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GOP Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum Surges on Social Issues; Newt Gingrich Focuses on Energy; Romney's Biggest Challenge; Polling Closed in Puerto Rico - Some Results In

Aired March 18, 2012 - 16:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. Thanks so much for joining us. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

We're going to look at the 2012 presidential contenders in this political hour. But first a look at the top stories.

We're awaiting results from Puerto Rico's Republican presidential primary. Polls have just closed and a projected winner could be announced at any minute. Our chief political correspondent, Candy Crowley, will be joining us live as soon as those results are in.

The lawyers representing Army staff sergeant Robert Bales say they intend to meet with him this week. Bales is the soldier accused of killing 16 civilian men, women and children last weekend in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Today he remains in solitary confinement at Ft. Leavenworth. He has not yet been formally charged.

And gas prices go up for the ninth straight day. It is now, on average, close to $3.84 a gallon, but if you live in some big cities, you're already seeing gas prices average more than $4 a gallon. The record high was $4.11 a gallon back in July of 2008.

A Colorado dad is going the extra mile to stop his children from texting while driving. And he's getting an early start. His triplets are just 8 years old. He has already created a special cell phone app that blocks calls, texts and e-mails while users are driving. It is called the Life Before Text app. And get this. It sends parents an e-mail if someone tries to disable the app.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY LENO, "TONIGHT" SHOW: Rick Santorum, this guy, he announced today Puerto Ricans need to speak English before they can become a state.

(LAUGHTER)

LENO: Yes. Yes. You can't be a state if you don't speak English? Oh, we are so screwed here in California! Oh, my God!

(LAUGHTER)

LENO: We are so screwed. Oh, my God, we are so screwed!

(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: All right, Jay Leno having a little late night fun about Rick Santorum. But Santorum and his GOP rivals are dead serious about today's battle in Puerto Rico, a contest with 20 delegates up for grabs. A winner could be announced momentarily.

And as you just saw, Santorum made headlines and landed in the monologues of late night TV when he said Puerto Rico should be required to make English its official language before gaining statehood.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICK SANTORUM (R-PA), FMR. SEN., PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: (INAUDIBLE) have to speak English. That would be a requirement. It's a requirement that we put on other states and it's a condition for entering the union.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Joining us now live, CNN political reporter Shannon Travis. So Shannon, you're in Illinois for that state's primary, which is set for Tuesday. We'll talk about that in a minute.

But first, let's start with Santorum's campaign and his comments on the English language requirement in Puerto Rico. So Shannon, you know, this is one of those hot button issues in conservative circles, but Latinos also feel very strongly about it. Has Santorum kind of alienated himself as it pertains to the Latino electorate in general?

SHANNON TRAVIS, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Yes, I mean, Santorum is standing by his comments.

Let me just say off top also, we're actually at a Mitt Romney event, waiting for him to come in.

But to your point about Rick Santorum and those comments about English only, it is something that inflames passions on both sides. In terms of conservative circles, Fred, conservatives feel like English should be the language of the land. It's just one of the enduring conservative ideals, right?

And when he said that in Puerto Rico, he was then asked about it a little later, and he stood by it, didn't really back down from it too much. But a lot of people in Puerto Rico and beyond, some Latinos back here in the U.S., it raised a lot of eyebrows. One Puerto Rican official said that it was a very limiting and narrow view.

And when you couple that, Fred -- couple that with some people who feel like Republicans have been taking some very hard-line anti-Latino -- a hard line against issues that Latinos care about -- take illegal immigration -- a lot of Republicans say that they want, you know, to deport illegal aliens or people who have been living here in the U.S. for a while.

Sonia Sotomayor, the Supreme Court Justice -- Mitt Romney has been critical of her. She's obviously a proud Puerto Rican -- inspires pride among a lot of Puerto Ricans.

So couple this issue, this English-only issue, with these other issues that people feel like Republicans are taking hard lines against issues that Latinos care about, and it could be a problem in terms of attracting or maintaining Latino voters in a general election -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Shannon, something else Santorum has been spending a whole lot of time on social issues like pornography. He spoke about it on his Web site, and contraception. So while that may help him or at least resonate in the primaries, how will those same issues play in the general election regardless of who the nominee is?

