lou: one attention voters. whatever you are, now is the time for some rest and relaxation, romney and ryan. do you get a? good idea. thank you for all watching. thank you for your comments and keep them coming. go to loudobbs.com. the links are on our fa . neil: welcome, everybody, i am neil cavuto from tampa, florida. you are looking at the nominee of the last republican convention. senator john main addressing what he says will be a policy argument. a more serious reason to change the stewards of this country more than the economic one. we will be speaking to john mccain a little bit later. we will also be hearing from paul ryan come in the vice presidential campaign candidate. with whom i caught up today. a one-on-one exchange that has

partymen picked up by all the blogs and shows. we are going to show you that exchange that is now the envy of the media world. enough about me. back to rich edson following the developments tonight. a big night, obviously, rich edson, per paul ryan. reporter: that is right. the last time i was lost in wisconsin, i was covering the primary in waukesha. we had cheese had top hats. that's my favorite there. these folks are just as dedicated to paul ryan, may be as excited as they are for the start of the packers reason. but this is paul ryan who is the headliner. he will talk about the physical challenge of that he faces. his exurbs that the campaign has released saying that paul ryan will very much have a discussion. the u.s. is facing a severe fiscal crisis and we can choose to act now or later. this is a part of the campaign,

very much running as two candidates with very serious efforts to fix the economy. these are the two guys that are going to get in there and fix this thing and paul ryan fits into that perfectly republican sector. tonight he is on the showcased. neil: thank you very much. to put wisconsin into perspective, you can understand. the last republican president when was 1984 there. forty-two years old, scott walker, the governor who survived a recall 42 years old. and reince priebus, national republican committee chair. a powerful delegation. it explains why this ticket is so competitive in this state and could give that state electoral votes would have been a lot and

am offered democrats. it is way too early to say. remember, that will be crucial. that is what the whole midwest and midwest economy are all under the stewardship by a margin of republican governors. the guy who everyone is waiting to hear and we will be going a little bit to senator mccain shortly is paul ryan. paul ryan is in this auditorium. sort of testing out everything. his children are here as well. we caught up with him just as he was leaving the facility in what had to be one of the more somatic one-on-one exchanges a vice presidential candidate has ever had. this is from earlier today. >> how to go out there? how to go? you have video? are you ready for tonight? neil: boy, don't you know, our

competitors were a little envious. it is possible that some of you might have lost the impact of that exchange. for those of you who feel somehow put aside, that exchange, again, in slow motion. paul ryan earlier today. [inaudible] >> obviously, you can see there the bombing and the respect that the congressman costa me. obviously, a lot of pressure ahead of the big announcement tonight. we hope to be talking to the vice presidential candidate himself. in the meantime, before we go to

my favorite guest, woody johnson is here. there are a lot of jets related questions i asked tonight. but i do want to get into john mccain's last nominee of this one-party addressing these fine delegates. >> and renew the foundations of our power and leadership in the world. that is what is at stake in this election. [applause] >> unfortunately, for four years, we have drifted away from our proudest traditions of global leadership. traditions that are truly bipartisan. we have let the challenges we face at home and abroad become much harder to solve. we can't afford to stay on that course any longer. we can't afford to cause our friends and allies in latin america and europe and the

middle east, and especially in israel, a nation under existential threat to doubt america's leadership. [applause] [cheers] neil: we will continue to monitor john mccain. he will be joining us very shortly on this show soon after his remarks. doctor woody johnson, the new york jets owner. here as a special guest at the republican national convention. your political persuasion there? >> i am actually fund-raising for mitt romney and paul ryan. heading out to new york and new jersey and connecticut. neil: i would be curious what a guy like you who has obviously trying to take things to the next level, but this is more about a franchise, and you have argued that this ticket is what we need to take the economy to

the next level. what do you mean by that? >> you have heard it endlessly. jobs, jobs, jobs is what this election will be about and the economy and the debt clock. approaching $16 trillion. if you just look at both of these candidates. they are the most able experienced people to actually get this job done. >> do you ever get a sense what the danger is? they just don't understand that. >> yes, i think if you bring it down to what it is whether it is 500,000 or 300,000, it is a large element that is going to be borne by the young people going forward. neil: i always wondered about

the severity of that. yes, we know it's bad and it's on the verge of this and not. >> the bad thing is 25 million people are unemployed. >> they understand family and fiscal feeling. that the country is not going the way they would like it to go. but there is an explanation of the current administration is not in favor of. neil: you don't think that he likes private american at all, that everything is very slanted. what do you say? >> i say that's not true. i don't think there's any indication at all that this administration appreciates the important power.

>> i want to think that they want to know what's going to happen with the tax court. what is my return going to be when i take a gamble on doing something that i believe in is a private risk. probably not. >> you are all about making sure that everyone is on the same page. and the republican team seem to be on the same page. as far as new york jets go, preseason and it doesn't look like they're on the same page. >> we have been remarkably consistent.

that is for sure and not scoring touchdowns. but when i see is that we have a lot of guys, just the timing but i think we're going to do very well. when we open up in a couple of weeks. neil: preseason isn't a real jue, is that? >> no, it's not. neil: thank you very much. it's very good having you. a lot of the primary speakers tonight talking about how this party can get america back on track. i told you about this debt clock that is running. it is an amazing instrument to see because what it does is show you how much debt we have accumulated as a country, not only in general, but just since the convention began. one of the reasons why they have been arguing that something has to be done to address that. the sooner the better. governor mary fallin joins us

from the fine state of oklahoma. governor, i am curious. have you had a sense -- well, you guys seem to get this and the enormous importance of addressing us, at home you can be losing us. because it's getting to be like fiction. how do you make folks come home to this. i do think that people think it's important that we control our spending. we have to balance our budget in the state of oklahoma. we can't spend more than we take in. you talk about our national debt and deficit. reaching almost $16 trillion. it's not just death upon me and you, it's that upon my children and my grandchildren. and it's going to take generations to rectify the debt neil: some say that is piled up under republicans and you get 5 trillion under this president.

