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Could leaks sink Obama’s foreign policy advantage? Battleground Friday: Michigan matchup and what Wisconsin can tell us about Michigan.
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We'll say they don't want to work with the United States because they can't trust us to keep -- secret.
That's serious.
That's -- us Senate Intelligence Committee chairwoman Dianne Feinstein at a press conference yesterday.
Where the leaders Republican and Democrat.
Of these -- senate and house select Intelligence Committees.
Came out to say that the cascade of leaks that we have heard of -- About counterterrorism.
And other operations.
-- -- any serious danger to not only the lives of American operatives but also.
National security overall and this is power play.
And Internet that was as close as you can get to have a senior Democrat in the senate come out.
And basically any -- fashion.
Make an allegation that the Obama administration.
Is pumping out -- Republicans are much more forward about it and they say that the president is trying to burnish his reelection effort.
By highlighting things like -- some of bin Laden raid.
The president's so called kill list.
In which he decides which I suspected terrorists will live and die and is use or encouragement abuse of a computer virus against Iran.
It's getting pretty testy.
President just had a press -- just concluded in which he said that there is no leaking going on and that he's offended even by the assumption of it but it's not gonna go away.
So let's put this in perspective challenge.
And we can do that because we have David -- here you -- him at roll call he is a pretty big deal he's a friend of this Internet telecast welcome back.
Hey it's power play Friday going to be it is power -- Friday it's really every -- power play but you know we we can dig that too.
-- a little extra special and I should tell you by the way it's battleground -- -- later on the show we're gonna break down another battleground state -- at Michigan will be on etc.
etc.
But David I wrote in the power play today.
This.
If the president hadn't.
Been so football -- about bin Laden.
On the date of and then one year after.
It might not be so hard for him to say that he's not that his administration is responsible for the current leaks right.
I think so what I found curious about his statement today at the news conference was that.
He was.
Vociferously.
Innocence visibly angry you and talking about how there's no way this could ever have -- any heat he said and there could be criminal charges now.
We've seen with.
-- president's right both sides of the aisle President Bush presidents before him George W.
Bush should say have -- usually.
Your initial remarks are very cautious.
You know I'm aware of this -- -- when you do in this button and then any usually rely on the -- I'm not gonna do you get in the way of any investigation that may or may not be occurring right.
And -- we all as reporters kind of laugh at that and say oh you know you don't want talk about it but I thought he -- it's usually the prudent way to.
Proceed.
-- you know exactly what is going on and what will be shown to be true and what won't be -- to be true.
Well since Bill Clinton is in the news of late four saying.
Awkward things about president's reelection effort.
Let us remember if the the phrase clintonian person.
In a clintonian are saying best exemplified in it depends on what the meaning of the word is is.
He said about to certain activities that he engaged in with a certain entrance but the good.
Here it depends on how you -- leak.
Now everybody defines -- differently.
If you book -- to -- -- -- as.
That the White House plated stories in the New York Times try to burnish the president's reputation that maybe one -- say absolutely that didn't happen but clearly there's some confirmation if they -- constant -- around.
And the administration or senior officials inside the president's intelligence team or helpful.
To these reporters maybe -- define that is now.
It's going to mean the question Chris is not -- we want is we need relief eight -- in other words what was.
What what information was given new world order right that was classified to me this is just about perception that the White House maybe.
-- parcel -- out this information to the -- To help themselves politically and even if it's not technically illegal.
I think that you've seen members of congress on -- including democratic leaders.
-- on the Intelligence Committees.
Say that this should not be going on to me this really isn't a question of what was legal and what was illegal although that is being pursued and those questions -- -- ask.
It's about whether or not this administration has been responsible.
And how it has talked about.
National security and what we've been engaged in overseas and I think that's where the president is potentially more vulnerable -- also where the questions just won't go away.
Right and you know when you look at.
And I wrote today I should point out you should first what usually -- you -- you're already following David David -- I'm sure unless Twitter we saw me acts he's tire wall you can get my power play every morning you can be ready to rock this half hour -- the Internet.
But my point -- is that -- the president's team was very aggressive.
In terms of claiming victory especially on bin Laden but other things.
Including going negative on Romney say maybe Romney wouldn't have had the courage to kill them or that or hope allow camera had -- killed.
