welcome to "world news" from manchester, new hampshire. jobs jolt. 200,000 new jobs and we find optimism on elm street in new hampshire tonight. showdown. mitt romney pulls way ahead of the pack as his rivals prepare to take their last best shot to stop him. america to the rescue. u.s. sailors save a ship full of iranians from pirates. and iranians so grateful, he dons a u.s. navy cap. hospital secrets. a new report about the biggest hospital mistakes and how you can avoid them. and made in new hampshire. we show up in the kitchen of some viewers who wrote us delicious ideas to power up made in america.

will face off right there on that stage for the abc news debate. addressing big news today about jobs in america. 200,000 jobs added in the past month. more than predicted. and the unemployment number down from 8.7% to 8.5%. and the zbrout driven by a surprising surge, not only in health care but in factory workers, pumping out new cars and appliances. and tonight, we're going to dive into those numbers. abc's dan harris leads us off. >> reporter: think about today's job report as the good, the bad and the ugly. the classic spaghetti western from 1966, a decent analogy for the american job market of 2012. so, what's the good?

there's quite a bit, actually, and it was on stark display today in north carolina, where this new gas turbine plant just opened. >> we already added 700 jobs to this site since march of 2010 and we expect to continue growing here. >> reporter: made in america manufacturing now showing strength, as exports jump, with 23,000 jobs added in december alone. >> the fact that manufacturing continues to add people tells us that we are now competitive in the world market. >> reporter: more good? our pay went up slightly and so did the length of the average work week. a sign businesses may soon need even more workers. good news for people at this jobs fair in chicago today. >> i'm looking for a job where i can use my language skills. >> i'm looking for an analyst position. >> reporter: and then, there's the bad. we need more like 300,000 jobs a month, as compared to 200,000 last month, in order to really bring the unemployment rate down in a major way.

and that is not likely to happen this year. and finally, there's the ugly. there are still 6 million fewer jobs in america than there were in 2007, before the great recession. so, when you factor it all in, the good, the bad and the ugly, what's the whole picture? >> the economy set up for 2012 to have this moderate sustained economic expansion and frankly, that is good news. it's just not great news yet. >> reporter: let's hope life imitates art. in the movie, the good guy rides off with a whole pile of gold. dan harris, abc news, new york. and all of this, of course, the number one issue as the republican contenders battle their way to the finish line. it is your voice, your vote. now, on a rocket ride to the debate saturday night and the new hampshire primary on tuesday. and we have just learned that governor mitt romney is widening his lead, a solid 24 points ahead of his nearest competitor,

ron paul, here in new hampshire. but he is dodging incoming fire from rivals trying to stop him. as abc's david muir reports, with the romney campaign tonight. >> reporter: mitt romney returning to his own backyard tonight, basking in the glow of a sizable lead, heading into the new hampshire primary. what is also growing tonight, the incoming fire. all of romney's opponents know this is their shot to chip away at romney's lead. today, newt gingrich taking aim with carefully chosen words he hopes will rile up social conservatives. >> there's a point where you just have to say to somebody, get real. he is a massachusetts rod moderate. >> reporter: and on "good morning america," gingrich safing, if it is mitt romney in the end -- >> imagine him debating obama. obama is going to laugh at him. >> reporter: romney's return to new hampshire after a swing to south carolina, confident enough in new hampshire to leave the state. a south carolina win could put him on the fast track to the nomination. and even where social

conservatives play a huge role, a new poll shows romney in the lead in south carolina, as well. he remains focused on the economy. just minutes after the improving job numbers were released today, the lowest unemployment in more than two years in this country, romney continues to blast the benchmark once predicted by president obama's own economic advisers. >> he said, look, if you let me borrow $787 billion, we'll be able to keep unemployment from going ail above 8%. unemployment below 8%. >> reporter: romney making it clear that regardless of the improving jobs picture, unemployment will be remain central to his case. of course it's good news, but 35 consecutive months of unemployment above 8% is no cause for celebration. >> our thanks to david muir with the romney campaign. and as you heard, his rivals, including senator rick santorum, are doubling down tonight, trying to prove that mitt romney

