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Storms Damage Alabama; Gabrielle Giffords Steps Down from Congress; Life And Legacy Of Joe Paterno; Tracy Morgan Hospitalized; Costs Of Running For Office; GOP Hopefuls Head To Florida

Aired January 23, 2012 - 12:00   ET

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

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Top of the hour. I'm Suzanne Malveaux.

I want to get you up to speed. At least two people are killed after severe weather tore across the Southeast today, the victims, a 16-year-old girl and an 82-year-old man near Birmingham, Alabama. Well, emergency crews are trying to locate people who may be trapped or injured. Several homes have been destroyed and Alabama's governor -- governor, rather, has declared now a state of emergency.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We made it just in the nick of time. The good lord just blessed us and we're just glad we're here. We lost our house but at least we have -- I'm sorry. We have got our family, and that's all that matters right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Four convicted murderers pardoned by former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour will have their fate decided by a judge. A hearing is scheduled to decide if those and others who were pardoned, if they are actually valid.

The state's constitution says that pardon requests have to be published in a newspaper 30 days before being granted. Mississippi's attorney general says many of the almost 200 people pardoned by Barbour did not meet that requirement.

And Florida is the latest stop for the race for the Republican presidential nomination. The state's primary just eight days away. Early this morning, Mitt Romney held a roundtable discussion on housing. Next hour, Rick Santorum, he is going to hold a Faith, Freedom, and Family town hall. That is in Lady Lake, Florida. Later, Newt Gingrich is campaigning at a grassroots welcome event. And that is in Tampa.

After cheating death and inspiring tonight with her fight for recovery, Gabrielle Giffords is now stepping down from Congress. A year ago, she was shot in the head while meeting with voters at an Arizona shopping center. As one of her last acts in office, she plans to finish that event. She posted this message on her Web site.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS (D), ARIZONA: I have more work to do on my recovery. So, to do what is best for Arizona, I will step down this week.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Yemen's embattled leader is now on his way to the United States for medical treatment. President Ali Abdullah Saleh, he was wounded in June by a bomb attack on his palace.

Now, his trip here comes just days after Yemeni lawmakers approved a law granting him immunity from prosecution. Now, in return, Mr. Saleh will step down from power next month after ruling that country for more than 33 years.

Egypt's Parliament convened today for the first time since former President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown last year. And for the first time, the parliament is now dominated by Islamists. The presidential vote is set for June.

All right, football playoffs. Well, it came down to the feet. Kickers decided the Super Bowl matchup in two different very endings. All right, the joy, New York Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes hit a 31- yard field goal in overtime. Game over. And the heartache. The Baltimore Ravens' Billy Cundiff missed a 32-yarder with just 11 seconds to go.

So it's going to be New York vs. New England in the Super Bowl. Good luck.

Now our top story. At least seven Alabama counties are now reporting damage because we are talking about severe storms that blew through. The governor has declared a state of emergency for the entire state. We had a chance to talk to him the previous hour. At least two people were killed in west of Birmingham. Several other homes, they are now destroyed.

I want to you see this picture. Just take a look at the destruction here. You have got a home that is completely obliterated and right now it's really too early to say even if these were tornadoes. But it is very likely looking at that kind of damage.

Our Reynolds Wolf, he is on the ground. And he joins us by phone and he's on his way to one of those towns that was just devastated by the storms.

Reynolds, what are you seeing? Can you describe for us what is taking place in that community?

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I can tell you that basically what we have seen so far, just the images really tells the story.

I think when all is said and done, there's definitely an event that the damage was caused by tornadoes rather than straight-line word, but of course we have to wait for the official word. But I will tell you it's amazing. This is the second deadly possibly tornadic event in Alabama in less than a year.

The last one of course being back in April that affected communities just to the west of Birmingham, Alabama and of course Tuscaloosa. As you mentioned, we have damage across seven counties, including the communities of Clay, Center Point, Trussville, Oak Grove.

The two fatalities that we know of are a 16-year-old boy who lost his life in Clay and the 82-year-old male lost his life in Oak Grove. As you can imagine, structural damage all over the place. We have got widespread power outages across the state. With that, communication is very limited.

Got a lot of telephone lines that are down. A lot of cell towers have been damaged also. So communication is very difficult to spread across these communities. Family members are having a very difficult time getting in touch with each other.

I can tell you that Jefferson County schools have been closed. That's the big county right here in the middle of the state of Alabama near Birmingham. Many side streets and many back roads have been blocked due to trees and because of some of those telephone polls.

