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Power Play 8-10-2012

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    Does Mitt need a brawler VP? Obama aides stumble over 'cancer' attack on Romney.

  • Duration 27:00
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You want yeah.

But until you are probably years we're talking about a -- -- how we're -- Future of our country.

-- -- It's you don't -- It's people.

Raise your horses and it tells you that her body is perfect we're here.

And that.

That's what it might look like -- New Jersey governor Chris Christie eight were playing.

The torpedo to Mitt Romney as his running mate taking care -- -- of Meg Whitman in 2010 when she was running.

For the governor of California this is power play and I and in fact Chris Farrell and happy Friday and that it's good to see you again.

And as the vice presidential.

Fuhrer turns into a froth and everybody is waiting to see -- Mitt -- -- in the Romney campaign is teasing and taunting.

And governor Romney finds himself up in Massachusetts.

Today for a -- session which a lot of people expected in some way ladies.

Part of this vice presidential rollout the questions mount about.

Does Romney need to have somebody a little more -- let's stick on his ticket.

Maybe somebody like.

The governor of New Jersey.

And those questions are dressed in conflict which if you want to go on Twitter right now -- -- -- You can find it treated there for you.

My love -- and you can look it up.

You can read along with the fun.

In the final he had with Brad Buckman is -- former senior advisor to president George W.

Bush he is a long time Republican strategist he knows how to win elections and do stuff.

And he also -- it -- researchers at university.

Welcome back that you know we missed you.

-- show.

I wrote today that basically Romney.

Had a week it seemed like it would be a moment of opportunity.

This week when.

President Obama is these super pac endorsed by President Obama we have been very legalistic and the destruction this but this -- -- and endorsed by President Obama.

-- had that said that Mitt Romney.

Had been in culpable for the death of a woman in Kansas City.

And it seemed like a moment that they would announce that they didn't.

It's sort of like went by and then a couple days later they caught on and it was like this could be good and they're trying to push it today but the magic moment.

Sort of slipped past and they didn't hit back Republicans are -- they say you know you're not tough enough you need to be harder you need to be all of this stuff.

So I wrote today that -- -- so why not this.

I think Christie would make an excellent surrogate I'm not so sure that Christie is the right kind PPP I think.

He plays well and in New Jersey yes certain constituencies.

That actually resonate with this kind of rhetoric I'm not so sure that that -- nationally now having said that.

You made a very important point.

They were given the opportunity to run a campaign to push back.

Against any a vicious negative force ahead.

Not by the Obama campaign to buy a super -- they missed the opportunity why because there was nobody there there.

To take on that -- you don't want the candidate to do it Romney right but we don't know if if he would have announced it VP a week ago the VP.

Is the person most likely to take on that.

That role plus we don't have enough surrogates out here who can act on a -- And seize the opportunity so you have days go by and you can't have that kind of lag time in order be effective well that's just the thing is that for -- saying.

The the Romney campaign has been relying on -- campaign operatives yes instead staff inside the organization.

They have some good surrogate -- Your friend John Sununu.

-- us again one of the need acts in New York I think -- -- -- -- -- -- we knew John -- long ago he was a mild -- have you sort of thing we did nobody is -- -- -- the like well the he's been raising holy -- alone -- -- and he's going out there and these so you're you're talking about people like that.

Yeah I mean we need we people who -- who -- effective and credible.

And the fact is you can't have the Kennedy himself out there.

He's the richest kid can happen and what we're missing now is you -- we heard you heard about the -- you cried wolf.

I'm now calling Romney the man who -- DP between hello there for a month.

How people are saying come on the other three days another day another way for.

Us word like that we're watching that we're checking the amount when you get a tag Romney -- you that you and Rhonda Smith got Mitt Romney did get the get this.

That's us but.

I think I've argued consistently that later is better because the shooter -- the twentieth right yeah I said the twentieth -- sooner you come out.

The longer that person has to sit on the shelf and by the time they hit the convention stage in Tampa.

The lead to the story is amid swirling controversy.

About blank.

Vice presidential nominee -- tried to rally his or her it's a -- lit and the New York Times will -- that Matt -- Well we'll let the near times do with New York Times does.

The fact of the matter is -- VP is gonna be able to get not only.

Earned media but they're also going to be able to raise money in battleground states and if you if you take a nominee in -- battleground states and put them in Virginia and Ohio and New Hampshire they're gonna get.

