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Bob Cusack weighs in on who has the momentum & why Obama is now joking about his debate performance
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We are going now to join ball to second managing editor of the -- -- One of our favorite political publications -- joining us from IDC good to see Bobby -- about big bird.
I'm not too worried about big permit.
But maybe children of America are.
And that that is that is the argument that I think Romney asked it to make an -- I'm sure this is not the last time it's it's gonna come up is that.
In a big bird can can still thrive but without the -- the public money now PBS things differently and they responded.
After the debate -- you know they.
Those those kind of subsidies are very important themselves.
This this -- -- debate Jonathan -- I think it will continue.
Side as it should I think a big abilities of the major issue facing this country is future is ahead Laura how are too big but I think it's an invite to your question -- Now none anyway and -- not living up to more important things are talking of the debates -- ball are you guys got a piece of -- President Obama joking.
Now about his own debate performance.
Yes he was in a fund raiser in net California last night and -- we made the case that the performers in the audience including George Clooney.
Give consistently good performances night after night and he couldn't say the same for himself obviously.
Referring to -- listless sub par performance last week against Mitt Romney and and that's probably a good thing.
For the president and his team to acknowledge that it was -- serious off night.
Because you can't you have to go through that maybe these these stages where if you go through denial and then eventually get to acceptance because.
If he's gonna be as he's gonna win a second term he is gonna have to amp it up significantly.
In the next two.
Presidential debates obviously we have the VP debate this week but.
But the president now publicly acknowledging that that it was that serious off night I'm.
-- you I mean you told to politicians on the hill all the time.
How much how how horrified -- those actually in politics Democrats in politics rather than the pundits.
I'd center how horrified when they buy and surprise were they -- that appearance.
I I think Democrats are still trying to get there.
Trying to wrap their arms around and -- -- -- they can't understand.
That not only that Obama lost the debate.
But that he had such a lack of energy -- -- you look at history and 1984.
President Reagan had an off debate performance against Walter Mondale came back very strongly.
A lot of people like John Kerry won the first debate against George W.
Bush so the rust of presidents -- -- -- second term.
I guess shouldn't be too much of a surprise but what has baffled Democrats in Washington.
Is that this was such a -- I mean you can't argue that that present Obama even tie this thing.
And that's what they were just stunned about an -- and clearly because the president is a good order.
A lot of people thought that that you know that he had set a high bar for himself -- though you know you look back those 2008.
Debate with Hillary Clinton.
You know he wasn't a stellar.
Performer there so.
You know Chris Christie was right he did predict that come Thursday morning last Thursday morning not so it's going to be a different race and it is a different race right now.
Yeah I did it -- -- he has given Mitt Romney as you point out in in the hill the momentum thirty days out from this election.
Yeah that's right that's right and that's what -- congressional Republicans are getting very nervous about that they had seen as Romney.
Had slipped in the polls before the debate.
They had seen down ballot concerns it in the senate and there was concern that that the house could be possibly in jeopardy.
But you know after -- Romney's performance.
No one's talking about that now and and the chances of Republicans -- -- -- the senate was boosted.
By Romney's performance because Romney does have momentum and and and you've seen just today I was looking at after his big foreign policy speech you.
The Romney campaign releases a statement from Senator McCain and senator Marco Rubio hitting.
Hitting the president they are very unified after being kind of fractious for -- -- they were starting to be in Republican circles.
Pointing the finger at one another whether it be congress pointing it at Romney and Romney.
Pointing at congress -- he's -- as as an outsider and now you've seen the Republican Party be more unified and they need to be of both sides do down the stretch here.
So then that's an interesting point -- so what you're you're you're saying that.
That one of the effects of that debate just that debate on his own.
Was for Republicans just kind of sit and say oh maybe we can do okay with Romney at the top of the ticket let's all pull together -- -- and I think is big for donors to Republican donors had watched Romney's gas whether it be.
The 47% video that has hurt his standing in the polls and they saw a very very strong performance so.
I think from a money standpoint very big for Mitt Romney -- his campaign but also for John Boehner trying to preserve his majority -- The only way that that Democrats can win back the house is if Obama wins and I don't think they can win.
Back the house if Obama wins narrowly they need a big Obama win.
That -- that hope and that dream was was hurt significantly.
With the debate last week.
Tough interesting and Ed talking about some of the down ticket races in -- one on the -- going on in Massachusetts.
Scott brown and Elizabeth -- where are we looking in that now that seems to have banks around a little bit.
Yeah it's bounced around I think it's gonna go down to the wire at -- latest polling has Elizabeth Warren up by a few points down but I think that they've had to spirited debates.
