but for 30 years, the berlin wall divided the mitte,

for setting up -- i'm still sticking with mitt romney. although he does have problems with the massachusetts health care. that's not going to hurt him in new hampshire i've got a feeling. he can appeal -- >> how about, a wall street guy? >> new hampshire people are very fiscally conscious and don't like a socialist program like that. but i think he can make the argument. and he's going to be hard to beat in new hampshire. if -- like pat buchanan surprised everybody by taking new hampshire. that could happen with sarah palin or huckabee. >> you could get a mitch daniels. chris: howard, who's got the best bet at winning the western division, the conservatives? >> sarah palin. chris: best bet. >> sarah palin. >> i'll say huckabee. >> between palin and huckabee i'll give the edge to palin. chris: let's go to the eastern division. we're talking traditional republican party. the club members. the fiscal conservatives. >> i was about to say the boast celtics. -- the boston celtics. i'll say it's not going to be romney. he's a weak frontrunner. c

the mitte, like berlin itself, is a study in contrasts. running eastward from the city's historic brandenburg gate is the unter den linden, berlin's imperial boulevard. the is the showplace of old berlin, the berlin of frederick the great, the 18th-century prussian king who commissioned many of the now-restored buildings. the name "unter den linden" means "under the lime trees." trees have always graced this boulevard except when hitler cut them down to better show off his goose-stepping army. so much of berlin is still defining itself, coming into being. it's all turmoil, excitement, and change. all over the mitte, restoration and revitalization bring berlin back to life-- like hackesche hofe, restored art deco courtyards with cafes, galleries and shops that reflect the tastes of the fashionable clientele. many of the buildings in this neighborhood have been restored to their 18th-century glory. down a side alley, i discovered an artist from the gallery monsterkabinett and, around the corner, one of their wild, mechanical creations. just

for setting up -- i'm still sticking with mitt romney. although he does have problems with the massachusetts health care. that's not going to hurt him in new hampshire i've got a feeling. he can appeal -- >> how about a wall street guy? >> new hampshire people are very fiscally conscious and don't like a socialist program like that. but i think he can make the argument. and he's going to be hard to beat in new hampshire. if -- like pat buchanan surprised everybody by taking new hampshire. that could happen with sarah palin or huckabee. >> you could get a mitch daniels. chris: howard, who's got the best bet at winning the western division, the conservatives? >> sarah palin. chris: best bet. >> sarah palin. >> i'll say huckabee. >> between palin and huckabee i'll give the edge to palin. chris: let's go to the eastern division. we're talking traditional republican party. the club members. the fiscal conservatives. >> i was about to say the boast celtics. -- the boston celtics. i'll say it's not going to be romney. he's a weak frontrunner. ch

as patricia and mitt romney founout in the 2008 race. he described himself as a lifelong hunter but then had to explain why he never held a hunting license. >> i'm not a bigame hunter. i've always been if you will a rodent and rabbit hunter, all right? small varmints if you will. chris: butome of the new face of the g.o.p. have more credibility. at least when it comes to small varmints. here's arkansas' mike huckabee on msnbc before the last south carolina primary. >> south carolina is a great place for me. and i know how to eat grits. and speak the language. and, you know, we even know how to talk about eating fried squirrel and stuff like that. and we are on the same wavelength. >> yummy. >> and you never did this. >> yeah. >> when i was in college. we used to take a popcorn popper, because that was the only thing they would let us use in the dorms and we would fry squirrel. in the dorm room. i bet you never did that. >> too much information. chris: wel, when we come back, talk about open sson. the new republican in charge of house inv

in-depth look at mitt romney and a possible second presidential run. live from the studio in washington, this is "special report." good evening, i'm bret baier. the activity level has risen significantly in washington with the return of congress for its lame duck session and the influx of next year's freshman class. productivity remains to be seen. chief political correspondent carl cameron looks at people and perspective, old and new, starting with attitude adjustment from the senate top republican. >> day one on capitol hill. in the wake of the g.o.p.'s 2010 midterm gain and republican majority leader mitch mcconnell says he's listening. he reversed years of opposition to support two-year moratorium on the so-called earmarks. >> banning earmarks is another small but important symbolic step we can take to show we're serious. another step on the way to serious and sustained cuts and spending and to debt. >> the white house on fox news sunday signalled support for ending earmarks. the shady spending projects that bypass committees but end up hidden in b