There have been a lot of injuries too. Jefferson County Sheriff's Department has told us that there are at least 100 injuries, some of scrapes, bruises, a few of them more serious. And I would not be surprised to see that number go up as we make the way through the afternoon, evening, and into tomorrow.

MATTHEWS: Reynolds, I want to bring in Chad. He's here and has been monitoring the situation from our studios.

Chad, do you want to weigh in here?

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Reynolds, we know about the fatalities already, but are you still seeing rescues happen, are you still seeing firefighters trying to break into literally half- obliterated homes? Are they still trying to find missing people?

WOLF: Absolutely, because you have to remember in this part of the state, it's very, very heavily wooded. I have to say this coming from a guy who is from the state of Alabama. If you're in Montgomery or even the southern half of the state, things actually flatten out a bit.

There are some places where it's almost like a rolling prairie. In this part of the state of Alabama, you have a lot of rolling hills, heavily wooded airs. Because of the strong winds that came through due to those possible tornadoes, a lot of roads are blocked and a lot of homes have received some structural damage.

Yes, Chad, there are people that are going to breaking into these structures, trying to find possible people trapped, survivors, of course. But, of course, there's always the grim reality that you might find more fatalities, which is certainly the last thing that any of us want to have happen. MYERS: You covered the F-4 and F-5 tornadoes last year in April. Does this look anything like it or is it a completely different situation?

WOLF: Think about this in kind of a micro-scale sort of thing, absolutely.

If you look block to block, it certainly does resemble it to some extent. But you compare it to the damage we saw in McFarland Boulevard in Tuscaloosa last year, that was just incomprehensible. I have never seen anything quite that devastating.

This is certainly bad but in terms of the whole scope of damage, I would say it's a different category. Not quite as bad. But, again, you can't put a price on the lives lost. No question. Two now. We hope the number doesn't rise, Chad.

MYERS: Be careful out there, Reynolds. There are boards, there are nails. The people out there that are even trying to find loved ones. There is just stuff scattered everywhere that could hurt more people even after the storm than during the storm. I have been there when hurricanes and tornadoes -- and there's just stuff laying over there and it could hurt you. Be careful if you're in Alabama trying to recover from this.

The storm, one of them right there, that's the one that is at Center Point. There's a couple more that went south of Birmingham. There's still one more storm that just went through Phoenix City, Alabama. But for right now, this whole thing is over. It was an event for Arkansas on Saturday, for Alabama and parts of Mississippi yesterday, and now it's just a rain event. And it's basically over -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: All right, Chad, thank you.

MYERS: You're welcome.

Now your chance to talk back on one of the big stories of the day. So, nobody ever said you had to be polite in politics. Candidates stepping into the presidential race, they have got to be ready to be attacked from all sides. But do voters want somebody who is downright mean?

Carol Costello, she is joining us from Washington.

Carol, I remember 2008, the gloves came off between Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and the race was on. That was South Carolina. Is that what folks want?

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I don't know. That's the question we're asking this afternoon, Suzanne.

If you're wondering why Newt Gingrich shellacked Mitt Romney in South Carolina's primary, don't, it's simple. As one South Carolina voter told "The Washington Post" -- quote -- "I think we have reached a point where we need someone who's mean." Another South Carolina voter put it this way -- quote -- "I have a little bit of a problem with the divorces but I need somebody to beat Obama. I like Romney. He's decent and moral, but I just don't see him beating Obama."

Many Republicans think Gingrich struck just the right tone when John King asked the former speaker about open marriage.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think the destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media makes it harder to govern this country, harder to attract decent people to run for public office. And I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: And some voters cheered the way Gingrich talked when he talked of beating Obama.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GINGRICH: I don't want to bloody his nose. I want to knock him out. OK?

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: RedState.com, a conservative blog, says voters feel that Gingrich's blunt talk works on another front, too.

It says -- quote -- "Basically, South Carolina's vote is about the Republican grassroots, giving the Washington Republican establishment the finger. The base is angry and right now only Newt is left to fight for them, as imperfect as is he."

So, is Romney just not mean enough to put up a good fight? The governor seems to think so, because today he sure sounds a lot more passionate when he talks about Newt Gingrich.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He's gone from pillar to post, almost like a pinball machine, from item to item, in a way which is highly erratic, and doesn't suggest a stable, thoughtful course which is normally associated with leadership.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: It doesn't have the same zing, though, does it?

