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Republican Presidential Debate; 26 Days to Final Liftoff; President Obama's Puerto Rico Trip; Dire Financial Situation in Minnesota; Obama in Puerto Rico; Jon Huntsman to Run For President

Aired June 14, 2011 - 11:00   ET

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

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Live from Studio 7, I'm Suzanne Malveaux. Want to get you up to speed for Tuesday, June 14th.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Any one of the people on this stage would be a better president than President Obama.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: The day after the Republican presidential candidates faced off, it is clear they agree on one thing -- their criticism of President Obama. A GOP insider poll gave Mitt Romney the edge in last night's debate. The candidates were cordial to each other, but they certainly took aim at the president.

Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann used the debate to make some news. Bachmann was considered a likely candidate heading into the debate, but was not officially in the race. Her announcement last night made it clear she's planning to run.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MICHELE BACHMANN (R-MN), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I filed today my paperwork to seek the office of the presidency of the United States today. And I'll very soon be making my formal announcement.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: So, what did debate watchers think about this Republican showdown? Several of our correspondents spoke with viewers to get their reaction. And some thought the candidates dodged the issues and even sidestepped a lot of questions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To me, it's just been political posturing, getting their big talking points out. You know, they've got to check those blocks. I haven't heard anything about me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of them are not answering the questions. You ask a question, and then they'll sidestep it and answer something entirely different.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Not surprising. We're going to have a wrap-up of the debate and insight from senior political analyst David Gergen in about 10 minutes or so.

Now, the House grants Congressman Anthony Weiner a two-week leave while he deals with fallout from his sexting scandal. Top Democrats are calling for him to resign. A Democratic source says Weiner is on the fence about whether or not he's going to quit.

In an NBC interview, President Obama revealed what he would do.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Ultimately, there's going to be a decision for him and his constituents. I can tell you that if it was me, I would resign.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: President Obama is en route to Puerto Rico. It is the first official presidential visit there since John F. Kennedy, 50 years ago. But this president is looking to the future. Many view his visit as a bid for the votes of millions of Puerto Ricans in the U.S. mainland, especially those in the crucial swing state of Florida.

The president will deliver remarks when he arrives this hour, in about 40 minutes or so. We're going to bring that to you live.

And Casey Anthony's murder trial resumes two hours from now. Now, prosecutors may actually rest their case today or tomorrow.

The Florida woman has pleaded not guilty to killing her 2-year- old daughter in 2008. An FBI examiner testified yesterday that adhesive in the same of a heart was found on Duct tape on the child's mouth, and that shape matches stickers found during a search of Anthony's home.

A federal judge in San Francisco could rule today on whether to invalidate a former judge's ruling against Proposition 8. Now, what is Proposition 8? That is the law banning same-sex marriage in California.

Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that it was unconstitutional. Well, after his retirement, Walker revealed he is gay, and in a long-term relationship. Supporters of the gay marriage ban argue that Walker should have recused himself.

The huge wildfire in Arizona we've been telling you about is now the largest in state history. It has burned almost 470,000 acres. It is spreading now into New Mexico. Another fire there has forced the Carlsbad Caverns National Park now to close. The concern for many homeowners is now the smoke.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PERRY HOWARD, RESTORATION COMPANY EMPLOYEE: A lot of people think just because the smoke welled (ph) through the town, that their home is OK. But initially, it can be all throughout the home.

PAMELA DARLING, HOME HAS SMOKE DAMAGE: That's what I want to understand. You know, it's not about looks, it's about the smoke itself and what it does to your body.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Here's your chance to "Talk Back" on one of the big stories of the day. Today's question: Is either party inspire the middle class?

Carol Costello, she's joining us from Washington with the very latest.

Hey, Carol.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Suzanne.

We're asking that question -- I'm having technical problems.

MALVEAUX: That's OK.

COSTELLO: I'm just going to take this out of my ear.

But anyway, we're asking that question in light of the debate last night between Republican candidates. It certainly didn't take long for the Democratic Party to rebut via YouTube. After a debate- turned-largely-Obama-bash-fest, it was a no-brainer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TEXT: The Republicans met to talk about the most pressing issues facing our country --

HERMAN CAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I do not believe in Sharia law in American courts.

TEXT: The phrase "middle class" wasn't spoken.