it would be a much bigger story if mitt romney said he was not running.ome type of a formal announcement some time in the first quarter of next year. if you wait until march, that means you aren't necessarily judged by how much money you raise in those first three months. >> there's another factor in here. that is the sarah palin factor, because she flirts, she's on again, off again. here's the latest, a "new york times" magazine piece. robert draper, he quotes palin, i'd like to bring in more people, more people who are trustworthy. i know that's a hurdle i would have to cross that some other potential candidates wouldn't have to cross right out of the chute is proving my record. that's the most frustrating thing for me. the warped and perverted description of my record and what i've accomplished over the last two decades. she would wait until the very end, and when i say end, probably fall of 2011. is that having an impact on the rest of this field? >> it is having an impact. everyone is sort of wondering what she's doing. no one can wait as long as she

. >> mitt romney is certain to run.f all the candidates he's the most certain to run. >> bret: in 2008 mitt romney was running second before dropping out when it became clear john mccain would be the nominee. he has republican presidential politics in his blood. his father george, auto executive was governor of michigan who ran for president in 1968, but lost to richard nixon. after amassing a reported 200 million dollar fortune on wall street, mitt in 1994, unsuccessfully challenged massachusetts incumbent senator ted kennedy. in 1999, romney took over a scandal-plagued salt lake city olympic committee and turned the 2002 winter games into commercial success. the next year he ran for massachusetts governor and won. his signature achievement as governor, legislation that extended health care coverage to everyone in massachusetts, by employing an array of financial carrots and sticks such as tax penalties if you didn't buy insurance. romneycare one of his main selling points when he ran for president in 2008. >> getting

. >> mitt romney is certain to run.he candidates he's the most certain to run. >> bret: in 2008 mitt romney was running second before dropping out when it became clear john mccain would be the nominee. he has republican presidential politics in his blood. his father george, auto executive was governor of michigan who ran for president in 1968, but lost to richard nixon. after amassing a reported 200 million dollar fortune on wall street, mitt in 1994, unsuccessfully challenged massachusetts incumbent senator ted kennedy. in 1999, romney took over a scandal-plagued salt lake city olympic committee and turned the 2002 winter games into commercial success. the next year he ran for massachusetts governor and won. his signature achievement as governor, legislation that extended health care coverage to everyone in massachusetts, by employing an array of financial carrots and sticks such as tax penalties if you didn't buy insurance. romneycare one of his main selling points when he ran for president in 2008. >> getting our fre

but what is remarkable that in each of these sum mitts, we actually made real progress. sometimes the progress -- charting the progress requires you to go back and look at previous sum mitts starting off with let's say on financial regulatory reform. in toronto we said here is what we need to do. let's have this ready by the time we get to seoul. it wasn't real sexy in toronto and nobody wrote about it, but it moved the ball forward in terms of a coordinated response to financial regulation. i met reform. it is something the united states says we need to get done. and in previous sum mitts we said we are going to find a way to get that done and low and behold here we are at the summit and we actually achieved what is a hiewmg shift in how power is assigned at these international financial institutions. the work that we do here is not always going to seem dramatic. it is not going to be immediately world changing. but step by step what we are doing is building stronger international mechanisms and institutions that will help stabilize the economy and ensure economic growt

mitt romney and mike huckabee. the quinnipiac poll shows obama beating sarah palin.to bring in our company. if president obama is in a statistical dead heat with anyone, it's mitt and mike hu huckab huckabee. are you shocked by that? >> i'm actually not. if you're mitt romney and you've been preparing for this for a long time you'd be upset if you weren't ahead of president obama, given where the economy is, where the president's approval ratings. remember, i think two years out before an election is a shifting out period with the economy right now. i'm not surprise by that. with mitt romney the only thing he'd be upset about he didn't have a bigger lead over obama. >> is that the surprising i thing, he should have a bigger lead given the economy? >> he's not been in the spotlight for a couple of years. it's a question of jobs. the thing that will hurt romney is happening in florida and it's a case brought against the health care reform. one of the amicus briefs filed there quoted romney on the day he signed his massachusetts bill and it basically said, he criticized

