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Rick Santorum Shakes up Republican Race; Deciding the Fate of Pardoned Prisoners in Mississippi; Syria's President Increases Attacks; Syrian President on Defensive; U.S. Military Prepares for Syria; Obama Tells Colleges to Keep Prices Down; Homs Bombed for Fourth Day

Aired February 08, 2012 - 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.

I want to get you up to speed for this Wednesday, February 8th.

Rick Santorum reenergizes his campaign, shakes up the Republican race for president. He is coming off a three-state sweep in Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri.

Santorum hopes to cash in on his big wins. Today he's in Texas because an adviser says that is where the money is.

So, CNN's starting -- Santorum said money isn't everything, but it's part of the game.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We're doing very, very well raising money. I think last night we raised about $250,000 online. So we're doing really well, and we feel like going forward, we're going to have the money we need to make the case we want to make.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Rick Santorum's rivals are nursing their wounds, looking ahead to the next dates on the election calendar.

Newt Gingrich, he's in Ohio today. It's one of the 10 states holding elections on Super Tuesday, March 6th. Gingrich is hoping that those races will revive in some way his campaign.

Mitt Romney also looking for a win in Colorado yesterday. Well, now he's trying to rebound from his loss to Santorum.

Nonstop shelling is said to be under way in the Syrian city of Homs. All right. So we just got this online video. You see this.

This is tanks rolling through a neighborhood. One Syrian activist group says at least 47 people have been killed already today, including three families. Another activist group puts the death toll at 54. A resident there bluntly saying, "We cannot count the dead anymore. They want to finish us."

Unbelievable pictures. The violence increasing by the day in Syria. CNN has learned that the Pentagon and U.S. Central Command have started an internal review of America's military capability in the region. We are told that options are being prepared just in case President Obama calls for them, but the administration's policy for now remains the use of political, economic and diplomatic pressure.

And you've got to hear this. This is chilling words, a 911 call from a social worker moments before the murder-suicide of a man and his two young boys.

The social worker made the call after she brings the two young boys, the sons of Josh Powell, to his home near Seattle for a supervised visit. Well, the social worker told the dispatcher Powell snatched the boy, slammed the door, and she smelled gasoline in the air. Her ominous warning, "This could be life-threatening."

So then the house bursts into flames shortly after the case worker's call. Authorities say that Powell planned the fire and the explosion that killed him and his two sons. And Powell was a suspect in the 2009 disappearance of his wife.

The victim of a brutal beating caught on tape is set to speak in the next hour at a news conference here in Atlanta. As you can see here, the video shows several people attacking a man outside this convenience store.

Now, gay activists are calling this a hate crime. Atlanta police are working with the FBI on this investigation. So far, no arrests have been made.

All right. Here's something you don't want to hear about if you're on a jumbo jet, right? Cracks in the wings.

European safety officials have ordered every Airbus 380 in service to get a thorough once-over for possible cracks. They say it's not a response to anything specific, but just a routine inspection. A fleet of Airbuses will not be grounded during the inspection period. Seven airlines fly the 380.

All right. So, just when you think the Republican race for president, you've got it all figured out, it takes another turn. The latest, Rick Santorum winning all three contests yesterday.

So, you had the caucuses in Minnesota and Colorado, the primary in Missouri. What does it mean for his Republican rivals and for the race against President Obama?

I want to bring in CNN Political Director Mark Preston, who is still here, day three.

We like to have you here, Mark.

What does will this mean? I mean, you predicted -- you said look for Santorum yesterday. And then all of this blows up overnight.

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, look, I'd like to take credit for saying that Rick Santorum would be the wildcard in this, but in some ways it might be conventional wisdom.

Look, Rick Santorum, as you know, for all the years you've covered politics in Washington, D.C., is a fighter, he's somebody that is not going to give up. Newt Gingrich tried very hard to push him out of the race. And guess what right now? The tables have now turned.

