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CNN Saturday Morning News
Gingrich-Romney Battle in the South Carolina Primary; Search May Turn Into Recovery on Italian Cruise Ship; Beer Battle Brewing
Aired January 21, 2012 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN ANCHOR: From CNN center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. It's January 21st. Good morning, I'm Gary Tuchman.
Its 6:00 a.m. here in Atlanta and also 6:00 a.m. in Columbia, South Carolina where the polls are set to open in one hour for the state's primary. You are looking at the CNN Express election bus. Gingrich is creeping up the polls after this week's debates. But Mitt Romney is still the national front-runner. Today, the two battle it out over breakfast. Both candidates will be in the same diner at the same time, and we'll begin talking to Tommy of Tommy's Ham House live this morning.
Plus, imagine being stuck in a greyhound station for more than 17 hours. That's what happened to these people after a winter storm moved in where heavy snowfall is expected today in parts of the U.S. Meteorologist, Reynolds Wolf will have the latest forecast.
But, we start in South Carolina where the curtain comes up on the Republican presidential primary in just a little while from now. So, where do we stand? CNN's political editor Paul Steinhauser has a quick look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Good morning, Gary.
Polls here in South Carolina open about an hour from now. And let me tell you, so much at stake in this first of the south primary.
Listen, we saw the battle between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich in our debate just two nights ago. Romney's lead shrinking in the polls here. Newt Gingrich really moving up in the polls. But don't count out the former senator from Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum. He had a strong breakout performance in our debate. And then it was Congressman Ron Paul. He has a lot of devoted, energetic and enthusiastic supporters, right here in South Carolina. Twenty-five delegates are at stake. It's an open primary. That means Republicans, independents and even some Democrats, if they want, can vote in this contest. Gary, back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TUCHMAN: Thank you very much, Paul.
So, there you go. Voters are probably just getting upright now in South Carolina, pouring that cup of coffee. The candidates aren't taking anything for granted. They are all going to be out thanking supporters and trying to sway the last few undecided.
But, one of the most watched appearances is going to be at Tommy's ham house in Greenville. That's because Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney are both expected to be there at the same exact time.
Joining me on the phone from Greenville is CNN political reporter, Shawna Shepherd.
Shawna, Thanks for waking up so early and these guys planned this event so carefully on their behalf. And that both candidates are going to be on the same place at the same time.
We hear a dial tone from Shawna Shepherd but Shawna will come back and talk to us. But Shawna is a great political reporter. He's been following Newt Gingrich around for weeks and will tell us on why this is happening. But it should be a fascinating breakfast in South Carolina.
Shawna is back. Now Shawna, why is this happening? And why are both candidates there at the same time? Can you hear us Shawna?
SHAWNA SHEPHERD, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER (via telephone): Hi Gary, how are you?
TUCHMAN: Sean, Good morning to you. I'm glad we have you. Because this is a story everyone wants to know. Breakfast in South Carolina, bacon, ham, pork. It's one of the most popular places in the Palmetto state. Why are Romney and Gingrich going to be there at the same time? How those happen?
SHEPHERD: Well, both campaigns will say it is purely coincidence and, you know, there was no planning on either team to make sure both their candidates were there at the same time. It's sure to make for an interesting day, that's for sure.
TUCHMAN: I was just telling our viewers, when we hear the dial tone for one second, that you have been following Newt Gingrich around for a long time. You know the man. You know his campaign. Does it feel at this point that his surge in South Carolina is for real?
SHEPHERD: You know. It does. His campaigns and you have been following him over the last week or so, too. His campaign events don't tend to be more, you know, more like rallies. They tend to be more like more town hall meeting style. You know, he talks for a long time, has a very (inaudible) way about him. He takes a lot of questions.
But, people really do seem to be interested in him. And when they think about somebody, they are looking to beat President Obama. They want somebody smart, intelligent, who can stand-up against him in debate. And that's something obviously that he's really pushing here in South Carolina, really pushing for conservatives. And that he is trying to get that contract between him and President Obama. So, we'll see. TUCHMAN: Final question for you right now. Any idea if Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney will meet up at this breakfast joint this morning?
