is a professor of jersey-iana at new jersey's rutgers university. >> yeah, new jersey is caught between two major cities: new york and philadelphia. it's always been fashionable in both of those places to put down new jersey. we're their country cousins, if you will. >> we work in new jersey. >> reporter: so what is new jersey's actual situation? for starters new jersey is an economic powerhouse, the second richest state in the u.s., a leader in pharmaceuticals, tell come and agriculture. in fact 15% of the garden state is working farmland, ranking 12th in sweet corn production, 7th in tomatoes, fifth in bell peppers, third in cranberries, third in blueberrys, and first in this unenviable category, new jersey gets less back for every dollar in federal taxes paid than any state in the union. now that's a joke. and what about that stereotype that jersey is a state of knuckle heads? if you don't think any bright ideas come out of new jersey, think again. thomas edison patented his famous light bulb here. this is his library and office. i'm sitting at thomas edison's desk. edison is just on

to fix a broken new jersey. and when i look at what we've accomplished so far, i'm proud, but i know we're not nearly done. i've made this commitment to my state first and foremost. the people sent me to trenton to get a job done and i'm just not prepared to walk away. i know not everyone agrees with my decision, but my loyalty to this state is what it is. abraham lincoln said, i'd like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. i'd like to see a man live so his place will be proud of him. that's how i feel in my heart about new jersey. i'm proud of this state and its people. and i know there's still much more we need to do together to ensure the future we want for all of our children. so this is not the time to leave unfinished business for me. the stakes are too high and the consequences are too real. so, new jersey, whether you like it or not, you're stuck with me. let me say this. i'm grateful, i'm grateful to the many people both in new jersey and around the country who have spoken to me over these

the tonic he's giving to new york -- new jersey, the tonic he's giving to new jersey is a little bitter from time to time. the tonic we have to take in america is not all roses and cream. we have to take some pain. >> charlie: you are an articulate, very articulate and passionate man. you always put your advocacy out front and have been willing to listen and to be criticized and to make your point and to engage in battle and a lot of people arou it. the point is the country needs a debate and we hope that comes out of this political campaign in the fight for the republican numb make and the nomination. not only at the presidential level but the senatorial level people are saying why are we and why are we not there. do you aee with at that time. >> i'm in business charlie with people. you made the right decision, some you w and some you lose because you were fooled. this man has had the presincy for two and-a-half years. two and-a-ha years, charlie. and all you have to do, forget you're talking about following, why are all these one-time fervent supporters of his calling and saying if yo

. , to fix a broken new jersey. what i look at what was accomplished so far, i am proud but i know we're not nearly done. i have made this commitment to my state first and foremost. the people send me to trenton to get a job done and i'm just not prepared to walk away. i know not everyone agrees with my decision but my loyalty to this state is what it is. abraham lincoln said i like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. i like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him. that is how i feel in my heart about new jersey. am proud of this state and its people and i know there is still much more we need to do together to ensure the future we want for all of our children. this is not the time to leave unfinished business for me. stakes are too high and the consequences are too real. so, new jersey, whether you like it or not, you are stuck with me. [laughter] let me say this -- i am grateful to the many people both in new jersey and around the country who have spoken to me over these last weeks

it is good news for america but not so good news for new jersey. >> i have a commitment to new jersey that i simply will not abandon. when i look at what we have accomplished so far, i'm proud, but i know we're not nearly done. this is not the time to leave unfinished business for me. the stakes are too high and the consequences are too real. so, new jersey, whether you like it or not, you are stuck with me. >> yeah, you are stuck with him, new jersey. here's what christie's commitment to his state has done for you so far in the tamil nadu state of new jersey. the unemployment rate is above the national average at 9.4%. chris christie vetoed a tax on million nars and funding for women's health. last year property taxes increased by an average of 23.5%, and i'm sure all americans are looking forward to that number with their property. train and bus fares went up 25%. happened in your neighborhood, moody's, fitch and standard & poors all lowered, they all lowered by some chance new jersey's credit rating because of the state's weak economic recovery and growth. christie's administration

new jersey man, born and bred. tell me about the early days. >> well, my parents moved here to this town from newark. when i was 5 years old so i could go to this school system because it's one of the best school systems in the state. and they borrowed money. $1,000 from each one of my grandmothers. to put a $2,000 down payment on a $22,000 house that my father was able to get with his va mortgage from having served in the army. they wanted to come here for their kids. >> your mother died very suddenly five, six years ago. and it was an awful end to her life. you had this poignant time with her before she died. two things struck me. you can go back to work, because there's nothing left unsaid between us. which i found very moving when i read that. also, she said to you, going-forward, and i'm sure like all mothers she had great aspirations for her boy. she said never worry about being loved, focus on being respected. if you're respected, you can find love down the road. >> yeah. and listen, i miss her every day. sh

