in secret service prostitution scandal and growing disgust on capitol hill. lawmakers say expect more secret service employees to resign or be fired soon, and the more details congress learns about a night of heavy drinking and hiring escorts in columbia, the more outrage. >> it is a stunning thing, actually disgusting. those people that are responsible have brought disgrace and it is disgusting. >> people that are here to protect the president, they go to columbia, have a fight over a prostitute over how much to be paid? that's either very stupid or total lack of common sense. >> congressional correspondent dana bash is on the hill. what are we learning? >> reporter: the idea of whether or not the rest of the 11 secret service members are going to go, is a big question. i talked to lawmakers that say their sense is the answer is yes, and their sense is because they have been talking to the secret service director, but it is an open question when that will happen. the understanding according to lawmakers and other sources i talk to is they're getting push back from some of the secret service members, saying they don't believe they violated rules or broke code. the other issue is in some cases, dismissals are delayed because of conflicting stories. but the other thing is whether or not it is appropriate for the secret service to really be effectively investigating themselves. for the most part, not all lawmakers, but most of them are actually saying yes, it is okay for now, they have confidence the secret service can do this the right way. this is something we don't see much on capitol hill for the most part. there's a scandal and members of congress and both parties and both sides of the capitol jump on it, want public hearings. this time they're saying not so fast, we'll get the information first. one committee hired four investigators on their own to dig into what went on. >> one senior member of one of the committees that could get involved, elijah cummings from maryland. >> people said to me look, cummings, if they would try to kill reagan, i know they'll try to do harm to this president. i hear that all the time. >> this fear among black caucus members predates the columbia debok he will. does congress see any connection or worries that it intensified? >> he didn't specifically say that, but it is what he is suggesting. i said right after that to be blunt, are you talking about the fact you're worried that the president is the first african-american president? i said i am going to leave it there. this has always been a concern. what congressman cummings did say, his concern is that the armor of the secret service has been pierced. you travel with the secret service as do i. the idea that the secret service is out there could deter poe tepgs people that want to harm the president. his point is there are people that say i can get in there with prostitutes or other ways, maybe the president could be harmed in the future. >> dana bash, reporting on this information. turning to the race to the white house. new polls explain the tougher political tone from the president and white house team in reseptember days. new numbers from the "the new york times" show president obama and mitt romney in a dead heat, both 46% nationally. gloria borger is here. they go through a bloody primary, still technically not over. the president has no primary opponent, he is above the fray, and why? >> it is clear that republicans are start to go coalesce around mitt romney. the other thing is the precarious state of the economy, john, when you look further into the cbs, "the new york times" poll, what's interesting, voters are split whether president obama or mitt romney would be a better steward of the economy. and what do they care about? they care about the economy. they like president obama an awful lot more than they like mitt romney. but in the end, they want somebody they believe can fix their economic problems, and that's what it is going to come down to, and that's why it's close. >> so you get tougher tone from the white house, because at the moment, voters are looking at the obama record, not necessarily all his fault, but the state of the country, state of the economy, state of gas prices, you have like ability versus performance? >> that's right. the president's likability is higher than job approval. that's the key to the romney campaign. what they're going back to, okay, this was candidate obama in 2008. here is what he promised he would do for you. and by the way, here is what he hasn't done for you, going back to a state like ohio, for example, having senator portman on later. mitt romn mitt romney went there today to talk about problems that still remain in that state after president obama ran in that state and made promises. >> a magazine or history lesson here. four years ago, a few months before she was john mccain's running mate, time where not many knew who she was, there is sarah palin on the pages of vogue. nice fashion spread in front of an airplane, with another picture in alaska. low and behold a few months later, on the republican ticket. fast forward. look at this from current issue of vogue. that would be nikki haley, republican governor of the south carolina, some think has an outside shot. good idea, bad idea? >> i think what nikki haley is trying to do is sell books. she has an auto biography out there she has been flanking. it is a high visibility magazine, you want to appeal to women voters, women read vogue. i looked at a list of famous women that had been in vogue also politicians. the u.s. ambassador tote u.n., susan rice, hillary clinton, jill biden, on and on. >> not joe biden? >> not joe biden, but i wouldn't say you have to be involved, but at this point it doesn't hurt. >> dying to see how that plays back home. see how that plays. >> didn't say it didn't hurt in south carolina. >> gloria, thanks. what does the president's re-election team think of the turn for the worse in his case in the polls. with us live from chicago, stephanie cutter. stephanie, have you ever been in vogue? >> yes! not like that though. >> let's turn serious. when you look at tightening numbers. i know everyone on the team top down says it will be a tough race, it will not be 2008. when you look at the numbers