rob nelson has the story. >> reporter: a mansur ofing in the waters north of santa barbara was killed. witnesses say the 39-year-old was bitten in the upper torso while surfing with a friend. >> pulled him out of the water and immediately begun cpr. >> reporter: the fire department responded to the scene but it was too late. >> the coroner's office recovered the body we'll do the full investigation to determine where the subject was bit, any injuries that were inflicted. >> was a really good surfer. >> reporter: there had been frequent shark sightings off the coast of this beach over the last several months. >> beaches are closed the hunt is on for a killer shark. >> reporter: this incident parks -- marks the second fatal attack on this beach in the past two years. in october 201019-year-old college student was killed when a great white appeared out of nowhere and pulled him under. >> water is unpredictable. there's too many sharks out here, that's my opinion. i wouldn't dare go in. >> could be a breeding ground for sharks, you never know something is here they like. >> reporter: rob

rob nelson has the story. >> reporter: a mansur ofing in the waters north of santa barbara was killedwitnesses say the 39-year-old was bitten in the upper torso while surfing with a friend. >> pulled him out of the water and immediately begun cpr. >> reporter: the fire department responded to the scene but it was too late. >> the coroner's office recovered the body we'll do the full investigation to determine where the subject was bit, any injuries that were inflicted. >> was a really good surfer. >> reporter: there had been frequent shark sightings off the coast of this beach over the last several months. >> beaches are closed the hunt is on for a killer shark. >> reporter: this incident parks -- marks the second fatal attack on this beach in the past two years. in october 201019-year-old college student was killed when a great white appeared out of nowhere and pulled him under. >> water is unpredictable. there's too many sharks out here, that's my opinion. i wouldn't dare go in. >> could be a breeding ground for sharks, you never know something is here they like. >> reporter: rob ne

i'm rob nelson. actually not my favorite day of the week. >> yeah. >> oh, sarcasm. >> she is quick tonight. >> always a little slow on mondays. paula faris. the latest on how candidates are tweaking strategies for their second debate. >> first a look at some of the other stories we will follow this half-hour. a death-defying plunge to earth, 883 miles an hour, unbelievable, with a parachute to break his fall. how felix baumgartner managed to cheat death. a picture-perfect free fall and landing. look at that moment right there. he did it shattering the world record. unbelievable. people were riveted to the video over the weekend. >> can't imagine free falling over 4 minutes. >> at almost 900 miles an hour. felix, hats off, you are braver than most, my friend. >>> also this half-hour, going to bring you the story of a mother in texas who is currently serving life for killing her foster child. why she says she did not do it. of course this is going to be the topic of discussion all day on the "katie" sh

i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm paula faris.denver to begin our coverage of last night's debate and tell you why big bird -- yes -- big bird was part of the discussion. >> there were a lot of light moments last night. i think big bird the thing, emerging as a moment of levity, but a symbol too for something else as well. interesting. >> clinging on to that big old yellow bird. >>> then a frightening medical scare in several states. how do so many hospital patients come down with a brain disease and what caused this unusual illness? >>> also this morning, who punked ashton kutcher? the hoax that had police swarming the actor's home. and why nobody is laughing. >>> later this half hour, we have featured extreme eats, all week, i can't button my jacket. today serving up an early morning sweet treat from new yorkers who have mastered the art of donut making. anything you can fry is good by me. >> amen to that. donuts this morning. breakfast of champions. that's what i'm talking about. >>> we turn to the big news of the morning. the

i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm paula faris.e rough ride on wall street wland could be ahead in the next couple of days, also the next coupling of weeks. >>> also this half hour, shock and grief in a small new jersey town. first a young girl is murdered, and now police have arrested two neighbors, teenaged brothers. the new details of how they're accused of luring her. >> and how the boys' mother plaved a pivotal role in the case. but that's a tragedy on every level. >>> then this morning caffeine concern. those hypercaffeinated energy drinks are now under the microscope, possibly even linked to several deaths some of how much is too much and who needs to be worried. you know, we survive here with caffeine on the overnight, not necessarily the hardcore stuff, but we have more than our fair share. >> i buy monster drinks in bulk at costco all the time. >> do you really? >> mm-hmm. >> monster? >> hmm hmm. >> whoa. >> it never makes me shaky though. coffee does. that's why i prefer it. it may explain a couple of things. >>> later,