Newt Gingrich, who had framed himself, Suzanne, as being the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney, well, that's changed now. Rick Santorum can now claim that title.

MALVEAUX: So, Mitt Romney, let's talk about him. He visited Colorado, he campaigned hard. This must be a huge loss for him. How does he regain his momentum? Because he's lost his mojo right now.

PRESTON: Yes. Well, what he needs do is just to continue moving forward and continue contrasting his policies against President Obama.

Look, no secret that Mitt Romney has problems with real conservative voters, folks who describe themselves as Tea Party supporters. We started to see support going his way rafter a very, very decisive victory Mitt Romney had in Florida. However, what we saw last night is that he still has problems with t hem.

If Mitt Romney now focuses all his attention on Rick Santorum, it takes him off message. The fact of the matter is, Mitt Romney is still the front-runner, Mitt Romney still has millions of dollars, Mitt Romney still has a national organization. None of the other candidates have that.

MALVEAUX: So what about those who are the alternative here, the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney? It seems to be that Santorum has taken the mantle here. What does that mean for Newt Gingrich? He says he's going to go all the way to Super Tuesday.

PRESTON: He says he's going to go all the way to Super Tuesday. And what's interesting is that somebody who has been left for dead, only to come back to life, been left for dead, only to come back to life, and now in some ways is going to be left for dead. But what he needs to do is just to continue moving forward saying that he has the policy ideas.

His biggest strength is debating, and his biggest strength is talking about big, grand ideas. The problem with Newt Gingrich I think in the last couple of weeks, Suzanne -- and I'm sure you can attest to this -- just watching him, he seemed to get very, very angry. And I think that might have turned off Republican voters. At the same time, Rick Santorum was pretty positive.

MALVEAUX: You know the folks who are not angry, but they're not opening the champagne just quite yet, the Obama folks. They're looking at this saying wow, look at this, we've got weeks, if not months, ahead to watch this thing play out. How does this advantage the president as this goes longer into the season?

PRESTON: Well, what we're going to see and what we've seen certainly over the course of this campaign is that they have their DVRs, their VCRs for oldies like us, and they are recording every moment of this campaign, and they will use it in television ads going into November. So every time Rick Santorum says something devastating about Mitt Romney, assuming that Mitt Romney is the nominee, that is a potential that is going to be a television ad. But it just won't be the Obama campaign, it's all those super PACs who are going to be blanketing the airwaves all across the country trying to really influence this election.

MALVEAUX: All right. Mark, thanks. And I know you want to get back to your family. So it's been good having you the last three days.

PRESTON: We'll be back in a couple weeks.

MALVEAUX: Absolutely.

PRESTON: Thanks, Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: Thanks.

So here's your chance to "Talk Back" on one of the big stories of the day. Today's question, all right, what is it about Rick Santorum? He kept his campaign running on a shoestring budget, yet managed to win all three states yesterday.

Carol Costello joining us from Washington with more.

Carol, some are saying, is it the sweater vest?

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I don't know about that, but who knows at this point?

All I know, Suzanne, it was a Mittastrophe (sic). That was my favorite headline in regards to Tuesday's tri-state vote. It came from "The Huffington Post." But I digress.

So I'll tweak a line from actress Sally Field. They like Rick. They really like him. At least that's why some political analysts think Mr. Santorum stole Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado from Mitt Romney's well-oiled machine.

Although Romney endorser Donald Trump is still mystified.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, CHAIRMAN & PRESIDENT, THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION: Rick Santorum was a sitting senator who, in re-election, lost by 19 points. To my knowledge, the most in the history of this country, for a sitting senator to lose by 19 points. It's unheard of.

Then he goes out and says, oh, OK, I just lost by the biggest margin in history, now I'm going to run for president. Tell me, how does that work? How does that work?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Well, maybe it's working because, as CNN analyst Gloria Borger put it, Santorum speaks middle America. He chooses words and phrases that resonate.

