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Rough Start for Obama in General Election

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    Chris Stirewalt, Sally Kohn and Ford O'Connell discuss Obama's general election strategy.

  • Duration 11:30
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-- its portable for family support for her husband.

And you know I don't know if -- -- so would volunteer for this job so.

You know we don't need to be -- comments -- them.

That was President Obama in an interview with television station KC RG of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

-- not talking about what he wanted to be talking about which was how Mitt Romney and other rich investors don't pay what he believes meet adequate income tax rate.

And instead praising his opponent's wife and Romney because of something that a democratic strategist -- cable news show a day before and this is power play Internet welcome to studio three.

The president is handing.

A bit of a rough left office he tries to get started into the full swing of the general election it's been a series of rough weeks and he's opened the door a little bit for Mitt Romney is this goes -- we're gonna talk about how that plays out.

Joining us today your friend and -- Internet Ford O'Connell is -- Republican strategist.

He is the leader of the civic -- pack.

He is on the red team he's a pretty big deal you know who else is a big deal and you know who were lucky to have back with us.

I will tell you right now.

And I want to make sure I get her title correct.

But you know -- count and you can read her stuff in silicon dot com she's democratic strategist she's a Fox News contributor and she too is your friend Internet Sally how we don't.

A great nice to be with you about.

All right well good that's let's keep that that degree of commentary as we as we work through this Friday and I know.

-- -- that you -- probably have different.

Ideas about the war on women and who's waging what -- -- which women and which place.

But I want to talk about more specifically in this case -- The president having his line stepped on this week and we heard on NBC today Chuck Todd said it.

And I think there's a realization that the president's.

Lift off into the general election cycle has been a little turbulent what's your assessment.

I gotta disagree with that I mean I think.

You know.

Look he was already a pretty strong position Mitt Romney was very battered by it is drawn out and very ugly primary.

And -- -- the president has a lot of strong things to run on specifically 25 now amongst -- -- five months straight.

The private sector job growth not to mention.

When we talk about this sort of war on when we can Parse who started it and where -- -- But right now by almost a 21 margin.

Women voters are supporting the president so he was already doing pretty well before this point.

If -- been a few stumbles.

It it doesn't exactly bode poorly.

Considering how well off he was to Begin.

But right but not exactly how he wanted it to go catatonic all the time nobody nobody nobody plays a perfect game even Bubba Watson gets -- every now.

But Ford for the president we've had you know Mitt Romney if anybody knows how to ruin a good thing for himself politically it's -- Mitt Romney he has had.

These moments as several times his NASCAR owning friends to do cheesy grits he's had these things where -- had good things going and then he stepped down the line.

But we see now the president for three weeks we had -- -- -- with -- dad's.

About -- -- -- hotel moose and squirrel -- message.

Then we had the and then last week it was.

Walking out.

On the Supreme Court and then having to really and -- -- and then this week it's this Windiz Romney get his turn in the dunking Booth do you think we'll hopefully not any time.

No honestly -- Do agree with Sally the president Obama's and a very strong position.

With regard to -- -- let's be honest the last hundred years for maybe five incumbents have lost he has a lot of advantages.

But Mitt Romney really couldn't have had a better week I think what I was most impressed with.

Was how quickly Mitt Romney seized on the unforced error have been targeted in his favor he's -- -- a lot more of those point four and I think that.

Put the general election easily going to be easily between two heavyweight boxers -- Mitt -- gonna have to really fight a defensive fight.

When he sees that open like what happened this -- and he's really gonna have to just put punch on through and then hit -- -- -- play offense.

-- how good is Mitt Romney's campaign team -- they are they good good are they OK what what sure what is your -- professional.

Or slash estimation.

Loose -- getting better I mean no no question they played this opportunity.

You know which no one saw coming they've played it just right and I think turned to that there's no I don't think it helped them with independent voters frankly with independent women.

But to the extent that one of Mitt Romney's challenges is to fire up.

The Republican conservative base and unite them behind Mitt Romney as a candidate.

I think the -- I think the party and certainly the campaign claimed that moment really well so you don't give kudos -- -- to them.

I had to does it do they didn't play the little blue well within the past and only polling is gonna tell us we -- a third way poll that came out earlier this week discussed how independents are concerned with fairness -- opportunity.

And the way that the Romney campaign spent and is investing in the children you -- -- forward -- is no way I'm just saying plan forward that really -- could help them with independent.

For you need it's you needing to rely on some third wave hold because the Fox News Channel which.

I'd like to point out all the time has now -- really fantastic polling unit we have -- one Republican.

One Democrat on each side they -- they test each other's assumptions and come up with what I believe now is really -- one of the best -- in the business on par.

