Detecting language using up to the first 30 seconds. Use `--language` to specify the language Detected language: English [00:00.000 --> 00:04.680] Anywhere and any way you want learn more at xfinity.com [00:16.400 --> 00:23.920] Another poll in Iowa shows Mitt Romney and Ron Paul leading the Republican field. Good evening [00:23.920 --> 00:31.720] I'm Jim Lara and I'm Jeffrey Brown on the news hour tonight from Des Moines Judy Woodruff has the latest on the GOP race [00:32.760 --> 00:38.400] With just three days left until the presidential caucuses more than a third of Iowa [00:38.640 --> 00:43.040] Republicans say they still don't know whom they'll vote for so candidates and their [00:43.400 --> 00:47.000] Organizations are working overtime to get their supporters out [00:47.000 --> 00:54.240] Judy talked with five of those undecided Iowans about what will determine their choices on Tuesday night [00:54.440 --> 00:59.020] Plus mark shields here and David Brooks in Iowa analyzed the week's news [00:59.480 --> 01:01.480] then Elizabeth bracket of [01:01.760 --> 01:03.360] WTTW Chicago [01:03.360 --> 01:10.720] Reports on the surprising rise of poverty in the suburban neighborhoods of one of the nation's wealthiest counties [01:10.720 --> 01:17.000] It's exploded. It has gone from something that was rarely encountered in this community [01:17.320 --> 01:24.440] To an issue that we encounter every day and race wires looks at marriage trends in America as fewer couples [01:24.440 --> 01:27.480] Tie the knot and those who do are older than ever [01:28.400 --> 01:30.880] That's all ahead on tonight's news hour [01:32.200 --> 01:36.200] major funding for the PBS NewsHour has been provided by [01:36.200 --> 01:43.720] Intelligent Computing Technology is making its way into everything from cars to retail signs to hospitals creating new enriching experiences [01:44.720 --> 01:49.360] Through Intel's philosophy of investing for the future. We're helping to bring these new capabilities to market [01:49.840 --> 01:56.840] We're investing billions of dollars in R&D around the globe to help create the technologies that we hope will be the heart of tomorrow's innovations. I [01:56.840 --> 02:05.840] Believe that by investing today in technological advances here at Intel. We can help make a better tomorrow [02:07.560 --> 02:10.480] And by BNSF Railway [02:11.280 --> 02:17.480] The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation working to solve social and environmental problems at home and around the world [02:17.480 --> 02:25.120] And with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations and [02:28.640 --> 02:32.240] This program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting [02:33.360 --> 02:38.320] And by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you [02:39.320 --> 02:41.320] Thank you [02:41.320 --> 02:48.240] You Republican presidential candidate spent another long day hunting for votes in Iowa [02:48.240 --> 02:55.120] They were heading into the final weekend before the presidential election season officially opens with Tuesday night's caucuses [02:56.800 --> 03:04.320] The weather turned colder and windy but Mitt Romney warmed to his audience as another new poll this one from NBC [03:04.320 --> 03:06.480] Marist showed him pacing the field [03:06.480 --> 03:11.780] If you can get out here in this cold and this wind and a little bit of rain coming down [03:12.040 --> 03:16.700] Then you can sure get out on Tuesday night and you could sure find a few people to bring with you [03:16.720 --> 03:23.560] One key supporter showed up today, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie campaigning with Romney in West Des Moines [03:23.560 --> 03:25.560] It really energizes me the young people [03:26.080 --> 03:30.620] Texas Congressman Ron Paul was either tied for first or a close second [03:30.620 --> 03:36.420] But 41% in the NBC poll said his libertarian leanings make him unacceptable [03:37.540 --> 03:42.260] Newt Gingrich had been the Iowa front-runner just a few weeks back but has fallen far behind [03:42.820 --> 03:47.100] In Des Moines today remembering his late mother's mental health problems [03:47.100 --> 03:52.220] He grew emotional and my whole emphasis on brain science comes in directly from dealing [03:54.900 --> 03:56.620] See how you push [03:56.620 --> 04:02.620] From dealing with you know, the real problems of real people in my family [04:02.620 --> 04:08.440] And so it's not a theory. It's in fact, you know, my mother this is very personal for me [04:08.860 --> 04:16.140] It's not just political. It's not just public the moment recalled Hillary Clinton's emotional moment just before the [04:16.500 --> 04:24.500] 2008 Democratic primary in New Hampshire. She went on to win there back in Iowa former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum [04:24.500 --> 04:29.340] Continued pressing to add to his late surge. He's now running third [04:30.700 --> 04:36.820] Another former front-runner, Texas Governor Rick Perry was running fourth or fifth depending on the poll [04:36.820 --> 04:41.780] I mean the day that President Obama came into office and Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann [04:41.980 --> 04:45.340] Lost two top staffers this week was trailing the field [04:45.980 --> 04:51.080] She discounted the low turnout at a meet-and-greet event in early, Iowa this afternoon [04:51.080 --> 04:56.440] Our effort wasn't to bring crowds out. We were just dropping in as the weekend arrived [04:56.440 --> 05:04.840] The race in Iowa remained fluid many likely caucus goers said they were still deciding on which candidate to support come Tuesday [05:05.400 --> 05:12.000] Judy Woodruff is in Iowa reporting for us through the voting next Tuesday night. I spoke with her a short time ago in Des Moines [05:13.080 --> 05:18.600] So Judy for a long time. It seemed Mitt Romney wasn't going to fight that hard in Iowa, but no more right? [05:18.600 --> 05:25.640] Well, that's right Jeff, it looks that way with the first thing we need to say is what a large number of undecided voters [05:25.880 --> 05:29.640] There still are in Iowa and you'll hear a little bit more about that in a minute when you see the interview [05:29.640 --> 05:31.640] I did with some voters last night [05:31.640 --> 05:36.680] But having said that you are right Mitt Romney on top in two of the most recent polls [05:37.280 --> 05:41.920] Right at around 25 percent that seems to be so far a ceiling for him [05:41.920 --> 05:45.240] That's the same percentage of the vote Mitt Romney had four years ago [05:45.240 --> 05:50.800] when he lost because at that point the conservative vote in Iowa was [05:51.040 --> 05:54.080] Coalescing around one candidate Mike Huckabee this time [05:54.080 --> 05:59.920] The conservative vote is looking around spread among four or five different candidates [05:59.920 --> 06:05.720] That's working to Mitt Romney's advantage and Jeff I should say right hot on his heels or Ron Paul [06:06.040 --> 06:13.900] The libertarian attracting a lot of younger voters and and as you also mentioned Rick Santorum stressing his Christian conservative [06:13.900 --> 06:19.020] Views and maybe all that work that Rick Santorum has put into Iowa may be paying off [06:19.020 --> 06:24.820] Well, tell me about Ron Paul speaking of Ron Paul. You were at an event of his last night. Now, what did you see? [06:24.940 --> 06:26.940] Where is the support coming from? [06:28.060 --> 06:29.740] It is coming from there [06:29.740 --> 06:36.340] It's traditional that a chunk of Iowa the Iowa Republican vote tends to be libertarian [06:36.340 --> 06:39.460] And of course that is Ron Paul's philosophy [06:39.460 --> 06:46.580] So that it's a lot of it is young people college students you go to a college campus you talk to many of them [06:46.580 --> 06:50.300] They're very excited about Ron Paul. His vote is very enthusiastic [06:50.820 --> 06:53.460] It's loyal. They are going to turn out [06:53.460 --> 07:00.460] The question is how large are they because there's a there's a sizable percentage of Iowa Republicans who say they could never vote [07:00.780 --> 07:06.100] For Ron Paul because they don't like his foreign policy, but he is going to get a significant turnout [07:06.100 --> 07:11.660] He's got students in the state who've come in from other parts of the country who are working from for him [07:11.780 --> 07:18.660] Even though I should say Jeff Ron Paul himself is going home to Texas for the weekend to celebrate New Year's Eve with his family [07:18.940 --> 07:21.780] now beyond it getting cold what about [07:23.340 --> 07:28.740] Atmospherics if I can use that word, what's your sense there of how worked up people are? [07:28.740 --> 07:33.580] What what are the campaigns going through as they go into the real crunch time? [07:33.580 --> 07:37.700] Well, they're all gearing up. We ran in this morning at a hotel [07:37.700 --> 07:42.780] We ran into a name that's I think familiar to many of our viewers Joe Alba [07:42.780 --> 07:50.060] Who was president George W Bush's the head of FEMA the Federal Emergency Management Administration. He's working for Rick Perry [07:50.740 --> 07:57.500] Organizing the state and the way he put it today. He said he said at this stage of the game. You've identified your supporters [07:57.500 --> 07:58.500] It's all mechanics [07:58.500 --> 08:04.420] It's getting those people out the people who liked you from the beginning the people who are still undecided [08:04.660 --> 08:08.420] The Romney campaign working the state very hard. They say they've got [08:09.140 --> 08:13.780] They said you've only seen about 10% of what we're doing 90% of it's been underground [08:13.980 --> 08:21.580] We're getting people out you ask about enthusiasm everywhere. You go even Democrats will tell you they're excited to see Iowa getting attention [08:21.580 --> 08:23.340] They're excited to see the press here [08:23.340 --> 08:28.540] Even if they don't like any of these candidates and they don't they don't plan to vote for them in November [08:28.540 --> 08:33.980] These caucuses are still a big deal. So we expect a lot of attention on Tuesday night [08:33.980 --> 08:38.860] All right, Judy Woodruff is in Des Moines and we'll be there through Tuesday night. Thanks a lot, Judy [08:40.140 --> 08:45.420] Thank you still to come on the news hour tonight Iowa voters still making up their minds [08:46.060 --> 08:48.060] Shields and Brooks [08:48.060 --> 08:54.060] Poverty in the suburbs and the decline in Americans marrying [08:54.060 --> 09:02.060] But first the other news of this day. Here's Hari Sreenivasan an outpouring of anti-government protesters filled cities across Syria today [09:02.060 --> 09:05.060] It marked a new challenge to President Bashar al-Assad [09:05.060 --> 09:13.060] The opposition reported as many as 250,000 people turned out in both Idlib and Hama and there were many thousands more in homes [09:13.060 --> 09:18.060] Douma and there are protesters said troops gunned down at least 22 people [09:18.060 --> 09:24.060] We have a report narrated by Andy Davies of Independent Television News [09:24.060 --> 09:27.060] Homs in the northwest of Syria this morning [09:27.060 --> 09:34.060] Some are now calling this the martyr city given the numbers killed here in recent months in front of the camera reads the message [09:34.060 --> 09:38.060] This is the Friday for marching towards the squares of freedom [09:38.060 --> 09:46.060] And so they did gathering in their thousands in the city's main square significantly for the first time in months [09:53.060 --> 09:58.060] In towns across Syria the opposition movement rallied its support base following Friday prayers [09:58.060 --> 10:02.060] Hundreds of thousands reportedly took to the streets [10:02.060 --> 10:08.060] Emboldened perhaps by the recent arrival of yellow vested Arab League monitors in the country [10:08.060 --> 10:15.060] This intended as a statement to those observers regime violence will not quell this uprising [10:26.060 --> 10:29.060] This footage was apparently recorded today in Douma [10:29.060 --> 10:33.060] It's just six miles from the center of the capital Damascus [10:33.060 --> 10:36.060] It's not clear what caused this particular explosion [10:36.060 --> 10:42.060] But opposition activists alleged Syrian security forces had thrown nail bombs into the crowd [10:45.060 --> 10:48.060] There was violence documented also in the city of Hama [10:48.060 --> 10:52.060] Five were shot dead here today alleged one activist [10:52.060 --> 11:01.060] A fortnight ago the United Nations estimated that more than 5,000 have been killed by Syrian security forces since the uprising began [11:01.060 --> 11:05.060] One influential campaign group says it's now more than 6,000 [11:05.060 --> 11:11.060] It's a figure disputed by the government and again today by its media [11:11.060 --> 11:17.060] This reporter claims he's tracked down a number of people who were supposedly killed by security forces [11:17.060 --> 11:23.060] State run TV was broadcasting today live from the center of Damascus and other cities [11:23.060 --> 11:27.060] They were showing rallies in support of al-Assad's regime [11:27.060 --> 11:32.060] In Pakistan today at least nine people were killed on a car bomb exploded in the city of Quetta [11:32.060 --> 11:34.060] Outside the home of a local politician [11:34.060 --> 11:38.060] Pakistani television showed video of victims being rushed to a nearby hospital [11:38.060 --> 11:40.060] More than 20 people were wounded there [11:40.060 --> 11:46.060] Spain has imposed new austerity measures including a temporary tax hike to raise almost 8 billion dollars [11:46.060 --> 11:49.060] The two-year increase would affect the wealthy [11:49.060 --> 11:55.060] The newly elected center-right government also announced more than 11 billion dollars in spending cuts today [11:55.060 --> 11:59.060] These are all part of efforts to rein in the country's growing debt [11:59.060 --> 12:04.060] Wall Street stumbled on the last trading day of the year with nothing to give the market much of a boost [12:04.060 --> 12:09.060] The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 69 points to close at 12,217 [12:09.060 --> 12:12.060] The Nasdaq fell eight points to close at 26,05 [12:12.060 --> 12:18.060] For the year the Dow gained 5%, 5.5% and the Nasdaq fell nearly 2% [12:18.060 --> 12:22.060] The Standard and Poor's 500 finished the year down less than a tenth of a point [12:22.060 --> 12:26.060] Two NASA satellites are set to start orbiting the moon over New Year's weekend [12:26.060 --> 12:33.060] The probes were launched in September as part of the GRAIL mission for Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory [12:33.060 --> 12:35.060] Each satellite is about the size of a washing machine [12:35.060 --> 12:39.060] They're to fly in tandem to map the moon's gravitational field [12:39.060 --> 12:43.060] That data could reveal the moon's interior and how it formed [12:43.060 --> 12:46.060] Those are some of today's major stories, now back to Jim [12:46.060 --> 12:49.060] And we return to Iowa [12:49.060 --> 12:56.060] Last evening Judy Woodruff spoke with five still undecided voters, all registered Republicans [12:56.060 --> 13:02.060] They were selected with the help of civic and educational organizations in Iowa [13:02.060 --> 13:06.060] Thank you all for joining us and to Jim Carley for hosting us in your home [13:06.060 --> 13:07.060] You're welcome [13:07.060 --> 13:10.060] When you look at the country, how do you think things are going overall? [13:10.060 --> 13:13.060] I think we're going in the wrong direction [13:13.060 --> 13:20.060] I think that there needs to be a 360 turnaround into where we're going now with the economy [13:20.060 --> 13:24.060] And I think also our world standing has declined [13:24.060 --> 13:28.060] We read that the Iowa economy is doing pretty well, Jim [13:28.060 --> 13:32.060] Your unemployment rate overall is pretty good [13:32.060 --> 13:36.060] But you still have a pretty negative view about the economy, is that right? [13:36.060 --> 13:39.060] My wife and I, we're both retired [13:39.060 --> 13:43.060] We have our pensions, but we also have investments, which took a pretty big hit [13:43.060 --> 13:46.060] And it's the uncertainty of what's going to happen [13:46.060 --> 13:50.060] We're doing fine now, but when it's not doing anything to get better [13:50.060 --> 13:54.060] And Congress can't agree on what day of the week it is [13:54.060 --> 13:56.060] How are we ever going to get anything solved? [13:56.060 --> 13:59.060] So we are quite concerned about the future and what's going to happen there [13:59.060 --> 14:01.060] BJ, what about for you? [14:01.060 --> 14:05.060] Personally, how do you think things are going for you, for your family? [14:05.060 --> 14:09.060] Right now things are a little bit better, but we've had some tough times [14:09.060 --> 14:13.060] When I say that, I've never clipped a coupon in my life [14:13.060 --> 14:16.060] And now I take the Sunday paper not to read the news [14:16.060 --> 14:18.060] But to go through the coupons and see what's in there [14:18.060 --> 14:22.060] And I may only save $5, but I'm so excited about that $5 [14:22.060 --> 14:24.060] And Dave, what about you? [14:24.060 --> 14:28.060] Well, I'm personally, being self-employed, being in the car business [14:28.060 --> 14:31.060] I've been pretty affected by it, I think a lot of the small dealers have been hurt [14:31.060 --> 14:37.060] The impending crisis with the no lending and people are unsure of how to spend their money [14:37.060 --> 14:40.060] Or when to spend their money, or if they should spend their money [14:40.060 --> 14:43.060] I think that's put a hurt on everybody [14:43.060 --> 14:46.060] People just don't have the money to spend it right now [14:46.060 --> 14:50.060] And if we can get the economy going, it'll heal all the social problems [14:50.060 --> 14:52.060] The social problems will all be by themselves [14:52.060 --> 14:54.060] We just need to get the economy going right now [14:54.060 --> 14:58.060] Sam, how do you see the importance of this election? [14:58.060 --> 15:01.060] And how closely have you been following it? [15:01.060 --> 15:03.060] I've been following it very closely [15:03.060 --> 15:06.060] I've been lucky enough to shake the hand of every presidential candidate [15:06.060 --> 15:10.060] And look them in the eye, which I think says a lot about being in Iowa [15:10.060 --> 15:14.060] And you can also learn a lot from that exchange [15:14.060 --> 15:17.060] I think this election is really going to be a referendum [15:17.060 --> 15:20.060] On some really important issues to this country [15:20.060 --> 15:25.060] I think spending, how to balance the budget, the national debt [15:25.060 --> 15:28.060] All those issues are really going to be decided by this election [15:28.060 --> 15:31.060] And the American people are going to have to decide [15:31.060 --> 15:34.060] What