this is kind of an independence movement. they could be the formative push for a third-party possibly as early as 2012. that is a very respectful way of dealing with the tea party, which keeps the conversation going across the board. >> without any clarity on the bush tax cuts, a continuing resolution, will these be issues in the midterm election? things they're talking about on republican side? >> without a doubt, and it is striking when the final month -- this has been a very active year and a half in congress. they are sorted out -- going out quietly with a whimper. it is extraordinary that the democrats are not trying to double down on these accomplishments. without question, both of these

issues will be front and center during the lean-succession after the mid terms, when everything is different. >> the tax issue demonstrates the limitations about life in politics. democrats were certain one year ago the bus strategic move for them was to hold the bush tax cuts until the end, and because they were portraying themselves as protectors of the super rich. the economy has not recovered, and they cannot even take the vote. think about this. they are not campaign on health care. this gives you an indication of where the party finds itself of a more than one month out. >> gentlemen, thank you. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] >> white house senior adviser

david axelrod shared his thoughts, an event hosted by politico and google. mr. axelrod said he was quoted as eager for the 2010 elections and predicted democrats would pull off some unexpected wins. this is about 45 minutes.

some of the tea party candidacies have been propelled by the grassroots techniques, and so, it is going to have an impact, people organizing through the internet, as we organize through the internet. they raise money through the internet. the democratic national committee box has 13.8 fans -- 13.8 million, 5.5 million

followers on twitter. the authorized tweet guy at the white house, but from time to time, we do get together. having a dialogue with the american people, the president have an online press conferences and responding to questions and so on. i see our friends on the republican side also put this america speaking outside on there. this led to their pledge to america. the interesting thing about it is in order for these things to be effective, it cannot just establish a dialogue. you also have to listen. the number one item on the list was to end tax cuts for the

corporations that some jobs overseas, but that did not find its way into their play and. another one was to reform your marks. that did not find a way into their plan either. >> the house republican leader, not a minority leader, he wanted to be speaker john vader. he was on television yesterday. he said once americans understand how big the problem is, then they can begin to talk about solutions. what do you make of that? >> they described as merely discussion of the problems. as the chairman of their campaign said several weeks ago on television, we just want to go back to the same agenda we had before. of course, that was the agenda

that took bill clinton's surplus and turned it into a $1.30 trillion deficit, which turned the special interests or lose, wall street lewis, the oil interests lose, and ultimately led to the biggest disasters since what led to the great depression. if you look at this, the same precepts, the same tenants, are all there -- the same tenets, are still there. people within the conservative movement with in their own party, they were very quick on the web to express themselves and got a real dialogue going about this, so i am not surprised to see that he is trying to back away from it now. >> this notion that people need to know what the problems are,

the american people need to know what the problems are facing this country and what direction we should go, and they do not want to go back. >> they seem to be blini your guys for the problems. how bearish are you? >> well, look. i told the president two years ago when we got briefed on what was to happen in the economy note that this was going to be a challenging the election, that the numbers were not going to be the same now as they were two years ago, and the smart guys " would not be called idiots by the time the next election went around. i do think this is going to be idiosyncratic. in your bible as well as mine -- >> amen. >> certainly, when you are the majority party, you're going to

bear the brunt of people's frustration, and there is a lot of frustration out there, understandably, as we dig out from a tremendous economic catastrophe, and a lot of people are still struggling through it. the republican party brand is not strong at all. there is no real sense that if we just had republicans in there, things would be better, because people understand essentially republicans are not offering anything new but the same sort of special interest concert but that was there before that led to some of the problems that we have today that is not a part of this for the middle class, and is not a party that will bring the kind of growth that will lift most people in this country, so for that reason, i think this will be an idiosyncratic election. i am eager for november 2.

