You're watching...
The Weekly Standard Senior Writer Stephen Hayes on what each candidate needs to do in the debates and during the rest of the campaign to win over vote...
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
So it says the most important question concerning tonight's debate -- rather governor Romney comes out swinging or takes a somewhat more passive approach and his criticism of the president.
Joining us now Steven Hayes senior writer for the weekly standard Fox News contributor Stephen.
Is there any way in the world that you could imagine.
Governor Iran.
Being Social Security his position in the polls and this prospect so bright that he would not be -- No I don't think you would be passive because he's secure and in the polls but I think he could very well -- passive because.
The advice is getting from at least some of -- top advisors suggest that he do everything he can't to avoid.
Looking too confrontational too aggressive with President Obama and basically what they're doing is listening to focus groups in places like Ohio where.
You have.
We have suburban housewives outside of Columbus to -- like President Obama to this day may have voted for him.
In 2008 and don't want to see somebody attacked this this guy that they voted for.
Not attack him but certainly attack the policies that the -- right consequences they have.
Quite obviously and quite painfully.
To millions of Americans.
Yes look I mean I have ten remain very squarely on the side.
Of those are -- that Mitt Romney needs to be aggressive here and this is no time for -- you know -- trying to small Q product that's hot.
Could it usually doesn't take -- very long to get there 36 -- I think they've been hiding they've been very -- I think the campaign over the past week has been to pass and I mean you've got.
You know this ad where he's minute long -- -- Mitt Romney looks -- cameras as I -- about the country President Obama cares about the country.
But my policies will work and and his haven't.
I don't think that's gonna cut Heidi you've got -- -- you gotta be aggressive you got to point out exactly where president Obama's policies went wrong.
Lay out a vision that people can get their arms around people can understand about how your going to do it differently.
This is the top to do two minutes at a crack the way this format -- president.
It is I think it is but I mean look he's making that -- -- -- very well in these debates he did well in the primary debates one of the reasons I think he ultimately won the Republican nomination.
And he's he should be able to answer a question or or sort period charge.
And then turned quickly and make an aggressive point it could do something that puts the president on the defensive.
-- -- -- I'm I'm amongst those who think that reasonably intelligent folks and certainly these two men are far more than reasonably intelligent.
Will be able to other actually dance in this debate.
And and -- you effectively brilliant and what they do it's what they choose to do would you suggest.
President Obama what is his greatest.
Hazard here or is there -- Yeah I I think there is one I mean you know there are times when President Obama when he's giving a speech sometimes.
We in debates back in.
In the democratic primary into 2008 election where he comes off as very Smart like I know at all and he -- condescending and patronizing in his answers I don't think he's in a position to do that.
Given the condition of the country but I also don't think that would endear him to the very kinds of voters picked that he is most likely to lead in do you -- -- say November 6 do you think feels.
A governor Romney what he did.
Senator Clinton that is that he finds -- likable -- -- -- -- that is one mistake I don't think we'll see Barack Obama.
Repeat in midst of -- hate.
Figure -- -- we close out here Stephen the Romney campaign telling us that there and are going to bring up the 2007.
Speech by the president.
First your reaction of the speech and secondly what do you think of their charts.
What these speeches is a very interesting and you clearly -- the clips that you played these two different arguments one -- president of our one candidate Obama who says we can't be divisive and the other who's plainly being very very divisive.
And making very incendiary comments what's most interesting to me.
Is to look at all of the mainstream media types today who are saying look we were there we covered the speech this is old news.
And it really makes you wonder about their news judgment how is it that they covered the speech but didn't end up covering so much of this rhetoric -- and that's a very.
A very harsh criticism to make.
About the response to Katrina I would have thought it was news that would like to think that if I -- -- -- covering that speech at that time in real time.
-- that -- not only been in my story but it we're gonna lead in my story because it's significant for somebody to say that.
If it causes you to question and whose judgment I question there.
Ideological judgment if you will -- -- commitment to the craft it's not him to me in question at all it's lacking.
And we're going through in just a -- go through a couple of things that happened in that speech about this president I want to share with you were in the -- right now the one element we're going to be discussing here tonight.
And that is and it had been when as we listened to president to grow then candidate Obama in June 2007.
And hadn't even been two weeks.
Since he had voted in the United States senate.
Against the waiver of the Stafford act for -- -- not even two weeks.
And I doubt personally that we will ever -- such a clear case of such as.
Cynical opportunism.
At least in rhetoric by any candidate.
Certainly we hope never office holder.
Stephen Hayes thank you so much as -- hours per issue.
