Major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by lincoln financial committed to helping you take charge of your financial future. And by the alfred p. Sloan foundation. Supporting science, technology, and improved Economic Performance and Financial Literacy in the 21st century. Carnegie corporation of new york. Supporting innovations in education, democratic engagement, and the advancement of International Peace and security. At carnegie. Org. And with the ongoing support of these institutions and individuals. This program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. And by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. Sreenivasan the Political Drama over the u. S. Supreme Court Vacancy took a new twist today. The republican governor of nevada, brian sandoval, withdrew his name from consideration. Sandoval said in a statement the notion of being considered for a seat on the highest court in the land is beyond humbling. But he gave no reason for his decision. Senate republicans say they will not consider any nominee from president obama. Nevertheless, the white house says the president will meet with Senate Leaders next week. Battered communities across southeastern virginia began cleaning up today, after tornadoes struck wednesday evening. The storms killed four people and injured dozens more. Three of the dead were in the small town of waverly, about 40 miles southeast of richmond. Governor Terry Mcauliffe declared a state of emergency and toured the area today. I was just amazed at the length and the width of this tornado that struck here. But as you go along and then youll see structures totally gone, you will see just gigantic areas of trees just snapped in half, gigantic trees just laying on the ground. Sreenivasan farther north, in pennsylvania, the storm system roared through lancaster county, peeling off roofs and damaging businesses. Two 600foot chicken sheds and several barns were destroyed. The number of migrants stranded in northern greece built today as macedonia allowed only a trickle to head north. Some 3,500 people braved bitter cold at a camp on the greek side this morning as they waited to cross. To the south, thousands more set up camp at a Port Terminal outside athens after Police Barred them from moving on. Some people say a lot of things, make us worried, and. Like the border is closing, and i dont know, i dont know. A lot of things make us more and more and more tired. And we only need these things to be solved, and to know what should we do. We cant like, only sleep in the streets, and we dont know what sreenivasan greece also recalled its ambassador to austria, to protest border restrictions by the austrians and balkan states. And Prime MinisterAlexis Tsipras insisted his country cannot become a warehouse for refugees. In italy, the National Senate voted to allow civil unions for gay couples after a battle that lasted for years. The bill passed easily and now goes to the lower house of parliament for final approval. Prime minister matteo renzi called the vote historic. Italy would be the last country in western europe to take that step. But gay and lesbian groups denounced the measure because it does not allow gay adoption. Back in this country, apple asked a federal magistrate to reverse her order on helping the fbi hack a locked iphone. It was used by one of the killers in the Mass Shootings in San Bernardino, california. The companys court filing accused the government of seeking dangerous power over digital privacy. And wall street stayed in the win column for a second day. The Dow Jones Industrial average gained 212 points to close near 16,700. The nasdaq rose nearly 40 points, and the s p 500 added almost 22. Still to come on the newshour how Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders fare among minority voters. The tricky diplomacy surrounding the syrian ceasefire. When economic anxiety meets politics, and much more. Sreenivasan this day was a quiet one on the Republican Campaign trail five candidates left, but no scheduled events. Tonight, though, theyre facing off in houston, for debate number 10. Donald trump, winner of three straight contests, will once again be center stage. The big question how the other four candidates try to slow him down. As for the two democrats, they were out stumping today, but hundreds of miles apart. Hillary clinton spent the day in South Carolina, where democrats vote this saturday. In kingstree, she stressed one of the central themes of her palmetto state campaign equality. I want to break down all the barriers, that stand in the way of people everywhere in our country, pursuing and achieving their godgiven potential. Because america cant live up to its potential, unless we remove the barriers to let every american to live up to the chance to live up to his or her potential. Sreenivasan her rival, Bernie Sanders, turned his focus away from South Carolina today. He started things off in ohio, one of the many states that vote in march. From there he moved on to flint, michigan, the city still reeling from the discovery that its Drinking Water had been tainted with lead. If theres any Silver Lining out of this tragedy, is that it is my hope that the American People will look at flint and say never again can we allow a community to undergo this. Sreenivasan on the ground in South Carolina today is our own Judy