So the "Talkback" question for you today: Do Republicans need someone mean to beat Obama? Facebook.com/CarolCNN. Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I will read your responses later this hour.

MALVEAUX: Passion, I like that word, passion, not mean, passion, right?

COSTELLO: Depends on your perspective, I guess.

MALVEAUX: All right. Thanks, Carol.

COSTELLO: Sure.

MALVEAUX: Here's a rundown of some of the stories we're covering over the next hour.

First, the pivotal primary in Florida, what is it going to take to win that state?

And new research that could lead to reversing blindness in seniors.

And a quarter 'til, why celebrity couple Seal and Heidi Klum now calling it quits.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Florida is the hot spot right now in the Republican race for president, but does Mitt Romney have enough sizzle to regain his front-runner status?

Romney is hoping for a comeback in next Tuesday's Florida primary after losing to Newt Gingrich in South Carolina.

Joining us to talk about the race, senior political analyst David Gergen.

David, great to see you. It was an exciting weekend. It was interesting to watch. We now have three different winners of the first three Republican contests. That's pretty rare. What does this say about the state of the party? And then we will follow up with where we're going in this race.

DAVID GERGEN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: I think, right now, Suzanne, it says that this is a very, very fluid race in which attachments seem to be lightly held.

You know, we have had so many people go up and down, that voters go to one candidate and then they leave and go to another. We saw that in South Carolina, where Mitt Romney was some 20 points ahead by some polls, certainly 15 points ahead a week before the election and then he lost by 12. That's a huge swing. A 25-point swing among voters over the course of a week, we just don't see that in politics very often.

What it means is that people are sort of leaning towards a candidate but they are not as devout or as enthusiastic as they might be. And that does raise question for the fall. MALVEAUX: David, sure. What does it mean in terms of the upcoming Florida primary? Does it put more weight on what happens in Florida or does it suggest that we are going all the way to Super Tuesday in terms of how this is going to shake out?

GERGEN: I think a lot depends on who wins it. If Mitt Romney were to lose Florida, that would be taking a hole below the waterline on his campaign.

I'm not sure it would sink, but he would take on a lot of water and there would be calls for him, private calls for him to step aside and see if the establishment such as it is could find an alternative, because many people in the -- quote -- "establishment" also are worried about Gingrich as a potential nominee.

If Romney were to win, he's not going to knock out Newt Gingrich. That means we're going to have a long race in which Romney could grind it out and potentially put it away by Super Tuesday, potentially put it away by March.

MATTHEWS: OK.

GERGEN: But it doesn't mean -- it matters a lot which one wins.

MALVEAUX: Let's kind of put this into a historical practice, because you have dealt with these guys many, many years, many campaigns. Which group do you think Mitt Romney falls into, the group that is the Al Gore, John Kerry, Bob Dole, experienced but uninspiring candidates who fail, or the Bill Clinton and perhaps Newt Gingrich category, they bring passion and some messiness to the table?

GERGEN: There's no question that Gingrich is much more like Bill Clinton. They both are mercurial figures. They both can be mesmerizing. I think Bill Clinton was a better politician as he showed when he went mano a mano with Newt back in '90s. One was president. Clinton was president. And Newt was speaker. And Clinton outmaneuvered him.

But the other part of it is -- the bigger mystery here is Mitt Romney. And that is, he seemed to be cruising towards the nomination, had organization, had the money, had the inevitability. The inevitability is now gone. He still has the money and organization but does he have the DNA? Does he have it within him? Can he reach down in his gut and in effect reach people emotionally?

He has not been able to do that. He's much more like the CEO manager who fixes problems, but is not the leader who mobilizes and inspires people.

MALVEAUX: All right. Well, David, we're going to have to leave it there.

GERGEN: OK.

MALVEAUX: We're going to see what his DNA is made up of in the next days and weeks and perhaps months ahead. GERGEN: Sure will.

MALVEAUX: Thank you, David.

GERGEN: OK. Thank you.

MALVEAUX: Syrian activists uploaded this video showing security forces attacking protesters over the weekend. Now, there has been no letup in the violence despite the presence of Arab League observes in Syria for weeks now.

Our Arwa Damon, she is joining us by phone from the Syrian capital, Damascus.

Arwa, you have just come back I understand from the city of Homs, which has really been at the center of all of this, the uprising. Give us a sense of what is taking place on the ground.

