You're watching...
Political strategist Carl Jeffers on the importance of the upcoming debates on the election.
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
Debated tomorrow nine.
Big debate tomorrow night.
You know the on -- entrance of the debates.
-- -- need to digress from the two standard.
Our approach that the media commentators take.
They build all of this -- -- these are going to be so crucial you've got commentators you back Chris Christie others it's going to change the dynamic Thursday morning.
Here's the reality Don and everyone in the media who's on TV right now today talking about how important these debates -- tomorrow's debate as.
-- know this to be true.
Not since 1960.
When John Kennedy debated Richard Nixon and even then when the people who watch the debate -- Kennedy want.
People who listened to the debate on radio thought Nixon want.
I've not since 1960 has a debate.
Really played an important role crucially.
In the decision of Americans at the election date and remember.
You can have it both ways we now know that less than 7%.
Of the American electorate is on decide.
What that few undecided how critical could debate but I mean let's take.
In the in 1976.
Gerald Ford said there's no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe did that cost him the election now it was that fact that the economy was bad.
Any part -- Richard Nixon.
I mean in 1980.
Ronald Reagan wanted to most famous -- never.
Turned to Jimmy Carter and said there you go again.
-- but the debt.
-- election for Reagan now because the election tide that swept Ronald Reagan did.
Happen until the last five days of the election in 1988.
Lloyd Benson -- the most famous debate line ever.
Turn to Dan Quayle and said senator Jack Kennedy I knew Jack Kennedy Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine senator you're no Jack candidate.
And in November bench this team lost.
I mean -- reality is Don.
On Election Day I have never heard one exit poll.
Show a voter indicating that the decision they made them for who they voted for that date.
Was based on the debates a month before and when these debates are over.
The media will go right back to forgetting about -- debate and getting back to the issues that and then essence will decide to campaign.
But for right now it's the biggest thing going they're building -- up the first debate will be critical the ratings will be high.
After the first debate -- predict the other debates may be.
-- lower ratings than in the past.
-- -- and an 182 answer is good.
Cars don't love hopefully I -- -- did let those points are a lot of good information.
And recovered oil salt and we also have the Politburo -- They now support Devlin and one thing I would say UN I had a little conversation before our weekly morning you talked about your boys going down.
And you know half jokingly and so forth the -- of -- Laden's -- born as a -- it doesn't matter I -- -- I -- I -- -- -- are there won't be any recriminations are trying to under the unified again -- that.
A tonne met you that's exactly I don't know an unaudited defended our ground nodded and remember I did -- did I didn't know you so now -- -- I'd be even more passionate -- advanced.
And this is another reason why kids we're gonna mention something about raised and we've always been able to do.
But when I was -- less about to when.
When I was back to New York last.
8023 months ago.
At that time I was saying that look I think of the incumbent president probably can pull it out but -- -- got a chance.
There were seven states Bible allows states -- which.
Barack Obama won by less than 5% of the vote for years ago.
At that time I had two of them leaning towards Obama and five of them leaning towards Romney today as I sit here now.
I have two of them leaning towards -- Romney.
Indiana's going back to the red column and I think he has a chance in North Carolina but.
We wanted the other states and notes that tossup category I don't have any Obama column bug I Don.
And Ireland and I well I think yellow Obama.
Right now -- additional -- Ohio the trends are all trending towards Obama.
And and here's something that I'd I'd like to its attempt to put out -- people to consider.
Because I think that -- -- you and I discussing this are way ahead of the curve I don't think this has been picked up yet.
I'm Brit Hume -- I -- being interview with Bill O'Reilly I think it was yesterday.
And he was saying that Republicans a kind of scratching their head -- -- because they they don't understand.
Why they -- guide Mitt Romney is not further ahead.
And why it seems to be trend in the other way and that's because I don't think -- picked up when this in the last just 67 months Don.
The reality is people are beginning to feel better.
And they -- in the last four years it's been a tough for years it's been really bad and just the fact that people now.
Are beginning to feel like things are getting better and most importantly this is how they should raise the question not about -- you better off than you were four years ago.
Do you finally see the light in terms of a -- of future over the next couple years and it's only been the last several months but if it's an incumbent president.
At the same time it's -- -- -- merging with this event.
It means that those swing voters those -- -- even a single moms out in Ohio and Michigan an Indiana.
That those voters unlikely now -- to stay with.
And Romney by the -- was right in terms of the facts in his video clip the 47%.
Well let me give me another point.
If if the group of independents who -- thinking about staying with the president.
Because things are looking better and I'm telling you the post has no one's picking one up well one this yet.
But it's happening out there I see it I travel all the time if that -- thinking of maybe state.
Staying with the president because things look better.
The other 47%.
That -- talking about usually right.
Hispanics and African Americans have been hit the modest the last four years and they remain the strongest supporters of the president you put all of those things together.
And you've got a tough uphill climb profit Mitt Romney and an end 35 days its.
Three minutes 27 seconds okay finance I was -- okay.
So.
What -- Sanjay I mean your -- you're you're implying.
People feel better and economists have met I was on this story -- MMM.
And a bottom item analysts say where this sort of -- -- -- but to -- But I bought I -- -- Hello on I'll anonymous source.
And I -- decibels.
-- -- -- -- dozens does that'd be better.
Romney didn't -- sure.
And number wasn't a guy who and any particular.
Political presences of beverages away Phelps Don when -- said that that was -- 4000 a lot of my bought bonds with 4000 allied and OK well at that level those people who -- 4000 times right now.
Mostly do think that things will be better Romney is present -- are so I understand that and -- and thank you for clarifying that forced.
But that the -- here's another point.
-- -- -- -- -- -- All of us listening or you're huge viewer audited city are huge radio -- -- -- Well which I uncertainly.
You know -- -- -- and then I'm delighted to be you to join you don't suck -- -- call and and so the results that that's that like that great line from Julia Roberts -- that it dealer.
Our presents that I Rhee and an ally is -- we're gonna we're gonna spend -- obscene amount of money in here so we're going to be a lot of sucking up -- And that guy -- Miller said -- all miser dear sir if I may say so not only right here in the right store but the right Citi.
That's I -- -- yeah.
That would ban the -- on coming in are opposed.
To wants Arnold Schwarzenegger sixty minutes I did not see the interview an -- on sixty minutes -- but I I understand you know he's making the rounds.
And that he's got some adjusting things to say about that episode it is like a -- -- dirt and while that while the while that that may be I'm I'm not sure about that but.
-- -- form of he under his originally was statements present happened her back -- -- social RK well that's the case is.
Have you here you can't you -- and haven't sent them I know you can't can't enough.
Our today on -- back taken someone your Christmas vacation I'm not worried about -- how hot all of us have done really check -- -- of that type of analysis you don't need me to make those kind of judgments about Arnold Schwarzenegger what you need be forced to make one last comment with respect to our house -- And that is is that there was another little mini controversy and incident like one they only have -- things looking better.
Don't talk Karl director and a lot of questioning that is to control Israel remember in May coming aren't -- -- -- frivolous nonsense he's -- -- -- of the winners are now.
The polls show -- that.
The 42%.
Are the American people now think things look better so it's still -- -- -- hallowed bond world that is still less than the majority Don.
That's so that go see your point but 42% is higher than its Ben Lovato -- of boulders as a gonna tell you it's not.
Not being -- yet but you're gonna see them leave but the effect of that on Election Day people really do think things are getting a little -- -- some people even embarrassed to say I do.
