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I'm so yeah.
But.
They're going to be other days for politics.
This.
I think -- -- day for prayer and reflection.
More.
And that was President Obama canceling.
A scheduled campaign appearance down at Fort Myers, Florida.
To make remarks about the senseless tragedy unfolding still out in Aurora Colorado and this is power play I am Chris firewall.
And at a moment like this for the president of the United States whoever is whatever party he's from.
This is a time.
To be -- To bring a nation together and try to help them make sense of a tragic moment like the one out at the movie theater that we continue to watch -- -- out as we learn the identities of the victims and more about the alleged shooter.
And this is a big big moment big time for presidential leadership.
We're going to talk about that today as we ourselves.
At our prayers to the hosts that are rising up right now for the families out there.
And did join the rest of the nation in a deep sympathy for those folks.
But we're gonna talk about what it means to be president at a moment like this we're also gonna talk about.
How a campaign reacts in a moment of national tragedy like this how do you do that.
Later on today we're also gonna happen.
We will have our regularly scheduled battleground Friday as we look at how the state of Nevada.
Is going to vote we'll have a little something lighter there talk about that we'll talk a congressman from out there about how that state shaping up but let's turn to this question.
Of what president does at this moment and we turn to our friends long friends of this great Internet telecast Steven Hayes from the weekly standard and any league.
She is the president and principal -- and strategies she's a former senior advisor to senate majority leader Harry Reid welcome.
-- OK so.
President Obama we were talking about this before.
We started -- telecast from President Obama.
This is that this is a thing that is in every presidents.
Repertoire has to be in every president's record performance something senseless -- tragic occurs.
That the president has to step forward and be able to help the nation makes sense of this.
And he what is demanded of -- commander in chief -- This -- -- it's a tough challenge you want to be able to strike the right balance compassion.
Entity at the same time he wants -- to -- the nation need to keep the nation moving forward.
She realized that this is an isolated incident.
That he's just not progressing that we do not see copycats we do not see it being.
You know the -- -- in other ways that that it's treated as.
One in which to offer compassion for those victims.
Not only for those that tragically died battles of the healing of the game is going forward they're -- have a lot of questions to ask the why.
The hall oh why did this happen to be able to offer words of comfort during this time this is so important but also to how to resolve.
That this is not going to keep continue to -- And to that end of course there's the there's the part about actual executive branch response that the FBI -- deployed the department of homeland -- talking about potential terror -- you need to make sure that people.
Feel like you're doing everything that you can't as the chief executive to do that -- in terms.
Leadership a leadership moment.
We were talking before one of the greatest that.
Anybody can remember is -- Ronald Reagan's response to the challenger disaster.
And and -- Newman's famous speech that was just a five minute Oval Office address.
Right where President Reagan very briefly -- -- touched the whole nation's horror.
Are we do you think going to hear more from.
President Obama on this.
I don't think yeah I would expect that there will be a memorial service probably next week and I would expect the President Obama would -- -- -- -- to -- speech I would think he probably would.
-- if if he feels that it's appropriate if it's if it seems like that's something that would help.
The victims victims' families I think that he probably would go I think you know it is a balance I think it's and he suggests it's EU on the one hand.
You know you don't want to you do you don't -- -- over.
Play it on the on the other hand it's hard that'll replace something like pressing any -- if you're advising the president at a moment like this are -- campaign.
I don't like this.
It's really hard to -- on the side of doing too much right now I'm saying too much more.
The kids to canceling your -- pulling down your contrast ads I think that's all Smart and it's -- Smart politically it's also just the right thing to do if the president does speak.
More on this -- does go to memorial ceremony.
It will probably sound a little something like this let's take a lesson.
-- -- -- Those were killed.
They are part of our fans.
American them.
300 million strong.
We may not have known them personally.
Surely we see ourselves in them.
In George and got.
-- -- -- -- We sense the abiding love we have for our own husbands our own wives our own Life Partners.
And that of course that of course is President Obama.
On January 11 2011.
At a memorial ceremony for the victims the six killed in a shooting Rampage in Tucson Arizona.
That was so where congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords -- congressman Gabriel Giffords was injured.
The president has.
Skill set for this this is something that he knows how to do this is something that he's good at it as a matter of fact that it.
That speech.
Was sort of a signal moment for his administration right.
You know in his room that -- to -- people feel like he is.
Beating on it a little -- -- for a little bit you know.
