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Violence At Anti-U.S. Protest; Fighting, Voting Today In Syria; Mandela Out of Hospital; Arizona Governor Endorses Romney; Santorum Sponsors Underdog; Michigan and Arizona Primaries; Hollywood's Big Night; President Obama Hosts Governors; Deepwater Oil Spill Trial Set; Ben & Jerry's Lin Apology; Chain Of Life; Clinton On Obama's Reelection

Aired February 26, 2012 - 14:30   ET

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

RICHELLE CAREY, CNN ANCHOR: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Richelle Carey in for Fredricka Whitfield.

Fury in the streets of Northern Afghanistan today. This anti-American demonstration started calmly and turned violent. One person was killed, several U.S. troops hurt and an explosion and small arms fire outside an American base.

Meanwhile, the man who killed two U.S. officers in Afghanistan yesterday is still at large. Afghan officials have named him. They say he works at the Interior Ministry.

More people hurt, more people killed today across Syria. This is the city of Hama where nine died in street battles before security forces and anti-government fighters.

Violence across the country has not let up despite today's nationwide vote on whether to change Syria's constitution. Much more on that in a minute. We'll get an update from CNN's Michael Holmes who is in Beirut.

Nelson Mandela, the founding father of democracy in South Africa, is out of the hospital. He was discharged today after being treated for an abdominal ailment.

A family member said it was hernia surgery. The 93-year-old was imprisoned 27 years for fighting a partied. He was released in 1990 and was awarded the Nobel Peace prize three years later.

Let's turn to politics. Today, Mitt Romney got what could be a much- needed boost in the tightening race for the Republican presidential nomination. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer publicly endorsed Romney. She made the announcement on NBC's "Meet the Press."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOVENOR JAN BREWER (R), ARIZONA: He has that pro business background and he has that political history that I think that he would serve America the best of all the candidates. And so it was a difficult decision, but I think Mitt is by far the person that can go in and win. (END VIDEO CLIP)

CAREY: Brewer is a conservative Republican. She met with several of the candidates last week before choosing Romney.

Newt Gingrich spent the morning with voters in his home state of Georgia. The former House speaker addressed a church congregation just north of Atlanta. With his poll numbers shrinking, Gingrich has bypassed Michigan and Arizona to focus on Super Tuesday and Georgia.

Mitt Romney made a pit stop at the Daytona 500 this morning. Romney shook hands and talked with NASCAR fans before the track before heading back to his home state of Michigan.

Rick Santorum is at the Daytona 500 in spirit. Santorum's campaign is sponsoring Tony Rains number 26 car in the today's race. On the hood of Rain's car, you could see red white and blue stickers that read Rick 2012. There are more stickers on the side of the car as well.

We are just two days away from the presidential primaries in Michigan and Arizona. Up for grabs a total of 59 delegates and the all- important title of frontrunner. It's a pretty big deal. It's very important.

Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum are neck and neck in the polls. So will there be a clear winner after Tuesday. Joining us with insight is CNN political reporter, Peter Hamby.

Peter, let's start with this endorsement from Jan Brewer. There's not really a consensus on what endorsements really mean anymore, but can you put this in some context for us?

PETER HAMBY, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Yes, absolutely you're right. Endorsements tend to be a little overblown. This is a good pick-up for Mitt Romney though because there are conservatives as we know in this country who are skeptical of Mitt Romney.

Jan brewer as you said earlier is a very conservative governor who's put immigration at the top of her agenda. As you know she signed the tough immigration crackdown bill last year.

So this gives conservatives who might be skeptical of Mitt Romney a little bit of a comfort zone, a little bit of a blessing to go to the polls and vote for him.

But also, you know, no politician at this level makes an endorsement like this without some level of personal political calculation. So you have to think that Jan Brewer has seen some polling perhaps.

She knows Mitt Romney is probably a safe bet, a lot of political observers think Arizona's probably trending in Romney's direction especially after Rick Santorum kind of had a tough debate in Mesa the other night, Richelle. So it's a good pick up for Mitt Romney.

CAREY: So you're saying that the politicians rarely go out an a limb. So why do the two states, Michigan and Arizona, matter so much in this race, Peter?

HAMBY: Right, we've been in a bit of a dry spell all of February after that January gauntlet of those early key primaries. You know, we're kind of waiting for Super Tuesday and a lot of contests in March.

