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FNC contributor Karl Rove on the Presidential race and the impact of campaign spending.
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As Democrats have long had an edge on the issue of Medicare and that Republicans and -- Howard in fear but he says it's different.
This year joining us -- is Karl Rove former deputy chief of staff senior advisor to president George W.
Bush Fox News contributor.
-- great to have you with us this is quite -- -- return to this press conference -- A drop in a pop in.
Impromptu press conference.
Is this the president just acknowledging the reality that he was getting hammered on the fact he was.
Is he famously said skinny but tough but not top and -- to take on the questions of the press corps.
Now this was a -- the -- you know have been criticized for not showing up social up -- -- for questions than 22 minutes.
And blow out of there.
And knows that the white -- -- the white house press corps seems to be suffering many of them.
From a Stockholm syndrome the first question out of the boxes.
Would you like to denounce -- Republican candidate in Missouri from being an extremist and and and also while your -- use that to tarnish your your opponent.
Get a house African opening question Mr.
President I mean.
Citi reality -- how many months that he failed answer the questions -- pres core.
And in you -- -- the CBS reporter was I have to admit Taft.
But nobody followed up the president says what we've never called Mitt Romney a felon despite the fact it was not only Stephanie Cutter as as was noted in -- headers package but Bob Bauer who's the former White House counsel and the -- -- the Obama reelection campaign.
Also -- of the charges less than five weeks ago.
So is the president got a short memory work or is he just simply say think that if he says it wrong -- -- -- -- -- -- believe -- hear -- live -- the president was saying today.
All I have to -- -- the preamble to the first question was also I thought.
I I enjoyed tremendously.
Thank you for being here mr.
president of turning to this race we're we're looking again at two points.
In one -- reported award that this thing is just as tight as it can be.
Or are we -- a significant shift in momentum much ballyhoo over Paul Ryan he seems to brought energy to the campaign.
He is or an impact and is -- if you will clearer path to the White House for or govern Iraq.
Now that that's my view look -- fall.
The Republicans have engaged on this issue of Medicare early rather than late normally what happens is in the closing moments of the campaign.
The Democrats and you know mailers to seniors and make late night phone calls to obscure and them over Medicare and now we're -- and honest debate about it and the American people understand programs like Social Security Medicare gone bankrupt.
We need to do something -- to save them.
And other Republicans are laying out -- concrete plan an engaging and removing this as an element.
That the Democrats can use at the end but look there's this -- -- -- offer while that the Republicans to be gaining.
-- a better path.
In a tough election to victory -- the Democrats present Obama's problems are the people don't believe.
That's what he's done you know is helping the economy.
A recent poll said 46% said his policies will never improve the economy that's pretty harsh won nearly one out every -- say that -- will never improve the economy.
Two thirds say his policies have -- to date he -- or not helped.
Or have actually hurt the economy that's pretty tough if you're the incumbent.
We -- to be dealing with those kind of numbers -- of Romney's problems are basically people don't know as much about them as they know about the president.
You are this HR I I would want hear your explanation for why it is that this president's.
Approval numbers are -- is head to -- numbers here with governor Romney don't seem to -- that much.
Despite out as -- -- -- calamitous numbers and any other context it's.
Well remember two things first of all remember at this time the middle of August of 1980.
Jimmy Carter was -- -- -- Ronald -- and second of all remember the process people basically have chosen a side who are willing to choose -- side today.
Everyone else is sort of floating out there 8101214%.
Of the voter either undecided or up for grabs weekly linked to the candidate that they've chosen.
And what they're doing is they're absorbing information and it's sometime this fall will say I need to make a decision and I'm ready.
Maybe it's after the conventions may be -- -- in the debate but at some point they're gonna make a decision and then they'll fall into the camp.
But you know Lou there's one other number that came out today that's really astonishing in it's a sign of the momentum that you referred to earlier.
Republicans announced last week that they had a 186.
Million dollars cash on hand.
At the end of July the Democrats waited until today the legal deadline to announce that they had a 144 million dollars.
Cash on hand between the DNC and Obama.
That means Republicans have a 62.
Million dollar cash on hand advantage.
Remember this at the end of April the Democrats were up by 95 million at the end of may up by 61 -- -- and at the end of June up by 23 million Obama won in 2008 in large measure because he spent far more money.
Then John McCain did they hope to take that spending an advantage in turn to their.
To -- -- to do their advantage in the fall this time around again.
But they have spent too much and raised too little despite 205 presidential fundraisers in at the end of July they felt decisively behind.
That Ryan robbed and -- Romney yet to the Romney Ryan ticket in in raising money.
-- like you very much those are.
Fascinating numbers indeed we appreciate it as always your -- Karl Rove thank you.
