Pass behind the scenes at the cmas. And country superstar, luke bryan, is crashing our party. Only on gma. And we have a supercharged morning here at gma, getting ready for Country Musics hottest night. Right now, robin in the middle of it all, down in nashville. Good morning, robin. I cant remember the last time i was on a big monitor like this. Great to be back on the road again, guys. We are here. The biggest names in music all together tonight for the cma awards. And are you ready for this . We have one of the hottest stars in all of country. Hipshaking hitmaker luke bryan live with us this morning for a very special concert. And, lara, he is up for three awards tonight, including entertainer of the year. Funny you should mention that, robin, because this is big. You get to present that award, the final award of the night. I dare say, the biggest award of the evening. Are you ready, girl . Im ready. Im set. It will be fun. A long, fun day for robin. Right now, lets get to last nights election win results. Big win for Chris Christie. Boost for his residential prospects. The clintons close friend, Terry Mcauliffe, winning in virginia. The tea party taking a hit there. Jeff zeleny covering it all for us. Good morning, jeff. Reporter good morning, Chris Christie easily swept reelection, a major republican win in a democratic state, but it sure sounded like he had more than a second term of governor on his mind. Overnight, Chris Christies sweeping victory speech. How about this, new jersey . Reporter sounded more like the soaring announcement of a president ial campaign. A dispirited america, angry with their dysfunctional government in washington looks to new jersey to say, is what i think happening really happening . Reporter winning big. A 20point republican landslide in a democratic state. Doing what republicans rarely do. Winning a majority of women, latinos, and even onethird of all democrats. I know that if we can do this in trenton, new jersey, maybe the folks in washington, d. C. Should tune in their tvs right now. See how its done. Reporter a notsosubtle swipe at tea party republicans, hes competing against over the soul of the gop. Meanwhile, in virginia, a far tighter race where Terry Mcauliffe, the Democratic Power broker and confidant of bill and hillary clinton, was elected governor. There is a lot of proud democrats here tonight. Reporter it could serve as a Comingout Party for the clinton campaign, which is eyeing a run of its own, possibly against christie. Top republicans tell me they believe governor christies path to victory could serve as a road map for rebuilding the gop. But tea party fire brands are already starting to take air out of his balloon, saying new jersey is hardly a bellwether for the country. George . A lot to battle ahead there. Jeff, thanks very much. A lot of big results. New york elected its first democratic mayor since 1989. A 50point win right there. Heres another one. Portland, maine, became the first city on the east coast to legalize recreational marijuana. In colorado, they put a big tax on marijuana. But also, rejected a billiondollar tax increase. It was all supposed to pay for education, but that all went down. A lot of tea leaves. Exactly. A lot of tea leaves. Now, we turn to new details on that new jersey mall shooting. The mall is scheduled to reopen today, as we are learning more about the suspect, from those closest to him. Abcs gio benitez is in paramus with the story. Gio . Reporter good morning to you. His best friends say, he was paranoid and quiet for several weeks. Now, abc news has learned he sent bizarre Text Messages just hours before taking his own life. New details this morning about the 20yearold man who police say opened fire, causing panic and chaos at a new jersey mall, are coming from those who called him a friend. You were, perhaps, the last person to speak with him. Yeah. And i just really wish that i would have answered him. I just really do because i really think that maybe this could have gone differently. Reporter Bonnie Benedict says she feels guilty about ignoring these Text MessagesRichard Shoop sent her before the shooting at the garden state plaza. Im either going to go away for a long time, die, or make a run for it. Cops have been watching my house for the past four days now. I only have maybe one more day before they come for me. And then the last message i got from him was yesterday at 6 00. And it said, sorry. Reporter prosecutors say shoops parents found a note, showing he was deeply depressed. And that shoop used the club drug, molly, that he was a drug dealer. But friends say he worked at this pizza shop. They thought he was a happy, young man. Shoops family is now speaking out. My brother intended to harm nobody else but himself. But sadly, decided to make an act of selfindulgence by taking his own life publicly. Reporter then, theres another friend, who was inside the mall at the time of the shooting. Never once did it cross your mind that rich could be behind this . Not at all. Reporter she was completely unhurt, like the thousand others there in the mall, just before closing monday night. It took police six hours to find shoops body. They say he shot and killed himself in a secluded area of that mall. I dont know what got into him. He never told me anything about him being upset or depressed or anything was wrong. Reporter and what about those allegations of drug use . Well, his friends tell me that he did, in fact, have trouble with drugs in the past. But that he cleaned his act up. Or at least, lara, they thought he did. All right. Gio, thank you. Sad situation. We turn, now, to josh with the mornings other top stories. Good morning. Good morning. Were going to begin with whats being called of the most sophisticated bombing attacks in recent years in china. Seven explosions rocked communist Party Headquarters in the northern province. Killing one person and injuring many more. The