is not an unstoppable force. abc's jake tapper spoke with santorum today. >> reporter: when rick santorum makes this pitch to new hampshire voters, comparing himself to ronald reagan, who won the new hampshire primary in 1980, he does not mention mitt romney's name. >> new hampshire knew what america needed and was a contrast, was bold colors, not pale pastels. >> reporter: but it's romney who he is taking about. give me an example where you are bold, in a policy way, where you are bold and mitt romney is a pale pastel. >> well, health care. in the case of governor romney, obviously, there is a convoluted record that, you know, you have to be a yoga instrk or the to be able to convince people that it's straight. >> reporter: and as he makes his way from unknown, unsupported candidate on the outskirts of the debate stage to major player, center stage? santorum faces another challenge. while sometimes his staunch advocacy for his conservative

principles wins supporters in new hampshire, as he attacks president obama, other times, he can seem prickly. >> all right, guys, guys -- >> reporter: yesterday, he got into an extended, heated back and forth with college students about same sex marriage. one new hampshire elected official told me santorum's decision to get into this squabble was, quote, weird. >> i'm going to ask you a question again. if it's -- if it makes three people happy to get married, what, based on what you just said, what makes that wrong and what you said right? >> i'm wondering if you get into a back and forth and you can even get a little bit testy -- >> was i testy? >> reporter: my larger question, you want to stay true to yourself but there's a moment here for you to become a president. >> i think it's important for people to see how i got to where i am. so, they can say, well, okay, now i understand why he's there. >> reporter: diane, santorum told us that he's seen an infusion of campaign donations

since his strong showing in iowa. but it came too late for him to be able to buy any tv ad time here in new hampshire, so, he will be relying on your debate on saturday night to make his case to the people of the granite state. diane? >> and our thanks to you, jake. and i want to bring in the anchor of "this week," george stephanopoulos now. so, can anybody block romney at this point? >> reporter: not in new hampshire, no way. the only question is, how much is he going to win by? and who is going to come in second and have momentum going into south carolina? but the only way those other candidates can grow right now is to take something out of mitt romney. >> and as you know, we've been talking about this, i was on elm street today, walking around and there was real optimism in there about more jobs. >> we've had, i think, like six or seven ribbon cutting ceremonies in the last, week, month or two, yeah. it's a great place to be. >> reporter: hi, how are you? i'm diane. it's nice to meet you. as we know, across the country,

people are echoing what's already been happening in new hampshire, saying that new businesses are opening up. so, how does this new, good numbers on jobs affect the republican strategy? >> reporter: you can't really change their strategy. they still have to argue that things will be much better if they were in charge and their policies were in place. but it makes it a little trickier to talk about, because they don't want to be seen dismissing good news that everybody wants right now and of course this is very good news for president obama. but unemployment still ail above 8%. this trend has to continue for him to do well in november. >> well, i want to remind everybody, you and i, here, there, tomorrow night and it's saturday night, the big debate and anything can happen. and, of course, the vote here on tuesday. but we do want to point out something we were talking about, as well. there are people in new hampshire who can't wait for some serenity in new hampshire, after tuesday. take a look at this sign on a diner not far from here. it's colby's breakfast and lunch. and it says "no politicians, no

exceptions." and to be fair, no journalists, either. and they don't have to wait long. again, the big debate will be at 9:00 p.m., right here on saturday night. and i want to point out to everybody that on sunday, something great is going to happen, george stephanopoulos, i don't know how you're going to do all of this, will be back in the chair for "this week." be sure to watch. he has a big, big broadcast right here from new hampshire. >> reporter: going to be exciting. >> seat you soon, george. and now we move on from new hampshire overseas to an extraordinary rescue at sea. at a time when there's a war of words, rising tension with iran. the u.s. navy did something spectacular. just days after the saber ratfuling from iran about u.s. warships in the region, one of those american ships saved 13 iranians. and here's abc's martha raddatz. >> reporter: it was a rescue mission drenched in irony. the "uss kidd" was steaming through the waters of the arabian sea when it spotted