SHEPHERD: You know their scheduler say that they are both going to be there at 10:45. It's not a large restaurant. I spoke with the owner, Tommy Stevenson, said that Tommy's country Ham house. It's seats 325 people. He's added 30 seats. There's very little room and this small place for standing room only. It is going to be quite a team.
Apparently one of Newt Gingrich's campaign representatives was there at the restaurant 3:00 a.m. waiting for the owner to get there when he opened at 5:00 to set up signs. So, you know, we'll see. I asked actually asked Newt Gingrich last night after his event. On U.S. Georgetown and Charleston, we have found (inaudible) to you know. But, you know, he was quite surprised that the two were potentially going to be meeting tomorrow at the same restaurant on the same day, same time.
TUCHMAN: Well, Shawna, if you can order me some blueberry pancakes and hold on to them until I see you again, I'd very much appreciate that.
SHEPHERD: I'll do that and grits maybe, too.
TUCHMAN: And good stuff in South Carolina, grits for sure. Shawna Shepherd, Thank you very much.
Well, here are some of the other headlines we are watching this morning. Search crews are back at work around the Costa Concordia. The crew ship is still about half submerge at the coast of a western Italian island. Just a short time ago, the Italian navy blow bigger holes into the boat that's under water so the divers would have an easier time looking for victims. Rescuers spent most of the night checking out the part of the boat that's above water.
Two days after and Internet out, cry House and Senate leaders pushed two antipiracy bills to the side. They will likely never come up for vote now. SOPA, the "Stop Online Piracy Act" and PIPA, the "Protect IP act" aimed to crackdown on online privacy. But, many critics feared the new laws would go too far. Several popular Web sites went dark on Wednesday to protest the bills.
New arrests now in a growing hazing scandal at Florida A&M University. Four members of the FAME marching 100 band have been arrested. They allegedly beat other members of the band. These arrests are not related to an earlier incident which led from the death of a drum major. After Robert Champion's death, the school promised to crackdown on hazing.
Well, this man is accused of duct taping up his 12-year-old daughter and sticking her in a dog cage. He's been held on a child endangerments charge. His attorney says it was a joke that got out of control. Prosecutors say he tied up the girl and put her in the cage twice. His 13-year-old son also took pictures of the whole thing and then posted them on Facebook. A Nevada man has come forward to possibly take the blame for starting a devastating fire in Reno, Nevada. Police say the man admitted to improperly getting rid of fireplace ashes. The fire which started Thursday has destroyed nearly 30 homes. 10, 000 people have to be evacuated. Firefighters now think they have the upper hand on the blaze.
Well, now meteorologist Reynolds Wolf is in the weather center with the latest. Reynolds, what's coming up?
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, we can all kinds of stuff. Obviously, we are keeping eye on both coasts. We have got some snowy part in the Pacific Northwest. And snow, finally apart to the northeast where places like New York, we are seeing from two to perhaps even five inches of snowfall.
As we look at the maps full, you are going to notice something else. There's a little bit of a shape that you will notice in the parts of southeast and parts of Mississippi, Alabama and in to Georgia that is a tornado watch that will be in effect until noon eastern time. Sharp eye on that. No doubt about it. And certainly looks like we are going to see a line of travel delays throughout the weekend. Back to you.
TUCHMAN: Reynolds, thank you very much.
Coming up this morning, it's a busy day in South Carolina. Newt Gingrich is on the final push to win today's primary. He's also going doing everything he can to avoid talking about personal issues. See his response when I ask him if that's fair.
Also, thousands of medical records found in a dumpster. We will tell who is being blame and how they got there.
Plus, chaos caught on camera. One passenger evacuated in the Costa Concordia re-lives the disaster coming up.
And finally, there's a battle brewing and I say brewing purposely in Brazil as the country prepares the host of the next World Cup. People want to know if a beer and booze band will continue in sports arenas. We are all over it. Stay tuned.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TUCHMAN: Its ten minutes after the hour. The polls open in South Carolina in about 50 minutes. Meteorologist Reynolds Wolf is back with a look at weather across America. Reynolds, we were just talking about it looks like winter is finally arriving.