solutions we want to go about to solve those problems [15:34.060 --> 15:36.060] BJ, what do you think right now? [15:36.060 --> 15:38.060] I mean, where are you leaning? [15:38.060 --> 15:41.060] The caucuses are just a few days away [15:41.060 --> 15:44.060] I'm leaning toward Newt Gingrich [15:44.060 --> 15:47.060] I've been leaning that way for a while [15:47.060 --> 15:50.060] Because I think he's authentic [15:50.060 --> 15:55.060] He has success working with the opposite party [15:55.060 --> 16:00.060] And he seems to have a vision for the future [16:00.060 --> 16:05.060] Is there anybody else you're thinking about other than Gingrich at this point? [16:05.060 --> 16:08.060] I really like Michelle Bachmann [16:08.060 --> 16:10.060] Because, if you want to know the truth [16:10.060 --> 16:13.060] I'd like to see any man [16:13.060 --> 16:15.060] And I suppose this is a feminist perspective [16:15.060 --> 16:18.060] I'd like to see any man start a business [16:18.060 --> 16:21.060] Go to school, raise five children [16:21.060 --> 16:23.060] And have 23 foster children [16:23.060 --> 16:25.060] I don't think a man could do that [16:25.060 --> 16:28.060] I think she runs circles around them [16:28.060 --> 16:30.060] And I like what she stands for [16:30.060 --> 16:32.060] She's a good multitasker [16:32.060 --> 16:34.060] Sam, what about you? [16:34.060 --> 16:37.060] Yeah, it seems to me, with a lot of these candidates, I'm leaning away [16:37.060 --> 16:40.060] And so I think two candidates that I'm leaning towards would be [16:40.060 --> 16:43.060] Mitt Romney and Ron Paul [16:43.060 --> 16:45.060] I think, looking at their records [16:45.060 --> 16:49.060] Mitt Romney's been a turnaround artist his entire career [16:49.060 --> 16:53.060] And I think that he could do a really great job turning around the economy [16:53.060 --> 16:56.060] And then Ron Paul really speaks to me as a young person [16:56.060 --> 16:58.060] He's got a great youth following [16:58.060 --> 17:01.060] And I really like a lot of his libertarian stances [17:01.060 --> 17:03.060] What about you, Jim? [17:03.060 --> 17:05.060] Where are you leaning right now? [17:05.060 --> 17:09.060] Well, if I vote principles, which I'm really leaning at just recently here [17:09.060 --> 17:11.060] Things have happened and I'm standing for that [17:11.060 --> 17:14.060] Would put me in Rick Santorum's camp [17:14.060 --> 17:17.060] I like the principles that he has [17:17.060 --> 17:20.060] I think that's where a lot of our problem is [17:20.060 --> 17:22.060] We don't have virtuous and moral leaders [17:22.060 --> 17:24.060] Victoria, what about you? [17:24.060 --> 17:27.060] Where is your head right now, or heart, or both? [17:27.060 --> 17:30.060] It really is a struggle, you know, I'm just being honest [17:30.060 --> 17:33.060] I don't know, I don't have that [17:33.060 --> 17:37.060] It was so funny, because for Huckabee, I was like, yes, this is my guy [17:37.060 --> 17:39.060] I want him, you know, I'm going to go out [17:39.060 --> 17:42.060] It was freezing, it was snow and ice [17:42.060 --> 17:44.060] You know, the last time [17:44.060 --> 17:46.060] I don't feel that for any candidate right now [17:46.060 --> 17:49.060] And that scares me, so that's why, you know [17:49.060 --> 17:52.060] I'm just not loyal to any one person at this point [17:52.060 --> 17:54.060] Dave, what about you? [17:54.060 --> 17:56.060] How are you leaning right now? [17:56.060 --> 17:59.060] We have a couple candidates I think should have came to Iowa [17:59.060 --> 18:01.060] Should have campaigned here [18:01.060 --> 18:03.060] I think Mr. Huntsman is one of them [18:03.060 --> 18:05.060] He should have thrown his hat in the ring [18:05.060 --> 18:07.060] He says a lot of good things [18:07.060 --> 18:09.060] But whichever candidate is selected [18:09.060 --> 18:12.060] We need to get behind the candidate [18:12.060 --> 18:14.060] And beat Obama in 2012 [18:14.060 --> 18:16.060] Jim, what about that? [18:16.060 --> 18:19.060] Because it sounds like you're saying something a little bit different from what Dave is saying [18:19.060 --> 18:22.060] I don't think we need to go into the polls [18:22.060 --> 18:25.060] The only thing on our mind is, who can beat him? [18:25.060 --> 18:29.060] There's still ten months to go before the election [18:29.060 --> 18:33.060] And one of those down the bottom may be the rising star [18:33.060 --> 18:36.060] In actuality, once they get out into the rest of the nation [18:36.060 --> 18:39.060] And so I think we need to pick a good candidate [18:39.060 --> 18:41.060] I favor one that has good principles that I can trust [18:41.060 --> 18:42.060] Santorum [18:42.060 --> 18:44.060] Santorum, right [18:44.060 --> 18:46.060] But I think part of the problem that we have in this [18:46.060 --> 18:50.060] I've never seen this many people so undecided this late in the game [18:50.060 --> 18:54.060] And I think a lot of that has to do with the massive number of debates that we've had [18:54.060 --> 18:56.060] And the form that the debates have had [18:56.060 --> 18:58.060] To where people are attacking each other [18:58.060 --> 19:00.060] I mean, we're attacking our own [19:00.060 --> 19:04.060] Anybody else on why it's so hard to make a decision this time? [19:04.060 --> 19:07.060] You've touched on the fact that it is hard [19:07.060 --> 19:09.060] But any thoughts about why? [19:09.060 --> 19:10.060] VJ? [19:10.060 --> 19:14.060] Mitt Romney cannot get past a certain level [19:14.060 --> 19:17.060] And he couldn't go up against Huckabee last time [19:17.060 --> 19:20.060] Although he spent gobs and gobs and gobs of money [19:20.060 --> 19:24.060] And to me, Mitt Romney is the status quo in the Republican Party [19:24.060 --> 19:28.060] And I think a lot of us, I don't know how many of us are Tea Partiers or Libertarians [19:28.060 --> 19:31.060] We're dissatisfied with the status quo of the Republican Party [19:31.060 --> 19:33.060] And that's what Mitt Romney represents [19:33.060 --> 19:35.060] So I think that's why there's the fight [19:35.060 --> 19:39.060] Not the infighting, but the turmoil in our party [19:39.060 --> 19:40.060] Sam, what do you say to that? [19:40.060 --> 19:44.060] Because you said Romney was somebody you could support [19:44.060 --> 19:46.060] In fact, you mentioned him first [19:46.060 --> 19:51.060] Yeah, I think that Mitt Romney really brings a lot to the table [19:51.060 --> 19:53.060] And if you look at him against Newt Gingrich [19:53.060 --> 19:55.060] I mean, I don't mean to get candidate versus candidate here [19:55.060 --> 19:59.060] But Newt Gingrich has really been the textbook Washington insider [19:59.060 --> 20:01.060] For the last 40 years [20:01.060 --> 20:07.060] And so I don't know if I'm comfortable having that background in the White House [20:07.060 --> 20:09.060] Mitt Romney, he's not a true conservative [20:09.060 --> 20:11.060] And we talk about being enthusiastic [20:11.060 --> 20:14.060] Conservatives cannot get enthusiastic about him [20:14.060 --> 20:17.060] And that's why I think that there's that vacuum [20:17.060 --> 20:19.060] What about that, Jim? [20:19.060 --> 20:21.060] Because I think you're the one who said a few minutes ago [20:21.060 --> 20:24.060] We need somebody who's going to stick with their principles [20:24.060 --> 20:25.060] That's right [20:25.060 --> 20:28.060] And my fear with Romney and why I don't like him is [20:28.060 --> 20:31.060] I believe government should be small [20:31.060 --> 20:34.060] Smaller government, less cost [20:34.060 --> 20:37.060] People are responsible and they take care of themselves [20:37.060 --> 20:40.060] My feeling is anybody that wants to institute health care [20:40.060 --> 20:42.060] And I know they have a state constitution that says they can [20:42.060 --> 20:45.060] But that's somebody that wants big government [20:45.060 --> 20:47.060] Romney, I mean, he's a nice guy [20:47.060 --> 20:48.060] He's polished [20:48.060 --> 20:50.060] He's back for a second time around [20:50.060 --> 20:52.060] You know, but he's just not [20:52.060 --> 20:55.060] He's just not the person who I will get up in a snowstorm [20:55.060 --> 20:57.060] To vote for [20:57.060 --> 20:59.060] Some of you have mentioned Santorum [20:59.060 --> 21:01.060] Let me ask you, Sam [21:01.060 --> 21:04.060] Why didn't you bring up Rick Santorum? [21:04.060 --> 21:06.060] Well, I think my problem with Rick Santorum [21:06.060 --> 21:09.060] As well as some of the other maybe more socially conservative [21:09.060 --> 21:12.060] Candidates is I think they dwell too much on social issues [21:12.060 --> 21:15.060] And while they might pass a credential check [21:15.060 --> 21:17.060] As far as their economic policies go [21:17.060 --> 21:19.060] I just don't think they're people [21:19.060 --> 21:23.060] I think they alienate moderate voters and independents [21:23.060 --> 21:25.060] And while they might excite the base [21:25.060 --> 21:28.060] I just don't see them doing well at all in a general election [21:28.060 --> 21:30.060] When do you think you're going to make up your mind? [21:30.060 --> 21:32.060] Probably Tuesday [21:32.060 --> 21:34.060] I'll have her done by Sunday [21:34.060 --> 21:36.060] And then I'll think about it [21:36.060 --> 21:40.060] Well, we appreciate all of you talking with us about these caucuses [21:40.060 --> 21:42.060] Thank you very much [21:42.060 --> 21:43.060] Thank you [21:43.060 --> 21:44.060] You're very welcome [21:44.060 --> 21:46.060] Thanks