News money can't buy -- and salute that is what is the -- of the realm in taking on any incumbent it's not only the money you spend this money earned.

Okay -- so and it's also the -- yet that you don't expect.

-- -- exactly wind and it looked at least Obama is spending his money like he spends hours of the deficit.

There's -- -- since dissolved man.

And yeah.

Red team never gives a very breathing room that -- -- itself I want to look very quickly here just put it into perspective about the circumstance for governor Romney.

And here as among registered voters the latest Fox News poll with a nine point.

Lead for President Obama up from a four point lead a couple of weeks ago and we don't have this -- but.

More significant horse -- number at this point.

Especially when you're not and the likely voters -- as usual but not super useful this is still -- close -- race.

But definitely have to give the lead to Obama.

What was -- instructive to me was the change in Romney's favor us.

And that is favorable rating went down about five points and his unfavorable rating went up about five or six points.

If that trend line holds.

Obama could -- elected.

That's what you need -- need to take the high road.

More than the low road and it's up to DP it's -- -- good surrogates.

To you to run.

Take the fight more on the on the negative side.

To the opponent and let.

Romney be above the fray and right now Romney has not been able to lead to break through because it's just him out there he's like -- -- And and and we don't have the kind.

Second tier circuits that we need nobody wants to hear from staff nobody knows who -- -- -- staff is less credible because their staff.

But unless that's faster and to arrange interviews from and in that case it definitely wondered whether you're doing a great job.

Give the final word -- Taylor H -- who says.

Let me just needs to pick someone who will compliment him and not outshine him.

He needs someone who -- qualified to take over if god -- nice of you to put that in there that you don't want -- to die if he died in office and finally he needs someone who would be an attack dog says Romney.

Won't be one.

You're right so no more needs to be said Bradley yeah very much for being with us today.

Guess what Internet it's Friday so -- battleground Friday -- when we come back.

We're gonna take a look at swing state Virginia we're gonna look at the Old Dominion how it's gonna -- what's important you will be just typical -- -- stick around.

And that.

Is what it looks like when the contenders for president in this election campaign in the great state the great commonwealth -- -- say a Virginia this hour flight welcome back.

Virginia's going to be a pretty big deal and we're getting them into the final stretch.

Of our program -- as we wrap up ahead of the Republican and Democratic National Convention we've had a lot of fun and -- into the final three.

So we stuck in and got a chance.

To put our mitts on the big board.

And let's take a look at what we -- And that's.

Is Mount Vernon the bucolic hall of America's first president George Washington.

There in Virginia down south of Alexandria.

And whomever takes the oath of office that same oath of office the general Washington general Washington took so long ago will depend in large part.

On who wins the all important battleground state of Virginia.

Come November 6.

And this is another edition of battleground Friday and guess what we're getting down.

To the heart of the matter.

Because we have been through.

Nine of the twelve swing states already as we've gone through this we've been all over the country.

We've been to New Hampshire we've been to Pennsylvania.

We've been -- North Carolina.

We've been to Michigan we've been to Iowa Wisconsin.

Colorado New Mexico Nevada -- who just thinking about.

But in truth we're down to the final three weeks of this series where we're gonna look at the three states that we know for sure.

Are gonna have the -- voices when they talk about who is going to be the next president of the United States.

And that is Virginia Ohio and Florida and what have Ohio and Florida coming for you in the weeks ahead.

Right now let's talk about Virginia because the truth is Virginia this is it's an unlikely seeming swing state.

Is the state that hasn't voted that didn't vote for Democrat.

From 1964 until 2008 it was a state that Republicans could very easily take for granted and why.

It had to go North Carolina another state that supposed to be Republican territory in 2008.

But why did the Virginia map look like this in 2000 and -- and why did John McCain -- so poorly in a state that is so traditionally Republican.

Well to answer those questions and tell you how Virginia's gonna go this time let's get into divvying up.

The Old Dominion.

And basically what we're talking about here arts.

Well definitely Northern Virginia up here these are the Washington suburbs these counties right -- here especially expect to be blue.

Then you have the Tidewater area out here this is a lot of military folks large African American presence then you have the Richmond suburbs.

And then with apologies to folks in the south side and an apple action out here in two bath county and wise and with -- You have the rest of the state which is generally speaking fairly -- So how does this all breakdown and what favors what.