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's pretty intense, Suzanne.

As you were saying, Homs has emerged as the epicenter of these ongoing clashes between government forces and the Free Syrian Army And that is mainly made up of defectors. And you really feel it driving around the streets here.

This was once a thriving metropolis, Syria's third largest city. Now shops are closed. Those that are open don't have electricity. Trash is piled on the streets. We were in the center of the city in one predominantly Christian neighborhood that was pretty much the only area that our government escort thought was relatively safe enough for us to able to be in.

While we were there, we could regularly hear gunfire, automatic machine gunfire echoing down the alleyways and this has become the norm for everybody. They hardly flinch when they hear this. But at the same time they are pretty much confined to this one area because they say the clashes are happening just all around them.

(CROSSTALK)

DAMON: There was one couple standing in front of their shop that said that this is perfectly normal.

MALVEAUX: What happened here with the Arab League observers? They have this mission. They come there. They are supposed to make the Syrians feel safe. Did they fail here?

DAMON: Well, the opposition certainly feels as if they failed because they had hoped that this mission would somehow bring about an end to the violence.

Those who support the government are infuriated with the Arab League because they feel that it is out to get the Assad regime, trying to fulfill some sort of vendetta that it perhaps has against. The Arab League, for its part, says, look, our mission wasn't to end the violence. Our mission was to make sure that the Syrian government adheres to the protocol that was agreed on and that protocol involves removing tanks, machine guns, from various cities and towns, releasing political prisoners, stopping attacks on civilians, allowing free access to the media.

And the Arab League says, sure, the situation is improved but the Syrian government has not entirely adhered to this initiative. There's a lot of frustration though because most people we are talking to say the Arab League can't provide a solution. The international community is incapable of providing a solution. The U.N. has its hands ties because of Russia and China's positions. And they are the ones who are stuck suffering through all of this.

MALVEAUX: Arwa Damon, please be safe. And keep us posted.

There is some promising new stem cell research. We will hear how it could actually reverse blindness.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: All right. This sounds pretty amazing.

The "Lancet" medical journal is now reporting that stem cells could one day be used to reverse blindness.

Want to bring in Elizabeth Cohen to tell us about this.

This is an extraordinary story.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It really is. This is a landmark medical study and I don't really say that very often.

And this is about embryonic stem cells. These are cells that you take out of an embryo and treat them and then they can be used to treat people who are sick and there's been a theory that these cells would be great. But this is the first time that we're getting a report that these embryonic cells actually helped people.

MALVEAUX: Wow. Give us some examples.

COHEN: These two women, small study, we're talking teeny-tiny, two people who were blind, two women, and they made these stem cells into retinal cells, shot them into their retinas, which were basically not working functionally, and they were able to see better after the surgery.

They didn't go from being blind to being fully sighted, but they were able to see -- for example, one woman who had a piece of furniture in her bedroom that intricate carving. And she looked one day and said, oh, my goodness, I can see the carving. She hadn't seen the carving in years.

Another woman saw her granddaughter and said, my God, you have changed the color of your hair. She didn't realize that her granddaughter had changed the color of your hair.

MALVEAUX: And what's that tattoo there?

COHEN: Right. And what's that tattoo, right.

The same woman, she was walking through her house and she saw these scuff marks on her wall and she said to her husband, what's with these scuff marks? We have got to clean. And he said, I don't like this surgery. It's giving me a honey-do list. I guess there may be downsides.

But, seriously, this is very, very exciting, very preliminary. It's two people. But the fact that they saw improvements was exciting. And this was done at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA.

MALVEAUX: And where do the embryos come from?

COHEN: The embryos came from a couple. We don't know their name. But we know that they came from a couple that was infertile. They made embryos in a lab to do IVF. They then had all of the children they wanted but they had leftover embryos and they donated one of them for this work.

Now, in the process of extracting the stem cells they destroyed the embryo. So you can bet that groups that are against abortion, they don't like this, because you destroyed an embryo and to them that's destroying life. Now, in the future, you may be able to get the cells out without destroying the embryo, but for the time being, that's how they did it. And it will be interesting to see how...

(CROSSTALK)

MALVEAUX: Could there be other developments, other illnesses or diseases that are cured?

COHEN: Yes, because basically these cells are a blank slate and depending upon what you do with them, you can make them into different things.

So, for example, you can make them into retinal cells. You could maybe make them into spinal cord cells and the hope is that you could help save paralyzed people, let them walk again. Christopher Reeve devoted the last years of his life to his this cause, because he so believed in them.