Distracted not stretch -- -- get away from it.
From the American public in this as a chance for him to really show -- -- -- of really -- personal level and then see opportunity for the president often times they see him.
You know see whoever's in that office you know with the austerity around it and not being able to really touch and feel this person for them to be able to have -- opportunity just to.
See it was getting in very deep.
Personal matters her -- he's -- that these occasions and fortunately offer.
There's also often has that you hear all -- the president say that we are better than this one when you're better than this act.
And -- is something that continues you know being nice to be able to be able to say if this was isolated and we are better as a matter.
And that's -- better for this one.
That -- that the president -- there one American family is something that was in his first 8 minutes 7 this morning one American family I think that is something.
We will hear more from the president as this goes on.
And -- see something that's crossing now.
That the Obama campaign is pulling down its attack ads.
But only in Colorado.
They're gonna let the ads run in the rest of the country but they're going to just pull down their attack ads in Colorado.
Did is that an indication do you think that that's an indication that they they think this is not going to be -- -- that last too long if they're just limiting it to the state.
Where it occurred.
Perhaps and I think that's indefensible decision probably again would have advisors to bring him down particularly take it all down for 23 days and you know get -- Contrast politics.
Later effect if you contrast is what it's -- that's what you call an attack at the right -- -- when -- when you're trying to escape direction still look good to go back to that to decent speed music thing I thought at -- time listening that speech.
That the president gave it was one of its best -- not the best beaches presidency and and one of the reasons that it was such a good speaker -- thought it was.
But particularly effective.
Is because he came in the context of this is this -- You know.
Battle back and forth rhetorical battle back and forth -- I think people in the Democratic Party were -- Tea Party blaming.
Sarah Palin that was all sorts of bullying in Cleveland or really tragic -- and I did that come out as an adult kid -- and the president I thought it deserved credit at the time for standing up and if in effect and at least not buying into that and -- passage in his speech.
Could have been rented to offer offer almost a gentle -- of that but let's not again that he spoke out against her -- you know -- -- -- -- -- vitriol he spoke out against those kinds of things instead we should -- politics worthy.
The victim's right exactly now one of the reasons I think that that you know if he's as he gave a short statement this morning to you the speech next week it would would be unlikely to have the -- fact.
Is because.
I don't think that the president -- in many respects lived up -- his own words in the eyes of some of us who praised him at the time for the speech.
Saw just a short timely the president engaged in the activities that he had been condemning time so I think you know there will be people who listen to to his words.
This time around and perhaps be less open to taking them but.
Literally but.
-- certainly at this moment for the president.
In light of what Steve says and in light of what -- really been one of the very ugliest campaigns arguably the ugly as presidential campaign with an incumbent -- ever.
Or at least sense that -- night since the dawn of the television era.
The president does have an opportunity here a little bit to talk about who he is as a healer who he is is the united right.
If he does -- and a degree here it has only been Ugly Betty has been a clear earlier and more often in their veracity of it and it's just been something that.
Many people are -- trending their televisions this is the chance for the president to look presidential and and breakthrough and reset the button about the conversation that we as Americans should be having an that we can be.
Disagree disagree about being disagreeable and hop.
A difference of opinion in context and so he can be able to demonstrate and show.
That there is a way to talk about worry need to go as America the ideals embracing the values as a chance for this speech to be able to.
Last -- quickly.
Mitt Romney's gonna talk here in the noon hour.
He's also shut it down he's done more to shut down.
And it either taking down their ads and they're doing all that stuff.
If -- -- you can't be presidential vision -- the president.
What do you do -- It's not much you -- get you to make you stay even make a statement comes from your heart.
-- and wait and I don't think he's -- presidential as you say it would be mistaken to try to be presidential at this point it would look like he's trying to be presidential -- trying to get his.
His game or his arguments in a story where frankly doesn't belong so I wouldn't.
-- -- gonna give it heartfelt statement this afternoon in the step back.
-- that's all right guys we're gonna take a break and when we come back we're gonna try and think about some lighter matters as we continue to follow the news on this and as we continue.
Two to grieve and mourn with those folks out there in Colorado we're gonna try to take our mind off of that as we talk about swing state Nevada how it's going to vote in the fall is still a battleground Friday and we're gonna do that for you when we come back -- And that is senate majority leader Harry Reid.
And Nevada governor Brian -- of -- a Democrat.