i think it will be an interesting night. >> how can you be eager for november 2? >> it will be an interesting night. ish about it.yanna sho \ >> as i said, i think we're going to win some races that you guys perhaps do not think we are going to win, and the numbers are going to be a little different than you guys predict. >> your optimistic about the conventional wisdom." -- you are optimistic? >> i think you look at some of the senate races that a few weeks ago people were suggesting that they were slipping away from us, like in the state of washington, for example, and in california, where barbara boxer is running against carly fiorina. i think what is happening on the run the country is people begin

to focus on the choice. understanding this is not just a referendum on one note, but a choice between two directions, and they're focusing in on what the republican party is offering, which is backward to the policy that helped create this disaster, to the same formula. i think they will do this in favor of democrats. >> we have been looking at this from ". a first question is from some of you says she wants to know whether the plants from heading off a watershed in november? she says democrats, and she is talking about you, have been short-selling our message. is a shame we do not have a way to get out the message other than the president, and the president has several talking points. >> i am not going to sign on to that characterization. obviously, we have a little bit more of a burden in a sense that

we are the majority party, with the republican party basically sitting up the last 20 months, and they have been not doing we have been trying to solve, et dm and with the problems that they left us. we will see, mike, we will see. the politico does not get to decide. the public gets to decide. every poll suggests the same thing, which is that if there is a large turnout and democrats can do well, and republican in vintage is largely predicated on the notion that it will be a small turnout of very motivated voters who will, on behalf of republican candidates. i do not think that is the way it is going to be, and i do not think that is going to be the way it will be because we do have a message. his lips and the middle class anwar sadat -- lips of the

middle class -- this lifts the middle class. we think this is part of the prescription to move this country forward. we think things like the credit- card bill of rights, keeping people from being exploited as they have been in the past by hidden fees and penalties is part of standing up the middle class. in giving it to working class kids for college aid and kids that need help. by the way, one of the things among the republican plan is among their prescriptions for the future is to cut education by 20% and cut student aid for 8 million kids across this country. anybody who knows anything about the world today and the global economy in which we are in knows

that this is not the direction we need to go. the chinese on a cutting back on education. the europeans are not cutting back. the indians are not cutting back. our competitors are not cutting back to it we need to improve our system to give people more access and not less access, so there are two competing visions about how you build a stronger economy, how you build a strong country, one being dictated by special interests and this notion that if we just cut taxes for the wealthiest americans and give free rein to the special interests that the economy will grow. well, we tried that experiment. mr. gillespie is coming. he can describe it in his own way, but i think if you look at what was done from 2001 to 2009, that is exactly what has happened. we try this experiment. it ended in disaster. we lost 4 million jobs before the president took office. >> talking about the dangers

dobbek because of the citizens united ruling, there is money on your side, as well. why is there more money coming in? >> there is a good reason. one poll has said that corporate special -- corporate special interests could spend unlimited amount of money. what has happened is a series of committees with benign sounding line -- names, like the crossroads fund, american crossroads funds, etc., are taking in millions and millions of dollars from corporate special interests at, wall street, and special interests, and they do not have to disclose it. it is kept secret. they are doing this to the tens of millions of dollars. he could not have been more helpful in making that transition easier for me. he is a thoroughgoing

professional. he and karl rove -- you should perform a public service and ask them who is funding all of these negative advertisements. they say the only people who want to keep things secret our folks but what to -- who have something to hide. ask them what they are hiding. >> karl, as we know, was very shrewd, a great political operative. they are koran in all of these different groups, and they are working as a shadow party organization, run-in huntingon -- running negative advertisements. >> and what is your research showing you? >> in colorado, we have a very close senate race there. one senator is running against a

republican candidate. thousands and thousands of negative ads. michael is holding up well. i think he will win that race. it is clearly a closer race than it would have been had there not been this spending, and i think you can ask ed. they are not spending tens of millions for the flood of mail. they are doing it to try to influence the elections. i always said the understanding with the present that sometime after these two years, possibly sometime in the spring, i would go back to chicago in be working on the next project, which is a reelection campaign.

as you know, my family is still in chicago. there are many, many aspects of this job, but i also love my family, and the separation is something that has been difficult. for a variety of those reasons, my role will be essentially what it was in the last year, as a strategist, working with the media and the message in terms of promoting our argument. >> another question on line from a google moderator. what affect will the rally of john stuart have on washington? -- jon stewart have on washington? >> encouraging people to participate. as i said, we are in a position where more people, the more people to participate i think the better off we will be, and i

think it has said something about the parties and the messages that we are hoping for a larger turnout, and they are hoping for a smaller turnout. one of the exercises of the day is that we are going to reach people. i think his rally can help in that regard. people could perhaps be of contacting friends and neighbors and urging them to come out, but that is the trade- off we will live with. >> do you think this will be helpful to your side could >> to the extent that it encourages people to come out to vote, -- of easily, do not know what they have planned. smart and clever people.