TRAVIS: Yes, I mean, Fred, Rick Santorum may have a problem keeping independent voters if he plays up those kinds of issues. I mean, we've seen numerous polling that show that those kinds of issues, those kind of hot button, red meat issues tend to turn independents off.

As you must mentioned, it does play very well in a primary. You mentioned pornography. The recent brouhaha over that was there's basically a statement on Rick Santorum's Web site, right, where he's talking about the obscenity laws and that pornography is a pandemic to the United States. The Obama administration is soft on it.

I'm going to read you one quote that raised a lot of eyebrows. Quote, "Addiction to pornography is now common for adults and even for some children. Pornography is toxic to marriages and relationships. It contributes to misogyny and violence against women. It is a contributing factor to prostitution and sex trafficking."

But again, remember, this is Rick Santorum's wheelhouse. This is what curries a lot of favor among Christian evangelicals, among a lot of conservatives, and probably why, talking about these issues, why he shot up in popularity in so many of these contests -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Shannon Travis, thanks so much. Appreciate that.

So while Santorum faces an uphill battle in the delegate hunt, his campaign has staged a remarkable turnaround in the past few months. Joining us live from Washington, Republican strategist Ron Bonjean and Nia-Malika Henderson, national political reporter with "The Washington Post." Good to see both of you.

So Nia, let me begin with you because this week, you wrote in "The Washington Post" -- I'm going to quote now, lifting from your article -- "Four short months ago, Rick Santorum had hardly registered in national Republican presidential polls or made a blip in the candidates' debates" -- that came from your article.

So Nia, what has happened? What has Santorum managed to do to attract the attention and some real traction?

NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON, "WASHINGTON POST": Yes, I think in a lot of ways, he's managed to tap into what -- this real anti-Obama feeling among lots of grass roots conservatives. And you saw him out there in Iowa early on. He was the only one out there in that pickup truck going through those 99 counties, sometimes talking to as few as one, two, three people, and really honing his message.

And I think, you know, along the way, you saw certain people shoot up -- people like Herman Cain, Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry came and went. But Rick Santorum has very much has been able to sustain his surge, and in some ways, he's surged at the right time.

People obviously still not comfortable in conservative circles with Mitt Romney, so he's been able to capitalize on that and has really rattled off a string of victories, and in a way, really resurrected his career.

He had lost in 2006 by 18 points in Pennsylvania. He was very much in the political hinterlands. And now he has re-emerged as, in some ways, of the kingmaker or the top of the conservative wing of this party, the Republican Party.

WHITFIELD: So Ron, how do you see it? You know, he's gone from -- and I'm talking about Santorum -- has gone from that little engine that could -- he even dubbed his own campaign that -- to the little engine that is right now. How and why?

RON BONJEAN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well, I think he became the last conservative -- the anti-Mitt -- of the anti-Mitt Romney faction, the last conservative standing, meaning you had Bachmann, then you had Rick Perry, you have Newt Gingrich, all these guys -- all these people have imploded, and the last person standing was Rick Santorum.

And he's been able to fire up the hard-line right conservative base, the evangelicals with his social conservative issues. And he's tried to pivot into more populist issues, and I think that seemed to work well for him in places like Michigan and Ohio, where he started saying, Hey, I'm just like you. You know, I come from a blue-collar middle class family.

But he's been really, you know, lately, over the last couple weeks, been just really revving up the social issues to keep the campaign going.

WHITFIELD: All right, perhaps you saw him this morning. Santorum appeared on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION" with Candy Crowley, you know, underscoring how he best represents the conservative base. Just take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SANTORUM: If Governor Romney thinks that he is the CEO of America and can run and manage the economy, he doesn't understand what conservatives believe in. We don't want someone in Washington, D.C., to manage the economy.

We want someone to get Washington out of our lives, to reduce these mandates, get rid of things like "Romney care" at the federal level, which we call "Obama care," and do some things to get this economy going by believing in the private sector, something that Governor Romney has shown no indication he's in favor of.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, so Nia, you just mentioned he seems to have become kind of the, you know, king of conservatives. But even when you hear his dialogue, does he always seem to kind of get it right, get his facts right, get his references to even history correct?