and of course mitt romney like everybody else is going to be under pressure to get the unofficial beck endorsement. so it didn't get as -- there's some discomfort in that, but also beck has appeared to be huge, i don't know if there reliables, but when he talks about his recovery from alcoholism and his love of the mormon church. so there's two sides of that relationship as well. >> where the question right there. >> said to's rally seemed rather subdued to his television show. was that intentional? is he setting up something on the left insane i'm not that bad, but this rally. >> no, you're correct that it was very different from his message, but it was for very practical reasons and that was the event was being run by a nonprofit that takes care of the families of wounded or fallen troops. so if he had gone out there and giving his usual message, that charity would have it status in jeopardy. sobek is -- and i think i mean this in a good way is really an opportunist. so here are the constraints he has. what could be due? and he turned it into this very powerful sort of religious mome

and of course mitt romney like everybody else is going to be under pressure to get the unofficial beck endorsement. so it didn't get as -- there's some discomfort in that, but also beck has appeared to be huge, i don't know if there reliables, but when he talks about his recovery from alcoholism and his love of the mormon church. so there's two sides of that relationship as well. >> where the question right there. >> said to's rally seemed rather

he would beat mitt romney, top mike huckabee by the 49-44.s run sarah palin for newt gingrich president obama's lead widens to 11. he would beat palin 51-40, gingrich 52-41. "hardball" back after this. >> we're back. as the fight over new airport screening continues some pilots are speaking out against them including captain chesley "sully" sullenberger. here he is today. >> airline pilots do have concerns about the screening procedures. first, they are not an effective efficient use of our limited resources. i think we need to do a better job of taking a risk-based approach. i think since airline pilots are already the last line of defense in defending the cockpit against those who might use it for ill and since we're very trusted partners in this important security process, i think we need to be treated as such. and we already have the means if the tsa would choose to use it and implement it nationwide to quickly identify and verify each pilot's identity, to verify their current employment status, and that would go a long way to be much mor

then the east coast, the establishment, mitt romney types. if she is knocked out for that conservative bracket by huckabee, she's out of the game. if she wins that, she's in it to the end, right? >> i think what she's got, she went down into delaware and got behind an unknown and got her to beat in the primary, the most popular republican in the state. she can do what fdr did not do, knock people off in her own party. let me finish. she's got legs in this sense. she can last through defeats and keep going. very few others can keep going. >> let's look at the people -- >> she still has to campaign on her own. going in and giving her -- >> if you ever doubt there's a republican establishment, wash barbara bush. >> what's your read about sarah palin? >> i sat next to her once, thought she was beautiful and i think she's very happy in alaska and i hope she'll stay there. >> i like the nonreaction from george herbert walker. >> who ever thought the barbara bush would be the voice of the american public. she's more in sync with people than pat is.

she also praises mitt romney a mormon.writes, where kennedy seemed to want to run away from religion, mitt romney embraced it. in her book, palin slams the president and first lady for mrs. obama's remark during the 2008 campaign, that it was the first time she felt proud of her country. palin writes, i guess this shouldn't surprise us, since both spent almost two decades in the pews of the reverend jeremiah wright's church. palin got a court order this weekend, pulling down pages of the book posted on the website gawker. but not before some material leaked. all this will probably help sales, but will that translate into votes if palin decides to run for president. barbara bush was blunt with lk. >> i think she's very happy in alaska and i hope she'll stay there. >> if you ran for president, would you beat barack obama? >> i believe so. >> reporter: other republican hopefuls are viewing palin more nervously, worrying how high she might aim. andrea mitchell, nbc news, washington. >>> when we continue here tonight, what this

pretty amazing behind the scenes access. >> reporter: this is not a presidential election year, but mittning. well, at least hurrying to catch an airplane. two years ago, he was the runner up for the republican nomination. there was a campaign plane and a whole lot of aides and now you're walking through airports dragging your bag. it's different, right? >> this is the way normal life is. >> reporter: this year, he's campaigning in 25 states in two months. flying coach, by the way, despite his several hundred million dollar fortune. too cheap to pay for business class? >> yeah, unless you're going the long distance, or if there's a real reason for it. like if i have ann with me. >> reporter: his wife ann wasn't with him. just me. there is a reason why you're cramming yourself into the coach seat here? >> well, there are a lot of races that are very, very close. >> reporter: on this day, it was lunch with senate candidate ken buck in colorado. and dinner with susanna martinez for governor in new mexico. not to mention mcdonald's. even the air train. >> i hope you will vote for my friend m

sarah palin would be the bold choice, mitt romney the safe choice.e is a pop his who smooth style. despite a lack of money, the former arkansas governor is certainly a contender. newt gingrich is a wild card. a brilliant man but like sarah palin his negatives have very high and his style slash and burn. speaker also might have trouble raising money because he has a lot of baggage. as with governor palin the media would savage him with personal attacks. factor believes another republican will emerge there are a number of governors and senators may want to run. keep that in mind the next nominee might not even be on the radar yet. that's the memo. now for the top story tonight. dick morris believes president obama might get a primary challenge within his own party. let's bring in the purveyor of dick morris.com to evaluate the republicans and the democrats. what does the gallup poll tell you. >> well, i agree with you about romney. i think he is going to have a very difficult time getting nominated because of health care reform. that one issue has come

