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Romney Suspends Campaign; Ohio Teacher Shot; Space Shuttle Atlantis Scheduled for Take Off
Aired February 07, 2008 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Cutting his losses or taking one for the team? Either way, Mitt Romney says he's out of the fight for the Republican nomination for president.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: That's not to say that John McCain's fight is over. He'll face a very tough crowd of conservatives just one hour from now in Washington.
Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
LEMON: And I'm Don Lemon.
You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Well, another surprise in the race for the White House. Mitt Romney is suspending his bid for the Republican nomination. That word from Romney just a short time ago at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington.
And CNN's Dana Bash was there. She heard the speech as it happened -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Don, this was a speech that was supposed to be his attempt to shore up support among the very conservatives he was speaking to, to call himself the alternative, the conservative alternative to John McCain. But in the end, these -- these supporters, many supporters, many just simple grassroots activists in the conservative movement, heard a very different speech from Mitt Romney.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I entered this race because I love America. And because I love America, in this time of war I feel I have to now stand aside for our party and for our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, there you heard Mitt Romney saying, "in this time of war" he thinks it's appropriate to step aside.
Mitt Romney is somebody who we understand went over all of the data, all of the data, pretty much all day yesterday, with his senior aides, looking at if it is possible at all to come back and beat John McCain, given the fact that he is about -- that has about half, even fewer than half of the delegates right now racked up needed to be the Republican nominee. And what we are told is, throughout the day, as he was writing the speech that he gave here at CPAC, it became increasingly clear to him that this is something that he simply cannot continue to do.
We're told that as he wrote the speech, he made it much more of a "good-bye speech" and much more of a focus to unite the Republican Party behind a candidate who will fight, as he said, terrorism, who will fight the Democrats on the core issue for Republicans, and that is national security and, of course, the Iraq war.
Now, we're told at this point, at this point, there is no plan for Mitt Romney to endorse another candidate. Of course, there are only two options at this point, either John McCain or Mike Huckabee. But you heard the tone of what Mitt Romney was saying, the fact that the Republican Party needs somebody who understands the fight against, as he called it, Islamofasicsm. It's pretty clear if you listen to John McCain on the stump, that's the centerpiece of his candidacy -- Don.
LEMON: CNN's Dana Bash.
Thank you, Dana.
PHILLIPS: A horrifying scene in an Ohio classroom today. A teacher was shot and stabbed right in front of her young students.
Reporter Randy Yohe of CNN affiliate WSAZ joins me now on the phone from Portsmouth, Ohio.
I understand, Randy, the husband of this teacher, now dead?
RANDY YOHE, REPORTER, WSAZ: Yes. We haven't established that it was her husband. It could have been an estranged relationship, perhaps ex-husband. That is still yet to be determined.
What we have established is that the suspect is dead. The Portsmouth police chief just walked out of an incredible crime scene, or a suspect scene, if you will, just a few minutes ago.
The standoff lasted about four hours. There was two large S.W.A.T. teams that had come in from two hours away in Cincinnati and Columbus, and over 100 heavily-armed law enforcement officers here. And they did their best to establish communications with this suspect inside his home.
They tried him on his cell phone. They tried him on the house phone. They set up their own phones with the own lines in there, all to no avail.
He never, from what we understand, responded. Never said word one. And realized that he -- the chief says that he had killed himself with a self-inflicted wound.
PHILLIPS: I understand you spoke to some family members moments ago. Let's take a listen, Randy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think they were all very brave. I think they did what they were taught to do. I know it must be a horrifying thing for them to see and to go through.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: I can't imagine being a classroom -- or a student in that classroom and having to observe that, Randy.
YOHE: Very, very incredible situation here. This is a private school, Notre Dame Elementary. A Catholic school here in town. They had just gone in to a classroom session. I know one of our reporters had talked to a couple of the little girls that were actually in the classroom, and how tough it's going to be on them.
And we know that this suspect, the chief has told us, started early in the morning by stabbing a relative. And then he went to the school, and then the shooting and stabbing took place within the classroom. Then he came here, where the standoff lasted four hours, and just ended with his death moments ago.
PHILLIPS: Randy Yohe with our affiliate WSAZ there out of Portsmouth, Ohio.
Appreciate the update, Randy.
Police in Austin, Texas, need your help now. They believe that this little boy, 5-year-old Adiran Jaimes, is in grave danger.
Police say that two young Hispanic men snatched the child out of the family SUV, still parked in the driveway, and drove away with a third suspect. Reports indicate that his mother ran after the car but wasn't able to stop it.
In addition to the Amber Alert, police have issued an all-points bulletin for the suspects. They were last seen wearing White hooded sweatshirts and driving a gray Volkswagen Jetta with dark, tinted windows. Police say they may be headed for the Mexican border.
LEMON: Well, the storms have long passed, but the recovery, the pain, the loss will be around for some time now.
Look at these shots of Union University between Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee. Tornadoes slammed into the campus, collapsed student dorms, and threw cars around like toys. Classes will be canceled for weeks.
