morning in politics. listen to this. word we are just getting that could further boost newt gingrich's still-surging campaign. the influential new hampshire "union leader" newspaper has now endorsed the former speaker. they have thrown their support behind him now for the republican nomination for president. they have put out their endorsement in today's paper. let me read you a bit from it. and it says, and i quote, "republican voters too often make the mistake of preferring an unattainable ideal to the best candidate who is actually running. that candidate is newt gingrich." new hampshire, as you know, holds the first in the nation primary. that's happening a week after the iowa caucus. so gingrich who has seen his campaign surge over the past several weeks actually is now picking up an influential endorsement. he has moved up in the polls in new hampshire as we know, going up to the double digits but still it has been mitt romney who has been surging and had at least 40% in a number of the polls so he's way ahead in polls but now gingrich who has become a front-runner could now really start to surge after this influential endorsement. our rachel vikville covers all things new hampshire for us. she is on the line now. raichel -- these newspaper endorsements come and go. this one carries some weight. >> sure, you are right, t.j. this is the biggest newspaper in new hampshire. it is closely watched both locally and on a national scale obviously. the paper says newt gingrich is not the perfect candidate, but as you said, they said that he is the best candidate to get the job done. and this certainly helps newt gingrich solidify some support we've started to see as an alternative to to mitt romney. the endorsement is also interesting because mitt romney has been a long-time front runner in this state. he was governor of massachusetts which was nearby, he has a summer home in new hampshire so it is also notable to look to who this endorsement does not go to. >> in their endorsement, it seems they are admitting -- of course we know this is not a perfect candidate and we shouldn't be looking for a perfect candidate. what do you make out of some of what they're saying that it almost in some ways sounds like we know we don't have maybe the greatest crop or the perfect candidate that we might all like, but gingrich is the way to go. >> well, the editorial also takes aim at the media and says that this race has been focused on a lot of minor miscues by candidates but they say newt gingrich has the best chance based on both his for a thinking strategy is what they call it, then the leadership that he showed in washington in the past which is something we've heard gingrich talk about when he makes trips here but he knows washington. he's the best person to come in and get to work quickly and change it up. >> the historical perspective, we're starting to get some of even though this can be influential and can help a campaign surge, they don't necessarily always pick the person who eventually goes on to become president. so some historical perspective, if you can, here. last time around you said they skipped over romney so they pick mccain last time. we know how that worked out, but still it helped mccain's campaign. again, just historically how big of a deal has this endorsement been for a lot of these candidates? >> you're right about what you're saying. this is known as a very conservative editorial page and so sometimes they choose people based on ideology and electability is not their only number one perspective. so they cho-- you are right to k in the past. they did choose john mccain and he went on to win new hampshire four years ago. but conservative ideals are an important thing for this paper, this editorial page, you are right. >> rachel, we appreciate you hopping on the line for us. but an important morning once again for newt gingrich who has been surging in the polls as we have seen over the past few weeks. did he have the slip-up last week -- or a lot of people called a slip-up in the cnn debate in which he talk about what some of his fellow republicans candidates say he was soft on illegal immigrants and even advocated for amnesty. he says of course that's not what he was advocating for. just advocating for treating people humanely who have been in this country a long time and have roots in this country. but still a lot of people looking at that as maybe a way he would possibly slip up. but this is a key endorsement that does carry weight locally there in new hampshire and it will carry weight nationally as well, "the new hampshire union leader," the largest paper in new hampshire -- of course the state with the first primary of this republican nominating season -- has now endorsed newt gingrich for president. we will be talking about this more throughout the morning. again endorsing gingrich for the republican nomination. five minutes past the hour now. again, this is a big travel day. we'll get back to that now. you got to grandma's house. now you need to get back home. tomorrow and today, considered two of the busiest travel days of the year. but just in time for this travel, a big storm in the eastern half of the country. it will complicate things for a lot of folks. george howell is at atlanta's heart fie hea hartfield-jackson airport. so far, so good? is that the word still? >> reporter: t.j., each hour we want to give you a look at what's happening here at the world's busiest airport. so far as you mentioned, so good. people getting through the airport with no major problems, though some weather moving through the area shortly and that could change the situation here. however we want to give you some perspective here. i covered this story wednesday. at this hour today, things are busier now than they were at the same time wednesday. so we're seeing more people out here and also want to give you a look at what passengers are facing inside. first i want to look at big boards here where you can see that the flights are on time, no major delays to speaker here at hartsfield-jackson international airport. the crowds and lines are building here just outside the delta check-in area. though we did speak to some people here who say the way to get ahead of these crowds is to check in early. scott