MALVEAUX: Wow. That's amazing, absolutely amazing. Those two that can see...

(CROSSTALK)

COHEN: They are not fully right, but you can see it. And even in eye charts, they could measure it. One of these women, before she had surgery, Suzanne, they said, how many fingers are we holding up? Would hold up fingers. she couldn't tell. After the surgery, she could tell.

MALVEAUX: That's awesome.

All right, thanks. That's a huge breakthrough. Thanks, Elizabeth.

COHEN: Thanks, Suzanne.

(NEWS BREAK)

MALVEAUX: So, I want to talk money and prepaid debit cards. Before you get one, better read the fine print. This is "The Smart Is the New Rich" report.

Christine Romans tells us what you need to know before you sign up.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The concept of a prepaid debit card is simple. Add cash and you subtract for each payment you make. That's the simple part. It controls your spending and avoids debt.

But here is the bottom line on prepaid cards. It can be more complicated. Be wary. They're useful only if you're trying to stick to a budget or want to give it instead of a credit card to your college bound kid. There is a long list of fees and fine print that could end up costing you way too much, depending on the card. You can even be charged for just checking your balance.

There are often fewer protections than a debit card or credit card if you lose it. Listen to how time magazine boils it down."Consumers who use prepaid debit cards as a substitute for mainstream financial products are relegated to an economic underclass that prevents them from borrowing or obtaining credit on the best terms."

There are alternatives and getting into the banking system will help your credit use a debit card from your credit union. Look for a credit union first or a low fee bank. If your debt is a problem, get it under control, talk to a nonprofit credit counselor. You can head to the national foundation for credit counseling site, NFCC.org, to find one near you.

For "Smart Is the New Rich," I'm Christine Romans.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: She's an inspiration and now Gabrielle Giffords says it's time to focus full-time on her recovery. But if she steps down, what happens to her seat in Congress?

We're going to have the latest.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Here's a rundown of some of the stories we're working on next. Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords says she is resigning from Congress, but not before finishing what she started on the day she was shot in the head. Then, flags fly half-staff to honor former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno. But students and alumni have mixed feelings about his legacy.

And later, actor and comedian, Tracy Morgan collapses at the Sundance Film Festival.

After a year of defying the odds, fighting back from a gunshot wound to the head, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords says it is now time to step down.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPRESENTATIVE GABRIELLE GIFFORDS (D), ARIZONA: I don't remember much from that horrible day, but I will never forget the trust you placed in me to be your voice. Thank you for your prayers and for giving me time to recover.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: That is so touching. Giffords plans to step down later this week, but not before returning to the Arizona shopping center where she was shot. She wants to finish that meeting with voters that began there a year ago.

I want to bring in our Dana Bash. Dana, when you take a look at her message, I mean, you can't help, but be moved and be touched by this.

I mean, she is such a courageous person and to look at her recovery, you spoke to two of her closest friends on the Hill today and what have they told you?

DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kirsten Gillibrand, the senator from New York who worked with Congresswoman Giffords in the House as well as Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who is also the DNC Chairwoman.

Both of them say that they have been in touch with her, been in touch with Mark Kelly, Gabby Giffords husband and they say that certainly this was a difficult decision, but something that she felt she had to do and it came into focus for her that she really wanted to step down and focus full-time on her recovery.

When she went back on January 8th for the year anniversary, she realized how hard it is for her to do the job that she needs to do. I'll just read you a couple of quotes from my conversation with Congressman Wasserman-Schultz.

She talked about her recovery and she said that she realized it's more likely to be years and not months, but she also said that Gabby Giffords has every intention of returning to public life some day.

MALVEAUX: Was that a tough decision for her, her friends when they to talk to you about this? BASH: They said it was. They said it was very difficult, but you know, Debbie Wasserman Schultz in particular, she said that she thinks this is classic Gabby because she does everything 150 percent and she felt that she simply couldn't do both of these 150 percent.

And also, Suzanne, you mentioned the fact that before she steps down she wanted to go back and finish what she started on that fateful day, January 8th, that Congress on the corner event at that shopping center.

She already has done that, and we showed it. Maybe we can put it up again. She went and had a private meeting -- not a public meeting, but a private meeting with some of the people who were there so she could finish that discussion with them.

MALVEAUX: Do we have a sense of how painful that is for her, to go back, those kinds of memories and to re-experience being in that place?

