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Power Play 10-11-2012

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    Biden tries to regain initiative, GOP clout in Congress hinges on a dozen new districts and Obama feels the squeeze on Libya

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And I don't want to -- -- debate.

We react.

And there are setting an absolutely impossible standard for himself or probably any politician was vice president Joseph Biden.

The last time he was seen publicly.

Which was last week in Iowa saying that he would not say anything that was not completely.

Accurate in his big debate tonight with Paul Ryan.

So in this -- power play and I'm Chris -- all we should stipulate those things for the record.

Lest anyone be confused because we do it this -- -- over there but anyway tonight's the big.

-- about the throw down in Danville Kentucky at center college as Vice President Biden faces off with Paul Ryan.

He's the congressman from Wisconsin the chairman of the House Budget Committee who.

The Republicans have selected as their vice presidential nominee we will talk about that.

We will talk about redistricting and control of the house and what this means about the future.

And whichever.

Obama or Romney wins the presidential election.

What it means about whose jet is gonna get through -- where you'll find that interest thing and we will talk about this ongoing drama.

Surrounding the attack on Ben Ghazi as that continues to school out and in fact how it will affect tonight's debate.

Joseph Biden himself being.

Considered on the left side of the island heavyweight on foreign policy.

We'll have power plants will have Charles my gosh I mean it's debate Thursday what else -- you want.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- That's what you and that's what you're going to get -- right to roll call you should follow her at your -- let's and the Internet welcomes back one.

Thank you it's great to beat back Internet yes that's right in the Internet also knows that your Steelers fan and you are.

It's burger so Internet appreciates that.

Which makes tonight a challenge because I have to cover them at eight and there's an April I know -- -- -- TVs it's not and -- Steelers playing short rest then you know stuff.

It's tough out there it is -- -- stuff out there but I have confidence in yeah.

Let's -- picture in picture.

All right so the thing is this I wrote about this but today.

In my power play charity -- which you could have if you followed Nancy Starr won't you would enjoy it I promise that you would.

Below expectations high pressure.

-- Biden in debate.

It would be difficult for anybody to have really lower expectations as an incumbent vice president that a guy who is favorite most famous for.

Being.

I think the term that the Democrats use it's colorful.

-- That he's a colorful character it often says things he ought not to and he's very gaff prone and all of that stuff.

So low expectations for -- -- an extremely for Ryan.

Who is a member of the house which is not normal for presidential ticket absolutely he's young he's.

42 to Biden's 69 and fourteen years in the house but the expectations are high for him because his reputation is as policy wonk.

And a guy with a big command of the facts and figures right now.

Absolutely and what I find it really fascinating about the matchup tonight.

Is you both dealing with guys who've been in front of the camera a lot.

But in very different venues and -- in the kind of -- we're going to see tonight let's take Joseph -- first volleys in the senate for six terms 36 years.

He ran for president -- just done his vice president couple Dicey hour right.

But it's been four years and since then.

Most of the bases though when you are large crowds where we've noted a couple of times he's got a little off script yes yes so they -- they want to -- -- change it's going to be new challenge for him and let's -- Paul Ryan to who has never been on stage this big debating.

He's been in the house for many years he's very good policy walk debates -- very -- kinda Sunday show talking.

And -- and -- his policies on Sunday shows when it's one on one with an anchor typically this is also a new format for him.

Well and the danger of course for Ryan.

Is that he doesn't want to look like a -- snapper.

It is not want to look like smarty pants know it all he wants to look like he's being respectful of this -- Michelle much older than he is and as this this long record.

How will and we'll talk about this more later with the panel but how will.

Joseph Biden.

Going into this debate if it's six months ago four or actually even on August whatever win.

-- Romney picked Ryan.

People started talking immediately about a foreign policy -- mismatch that Biden who served almost two decades on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee there's an expectation that that would be the case.

But instead because of the Ben Ghazi stuff and the administration is tangled up and it's bridges around to the Ben Ghazi stuff what does that do for the discussion of foreign.