TIM PAWLENTY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I support a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman.

TEXT: The Republicans: What in the world are they talking about?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Well, come on, the Republicans may not have uttered the phrase "middle class," but they did say "middle income" and "middle of America." Besides, primary debates are meant to appeal to the extremes, not the masses. But, hey, since Democrats brought it up, you know, the middle class, let's talk. Or let Republicans talk.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAWLENTY: I support strongly --

CAIN: I believe in right to work.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Right to work states outlaw agreements between labor unions and employers that make union membership a condition of employment. According to political scientist Paul Sracic, that kind of talk does not resonate in blue-collar Ohio because it's just another attack on unions.

Tax cuts for the rich don't resonate much either. But if you think President Obama is in the pink because of this, think again.

Sracic says middle class Americans are asking themselves, is my life better now than it was four years ago? I don't have to tell you what the answer to that is. Sracic says blue-collar voters just might stay home in 2012, because what's the point?

So, the "Talk Back" question today: Is either party inspiring the middle class?

Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll read your answers later this hour, and we'll fix the technical issues so that I can actually talk to you, Suzanne, and hear you, actually.

MALVEAUX: Thank you, Carol. We promise we will take care of that for you. Thank you, Carol.

Here's a rundown on some of the stories ahead.

First, meeting the president's competition. We break down last night's Republican presidential debate.

And next, the final countdown for the U.S. space shuttle program. Atlantis prepares for its last launch.

Then, the president keeps his campaign promise to go to Puerto Rico. We are with him on the first official presidential visit in 50 years.

Plus, 36,000 state employees now in limbo. A government shutdown is looming over Minnesota.

And just in time for summer, the FDA clearing up all the confusion about using sunscreen. Got to use that sunscreen.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Republican presidential contenders return candidates return to the campaign trail, hoping they made some headway with voters. In last night's GOP debate, seven candidates squared off on issues ranging from the economy and health care, to abortion. It was also a chance for them to unite behind a common opponent. Obviously, President Obama.

Details from National Political Correspondent Jessica Yellin.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): At the first major debate of the primary season --

JOHN KING, DEBATE MODERATOR: Say hello to your seven candidates.

YELLIN: -- there were seven different voices but one common message.

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This president has failed, and he's failed at a time when the American people counted on him to create jobs and get the economy going.

PAWLENTY: This president is a declinist. He views America as one of equals around the world.

YELLIN: No surprise the candidates drew a bull's eye on the president's economic stewardship.

KING: Has he done one thing? Has he done one thing right when it comes to the economy in this country?

REP. RON PAUL (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: That's a tough question. No, no. I can't think of anything.

YELLIN: But what did surprise some? Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty passed up an opportunity to confront Mitt Romney on health care, even though just the day before he had ridiculed the president's health care plan as "Obamneycare."

PAWLENTY: I called it "Obamneycare."

We took a different approach in Minnesota. We didn't use top- down government mandates and individual requirements from government.

YELLIN: Given a second chance, Pawlenty ducked again.

KING: Why is it not "Obamneycare" standing here with the governor right there?

PAWLENTY: President Obama is the person who I quoted and saying he looked to Massachusetts for designing his program.

YELLIN: Representative Michele Bachmann made some news.

BACHMANN: I filed today my paperwork to seek the office of the presidency of the United States today.

YELLIN: Former Speaker Newt Gingrich avoided his news. Never mentioning his massive campaign team defections, focusing instead on the issues. NEWT GINGRICH (R), FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER: The Congress this year, this next week, ought to repeal the Dodd/Frank bill. They ought to repeal the Sarbanes-Oxley bill. They ought to start creating jobs right now.

YELLIN: For former Godfather's Pizza CEO, Herman Cain, this debate was something of a national debut.

CAIN: I am not a politician. I am a problem solver. This economy is stalled. It's like a train on the tracks with no engine.

YELLIN: For former Senator Rick Santorum, it was an opportunity to underscore his dedication to social conservative issues.

RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Not only have I been consistently pro-life, but I've taken the -- you know, I've not just taken the pledge, I've taken the bullets to go out there and fight for this and lead on those issues.

YELLIN: All the candidates pledge to stand against abortion rights, against same-sex marriage and to reinstate the ban on gays and lesbians serving in the military, but the main focus of the night.