(WEATHER REPORT)
TUCHMAN: We have done a couple floods together, Reynolds.
WOLF: Absolutely.
TUCHMAN: I have a question for you. What is your favorite drink? I don't mean alcohol drink but just when you are looking for refreshment.
WOLF: It's a family show. Iced tea is always a good stand by.
TUCHMAN: It's always good. That's a good idea to drink iced tea especially after I tell you about this next story. I like Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi. I think they are delicious. But, if you are like me, this will not come as good news. Some university of Texas researchers say drinking diet soft drinks has been linked to quote "increased incidence of obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes."
A metabolic syndrome that is I should make sure I pronounced that correctly because this is an important story. And, according to "Time" magazine participants in the study who reported drinking diet soda had 70 percent greater increases in waistline growth than nondrinkers after nearly ten years. Well, maybe it's time to drink more water more often or iced tea like Reynolds Wolf.
Well, they call themselves hell east lovers. Police say, the gang is terrorized parts of Denver. Find out how more than a dozen gang members got busted.
And, an adviser for Newt Gingrich predicts he will win in South Carolina. Find out what Gingrich told me when I asked if a victory today is critical for his campaign.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TUCHMAN: You are looking at Columbia, South Carolina. Our CNN Express bus, Columbia, being the state capital of the Palmetto state where the South Carolina primary gets under way. Three minutes from now, the polls open.
And it's been a roller coaster ride for Newt Gingrich in South Carolina. Check this one month swing. In early December, Gingrich was way out in front. Then right after Iowa, he dropped like a rock. But, as we get closer to primary day, Gingrich is surging, again leading to a final push for both small. A big question swirls around his campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TUCHMAN (voice-over): A new tactic for Newt Gingrich on the question of his relationship of his ex-wife. Mr. Speaker, is it valid to bring it up in the campaign. A reporter trips seem to get Gingrich's attention so we asked again.
Mr. Speaker, are personal issues valid to bring up?
His refusal to answer is a 180 from Thursday, when he was standing with his wife and asked a similar question by a man attending the South Carolina rally.
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: On the ground that was chasing ahead of me. I have about leading to go to God for forgiveness and the seeking reconciliation.
TUCHMAN: And then he talked about it with reporters.
GINGRICH: It's an issue I confront every time it comes up and I confront it exactly the same way every time that comes up. And people seem to be satisfied with it. You watch the audience. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The next president.
TUCHMAN: During the last two days, his crowds have grown bigger and louder as the stakes get higher. On the eve of the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, Gingrich knew he wasn't going to win. But now, he believes victory in South Carolina is within his grasp.
GINGRICH: If we win on Saturday, with your help, I believe I will become the nominee because I do think South Carolina, in fact, has an enormous impact. You have picked the winner every single primary since 1980. And I believe we'll go on to win Florida and on to the nomination.
TUCHMAN: Do you think it's critical to win in South Carolina?
GINGRICH: I think it's credibly win as often as you can. I think that this -- the number one thing we know is that when this becomes a two-person race, Romney has a huge problem because he's too liberal for most Republican voters.
TUCHMAN: As Gingrich's poll numbers have increased, so it appears have his spirits. He's eagerly belt one liners, in this case talking about President Obama's Thursday visit to Walt Disney World.
GINGRICH: I want you to think the president standing with Mickey Mouse on one side and Goofy on the other.
TUCHMAN: Gingrich doesn't want to be back into the corner. But if he doesn't have a strong performance in South Carolina which neighbor's his home state of Georgia, he will be increasingly unlikely to hear things like this for real.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President --
GINGRICH: No, not yet. But with your help --
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TUCHMAN: It's a critical primary. Our coverage begins tonight, 7:00 eastern time.
Well, tired of answering work e-mails and texts after work? Well, one nation has a solution for that. And it could put more money into workers pockets.
