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Power Play 10/15/2012

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    Obama to make it personal in second debate, New Hampshire nip and tuck and Libya questions pile up

  • Duration 22:30
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-- 45 years old they show up and say I want insurance because I have a heart diseases like hey guys.

We can't play the game like that you've got to get insurance when -- well.

And then if you need anything.

Going does -- very convincing instead of really saying what he's going to do -- same ones people want to hear me but this banana -- You get elected.

You obviously I'd like good life now he'll say anything and do anything just get bonus he's going to go back to the -- -- policies he seems to look back.

-- see the Mitt Romney has been from the very beginning dumping phones.

And fast is a new Internet advertisement from president Obama's campaign that says that -- he's lying he's flip flopping.

He's a good no good neck.

This is power play and I'm Chris Farrell an Internet.

Happy Monday.

Three weeks and one day from now we are apparently going to have a presidential election of some kind.

And it's getting rather interest and we have a big debate tomorrow at Hofstra University.

In Hempstead New York on Long Island between.

They brownie who's been up in the polls and President Obama who's been.

Down in the polls.

What's at stake what about president Obama's new line of attack about Mitt Romney's flip fly operate.

Will it work we'll talk about that.

We'll talk about battleground New Hampshire -- -- you love a battleground fixed and will have one for you -- talk about that state and we will also talk about.

Libya and what is going on there -- For you Internet it's particularly lucky because.

You can say hello to run for -- he's the editor in chief of national journal's he is something you should know about Ron is.

He is one of the most respected one of the best red.

Cats covering politics in Washington for how many years have you been covered.

Politics since 1982.

That's a long time that's a long time that was Bill Clinton and I thank -- with the with the governor eventually pass -- -- so Ron welcome welcome.

He's been here I've reaffirming Wilson if you we'll see if that holds we'll see if that -- so -- so far so good the first minute is really the key it's like the debate.

All right so.

I wrote today Internet for you to do like you in an atom powered by which you can have if you found immediate cease fire wall.

And the headline.

Fortunately in this case actually reflects the contents of the copies.

Which is as debate pressure mounts Obama prepares new character attack.

What is -- thinking for the Obama campaign -- Behind going to the flip flop or argument at this point they've been making a different argument about Mitt Romney for the previous five or six months.

-- tax cheat he's a corporate raider he's this he's that he's the other thing the flip flop or is something that they -- with early on but now seem to be leaning heavily on.

-- frankly I'm surprised they were doing the sooner because I think it's.

Mitt Romney's most vulnerable place.

And that you can't deny the fact that since he was governor Massachusetts he is change his policies and some very big ways.

And -- they really want authenticity.

And if you can pay somebody a phony.

You can kill.

The irony here is Barack Obama tomorrow might be open to that same problem -- -- over his last debate he was cool.

He was dispatched.

He let Mitt Romney.

Get away with whatever you wanted to -- little Freddie -- lucrative BC little -- little arrogant and if he comes out hot mistakes today which he's gonna have to do yet can be and be more aggressive.

Well people compare those two debates is say you know he's just put on -- show here and look guy who has been seeing right or wrong has more comfortable in his skin and most politicians today.

One reason why his favor will the building -- and we he be seen as someone who's flip flopping.

As inside.

Don't -- you brought up the favorability because something that the bill is going on with favorability ratings that was the president has.

Gone down and Mitt Romney has gone up people when they finally seventy million people watched that debate.

Two weeks ago they said well he's not a vampire.

He does not feast upon the first four children of the middle class.

So.

I guess he's OK so Mitt Romney's his favorability go up.

Especially in -- town halls and how do you attack if you're the incumbent president of the United States and Susie cream cheese from Hempstead and undecided -- -- I'm really worried.

About what we're gonna do to get the economy going in the law have by the way here's what to look porter's you're drinking game Internet.

They will relate their personal stories to president because they're going to be coached like participants on a reality show Biden somebody.

And they're gonna say my husband stand lost his job at the stamping plant three years ago and -- bubble bubble but they're gonna have a story and then -- Politicians are going to try to reiterate those stories and feel -- but -- Susie cream cheese tells the story of her husband stand losing his job at the -- plant.

How does Barack Obama say well I'm glad you asked about that because Mitt Romney is a tax -- how do you take a -- that and then hit it over here.

Or I'm glad you've asset and Mitt Romney's flip flop right exactly obviously one big reason why -- -- -- this look sloppy thing is is Mitt Romney did what a lot of challengers do in these kind of elections.

He came on said showed.

I'm not as Eagles even -- I'm not as you say someone who he's young children.

So many class science -- solid numbers that the public sees Mitt -- for he is he's a credible alternative.