if at the end of the day the notion is that it reminds people that there is an election, and, by the way, to most people in the country, that election is already beginning in some states. early voting is beginning, so people watching today, they do not have to wait until november 2. they can cast a ballot at any time, and they can go online on our website or other websites and find out exactly what the details are in order to cast those early votes. >> you told us you were on a strict diet. >> i got sick and learned that i had a parasite, so that got me going in the right direction. i want to make this clear that this happened outside of washington. this is not a commentary on washington, that they have a parasite.

it turns out it was related to the fact that i was eating everything that was put in front of me. >> how much have you lost? >> about 25 pounds. >> what is your secret? are you skipping meals? >> no, i'm eating with some discretion, so i am eating healthier food, and i am eating a little less of it. it turns out that being 25 pounds lighter is helpful. >> your departure coming up, it is almost certain that she is a staff rahm emanuel is headed out. confident that staff chief rahm

emanuel is headed out. -- it is almost certain that chief of staff rahm emanuel is headed out. >> new folks will come in. some of those folks will be very familiar to the president. some of them will be new. i certainly think he is highly regarded by the president. being rested up for two years. i think he is ready for duty, if asked. >> essentially taking your job? >> that is a question for the president. i do not know. i am not here to make any announcements about personnel, but i do believe, i believe there is an evolution in every administration. there are changes around this time. i think that is a healthy thing. i think it is good to bring in new energy, some different ideas, folks who have spent

time outside coming in, and i think it is very positive, and i look forward on the outside to working with some of the folks who will be coming in now. >> do you think we will see david at the white house before then? >> as i said, i am not making any -- i doubt that, and i am not making any personnel announcements. david is as familiar to the present and its operations as anybody, and he is a person of enormous talent and great principle, so whatever he does in service of the administration in the president will be valued and important. >> in addition to these sorts of personnel changes, after this election, republicans are going to be strong regardless of who has control of the chamber. what is the administration going to do to say, "we get it"? >> i think one of the things

voters are saying is that they want to see some level of cooperation, my concern, because we all have a responsibility that goes beyond partisan responsibilities to move this country forward, and nobody has a premium on good ideas, but here is the thing. i get concerned when i read senator demint say that his goal is gridlock. i get concerned when i hear on the other side the vice chair of their committee warning republicans that we may have to have a government shutdown and to prepare for that. i do not think that is what the country is asking for. they want more cooperation, not less. we face great challenges, and we

are prepared to do that. but, you know, the question is, you're going to see some great struggles within the republican caucus on the other side because we have got the established corporate republicans here in washington, and then you've got these tea party folks who have an entirely different view. you saw some of that friction last week, when they came up with their retrograde pledge to america that was so reminiscent of the things that got as into trouble in the first place, so i think it is going to be an interesting time. >> david, what affect will it be on the republicans in 2012 as they start to look for their nominee? >> interesting. i think that the tea party movement is a grassroots movement. about the oil billionaires, the brothers, who were kind of under the table and secretly funding some of the organizing efforts. it is not any more.

i do not think it was -- when the tea party folks went to their meetings, no one put a sign up saying, "brought to you by a couple of oil billionaire ernest." i guarantee you that that was not the case. it is now widely discussed. i think it will be an interesting process. normally, but the focus in washington is deciding who the candidates will be, and that was true with dole, bush, and mccain, and now they have this grassroots movement within the party, and i think there will be a big struggle. i ensure that -- am sure that karl will be able to dictate to the candidate will be, and i am not sure that is the case. >> what about 2012? >> what about you, mike? i am not going to handicap their

candidates, and let's remind ourselves that this time in 2006, barack obama was not even contemplating a raised. maybe by this time in 2006, but beginning to contemplate running for president, this is the eternity, right, and the thing about new technology and new political reality in this country is that it is much more different than it was in the past. >> what do you think of new jersey governor chris christie? >> i actually like him, so i just doomed his candidacy by saying that, but i think he is a serious person, and i do not agree with everything that he is doing, but he is an attractive person, but he just got elected

governor. he is trying to do some things in new jersey. we do not know what the outcome will be. i would be doubtful that he would leave the working just began and start a race for president. i think he has been pretty clear on that. >> how did you talk her into it? >> well, it is not would be politics in the traditional sense. she is not going to be out their engaging in the back-and-forth of the campaign. she is going to go out there and lift a principles and candidates who stand for things that she and the president of care about, particularly as they relate to families and children. this is her focus, both with public policy in life, so she went to a firm candidates who have stood with her and with the present on some of these

questions. >> she is a very, very popular person, and not just among democrats. obviously, as someone who is so concerned about families and the struggles and the family balance and so on, i think there is obviously a lot of women who will be interested in her message but not just women. so i think she will have impact out there. she is eager to go. >> we had been google moderator, and now we have the google in person. >> if republicans win enough seats to get past.

