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Weiner in the Buff; Getting the Upper Hand; A Look at Republican Presidential Candidates; Earless Bunny Around Japan's Nuclear Plant Causes Concern; Is Newt Gingrich's Presidential Run Finished?

Aired June 12, 2011 - 18:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, if it's a new day, it must be a new development in the Anthony Weiner saga. And today, it is a very big development. New photos of the congressman are out. They are believed to be taken inside a gym on Capitol Hill. And in some of them, Weiner is nearly nude.

Wildfires are still out of control and raging across Arizona, but today, some good news to report from the front lines.

And, from this --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON Are we going up onto the stage? Here we go. Whoa! You all right?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: To this --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Take a look around. We are on the new stage.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: A transformation in just under three days. We are live on the campus of St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, counting down the GOP presidential debate right here on CNN.

I'm Don Lemon. You are live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

And we start with this: it keeps getting worse for New York Congressman Anthony Weiner. While he's off seeking professional help, more embarrassing and explicit photos of him have cropped up. The Web site TMZ published these and they aren't even the most graphic ones in the bunch. This is happening as the pressure for him to resign mounts within his own party.

I want to bring in now, CNN's Jason Carroll, who has been covering this story.

Jason, tell us where these photos were allegedly taken. JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's what we are still trying to confirm at this point, Don, on where the photos were taken. CNN is still trying to confirm that.

In terms of what's happening here in the congressman's own district, earlier today, we saw a number of protesters who showed up, some of them made copies of those photos, handed them out to people as they were walking out by on the street here in Queens. So, it clearly shows there's still some anger here in his community.

We want you to listen to what some of those had to say about Congressman Weiner at this point. They are basically saying at this point, he just simply cannot be effective as a leader and it's time for him to resign.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

DONNA CAFIERO, OPPOSES REP. WEINER: I think he's been lying to us all along about a lot of issues that are really important to the American people, such as the economy, world issues, and I think that he's not really telling us the complete truth.

DR. STEPHEN MORRIS, OPPOSES REP. WEINER: This man has opened himself up to all sorts of illegal things. He's opened himself up to the fact that he could be bribed, he could be -- they could hold this against him and he -- it would sway him. I mean, sexual encounters could be HIV, could be anything you want.

All I can say is this is a man who needs extreme medical care, most of the studies have shown that sexual addictions cannot be cured. And I feel that this skews all his relationships -- his family, his wife, his family and how he votes and conducts himself.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

CARROLL: So, clearly, there are a number of people in this community who are angry. They say it's time for Congressman Weiner to go.

But, Don, you know that a recent poll shows that more than 50 percent of registered voters here actually still support the congressman. Some of those people showed up here today as well.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

CATHRYN CYLINDER, SUPPORTS REP. WEINER: What he did was disgusting but he's done an excellent job. I support him and would vote for him again. I think we need more people in the Congress of the United States who will speak out for their constituents.

BRITNEY SILVERSTEIN, SUPPORTS REP. WEINER: He needs help and is going for help now. And when he comes back from help, he should be a full- pledged congressman and be back helping us.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

CARROLL: So, clearly, more pictures now coming out, embarrassing pictures showing the congressman. That's just going to make the people here who are already angry even more angry. If the congressman wanted the story to go away by checking into rehab. Clearly, that's not happening, not here, not yet -- Don.

LEMON: Yes, that has not happened. New Yorkers clearly are not holding their tongues in the sound bites. They're coming. So, very strong there.

It's been bad news -- mostly bad news, Jason, but there's a bit of good news today for Congressman Weiner, I guess, relatively speaking. Tell us about the outcome of this investigation into his contact with a teenager girl in Delaware that you and I talked about yesterday.

CARROLL: Exactly. You know, we have mentioned that yesterday. And, In fact, I actually asked the congressman about that yesterday when I ran into him in an interview. He basically said, look, nothing was inappropriate with my communication with this teenager girl in Delaware. Just to recap, some people who may not be sort of plugged in.

Basically what happened was he spoke at her high school. And she started following him on Twitter. The two of them communicated online. And at this point, detectives and investigators who are looking into that have basically cleared this investigation, basically saying it's closed. There was no inappropriate online contact between the two of them.

LEMON: All right, Jason. Thank you very much. Standby -- because we'll be coming back to you, no doubt.

I want to bring in now, CNN senior political editor, Mark Preston.

OK. So, Mark, yesterday, the Democratic leadership called on Weiner to step down. Today, they are seeing these pictures. Who knows what's coming out tomorrow?

