i'm wolf blitzer. you're in "the situation room." what's the latest on the fight between the front-runners. >> reporter: wolf, it's pretty clear last night's debate touched off a very personal tone in the race for the gop nomination. that's because there's a lot riding on the next several days. >> i hope you watched the debate last night. it was kind of fun. >> reporter: the morning after the debate, mitt romney had a smile on his face, swinging away at rick santorum. >> i don't know that i've ever seen a politics explain why he voted against his -- >> you're entitled to your opinions, but not entitled to misrepresenting the facts. >> i took that at aim. >> romney took aim at his performance. when le tried to justify his vote for the no child left behind law -- >> sometimes you take one for the team for the leader, and i made a mistake. politics is a team sport, folks. >> in front of a big crow, romney knocked that one into the blea bleachers. >> i wonder what team he was taking it for. >> reporter: but the santorum campaign is fighting back. blasting out to reporters this video, pointing out romney wants back no child left behind's well. that is -- santorum is says suggesting there may be a secret alliance between romney and ron paul. >> he has to go long to get along but that's the problem with washington. >> by contrast, paul rarely takes jabs at romney with the debate. after that, what rand paul told a kentucky radio station earlier this week that he would be honored to be romney's running mate in the fall. santorum couldn't resist. a new poll showing santorum and romney neck and neck in michigan explains why the rice could get bloody. it could lead to a brokered convince this summer, a possibility gingrich surrogate and texas governor rick perry acknowledged in the spin room. >> could it go all the way to the convention? >> oh, it could. >> all for all that talk, both romney and the paul campaigns are laughing it off, a romney adviser called it whining silline silliness. considering mitt romney's love for "seinfeld" i guess you would call this ad a rerun, wolf. >> very funny. all right. thanks very much, jim acosta reporting for us. gas prices are increasingly becoming a major campaign issue, the average price jumped more than three cents overnight. it's un10% so far this year, thanks in part to the tension with iran. take a look at this web ad by the republican national committees using the clip of president obama singing this week over at the white house ♪ baby don't you want to go ♪ c'mon ♪ baby don't you want to go the republican national committee is responsible for the content of this advertising. let's go to our white house correspondent briana keilar, she's in miami where the president was trying to fend off some of that criticism. is the white house beginning to feel the heat on this very, very sensitive issue? >> there was clearly a lot of concern. specifically he seemed to take aim at newt gingrich and his promise of $23950 a gallon gas when he talked about phony election year promising on gas prices. he slammed republicans, saying they're capitalizing on bad news. >> last week the lead stories in one newspaper said gasoline prices are on the rise, and republicans are licking their chops. only in politics do they look for bad news. you pay more, they're licking their chops. you can bet since it's an election year they're dusting off their three-point plan for $2 gas. step one is to drill, step 2 is to drill, step 3 is to keep drilling. >> it is very much a battle for the message president obama here today claiming credit for domestic oil production as the republicans blame his energy prices. i spoke with an independent energy analyst today who really question theed veracity of both those claims sailing it will be years better you could -- but also saying that the bush at march deserves seven of that credit. >> reporter: he said there was no silver bullet to solve the problem. he was pointing to some of the external factors causing the spike in gas prices, iran, increased demand from china and india. the administration did today did announce new research dollars for natural gas and biofuels, but the president didn't even mention them in his speech. instead this was very much a rebuttal, a defense as the high gas prices threaten the economic recovery, and also his bid for reelection. >> i'll be speaking with david axelrod. we'll get his reaction to all of this, the gas price issue and the debate last night and the tough angry rhetoric. david axelrod, brianna, thanks very much. let's dig deeper. ali velshi is joining us. put this into perspective for us. how bad is it right now? >> the issue here is the spike. right now nationwide we're paying about 3.61 for a gallon of unleaded. the issue is how much it's gone up. 3.5 cents overnight, we've seen a 10% increase over the course of the last -- you know, sing the beginning of the year. what's driving it higher? we don't see an increase in demand. if it's not a supply issue, what's the problem? wyche seen prices go up. those oil prices are going up in part because of the concerns, but we'll have to dig deeper. you can get, though, wolf, a lot of people are -- people who think the price of over and gasoline will go up. >> if i knew the answer, i would be calling this it from my yacht. usually you see it increase steadily in spring, and demand everybody has upended in the last several years. traditionally you would say from now until spring you would see prices going up, but that would be witchcraft for me to try to figure out the answer. >> i'm looking forward to joining us on the yacht. >> you're always welcome. >> very much. deadly fallout from the burning of copies of the koran. u.s. officials say two u.s. troops were killed by a man wearing an afghan national uniform. amid protests outside bagram airfield where officials say muslim religious material was destroyed by mistake. the president has sent a letter to the president karzai pal jesusing for what he called an knead versant error. in iraq a series of attacks has killed at least had 4 people, injured more than 200. they took place within a two-hour time frame in baghdad, mosul and other cities, included suicide bombings, as well as gunmen. officials blamed mill tans, they say the militants were trying to undermine confidence in the iraqi army and the police. there's been a dramatic rise in coordinated attacks since u.s. troops left iraq at the end of last year. the uproar over contraception turns into mitt cal theater on capitol hill, as democrats hold an unofficial hearing with just one witness. also the interview question that made president obama bristle, saying, and i'm quoting him now -- i'm not the king. plus some of sarah palin's closest advisers have harsh words about a new hbo movie about the former vice presidential nominee. if there was a pill to help protect your eye health as you age... would you take it? 