He ended.

To the Obama campaign masters turned asset and say everything you saw was a lot.

You're exactly right so how does Barack Obama didn't -- -- -- -- -- -- may -- why we're seeing that narrative being laid down before the debate by someone other than him.

Right yes and and that's that's sort of the challenge now for the president here's my theory here's what I held forth that -- Please box my ears if I've done wrong but my.

Theory was that us.

President's campaign has been very substantially based on the idea.

Mitt Romney lacking the character.

To be present in the do the ads that show the empty Oval Office this can you imagine -- -- -- in there.

And they've been very effective in states like Ohio and other place in laying this out.

Swiss bank accounts where the tax returns outsourcing all these things they've they have built a very effective fire break they built a very effective fire break about around -- round.

My thesis was that for the president when you get out under the bright lights.

And you're standing on the debate stage and you are the chief executive and you're the incumbent and it very hard to then whether it's a town hall or even just a mono a -- debate it's very hard to reiterate those same things when people want answers to big question.

It's very tough two things happen one -- and the second thing is that the guy who you're running against -- -- -- looks presidential it.

Mitt Romney won the first -- -- just -- standing on stage and you -- not follow -- and -- -- issues.

Armed so what what one -- Barack Obama has to do in addition to this idea being more aggressive I think what you really need to do you know this tell Americans what to do -- for you.

Stuff that would be novel for a politician he is absolutely right in the critics are absolutely right to Mitt Romney has not put specifics on his agenda he needs to.

And he wants to lead this country that you know neither has president.

We know what he's on the last for years but what would Barack Obama do this country's next four years he's not given people.

I'm an area is not told people -- it is he would do differently and better in the next four years.

Aren't -- Ron Hornaday I told you he was Smart and there he was being Smart for you showing off.

He will show off more when we come back from this break.

And you also get to hear from your friend Brett -- As he talks to the folks in -- -- that may have a lot to say about which one of those two gentlemen I get sworn in on January 20.

So stick around.

And back.

Is what it looked like when the very first human beings cast votes.

In the Republican presidential primary the first votes of election 2012 there of course act.

-- bill notch in New Hampshire wake me up in new interest in Cruz county.

It's cold there all year round but they do love to go right after midnight.

And cast presidential votes that's where it started.

That was.

February.

I don't know January 10.

I should say and from that moment while we kicked off voting in the presidential election there's a good chance that the -- will turn back around to new Hampshire at the end as Mitt Romney looks for an electoral vote advantage.

In hopes he could pick off four electoral votes in New England a state where he happens to have a pretty nice summer house.

Ron Fournier from National Journal as -- still -- Ron.

But guess what.

Bret Baier is in New Hampshire he is there in the granite state he is they're in -- -- beautiful Portsmouth, New Hampshire brother bear welcome.

Hey address it is beautiful here.

It is beautiful there -- -- Rockingham county.

It's a coastal county that to the south looks kind of like the Boston suburbs and then gets into -- -- flinty New Hampshire -- as you go north.

Europe they -- talking to voters about what's driving their decisions this election time.

Can you -- -- that what you found.

Sure we you know we take guest this report on the road as you know we've been going to swing counties all over the country and Rockingham is -- swing counting.

I -- is still because.

It's a place that voted for President Obama you know President Obama won the state of New Hampshire by about ten points.

Anyone all ten counties in the state in New Hampshire.

Box.

He won Rockingham county with the fewest amount of votes.

The least amount of votes -- margin was the smallest and other words about 15100 votes.

This place went to President Bush.

Four years earlier Portsmouth itself is kind of a democratic stronghold inside Rockingham county but the county.

Kind of leans more Republican.

So it is a swing county within this state.

This state as you mention is four electoral votes but every -- every democratic map.

Has the state of New Hampshire blue.

They have obviously other ways to get to do seven -- but.

Pretty much every map that they've.

Drawn has New Hampshire blue.

And this stayed in the recent polls show Mitt Romney has closed an even gone ahead most recent they are people -- -- has about four.

Most average of polls have -- about one point.

Maybe two point race we've been talking to folks here you know it's the same thing we hear all around the country the economy.

Here in New Hampshire the live free or die state there's a little bit more.

Libertarian.

Twist to it.

They don't like the whole tax situation.

Obvious.

Six.

It's it's clearly bad bands in what you hear from folks but that debate.

Move the needle and it moved the needle up here and move the needle across the country.

Bear you won't watch him if you know what's good for you tonight at 6 o'clock eastern on special or where he will be there you have a local -- you have a national panel you'll have lots of awesome that's.

But we have to ask Brad will you have Charles.