And all of those things by doing that they are now they're set up in a moment.
Where as the -- discussion goes on it for Feinstein -- for Feinstein to come out and go public on this is a pretty big deal she's not a she is she's no party busting Democrat.
Should -- certainly has her own mind -- This is still a -- -- their position is materially hurt because of what they -- as it relates to them.
It doesn't -- -- discussed this here before the president all he had to do was say you know a year ago we kill bin Laden all credit go to the guys in the field right let's remember them.
Peace out -- instead.
It was all about me in my administration and -- courageous decision making.
Which led people to then ask -- what about the guys holding the guns could have been killed if he bungled his entire victory lap that he deserved -- And no and it didn't end there which is interest in and to -- mostly you know.
That was troublesome thing that we've heard reported that hasn't been focused on the -- I think it back to haunt him.
Is in the New York Times story about the kill list and how involved the president is which in some -- is very laudable.
But we know that that David Axelrod was in the room after.
And indeed you could only imagine if Karl Rove had been in the room.
We'd still be discussing it.
And you know what it is since rightly so because when your chief political advisors in the room when you're when you're engaged at that level policy.
And we know about it as though it's like kind of cool right.
It's probably troublesome for the commander in chief who's running for reelection the president has a great story -- national security particularly based on what kind of candidate he ran on for years ago.
And what kind of president he ended up to -- and he's causing himself trouble.
Which reminds me let's look at the latest Fox News poll that says.
Who do you trust do better job on the economy or a better job on foreign policy and terrorism here and while Romney had a great outing in this Fox News poll.
On foreign policy and terrorism the president carries a big advantage over -- this is his biggest thing so it's understandable that he would want to maximize.
But of course is we talk about a lot here.
There is a tipping point whenever you have a political strategy works only up into -- point and then at a certain point constructed -- the.
That's correct and you know when this is potentially going to all come up again regardless of where this leak investigation or whatever it is -- Is if in the fall the movie about seal team six that Kathryn Bigelow it is directing or producing or what have you comes out through Canadian great movie I plan to go see it but everybody's going to be asking so how much of that is true engage the president tell her.
What was true and what was.
Where and where it who's gonna play axle -- that will be the other question to go to Muster the guy with that with a lavish mustache okay David stick around for a second if you will because when we come back we're gonna start breaking down Michigan as we work our way through battleground Friday's it's going to be great your friend -- -- -- -- be here so I know you'll like that.
So you two should stick Iraq.
This feels good name back to Michigan.
The -- other trees on the right high.
That with Mitt Romney back in February speaking to the Detroit Economic Club their Ford Field home of the Detroit -- saying that he -- the height of the trees in Michigan that they were not -- -- not too short made him feel good Gaza City like to the American cars on the road he said he liked all that stuff and there's certainly a lot to like in Michigan if -- Mitt Romney running as a Republican this year.
And this is power play.
-- was born right there in Oakland County right outside of Detroit went to high school -- his father was the governor of the state his mother ran for senate.
And certainly there's reason to believe that for the first time since Ronald Reagan.
May be a Republican might be able to flip what is traditionally a deep deep blue state.
So we're gonna talk about that because it's battleground Friday in the battleground Friday.
So.
David Drucker from roll call is with us still but I'm very pleased to say that our friend Debbie dingle is with us she is the principal of -- shoot -- point out that she is the wife of the dean of the house.
John Dingell congressman long time congressman from the great state of Michigan welcome back -- its biggest.
Okay so let's put this into some perspective.
Brand new poll out.
From epic MR day just yesterday in Michigan that shows -- statistical dead heat.
In Michigan.
Between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama 4645.
This is that -- pretty reputable polling firm.
Debbie do we have reason to believe that Michigan really is in play for the Republican.
That's right -- I am one of the people that -- But I am.
Still I think about minority but most people are not discounting spoke to some.
Exit here and -- -- the polls have been done in the last ten days by different -- one poll.
-- fourteen point lead -- poll showed an eight point lead for president upon.
I think fish is going to be competitive nobody's paid attention to the ballot proposals.
Which I think -- significantly impact they tell us -- tell us tell us about the ballot proposal well we have an eight and it doesn't we have hint about.
