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Romney's strategy for final debate explained

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    Sen. Rob Portman says candidate wanted to focus on the future instead of the past

  • Duration 6:11
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The man responsible for helping -- -- around to get ready for his three debates is Ohio senator Rob Portman.

I spoke with him a bit earlier today.

Senator Rob Portman good morning there from Boca in in Florida.

Good morning bill Gloria I'm fine this morning I know you're working on little sleep but tell me about last night what was the -- strategy in that debate.

His strategy was to come across as he did thoughtful knowledgeable reassuring.

And ready to be commander in chief I think was a good night forms but that he did not go after.

The changing conflicting story and Libya.

Now why was that.

Well you know later he discussed at the previous debate and instead he used to Libya as an example of talk about the broader problems in the Middle East and I thought it was Smart because he was able to lay out a strategy.

To deal with the underlying problem whereas -- Obama chose not to talk about his agenda -- plans for the future so.

It was another example bill just as we've seen in the first two debates.

Where you have governor Romney talking about how to make things better safer in the Middle East to deal with -- spreading Islamic extremism.

And President Obama on the attack.

As governor -- said at one point -- look at tax on the -- not an agenda and I think would undecided voters are looking for.

You know who's gonna make life better for themselves their families and in terms of international side who's gonna make things safer going forward.

And I think that was Smart of governor Romney to address and let me just come back to the issue of Libya because the end of debate number -- -- seem like there were.

Big questions that were still wide open.

And the conventional wisdom said that some of that was going to be answered last night it was it was so.

You're in the debate prep with him was the reliant have attack on Libya was that considered.

Or is that put on the shelf.

No it was it was certainly considered and you know again I think you have a limited amount of time in and he chose to talk about strategy for the future.

Which again is what independent voters and undecided voters are looking for these days in places like our home state of Ohio.

You know they've heard the attacks.

They kind of know what the game is on -- guys do we know that the presence gonna say -- companies Slater I mentioned the word terrorist attack.

And governor Romney was gonna make the point that yes but you kept talking about this video is if you are trying to avoid the issue of terrorism.

I think people you know frankly aren't looking for more back and forth on that with the looking for is okay.

They're living Gaza was a tragedy it was a terrible night -- bad guys at a loss for Americans including an ambassador for the first time since 1979.

-- what are we gonna do about this you know how we gonna make the world safe for how we can avoid a future bank -- and that's where governor Romney went at that that was Smart.

Because you know it's the best thing for our country in terms of how we deal with this very serious problem we have in the Middle East we -- see -- our TV sets every night the chaos unfolding there.

And he talked about a strategy whereas President Obama to seem to want to go on he attacks so.

I think -- by -- won't show this bill because among all voters you know you're gonna have you know different results but among those voters who haven't made their mind up yet.

I think they're looking for answers okay that the reason I ask that is because it really seem like the American people reacted to a strong governor Romney in debate number one.

Which seems like it was a year ago -- even though it was just three or four weeks ago but Chris Wallace reported last night that within the old Romney team.

They told him the governor Ronnie came up with a strategy by himself.

And that he was gonna carry out the -- that he did last night is that the case.

Well ultimately it's all you know his decision and when you're out there on the stage the debate.

You know it's it's up to you to make decisions about you know how you how you -- things I think he did the right thing.

I think he also showed the American people last night that he's ready to be commander in chief.

You know he was the one who -- thoughtful knowledgeable reassuring.

I think he looked more presidential -- and I think that's that's part of the as part of a -- challenge for.

The challenger.

In going up against an incumbent.

Is to be sure that people can see you as a future commander in chief and I certainly.

Asset testifying -- I don't mean interrupt you but -- a minute left Euro moved into -- -- stated your home state of Ohio what is the status of the Buckeye State today.

Word is that race -- well.

The momentum is in our direction bill and I've never seen such energy and enthusiasm on the ground and -- -- going to be in Ohio next week and and and you'll see if there are crowds are big.

We've made more phone calls and all of 2008 already with our volunteers that we've made something like 25 times more door knocks in other words our volunteers are out there working hard.

The poll showed us about five points down a couple weeks ago now it's a dead heat and it's a dead heat in the national polls and it's also a dead -- frankly and our our own tracking -- were doing so.

I'd like to be our position right now rather than -- pres Obama's position because the trend is in our direction.

Frankly Ohio the issue is jobs in the economy and again governor Romney's laying out agenda and a strategy to deal with that and pres -- and four more years of the last war if you lose it or Ohio looking to repeat the last four years if you lose in Ohio.

Do you see a clear path to victory.

Or is it much more difficult.

It's much more difficult I would want to take the risk you know no Republican has ever won without Ohio and I believe we will win and Ohio I think it's going to be close bill.

Tends to be -- -- purple state -- neither red nor blue.

But I feel good about the way things are moving in our direction.

The auto bailout.

Democrats believe that that is what moves the meter and Ohio are they right.

Well I think voters in Ohio are going to be really surprised when they learned that it was actually.

-- Obama who took the -- -- companies through bankruptcy.

Because the ads are frankly misleading about that -- surprise that it was governor Romney -- said yes there should be federal government involvement.

He agreed with President Obama to take these companies are structured bankruptcy agreed there ought to be federal involvement.

The question was how much federal involvement should the government be picking and choosing winners and losers that's -- difference here but.

I think the Democrats who overplayed their hand a little bit because their ads are all indicating that President Obama did not take them through bankruptcy.

And the governor Romney would have that's simply not accurate.

So I think it's a good issue for us -- have out there and haven't discussed and when people look at -- more closely.

They realize that governor Romney did have a plan to get the other companies back on their feet center thank you Rob Portman in Florida today we'll see in Cincinnati on Monday thank you said the court.

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