In northwest Alabama, at least four people died when tornadoes struck before dawn yesterday. In all, 56 people are dead in four states. More than 100 are hurt.
The storms transformed the campus of Union University into a mess of debris and ripped-up trees. CNN's Susan Roesgen is in Jackson, Tennessee, with the very latest on that.
How are the students doing, Susan?
SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the students are in shock, as you might imagine looking at all that destruction. And today, believe it or not, Don, homeland security chief Michael Chertoff told me that this is the first time he has ever seen first hand tornado damage on the ground.
Here's a who deals in disasters, but taking a tour of the damage here at Union University, this was the first time he got to see real tornado damage for himself. And he is really looking at some of the worst of it.
More than 500 homes were hit by the tornado. Nearly 100 homes were demolished. And here at Union University, Secretary Chertoff says he's most struck by the randomness of the destruction.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: One house was pulverized and one house remains standing. And it's kind of a sheer randomness.
I remember hearing a story a little earlier today about a baby that was found in a field, and alive and apparently healthy. And that's a -- you know, that's a stroke of great luck. On the other hand, the mother perished.
So there's a quality to the tornadoes, a randomness, that really is humbling.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROESGEN: Now, FEMA has not yet talked about how much they might pay to help the tornado victims here. I do want to give you some new information, though.
We said yesterday that just eight students were slightly hurt here at the Union University. It turns out today, we have learned new information.
Fifty-one students were taken to the hospital Tuesday night. And two are still in the hospital, Don, in critical condition.
LEMON: Oh, boy. OK. Susan Roesgen, thank you for that report.
PHILLIPS: Well, most of the 56 deaths were in Tennessee. At least 32 Tennesseans died. Most of those in rural Macon County, near the Kentucky line.
And that's where CNN's Rusty Dornin is today -- Rusty.
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, you know, when you're faced with complete destruction of your home or your business, what do you do? It's overwhelming. It's baby steps, baby steps, really.
At the Macon County Veterinarian Hospital they are trying to salvage what they can. We are actually standing in what used to be the lobby of the hospital.
The walls and the roof were completely blown off. We can step back into the kitchen, just show you the complete destruction that happened here. And, of course, she is telling us that they are going to be rebuilding. And the most interesting thing is we went on a tour with the sheriff a little earlier, and we actually -- two miles from here, two miles, as the crow flies over here, we actually found the sign for this veterinarian hospital. It was -- it was taken two miles from here and completely wrapped around a tree.
Now, there actually are people they're still finding in the debris. They found three people trapped in a house last night.
The sheriff did tell us they have been taking crews out, five- and-six-man crews, and they are going through some of the houses they haven't been able to get to because the roads were blocked, and getting in there, making sure everyone is there. There's about 100 people unaccounted for. It doesn't mean they are missing, but they just -- people want to know where they are. So that's what they are doing today.
So, still a lot of cleanup that's of course going on around us. But people are just -- you know, they're still stunned and shocked, but they realize they've got to get to it and get this mess out of here -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, we'll follow-up on those 100 individuals that are unaccounted for.
Rusty Dornin, thanks.
And if the images of the tornadoes have moved you and you'd like to help the people affected, you can go to CNN.com and impact your world. Add your name to the growing number of CNN viewers grabbing the opportunity to take action.
That's at CNN.com/impact.
LEMON: Well, ready to fly, but will the sky clear in time? Look at that. What a beautiful picture.
There's a 70 percent chance of rain at the Kennedy Space Center, which could keep Atlantis on the ground a whole other day. The seven- man crew is hoping for that final countdown, already suited up and buckled in. Twice before, technical glitches kept the astronauts from heading for the International Space Station.
Their mission? Deliver a laboratory designed by the European Space Agency.
We'll check in with our very own Mr. Miles O'Brien, straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.
PHILLIPS: Also ahead, bad news for some reputed good fellas. We're going to tell you about a major crime bust in New York and beyond.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Leading our Political Ticker, a surprising turn in the race for the White House. Republican Mitt Romney is suspending his campaign.
Romney suffered some major disappointments on Super Tuesday. He made his announcement just a short time ago at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROMNEY: This isn't an easy decision. I hate to lose.
My family, my friends, you, my supporters across the country, you've given a great deal to get me where I have a shot to becoming president. If this were only about me, I would go on, but it's never been only about me.
I entered this race -- I entered this race because I love americ America. And because I love America, in this time of war, I feel I have to now stand aside for our party and for our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Republican front-runner John McCain is engaging in some fence-mending with conservatives meeting in Washington. He's speaking later this afternoon.
And during the campaigns, some conservative leaders and radio talk show hosts have accused McCain of being too liberal to get the GOP nomination. And their comments have gotten pretty nasty. McCain says he is a true conservatives.
McCain's Republican rivals, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul, also are scheduled to address the conservative group.
LEMON: Well, it takes a lot of cash to run a presidential campaign, and Democrat Barack Obama is rolling in it. His campaign says it raised $7 million, just since Tuesday. That's on top of the $32 million in January.