They both landed.
Punches in those debates it's been -- I I think riveting acted to watch to watch them go at one another.
Obviously Elizabeth Warren stressing that she's an Obama supporter.
Getting Scott Brown to say that he does support Romney which he does but he also -- I'm independent I think guess Scott Brown's run at very effective campaign.
As has Elizabeth Warren she has a lot of money at her disposal as has Scott Brown this is the most expensive senate race and -- and I think this is gonna go down the wire basically what Scott Brown has to do in in Massachusetts obviously a blue state.
He's gonna have to get one in five Democrats roughly.
Who supports Obama to support his candidacy he is the incumbent.
So I think that could be so close that we may not even know the day after Election Day who won that race.
What should gut feeling at this stage ball well all know where the senate and -- -- and not post November 6.
You know I think right now you -- -- and the senate side you have to give a slight edge to.
The Democrats in a lot more slight than it was a week ago Biden but I think that if you look at these certain races Democrats are.
Running competitively in North Dakota and Indiana was a red states it's surprising now on the Republican side they've got some good news.
In Connecticut Linda McMahon is running a surprisingly competitive race.
Eight in basically a blue state -- a lot of independents in Connecticut but but the math favors.
Republicans because Democrats have to retain have to defend 23 seats Republicans only ten.
You look at individual races.
Republicans need to pick up three or four -- depending on whether Obama wins.
I think Republicans are gonna pick up seats in the senate but it -- fall short of the majority in the house.
I you have to give the clear nod to the house Republicans Democrats Nancy Pelosi needs 25 seats net.
It to win back the lower chamber and maybe Democrats will pick up seats but I think any shifting in the house is going to be single digits.
I think it's going to be far short of the 25 that the Democrats need to to boot John Boehner out of the speakership.
I did see -- on the presidential race is the vice presidential debate this week.
Likely to make any difference solvent and other than not being -- compulsive watching for all of us.
But I I think it's big it in one big respect is that.
The Romney Ryan campaign has so much momentum I think overall this debate we're not gonna remember years from now there may be -- line here -- that that it doesn't really affect.
Races but but I think there's pressure.
On Joseph Biden to stem this momentum.
If if Ryan comes out is a decent winner or most people think that Ryan bested -- Biden made the arguments better.
Then -- there's some serious momentum may now the Romney trying to get his honor -- they want to erupt.
If Biden can come back in and help the president and you know pushed back Ryan and win the debate.
Well then we -- in the last two presidential debates and it's kind of kind of wide open but Romney has the momentum it's up to Joseph Biden.
To stem that momentum of course -- Joseph Biden has had some.
Some -- Throughout his career so it's a Republicans think that if anyone's gonna make -- -- the chances are going to be Biden.
Not Paul Ryan a pile Paul Ryan has never been on this kind of stage before and and that certainly is one to watch how can -- how.
How does he handle that pressure Joseph Biden has been on the state before.
Run for president a couple times been vice president so he's experienced one no doubt about it.
-- -- you were talking -- I just had half an eye on the Fox News Channel that we were running a clip of a NASCAR race from a over the week ending which.
I wish it was quite spectacular thankfully nobody.
-- I can't get the thing -- that the rate that get -- thinking that's why a lot of people will be watching the vice presidential debate looking for the looking for Joseph Biden's crash moment expect.
That's right an end you know Joseph Biden has he has a habit talking off the cuff the Obama campaign has not put him on -- we recently wrote a story.
About how -- not put him on a strict teleprompter they've let Joseph -- Joseph.
Whether that's you know good or bad they think overall it's a net positive but either going to be some Democrats have.
Fearing an an and and that really worried about what comes at a Joseph Biden's mouth.
Absolutely -- but other Democrats say listen Joseph Biden is gonna come up big and he's gonna get this campaign.
Back on track and that's what I think is going to be.
Very very compelling about this a VP debate is the momentum.
Going into the next two presidential debates which.
Honestly could decide this election.
Right -- -- so -- still looking at a very tight race he would be taking into battle battleground polls was saying well.
Yeah absolutely actually I mean I think.
Obama we're starting to see the effect that Romney had.
With his commanding performance last week and he's certainly gotten a bump from that Obama got a bump -- the convention.
-- is getting a post debate convention and you know this is this is a race that is that is up for grabs and with Romney.
Having the momentum if he can keep the momentum he can win this thing there's an -- about.
All right fascinating to watch and fascinating -- -- -- you as always.
Welcome -- managing editor of the hill thanks very much indeed -- -- have a great.