. >>> and coming up, mitt romney tweets a shout out to sarah palin the day before her book is releasedat he said. and we've got a new poll that takes a look at what palin's chances are if she goes one-on-one with president obama. plus dozens of workers trapped in a flooded mine are finally free. the news nation back after a quick break. [ sneezes ] client's here. whoa! that achy cold needs alka-seltzer plus! it rushes multiple cold fighters, plus a powerful pain reliever, wherever you need it! [ both ] ♪ oh what a relief it is! >>> welcome back. palin predictions. does the former governor stand a chance in a presidential runoff against president obama that took place today? >>> plus hollywood insiders gathered to say good-bye to a very famous publicist gunned down. >>> and new details on the atlanta megachurch pastor accused of sexual misconduct. there is word that the lawsuit could be coming to a close. and another pastor warned his congregation face book could lead to adultery. wait until you hear why he's offering to step down. >>> surprising news about president obama's chances for

but, still, mitt romney and others are concerned that if she gets in the field that she can win it. because she, at this point, she can really bring out the base. people love her. even though we haven't gotten to any discussion about policy or solutions or ways to sort of change this country. >> jay, did you see anything in the tlc show that that surprised you having covered her as closely as have. >> no that's sort classic pale wlin i was up there with her in alaska up in dillingham. i went without her fishing and that's just very much her. she reallyu know she lights up when she talks about alaska. she loves talking about alaska. when you sit down to interview her it's a complete dr. jekyll and mr. hide. what do you want to know? but in alaska she loves talking about taken she'll talk about it until she turns blue in the face. >> interesting to read the full -- the totality of what comes out on "the times" on sunday. thank you norah o'donnell, thank you jay newton-small, appreciate your time. >>> some of the republican parents' rising stars are their governor and despite{ electora

if mitt romney doesn't get the nomination your first appointment should be mitt romney.n: we are starting to hear the name marco rubio. he has barely been elected to the senate out much florida. he's a rising star in the republican party web is hispanic, a self-made man. if he ran he would be in the office in the senate for th -- r the same amount of time as president obama. >> * he's th he's the phenom ofs party. he may be a player. whether he gets the nomination i don't know at this point in time. who was his biggest backer? jeb bush. megyn: what do you think 6 tim pawlenty. >> he needs a charisma shot. he needs charisma. that's one thing that tim pawlenty is looking. and most of these people the best thing they can do and sit down and watch ronald reagan's speech severe. you have barack obama and bill clinton used to watch ronald reagan speeches to learn how to deliver a speech to get people on your side. the republicans running would do well to watch ronald reagan speeches. another problem they have is they are trying to out reaganesque each other. if they do that in

he would beat mitt romney, top mike huckabee by the 49-44.ans run sarah palin for newt gingrich president obama's lead widens to 11. he would beat palin 51-40, gingrich 52-41. "hardball" back after this. last year. (oof). i had a bum knee that needed surgery. but it got complicated, because i had an old injury. so i wanted a doctor who had done this before. and unitedhealthcare's database helped me find a surgeon. you know you can't have great legs, if you don't have good knees. we're 78,000 people looking out for 70 million americans. that's health in numbers. unitedhealthcare. >> we're back. as the fight over new airport screening continues some pilots are speaking out against them including captain chesley "sully" sullenberger. here he is today. >> airline pilots do have concerns about the screening procedures. first, they are not an effective efficient use of our limited resources. i think we need to do a better job of taking a risk-based approach. i think since airline pilots are already the last line of defense in defending the cockpit