But first, 49'ers fans might not like this one bit. Listen to whom Lily, the dolphin, is predicting will win the NFC championship game.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) CARLOS DIAZ, HLN ANCHOR: Now it's time to pick the NFL championship at the Georgia aquarium. And I got my friend, Lily here to help here. Lily, is it going to be the San Francisco 49'ers this weekend? No! They're not going to win? What do you think about the New York Giants? Yes!
Geez. Apparently she's a big Eli Manning fan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TUCHMAN: Good morning, everybody. It's now 22 minutes after the hour. Let's look at news across the country.
We'll start in Denver. That's where more than a dozen suspected gang members are in custody. ATF agents rounded them up last night. They have been investigating the gang, hells lovers, for over two years. Some of the suspects are expected in federal court, Monday. Details of the case were sealed.
A social worker in Texas is accused of dumping thousands of medical files in the trash. Gilbert Zedia (ph) filled personal information containing Social Security numbers and home addresses.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I already feel like I'm close to a lot of them. Because I know where they live, how many kids, what their problem is, what their diagnosis is from psychology to pregnancies to drugs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: The social worker told the CNN affiliate KAAV, the files were in a storage unit that was auctioned. The State Department of Health says the person responsible can't be disciplined because they no longer work for the seat.
As "Red Tails," a George Lucas film about the legendary Tuskegee air man hits the theaters this weekend. They are also being honored in another way. Alabama's governor signed the proclamation, Friday honoring their contribution to World War II. One airman was very happy to see the day come.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE VETERAN: As I retire for the evening and I look at those 94 years I have been here and I said thank you Lord for allowing me the opportunity to not only be a part of it but live to see the results and reactions to Tuskegee.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: The Tuskegee airmen flew more than 15,000 missions during the war.
Can you say cha-ching? If you always find yourself answering calls and read e-mails after you leave work, check out what they are doing in Brazil. The president signed a law that would make after hour e- mails and phone calls eligible for overtime pay. Yes, you heard me right, money for extra work.
Now, it's not clear how it will be enforced. The Supreme Labor Court takes up the issue next month. In the meantime, labor lawyers say all those old phone records and e-mails will come in handy if you get laid off and want to take your bosses to court for extra compensation.
Well, I still don't think my wife would let me e-mail from dinner. She doesn't like it much. But, it's a good excuse if she catches me, I'll get paid for it.
We want to hear your thoughts. Should companies be forced to pay overtime for after-hours calls and e-mails? Tweet me @garytuchmanCNN and we will reads your answers right here on the air. These tweets by the way, we must mention this, these tweets are not eligible for any overtime pay.
Well then, one moment from Thursday night's South Carolina debate put Gingrich over the top for a potential primary victory today? I'll ask two political of our favorite political observers what they think right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TUCHMAN: Its 26 minutes past the hour. Welcome back. I'm Gary Tuchman. Thank you for starting your day with us.
In 33 minutes, South Carolina voters start heading to the polls. The spotlight has been on Newt Gingrich. His ex-wife, to the TV interview accusing him of wanting a, quote "open marriage" when he started an affair with the woman who is now his third wife. Here is how he answered the question in Thursday night's debate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GINGRICH: I think the destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media makes it harder to govern the country, harder to attract decent people to run for office. I am appalled you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: The latest polls show Gingrich and Romney in nearly a dead heat in South Carolina.
Joining me to talk about the race, Republican strategist Lenny McAllister who is in Columbia, South Carolina and here in the studio, Lee May, Democratic county commissioner in Suburban, Atlanta DeKalb County.
First Lenny, to Newt Gingrich's debate answer, an open marriage put him over the top in South Carolina. Did it benefit him, the irony of all that, but did it benefit him?
LENNY MCALLISTER, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: I think it benefited him. I think everybody is really frustrated with the tone of politics now. And let's be honest Newt Gingrich was the biggest victim of the super PAC attack that is went on in Iowa. It's the disgusting nature of American politics today. We need good leaders. We don't need good stories. And we was able to capitalize all that and basically go after the conservative boogie man which of course you know is the liberal quote-unquote "lame stream media", Sarah Palin would say. By being able to do all of those effectively and coming out with an aggressive tone, he knocked that quote-unquote "fast-ball" out of the ballpark. And I think it will be enough to win as the son of the south here in South Carolina.