country onedge after the apparent Suicide Attack at Tiananmen Square last week. That attack left five people dead. Also, a violent protest outside of Buckingham Palace in london. Demonstrators there, some wearing masks, launched fireworks at the palace walls, even setting a fire outside the gates, all fury coming over budget cuts there. Riot police did move in. 11 people were arrested. The faa is ordering the biggest change to Pilot Training in a quartercentury. The order comes nearly five years after the crash outside of buffalo that killed 50 people. The results you see here. The investigation revealed that the pilot misunderstood a cockpit warning and began a series of violent maneuvers. Pilots will now be required to get more realistic training in a simulator to better respond to loss of control and heavy crosswinds. And a teacher wounded in fridays attack at the Los Angeles International airport is describing his terrifying ordeal for the first time. Brian ludmer is recovering from a bullet that shattered his leg. He had been traveling to a wedding in chicago. He was going through security when the suspect spotted him standing next to two tsa agents. The suspect fired. Ludmer was struck and fell, dragged himself into a utility closet, where he feared he would bleed to death. Finally, though, he heard something. And dared to look out. The feeling of relief after hearing the voices and peeking out and seeing it was, in fact, police, was a i cant even describe it. They found a wheelchair, one of the wheelchairs that, you know, people use in the airport. Pulled me into it. And ran me out of there. Ludmer had found a sweatshirt. He tied it around his leg to stop the bleeding. Thankfully, he is expected to fully recover. And some tough times for breakfast mainstay kellogg. The Company Plans to cut some 2,000 jobs because of a steady drop in cereal sales. More americans said to be turning to yogurt and oatmeal bars. Im saying, you can join the two together. It works well for me. And finally, you can add this to tiger woods accomplishments. Hes in turkey for a local Golf Tournament there. He hit a golf ball from europe to asia. No. When youre in istanbul, its not that big of a deal. Police, as you can see, stopped the traffic on one side of the bridge. He had a driver in his hand. If you know how hes been driving of late, the cars coming at him on the other side, those were some brave drivers, indeed. Just saying. Oh. The ball did manage to find asia. At long last. Thats a cool idea. Yeah. Its great. Thanks. Were going to turn to the latest on that nfl bullying case. The Miami Dolphin accused of brutally hazing his teammate, even using racial slurs, has been suspended. Hes speaking out now, vowing to get through the investigation. Matt gutman has the story. What do you have to say about the storm youre in . Reporter this morning, the nfl player accused of bullying verbally abusing, Miami Dolphins lineman, jonathan martin, isnt saying much. No comment right now. Were going to weather the storm. And thats it. Reporter his allegedly racist rants against martin that the nfl and the Miami Dolphins are now investigating. The florida sun sentinel report this morning that coaches had asked the 63, 320pound 30yearold to toughen up his 300pound teammate. Martin skipped an allseason practice session. Incognito reportedly took it too far. Leaving a racist and expletivefilled message on martins voice mail, even threatening to kill him. The lineman ducked questions on tuesday. Theres allegations that you left voicemail on Jonathan Martins voicemail. What do you have to say about those . No comment right now. Were going to kind of weather the storm. And thats it. Reporter also on tuesday, incognito was seen inspecting a newly delivered ferrari outside his home. Martin has since left the team. And accused the dolphins of fostering an unsafe working environment. The word of when or if incognitos suspension will be lifted. For now, his attention seems to be focused on a car. For good morning america, matt gutman, abc news, houston. Now we turn to amanda knox. Big drama as her case is heard in florence, italy, right now. Raffaele sollecito wiping away tears on the strand. On crucial forensic evidence that comes nearly six years to the day that Meredith Kercher was found murdered. Lama hasan has the latest from london. Lama . Reporter good morning to you, lara. Oh, yeah. There was courtroom drama this morning when amanda knoxs former boyfriend, speaking for the First Time Since this trial began. Proclaiming his innocence. Speaking about his love for amanda. And finally breaking down in tears. The jury transfixed and listening to every word he said. As amanda knox and her former boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito are once again fighting for their innocence. For the first time in this trial, this morning, sollecito is speaking in the italian courtroom. Thanking his family and professing that knox is his first true love. Even a place in my life, he said. We had a carefree love. This flower blossomed. Emotional at times during his 20minute statement, he begs and says, quote, i am fighting every day to bring out the truth. Apologizing for not taking the charges seriously at the beginning of the first trial in 2007. Adding, i never went to parties excessively, never loved liquor. But i may have smoked a couple of joints. But that doesnt change who i am psychologically. Sollecito says the murder case has hurt him. How he cant find a job because people in italy think of him as an assassin. As for knox, she remains in seattle. Her attorney is calling this mornings testimony a victory. They requested a testing of a minuscule sample of dna found on the suspected murder weapon. Just hours ago, italys top forensic investigators formally explained the findings to the court. The dna sample is a match for amanda knox, not her alleged victim. And despite the rollercoaster ride, she