And a Republican both elected by -- margins in 2010 in the state of Nevada.
So what the heck kind of political state is this anyway but we're gonna try to solve that this is power play welcome back.
It is a battleground Friday here and the state that we're looking at today is Nevada a western linchpin.
-- keystone for President Obama and his western strategies he tries to hold together the three states Colorado New Mexico and Nevada in the mountain west that he needs to offset expected -- back east and hold -- to the presidency it's a very important state.
We are going to sneak in.
And take a look at the big board later on and fortunately we have Stephen Hayes senior writer for the weekly standard and -- -- who used to work for senator -- that guy that you saw there at the beginning.
So we have to folks very able to help us put this in perspective.
Also who can help us put this into perspective it's congressman Joseph back from the third district.
Of Nevada which is down in the southern part of the state congressman welcome.
Thanks Chris going to be with you.
Before we get roll in here I wanna give you the opportunity.
If you'd like to.
To respond to the events of the roar -- overnight and any reaction you -- -- sure it's certainly is another senseless tragedy in my my heart goes out to all those that are affected them.
As our reservists actually have two units in the rural area so right now we're trying to get accountability on.
On our service members and we just gonna keep them in our prayers.
Very good congressman in and ours -- for sure.
Now your district is.
A swing district that voted narrow -- for president George W.
Bush in 2004 and then by a large margin.
The President Obama in 2008.
It's sort of day.
Sort of a propeller looking number down in the very tip.
Southern Clark County.
So when you look at the and then of course you won in 2010.
So this is -- the very swing swing district that the numbers are our broad.
What's the mindset of the voters in your district and in southern Nevada and -- Well as you mentioned the district that was drawn as a swing district it remains a swing district done.
The constituents have voted for three different representatives in three different -- consecutive elections.
But what we see is a number one issue in my district as it is in all of Nevada and across the country is jobs in the economy.
We are ground zero for the foreclosure crisis we have the highest unemployment rates in the nation.
And people want to know how we gonna get back to work or how we gonna keep our job that's that the linchpin to this entire debate.
When you look at it now.
You your party's nominee -- -- -- be nominee Mitt Romney needs to run in your state and especially in your district.
What should he do in order to -- Your part of the state back to the red team.
And he got to stay on message to concentrate on that issue that's most important of them which is getting people back to work and getting our economy back on track.
We cannot.
Continue to have this division and distraction that we're seeing from the other side because of their failed record on the economy.
And instead of dividing and distracting we need to be unified and focused and that's what Mitt Romney's gonna do.
Okay we got -- congressman thank you so much we wish you the best thanks for making time for us -- a thank you.
Okay anyway you know a thing or two about how how they like to do their vote me out in Nevada and as we said at the beginning this it was a remarkable election year.
In Nevada because in 2010.
Harry Reid was marked.
He was done there was no chance that Harry Reid was gonna win right Washington right isn't.
-- yeah I thought it was like take it to the bank from.
Cook report on that it was like this guy has that you know 30% job approval rating there's no chance.
The Republicans nominated -- less than less than ideal.
Candidate to run against him.
And but very significantly down.
Union support for senator Reid was in.
Credible I've never seen the kind of -- that you had to even -- year where people like Joseph -- want people like France and -- brands involved beat Harry Reid's son by like thirty points in the governor's race it was -- -- that if so that was just the Rory.
We have red rose at an event and -- been about right air every brother.
The question is.
Can Democrats use.
Labor support and that level of organization the driver and you should remember this will talk more about this and this next segment there's not that many people who live in -- that it is not it is not like it is not at the size of Virginia it's not the size of other experts.
That they.
80% of it and it is it is the land is actually federal lands there's not a lot of people that are moving around you lot of -- -- -- recreation or just the scenic beauty of it he.
One of the key things in -- -- -- -- for senator Reid's success and one that people.
Capital Obama to win this well is that in 2000 an immediate decision to contend it to you from -- early states in the Democratic Party who wanted to be caucus rather than primary India which was key because -- -- -- Cost the Democrats should register voters.
For the Democratic Party than it ever happened for.
We -- we probably get to 2530 for us and every challenges to get up to a 100000 and he did need -- and we got those numbers and -- was a key element victory for Barack Obama with the sheer number.
Democrats out.
We're registered Republican Party that was measly.
In freefall -- dignity or is not really understand what gift they had been given back pocket themselves.