Hillary Clinton raised less than $14 million last month and lent her campaign $5 million of her own money before Super Tuesday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I did. I loaned the campaign $5 million from my money. That's where I got the money. I loaned it because I believe very strongly in this campaign. We had a great month fund-raising in January, broke all records. But my opponent was able to raise more money. And we intended to be competitive, and we were. And I think the results last night proved the wisdom of my investment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, since Tuesday, the Clinton campaign's funding crunch has eased. It says it raised more than $4 million online just yesterday, its biggest single day of contributions.
Some anxious moments on board the press plane covering Mike Huckabee's campaign. En route from little Rock to New York, the plane made an emergency landing in New Jersey. Huckabee was on a separate plane.
The pilots set the plane down safely after losing flight controls. There were no injuries and no word of what caused that problem.
PHILLIPS: Twice delayed, NASA hopes the third time's a charm for space shuttle Atlantis. Live pictures right now, but a cloud's hanging over that launch. We're at the Kennedy Space Center in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, the clock's counting down, and the crew of the space shuttle Atlantis is anxious for liftoff. If only the rain holds off.
Space guru Miles O'Brien, he's anxious, too. He's eyeing the sky at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
How is it looking, Miles, baby?
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN SPACE CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Kyra, right now -- are you listening to this? Can you -- listen to this, Kyra.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Looks the same as it did before.
PHILLIPS: You know I love those NASA coms.
O'BRIEN: All right. Listen to this, Kyra.
O'BRIEN: Yes. Yes.
That's space shuttle -- space astronaut Steve Lindsey, who is flying around here in a specially-rigged Gulfstream G2, doing weather reconnaissance. And everything he's been coming back with so far indicates they are good to go for launch here.
A surprising turn of events given the forecast for today. They said 70 percent chance no go for launch because of bad weather. And yet the weather has held up pretty well.
So, here we are 20 minutes away, 25 minutes away from launch, and the weather is green and go. So, we're watching it very closely.
The showers that were of concern stayed out -- stayed out of the area. The low ceilings have not materialized as anticipated. The seven-person crew strapped in, and getting ready, we hope, to see a launch here in just a short order of time.
The crew is on its way to the International Space Station, led by commander -- excuse me, Navy Captain Steve Frick. And they will be delivering (AUDIO GAP) module to the International Space Station, the first European laboratory for the space station. They have gone through their timeline and strap-in process -- walk-out, all that stuff -- as expected.
Now, this launch, Kyra, you may recall they first tried to do this back in December. I want you to take a look at this piece here.
This is a connector. You know, there are a million parts in the space shuttle. All of them done by the low bidder, as they say.
This part, which probably costs -- would cost you and I ten bucks at a RadioShack, maybe 20 bucks, is what caused repeated problems for the space shuttle launch team over a couple of years because it was connected to a fuel gauge. And the fuel gauge was malfunctioning.
The long story short is, this gets very cold on this side with liquid hydrogen. It actually froze the air inside the connector, causing the pins to separate. Making no contact, and thus causing that fuel gauge to fail.
They finally figured it all out, soldered all those pins together, and the thing is working just fine. It just goes to show you, you never know which of the million parts is going to bite you on the -- you know, backside, if you know what I mean.
PHILLIPS: I want to know if Steve Lindsey knows that you're linked into his weather recon coms.
O'BRIEN: Yes, I'll probably hear about that later. But, yes -- no, it's always good to listen to hear what he has to say.
By the way, Kyra, I am blogging today because...
PHILLIPS: Tell me about your blog. Well, we all know that you're the computer guru. In addition...
O'BRIEN: Yes. Well, you know...
PHILLIPS: ... you brought podcasts to CNN, my friend.
So, tell me what you're doing.
O'BRIEN: Well -- well, here's what I'm doing. While I was doing this live shot, I'll tell you about this. I've been blogging with my toes. That's how multitasking I am.
PHILLIPS: You are the king of multitasking.
O'BRIEN: And so go to the blog. It's CNN.com/tech.
There you'll see some of my insights on space, space travel, the weather, and connectors that will bite you in the backside -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Outstanding. I'll be logging on.
Thanks, Miles. We'll be following the launch with you.
O'BRIEN: All right.
LEMON: A major move today against some of America's most notorious crime families after an investigation stretching from New York to Sicily. Dozens of reputed members of the Gambino, Genovese and Bonanno families are under arrest today.
We have reports from Deborah Feyerick in New York, and also Alessio Vinci in Italy.
Let's start with you, Deb.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Don, key to the 62 arrests today was an informant who infiltrated the mob and allegedly was able to record hundreds of hours of conversations, according to the indictment. One of those conversations, the most damaging, implicated a defendant in several murders.
Now, the operation targeted the entire Gambino leadership, cutting off not only the head, but the entire upper body, according to one official. And you look at those who were arrested, it includes an acting boss, an acting underboss, a (INAUDIBLE), several captains, acting captains, and a number of soldiers.
Here's how New York's attorney general described it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDREW CUOMO, NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL: Organized crime still exists in the city and in the state of New York. We like to think that it's a vestige of the past. It's not. It is as unrelenting as weeds that continue to sprout in the cracks of society.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FEYERICK: The businesses these men are charged with include Internet gambling on sports, both professional and also college. Also, the construction industry, cement and trucking.