With NBC news.

Wall Street Journal poll really good love it every I'll accept what I've said my peace but the poll shows Romney.

In the lead statistically insignificant lead but basically a tight race but Sally.

It shows.

Romney.

The wrong thing with independents that he is absolutely.

Crushing the president among independents.

It is that it should that be of concern.

You look no one is no one who has any brains in their head is gonna say that this race.

Is a shoo in for either candidate and there are a lot of variables and it's still very very early early.

Let's go back to the sort of quote unquote war on women.

You know I do think I want make two points isn't -- some context we should look at.

One is that you know Republican sort of tried -- gin up this issue around contraception going up to contraception it backfired on them.

It worked to the president's advantage and now Republicans are trying to find some way to realign themselves and find favor.

With women voters that's partly what's going on here.

Cherish business you know in this sort of Twitter drip then -- -- -- -- scandal.

You know I don't know Hollywood -- version of campaigns what seems to get lost is the policy and I for one as a voter looking forward to.

If you want to hear what so and so said about moms and working women and women in general.

-- hear the policies that they're gonna put in place that are gonna help.

Working women and working it was only care about paid family -- about.

Working weight and you know minimum wages and and and and better than that I care about health care I want to hear about headstart.

And public schools.

So what really matters I think to voters is not what the candidates say.

-- -- they're actually gonna do and are Republicans gonna put their policies.

Where their mouths are at the moment.

Sally I wish that I had as good a view of pleasant and optimistic -- view of the American electorate that you do.

-- I'd like these people that you've just described that are issue oriented.

They may sound nice but Ford.

Very often in this cycle.

The ability to exploit because obviously Hilary Rosen the CNN contributor who is a democratic strategist who got the president -- to this.

Jam.

It is no she's no great -- she's not David Axelrod she's not -- as senior strategist for the president.

So this is essentially.

A -- -- About maximizing my favorite word -- thank you.

-- awful maxim is -- is that is one of the keys John McCain's campaign stone.

At -- ball -- they were very bad at that stuff.

But -- give us very quickly -- tips for him before conservative or Republican candidates handle incurred -- -- Did you really got it yet to hit your moments -- really message well because of the of the day ideas stolen elections messaging doesn't this election's going to come down independence and who can really make the best case Hispanics whoever does that will be the next president states.

You do that -- like.

Yeah I do I also think you know -- in terms of -- couple management there seems to via.

Of her -- also there's -- couples when the candidate themselves.

This speaks or -- something then there script couples when sort of the candidates staff.

Misspeak -- -- and then there's -- sort of new.

Kind of prefer awful.

That as I -- say Republicans seem to invent.

Which is someone that the candidate once upon a time new or hugged or was at a dinner with or whatever says something we try to sort of old -- that on to the candidate.

I get I think what's at least if we're gonna do this we're gonna focus on -- you know little Internet seeing what they said it was so what.

Let's at least make it about the candidates themselves and.

There are well and what we're running out of time for but I will I will -- -- I would agree reviews -- -- -- -- suggesting you guys topped all over the years this desk and just get definitely pushed us on it so I'm the manager it was his car.

Entirely.

-- power play we'll stipulate.

That both sides tried to attach things and certainly -- functions -- to Mitt Romney.

And Hilary Rosen -- to Barack Obama.

But history tells us that both parties are very adept at making people -- The dog food served up by those people they have known in their lives -- sadly we're still great and you were so great to join -- -- we hope you have a spectacular weekend.

And to address both thank you for being with us thank you always great chatting zealots are right there that's good isn't that nice there was -- -- Clinton here there's no Republican -- stipulate for the record and that neither of these people have anything to do with the political campaigns and their respective parties so if -- didn't like something they said don't blame Barack Obama.

-- Mitt Romney.

And before we go to the next segment I want to share with you.

What you are saying Internet you say all for jury says.

Lose the war on women and you've lost 60% of the population.

That's a huge loss.

From a wild cat one and by the way congratulations if that's a Kentucky wildcat on the national championship Romney is it is far smarter on fiscal issues and Obama that's what counts.

And -- -- -- our friends and infrequent.

Chatter.

Says contraception what's Mitt Romney said -- -- -- change contraception availability anyway this is a manufactured.

Issue first raised by Democrat by Democrat strategist I mean journalist George Stephanopoulos write.

I think there was a little bit of snow tightness in your -- there -- Carter.

And by the way.

Before we go.

Follow me at these are all you can have my power player wrote about this today you can do it there you can enjoy it you can see what Ford say you -- Twitter is just awesome.

Unless it -- in -- OK -- will you stick around.

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