How much more can he withstand? I mean, you heard the New Yorkers. The first guy who is saying, oh, you know, he can be bribed. And the woman said it was disgusting. But, I mean, how much more can this guy take?

MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: I think that -- I mean, look, the end is very near for Congressman Weiner. I don't know how much more he can take, his wife can take. She's overseas with Hillary Clinton. She's a top aide of Hillary Clinton. Wait until she's back into the States.

When he comes out of rehab, I can't imagine that he can go back and work in Congress, especially these new pictures. And if these pictures are taken in the House gymnasium where Congress members work out every morning, I mean, that is devastating.

What is telling right now is that the liberal groups that Anthony Weiner aligned himself with all throughout his career -- he was a powerful liberal voice -- have not come out and defended him. And that is telling. LEMON: As we look at the picture there, those are the tame ones.

PRESTON: Those are the tame ones. There are some are really much, much more explicit and, of course, there's another one that is circulating around that is supposedly, reportedly him naked. But, you know, again, terrible stuff.

All right. Let's get to the business at hand, why we are here on this beautiful campus. We are talking about CNN hosting the first debate here in New Hampshire among the Republican candidates for president tomorrow night.

And a very interesting poll was released. And it shows -- I guess what people have been saying to us for quite some time, and that is --

PRESTON: It's the economy, right?

LEMON: Yes.

PRESTON: And look, what we did is, is this new poll that just came out just a few hours ago, the CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll asked about traditional values. And, basically, the question was: should the government promote traditional values? Let's take a look at those numbers, Don, just very quickly.

Look at that number, only 46 percent of Americans think that Americans should promote traditional values. Why is this important? Because this is the first time since we asked this question since 1993 that the number has dipped below 50 percent.

LEMON: Isn't that how Newt Gingrich turned things around with those sort of traditional -- the values voters?

PRESTON: Well, sure. It was the rise of the Christian coalition and Ralph Reed.

LEMON: Yes.

PRESTON: And we saw all that. But, again, look at the unemployment rate right now, 9.1 percent. And you know what is really telling to use an overused word today, "telling," is the fact that we've seen the vote slip with urban voters, suburban voters and even urban voters -- all dropped on this. So, it really comes down to the economy.

LEMON: And conservative voters as well.

PRESTON: Across the board.

LEMON: Across the board.

OK. I want you to listen to some of the -- we spoke to the voters in New Hampshire. Let's listen, Mark, and we'll talk about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think people promote the values and the values change as society changes. I mean, if you did have traditional values, we'd still be in a segregated society. Think about that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't think it is what people do in their homes is any of the government's business. If people want to do something, as long as they are not hurting anybody else, I don't have a problem with that.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

LEMON: OK, Mark. So, for the candidates here tomorrow night, who does it help? Who does it hurt?

PRESTON: Well, Mitt Romney, of course, the frontrunner is running almost primarily on the idea that he can turn the economy around. Back when he ran for the president in 2008, he kind of (INAUDIBLE), he talked about how he was a great businessman, but he also talked a lot about social conservative issues.

We're not hearing that out of his mouth. Expect him to propose primarily on this -- as we'll hear from a couple of the other candidates. But it will be Romney who will certainly trumpet that tomorrow.

LEMON: All right. Mark Preston, thank you very much.

Boy, about 24 hours -- just a little bit over 24 hours. And we are excited. Tomorrow night, CNN, seven Republicans will appear on stage right here at the St. Anselm College in Manchester. It will mark the first political debate of the 2012 presidential race. The event will be moderated by CNN's John King and John is going to join me next hour and hopefully my mouth will work better in the next hour.

And you know what? Mark and I were just talking about the chance to talk to some of the candidates taking part in that debate. And one of those who should have great interest in our value voters poll is former Senator Rick Santorum. He's a divisive figure on social issues, especially gay rights.

Here's part of what we talked about.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Do you have any gay friends?

RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Yes, in fact, I have had gay people work for me.

LEMON: Yes. And friends?

SANTORUM: Yes.

LEMON: You know, people say, I have black friends.

SANTORUM: Well -- I mean, yes, in fact, I was with a gay friend of mine just two days ago. I mean -- so, yes, I do.

(END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: You are going to hear much, much more of my interesting conversation with Rick Santorum next hour.

And up next here on CNN right now, the very first images of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords since being shot in the head in January. We have them for you.