for having us [21:46.060 --> 21:49.060] For the record, Texas Governor Rick Perry's name [21:49.060 --> 21:52.060] Did not come up in Judy's discussion [21:52.060 --> 21:55.060] As we heard in Judy's conversation four years ago [21:55.060 --> 21:57.060] It was Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee [21:57.060 --> 21:59.060] Who beat Mitt Romney and all others [21:59.060 --> 22:01.060] To win the Iowa Republican caucus [22:01.060 --> 22:04.060] His success came with the strong support [22:04.060 --> 22:06.060] Of conservative evangelical Christians [22:06.060 --> 22:08.060] Tonight's edition of Need to Know [22:08.060 --> 22:11.060] Explores the power of the religious right in Iowa [22:11.060 --> 22:14.060] This excerpt looks at the influence of one man in particular [22:14.060 --> 22:17.060] The correspondent is Rick Carr [22:17.060 --> 22:19.060] Bob Vander Plaats was chairman [22:19.060 --> 22:22.060] Of Mike Huckabee's Iowa campaign in 08 [22:22.060 --> 22:26.060] Then he led a campaign against three state supreme court justices [22:26.060 --> 22:28.060] Who ruled in favor of gay marriage [22:28.060 --> 22:31.060] And ended up driving them out of office [22:31.060 --> 22:34.060] Now he runs an advocacy group for social conservatives [22:34.060 --> 22:36.060] Called the Family Leader [22:36.060 --> 22:39.060] And Fox News calls him a kingmaker in Iowa [22:39.060 --> 22:42.060] The Los Angeles Times wrote that meeting with you [22:42.060 --> 22:46.060] Is a prerequisite for any candidate who wants to compete in Iowa [22:46.060 --> 22:47.060] Is that true? [22:47.060 --> 22:50.060] I don't know if it's a prerequisite to meet with me [22:50.060 --> 22:54.060] But I believe it's the issues that our organization represents [22:54.060 --> 23:01.060] And our supporters are very, very sincere about these issues [23:01.060 --> 23:05.060] They're very interested in who's going to champion these issues [23:05.060 --> 23:09.060] Our supporters are going to show up on caucus night [23:09.060 --> 23:13.060] In November, the Family Leader hosted a forum for GOP hopefuls [23:13.060 --> 23:15.060] We don't need you to be Republican or Democrat [23:15.060 --> 23:18.060] But we need you to be Biblical [23:18.060 --> 23:23.060] And the candidates lined up to tout their fealty to socially conservative positions [23:23.060 --> 23:27.060] The left is prepared to impose intolerance [23:27.060 --> 23:31.060] And to drive out of existence traditional religion [23:31.060 --> 23:33.060] They slammed abortion rights [23:33.060 --> 23:37.060] I have supported the amendment that defines life at conception [23:37.060 --> 23:40.060] As long as abortion is legal [23:40.060 --> 23:43.060] At least according to the Supreme Court, legal in this country [23:43.060 --> 23:45.060] We will never have rest [23:45.060 --> 23:46.060] Gay marriage [23:46.060 --> 23:50.060] The family is defined as one man, one woman [23:50.060 --> 23:53.060] No other definition will do [23:53.060 --> 23:55.060] And what they call Obamacare [23:55.060 --> 24:01.060] Obamacare has to go because it's trying to tell us how to deliver health care in our states [24:01.060 --> 24:06.060] The candidates came because conservative evangelical voters are organized and motivated [24:06.060 --> 24:08.060] They turn up on caucus night [24:08.060 --> 24:12.060] And endorsements from socially conservative groups like the Family Leader [24:12.060 --> 24:16.060] Could turn one of them into the Mike Huckabee of the current campaign [24:16.060 --> 24:22.060] But Vander Plaats says none of them ended up stealing the hearts of Iowa's conservative evangelicals [24:22.060 --> 24:25.060] We had six candidates in our Thanksgiving family forum [24:25.060 --> 24:28.060] And I think it was my wife afterwards who said [24:28.060 --> 24:31.060] You know, Bob, if we could take those six and put them in a blender [24:31.060 --> 24:34.060] And just have the strengths come out and have one candidate [24:34.060 --> 24:37.060] And I said, Darla, you're getting awfully close to cloning [24:37.060 --> 24:40.060] But we would have a perfect candidate [24:40.060 --> 24:44.060] And I think what we're realizing today, there is no perfect candidate [24:44.060 --> 24:49.060] A postscript Bob Vander Plaats ended up endorsing Rick Santorum [24:49.060 --> 24:54.060] There were published reports last week that Vander Plaats sought up to a million dollars for his endorsement [24:54.060 --> 24:57.060] Allegations he vigorously denied [24:57.060 --> 25:00.060] Need to Know airs on most PBS stations tonight [25:00.060 --> 25:10.060] And to the analysis of Shields and Brooks [25:10.060 --> 25:15.060] Syndicated columnist Mark Shields, New York Times columnist David Brooks [25:15.060 --> 25:22.060] David from Iowa, do you have a big picture portrait of the setting, the scene there tonight? [25:22.060 --> 25:25.060] Well, there are some human interest stories [25:25.060 --> 25:28.060] I got to see Newt Gingrich cry today, something I'd never seen before [25:28.060 --> 25:31.060] He was asked some very personal questions about his life [25:31.060 --> 25:34.060] And he talked about how he's sadder and slower than he used to be [25:34.060 --> 25:38.060] And then he was asked about his mom and his face just dissolved in tears [25:38.060 --> 25:40.060] And, you know, the candidates are very tired [25:40.060 --> 25:43.060] Gingrich's numbers are falling, they're under a lot of pressure [25:43.060 --> 25:45.060] And so you got to see that human element [25:45.060 --> 25:49.060] The big thing that comes from all the different campaigns is a sense of looking backward [25:49.060 --> 25:51.060] There's a theme in almost every single race [25:51.060 --> 25:54.060] Which is America has lost something that it once had [25:54.060 --> 25:56.060] And so we have to look backward [25:56.060 --> 25:59.060] We're a generation restoring old values, we've strayed [25:59.060 --> 26:02.060] And this is a theme which is sort of a negative and pessimistic theme [26:02.060 --> 26:06.060] An almost apocalyptic theme that one finds in Mitt Romney [26:06.060 --> 26:09.060] One finds it in Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul [26:09.060 --> 26:12.060] It's all about we had this magic and we've lost it [26:12.060 --> 26:15.060] How do you see the big picture, Mark? [26:15.060 --> 26:18.060] I think the point David made is one worth repeating [26:18.060 --> 26:21.060] And that is American campaigns are about the future [26:21.060 --> 26:25.060] And this campaign has really been an awful lot about the past [26:25.060 --> 26:28.060] And it's kind of fascinating to see [26:28.060 --> 26:32.060] It felt like Rick Santorum really vaulted from nowhere after campaigning [26:32.060 --> 26:35.060] 99 counties doing the classic meeting of voters and so forth [26:35.060 --> 26:40.060] But absent from his message that I get is any upbeat [26:40.060 --> 26:43.060] I mean there's sort of a gloom and doom to it [26:43.060 --> 26:46.060] But I think, Jim, this has been a remarkable race [26:46.060 --> 26:49.060] At separate times during this year [26:49.060 --> 26:53.060] Six different candidates have led in the polls in Iowa [26:53.060 --> 26:57.060] So it's up for grabs and it's very much [26:57.060 --> 27:00.060] Tuesday will determine who goes forward [27:00.060 --> 27:05.060] I mean some candidacies will end just outside of the Des Moines airport [27:05.060 --> 27:07.060] On Wednesday morning [27:07.060 --> 27:10.060] Let's talk about Romney from beginning with you, David [27:10.060 --> 27:12.060] How do you read the situation on Romney right now? [27:12.060 --> 27:16.060] Where he stands and what his prospects are in Iowa? [27:16.060 --> 27:18.060] He's exuding confidence [27:18.060 --> 27:20.060] I think his people are exuding confidence [27:20.060 --> 27:22.060] I went to a rally this morning in the rain [27:22.060 --> 27:25.060] And he was with Governor Chris Christie in New Jersey [27:25.060 --> 27:29.060] And it was just a smooth, effective, not too long [27:29.060 --> 27:30.060] But sort of a corporate race [27:30.060 --> 27:33.060] It was like George Bush in year 2000 [27:33.060 --> 27:35.060] And what's interesting is the tactic he's taking [27:35.060 --> 27:37.060] It's very short on policy [27:37.060 --> 27:39.060] It's very long on patriotism [27:39.060 --> 27:42.060] He talks about driving across the country looking at the national parks [27:42.060 --> 27:47.060] He sings or at least recites some verses from the Star-Spangled Banner [27:47.060 --> 27:49.060] It's as if he's running to be Tom Sawyer [27:49.060 --> 27:53.060] And I think it's a way to establish a connection with voters [27:53.060 --> 27:56.060] Even despite questions they may have about Mormonism or anything else [27:56.060 --> 28:01.060] I think it's a way to distinguish in his eyes between him and Barack Obama [28:01.060 --> 28:02.060] He's more mainstream [28:02.060 --> 28:04.060] And then again this theme of returning [28:04.060 --> 28:09.060] As posing as Tom Sawyer, he's returning to some earlier values [28:09.060 --> 28:11.060] And you know that may play this year [28:11.060 --> 28:12.060] Mark is absolutely right [28:12.060 --> 28:15.060] Rick Santorum and a lot of the candidates are very negative [28:15.060 --> 28:18.060] The guy who won it four years ago, Mike Huckabee, very positive [28:18.060 --> 28:21.060] But the mood here has darkened appreciably [28:21.060 --> 28:25.060] And maybe they're in tune with what the voters are hearing right now [28:25.060 --> 