wnbc news 4 new york where it was better late than never for one world war ii vet. 95-year-old george voinovich, a former wartime intelligence officer, was awarded the bronze star for orchestrating the largest aires cue of americans behind enemy lines in any war, rescuing over 500 downed pilots and airmen shot down over nazi occupied serbia. the mission, dubbed operation halyard, remains classified for decades, preventing voinovich from receiving the honor he so justly deserved. that's great. >>> i'm veronica de la cruz, and this is "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station. >>> former prime minister ariel sharon is sparking controversy yet again. but this time at his art exhibition. the debate is over a life-size sculpture by an israeli artist of the comatose sharon lying in a hospital bed. the controversial political figure, long reviled in the arab world, suffered a massive stroke in 2006 and has since been in a medically induced coma. >>> the super bowl is still a ways off but the scooper bowl just ended. at the eighth annual pooper-scooper convention in calif

. >> george voinovich masterminded a secret mission to rescue more than 500 servicemen shot down overazi-occupiied serbia back in 1944. it was the largest aires skew of americans behind enemy lines in any war. >>> coming up next, the stories we'll be following today, including 15 days to go until election day. >> getting close. >>> also, new questions today to tiffany harley about the mysterious death of her husband. stay with us. mysterious death of her husband. stay with us. again. we chose symbicort to help control my asthma symptoms all day and night. [ man ] symbicort improves my lung function, starting within 15 minutes. symbicort will not replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms. it is a combination of two medicines and should not be taken more often than prescribed. symbicort contains formoterol. medicines like formoterol increase the risk of death from asthma problems, and children and adolescents may have an increased risk of being hospitalized for asthma problems. symbicort is not for people whose asthma is well controlled with a long-term asthma control medicine like i

i talked to george voinovich today. he is someone who has worked across the aisle to get stuff done, as i have done during my tenure in congress. 12 of my bills were signed into law, which makes some republicans nervous sometimes. i can defend all of them as fiscally conservative. that is what i would do if elected for united states senate. i would work with anybody who wanted to help me help ohio. we need to turn things around in washington. this deficit is hurting our economy and it is unfair for future generations. taxes are going up year end on small businesses all over ohio, making it even harder to create jobs. we are seeing more and more burdens. we need to go the other way. we need to give small businesses more help. i will work with anybody who wants to work with me to help ohio and those small businesses. >> thank you. a minute to respond? >> i do think it is very important to work across the aisle with members of the other party, just as i did when i was in the state legislature. i think it is -- more importa

i spoke with george voinovich today.is a guy who is looking to leave the united states senate. -- to lead the united states senate. i can defend each one of them as good, fiscally conservative pieces of legislation that helps to move our state for it. i will work with anybody, democrat, republican, independent, who wants to help me move ohio. the debt and deficit we have now is unfair to future generations. taxes are going up at year end on small businesses all over ohio, making it harder to create jobs. we see more burden with the deregulation. we have to give ohio employers more help. i will work with anybody who wants to work with me to help ohio and to help small business. >> thank you. >> i do believe it is very important that you work across the aisle and work with members of the other party, just as i did when i was in the state legislature. but i think is also important that you not be a rubber-stamp for your party, that you'll be able to stand up to your own party when they think they are wrong, as i have done m

i spoke with george voinovich today. he is a guy who is looking to leave the united states senate. -- to lead the united states senate. i can defend each one of them as good, fiscally conservative pieces of legislation that helps to move our state for it. i will work with anybody, democrat, republican, independent, who wants to help me move ohio. the debt and deficit we have now is unfair to future generations. taxes are going up at year end on small businesses all over ohio, making it harder to create jobs. we see more burden with the deregulation. we have to give ohio employers more help. i will work with anybody who wants to work with me to help ohio and to help small business. >> thank you. >> i do believe it is very important that you work across the aisle and work with members of the other party, just as i did when i was in the state legislature. but i think is also important that you not be a rubber-stamp for your party, that you'll be able to stand up to your own party when they think they are wrong, as i have do

for you with a debate between candidates hoping to replace retiring republican ohio senator, george voinovich. that's live at 7:00 p.m. eastern here on c-span. and our coverage of campaign 2010 continues at 8:00 with three more debates. first, the race to be the next congressman from new hampshire's first district. an hour later the focus is the oregon governor's race. finally, we'll show you a debate between kentucky's next senator replacing retiring democrat christopher dodd. "the hill" newspaper today has a story about democrats fighting back against millions of dollars in ads spending by conservative friendly third party groups. the democrats believe threaten to drown out their campaign message for the coming midterm elections. senate finance committee chair democrat max baucus written a letter to the i.r.s. looking into groups for americans for prosperity and jobs security are in compliance with the federal tax code. the issue is whether the nonprofit groups are primarily engaged in political activity under federal law groups primary purpose cannot be political if they wish to maintain t

the candidates are running to replace retiring republican senator george voinovich. watch live coverage on c-span. next week, the supreme court begins its new term. you can learn more about the nation's highest court with c- span's latest book -- the supreme court. caen -- conversations with active and retired justices, reporters who cover the court, and attorneys who argued cases there. it is available in hardcover and also as an e-book. >> this weekend on c-span3, american history tv unveils the mysteries of the 18th century ship recently uncovered at the world trade center site. discovering what the presidential elections of 1824 and 1828 or not only important but also scandalous. after 90 years -- why the 19th ament