So that puts it sounds like California -- And we don't know what happens when you're happy -- as the three of which would be specific labor ballot proposals.
Once this collective bargaining rights work do both sides were used that language.
But there's another when it's -- be in the ballot probably that this week 25 for twenty fact that she's a renewable energy.
I've got -- proposal which will increase consumer costs which will have a great deal of money put into it which I think is contracted independent.
The voters and Republicans who say so this is something about a green energy you where they kind of urgently required -- to the constitution.
25% of the annual cost used by the -- 25 that's -- I bet that we'll get that we'll get people fired up is so did.
David as we look at Michigan.
We see a state that for Rami it's going to be very hard to resist leaning on it.
Because he knows he's not gonna win his home state of Massachusetts.
But surely he would love to be able to win his native state of Michigan City -- city I was just in Massachusetts for thirty years -- -- but really my heart belongs to Michigan right.
I like they got the distinction correct -- two -- Chris.
-- he knows Michigan better than me so I feel a little funny to -- green -- just saying then that.
I'm -- we have to take a quick break it or not.
A quick break I have -- -- you talking because I am told that we are joined.
By congressman a congressman from Michigan we -- lucky enough to have with us again congressman highs and he's from the other side of the state from Detroit he's from out there in Zealand in Holland and how they were wooden shoe crowd congressman welcome back to the big show up.
-- it's -- to -- radio and yes.
-- -- -- gander right now so I'm over here and that got him.
Beautiful sunset side of the coast where it -- right right right across there from.
Wisconsin.
Where they had some interest in goings on over there and congressman I want to get your take.
On that this is did he -- here and she was just talking about there's some labor oriented ballot provisions that are on the phone on the on the ballot in Michigan this fall.
And we heard.
That happened right after Scott Walker -- Won the recall election on Tuesday labor groups in Michigan dropped their effort to -- called.
Michigan governor John Schneider.
How do you see this labor conflict in these issues affecting the vote this fall.
Yeah ally and thank -- -- what I predicted it when united when Rick Snyder.
It was was being recalled that some sort about.
More of an under the radar situation that I was in Wisconsin was very serious about what was going on I think you've seen.
The labor union trying.
In the labor movement trying to get some additional labor issues.
On the Michigan ballot because they know that in my opinion they're in trouble.
And that they've got to sort of -- there are just their base here and give them a reason to come out because they're not confused they're they're not enthused because of the economy in Michigan.
Very difficult decade you know when people are saying no we've had a tough quarter -- tough year that's nothing Michigan had a tough decade and were on the rebound.
But it's been it's been a difficult claw back situation.
-- -- -- win Michigan in the fall.
Yeah I think he can't now things have to come together properly.
-- mean you know it's helpful when you have got the right message and you've got the ability to get that message out.
I think that message is very receptive.
In Michigan now people are looking for that and they saw that contrast between governor -- home and Governor Snyder.
Coming back coming in with a vision and a plan in an ability to execute that plan and I think if Mitt Romney can demonstrate that.
People still have a lot of very good feelings about his father in what his family's involvement in Michigan has been over the decades.
And I think they are willing to give him that shot certainly and the west side of the state where he didn't do as well -- in the primary I can tell you -- my constituents are very eager to vote form.
Congressman you have perfectly foreshadowed what we're gonna do next so you are -- great -- we think you have done a fantastic job of being with the -- we hope you enjoy the rest your day.
And -- you get back end of the beautiful sunny side decides that side.
Thank you got -- thanks guys.
Okay we have to take a break because we have so much more to talk about we're gonna get to our big touch screen when we sneaking into the big board and look at Michigan and I get to play with the with the best choice here in the Fox News Washington bureau we have to say about -- David -- and his sage counsel and we thank you for being with us Chris thanks for having me please -- roll call -- super cool OK we're gonna take a quick break but when we come back.
More battleground Friday so stick around.
Was is.
Wisconsin governor Scott Walker declaring victory claiming victory in his recall effort and it's certainly something Republicans say are gonna help them as they tied for republicanism.
-- rolling through the upper midwest that they hope carries over to Michigan.
And this is power play welcome back to battleground Friday.
As we look at -- Michigan and unlikely kind of swing state for Republicans is going to play out Debbie dingle is here and she's obviously this is she's from Michigan and -- super cool.