TUCHMAN: So, you think just that answer though, Lenny, will lead him to victory? That will propel him the win?
MCALLISTER: I think the reason why the answer will propel him because it showed a little bit of vigor, a little bit of fight that conservatives really want to see somebody take to the president coming up this fall. And although you have heard the rhetoric from all the candidates including those who dropped out, you haven't heard somebody doing it with the right fire and the right tonality in order to be effective in the firing up the base. Not quite how Newt Gingrich had. Remember, he was down at one and two percent. Months ago, and he's come all the way up to be a fourth in this race and he's not a with that type of performance.
TUCHMAN: Ok, Lee. Lenny mentioned Sarah Palin. Sarah Palin kind of implicitly endorsed Newt Gingrich said she vote for Newt Gingrich. Also, Rick Perry dropped out and endorsed Gingrich. How much does that come into may?
LEE MAY, DEMOCRATIC COUNTY COMMISSIONER: Well, it definitely gives Newt Gingrich the momentum. Last week, I would have said that the narrowing of the Republican field would have been in Mitt Romney's favor. But with Newt Gingrich's rise this week, I think it really in his favor to make it a two to three-person race I think it is in Gingrich's favor in moving forward. And really, it just shows the Republicans' indecisiveness in this election. And it just shows that they can't make up their mind. They are trying anyway possible not to let Mitt Romney be their Republican nominee.
TUCHMAN: But is it indecisive, or they're just -- you know, this is the way the primary process works? You know, you hear what people have to say, you change your mind as you go along, and that's just the way the process works?
MAY: Well, typically, you would say that that would be the case. However, they are running against an incumbent Democratic president who has boatloads of money now, who is able to focus on the economy and the real things that affect real lives here in America. And what you see kind of is a circus kind of going on in the Republican Party, and not real issues being addressed that are really affecting real lives.
TUCHMAN: OK.
Lenny, Mitt Romney seems to be having some problems dealing with the tax issue. Let's listen to this for one second.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't know how many years I'll release. I'll take a look at what our documents are and I'll release multiple years. I don't know how many years, but I'll be happy to do that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: Lenny, why is Mitt Romney having so much trouble with this issue? I mean, why not come down with a solid answer instead of kind of handling it that way?
MCALLISTER: Because this is not politics as normal. You have the Tea Party, that has the first opportunity to select a presidential nominee. You have the grassroots on both sides of the political aisle really rising up and being a force in American politics today.
He is somebody that cannot relate to that grassroots. This was a problem that we knew he would have coming into 2012, and he hasn't been able to articulate that well.
He's been a front-runner through attrition. Now that attrition has gotten him to a point where he cannot hide behind candidates anymore, Rick Perry is not there to hide behind, Herman Cain is not there to hide behind, and he's never really been able to formulate a great answer for this, and as a result, he's starting to struggle. And if he loses here today, and he continues to stumble and cannot get that message clear going into Florida, you will find the conservative base going through the process the same way the Democrats did in 2008, where they went back and forth between Clinton, Obama, Clinton, Obama.
The Republicans will do the same thing until they solidify themselves behind one candidate to move forward into the fall.
TUCHMAN: Lee, South Carolina -- and this is an important thing to stress -- is an open primary. A closed primary means Republicans can only vote in a Republican primary; Democrats, only a Democratic primary. In an open primary, Democrats, Independents, can all vote in the Republican primary.
How could that skew the results/ Might there be some Democrats who think, you know, the Republican primary is getting all the attention, I want to vote in that primary, but I'm going to do a sabotage vote and vote for the guy least likely to win?
MAY: Well, you know, Democrats could do that. I would encourage them not to do that, to stick with the Democratic primary.
