immigration debate confirms he is gay. another outspoken lawman sheriff joe arpaio weighs in on that controversy. plus, a natural wonder that isn't. what it seems a water fall that looks like red hot lava. more evidence tonight that if there is a front runner the republican race, it is at the moment rick santorum, not mitt romney. it the nomination is won state by state and arizona and michigan are up next a week away. as we prepare for a big debate wednesday night, check this out. santorum now surging to a ten-point lead over romney in the national gallup tracking poll. no surprise the former pennsylvania senator is getting more scrutiny from rivals annen democrats, too. some goes back to his record in congress. some focuses on new more pointed santorum rhetoric like his weekend accusation that president obama is imposing his own theology on americans. >> this is what the president's agenda, it's not about you. it's about you. it's not about your quality of life. it's no about your jobs. it's about some phony ideal, some phony theology, oh, not a theology based on the bible, a different theology, but no less a theology. >> that will there was a campaign stop in ohio. then sunday on the cbs program "face the nation," santorum said the government should not require health care providers to fully cover the cost of prenatal screening such as amnyio sen teatee sis. >> yes, prenatal testing, andny oh centesis does in fact result more often than not in abortion. that is a fact. >> our chief political analysis gloria borg ser with us. he's running in the republican primary trying to appeal to the conservative base. not only to take votes from romney but to take away gingrich's term. in the short term, the focus on social issues could help. >> it's a very hot message for him with conservatives and evangelicals. so the good news is, you're right. could help him in a primary. the bad news is, that it could also narrow those people would vote for him in a general election should he become the nominee which is why republicans are so concerned about it. >> you mentioned that point. i was talking to a bunch of republicans today. they worry social issues, stride entrhetoric, references to religion could hurt down the road. one prominent republican a former top national official said everyone is scared of santorum right now. >> i've been talking to republicans all day. one of them said, look, he can't keep going down these rabbit holes talking about the cultural agenda. what he needs to start talking about is the economy. and prove to republicans that he can run a national race and potentially tract some of those independent voters. and so some are whispering these scenarios which by the way, i don't believe are possible or plausible about an open convention because they're so fefrs and they're saying let's get somebody else in the race. they also think mitt romney has proven himself to be a pretty weak front runner. >> arizona and michigan vote a week from now. smart strategists look at santorum and saying he's not doing this by accident, that he's trying to do something in the short term to solidify his standing. >> absolutely. look, he's got to differentiate himself from newt gingrich. he's got to prove he's the true cultural warrior in this race becauses in republican primaries, those are the people who turn out to vote. so, that's what he's trying to do right now. the question is, should he succeed, should he also be the populist in the michigan who can beat mitt romney, then can he possibly take that turn and broaden his base. within the santorum campaign, they will tell you it's because he's a populist. he's able to do it, got a great life story to tell. they're not so worried about his broad appeal. they're just worried about getting the nominationing. >> other campaigns say look at the race he lost in 2006. gloria will be back with us later when we ponder that question. might we get a new candidate or i an contested convention. we'll be joined by the scholar and cnn belief blog contributor stephen plothoro. he says santorum is asking to debate who's a christian. santorum is also firing off new complaints about mitt romney. senator santorum declared republicans don't want mud wrestling. over the weekend, the former pennsylvania senator found fault with romney's handling of the winter olympics in 2002. >> one of mitt romney's greatest accomplishments, one of the things he talks about the most is how he heroically showed up on the scene and bailed out and resolved the problems of the salt lake city olympic games. now, governor romney is ughing is, oh, rick santorum earmarked as he srequested almost half a billion dollars of earmarks to his federal congressmen and senators. does the word hypocrisy come to find? >> the "cincinnati enquirer" newspaper checked on then senator santorum's votes and found he voted yes on the funding he criticized. money for extra security and other expenses related to preventing a possible terrorist attack