BACHMANN: We're going to win. Just make no mistake about it. I want to announce tonight. President Obama is a one-term president.

YELLIN (on camera): This is the spin room where operatives from each campaign tell us why they think their candidate won. One of the big questions, why was this such a tame debate? The big reason, it's still early days and none of the candidates wants to be seen as too negative, attacking their fellow Republicans, especially when they're only just introducing themselves to their key voters.

Jessica Yellin, CNN, Manchester, New Hampshire.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Want to talk about some of the standouts and maybe some of the missed opportunities from the Republican debate.

Joining us from Cambridge, Massachusetts, with some morning-after insight, our CNN senior political analyst, David Gergen.

David, nice to see you.

Obviously, it was fascinating to see all these candidates on stage here to introduce themselves to the public. Who do you think made the best presentation last night?

DAVID GERGEN, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I think there were three winners, Suzanne. And first of all, and most importantly, Mitt Romney came in as a front-runner, and I think he left as a front- runner, unscathed, and he did well. You know, being on the trail four years ago, or three years ago, it really has helped him this time. He's a better candidate now than he was then. The second was Newt Gingrich, who kept his candidacy alive. He was very substantive. I think he had the best substantive grasp of anybody there.

The surprise was Michele Bachmann. And she has shown voters in Iowa -- she's electrified some audiences out there, but she hasn't -- she's not well known on the East Coast. And she was very pithy last night. She had a lot of energy.

And I think a lot of people came away feeling, wow, she's a more serious candidate than we thought. And you also wondered, why do you need Sarah Palin if you already have got Michele Bachmann in the race?

MALVEAUX: Well, I was going to ask about that. Does that make it less likely that Sarah Palin would jump into the race, that she would more act as a king maker this go-around?

GERGEN: Well, I never thought she would get in. But I must say, I think there's going be less of a call for her to get in, because Michele Bachmann provides some of the same sizzle and sounds very much like Sarah Palin in terms of her philosophy.

And indeed, if anything from last night, Suzanne, watching at the end there, and standing near her, Michele Bachmann has a sort of star quality. And she was surrounded by autograph seekers when that was over last night. Some of the other candidates sort of slipped quietly away. She had a lot of autograph seekers.

MALVEAUX: Very much like Sarah Palin last go-around.

You know, we heard all these candidates essentially going after the president, essentially on the economy, 9.1 unemployment figure, the charge that the president doesn't have a plan to get us out of this economic mess.

Do you think that any of the Republicans presented a plan of their own that distinguished them from the pack?

GERGEN: Well, Tim Pawlenty has a plan, although he was not a great performer last night. He at least has provided a plan. It's a very daring plan. Some people think it's sort of reckless, and he essentially says that we ought to have five percent growth for 10 years.

Well, we've never had that in our whole history. So a lot of observers say, well, it would be great if pigs could fly, too. It would solve a lot of problems.

So, but it was basically very much the traditional Republican playbook, going back to Reagan and earlier.

MALVEAUX: Right.

GERGEN: I think if anything, Suzanne, the issue last night, I think these candidates almost all sounded like they were singing out of the Tea Party playbook as well. And so I think they stirred the base. I think they did a good job with the conservative base. But it was pretty hard-line conservative stuff for a lot of moderate voters out there, and I'll be interested to see how they respond.

MALVEAUX: All right. David Gergen, thank you very much.

GERGEN: Thank you.

MALVEAUX: We'll be watching all the candidates as they reintroduce themselves over and over to the public and see who actually picks up a little bit of steam there.

Thank you, David.

GERGEN: Thank you.

MALVEAUX: Well, three weeks and three days. We are counting down to the final flight of NASA's space shuttle program. In just a few minutes you're going to hear from Doug Hurley, the astronaut who is going to be piloting that shuttle.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: T minus 10, nine, eight, seven, six --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have engine start.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Five, four, three --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have liftoff.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Well, there they go, one after another, 134 launches of the various space shuttles. The first one to blast off, Columbia, on April 12, 1981. That was 30 years ago. Four others followed into space: Atlantis, Challenger, Discovery and Endeavour.

Now NASA is counting down to its final -- we're talking final shuttle mission. Atlantis and its crew of four is scheduled to lift off in just 24 days.