HENDERSON: Well, I think in some ways, I mean, what's important here is that he's been able to really frame Romney in a way that has ginned up a lot of support among conservatives. He's talking about health care, and that's a turn that he's made post-Ohio, really zeroing in on health care, tying Romney to health care, tying him to Obama. And that's one of the reasons why I think he's been an effective debater against Romney.

And he's framing his candidacy as he could be the foil against Obama. He is not even so much the anti-Romney, he's the anti-Obama, and that's really what people want to hear.

Yes, he has gotten into some trouble, as you said, with some of the facts in talking about Puerto Rico and statehood and all those sorts of things and in calling Obama a snob and saying that that JFK speech made him want to throw up.

But he has reined in that some, a bit. But he is certainly cognizant that some of that stuff has gotten him where he is in terms of really ginning up support among the base.

WHITFIELD: OK, and Ron, about 20 seconds left on that -- you know, on that kind of anti-Romney, you know, crusade that Santorum was just on, and just with "STATE OF THE UNION," he talked about, you know, the private sector, and you know, Mitt Romney having a real disconnect with it.

Except that wasn't most of his wealth, you know, gathered and his success in the private sector? So you know, can some of what Santorum say kind of backfire for him?

BONJEAN: Well, it's interesting Santorum's trying to make Mitt Romney the CEO while Santorum's trying to portray himself as the Main Street shop owner, instead of Wall Street CEO.

And I think, you know what? Mitt Romney's strength is the economy. He has created a lot of jobs in the private sector. And sure, it definitely could backfire on Santorum down the road. But right now, he's just trying to score points against Romney, keep -- you know, keep the enthusiasm up, and you know, kind of throwing mud against the wall to see what sticks.

WHITFIELD: All right. Ron and Nia, thanks so much. I'm going to see you again in a little bit. We're going to also talk about the successes of Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich and why he continues to stay in the race.

So the man Santorum wants out of that race is still in. You know who I'm talking about, Newt Gingrich. He's counting on an open convention now to show that he is the right man for the Republican Party.

And polls in Puerto Rico closed just a short time ago. Our chief political correspondent, Candy Crowley, is keeping a close eye on the results. When CNN has a projection, of course, we'll bring that to you live next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back to this special hour of the CNN NEWSROOM. We're taking this time out every Sunday to let you hear from the 2012 presidential contenders in their own words out on the campaign trail.

Gas prices are up again today, the ninth straight day. The average price for a gallon of gas is nearly $3.84. And President Obama says there is no quick fix for rising gas prices, but Newt Gingrich -- well, he claims to have a plan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEWT GINGRICH (R), FMR. HOUSE SPEAKER, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The leading person in developing North Dakota was quoted about a month ago as saying if we open up offshore and we open up the federal lands -- and remember, we own 69 percent of Alaska. That's one-and-a-half times the size of Texas. And his estimate is that over the next generation, we will raise between $16 trillion and $18 trillion in royalties to the federal government.

Now, that's about the size of the U.S. national debt. So if we could go back to what I was doing when I left Washington, which is balancing the budget -- and this is a major reason that I'm still in this race because the truth is, while I was speaker, we balanced the budget for four years, and while Santorum was in leadership, they borrowed $1.7 trillion. There's a big difference between real fiscal conservatism and politics as usual.

So there's a difference here. I would like to set it up with your help because we'll have to impose this. This will not be voluntary. I'd like to set it up so we balance the operating budget of the federal government, we take all of the royalty money, we put it in a debt repayment fund. And over the life of the younger people here today, we pay off the entire federal debt.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

GINGRICH: Now, notice what we just created. We just created an ability to say in one policy, we create American jobs, we lower the price of gasoline to $2.50 or less, we create security in the United States, we no longer worry about the Saudis and we no longer worry about the Chinese, all in one policy. That's what a visionary leadership is all about.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

GINGRICH: So let me close this summary because I really want to drive this home, and over the next couple of days, this is going to become a very big issue. Barack Obama is for Saudi oil and against American oil.

Barack Obama is for jobs and in Saudi Arabia and against jobs in the United States. Barack Obama is for sending money to the Saudi government, and against sending money to American companies on American soil producing American services. Barack Obama is for the highest oil price he can get away with while still getting reelected.

Let's not kid each other. Dr. Chu's turnaround is entirely a function of the election. And the day after the election, they're going right back to who they are.