and maryann lyle right here. tell me, you guys are flying to baltimore, you say. how has it been so far? >> it's been just great. i had no problems. of course we plan ahead, check in early, take the trains to the airport, do everything we need to do to ensure that there are no hiccups. so it's been great. >> when you see what's around you right now though, are you surprised on a day like this? >> yes, actually i am. i was expecting the ampt to be more crowded. so this is a pleasant surprise. >> we've been here and it's taken a few hours. okay? so it's been quick at times and other times have been slow so o hopefully we can get through this quickly. we're hoping that it is going to be quick and easy. >> i see people moving quickly now. >> we're excited about getting home and getting out of here. >> thank you. thanks for taking a minute with me. you can see right now for yourself, security lines definitely growing in the last hour but people are moving through quite quickly here at the world's busiest airport. no major delays that we can speak of at this hour. but certainly weather moving into the atlanta area and that situation could change for people who come a little later through the day. also to give awful look at what's happening, we took a check at the faa website and didn't find any delays to speak of. also on twitter, looking for grumblings of delays, no grumblings by our own bonnie schneider, airport delays possible in the south and midwest, have patience. so that's a look at what's happening right now. clearly weather could change the situation for many travelers today. >> all right, george, thank you. let me turn to bonnie schneider is in studio. a lot of people are following and keeping up with meteorologists right now because you raul giving them info. >> just want to keep everybody calm after the crazy black friday. >> should they be calm? >> i think so. as gornl has been reporting, traffic is building but so far we don't have delays according to the faa. however, it is still very early in the morning across the country. we are likely to see delays due to whether this afternoon in cities like atlanta, even though the volume is increasing the crowds will lower and lower visibility. detroit is already windy and wet out there. look for delays to possibly pop up. chicago, also another trouble spot for today. incidentally if you are headed to chicago, if you've been maybe in a warmer destination, the temperatures are really plummeting and have gotten much colder there and it will be even colder there tomorrow. cincinnati, memphis, st. louis and little rock. here's something even more interesting i think. snow showers are in the forecast possibly for memphis and little rock. it is a possibility we may not see it but it is something we are monitoring for tonight on into monday night and tuesday. here's a look at this weather mess. you can see some wintry conditions building in to parts of arkansas and missouri. we've been monitoring this very carefully. here's the reason why. the temperatures are falling. behind the cold front it is 44 degrees in memphis as that cold air starts to surge in but here in atlanta it is already 61. we're really seeing a change over as we go through. the reason why of course is not only the cold front but low pressure building in in the ohio valley will pull down that colder air and as that cold air wraps around, you see all this white for tuesday morning. notice how far south it goes, just north of atlanta. so the mountains of north georgia may see some snow showers mixing in early tuesday morning, late on monday. i think you will see the snowflakes falling likely towards tennessee but in terms of shoveling out, i don't think this will be a problem. a lot of this will just possibly stick towards grassy areas. highs today will be nice and warm ahead of the front, in florida in the 80s. very mild, incredibly warm as well into cities like boston, 63 degrees. it is really an incredibly warm month of november so far. another day like that for today and another one yet for tomorrow in new york and boston. the rain though is on the way and that is impacting so many places for those of you that are driving. another important note to make, we've been talking about airport delays. most people travel by car for today. keep your eyes to the conditions on the roads because in cities like st. louis and in memphis you may see that change over at times. it may start off as rain and it may change over to something like freezing rain or sleet. just give yourself extra time to get where you are going. i did that hashtag on twitter -- have patience. that goes for you on the road as well. weather won't get in the way for millions of americans who plan to do their shopping online tomorrow. you know this phenomenon that's come up in the past five years or so, cyber monday. it kicks off the online holiday shopping season. some analysts predicting $1.2 billion in sales just on monday. but where are you supposed to be going to find that best deal? >> i think there is a lot of opportunities out there. just to give you some of the sites i am keeping my eye on, first off, cybermonday.com. it is a great site to aggregate a number of the ads, deals, it is a subsidiary of shop.org, a great site to make sure you are staying in touch with everything that's going to be on sale. also if you are really into a big brand, what i recommend doing is going on to their facebook page and hitting that "like" button. because now more than ever online retailers are using social media sites to make sure they are rewarding their loyal fans. 12 minutes past the hour now. you heard the story, another developing story this weekend -- three u.s. students jailed in egypt. they are now finally out of jail and finally home. we'll show you the arrival and you will hear from one of them that i talk to. sales event is, but only for a limited time. see your lexus dealer. it's cramping. go ice that thing. sorry. hand cramp... ahh... 