not even close. >> i am rob nelson. 29 days and counting now. we'll get the latest from the campaign trail including a star-studded obama event in just a moment. also coming up this morning, the nationwide men kwraoupb skwraoeutious outbreak spreads as the number of cases rises and more people affected and more people died in all this and we will have the new toll from the contaminated injections. >>> so what happened when jon stewart and bill o'reilly duked it out in their big debate? kind of doing what other candidates were not able to do during the real debate. >> clash of the tightens there. >>> and ben affleck's biggest hit. he hits a car and leaves a note, and how nice, we'll tell you what he wrote. when you have that kind of money, here's my info. >> you can take out my minivan anytime you want, ben. >> you are a fan, huh? >> yeah, but i want to get the upgrade. >> courtesy of ben? >>> and obama and romney on opposite sides of the country. >>> this morning a. new gallop poll showing a tighter race after the debate. the president is up by

i rob nelson. (bell rings) hi. yes? you know those delicious granola bunches in honey bunches of oats? i love those. we've added more to every box. really? wow! honey bunches of oats. make your day bunches better. >> and a drive hit deep to left field. it's gone! >> the shot heard around the capital. jayson werth blasting the nationals on to the decisive win for the walk-off-home-run against st. louis last night that. there he is crossing the plate. that seal it it and ensure them of a game 5 tonight. john gonzalez will have much more in a live report in just a couple minutes. >> now it comes down to tonight for the nationals and cardinals. there's going to be a lot of interest in santa francisco in the outcome here. >> and principal completing an impossible -- probablimprobable victory. catcher buster posey getting a grand slam. in new york, drama. >> the orioles and yankees went to extra innings. the orioles came out on top this time. a run in the 13th inning. the birds win 2-1. there will be a sudden-death series fin

i'm rob nelson. >> i'm paula faris. as hurricane sandy will be slamming into the east coast, but its impact is going to be felt across the country. as everything from air travel to the federal government to the stock market is shut down. in the calm before the storm. an eerie silence in times square with mass transit across new york city halted. ahead of the hurricane. not just mass transit, bus, light rail, amtrak on the east coast, airlines, the city is for all intents and purposes shut down. >> nothing, nothing going on. the scope of the storm is just incredible. forecasters expect high altitude wind to whip through every state east of the mississippi. and as people prepare now to go days without power, we'll have the best advice for coping with the storm and also, staying safe in the aftermath. >> weep were discussing that. that's the worst part. losing power. you want to take a shower. you want to eat. you want to get out of the house you can't. >> trapped. the worst part for so many. >> can't charge your iphone. >

. >> rob nelson is off this morning. we well have debate preparation and predictions coming up. >>> this half-hour, a solemn moment in the longest war, u.s. troop deaths in afghanistan have reached a grim milestone. >> then, eye-popping new numbers about kids and television. you are going to be surprised just how many hours they take in every day, even babies glued to the tube. and you know, i know in our home it's on just as background as well. >> i watched so much tv. so when i see the reports i say, i seem to be doing all right. >> well, you know. >> yeah, may be debatable. later, if it is monday morning must be time to recap nfl sunday action along with how we did with our picks. paula is rocking by the way. just tell you how you guys did as well. >> as my parents say, pride cometh before the fall. i will stay humble. >> i will brag for you. >>> could be a pivotal moment in the presidential campaign. two candidates face off in denver wednesday night. just two days from today. >> the showdown the first of three betwee