It gets weird there because you get now Republican voter files, Republican fund-raising lists, et cetera. Let the Republicans figure this out for themselves. They are having a tough enough time as it stands now without any additions and without Stephen Colbert or this circus that Herman Cain seems to be participating in there.
But it can -- polls are a real problem, because you don't really know where you stand as a Republican at the end of the day. But what you are going to see today in about 20 minutes is you're going to see a very, very close race similar to Iowa. You may not have the results until maybe 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning again, which I think will make you life a little bit more difficult this evening.
TUCHMAN: But excitingly.
MAY: Yes, exciting. Exciting.
TUCHMAN: But Stephen Colbert is not going to win.
MAY: No, he's not going to win.
TUCHMAN: OK. Just want to make sure.
MAY: Neither will Herman Cain.
(LAUGHTER)
TUCHMAN: OK.
Lee May, thank you.
Lenny McAllister, thank you very much.
Good talking to both of you gentlemen.
MAY: Good talking to you. Thank you.
MCALLISTER: Thank you, Gary.
(NEWSBREAK)
TUCHMAN: Well, exactly a week after the Costa Concordia ran aground, this is the scene out of Italy this morning. Rescue divers are back searching for survivors after the navy blasted more holes in the ship to speed up their efforts.
Twenty-one people are still missing. At least 11 people confirmed dead. But the death toll is expected to rise with little chance now, sadly, of finding additional survivors.
The lingering question, could more people have been saved in those final moments?
Here is senior international correspondent Matthew Chance.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the darkness, a few glimpses of the chaos caught by one passenger evacuating the Costa Concordia. As the ship tilts to one side, he says there was utter panic. LEO POLDINO, PASSENGER (through translator): When the ship leaned, we were very scared because we didn't know if it was going to stop. You could see the fear in people's eyes.
CHANCE (on camera): So when this was happening, when the boat was tilting to one side, what were instructions? What help were you getting from the crew members?
POLDINO: Some were giving the wrong information, such as to go back to the cabins. Some helped us, especially at the lifeboats. But from the ship's speakers, we could hear, "Everything is under control. There is just a problem with the generator."
CHANCE (voice-over): That tallies with this footage of a crew member trying to calm alarmed passengers. The seriousness of the damage was clearly being played down. The captain and other senior officers were nowhere to be seen.
POLDINO: No, neither the captain nor any officer at all.
CHANCE: And when the evacuation finally began, it appears to have been passengers like Leo, a hairdresser from Rome, who took control, who worked with crew members saving others before themselves.
POLDINO: Behind me there were people in wheelchairs, so we dragged them out and helped them to the lifeboats. I managed to get to three children. We went down the stairs and pulled trapped crew members out with ropes. I don't know if they were waiters or technicians.
CHANCE (on camera): A lot of people have spoken about how they see the actions of the captain in particular as being cowardly. But were there any heroes on board?
POLDINO: I believe there were many. Lots of people were scared, but also many people were doing everything they could to help others without thinking for their own safety. To save 4,000 people, there have to be many heroes, just not one.
CHANCE (voice-over): Matthew Chance, CNN, Rome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TUCHMAN: Now our Dan Rivers will continue our team coverage. We'll take you live to Italy in about 30 minutes with the latest.
Well, this may be a weekend to stay inside and curl up by the fireplace. A fierce winter storm is taking aim at the Midwest and Northeast. Winter has finally begun. Travel could be dangerous in some areas. Reynolds Wolf joins us with our weekend weather forecast, next.
But first, a spoiler alert. We're about to tell you some big news, some news no one else knows, who will win tomorrow's AFC championship game.
OK. Go ahead. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARLOS DIAZ, HLN CORRESPONDENT: All right. It's time to make our picks as to who's going to win the AFC championship game. Is it going to be the Ravens or the Patriots? Chaka (ph) is going to help me out.
Chaka (ph), pick who's going to win!
Thank you, Chaka (ph). The Patriots are your winner.