BASH: It must be incredibly difficult. You know, you heard the congresswoman in that video talk about the fact that she really doesn't remember much from that day at all and by all accounts, from talking to her friends on Capitol Hill, that is the case.

That she really has very little memory of it. As her memory comes back, as she recovers, I mean, maybe it's ironic, the more she progresses, the more she realizes exactly what went on.

And the more she realizes how difficult it it's going to be for her and the months and years to come to get back to where she was. But there's no question, look, this is -- Suzanne, as you well know, because you've worked in Washington for a very long time, this is a very partisan, very biting town.

But for even Republicans who want to get her congressional seat, they simply do not want this to happen this way. There is an outpouring of sentiment and sympathy and really love for Gabby Giffords, especially as she made this announcement.

MALVEAUX: All right, Dana, thanks so much. We wish her absolutely the best. Thank you.

A former Penn State Head Coach Joe Paterno has passed and now students and alumni are talking about how he's going to be remembered after his handling of the child sex abuse scandal involving his long time assistant.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Grief, tears, and regrets at Penn State. Former head coach Joe Paterno died yesterday from lung cancer at age 85. Public viewings are going to begin on campus at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow.

Now a debate over how he will be remembered begins. His handling of the child rape allegations by long-time assistant Jerry Sandusky could taint his legendary career.

Our CNN Susan Candiotti has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the shadow of Joe Paterno's statue, students sang their alma mater mourning the loss of a coach who meant so much to sports, to Penn State, to them. After 61 years of coaching, Paterno won fans far and wide, young and old.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Joe was Penn State. He made Penn State, and it's really just a very sad, sad day for all of us.

CANDIOTTI: In the end, the winniest coach in college football lost his life to lung cancer. He was 85. He died as he lived, his family said in a statement. He fought hard until the end.

The end came 2-1/2 months after he was fired as head coach in the wake of Penn State's sex abuse scandal. His late-night ouster sparking outrage on campus. Paterno was not criminally charged in the child rape case involving his former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

But he acknowledged he could have done more to bring the allegations to light in 2002. In what turned out to be his final interview published by "The Washington Post" just over a week ago, he tried to explain his thinking.

JOE PATERNO, FORMER PENN STATE FOOTBALL COACH: I had never had to deal with something like that, and I didn't feel adequate. I've had a wonderful experience here at Penn State. I don't want to walk away from this thing bitter.

CANDIOTTI: Still, some question whether Paterno and the university tried to cover up the sex abuse allegations. Paterno fans stand by him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're still going to love him no matter what anybody else said. It wasn't Joe's fault and we're still going to love Joe Paterno forever and ever, period.

CANDIOTTI: Yet for some his loss could be more painful because of questions that may taint his legacy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: So, Susan is on the Penn State campus. Susan, tell us what do we think this going to mean for the ongoing investigation?

CANDIOTTI: Well, Suzanne, that's certainly being debated right now because imagine now we no longer have the possible dramatic testimony. Imagine what it would have been like to have Joe Paterno testify at a criminal trial.

That obviously won't happen. The Pennsylvania attorney general's office prosecuting this case won't talk about any of this right now, but other legal experts say they certainly cannot introduce his grand jury testimony anymore because you can't cross-examine someone who isn't there.

But, remember, Mike McQueary is the key witness for the prosecution in this particular case and not only did he say that he told Joe Paterno about what happened in 2002, about a boy allegedly being raped in a locker room back at that time here at Penn State, but he also said he told two other Penn State officials.

So he certainly could testify and will still testify in that case. So it might not have a major impact on the criminal case, but we'll have to see what happens.

MALVEAUX: All right, Susan Candiotti. Thank you, Susan.

A power couple calling it quits. A supermodel and soulful singer, Heidi Klum and Seal now saying they have grown apart.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Comedian Tracy Morgan is rushed to the hospital after collapsing at the Sundance Film Festival. Our "Showbiz Tonight" host A.J. Hammer, he's with us from New York.

So, A.J., what happened?

A.J. HAMMER, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" HOST: Well, Suzanne, what we know is that Morgan collapsed at an award ceremony that was going on yesterday at the Sundance Film Festival before being taken to the hospital. If we can bring it in, we've got some iReport footage of Tracy on the red carpet as he was entering the ceremony on Sunday night. And he seems a bit subdued, from what I can tell in this video. When Tracy's out there on the red carpet, it's usually like there's a party going on and following him everywhere. But he didn't seem with it. He was asking the reporters there what the score was in the Giants' game, which happened to be going on at the time. But, obviously, something went wrong a short time later, Suzanne, and off to the hospital he went. Right now there is nothing being released about his condition.