but neither party seems to grasp getting a handle on this. what do you say that? >> i say that if you look at where president obama has taken aback, he has talked about how he's going to cut the deficit in half by his first term. almost $5 trillion have been added to the debt itself. it's a very dangerous situation. there are republicans and democrats up alter its certainly has grown tremendously during this last demonstration. you know, when i was walking in here a few moments ago, a lady handed me a button that said the kitchen cabinet. i think that tells a lot about what americans are worrying about. they are worrying about issues that you talk about at your kitchen table. those issues are are you going to have a job. is your company going to stay in business. how are you going to pay for college. how are you going to make that house payment. are you going to pay for your bills? they are concerned about the debt and deficit. some states will have to raise taxes to cover a budget deficit. here in oklahoma we have been

letting people keep that. it is those kitchen table issues that people are concerned about. neil: ann romney was speaking to women last night. i'm wondering if a successful governor, is there a problem that women have come up women do handle the bills in a lot of homes. what is going on there? >> i think it is all -- quite frankly, we have twice as many women republican governors as there are democrats. there are a lot of women that serve in all kinds of positions. economic issues are important to women. the future of our children. certainly important to fathers also. i'm not trying to take that away from them. but i think that women care about these issues and care about jobs and the economy and health care costs and federal government interfering into our

lives. >> do they make headway? >> well, i think that ann romney did a super job. she spoke about the heart and man of mitt romney and how he took care of his family. and how he will take care of america. there is no saying that says, he talked about how much he cares about america. neil: governor, we thank you so much. we have the former chief of staff for ronald reagan. i was thinking about you because ronald reagan has the reverse challenge in 1980. he had to unite moderates who might have been a little skeptical of this conservative taking over the party. in a way, the reverse with mitt romney. he is the moderate who convinces conservatives that all will be good with this ticket. what do you think of that? >> i think he has convinced the

conservatives. i think he has convinced independence and he has convinced whatever moderate republicans are left. the party is united. i think he has unified it. not only with his own leadership, but also with paul ryan being on the ticket. i think mitt romney has done a very good job of reassuring the base and is now reaching out for the independent vote. neil: we hear a lot of talk about the dramatic move that ronald reagan made. there is very little wiggle room to do something herculean this go-round. the 16 trillion in debt, the $1.5 trillion deficit. we don't have the kind of room that we did to move like he did. in that it is going to put mitt romney, should he get elected, in a box. would he think of that? >> i think what is required is leadership. strong, bold, dynamic intergenic

leadership. president reagan was able to get the country going again. from the malaise of jimmy carter. and i think mitt romney and paul ryan understanding the fiscal situation, laid out a bold economic plan that cuts spending and cuts taxes and get our economy going and creating jobs. therefore, there will be more income coming in and more revenue coming into the federal government. but you don't do it by raising taxes and overregulating. so i think that the romney-ryan ideas are very much mainstream. as far as going forward and doing something dynamic once he is elected. neil: it's always good to have you, ken. 70% eventually brought down to 20% every single tax

rate by at least a third was slashed. some more than that. that would then be -- is there any chance of that happening right now. paul ryan and condoleezza rice are speaking tonight. a big night for some of the presidential candidates as well. tim valenti will be addressing the troops here. we are told tomorrow night with mitt romney after his acceptance speech, everyone will be joining him on the stage. the emphasis is that this is a united party. united and whatever the idea, their own differences. they are sure that it's better mitt romney then four more years of barack obama. and the president override their idiosyncratic differences with each other? war from tampa, florida, after

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neil: welcome back. the republican national convention in tampa. wait until you hear what he has to say about spending and how out of control it can be. and the message that holly one has about that. the inevitable herman cain with me to show you what a big deal or minutes. he has an outside event here.

about 3000 attended. >> his father not sure. is there some ill will going on? >> i don't think there's any ill will. but what we do feel about these democrats and a lot of these people, the enthusiasm is much higher than expected, until governor romney for paul ryan on the ticket. he had energized the combination of the two. because people see that combination as paul ryan complementing the leadership experiences of mitt romney. neil: so throughout the

primaries when you were in the contest, romney was too mushy. you don't really distinguish yourself and obviously someone like paul ryan on their with some conservative thoughts that she is not actually being faulted for being too much of a guy who wants to cut spending. he's not saying enough. for the libertarians in this crowd. the diehard ron paul enthusiast, being depicted as too liberal. what do you say? >> i would agree. it is not nearly as aggressive enough.

neil: how is your family during? >> they're doing great. it leaves governor romney and paul ryan will have the reputation of being able to get it. people are excited about the fact that someone is actually going to balance the budget. romney would not have been able to do this without having a budget strategy and a plan. because paul ryan knows how to maneuver this and he has been there, although he has become acclimated to this, he's going to get something done. neil: we have never had known a lot. >> that is true. we have never had a fast food president either. the commerce secretary -- i don't think that that is part of

it. i'll be honest with you. i was upfront with governor romney when we met and said governor, i'm not looking for a job. i'm not looking for a cabinet position. you don't have to appease me. pick the best people for the job. >> no one turns down a president. >> that is true. it may be such a calling to the country. but i might have to consider it. but it's not something that i'm thinking about and not something that i'm planning. neil: you could have been up on the podium tonight if he would've pitched what i told you to pitch in the beginning. the he worked 30 years and faster. but you didn't listen to me, did you? look at you now. >> that is one of those situations. [laughter] [laughter] >> i didn't listen to you. neil: thank you, very much. it is always a pleasure.

