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Gingrich and Romney's Closed-Door Meeting; New Ad Hammers Obama on Microphone Incident; Record Mega Millions Jackpot; Interview with a Seven-Time Lotto Winner; Latest in Trayvon Martin Case
Aired March 30, 2012 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR Hello, everyone. I am Kyra Phillips. It's 11:00 on the East Coast, 8:00 on the West. Let's get straight to the news.
We are talking about the number everyone is thinking about this morning, the Mega Millions $540 million jackpot.
You're looking at the largest jackpot in U.S. history, by the way, and by the looks of these lines, the jackpot could get even bigger.
The dream of becoming a multimillionaire overnight is creating quite a buying frenzy, but just so you know, your chances of winning, 176 million to 1.
We'll tell you how you can try to improve your odds in just about 15 minutes.
And the block watch captain who killed Trayvon Martin is still out of sight, still making no public comments, but his brother is.
Robert Zimmerman tells CNN's Piers Morgan that George was almost killed in his run-in with Trayvon that rainy February night in Sanford, Florida and the medical records will prove it.
He also says it's a myth that George was chasing Trayvon and he says that George is disappointed that no one else came out to break up that fight.
We're going to hear his comments and those of a new eyewitness just moments from now.
And a Florida couple who were thrust into the Trayvon case by accident say they accept Spike Lee's apology.
As you may have heard by now, the filmmaker retweeted what he thought was George Zimmerman's address.
Turns out it belongs to Elaine and David McClain who have a son named Zimmerman whose middle name is George, but rather than explain all of that to everybody who showed up on the doorstep or sent hate mail, they just moved out.
Spike Lee will now be covering all their expenses. Investigators are looking into a JetBlue captain's meltdown during this flight where we talked about witnesses saying the erratic behavior of that captain, Clayton Osbon, forced the co-pilot to lock him out of the cockpit and divert that flight for an emergency landing.
Well, officials now have the voice and flight data recorders. The National Transportation Safety board will download all of the that data today. The information will then be given to the FBI.
And at last word, the Colorado wildfire that started as a controlled burn eight days ago was almost half contained.
The Lower North Fork Fire has burned more than 4,000 acres, more than two dozen homes, and killed at least two people.
A third person is still missing despite the best efforts of multiple search teams and a half dozen dogs.
Authorities blame a software glitch for a lack of telephone warnings to a small number of people who live in the fire's path.
Well, another big name endorsing Mitt Romney today, Congressman Paul Ryan. The Wisconsin representative says that Romney is the right person to beat the president come November. He is also asking the party to rally around the former Massachusetts governor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONGRESSMAN PAUL RYAN (R), WISCONSIN: I have two criteria I am using to make my decision to vote in our primary Tuesday. Who is the best person to be president, who will make the best president, and who has the best chance of defeating Barack Obama?
And in my opinion, Mitt Romney is clearly that person.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
We'll have more on Paul Ryan's endorsement and what this could mean for Romney later in the show.
Romney also got former President George H. W. Bush's endorsement. It also came with kind of an awkward moment.
A reporter asked Romney if George W. Bush would also be endorsing him and it put the former Massachusetts governor in a little bit of a pickle, especially when Bush, Sr., asked him, "Has he endorsed you?"
We'll have the details of that conversation for you a little bit later in "Fair Game."
Israel is on high alert as hundreds of thousands of people, mainly Arabs and Palestinians, are flooding the borders.
It's being called the Global March on Jerusalem. Demonstrators clashing with Israeli troops at a West Bank checkpoint, hundreds more gathering by Jerusalem's Old City to mark Land Day, remembering this day in 1976 when six protesters were killed during mass demonstrations against Israel's efforts to confiscate Arab land.
And American support for the war in Afghanistan is at an all-time low according to our new poll. Seventy-two percent now oppose the longest war in U.S. history. Only 25 percent supporting the war.
When asked if the U.S. is winning the war, 61 percent say no, while just over a third say yes.
As for when all of our troops should be withdrawn, more than half of those polled say before President Obama's 2014 deadline. Twenty- two percent say bring them all home in 2014.
And if you love your BlackBerry like I do, well, hold onto it. The company that makes them is bailing out of most consumer markets now.
Research In Motion says it will now put its focus on business customers. The reason? Growing competition from Apple's iPhone and the numerous smartphones using Google's Android software.