This is Santorum talking about President Obama.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SANTORUM: I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't listening. Why would you think he would be listening now? Has he ever listened to the voice of America before?

AUDIENCE: No!

SANTORUM: No. Why? Because he thinks he knows better. He thinks he's smarter than you. He thinks he's someone who is a privileged person, who should be able to rule over all of you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Or maybe it's because Santorum's stand on social issues resonates at a time Planned Parenthood, Komen and the Catholic Church all say they're under fire. Or perhaps it's more simple than all of that. Maybe it's because Santorum hasn't been the subject of negative political ads. Of course that soon will change. But analysts don't elect candidates, you do.

So, the "Talk Back" question today: What is it about Rick Santorum?

Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll read your responses later this hour.

MALVEAUX: Carol, I can't help it. Maybe it's the cynic in me, but they all rise and fall, they take their turns on top. You wonder how long this is going to last. Maybe it will, maybe it won't.

COSTELLO: Well, maybe it all boils down to this, too -- maybe voters just don't like Mitt Romney, and they can't imagine themselves voting for him for president. Who knows?

MALVEAUX: All right. We'll see how it all shakes out.

Thank you, Carol.

COSTELLO: Sure.

(NEWSBREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Let's go to a live event that is taking place. This is in McKinney, Texas. Rick Santorum making remarks before a group of pastors after his three-state sweep.

Let's listen in.

(BEGIN LIVE SPEECH)

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

SANTORUM: What you did and honored our little angel, it means a lot. So thank you very much for that. And she has been an amazing blessing to us and our family.

OK. Do I need? Right there?

Can we turn it off?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

SANTORUM: Oh, OK. How's that? Is that any better? Yes, it is? OK.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just talk louder.

SANTORUM: All right. I'll do my best to talk louder.

Thank you again, and thank you for the opportunity of being here.

Let me apologize for being late. We are late because we had few television interviews this morning that we had to do.

(APPLAUSE)

SANTORUM: So we got a little later start. But I do apologize.

Our campaign is run the way I think you run anybody -- you run your life, which is you respect people and their time, and I try never to be late. And so I do apologize for being late here this morning. But I'm very glad that you all stuck around and are willing to be here with us this morning so I can share a few thoughts with you.

And I'll take up for what -- well, before I do that, let me introduce a couple of members -- this still isn't working.

All right. Here we go.

Let me introduce a couple of members of my family who are here. You met the youngest member of our family, little Isabella Maria. But her two older brother and sister are traveling with me.

I see the brother. I don't see the sister. Where's --

(END LIVE SPEECH)

MALVEAUX: You're watching Rick Santorum there before a group of pastors. He teared up a little bit in the beginning there, we noted. That is because the church, the pastors had dedicated an angel to his daughter Bella, who was seriously ill before on the campaign trail. He had to step off the trail for a little bit to tend to her, and she's been doing much better since.

If he says something that seems compelling, we will jump in and make sure that we get that to you as soon as it happens.

The Mississippi Supreme Court decides the fate of some 200 pardoned criminals tomorrow, but two pardoned killers have moved out of state. One of them is refusing to return.

Our Ed Lavandera tracked down the other.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From the moment David Gatlin was pardoned and walked away from the Mississippi governor's mansion about a month ago, Randy Walker hasn't stopped thinking about where the man who shot him might be.

RANDY WALKER, SHOOTING VICTIM: His image is forever burned in my head. I'll never -- he can disguise himself or do whatever, I'll still see him.

LAVANDERA: Gatlin was sentenced to life in prison for murdering his estranged wife while she clutched their young baby, and then shooting Walker in the head. The image of the Gatlin pointing the gun at his face still haunts Randy Walker.

(on camera): Is it an image that never goes away?

WALKER: Yes, you see the end of that barrel. I mean, I see the end of that gun. It looked like it was as big as a baseball bat. It looks huge when it's standing there. It can be a .22 and it looks like a .45.

LAVANDERA: And you're staring right at it.

