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Rep. Steve King, (R-Iowa), on moderating the Lincoln-Douglas style debate planned between Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich.
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-- coming just days before Herman Cain is set to face off with Newt Gingrich and -- Lincoln Douglas style debate this Saturday.
Our next guest -- service moderator of the debate -- now congressman Steve king of Iowa congressman good to have you with us and man oh man there's going to be a little extra added interest of -- like in this campaign.
What are you expecting in the first of all the the way of what will be.
Of the format.
While the format is the Lincoln Douglas style debate as you said Lou and then I returns are -- -- force if you will how long is -- how how does ago.
Well I had been looking at -- time -- I believe it's ninety minutes I have to go back and look at my -- be sure that it starts at 5:30 on Saturday evening down in Houston.
And now I've been asked to be a very light handed moderator to set up the and more or less step back like -- -- -- shake hands and start debating.
It's what happened between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas says it was the senator at the time.
As they competed in a couple of elections.
And -- they just sat on the stage in essentially went at each other respectfully.
And probe deeply into their philosophical underpinnings in the approach that they would lay out for the United States.
That's what I hope happens in Houston on Saturday night.
And I'm really looking forward to -- I'd like to seen this happen with paired -- presidential candidates for the last six months as we go through all these debates.
This a new format.
I really like it was new and -- -- all of the same time.
And I'm hopeful that we can focus on the entitlements in particular and of course this was planned before the issues that -- -- this story up with an.
-- I regret that that has taken place.
But we'll have to see how it plays itself out in the discussion Saturday night.
Well certainly Newt Gingrich doesn't regret his his rise in the polls here -- are you surprised.
At that how well he is doing now third place in most polls.
Well I'll say yes I am.
It except this is my third or fourth in -- at a possible.
That it you know as as we watch this and we know that for years ago we saw Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson.
At at or near the top of the polls.
That all changed fairly dramatically.
These are very unpredictable and I watch these campaigns as closely as I can.
And I try to understand.
Why -- certain candidates have traction I think Mitt Romney is there because he hasn't made a mistake he's established himself as.
As and established debater a very good debater.
And he is a better candidate today than it was four years ago.
And -- believe that Herman McCain launched himself.
When he put out the 999 it was really the first understandable.
Economic policy even any of the candidates -- offered.
And now -- -- has demonstrated his ability and he's got the -- easy idea man for America.
Let me injection of -- some proportion.
For -- proportionality.
Here in some perspective.
Most recently the president.
Is seen beating all of these candidates.
Because it is uptick in the polls are you worried.
Well I'd be worried if the president was down to 1% I think there's a lot at stake here.
And and yet you know it's a long ways to only election and we leave -- look at things only get to the Republican nomination in August -- will be talking about we will change the dialogue then.
So I think you really have to make your departure nominee out there and then match them up against each other we're gonna do it anyway.
We're gonna do it to win I think America is ready to make a change in the White House and then it's a bright future force if we do.
The congress on this -- I'm sure you must whoever his who receives in the polls.
The search talking about role we've got -- its very early -- that if it doesn't seem to matter.
Which candidate which part.
Congressman great to have you with us have a great deal of fun and a very successful debate this Saturday congress I very much look forward to thanks -- -- --