>> well, first of all -- >> purely hypothetical. >> on your last point, i do not know if you've been watching for the last couple of years comment but the normal course of events for the last 20 months has been republicans have filibustered. sometimes, they have filibustered on things they end up voting for a fifth in other words, they stopped getting an up or down majority vote. there is a record number of judicial nominees. many have been approved, and they have stalled the appointment. we have a critical lack of people on the bench in the federal judiciary. we're trying to deal with that right now, so that would not be a new development. what we're hoping for is a different philosophy, and

presumably, they will of more responsibility. i really confident that we can meet them, but only if we work together to do that, and we have not seen that yet, but, perhaps, a few more seats in each chamber. they will feel more of a sense of responsibility. >> thanks for that, david. there was a book, and it was about you, among other people. the national security advisor, part of the politburo, and what is interesting to me is that bob did not have to go to the parking garage to get these. he came up the front driveway. sitting in the west wing lobbies, waiting for a response. .

secretary davis said this is the first time afghanistan --

secretary gates said this is the first time afghanistan and the fight against out high-has been fully resources. we have securities interest, but i think people will see the president was focused on finding of thoughtful way forward. a good >> did you talk about it? >> i did. >> how long? >> i do not remember. i had a few conversations with him during an -- with him. i do not have any regrets. >> what did you learn that surprise you. >> he is a master marketer.

he knows what you include to give press and sell books, but the more interesting thing had to do with what we live through, so i was not cut surprised by what was in the vote cragen -- what was in the book. good >> i want to ask, candidates are often circumnavigating traditional media. there are times when the white house has withheld appearances on fox. the question is, is this going

to be easier to choose your place to get the message across without having to go to traditional media, and is this going to be a good thing for democracy? >> you have raised a good question. i was on fox a few weeks ago, and i think it is healthy to mix it up. the concern the president raised -- the real concern is not just where we appear, but the habits of americans. he said, i hope people will not just watched the stations that affirmed their point of view. it is healthy to get other opinions, even if you do not agree with them.

one concern i have is we give so polarized that we do not hear other points of view. >> will you still be able to win? >> i think you can if you have a solid argument very good >> go with someone who is a friend. >> here is the reality. people get information from many different places now, not just from tv stations, but from friends, social networks, all hole of ray of sources -- a whole array of sources, and you have to communicate as broadly as possible. i think there is more of an

impetus to do that. the truth is they have consolidated of days. democratic supporters tend to be more diffuse in viewing habits, so we have an imperative to be as creative as we can in touching different avenues of communication. >> did you find you need mainstream media of more than you expected? >> i do not know about five. we were aware communications had changed dramatically, but you aguys can still drives a story. some unfiltered information that comes of can dominates

mainstream media. we live in a new reality. we deal with it, and we also understand the day when the president of the united states can stand at a press conference for speech and command the attention of the vast majority of voting americans is gone. it is not five simple, so you have -- not that simple, and you have to work hard to communicate. >> succumif rahm emanuel runs fr mayor, what does he need to do? what would his outlook theme? >> he is a formidable person, and he would be a formidable

candidates. >> what would he do? >> i am not going to install him. he would never view himself as a front runner, nor would he run as one. he understands he is going to have to go door to door. one thing i know about chicago is nobody is going to hand you anything. you have to earn it. he would beef prepared to do that. >> he would run now? >> he would run for every vote. i think it is a terrible mistake to impute front-runner status, and people would resent it, but that is not his wave.