Policy well -- you'll see Martha Raddatz is also she's foreign policy.

Reporter she might very well bring this -- -- because -- -- comfort zone for her.

And then there's the hearing yesterday and Capitol Hill about.

The -- is a reporter for ABC she -- she used to be pentagon choose from the Pentagon she's big deal.

Yes exactly so I'd be surprised it doesn't come up and if it doesn't take a larger role then it historically and other vice presidential debates.

I and I I think it well -- I mean certainly Dick Cheney said a couple things about that and in all four.

But -- on this one four Biden his statement.

About being.

I have to read it again I don't wanna say anything in debate that is not completely accurate oh my gosh that is meant for television that -- don't.

Don't ask don't say that if you're running for office never never say those words say yeah I sat.

Completely accurate as a matter of fact it Beirut if a politician might say more accurately I hope tonight to say something that is completely accurate.

Rather than basically yes that's about a better way to go I just -- to -- the -- the American I just went over and I -- to have a conversation with the American people no -- -- -- Because Q you know fact checkers does right.

He can't not fire got.

Bailed -- this promise.

All right have -- 19:53 says good morning Chris morning at a 1953.

We all know Biden is going to be attacking Romney by bringing up Paul Ryan's budget.

-- should remember to continually point out that there is no.

Ryan plan no air quotes.

Only the Romney plan which Obama had no answers -- their debate.

For Ryan.

While he may be long on specifics and knowledge about budget process and those things this is gonna be Biden's chief avenue of attack right.

-- absolutely there's no question about it I did.

Look no further then -- his sparring partner in this vice presidential.

Warmup -- past couple days he's worked with Chris van Holland who is Paul Ryan's counterpart on the Budget Committee.

So.

What I'm seeing if you -- -- know how important this debate is I'm seeing just -- on Twitter.

That the Obama camp says that they're gonna have eleven staffers and surrogates.

In Kentucky in the spin room.

The -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Cool wow that's -- more than doubling up that is that is what you call flooding was out.

That is flooding the zone and as someone said something interesting on Twitter after the last debate.

The Sarah gets to make it to the spin room last are the ones who -- they -- just lost.

Quite so of course towards the people that are trying to -- John Sununu and prevent him from actually going making it.

-- getting in there and actually an -- and actually knocking some going barking and Andrea Mitchell OK we're gonna take a quick break.

But when we come back we're gonna talk about.

What's going on with house races and the dozen districts -- a new districts that were created in states with population growth and how key these are two Republican -- not only to -- in the house but -- have a governing majority.

We'll have one of those candidates with us -- like doing it so you should stick around.

And that was what it looked like when John Boehner was gambling the United States House of Representatives intercession.

It's a big gavel and that he likes to swing it but with how much bigger with how much ferocity it will the speaker be able to swing the gavel come January.

Well look the Republicans have a point five seat majority in the house.

Which is the biggest that they've had.

In about three generations -- they generally never get to that point but they have this time the expectation is it's going to -- they're gonna give some of that back.

Estimates say about a half.

-- what the Smart money says is that there's about -- tenor between ten and fifteen of those seats that they're gonna give back.

But the key for Republicans and not only holding that -- having a large enough majority to actually pass legislation.

We have defectors lies again.

New congressional seats and this is power play your -- let's -- roll call knows all about this stuff patsy if she follows it because people pay money to read it in the roll call.

So it is important that she knows.

Somebody else who knows.

Is Vernon Parker.

If today congressional candidate in Arizona in the ninth congressional district of Arizona.

And this is one of those new districts.

And mister Parker is a member of the City Council -- you'll correct me sir are your member of the City Council in Paradise Valley.

Why -- former mayor of Paradise Valley in -- former City Council member.

The great talent period and -- -- and I -- -- also served as a special assistant to president George W.

Bush and White House and also as an assistant secretary of agriculture under president George W.