and new jersey has learned that. to the extent that we had some appeal for people around the country, i think it was probably based on that. jonathan? >>. [ indiscernible ] >> i don't -- on the first part of that, i don't think it says anything particular about the field. i'd like to think it says something about me and you know, there are folks who feel like what we've done here in new jersey in a blue state and bringing people together and getting things done is something that they like to see in the country. and i think that's what it was really all about, john. it wasn't my charm and good looks, you know that. it was the accomplishments that we have in new jersey that made people excited that maybe divided government could work, maybe leading in a very bold and direct way could forge kpoe m compromise. i've answered about vice president a bunch of times and the fact is, i don't think there's anybody in america who would necessarily think my personality is best suited to being number two. lisa? [ indiscernible ] >

he knows new jersey, pensions, union, finances. when he we've talked to him it isn't a guy who makes interesting and funny arguments, he knows his stuff, but medicare, social security, entitlement reform, foreign policy, tax policy, i don't think he would feel comfortable in having his back masseured the way he has new jersey and would run the risk in a debate of that coming through. >> paul: james? >> you look at his background and he he was not a core politician and before he became governor of the state in 2009, his day job was putting away politicians, who were corrupt in new jersey not on their policies, so, i think if you-- >> what about the vulnerability that dan points out and jason suggests, which is you've got to be a quick study on the national issues, otherwise they're going to say, you really said your he' going to raise the retirement age on medicare and step on a land mine for that and all of a sudden, you're he not ready for prime time. >> i think he is showing he has a broader view. one of the things that got peopl

, we have a densely populated state and there's a big handgun problem in new jersey. certain gun control issues looking at it from a law enforcement perspective, seeing how many police officers were killed, we have an illegal gun problem in new jersey. what i support are common sense laws that will allow people to protect themselves. i'm also very concerned about the safety of our police officers on the streets. very concerned. and i want to make sure that we don't have an abundance of guns out there. >> ed rollins, how does that play to republican voters in iowa and south carolina? >> and new hampshire. not very well. and equally as important, you know, that needs to be defined. he refused to fill out the nra questionnaire when he was running for governor. you have to remember this guy, h he ran against one of the most unpopular governors in the country when he beat corzine. the commercial he showed earlier about him getting exemptions from certain things and being overweight may not have had any impact because that guy was going to be defeated, corzine. this is goin

at 1:00, the chris christie announcement in new jersey. he is expected to say he is not running for president. what will that mean for the race now? we'll talk about that. >>> plus, amanda knox just hours away from arriving home in seattle. one of her friends is going to join me to talk about what's next for her and what will happen if italian prosecutors appeal yesterday's ruling. all that and much more straight ahead. >>> time for the your business entrepreneur of the week. mobile medical international, a builder of mobile surgical units hit tough times in its first year of operations. the owner asked employees to work without pay maintaining their health insurance. soon business boomed and the company was named the sba's 2011 small business of the year. [ male announcer ] this is coach parker... whose non-stop day starts with back pain... and a choice. take advil now and maybe up to four in a day. or choose aleve and two pills for a day free of pain. way to go, coach. ♪ way to go, coach. you feel it working, so you know it's working.

new jersey has learned that. to the extent that we had some appeal for people around the country i think it was probably based on that. jonathan. [inaudible] >> on the first part of that, i don't think it says anything in particular about the field. i'd like to think it says something about me. and, you know, there are folks who feel like what we've done here in new jersey in a blue state, bringing people together and getting things done is something that they'd like to see in the country. and i think that's what it was really all about, jon. it wasn't my charm and good looks, you know that. so i think it was the accomplishments that we have here in new jersey that made people excited that maybe divided government could work, maybe leading in a very bold and direct way could forge compromise, and i think that's what that was all about. and i've answered about vice president a bunch of times and the fact is i don't think there is anybody in america who would, you know, necessarily think my personality is best suit

