[S.e. Cupp, Cnn Political Commentator:] Look, I was not offended by this. I thought it was at a Democratic debate in front of Democratic viewers and voters. I thought it was actually pretty funny. I think even the most ardent conservative Republicans would have to watch what is going on our side and laugh at the very least. I think what Bernie did well last night was he I don't think he was attacking secretary Clinton, but I think he did, you know, go after her in ways that we haven't seen him do thus far. You know, correcting her on her really preposterous distortion of his record, whether on the auto bailout. This is a pattern for Hillary Clinton where she takes something that he's done and omits actual important facts. When Chelsea Clinton said he was going to dismantle Obamacare, for example, I thought that was silly. To see Bernie Sanders coming back at her and saying, wait a second, that's not my record on guns, on the bailout, on Obamacare. I thought that was healthy. I thought it was good for Bernie Sanders.
[Wolf Blitzer, Cnn:] Scottie, you heard Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders insist they could beat the Republican front runner, Donald Trump, in a general election campaign. How will Republicans watching this debate from your perspective as a Trump supporter?
[Scottie Nell Hughes, Chief Political Correspondent, Usa Radio Network:] I think it was interesting the RNC released their talking points all about Hillary, not discounting anything that Bernie said, fact checking what Hillary said. I think the Republicans are convinced that Hillary will be the contender. Last night's debate was a clue in to how one of our guys will have to handle Hillary. Some of the tough push back that Bernie did to Hillary, yet no charges of sexism. It will be interested to see if you will see that same standard put together when you have a Republican candidate charges against her in one of these debates, they will say, he is sexist, that's why
[Blitzer:] Hold on. Hold on. Hold up for a moment. We will continue this conversation. But I quickly want to go to an unrelated story. Peyton Manning, quarterback, is holding a press conference in Denver right now announcing his retirement from the Broncos after the Super Bowl win. Let's listen in briefly.
[Peyton Manning, Quarterback, Denver Broncos:] a state dinner at Saint Elmo's in Indianapolis after a win. My battles with players named Lynch, Lewis, Thomas, Dawkins, Urlacher, Polamalu, Harrison, Woodson and Reid. With coaches like Fisher, Ryan, Belichick, Kippen, Phillips, Rivera, Cornell, Capers, Lewis, the late Jimmie Johnson, and so many more. I always felt like I was playing against the middle linebacker or that safety or that defensive coach, Reggi. Sitting on the bench next to me and perfecting a fake handoff to James. I will miss Thomas telling me he loved me and thanking me for coming to Denver after every touchdown I threw to him. I will miss putting in a play with Tom Moore on Sunday. On Friday, I will miss picking out the game balls with my equipment guys and talking football with the broadcast crews after the game and afterwards recapping the game with my dad and checking to see if the Giants won and calling Eli. I will miss the hand shake of Tom Brady. And I'll miss the plane ride after a big win, with 53 teammates standing in the aisles laughing and celebrating during the whole flight. I will miss playing in front of so many great fans, both at home and on the road. I will even miss the Patriot fans in Foxboro and they should miss me because they sure did get a lot of wins off of me. This is important, football fans everywhere need to know how much they meant to me over the years. Fans, you were at the core of what makes this game remarkable. I received more letters from you than I can count. Fan letters that have touched me, made me think, act. I was made mistakes and learned it is a platform that has given me a voice that can echo well beyond the game. Football has taught me not to be led by obstructions and set backs but instead to be led by dreams. Due to good genes, I'm smart enough to know those lessons can enrich who I am and where I go from here. I'm totally convinced that the end of my football career is just the beginning of something I haven't even discovered yet. Life is not shrinking for me. It's morphing in to a new world of possibilities. Pundits will speculate that my effort and drive over the past 18 years were mastery and working to master every aspect of the NFL game. Don't believe them. Because every moment, every drop of sweat, every bleary eye night of preparation, every note I took and every frame of film I watched was about one thing, the game. I look back at my NFL career, I know without a doubt I gave everything I had to help my team, walk away with a win. Other players were more talented but there was no one who could out prepare me. Because of that, I have no regrets. There's a scripture reading, II timothy 4:7, "I have fought the good fight, finished the race." I fought the good fight, finished my football race and, after 18 years, it's time. God bless all of you and God bless football.
[Blitzer:] A very emotional Peyton Manning, only 39, spending half of his life as an NFL quarterback, 18 years, fresh off of a super bowl win announcing his retirement as an active player. There you see the management and team, the Broncos, wishing him only the best. Peyton Manning, only one of the great quarterbacks of all times in the NFL. Scottie, I know you are a big football fan and I want you to weigh in on this moment. You saw him choking back tears. He got emotional, which is understandable at a moment like this.
[Hughes:] Absolutely, Wolf. I will be honest, I'm in the studio and all of us are watching and are involved Peyton Manning, the year he won the national championship the year I was graduating. He has been a son to Tennessee here. A lot of emotion in Tennessee and we hope maybe he will come back and help our school teams. This means a lot to us. He made Tennessee proud in his civic and what he has given to us and how he promoted his football life. This is a big day for us in Tennessee and we are proud of everything he has done.
[Blitzer:] All of us who are NFL football fans appreciate the great quarterback skills that he has showed all of these years. 18 years as a great quarterback in the NFL. He went through a lot as we know. We wish him the best. Scottie, stand by. More politics to discuss. We will turn the table and move back to that issue, the race for the White House. Donald Trump, Ted Cruz in complete agreement on one key issue, they both want Marco Rubio to drop out of the race. What are they doing to narrow the field? And what about Marco Rubio's strategy to strike back? We will assess when we come back.