>> there are a couple of people who talk about the poll. are you glad you did it? >> i have met some wonderful people your, associations i will value for the rest of my life, and people i think are well- motivated. i do get frustrated with the group of pathology in washington sometimes. i am not staring at you for a reason. at the bottom line, this is a critical time in the history of this country. we have a lot of challenges that will determine if we are competitive in the global

economy, and there are serious issues, and we should not town -- bring everything down to the board game of politics. my mother used to say, i love you. i hate some of the things you do. >> what did you use to say that you now know? >> i did not come in with any illusions. i know there are folks who came here who could do very positive things. i think the media has devolved over term to the point where you have to spend a lot of time dealing with these stories that have faded, and that takes more energy then you like.

we ran on the premise that change begins from the bottom of, and we wanted to come here and effective changes that would help communities accomplish what they want to accomplish. arnie duncan has done his race to the top. we tried to keep our eye on the ball and remember why we were sent here. >> next spring we will leave more optimistic or pessimistic? >> i am always optimistic about the country. it was ingrained in me of belief that this is the greatest

country in the world. i still believe that. i think we are unrivaled in our innovation theory of i want to see us taking advantage so my kids -- in our innovation. i want to see advantage so my kids have the opportunities. i should add i am presumptuous because the president has not announced his reelection campaign either, so we will make that decision later, but the argument is there an -- there is an element. there is a different conversation you hear in this town. people do not talk about political over lunch in chicago.

it is healthy to be rooted in that environment and not in the hot house in washington. >> you have been known for seeking your ipad into meetings. i wonder what you use it for. >> it depends on if the cubs are playing. is useful because you can keep track of what is going on. >> like what? >> political of course, and i google things all the time. i do have a few sports applications.

the one thing i have that was a mistake is pac-man. >> how do you do that? >> i am breaking my personal records of all the time. >> thank you for sitting down with a sphere reagan region with us. -- thank you for sitting down with us. >> we look at some of the most closely contested house races leading up to the midterm election. ge>> all the money the governmet is spending, i worry about what is going to happen to my grandchildren.

>> we have to have some fiscal discipline. we need to make some changes. >> i do not think we should raise taxes. in an economy like this, raising taxes is going to be bad. i would say, let's put everything on the table and solved the problem. use against the high end of the benefits first. can we work the spending side before the tax side? >> this is his third time running.

he lost to martha kirk, who is running for senate twice. he used to work in mortgage finance, and on the right, you have a political newcomer. he owns a pest control company that is pretty well-known. they both have three kids. they both make over $100,000 a year. they are on the same economic class of different sides of the political spectrum. it is the district of has generally voted for a democrat.

they will lose 30, maybe 40 seats across the country. from the north, it is a well- educative suburb of chicago. it goes little less into moderate incomes, and then it stretches for the far north. >> mostly in found jobs -- town jobs, no, you will never get a job during a lot of people want to support their families. it is not everybody who wants to sit down and do nothing. there are a lot of us who want to health. where do we start?

we need something successful to help us support our families instead of doing nothing. >> what are you doing force countries? >> i think voters are most concerned about jobs. you have part of the district of is really hit hard by unemployment. they want to hear their candidates talk about how they are going to put them to work. >> the biggest thing is making sure they understand the difference. they want somebody to make the decisions to keep their economy on track, but they are not

willing to compromise to do so. my opponent wants to weaken environmental laws curator of -- environmental laws. they want to privatize social security. i think that would be a terrible mistake. >> we need to put people to work by creating an environment that allows the private sector to expand and create jobs. my opponent has been in a line about growing if the government as the answer. i believe there is a better way, and that is going to be in powering individuals and small businesses to invest in the materials to expand their business. >> both candidates are running right into each other there.

dan seals is going after dold on social issues. he is trying to portray him as anti-abortion, and dold says he is pro-choice. he is trying to attack him on the environment and hot-button issues. he is trying to really aligned him with the health-care bill and government spending. he is trying to portray him as wanting to raise taxes. there are two factors. they need to come apart from their countries, because he really needs to stand aside from the democrats. voters are not interested in making sure there is a

democratically-controlled congress. i believe the last time in 2008, $10 million were on both sides. this is the key place where democrats think they can take from republican seat, so you are going to see the campaign committee dumping $3 million in tv ads puree years -- in tv ads. >> c-span vehicles are traveling the country as we look to the races in the midterm election.

for more on what they are of two in the election, visit our web site. >> the former republican national chairman ed gillespie discussed. he predicted an easy takeover but stopped short of predicting a senate majority. this is just under 40 minutes. >> we continue our innovation program by bringing back politico for the next featured interview, and that of the former chairman of the republican national committee among many positions.

thank you. [applause] >> ed gillespie was counselor, and before that he had been chairman of the committee. honest work on capitol hill. >> 5 lead to an internship. i was chairman on the top floor bothering people for money for the republican party. it was a good experience. >> for you good at it? >> i was pretty good at it.