on the 2002 salt lake olympic games. the republican candidates are united in blaming president obama for the sudden spike in gas prices. experts warn gas could hit $4, even $5 a gallon this summer but blame the run-up on prices on growing tegss in part over iran's nuclear program and worries about a possible israeli attack on iran. let's bring in our pentagon correspondent barbara starr. let's listen before we talking to martin dempsey. here's what he told fareed zakaria over the weekend. >> we think that it's not prudent at this point to decide to attack iran. i mean, that's been our counsel to our allies, the israelis, well-known, well documented. >> barbara, is that a message to israel, stand down? >> oh, very much so, john. good evening. martinen dempsey is basically saying what the pentagon thinks, what the obama administration thinks, which is it would like israel to take a deep breath. here's where the debate stands tonight. israel fundamentally believes that iran has made a decision to go for a nuclear weapons program. the u.s. isn't so sure. they don't think that iran has crossed that line just yet. but the question for israel is now, do they strike. that's what martin dempsey is trying to say, that's what the administration is trying to say so drai to israel. let sanctions work. they're beginning to have some bite on iran's financial and economic sanctions. let the inspectors do their jobs. let some of these things work, that military action would be an action of last resort, but israel may not be willing to wait so long. >> and to that point, barbara, if israel decided to go ahead, the big question, does it have the capabilities to destroy iran's nuclear facilities. >> well, that is the question. could israel go it alone or would it wind up that the u.s. would be dragged into this because israel couldn't finish the job essentially. israel has hundreds of fighter bomber jets that can drop the heavier weapons. any have extended fuel range. they can get into iran. they can deal with iran's air defenses but iran has now buried and spread out its nuclear program, its nuclear sites to a great degree. it will, it would have to be a sustained bombing campaign over many days and whether israel can take that on fundamentally remains to be seen. it's another reason the u.s. is saying, take a deep breath. let's see if we can find a route other than military action, john. >> very tense situation. barbara starr tracking it live for us tonight. here in arizona, mitt romney's campaign was blind sided by a major distraction this weekend. pal babeu stepped down as a romney campaign co-chair after an ex-boyfriend accused the sheriff of trying to have him deported. the accuser spoke with cnn. >> he never invited me to any event until last year, 2010. just a few events lately, but before then, no. >> he was a public guy. >> uh-huh. >> you knew he had other responsibilities. >> uh-huh. >> but then you found out he was cheating on you again? >> yes. many times. >> wolf blitzer spoke with the sheriff just a few moments ago exclusively on the situation room. the sheriff was quite adamant and passionate in that interview saying he's done nothing wrong. >> evers very forceful and to a certain degree he was almost relieved it's come out he's openly gay to i certain degree. he did step down as the co-chairman in arizona of mitt romney's campaign. i asked him why if he's done wrong did he decide to do that. listen to what he said. >> the romney campaign and i don't think anybody should have a problem with my personal life and who i am. it doesn't take away from my patriotism or my service. if you asked any of the candidates that, i don't think they would disagree with that. >> and you know, john, he's running for the republican nomination for congressional seat here in arizona. he's says, a conservative republican. he says he's not backing away though from this. he's going to continue the struggle to get that republican nomination. >> i thought it was interesting at the end of the conversation you asked him, he's been keeping this secret for a long time during his military service. now during his law enforcement service. you asked him if he had a sense of relief now. he seemed quite passionate saying yes, it was a very difficult time but it's better to have it out there. >> there's going to be political controversy but he does seem relieved that he doesn't have to hide it anymore. he's openly gay. he's going to be a republican. let me play another clip from the interview. >> this is outrageous that this has been brought out because i'm a conservative republican and now they think that somehow there's hypothetical sit because i'm gay. i've never worn it on my sleeve like this is who i am. >> yeah. he says he's going to continue on as if nothing has changed. he's going to go forward although he does realize he will probably emerge as an advocate now for gay rights. and we did get into the issue of if he's a member of congress, would he support gay