28:27.060] But Mark, you heard what Judy said [28:27.060 --> 28:30.060] That her feeling was that the polls show that there's a cap [28:30.060 --> 28:33.060] That cap is still there for Romney [28:33.060 --> 28:35.060] It's working to his advantage [28:35.060 --> 28:39.060] Because everybody else is so split up, right? [28:39.060 --> 28:40.060] That's right, Jim [28:40.060 --> 28:45.060] Nobody has been able to consolidate, for example, the religious conservative vote [28:45.060 --> 28:49.060] Although it seems that Rick Santorum has made great inroads there [28:49.060 --> 28:53.060] But no, there seems to be a ceiling on Mitt Romney [28:53.060 --> 28:58.060] It was kind of fascinating at the beginning of the month of December in the Gallup poll [28:58.060 --> 29:02.060] He trailed Newt Gingrich 37 to 23 [29:02.060 --> 29:04.060] You know, 14-point deficit [29:04.060 --> 29:09.060] He now leads Newt Gingrich 27 to 22 [29:09.060 --> 29:11.060] It means Gingrich has plummeted and all the rest of it [29:11.060 --> 29:13.060] Romney has just moved up, though [29:13.060 --> 29:16.060] He just broke the 25-point barrier [29:16.060 --> 29:20.060] I think what Romney's campaign has been about is not so great expectations [29:20.060 --> 29:25.060] I mean, they've tried to lower the expectations in Iowa all year [29:25.060 --> 29:26.060] But David's right [29:26.060 --> 29:29.060] I think there's a sense now that they could win in Iowa [29:29.060 --> 29:33.060] Or even if Ron Paul wins, that's not the worst thing in the world to them [29:33.060 --> 29:35.060] They feel in the long run [29:35.060 --> 29:40.060] But the knockout punch in both Iowa and New Hampshire [29:40.060 --> 29:46.060] Would do for him, the Romney people feel, what it did for George W. Bush in 2000 [29:46.060 --> 29:49.060] When he sewed up the Republican nomination essentially [29:49.060 --> 29:58.060] And in 2004, when John Kerry won both Iowa and New Hampshire [29:58.060 --> 30:02.060] Of course, in 2000, he lost to John McCain in New Hampshire [30:02.060 --> 30:05.060] But that one-two punch is really formidable [30:05.060 --> 30:08.060] All right, now about Ron Paul [30:08.060 --> 30:11.060] As Mark just said, Ron Paul's up there [30:11.060 --> 30:14.060] And what is that going to mean? [30:14.060 --> 30:16.060] If you don't say he wins, that's one thing [30:16.060 --> 30:18.060] But even if he comes in a close second [30:18.060 --> 30:24.060] What's it going to mean for the race generally, for Ron Paul to do that well in Iowa? [30:24.060 --> 30:27.060] Well, the thing the Romney people like is their two main rivals right now [30:27.060 --> 30:29.060] Are Ron Paul and Rick Santorum [30:29.060 --> 30:31.060] People think Gingrich's campaign might have legs [30:31.060 --> 30:33.060] Or Rick Perry's campaign might have legs [30:33.060 --> 30:36.060] But I don't think they're too worried about Santorum and Paul having legs [30:36.060 --> 30:41.060] So having rivals like that is good for the Romney camp [30:41.060 --> 30:45.060] The Paul people are young, they're organized, they're very diverse [30:45.060 --> 30:50.060] There are some veterans, some older people, a lot of students, a lot of gold bugs [30:50.060 --> 30:52.060] Some people who want drug legalization [30:52.060 --> 30:55.060] It's about as diverse a group of people as you can possibly imagine [30:55.060 --> 31:00.060] And there's a supposition that Paul, like Santorum, probably is under polling [31:00.060 --> 31:02.060] That there are more people and they're more mobilized [31:02.060 --> 31:05.060] Both in the libertarian camp and the social conservative camp [31:05.060 --> 31:09.060] And so historically, people in those camps have done a little better than the final polls [31:09.060 --> 31:11.060] So there's upside for him [31:11.060 --> 31:16.060] And it's funny, the way he campaigns, he campaigns like the audience isn't there [31:16.060 --> 31:20.060] He gives his talks, whether they're applauding or not, listening or not [31:20.060 --> 31:22.060] He's going to tell you what he thinks [31:22.060 --> 31:26.060] So there's no real superstar [31:26.060 --> 31:30.060] There's no stump superstar who really can galvanize a crowd among this group [31:30.060 --> 31:33.060] The way Huckabee did, the way John Edwards did, the way Barack Obama did [31:33.060 --> 31:38.060] As a series of stump performers, I would say it's a below average year [31:38.060 --> 31:41.060] And Paul, doing very well, is certainly not raising that average [31:41.060 --> 31:46.060] How do you account for Santorum's surge? [31:46.060 --> 31:48.060] Just a quick thing on Ron Paul [31:48.060 --> 31:51.060] The word in 2008, remember Authenticity? [31:51.060 --> 31:53.060] Ron Paul exudes authenticity [31:53.060 --> 31:55.060] He says the same thing wherever he goes [31:55.060 --> 31:59.060] Others trim, they pander, they play to the crowd [31:59.060 --> 32:01.060] What do you want to hear? [32:01.060 --> 32:03.060] Ron Paul is just the opposite [32:03.060 --> 32:08.060] And he has, unlike Santorum, and even Gingrich at this point [32:08.060 --> 32:13.060] He has money, and the ability to raise money in small contributions from a lot of different people [32:13.060 --> 32:15.060] But Santorum has been saying the same thing too [32:15.060 --> 32:17.060] Santorum has been [32:17.060 --> 32:19.060] In his own way, I mean [32:19.060 --> 32:23.060] That's right, he has sounded the themes that have been the credo of modern conservatism [32:23.060 --> 32:26.060] Strong, muscular foreign policy [32:26.060 --> 32:32.060] Social, religious conservatives, and economic fiscal conservatism [32:32.060 --> 32:38.060] And I think that there's a sense in Iowa that he's worked for it [32:38.060 --> 32:43.060] He's visited the 99 counties, he's done it the retail way [32:43.060 --> 32:48.060] He's listened to the hairdressers and the auto mechanics [32:48.060 --> 32:52.060] And I think that there is a connection point [32:52.060 --> 32:56.060] Especially now with the religious and social conservatives, I think he's caught on [32:56.060 --> 32:58.060] And that the others have fallen apart [32:58.060 --> 33:00.060] So hey, here's Santorum [33:00.060 --> 33:02.060] Well he never had the moment in the sun [33:02.060 --> 33:04.060] The others were all Icarus [33:04.060 --> 33:06.060] They got close to the sun and then boom [33:06.060 --> 33:09.060] How do you read Santorum, David? [33:09.060 --> 33:13.060] To me this is less about the candidates and their personalities [33:13.060 --> 33:16.060] And more about just raw demographics and philosophy [33:16.060 --> 33:20.060] Year after year there are a lot of social conservatives in this state [33:20.060 --> 33:24.060] And this goes back to the time many elections ago when Pat Robertson did well here [33:24.060 --> 33:25.060] Let alone Mike Huckabee [33:25.060 --> 33:27.060] And those social conservatives have always been here [33:27.060 --> 33:29.060] And they're going to vote for a social conservative candidate [33:29.060 --> 33:33.060] And Santorum's a homeschooler, he homeschools his kids [33:33.060 --> 33:36.060] He's genuinely of the community even though he is Catholic [33:36.060 --> 33:38.060] And so they're going to go for that guy [33:38.060 --> 33:42.060] There are genuinely a lot of libertarians among the voters here [33:42.060 --> 33:43.060] And they're going to go for Ron Paul [33:43.060 --> 33:46.060] And whether they perform well or not is almost beside the point [33:46.060 --> 33:49.060] At this point those people are going to express their point of view [33:49.060 --> 33:52.060] And so there are just a lot of those voters in this state [33:52.060 --> 33:54.060] Let's go back to Gingrich for a moment, David [33:54.060 --> 33:56.060] You said you saw him cry today [33:56.060 --> 34:00.060] His polls show that he has really dropped [34:00.060 --> 34:01.060] And why? [34:01.060 --> 34:07.060] And does he have a chance of coming out of Iowa in any way that could give him legs? [34:07.060 --> 34:10.060] You said there's a possibility of legs for Gingrich [34:10.060 --> 34:11.060] Why? [34:11.060 --> 34:14.060] I asked you three questions in one, sorry about that [34:14.060 --> 34:18.060] Well, he's a candidate who has a long reputation [34:18.060 --> 34:20.060] And he's pretty good, you know, I saw him today on the stump [34:20.060 --> 34:23.060] And he gives good answers that get applause going [34:23.060 --> 34:25.060] He's just a polished political performer [34:25.060 --> 34:31.060] The reason he's falling primarily is that there's a lot of ads on TV these days in Iowa [34:31.060 --> 34:34.060] And 47% of them are being run against Newt Gingrich [34:34.060 --> 34:36.060] There's just a ton of negative ads [34:36.060 --> 34:40.060] And he's got a lot that he freely admits he's vulnerable for [34:40.060 --> 34:42.060] And so people are learning about the divorces [34:42.060 --> 34:44.060] They're learning about the Freddie Mac lobbying [34:44.060 --> 34:46.060] And they're just not happy [34:46.060 --> 34:50.060] It's funny to watch him, I happened to run into him in a hotel lobby last night [34:50.060 --> 34:52.060] And he was ebullient and very self-aware [34:52.060 --> 34:55.060] Very different sort of Newt Gingrich, a little more mature than I'd seen him [34:55.060 --> 34:58.060] Very aware of his problems and his possibilities [34:58.060 --> 35:00.060] And then today, the emotional moment [35:00.060 --> 35:03.060] I wouldn't bet on him rebounding [35:03.060 --> 35:07.060] But he is someone who still