we are following a lot of this going on. just to bring you up to speed, this is not the paul ryan is going to address the vice presidential candidates. we will lay out his plan. the speech last night electrified the crowd with chris christie. the bad news is if you are paul ryan, you are following that guy and you have to try to electrified the crowd the way that he did. this is the party that we talk about being in sync. the question, is it really in the mainstream media telling it -- they're not getting it. they are not seeing it. the hollywood crowd is telling us they don't remotely relate to it. in other words, republicans, the bottom line is they are not

really the party of all americans. the actor, jon voight, is joining me now. >> hello, neil, i snuck up on you. neil: john was talking with us earlier. everyone wants to shake their hand. >> why are you here? neil: why are you here? >> well, i'm here -- why am i here? because i am understanding of the real drama of this hour in our country's history. the serious nature of our dilemma, and by what to be of some help. and i know, by the way, mitt romney well enough.

paul riot well enough. these people are godsends. they're people who are fixers. they're people who are problem solvers. it's in their nature. they're also very confident. a lot of fun. both of them. and so i am just very happy. i know we have a real dilemma. if we don't address some of these problems we are in deep trouble, and i'm thinking of my grandchildren and their children we better do everything we can immediately to stop this from going over the falls really. neil: why is there this year that hollywood is sort of this monolithic leftist fashion. yet here you are. obviously you are an exception to i think that's fairly accurate role. >> i know a lot of the conservatives. a lot of them are quiet. very tolerant liberal companies.

not very tolerant. basic kind of rough. reminiscing. he might come. >> don't say that is a rumor. neil: i won't. there is a rumor that he might come. >> he said it again. neil: un ten. >> god bless him if he comes, by the way. neil: in the hell to pay for your views? you have had a great career. >> i have had a wonderful career. >> if i lose a job from this is not a big deal. i am not -- i'm pretty -- you know, pretty well set up. if somebody in the middle of our country with five kids is a job it's a big deal. that's why i'm out here. >> a lot of kids, of young people, the people in general. the entertainers, the george

clooney and all that. the president. sixty, 20 million at a time. obviously they say, it is the cool thing to back the president. the weak economy notwithstanding . he is cooler. the republicans are not. what do you say? >> well, we know that when he was elected according to hillary clinton and joe biden, he had no experience, right? and he didn't. but no one looked into his record to see who he was, who was associated with them. everything is black with him. now we have seen him in office. we have seen, you know, one after another of his failed policies. we see the country suffering terribly politically. we have been weakened. economically and militarily to. and now they have more ground to make a decision. let's see what happened. i recommend to people this movie that has just come out, 2016.

it's very important. neil: into a top-10. >> people have not done their due diligence. i ask them to go see this film. it is not -- is very, very well done. very good film making. it is enjoyable to watch this movie, but it presents the facts that the mainstream has not presented to the people. so to educate yourself may make a proper vote. all of you people on the left, and the metal, go see the film. neil: you are pretty good working the camera, by the way, did you know that? >> she saw that little luck. neil: i did. there is no prompter. and now you have to go, but i'm wondering, the argument for a lot of the hollywood types, barack obama, so rigid does not matter if their taxes go up another 45%. you are that kind of rich. is that the issue for you. why do you draw the line and saying taxes are not the answer. spending is. that is not -- that is just bad script.

>> well, it isn't funny thing. people in hollywood. when you get into hollywood, all of these people are gifted people. they're all blessed with great guess. and i respect his gifts. very talented. neil: you might be blessed. they seem like a madonnas. >> g's, neil. neil: they're not like television anchors. >> exactly right. you know, they get in the thought that it's going to go on forever. a little too easy for them. and they feel a little guilty and they want to be seen as people who are compassionate to other people. you know, part of it is what i just described. but, you know, there is a little hypocrisy they're too. you know, when the producers in hollywood are encouraging people to vote for more taxes, they are taking their films the tax-free status in order to make some money. so it is a real funny complex. the other hypocrisy is the barack obama is talking about the 1% 01%. there is bank in california.

you know. so -- neil: you are the best. good luck coming out of your show. you might have a career in this. >> god, if i only could. as so admire you. i really do. god bless you. neil: a pleasure having you. this guy walking by. sort of like me. we have john mccain joining us shortly. paul reynaud little bit later. we are told that mitt romney is back in the state. during a little campaigning. he's going to watch the speech. everyone has to watch the speech, but imagine being paul ryan tonight to. one better than chris christie last night. it's show me time after this. >> are you well? >> i am.

>> have is a convention like? >> at the last that was fantastic. >> knocked it out of the part. neil: jerry is seeing you. want to try to crack it? yeah, that's the way to do it!

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>> yes, mr. president, they did build it. [applause] >> my grandfather raised three sons. the middle son, my father, join the navy in world war ii. he became a naval aviator. neil: you are looking at john ten. know him well. considered as a running mate for mitt romney. a rising star in the party. many say he has his sights set on 2016 should this ticket not perform well. that is getting way ahead of ourselves as well as some of the prominent and rising stars of the party are here in full measure tonight. i told you, 63 speakers and a half last night. virtually the remaining half

speak tonight. including paul ryan, wrapping things up. the vice president's candid. tomorrow night, mitt romney, he might have heard a thing or two about. welcome, everybody. i'm neil cavuto coming from you from that -- coming to you from the tampa convention center. the former health and human services secretary to address what he said and has laid out, a very simple health care law. we are only now finding out how expensive. according to a supreme court wrote the law of the land. the only way to dismantle it would be, i guess, for the republicans to take the white house. there would have to take the senate and there would have to rely on reconciliation, by simple majority. dismantle a piece by piece. >> obviously the legislative solution is the neatest and cleanest, but governor romney has made clear that irrespective of that, if he is president he is going to look for ways to minimize the negative impact it has in the economy, and he has a lot of tools to begin to redirect.