I will have -- -- -- -- national panel he'll be in the Brady Bunch boxes but he will be there you have just tickled the Internet fancy and we thank you very.

-- -- have a good show tonight at five.

And we're -- you have some lobster.

Very good very good I like it.

Okay another state by the way basically run the deal for Mitt Romney.

As we've discussed here many times since road trip -- 321.

I don't win back the three states that are supposed to be Republican in the first place Indiana North Carolina Virginia and -- the to the Republicans always have to win that's Ohio and Florida actually everybody -- when there's only been.

Two times in the last hundred years that the that a person won the presidency without winning Ohio.

And that's Thomas.

To flip it the other way could be just those four electoral votes in New Hampshire but here's a new poll that just came out from the Denver Post that shows Romney going into the lead.

Over Barack Obama in Colorado so Colorado is another state that is not a huge trove of -- -- would be enough ago.

And also I should point out that.

As Romney continues as Romney moves into the -- pot legalization continues to.

Running five point advantage in Colorado.

So go figure.

Talk talk to me though that New Hampshire.

These folks know Romney well there in the Boston media most of the people live in the Boston media market where the and he -- housed there as this -- Plus they get obviously plays to his advantage it's how are hard to demonize Mitt Romney in New Hampshire and -- -- -- Boston media market.

He's got that nice little place and -- students is still something there unlike when deciding.

I'm I think it's a toss -- state I would I would not call them blue.

-- okay and the other states of these of these others -- -- -- -- tier of states are would be.

These -- blue blue wall states like Pennsylvania.

Michigan Wisconsin.

Or they would be purple states like Nevada New Mexico New Hampshire those places these New Hampshire his best bet or Colorado what he sees his best bet for.

Flipping it blues I think flipping a -- -- -- -- New Hampshire I think we talked about this earlier I think this election is pretty simple.

Around he's gonna win going away.

There's only and decided to move his way right or Obama's gonna win nearly as an incumbent doesn't respect -- -- -- he shares in Ohio and -- for five days high ethical doesn't.

-- this is the same terms on Wednesday to -- So -- -- it's -- -- we know that we are it's always it's always Cuyahoga county and I can tell you that we have already begun.

Already begun.

Are diligent work us on the decision desk at the Fox News Channel.

According to go on our diligent work of preparing and doing all of our original Q do you remember I don't know I didn't no I really don't what we're gonna do is help.

If you're on the decision -- -- you don't really care what the outcome is just so long as it's decisive.

And -- they'll probably they don't come and yell at kind of the desperate -- you know exactly when you're dated.

Run California as you are generous to with your time and time doing is okay here's what Greg FEMA says about.

This debate he said commander in chief on -- operate Obama on gay marriage boot.

-- boom indeed grant him he just got ahead not from run for an answer you've made a good point that's you know OK we're gonna take a quick break but when we come back we've got our panel that will be here for you.

And we're gonna talk about Libya and we're going to talk about.

How bad has implications for the debate and have that has implications for the president's -- strong stance.

On foreign policy and whether Mitt Romney can undo some problems early on and make the most of it so stick around.

It's not a matter of blaming.

That's just the fact sometimes intelligence.

Has to catch up with the reality on the ground this was one of those.

Cases.

And that is what it sounds like when somebody says they're not blaming -- -- and that was David Axelrod on FOX News Sunday with Chris Wallace.

In what went on to be very testy exchange at one moment -- -- president's chief.

Political dude.

Chris to calm down you need to calm down -- Don't ever tell Chris Wallace that he does not like to hear that.

And that's what happened talking about Libya.

Which ended up dominating that discussion ended up being a big part of the vice presidential debate and it's the foreign policy issue that very few people saw coming.

Not only that there would be this unpleasant turn in what had formally been known as the Arab Spring.

But also the way that the information about it -- -- -- and so on and so forth this power play.

You know what you like Internet I know exactly what -- like you like Smart insightful.

Discussion.

Among partisans who remain patriotic above partisan.

So we bring you Jonathan Bellagio.

You know him as the spokesman -- -- in chief for American crossroads which is heavy hitting just super -- of them all.

And you also know and love definitely she is the president and principal of Ben strategy she's on the blue team.

She's a former advisor to senate majority leader Harry Reid Ed Rendell a lot of other important so -- both the spartans settled for yes yeah.

Quite quite the Internet is getting access -- -- and I -- and etc.

I was quite so -- -- OK so here's the here's the deal.

Let's listen to Bob Woodward.

Who I will not excuse Bob Woodward of being.

Conventional wisdom but I will say that oftentimes a conventional wisdom in Washington follows Bob Woodward and this is what -- had to say about it.

-- we've got eight bad policy and anyone looking at that would say wait a minute we're screwed up.