In one instance, apparently, the raceway, the NASCAR raceway that was being built out on Stanton Island. People there were being shaken down for money.
Now, this is an 80-count indictment. The cases are going to be prosecuted in Brooklyn by the U.S. attorney, who described the charges.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENTON J. CAMPBELL, U.S. ATTORNEY: This indictment is wide ranging and charges racketeering conspiracy, extortion, theft of union benefits, mail fraud, false statements, loan sharking, embezzlement of union funds, money laundering, and illegal gambling. It covers more than three decades of criminal activity and reflects the Gambino family's corrosive influence on the construction industry in New York City and beyond.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FEYERICK: And the U.S. attorney called this unprecedented. And as you read through various indictments and detention memos, you can see just the scope of this. A number of people going to funerals of John Gotti, the head of the crime family who died several years ago, and just a lot of different connections that place the Gambino crime family at different places throughout New York.
So really unprecedented, the scope of these arrests -- Don.
LEMON: Deb Feyerick in New York.
Thank you very much, Deb.
There also were arrests in Italy.
CNN Rome Bureau Chief Alessio Vinci joins us live now -- Alessio.
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Don.
There is an Italian connection to these arrests, and that is 23 people have been arrested in Sicily this morning. Among the charges, includes Mafia links, extortion, and homicide.
The reason why the arrests here in Sicily are significant is because among those arrested are members and supporters of the Salvatore Lo Piccolo clan. Salvatore Lo Piccolo is believed to be the successor of Bernardo Provenzano, who was the boss of bosses in Sicily, who himself was arrested two years ago.
And Salvatore Lo Piccolo, in trying to become the boss of bosses, tried to mend fences with the New York families such as the Gambinos, such as the Inzarilos (ph), in order to re-establish historical links between the two sides, links that were basically based on illegal trafficking of drugs, as well as money laundering. And indeed, among those arrested here in Sicily is (INAUDIBLE), who was believed to be the person who was trying to establish the link between the two sides.
And investigators here believe that it was time to move on and to arrest these people because not only they were already ahead in recreating this links between the two sides, but also because there were powerful Mafia clans in Sicily who did not want the Inzarilos (ph) family to come back to Sicily after the market wars of the 1980s, and therefore prosecutors here believe that there was a chance of another Mafia war. And therefore, it was a time to basically break the ring down -- Don.
LEMON: All right. Alessio in Italy and Deb in New York.
Thanks to both of you.
We can get the best crime coverage on the Web thanks to our friends at truTV. Go behind the police tape and into the courtroom like never before at CNN.com/crime.
PHILLIPS: A political surprise in Washington. Mitt Romney suspends his battle for the Republican presidential nomination, and we've got the latest.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Ready to fly. But will the sky clear in time? Right now it's 15 minutes and counting to launch. There is still a chance of rain which could keep Atlantis on the ground another day. The seven man crew is hoping for that final countdown, already suited up and buckled in. Twice before technical glitches kept the astronauts from heading for the international space station. Their mission? Deliver a lab designed by the European space agency. Miles O'Brien is following it all. We'll check in with him in just a moment.
LEMON: We have some developing news here into the CNN NEWSROOM. Our Allan Chernoff is in New York with the details of a legal settlement by one of the nation's largest pharmaceutical companies.
Allan, what is going on?
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don, a very big settlement over here. Merck has agreed to pay $650 million to settle three federal lawsuits alleging the company had cheated the Medicaid program. The justice department had alleged that Merck had offered hospitals discounts to buy drugs including Vioxx, Zocor, Mevacor and Pepcid, in return for volume discounts. But Merck, allegedly, did not tell Medicaid about the discounts and was able to pocket hundreds of millions of dollars as a result.
The settlement also resolves allegations that Merck was prescribing drugs for doctors and actually -- was getting kickbacks from him. And all of this came about because of a whistle-blower by the name of H. Dean Steinke. He is a very wealthy man today because he is going to be getting almost $45 million as a result of this settlement.
Now, Merck did put out a statement saying, "The settlements do not constitute admission by Merck of any liability of wrongdoing. Merck believes its pricing and sales and marketing policies and practices were consistent with all applicable regulations and contracts during the relevant time. At Merck, we are dedicated to the highest standards of ethics and integrity."
Now, this settlement also calls for Merck to enter into a five- year corporate integrity agreement with the federal government. So, Don, a very big settlement over here. Back to you. LEMON: Allan Chernoff. Thank you, Allan.
PHILLIPS: Well, police are still looking for the man who killed five women at a Lane Bryant store in suburban Chicago. The only survivor has sent a letter to the other victims' families promising to work with investigators any way she can. Jon Leiberman is a correspondent for "America's Most Wanted." He joins us now from Washington.
Jon, I know you're going to be heading there also to investigate the story more. Let's start about this one woman who did survive. She played dead, right?