Well, with us right now from Houston is Doug Hurley. He is the astronaut who is going to pilot Atlantis one last time.

Thank you for joining us.

I mean, this is going to be really quite thrilling, I think, for a lot of people, the final launch. I hope to actually see it myself. I've never seen one in person.

But this must also be kind of a bittersweet moment for you.

DOUG HURLEY, ASTRONAUT: Oh, you bet. It definitely is. You know, folks have worked their entire careers on the space shuttle, and it's going to be sad to see it go. But we're going to definitely try our best to honor the program and all the folks that have worked on it, and hopefully bring it back to Florida on July 20th and get to spend some time with those people.

MALVEAUX: And Doug, this being your final shuttle mission as pilot, what is your job going to be?

HURLEY: Well, the pilot backs up the commander on most of the flying tasks. The pilot also gets to fly the undock and the fly- around after we undock from the Space Station. And then the pilot is also kind of the shuttle maintenance man, if you will. So I get to work on things such as the toilet, for one, which has always been a traditional job for the pilot.

(LAUGHTER)

HURLEY: And just make sure everything is running in order. And just try to do whatever I can to make sure that happens, as well as work on some robotic activities as well.

MALVEAUX: Someone has got to do the toilet. I mean, you know, as well as robotics. We appreciate that.

There's only four of you on this mission. Why such a small crew this time?

HURLEY: Well, if you remember, after the Columbia accident, every shuttle that has launched has had a backup shuttle in waiting either on the pad or able to launch within a month or two to provide a rescue mission if needed. And obviously, with us being the last shuttle flight, there isn't a backup shuttle.

So the plan is, if a rescue is declared, is for us to come down on successive Soyuz rockets, and that would take on the order of about a year to get all four of us back down, because it would modify the launch dates for those. And so they wanted to keep the crew size small to keep us from staying up on the space station for much more than a year.

MALVEAUX: All right, Doug. Sorry. We've run out of time here, but we look forward to the final launch mission, you, as well, as the pilot. And we wish you the very best of luck.

Thank you, Doug.

It is now time for you to "Choose the News." Here are your choices.

First, for all you history buffs, it took 40 years, but now more of the controversial "Pentagon Papers" on the Vietnam War are declassified. A look at the newly released material. Well, second, the seemingly cursed musical "Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark" officially opens tonight on Broadway. The high-flying spectacle was delayed six times because of repeated injuries and technical glitches. We've got a preview.

And third, a teenager with terminal cancer creates a bucket list of her own. Hear how her final wishes may end up changing the world long after she's gone.

You can vote for your favorite story by texting 22360. Text 1 for "Pentagon Papers"; 2 for "Spider-Man's Return"' or 3 for "Teen's Bucket List." The winning story will air in the next hour.

We expect President Obama to arrive in Puerto Rico shortly. It is the first time in half a century that a sitting U.S. president has made an official visit to the U.S. territory.

So why is he going there? Find out in a live report from San Juan.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: So, what's behind this trip? Want to go live to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and that is where Senior Washington Correspondent Juan Carlos Lopez is standing by.

First of all, tell us, why the trip, do you suppose?

JUAN CARLOS LOPEZ, CNN SR. WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well, hi, Suzanne.

What people are saying is it's part of a political strategy to attract the Latino vote, specifically Puerto Ricans. There are more Puerto Ricans on the U.S. mainland than there are on the island.

And coming to this island on the first official visit in 50 years probably will resonate with those voters. Voters, for example, heavy concentration of Puerto Ricans in Florida. Florida, the Democrats definitely want to win.

MALVEAUX: Obvious, Hillary Clinton's trips to Puerto Rico, I went on her trips to campaign, as well as President Obama's. It's interesting, because Puerto Rico, the people there, they cannot vote in the general election.

What is the link here? Obviously, folks who are important in Florida, in New York and in other places. Lots of relatives, back and forth, a lot of trade, a lot of conversations. This an important place for him to show up, yes?

LOPEZ: Oh, yes. Historically, I remember we covered those primaries, and people can take part in primaries, but they can't vote if the U.S. presidential election. They can vote if they go to the mainland.

So it's interesting that this trip is announced now. And the Puerto Rican population is growing in the U.S. They can vote in the U.S. And I think it's some of the "What have you done for me lately?" factor. That will probably figure in.