can debate extremely well [35:07.060 --> 35:09.060] And that argument that he uses time and time again [35:09.060 --> 35:11.060] Who do you want to see debating Barack Obama [35:11.060 --> 35:12.060] That is one that resonates [35:12.060 --> 35:14.060] So I wouldn't totally count him out [35:14.060 --> 35:15.060] But I certainly wouldn't bet money on him [35:15.060 --> 35:17.060] You wouldn't either, would you? [35:17.060 --> 35:23.060] I think I'm probably less bullish on Newt Gingrich's ability to bounce back than David [35:23.060 --> 35:26.060] In 1996, after he lost, Bob Dole said [35:26.060 --> 35:30.060] He said, I was told that people did not like negative ads [35:30.060 --> 35:32.060] I didn't run any, I lost [35:32.060 --> 35:35.060] And I think we're seeing that with Newt Gingrich [35:35.060 --> 35:44.060] I mean, David mentioned that 45, 47% of all the ads bought in Iowa in 2011 [35:44.060 --> 35:46.060] Have been against Newt Gingrich [35:46.060 --> 35:51.060] I mean, that leaves 55% for anybody else a positive [35:51.060 --> 35:56.060] Perhaps the most effective was Ron Paul's, which was the serial hypocrisy ad [35:56.060 --> 35:58.060] So I think it's tough [35:58.060 --> 36:01.060] There's an awful lot that has got back to him [36:01.060 --> 36:07.060] I think probably the Freddie Mac has really hurt him with conservatives in general [36:07.060 --> 36:09.060] And the historian explanation [36:09.060 --> 36:14.060] Secondly was really his appearing with Nancy Pelosi in that public service announcement [36:14.060 --> 36:16.060] He never put that behind him [36:16.060 --> 36:18.060] No, he really hasn't [36:18.060 --> 36:21.060] On Iowa generally, both of you, beginning with you, David [36:21.060 --> 36:26.060] Should Iowa matter as much as it appears to at this point? [36:26.060 --> 36:30.060] I mean, we're talking about it, the whole world is talking about it right now [36:30.060 --> 36:31.060] Should they be? [36:31.060 --> 36:38.060] Is this the way to choose candidates for president of the United States by starting with Iowa? [36:38.060 --> 36:40.060] Yeah, I still think so [36:40.060 --> 36:44.060] This is still my favorite place to cover a political race [36:44.060 --> 36:45.060] It's not the way it used to be [36:45.060 --> 36:51.060] It's not just George H.W. Bush driving around in a station wagon with one aide and maybe a press person [36:51.060 --> 36:53.060] Now there's clumps of people, there's big buses [36:53.060 --> 36:55.060] But it's still, it's more retail [36:55.060 --> 36:58.060] The people are really run through their paces [36:58.060 --> 37:01.060] Rick Perry tried, couldn't make it here [37:01.060 --> 37:05.060] Michelle Bachmann, we saw what happened to her among voters here [37:05.060 --> 37:07.060] I think it's still a good testing ground [37:07.060 --> 37:09.060] Is it the most representative state in the country? [37:09.060 --> 37:13.060] Maybe not, but I still think it's a practiced, knowledgeable electorate [37:13.060 --> 37:16.060] Who are very good at putting candidates through the ordeal of running [37:16.060 --> 37:22.060] And I do think it's a legitimate way to screen out candidates and give a couple a chance to move on [37:22.060 --> 37:23.060] You agree with that, don't you, Bob? [37:23.060 --> 37:24.060] I do, Jim [37:24.060 --> 37:26.060] I mean, Iowa is unrepresentative [37:26.060 --> 37:29.060] It has the fourth highest literacy rate of the 50 states [37:29.060 --> 37:31.060] It has the third lowest divorce rate [37:31.060 --> 37:34.060] It has the sixth highest high school graduation rate [37:34.060 --> 37:43.060] Higher than the coastal smug states of Connecticut, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington [37:43.060 --> 37:46.060] You know, and the people take it quite seriously [37:46.060 --> 37:49.060] And I always feel better after I've been in Iowa [37:49.060 --> 37:52.060] And I will feel better after Tuesday night again [37:52.060 --> 37:55.060] Okay, Mark, David, thank you both very much [37:55.060 --> 37:56.060] Thank you [38:03.060 --> 38:06.060] Now, two stories about the changing portrait of America [38:06.060 --> 38:09.060] First, a different kind of life in the suburbs [38:09.060 --> 38:17.060] Between 2000 and 2010, the number of people living below the poverty line in U.S. suburbs increased by more than 50 percent [38:17.060 --> 38:20.060] A trend that accelerated during the recession [38:20.060 --> 38:25.060] It's happening in places that have long been middle class as well as in richer neighborhoods [38:25.060 --> 38:29.060] Elizabeth Brackett of WTTW Chicago has our story [38:31.060 --> 38:36.060] DuPage County, Illinois, is one of the wealthiest counties in the country [38:36.060 --> 38:43.060] Comfortable homes sit on tree-lined streets in the suburb of Wheaton, eight miles west of Chicago [38:43.060 --> 38:47.060] Upscale restaurants and shops line the historic downtown [38:47.060 --> 38:50.060] But there is another side to DuPage County [38:50.060 --> 38:54.060] One that would have been unthinkable a few years ago [38:54.060 --> 39:00.060] It includes packed food pantries and crowds at the county welfare office [39:00.060 --> 39:04.060] Candace King coordinates human services in DuPage County [39:04.060 --> 39:08.060] And she has watched poverty grow [39:08.060 --> 39:09.060] It's exploded [39:09.060 --> 39:12.060] In the 16 years that I've been in my job [39:12.060 --> 39:17.060] It has gone from something that was rarely encountered in this community [39:17.060 --> 39:20.060] And certainly no one thought it was here [39:20.060 --> 39:23.060] To an issue that we encounter every day [39:23.060 --> 39:30.060] Over the last 20 years, poverty in DuPage County has grown by 185 percent [39:30.060 --> 39:33.060] Nearly 60,000 people here live in poverty [39:33.060 --> 39:40.060] Defined by the federal government as earning $22,350 a year for a family of four [39:40.060 --> 39:44.060] And now a Brookings Institute analysis of census data [39:44.060 --> 39:47.060] Finds that for the first time in the Chicago area [39:47.060 --> 39:52.060] There are more people in poverty in the suburbs than in the city [39:52.060 --> 39:58.060] In this Wheaton housing complex, 11 of the townhomes are in foreclosure [39:58.060 --> 40:03.060] After almost two years of trying, 43-year-old Catherine Aravoces [40:03.060 --> 40:08.060] Was finally able to renegotiate her mortgage and save her home [40:08.060 --> 40:13.060] But she and her two children live far below the poverty line [40:13.060 --> 40:16.060] Aravoces had a middle-class upbringing [40:16.060 --> 40:18.060] Her father was a college professor [40:18.060 --> 40:22.060] And in 2008, she got her second master's degree [40:22.060 --> 40:25.060] This one in elementary education [40:25.060 --> 40:28.060] But because of cuts in state education funding [40:28.060 --> 40:32.060] She hasn't been able to find a full-time teaching job [40:32.060 --> 40:37.060] Last year, she made $11,000 as a substitute teacher [40:37.060 --> 40:41.060] Far less than what she needs to support her two children [40:41.060 --> 40:47.060] It has been hard for me because I want to provide for them [40:47.060 --> 40:50.060] In a way my parents provided for me [40:50.060 --> 40:54.060] I never knew what my parents made [40:54.060 --> 40:59.060] I never had to worry about a thing [40:59.060 --> 41:06.060] We just lived a really stable, typical middle-class existence [41:06.060 --> 41:11.060] And for my children, they don't have that sense of security that I had [41:11.060 --> 41:14.060] They know when I'm stressed, and that hurts [41:14.060 --> 41:17.060] You'll get one item out of the bucket behind him [41:17.060 --> 41:20.060] Aravoces is part of the newly poor demographic [41:20.060 --> 41:24.060] That accounts for much of the rise in poverty in the suburbs [41:24.060 --> 41:28.060] Ten years ago, she and her husband, an architect [41:28.060 --> 41:33.060] Were earning a six-figure income and living in a five-bedroom home in Wheaton [41:33.060 --> 41:36.060] They divorced in 2004 [41:36.060 --> 41:40.060] Her former husband's architectural commissions dried up in 2008 [41:40.060 --> 41:44.060] And he has had trouble making child support payments [41:44.060 --> 41:47.060] Aravoces tried to get Medicaid for her children [41:47.060 --> 41:51.060] But the state threatened to take her former husband's architect license [41:51.060 --> 41:55.060] Because of lack of child support, and she backed off [41:55.060 --> 41:58.060] It's those days when you get up and you really don't know [41:58.060 --> 42:01.060] What you're going to give your kids for dinner [42:01.060 --> 42:04.060] And it can be a full-time job [42:04.060 --> 42:07.060] Finding out, how am I going to get glasses? [42:07.060 --> 42:09.060] Her prescription is a year old [42:09.060 --> 42:13.060] And where am I going to, you know, how do I go and get her the shot she needs? [42:13.060 --> 42:15.060] She's going to sixth grade [42:15.060 --> 42:17.060] Not having the health insurance [42:17.060 --> 42:22.060] Not having the basic things that people take for granted [42:22.060 --> 42:26.060] Being able to get their kid to the doctor [42:26.060 --> 42:30.060] You know, when they come home and say, we need $5 for school [42:30.060 --> 42:32.060] There's always something [42:32.060 --> 42:36.060] And sometimes you have to say, I don't have it [42:36.060 --> 42:39.060] I just don't have it, I'm sorry [42:39.060 --> 42:42.060] Today, dinner comes from the local food pantry [42:42.060 --> 