. >> and i'm rob nelson.as both candidates prepare for an epic road trip trying to bring their message to as many voters as possible in these final days. >> if we had 60 states in our great land i think they would try to reach all 60 in one day. >> they must log impressiveflie. >> he is going to get overnight sleep on "air force one." >> make or break time. >> more on the campaign in a moment. first a look at other stories we are following for you this half-hour. police say a 12-year-old girl was savagely murdered by two teenagers who they say wanted her bike. and we have new information this morning about who turned those boys in to police. >>> also ahead, a chemically enhanced motherhood. more and more women are turning to prescription drugs to help them get through the very busy days. some each say, they simply could not function without them. story many of you moms out there will find interesting this morning. >> sleep deprivation on this shift and then couple in parent hood on top of that. >> you can rel

. >> and i'm rob nelson. problems for american airlines with landing gear trouble forcing an emergency landing. we'll get to that coming up in just a second. man, they have the seats, now landing gear issues, having a rough couple days. >>> also ahead, video resurfaces of president obama as a candidate five years ago, talking about racial issues in the wake of hurricane katrina, and now the white house has issued its response. this seems to be the election of the surprise video here. so now it is the president's turn. >> it is october. >> five weeks and counting. >> yep. >>> and then the anchorwoman who used her own newscast to respond to criticism about her waktd. her on-air message has triggered a nationwide outpouring. >>> later this half-hour, caught on tape. nicki minaj lets loose with a blue streak, cursing out mariah carey in a big "american idol" battle. we'll have it coming up later in ""the skinny."" we talked a few weeks ago how the two divas are not fans of each other. now, again, more video, surp

. >> i'm rob nelson. good to be back. again. >> good to see you as always. >> indeed. here we go again. old pros at this. in just a moment, we'll hear how both sides did in the file debate last night. of course, romney/obama locked in a very tight race. >>> also this half hour, a trail of terror. we're learning more about the gunman that shot up the day spa in suburban milwaukee and what he had done to his wife before he killed her and two other women. >> unbelievable. unbelievable. >>> then we will hear bravery in action, the 911 tapes are released of a 10-year-old girl home alone and keeping her cool when three burglars broke in. >> wow. see? presence of mind at that age is pretty impressive. >> at 10. >> pretty impressive. >>> later, just married. newlyweds justin timberlake and jessica biel, good-looking couple there, step out in italy as we learn some juicy details about their wedding. the bride did not wear white, hmm. [ laughter ] i guess not. we'll have the scoop coming up in "the skinny". >> you're terrible. >> s

i'm rob nelson.tic revelations about the rampage in benghazi in a moment. >>> also this half hour, jerry sandusky's day of reckoning. the prosecutor paints a picture of defiance and denial as sandusky is sentenced to decades in prison, likely for the rest of his life. >> likely. >> absolutely. the small window. >> but there's a small window for him, only 30 to 60 years. >>> and then a dying woman trying to enjoy the trif of a lifetime is man-handled by the tsa. how the agency is answering charges that this time it went way too far. rob, why am i not surprised at this story? >> we all know you are not a fan of flying or the tsa or the rule about no cell phones on the plane. this story makes you angry. >> it does. >> absolutely ridiculous. >> it does. >> see what the tsa -- how it is defending itself this time. >>> and then later not one, but two all-stars get the boot. we'll have all the double elimination details from last night's "dancing with the stars." >> and i actually watched it, and i thought

i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm paula faris.are also expected to speak in court today. >>> also this half-hour, one arrest in the wedding day brawl in philadelphia. police have a whole lot of questions about what led up to the death of the bride's uncle, and in a strange twist of irony and twist of fate, it happened to be his birthday as well. >> trying to get his family members out of the way of mayhem, has a heart attack on his birthday. the story is tragic on so many levels. >>> also this half hour from nascar to your commute, what the 25-car pile-up at talladega can teach drivers everywhere about split-second decisions in a crash. >>> a little later, a reunion for one of the most popular shows of a generation, "melrose place." >> did you watch, a fan, back in the day? >> i actually never watched. >> never watched, really? >> i didn't. i was watching scooby doo. >> no, you were a little old for scooby-doo when that was out. >> i watched scooby doo until i was in ninth grade. back off. okay. that explains some things. >>> firs