February doesn't have that many contests and we've basically seen a lot of questions come to the floor about Mitt Romney's conservatism. We've seen Rick Santorum rise and the race turn into a two man race between Romney and Santorum.

So this will be a real kind of tie breaker if you will, between the two and don't forget that Romney has always made Michigan sort of a central part of his biography, his father was governor here. His mother ran for Senate.

He was born here. He met his wife here. So if he loses Michigan that's bad news for Mitt Romney. So he's really got to win here. It's going to be a tight race.

They're trying to out-conservative each other here, Santorum and Romney are. Take a listen to what Santorum to say earlier today in Marquette.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: For Mitt Romney to go out and suggest I'm not conservative, I mean, this is a guy who said that he would, you know, again, you heard me say what he did with cap and trade, what he's done on Obama care.

I didn't tell you what he did on taxes, $700 million in tax increases. He said he was going to be better on gay rights than Ted Kennedy when he ran against Ted Kennedy.

He said he would protect a woman's right to choose when he ran for office in 2002 for governor. He said he had a conversion and two years after he had his conversion, he provided public financing for an abortion clinic in Massachusetts.

And for him to go out and say I am somehow the liberal in this race is a joke.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMBY: So you see the rhetoric there sharpening as the polls are tightening nationally and here in Michigan. I can tell you, Richelle, talking to Republican insiders, pollsters following this race closely, the race is really tightened in the last just the last couple days and it's going to be a nail biter here in Michigan on Tuesday night -- Richelle.

CAREY: OK, CNN will be the place to be for that. Peter, thank you very much.

HAMBY: Thanks. CAREY: It's the biggest night of the year for Hollywood. The Oscars and you can bet there will be plenty of star power, glitz and glamour.

So this night, A.J. hammer joins us live. This is when A.J. gets all dressed up. I just love it, A.J. You're so Hollywood with the sunglasses. I can't stand it.

A.J. HAMMER, HOST, HLN'S "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": I haven't put the tie on yet, Richelle, but George Clooney said I could wear my shades at least for this part of the day.

CAREY: Fantastic. You look fabulous. It's going to be a big night. Billy Crystal got the call once again. What can we expect from him tonight?

HAMMER: Well, I think Billy Crystal is really going to knock it out of the park. Of course, coming off of last year when James Franco and Anne Hathaway hosted the show to very little critical acclaim.

In fact, they got universally panned, which is too bad because I thought they were a terrific idea at least. Eddie murphy was supposed to host this year and that didn't work out so Billy Crystal who has hosted the show eight times before, but not since 2004, is back on stage.

I think we can certainly expect a lot of comedy. The night is going to go towards comedy, Richelle. I think we'll see Billy certainly involved in some of the old tricks that he used to do. We'll see him digitally inserted in the best picture nominees as well as a big musical number.

We don't know how he's going to open the show though because that is always kept very tightly under wraps. What we do know though is the stage set, although we haven't been able to see it yet, is going to evoke a classic movie theatre.

And the theme this year really is the enduring nature of the movie going experience when you have nominees like "The Artist" that lends itself to that and we certainly have some enduring Hollywood stars involved with some major showdowns this year.

We have, of course, George Clooney being pitted against his best friend, Brad Pitt in the best actor race. I think that one is actually going to be a battle between Clooney and Jean Dujardin who is favored to win that race.

And then in the best actress category another great showdown, the venerable Meryl Streep, 17-time nominee coming in this year and she's up against the great Viola Davis who, of course, was wonderful in "The Help."

The edge right now, the money right now, Richelle, is on Viola to win that. But really until the envelope is opened later tonight, anything is possible as we know.

CAREY: Man, that's some star power. I love it. OK, Sacha Baron Cohen, what in the world is going on? Is he going to show up as himself tonight, as one of his alter egos?

HAMMER: Here's the deal. And security just came through and, in fact, I've never seen it quite like this before about 5 minutes ago, we saw the dogs coming through, sniffing around. One of them almost tried almost to jump on me to make sure, you know, I was cool.

But they're checking everything out and maybe that's a sign that Shahbaz, the sex crazed Middle Eastern death spot is going to be here. Now that is an alter ego of Sacha Baron Cohen who knows how to do publicity, earlier this week, word got out that Sacha was going to show up in character as the dictator.

The academy folks said you know what? We really don't want you to do that, but things changed in the course of the week. Now he's got a couple tickets. Great publicity for him and great publicity, of course, for the Oscars which is why I think they're going ahead with it.