marriage and he says this is an issue that should be left to the states but if two men or women want to get married, i don't think he has a problem with it. >> fascinating politics here. fascinating short term. see if he can win the primary august. joe arpaio joins us next. we'll ask him about sheriff bau's problems as well as his potential impact on the presidential race in arizona. and later, an arrest in the robbery of a vacationing u.s. supreme court justice. our life because it whitens by removing up to 80% of surface stains. see how it can change your life. crest 3d white. life opens up when you do. that's good morning, veggie style. hmmm. for half the calories plus veggie nutrition. could've had a v8. whwheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! whwheeee! ! whwheeee!! whwheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! ahah h heaeadsds u up. whwheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! evevererytythihingng y youou l , nonow w momobibilele.. dodownwnloloadad t thehe n nep totodaday.y. ♪ ♪ wow... ♪ [ female announcer ] sometimes, all you need is the smooth, creamy taste of werther's original caramel to remind you that you're someone very special. ♪ werther's original caramels. the u.s., mexican border is about three hours from where we're sitting tonight. it's not wonder immigration control is on top of the mind of voters. just ask america's toughest sheriff, a man whose made a name for himself by tough enforcement of immigration law. it's good to see you. i want to get to the presidential race. one of your colleagues was here talking exclusively to wolf blitzer. paul babeu. he's come out and says he's openly gay. a man has questioned his character and his integrity. you've worked with paul a long time. any question of his character in your view? >> i'm not going to get into that. i'm the sheriff of maricopa county. paul has got his responsibility in pinnell county. i'm not going to give him any advice. >> what about his run for congress? you've been involved in republican politics a long time, help, hurt, indifferent? >> i don't know. he's asked for my endorsement along with congressman gosar and senator. i haven't decided. but this is something that's going to have to play out. >> a couple nights from now, a big debate in this arts center behind us here. the arizona republican primary is next tuesday. michigan, as well. you were a rick perry guy. he is no longer in the race. i know senator santorum has been in touch. speaker gingrich has been in touch. you were a romney guy four years ago. who gets his endorsement now? >> i don't know. michele bachmann visited me in my office. i'm not tall dark and handsome. this is something i haven't decided yet. >> what's your sense of the state of play right now? a lot of focus on michigan because we've seen senator santorum ahead. if the vote were today in arizona, who do you think would win? >> i don't know. arizona is still very important, regardless of what what some people may say. i know romney was ahead in the polls. you capital believe the polls all the time. we'll see what happens a few days from now. >> are you satisfied with the proposals border security, how to deal with the, maybe it's 11 million illegal immigrants currently in the country now? are you satisfied any one of these candidates doing a better job on the policy? >> i don't know. i spent years as the head of the border patrol. i get confused sometimes when is you listen to people running for office. we should not make that the primary issue. there's more important things. that's important for me as law enforcement but we have other issues in this country, too. so i don't think we should elect someone just because of the illegal immigration. >> you're in one of many states but you see it every day, incredibly fast growing demographic shift. growth of hispanic voting population. there are many republican who's worry about the tone of the immigration debate. they think if that continues, the republican party will be isolated. i had a recent conversation with the former republican governor of florida, jeb bush. >> i don't think a party could aspire to be the majority party if it's the old white guy party. so the clearly, there are new constituencies emerging in our country. they're making a difference in our communities, a positive difference. the tone of the message, the message itself needs to be focused on where the changing demographics of our country are. >> now, when they question the tone, people who question the tone often point to guys like you who have pretty tough rhetoric along with your pretty tough enforcement. >> i don't just talk about it, i do something about it. i enforce the laws. if you don't like it, chak the laws. so if you have an issue with this, let's stop talking politics. change the laws. if you don't like what's going on. washington should at least do something one of these days and the white house. and see what happens in the future but everybody