Now look.

-- let's be very simple the reason that Virginia was able to be in reach for President Obama in 2000 made is that the population has shifted dramatically.

Instead of being a southern conservative state that -- have a little notch of blue and here's what.

Virginia look like in 2004 that's a more traditional look for Virginia you have these blue islands the city of Richmond.

These large African American population stand here in the Tidewater.

Out here -- you VA.

And then these are.

Sort of yellow dog Democrat counties in a -- Vick traditionally would vote for a -- -- even a yellow dog that was on the democratic ticket apple action.

Hard core back to the Roosevelt days.

But look at this.

-- these counties up here.

And these are -- -- this is like Prince William county.

Out here these are far ex -- Washington folks who have always been Republican will they switch.

As President Obama did so well around the country not just in Virginia with these Forex urban voters remember -- of them are government workers.

And they were interest did in President Obama talking about what he wanted to do was increase federal spending.

Four more stimulation.

They thought that was maybe a pretty good idea and that helped President Obama big time up there so the first -- for Mitt Romney.

He wants to avoid John McCain's -- -- he's got to get these counties.

And let's we don't want to go -- Maryland I think we know how Marilyn's gonna vote right.

We want to go up here Loudon county and down here to PW Prince William county.

Now they know the running campaign knows that they're not gonna make any foothold stand here in Alexandria and Arlington there's DC.

Fairfax -- they know that's not happening but they have to have.

Prince William -- And gosh golly they have got to have Loudon county and McCain got blown out out there there's just too many dog on votes out there and Mitt Romney's got a new way better.

Okay that's the keys to the kingdom number want.

Number two.

And this is for Obama as we -- out here in the Tidewater yes you have a lot of military analyst those folks are gonna break for the Republican that's just what history tells us that's what we expect from polling but -- -- a huge concentration.

Of African Americans.

In this part.

Of the country.

And we wanna go down here -- North Hampton -- not many folks there.

But we take it can't -- and Hampton city.

And there you start to get some votes.

And then Newport News city lot of African American voters -- -- A lot and you see the margins as it happened so.

For President Obama this is where he's interest didn't get in the black preachers who had some reservations about his stance on gay marriage and other folks.

To get the black community together and re embrace this concept.

First black president fighting for him and being on his side turning out large black vote presence in this southeastern part of the state is so key.

So very key for -- Now the other key for Mitt Romney and let's look out here.

You see.

Let's take a look down here to run up -- Not this again had something to do with African American population and its -- like that but let's look at some margins here.

Not -- -- many votes there but what we're not seeing is the kind of blow -- as we go through what we lovingly called hillbilly firewall.

You're not seeing the huge margins that he might expect as we work through the -- so the deal is if you are Mitt Romney.

You need the rest of the state to look more like -- this.

Then it did before so those are the three keys.

Northern Virginia suburbs means so much.

The Tidewater means so much and what will also point out that Richmond suburbs are very important to that's -- George W.

Bush did it -- and -- a -- And then for Mitt Romney turn out the folks in the rest of the state the folks who are traditionally conservative traditionally Republican.

Get them marching for you just as -- Obama's gonna need to get black voters marching for him in the Tidewater.

That's how you win Virginia that's why you'll know who's gonna win first so we appreciate -- and thanks for being with us for another edition.

A battleground Friday.

Well I don't know -- that's true.

But it's not a pretty good at that time.

But let's talk to somebody were talking there about hillbilly firewall.

-- -- trying -- bad apple action voters voters in southwestern and western Virginia.

So it is our good fortune -- this congressman Morgan Griffith.

Who represents big -- -- that stay out there and he joins us via Skype.

From Salem Virginia beautiful spot in this in in the great state where I live welcome congressman.

Thank you -- -- really.

Okay -- we'll see if that's.

So the question -- question is you have some legislation on this.

Cole interestingly enough could be pretty decisive factor in this election project.

-- -- -- Be extremely important.

You -- BA said yesterday they weren't gonna get into the race at all that the united -- workers -- America.

Everybody in coal country when I do it in those counties in the deep south west they're like you know if you're with -- reviewed -- and and I think everybody understands that.

Our entire economy in a big chunk of the ninth district of Virginia depends on Colin and President Obama and Lisa Jackson at the EPA have a world coal.