In the words of the company's CEO, quote, "We believe that Blackberry cannot succeed if we try to be everybody's darling and all things to all people."
Harsh working conditions, extremely low wages, exposure to hazardous materials, those are just some of the labor violations and safety issues discovered at Chinese plants operated by Apple supplier, Foxconn.
The findings contained in an Apple commissioned report by the watchdog, Fair Labor Association. Foxconn is one of Apple's biggest suppliers of iPhones and iPads.
Several worker suicides at Foxconn factories two years ago triggered the international media coverage. There's been no immediate reaction from Apple, but Foxconn is pledging to improve working conditions, reduce work hours, and raise wages.
Well, the brother of the man who shot and killed Trayvon Martin says not only does George Zimmerman have physical injuries after the altercation, but now emotional ones as well.
Up next, Robert Zimmerman speaks out to CNN. Hear what he says his brother told him about that attack and the death threats his family is now facing.
Well, when a monster tornado hit Henryville, Indiana, this was one of the first images that we showed you, a school bus impaled into a restaurant.
Well, now take a look at this surveillance video from inside the bus as the tornado rips through it. Moments before, there were 11 students inside and the bus driver, Angel Perry, made a last-minute decision that would save their lives. She turned the bus around, headed back to school, and you can hear her just minutes before on the radio.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
ANGEL PERRY, BUS DRIVER: Everybody stay together. Our group together right now. Go, go, go, go, go, go! One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine -- come on! Ten, eleven, go, go, go!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: You've got to love it. She counts every child on that bus and makes sure they are safe.
Angel, you saved those kids from this. Your name speaks for itself. You are today's rock star.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, the Florida prosecutor in charge of the Trayvon Martin case is imposing her own gag order on documents, videos, or factual information, but every day new information is coming out.
Case in point, Robert Zimmerman's primetime, full-on defense of his brother, George, who shot Trayvon to death under circumstances still very much in dispute.
Now, Robert told CNN's Piers Morgan that George didn't chase anyone and would have been killed himself had he not returned force with force.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, GEORGE ZIMMERMAN'S BROTHER: He has very severe emotional injuries. He has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
He was not right from the moment it happened. He didn't call his family and express anything, but, you know, sadness. It was just a darkness. He had changed. He wasn't the same. He would never be the same.
He was very disappointed that none of the neighbors had come out and helped. The whole situation potentially could have been avoided by just someone coming out and saying, hey, what's going on out there?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, one of those neighbors is speaking out as well and telling quite a different story.
CNN's Martin Savidge is joining me now from Sanford with that and a lot more.
Marty, let's go ahead and start with this purported new witness.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. The keyword here, Kyra, is eyewitness.
This is a witness who has come forward who supposedly saw the fight, heard the shot, and saw the immediate aftermath.
In other words, the other people that we've heard from, the other witnesses that have come forward, are more like ear witnesses. In other words, they heard something, so that's what makes this unique.
It's exclusive to an interview that was done on Anderson Cooper last night. The voice is disguised. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was dark, but after the shots, obviously someone, a man, got up.
And it was kind of like that period of him -- I can't say I actually watched him get up, but maybe only within like a couple of seconds or so, then he was walking towards where I was watching.
And I could see him a little bit clearer.
And I could see it was an Hispanic man, and he was, you know, he didn't appear hurt or anything else.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: Didn't appear hurt or anything else and that's the key line that people are going to pick up on today.
And there is a lot of talk about this witness because of the very fact that they appear to have seen what happened, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Now, you know, we've been talking about all the leaks that have come out on all different sides here, Marty.
Is there concern about the number of leaks that are coming out? And do authorities feel in any way that they have lost control of this investigation?
SAVIDGE: I think there is a great deal of concern, no doubt about that.
You have already mentioned that the special prosecutor for the state of Florida has come out and said, look, no more talking.
Although it is interesting that she did appear just about on everybody's air in the last couple of days, so she has been speaking out. Now, apparently she is going to stop.
Trying to stop the leaks, that could be much more difficult because, you know, there is a lot of pressure that is building both on the city of Sanford, on the state of Florida, and in the meantime there's also been this tremendous vacuum, a lack of information, because of the fact that there doesn't appear to be an ongoing police investigation. There are no daily news conferences. So you know this, Kyra, that when there is no regular source of information coming out the leaks tend to happen and that's what's been going on.
Clearly, they are frustrated, but can they stop it? I'm not sure.