42:45.060] She cooks in her crockpot, or microwave [42:45.060 --> 42:49.060] Since she can't afford to repair her broken stove [42:49.060 --> 42:51.060] Like many of the suburban poor [42:51.060 --> 42:55.060] Aravoces never thought she would need help buying food [42:55.060 --> 42:59.060] I didn't expect to be using the food pantry [42:59.060 --> 43:01.060] Especially not on a regular basis [43:01.060 --> 43:04.060] But, you know, I'm working [43:04.060 --> 43:08.060] And I'm not making enough money to make ends meet [43:08.060 --> 43:10.060] So it's very humbling [43:10.060 --> 43:12.060] But I swallowed my pride [43:12.060 --> 43:15.060] And I went to the People's Resource Center and I asked for help [43:15.060 --> 43:18.060] Okay, I have to have pumpkin, right? [43:18.060 --> 43:21.060] Aravoces can fill up a shopping cart once a week [43:21.060 --> 43:23.060] At the People's Resource Center [43:23.060 --> 43:26.060] The number of people using this food pantry in Wheaton [43:26.060 --> 43:30.060] Has gone up by 200% in the last five years [43:30.060 --> 43:34.060] There was a 30% jump in 2008 alone [43:34.060 --> 43:36.060] Make sure all the cart handles are clean [43:36.060 --> 43:39.060] The Resource Center's program director, Melissa Travis [43:39.060 --> 43:43.060] Says many of their clients are new to poverty [43:43.060 --> 43:46.060] Oftentimes, the first time they come, they break into tears [43:46.060 --> 43:49.060] Because they can't imagine that they would ever need help [43:49.060 --> 43:50.060] In a way like this [43:50.060 --> 43:52.060] They've been people that have paid taxes [43:52.060 --> 43:55.060] They're people that have volunteered and helped in places like this in the past [43:55.060 --> 43:58.060] And now suddenly they have to go and seek out that assistance [43:58.060 --> 44:01.060] So we give a lot of hugs [44:01.060 --> 44:05.060] Mary Kay Hopp could have used a hug the day she came to the food pantry [44:05.060 --> 44:09.060] A registered nurse, Hopp has been out of work for several years [44:09.060 --> 44:14.060] She grew up in Wheaton and enjoyed a far different lifestyle [44:14.060 --> 44:16.060] My dad had a good job [44:16.060 --> 44:19.060] We had the big house and the cars and all those other things [44:19.060 --> 44:21.060] You know, new wardrobe for school [44:21.060 --> 44:23.060] When that time of the year came around [44:23.060 --> 44:28.060] I think that I'm one of the people who didn't have to go without much [44:28.060 --> 44:33.060] And yeah, it's a whole flip side of that [44:33.060 --> 44:37.060] Three months of unemployment brought Mariano Menendez and his family [44:37.060 --> 44:40.060] To the food pantry for the first time [44:40.060 --> 44:43.060] Did you think you'd ever wind up coming to a food pantry for the first time? [44:43.060 --> 44:45.060] No, of course not, never [44:45.060 --> 44:49.060] I've had good jobs, I've made good income [44:49.060 --> 44:53.060] I've never in my wildest dreams [44:53.060 --> 44:56.060] I'm definitely very grateful for this [44:56.060 --> 45:00.060] It's an amazing service that they offer here [45:00.060 --> 45:04.060] Their dramatic increase in poverty in suburban DuPage County [45:04.060 --> 45:08.060] Mirrors the increase in poverty in suburban areas across the country [45:08.060 --> 45:14.060] That leaves human service agencies struggling to meet the needs in their communities [45:14.060 --> 45:21.060] Yet federal, state, and local funding still goes disproportionately to urban areas [45:21.060 --> 45:25.060] That lack of federal and state resources to fight suburban poverty [45:25.060 --> 45:28.060] Leaves existing agencies overwhelmed [45:28.060 --> 45:34.060] All of the growth in poverty in the state of Illinois has been in the suburban area [45:34.060 --> 45:39.060] My organization did an analysis of federal funding [45:39.060 --> 45:43.060] And some state funding and private philanthropic funding [45:43.060 --> 45:49.060] And found that the city of Chicago is getting up to four and five times more [45:49.060 --> 45:52.060] Per poor person than DuPage County is [45:52.060 --> 45:56.060] That is not news to Melissa Travis at the People's Resource Center [45:56.060 --> 46:01.060] We are stretched, about six weeks ago the food pantry was as empty as I've ever seen it [46:01.060 --> 46:03.060] In six and a half years [46:03.060 --> 46:06.060] We were trying to get through to our next delivery [46:06.060 --> 46:10.060] And just hoping that we had enough food to give everybody what they needed [46:10.060 --> 46:13.060] It's been a devastating year in that regard [46:13.060 --> 46:18.060] Unlike many of the newly poor, who have a hard time finding the resources that are available [46:18.060 --> 46:23.060] Katherine Arivosas has taken advantage of all the programs at the People's Resource Center [46:23.060 --> 46:26.060] She has gotten clothes for herself and her kids [46:26.060 --> 46:30.060] And used the job counselors in her effort to find a full time teaching job [46:30.060 --> 46:35.060] But having to accept help has changed the way she thinks of herself [46:35.060 --> 46:37.060] I always thought of myself as middle class [46:37.060 --> 46:39.060] I had a middle class upbringing [46:39.060 --> 46:42.060] I had middle class expectations [46:42.060 --> 46:49.060] But the reality is that I'm not living a middle class lifestyle anymore [46:49.060 --> 46:55.060] So no, I don't think so, I think I've fallen out of the middle class [46:55.060 --> 47:00.060] Like many in her situation, she doesn't see much hope of things improving [47:00.060 --> 47:03.060] And while she wants to stay in Wheaton [47:03.060 --> 47:09.060] Life in suburbia is far different than she ever imagined it would be [47:16.060 --> 47:22.060] And finally tonight, our second story on the shifting trends in American life [47:22.060 --> 47:26.060] This one's about the changing demographics of marriage [47:26.060 --> 47:29.060] Ray Suarez has our conversation [47:29.060 --> 47:33.060] For decades, the fact that a sizable majority of Americans were married [47:33.060 --> 47:36.060] Shaped our politics, where we lived, where we worked [47:36.060 --> 47:39.060] And what we thought when we heard the word family [47:39.060 --> 47:43.060] Recently, the Pew Research Center took a look at all of us over 18 [47:43.060 --> 47:49.060] And found just 51% are married, down from more than 70% in 1960 [47:49.060 --> 47:53.060] Stephanie Koontz has been chronicling the changes in American marriage for a long time [47:53.060 --> 47:57.060] She teaches history and family studies at Evergreen State College in Washington [47:57.060 --> 48:01.060] And is Director of Research at the Council on Contemporary Families [48:01.060 --> 48:07.060] Professor Koontz, welcome, we moved in 50 years from almost three quarters of married adults [48:07.060 --> 48:11.060] To barely half, what happened? What's pushing those numbers? [48:11.060 --> 48:15.060] Well, one of the things that you have to bear in mind is that [48:15.060 --> 48:19.060] 1960 was probably the most atypical year in 150 years [48:19.060 --> 48:22.060] The age of marriage was at an all time low [48:22.060 --> 48:25.060] Half of all women were married before they got out of their teens [48:25.060 --> 48:28.060] And the rate of marriage was at an all time high [48:28.060 --> 48:31.060] So what's happened since then, primarily what's driving this [48:31.060 --> 48:33.060] Is the rise in the age of marriage [48:33.060 --> 48:38.060] It's now up to 26 for women and 28 for men [48:38.060 --> 48:42.060] And that's actually a good thing, because the longer a woman delays marriage [48:42.060 --> 48:46.060] Right up until her early 30s, the lower her chances of divorce [48:46.060 --> 48:50.060] But it does totally change the social weight of married households [48:50.060 --> 48:53.060] In our economy, our society, our politics [48:53.060 --> 48:57.060] But not only has the age at first marriage risen [48:57.060 --> 49:01.060] Which, of course, that's just math, it makes a smaller number of adults married [49:01.060 --> 49:05.060] But the number of people who have ever been married has also declined [49:05.060 --> 49:10.060] Has marriage moved from being sort of culturally mandatory to more optional? [49:10.060 --> 49:14.060] Well, it's definitely moved to being more optional [49:14.060 --> 49:17.060] That does not mean, though, that it's not just as valued [49:17.060 --> 49:20.060] In fact, even more valued than it used to be [49:20.060 --> 49:23.060] It doesn't mean that the majority of Americans will not marry [49:23.060 --> 49:27.060] I think that probably we're getting into a situation where [49:27.060 --> 49:31.060] A slightly larger number of people will never marry than in the past [49:31.060 --> 49:38.060] Maybe 15%, as opposed to 10% norm and 5% in the atypical 1950s [49:38.060 --> 49:42.060] And of course we also have some people who will live alone after divorcing [49:42.060 --> 49:47.060] But on the other hand, people are marrying for the first time in their 40s, 50s and 60s [49:47.060 --> 49:50.060] At younger, at older ages than ever before [49:50.060 --> 49:53.060] So for me, the main thing that I think we're facing here [49:53.060 --> 49:57.060] Is that you can no longer assume that married couple households [49:57.060 --> 50:02.060] Are going to be the main places where people make the major life decisions [50:02.060 --> 50:07.060] Whether that's entering into becoming sexually active, buying a house [50:07.060 --> 50:12.060] Entering