MALVEAUX: And this was something that got our attention in the morning meeting. Heidi Klum and Seal now breaking it off now? A lot of people were kind of surprised by that.

HAMMER: Yes, you can count me among those who were surprised by that for certain. These two always seemed very much in love. Any time I was with either one of the over the years, they were always gushing about the other.

They were married back in 2005. And one of the things these guys were know for was every year they would celebrate their anniversary by renewing their wedding vows. They were very public about that. And they always seemed to be showing affection to each other in public.

But after the rumors of a breakup started swirling around over the weekend, they both released identical statements to "Showbiz Tonight." Let me read to you what they told us. "While we have enjoyed seven very loving, loyal, and happy years of marriage, after much soul- searching we have decided to separate. We have had the deepest respect for one another throughout our relationship and continue to love each other very much, but we have grown apart." Obviously it's always sad to see this happen, particularly when there are kids involved. They do have three children together. Heidi has a daughter from a previous relationship who will, obviously, all be effected by this.

But, Suzanne, you know, whenever a celebrity couple breaks up, everybody starts speculating, what happened. Did somebody cheat is always the first thing. And I think that's why they were quick to include the language, "we have enjoyed seven very loving, loyal and happy years of marriage."

MALVEAUX: Loyal. Looking for those words.

HAMMER: So hopefully those rumors will not follow them around. Yes.

MALVEAUX: All right, yes, they do. They have beautiful kids. So, it's a shame. All right, thank you.

Want information, everything breaking in the entertainment world, A.J., he's got it on the evenings. "Showbiz Tonight," 11:00 Eastern on HLN.

And we are getting a lot of responses to today's "Talk Back" question. We asked, do Republicans need someone mean to beat President Obama? Jeff says, "mean is exactly what we don't need. How about civility and intelligent discourse based on facts." Carol Costello, she's back with more of your responses.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: All right, you've been sounding off on the "Talk Back" question. Carol Costello is here with some or your responses.

Hey, Carol.

COSTELLO: Hi, Suzanne.

Got a pretty good response today. Today's "Talk Back" question, do Republicans need someone mean to beat President Obama?

David says, "actually, they need someone who makes sense and a party that makes sense. It makes no sense to kick someone out because of ethical faults and then bring him back and rewrite that history."

This from Rick. He says, "it's worked so far. This has been the tactic for over a year in Congress and the last congressional election. It has proved to work and they're getting good at it."

This from Mark. "The Republican Party doesn't need someone mean. They need someone honest who represents themselves with integrity. A little charisma wouldn't hurt either. Obama is a very charismatic president."

And Wally says, "Newt is not mean, he's straight to the point. I guess some people can't see the difference anymore. Getting too sensitive, America." And this from Phillip. "Yes, but here's what I don't understand. Newt Gingrich said that he wanted to run a positive campaign. Why can't everyone just get along, that's what I don't understand."

Why can't everyone just say Kumbaya and get along. We've been asking that question for --

MALVEAUX: We don't want -- we don't want any mean in the politics. No mean. No mean here. Mean free zone, right?

COSTELLO: I think mean is a synonym for politics actually.

MALVEAUX: Oh, wow. Ouch.

So, Carol, I want you to stick around. You've got to stick around for this.

COSTELLO: OK.

MALVEAUX: This is our guilty pleasure. I don't know if you're a fan of big rides in amusement parks. Do you like that kind of stuff?

COSTELLO: Oh, yes. Roller coasters.

MALVEAUX: Yes, yes. OK. So you've got to check out these two. This Marine and what this ride is like for him. I want you to check this out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I'd rather be back in Afghanistan doing this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No he wouldn't.

Here we go. (INAUDIBLE). Here we go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here we go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, can you give me like a countdown.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You guys want a countdown before you go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) countdown. What kind of a countdown was that?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Carol, no wonder this thing is trending (ph). This is crazy. I mean, the poor guy. I think --

COSTELLO: No, no, no, I think if they're more afraid of that ride than they are of combat, I want to ride that ride because it must be quite the thrill. MALVEAUX: I think everybody can relate to that. Our team went out to Six Flags and I -- everybody was just screaming just like that Marine. I mean it was just --

COSTELLO: It makes the ride more fun when you scream.