PHILLIPS: We also have been talking about this interview that Robert Zimmerman, George's brother, gave to our Piers Morgan and he said he wished that someone else would have stepped out during this run-in with Trayvon Martin instead of what he said, just peeking through the curtains. Maybe Trayvon would still be alive.
Is that a common sentiment there in Sanford? Is there a lot of soul-searching going on?
SAVIDGE: You know, it's a very interesting point. I have not heard a lot of conversation along those lines because people have been focused on other aspects of this case.
But it's very true and we know this from the 911 calls, there were numerous calls. Many people heard a commotion outside. Many people reported hearing cries for help and that these cries for help went on for sometime.
Some people were even outside and heard the cries for help, but nobody apparently intervened and George Zimmerman himself apparently has told his family that this was the neighborhood I was supposedly watching out for. That was my role. And when I needed help, no one came to my aid.
Now, you know, whether his account is true, whether the struggle with Trayvon is true, we don't know, but maybe if somebody had stepped out, it could have saved Trayvon. It could have stopped the tragedy.
PHILLIPS: Martin Savidge in Sanford for us. Marty, thanks so much.
And don't forget Soledad O'Brien hosts a special in-depth town hall meeting tonight on CNN, "Beyond Trayvon: Race and Justice in America." It airs right here on CNN tonight, 8:00 and 10:00 pm Eastern.
All right, forget about popcorn-and-a-movie night. Most of the country's going to be watching the lotto. Five-hundred-and-forty million bucks all for one lucky winner.
Have you bought your tickets yet? Are you feeling lucky?
Up next, we're talking to a lottery winning machine. That's right. This guy right here has won the lottery seven times.
How does he do it? We're going to be talking to him, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: All right, so you feeling lucky? As in $540 million lucky?
We are talking about the largest lotto jackpot in U.S. history, folks. Everyone is talking, dreaming, and lining up to buy a ticket. Definitely lotto fever.
And it's spreading across the country as you can see, but you better be wearing your lucky socks, get ready to rub your friend's lucky bald head, belly, whatever you do, because your chances of winning, 176-million-to-one.
Now, not to bust your bubble or squash your dreams or anything like that, but you have a better chance actually of dying of flesh- eating bacteria. That's 1-in-1 million.
And achieving sainthood, that's 1-in-20 million.
Heck, you have a much better chance of dating a supermodel. That's 1-in-88,000.
Although if you win the lotto, your chances with the supermodel probably would get even better, but, OK, I am digressing here.
Richard Lustig definitely knows something about hitting the jackpot. Richard is a seven-time lottery winner.
We'll ask him in a moment if he has dated a supermodel yet, but, yes, you heard me right. Seven times, Richard has won.
But before we start even talking here, Richard, I just want to be really clear to our viewers, just so there's no misunderstanding, that you are not a financial adviser or speaking as a financial expert here. You are just one damn lucky guy.
So let's talk about how that luck developed, OK? This is your full-time job, playing the lottery. So what's the deal? How have you gotten so lucky?
RICHARD LUSTIG, SEVEN-TIME LOTTERY WINNER: First of all, I have dated a supermodel, my wife, for 30 years and I hope she's watching, too.
PHILLIPS: Outstanding. We should do a segment on how many years you have been married. Now, that is fantastic.
LUSTIG: That's right.
PHILLIPS: That is some luck, my friend. Probably with a little strategy as well.
LUSTIG: Oh, I definitely use strategy when it comes to marriage, yes.
Now, let's talk about the word you just used there a couple of times because it's an important word, luck or lucky or whatever.
This has nothing to do with luck. People who rely on luck are fooling themselves, OK?
I teach people in my book how to play lottery games to increase your chances of winning. That's what this is all about.
I'm not guaranteeing people they're going to win a grand prize, though there have been many people already who have bought my book and followed my method and have won hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars, by following my method.
PHILLIPS: OK. OK, this ...
LUSTIG: Go ahead.
PHILLIPS: I want to hear about your method, but this is -- this is -- lotteries are chance, Richard. They are luck. They are chance. But I'm going to hear you out.
But you're going to have a really hard time convincing me that I'm going to be able to win millions of dollars if I follow your method.
So go ahead. Just go ahead and tell me. Give me your feedback.
LUSTIG: Are you a regular player?
PHILLIPS: I am not. You know, in a bad economy and with a job, you never know when your contract is going to be up. I invest, all right? I believe in bonds, OK?