So it's going to be interesting to see how he shows up, Richelle, but I have a feeling it will be in costume tonight because he will milk this for all he can.

CARYE: And I think the academy does want him to show up just like that. A.J., good stuff. Look forward to seeing you tonight. A.J. will be live from the red carpet for "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" road to gold. That starts at 6:30 p.m. Eastern right here on HLN.

Four more years of President Obama, that's what Secretary of State Hillary Clinton predicts. She sat down with CNN and explains why she went out on a limb, that's just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAREY: The Syrian government says a referendum people are voting on today is aimed at changing the constitution and a step towards ending the deadly conflict.

Well, that hasn't stopped armed groups and security forces from battling in Homs, in Damascus, and here in Hama. Across Syria, at least 45 people were killed just today. CNN's Michael Holmes is watching developments in Syria from Beirut.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Dozens more Syrians died around the country Sunday, violence and anti-government protests in cities from Dharat in the south to Idlib in the north, but many of the victims again in the now familiar and still besieged neighborhood of Baba Amir in the city of Homs.

(voice-over): The shelling began just before dawn and continues throughout the day according to activist we spoke with, the violence, an ironic a compliment to voting on a new constitution.

Syrian state media showed President Bashar Al-Assad voting with his wife and ran video of other Syrians casting their ballots as well, 14.5 million were eligible to vote. How many actually did yet to be known.

Certainly not many in parts of Homs where this man expressed his views on the referendum as one of the city's main marketplaces burned behind him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The referendum on the constitution is the 26th of February. This is the referendum on the constitution, burning the shops, the heavy gunfire and explosions taking place at the main market in Homs. Look what Bashar Al-Assad has done to the market.

HOLMES (on camera): Now the proposed new constitution would conditionally allow multiple parties and pave the way for an election in three months and limit the president to two seven-year terms.

That could still mean Bashar Al-Assad will be in power for a long time to come. Opposition groups, many foreign governments, and protesters on the ground in Syria, said it was a sham, meaningless. Bashar Al- Aassad didn't abide by the old constitution, one activist told us, why would we believe he would honor a new one.

Meanwhile, efforts by the International Red Cross and Syrian Red Crescent to get into Baba Rama, stalled for the second consecutive day leaving the wounded and the trapped including western journalists facing conditions that worsen by the hour. Michael Holmes, CNN, Beirut.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CAREY: Other headlines overseas today, 16 Americans are on trial in Cairo. They're accused of fraud following a crackdown on pro- democracy groups and Egyptian officials say are interfering with the government. One of the Americans on trial is the son of the U.S. Transportation secretary.

West Africa, this is Senegal on Election Day. People are furious at the president. They don't want him re-elected to a third term. Senegal's highest court cleared him to seek a third term despite the constitutional limit to seek a third term. Protests have raised across the country ever since that brewing.

This is what is Osama Bin Laden's former hideout in Pakistan looks like today, it's being demolished. The work started last night. Pakistani officials say they don't want the compound to stand as a gathering point for Bin Laden followers.

Imagine you could help save 30 lives with one unselfish act. One man did donating a kidney, a kidney. Rick Ruzzamenti was the first link in the kidney donation chain. You have to hear his story. I am talking to Rick next. Don't go anywhere.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAREY: Welcome back. Other news we're following, the Oscars aren't the only major black tie event tonight. President Obama and the first lady are hosting America's governors at the White House. The dinner is part of the National Governors Association Winter Meeting. At least one governor, Arizona's Governor Jan Brewer, she will not be there.

The deepwater horizon oil spill trial begins Monday in Louisiana and BP is bracing for a long fight. A judge will decide civil liability and who's to blame into to what extent for this disaster. Fishermen, hotel workers and residents are among thousands of plaintiffs.

And Ben and Jerry's is apologizing for using fortune cookies in its Jeremy Lin inspired flavor taste the Linsanity. They say the Harvard shop that sells it intended to honor the Harvard grad, not offend him. They're now using a waffle cones instead.

So a man walks into a hospital and offers to donate a kidney expecting nothing in return. That would never happen, but it did happen a year ago. A California man donated his kidney and by doing so became the first link in the world's longest living donor kidney chain.

The chain ended just before Christmas when an Illinois man became the 30th recipient. Can you imagine? And the man who started all this is here. Rick Ruzzamenti was that donor, the first donor.

Rick, thank you so much for joining us to talk more about this amazing thing that you have done. It's an honor to talk to you. What prompted you to do this, basically putting your own life at risk? There's no such thing as routine surgery.