and rob nelson. >> that's it.s debate. how the format, though, could be a challenge in a few hours. and what each man is hoping to accomplish. but first a look at some of the other stories we're going to cover in this half hour. >> well while that recall expands, more products, more illnesses, and now more questions about what exactly is safe to eat when it comes to this massive peanut butter recall.what exactly is safe to n it comes to this massive peanut butter recall. >> the name you saw, the one you should look out for there, sunland, that's the name at the center of all this. any product you have with the name on it, you'd better chuck it than risk getting sick. >> a lot of times that name is not on the label. they buy it, but trader joe's will put their own label on top of it. >> exactly. exactly. >>> also coming up this half hour, flipping fashionable again. the trend that some say helped fuel the housing crisis is now making a comeback. how some middle men are making a profit once again. >> and middle wome

i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm paula faris.e going to get new details of that heartbreaking crime here in new york in just a moment. >>> also this half hour, hurricane sanding is striking fear up and down the east coast. the predictions that have millions of people bracing for a monster mega storm with billion-dollar damages in its wake. >> exactly. the estimate so far, right now. and we are keeping our fingers crossed this thing would head out to sea. now they're saying there is a very slim chance it is going to do that. so this thing is going to hit somewhere along the east coast, probably anywhere -- i think the range is anywhere from sunday until tuesday. a mess for a lot of us in the east. >>> also this half hour, caught on tape. school bus drivers who should be keeping kids safe, of course, but putting children in danger as they barrel through red lights and break the speed limit. we have the video to prove it all. look at that. >> what is so disconcerting about that, too, i have been on several buses if they don't have s

i'm rob nelson.urse from the campaign trail and those lightning rod comments about rain and abortion from a gop senate hopeful. stirred up a lot of reaction on the campaign trail yesterday. >>> also this half-hour -- beware of sandy. the hurricane could unleash an october surprise along the east coast. i'm the first one, i think, we mentioned to criticize the media for hyping weather. and kind of getting -- >> doomsday? >> kind of getting a little bit overboard here. what it has done in jamaica, about to do in cuba is pretty tough. what it could mean for the east coast this coming weekend is looking far worse than it did maybe 24 hours ago. stay tuned for the latest on that. >> i don't know what you are talking about, the media never sensationalizes anything, rob. >>> also ahead, the jet skier who breached security at jfk, now is speaking out about being at the center of a security breakdown at one of the world's busiest airports. >>> and then tom cruise slaps a celebrity magazine with a defamation l

good morning, everybody, i'm a rob nelson. get the latest from the campaign trail in just a second. also this half hour, millions of drivers are watching gas prices soar out of sight. $6 a gallon on the horizon in the state of california. ouch. >>> then welcome to the 1%. we'll meet the iowa couple who've just come forward to claim the $200 million powerball prize. >> what a dream moment. find out, i hit those numbers. $200 million. >> i tell myself, it's 50% tax. don't feel bad. if you don't win the lottery. >> i will take the $100 million. make it work for a couple months. >>> later on in the half hour, the diva drama on "american idol" still spinning out of control. nicki minaj versus mariah carey. and our own barbara walters has a huge scoop about a threat involving a gun. yeah, things got that serious. that's coming up in "the skinny". stay tuned. >>> first, a major admission from mitt romney, the candidate now saying the remarks he made about the 47% were completely wrong. >> the reversal as romney tries to capitalize on

rob nelson is off today.u here my friend. >> great to be here. >> i'm paula faris. we'll get to the fallout from the fiery presidential debate in just a momento. >>> also this half hour, inside that foiled terror plot, targeting the federal reserve. the fbi says that the suspect thought he was one phone call away from blowing up this new york landmark, 1,000 pounds of explosives. >>> then drunk, disorderly, on duty in afghanistan, brian ross on the trail of u.s. contractors caught partying instead of protecting. >>> later, is justin timberlake about to be just married? all signs pointing to a wedding this week for timberlake and his fiancee, jessica biel, all coming up in "the skinny". engaged quite a while. looks like they may follow through with it sometime within the next week. >> we'll keep you posted. >>> first presidential politics, both president obama and mitt romney will stop out of the attack mode tonight and look for some laughs in new york in a bipartisan fund-raising event for the catholic church