it was to make sure we got more republicans to support president reagan's agenda. the nature does not change. i tacked on more zeros. >> what is it typically like these days? >> i am asking the leadership committee to alert around the country. >> and also the attorney general. >> the governor has done a fantastic job. they have everything down. >> you are the founder of research. >> an organization modeled on democracy corps. they have done a very good job

of gauging public opinion relative to the debate around the country. we need to set the upper with the number of people. every question we ask, we made public. we make all the findings available on the internet. there were the first to discover the move away from obama five independent voters -- by independent voters. we have been tracking them here reagan >> a third big hat is your role in helping start american action.

can you explain your role? >> other folks have done a lot more than i have. american action network was started by others, and they do a fantastic job. it is modeled largely of center for american progress. the american crossroads is a group that i helped to launch to offset much of the activity on the left to try to compete in the political arena in a way that on the right we have not since mccain-fine gold. >> what gave you the idea to duplicate what democrats

successfully did well out of power? >> they were very good to adapt -- very good at adapting and bringing together some institutions that help them be more competitive. i thought it was time for conservatives and republicans to look at the structure and see if there were things we ought to be doing, and they are not. >> let's take a little tour of the landscape. how bullish are you about republicans' chances on november 2? >> very. it is hard to see how it can change, but as i have been talking candidates and really

seeing the ground game, the energy is really strong on the republican side. i said this in 2009. the most dangerous place to be on election day is between a republican and a voting bill. that is true today. favre folks are very energized. -- our folks are very energized. >> they would need 10 seats to take the senate derailed what do you think is in the range -- to take the senate. what do you think is in the range? >> who knows what is going to happen? >> you are skeptical of the idea that republicans will take the

senate? >> i do not rule it out. i do not think there's any such thing as a safe seat. i think there's a lot going on on the ground right now. i would not be surprised to see republicans in charge of the senate. give >> what are the things the look out of reach that you can imagine coming in to reach? >> we are going to pick up a number of democratic opens as well, certainly north dakota, ohio, but when you look at other sees better in play today that maybe six months ago you would say republicans are not able to win, all very much -- i think

there is a good chance we could be at eight or nine. >> are we going to see republican money moving to west virginia or can netiquette? >> -- or connecticut? >> are they already looking at springfield? >> we are broadening the field all over the place. it is very important in terms of redistricting. i think we are going to win the u.s. house. we will be able to have of big impact on this election.

>> how many chambers to republicans hold now? haugh hall >> if you look of something like pennsylvania, ohio, indiana, maybe even illinois, we could win the state houses fear reagan's state senate, we could win. if you look at new york, we could win 638 in new york. -- 6 to 8 in new york. it would be pretty important. >> we talk about redistricting. the sounds of a strike. what can you do when you draw these maps? -- that sounds abstract.

what can you do when you draw these maps? >> there are some places they do redistricting by commission. in most states, it is drawn by the state legislatures, and having the pen in your hand because you are the majority makes a difference. we are talking about being able to draw district lines in a way that is more favorable to your party, which is done on both sides of the io, which can have an impact for a decade. >> how much money do you expect republicans did legislature will spend? >> probably around $30 million. there is a campaign committee

responsible for the senate. we have a secretary of state association as well as the republican committee. they are broken up a little more you're a good -- broken up little bit more. >> in your spare time, you do the catholic university board? >> i served on the board of trustees. >> he said, to win the house, you would need 39. what do you expect? >> i think we are looking at 45 and north of 45, depending on how things continued to build between now and november. a good >> north of 45, what is

the ceiling? >> it is hard to save. -- say. do you see a dam break? >> there are things coming into play people were not counting on. i do not think there is such a thing as a safe democrat. i remember working after the '94 cycle. the congressman washed up in the tidal wave, and i expect we will see a few of those in november. >> you took questions online. this is from new york.

tension has caused the media to be more partisan for the left and right. how has that affected races this year? >> it is interesting. the media does go through cycles. there was a time when you pick a side, and you have republicans and democrats, and then it became part of the key posts -- the ethos that journalist will be partisan and not pick a side. voters have access to a lot of information. they filter out bad information theory get -- bad information to

reagan -- bad information. did there is credible information. there is not credible information on the left and the right. i think it has been positive in terms of the political process. as executives contributed to greater polarization, it -- i think it contributed to greater polarization. in terms of the internet and its impact, it has been beneficial to voters and given greater breadth of information and places to go to get it triggered