MALVEAUX: It was unbelievable. All the best to those guys. They're brave, but, boy, I don't know if they can really handle that too well.

All right, I'll see you, Carol.

COSTELLO: Sure.

MALVEAUX: Political newcomers, they're facing a fundraising reality. They spend most of their time, right, trying to bring in cash. Well, we're going to take an in-depth look at the high cost, what it takes to run for office.

But first, we've got a question for you. A little bit of trivia. When's the last time three different Republican presidential candidates won the Iowa caucuses, the New Hampshire primary and the South Carolina primary? That answer in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: All right, so did you get it right? When's the last time three different GOP presidential candidates won the Iowa caucuses, the New Hampshire primary and the South Carolina primary. The answer, 1980.

Republican presidential candidates and the PACs that they support -- that support them, rather, are spending millions of dollars on ads. But even candidates for Congress are learning how much it costs to get elected these days. Athena Jones talked with two political newcomers about the high price of running for office. Here's her in-depth report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At his Virginia farmhouse, first-time candidate John Douglass is dialing for dollars.

BRIG. GEN. JOHN DOUGLASS (RET.) (D), VIRGINIA CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE: I know you kicked in another $250 at the end of the year.

JONES: Democrats recruited Douglass in hopes of defeating Republican Congressman Frank Wolf, who's been in the House for nearly 32 years.

DOUGLASS: I spoke to you back in July --

JONES: The retired general knows it's an uphill battle.

DOUGLASS: It is a real challenge to be a challenger. I mean it is not a trivial thing to do.

JONES: The thing he needs most is money. JONES (on camera): So you spend how much of your time raising money?

DOUGLASS: About 75 percent of the time.

JONES (voice-over): He's made 9,000 donor calls since May, bringing in roughly half a million dollars. And he hopes to raised about a million more. Much of that money will be spent on advertising. The rest will go to staff salaries, direct mail, gas and other expenses.

DOUGLASS: How many miles do you think I've put on --

JONES (on camera): I don't know. Tell me.

DOUGLASS: Fifty thousand miles on my car.

JONES: Really?

DOUGLASS: Yes.

JONES (voice-over): He's been crisscrossing this rural district talking to voters at lunches, coffees and churches. But there's no question, fundraising is king.

JONES (on camera): In the last election, the average winning House candidate spent about $1.4 million to get here, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. That's 70 percent more than a decade ago.

KEN VAUGHN (R), VIRGINIA CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE: My big issue is the debt.

JONES (voice-over): Traffic engineer Ken Vaughn is another first-time candidate in Virginia.

VAUGHN: Ken Vaughn.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi. How are you?

VAUGHN: I'm running for U.S. Congress.

JONES: We caught up with him at a breakfast hosted by the local chamber of commerce.

VAUGHN: Would you be willing to have a fundraising for me? That would be great.

JONES: If Vaughn wins the Republican primary, he'll be running against second term Democrat Gerald Connolly.

VAUGHN: I was fortunate enough, I was able to take -- after, once again, this was very carefully considered with my wife, we put in a big chunk of money ourselves in this campaign.

JONES (on camera): Oh, you did?

VAUGHN: Yes. JONES: OK. So you are partly self financing?

VAUGHN: Yes. I mean it's not nearly enough to win, but it's enough to get started.

JONES (voice-over): That big chunk? $100,000 from his 401(k). He aims to raise $2 million for the general election. For Ken Vaughn, the cause is worth it.

VAUGHN: If we're going to make a difference, normal people have to get up and run.

JONES: John Douglass says he's answering his party's call.

DOUGLASS: You know, if you could help us with $500, it would be a wonderful help to our campaign.

JONES: Two candidates, hoping to show that despite the high price, political office is still in reach for ordinary folks in 2012.

Athena Jones, CNN. Hume, Virginia.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: CNN NEWSROOM continues right now.

Hey, Randi, I got a special guest. We want to toss to you. It is my parents in the studio, Myrna and Floyd.

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Oh.

MALVEAUX: They're here in Atlanta today. So we're all going to just take it to you.

KAYE: How nice. I -- maybe we should hand it to them and let them do the 1:00 hour today.

MALVEAUX: And maybe they could, actually.

KAYE: Oh, how sweet.

MALVEAUX: All right, have a great show.

KAYE: Welcome to them. Thank you, Suzanne.