neil: what to do? >> there are parts of it that congress may not choose to fund. there are literally at thousand regulations that define the nature of what things mean. the treasury department, hhs, the labor department, commerce. a very complex law. a lot of ways in which decisions have to be made at the bureaucratic level, and he can begin to work at that level. neil: is it fair to say that when the white house alone won't cut it? he has really got ted take the senate with them? >> the country needs to have a decisive victory for republicans we have to set a direction. bin gridlock too long. what we are doing is not working. think the message of this convention is give us a chance. we can turn things around. neil: thank you very much. i know you have a busy schedule, and we appreciate it. this is to bring you up to speed. joining us very shortly.

he just completed a speech. not forget the hero in their midst and a man who carried the banner for them for years ago. very, very popular in this room. harry, very popular still in this country. it will talk to him shortly. what to bring you up to speed and a couple of housekeeping chores. as republican party is driven by the mitt romney dna, and by that, everything is on time. fact, ahead of time. they don't mess around this issue. mitt romney, of course to a famous, late for one of his meetings to lock the door and you. i don't know if that has gotten to the urban legend, but the reality of this convention, the first i can remember where everything is not only on time, but ahead of time. for while i get so ahead of time : 20 minutes ahead of time. they had to use the band to sort of fill in the interim gap. that is ahead of time they work, said that could be bad. anyway, for those of you who are very picky about that sort of

thing and really, really care about that sort of thing, when there is something in the mitt romney dna that translates to how this entire convention is being orchestrated. with me now, the man who is the last standard bearer of his party and still held in great regard. i caught up with him earlier today, and to stop everything to talk with me and moved on. please. i can't deal with you. john mccain. very good to have you. >> i have never been able to deal with you. [laughter] neil: looking pretty spiffy tonight. stripings shirts. how'd you feel coming back here to my dressing the troops? >> it's great. you know. as i mentioned when i started, i have a different plan for years ago. the move on. you stay in the arena. and i believe in this guide. i really do. i believe he has the right instincts. i believe he has the right outlook on our role in the world. that is what i was talking about

this president does not believe in american exceptional as of. slaughtered, tortured, raped. you're the president of the united states become for them? what what ronald reagan do? you know what ronald reagan would be doing. he would be doing like he did in the cold war, stop the slaughter and so we are now led by the socialist president of france who has called for a no-fly zone in syria so that -- in serious so that these people can organize country to wounded and the refugees. the refugees, as you know, a huge problem for all of these neighboring countries, especially jordan, by the way. neil: what is interesting about your remarks. i only think -- you speak to our global sold. i just think one of the things he said, and now we're focused on the economy. there is a role for america to play.

there is a role for preeminent power to play. we're not playing it. and that really resonated with this crowd. they fixated on debt clocks and how much we have improved since the convention. was this the message you wanted? >> i wanted to -- i also wanted to pound that there is an isolationist wing of the republican party in dollars has been. there is an isolationist wing on the far extreme of the democratic party. but the majority of republicans ever since dwight david eisenhower won control of the republican party we have seen american plate a substantial role in world affairs. you know, life is full of examples. the presidents of egypt, a graduate of the university of southern california. you know where he has gone since he has been president of egypt? china and a run. china and ron. i can guarantee you that the country's believe that all they hear from obama is withdrawn,

withdraw, leaving. left. terrible disarray. real leaving afghanistan, and things are not going well there. famous story of the taliban and prisoner, the american interrogators. the prisoner says, you have the watches, we have the time. neil: let me ask you, senator. sort of political back-and-forth here. barack obama, even in a heated contest with you and after the financial meltdown, i think you could have had jesus christ and your ticket and it would not have helped. be that as it may he had and has respect for you. we are told he really does not like mitt romney. i don't know what it is to about a number of sources have confirmed this. whenever it is about mitt romney , he does not like the guy. and never felt that way about you. delta did not feel that way about hillary clinton. i don't know whether that is a good or bad thing.

you know him. the epa detectable -- detestable character. >> he has his faults and failings is also a -- as all this too. he is a decent, honorable man who loves his family, liz is religion. he is a man who i think it epitomizes a lot of the good things about america. maybe president obama does not like him and likes me and hillary because can beat him. maybe. neil: but he has to do. you heard the pressure to do this. >> she did a good job. neil: humanizing. i always argue with you. a very modest man by nature. you have dealt with stuff that we could never relate to, but you're always uncomfortable talking about it. yet people would tell you what's right, the republican thing, out of touch with people. you know more about pen than 99 percent of us, but it is a

label that you typically attached republicans. they can't run away from it. they can see to detach themselves from it. mitt romney on just that. the gray label. it speaks to republicans. failing or not. would you say. >> first of all, you have to give your chicago gang a lot of credit. run hundreds of millions of dollars. they have had a huge fight mitchell advantage up until now attacking mitt romney on whenever. he left beta capitol seems to be the subject of attack. it has driven his unfavorable. i think that it is pretty clear that what he needs to do is show mitt romney to the american people. this campaign, i had never seen anything like it. how in the world can you run an ad accusing mitt romney of the responsible for the tragic death of a man's wife.

how did you get that? so they have had a very effective negative campaign. neil: is that why they're even in the polls to make the economy would not. >> i think that has a lot to do with it. neil: a lot of them said the president is more likable. >> yes. of course. i can understand that. but i think -- neil: you think he is likable? >> i think after a visit millions of dollars of the negative advertising to a saturation advertising. neil: bedroom begun-of the president. >> i think that mitt romney ought to go negative on factual basis. look. there is nothing wrong with negative campaigning. is whether it is fact paster not, and that has to do with his failures to repair the economy. i remember seeing barack obama's and if you can't do it in four years if you don't deserve another term. i would be running at one. i would be running that when all the time. but i am a loser, my friend, so far be it for me.