LUSTIG: OK. All right, so let's talk about the most important thing, which is the topic of the week, tonight's Mega Millions drawing.
It's at $540 million. That's over half a billion dollars. That's a lot of money.
So there are a lot of people who normally don't play the lottery who are now running out and buying lottery tickets.
Now, that's a good thing. I tell people, yes, go and buy tickets. It's like the saying, you've got to be in it to win it, OK?
But here is the most important message that I am stressing this whole week right now. People, don't go crazy with this. Don't get what's called lottery fever. Do not spend grocery money. Do not spend rent money, OK?
Because you've got to remember something, folks. There's only going to be one winner tonight. Maybe two or three and they'll split the jackpot.
That means there are going to be millions of people who are not going to win, so don't be one of those people that wakes up tomorrow morning and not only discovers that you haven't won, but now you're saying, oh, my god, what am I going to do? How am I going to replace all that money I spent? PHILLIPS: Point, well made. Especially in hard times right now, we don't want anybody going out and spending all of their money on a lottery ticket.
What's your big secret? Tell me, Richard. What's your big secret?
LUSTIG: Well, there's a lot of parts to my method that obviously we can't cover all of it in an interview, but there are some key points that I do always give out.
One of the most important parts is about -- you know, there's two types of games. There's scratch tickets and there's numbers games like Mega Millions.
Let's talk about numbers games. People are lazy. They have a tendency to take the lazy way, they go up to the counter, they hand the clerk a couple of dollars, and they say give me a couple of tickets for tonight's drawing.
This is what's called a quick pick. Folks, do not play quick picks. And I know people watching this right now are saying, what do you mean, don't play quick picks? I always play quick picks.
Have you won yet?
PHILLIPS: Actually, Richard, I have a former co-worker that won by quick pick and all she did was assembled a bunch of birthdays of people that were close to her, she got lucky, she won, so there you go.
LUSTIG: But, you see, that's not a quick pick. She picked her numbers, right?
PHILLIPS: Oh, I see what you're saying, as in just take the ticket with no insight. You just take what comes off the computer.
LUSTIG: That's a quick pick. That's what I'm saying.
PHILLIPS: OK. Gotcha.
LUSTIG: Don't do that. So your co-worker picked the numbers.
PHILLIPS: OK, but she randomly just picked favorite numbers, birthdays that were meaningful to her and her family, but you say ...
LUSTIG: See, it's not individual numbers that are important and that's what also people are under the misconception.
It's the set of numbers that you play and there's some research involved and it's in my book and it's very, very easy to do.
You research a set of numbers or sets of numbers if you're going to play more than one and, once you know if that set of numbers is good or bad, that determines what to do.
If it's a bad set of numbers, you throw it away. If it's a good set of numbers, now you know what to do.
So, now you start playing that set of numbers, but you have to play it consistently.
So by doing that, every time you play, you're increasing your chances of winning.
PHILLIPS: It's -- it's -- it's ...
LUSTIG: I know you're giggling.
PHILLIPS: No, no, but it's --
LUSTIG: No, it's not.
PHILLIPS: Oh, my gosh. I'm just -- I am convinced you are a lucky guy.
All right, let me ask you one more thing about quick pick because now you have me thinking about all of these various ways.
Why not do quick pick?
LUSTIG: Because every time you buy a quick pick, you're getting a different set of numbers, so that set of numbers is always going to be at the worst possible odds there are. Like tonight the odds are 1 in ...
PHILLIPS: Why? Why wouldn't that give me a better chance?
LUSTIG: Because every time -- that's what I'm trying to tell you. See, you're not a regular player so you may not quite understand what I'm saying, but regular lottery players understand what I'm saying.
When you buy a quick pick, you're getting a set of number. It's no good. You buy another quick pick, you get a different set of number.
So, every time you get a different set of numbers, your odds in like Mega Millions are 1-in-175 million, but by playing the same sets of numbers over and over and over again, every time you play it, your odds get a little better, not much, but a little better each time because, you see, in the history of all the lottery games in the world, we've done the research.
There have been a couple of times, but very, very few, where the same set of numbers come up a second time.
So by playing the same set of numbers over and over again, you're increasing your chances of winning.
PHILLIPS: OK.
LUSTIG: Does that make sense to you?
PHILLIPS: No. But, anyway, my team -- I'm just going to -- going for full disclosure here today, OK?