Thank you so much, Chaka (ph). I appreciate it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TUCHMAN: Good morning, Indianapolis, state capital of Indiana, the largest city in Indiana where the Super Bowl will be held this year, where our two Dolphins have predicted the New York Giants and the New England Patriots will battle. We don't mean to make you Baltimore Ravens fans and San Francisco 49'ers fans angry.
These are dolphins. We can't be sure, but they are pretty smart dolphins.
We want to say good morning to everybody out there. It's 42 minutes past the hour right now.
We're just about 15 minutes away before the South Carolina primary kicks off and the polls open. We will keep an eye all day on CNN about that.
In the meantime, meteorologist Reynolds Wolf has a look at the weather.
(WEATHER REPORT)
TUCHMAN: Well, it's curtains for William Shatner's Priceline Negotiator character and those popular commercials.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM SHATNER, ACTOR: Save yourself -- some money.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: Shatner's alter ego will die in a fiery bus crash in a commercial set to air this Monday, but don't count out Shatner just yet. The online company says he is still under contract. Shatner, who first found fame, of course, as Captain Kirk on "Star Trek," has had a 14-year run as Priceline's celebrity spokesman.
Drinking beer and watching a good game go hand-in-hand for many sports fans. But what if your favorite arena banned it?
Ahead, we'll tell you where a beer battle is brewing in one nation as it prepares to host one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
Plus, South Carolina voters sound off on the importance of a candidate's faith. That's just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TUCHMAN: Religion plays a big part in many people's personal lives, but what is its place in politics? Like we did in New Hampshire, earlier this month, we opened up our mikes to let voters sound off in South Carolina, where polls open in just about 12 minutes. And here's what they said.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We may fix the economy in the short term, but unless America turns back to God, our economy repairs will be wasted.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think faith in politics is something that used to be huge, but it's just not anymore. Some schools are taking the Pledge of Allegiance out, not praying, stuff like that, taking the word "God" out from the pledge. I think that religion should be a big thing, but it's just not anymore.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A person's faith or belief in a God or divine entity is not a big issue of me from the standpoint of who I would support. I think they all need to try to compromise a little better.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Faith is an important part of my life, but, when voting, it's not something that I necessarily focus on as the primary reason for voting for a candidate. I kind of lean more towards moderate candidates or people who are willing to work with the Democratic Party.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, I am a faithful person. My mom raised me right, but a lot of times faith, once they get a position, it kind of gets kicked to the curb. It does not play a huge role in politics for me -- faith doesn't. I sort of go with my gut.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TUCHMAN: Again, polls in South Carolina are about to open. This is a critical election.
Be sure to stay with CNN all day for coverage of the South Carolina primary. Tonight, we have got the results. It all begins 7:00 p.m. Eastern time for our special coverage of the winners and losers of the South Carolina primary.
Well, I know that many of you are going to be watching TV tomorrow, the big football games, the NFC and AFC championship games this weekend. So, let me ask you, you would be OK with the U.S. banning alcohol in stadiums? That's what some fans are facing in one particular nation as it prepares to host one of the world's most watched sporting events.
Our "Morning Passport" coming up next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TUCHMAN: Drinking beer is essential to watching sports for some. Well, at least that's how soccer's international governing body sees it. They like it. But FIFA is facing opposition from Brazil, the host of the next World Cup.
Our very own Nadia Bilchik joins us for "Morning Passport."
A fight over beer in Brazil?
NADIA BILCHIK, CNN EDITORIAL PRODUCER: Yes, it's a beer brouhaha in Brazil.
TUCHMAN: A beer brouhaha.
BILCHIK: But more about cold cash than cold beer.
TUCHMAN: So what's happening.
BILCHIK: So, in essence, what you have is you have FIFA fighting with the Brazilian government, because in 2003, the Brazilian government banned alcohol from stadiums because of the enormously high death rate amongst fans. Now FIFA is saying -- and, in fact, not even saying, insisting -- that they un-ban alcohol, particularly beer and particularly Budweiser, because Anheuser-Busch, which manufacturers Budweiser, gives them tens of millions of dollars each year.
But let's hear from the FIFA general secretary, Jerome Valcke, about what he has to say about why beer should be part of the World Cup.