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[announcer:] at conocophillips, we're helping power america's economy with cleaner, affordable natural gas. more jobs. less emissions. a good answer for everyone. so with affordable energy that we can get to safely... we could afford to eat out more often. our daughter likes my cooking. don't you lori... lori? your life if full of responsibilities. so if you're thinking of going back to school we created the phoenix prep center, a personalized academic planning resource. and when you're ready to take that next step you can attend our orientation workshop, either on campus...or online to see if our university is right for you. our commitment to you begins before you even enroll. explore these resources and more at phoenix.edu. those three american students arrested in egypt are now all back home in the u.s. the last of them arrived just a few hours ago. all three of those arrivals looked about like that. they had family members greeting them. the students were accused of throwing molotov cocktails during anti-government protests into tahrir square. here's how a couple of them described their feelings now. >> it's really nice. it's really a good feeling. i'm glad to be with my family. i want to go home and have thanksgiving. >> i'm just so thankful to be back and would love to be in philadelphia right now. >> now the last to get home was derek sweeney. look at this. it's mom, family there, giving him a hug when he got there. but i got a chance to talk to the young man and his mom. they've had time to take this all in and they have some new perspective on what he just went through. take a listen. >> were you at all actively involved in the protest throwing any type of projectile, whether it was a rock or a molotov cocktail? >> no, not at all. that was entirely fabricated. we didn't throw rocks or molotov cocktails or do anything to harm anyone or anything. >> now why were you arrested then? who came up to you, how did the arrest go down? >> well, actually the police had just -- we were right near a large crowd. apparently near the interior minister and the police had just shot something into the crowd and we all sprinted away. as we were trying to regather ourselves, we found the three of us americans found each other and then someone came in plain clothes saying that they would take us to a safe place an help us out. next thing we were, we were getting hit. >> a safe place and you said getting hit. who was hitting you? >> well, these plain clothed people. the first night we got hit in the face and the back of the neck a number of times. >> again, who was hitting -- were these police officers? military? you said plain clothes. >> i believe police. they were certainly working with police. they were habl to walk around the place where the protesters weren't. either police or like a neighborhood council sort of vigilante wok wo vigilante working with the police. >> where were you held and how long were you held? >> initially we were in one building. i personally believe it was near the -- it was in the ministry of the interior, though we haven't gotten any confirmation about the first building. after that we went to one police station and then another. we went to the attorney general and so several police stations. >> what was your reaction when they pulled this stuff out and said you all were in possession of this stuff and you were out there throwing molotov cocktails. >> that moment right there when they brought it out and there were cops and people with guns standing before us was the scariest moment of my life. i didn't know if i was going to survive and i actually fainted. the only time i recall fainting in my life. >> joy, let me bring you back in. you're happy, you're excited. you put your arms around him, hug him, happy to have your son. but as a mother does something kick in as well and you say -- at some point have you ever said to him what in the world were you doing? >> have i said that to him yet? no. >> you want to say it no? >> i think he knows -- you know what? that's one of the things about this child of mine, he is so brute and he knows darn good and well that that is the biggest question on everyone's mind, what in the world were you doing? and like he said, he wanted to go see politics in action. he wanted to go see democracy being demonstrated. >> derrick says he is not going to be going back to egypt any time soon. 20 minutes past the hour. as many as half a million christians waiting in the bitter cold. what in the world are they waiting for? a chance to see or touch a holy relic. we'll take you there in this morning's "passport." that's next. stay with me. woman: my father came to america selling fishcakes from the back of his truck, and in 1942, of course, they were sent away. after the war, as a japanese coming back from camp, he started a little store on main street in seattle. of course they needed some money, and bank of america was the only bank who would talk to my father. and we've stayed with bank of america. we have four stores now, three in the pacific northwest and one in oregon. my parents would not believe how popular it is now. 23 minutes past the hour now. occupy l.a. protesters have until midnight tonight to leave camp. also a psychic helping in the search for a missing baby. and a jobless man gets busy with chainsaws. let's go cross-country. cops close in on occupy l.a. breaking down tents. the crowds face a deadline of midnight tonight to get out. the mayor says he supports their message of economic justice but says the camp has to be shut down for health and safety reasons. a new search for baby lisa is under way in missouri. this time the leads come from a psychic. >> she dreamed that there was a well and some metal back in here. we found the metal back here and of course the well. >> the volunteers call police after finding the well. a man in washington state turns to wood carving after getting laid off. >> i had a good job. >> his works now so good he's back on his feet. >> you feel like this miracle just happened. >> and now the official international chainsaw king. 24 minutes past the hour. let's say good morning once again to nadia bilchik with our morning passport. why are half a million people waiting out in the cold? >> they are waiting to see the belt, one of the sacred relics, the belt of the virgin mother. and this is at the christ the savior cathedral and literally as you said, hundreds and thousands of people, up to half a million, have lined up between thursday and