martin bashir up next and richard louie is filling in.about taking a first step that we find so compelling? is it because taking a step represents hope? or triumph? at genworth, we believe in taking small steps every day to keep your promises, protect what matters, and prepare for a secure financial future. no matter where you want to go, one step at a time is the only way to get there. go to genworth.com/promises. >> good afternoon. i'm richard louie. here's what's happening. just one week to go and the candid

i'm richard louie. here's what's happening.

. >>> richard louie for tamron hall. the new shape of the republican race in iowa. five days before the caucuses and a new time seen in polls showing mitt romney now leading the pack going ahead of ron paul and shows rick santorum surging into 30 place ahead of newt gingrich. the bottom three huntsman. here's what rick santorum said about his sudden surge. >> the people of iowa over the course of the last few months have been sizing up the candidates and looking for someone they can trust and go out thereç and fight the battl and be the sharp contrast to barack obama and now the folks are making that decision. they are coming to the guy that has the best and strongest record and land to get this country going. >> joining us now on the phone, peter alexander who is traveling with the new front-runner. when we take a look at this, the time poll big news. romney at the top. >> according to that poll with 25%, that's the same figure he wound up with in 2008. that was a devastating campaign losing to the candidate. this time around, it has been fracturing of the conserv

my colleague richard louie is here with a look at what's next. >> thank you.jumping 11 points in the new poll. can he maintain the surge past january 3rd? we will check in with our campaign across iowa and cutting ranks, the pentagon downsizes, reducing the number of generals and admirals for the first time since the gold war. live next on "news nation." that's good morning, veggie style. hmmm [ male announcer ] for half the calories -- plus veggie nutrition. could've had a v8. try bayer advanced aspirin. it has microparticles so it enters the bloodstream fast and rushes relief to the site of your tough pain. it's proven to relieve pain twice as fast as before. bayer advanced aspirin. and more. if you replace 3 tablespoons of sugar a day with splenda®, you'll save 100 calories a day. that could help you lose up to 10 pounds in a year. and now get even more with splenda® essentials, the only line of sweeteners with a small boost of fiber, or antioxidants, or b vitamins in every packet. just another reason why you get more... when you sweeten with splenda®. ♪ >>

i'm richard louie in for martin bashir. here's what's happening. 40 washington, eight lincolns and one obama. they don't think $40 is a lot of money. it can make all the difference in the world. >> the president stands his ground as republicans lose ground and the clock ticks. >> the best thing to happen is to get it over with. >> a lump of coal for 160 million americans. ba humbug. newt and mitt not exactly sharing the christmas spirit. >> we begin with politics. 'tis the season and the 2012 candidates are making a push to voters before the counts begin. we begin with politics in washington. very much hot to the touch with president obama indeed. the president staying behind while the first family vacations in hawaii. no island hospitality in the best way as the president delivered a message to house republicans about the tax cut about to expire. >> this is it. this is exactly why people get so frustrated with washington. this is not a tip bal democrat versus republican issue. this is an issue where an overwhelming number

. >>> i'm richard louie for tamron hall. the "news nation" is couping down. the final 100 hours to the start of the 2012 presidential vote. the leaderboard is still changing in this season. our poll out today shows mitt romney leads in iowa, but just barely. romney is favor by 23% of likely caucus goers and ron ball by 21 and rick santorum surging into 30 place at 15%. that's a nine-point gain in the last month. trailing we have rick perry at 14, newt gingrich at 13 and plunging 15 points in the last month. here's what front-runner mitt romney told andrea mitchell about his chances of winning on tuesday. >> i want to do well here. i don't think you can predict who will win in iowa. it's a state where you don't know who will come to the caucus and how they will make up their minds, but you hope to get to the delegates. >> let's start the statewide coverage with peter alexander who is covering the front-runner there. mitt romney is getting help from a popular governor who you have been watching who is considered even at one point to enter the gop race himself.

richard louie is in for martin bashir, he'll pick things up next. ello.cer ] great tasting tap water can come from any faucet anywhere. the brita bottle with the filter inside. yeah, our low prices are even lower. we need to teach her how to walk. she is taking up valuable cart space. aren't you, honey? [ male announcer ] it's our biggest clearance event of the year where our prices are even lower. save money. live better. walmart. >>> good afternoon. it is wednesday december 28th and here's what's happening. lucy, they're home. >> we all make mistakes,ç and sometimes our campaigns don't get done right. >> mitt stuffs it in newt's face. >> it's such a classic scene. >> i'll meet him anywhere in iowa for

happy new year to all of you and richard louie, happy new year to you too in for tamron hall. >> thankng a request to congress for a trillion dollar increase in the debt limit. the final 100 mitt romney and ron paul remain neck and neck and make a push for iowa. just four days until caucus day. we will tell you about an employer who is offering unlimited vacation as long as they get all of their work done. is this a good idea? it's our "news nation" gut check. oooh, what's her secret? [ male announcer ] dawn hand renewal with olay beauty. improves the look and feel of hands in just five uses. [ sponge ] soft, smooth... fabulous! [ male announcer ] dawn does more... [ sponge ] so it's not a chore. her morning begins with arthritis pain. that's a coffee and two pills. the afternoon tour begins with more pain and more pills. the evening guests arrive. back to sore knees. back to more pills. the day is done but hang on... her doctor recommended aleve. just 2 pills can keep arthritis pain away all day with fewer pills than tylenol. this is lara who chose 2 aleve and fewer pills for a day fr

richard ceasear and david louie reports on his life. family and friends gathered to honor dr. ceasear. >> very retiring type person. very modest. never bragged. never told you what he was doing. he was doing a lot of things. >> richard ceasear did a lot. he became a dent skbrift ran a practice 40 years. he supported worthy causes such as ymca. he was a life governor of the san francisco simp fony. but his service in the air force shaped his life. he was one of the first african americans to fly combat craft n a video he shared their oath. >> there is. >> there are scarce fully 100 tuskeegee airmen in service today. >> the doors open up for what we did in world war ii. and an opportunity became available. it was, now, they can go to school to do what middle americans can do. >> the airmen are. >> and and this makes the most of it, if you can. >> all of us should do that. >> yes. >> and our apologies with the tape on that report but he's remembered fondly for his sacrifice not only during the war but what he did in years since. remarkable. >> moving on to weather. >> you know we