Plus, it just keeps getting bigger -- the fire in Arizona moving closer to becoming the largest in state history. We've got some good news as well.

And many of you are asking for information through social media. You can reach out to us on Twitter, on Facebook and CNN.com/Don, and on Foursquare.com/DonLemonCNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We are back, everyone. Coming to you live in New Hampshire, on the campus of St. Anselm, and where CNN is getting ready for Monday night's GOP presidential debate. We know that you'll tune in.

We have some other news to tell you about. It's Gabrielle Giffords. She will leave a Houston rehab hospital by the end of the month to begin outpatient therapy. That's according to the Arizona congressman's spokesperson.

New photos of Giffords were posted today on her Facebook page. Giffords was sitting outside during the photo shoot. And then this one she is next to her mother looking happy and relaxed.

Now, the photos were taken nearly a month ago, just before she underwent skull surgery. And as you recall, Giffords was critically wounded with a bullet to the brain in a mass shooting back in January while meeting with her constituents in a Tucson shopping center.

CNN's Lisa Sylvester joins us now from Washington.

Lisa, everyone who is asking me about these photos saying, oh, she still looks, you know, pretty and there's a sparkle in her eye. Tell us about the photographer and the story behind these photographs.

LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Don. You know, this is such a remarkable story. You know, as you mentioned, Representative Gabby Giffords is getting ready to move to the next phase of her recovery. And her communications director tells us that doctors believe that it's now time for outpatient treatment.

A date, though, has not yet been set, but it should happen sometime within the next month or so. And this is going to be huge. This is a huge milestone.

She'll still receive daily physical, occupational and speech therapy in Houston. But she's staying at a house instead of the hospital. And as you mentioned, her staff did put these photos on her Facebook page. The first pictures they are in fact, since she was shot point- blank in the head. And hundreds of well-wishers -- we're talking more than 800 people, Don, have posted comments. These pictures, they were taken May 17th, the day before she had surgery to replace the skull bone. And that surgery was to put in a synthetic bone and shunt. And her doctors said it went very well.

So, the point is that her physical condition has actually improved above and beyond what these photos show.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

C.J. KARAMARGIN, GIFFORDS' COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR (via telephone): You know, you look at these pictures and it is almost -- amazing to think that this woman was shot in the head at point-blank range less than six months ago. It is amazing. The doctors have used terms like that. They have used remarkable. They have used phrases like "leaps and bounds."

And you see that in these photographs. You know, people shouldn't get the wrong impression, though. The congresswoman suffered a severe injury to one of the most sensitive parts of the human body. Her road to recovery is going to be a long one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SYLVESTER: And, yes, we do know a little bit more about the photographer who took these pictures, P.K. Weis. He has known the congresswoman for more than a decade and was chosen because they wanted someone she is comfortable with. And during the photo shoot, he said she was smiling, she was laughing and really seemed to enjoy herself -- Don.

LEMON: Well, I think it's remarkable and I think she looks absolutely beautiful. Of course, everyone is rooting for her. It is good to see that she's doing well. Lisa, I'm sure you'll agree.

SYLVESTER: Absolutely. She looks fantastic. I mean, that's the thing that everybody keeps saying again and again. Just take a look at her. And you know what? She still has the signature smile. In all of these photos, you know, before the shooting and after the shooting, she still has that great wonderful smile, Don.

LEMON: Some good news to report. Lisa Sylvester, thank you so much.

Up next here on CNN, good and bad news out of Arizona. We'll tell you who can now return and who is being told to stay indoors.

Plus, we are getting ready for Monday night's Republican presidential debate. Coming up, we'll tell you about the seven candidates who will be on stage and why one of them just went after Mitt Romney. The gloves are coming off.

But, first, as we go to break, check out this time-lapsed video of the hall where the debate is being held.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: We are back, coming to you live from New Hampshire, on the St. Anselm campus where CNN is getting ready for Monday night's GOP presidential debate.

After 15 days of battling one of the largest forest fires in Arizona history, a huge sigh of relief tonight. Firefighters believe they finally have the upper hand in the monstrous wallow fire. Let's go right to CNN's Jim Spellman in Eagar, Arizona.

Jim, with only 6 percent containment, why are they suddenly so optimistic about this?

JIM SPELLMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's a deceptive number, Don. Only 6 percent contained, but yesterday, the wind pick up. You can see they are blowing hard right now. And all their lines have held so far.

They have created barriers between the occupied towns and the head of the fire by doing purposeful burns and getting rid of fuel that's in between them. And so far, that's held. And most of these winds are blowing the fire back on itself.

