mark shields, michael gerson. >> ifill: as we've been reporting the major developments of this super tuesday mitt romney was projected the winner in virginia and vermont annuity gingrich won in georgia. ohio remained too close to call. president obama charged that republican critics of his iran policy are beating the drums of war but don't understand the costs of war. and stocks fell on new doubts about greece meeting its bailout deadlines. the dow industrials lost more than 200 points. you can check out our website for the latest political news and much more. hari sreenivasan has that. >> sreenivasan: on our world page, we look at tibetans burning themselves to prote china's rule. also there, read about a topic at the aipacummit thatidn't grab headlines, the israeli- palestinian peace process. plus, on the rundown, gardeners share their thoughts on the u.s.d.a.'s new plant-hardiness zone map, a guide to which species can survive in winter. all that and more is on our web site, newshour.pbs.org. judy? >> woodruff: and that's the newshour for tonight. on wednesday, we'll look at the p

that's syndicated columnist mark shields and "washington post" columnist michael gerson. gentlemen, good to see you on this very important day. mark, the polls are closing in just about 10 minutes in virginia, in georgia, and in vermont. but let's talk about what's at stake for these candidates and start with romney. what does he need to have happen today. >> mitt romney needs this to be over. when asked which political party do you think does a better job of reach beyond its own hard core supporters to people not in that select group, it's 55% democrats, 26% republicans. that is a direct consequence of this primary where they've been debating really a very narrow range of issues of very conservative concern, not of general concern to most voters. that's a problem for mitt romney. he's just got to score victories tonight and move that this process be over. >> woodruff: what would you add to that? >> it will be interesting how much a few thousand votes' difference could make for mitt romney in ohio. if he wins ohio he will look like a comeback kid. he came back in florida.

and now for some closing thoughts from mark shields and david girsch and mark shields and michael gerson, i will get it right, .. mark, we heard stu rothenberg say it is going to be a long slog. if it is that, then what does -- if you are mitt romney what do you see tonight that is a help to you? what do you see that makes it tough as a challenge? >> i guess you see, the help is that you are that much closer to the end of the race, that you are still ahead, you have got twice as many votes from people who have gone to the polls, than anybody else in the race, and i guess you would be grateful, judy that newt gingrich is still in the race, because the possibility or the prospect of running one on one, given as you mentioned the 41 percent that ron paul got in the state of virginia today, which is sort of irreducible minimum of the people who just will turn out to vote against mitt romney, then if he were on a one-on-one race with just about anybody right now he would be in trouble but the fact he has three other candidates still pursuing, the nonromney part of the party, i think the worst

believe by michael gerson, who is now an op-ed columnist for the "washington post."and the congress -- by the way come you see this in my film. we leave the congressional debate on giving bush permission to invade iraq. only 23 senators voted no and the house and the senate both stood up good many members have been read the talking points. a gun smokes after it has been fired. the longer we wait, the worse it becomes, the more dangerous he becomes. john mccain said that. the longer we wait, the more dangerous. you could feel the heart age of the nation began to be faster as the web for war and this president took this nation by the year and walked right into the sword. the last gentleman calling is where i think more americans are rising up finally and i think it's going to be tough for her to go to war. it is always easy, but i think it is getting tougher with these horrible mistake. >> host: our guess is creator and host of the train to show, one of the early talk shows to change the conversation in the way talk shows go in america. he focused on controversial issu