WALKER: Yes, staring right down the barrel, and you know there's not a damn thing you can do about it.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): David Gatlin appears willing to participate in the legal battle that will decide if the criminal records of Gatlin and some 200 others will be wiped clean by Governor Haley Barbour's controversial pardons. Since Gatlin and three other killers who had worked as inmate trustees at the governor's mansion were released from custody, Mississippi officials have tracked their whereabouts to offer comfort to those victims stunned by the news of the pardons.

Joseph Ozment left Mississippi. He is now living in Wyoming, and his lawyer says he has no intentions of coming back.

And David Gatlin left the state, too.

(on camera): We're looking for David Gatlin. We're told that he lives here in this neighborhood, and we think we've kind of come to the area where he might be.

(voice-over): We found Gatlin in this neighborhood near Birmingham, Alabama. But when we knocked on the door, we didn't expect to meet a man named Ernest Jacks, who says he's Gatlin's friend.

ERNEST JACKS, PARDONED KILLER'S FRIEND: You know, there's always somebody calling for blood. Ask me anything you want.

LAVANDERA (on camera): So you don't think David is still a dangerous guy?

JACKS: Hell no. No. No. I really don't.

I believe that forgiveness is the heart of Christianity. And -- because all people make mistakes, especially in crimes of passion.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): Jacks says he met David Gatlin in the years before the murders and is helping Gatlin get back on his feet. He says Gatlin spends his days inside his home praying and playing the guitar, and Jacks isn't shy to say he'll defend Gatlin from anyone who comes around causing trouble.

JACKS: I told him that he had a home here, and if anybody tried to mess with him, I'd whip their ass. And so that's basically the way it boils down.

LAVANDERA (on camera): So you're protecting him, basically, at this point?

JACKS: Yes.

LAVANDERA: You don't seem like the kind of guy that would go around beating people up.

JACKS: Well, that was when I was younger, you see.

LAVANDERA: All right. Got you.

JACKS: But I don't take (EXPLETIVE DELETED) off anybody.

LAVANDERA: So we don't need to wear out our welcome here?

JACKS: No, you're fine because you're civil and you're talking.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): We kept trying, but Ernest Jacks never gave us a chance to talk to David Gatlin.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, near Birmingham, Alabama.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: All right. You used to be able to save a few bucks on your grocery bill by picking up the brand X products, right? Generics. But that deal actually might be ending.

We're getting to get some details and an update on the markets.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Here's a rundown of some of the stories we're working on.

Next, the search for an end to the carnage in Syria. As the body count rises, the U.S. looks at military options just in case. And then, he's one of the men behind the money pouring into the presidential race. Foster Friess, he's a major donor to Rick Santorum's super PAC.

And in about 10 minutes, the story of a city skyscraper that ended up on the auction block.

Well, the United States has more than one plan when it comes to Syria -- diplomatic pressure, which the State Department is leading. And as we've learned today, a military plan with options the Pentagon now starting to explore.

We're live from the Pentagon in just a minute, but first, our report from Nic Robertson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Syria, there are two realities: the government -- this is a battle against terrorist gangs guided by foreign hands -- and the other, the carnage at the hands of government forces the rest of the world sees. Bashar al-Assad is on the offensive. He makes no apologies.

At his only public speech this year, he spelled out the future -- his way or the highway. Syrians must either support reforms on offer, constitutional change, some political opposition, or face the brutal might of his army. So far, the few to sign up to the president's version of the future like Zahir Said Aidan (ph) are struggling to find support.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

ROBERTSON: "We need 1,000 signatures to register," he says. "We wanted intellectuals, doctors, lawyers. But we've had to look elsewhere."

Hardly surprising. They believed Assad once before, but were tricked.

"The last time the government said this, in 2005, he says, we were arrested not long after forming a party."

Russia is pushing Assad to initiate round table talks. But the answer from the opposition is already no, unless one crucial condition is met.