And people speak to their relatives, and they see that the president is engaged. In this case, with Puerto Rico, even though his visit might generate controversy. But, still, the fact that the president of the United States decides to visit the island after 50 years of no official visits by an American head of state is very significant.

MALVEAUX: And Juan Carlos, you talked about "What have down for me lately?" being the line. How are Puerto Ricans doing when it comes to the hard economic time, those on the island?

LOPEZ: The island has faced a harder economic reality than the rest of the country. And it's been going on for a longer period of time. So that's what people are concerned about, the future of the economy of Puerto Rico, the creation of jobs.

The governor, Luis Fortuno, who you can -- who's a Republican, had to lay off thousands of workers because of the deficit on the island. So that's what Puerto Ricans are concerned about. It's the economy, and they probably want to hear what President Obama has to say about the economic future of the island. But things are difficult in Puerto Rico, and there's no sign that they're getting better anytime soon.

MALVEAUX: Do they think that the president has done a good job in dealing with the economy? Are they actively looking for the alternative to Obama, perhaps even watching last night's Republican debate?

LOPEZ: Well, Politics in Puerto Rico are really not predictable. The issues here are different. The parties are not necessarily aligned directly with the Democratic and Republican Party. People are concerned about the economy. But the big discussion in Puerto Rick is about the future of the island, the political status.

Puerto Rico is part of the U.S., but its citizens can't vote. They are U.S. citizens by birth. So there are three main movements. There's a group that wants Puerto Rico to remain with the type of relationship it has with the U.S. Another group wants Puerto Rico to become the 51st state. And then there's a third group that wants to separate from the United States, and it's an ongoing debate amongst Puerto Ricans on where the island should go and what its relationship with the U.S. should be?

MALVEAUX: Are they asking President Obama to stake a stand on that?

LOPEZ: There is a report by the White House, this White House presented a report that suggests that there should be a vote on the island to create a plan towards the future, to see what they want to do. The White House would back the results of that vote. But that's still an ongoing issue. The previous administration, the Bush administration also looked into the issue but there is nothing definitive. But that's something Puerto Ricans want an answer to.

MALVEAUX: All right. Juan Carlos Lopez, thank you very much. Good to see you, as always.

A little bit more information on Puerto Rico. It's an unincorporated territory in the United States. It's located, as you know, in the Caribbean, just east of Dominican Republic. It's about three times the size of Rhode Island. It includes the main island of Puerto Rico and a number of other smaller islands. Its population, about four million but 4.6 million Puerto Ricans live on the U.S. mainland. That is the second largest Hispanic group in the United States.

Puerto Rico was ceded to the United States after the Spanish- American war and people on the island were granted U.S. citizenship in 1917. Now, the U.S. Congress legislates many aspects of Puerto Rican life, but Puerto Ricans cannot vote in the general U.S. elections. Well, the island's current political status including the possibility of statehood or independence also is widely debated among Puerto Ricans.

Well, there is one thing that every candidate and last night's Republican debate has in common. They are not pulling any punches when it comes to President Obama's policies and now the Democrats are swinging back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: The Republican candidates came out swinging and everyone was taking a jab at President Obama.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The Obama administration is an anti-jobs, anti-business, anti-American energy, destructive force.

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Any one of the people on this stage would be a better president than President Obama.

REP. MICHELE BACHMAN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: President Obama is a one-term president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Paul Steinhauser, part of the Best Political Team on Television, live from New Hampshire.

Paul, it was a really interesting debate to watch. It seemed like all the candidates in the debate, however, were trying to sell themselves almost as the anti-Obama.

Do they think that strategy is going to work? PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes. For this kind of audience, for a Republican audience in the Republican primaries and caucuses, most definitely, Suzanne. You had seven candidates on the stage, but as you said, one common theme and that is that President Barack Obama and his policies are making the economy worst. We've heard it on the campaign trail, we heard it in our debate last night. I've got a good feeling you're going to hear a lot more of that.

The Democrats, though, they are definitely responding. They're not taking this sitting down. The Democratic National Committee out with a video this morning, saying, you know what, none of the Republicans mentioned the word, the "middle class."

And Robert Gibbs, somebody you knew very well when you were covering the White House, of course, the White House press secretary up until a few months ago, he was on "AMERICAN MORNING" and he's basically a surrogate now for the Obama campaign.