Today, my executive producer and I are going to take our team's money and we are going to buy 240 bucks worth of tickets. So your advice is?
LUSTIG: My advice is -- first of all, you're doing a very good thing. I tell people get in pools because when you're in a lottery pool, you have much more buying power.
So let's just make it easy. Let's say you're going to have 10 people each put in $10. If you went and bought $10 by yourself, you'd only have 10 chances of winning, but now you're in a pool with 10 people, you're buying 100 tickets. You have 100 chances of winning.
Now, the only drawback about that is if the grand prize was let's say $10 million and you won by yourself, you'd get the whole $10 million.
But now you're going to have to split it up with 10 people. You each only get $1 million.
Well, you know what? In today's hard economic times, there isn't a person out there right now that wouldn't be thrilled to win just $1 million
PHILLIPS: Darn right. We all feel that way. We have no problems splitting the prize and then we'll write a book on how it's all about a lucky team.
LUSTIG: Now, I do have some advice for people who get in pools because there have been some -- go ahead.
PHILLIPS: I think we have to go, Richard. I'm sorry.
LUSTIG: That's fine. No problem. I understand.
PHILLIPS: But I know you have the book. You're out there on the Internet.
And I tell you what, I'm just going to do some quick picks just to see what happens and then we'll turn back around and talk again.
Richard, thanks for your time.
LUSTIG: No problem.
PHILLIPS: All right.
LUSTIG: Thanks very having me on.
PHILLIPS: You bet. Seven-time winner. There you have it.
Well, he may not be a lottery winner, but Ed Weiland sure knows his basketball. He's the FedEx driver who predicted that Jeremy Lin's rising star was going to keep rising before anybody else.
So what's his prediction for the NCAA final? He joins me coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, take a look at this. A grandmother posing for a picture with two of her great grandkids doesn't notice who else in the pic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: That's her grandson, a Navy man known as Ellis. He sneaked into the picture when Grandma wasn't looking.
He hasn't been home since July 2011, by the way, and decided to surprise Grandma for her 76th birthday.
And while we are bringing you the feel-good reunions of our brave men and women, check this out.
Seventh grader Kylie Murphy, waiting to see her talented peers perform onstage, but instead, she became part of the act.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CHEERING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Guys, this is Kylie's dad. Kylie's dad has been in Afghanistan the last little while.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Her dad, Kyle, just returned from an eight-month tour in Afghanistan, a medic for the Navy. And get this, the talent show was a fake. The school actually helped orchestrate this whole event just to surprise Kylie.
Coming up next, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich together behind closed doors. News of a secret meeting stirring up speculation. What do you think? Are they teaming up? Is Newt getting out?
Plus, can you say awkward? No. I'm not talking about those cool purple socks. I'm talking about a question from a reporter, and how these two responded.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: It was the day before the Louisiana primary, and apparently we have now learned that Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich had a secret meeting in a hotel room. Now, Romney says it's nothing unusual, that they talk all the time. Really? In between all the attacks, snarky comments, and mean ads? What exactly are these two up to?
Republican strategist, Ana Navarro, is in Miami; Democratic strategist, Robert Zimmerman, joining us from New York.
Ana, what are they up to? Are they cutting back-door deals?
ANA NAVARRO, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: You could always have Newt Gingrich negotiating his ambassadorship to the moon colony or maybe giving Romney tips --
(LAUGHTER)
-- on how to eat grits.
(LAUGHTER)
But, you know, you have a 6:30 a.m. morning meeting between Romney and Gingrich before this Louisiana primary, you better believe there is something going on. Knowing Newt Gingrich, I would tell you there's probably some bargaining going on. What's he going to get in exchange for what? It might be what happened with Tim Pawlenty where Romney helped him pay off some debts.
But I think they are probably talking about what's best for Romney and what's best for Gingrich. And I wouldn't be surprised if Gingrich is staying through this to June, as he has promised, in order to help Romney in May, when we see again a lot of southern primaries. And it's to Romney's benefit for Gingrich to stay in through those southern primaries, and for it not to become a two-man race with Santorum, because we have seen that up until now Romney has been unable to win a southern primary. But you better believe there's some footsie going on.
PHILLIPS: Oh, some footsie going on.
Robert, what do you think? Do you think Newt charged him $50 for the meeting?
(LAUGHTER)
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: And gave him a photo.