So we had -- the opportunity.
To sneak into Studio One and use the big board to break down the way Michigan's going to vote and where the votes are in Michigan so let's take a look at that and then you can tell me what I got wrong and I can literally take.
It's another battleground Friday here on power play as we go through with a dozen swing states that will get to decide.
This fall's election.
And we're having a lot of fun with -- we did North Carolina before but now.
Which is going to be tough for President Obama now look let's look at a tough pick.
For Mitt Romney in the Republicans and that's Michigan it.
Now there is reason to believe that Michigan and this is how by the way -- -- did in the primary here pulled out a win at a time when Rick Santorum.
Was still surging.
But who the reason that Republicans think that they might be able to pull off something in Michigan -- -- -- from here he's from Oakland County right down here outside of Detroit.
That's where he grew up Bloomfield Hills.
Out here that's where he grew up his dad was the governor his mom ran for senate why not why couldn't anyway -- the -- -- Who was originally thought not to be able to -- was that the status change so much since the 1960s.
And that the heavy concentration of votes here and heavily democratic Detroit area just makes it basically impossible.
But it.
Let's talk about a couple of things that happen in and they have to do with the changing demographics of the state when the auto industry in 2008.
Not about the same time as this election was taking place between Barack Obama and John McCain.
Absolutely imploded it had been suffering for years unionized auto companies.
Have been suffering for years and then the bottom absolutely fell out and we -- we know what happened the government nationalized.
Restructured.
Bailed out these companies.
And before returning them to quads -- private sector status along the way guess what happened this whole part of the state down here.
And this is McComb county.
To the north.
Is a big for this too but this whole part of the state where something like 70% of the population of Michigan -- got drastically be populated you've seen the pictures you've seen the signs Detroit imploded.
Now the consequence was.
Because most of the rest of the state is Republican.
Much like Illinois with Chicago.
This is a Republican state with a democratic city and it and that happens to flip it the other direction so.
If you think about it this way.
The way that Michigan's gonna vote.
Is going to look very different in 2000 it let's show you how was in 2004 because this is what we would expect.
The map to go to win Georgia -- bush and John Kerry notice where Grand Rapids is that's a pretty big city that's can't count me out there.
That's -- that's big lot of votes out there so look at that.
You see that this part of the State's supposed to be Republican.
-- believes that if the state reverts to form and goes back to a they've they've -- cake with a creamy blue filling.
Instead of the other way around that he has a decent shot to do it.
And the reason he thanks again is you have the a lot of Dutch reform church members social conservative Santorum voters that's how -- and -- almost pulled it off.
This part of the state which used to have a lot of democratic votes and you see that in 2008 that there's a considerable number of this -- the first congressional district up here.
Used to have a lot of democratic votes.
Not so much anymore it's changed -- switch.
And is now represented by conservatives across the western part of the states so Romney's hope is that because these areas have had more stable population population has been more -- out here.
That he can get Michigan close -- remember.
-- twenty tend -- Republicans took the state by storm.
They got a Republican governor they -- Republican legislature they've enacted some reforms.
Or changes I should say to the way government unions work the dynamic in Michigan has changed.
Obama believes that the state will revert to form and huge minority turnout in Detroit forehand.
And heavy union presence.
Why it -- carry it over the line for him but Ronnie thinks he has a way to pull off a win in his native state.
May be well and certainly.
We know that they were watching.
Over here in Wisconsin very closely what happened with that recall election.
So what will be watching to you could take that to the bank and that's a look at how Michigan might vote come November.
Will certainly be keeping our eye on that.
You should keep your eye on all of our battleground states -- we work through and show you how the big board says November is gonna look.
I don't know who that guy was but he made a lot of interest in points about two the state of Michigan.
The birthplace of power play part of the -- I asked for a -- -- in Pontiac in the shadow of the silver down.
But Debbie dingle so the question is this.
In the state of Michigan there's not a lot of Republican organization.
In Wisconsin they have a very active longstanding Republican Party but the Republican Party in Michigan had been on its heels for so long.
For a really a couple of decades and since they've had a very strong Republican Party in the state.
If Mitt Romney wants to compete in Michigan.
They're gonna have to spend a lot of money up there aren't that.
But they are the detective series they have a lot of money necessary that -- off as quick as we seek.