Woodruff, who joins us from columbia. How important is South Carolina for Hillary Clintons campaign . Woodruff hi there, hari, from across the street from the State Capitol here in columbia, its important for Hillary Clinton. I have to say, though, the expectation is that she clearly is going to win. The polls all have her ahead by more than double digits. So its really a matter of expectations, can she beat that. I had a Political Science professor at the university of South Carolina say to me today, if she wins by less than 20 points, its a moral victory for Bernie Sanders. Thats how far ahead she is. Some of that is clearly on the strength of the africanamerican community. They make up more than half of the democratic primary vote and thats going to be in that report im working on for the newshour tomorrow. But her people are working the state, hari, theyre not taking it for granted but its about the margins now for her. Sreenivasan the Sanders Campaign is doing a different tactic, not there nearly as much. Woodruff thats right. Senator sanders was here yesterday, had a morning News Conference then took off for other states. Had big rallies yesterday in the midwest, in the southwestern u. S. He has a strong effort here, hari. He was here in january, but losing nevada, coming in five points behind Hillary Clinton in nevada really made a difference, and now the sanders camp say they are focused on the super tuesday states, the eleven states where democrats will come out and vote next tuesday. So they have been very open about that. Its not that theyre giving up on South Carolina by any means. They have Something Like 200 people working the state for them right now, but their focus is on the future. Its on missouri. Its on states like oklahoma where senator sanders had that big turnout last night or yesterday in tulsa and they, too, talk about the margin. They say they dont expect to win here, they just dont want to hold down secretary clintons margin. Sreenivasan do you see and hear the evidence on the air waves, the i political ads on tv and radio as you travel from interview to interview . You do. You certainly see it in the hotel room, people talk about the ads. Bernie sanders was on the air here early, but Hillary Clinton has stepped up her advertising here in the last week. You see this new ad they put on a few days ago featuring the Actor Morgan Freeman with his very distinctive voice reminding anybody whos watching that Hillary Clinton had been coming to South Carolina since she was a law student, recapping her connection to this state, that clearly helps her. Sanders is running a lot of ads on radio. He spent over a million dollars, but at this point, as we get down to the vote on saturday, its more of Hillary Clinton on the air. Sreenivasan what are the issues that are most important to south carolinians now that youre hearing from . Hari, its probably what youre hearing in other parts of the country from democrats. They talk about the economy. They want to see jobs. A lot of discussion about equality, about how they feel that part of the country, part of america has been left out of the prosperity weve seen in the recovery since the financial collapse. And when you talk to voters, they talk about which candidate is going to be better able to deliver relief from what they feel is a growing inequality, and they also bring up who can beat the republican in the fall. Theyre already talking about donald trump. Theyve noticed how well hes doing. They want a candidate who can beat him and among the candidates or among the voters ive spoken to, some of them think Hillary Clinton would be the stronger candidate against donald trump. Others say that Bernie Sanders. So ive seen a split in that way, but these voters are very practical in their thinking, and i think that may tell you something about super tuesday as well. Sreenivasan Judy Woodruff on the road in columbia, South Carolina. Looking for a report on the road tomorrow night. Thank you so much. Thank you. Sreenivasan the president met this afternoon at the state department with members of his National Security team to discuss the fight against isis and the state of the larger war in syria, as a key deadline approaches. He spoke to reporters afterwards. None of us are under any illusions. Were all aware of the many potential pit falls and there are plenty of reasons for skepticism, but history would judge us harshly if we did not do our part in at least trying to end this terrible conflict with diplomacy. If implemented and thats a significant if the cessation could reduce the violence and get more food and aid to syrians who are suffering and desperately need it. It could save lives. Potentially, it could also lead to negotiations on a political settlement to end the civil war so that everybody can focus their attention on destroying i. S. I. L. Thats why the United States will do everything we can to maximize the chances of success in the sees says for hostilities. Sreenivasan now, what are the realities for a potential halt to some of the violence and delivery of much needed aid in syria . Chief Foreign Affairs correspondent Margaret Warner reports. Warner definitely mixed signals of progress before tomorrows midnight ceasefire deadline in syria. Aid trucks rolled into a rebel held damascus suburb yesterday, long besieged by the assad regime. But in