(LAUGHTER)
You know, having played a role at past Democratic conventions after difficult primary fights in terms of trying to bring the party together in different contentious campaigns, I have a feeling that the focus for both them and their camps is to focus on Tampa. Mitt Romney needs a Republican convention that's going to be unifying and try to create some momentum for him. And Newt Gingrich needs to give a primetime speech where he receives a great ovation from the Republican convention. And of course, the big concern in the Romney camp is, you never know until Newt mounts the podium and opens his mouth just how unifying that speech is going to be. I think that's the real focus right now -- is for Newt Gingrich, this is his final hurrah to speak before a Republican convention, and that's where the negotiation really begins.
PHILLIPS: Let's talk the Bushes. Herbert Walker Bush endorsing Romney's yesterday. And even though it wasn't Romney's actual words, there was still an exchange here that was a bit awkward, shall we say. Let's take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY, (R), FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know, I haven't met with President George W. Bush. We speak from time to time.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORT: Has he endorsed you?
ROMNEY: Uh, no, no.
(CROSSTALK)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: OK. What happened here? Ana?
NAVARRO: Well, I think the truth came out. I don't think it goes up to the level of being a gaff, but certainly it was an awkward moment and it was awkward because of the way Mitt Romney handled it. I think --
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: Well, you tend to wonder too, are the Bushes on the same page? Is dad, Bush, talking to son, Bush.
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: And does that matter if Romney has talked or not talked to son, Bush?
NAVARRO: Kyra, I know the Bushes. They have a very good relationship, the father and the sons. And I think they talk about what normal fathers talk with their sons. They are not always plotting on how to take over the free world. They are not always plotting politics. I'm sure there's a lot of conversation going on between 41 and 43, and a lot of it is a normal conversation. And I think, you know, you've got Barbara Bush. You've got Jeb. You've got Herbert Walker. So pretty much, you have everybody lined up.
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: Go ahead, Robert.
ZIMMERMAN: You know, Ana, I love your review of the Bush family psychology, which would be riveting, but the reality is, I only wish George W. Bush took advice from his father, George Herbert Walker Bush, who was a great American and served our country so admirably in many ways. But the reality is, as a Democrat, we would love to see George W. Bush embrace Mitt Romney.
Romney has already embraced the Bush foreign policy and the Bush economic policy. But it was a touching moment between a great leader of the Republican Party, and I don't -- there are so many better gaffs we could point to with Mitt Romney, particularly his reference to Russia as being the greatest threat to our geopolitical word as opposed to focusing on Iran or al Qaeda --
(CROSSTALK)
NAVARRO: Don't go there, because I will go to the open mic gaff, which is a lot bigger gaff than what Mitt Romney said.
(CROSSTALK)
NAVARRO: This was just a normal exchange with the Bushes.
PHILLIPS: I'm going to take you in a total different direction, and that is this awkward moment. What's up with the former president taking his shoes off and showing his socks? Could you just explain? I was looking at this and wondering, hmm, this was sort of a Dr. Seuss moment. What's the book, guys? "FOX in Socks"? I just -- I don't know. There was something going on here.
Robert, what's the obsession here with socks?
ZIMMERMAN: Let me tell you something, I finally have something in common with George Herbert Walker Bush, we both have lavender socks.
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: Ana, you know the Bushes.
NAVARRO: Well, I'd like to say I don't have lavender socks. Let me just first admit to that. But, you know, George Bush is a guy who served his country his entire life. He is now 85 years old. He is a playful guy. I just think he is showing his playfulness. He is at a stage in life where he can do whatever he wants, and he's doing it.
ZIMMERMAN: Exactly right, Ana.
NAVARRO: It's a lot better than having to put on and take off cowboy boots.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: I don't know. That might be kind of easier.
Ana, Robert, thanks so much. Happy Friday.
ZIMMERMAN: Good to be with you.
PHILLIPS: Coming up next, a man who doesn't wear lavender socks, just pink ones, right?
CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes. But black today. PHILLIPS: We're actually talking March Madness, not socks, with Chad, along with this guy, our favorite predictor of all predictions, the FedEx driver who said Jeremy Lin was going to be a success. Well, he's going to weigh in on the NCAA, even though his picks haven't been that good. But that's a whole other story. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Let's talk about the battle in the big easy that everybody is talking about. March Madness of course, is down to the final four. Tip-off for the first game tomorrow at 6:09 eastern time. Kentucky going up against in-state rival, Louisville. That will be followed by Ohio State and Kansas.