. >>> the former massachusetts governor and 2008 presidential hopeful, mitt romney is adjusting his 2012ampaign timeline. >> he held a conference call forces -- with his top financial supporters. he will not be able to raise money until the -- until closer to the 2012 election. he will not need to spend the kind of cash as he did in the 2008 race. kind of cash as he did in the 2008 race. >>> coming up tonight at 11:00 p.m., you will not believe why a district woman was given a big parking ticket during a snowstorm. "7 is on your side" comes to her rescue. the case of the snow ticket at 11:00 p.m. >>> i am going to give you my four cats. take a look at the weekend for gas. near 60 tomorrow. the-50's on sunday. increasing cloudiness. it looks like rain could be an issue as we had to tuesday night, wednesday, and thursday. when say is the big trouble day. possibly some light snow in the upper-midwest. we will keep a close eye on that. >> we thank you for that. abc world news coming up next. when my husband got sick and couldn't work anymore, it was up to me to support our family. karri dann

martha: you used to work for mitt romney, do you still support him? >> you know, i don't support anyone at this point. it's pretty early. you have to see who's going to get in and what kind of organization, message people want, we're going to be putting together. i think you have to look at who has the ability to put together the kind of organization you need in a president, so mitt romney would be at the very top of that list, i think his credibility on economic issues, had the economy been more of an issue than foreign affairs in the last election, i think mitt romney would have been the nominee. martha: we will never know the answer to that question but we're going to find out this time around. david, do you think that sarah palin could beat barack obama? >> i don't think at this time she can say that and prove it. here's the problem. everybody's picking the winner and personalities. let's look at the skill sets and be pragmatists, who can win the election across the country. that's not going to be determined for another year, or at least we're not

mitt romney's got 18%. mike huckabee very strong at 17%. newt at 15% and pawlenty down there at what 6%. what i'm impressed by as a poll watcher and completely believe will in what they are. look at,looks right now. huckel chuckle is so strong, he's within -- basically within the margin of error with nowhere the name of the idea of these other two people. is he really a contender is this really a three-way fight right. >> you mike huckabee and sarah palin have one thing that none of the others have, they have followings, chris. >> yes. >> huckabee's got a tremendous following among the christians. he won the iowa caucuses. >> sarah. wasn't he a reverend. >> i think that he was. >> he was. >> he says i'm not only agree of you but i'm of you. >> once a reverend always a reverend but changed. >> i think that he dropped it and i think that you're still a reverend but let me say this, if you go into iowa, sarah palin's got the tea party she would have with her, she would have the christians with her. and i think she's got the right -- >> the chr

obama would beat mitt romney 48 to 43, top mike huckabee by the nearly same score of 49-44.f republicans run sarah pail on newt gingrich, president obama's lead widens to 11. he would beat palin 51-40, gingrich, 52-41. "hardball" back after this. sovereign of the security line. you never take an upgrade for granted. and you rent from national. because only national lets you choose any car in the aisle. and go. you can even take a full-size or above. and still pay the mid-size price. i deserve this. [ male announcer ] you do, business pro. you do. go national. go like a pro. old legs. p.a.d., the doctor said. p-a-d... p.a.d. isn't just poor circulation in your legs causing you pain. it more than doubles your risk of a heart attack or stroke. i was going to tell you. if you have p.a.d., plavix can help protect you from a heart attack or stroke. plavix helps keep blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots, the cause of most heart attacks and strokes. call the doctor about plavix -- please? i will. [ male announcer ] certain genetic factors and some medicines such

>> i get the sense that mitt romney is going to try one more time. regardless of who the star canandaigua might -- the star candidates might be, you have to deal with the fact that sarah palin and mitt romney and who knows, mike huckabee. we will have to see how that plays into it. >> it seems like it will be more like a traditional democratic primary with some people running in some people favorites and some are outsiders. and sometimes the outsiders like jimmy carter win, and others have ups and downs and people go ahead and then mike deane and foster -- and then like carrying and foster. republicans are ludicrously boring. [laughter] mcginn if the nomination and then -- reagan wins the nomination after running the first time. reagan beats bush and then bush gets the nomination. i sort of have the instinct that in the post-obama, in his defeat of clinton, and in this post-tea party and this new era that we are in, how does not feel like republicans keep wanting to nominate the next in line. also, there is no clear next in line. is sarah palin the n