JON LEIBERMAN, AMERICA'S MOST WANTED: Talk about a courageous woman in the face of the worst circumstances you can imagine. This woman had just witnessed five other women in the store bound with duct tape, shot execution style. She, too, was shot in the neck. Luckily, the bullet just grazed through her neck and came out. This woman was able to describe to police who she saw as the suspect.
In fact, we just got off the phone with investigators, and they're meeting with her right now, because they hope to release a composite sketch of this woman very soon -- or of the suspect, rather, very soon in the next 24 hours or so.
PHILLIPS: And I know she's in protective custody. Her family members are in protective custody. There are even family that -- that have left the area. Why are they taking such precautions to protect her? Does she know this shooter? Does she think the shooter may know her?
LEIBERMAN: She doesn't know the shooter, according to police. But, she certainly got a good look at him. And she, frankly, is the key to this entire case. She's the key to identifying the suspect, because she's the only person who got a real look at him. She got such a good look at him, Kyra, that she was able to describe the dreadlocks in his hair, the fact that he had little green balls in his hair, too, little decorations. So, she clearly is scared because she's the key to tracking down this killer of five women.
PHILLIPS: And in this letter, she wrote -- this just broke my heart. It said, "My deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the families and friends. Please know that during the unfathomable events of that day, their thoughts were focused on you and coming home. My heart aches that they were unable to do so. And I'm working with authorities in any way possible for all the victims."
What do you think she means by, "they were focused on you and coming home?" Do you think they were pleading for their lives with this -- this coward?
LEIBERMAN: There was dialogue inside of the store. We have just talked to investigators. They told us this man was in the store for a decent amount of time. It wasn't five minutes in and out. This was a harrowing scene. I mean, this woman is courageous. She played dead on the floor just so that she could help bring justice to these other five women in the case.
And I can tell you this, Kyra, this guy got away with $200 and right now, police do believe that the motive here was a simple robbery. Five women lost their lives for $200. That's why we're in this hunt. We got to track this guy down, because frankly, he's probably done something like this before.
PHILLIPS: And we're learning that he sexually assaulted, possibly, some of these women? Maybe one of them?
LEIBERMAN: He fondled one of the women prior to the execution- style killing. The whole thing just makes you cringe. I mean, we're going to go out there this weekend. We're going to help police. We're going to look through surveillance tapes. There's no surveillance from inside the Lane Bryant store, but there is from surrounding areas.
And, Kyra, police are not ruling out the fact somebody probably helped the shooter, either by being a getaway car driver or in some other way, shape, or form. So, we're keeping -- we're already starting the manhunt on our Web site at amw.com and it will be on our show next week.
PHILLIPS: Well, and I was reading too that he may have targeted this women's store in order to avoid confrontation with men. And then he also shot these women in the back of the head. He's the ultimate, ultimate coward and should be caught and will be caught I'm sure.
We'll be following your investigation. Jon Leiberman, thanks.
LEIBERMAN: Thanks, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Something new from our friends at CNN.com and truTV. They've teamed up to bring you the best crime coverage on the web. Go behind the police tape, into the courtroom like never before at CNN.com/crime.
LEMON: Republican Mitt Romney's hard fought battle for the Oval Office is over. Romney announced just a short time ago that he's suspending his campaign. That announcement to members of the Conservative Political Action Conference who have gathered in Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Now, if I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, -- I want you to know, I've given this a lot of thought, I'd forestall the launch of a national campaign. And, frankly, I'd be making it easier for Senator Clinton or Obama to win. Frankly, in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, Romney's decision comes two days after Super Tuesday, gave his rival, Senator John McCain, a big lead in Republican delegates.
We've got a lot more on the story right here in the CNN NEWSROOM. We'll hear from Bay Buchanan, a senior adviser to the Romney campaign and we'll listen to Senator John McCain as he addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference.
PHILLIPS: And we're getting word that it's a go. Live from Kennedy Space Station, Miles O'Brien is there. The shuttle Atlantis getting ready to go. We'll have the countdown and all the details. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: It is 40 past the hour. Three of the stories we're working on for you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM: a surprise announcement from Mitt Romney. He's suspending his Republican presidential campaign. His withdrawal leaves two major GOP candidates, frontrunner John McCain and Mike Huckabee.
A teacher was shot in front of her students today at an elementary school in Portsmouth, Ohio, she's in critical condition but no children were hurt. Police say the gunman -- well, the teacher's husband, was later found dead in his home.
A major crime bust in New York. Federal prosecutors have filed charges against dozens of reputed members of the Gambino crime family and more than 60 have been rounded up.
PHILLIPS: The clock is counting down and it's a go for launch. Space guru, Miles O'Brien, watching the sky at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He was also monitoring those weather reconnaissance radio communications.
Miles, it's a go.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN SPACE CORRESPONDENT: It is a go. Take a look at the picture. We would not have predicted that this morning, Kyra. Blue skies, some puffy, white clouds, wind well within the guidelines for the unlikely eventuality that they would have to come back on an emergency landing here to the Kennedy Space Center.
The crew of seven of the -- of the space shuttle Atlantis about to begin its mission, it appears, to the international space station, barring any last minute technical glitches. And so far, it's been a countdown without any hitches. Less than -- right about four minutes to go.