And also there -- no one no one participates in Hilton -- Plus it gives you it -- -- originally state but.
I think -- -- people don't understand his issue we now does that -- does have a happy -- mean not many western states do have a union footprint and this is one because of the casino workers and those workers that are.
On the strip and in Clark County the biggest populist population and a the center.
-- the Eagles have a huge Hispanic outreach in Houston and these are our Hispanic voters that unless -- is actually turnout and we were able to turn them out in record numbers and is this mr.
Obama was as well and -- leave this is gonna be one of those contrasting issues it might be considered local.
But the key local election immigration is going to be a very tricky path where Mitt Romney to navigate through so.
The economy is down there's no question stinks look at one of the worst in the country it's really it's -- it's it's that it's -- I.
Any you have to wonder how many doesn't register to vote in -- detonator actually around anymore so there is that challenge but he -- gonna have issues when it comes to immigration expert local.
The Steve one speaking of motivated base something that you may not know is that.
The church of Jesus Christ of the latter day saints.
Is.
Of which Mitt -- happens to be a pretty big deal.
It has a large population and -- -- it and we saw that play out in the Republican caucus in Nevada this year where you had massive turnout.
In especially in these more rural counties with lots of Mormon.
Concentration.
Is that a fact.
Her from that I think it helps and I think there's no question that it helps accusing the starting point that.
John McCain didn't when I lost by what twelve and a half points to 2008.
-- -- don't does it help offset the advantage that President Obama has with Hispanic voters I don't know if you look back at the Hispanic turnout in.
-- in 200876%.
Of those voters went.
To Barack Obama the national average was 67%.
Was much higher yeah and you've seen eight plus five in terms of Hispanic voter turnout in Nevada alone.
So I think that speaks a lot to president Obama's advantage there it also is the case that that population is still growing.
And unlike the Mormon population in Nevada which has been static.
That Hispanic population fact that it's going the fact that the terror has been happier.
Suggest that Barack Obama will do well there again this year and sure probably didn't.
-- -- -- read anything that he's also is a member of that same face probably didn't I didn't hurt him a little bit and got to Election Day when he -- our guys stay with us because when we come back we're gonna go to the big board you're gonna see in the big board we're gonna break down Nevada he's actually really just to camp so it was pretty easy for me this.
What we're gonna look toaster but that's we're -- look at those.
Can't and how they're gonna vote.
You'll know it before anybody else so stick around.
And back.
Is a look at the foreclosure crisis up close and personal in the state of Nevada.
Arguably no state has been hit harder than the silver state and this is our plan welcome back two battleground Friday.
As we look at Nevada and it's six electoral votes and how it's going to go helping us do that of course and -- Who used to work out there with got you may have heard -- -- read and Steven Hayes weekly standard welcome back folks.
And certainly as we're talking about before the economy is Paramount in Nevada the boom times -- no state may have boomed as much in the previous decade -- Nevada as.
Retirees flocked to the southern part of the state and the casino business is that -- the public gaming.
Was doing very very well -- and pleasure seekers from around the world and then somebody hit the brakes and things change so.
We're gonna talk about that a little bit more but first we had the chance yesterday to sneak in to the big board.
And look at how the electoral votes in Nevada are gonna end up so let's take a look back.
And it is no gamble.
That the great state of Nevada will be up for grabs a hotly contested swing state in this fall's presidential election and it's another edition.
Battle round Friday here on power play as we go across the nation that doesn't swing states that we know.
In the end are going to be the deciding factors when it comes to seeing who's gonna take the oath of office on January 20 -- -- thirteen.
And we've been all over the East Coast we've talked about New Hampshire we've talked about Pennsylvania Virginia and North Carolina we've been -- to Michigan we've been Iowa.
But today what I -- to do for you is wrap up.
A very important component inside the selection which is.
The west -- the mountain west as we call it these three states that President Obama won.
New Mexico Colorado Nevada those are the swing states in the west potential Democrat states inside -- -- -- part of the country.
Or one of the very -- -- parts of the country.
And for President Obama.
This is so key to win -- -- -- all three of these states because they have low electoral vote counts relatively speaking about only had six electoral votes.
So he needs to win all three to offset expected losses back in the east.
He knows he's gonna lose Indiana he knows he's gonna lose North Carolina Virginia is very much a toss up so he wants some cushion out west.