mitt romney would defeat mr. obama. mike huckabee would try the president -- tie the president. >>> metro plans to boost service to help people traveling to and from our area airports this thanksgiving. metrobus will have additional buses on standby to serve bwi, marshall, and dulles and if the trains will operate on a sunday schedule from 7:00 a.m. through midnight on thanksgiving. on friday the trains will run on a regular beat the schedule -- normal weekday schedule. >> some sales popping up across the region. >> flash sales. the region. >> flash sales. >>> tuesday morning, another warm morning, but we don't have the thick fog we had yesterday. there are areas of patchy fog. clear skies overhead. a bright moon. there's a cold front in the west, lee into west virginia and the pittsburgh area. in the shenandoah valley is will we will have shall always around lunchtime. it is going to be warm with high temperatures in the 60's today, upper 60's in spots. tomorrow, cooler and behind the cold front in the 50's. a chance o

then mitt romney, huckabee.ut let's wait for the real sizzle in the stakeak. iowa and new hampshire. these are national, name recognition numbers. interestingly, sarah palin has not put very much distance between those others and she was by far the most visible republican in this midterm cycle. that means those other three are nipping at her heels we learned from hillary clinton's experience in 2008, big, national numbers can evaporate quickly. >> if you're a mitt romney or one of these others that can get in the race, do you think they're just hoping that sarah palin gets in it so she can be treated equally, like a real candidate. have to go to the forums, the debate opposed to always being talked about, but not facing the same level of test. >> there was one republican on the list who wants her at the debates more than any other. that's newt gingrich. i think he relishes the idea of challenges every republican on the give and take of debate, but would relish the debate of sarah palin. >> a few republicans have

. >>> right now president obama just arrived in seoul, south korea for two economic sum mitts. he arrived just moments ago e. he is in the middle of a ten-day asia tip tripp that began in india. he made a quick stop in indonesia. before they go on to japan after the economic meetings there. last night the president visited the largest mosque in southeast asia. the president said it s under construction when he was six years old and living in jakarta. the president al delivered a speech at the university of indosia. >> i made it clear america will never be at war with islam. we must work together to defeat al qaeda a its leaders. >> the president left jakarta a few hours sooner than planned because of concerns over a deadly ash clouds. >>> the trial of the killing of chandra levy will resumtoday. witnesses may include prison inmates who say ingmar guandique confessed to killing levy. her body was found not until year later. the trial is expected to wrap up before thanksgiving. >>> a campus says good-bye to a beloved professor. last night a vigil was held for a vigil for professo

mitt romney has been a businessman.is a clear outsider with a decisive and distinctive message. those are the kind of criteria that will make a difference this year. >> greta: terms of things that are fatal your record can be fatal. whenever i hear governor romney the first thing i think is massachusetts health care. if that is important to the extent the massachusetts health care mirrors the national, i think how does he sell himself on that? >> that's the great unanswered question of the upcoming campaign. how does governor romney morph himself into an opponent of the obama health care plan when his own plan was effectively a model for the national plan, that which he did in massachusetts? >> greta: how about a sleeper candidate? we have a list people who use the same names over and over. anyone out there could sneak up and seize the nomination? >> i mentioned chris christie. how about chris christie and marco rubio or marco rubio and chris christie on a message of americans exceptionalism, fiscal prudence and fresh f

we like mitt romney.know him well and like him very much. >> larry: more in your -- in keeping with the bush political stance. >> don't want to kill him off. >> larry: middle of the road? >> he's a reasonable guy. conservative fellow, which is good. but, no, i think he'd be a good president, very good president. >> larry: do you have a favorite? >> i'll go with george. mitt romney. i like a lot of them. but i like people who feel that you can respect other people's ideas. i like that a lot. >> larry: respect is not popular in america. >> no. >> we don't know them all. you've got pawlenty out from the midwest. i don't know him. never met him. everybody says he's a wonderful person. >> we like the governor of louisiana. >> haley barbour. >> and the governor of mississippi. i like louisiana and mississippi. >> bobby jindal. >> there's just a lot of people who are voices of reason. i think of jeb as a voice of reason. >> larry: what do you think of president obama? >> well, he's been very pleasant to me perso