BURHAN GHALIOUN, CHAIRMAN, SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL: The first condition that will help us provide such environment is for President Assad to step down. Without this condition -- without stepping down, the conditions would not be conducive to a dialogue about how to transition into democracy.

NADIM SHEHADI, MIDDLE EAST ANALYST: The main issue is his credibility. I don't think the opposition believes in any of his offers while he's at the same time saying that he's going to crush them and that they are agents of Israel and the United States. ROBERTSON: Besides his military might, Assad's other asset is the opposition's divisions which reflect Syria's volatile mixture -- secular, Muslim Brotherhood, urban, rural, middle class, poor, and, above all, the fault line of Sunni and Alowhite (ph). Divisions, observers say, Assad exploits.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The regime has played games and has managed to divide -- to play on all the divisions, capitalize on all the international, local, regional, internal divisions.

(SHOUTING)

ROBERTSON: Assad and his father before him have ruled this way for over 40 years, masters of divide and conquer. He appears confident and the opposition is far more fragmented than it was several months ago.

(on camera): And that's not the only problem for activist leaders. Every death builds bitterness, making it harder for them to lead their people to the kind of compromise needed to avoid a civil war. Assad is playing by his rules. And right now, there's no one to stop him.

Nic Robertson, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Let's get to Barbara Starr at the Pentagon.

Barbara, we heard from Nic. He says there is not that much out will there to stop Assad from continuing the crackdown. What do we know about U.S. military contingency plans for Syria?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Publicly, here in Washington, all of the talk is about diplomatic and economic pressure against the Syrian regime. Senator John McCain, calling for arming the opposition. But that is a very problematic option.

Yet, behind the scenes, we now know that the Pentagon for several weeks has been looking at the whats and ifs, what could they do if the president asked them, what would be the risks. Are there military options? What is feasible?

Several officials confirming to us now these discussions are going on very internally in the Pentagon, very preliminary. But it is the first sign that the U.S. military is saying they want to be ready just in case the president asks for options. They don't want to be in the position of dusting off some old plan. They want to update everything, see what they have, see what's feasible. And that's across the range of possibilities, everything from humanitarian relief to outright military action, but only if, of course, the president were to change his mind and ask for that.

MALVEAUX: And, Barbara, how would that happen where you go from planning to actually carrying out some sort of military act? STARR: I think everyone in the administration would look first for a coalition, for NATO, the Arab League of members, military forces, to join in. The U.S. Military would not go this alone. They are going to want to see other countries with skin in the game so to speak.

And you will have some sort of international agreement that they want to move ahead. And then it would be very much as it has happened in the past countries, militaries would sit down, consider who can undertake what option best. But that would be a long way down the road. There might be some effort at humanitarian relief, medical assistance, trying to get supplies into the people there. Anything else very problematic.

MALVEAUX: Barbara Starr, thank you very much.

STARR: Sure.

MALVEAUX: Foreclosure auctions, a sad reality of the mortgage meltdown. But this time, it wasn't even a house that was up for auction.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I now open the floor forbids.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I bid $100,000.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And the bids were for a ritzy downtown office building. Find out the going price if you actually want to see what it cost to buy a skyscraper.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Foreclosures a sign of the tough economic time, but one of the buildings up for auction not your typical foreclosure. Probably won't be the last of its kind.

Martin Savidge has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This may not be an only-in- America type of thing, but it sure feels like it. This is the steps of the Fulton County courthouse downtown Atlanta. And on the first Tuesday of every month, this sad scene plays out. Essentially, they come forward and they read the foreclosure notices of all the foreclosures taking place in and around the area. And most of them tend to be just the sad stories of people's homes.

But here today, something very different. You can actually bid on a 55-story downtown office building, over 1,000 feet tall. In fact, the largest in all the southeast. (voice-over): The Bank of America Plaza is one of those skyline defining landmarks, dubbed the most prestigious address, topped by a 90-foot spire. Get this, coated in 23 karat gold. In 2006, it sold for $436 million.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The sales today require the immediate tender the cash.