somali pirates holding a fishing vessel hostage. the u.s. navy responded, sending an armed team onto the ship. the pirates didn't put up a fight. and that's when the u.s. sailors found 13 iranians who had been held on board against their will for nearly two months. i spoke to the commander of the "uss kidd." they knew the crew rescuing them were americans? >> they could see that we had our u.s. flag was flying. they were very cordial, very thankful. >> reporter: the "uss kidd" is part of a group of ships that iran threatened just days ago. but today, when the iranian fishermen said good-bye, they were all wearing "uss kidd" baseball caps. martha raddatz, abc news, washington. and also tonight, the anniversary of a truly tragic day in this nation's history. it is hard to believe it has been one year, this weekend,

since a man with a gunshot congresswoman gabrielle giffords in the head. a woman who has taught us so much about what it is to be brave and determined and to move forward, even when you think you cannot. a year ago, a lone assassin, a suburban supermarket. congresswoman gabrielle giffords meeting with constituents. and in seconds, a federal judge, a 9-year-old girl and four others all have died. giffords, critically injured, a gunshot wound to the head. that day is gone? >> it's gone. >> reporter: and when mark told you what happened -- >> i cry. died. >> sad. >> sad. tough. tough, tough, tough. >> reporter: this sunday, tucson will remember. church bells ringing out at the exact moment the shooting broke out. giffords will leave her home and therapy in houston to attend one of the services in tucson.

and she still says she will decide about the future, the life she loved in congress, when she knows where she is on her fight back. you think to yourself, i'll go back to congress if i get better? >> yes, yes, yes. >> reporter: still, by her side, astronaut mark kelly who told us just today, it's hard won, but she is still making progress all the time. what's the first word you think of -- >> brave. >> thank you. >> brave. >> that's what i think of when i think of you, too. >> thank you. >> brave and tough. >> tough, tough, tough. >> tough as nails. >> tough as nails. >> and in talking about her progress, mark kelly said she is stringing together real questions now. and the full interview with him will be on "good morning america" tomorrow on sunday, rather with dan harris, and he is there for that interview.

still ahead on "world news," a staggering number of medical errors. what are the biggest ones made in the hospital and what do you do to protect yourself? exercise alert. could a popular exercise, supposed to be gentle, cause disabling injury? and we drop in on some made in america champions, right here in new hampshire. sometimes life can be, well, a little uncomfortable, but when it's hard or hurts to go to the bathroom, there's dulcolax stool softener. dulcolax stool softener doesn't make you go... it just makes it easier to go. dulcolax stool softener. make yourself comfortable. let me get you a free tank of gas -- how's that sound? progressive saved me money, and i'm saving you money. [ chuckles ] now these guys are protected with progressive. come on around. we'll fill up your tank for you. free gas! 5 more inches. now you're lined up for some free gas and savings, eh? [ horn honks ]

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then i found new pronutrients omega-3. it's from centrum. it's a smaller minigel. with two of the best omegas to support my heart, brain and eyes. new pronutrients from centrum. some start ming news tonight about the quality of hospital care. and investigation found that hospital workers report only 1 in 7 medical mistakes on medicare patients. and even when the errors are reported, little is done to stop them from happening again. so, what are these errors? here's abc's dr. richard besser. >> reporter: mary brennan taylor's mother went to the hospital with a simple case of gout. >> you should not go into the