Take a listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT GATES, OBAMA CAMPAIGN SURROGATE: I think you saw last night that Republicans wanted to spend more time trying to bash the president than talking about their own records. If you're Mitt Romney and you've ranked 47th out of 50 in terms of state job creation when you were a governor or Tim Pawlenty who left Minnesota with a $6.2 billion deficit, it's no wonder you want to talk about somebody else.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEINHAUSER: So I think what the Democrats in the White House are going to say is they're ready for a fight on the economy. I guess they're saying, bring it on. Stay tuned on that one, Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: All right. Bring it on. A lot of folks were not on stage last night that could potentially be game changers, contenders in this race.

What do we know about folks jumping in?

STEINHAUSER: Let's talk about Rick Perry, longtime governor of Texas. Where is he today? New York City. He's going to meet with advisors, he's going to be meeting with fundraisers. He's going to be the headline speaker at a Republican Party dinner.

Later in the week on Saturday, he's in New Orleans, at a major Republican conference where a lot of these White House contenders are going to be. Two signs that many Rick Perry is seriously thinking about running for a White House.

Suzanne, the next time there's a presidential debate, we may have some new faces on this stage. So, it is fascinating. This field is definitely not set yet -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: And the field might be getting bigger.

All right. Paul, thank you. Appreciate it. There's been a lot of talk about a lot of issues but is the average voter right now plugged in for the race for the White House? Well, we sent our intern, Noah Gray to find out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At what point are you going to start paying attention to the elections?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Probably like mid-terms, maybe like around October when they start to get really serious. Right now there's a lot of promises being made and everybody is making promises but the reality of it is, is you won't know what anybody's going to do until they're actually being forced to do so.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So much will change in the next year that it seems like a waste of time right now.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Closer toward the end. I usually pay more attention because a lot of it's just a lot of gossip and whatever someone can say to slam somebody else.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it too early for you? Are you going to start t pay attention?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I may when it gets closer, yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: We hope people start paying attention. But for the candidates, the first primary is just months away. The clock for them is already ticking.

Don't forget to vote your Choose to News story you'd like to see. You can vote for your favorite by texting 22360.

Text 1 for Pentagon papers. After 40 years of secrecy, every volume of the once-classified document on the Vietnam War is now open to the public.

Text 2 for Spiderman returns. The flying comic book character finally hitting Broadway tonight after months of bad luck.

And text 3 for teen's bucket list. This is a girl with terminal cancer who sets out to change the future for other cancer patients.

The winning story will air in the next hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: We're now looking at live picture, President Obama arriving in San Juan, Puerto Rico. You may recognize some of the faces there. It's a brief five-hour trip for the president. Two over from the president you see the singer and star, Marc Anthony, who is actually there. The president giving a little wave. Marc Anthony in the sunglasses there, just two over from the president. It's a big deal for Puerto Rico, obviously the first presidential visit in some 50 years or so. So there will be a lot of important folks will be gathering with the president along with a little pomp and circumstances.

It's an important for the president, not only to visit the island of Puerto Rico, the territory but also for many Puerto Ricans, more than four million or so who are on the U.S. mainland who are very important voting bloc for this president. Those in Florida, New York and in the northeast and elsewhere. So the president making his critical stop to try to make sure that he secures the Hispanic vote, the Puerto Rican vote in the U.S. mainland. But a lot of excitement and anticipation around President Obama's trip to Puerto Rico.

Also following, as well, money stories. CNNMoney.com's lead story. This is Google betting on solar energy. Here Google invests $280 million in rooftop solar power outfits. Solar City, the largest U.S. solar deal. Very big deal.

Also taking a look at the markets. The Dow Jones up about 120 points or so.

We are also watching a budget battle that may come to a head soon in many state but also in Minnesota. Highway rest stops, parks, universities, just some of the public services that actually could shut down if lawmakers don't agree on a budget by June 30th.

Our CNN's Alison Kosik, she joins us from the New York Stock Exchange.

Alison, this looks like a dire situation in Minnesota. Explain to us what is taking place.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I'll tell you what, Suzanne, the clock is ticking on this one. Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton, he sent a strong message on Friday. What he did, he sent out -- everybody sent out layoff notices to state workers, all 36,000 of them. And ultimately it's really going to be up to the courts to decide who exactly gets laid off.