SAVIDGE: Now here it was for sale on the courthouse steps like so many other victims of Atlanta's hard times. And at first, it looked like it was going to go for a steal.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I now open the floor for bids.

JASON YOW (ph), BIDDER: I bid $100,000.

SAVIDGE: But it was not to be.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: $235 million.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have a bid for $235 million.

SAVIDGE: In the end, the total winning bid was $250 million. But you can't blame Jason for trying.

(on camera): Was there a moment where you actually thought I could get this building?

YOW (ph): I was thinking this could be very cool.

(LAUGHTER)

SAVIDGE: Fear not, Jason, or any other tycoon want-a-bes.

Experts say delinquency rates for commercial mortgages in Atlanta remain near all-time highs, which means more city landmarks are likely to end up for sale on the courthouse steps.

Martin Savidge, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Stories making news across the country.

First to Texas, where quick action from a dad helped save his 6- year-old son from a mountain lion. The boy says he was surprised by the big cat.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED BOY: Sneaked up on me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The cat was clamped on his face. Reached down and got my pocketknife out and stabbed the cat in the chest and it let go at that point.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Wow. Good for him.

Taxi driver in Lacrosse, Wisconsin, is being called a hero after he helped a family escape their burning home in the middle of the night. Colin Winchell was driving by the house when he noticed flames shooting from the porch. He first trade to wake the family by blowing his car horn. When he got no response, he raced towards the home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN WINCHELL, CAB DRIVER WHO RESCUED FAMILY: Oh, yes, freaky. There were flames and smoke and -- but I pounded on the doors and nobody answered, so I ran around the side of the House and started beating on their windows and finally they woke up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And the wild card wins. Rick Santorum re-energizes his campaign after winning in three states, which brings us to today's "Talk Back" question, what is it about Rick Santorum?

Henry says, "Last night means nothing for Rick. He will be done by March." Carol Costello has more of your responses straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: You're sounding off on our "Talk Back" question, what is it about Rick Santorum? Carol Costello has your responses.

Carol, it's more than the sweeter vests I imagine.

COSTELLO: It's a little more than the sweater vests, but what is it about him?

Paul says, "Rick Santorum is improving, but this was just a blip. He has a Midwest buttoned-up Bible Belt appeal, but he won't appeal in the major urban centers. It will still be Romney in the end."

From Joel, "It all boils down to trust. When it comes to the other three candidates, Romney is an elite moderate flip-flopper. Gingrich has serious fidelity issues. and Paul is a complete wild card that lacks stability. Santorum is a candidate the American people can trust and believe."

This from Margaret, "Santorum is not special. He just isn't Mitt."

And from Henry, "The poor little fellow needed a win."

Please keep the conversation going. Facebook.com/carolCNN. I'll be back with you in about 25 minutes.

MALVEAUX: Thanks, Carol. It's not getting any cheaper to go to colleges. President Obama is calling the colleges to keep the costs down. He's even threatening to cut aid to the ones who don't.

If you're looking for a deal, listen up, to Alison Kosik, here with tips to help you get the most education bang for your buck.

Alison, how do we make this affordable?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So first, let me start off with this great list of what's considered the best value colleges. And this is coming from the "Princeton Review." The top public schools are UNC, Chapel Hill, the University of Virginia, New College of Florida, and et cetera.

Williams College actually topped the list of private schools followed by Swarthmore, Princeton and Harvard. I know what you're thinking. You're a graduate of Harvard. How can Harvard and Princeton be on the list? The "Princeton Review" factors in financial aid, not just academic quality and tuition. What do you think? Was Harvard a good value for you?

MALVEAUX: I got a lot of financial aid. I was working through college and the whole bit. So that's a good thing. Should folks actually look beyond the sticker price for a college? Is it worth it?