syrias east, a u. N. Air drop of food went awry. Earlier in the week, russia claimed its pared back bombing against u. S. Backed rebels. translated Russian Aviation performs no strikes in these regions, where we have received or are continuing to receive claims to cease the fire and start negotiations. Warner but today there were reports of russian bombing of rebelheld areas in syrias northwest, and regime bombing in a suburb of damascus. The lastditch agreement, brokered monday by the u. S. And russia, called for a cessation of hostilities. It exempts operations against isis, the alqaeda linked jabhat al nusra, and terror groups on a u. N. List. The Syrian Government of president bashar assad has signed on, as have some rebel groups. But the major saudibacked Opposition Group said it would commit to just two weeks. To be frank with you we do not trust russia, we do not trust this regime. Warner and u. S. Ally turkey said it wants to continue hitting syrian kurds linked to turkeys own kurdish insurgents the day after it was announced, in washington, senators pressed secretary of state john kerry i just hope its not a rope adope deal. Well, it may be. Im not going to sit here. Im not going to say this process is sure to work because i dont know. But i know that this is the best way to try to end the war and its the only alternative before us if indeed were going to have a political settlement. Warner many syria experts are skeptical too. Robert ford, former ambassador to syria, resigned in 2014 over the president s refusal to arm the syrian rebels, now a fellow with the middle east institute in washington, he also teaches at yale. Secretary kerry has made huge, huge, huge efforts but its too early to say if it represents any progress. The ceasefire is going to be a huge uphill. The russians and the Syrian Regime have incentives to keep fighting. I dont think the war is over by any means. Warner but prem kumar, who worked on syria on the National Security council until last year, says its an important first step. It is an important process that will hopefully lead to increase humanitarian assistance, i think we have seen then longer term if the process holds to discussions about longer term political issues that have bedeviled syria for several years now. Warner he thinks it marks a welcome evolution in u. S. Thinking, away from regime change. What is really important about this recent initiative is that this begins to shift the which u. S. And its partners increase pressure on assad to negotiate his own departure to a paradigm of trying to freeze the conflict, provide humanitarian assistance, and setup a process to address the longer term political issues. Warner what caused that shift the sudden insertion of russian bombers and advisers late last september. translated the only right way to fight International Terrorism in syria and on the territory of the states neighboring it, as they are there, is to act preemptively. Warner as secretary kerry negotiated for a Peace Process with russias foreign minister, russian bombers were dramatically tilting the battlefield. Five months ago, the rebels were gaining ground. Now, assads forces have retaken key areas in the west and surrounded aleppo, syrias largest city. And the Islamic State has expanded in the east. Ford sees russia, along with iran, turkey and saudi arabia, all backing different fighting elements, as exerting far more leverage now than the u. S. Russia absolutely is in the drivers seat and the americans are watching the car drive by. Americans are becoming basically irrelevant. Warner former French Foreign minister Laurent Fabius said the u. S. Lost credibility when it didnt follow through on the president s threat to strike syria for using chemical weapons in 2013. He added, one doesnt get the sense that there is a very strong commitment. And obviously the iranians and russians feel that. Indeed, mr obama repeatedly resisted calls to arm moderate rebel groups, as he explained to the New York Times in 2014 it was always a fantasy this idea that we could provide some light arms or even more sophisticated arms to what was essentially an opposition made up of former doctors, farmers, pharmacists and so forth, and warner mr. Obamas aides say he feared arming inexperienced rebels would draw the u. S. Down a slippery slope of deeper military involvement. But ford says the president s unwillingness did just that. I think that their inaction put us on a slippery slope. Frankly we now have American Military personnel operating in syria margaret none of us wanted that in 2011, 2012, 2013. But now were flying combat operations against the Islamic State. Not syrians taking care of it americans having to help syrians take care of it. Warner and in fact the administration is asking congress for more funding for those operations. So what happens if this cease fire fails . On tuesday, kerry hinted deeper military aid could be forthcoming. And there is a significant discussion taking place now about plan b in the event that we dont succeed at the table. Warner Foreign RelationsCommittee Chair bob corker was dubious. There is no plan b, russia knows there will be no plan b. I saw secretary kerry talk about plan b. Thats nice. Well see if theres any there there. Warner kumar said there is the possibility of giving the rebels more powerful weaponry or creating safezones insi