So I think the choice is going to be really simple. I think the American people would prefer an American president who favored American oil, an American president who favored American jobs, an American president who favored American national security and, an American president who favored royalties for the American government. And that's how big the gap is going to be this fall.

With your help, if you'll help us in the primary, you'll help us in the general election, we're going to win a decisive victory for America, and we're going to repudiate the policy of crippling the United States while propping up the Saudis.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So lowering gas prices is Gingrich's big message right now.

Joining us again from Washington, Republican strategist Ron Bonjean and Nia-Malika Henderson -- Malika Henderson -- did I say Malika? Sorry about that -- national political reporter with "The Washington Post."

All right, so Ron, is the gas price issue enough to keep his campaign going?

BONJEAN: You know what? It's a real good question. He has only, I believe, around 151 delegates versus Mitt Romney's what, 452, 456. I can't remember. But it is going to be very difficult for him to have a sustainable campaign.

And it's basically revolving around gas prices. And I think the reason why is, he's getting away from being completely critical of Mitt Romney and trying to portray himself as a politician who has answers to the number one problem that is on Americans' minds, which is the, you know, rising prices at the pump.

So I think that Gingrich is going to have a tough time sustaining momentum or getting any type of delegates to amass a majority, but what he's doing right now is just staying alive and trying to stay part of the conversation.

WHITFIELD: So Nia, what do you suppose is behind his new strategy, that he's made this kind of modification that, I'm now going to be the candidate who is going to talk about an issue that is hitting every Americans' pocket? HENDERSON: Well, you know, he's looking at those gas prices, like everyone else, and seeing that as they go up, Barack Obama's approval ratings go down. I think they're about 41 percent at this point. They were 47, 48 two or three weeks ago.

And when I look at that clip of Newt Gingrich standing there and talking about gas prices, it's apparent to me he is having fun out there on the campaign trail. And as long as he's having fun and enjoying himself -- sure, he can promise $2.50 a gallon gas. He can promise a trip to the moon, as well. But that's not really going to be able to sustain...

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: ... visited that in a while, however.

HENDERSON: He hasn't. I want to talk about this lunar colony!

(LAUGHTER)

HENDERSON: But yes, I mean, he's in this thing. And part of what's going on now is both Santorum and Newt Gingrich, their strategy is just to deny this thing to Mitt Romney, to prevent him from giving those 1,100 or so delegates that he needs to go into the convention with a clear victory.

WHITFIELD: Right, 1,114 the magic number. OK, so we know Gingrich had a lot of fun when he won South Carolina and Georgia. But he hasn't won since then. He is staying in the race, and his daughter appeared on CNN earlier today, and she underscored that very message. The race is far from over.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACKIE GINGRICH CUSHMAN, NEWT GINGRICH'S DAUGHTER: I think we (INAUDIBLE) caught up in kind of the media about who should do what. And the reality is, until the candidate pulls out, they're in the race. I think, secondarily, it's not just about winning the delegates, if you're Newt Gingrich. But if no one -- if Mitt Romney nor Senator Santorum can get the 1,144 that you mentioned, then that means the convention is wide open. And so you have a contested convention where anything can happen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So Ron, you know, when you really try to dissect this, why, really, is Gingrich in this race? Why is he staying in the race if he has so few delegates, he's won so few contests? What is driving, you know, his goal here?

BONJEAN: Well, his daughter just proved everyone's theory, which was he's been on a revenge tour against Mitt Romney to prevent him from getting the 1,144 delegates necessary, and he's going to keep this going until the convention. He's going to really try to secure a high-profile speaking role and some more involvement in the Republican policy platform at the convention. That's what this is all about. He knows he's not going to win, but he doesn't want to get out.

WHITFIELD: OK, quickly...

BONJEAN: And remember, this is...

WHITFIELD: ... Nia -- real quickly, Nia...

BONJEAN: And remember...

WHITFIELD: ... you agree with that, that this is a revenge tour, this is not a tour to clinch the nomination?

HENDERSON: I don't know if it's a revenge tour. But certainly, I don't think he has any realistic shot of winning this thing, and he knows that. But sure, he's able to stay in part of the conversation and exact a little revenge, I guess, on Mitt Romney, as well.