So much progress that they have reopened the towns of Eager and Springerville.

And we are here at the home of Rick Law. We met Rick earlier in the week when most of the town evacuated, he decided to say. He said using sprinkler system that he has installed. He's got a metal roof on his house. He felt like that this was a place that he could defend from the fire and he didn't want to lose his home.

It was less than a mile over this ridge. And here's Rick himself. This is Rick Law.

Rick, show us some of the embers that flew from this fire that you are here to protect from.

RICK LAW, EAGAR, ARIZONA RESIDENT: This is what was flying. Stuff like that. That's had the needles on it when it landed.

SPELLMAN: And if this landed in the wrong place, Rick, this could have caused a fire. They call it a spot fire.

LAW: That's correct. That's how spot fires get started. This is flying and they are burning at the same time.

SPELLMAN: How does it feel to know that your house has made it and you are safe?

LAW: Well, I praise God for that. And I knew that, like I said, if we were here, we could watch to make sure nothing happened.

And there wasn't a lot of major things happening in the community anyway. There were firefighters everywhere. And they were taking -- they were doing a good job.

SPELLMAN: Speaking of these firefighters, 3,000 firefighters out there protecting your community.

LAW: That's correct.

SPELLMAN: H does it feel, to know those guys are out there?

LAW: I give them all the praise and all the credit for that. And I said -- they do -- and they have done a really great job.

SPELLMAN: Don, so far, they don't want to get ahead of themselves here. But today, one of the fire officials said they turned a corner and they don't use language like that lightly. So, hopefully, as huge as this fire is, Don, it won't hurt any more houses or people here and, you know, we'll have a little better outcome than it could have -- Don.

LEMON: Yes, Jim Spellman, thank you. We can hear why they're having so much trouble. We can hear the wind in your microphone there. Thank you very much.

Up next, it is the reason we are here in New Hampshire, tomorrow night's GOP debate. We are going to tell you about the seven candidates who will be on stage. Who is on top going in? And if it's a good or a bad thing.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The media loves to talk about politics, analyze the issues, size up things like Monday night's Republican presidential debate. But what are real people thinking tonight outside of the media?

Well, I had a chance to talk to residents of Manchester when I visited a popular diner.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: All right, let see how people start their day in Manchester, New Hampshire. "Union Lead." All right. Got the paper. Let's go to the Red Arrow Diner, voted one of the top 10 diners in the country.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need to clean the house out there. That's what we need to do, you know?

LEMON: Out of all the candidates in the Republican field who declared so far, who do you like?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have to say it's Santorum.

LEMON: What are you talking about over breakfast?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Probably graduation.

LEMON: Not politics?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not really.

LEMON: No debate? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not interested in that stuff. I can't even vote yet.

LEMON: What are you talking about over breakfast this morning here in Manchester?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Business. Any more business. Finding business. Opportunities, you know?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The economy is very stagnant right now. You know, how do you grow in a very downward, you know, economy? How do you stay stable?

You know, how do you keep people employed? How do you keep the lights on? You know, that's really the issues at hand.

LEMON: What are you hearing from folks in the debate?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jobs and stop spending.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to see what they are going to do, I mean, for the younger people. I mean, what's going to be supporting the rest of, you know, the people after everyone else retires and everything.

RADIO ANNOUNCER: From (INAUDIBLE) studio, A.M. 610, WGIR, Manchester.

JUSTIN MCISAAC, PRODUCER, WGIR RADIO: Nobody else is talking in this town except for us.

LEMON: People from the outside looking in, what should they know about New Hampshire?

MCISAAC: Well, I mean, we like the voters to speak to us. I mean, if you -- if you are a politician and you are running for president and you make a big national speech, it doesn't play well in New Hampshire.

I mean, New Hampshire, it's like to be -- we like it when a candidate would you go to the pancake breakfast that maybe only like 15 people will show for. We like to see what you're made of -- if you can handle stuff like that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: We have been talking a lot about Monday night's Republican presidential debate. So, let's take a look at the six men and one woman who will be squaring off in the debate. They include some well- known names like former House Speaker Newt Gingrich -- everybody knows him. And then former Massachusetts governor and presidential contender Mitt Romney, high-name recognition there. And another former governor, Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, he'll be on stage as well -- along with another Minnesotan, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, a Tea Party favorite.

Also, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who ran back in 2008; former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum; and businessman and radio talk show host, Herman Cain.