when it comes to handling of the economy, who can create jobs, who would be best to deal with gas prices, issues that are front and center in voters' minds, guess what, the other guy is winning, even though he had a bloody primary campaign. why? >> you said it, john, that this is a contest between likability and job performance. one thing they haven't been exposed to is mitt romney's job performance. they don't understand what he did at bain capital or what happened in massachusetts where he left government, left the state with higher debt, bigger government, and 47th out of 50th in job creation, with manufacturing jobs leaving the state at twice the rate of any other state in the country. you know, those are the facts of his job performance. they weren't covered in the primary. they will be covered in the general. voters will be exposed to it. these polls tell me that there's a lot they don't know about mitt romney. but the fundamentals are really strong. in "the new york times" poll, 60% don't believe mitt romney has no idea what's going on in their lives and can't relate to him, that's an important number, and the gender gap, and gap with hispanic americans, that all means something in this race now. >> you mentioned what they don't know about mitt romney, whether he can connect to them, i agree on whether he could connect to them is key in this campaign going forward. the romney campaign sees a deliberate effort by your team and even the president to sharpen that contrast. the president said i wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. governor romney took it as a shot as his family's wealth. he said i am not apologizing, my dad was poor and amassed his fortune, and on the trail he said this. >> his failures mean his campaign is not going to be about vision, it is going to be about division. he is going to be focusing on different americans, trying to scapegoat other people for his own failures. you will see him attack success day-in and day-out. >> and governor romney says any time anyone raises an issue with the president, he blames someone else. >> well, john, you know that's not true. the silver spoon comment, the president made that comment many times as part of his speeches on the economy and on what we need to do to make the economy last where everybody gets a fair shot at success. that's what that means. in ohio, talking about what we have done to increase worker training, job training, so people can go on if they lost their job, they can get a new and better job that pays higher wages, as opposed to romney who cut worker wages. mitt romney is wrong, we're not attacking or dividing, we're simply pointing out our vision of the economy versus mitt romney's version of the economy. we don't believe the economy grows giving to the top and let it trickle down. we think it grows from middle up. that's a stark difference in this race. that doesn't mean we're dividing anybody. that's our vision of the economy, that's reflected in the polls, other number in "the new york times" poll, who is looking out for me and my life. barack obama wins that in "the new york times" poll and your poll, and there's a reason for that. that's because mitt romney doesn't relate to them, doesn't put forth vision or policies that will make a difference in their lives. >> stephanie, we'll see you quite a bit 207 days, 208 days. >> and counting. >> lost count. i am sure you haven't. stephanie, thanks, see you soon. when it comes to being vice president, marco rubio says he doesn't want the job, but the florida senator says he knows who would be perfect for mitt romney. who? it is a fellow senator. and he joins us next. and whether the stand your ground law contributed to the death of trayvon martin. 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(sfx:engine revving drowns out gecko's dialogue) then he... then he... fx:loud drilling noise continues to drown out gecko's dialogue) then he... .and a quarter cup of neapple juice. or was that the secret to his barbecue sauce? hey, "secret" sauce. geico®. fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance. it's real milk full of calcium and vitamin d. and tastes simply delicious. for those of us with lactose intolerance... lactaid® milk. the original 100% lactose-free milk. take a look. i have a newspaper for you. this is the front page of the chronicle telegram in lorraine county, ohio. mitt romney and president obama gave speeches within a day of each other, a must win state. maybe that's why almost every gop insider you talk to says ohio senator rob portman would be a great choice to be mitt romney's running mate. he got a ringing endorsement from someone many conservatives say should get that number two spot. >> senator rob portman would be phenomenal choice for vice president. that's where i would encourage them to look. >> is romney portman the right ticket? does that have a good ring to it? >> i think rubio has a better ring. maybe ryan. >> now, the process has started. a lot of people say the traditional school was get someone who locks you up a state, and they think rob portman would lock up ohio. no president has won without winning ohio. smart pick, right? >> would help in ohio. i think he is going to win ohio because the top issue in ohio is jobs and the economy. it is true in lorraine county, where there is 8.7% unemployment, people are looking around for some leadership. i think mitt romney has a good opportunity to win. broemd won last time. >> would he have a better chance with portman on the ticket? >> i don't think so. i am going to help him all i can. i think the key thing is going to be who has the better plan. and when you look at the record, obama administration and what mitt romney is offering, which is a new way to approach the economy and new way to get jobs going, i think he is going to get independent voters, moderate republicans and moderate democrats that voted for president obama to look to him. >> i want to get to some of the proposals in a minute. want to ask about this. every politician has an ego. yours, i have known you a long time, is considerably smaller than others that are around. that's a compliment. i want to ask you if this bothers you. we asked republican voters and independents that leaned republican, whose