Bush.

We'll win by -- by no means we're we're beginning to it would take take away your title your honor.

-- I did not I did not know they -- stuff in Arizona but.

Good kudos on that on the -- department as well.

Now I care whether -- think that now the question you're district is one -- -- and -- let's bring up the map let's show the Internet the map.

So in eight states Arizona Florida Georgia Nevada South Carolina Texas Utah and -- -- there are a dozen new congressional seats that were shifted.

From shrinking.

Northern states by and large.

Places like new York and Ohio.

That moss states Michigan that -- states in these states have migrated south.

Are these seeds have migrated south and really an end in all of them except for Washington.

Which is kind of democratic -- the Republican that they had these new seats are Republican states.

Mister Parker.

For you.

You're in a new district.

It's it's that makes it wide open.

When you approach this.

How much priority and urgency are you feeling from national Republicans about your race.

Call it a great deal Chris look.

I was -- one of the greatest honors in my entire life I repeat that all about two weeks ago from the speaker of the house of office.

And -- and they asked me.

Would you follow the president's weekly radio.

Address and tell the nation Eurovision of where the country should be going.

And so that was a huge honor and it would be your daughter because.

There are many members of congress who have been there 1012 years I mean you know twenty years and they haven't had the opportunity.

The national party there firmly behind this great we have the speaker he's cutting out the majority leader he's -- you know.

And this is a winnable race for and it will determine whether we -- Arizona rare blue.

Now wait a minute are you saying now and Democrats have been saying this that -- senate candidate in Arizona.

Is got a chance to go against congressman Jeff flake in that might be able to pull this off.

Are you saying here is that is -- play.

Yeah -- definitely in.

There's there's certain rate and also and Margaret.

It is my race that they're demographics are excited kids 32%.

Republican 31 Democrats 37 in -- -- And so it's considered a talk and -- so you know I mean I think.

The demographics of Arizona they've changed over the years so it's not the solid red state that he used to be but I I firmly believe that those principles are still.

Are still here and I don't believe that we're gonna see.

Be tremendous turnout that we saw four years ago where you know we have a lot of young people -- Arizona State University worked -- was right in the middle of -- my district.

So I think we're gonna is that there will be a very intriguing.

November 4.

-- and a Parker if you lived in America but can't you know mare but if you don't there is thanks -- thanks for making time for us today.

Thank you so much.

-- -- -- -- The expectation -- expectation even when Mitt Romney was behind in the race is that the Republicans would hold the house absolutely indeed but give back seats in the process that they -- their places.

But by the way.

Republicans holding succeeds in New York State.

Not really that's not really where the water line traditionally is Illinois and other right Illinois another one and they -- you know Joseph Walsh not of the Eagles is.

If they're doing battle out there and stuff like that.

In terms of having a functional majority -- how much cushion to the Republicans need for -- -- still move legislation.

Well you have to make here that he could move a lot of let's just having that well I've never got -- the house okay.

I can get through the senate right right exactly so I think what people are saying is due to redistricting.

That house Democrats would actually need to pick up more like 35 seats -- the 25 seat margin they had between them and between now and having the gavel to -- at 35 seat cushion.

More or less my guess as of right now -- this changes week to week as we -- national trends change obviously the debate was huge.

And -- changing this course is Democrats -- probably pick up and next up ten seats is my best guess.

Ten -- now in this case a lot of that just like in the senate race -- -- -- to simplify it for the Internet purposes.

If you have a big win by either of the presidential candidates and what you can expect is that down ballot you're gonna see -- -- -- big ripples from that generally reelected incumbents don't have very long coattails but that would still be enough probably for -- for the Democrats to hold the senate.

Conversely if Mitt Romney -- you'd expect to see Republicans pick up the senate and hold the house probably yes probably she's -- And she's but she's gotten word let's let's test how -- or what's gonna happen in tonight's game.

Today's game.