neil: i don't think so, senator. one more comment these -- >> these undecided voters may go in and cast their vote. it's the right to be hard for obama to sell that. neil: very quickly, you talked about this before, but going for years back couples were tied to the milk that happened, and it was over. did you ever take of how that whole process, not politically, but on the part of rescuers and bell labs, what it fostered? >> the fact is to with a bailout wall street, and they still take care of wall street. still in arizona nearly half the homes are under water. we should have done after the housing and then worried about

wall street. you know the thing that is most ridiculous, we are going to pass legislation that makes no institution too big to fail. give me a break. you know. it is -- neil: you're not a big fan of this financial reform. >> i am not. you know. all of the conspiracy theories that you have heard for years, the cozy relationship between government and wall street. it has become true in many respects. i know that you have talked about that a lot. what about the small businessman. what about the community bank, the was that really do the lending. they did not get the money. the old men. all these other guys. and it really is our fault. and that is what gives rise to the cynicism and a good that we seek. by the way, a 11 percent approval rating of congress. i am waiting to meet someone in that a 11% bracket because i want to know what that

11 percent -- neil: senator, a pleasure. thank you very much. >> a cue. neil: john mccain, the nominee of his party for years ago. rick santorum go wanted it to be a very different night. of course the medical debt to the second-highest member of delegates this year. not the gold. rick santorum here with us next. everyone has goals.

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♪ neil: the convention goes on.

the convention that will honor what mitt romney, but by a lack of coupons and maybe a few key supporters and some key media placement, this gentleman might be in that role tonight. rick santorum, former pennsylvania senator came out of nowhere. having covered the campaign very closely and moderated the debate , talk about tenacious. this guy worked his tiny often than air pulled off. but, you know, a good soldier, here now, what you have to tell me, do you feel a little weird. >> not at all. i get into this race. was motivated to get out there and try to make a difference by the threat of another four years abroad, and what he would do to the economy of this century, the culture of this country, the scale of government, the relationship of government to its people. just because i'm not on the ballot does not make that mission any different. and so i am trying to complete the mission. as best i can. neil: i always get the

impression. just me. my reaction. you and mitt romney did not like each other. >> i cannot say that is true that all. the alecky dead in the eye. it's not true. i mean, you know, governor romney and i had, i think, very intense debate. for me it was a matter of trust, a matter of, can i believe what you're saying now is what you're really going to do. and i have concerns about that. neil: concerns now. you know. paul ryan of the ticket. that a late 11th concerns. a lot of people, as he does not change the colors, and i have been talking. all the other days. i don't know. i don't know. >> if he would have picked a solid conservative like rob

portman i would have said the same thing. just because he picked a solid conservative did not allay five years. what a late my fears is that paul ryan is not just a solid to service. paul ryan is defined by one thing, ideas. and bold ideas. and when you adopt ryan as your vp you are adopting those ideas. is not true with portman. i mean, he's a good guy, and he goes the right way, but he is not the leader that ryan was on the vision for the future of our country, particularly economically. and what he said was, i've been. i'm going to be bold, going to talk about the real problems. mboya to make this campaign about issues. i think that was an important difference. neil: when i covered the race, brought this up in a prior interview. , of voters love you.

we can win with mitt romney. in other words, although once you wanted to vote for you, it might have been a different result. either you were very admirable. the convictions. and i guess the feeling was that guy could never get elected president. but, mitt romney can. we go with him. >> conventional wisdom. they said that. neil: that's all i got. [laughter] your largest repeating. neil: but i think people, such a passion about their to the -- to defeat barack obama. so i think what a lot of folks are saying, this is the same story. and look. i can't argue with the conventional wisdom. all i can say is that, you know,

we have a nominee who is running as a conservative. mitt romney is not backing away from anything during the campaign. the forced into the right. well, if i did to me is not come back. he stayed there. solidified it. and so, if i have to conservatives this guy is running on the platform that i would draw of. the republican platform would be the same under me as it is a mitt romney. if you like most of the policies he is putting forward, pretty strong principal conservative. >> a very decent human being. the kids a during amazingly well you know, it's bittersweet obviously. we get that back. neil: anything? >> i sort of like things.

my 17 year-old is here with me. perry did having you. rick santorum. what he did and very little money. that was then. i don't think we had the last of this gentleman. the guy who finished. the nominee of this party, aut to be defeated tomorrow night with -- we going pressure. back out of the park. number two. going to address the troops. the republican senator of north dakota, energy, a very big issue. also, the unemployment situation home. this race that the president said would be back rapidly cut is higher than it was when he

took office. bell still north of a percent. the governor with us now. good to have you. >> great to be with you. you're busy tonight. neil: i understand their is a convention going. i tell you to live see a party that is very united. the democratic party united. a little less so with the republicans. so i think it gives you a sense of things to come. what to you get of this one right now? >> it's all you what. united, like the energy. absolutely fantastic. he cited last night and you will see it tonight. it is about the future. this is the party. this is a team. the romney ryan team that has a plan for the future. he talked about energy, but it's everything, growing this economy . attacking the entitlement reform, tax reform, comprehensive energy. this is what is going to matter to people in this election. neil: to you think the rapid

come up in polls, republicans are asking everyone to give something back except the rich. the rich are not being asked to pay more taxes. that comes up a lot of these. 50 percent of the survey says part of the solution is. >> are talking about lowering the rates but closing the loopholes. everyone should be their fair share. grow this economy. it's going to generate more revenue. it well. you wait and see. the growing economy, not higher taxes that produces more revenue . get people back to work. entitlement reform, all these things would get that deficit under control. that is so we did it back to the 90's and is how we will do it again. neil: 63,. >> that is why we have to get going. we need to get mitt romney elected and we need a big deal right away.