good morning, everybody, i'm rob nelson.each candidate will try to score points at the big debate tomorrow night. >>> also this half hour, an amtrak train with 169 passengers collides with a big rig and then derails and passengers and eyewitnesses are describing the chaos that followed. >>> and then a peanut butter recall spreads, even more so. more than a hundred items, some that might be in your home right now are being linked to a salmonella outbreak. >> products that use the peanut butter. bigger than you think. stay tuned for that. >>> and later in the half hour, are scientologists bending the rules for tom cruise? the insider who says cruise is getting special treatment when it comes to seeing suri. that's coming up in "the skinny." the drama continues for tom. >>> but first, five weeks until the election and one day before the crucial presidential debate. >> both candidates are working on their last-minute preparations for their first face-off tomorrow night. abc's karen travers is joining us this morning with a previ

i'm paula farris. >> and i'm rob nelson.te rematch coming up in just a second. >>> but also ahead in this half hour, that deadly meningitis outbreak could turn into a criminal case. investigators have swooped down on that massachusetts pharmacy linked to those illnesses nationwide. >>> and then a show of support for his wife, it may have saved this man's life. he shaved his head and learned that he, too, has cancer. >> oh, wow. wow. >>> and later in the show, if you think you're getting more of those obnoxious, infuriating robo-calls, you're right. we'll find out what's behind the increase and what you can actually do about it. everyone gets annoyed by those calls, and now somehow they found out a way to get those calls on your cell phone. i'm getting them on my cell phone now, solicitors. i'm like what is going on. >> i was in our elevator. you know how they have that speaker and you can call for help. >> right. >> there was like a telemarketer coming through the speaker on the elevator. it was the most bizarre thing i've e

i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm paula faris. hurricane sandy is a 900-mile superstorm expected to make landfall in new jersey tonight. 900 miles. just think of a 900-mile-wide wing span. >> i know. from cloud to cloud. that's a massive storm. this morning, of course, complete coverage of hurricane sandy, the forecast, the storm's track and very important, tips to help you and your family stay safe. also, new york city, like several other cities up and down the east coast, is all but shut down. scenes we don't see here a lot. just subway stations empty. times square empty. everything just shut down. there is no mass transit, limited flights. people are urged simply to stay home. >> officials warn the storm could leave millions without power. we're going to tell you how communities are coping and how long it could be out. >> worst-case scenario here, seven to ten days some areas will be without power. up to 10 million people will be in the dark starting sometime tomorrow -- or later today, i should say. >> which is why it's so cru

rob nelson is off this morning. >> and i'm paula faris. we begin this monday, the 1st of october, can you believe it? with a new abc news poll it comes just as the presidential candidates come out. >> tahman bradley starts us off from washington. >> reporter: good morning. it's hard to believe that the first presidential debate is on wednesday. mitt romney and president obama have been preparing day and night. with both men saying the other guy is going to do a better job. president obama and mitt romney start the week with a crucial showdown on wednesday at the first presidential debate in denver. at a rally in las vegas, president obama tried to manage the speculations. >> i know the media is speculating who is going to have the best zinger. i don't know about that. governor romney, he's a good debater. >> reporter: as both hunker down for intense practice, the polls show americans overwhelming with the election and the president lose. in a new abc news/"washington post" poll out this morning, 63% of registered voters expect president ob

rob nelson has the day off. files, what's in them and why they stayed secret so long in a moment? first a look at other stories we're following for you this morning. >>> who need zingers in a debate. much needed lighter moments, the president traded barbs at a charity dinner here in new york city. we'll let you hear some of the best zingers. they were in the same place, same time, smiling as if the second presidential debate never happened. >> good old chums, just chilling out. >>> new questions this morning after the foiled terror plot. how the suspect got into the country and a lot of public officials calling for some changes. >>> uh-huh. the south is rising again from honey boo boo to hillbilly fishing, americans are riveted by a slice of southern life. it is being called redneck reality. it is all the rage. interesting. but first, the boy scouts expose telltale files, reveal two decade of horror stories, allegations of child sex abuse by scout leaders who went unpunished. >>> it was a disturbing culture of s