WHITFIELD: OK. All right. Nia, Ron, thanks so much. Stick around with this. We're going to talk about the other candidates in this race, Mitt Romney, how he wins delegates, but he doesn't win the support from the Republican base. He traveled to Puerto Rico and is now back in Illinois. More on him in a moment.

And remember to tune in Tuesday night as we wait for the results of the Illinois primary. Coverage begins at 7:00 o'clock Eastern time with Erin Burnett, followed by CNN's complete live coverage of the Illinois primary results at 8:00 PM with Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper and the rest of the CNN political team. You want to tune in Tuesday night right here on CNN.

So it is caucus time, by the way, also in Missouri, this weekend, but one ended in mass confusion and arrests.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They just went out right out over their heads and forced us to have a broken caucus!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, we're going to tell you what happened that has upset so many voters there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, we continue to delve into the issues on the presidential campaign. Every Sunday, we're spending this hour of the CNN NEWSROOM to allow you to hear from the contenders as they spell out their future -- their ideas for the future of the U.S.

All right, Missouri is holding its caucuses all this month.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Liberty and justice for all!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: But one gathering in a small town turned into a shouting match. Police were called in and two people were arrested. Rick Santorum supporters blamed Mitt Romney's and Ron Paul's people. And of course, they blamed each other.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Santorum people were controlling. That was the chairman. And they got nervous because they saw the Ron Paul people and the Mitt Romney people, you know, getting together, and saying, We want freedom of press, we want freedom of speech, we don't want no cameras, we want transparency. And so it really became bedlam.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Ron Paul people -- they came up. Their people came up and told everybody, We just worked out a deal with the Romney people, we're going to all coordinate and do this together. So everybody stay here and follow the directions of the people up in front here. And then they threw -- they kept on jumping up and screaming!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The event was finally adjourned before delegates could be chosen.

All right, Ron Paul is forging head with his campaign despite having won no contests. Earlier in the week, he spoke in Missouri. Paul is pushing his own ideas, rather than attacking his opponents.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. RON PAUL (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: So great to see such an enthusiastic crowd. You give me a lot of encouragement! Thank you very much!

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

PAUL: We're sick and tired of what we had for the last many, many years. And we have to restore confidence in ourselves, confidence in liberty, and hold everybody to defending and obeying the Constitution!

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

PAUL: We have to reject this notion that freedom doesn't work. Freedom really is efficient. Freedom is popular and it brings us all together.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, Polls in Puerto Rico closed, and we are standing by to get results. Mitt Romney was there yesterday, before flying to Illinois to stump for Tuesday's primary. And we're checking in on the front-runner when we come right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY LENO, HOST: President Obama announced his final four; they are Kentucky, Ohio State, Missouri and North Carolina. And Mitt Romney announced his final four, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Exxon and the Cayman Islands.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. That's Jay Leno poking fun at the perception a lot of people have that Mitt Romney is out of touch with America's middle class.

Welcome back to this special hour of the CNN NEWSROOM, we're focusing on politics allowing you to hear from the 2012 presidential contenders.

All right. But first, let's take a look at Rockford, Illinois, in this diner, soon to make a scheduled appearance there, candidate Mitt Romney. He's stumping there, two days ahead of the Illinois primary.

All right. Here to weigh in on Romney's biggest challenges ahead, Republican strategist Ron BonJean and Nia-Malika Henderson the national political reporter with "The Washington Post" back with us. All right. Nia, you first. Romney's biggest challenge, is it coming from Santorum or Gingrich or himself?

NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON, NATL. POLITICAL REPORTER, "WASHINGTON POST:" You know, it is all three. I think in a lot of ways it is Romney himself over these last couple of weeks. They never planned on this primary going on and on and on. Here is a candidate with a lot of money, a lot of infrastructure, a real sleek campaign operation that they have there. But in his fundamental argument, he's an economic heavyweight and he's inevitable and he's the likely nominee and the most elect able against Barack Obama, but guess what, he's run up against Rick Santorum and I think he's starting --Republicans are starting to feel like here is a guy whose argument is that he can beat Barack Obama but here he's having problems putting away Rick Santorum.

Also, he had struggles here. A big week for him. Now he's turning up the rhetoric in terms of the economy, in terms of gas prices, in this Illinois contest will be important, but I think the good news for the Romney campaign and his supporters is that this map that is coming up. Two dozen states, this thing closes on June 26th, it looks good for him. There is some southern states but mostly big moderate states and he's got the campaign infrastructure to play really well over these next many weeks.