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[ male announcer ] it's sweet. it's nutty. it's absolutely delicious. kellogg's crunchy nut. it's morning somewhere. jack cafferty is here. >> they play manage to lose an election they well could have won against a weakened incumbent in a troubled economy, which is why a lot of republicans are dissatisfied with the state of the gop race for the president and with the remaining candidates. mitt romney has all the money in the world and still can't get the party to line up behind him. newt gingrich seems to have done himself in. ron paul has rabid supporters, just not enough to make a difference. and of course rick santorum, the current flavor of the month, who has a history of controversial comments, including about satan and who lost his own u.s. senate seat in pennsylvania by double digits. it is no wonder some republicans are still looking for a savior. a new quinnipiac poll shows that new jersey governor chris christie is the top choice among republicans if there winds up being a brokered convention. christie gets 32% support, followed by former governor sarah palin and jeb bush at 20%, and indiana governor mitch daniels at 15%. one of the reasons a lot of people, including me, like chris christie is because he's such a straight talker. most recently he told warren buffett, to, quote, write a check and shut up. christie is a romney supporter who insists he's not interested in running himself, which is too bad. who with save the republican party from itself? that's the question. post a comment on my blog or to go the post on "the situation room's" facebook page. wolf? jack, thank you. restoration act. this has both sides on capitol hill going back and forth on the issue. today was the democrats' turn, calling on a female witness to testify this in response to an all-male panel that testified last week. our correspondent dana bash is covering all these developments. she's up on capitol hill. what's the latest, dana? >> the lacest is that congress is not in session, so this hearing was a partisan event. democrats brought this one witness that promoted the idea, one lawmakers said she was, quote, out of central casting. >> 100% of those who give birth and plan their families are women. there was not one single woman on that panel. what is wrong with this picture? >> if this were a hearing a prostate cancer and there was a lineup of women and no men i guarantee you, men would not have stuck around, because they would have said to themselves, c'mon, give me a brea. >> at issue, the obama administration controversial -- even at religiously affiliated institutions. democrats say it's critical for women's health. it's one reason chairman dare issa refused democrats' request to let sandra fluke, a 24-year-old george town university law student testify last week. >> the minority chose the witness we had not found to be appropriate or qualified. >> because catholic institutions denied coverage for the pill. >> without her taking the birth control, a massive cysted size of a tennis ball had grown on her ovary. she had to have surgery to remove it as a result. >> so much political theater, the room erupted with applause for fluke several times. >> democratic sources say the issue is helping rad cat critical female voters. >> to convince people the fight here has been about contraception. >> reporter: democrats spent as much time piling on darrell issa. >> can you think of any reason why he would be so adamant that your voice should not be heard? >> i think unfortunately chairman issa's head is where i don't want to go. >> reporter: issa decline to respond, but congressman jeff fortberry did. >> the -- which the original hearing does not restrict access to any legal drug or procedure in america. it simply addresses the -- just liberties. >> that republican argument is effectively wages war became such a probably democrats in the how, they think this issue was a business political plus. back into the fold into the democratic party. >> i think you're right, dana. i don't think this issue will go away. this is going to be out there for some time to come. thanks very much. republican an tomorrow is getting shaky reviews, did he come across as too much of a washington insider? plus a police officer caught stealing people's lunches. wait until you hear his excuse. a lot of thing can go wrong on live tv, but what happened to this tampa reporter is not usually one of them. > lisa sylvester is monitoring top stories this afternoon. outrage is swelling around the world. >> that's right, wolf. we begin with gripping amateur video of tanks firing -- the rocket narrowly missing the camera. a u.n. report now accuses the highest levels of syrian government of severe violence. opposition forces say thousands have died in the conflict, as the u.n. calls for immediate political dialogue to end the cries. international groups plan to meet in tunisia to demand humanitarian access be given to syrian civilians. two military choppers collide in flight, killing seven on board. investigators are looking into last night's crash neuroyuma. six of the marines were from camp pendleton. a spokeswoman says they were preparing to deploy for afghanistan. the leaders sell his'd likely have a cancerous legion in the same place as the one he had removed last year. he said if the tumor is malignant, another round of chemo would surely slow him down. this is just seven months before the presidential election. and high gas prices becomes action-packed. two cars slam into each other right behind wfla's adrian peterson. she didn't miss a beat. the driverssh despite the looks, authorities say there were only minor injuries. a man in blue cause red 47bded. a texas police department september up secret surveillance and found one of their own raiding the fridge. he took people's lunches, drinks, even 660 pounds of deer sausage. the officer told investigators that he was just trying to clean out the fridge because no one else would do