at governor chris christie on national television.how o'malley says christie has failed new jersey. amanda knox will be fighting for her freedom tomorrow. the possible outcomes she could hear when she asks for her murder convictione be overturned! bge's instant discounts got our homeowner to switch to energy star® cfl bulbs. 3-way cfls really click with my style. learn to speak the language of energy efficiency at bgesmartenergy.com. okay, so who ordered the cereal that can help lower cholesterol and who ordered the yummy cereal? yummy. that's yours. lower cholesterol. lower cholesterol. i'm yummy. lower cholesterol. i got that wrong didn't i? [ male announcer ] want great taste? honey nut cheerios. want whole grain oats that can help lower cholesterol? honey nut cheerios. it's a win win. good? [ crunching, sipping ] be happy. be healthy. can i try yours? be ahead of the curve and still completely behind you? dave thinks so. he's putting two kids through college. ♪ and aetna's payment estimator lets him compare in-network specialists and out-of-pocket costs. ♪ so he knows what

conference i've been told that the new jersey governor did seriously reconsider getting in over the last two rules the guessing game has gone on for months will he or won't he he's been dodging questions for days on whether he'll launch a run for the white house we're awaiting a news conference a statement from the new jersey governor chris christie face to see it ending the guessing game about a potential white house run in just moments new jersey governor chris christie will hold a news conference on a possible run for the white house in two thousand and twelve for me the answer was never anything but no. so once again chris christie held the news cycle hostage this time to announce that nothing had changed oksana said he sees c.n.n. they all took the news or live they stayed with it we counted for forty minutes he said he wasn't running in the first three minutes but if you were going to use the media forced everybody to watch the political circus perp already breaking minutes you know with all the issues facing this country and less wars shadow wars record unemployment a possibl

we're down in new jersey. we're down 4,000 police officers alone since 2009. >> will crime go up because of this? >> it is a fundamental principle. absolutely. crime goes up. less cops, more crime. >> so vice president biden is spot on on this? >> 33,000 members of the new jersey state pva stand squarely behind this. >>> and public polling is supporting this jobs bill and this american that you are would put 400,000 workers back to work in the classroom and also, in law enforcement. how does that make you fee as a public servant as yourself? >> anybody, certainly police officers in new jersey feel our government has turned their backs us on as well as the public. that they have a responsibility to take care of those who take care of others. that we're not the problem. their mismanagement of funds is what the problem is and they're blaming it on us. >> what do you say, another claim being made by opponents out there that you're pension and your health care costs are the reason they have to make all these cuts?

and, in fact, in one state, in new jersey women actually did have the right to vote from 1776 to 1807. and, yes, a little known fact. now, we have to understand that at this time with most states voting -- in most states voting was a privilege of property, so only women who owned sufficient property could vote. and married women by law were not allowed to vote property. so it was really mostly single women, unmarried women and widows, who voted in new jersey. >> host: how many were there, four or five? >> guest: no, no. probably thousands. one estimate said 10,000. it was a kind of pulled out of the air number, but we know in many elections in the 790s hundreds of women voted in any given election and in some elections, and they voted for not just local officials, but also members of congress. they played the determinative role in electing one candidate over another. so, um, there was a time then during the revolutionary period and in the decades immediately following where there was an opening, i would argue, for women in politics where women were welcomed into informal discussions a

>> new jersey, whether you like it or not, you are stuck with me. >> the race in new jersey governor christie says he's not going to run. >> closed captioning brought to you by mancini sleepworld. >>> american exchange student amanda knox is on a flight back to seattle right now after four years in an italian police son. she was when an appeals court -- reversed her murder conviction yesterday. the family of her murdered roommate meredith kercher are back to square one. lama hasan has more. >> reporter: these are her first moments of freedom. after four years behind bars amanda and her family, unwavering in their support checked in on a british air ways flight. in seattle, her lawyer spoke to her after the dramatic acquittal. >> he was joyful, thankful and grateful. she could not contain her thanks. >> reporter: it took only 90 minutes for the seattle college student to finalize paperwork, pack up and leave prison. in the verdict amanda and her then boyfriend, raffaele sollecito were acquitted of murdering meredith kercher. he says he just wants to be with his family. his father say

new jersey gives the governor a vast amount of power, considering this: new jersey's governor appoints his own attorney, all of the members of the state supreme court every single one of the 21-county prosecutors have to be approved when their terms are up by new jersey's governors. also, there is a political implication that the governor christy, if he got into office to help bail new jersey out of a budget crisis, he's two years into the process on now go out and run to president. when that job is stillup done, not only would her is the questions about the prior denial, he would have to face tough questions about why he left new jersey when the budget crisis he said he was going to fix was not finished. >> very good point. he's got it good right now. tom fitzgerald, thank you very much. appreciate the update. >>> machine while, the man accused of trying to blow up an airplane with a bomb in his underwear, remember this guy? he walked into a courtroom and declared that anwar-al-ahwaki is still alive. mutallob is still on trial in the michigan court. he is acting as his own attorney. n