hospital for gout and die 48 days later. >> reporter: marcus glover went in for shoulder surgery and came out with a dangerous infection. >> the pain is like somebody hit me in my stomach with a bat. >> reporter: today's report say that errors are happening in hospitals and most are going unreported. in 293 cases where patients were hurt, only 14% were reported. >> we don't know the full magnitude of how many patients are harmed, but some estimates say it's 1 in 10. >> reporter: and most of them can be prevented. dr. peter pronovost is part of a team that pioneered an answer that seems so simple. a checklist. just like airline pilots use before they take off. in the operating room, its reduced deaths by a staggering 46%. a checklist cost nothing. but not every hospital uses one. so, what can you do? ask if your hospital is using a checklist. have someone with you in the hospital who can tell nurses and doctors if you're not acting like yourself. bring a list of all the

medications you take. and that basic one. if you don't see them wash their hands, speak up. it's your right. for mary's mom, it was medication error. her mother became disoriented. >> they could have said, is this your mother? they did not. >> reporter: if hospitals react to today's report the way they should, medical mistakes will be noted, reported and, it's hoped, reduced. dr. richard besser, abc news, new york. and still ahead, 20 million of us are turning to yoga, exercise to get fit. but could it hurt you instead? a new report.l the nutritional ? from centrum. it puts you in the center of everything that's good for you. its unique self-assessment tool helps identify the multivitamin and supplement combination that's right for you and your lifestyle. so visit new nutritionpossible.com

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shows improvement in joint comfort within 7 days. osteo bi-flex. the #1 doctor and pharmacist recommended brand. in healthy living tonight, a controversy has been raised about a wildly popular form of exercise, yoga. a new book says yoga is causing a surprising number of injuries, even disabilities. here's abc's linsey davis. >> drop down. >> reporter: it's the side of yoga you don't see. >> pop. and three of the four tendons in this rotator cuff are moderately torn. >> reporter: a brand new book is now making the controversial case that yoga can be bad for you. it's something kathy lily knows all too well. a veteran yoga instructor, sidelined by injuries three times. >> she forced it and i tore the hamstring. >> reporter: ouch. yoga has exploded in popularity in this country. from just 4 million a decade ago

to an estimated 20 million today. less noticed? injures were going up just as fast. only a dozen reported in 2000, up to more than 5,500 in 2007. >> there are people who are too eager to do it too well too quickly. >> reporter: dr. fishman, like many physicians, say yoga is good for you when done correctly. but he says the quality of instruction is lacking. >> people are recruited into doing yoga and teaching yoga, who really are not fit to do so. >> reporter: the important thing is to know your body. i gave it a try to see what i was doing wrong. >> if you are much more rounded you could blow out your back. >> reporter: that's the difference between getting healthy and getting hurt. linsey davis, abc news, new york. and still ahead, something delicious. you helped us learn it was made right here in new hampshire. following that fidelity green line? yeah, but it keeps leading me back to my old office.

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and finally tonight, made in america. as we say on "world news," if everyone in the country spent $64 more every year on something made here at home, we'd create hundreds of thousands of new jobs. and some of you, our viewers right here in new hampshire, wrote in to say, they're with us. and they set out to have a made in america christmas. >> diane, how are you? welcome to new hampshire. >> reporter: hello, hello. it was great to meet some of our viewers right here in new hampshire, who told us they were u.n. dated by politicians and their promotions. >> we have a joke in new hampshire that i don't know who i'm going to vote for yet because i've only met each candidate twice. >> i have not decided. i give everyone an opportunity until the last moment. >> reporter: they had written us to say they had decided to buy made in america this christmas. >> we love this program that you guys have put together because it changed the conversation. >> reporter: not only is lint chocolate made in new

hampshire -- hi, how are you? we headed off to elm street and found peanut butterupcakes? not to mention fox's smoked ham, which we are going to cook tomorrow. and we also found a lot of people who say, they're ready to make this and so much more right here in the usa. >> keep the jobs here in the united states and not sending them overseas and looking for someone who can stand up for us people. keep the jobs here so we can keep our people working and restimulate our own economy. >> let's hear it for new hampshire. and thank you for watching. we're always on at abcnews.com. and david muir will be here tomorrow and george stephanopoulos and i will moderate the big abc news republican debate right here tomorrow night. hope you tune in. see you then.