They've tried it also of that stuff for years ago figures you -- big turnout for Mitt -- All right so in your district.

The whole name of the game if you're really going to be helpful to.

Candidate Romney.

Is going to be turnout it's going to be volume turnout was a little down in some of the counties.

In your district.

There was not the full enthusiasm perhaps for John McCain's candidacy.

Is that going to be different this time.

Well certainly hope so and I believe that it will be particularly.

In the areas where they understand.

That -- is a major part of their economy.

As you come well into the -- valley area and in my area a lot of people don't really understand that I think that's what other reasons that Mitt Romney was here just a few weeks ago.

Making it clear when he showed up -- Carter machinery that a big chunk of -- machinery jobs.

Are directly related to coal and the cold jobs there -- -- jobs at Norfolk Southern railroad.

It's all extremely important throughout the area and I think you're gonna see a bigger turnout this time and you saw last summer certainly workings of that.

But I'm feeling a groundswell.

As I go out there particularly when it comes at the top of the ticket.

Well they can't that can't be bad news for you congressman now.

As a first -- you are no doubt their first juror who represented district.

They'd been in democratic hands since I think 1982.

So as well as as a guy that position Democrats must would like to take you out.

Well it's certainly good in and none.

You know the the problem -- is that I don't think that folks appreciate Obama's policies.

-- they don't like his policies in fact I was elected in part because.

President Obama came to the district right after he was elected instead he loved.

The previous congressmen and -- in that was part of why he's no longer that figure congressman is no longer an office and so Obama is some.

Is really not seen very positively here -- the huge negatives outside of Blacksburg and a few pockets of liberalism.

And people understand it that it's now or never for gonna save the country from.

Economic.

Disaster.

We've got to change it on November 6.

So what you get up off campus there at looking pretty read this article congressman -- thank you very much for being with us today have a great day and enjoy -- sales.

-- thank you.

Okay Internet we -- take a quick break but when we come back we'll have even more fun -- will continue because will be joined by some Smart guys are Republican Smart democratic strategist.

To talk about the rapid response that happened to this whole anchor Koppel.

About how to whether or not Mitt Romney kills grandmothers and stuff like that.

We'll talk about it when we come back.

So stick around.

Well it's it's a clear statement about the president himself who refuses to take responsibility he refuses to take any action.

To remove something that he knows well is up pact allies against his opponent and and it just suggests.

A character issue here and my personal opinion that a -- take no responsibility you can't trust what.

What -- campaign says you can't trust that they put on the air then in the press asks them about it as you pointed out they -- about it so this is a campaign under.

-- It's not pulling any punches there that was Bay Buchanan an advisor to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.

She was out talking to Stuart Varney -- -- filling in for Neil Cavuto on your world on the Fox News Channel.

Yesterday and this is -- and welcome back and Republicans.

Belatedly -- -- but now are in high -- Swinging away over a super pac -- that was debuted.

At least on the Internet and Tuesday.

The -- which links Mitt Romney to the death by cancer of -- woman.

Who was married to a man who had previously worked.

Four company that was taken over run by -- company that Mitt Romney had previously been CEO.

It's complicated but anyway.

So as the two campaigns have struggled with this.

Let's talk about.

How you do it right let's talk to some real political pros about how you do it right.

And with -- outset it is my good fortune said frank and frank -- tally is here he is now the chairman of gopac which is basically the recruiting -- you guys are in charge of building the bench.

For the Republican Party right absolutely Chris it's a bigger bench than we've ever had before it's a big bench and not just because of Chris Christie but the and also we should point out that frank is one of the most seasoned political operatives here in DC widely respected -- we thank you for that for being here and please welcome if you will.

-- -- -- -- She is a former communications director for New Jersey governor Jon Corzine she is a very well respected democratic -- she -- -- she joins us from New York -- -- don't.

Maybe not.

Maybe we do not actually maybe she did not like that -- production and maybe she just -- it was a good introduction I.

I thought it was good but that's that's okay for -- I don't know if you're meals are the hardest workers here.

So and I'm gonna act when we eventually talk to -- Actually you know what let's do right now let's look at the Twitter political index for the day well maybe we get Julie in here and let's pull it up the Twitter -- political index were today which basically measures positive or negative sentiment on Twitter.

For the two candidates.

Barack Obama down still to a twenty.

Romney down -- still to a twelfth so they've both been dropping.