. >> if i'm mitt romney, do i want her getting in this and there will be other conservatives in it.that pie. >> i think i'm terrified at the idea of a sarah palin candidacy because she's really a base whisperer. she speaks to theç base in a w he doesn't and cannot. and she's -- i think she's the 800-pound gorilla in the race until she gives into it and the others are going to be waiting to see what she does. >> i guess i'm thinking if she gets in, she splits that conservative vote with newt, maybe huckabee. >> look, i think it's a great point. certainly huckabee won in iowa last time. if palin's in there, they could split the vote and that would benefit someone like romney who may be a more establishment choice, whatever you want to call it. i think that's one calculation. but still, mitt romney and others are concerned that if she gets in the field, she can win it because at this point, she can really bring out the base. people love her. even though we haven't gotten to discussion about policy or solutions. >> jay, did you see anything in the tlc show that surprised you? >> no. th

when it is palin versus the other republicans, she beats mitt romney, mike huckabee and newt gingrichls, haley bar bower, john thune all mentioned in this poll is that surprising she tops the list? >> you can't dismiss her. a lot of positives for her, big crowds, lots of enthusiasm, great following. the negatives for her. she could win a republican primary. she absolutely could win a republican primary. we have seen her play in republican primaries during this 2010 election. a general election is a different story. one of the big issues for her, number one, they are looking squarely at her negatives, particularly her negatives among independents. she is jun siupside down with t public at large and among independents. that's something in a general election a candidate has to do, win over independents and mod rots. could she win the general election? it's an uphill battle. why? because people look at that number on her negatives, especially with independents. >> dominico, thank for filling in the gaps. let's bring in norah o'donnell. she has a new book coming out. will that do anything

we may end up with a republican like mitt romney or mitch daniels. they are looking at those governors as well. i quote the vice president talking about how some of those governors have taken recovery money and they are going to be railing against obama's economic policies. they see openings where maybe the polls don't show it. >> the polls show a dead heat, obama versus romney. a dead heat, obama verse su huckabee. a 48-40 over sarah palin. >> let me play a little bit more of barbara bush, who with former president bush, bush 41, was on "larry king live" and asked about sarah palin. >> what's your read about sarah palin? >> well, i sat next to her once, thought she was beautiful and i think she is very happy in alaska and i hope she will stay there. >> she never disappoints, barbara bush. that's why everyone loves barbara bush. she says what she thinks. this is a palin moment because it is all coming together. the tlc reality series and also reports about what she has said about other people, including michelle obama. >> two years is an extremely lo

and republican hopeful john robitaille gets a boost from mitt romney. and a reminder, diane sawyer and george stephanopoulos will provide full election results right here on abc. you can also follow our election coverage on facebook. >>> in other news now, the man behind some of the most mem orable words in american politics has died. president kennedy's speechwriter ted torinson passed away at a new york hospital yesterday after complications from a stroke. he eventually became a pole adviser and close confidant. and kennedy referred to sorensen as, quote, his informational blood bank. >>> u.s. officials are checking to see if more bombs were involved. we're learning this morning that the terrorists came dangerously close to executing their plot and for part of the trip, the explosive were actual by aboard passenger jets. emily schmidt joins from us washington with more. >> reporter: good morning to you. u.s. homeland security officials say they now have a two-prong challenge to get to the bottom of this threat and see what else they may be facing. u.s

but mitt romney would beat mr. obama and mike huckaby would tie with the president. most people believe the president does not deserve a second term in office. >>> one person will return to washington after his promotion within the catholic church. heroize at dulles airport where he will speak about the cardinal. -- he will arrive at dulles airport. >>> the gunmen in the murder of brian betts will be sentenced tomorrow. he pleaded guilty to a first- degree murder charge. the principal was found inside his home in april. detectives believe he entered an internet chat line with the intent of robbing him. several other people are also charged. >>> the fbi says the number of hate crimes is falling sharply. about 6600 hate crime incidents were reported last year. 60% of the offenders were white and 20% were black. this coincides with a decline in prime's across the u.s.. >>> lawmakers have approved what could be the toughest measures to fight school bullying. it requires anti-bullying programs in public schools. this follows the suicide of a freshman in september. he kill

the book highlights some of her heroes, including ronald reagan and mitt romney and questions the president's patriotism concluding he has a stark lack of faith in the american people. she also attacks hillary clinton for what she calls her, quote, bra-burning militancy. she will begin her book tour in phoenix and visit texas oklahoma and swingtates like ohio and indiana but avoid blue states >> pope benedict is also out with a new book. the popehe church, the son and the times h sparked international interest because of the pope's comments about condoms. in the book, male prostitutes using condoms could represent a first step in assuming moral responsibility when it comes to stopping the spread of aids >> new catholic cardinal donal whirl will leave rome and return to washington today. whirl was one of 24 new cardinals t only one of two from the united states. on thursday, he will celebrate thanksgiving mass at noon in washington. >> d.c. is dealing with a half billion dollar budget deficit. because of that, vincent gray warned major budget cuts are coming. gray delivered tough news saying n