Well I'm more just hoping no one else gets hurt no one else gets -- that's and that's actually what they're hoping for the vice presidential debate.

Says our cabins.

Well my first power play live I usually watch replays gosh I feel like I'm in the studio and I get a picture taken with you after the show.

For a small price we could probably -- That -- -- but you know something that I always tell folks is.

I know a lot of you watched this on replay I know a lot of because it's available it's out there you watching on reflex but.

You should watch it live whenever you can because you can get in the chat will read your -- you can interact with other political nerds who come here for the dominant political Internet telecast of the 1130 half hour you can do that and it's totally -- you can do things like this.

You can say what.

You can say what fair tax -- said.

Fair tax is the best idea in centuries.

It eliminates all federal taxes for consumption tax no more paperwork.

I would save billions and also no IRS.

And get your whole check so there you have that -- we thank you very much for making time for us back thank you for having me back Chris White quite so you're welcome any time okay Internet.

We've got to take a break we must we simply must but when we come back we'll have a panel of stars.

Who will talk to you about.

The White House feeling the squeeze on Libya.

And again how it relates to tonight's debate.

And how it got.

Bungled and how it will be on bungled in the days to come -- stick around.

Given the fact that so much was made video.

Apparently.

Have absolutely nothing to do with the entire event -- but there wasn't even a protest outside Benghazi.

Didn't President Obama she's first inning later.

First -- to getting your assessment on what we know now is not complete.

But I would simply say that part of the.

-- is what it looks like when you have a bad day on the job as the white house Press Secretary as -- as Press Secretary Jay Carney took a couple of brick bats to the head from that was Jake Tapper of ABC news.

And some guy named Ed Henry also landed a couple of shots as the White House in the administration continued to try to find a new line.

On what happened with the death of the US ambassador to Libya and three others in a raid that we now find out -- staged by.

Islamist militants.

On that compound in September this is -- -- and welcome back.

So we traffic here in cynical politics.

And we should stipulate at the outset of this discussion that we are talking about.

Politics instead of geopolitics.

And we all mourn that loss in passing all the people involved there but.

It is germane to do what's going the presidential election.

So therefore with that it's the -- classes in place.

We introduce you Ford O'Connell is chairman of specific -- -- he worked on the John McCain with pond near the John McCain campaign in 2008.

He is a Republican in good standing as illustrated by -- red tie.

And -- Martina welcome back he's a former deputy Press Secretary Senator John Kerry and he is a democratic strategist and -- he's got a blue shirt so you can tell McCarthy's blue team gives the red team.

David question.

For the administration.

How did they take what could've been a moment to show presidential.

A -- strength a moment when you say we're gonna go kill -- -- they can't do this to us.

How did this turn into this how did we get here well.

They -- on the show and what did I do -- -- -- an earlier in the that the minister is not looking for a line looking for the truth.

And what's happening on the ground in bank -- and what happened on the ground a month ago.

You know there's conflicting reports and and it was chaotic and in this FBI's conducting a full investigation now on that there's nobody.

Who wants it more to the bottom of the issues of what happened and and and how we can improve our situations and the president does and what's unfortunate is.

You know that it has become a political issue when that you know when Ford.

Americans -- down their lives in service of the countries shouldn't become talking points in the stump speech.

For political.

But it but -- -- for the presidency.

-- -- ambassador -- out on the Sunday morning talk talk -- -- -- this was an anti Islam movie.

You know it was a riot -- -- perhaps a terrorist -- Attacked the bottom line is if -- cannot protect your sole representative.

You know in that country how the president got to protect America we have -- -- Americans know answers and essentially what boils down to fill leadership -- on the questions and then there's -- delay so as you get you get a little guys are you guys talking here.

About.

What.

Happened on the ground and work we're not going to solve these problems -- sort of what we can't talk about and what is was something that we know.

Is this that.

And the we have new fox poll out there's other polling that suggests that.

That voters at home think that the administration.

Was not forthcoming about this and that this did not.

