it s already 2012 in some parts of the world. this is sidney, australia where a million people watched a massive fireworks display. in new zealand revelers turned out in auckland but heavy rain forced other cities to cancel outdoor celebrations. in syria, huge crowds are turning out across the country again today, an activist network based in syria says at least nine protesters died today killed in clashing with security forces. two opposition groups there reached a deal a few hours ago making a plan that charts a course for democracy in case syria s president steps down. back in this country, customer complaints pushed verizon to drop its plan to start charging that $2 fee to pay bills. the nation s largest wireless company wanted to charge the extra couple bucks for one time payments online or by phone, but customers raised a stink and it didn t take long for verizon to listen up and drop the idea. we re going to be following the republican contenders, live in iowa to
people succeeded in bringing newt down harsh attack ads like these. look at this ad. has more baggage. gingrich cashed in. as speaker, he even supported taxpayer funding of some abortions. he supports amnesty for illegal immigrants and teamed with nancy pelosi and al gore on global warming. gingrich was fined $300,000 by a republican congress for ethics violation. the gingrich record, 30 years in washington flip flopping on issues. now, perry, when you come and look at the graph, december 11th newt was at 31%. he slides all the way down now to december 30th, 14%. these ads have been effective, perry. absolutely. they ve been effective. you also have the other candidates have piled on gingrich as well. on the difference in 08,
i think you may see a changed dynamic on the stage tonight. but, bill, the fact is, since november, look at this poll. newt has dropped 12 points in iowa. uh-huh. usually newt can afford to be graceful and will we see newt fight with both barrels? i don t think newt can help it. i think there s going to be a great show tonight, al. this is a last chance saloon, okay? i really believe mitt romney can almost afford to ride it high and talk about the economy but for michele bachmann, rick santorum, rick perry, ron paul, this is their last chance on stage, maybe forever, and their last chance to bring newt down. newt s numbers are already
i would be spending my money trying to take newt down, not rick perry is a man of faith, everyone knows that. he s against gays, everyone knows that. i don t think it s going to convince many people. i think he has to make sure the voters of iowa know exactly what newt gingrich has done over the past 15, 20 years. governor ed rendell and dana milbank, thanks to both of you. thanks, al. have a great night. thanks, reverend. we finally see the end of the blago reality show, a pretty stunning sentence for him. and our block the vote series goes to florida. a state president obama took in 2008. now the voting law there is one of the toughest in the country. i wonder why. stay with us. i joined the navy when i was nineteen. i was a commissioned officer at twenty-three. i was an avionics. tactical telecommunications. squad leader. i think the hardest transition
i m not ashamed to admit that he s a christian, but you don t need to be in the pew every sin to know something is wrong in this country where gays can serve openly in the military and our kids can t openly celebrate christmas or pray in school. as president, i ll end the fight against religion and fight faith made america strong. it can make her strong again. governor, is this desperation by rick perry and others at the bottom of the polls now to try to get some attention, or are they trying to appeal to a far-right extreme to try and rejuvenate their campaigns? well, i think it s a bit of both, al. i think it s a mistake. if i were rick perry, i would be trying to knock newt gingrich down. if newt gingrich does collapse, and i agree this surge is tronger than the others, but if he does collapse, who is ready to pick up the mantle.