Let's bring in Leroy Chiao, veteran NASA astronaut, three times on the space shuttle, one time on Russian Soyuz, six and a half months aboard the international space station. He's got a pretty good resume for an astronaut, I'd say.
Leroy, good to have you with us. Lets walk through, very quickly, the seven man crew -- it's an all man crew, no women on this one. And, let's begin at -- with the commander, Steve Frick. Commander -- is a captain in the U.S. Navy. Tell me about him. LEROY CHIAO, VETERAN NASA ASTRONAUT: Right. Good to be back with you, Miles. And Steve Frick, an experienced flyer, commanding Atlantis. I think she's in good hands. Steve's a good guy, he's been around a long time, got a lot of experience. Alan Poindexter, his pilot making his first flight, along with Stan Love and Leland Melvin, also making their first flights.
Rex Walheim, a good buddy of mine, a fellow Cal graduate -- Cal Berkeley graduate, a very experienced space walker. He'll be leading the first space walk and going out with Hans Schlegel an ESA astronaut from Germany. Hans was the lead cap-comm from my mission onboard the international space station during Expedition Ten.
Rounding out the crew, Leo Eyharts from France. Leo will be staying on the station and, of course, the Atlantis will be bringing back Dan Tany (ph) from his long-duration flight.
O'BRIEN: And on it goes. And lets talk for just a moment -- first of all, Leland Melvin is the first astronaut, I know of, who has had any experience in the National Football League.
CHIAO: That's right. And Leland is -- you should see the guy in the gym, he works out very hard, he still takes his athletics very seriously. Leland's a great guy. I've known him for a long time and really glad to see him getting to make his first flight.
O'BRIEN: About two minutes and 30 seconds to launch. Lets talk briefly, before we get away here, about Dan Tany, on the international space station, in the middle of his stint, he lost his mother. She passed away. You were up there for six and a half months. I know you didn't have to endure anything like that. What must it have been like for him up there?
CHIAO: Well, it's -- had to be very difficult because he had to feel pretty powerless and unable to help out his family. And, I'm sure he's looking forward to coming back and kind of getting some closure on that tragedy.
I personally did not have that kind of a thing happen, but actually my wife's father did pass away the day of -- just before my launch and I didn't find out about it until two days later, after we got to the international space station. So, I know a little bit about what he's going through and what he went through and it's not easy.
O'BRIEN: OK. We're at about one minute and 40 seconds to launch. Lets remind folks what's going on here. They are bringing the international -- to the international space station, a key European laboratory module called Columbus. Put that into some perspective if you would, Leroy. That module is an important piece of the whole pie here.
CHIAO: You bet. And, you know, that module is a key piece of the international space station. It's the European laboratory. People have been working on it for decades, literally, and they are very excited, I'm sure, to see it finally go and to get attached to the station. And following that, will be the Gem module, hopefully flying later in the year. And that will complete the international components of the international space station. And really open up some real estate, some laboratory space to get some more research work done.
O'BRIEN: Now, we're inside one minute here. Everything is going according to plan so far in the countdown. The space shuttle Atlantis ready, fueled. No technical glitches. You see just a light breeze here.
We're -- lets listen for just a little bit to George Dillar, who is the public affairs officer here at the Kennedy Space Center. He'll be followed by Rob Navius, public affairs in Houston, as Atlantis is poised to begin its 29th mission, this one to the international space station.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: T minus 31 seconds.
O'BRIEN: They'll hand it off now to the on board computers of Atlantis.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Handoff to the onboard computers has occurred.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Twenty -- thirty seconds.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fifteen seconds. Main safety systems armed. The pressure system (ph) water activated.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: T minus ten, nine, eight, go for made (ph) to start -- seven, six -- main engine ignition -- four, three, two, one.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Zero, and liftoff of space shuttle Atlantis as Columbus sets sail on a voyage of science to the space station.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Houston now controlling.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Roger roll, Atlantis.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Columbus waves anchor from its port in Florida. Atlantis on the proper alignment, head is down, wings level for the eight a and a half minute ride to orbit. Taking aim off on international space station for docking on Saturday. Twenty-eight seconds in to the flight. Three liquid fuel main engines soon will throttle back to 72 percent of radio performance.
Going in the bucket, reducing the stress on the shuttle as it breaks through the sound barrier. Atlantis three miles in altitude, seven miles downrange. Fifty seconds into the flight. Engines beginning to throttle back up. Standing by for that call from Captain Jim Dutton.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Atlantis, go with throttle.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Atlantis copies, go at throttle-up. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Throttle up called --
O'BRIEN: Seven million pounds of thrust combined between the main engines of the space shuttle Atlantis and those solid-rocket boosters, those twin cigarette-looking rockets that are attached to that orange external fuel tank.
Leroy Chiao, takes us on board right now as this ride continues, the first couple of minutes that those SRB's, those solid rocket boosters. It's quite a bumpy ride. You know you're going somewhere, don't you?