talks. >> you say washington should do something. the last time the president was in your state, you had a moment with the governor. she wrote something in the book that the president says mischaracterizes the meeting that went on at the white house. if you called the white house, they would say more boots on the ground than when george w. bush left office. they say fewer people coming across. they say lower crime rates in all of the border counties. you would say? >> i have no problem locking up illegals coming through maricopa county. >> does the president get any credit. >> maybe he should get some credit but they're still coming across. i'm so tired of politicians saying secure the border first. why do they say first? we should arrest illegals already in this country and not blame it on the border only. that's another semantics political garbage, if you will, to not arrest illegals that are already in this country. >> sheriff joe, appreciate your time tonight. >> thank you. >> good to see you. next, senator john mccain says it's time for the united states to put all options on the table for the u.s. to stop massacres in syria. plus a rare and spectacular site. no, this is not red hot lava. it's just water. we'll explain in a minute. what's this? [ male announcer ] quaker oatmeal squares have 46 grams of whole grains... mmmm. ...and a touch of sweetness. you'll be delighted to discover how good they taste. get your free sample of quaker oatmeal squares on facebook. not quite knowing what the next phase was going to be, you know, because you been, you know, this is what you had been doing. you know, working, working, working, working, working, working. and now you're talking about, well you know, i won't be, and i get the chance to spend more time with my wife and my kids. it's my world. that's my world. ♪ that's my world. today is gonna be an important day for us. you ready? we wanna be our brother's keeper. what's number two we wanna do? bring it up to 90 decatherms. how bout ya, joe? let's go ahead and bring it online. attention on site, attention on site. now starting unit nine. some of the world's cleanest gas turbines are now powering some of america's biggest cities. siemens. answers. here's kate bolduan with the news you need to know right now. i hope it's nice in d.c. because it's beautiful here. >> i am jealous but i'm excited. you at least got to get out of d.c. good evening. a call for u.s. intervention in syria from one of the senate's top republicans. here's what is arizona senator john mccain told our wolf blitzer earlier today. >> we intervened in bosnia and kosovo because massacres were taking place. a massacre is taking place in syria today. and all options need to be on the table. >> and in syria today, the red cross is trying to negotiate a cease-fire so medical supplies and food can be delivered to residents of homs and other cities. police in the island of nevis have arrested a suspect in the recent armed robbery of the vacationening supreme court justice stephen breyer. now, authorities say a male suspect turned himself in sunday. he has not been officially charged though. breyer, his wife and her sister were in the justice's vacation home earlier this month when an intruder armed with a machete robbed them of about $1,000. check out this incredible video of a water fall at yosemite national park. that's water. not lava, it turns red in the light of mid-february's setting sun, the result of a perfect alignment between the earth and sun and only if there are no clouds to block the light. these pictures are from last year. we're entering the time when in this could happen again. today it's cloudy with a 30% chance of snow. cross your fingers better luck tomorrow. if it is mid-february, it must be time to break out the baseballs and gloves. a random example, red sox pitchers and catchers reported yesterday in fort myers, florida. i don't think i needed to tell you that. >> random, just a random example. we're in arizona. you have the cactus league and the grapefruit league. the red sox are in the grapefruit league. >> i'm not trying to play dumb. grapefruit league? >> that's what they call it. i'm sorry you don't like it. >> i love grapefruit. >> i don't know what to tell you. we'll see you in a few minutes. you just heard a moment agoing from senator john mccain in egypt trying to win the release of almost two dozen detained americans. why there may be some reason for optiism tonight. plus, might call this hamburgers the hard way. how scientists now can grow beef not on a farm but in a laboratory. if there was a pill to help protect your eye health as you age... would you take it? well, there is. [ male announcer ] it's called ocuvite. a vitamin totally dedicated to your eyes, from the eye-care experts at bausch + lomb. as you age, eyes can lose vital nutrients. ocuvite helps replenish key eye nutrients. [ male announcer ] ocuvite has a unique formula not found in your multivitamin to help protect you