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Democratic Strategist Mary Anne Marsh and “National Review” Editor Rich Lowry on the Presidential campaign and the impact of the mainstream media.
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Hello everybody I'm Gerri Willis the candidates are prepping for the first debate just over 24 hours from now.
But hey if you look at the headlines it looks like the media is already calling President Obama the winner even before he and that walk on stage.
Joining me now -- and march democratic strategist and Rich Lowry editor for the national review -- can't they get to people better to talk about this issue.
-- I'm gonna start with you know and -- some headlines that we can founded about looking at these it sounds like the media is in the tank for Obama Politico saying.
The first debate is already over.
Wall Street Journal saying president's no drama style is a debate -- that.
And the Saint Louis post dispatch saying GOP challenger needs to shine in debates say experts who believe front running president must simply hold -- own.
What do you say.
Well we'll so much for the expectations game right any -- -- the media doesn't pick winners voters pick winners that's why we have elections.
You know and they're Smart enough to understand the difference between.
Opinions and facts analysis and -- and all of that they get bombarded with so much information these days they're really good at filtering it out.
So that's why -- November 6 after all the early voting is done and on that day 9 o'clock in the West Coast it will be the voters.
-- have Democrats say and that's -- well it rich coming come not even the public says that the meeting is in the tank for Obama a recent poll take a look at these numbers.
61%.
Of those polled by Fox News as.
That among these are likely national voters that the media want Obama to win.
Yeah I think that's right -- and -- -- more of the press was in love.
With Barack Obama this time there -- more lukewarm on Obama but they hate Mitt Romney I think and that's why this debate is so importance when a few opportunities.
That Mitt Romney has.
To really punch through without the media filter being there and the SP very aggressive towards the president.
But he mostly.
Has to try to sell has affirmative program -- the Romney campaign is operating on -- theory this race that was also is just a referendum.
It's in the heavily going to be a choice and people aren't gonna pick him and -- they think he has no plans to.
I gotta jump ahead in this because I wanted to talk to you about this.
Every Republican political -- I've talked to has had something negative to say about Romney -- Bill Kristol -- Peggy -- you name that you Britain.
That he is blundered.
I would friends like this -- -- -- -- But I don't work for the -- it's my job to call on the way -- And I think in this case when it comes to a lot of us saying the campaign should be more substantive issue more forward looking.
It's really good advice and -- -- taken up.
-- as you know this discussion about.
Who's in the tank for the president that continues we talk about polls -- this has become.
A real talking point this week are the -- biased in favor.
How the president and here's a -- right here -- in fact death 42% say yes bias to our President Obama.
40% say no and you say.
And I say whenever people complain about the media or the polls at the canary in the coal mine for a losing campaign.
The -- gold standard pulls out there in my mind two of them the Wall Street Journal.
Fox News poll bipartisan pollsters Democrat -- the Republican pollsters conduct them.
And Obama is leading in both of them so it's hard to dispute trends and am even the worst pollsters.
Can pick up trends so that's what you're seeing right now.
And that's it I mean it's -- point rich because.
It seems to me they only people complaining about the polls right now are the Republicans.
And does that tell you something.
About what's going on in this race.
Well he's clearly behind that I think you look average in the national polls these two or three.
Points behind.
I do you think especially some of these state polls from the media organizations have partisan breakdowns that are totally out of whack.
And produce results in a swing states particularly their way too favorable to President Obama and the press loves the story line.
That this race is over the usual cliche about the media as -- level horse race.
In this case they hate the horse race they wanted to be -- -- and it reported again and again that it's over and this is one storyline is playing into the -- the net pregame analysis before the debate.
This is not a make or break moment for -- drama that is not -- far behind him.
He's not he needs to do well but this thing is still it's very doable for him and yet another five crucial weeks ahead.
You know something funny this week that I -- you guys should weigh in on.
Neither candidate wants it brag about how good debater they -- -- they're lowering expectations across the board.
Obama salmon okay debater around me saying I'm working I'm not losing.
-- what do you make of that.
I think -- pretty.
Funny I mean obviously there -- two of the most competitive guys you'll ever see in anybody who ran for president -- this point -- debate but here's the reality.
Mitt Romney has a herculean task in front of -- he is being asked to do in one debate and one month what he hasn't been able to do in one year and that is get enough voters -- like him and trust him to vote for him.
In it's hard to imagine the debate tomorrow night that anyone is going to see anything.
About either of these guys that they don't already believe or think about them so it's just a reinforcement exercise more than anything.
You know it's interesting Chris Christie just over the weekend -- governor of New Jersey said.
It Thursday morning the world's going to be a different place look Mitt Romney is gonna come across is gonna come across strong.
Do you believe that he's he's one guy didn't get the memo about lowering expectations.
I look everywhere these debates there's at least one moment that takes everyone by surprise and resonates and having a good debate matters John Kerry.
Picked up you know two or three points -- crucial of close race because he is so good in his first debate so.
Look this is that a big moments Mitt Romney is not make or break.
But I disagree with -- and everything's a sort of baked in the cake this electorate showed it susceptible to argument the Democratic Convention move people.
Romney's 47% -- remark moved in the wrong way for on the Indian movie.
And again to be fair.
Anything could happen this month right at Italy.
And in the devil's in the details that's for his job approval rating in -- -- the latest loopholes presents us about the back in the high 40s4748.
He's still in the dangers -- -- we'll have to watch see what happens -- rich thanks so much for coming on tonight really appreciate your --