CHIAO: Oh, absolutely. Right at booster ignition, there's a big kick in the back of your chair and first stage is actually pretty shaky. You get a lot of vibrations. It's difficult to focus your eyes on the screens and the gauges. And once those solid rockets come off, at about two minutes and 15 seconds, the ride smooths out. It's like glass, like you're sitting in a room.
O'BRIEN: You know, everybody who was around during Challenger remembers the call "Go at throttle up," that's -- when they come out of that area of maximum dynamic pressure, they call it. There you see those solid rocket boosters coming off, and that is a critical time of flight. And this moment here, as you watch those solid rocket boosters fall away, the crew must breath a little bit easier now, don't they?
CHIAO: Yes, absolutely. You're right, that is exactly where the problem was, right after throttle for space shuttle Challenger. And the crew does breathe a little easier once the -- we're off the solids and the ride smooths out considerably. It -- in fact it was so dramatic during my first flight, Miles, I actually thought that something was wrong. I thought that maybe the engines had all stopped. And -- I quickly looked at the gauges, saw it was running and everything was OK.
O'BRIEN: Yes, I've heard it described as sort of the electric ride or something to that effect at this point.
CHIAO: Right.
O'BRIEN: Is that how you describe it?
CHIAO: Yes, actually, it's, you know, we've talked about it like electric engines, you know, something very smooth. You know, and Soyuz is the same way, because Soyuz is all liquid and so there are no solid strap-ons, so you can't even feel liftoff on the Soyuz.
O'BRIEN: Now watching right now, I've been watching very closely to see if any of that foam has fallen off that external fuel tank, which of course takes us back to the other space shuttle disaster of Columbia in February 2003. And that problem appears to be pretty well solved at this point, Leroy. I haven't seen anything fall off of there of any consequence.
CHIAO: Right, I agree, Miles. I think we -- NASA really worked hard on that, the engineers at NASA and down at Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans -- and looks like they've got the problem licked. No major pieces have come off since then and this one looks pretty clean to my -- just by looking at the monitor here. Of course, plenty of NASA folks will be watching the replays and making sure that no big pieces came off and struck the orbiter.
O'BRIEN: Three minutes and 40 seconds into flight right now. The space shuttle continuing its acceleration. The crew gradually, but ever so certainly, feeling more and more of the pressures of the so-called G-Forces. Imagine the gravity we feel right now and start multiplying it out times three, and that is what they're feeling as they get closer and closer to space. They go from three Gs to zero G in an instant, don't they, Leroy?
CHIAO: That's right. You're right. Once you get up into the higher part of the atmosphere, the shuttle heals over and starts accelerating to orbital velocity of 17,500 miles an hour. And that's the point where the engines will throttle to maintain a three-G acceleration. Then at main engine cutoff, very suddenly, you're weightless. And, the feeling you get inside is like that you're tumbling a little bit, like you're tumbling forward and then everything starts floating.
O'BRIEN: At this point in the launch, there is a lot more options available to the crew, should something happen, should they lose an engine. If it happens early on, they have to do an amazingly difficult procedure never been tried, of course, to return to the launch site. The higher and faster they go, the more options they have for emergency landing sites, correct?
CHIAO: That's right. Miles -- and you're right, the RTLS, or return to launch site abort is never, thank goodness, had to been used, and once you get up a little higher, a little faster, you've got options to go halfway around the world and land at a trans-Atlantic abort site. If you go a little bit higher, you have the option to abort the orbit and get to a lower safe orbit and evaluate your -- further options at that point.
O'BRIEN: I got the call which that is "press to ATO", Leroy, which translated into lay terms means, if they lose an engine at this point, they would go to orbit, the abort to orbit. And that's an important milestone as they climb out of this -- out of gravity and into space, isn't it?
CHIAO: Yes. At the at the abort to orbit, that's a -- you breathe even easier at that point because you know that you've got -- even if you've lost an engine, you've got two good engines that can carry you to orbit. Once you get into orbit, you've got a little time to sort out the problem and figure out your options. So that's an important call.
O'BRIEN: At this point, the crew doesn't really have any sensation of speed, I imagine, as they roll at this point in order for the communications devices on the space shuttle to communicate with satellites above us. As they begin that roll, they don't have any sensation of speed, do they? CHIAO: That's correct, Miles. On my first flight, I was on the flight deck of Columbia, and I had a mirror and I could look out through the mirror, I could look through the overhead windows and so right after launch as the shuttle healed over on its back, I could see the acceleration, I could see ground rushing by. We didn't do the roll to heads up at that time back in the shuttle program. But if we had, you're right, suddenly you would lose all your visual references to the speed.
O'BRIEN: Now we're about six and half minutes into this flight. And one of the key issues we've been talking about in the run up to this flight are the fuel gauges those ECO sensors, engine cutoff sensors. And one of the important things is that those three main engines, which the shuttle is running on right now, don't ever run dry or run out of gas, because it could be a catastrophic failure if it happens.
The sensors were balky, there were all kinds of problems with them. They finally sottered all the pins and connectors together. Everything seems to be working well, but there was an insistence on the part of the astronauts that the ECO sensors work and they understand that problem. It sounds like they licked that one as well.