says she is vowing to clear her name. No matter what people say, i didnt do it. Reporter and the trial isnt over yet. The next hearing is scheduled for november 25th. Final arguments from the prosecution. The defense will have to also present their arguments. They will have to be heard. The trial goes into the new year. And the final deliberations and the verdict is expected on january 10th. George . Lama, thanks. Were going to turn to the shocking admission from the bigcity mayor. After months of denial and some bizarre appearances, torontos rob ford came clean yesterday, admitting that he smoked crack cocaine and vowing to keep his job. Linsey davis is here with that wild story. Good morning. Reporter this is something thats dogged him since may. And all along, he has said, it wasnt true. But yesterday, after admitting he has smoked crack, he told reporters he felt two inches tall. But 1,000 pounds lighter. And he is defiant he is not stepping down. Its the confession heard around the world. Yes, i have smoked crack cocaine. Reporter rob ford, the embattled mayor of toronto, admitting his drug use after months of accusations that he had been caught on tape smoking crack. Am i an addict . No. Have i tried it . Probably in one of my drunken stupors. Reporter when the mayor of canadas biggest city called a press conference late tuesday, many speculated he was about to resign. I love my job. Reporter they were wrong. Ive apologized. And im so sorry. Reporter Toronto Police confirm ford was caught on video smoking a crack pipe. But the tape hasnt been released. Its all rather reminiscent of marion berry, the washington, d. C. Mayor convicted after he, too, was videotaped smoking croco cane. Its tough to not be scathed at all. But there is a path to comeback. And marion berry showed the way. Reporter unlike berry, Toronto Police say they dont have grounds to charge ford with any crime. But if nothing else, ford is certainly guilty of bringing a lot of unwanted attention to city hall. After abandoning his pledge to lose weight as part of a diet campaign, he slipped off the scale. It was the slip on the football field. And his verbal slipup. Dont reporter but faults and all, it was the relatability of his ordinary man image that reportedly got him into office and just may keep him there. After the announcement last week from Toronto Police, ford did, in fact, appear in the video, this is even before his admission were talking about. Fords Approval Rating increased 5 points to 44 . Hes up for reelection in october. It will be really interesting to see what toronto voters do. Can you imagine the ads in that campaign . Yeah. This is going to be for both sides. Fun to watch. And now, we turn to a miraculous survival story. A couple lost for six days in Yellowstone National park. Managing to survive, somehow on very little food, limited heat. Their car stuck in heavy snow. Abcs alex perez has the story. Reporter this morning, mark and Christine Wathke are holding on tight, after thinking they would never see their loved ones again. Seeing our family and friends again, thats what kept us alive out there. Reporter their bonechilling ordeal began october 28th, when they left Yellowstone National park, en route to miles city, montana. The gps directed them to a snowy stretch of highway. But it was closed, due to the treacherous conditions. We never saw any road closed signs. We never saw any barricades. It went from snow to drifts. Reporter their car got stuck. They tried sand, tree limbs, anything to get the tires traction. But nothing worked. Temperatures plummeted below zero. I was unpacking everything in our suitcases. And piling them on. With eight pieces of bread. Nine bottles of water. And half a jar of jelly. And eight packets of oatmeal. Reporter convinced they would not survive, they wrote letters to their friends and families. I wrote to them what they meant to me. And just letting them know that i loved them. Reporter on monday, ranger troy barrett ventured out in his snowmobile in search of the missing couple. His wife had read about them on facebook. Yes, yes. Reporter this morning, back home in wisconsin. Out of the cold, and feeling the warmth. For good morning america, alex perez, abc news, chicago. So glad they are okay. Now, lets turn to the weather. Sam champion. Snow, snow, everywhere. First punch of measurable snow. Were going to show you a picture while we talk about the other areas. This is the picture that got our attention. Its Steamboat Springs, in colorado, by the way. Theyve had about two feet of snow in the last week. Nine inches, the last hit of snow. This is a window to a lot of the countrys future as we step in toward the winter months. There were about 300plus, 200plus, snow reports. Each one of these is a trained weather spotter who calls in and said yes, we revealed some snow in the area. Were getting that hit of snow in michigan today, too. Its a long line of it, by the way. Heres where the temperatures are warm and comfortable. Good morning, atlanta. New york city to boston. 59 in boston. 63 in new york city. A nice, mild pattern of air ahead of that front. That will change. Well go over all that. We have weather to talk about in the next half hour. All that weather was brought to you by toys r us. The last look at the map. You can see where the trouble spots are. Its pretty obvious. I spotted that in burbank. And coming up on gma, the latest in the highstakes trial of a doctor charged with murdering his wife. What he said to other inmates behind bars. Also ahead, the young man jailed for almost a decade for a murder he didnt commit. This morning, his fight for freedom almost over. When he could be released. And unofficial weather spotter. Tom cruise, on a mission to prove hes a good father. Robin in nashville. Country musics biggest night. Stay with us. That came around to the front of my body. And the pain from it was it was excruciating. I did not