why do republicans love the new jersey governor chris christie and the only thing we know for sure is many republicans want him to run desperately a big event for new jersey governor chris christie last night what he said to any passion supporter he said on several occasions that his heart simply isn't in it i thank you for what you're saying and i take it in and i'm listening to every word of it and feeling it. now chris christie joked of a california event about a clip of videos that politico put together showing him saying no repeatedly the clip is almost two minutes long but here's just a tiny little sample of the nose. the way going around you know not going to happen here still saying categorically not running well i'm not running amok hundred percent certain a marker well i don't want to run i don't feel like i'm ready to run first in your heart you've got to want more anything else or anything else i want that that will you have to believe in your heart and in your soul and in your mind that you are ready and i don't believe that about myself right now you have to believe as a

of new jersey confirming more than 500,000 households without electricity in new jersey alone. and the storm is having ripple effects across the nation, hours of delays at some of the nation's busiest airports and amtrak canceling for big chunks of pennsylvania and so many without electricity and in fact, utility companies are calling on crews from ohio to kentucky to come to the east coast to restore poirier and always, some silver lining for some people and the snow is good news for skiers in vermont and able to make the money off of all of this. and the heaviest snowfall expected to hit later tonight. >> i think it's crazy, i thought we were probably going to get a winter sooner than usual, but didn't think it would be now. >> i was like oh! >> not happy at all, and i was surprised that we were having so much, 1 through 6 any way of going north was very disturbing and it destroyed my weekend plans. >> yeah, you want to see weekend plans, take a live look outside of fox studios in midtown manhattan and iconic, a new snowfall record set. julie banderas is live for us, julie. >

two feet up in new england. >> and even new york city, right, new jersey. they got eight, nine inches. so close. >> ub believable. >> hope that doesn't pour tend a long winter. >> it probably does. >> melissa francis has more of today's top stories. melissa, good morning. >> good morning, everyone. we begin with the deadliest attack against the u.s.-led coalition and the afghan capital since the war began. nbc's atea is live from kabul with the latest. good morning, atia. >> good morning. it was a tragic day here in afghanistan. yesterday in the capital of kabul a car bomb laced with over 1,500 pounds of explosives targeted a nato convoy, and began killing 12 americans, a canadian, and four afghans. both civilians as well as service members, and then in another incident down south three australians along with their afghan interpreter was killed when an afghan wearing an afghan military uniform turned on them. this comes just days before the much anticipated istanbul conference where countries around the region will gather to talk about afghanistan's future,

randall pinkston, cbs news, upper saddle river, new jersey. >>> talk about a travel nightmare. passengers stranded on the tarmac more for than seven hours. 23 flights diverted to hartford, connecticut during the snowstorm saturday including six jetblue flights. passengers say the bathrooms were backed up and it was hard to breathe on board. even the pilot, you can hear, was getting frustrated. the airport compounded the >> i don't care, take us anywhere. >> jetblue apologized saying power outages compounded the situation. the department of transportation is investigating. >>> the state is not taking chances with sex offenders this halloween. brandon hudson shows us what the state is doing tonight when there will be a lot of kids on the streets. >> reporter: miss jefferson hopes her nephews and grandkids enjoy halloween like she did when she was a kid. >> we don't want to mess that up. >> reporter: what she's for is operation boo. it began in 1991. it's an attempt to keep registered sex offenders off the streets on halloween. but this year there's a new policy. the state is goin

but a state of emergency declared in new jersey. be safe on the roads and we'll keep following this for you. >> arthel: meantime, there is a new warning about the future of american innovation, venture capitalist, who has been dubbed the queen of the internet, saying america's edge over global technology could be at risk and that the stumbling economy may be to blame. for more on how the u.s. can get back ton track, let's bring in rich, former managing director at morgan stanley and current ceo of richard desalvo consulting. you are also without power there in madison, new jersey. >> yes. it was a trek getting in here, but the roads were fantastic. it's never too far. >> arthel: you are welcome. try this on, so if miss meeker is saying that the technology is moving faster than the economy, all right. so if they were both cars what, kind of car would the technology be and what kind of car would the economy be to show just how fast one is going over the other? >> first of all, the technology is actually a cadillac. it's finally tuned,

scott goldberg, abc news, trenton, new jersey. >> all eyes are on sarah palin. what is she going to do? >> she promised by mid-september. obviously that deadline has come and gone. early october, still though word. but -- >> insiders say that some staff has been calling states to find out their individual filing deadlines. that make it look like she does have an interest. >> the thing that strikes me, she said all along that if she jumps in it will always be an unconventional campaign. now it's unconventional, she's proven to be a woman of her word. we'll see what sarah does. >> indeed.