WHITFIELD: So, Ron, how do you see it? What is the problem or what are the problems? Why can't he cement the Republican base support, even though he does relatively well or has done relatively well in the ten contests thus far? RON BONJEAN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well, that's a great question and it is a question we have been trying -- we have been trying to figure out since last August when the anti-Romney contingent really popped up. He hasn't been able to break over a real percentage of a majority in order to sweep the nomination.

However, I do think that he is going to be our Republican nominee and that they have been working on a plan since last summer and all these primary states to have organizations in effect to help him get that delegate math going.

WHITFIELD: So you do not see a brokered convention? You do not see an open convention in the making?

BONJEAN: I don't want to make a prediction, although I do think that he's going to be close to the 1144 delegates and that he may need a Santorum in the end --

WHITFIELD: Close? Don't you to have it? You have to have 1144. Nia, do you see an open convention, likely to happen?

HENDERSON: You know, I'm out of the prediction business, but I will predict that some --

BONJEAN: Well let me tell you what, I do think that Romney --

WHITFIELD: Isn't that what politics is all about? The race is all about predictions.

HENDERSON: Mitt Romney will have to pick up the phone at some point and say what do you want, Rick Santorum, before he's able to wrap this thing up and really be the nominee in charge of the general.

WHITFIELD: If Rick Santorum were to say I want a partnership on that ticket, I want to be, you know, VP nominee, how in the world could these two work together after all this?

HENDERSON: I don't necessarily see that. I don't think in talking to Republicans they don't necessarily see that either. Maybe sort of roll out some sort of cabinet position for him and float that idea. But I think a lot of folks aren't looking necessarily at Santorum for the VP slot because they feel like he's going to alienate independents.

WHITFIELD: All right. Nia- Malika Henderson, Ron BonJean, good to see both of you. Thanks so much for sticking around this hour.

HENDERSON: Thanks Fred.

WHITFIELD: As we mentioned, Mitt Romney is campaigning in Illinois today. He spoke in Moline, seeking to appeal to struggling Americans there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You got moms that are driving their kids to school and practice after school and other appointments and wonder how they can afford putting gasoline in the car at the same time putting food on the table night after night. The American people are struggling. This president doesn't understand the economy. He's an economic lightweight. And he's made decisions that have hurt the American people. It is time to put in place an economic heavyweight and I am and I'll get that job done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Our Rachel Streitfeld was at that event in Moline and now she is in Rockford where I think I'm hearing behind you some cheering crowds. Does that mean that Mitt Romney has arrived?

RACHEL STREITFELD, CNN POLITICAL PRODUCER: Yes, he's just walked into this restaurant. We're expecting to hear him focus more on this, all the messages about the economy and energy. Talked a lot about gas prices this morning, you have been talking about it all hour and Mitt Romney is no different, really dialing up his rhetoric on high gas prices. He is saying he feels his voters' pain, is really how to put it.

He said it is harder on small businesses; it is harder on families when gas prices are high. He's really directing that anger against President Obama; he's calling for the ouster of three top Obama officials because they haven't been able to keep gas prices down. As we heard, he likes to call himself the economic heavyweight. We have been hearing him say a lot of that now. Because Obama is a lightweight in that area.

Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: So does it appear as though he's having greater success, kind of connecting with people there who want to hear about any empathy that he may have for their struggle?

STREITFELD: He is certainly working on it. As we said, we heard him talking about families --

WHITFIELD: Is it resonating? Are people talking about whether it is working, whatever they're hearing from him this go-round?

STREITFELD: He had a very friendly audience today. Something we hear from all voters is they want President Obama out of office and we do hear that people think that Romney, you know, a lot of people say Romney is the best chance to do that. He is keeping up a punishing schedule here in Illinois, from the top of the state down to the bottom, early events, late events, really pushing for a win here against Rick Santorum on Tuesday.

WHITFIELD: All right. Rachel Streitfeld, thanks so much, from Rockford, Illinois, the backdrop there, the restaurant and cafe where Mitt Romney is right now talking to supporters.