We can't normalize here so that's the first from the second problem he is -- soon as an ambassador is killed.

The president should be more proactive.

And be out there he can go you know five minutes in White House briefing room and saying.

And this is really serious we're gonna get to the bottom of that we don't -- the answers in all of this could have been nipped in the bud and it was not.

Now by Bob Woodward standards that is essentially taking a machete to Barack Obama like from -- where -- and standards that is his hard line -- you're gonna take on the president about Libya.

And that's some pretty damning stuff heading.

What as president looks to Tuesday's debate he knows.

That between the audience Candy Crowley and Mitt Romney he's going to have to come up with a better.

Narrative and then has been out there.

And anything else and he says you have to clean up from it did vice president should be a debate is well alone you have to fight and that was in his precise as we all would have -- -- -- a good way to.

I -- -- Spanish added that he doesn't mean he hasn't spent -- on this issue he has accounted for the American people are quite a little bit it quite awhile.

On this issue and since that time more intelligence has been -- -- -- -- -- that -- probably -- say something.

-- on this issue and hopefully at some clarity to it because right now it's a little bit models model where we're hoping that -- -- clarity but.

Actually still being gathered people need to know -- the bottom -- this.

What Axelrod was defending himself against was.

What -- was describing there which was -- in the vice presidential debate Joseph Biden basically said -- We're just doing the best we can these guys in the intelligence community they've never told we didn't know what was up and you can sort of see both Martha Raddatz the moderator and Paul Ryan.

-- their head and say are you sure you're sure so now the Obama campaign is trying to find -- happier spot.

Where they say OK you know look we're not saying they did anything wrong we're not mad we're just.

We're just -- it's really hard for them to find a happy spot because they have problems on the pre tax issue and on the post attack this year the Biden thing falls in the pre -- issue because they said.

They didn't have any Intel didn't have any actionable Intel before and -- we know from.

The letter that the house Republicans -- from the whistle blowers in the intelligence community that there were taxed on that building there -- rocket grenade attacks on that building to say that they didn't know about it.

Knowing that the intelligence is going to state is basically saying.

Wow we cannot control how confident this bureaucracy is that information can't filter up from the State Department lighthouse that's a problem.

Close to meet you have it may be even worse because you have what looks.

Looks like it could be a cover up we know from the date of the attack in Libya Reuters is reporting that -- that intelligence officials were sending cables.

To Washington DC saying that this is not that this was not a spontaneous thing express fears that that's this is this is -- but it is is who is.

Machine guns rocket propelled grenades and for a week.

More than a week for fourteen days they said that no this is spontaneous attack and a big push that -- until it was Nolan again that's probably very quickly.

For Mitt Romney he doesn't have think portfolio on foreign policy what is he said it makes us this back.

He's deep clean up the cleanup hitter statement previously an -- -- picking -- -- -- of those soldiers several.

They're Smart they're patriotic you like them so revel in this Internet one last look any -- that -- -- you -- -- thank you both very much.

And now for some power points.

Let's think about this let's think about Arlen Specter.

The former senator previously Democrat and Republican and a Democrat again.

And may he rest in peace.

For decades in public life that's our first point that deserves anybody's respect somebody who for whatever reason they got intuitive for whatever reason they -- -- -- they voted.

Forty years meaning -- maintaining a forty year career in public life from prosecutor in Philadelphia to.

Senator of both parties.

That's a pretty big deal and it deserves our admiration.

But be -- guard here's been part of the discussion about Arlen Specter a moderate model.

Well.

Here's the deal Arlen Specter was moderate he was represented Pennsylvania in most specifically he represented Eastern Pennsylvania that was his reality.

And as -- shifted and things changed over time he pretty much stayed there representing his key constituents in suburban counties outside Philadelphia.

That's what he was so here's the thing.

It's a different world now than it was then and anybody who tells you that we need more senators like -- -- her.

Doesn't recognize the political reality at -- -- here's the thing politics used to be a lot more geographic and regional.

A Democrat Republican from Pennsylvania and it would be more likely to vote in the same way.

They -- -- two Democrats won from Alabama and one from Pennsylvania things have changed a lot.

Things become more ideological and don't forget this -- broke.

You don't have any money to -- so you can't paper over the problems the way that you used to it's difficult complicated.

Just bear those things in mind as we mourn the passing of senator Specter should take the right -- -- Now you can watch super awesome coverage of -- presidential debate here on -- dot foxnews.com.

You can also get all the politics that you want you can -- your thirst for politics at foxnews.com.

Back slash elections my steps there you'll enjoy it.

Blow up in gold is up next it's Monday so no word from Charles but we love you anyway Internet and we'll -- -- -- -- --

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