your choice. condoleezza rice was first. santorum, christie, rubio, ryan, jindal, you were an asterisk, less than one half of 1% want rob portman. has to t you off a bit. >> it is our approach to the economy and i think it is not surprising. condi rice, another great pick. i talked to her about it, she is not interested. >> everybody says they're not interested. >> well -- >> you say you're not interested. i don't think you would say no if the phone call came. >> look, i think there are a lot of good choices. frankly, people vote for the person at the top of the ticket. >> is there a book people that are being considered for vice president are supposed to say? >> maybe i would have more choices. >> let me move to more issues. you were budget chief in the bush administration. one of the questions has been, you know, what should happen here to deal with the deficit and fairness. want you to list tone the president of the united states, pushing the buffett rule. >> this was supported by a strong majority of the american people, including nearly half the republicans. majority of millionaires supporting it. and senate republicans didn't listen. they refuse to let it come up for a vote. >> if you look at the polling, american people are on his side, including a good chunk of republicans. why not. >> because he says it is deficit reduction, it is not. it has a minimal effect. would pay for one week of interest on the national debt. it is not about deficit reduction. he is also sold it as he did yesterday as helping to somehow grow the economy. well, just the opposite, because what you're doing is taxing capital gains income. that's what wealthier people pay. when you tax that, you don't help the economy, you hurt it. president kennedy, reagan, president bush believed we should have lower rate for capital gains. the president disagrees with that. it is not going to help on the fiscal condition or the economy. it is obviously good politics, that's why he is doing it. let's talk about the budget. the president proposed a budget this year. last year proposed something, took it to the floor, loss by 97-0 vote. not even a democrat would vote it. this year lost by vote of 414-0. not a single democrat or republican supported it. people are looking for leadership. when they understand the fact this is not leadership, this is about politics, i don't think he sees those numbers. >> fund raisers the other day, they say romney was kicking around ideas, not his proposals, but thinking out loud. he said take away second mortgage interest, couldn't do it for a second home. take away state income tax deduction, state property tax deduction. you mention the buffett would put a dent in. >> we need fundamental tax reform. romney is right about that. what president obama is doing is complicating the code, putting another alternative minimum tax in place, saying we ought not have capital rates on investment, which is bad for the economy. instead, reform the tax code. then it is the wealthier that take advantage of loopholes, tax breaks. that would have a better impact on the economy. why? you would have progrowth tax reform which would generate more economic activity. economists across the board say that, which would lead to more revenue. >> you could write that handbook. one of the things we're supposed to say. we'll talk more as the campaign goes on. thank you. coming up, the truth why being in a dead heat or behind is a win for mitt romney. and small plane loops above the gulf of mexico for hours before crashing. the pilot unresponsive. new questions about what happened in the cockpit. [ male announcer ] if you want a luxury car with a standard power moon roof, standard keyless access, and standard leather-trimmed seats, then your choice is obvious. the lexus es. it's complete luxury in a class full of compromises. see your lexus dealer. ♪ ♪ and the flowers and the trees all laugh when you walk by ♪ ♪ and the neighbors' kids... what does being true to yourself have to do with being healthy? everything. ♪ but you're not ♪ you're the one ♪ one, one, one, one, one ♪ the one ♪ one, one, one, one, one ♪ the one ♪ one, one, one... how did the nba become the hottest league on the planet? by building on the cisco intelligent network they're able to serve up live video, and instant replays, creating fans from berlin to beijing. what can we help you build? nice shot kid. the nba around the world built by the only company that could. cisco. welcome back. here is mary snow with the latest news you need to know right now. hey, mary. >> hey, john. a black hawk helicopter crashed in afghanistan, it went down in an area that included the hell man province. a u.s. official says all four were likely killed, all americans. the crash took place in bad weather, but the official says they can't rule out enemy action. a plane with its unrespops i have pilot inside crashes into the gulf of mexico. the twin engine cessna circled above the gulf more than two hours before hitting the water. it was on route from slie dell, louisiana to sarasota, florida. the pilot's condition is unclear. the coast guard says an investigation is currently under way. ♪ his voice and drumming were unmistakable. levon helm died. he was suffering from throat cancer, was 71 years old. a distinctive voice he had. >> big fan. that's a big loss. >> it is. >> thank you so much. see you later. up next, the defendant in the trayvon martin case has a bond hearing with a new judge presiding. and later, continued bloodshed in syria defy a ceasefire. 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[ whirring and beeping ] it's the at&t network -- doing more with data to help business do more for customers. ♪ how did i get here? dumb luck? or good decisions? ones i've made. ones we've all made. about marriage. children. money. about tomorrow. here's to good decisions. who matters most to you says the most about you. massmutual is owned by our policyholders so they matter most to us. massmutual. we'll help you get there. this half hour, the pentagon says all options are on the table in syria, hinting at a military role to stop the crackdown. is it a bluff or policy shift. new scrutiny of a florida law let's you shoot anyone, anywhere if it is in self defense. the trayvon martin case