Go the way it was supposed to go now.

Basically Mitt Romney came out at the beginning David.

And said some thing and got his bridges burned over it and then he retreated from the scene for awhile.

In the meantime over the next week.

As this story changed and things evolved and -- -- think even attributing good motive to it.

That things change that got a little weird.

Didn't.

Especially with tonight's foreign policy with foreign policy big part of tonight's debate with Joseph -- all right didn't the way that this was handled leave the door open at least for the Republicans to come through well.

I think it you know what Ford said was a little bit over the top of me.

What happened and he's -- he doesn't doesn't mean that our borders are threatened to by invasion from Islamic militants.

You know that the facts are that -- you know in the end it's also -- indexes of prices become the most popular punching bag for the extreme right on this issue.

The fact is that when she went on Sunday shows she went out with a -- intelligence that we had at the time.

And as most people know most people who work in this industry most of -- work and intelligence you know field know that the facts change as investigations continue so.

So I couldn't blame her for what she set on us.

I actually and that's -- -- -- -- today -- she was and she was given I think to be -- whatever -- she went out with.

She was she was given now we get later came to light that within that first day she -- -- six days -- -- the first day that people in the administration knew that there was more to this that one absolutely but then you also turn around and basically call with the political opponent in the race Mitt Romney cowboy ala George Bush somebody who.

Shoots first name second -- Let's be honest this is a little bit of a political football both sides are using -- at the end of the day we have four dead Americans know answers and what did that the key thing here in the campaign as this moves forward the debate the question is there's a small percentage of voters out there who basically don't like Obama's policies.

And they don't want to jump ship from the incumbent -- question here is whether Mitt Romney can make the case.

You know on this situation and use it to move them over his skull yeah if for example -- -- on the on this issue.

What Romney has dumped from the beginning was to try to -- this politicized as he's now using the names of -- Americans talking points.

-- -- -- -- Now this -- look at it but now I'm ready go unless he's proven that does not ready for that they handles them okay we've got we got shot the record but -- -- -- the family is a little more complicated.

OK so thank you gentlemen here -- some power points.

Too polite question mark.

Is the question.

Pretty polite that's become a problem in presidential politics President Obama feeling a lot of pressure from his base because of his performance in the debate last week old Tom Joyner.

Radio host that he was too polite in his debate with Mitt Romney.

He may have been lackluster listless or whatever but blaming politeness maybe is not the best way to go think about this and here's your second PowerPoint.

They've called Mitt Romney a liar.

They've called him a vampire and they -- that -- a possible Fallon.

I am not concerned that the Obama campaign is suffering from excessive politeness as it relates to their opponent.

Neither my -- and neither -- -- as matter of fact that concerned about Mitt Romney.

Being too concerned about excessive politeness at this point this is blood sport out -- my goodness.

So.

Talking about politeness may not be a good idea so here's number three blood sport may excite the base.

But it's mostly a turnoff and this is true for -- -- this is true for Obama people like when people can throw punches when candidates can get out there and be tough but when it turns into blood sport.

It's a turnoff for persuade able voters.

And it diminishes the sense of leadership and potency of any candidate that does it if Mitt Romney does it it's gonna make him look less presidential and same is true for President Obama.

So there's some power what you think about for the debate tonight as being of the debate tonight you know what you could do you -- watch it right here on locked -- foxnews.com.

Starting at 8:45 PM.

You'll have Harris Faulkner.

You'll have grateful than you do like that I know.

If you let me to I'll be right there smiling for you Internet into the late hours of the evening.

Up next on the hunt with Jonathan Hunt and now as we like to do every -- a word from our French are.

It's fiction I think if you look at the polls and -- a sixteen point to flip among independents.

Towards Romney you've got to say.

As opposed to a Morrison was about a foot -- he's got a full leg to arms -- -- torso and head.

That's my medical opinion anyway so I I think -- would be made incredible adventures here and it's up to Obama to reverse them I don't know if -- and.