They divide them into essential and non-essential workers. The essential are likely to be police officers, firefighters, EMTs and sanitation workers. But, highway rest stops, as you said, could wind up closing over the July 4th weekend. Road construction would stop and nonprofit agencies and state colleges would close.

This could really be a huge, painful ordeal for the residents there if this indeed happens, Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: Budget issues pretty common. I expect that we might see this in other states, as well?

KOSIK: Yes, if you remember, I mean, the federal government was in danger of shutting down back in April, but you know, as far as state governments go, shutdowns really aren't that common. For Minnesota, it's happened only once in the state's history. And, you know, it's rare because what happens is states typically wind up passing a short-term fix that gives, you know, lawmakers some extra time to discuss the budget. And that happened in April with the federal government.

Now Minnesota's deadline is coming up. It's 16 days away. What they need to do is close a $3.6 billion budget hole. Not sure if they're really going to be able to do it. Like I said, the clock is ticking, hopefully they will -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: All right, Alison, thank you very much.

I want to go directly to President Obama in Puerto Rico, he's making brief remarks. Let's listen in.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And although my hair is a little grayer, than during my first visit, I am glad to be able to keep that promise of the people of Puerto Rico.

But this is only one part of my commitment to families here on the island. Because when I ran for president, I promised to include Puerto Rico, not just on my itinerary, but also in my vision of where our country needs to go. And I'm proud to say that we've kept that promise too.

First of all, we've addressed the quest political status. In March, a report from our Presidential Task Force on Puerto Rican Status provided a meaningful way forward on this question, so that the president dents of the island can determine their own future. And when the people of Puerto Rico make a clear decision, my administration will stand by you.

(CHEERING & APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: I also know that there are plenty of other issues that the island is facing. When President Kennedy was here, he addressed the relationship between Washington and San Juan. And he also spoke about tackling what he called the difficult problems of education and housing and employment.

In that same spirit, we've been trying to make sure that every family on the island can find work and make a living and provide for their children. That's why our economic plan and our health care reform included help for Puerto Rico.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: That's why we're increasing access to broad band and investing in education. That's why we're helping to grow local tourism and health care and clean energy industries. We're giving Puerto Ricans the fools they need to build their own economic futures.

And this is how it should be because every day Puerto Ricans help write the American story. Puerto Rican artists contribute to our culture.

And by the way, I don't know if you noticed, but Marc Anthony decided to show up here today.

Puerto Rican entrepreneurs create American jobs. Even in the NBA Finals, J.J. Barea inspired all of us with those drives to the hoop. That guy can play. Next time I'm down here, I'm going to have to -- next time I'm here, I'm going to have to play some hoops.

I also want to take a moment to acknowledge all of the Puerto Rican men and women who serve in our country's uniform.

(CHEERING & APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: Give it up for our veterans.

Thank you.

You know, one of those veterans, is Juan Castillo (ph). Juan fought in World War II, and he fought in the Korean War. Today, he's two months away from his 101st birthday.

Juan's legacy is carried on by Puerto Ricans in Iraq and Afghanistan, men and women like Chief Master Sergeant Ramon Colon Lopez (ph) of the United States Air Force. In 2004, Ramon's team was going after a high-value target in Afghanistan. His helicopter was seriously damaged by hostile fire. In the thick of battle, he didn't know how large the force that he was up against, but he pressed on anyway and his team killed or captured 12 enemy fighters. Because of his bravery, he was the first Hispanic-American to be awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

And I tell this story because, for decades, Puerto Ricans like Juan and Ramon have put themselves in harm's way for a simple reason, they want to protect the country that they love. Their willingness to serve, their willingness to sacrifice is as American as apple pie or as arroz con gandules.

The aspirations and the struggles on this island mirror those across America. So I know that today a lot of folks are asking some of the same questions here on the island as they're asking in Indiana or California or in Texas. How do I make sure my kids get the kind of education that they need? How can I put away a little money for retirement? How can I fill up my gas tank? How can I pay the bills?

Everywhere I go, I see families facing challenges like these, but they're facing them with resolve and determination. These problems didn't develop overnight here in Puerto Rico or anywhere else, but that means we're not going to solve them overnight, but day by day, step by step, we will solve them.