Now they hit some blows tendency -- governor is it moderate who does not come out of the Republican -- doesn't have.
The kind of organization that we are talking about we've got some members of congress who do have some strong organizations in my car.
-- -- -- -- -- -- into my Carter.
That gesture.
Thaddeus from -- -- failed to qualify for the ballot because they turned in a bunch of cheeky signatures.
Photocopied signatures every time you wanna run -- -- Michigan you have to get a signature ballot test and he he fielded in flourish is emerging fashion.
He is seen it was the court area that they need to keep it turns out that the duty to turn up votes for -- -- I've never seen the Republicans are -- in my life targeted at somebody they did pick a consensus candidate there yeah but day in terms of organization was a major -- for Republicans.
Okay so for the president basically -- their argument there.
The whole name of the game minutes.
That maximizing turnout correct maximizing turnout in Detroit Oakland County.
The whole goal -- you've got minority voters you apps you know the president's gonna -- Detroit metro.
Detroit metro even including the -- and suburbs probably 70%.
Because if he'll he'll be in -- even throwing in -- had a thing called the 75 corridor -- sleep.
Basically it's -- -- City -- -- -- for Mitt Romney and this is where it gets very interesting as.
He's gonna do okay and Oakland County affluent suburb.
But when you look at a place like -- camp.
Where there are some Reagan Democrats but these are some guys who Mitt Romney has Bain Capital Mitt Romney has a hard time talking to.
Can Mitt Romney steal any votes in places like -- If he can't think.
I wouldn't that -- need to understand on instinct minority I think -- more competitive than many people to that.
I I think by the witnesses in the entire company here I don't think it's an entire Republican Democrat I think people are fed up I think they're still scared.
-- she's doing better than other states are doing we.
Had the worst part of this economy economic and got her -- are starting to recover faster but people are still angry and they're still scared you don't have consumer confidence.
So in the end it's still about jobs it's gonna be who -- they trust.
I think Mitt Romney -- it appears to -- mistake instead of fixing himself during -- presidential primary February he doubled down on the auto.
So -- in this is that this is a huge issue in Michigan and certainly in places like in places like McComb county is Mitt Romney said.
We got to let the bankruptcy happened we're gonna have to blow up these companies that these companies have blown themselves up for work or not form of course excluded the General Motors and Chrysler have got to go through this pain and then be reassembled on the other side President Obama said well we're gonna we're gonna pump some money and we're gonna hold it together and then we're gonna hocus -- -- new companies gonna come out on the other side.
And how -- that can play out.
Well I think it is an issue that.
-- you watched grow I mean it's been two years ago less than 50% of people even thought that there was a good idea that President Obama done in Michigan now.
Voters do believe that it was the right thing to do I think that.
-- -- -- you probably could have handled it much better we we -- in Michigan.
Talking about it instead of saying you know -- I still have the right thing that -- Obama should have helped him now we're Etch A -- you very good at it just kept saying that the president filed.
Which he had suggested has created a credibility issue -- Speaking of clintonian -- there is some clintonian parsing going on now by the Romney campaign as it relates to the auto bailout we like part of it we didn't like part of it it's complicated.
And you know something we're talking about before daddy is.
Four Romney for.
So for Obama he is North Carolina that we talked about last week that it's so tempting while maybe I'm gonna go in there but some of these places can turn into quicksand could Michigan be quicksand for Ronnie go in and then and then you end up wasting a lot of time in every.
Sources I think that Mitt Romney's gonna folks in Michigan I think he wants to whether he can we do not tie up a lot president of Obama's resource is there missed it's complicated state -- midge dean congressional elections.
Think it's -- because.
Debbie -- we thank you get the last word from DSL senior it's funny how we -- these costs on states battleground today does that mean that in the future there will be battle ground reactors reenacting this election over and over again.
Pray god that you are wrong DSL senior because I don't I don't think anybody want to play me.
Out there Debbie -- we thank you so much for being with us we thank you for being with -- and also for a great birthday party yesterday you guys are just to kind.
And now as we like to do every day we want to leave you with the word from our friend Charles.
There's -- -- media are raving lunatic excuse me psychotic who comes in the door.
And makes no sense you can you say speaking in word salad this is a word salad.
With -- grip on it.