york, new jersey, and connecticut. passengers waited for up to six hours for flights from new york airport, and hundreds canceled. a jetblue flight from florida to newark, diverted to bradley airport in connecticut where it was grounded for seven hours with no food, water, or bathroom available. >> almost came to fistacuffs on the plane. >> jetblue apologized, citing weather and infrastructure issues. first time visitors to new york from texas had enough. >> would you ready be in 80-degree weather? >> i think so. >> reporter:downtown in the financial district. protesters decided to stay and occupy wall street, got their first real taste of what may be one of their toughest challenges. winter. >> i don't know if i will be able to stay for the entire winter, but i know that there are people that most definitely will. >> reporter: police and protesters will battle that out for weeks and months to come. here today, people will be digging out. two feet of snow on the grounds in parts of western massachusetts. cold out here,

i have a commitment to new jersey that i simply will not abandon. that's a promise i made to the people of this state when i took office 20 months ago. to fix a broken new jersey. when i look at what we've accomplished so far, i'm proud. but i know we are not nearly done. >> christie's announcement as a new poll shows support for perry falling after weeks of defending his record while herman cain is rising after much praised debate performance. >>> meteorologist mike nicco talking about a break beforer in storm? >> definitely, the calm before the next storm will affect the sierra. winter storm warning up there and how heavy the rain is going to be around here the next 2 to 48 hours. >>> plus, -- bart unveils a wheelchair ramp in the east bay. advocates say there are major things missing. >> south bay teacher who got a surprise gift. unbelievable gift today for the classroom.  >>> a transportation security administration at new york kennedy's airport apologize a breast cancer survivor after what she went through. she was heading to

plus, the governor of new jersey, chris christie, says new jersey is stuck with him. now that he's declared again that he's not running for president of the united states, will some other big name republicans still be able to make a late jump in the race? >>> and the country singer hank williams trying to explain why he likened the president of the united states to hitler. but he maybe only adding to the controversy that got his monday night football theme song yanked. breaking news. political headlines, i'm wolf blitzer. you're in "the situation room." >>> all that coming up, first, we want to update you on this tragedy unfolding in new york city right now. you're looking at pictures of the east river in manhattan. a helicopter crashed about an hour ago, it crashed into the east river. five people on board, four have been rescued. but we now know a fifth person is confirmed dead. we do know that the pilot is in stable condition. two females aboard this helicopter are listed in critical condition. another male in stable condition, but unfortunately, one individual abo

>> hill: the new jersey governor says he won't run for president, just as a cbs news poll shows a big change at the top of the republican race. jan crawford has that story. chopper down. michelle miller on a frantic rescue effort in the murky waters of new york's east river. apple on the line. the tech giant shows off a talking iphone with some surprising answers. >> do i need a raincoat today? >> pelley: and i'm scott pelley from afghanistan where ten years into the war u.s. forces are fighting their way into new territory. captioning sponsored by cbs this is the "cbs evening news" with scott pelley. >> hill: good evening, scott will join us from afghanistan in just a moment. but we begin with campaign 2012 and a big shift in the republican presidential race. a cbs news poll out tonight shows mitt romney and herman cain are tied for the lead favored by 17% of republican primary voters. rick perry, as you can see, has slipped to third place. and it's beginning to look like the g.o.p. field may be set-- especially after new jersey governor chris christie's announcement today that he is

new jersey, whether you like it or not, you are stuck with me. chris christie admits that he flirted with the idea of seeking the republican nomination. the decision means the gop race is still wide open. >>> president obama will sign a bill to keep the federal government running a few more weeks. >> is today the house passed legislation to fund the government through november 18. later today the president will meet with the presidents of honduras to discuss efforts to restore democracy in the central american country. >>> four people indicted in connection with a government contract fraud scheme are expected to be in court tomorrow. prosecutors say two army corps and air employees received kickbacks all in exchange for directing contracts to a technology company. the authorities say that the four defendants made $20 million from the scheme and spent it on real estate, what is, and other luxury items. >>> a dire warning from the nation's chief banker and a salary showdown could mean the end for america's favorite dysfunctional family. rob nelson