it. wow, look at those pictures, though, wolf. >> 60 pounds of deer sausage. >> do you like it? >> i've never had it. confession, wolf. never had deer sausage. me either. >> the president of the united states is hitting back at republicans who want to replace him. president obama's campaign is using the auto bailout as evidence of why michigan should support him rather than his rivals. sarah palin's fans usually enjoy seeing her name in lights, but not when it comes to a new movie. syria's government isn't making it easy for journalists to cover the war. how far they go to show the rebellion up close. hey, did you ever finish last month's invoices? sadly, no. oh. but i did pick up your dry cleaning and had your shoes shined. well, i made you a reservation at the sushi place around the corner. well, in that case, i better get back to these invoices... which i'll do right after making your favorite pancakes. you know what? i'm going to tidy up your side of the office. i can't hear you because i'm also making you a smoothie. [ male announcer ] marriott hotels & resorts knows it's better for xerox to automate their global invoice process so they can focus on serving their customers. with xerox, you're ready for real business. can you enjoy vegetables with sauce so they can focus on serving their customers. and still reach your weight loss goals? you can with green giant frozen vegetables. over twenty delicious varieties have sixty calories or less per serving and are now weight watchers-endorsed. try green giant frozen vegetables with sauce. there's another way to minimize litter box odor: purina tidy cats. our premium litters now work harder to help neutralize odors in multiple cat homes. purina tidy cats. keep your home smelling like home. let's talk about cnn's arizona republican debate last night. joining us in our strategy session, the democratic strategist paul begala and republican strategist terry holt. let me play a clip, mitt romney going after rick santorum and mentioning this. listen to this, guys. >> let's not forget that four years ago well after romney care was put in place, four years ago he not only endorsed me, laura ingraham said these the guy that's really conservative and we can trust him. >> what was impressive, terry, the opposition research that mitt romney had going into this debate. he clearly was well prepared. >> he was. this is deja vu, remember back in florida, mitt romney went on the air, on the attack against newt gingrich at that time. he had his facts straight. he was sharp, incisive, on an issue that he knows well, the economy, lower taxes, and so he had probably his best day since he won florida yesterday i think, wolf. >> how did he do, paul, from your perspective? we're talking about mitt romney. >> he did very well. he had a game plan and then executed successfully. they have to go out and execute. romney executed flawlessly. he went away rick santorum voting for title x assistance when romney himself planned an i a planned parenthood rally. he attacked earmarks though he got earmarks for the olympics he led in salt lake city. he continually stayed on the offense instead of defending himself. that's the sign of a good debate. >> terry, i felt he spoke like a real washington insider. let me give you a few examples. >> i did say there were good earmarks and bad. we wouldn't have the v-22 osp y osprey. i've never supported it, and on an individual basis voted against it. that's why i proposed title 20 to counterbalance it. >>. >> we're talking real bark speak here. >> i already had forgotten he was a united states senator, but last night i was reminded of that very clearly. this is the obvious pitfall of a senator running for the presidency. his record is there for everyone to see, to pick apart. it's just hard to square clear political rhetoric on the campaign trail with the muddier, more complex world of being a united states senator. >> even me -- i don't know about, paul, but i've been an insider for a long, long time, but i got lost in title x, title 2 xx, all that kind of stuff. >> in our history, david gergen actually made this point last night. in our history we've had 44 presidents, only have come directly out of united states senate. as a rule, we don't make senators president. yes, barack obama is the president and john f. kennedy. >> but he wasn't a senator for very long. >> for about five minutes. had he stayed, he would have diminished hi chances. we tend to makes governors, civil wash generals as presidents. he's a terribly smart guy, rick santorum. i think he knows romney-care better than romney does, but last night he got caught in the weeds of nomenclature of washington. >> that's true. if it had been about obamacare, this may have been turned out very differently, but the fact of the matter is, because romney ruled the day with his tax plan, obama was talking about taxes on the same day. the issues just pivoted to the wrong thing for santorum at the wrong moment. >> terry, quickly give me one piece of advice for santorum. what does he need to do? >> boy, god, if i was doing that, i would already be president myself. i think he's in a tough spot, as long as the campaign was about social issues, and about his outsider status, he had an advantage. i think michigan becomes very tough now and super tuesday ain't so super for him. you've got massachusetts, ohio and other places where he's going to have to compete against a stronger romney operation. >> paul, listen to this ad, this is an ad the obam that campaign is now airing in michigan. >> when a mill jon jobs were on the line, every republican candidate turned their back, even said let detroit go bankrupt. not him. don't bet against the american auto industry. >> now a retooled, restructured industry is back because of the grip and sacrifice of michigan workers. >> don't bet against the american worker. >> i'm barack obama, and i approved this message. >> isn't it early, though, paul, for him to be running ads in michigan? the election isn't until november. >> yes, but there was a poll out in "the des moines register" on sunday that showed him trailing all -- even ron paul is beating president obama in iowa. why? because the republicans were able to attack him unanswered. the president, his allies, we've got an ad up there as well, i don't think the president can afford to let the attacks go unanswered. that bailout is a great american story. it was controversial, courageous, and guess wh