right after the first of the year we need said congress to the administration. neil: even if you elect mitt romney. that is why the senate races are so important. the presidential in the senate races. neil: thank you very much. always good to see you. a lot more. we are going to get every from this and all the states that are really a play. they typically are those states that could go either way, republican or democrat. florida is among them. the attorney general. i want to put that in some perspective right now. the swing states that went big time for barack obama four years ago are not even or slightly to the advantage of the republican ticket today. that is important because the irony here is that the economic

fortunes of the state's are changing. they're actually getting better. the unemployment rate, ohio, michigan, wisconsin, florida, all coming down. normally when that happens voters would give the benefit to the value is in the oval office or at least this party. this case that would be the president, in this case is to be democrats. all of the state's adjust its sentimental you know faugh, they're all run by republicans. that is the theme that is being pounded by zero republicans. republicans have been in charge and put in charge, particularly in swing states that the nestling in the right direction. the republican ticket closed the deal. that is, of course, the selling point of this convention. but if they get their way on just that that could be a swing of anywhere from 60 to 80. in the obamacare of four years ago. that would now be in the

republican camp. the f4 mitchen florida attorney general. very good to have you. >> nice to see you. >> you were among those leading the fight against the presence of the law perrysburg it's not going to. it changing the senate. >> fifty-one votes, of course, because now that they have declared it. by the way, one of the biggest tax increases in our history, we only need 51 votes and is teeseven the senate as opposed to 60. neil: take it apart feature by feature. fifty-one. so wouldn't it be a killer if you guys succeed in getting mitt romney elected to when the senate or flip it around. barack obama is reelected and you do when the senate. you are still in a box.

>> i don't even want to think of four more years of barack obama frankly. i can't go there. i firmly believe that florida is mitt romney country. neil: i am wondering. with the paul ride ticket, and you can agree or disagree. the rap against him and why he has been played in that famous said. sterling granny off a cliff, he is anti elderly. he is going to kill the vulnerable population of florida. you heard all that. that put states like florida more out of place in and play. what do you say? >> that is why we are trying to spread its the trooper around florida. that commercial is despicable. neil: by the way, i don't think that is granny. it looks like a guy dressed up. >> at think you're right. i think you're right. i think you're right. neil: your argument has been, we are all going to go off a cliff insisting -- neil: that is exactly right.

neil: is that resonating. >> it is. and frankly i think paul ryan was an absolutely brilliant choice. he understands the budget. he understands the health care argument. i can't wait to hear him today joe biden frankly. neil: i here with you, governor, senator. the world is your oyster. >> i am very -- i love being the attorney-general. a fourth generation floridian, and i love my state. my whole family is here, and i am so happy to be in attorney-general. so much more work to do in florida. i am thrilled to be part of all of this. neil: by the way, are you okay with floridian? it seems to be very hot and humid. >> i grew up here. this is cool weather tests. are you kidding? this is nice. neil: for ten minutes. a walking. you are as cool and dry as can be. neil: your body digests. >> no, it doesn't.

just me. very good to see you. thank you. enjoy your convention. it is out here. most floridians, but this state cannot talking to the arizona delegation not too long ago. and dry heat. the only difference is they give u.s. bonds before you do. welcome to this five beautiful city. republicans just to come. you could argue for the 29 electoral votes that would be double the way to do it even in a misdirected season still a

reminder that with all the rest associated with all the convention and the state can even with a hurricane, well worth it. the governor, from a much cooler state joining me right now. governor, i guess it comes back to, it was worth the he, with the controversy. it was worth it all. was it? >> absolutely. you have to have the florida delegates. another mystery. if you win in wisconsin it does not mean ohio is not important, but it does mean it is less important. wisconsin has never been a given. >> it gives you other options. we have to get ohio or we have to have pennsylvania. that was the call that we have to be a will to get this. it changes around, particularly if you control the upper midwest and florida. neil: but do you argue that there is something going on with

the midwest. i saw the wisconsin bank. i said to me you know, wisconsin , ohio, michigan, you could make it an argument where you have a run. your candidate has a path to victory. >> there is something going on there. what it is, the economy has not been formed well in the gold rush. the upper midwest. particularly performed well in my state before i came in the last ticketing kansas we lost private sector jobs, lost. you can't keep doing that. so i come in with a series of policies. all llc. no income tax. create jobs. that is when you're seeing governors, republican governors threat the upper midwest. job creation. so anemic. it is what gives mitt romney as shot in the republicans a shot

to go in an area we have not historically carried. neil: thank you very much. we appreciated. i do want to bring up does speaking right now, on that short list for vice misses a candid it's. he is going to be playing the role of barack obama to help that romney prepare for the upcoming presidential debate. no stranger. as listen to him for awhile. a rising star. when it comes to playing barack obama, dead on accurate impersonator as well. >> restore america's economy and restore the american dream. i have seen edging up close. when i was a kid my dad left his job as a salesman for a big company has started his own business taking a risk. he's sold forklift trucks. my mom was a bookkeeper. she had to borrow money. they had to borrow money from our uncle because the bank would not give them alone. give us money the first few

years. but he never lost his dream. by the time he retired and my brother took over, the business had 200 employees, 200 families in southwest ohio were supported by that business. this is the classic american story, not of government telling us what to do, but of three men and women willing to work hard. neil: you're listening to senator bob or men. it could be just me, because i've heard one of two of these, but all the folks speaking with chris christie last night, we're told paul ryan tonight. they all talk about a childhood that really was not. i am always waiting for the candid. i was born into billions. i have homes all over the planet. i never knew the meaning of want. my idea of a tough time was limited to million know, maybe in the pyrenees, and certainly not the appalachian mountains. we are not going to hear that, but an unusual campaign.