i'm rob nelson. with a successful debate performance under his belt, mitt romney is distancing himself from his own words about the 47%. >> in the past, he stood by the comments. but overnight, there was a major change. abc's tahman bradley joins us from washington, with more. tahman? >> reporter: good morning, rob and reena. mitt romney is showing a lot of confidence on the stump. and we'll see if his strong debate performance gives him a boost in the polls. but for now, romney is trying to put to rest a controversy that's dogged him for weeks. with his campaign reenergized after a strong showing in wednesday's debate, mitt romney took on the controversy, surrounding his comments that 47% of americans are dependent on government. shortly after a tape of his comments were released, romney said his remarking were not eloquently stated. but in an interview on fox news, he offered a new explanation. >> it's completely wrong. and i absolutely believe, however, that my life has shown that i care about 100

rob nelson has the morning off.s candidates prepare to go head-to-head this week. first a look at some of the stories we are following this half-hour. >> leindsay lohan's latest. what would monday morning be without a brush with the law for lilo. only this time she says she is the victim of the crime and not perpetrator. >> an interesting one. you will enjoy it. >>> don't go in the water, a new threat at some of the nation's lakes, not as harmless as it might look. >> that was a foul story. don't want to go anywhere near the water. and can be deadly as well. >>> in power and offline. how some well known and powerful people don't use e-mail. could you survive without e-mail? >> can't imagine how you would do it. using snail mail and making phone calls. >> i could go without it. i would text everybody. my e-mails are short to the point. >> i am all about the text. i don't want to talk to anybody. happy birthday. >> will you talk to them? >> yes. >>> first on this monday, with just two days you mentioned earlier until

rob nelson will be joining me in just a moment. and we begin this wednesday with the presidential debate rematch, turning into a fiery, full-on political rumble. and, yes, it was a little uncomfortable at times. there was plenty of finger-pointing with the candidates sparring from the opening moments. and president obama, clearly not about to repeat his performance in denver just two weeks ago. we're just 20 days from the election. and abc's t.j. winick is in hempstead, new york, with more on the long island fight night. good morning, t.j. >> reporter: paula, good morning to you. that's right. many on both sides are calling this a great debate. it was high-stakes. and that was clear from the outset. just 45 seconds into his first answer, the president went after his opponent. >> governor romney said he should get detroit go bankrupt. >> reporter: but mitt romney pushed right back. >> the president took detroit bankrupt. you took general motors bankrupt. you took chrysler bankrupt. when you say i wanted to take the auto industry ban

i'm john muller, in for rob nelson. >> i'm paula faris. we begin with the presidential race. as we mentioned, both candidates are speaking at a bipartisan political dinner here in new york. >> but tuesday night's debate is still very much on a lot of people's minds. one of them, apparently, is mitt romney's oldest son, tagg. he told a north carolina radio station, quote, he wanted to take a swing at president obama. >>> 19 days to go. and as abc's tahman bradley reports, the candidates are crafting their messages for women voters. >> reporter: with less than three weeks left until election day, the presidential contenders have intensified their efforts to court undecided women voters. >> my mom was a single mom. >> a single mom who doesn't know whether they'll be able to put food on the table at the end of the week. >> reporter: polls show president obama maintains his advantage among women voters. but challenger mitt romney has narrowed the gap. mr. obama touted the equal pay measure he signed into law. and attacked his republican rival for not supporting it. >> when young w