All right. Right now, his is a chance for someone in the GOP to move to the head of the pack, and the candidates are taking aim at each other way before they even get on stage.

Let's bring in now Jessica Yellin, part of "The Best Political Team on Television."

So, many polls are now showing that Mitt Romney is in the lead. So, does this put him in the position to be a target? I know Tim Pawlenty is taking aim, right?

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: He's the nominal frontrunner.

LEMON: Right.

YELLIN: Given that this is so early, it's hard to say he's the leader. But he's the one a lot of the candidates will be taking shots at.

LEMON: I'm glad you said that. It's really early to be talking -- right? Way too early.

YELLIN: Yes. I mean, what does that mean? Yes. But, so, because he proposed and passed the health care legislation -- that's so much like the president's and so unpopular among Republicans, everyone is going to be taking aim at him.

Tim Pawlenty is the guy to benefit the most at this point it seems if Romney were to stumble. And so, there has been a little bit of a push by Tim Pawlenty to go after him on Romneycare. He says he's only answering questions when he's asked.

LEMON: OK. So, for him, it benefits him just a little to be the one to go after him.

YELLIN: For Tim Pawlenty, look, Tim Pawlenty would have the most to gain at this point, bottom line, if Romney were to stumble, it seems. And Tim Pawlenty is not being unwise in fairly pointing out that there are similarities between Mitt Romney's health care plan and the president's. In his defense, he says I'm only answering questions that are asked of me.

LEMON: OK.

YELLIN: But he is pointing out Romney's greatest weakness, and this is a careful balancing act. As a politician, he has to point out the opponent's weakness without looking like he's cannibalizing his own field.

LEMON: Yes. And, you know, people have come up with a name. They are calling it now --

YELLIN: Obamneycare.

LEMON: Obamneycare, right?

YELLIN: Pawlenty came up with that.

LEMON: Yes, Obamneycare.

OK. So, listen -- let's listen to him real quick, Tim Pawlenty, and then you and I will talk.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIM PAWLENTY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I responded to a question on the show this morning about the similarities between the president's plan and the Massachusetts plan. But I just commented that it's obvious and President Obama said in his own words he patterned Obamacare after the health care plan in Massachusetts and merged those two things together to form Obamacare -- or as I call it Obamneycare.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: We are going to be hearing this a lot. We're going to be hearing that a lot.

I want to ask you, though, as I'm out here talking to people, I think people really want to hear from Mitt Romney because this is really -- this is his neck of the woods. He has name recognition here.

Is it a curse -- I don't know if that's the way to put it -- to go in as the front-runner in the beginning?

YELLIN: They hate it when we say that he's the front-runner, of course, because it seems like you have the most to lose.

LEMON: OK.

YELLIN: So, you know, everybody has to prove themselves at this debate. And the truth is, anybody could come out a winner if they show something that people haven't seen. But because Romney's name recognition is so significant, because he has so much money, because he's done this before, he is a little ahead of the rest.

LEMON: Here's something that -- I'm so glad you are here, because I want -- and you are the best person to answer this. When you hear -- when people talk about Tim Pawlenty. They say he's very bland.

YELLIN: Yes.

LEMON: And when people talk about Mitt Romney here, they say, he's sort of mechanical, like the business man. They want them both to loosen up and be like guys.

YELLIN: Right.

LEMON: And be like a man of the people. How can they do that? Can they overcome that? YELLIN: Yes, but it is hard. They all have their own challenges. I think that for Romney, he's known this has been his challenge for a long time. He'll talk about it openly. He's loosened up over time. For Pawlenty, the big challenge, off camera, is that he's sort of just a normal guy who can hang out, and to show that and seem unscripted is his challenge.

LEMON: He's not a big personality. Yes

YELLIN: No. He never will be, but his ticket would be to campaign, if he were to become the nominee, as the anti-Obama, for example. I'm not going to wow you with you with big speeches. I'm just going to tell it straight and then do my job. That could be his sell. But he has to show that at a debate like this. Like, I could be the guy who is just meat and potatoes guy but I get the job done. That's the kind of thing he has to be able to do.

LEMON: I can talk to her forever. Are we -- should we move on.

YELLIN: Oh.

LEMON: No, this is great, because I love hearing all this and would love to hear more about Michele Bachmann, and all the candidates and what they are going to have to overcome.

What about her here as a Tea Party favorite? Is that playing in her favor or against her in this part?