KOSIK: They should because one analyst says just because you think a school is too expensive, it doesn't mean it is. Schools are kind of like businesses. They're trying to appeal to cost conscious families. So many of these high priced colleges actually give out pretty big aid packages. But don't just rely on financial aid. You make sure apply to schools that you can afford. So maybe look at the public schools in your home state or someplace where you can actually live at home.

MALVEAUX: I had a sibling who also went to school with me, my sister. And so we asked for more financial aid and we didn't get enough the first go around and that seemed to work. Can families actually do that, how do they maximize the amount of money that they're getting?

KOSIK: That's a great question because what you really have to do, you have to figure out how to navigate the aid system. Financial aid is based part on family income during a student's junior and senior years in high school. So all that can help maximize how eligible you are for getting that financial aid.

Try to boost those SAT and ACT test scores. Even a small increase in scores can get you thousands of dollars in financial aid. Also graduating early can save you money on tuition. Many give credit for A.P. test scores and dual enrollment courses where you transfer credits when you graduate. Finally, consider a community college for two years and then transfer to a pricier school to finish your bachelor's degree. You'll get the same diploma as your peers who attended the same school all four years, but you'll spend less -- Suzanne. MALVEAUX: All right, Alison finally got those college bills wiped off and it's all good now.

(LAUGHTER)

Thank you, Alison.

KOSIK: Now it's all about the mortgage.

MALVEAUX: Absolutely.

(LAUGHTER)

Its creators describe it as drive-by music. We'll talk to the guys behind the musical car that made its debut during the Super Bowl.

(MUSIC)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Forget about musical chairs. How about a musical car? That's behind the idea of a new video by OK Go.

Jeanne Moos caught up with the group's lead singer in New York.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Why just play the car radio when you can play the car?

(SINGING)

MOOS: It's so unusual we had to make up a name for it.

(on camera): Drive-by what?

DAMIAN KOULASH, LEAD SINGER, OK GO: I guess it's drive-by rock and roll, is what it is.

MOOS: Rock and roll and over 1100 home made instruments like glass jars and pipes. The group OK Go has gone and done it again after making music on videos on treadmills and with a dozen leaping dogs and with a Rube Goldberg contraption big enough to fill a warehouse. Now OK Go is going on the road.

(SINGING)

MOOS: Lead singer, Damian Koulash, says it took four months of prep and four days of shooting in the California desert on a two-mile track and a car that deployed seven arms.

KOULASH: If you're off by a little bit, you rip the arms off. It broke dozens of those arms.

MOOS: His fellow band members turned levers to deploy the arms, arms that tickle the ivories on 55 pianos. KOULASH: Each piano, we had to tune the bottom half of it down to one note so that no matter where you would hit it, you would get the same note.

MOOS: Damian had to take a stunt driving course. He said the trickiest part wasn't driving fast, but driving at the perfect speed.

KOULASH: The perfect mile is 42, which doesn't sound like much. On a paved road at the edge of a cliff, it's scary.

MOOS: Did he say guitar solo?

(MUSIC)

KOULASH: The guitars were played with a fishing rod.

MOOS: 288 guitars with four of their six strings removed.

(MUSIC)

MOOS: Chevrolet paid for the project and gave OK Go total creative freedom as well as the new Chevy Sonic. In exchange, Chevy got to use OK Go's material on a commercial that first aired on the Super Bowl.

(MUSIC)

MOOS: The car even ran over hoses that blew air into tubas.

To commemorate the video, OK Go is selling car Asia fresheners with their faces on them. Each guy is a different scent.

KOULASH: I think I might be new car smell. I hope I'm new car smell.

MOOS (on camera): New car smell?

(voice-over): New car smell with a top note of dusty guitar.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

KOULASH: We get it?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: That's pretty cool.

He's the man attracting big bucks into Rick Santorum's super PAC. So what was he doing standing behind the candidate last night during his victory speech? We're going to find out whether or not it crosses the line in our CNN "Political Ticker."

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