And he doesn't want to give up any thing out out there in the Rocky Mountains and beyond so.
Let's take a look here first at Nevada this is the traditional.
Nevada and this is a bright red state.
That ends up being pretty close because -- heavily Hispanic.
Heavily in migration.
Clark County down here in Las Vegas and here's just the thing to remember.
Look at how many votes that you have down -- Clark -- you have.
I mean my goodness you have almost.
700000.
Votes there and then we go back out and we look at the whole state.
And pretty big bite of the whole deal so a Democrat can be close in Nevada.
Even just by doing well and Clark County metro Las Vegas.
But here's how Obama -- he he also -- washoe county which is home to -- And so how do you do it how do you win in Nevada there's three important.
Demographic groups three keys to victory in the state want are Hispanic immigrants.
These are the people who work who were drawn to Las Vegas booming build.
As the suburbs stretch further and further south -- Clark County.
People who work at the hotels those folks that were drawn in by the boom times in Las Vegas and that leads us to the second thing.
Unions union organization is massively important in this state because they have an outsized imprint because groups like the Service Employees International Union and others.
That organized the folks who work in these casinos.
Have a lot of go.
They have a lot of influence so that's a huge deal.
In Nevada just ask Harry Reid is a matter of fact he was a Dead Man Walking in the 2010 elections.
But because of a huge surge in union support even as the governorship even as his -- lost the governorship and -- route.
The majority leader of the senate was able to hold on despite very low approval ratings thanks in large part -- union help and organization the president will be counting on that.
And the other thing is the folks who have moved up here into this part of the state Carson City.
Reno Lake Tahoe area down here at the corner.
A lot of Californians a lot of tax refugees.
A lot of folks who are coming from someplace else now they have tended.
To like they do in states like Florida and Arizona and other spots.
Where you have a lot of them migrants from the rest of the country from inside the country they tend to even out the political spectrum and lower the sort of the contrast level of a state.
And up here in washoe county.
That's a great place to find these folks that are coming -- they -- be more moderate.
You're looking at suburbanites.
You're looking at those folks so Obama did so well look at this twelve points.
I mean that's a fourteen point swing.
-- to our in just one cycle so Obama did so well because really -- -- the vote down here and also please remember this.
Down in the southern part of this -- this is a foreclosure nightmare.
-- the southern part of Clark -- This is one of the worst places in the universe for foreclosures.
These people very happily help President Obama.
With this giant twenty point swing look at this.
So you get an idea yet supposed to be a blue -- But it went deep deep blue so the reason -- we know what's gonna because we know the president's not getting a twelve point win there eyes because those contours have changed.
What we're going to be waiting to see is whether the president can maximize his support from Hispanic voters.
Whether he can get the unions out and marching for him and third and probably most importantly.
Will these folks these in migrants from other parts of the country that people who have grown washoe -- -- in the northern part of the state by.
25% in the last decade.
As it continues to grow.
Whether those folks.
Are going to be interest -- Mitt Romney.
Like a lot of the people in the suburbs and other other out migrated areas in the country are so we'll just wait and -- but now you know what to look for.
And you'll get to know who's gonna win first because you know where to watch.
When it's time for election night in Nevada that's another installment of battleground Friday will keep watch.
Well whatever that.
Guys talking about seems to be a lot about Nevada -- those two counties.
That you did you see there and Clark County particularly is so much of the vote in the state and so much of the foreclosure crisis and up there to Reno the biggest little city in the world.
In washoe county as that goes so let's get some predictions it's never too early to predict right.
So let's go -- very quickly ten seconds Stephen as you go first who's gonna win Nevada.
President Obama.
Anyway because you're.
It's shut out I say I think Mitt Romney's got a pretty got a good chance that -- any of the western states like his chances in Nevada.
Okay we've got to go and again.
We we join and I watch along with the -- the country what's going on out in a roar -- and Julie Banderas will be up next and shall have the latest news from out there as we continue to follow this story across the platforms here Fox News and now.
As we like to do every day.
We -- -- leave you with the word from our French adults think in part because what we heard from the Fed Chairman who has a neutral observer.
Who says the economy slipping backwards the recovery slowly.
And that I think is -- is filtering out there's going to be a summer of review of recovery in fact it's the opposite.
And I think apart from all look the back and forth in the campaigns all the ads all the negative stuff.
That I think is having an influence.
In sort of sapping the strength of the Obama campaign.