And joining us with his picks, the legendary basketball fanatic who predicted Jeremy Lin's success, and FedEx driver, but that's probably going to go by the wayside if he starts picking them better right now -- Ed Wyland.
And, of course, our own Chad Myers.
Ed, we'll get to you in just a second.
But what happened?
MYERS: This is huge.
PHILLIPS: I was in first.
MYERS: You were.
PHILLIPS: What are our chances to get back up there?
MYERS: You can't win.
(CROSSTALK)
MYERS: You can come in second.
PHILLIPS: Second is not so bad.
MYERS: But the problem is that so many people now that are still in it all have Kentucky winning. The only person that's an outsider would be Carol Costello. She has OSU winning.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: She is always an outsider. She's a rebel. That's how she is.
MYERS: And she was born a rebel.
PHILLIPS: That's right.
MYERS: But here is Zoraida.
PHILLIPS: Zoraida.
MYERS: She has Kentucky and so do you, that makes you unable to beat her. She is five points ahead of you. Everything comes down to the University of Kentucky.
PHILLIPS: I should have picked another team.
All right, Ed. Let's put it in perspective here. Tomorrow is the first game, Kentucky versus Louisville, huge rivalry. Just how big is it? What do you think?
ED WYLAND, FEDEX DRIVER: Well, I think Louisville has a better chance than a lot of people are giving them credit for. They have a very good coach in Pitino who's -- he has a week to prepare. And that could be a huge thing. And you also have Kentucky with the freshmen who have historically just haven't been able to make the full run to the championship. That said, I kind of like Kentucky to win because they are just so good.
PHILLIPS: Because they are just so good.
WYLAND: They are, especially Davis. He's a dominator. He is going to be a very good NBA player. If not a historically good one, and that's hard to beat.
PHILLIPS: And, Chad, you brought up Don Lemon.
MYERS: I want everybody to know that, if your bracket is wrecked, so is everybody else's, but probably not as bad as Don's.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: Uh-oh. Don is not going to be happy with me now. I am putting Don as the worst bracket here at CNN.
MYERS: He has no points possibly left because he had duke coming in, even though he has Ohio State, he doesn't have them going anywhere. This is a lot like what my bracket looks like. I'm not really ripping on Don.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: OK. You are putting the two of you together.
MYERS: Yes. We're near the bottom.
PHILLIPS: OK. Let's talk about the final game, shall we?
Ed, let's wrap it up here on a positive note. You, on the record now, let's hit the final game, because now that we're moving in on that, then I've got something to follow up with you on.
WYLAND: Ok. The final game, I just see -- I see Ohio State and Kentucky, even though the Ohio State-Kansas is a tough match that probably could go either way. But I give the edge to Ohio State based on a steadier and just better point guard. I believe the winner of Kentucky-Louisville will win in the time game, though. And will probably be Kentucky. They are just too strong. And in the case of --
PHILLIPS: Yes. Go ahead, Ed.
WYLAND: And in the case of Louisville, if they do upset Kentucky, I believe that they -- their momentum will carry them past either Ohio State or Kansas.
PHILLIPS: All right. Bring it home for us, Chad. Looks like Zoraida will probably win the whole thing.
MYERS: And I'm still rooting for Nebraska.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: Buddy, aren't they known for steaks? That's what you need to go back to.
Ed, thank you so much.
And, Chad, thank you so much.
MYERS: You bet.
WYLAND: We will --
(CROSSTALK)
Thank you.
PHILLIPS: Poor Don. Don's going bye-bye. Hopefully, he'll come in for a second here on the team.
MYERS: There you go. Kentucky, still in it.
PHILLIPS: We just got this in to CNN, by the way.
Chad, do me a favor and stay with me and listen to this.
The jackpot for Friday's Mega Millions drawing is now an estimated $640 million. That's according to Athena Hernandez with the D.C. Lottery. This will be the largest ever drawing for a lottery in the world now according to Mega Millions.
Are you buying a ticket?
MYERS: I have a number of them.
PHILLIPS: How many?
MYERS: And all of my followers on Twitter are going with me on a cruise.
PHILLIPS: Really?
MYERS: Yes, yes, they are.
PHILLIPS: Every single one? All six million followers, correct?
MYERS: Well, I have about 6,000. But I'm going to rent two cruise ships. We're going to sail the seven seas.
PHILLIPS: Can my team come along as well?
MYERS: You're following me. You're with me, of course.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: Thanks, pal.