RICK RUZZAMENTI, ORIGINAL DONOR IN KIDNEY "CHAIN": Well, I didn't really start the chain. I met a woman Melissa Yorgan who had donated a kidney and she told me her story of how she had donated a kidney and how it was no big deal and didn't understand why more people didn't do it. Her telling me that story just made me and inspired me to want to donate a kidney. I went home the next day and looked into it.

CAREY: But you had to convince the doctors at Riverside Community Hospital that you were on the level, that you knew what you were doing, that you weren't trying to get attention, fame, glory. How did that conversation go?

RUZZAMENTI: Well, I'll tell you the kidney donation was easy. These interviews aren't. This is -- no. It was very professional. I was just asked, why do you want to donate a kidney, and every time I would just simply say because I want to help somebody. I just wanted to help somebody. So there was nothing to -- it was that simple.

CAREY: When they started to explain to you that there are risks involved in any type of surgery, was there ever a moment, for even a split second when you had a conversation with yourself and thought, do I really want to do this?

RUZZAMENTI: I've never had second thoughts. There are risks every time you step into a car. There's risk that you can die and you don't think about that. I didn't think about -- I never thought about the risks. I was excited I was going to be able to donate a kidney to help somebody and get them off of dialysis. CAREY: That's fantastic. Let me share some numbers, Rick. About 90,000 people are on the waiting list right now hoping to get a kidney transplant. Fewer than 17,000 will get one and about 4,500 people die every year waiting for a kidney.

Basically, what you set in motion the way the chain kept going a combination of people donating to a stranger or someone saying I want to donate to my family member, but perhaps they weren't compatible so they would give to a stranger as long as my family member gets one.

It was a combination of all that to kept this chain going. The fact that you were the person that set this in motion that saved lives, how did that change you as a person?

RUZZAMENTI: It doesn't change me. I'm just glad that I was able it to do it. I was glad I was able to help. That's all.

CAREY: So no profound moments where you're like I'm the person that did that are look at the world different?

RUZZAMENTI: No. I mean, no. It couldn't have happened if it wasn't for Melissa, it couldn't have happened if it wasn't for Riverside Community Hospital, for Shannon White, the transplant coordinator, for the surgeon Dr. Wallstrom and Garret Hill who started the National Kidney Registry and for everybody else in the kidney chain it couldn't have happened. I'm just a chink in the chain and there's just a little microscope on me right now, but I'm just a part of it is all.

CAREY: Well, your attitude is phenomenal. It's phenomenal. I get what you're saying, it takes all of us. Rick Ruzzamenti, thank you so much for sharing your story and thank you for what you've done.

RUZZAMENTI: OK. You're welcome.

CAREY: I see what he means. He doesn't like doing these interviews, but he did the bigger thing for sure.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton predicts President Obama will get re-elected, but she felt the need to explain it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: Probably, you know, my enthusiasm for the president got a little out of hand.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAREY: Hear what else Clinton had to say about her boss's prospects next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAREY: Welcome back. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is already predicting President Obama will be re-elected. She made the comments over students in Tunisia yesterday and this morning, Clinton talked about that more in a CNN interview with Elise Labbot. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELISE LABOTT, CNN SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT PRODUCER: You said yesterday that President Obama will be re-elected. It's not -- raised a lot of eyebrows, not really the secretary of state to say anything about an election and it seemed to be kind of a campaign statement.

CLINTON: Well, remember the context of it. You know, I was asked whether the comments in the primary campaign some of which have been quite inflammatory, represented America. And I represent America and know what happens in campaigns, been there, done that.

And I know that things are said that are not going to be put into practice or policy. But I did think I need to point that out to the audience. And probably, you know, my enthusiasm for the president got a little out of hand.

LABOTT: No -- no political juices is flowing there.

CLINTON: You know, I'm trying to dampen them down, trying to have -- tried to have them taken out, you know, blood transfusion but occasionally they rear their heads.

LABOTT: Does that suggest maybe going back in at some point?

CLINTON: No. It just suggests that I want what's best for my country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAREY: She said blood transfusions. We'll have more from Hillary Clinton at 5:00 p.m. We'll hear her thoughts on Syria.

I will be back in one hour to talk politics. Rick Santorum's lead over Mitt Romney is all but disappearing. Stay with CNN, "YOUR MONEY" starts right after the break.

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