CHIAO: Yes, I'm glad to see that the problem seems to be solved, that they had four good sensors. They looked all pretty solid during the count, all pretty solid during the flight so far. I haven't heard any anomalies called on them. And, they're very important. As you said, if the engines run dry, there's a very good chance there would be a catastrophic event. And that's something we astronauts like to avoid.
O'BRIEN: All right, about seven and a half minuets, now, into the flight. About a minute left of powered flight on those three main engines. And customer and helicopter landing right beside me of the security helicopter, it's a little bit harder for me to hear. But, Leroy, walk us through the feelings, the sensations right now. What are those astronauts feeling right now?
CHIAO: Well right now they are still into the Gs of acceleration as they go up to orbital velocity. So, for the last couple of minutes, they've been under the stress. It's really not too bad. It just takes a little bit more effort to breathe, feels like someone's sitting on your chest. And then suddenly, at main engine cutoff, you'll be weightless and you'll get the forward tumbling sensation.
Of course you're not really tumbling, but that's kind of what it feels like. And then suddenly everything that is tethered will start floating up. Your pencil, if you kind of let it dangle, will kind of float up in front of you and you know you're in space.
O'BRIEN: Eight minutes and 15 seconds in, in about 15 seconds we're going to see the orange solid tank separate from the space shuttle. The camera you're seeing is on the external fuel tank. You'll see the shuttle burn -- a quick kind of explosion of bolts and then off they go. I got to ask you, Leroy, when you had the tumbling feeling, the first time at least or -- did you ever feel sick? CHIAO: No, actually, I do well going into space. I'm one of the lucky guys that doesn't have any symptoms going into space.
O'BRIEN: There's that separation, by the way.
CHIAO: Yes, there it is right there. Anyway --
O'BRIEN: At this point they're feeling zero G and that tumbling effect?
CHIAO: Right, but the tumbling effect is very brief. And it's just kind of right at the moment of main engine cutoff, you get a little bit of that tumbling effect. You're well briefed on it so you're expecting it and it's not that a big deal.
But the first time you're in weightless, it sure is a different feeling. You see everything floating. Visually it's different. And, of course, the first time you unstrap and float -- I felt almost giddy with exhilaration.
O'BRIEN: Leroy Chiao, you sure know how to talk a shuttle into orbit. What a spectacular shot we're looking at there right now.
CHIAO: Absolutely beautiful.
O'BRIEN: The sun pointed into that camera. It's hard to imagine we're watching a fuel tank traveling at 17, 500 miles an hour and we're watching it like it's next door. It really is amazing.
CHIAO: It is amazing. This picture is incredibly clear and just a testament to the hard work of NASA and the contractors of getting the problems solved and getting cameras on board to give us these high res images.
O'BRIEN: So, off begins the mission of 11 days. The crew on its way to install that Columbus European space lab on the international space station, roughly doubling the scientific capability of the international space station. A lot more things to do up there, and eventually, Leroy, once things get squared away, that paves the way for, perhaps, expanding the size of the crew up there.
CHIAO: That's right. And that's something everyone is looking forward to, is getting those laboratory modules attached, getting the working volume of laboratory facilities, getting more crew on board to get more research done, which is what the purpose of the international space station is.
O'BRIEN: All right, we're ten minutes and 31 seconds into the flight of Atlantis, on its way, safely so far, to the international space station.
Kyra, that was -- that was a sight to behold. I wish you could have been here.
PHILLIPS: It gives you chills. You know how much I love that stuff. So how many Gs do you pull at 17,000 miles an hour? O'BRIEN: All it is is three Gs, that's it. They -- they built the space shuttle to be able to withstand only three Gs so they could carry up more delicate experiments, essentially, among other things. And so, you've pulled more Gs, Kyra, in an F-14.
PHILLIPS: Miles, you have done the same in an F-18, if I remember correctly. Or was an F-15? We got to keep all our jets straight. Well needless to say --
O'BRIEN: It's hard when you're flying all those spiders around, it's really hard to keep track.
PHILLIPS: That's true, when we get in those dogfights, right? Well, it was a relief to hear that "Go with throttle up" and see a successful launch and it's always great to hear from an astronaut there on the ground as well.
And, of course, Miles, your expertise and experience is undeniable. Hopefully one day you'll get a chance to strap in and do exactly what these guys are doing today.
O'BRIEN: Yes, hopefully that will happen one day. I'm not holding my breath, but I'm not going to rule it out either, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Never say never, my friend. Miles O'Brien, appreciate it.
LEMON: Mitt Romney steps aside. We'll have more on the former Massachusetts governor's decision to suspend his presidential campaign.
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PHILLIPS: Where will conservatives turn? Suspense following Mitt Romney's decision to suspend his campaign for president.
LEMON: Any minute now, John McCain will face the same crowd that treated Romney like royalty. We'll hear his speech and later, we'll talk with his senior Romney adviser, Bay Buchanan.
Hello, everyone, I'm Don Lemon. Live at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.
PHILLIPS: And I'm Kyra Phillips. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.
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