During this firefight basically what we've been able to observe on Twitter in terms of positive sentiment about these two candidates this week is that it's not very positive in both have been dropping.

And do the way it works is we measure Twitter measures.

How overall positive or negative they are -- a continuum of one to a hundred continual so they're both pretty -- And that's what you expect with this kind of negative campaign and.

Well it's like -- second rocky movie.

Where they both take a swing at each other right fifteenth round they're both out and whoever crawls up first it's really hard to break through.

When negative campaigning is this intense -- So.

I mean I it's not surprising that you're gonna see that I do think hopefully.

That we can begin to see a little more discussion of the issues I would as a Republican I would blame the president for running.

Almost an exclusively.

Negative campaign.

Not saying anything at all but his record his first three years in office like you would even -- -- -- president.

For the last three years if you just look at his.

That's right before you and I think we have Julie Julie is gonna come and talk to us in a second but I don't wanna ask you this.

Than the -- -- campaign promise that McCain can't -- Romney campaign.

Missed the window it seemed like at the beginning and they didn't seem ready to really blitz on this thing my right.

I think so I think so.

The campaign I think is now real worry ending itself to be able to respond to these attacks.

On a more time friendly basis and that's important but I do think.

The way the Republicans are going to win this election.

Is to put forward a positive.

Correct economic plan that contrasts.

With the very very poor economic results that this president.

In fewer than 59 points Julie are you out there are you out there and you guys -- Oh my -- we get here without a lovely introduction I can hear it you can hear me okay good as long as long as we just we're afraid that you might have stormed off now -- OK okay good so we -- just -- about how.

In this strange moment -- Bill Burton led super pac backed by President Obama did this -- that caused all this juror.

The White House didn't seem to be very well situated but that's it -- -- -- -- indicated they didn't -- most situated to respond to it.

Because it first they were doing total to nine.

We know we know nothing about this guy.

And they did a full just we wash our hands of this -- completely we have no affiliation with that and it turned out what they did I mean they knew the guy they knew his story -- told and all that stuff.

Why weren't they ready to -- the campaign was ready why -- they -- -- Well you know I don't worry -- -- -- -- -- frank has done is -- time I have to end this.

Atlanta maybe a little longer than you -- I'm frank frank -- -- ninety now if you red underline -- yeah that's right.

You know look.

The bottom line is this ad ran on the Internet they never spent a dime on it on air and yet here we are for the past your birdies talking about it so from the Obama campaign's perspective -- from priorities USA's perspective.

Mission accomplished the bottom line is this you know.

There's no is no more talk about something the more people obviously resonates of people they'd never spent a dime.

On the air instead.

The entry let's say the early on on the question of the -- we're talking here just narrowing the question of media response -- -- obviously a lot of truth to what you say that the charge.

Even if Republicans say it's scurrilous is repeated when they complain about it.

But what about not what that gives what about Stephanie Cutter what -- Jen -- and these folks inside the Obama campaign that weren't ready.

To have a better answer you know when you have Bill Burton when you have these folks out there you know these moments are gonna -- this can't be surprise that at some point in this cycle you're gonna -- -- that.

No look -- apps lire that they probably could have been little -- in the way they responded but I think the larger issue is this.

They run three you know they create poly three or four of these ask every single one to be put on air put on the Internet.

And obviously -- tested this prairies USA did I don't know it's it's a super -- so they couldn't really technically cordoning.

With the Obama campaign but -- -- per minute suspend or does believe and say that there is.

And obviously -- they tested this they tested probably three or four other messages.

And this is the message they obviously -- resonated the most with independent voters not with people like Franken I already decided who were voting for.

-- -- that there is it's very very very small sliver voters the very few out there who are left.

Who really are swaying between Obama and Romney this ad obviously have to sort of present the way resonated.

The same way -- -- -- -- yeah I'm sorry to interrupt.

We have to go away because of the technical difficulty you're going to get the last word by default but hopefully frank you'll come back it's it's against -- you very much -- you thank you all are very patient thank you and we apologize Internet that the Internet didn't work.

But we'll do it again soon.

On the hunt with Jonathan -- is up next you love that.

And would you love even more of that is that now as we like to view every day we only use the word from our -- sure.

It's the key number here's a favorable.

The numbers Romney's have dropped by about five or six and the unfair -- have risen by five or six.

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