TUCHMAN: OK.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEROME VALCKE, FIFA GENERAL SECRETARY: It's part of the FIFA World Cup, so there will be, I'm sorry to say -- and maybe I look a bit arrogant, but that's something we are not negotiating. I mean, there will be and there must be a spot of the law, the fact that we have the right to sell beer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BILCHIK: And he says there, I might be a bit arrogant, but we insist.
Now, the sports minister of Brazil hoped that this would be passed in November, and now they are waiting for March. But Dilma Rousseff, who is the president of Brazil, is saying, I am going to stick to the fact that we will not have alcohol.
But I can tell you, Gary, and I'm prepared to actually bet on this one, that beer will be served in those stadiums, and it will be Budweiser.
TUCHMAN: How can you bet on that though if the government of Brazil is saying they're going to fight it? BILCHIK: Because part of getting the bid for the World Cup was certain conditions. And I think this was one of the conditions that was agreed on.
Think about how many millions of dollars having the World Cup brings to a country. But there's another battle going on, because Brazil is saying to FIFA, OK, well, then, we want certain tickets subsidized for people who are indigenous to the area where the stadium is, or workers of the stadium, or seniors or students.
TUCHMAN: So that's how it's going to be resolved?
BILCHIK: Well, that's one of the other conflicts that's taking place.
TUCHMAN: OK.
BILCHIK: And then you have FIFA saying to Brazil, we want certain other conditions. In fact, all the merchandise that happens, we want huge ramifications for counterfeiters.
So, can you see what's going on? There's some kind of struggle. But the real issue is not about all of this, it's about the infrastructure.
They need all these stadiums for the World Cup. So, will the stadiums --
(CROSSTALK)
TUCHMAN: Yes, that's always a question when the World Cup comes, because they have to build all these stadiums every four years.
BILCHIK: And that's the issue.
TUCHMAN: And is that a problem in Brazil?
BILCHIK: Well, the stadiums are not so much the issue as the airports. Apparently, Sao Paulo Airport, you can wait three to four hours trying to get into the city if there's rain.
So there's a lot that goes into the World Cup beside beer. But what I decided was, whether there's beer or not beer, wouldn't it be nice to be in Brazil for the World Cup?
TUCHMAN: Yes. I would be on the beach, though, because I'm a baseball, football, hockey and basketball fan. Not as much a soccer fan -- or a football fan, as they call it.
BILCHIK: So, beer or no beer.
TUCHMAN: Yes.
BILCHIK: But we'll know shortly whether beer will be allowed and it will be Budweiser.
TUCHMAN: OK. And this has been a commercial for Budweiser, the king of beers.
I'm sorry.
Thank you very much for that.
BILCHIK: And we go back to Brazil for an entirely new law.
TUCHMAN: OK. I look forward to talking to you then. Thank you, Nadia.
Well, pretty soon, hearing this sound --
(BELL RINGING)
TUCHMAN: -- will make some folks hear this sound --
(CASH REGISTER)
TUCHMAN: That's right. Brazil going back to Brazil.
Brazil's president has signed a law that could make after-hours e- mails and calls eligible for overtime pay. You heard me right.
Money for all that extra work when you e-mail, when you phone -- call on the weekend. You're going to get paid in Brazil.
We asked for your thoughts about it, and Michael Nicolson tweeted me and he said, "Yes, working after hours is work. Pay us for it. Don't rip off the salaried workers."
Jazz Shaw disagrees. "If companies want to pay people for OT calls, tweeting, Fine. Making them do it? Forget it. Systemic abuse alert."
We want to hear what you think. Should companies be forced to pay overtime for after-hours calls and e-mails? Tweet me @GaryTuchmanCNN, and we'll use your questions on the air.
And remember, we're going to keep saying it all day, if you tweet us, you cannot ask us for overtime pay. This is a free tweet.
It's now just minutes -- four minutes to be exact -- until the polls open in the Palmetto State of South Carolina. We will take you there live to find out what the voters are focusing on this morning.
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