a fellow. he does not come from anything, but he can relate to latter part of that argument. one of the richest people on the planet. and he got that way because he has an uncanny in this night. i could go into all what he does. i can tell you about all the many gifts to charity. he does not like me to talk about that. here is something. he buys into technologies and industry, something the others abandoned or think is going nowhere fast. turns them around. he is like of bain capital, only richard. a very good to have you. how are you doing? >> good to have you. you know the rest. guys like you are just greedy fat cats. the democrats as saying, you don't want to be part of the party that appeals to them. what you think of that? >> well, i think it is silly. it is about the only thing that

they can save. their attitude,-on republicans. they don't have anything positive going for them. neil: what they seem to be saying is that billionaires' or guys who are disproportionately benefiting in our society, and he did know that. and on and on we go. and you are the problem, and we have to address the problem by going after a taxing guys like you. >> get rid of employers you will be very good for the employees. neil: and you were saying why a lot of the guys you know. maybe not quite up you're welcome but all of them who are generally reluctant. what did you mean by that? >> and certainly, people can adjust to good news, business is done is just a bad news. uncertainty is very, very difficult.

as long as we know the rules. can't keep changing the rules. the rules. neil: the rules are what? >> health care, nobody is really sure what that all means. my own guess is it is going to cost people more because that is the history of all government programs. the other uncertainty is the tax uncertainty. the worst of all this regulatory uncertainty. the talk here before about the keystone pipeline. there is no good reason that was decided. we want to go against it. go against it. there is no reason only one export permit has been granted. plenty of applications. sale gas could transform our entire economy. >> you're right. i do want, and insight that i have. if you will, any business that i

can give you, i figure you need help, but i do think in all seriousness it comes down to human beings are united in that we are driven by fear and hope. and we are afraid. we don't spend. we are hopeful we do. if we have something to afford to we will take a vacation or invest. if we don't to money. what do you need to do to get people to look for to something, open their wallets and businesses to hire? down to even folks at home. what do you need to do? >> first of all, people need to have confidence in the government, the administration. nobody has confidence in this administration. neil: wanting there would like to see. >> wanting there would like to see is a lot less regulation. every week, all the information in the test business. then make it harder. that easier.

this mindlessness. neil: all right. good seeing you. good luck. i don't know what happened earlier, but keep it out. neil: thank you. it's an amazing story. dragster riches. that is our country. so, again, i don't care whether you're on the left or right. that is in doing that, and it is amazing, amazing testament to american great. i don't think any rose our bridges made that possible, but that could be meet. the republican, alabama, will be joining me. he is in alabama. all right. there we go. i apologize. i was looking for you here. obviously you are there because of the storm in proximity. apologize. what can you tell us about is it right now? >> well, of course -- neil: senior me? >> sitting louisiana much harder than any other state.

mississippi also. we received a glancing blow here in alabama, we are okay. [applause] neil: now, as most of us, the storm, how are things now? >> well, we are still having some flooding and loss of power down in the southern part of the state. overall we just -- we received a glancing blow. we are really having no problems right now, except for the rain and the loss in power. neil: well, governor, i know we have a bit of an audio delay would you as well. i no you're busy man to lead we appreciate the time. good luck to rest of us. our present to observe with all of you. thank you very much. we do want to update you on the storm that has been in the news. tropical storm, but a bad one. wind in excess of 75 miles-per-hour.

barely been reduced to over 60 miles-per-hour, so it is still very, very serious. the fact that it is this bad still right now for the seventh state running to all oil rigs in and around the persian gulf to why should say, the gulf of mexico, along we, like us said. set down. along those a shutdown, the less oil is refining. getting from that neck of the woods, and a more likely while prices of gas prices rise. that is been exactly what has been happening. the romney energy adviser. a billionaire and his own right, but this is something you can never plan on. i mean, storm like this. a big storm that sort of stays, you know, i faxed you, but you are here to address something far bigger than the start. you think it is our energy policy that keeps prices high. what do you mean by that?

>> we have had a policy scarcity. that has been our can be replaced by one of abundance. there will take care of that and replace that. neil: the governor went out of his way to say we could be energy independent in another eight years. a lot of people said, well. slowdown. neil: we are on our way to have happened. it has been -- been brought about. the presidents of could not stop it. natural-gas. continue to 125. it is also happening with the oil. neil: your view has been don't ever want technology over another. you feel the administration has clearly favored these green

technologies at the stats of oil, the expense of natural gas. the white house people tell me that is not the case. there in on everything. you don't believe that. >> that is not the case at all. we are seeing. neil: and glad you said that. i just wanted to double check. >> that is not the case. certainly we are seeing wind, solar. you know, it is that happening. neil: will watch very closely. >> i'm looking at the next energy. we will talk later. the run the energy adviser. very well connected in energy circles beverages to bring you up to speed on what we are waiting for. not too far away. addressing folks here on the foreign policy, the foreign

policy. senator john mccain. let's not forget, we, as a global power, responsibility to be a global example. that is something that she will be spelling out in much more detailed. when she speaks we will take a little of that. she wants folks to have off-the-cuff remarks, no formal speech. then we have an advanced copy of some of her remarks. obviously she will have something to on the teleprompter so it is not as if she is going to win the whole thing. we will follow that very closely of course paul rhino a teleprompter. pretty good at reading something of a prompter enjoy of prompter. he, too, could be a television anchor its really want to beat. i have a feeling that both have set their sights a bit higher. distaste and led to another republican congressman from the beautiful state of texas. good to have you, congressman.