>> in 2004, bush was running against carey. -- kerry. in 2008, they seemed to get the upper hand in technology. >> things leapfrog, and you have to adapt and react, and you move ahead. we have seen that time and time again in the political are reno. -- arena. in 2008, those who supported president obama, beginning with the obama campaign and two other liberal organizations, they spend $1.1 billion to help collect president obama and people who supported his point of view on the conservative

side. there is only $634 million spent from mccain campaign, so a $500 million gap had to come about. that may be swinging the other way. you have to adapt puree good i believe we are in a position to reclaim -- you have to adapt a. i believe we are in a position to reclaim our position. democrats will respond accordingly. good >> when you look at the money going into these elections, there's a lot more on your side than the other side. why do you think that is? >> we saw the dynamic on the left when president bush was in the white house for eight years. the intensity seems to be on the side of the folks who are out.

when you're in, there is contentment, and you get frustrated with your side for not doing things puree of -- not doing things. it is always easier to get unified as opposition than to try to get things done. >> he asks, what affect will john seward's rally have on election day? >> i not sure. a lot of people get a lot of different information from if thomas's -- from it, but i am not sure. >> david axelrod says it will benefit his side, because it will get people excited.

he says the only drawback is it may take people away from efforts. do you agree with that? >> i am not so sure it is going to have a significant impact, if given the dynamics of the election. >> what do you worry about? what could go wrong? >> president obama and the democrats tried to undermine. that tends to stoke core republican voters. they will fix that themselves. >> the president has one rally in the wisconsin, where he thinks they can get 5000 or 10,000 people. you think that is going to help your side? >> i do not know at what point

he change from post partisan to most partisan, but i have never seen a president of the united states engage in the personal attacks against people in congress on the other side the way president obama has chosen to do. i am not sure it is politically affective. >> if you were his counselor, what would you advise him? >> talk about the issues. naked case for your health care bill, and try to get people to understand why it -- make a case for the health care bill, and try to get people to understand theory but it is like nails on a chalkboard to a lot of republicans, and it alienates a lot of independent voters. that is making it worse dragon

when he goes out there and stumps, -- that is making it worse. when he goes out there and sounds, i can assure you it has a long-term effect on conservatives and independence. >> the president is talking about the house minority. what do you think is their strategy? >> i do not know. >> if you build them up, you can take them down. >> i think john boehner ought to send the president of box of chocolates can say, thank you, because you helped me by this. you have in a way that has never happened before.

when you have a raging river coming at you, you will try to pull yourself out of being swept away. they have moved to another strategy. >> they do not have to be disclosed. if these people are so interested, why not disclose where the money comes from? >> we disclose our donors. we have 85,000 individual donors. they are happy to be disclosed. >> big money does not have to be.

>> their donors are not disclose very good -- are not disclosed. >> if i am of voter, don't i want to know who is going to buy those ads? >> on the left they have had a big advantage, and it change the cycle. they have to change it back. if you look at the history, they have been subject to vicious attacks superior -- attacks.

they have their jobs threatened. you saw what happened when the organized left went after target. a lot of people are opposed to more government control of our economy. there is fear of retribution. they seek to further government controlled. they will come after you. the fact is there are instances region we saw recently the news report of a democratic member of

congress calling up and saying, you were not on my donor form. it is shocking, but i know it happens. you will hear from somebody saying, i know you do not agree. maybe i will have to change the way your business is organized. >> to you worry something could happen? >> i guess there is a possibility. there was not much consternation of the time. there will be much more interest on this front.

>> do you think you are being held to a standard you think is inappropriate? >> i think it is a different standard. i welcome your interested in this area. there is a flip side, which if you are not disclosed, it is not just fear of retribution. at the same time, beneficiaries to not have any idea either. >> we have of question from google moderator. they ask how many issues were clear back in 2008.

how many could you see coming? >> the biggest is and concern over jobs and the economic growth to the country. that is still very prevalent. clearly from 2008 going forward, the economy has been the most dominant issue. >> she wondered if we are now in a cycle where incumbents will not last. if we get a republican in, the tea party will turn on that.