All right. Remember you can tune in Tuesday night as we await the results of the Illinois Primary. Coverage begins 7:00 Eastern Time with Erin Burnett followed by CNN's complete live coverage of the Illinois Primary results, 8:00 Eastern Time with Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper and the CNN political team. Tune in Tuesday night right here on CNN.

All right. It is all in the math to get the delegates or is it? Our John King breaks it down.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right CNN brings you politics each Sunday during this hour. We're bringing you the 2012 presidential contenders in their own words. 1,144, the magic number of delegates a GOP candidate needs to win the nomination. Mitt Romney is way ahead, but don't count Rick Santorum out. CNN's John King explains how the numbers could shake out.

JOHN KING, CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm going to go to the end of the process. Look what we have given Santorum. We give him Kentucky, West Virginia, we give him North Carolina, Indiana, Wisconsin, even if he won all of those states, with Gingrich in the race getting some delegates, Romney coming in second or coming in third and getting some delegates, look what happens? Romney still clinches the nomination, still clinches the nomination, maybe, maybe if Santorum could take away California, Romney still clinches the nomination. Santorum would also have to win some place like New Jersey to deny him and even then Romney would have a big lead. That's one scenario.

Even if you take Gingrich out on the theory that maybe he exits the race, say after a Santorum victory in Louisiana, the proportional delegate rules in most states suggest again even being extraordinarily generous to Senator Santorum that Romney will be difficult to beat. Let me show you that scenario. I'll change the map a little bit. First we go back to where we are today. Then I will give you the scenario.

Even if you take speaker Gingrich out, and then let's just say again Santorum wins Wisconsin, he wins Indiana, we will switch that one, let's say he wins West Virginia, we'll switch that one, he wins Kentucky, we'll switch that one and he wins North Carolina, we switch that one. Being very generous to Senator Santorum, Romney still wins, this is with Gingrich out of the race and Romney and Santorum essentially splitting the delegates depending on whether they come in first or second. So again Santorum would some how have to win California. Even if he did that, Romney would win with Gingrich out of the race.

So notice I said, though, extremely difficult. It is not impossible because all of these scenarios are based on estimates. And, yes, in some ways informed guesstimates of how things will turn out down the road. Want to be clear, our team that works on this stuff is cautious, meticulous, I would say they're the best in the business.

WHITFIELD: And so are you, John King, for keeping all that in line.

All right. Remember to tune in Tuesday night as we await the results of the Illinois primary. Coverage begins at 7:00 Eastern with Erin Burnett followed by CNN's complete live coverage of the Illinois primary results 8:00 p.m. Eastern with Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper and the best political team on television. Tune in Tuesday night on CNN.

All right. We are watching the delegate count very closely. And are starting to get results from the Puerto Rican primary. We'll check in with our Candy Crowley coming up next.

Also, at the top of the hour, more than 100 miles of interstate are closed because of ice and snow. Unbelievable images there. Travelers, as you see the big rigs, stranded. We'll have much more in the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM at 5:00 Eastern Time.

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WHITFIELD: All right. We continue to delve into the issues on the presidential campaign every Sunday; we're spending this hour of the CNN NEWSROOM to allow you to hear from the contenders as they spell out to their ideas for the future of the United States. Polling closed in Puerto Rico just about 40 minutes ago and we are actually getting some results in. Let's go straight to chief political correspondent Candy Crowley in Washington. Twenty delegates at stake. How does it look so far?

CANDY CROWLEY, CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well it really is too early to tell. We have a minuscule number of votes here. This may be slow. I can tell you this -- we have long believed that Puerto Rico is Romney territory. I think we would -- I know we would have said that a week ago. Then we had Rick Santorum go down to Puerto Rico and talk about, well, if you want to become a state, you're going to need to have English as your official language and that kind of, you know, really --

WHITFIELD: Canceled him out.

CROWLEY: Caused some resentment down there. So I think it still looks pretty much like Mitt Romney territory. Add to that he has done very well in the American territories. He did very well in American Samoa; he did very well in Guam. He's expected to do very well in Puerto Rico, but, remember, this is a portion. So folks are given delegates according to their percentage of the vote. Now Mitt Romney can do really well if he can be above 50 percent, then he gets to take them all home. And it is about -- it is 20 delegates and as you know, this is now less about the states or the territories, but it is more about the delegates yes.