long-term obligations, living with somebody that is a romantic partner [50:12.060 --> 50:14.060] Even having a child out of marriage [50:14.060 --> 50:18.060] You can no longer assume that married couple households are the only place [50:18.060 --> 50:21.060] Where people incur obligations, make commitments [50:21.060 --> 50:23.060] And need help in meeting their obligations [50:23.060 --> 50:26.060] Well, you've talked about these big life moments [50:26.060 --> 50:31.060] But have they responded to the fact that marriage has changed in this way over the last 50 years? [50:31.060 --> 50:37.060] Our tax laws, the way we build houses, the way we award property in courts [50:37.060 --> 50:40.060] All kinds of things are still built around marriage [50:40.060 --> 50:42.060] Absolutely, absolutely [50:42.060 --> 50:46.060] Just look at work-family policies that just assume that it's only married couples [50:46.060 --> 50:48.060] Who are going to have children [50:48.060 --> 50:54.060] Or just ignore the fact that singles also have responsibility for aging parents [50:54.060 --> 50:58.060] There are so many ways in which we are still acting as though [50:58.060 --> 51:01.060] American families were like 1950s sitcoms [51:01.060 --> 51:04.060] Instead of the tremendous diversity [51:04.060 --> 51:06.060] Most people will marry in America [51:06.060 --> 51:11.060] But most people will spend substantial portions of their adult life outside marriage [51:11.060 --> 51:13.060] In a more fluid situation than it used to be [51:13.060 --> 51:15.060] They'll move through, they may cohabit for a while [51:15.060 --> 51:18.060] They may get married, they may get divorced [51:18.060 --> 51:21.060] So these are the sorts of things that our social policy [51:21.060 --> 51:24.060] And even our emotional expectations of family life [51:24.060 --> 51:27.060] Have to catch up with these changing realities [51:27.060 --> 51:30.060] Along with the long-term trends, there are some short-term ones too [51:30.060 --> 51:33.060] The number of newlyweds is way down [51:33.060 --> 51:37.060] Is that going to push that 50% threshold down [51:37.060 --> 51:41.060] So that married people are a minority of American adults? [51:41.060 --> 51:43.060] It may, it may [51:43.060 --> 51:47.060] It depends how long this recession and the aftermath of the recession lasts [51:47.060 --> 51:52.060] This is a long-term trend, the decline in the proportion of married couples in the population [51:52.060 --> 51:56.060] But it's been definitely, I think, exacerbated by the recession [51:56.060 --> 51:59.060] But on the other hand, we may see some bounce back after that [51:59.060 --> 52:03.060] As we have in previous recessions and depressions when the marriage rate fell [52:03.060 --> 52:11.060] How is who gets married shaped by income, education, factors like that? [52:11.060 --> 52:16.060] Well, one of the things we're seeing is a tremendous class divide [52:16.060 --> 52:20.060] In the access to stable, satisfying relationships [52:20.060 --> 52:22.060] Whether married or cohabiting [52:22.060 --> 52:27.060] And the marriages of college-educated couples have been getting more and more stable [52:27.060 --> 52:29.060] The divorce rates have been falling [52:29.060 --> 52:36.060] But that's not so for high school dropouts and even increasingly for high school-educated couples [52:36.060 --> 52:42.060] It seems that one of the issues going on here is that we expect more of marriage than ever before [52:42.060 --> 52:46.060] Both as an economic partnership and as an emotional partnership [52:46.060 --> 52:54.060] And as it becomes possible, or less possible, to count on a man having a steady job [52:54.060 --> 53:02.060] The real wages of high school graduates today are $4 an hour lower in constant dollars than they were back in 1970 [53:02.060 --> 53:07.060] They're much more likely to experience job insecurity, much less likely to have pensions [53:07.060 --> 53:12.060] So a woman, a low-income woman making a decision about marrying such a man has to figure out [53:12.060 --> 53:18.060] Well, what are the benefits of this as compared to the possibility that we might divorce in the future [53:18.060 --> 53:23.060] Or as compared to what would happen if I invested in my own education and earnings power [53:23.060 --> 53:27.060] And so I do think we're seeing a class divide that's quite troublesome [53:27.060 --> 53:31.060] I think that it partly reflects growing economic inequality in our society [53:31.060 --> 53:33.060] But of course it exacerbates it as well [53:33.060 --> 53:36.060] Stephanie Koontz, thanks for joining us [53:36.060 --> 53:39.060] My pleasure, Ray, thank you [53:46.060 --> 53:48.060] And again the major developments of the day [53:48.060 --> 53:51.060] Republican presidential candidate spent another long day hunting for votes [53:51.060 --> 53:54.060] Going into the final weekend before the Iowa caucuses [53:54.060 --> 53:58.060] Another poll showed Mitt Romney and Ron Paul atop the field [53:58.060 --> 54:02.060] And an outpouring of protesters filled cities across Syria [54:02.060 --> 54:04.060] And government troops opened fire again [54:04.060 --> 54:07.060] The opposition said at least 22 people were killed [54:07.060 --> 54:11.060] And to Hari Srinivasan for what's on the NewsHour online [54:11.060 --> 54:12.060] Hari? [54:12.060 --> 54:14.060] There's much more on the coming Iowa caucuses [54:14.060 --> 54:17.060] Including Gwen Ifill's take on why the early contests matter [54:17.060 --> 54:19.060] And what some Republican voters want from the candidates [54:19.060 --> 54:22.060] And Patchwork Nation's look at some GOP hopefuls [54:22.060 --> 54:25.060] Betting big on sparsely populated counties in Iowa [54:25.060 --> 54:29.060] Plus on the rundown view a slideshow of some of the biggest news stories of 2011 [54:29.060 --> 54:31.060] In the U.S. and around the world [54:31.060 --> 54:34.060] All that and more is on our website, newshour.pbs.org [54:34.060 --> 54:35.060] Jeff? [54:35.060 --> 54:37.060] And that's the NewsHour for tonight [54:37.060 --> 54:39.060] On Monday we'll look at the fallout in Egypt [54:39.060 --> 54:42.060] After the military raided U.S.-backed organizations [54:42.060 --> 54:44.060] I'm Jeffrey Brown [54:44.060 --> 54:45.060] And I'm Jim Lehrer [54:45.060 --> 54:47.060] Washington Week can be seen later this evening [54:47.060 --> 54:49.060] On most PBS stations [54:49.060 --> 54:52.060] We'll see you online and again here Monday evening [54:52.060 --> 54:55.060] Have a nice New Year's holiday weekend [54:55.060 --> 54:57.060] Thank you and good night [54:57.060 --> 55:16.060] Major funding for the PBS NewsHour has been provided by [55:27.060 --> 55:31.060] Moving our economy for 160 years [55:31.060 --> 55:34.060] BNSF, the engine that connects us [55:35.060 --> 55:39.060] Intel, sponsors of tomorrow [55:40.060 --> 55:43.060] And by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation [55:43.060 --> 55:47.060] Dedicated to the idea that all people deserve the chance [55:47.060 --> 55:50.060] To live a healthy, productive life [55:50.060 --> 55:58.060] And with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations [56:20.060 --> 56:22.060] Thank you. [56:50.060 --> 56:57.060] KQED thanks our members and community partners for their support [57:21.060 --> 57:25.060] Love, betrayal and revenge underscore this masterful adaptation [57:25.060 --> 57:28.060] Of the heartbreaking tale by Alexander Pushkin [57:28.060 --> 57:33.060] KQED members can purchase half-price tickets to the January 27th 8 p.m. performance [57:33.060 --> 57:35.060] At the War Memorial Opera House [57:35.060 --> 57:39.060] Members also enjoy dinner discounts and purchases at the Ballet Store [57:39.060 --> 57:43.060] Learn more at kqed.org slash SF Ballet [57:45.060 --> 57:48.060] Hello, I'm Belva Davis, here with John Bolan [57:48.060 --> 57:52.060] Taxes may be the last thing on your mind this holiday season [57:52.060 --> 57:56.060] Just the way paying for public television may be the last thing you think of [57:56.060 --> 57:58.060] When you watch one of our programs [57:58.060 --> 58:02.060] If you file an itemized return, midnight on December 31st [58:02.060 --> 58:07.060] Is the deadline for making the charitable contributions you report on Schedule A [58:07.060 --> 58:10.060] So why not put KQED on your charitable gift list? [58:10.060 --> 58:15.060] Your donation is a great way to improve your financial picture and KQED's [58:15.060 --> 58:20.060] Give us a call at 1-800-568-9999 [58:20.060 --> 58:25.060] Or go to our website at kqed.org slash donate using your computer or smartphone [58:25.060 --> 58:31.060] Every donation counts, because together they help this station continue to serve you [58:31.060 --> 58:33.060] With high quality programs [58:33.060 --> 58:35.060] So call right now [58:35.060 --> 58:45.060] And from all of us at KQED, best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year [59:05.060 --> 59:08.060] Flowers in the desert from Cirque du Soleil [59:08.060 --> 59:10.060] Blooming on PBS [59:10.060 --> 59:35.060] Tonight at 830 on Community Supported KQED [59:41.060 --> 59:45.060] Arlene and Pete Harmon and their program acquisition gift [59:45.060 --> 59:51.060] In support of KQED's efforts to educate and inform the people of Northern California [59:51.060 --> 59:56.060] Xfinity, with TV, internet and voice services that work together [59:56.060 --> 01:00:11.060] So you can access and enjoy everything you love, anytime