>> every cycle as a number of attributes. i think it accrues to republican benefits superior -- benefits. if we are not responsive, we will be next. this may tie in to the earlier discussion of the internet. there are now every four years. i would not project a straight line from this election year going forward. i think this has been extraordinary.

that is what fueled the anti- washington sentiment. if the result is the president obama moves more to the senate the way bill clinton did, that could change things considerably. >> you are predicting -- the speaker will be john boehner. he is going to have all lot of aggressive, emboldened members of his caucus. how do you never gave that? >> he is a very skillful leader. he is also a conservative. this is a guy who has been in congress for over 20 years, who has a pretty good record when it comes to fiscal policy, and the

rating has to be 90 or north of it. he is a conservative, and that is what matters more. >> do you think he should work with the white house? >> i think if there are opportunities where the president is willing to work in an accommodating fashion, it is hard to think they will get off to a great feuilleton. >> is it mutual -- get off to a great start. >> is it mutual hamas -- mutual? there has been a lot of tough rhetoric from your side. >> on policy. if there are some areas like

free trade agreements, then maybe an area where a republican house and president obama could find some accommodation, and maybe even on entitlement reform. that would be an area where they could find common ground. >> using your side would be willing to give some ground on entitlement -- do you think your side would be willing to give some ground on entitlement? >> i do not think there are many republicans saying, vote for me, and i will increase taxes. >> you are suggesting they might be able to make some deals. >> to me entitlement reform is giving in charge of the

spending. i am not sure there is a revenue problem. there is a spending problem. there is a debate to be had. >> say you have a democratic white house, democratic senate. what would they be able to do? >> you have to fund the government, and you saw this with president bush. i was there for negotiating the budget with president bush and the democrats on the senate side, and we were able to get accommodation on the budget here reagan -- on the budget. nobody got everything they wanted, but we were able to move forward. >> how aggressive the think they should be? >> i think they are electing republicans to put the brakes on spending and make sure we get our house on order.

there is a legitimate oversight's role for congress, and it is important to ensure tax payer money is being spent properly, to make sure the laws are being implemented, and that is a legitimate function of the legislative branch, but i do nothing republicans should be to sidetrack. i think the focus needs to be on policy and getting jobs going. >> how vulnerable to you think the election is fear reagan >> he is -- think the election is? >> he is vulnerable now. i think a lot of big defense -- depends on how does he react.

he was able to come back to the center because he was a new democrat, and i would be interested to see if president obama could do that, because he did not campaign that way. pendulums swing in politics. 18 months ago, few people would think there would be it a legitimate discussion about speaker boehner, so i would say he is very vulnerable to defeat in 2012, but i would also say it is right now, and that could change. >> what potential candidates on your side seems strong? >> i am excited about it. this is a tough question that can make people mad for mentioning them are not mentioning them. we have a lot of governors and former governors. >> pick through what the field is. >> governor romney,: steve --

gov.: dea pawlenty, pain, former speaker gingrich. i think the field is good for republicans. there could be folks who get elected now who could all of a sudden be in play. we had an interesting field of governors getting elected. there are a lot of new faces. >> who is on that list? >> women governors who could end up on a short list for vice president, certainly. i do not want to get anybody in

trouble who is running who, but all i am saying is it is a fluid situation, and the party is at a point in time where it is open to new energy, and i think that is good for us. that will be helpful. >> one candidate is o'donnell. what do you make of her? >> she is a reflection of the desire for change. i know the poll numbers show if castle had been the nominee, and chances are better for delaware, but i do not count that seek out at all. i think o'donnell has been affective of late. there is no such thing as a safe democratic seats in this election year.

>> how damaging do you think the video clips have been? >> this environment is such that someone with such a clear message that if you send me to washington, i am going to put the brakes on spending, i am going to try to get control of out of control then, -- debt, i think that gets heard. >> as we say goodbye, what is your toy these days? >> i have an ipad, but i have not learned it yet. >> you have not learned its? what is there to learn? >> how to turn it on for one thing. i am hoping to get a chance to learn it. >> what are your devices? what do you use to get news? >> i use my laptop and my blackberry. >> where did you go for news

these days? >> i go to google and politico. nro and "the daily color" and "the huffington post" on the other side. i like to know what is going to be included in your times -- to be in "the new york times" tomorrow. >> tomorrow on "washington journal," add them to refuse the court session which opens tomorrow. john r. from the u.s. institute of peace discusses implications of kim jong il naming his youngest son. rebecca christie it reveals the successes and failures of the tarp program.

that