YELLIN: Look, she has an enormous -- the people who like her like her intensely. There's a devoted following. What some people say is she is critical of her fellow candidates. You were asking about Tim Pawlenty, she has the wrap a little bit. They want to see her be more positive about the field but take it to President Obama more than the fellow candidates, and be more unscripted. That she can tend to be scripted.

The one I would say to look out for -- I feel like we are doing Oscar watch.

LEMON: Yes, I like it though.

YELLIN: The one to look out for is Herman Cain.

LEMON: That was my next question.

YELLIN: He is catching fire. You know, I don't -- it doesn't matter where I am in the country, from the coasts to the middle of the country, people are saying I like that Herman Cain. He says it like it is. He makes it clear and simple and he says it with passion. He has the energy that's contagious for a lot of people. And I bet he'll pop.

LEMON: When it comes to conservatives, when it comes to the Republican Party, you know, the only two people who are different are women, Michele Bachmann and then Sarah Palin. Then you have Herman Cain, an African-American, catching fire. YELLIN: And a businessman without a political background.

LEMON: And a businessman. And it seems like people sort of have more genuine like for him than they have for --

(CROSSTALK)

YELLIN: He's also a radio guy. He has experience in talking in this straight-talk kind of way. He hasn't held elective office in the way that -- when you run for office, you become very scripted because you've had problems when you were unscripted.

LEMON: Yes. We'll talk -- we'll talk after, in the break, because I want to talk to you about Rick Santorum. I had an interesting conversation with him and I'll play it at 7:00, because he's controversial when it comes to social issues, very conservative on social issues. And our polling is showing social issues are taking a backseat, even more ways than usual to the economy. Jobs, money, that's what people care about now.

Thank you. It's so good to see you.

YELLIN: It's good to see you.

LEMON: I learned a lot.

See the I.Q. in the room went up when you came on.

YELLIN: Oh.

LEMON: Up next, the new photos of Congressman Anthony Weiner that he apparently took of himself at a House gym.

And new video from Moammar Gadhafi, playing chess. Today's top stories are next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We are live here in New Hampshire as CNN gets ready for tomorrow night's GOP debate. We are talking more about that.

But first, I want to get you caught up on the top stories.

We are joined from the CNN headquarters in Atlanta, Miss Richelle Carey.

Take it away, ma'am.

RICHELLE CAREY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All right, Don. I'm holding it down for you. Let me get to some top stories out there.

More explicit and embarrassing photos of Congressman Anthony Weiner are popping up. TMZ posted these pictures. They said they were taken in the House members' gym. Weiner is seeking professional help after the Democratic leadership called for his resignation on Saturday. A bit of good news for him, relatively speaking, the Delaware police closed their investigation into his Twitter contact with a 17-year-old girl without finding any wrongdoing.

Well, there they are, the very first images of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords we've seen since being shot in the head in January. They were posted on her Facebook page today. This one shows her next to her mother. We'll get that in a moment, looking happy and relaxed. They were taken -- there's her mother there. They were taken May 17th, just a day before she underwent skull surgery. Here's a look at her before the shooting and now, still just gorgeous and so brave. We also have learned today that Giffords could leave a Houston rehab hospital by the end of the month for outpatient treatment.

A big break today battling the enormous Wallow fire in Arizona. After 15 days, fire crews now say they have turned the corner. Control burns have robbed the advancing flames of fuel at 430,000 acres. This fire is not expected to get larger. The situation has improved so much that residents of two evacuated towns are being allowed to return but at their own risk, just to be clear.

The country is getting torn apart by civil war, but that's Moammar Gadhafi playing chess. Today, video of the Libyan leader playing aired on Libyan state TV. It is not clear where Gadhafi was but an anchor says his opponent was the president of the World Chess Federation. Just this week, a senior official told CNN, on condition of anonymity, that NATO is targeting Gadhafi and not just his forces. But a NATO official denied the claim.

Let's get back to you in New Hampshire and my friend, Don.

Hey, Don.

LEMON: Hey, we'll see you in a bit. Thanks, Richelle.

CAREY: All right.

LEMON: With the latest unemployment figures suggesting the recovery is going slow, at best, no one wants to hear more stories of American jobs being shipped overseas. In Kentucky, one company has reversed the trend and brought some jobs home, even if it meant paying higher wages.

CNN's Tom Foreman shows us how it is helping "Build up America."

(BUILDING UP AMERICA)

LEMON: All right. He's cute and cuddly -- I'm not talking about Tom Foreman. He's creating anxiety in Japan. An earless bunny has shown up in the area around the failed nuclear plant. That story is coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: An earless bunny and a tiny man, some of the stories making headlines around the world.