WHITFIELD: Absolutely. And so far he has done well in the U.S. territories. I'm sure for Mitt Romney's camp, anything helps maintain the momentum. It is not necessarily a shoo-in for him come Illinois in two days, right?

CROWLEY: Not necessarily. And, but I would tell you the -- it would be a huge blow if Mitt Romney did not win Illinois. It looks like his territory, yes. There is a sizable contingent of voters who self- identify as Evangelicals, a very strong suit for Rick Santorum, but by and large, Illinois is the kind of state that Mitt Romney has been doing well. I mean, what they dearly love here is to have such an overwhelming victory in Illinois that they can then go out and continue to sell the look, nobody can catch me at this point. That hasn't seemed to stop anybody and certainly we know that Newt Gingrich seems now aimed at blocking Romney from getting the number of delegates he needs, 1,144, to secure the nomination. So that Gingrich can go and fight for it on the convention floor in August because it just mathematically doesn't look as though there is any road in the primary season for Newt Gingrich to win this. So, you know, we'll see.

WHITFIELD: We will indeed. All right. Candy Crowley thanks so much in Washington. We'll check back with you when we have some more numbers coming out of Puerto Rico.

All right. Meantime, President Obama targets gasoline, oil and biofuels. He's talking about ways to save money and energy next.

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PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Hot sauce. It's got to be hot.

UNIDENTIFED FEMALE: All right. Is that it?

OBAMA: That's it.

UNIDENTIFED FEMALE: All right.

OBAMA: All right. Want to ring me up now or do I pay when the order comes up?

UNIDENTIFED FEMALE: Later.

OBAMA: All right. But I am going to have to pay, so don't try to -- don't try to get sneaky with me.

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WHITFIELD: President Barack Obama stopping in at a Texas ribs and barbecue joint in Clinton, Maryland, to get two slabs of baby backs and brisket sandwich and, of course, some French fries.

All right. Welcome back to this special hour of the CNN NEWSROOM. We're taking this time out every Sunday to let you hear from the 2012 presidential contenders in their own words out on the campaign trail. President Obama is keeping his focus on energy. He spoke to a Maryland community college about the need to find and use alternative fuels.

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PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: After 30 years of not doing anything, we raised fuel economy standards on cars and trucks so that by the middle of the next decade, our cars will average nearly 55 miles per gallon. That's double what we get today, 55 miles per gallon, 55 miles a gallon.

So, you know, the young people here who were driving those beaters that, you know, get five miles per gallon or -- we're going to get you to 55. And that will save the average family more than $8,000 over the life of a car. $8,000. That will help pay some bills. That means you'll be able to fill up every two weeks instead of every week. And those are the cars we need to keep building here in the United States. We can do that.

All right, so now to fuel the cars and trucks, obviously if they're using less gas, that's great, that saves us, we're using less oil, but we also want to invest in clean advanced biofuels that can replace some of the oil that we're currently using. That's important. Already we're using these biofuels to power everything from city buses to UPS trucks to navy ships. I want to see more of these fuels in American cars, home grown fuels because that means we're buying less oil from foreign countries and we're creating jobs here in the United States.

Including --including big parts of rural America, big parts of rural Maryland where the economy oftentimes is struggling, you have a real opportunity to create an entire new industry and put people to work. And it is happening all across the country. So all of these steps have put us on a path of greater energy independence.

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WHITFIELD: A look at where the candidates will be in a moment throughout the week. Then at the top of the hour, shark attacks, one girl barely escapes when a shark pulls her under the water. I'll talk to a man whose job it is to watch for sharks.

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WHITFIELD: Here is a look at where the 2012 contenders will this be this week, ahead of the Illinois Primary. Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum will be in that state. Romney then heads to Maryland. And President Obama will be heading to the southwest. He has stops in Nevada, Mew Mexico and Oklahoma before traveling to Ohio.

Thanks so much for tuning into this special hour of the race for the White House. Join us every Sunday at 4:00 Eastern for this very same look. Now stay right here for the latest news right here in THE NEWSROOM.

This afternoon, new details are emerging about Robert Bales, the army staff sergeant suspected of leaving his base, killing 16 Afghans. This week, the suspect in solitary confinement in the U.S. may be formally charged.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Bobby that I knew is not the Bobby that could have done this.

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