i'm john muller, in for rob nelson. >> i'm paula faris. it is back to work today for the presidential candidates. for the second time this week, they were back together. first was tuesday's hard-hitting debate. and as tahman bradley reports, last night was all about the laughs. >> reporter: the presidential contenders took a break from campaigning, for a night of comedy. appearing together at the al smith dinner in new york, president obama and mitt romney competed for laughs. >> the employment rate is the lowest since i took office. i don't have a joke here. >> it's nice to relax and wear what ann enand i wear around the house. >> reporter: the there's no partisan rhetoric allowed. just self-deprecating standup and light jabs. >> has some of you noticed, i had a lot more energy in our second debate. i felt well-rested after the nice, long nap i had in the first debate. >> president obama and i are each very lucky to have someone in our corner. someone we can lean on. i have my beautiful wife, ann. he has bill clinton. >> reporter: also wh

i'm rob nelson. >> i'm paula faris., to libya. >>> also this half-hour, from colorado, the fbi is asking the public for any help in finding the kidnapper of 10-year-old jessica ridgeway, as police work to identify what is believed to be her body. and not in one piece, sadly. >> not the ending anyone wanted for the story. >>> this morning, new evidence the housing rket is heating up there. homes getting snapped up in days. even the return of bidding wars. some positive economic news. >>> later whitney houston's daughter, bobb kristina, about her engagement, her fiance is someone very close to home, extremely close to home. we will have it all coming up in "the skinny." >> huh, bizarre story there. again, is it -- is it really what it is? or little promotion for the reality show that is coming out in a few days later this month. we'll let you decide that one. >>> first, the one and only vice presidential debate last night. joe biden, paul ryan walked out onto the stage. both ready to rumble. >> the two men snickered, smir

i'm rob nelson. >> i'm paula faris.ed an audio tape on which he not only maintains his innocence he points the finger at his victims, the media, everyone else involved. >> he paints himself as a victim saying this was a vast conspiracy, kids, media, cops, amazing even before the hearing in a few hours, he is defiant until the end. not a lot of remorse for the victims in the case, the kids. >> zilch. >> amazing. amazing here. much more in a second. >>> first a look at some other stories we are following this half-hour. a surge big time for mitt romney. a new poll giving the republican candidate an edge over the president. one analyst says this is the first significant lead for romney this year. the wind is at his back for sure. after that horrible debate for the president last week. >> we see it could change on a dime. sure it will be different after the vp debates thursday. >> never doubt the power of those debates. especially with 70 million watching. >> a lot of eyeballs. >>> this half-hour, michelle obama sitting dow

i'm rob nelson.shine is back! >> i'm so happy to be back. >> always good to have you back here. it's been a few weeks. always good to have you back. >> i always have fun here. >> pretty in pink. >> i'm sunny hostin. well, as the judge handed down the sentence we just talked about, jerry sandusky heard from his victims as they revealed the damage his acts caused. >> what a dramatic day in court with that case. have to wonder. a lot of opinions on how all that went down. get to that in just a second. much more on the sandusky case coming up in just a moment. >>> first a look at some of the other stories in this half-hour, the show today, we are learning disturbing new details about last month's attack on the u.s. embassy in libya. a state department official now calls what happened "unprecedented." >>> this half-hour, the strange case of the spy, terrorist and the wife who may have brought him down. that's right, international intrigue is at the heart of this one. brian ross brings us the details of a

i'm rob nelson. >> i'm sunny hostin. paula is on assignment. am so happy to be here with you today. >> a few days off, a little fall break. reliving my college days. >> good, you need that every now and then on this shift especially. >> now i am back for the long haul until the end of the year. >> excellent. >> good to see you and have you back here. >> last night's debate was considerably more low key than the second debate. the candidates tangleded on a number of serious issues. we'll get to the details of the debate in a moment. first a look at the other stories we are following for you this half-hour. >> lots going on. he deserves to be forgotten, the word from cycling's top official about, yeah, lance armstrong as he stripped the seven time tour de france winner of all his titles. the final nail in the coffin of what was considered to be a storied and epic career. what a spectacular fall from grace for lance. >> my goodness. >> incredible. i don't know any other athlete disgraced publicly and quickly. >> dethroned. he hasn't answered the q