We'll go "Globe Trekking" with CNN international desk editor, Azadeh Ansari. First up, Azadeh, the global focus today is on the worldwide tragedy of child labor. How big a problem is that?

AZADEH ANSARI, CNN INTERNATIONAL DESK EDITOR: That's right, Don. Each day, 115 million boys and girls from around the world are exposed to some of the worst living conditions. What I'm talking about is they work in these sweat shops for long hours. They are forced into labor they don't want to be in. They are denied adequate education because of the fact they have to work. This is a day to bring awareness to the plight of the children and get governments to get involved in this, in what people are calling a modern form of slavery.

LEMON: Oh, yes, a huge issue.

Hey, let's talk about -- you know, we have been reporting on Japan and the nuclear power plant there that had so many problems. An earless bunny now causing concerns and fears of mutation?

ANSARI: Yes, this bunny is the poster child against raising fears against nuclear energy. No doubt, there are potential dangers to the nuclear energy and the fallout from it. But, the thing is this, mutation could be due to some random mutation or genetic mutation that caused this defect within the bunny. In 2008, there was a bunny born in the U.K. with the same condition. He was earless. But the point is that this bunny has gotten the term of being called the mutant bunny. It is called the radiation rabbit. And so it is living up to the hype, but in the absence of information, people will draw their own conclusions.

LEMON: Hey, the bunny is cute, I have to say.

ANSARI: I have to say it is.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: But when you look at it, yes, really cute.

All right. Let's talk about the world's shortest man. Who found this?

ANSARI: He's the world's shortest living man. And he's Filipino, from the Philippines. He weighs 11 pounds, Don, a little bit more than a gallon of milk. And he's about the height -- a little taller than the average rooster, at 23 inches, and so 23.6 inches to be adequate. But the point is that he was just named on his 18th birthday as the world's shortest living man. And it created lot of buzz internationally. If you look at him here, he lives with his parents. He has three younger siblings. He can't walk very far and he can't stand for many hours. He's dependent on his family in terms of getting around and doing the day-in and day-out tasks that we take for granted. He's so cute.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Yes, little guy.

Thank you, Azadeh.

ANSARI: No problem, Don. Take care.

LEMON: Up next, Lebron James, analysts say he's been missing in the fourth quarter of the last two games of the NBA finals. I'll ask "Sports Illustrated's" Jon Wertheim what's going on with the Miami Heat star.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEBRON JAMES, MIAMI HEAT BASKETBALL PLAYER: It's going to be written no matter what. No matter if I play well or not. I mean, I had a triple-double last game and I had a bad game in a lot of to people's eyes. I understand that. That's just the situation I'm in.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: All right, Lebron James reacting to game five of the NBA playoffs to put Dallas up three games to two over his Miami Heat.

Let's talk about the championship series with "Sports Illustrated's" Jon Wertheim.

There is Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki on this week's cover. That says his score casting, so it's a different cover. That's Jon's book, "Score Casting." So, will take that, I'm sure.

JON WERTHEIM, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: I knew that.

LEMON: Jon, we just heard Lebron James has been criticized for his play in the fourth quarter of the last couple of games, which the Heat lost. Is this criticism justified?

WERTHEIM: Yes. In short answer, I think it is. This has been a fascinating series, great basketball. Also the sub plot of the disappearance of Lebron James. If it were any other player, you would say he is doing fine. But after last summer's decision, after all of the talk about him, to disappear the way he has in the fourth quarters of these games, he has been outscored by Dirk Nowitzki, 52 to 11 in the fourth quarters. And it is very puzzling. It does not really become a guy people are talking about as one of the best-evers. It's been a fascinating character referendum on Lebron. It has been an interesting plot of this series.

LEMON: Yes, I'm glad you mentioned Dirk Nowitzki. Let's put up a "Sports Illustrated" cover, the one with Dwyane Wade and it's got the playoffs on the cover there. Let's listen, are the Heat in big trouble with the final two games in Miami?

WERTHEIM: Well, they can still spin this heroic ending. It's come down to the brink in this team - I mean, starting the season, they had to win the NBA title or it would be a disappointment. They have two more games. They have to win both. They are doing it at home. But I think Lebron -- I think part of the problem is there are whispers about personal issues. There has been talk about him and Dwyane Wade. But I think what is really going on is he is jarred. He had a very easy first 10 years. Popular beloved figure. I think he is having a hard time adjusting to being this villain. Some athletes are cut out for this. But I think Lebron James is still a little bit jarred by that fact that he has become the persona non grata in most everywhere outside of Florida.