MYERS: You bet.
PHILLIPS: Plus, gold and silver coins as far as the eye can see. All over a Canadian highway after a Brinks truck crashes. That's right. Wait until you hear how they had to clean it up.
Now, speaking of Canada and coins, turns out pennies will soon be the real collector's item. The royal Canadian mint has branded the lowly penny a burden to the economy. That's because it costs more than a cent and a half to actually make one. So the mint plans to stop making pennies this fall. Though they'll still be legal tender, by the way. The change will apparently save taxpayers $11 million a year. Now, here is our two cents. Canadian pennies, your 15 minutes are up.
(SINGING)
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PHILLIPS: Time now for stories making news at "Street Level."
Let's start with the twister that touched down near Monterey, Mexico. A driver records a tornado touching down between mountains near the Texas border. It's hard to say in the video, but Melissa Estrada tells CNN there was hail and wind before that cyclone formed. She drives this road every week, and added it was the first twister she has ever seen.
Now to San Antonio, Texas. That's where a spinning car narrowly misses a motorcyclist on the highway. Check out this video. Recorded by another biker, by the way. You can see a car spins out of control and veers toward the motorcyclist. Fortunately, the biker made a quick decision and was able to avoid that collision.
Let's head north to Kirkland Lake, Canada, where a highway was glittering with gold and silver. Nearly $5 million in Canadian coins spilled out across the road after a tractor-trailer crashed. The Brinks truck was carrying the newly minted uncirculated coins when it slammed into a rock, causing a series of collisions. The other truck involved was carrying candy. The Ontario highway, covered in snow, made the cleanup pretty difficult. Luckily, they had a huge magnet on hand to pick up all the coins. Don't bother driving by. The money is gone.
Now to Kansas City, Missouri, where a young boy is being honored as a hero. This is 9-year-old Jason Smith. The Kansas City police just honored him with a life-saving award only given to members of the force. Back in July of 2007, Smith rescued her younger brother from a shooting rampage that sadly left their mother and grandmother dead. Afterwards, Smith helped detectives find the suspect, who killed himself the day after the shooting. Despite all the tragedy, this little boy has faced, he was all smiles as he received that honor.
Well, we're coming to the end of Brain Injury Awareness Month. And so for this week's "Human Factor," we are taking a look at one woman's whose career as a journalist ended in an instant. How a head trauma changed her life and her career. Dr. Sanjay Gupta has her story.
(HUMAN FACTOR)
PHILLIPS: Next, Mitt Romney has millions of dollars on hand still. Seven to be exact. And he'll get another 20 mill from the RNC if he wins the nomination. Sounds good, right? Wait until you hear how much President Obama has on hand. The numbers, and the big worry for the GOP up next.
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PHILLIPS: All right. Well, you know our political gum shoe extraordinaire, Peter Hamby, is getting the scoop and, this morning, he exposes "Operation Open Mic."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AD NARRATOR: Barack Obama, as president flexible. Dmitri Medvedev, as Dr. Transmitkoff. And Vladimir Putin, as himself.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: After my election, I'll have more flexibility.
AD NARRATOR: "Operation Hot Mic."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Scoop Peter, joining me from Washington.
I've got to tell you, you've got some amazing sources, my friend. Tell us about this group that put this together?
PETER HAMBY, CNN POLITICAL PRODUCER: Yes, this is a clever web video, Kyra, from American Crossroads. This group, we haven't heard a lot from them in the presidential race. They were a huge factor in 2010 in helping to elect Republicans, running millions of dollars in television ads in all kinds of states. This video is not a TV ad. It's a web video. It signals that some of these outside groups, Crossroads, included, are starting to ramp up for the general election and hammer Barack Obama. We'll hear more and more from these outside groups along with these super PACS as we head toward the general election and shift away from the Republican primary. And the Republicans starting to seize on this Open Mic moment. We've heard about it all week. But they think this is a message they can push throughout the year, that Barack Obama has a some kind of secret agenda he's going to implement if he is re- elected, that he's going to give away the bank to the Russians. So this is something that's not going to go away for Obama. Republicans are going to keep hitting him on it -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Peter Hamby out of Washington. Have a great weekend, Peter. Thanks so much.
HAMBY: You, too.
Thanks for watching, everyone. Continue the conversation on Twitter, @KyraCNN or on Facebook.
CNN NEWSROOM now with Fredericka Whitfield.
