including a look at closeup images of an asteroid and the discovery of a giant fungus. that's on the rundown blog. all that and more is on our web site, newshour.pbs.org. judy? >> brown: and again, to our honor roll of american service personnel killed in the iraq and afghanistan conflicts. we add them as their deaths are made official and photographs become available. here, in silence, are eight more. >> woodruff: and that's the newshour for tonight. on wednesday, we'll look at opening day of the trial for egypt's former president, hosni mubarak, accused of ordering the killing of protesters earlier this year. i'm judy woodruff. >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. we'll see you online, and again here tomorrow evening. thank you, and good night. major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: chevron. we may have more in common than you think. >> and by the bill and melinda gates foundation. dedicated to the idea that all