LEMON: I think that is a good assessment, a very good assessment.

I want to talk about something we talked about last week, Ohio State quarterback, Terrell Pryor, who announced he is leaving the Buckeyes and making himself eligible for a supplemental NFL draft. He also said he will not cooperate with the NCAA investigators looking at the Ohio State mess. Is there any surprise there, Jon?

WERTHEIM: No, not really. We talked about this last week, where you just have this great imbalance. Terrell Pryor is leaving. Who knows if he will graduate? He won't cooperate with the NCAA. The other big college sports story from last week is the Auburn coach got a raise to $3.5 million. You have these two stories and I think that pretty much distills college sports, where it is just a broken model. It doesn't work from labor economics. It doesn't work from fundamental fairness. Terrell Pryor, hopefully, we'll see him in the NFL, but when the boss -- when the director of the movie is making $3.5 million and the actors aren't being paid much, there are going to be problems own the set, and that is what is happening in college sports right now.

LEMON: Jon Wertheim, thank you so much, sir.

WERTHEIM: Thanks, Don.

LEMON: Up next on CNN --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, ISSUES: If she had only gone into acting, she would have taken all of Hollywood by storm.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: That is Jane Velez-Mitchell talking about Casey Anthony, the mom accused of killing her 2-year-old girl. When we come back, why the host of "Issues" thinks Anthony has been faking the tears in court this week.

Plus, coming up at 7:00 p.m., John King. He is moderating Monday night's debate. We will ask him what he is planning to ask the GOP candidates.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Every week, we sit down with Jane Velez-Mitchell, host of "Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell," on HLN. This week, she was fired up about Anthony Weiner and Newt Gingrich, but she begins by taking aim at Casey Anthony, who sobbed in court last week during testimony about her dead daughter's remains. Jane wasn't buying it. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: If she had only got into acting, she would have taken all of Hollywood by storm. There's a lot of people who don't buy it. Bounty hunter, Leonard Padilla, who spent time with her, says she is strong as an ox and tough as nails, and that there is no way she is breaking down, that this is all part of an act. And let's face it, people have pulled dramatic stunts in the courtroom before. Remember, Casey Anthony this week also said she was sick and stopped the proceedings, so she could leave court, and in a very dramatic fashion.

As for whether or not her crying an illness is genuine or not, I think nobody knows, because this woman is a genius at lying and faking. And that's one of the reasons that everybody is fascinated about this case.

LEMON: Yes, as people would call it histrionics. Speaking of histrionics, I want to talk to you about Anthony Weiner case or story. There are a couple of different elements I want to talk to you about. First, there is new video of him leaving, going outside of his neighborhood -- he apologized to his neighbors, as a matter of fact, for what is going on. He is still out there, talking and he says he is not going anywhere.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, listen, I think he might be in denial about the extent of his problems. This is a major embarrassment to his party. He is not getting a lost backing from his party. Quite the contrary. And I don't think he is going to be able to tough this out. I think this is just another example of his narcissism and his sense of entitlement, that he thinks he can apologize his way out of this. It is not going to be that easy.

Remember, this is a guy that not only who did the sexting and texting and inappropriate behavior, but he lied about it. And the cover-up is always worse than the crime.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: Newt Gingrich, everybody around him, gone. Is he done?

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, I think that the theme that we're talking about here, is ego. Men with huge ego that want the power, and yet they are not willing to make the sacrifices. Whether it's to have to forgo some sexual tantalizing fun things that you shouldn't be doing if you are a politician, or making the sacrifices -- make the sacrifices if you want the highest office in the land. You got to go out there and shake hands.

And a source told CNN he just wasn't willing to do that personal sacrifice and go out there and do the meet and greets. In fact, he took a vacation with his wife to Greece. And he had the audacity to say, to have a major breakthrough policy, you have to be able to stop and think. But apparently, the best way to do that is to be on a cruise liner in the Mediterranean. I really think that there's a lot of hubris, a lot of arrogance that one could read into this.

And I think the most important thing we need in a candidate today is humility. That's what we're all looking for.

LEMON: Yes.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: I am sick of these ego-based campaigns. Let's get some humility in there.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: The always outspoken Jane Velez-Mitchell. You can catch her, HLN, every night at 7:00 p.m.