We are going to be able to improve our education system here in Puerto Rico and all across America. We are making strides to improve our health care system here in Puerto Rico and all across America. We are going to put people back to work here in Puerto Rico and all across America. Maybe some of you remember that when I was here in 2008, I spoke in front of the Quartel Dibaya (ph), a site that had been home to so many chapters of Puerto Rican history. Today, Puerto Rican workers are writing the next chapter by turning the building into a model of energy efficiency.

They're making HVAC systems more efficient. They're putting on a green roof. They're installing 720 portable tape (ph) panels. When they're done, it's estimated that the energy savings will be 57 percent and Puerto Rico will have taken one more step towards creating a clean energy economy.

Those are the kinds of steps it will take for Puerto Rico to win the future and for America to win the future.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: That what's we do in this country. With each passing decade, with each new challenge, we reinvent ourselves. We find new ways to solve our problems. We push forward.

And we do so in a way that gives every one of our people a shot at the dream that we all share. The dream that if you're willing to work hard and take responsibility, you can build a better life for your family. You can find a job that's secure, provides decent wages, provides for your children, provides for your retirement. That's what people are hoping for and it's not too much to ask.

Puerto Rico, I don't need to tell you that we're not there yet. We're not where we need to be. But in these challenging times, people on this island don't quit, we don't turn back. People in America don't quit, we don't turn back. We place our bets on entrepreneurs and on workers and on our families. We understand that there's strength in our diversity. We renew the American dream. We have done it before. We will do it again.

Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. Thank you.

MALVEAUX: President Obama there in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a historic visit by the president. He had promised when he was campaigning there a couple years ago that he would return as president, and he fulfilled his promise.

He started off his speech saying, "Buenas dias, it's great to be in Puerto Rico." He was accompanied by the governor of Puerto Rico, the mayor of San Juan as well as Marc Anthony, the singer and actor. A lot of excitement around the president's trip.

He also stressed the importance of moving the economy forward, leaving it up to the Puerto Ricans to decide their own future and fate regarding their status, whether or not they would fight for statehood, but also the importance of the economy there, not just in at the island of Puerto Rico but mainland, U.S. mainland, where there are more than 4 million Puerto Ricans who are voting and will be voting. And the president clearly trying to win them over in some of those key states, we're talking about, New York as well as Florida. Historic trip by President Obama there in Puerto Rico.

Also, another story that has just developed, it is breaking here, someone else throwing their ring into the hat (sic) here. This is the former ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman. He's going to be formally announcing his bid for the presidency. That is happening next Tuesday at Liberty State Park in New Jersey. We are told that the Statue of Liberty will be the backdrop.

This is coming from a Republican source that tells our own Peter Hamby that he will be making that official announcement. Certainly not a surprise. We expected that he was preparing to jump in and that he would make it official fairly soon.

He has gotten a little bit of pushback, blowback, from fellow Republicans because he was a member, worked for the Obama administration, has not always helped him out but is also seen as someone who is bipartisan. We'll see how he does. He will be officially announcing his intention to run for president.

More after this quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Here's your chance to talk back on one of the big stories of the day. Today's question: Is either party inspiring the middle class?

Carol Costello, she's in Washington with your responses.

Hey, Carol.

COSTELLO: Yes, a lot of answers to those questions, Suzanne.

This from Justin, "Democrats take care of the poor. Republicans take care of the rich. Middle class gets the shaft no matter which puppet you put in the White House."

This from Christi, "If parties are going to pander to a base and I have to vote for a person from one party or the other, I'm going to vote for the dude pandering to the broadest, most inclusive party. That leaves the GOP out in the cold."

This from Sharon, "A graduate student and a middle class educator, I'm still inspired by President Obama. Why? It is his policies that took the banks out of the student loan business. This is just one example of many. However, the candidates on stage last night," she's talking about the Republican primary, "appeared to be only interested in tearing down Obama. That's not inspiration; that's Obama-bashing."

And this from Jerry, "Definitely not. Maybe we should clean house. I would, however, since this is not feasible, vote for a Bachmann/Romney ticket. I think Obama better watch out!!!"

Facebook.com/CarolCNN, keep the comments coming and I'll be with you again in about five minutes. MALVEAUX: All right, great, Carol.