thank you for coming. >> dougie for having me. neil: energy is a big theme. we talked to a number of guests. you have to pound that. you have to pound the international security. and how we are just sort of at the mercy of not so friendly foreign interests when we are vulnerable. >> well, that is a big deal. in the sunday but energy in texas. we produce a whole lot more of it if the president would let us. the president has fallen. declared war on carbon based energy. america wants to go back to work , and america cannot go back to work with the price of gas is double under his watch. the new technology, horizontal drilling, for the first time in my life when somebody says american be totally energy independent engineers to my note to be true. neil: i never know whether both parties are jiving as of this month, no offense. when i hear the president say,

you know, republicans talk a good game, but they have vast tracts of land that they're not touching because maybe it is either expensive or wasted their time. they're trying to scapegoat on something else. it is not them, not wanting to invest the money. what to use a? >> why don't we just let the market work and see what happens? part of the problem, as you know, we have not build a refinery here regeneration. as part of a challenge. a huge part of the challenge continues to be the economic uncertainty that the president, it is all it's a links, the taxes, the regulatory burden. so the church is we know the president does not like carbon based energy. i believe in agree energy future. is just not today, and we don't want to force taxpayers to subsidize. we don't want any more solyndra. the people who are experts in

the field to really look in sake of everyone to come every one to two we could be energy independent engineers. that would be used for the economy to be used for national security. you know, the president himself has said if you have cap and trade energy prices are necessarily skyrocketing. the secretary of energy he says jenny to bring gasoline prices up to european levels. tell that to small business people, struggling families. they don't buy into it. neil: it is amazing. one quick. mitt romney get elected president. house republican who started this star couple of years ago. release setting the agenda. >> there is only going to be one president command we want to be romney. but the most important decision he had to make, it will be a

heartbeat away. the house republicans and the guy who wrote this budget. i think the agenda will be a huge part of the room the administration. growth economic-reform, putting the budget on a sustainable path and making sure america continues to be the land of the free in the land of opportunity. house republicans have played a huge role. neil: thinks you very much. very good to see you. enjoy your convention. we will be hearing charlie from paul ryan. mike huckabee. himself a former presidential candidate. a very popular show. but we are going to be hearing from governor huckabee. we're also going to be hearing from a number of surprise guests who are here to buy hollywood interests who are here. a number of these convincing folks, and that that they necessarily replicate themselves in an election, but democrats

have a tough one to top. they seem to be fairly unified. you can agree or disagree, but for the money is spent and for the focus they have they have never ever gotten off message. sometimes that is a sign of a good corporate strategy. it works out for companies. will it work out for this party? we are on it after this. want to try to crack it? yeah, that's the way to do it!

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neil: again, what is happening right now. i was saying before, if you just conventions just on their passion and how unanimous they feel in their convictions and in this case making sure barack

obama is 01 termer, they're pretty good on that score. what do you think? >> you know, and that is it. you had a little bit of an issue yesterday with some paul supporters, a little bit of unity. maybe missing on the floor during the vote in the proceedings, but about as unified as you can get. a lot of that. the lone star state, these folks have been dressing in different uniforms. the flag of texas on the assurance i have to ask you, some of these say don't mess with texas. we will settle this once and for all. what happens if you do? >> we will leave you alone if you leave us alone. if you try to in french and thus we will unite and we will kill you, just like our great attorney general has been doing with the epa in the bunch of others.

>> back in 2010. starting a business. what do you want to see of this ticket? >> it is critical that the federal government get out of the businesses wait. you know, we don't need more reasons to consider not growing when we get to 25 employees or 12 or 50. we want freedom to be a will to go. >> a few very much. all right. live from texas. don't know where i will be next. neil: you are a very gutsy guy. only you can say what happens if you do mess with texas. you are seeing. anywhere alive. congratulations. another gets egad joining me right now. what did they call that?

a close friend of oliver stone and all the others. what i like, you might know, but when they have the occupy wall streeters, he went out and said, all hire some of you. if you want that job, i'll let you occupy a desk and see what you do. he hired one of them, got her own from going, get the ball rolling. they're not all agree selfish pigs. the resolutions. did bug you? did it bug you that that was the rap? you are a financial crowd. >> it is unfortunate. from the top down. some people ask why romney. he is qualified to the confidence in caring. she looked at his track record as a businessman in what he did. a track record of success. you look at it now.

it doesn't compare. he had for years to prove to the country and the world that he could turn the economy around and he hasn't. and here today with a delegation . one thing that is resonating, this idea he didn't really bill that. the rich will pay more. does it make some of your buddies say enough. >> is disappointing. the seductive and the leader or country. that is what governor mitt romney stands for.

it had to happen. neil: this past year, congratulations. that kid must be going. life is dead. life is good. all right. all right. we are waiting. paul ryan. his chance to prove. all the attention and accolade that he got what he was first named. we can say it is an amazing development. this is a guide u.s. in as he was picked for the ticket everyone thought he would hurt the situation in florida. that did not happen. the everyone thought he would quickly have the situation in a lot of vulnerable states. that did not happen. this issue. may be talking tough on spending is not the end of the world.

an issue that this gentleman has been pounding in his own five state. he has been saying, governor, you can get people unpleasant news. there will thank you for. they will punish you for it. >> several republican governors have shown that. mitch daniels. we are doing that, cutting budgets. we have a surplus. we have cut taxes. people understand, you cannot be everything to everyone.

>> i personally think what he said last night, seniors aren't selfish spirit they want to hear the truth. the folks who aren't telling the truth of the folks are saying medicare is going to be the same ten years from now. nobody with any credibility can say that. >> the democrats said that a great job of saying is your truthful about the numbers then you must not have a hard. i would say it's like having one parent say you can eat as care every meal and the other saying that doesn't work.

which really loves to the most. we as republicans. i'm amazed you are a consumer of ice-cream. my parents and not let me have it for breakfast. here is why care. here's a ride to the euros in the back suggesting why we have to make the changes. and doing it because i care. neil: well spoken. we appreciate it. all right. we are waiting to hear. you know, a lot of people asking, what are convinces about . these archaic passe institutions. nothing like conventions when i was a kid when this was actually broken, seven developments, conventions and the surprise announcement, running mates, fisticuffs with an party delegations. sixty-eight, demonstrators and even delegates.

let's make them some magical? the fact of the matter is leading a side their norman rockwell appeal, standard americana. but the fact of the matter is, for a party their all to npr's jim, their impression on the world, the emmy's they want to market to you in the case of republicans, the evans of a party serious about getting spending under control and doing so. we have a practice that in virginia. a republican governor joining me right now. to put it in perspective. it was going all one way for a rock obama after his election. many argue, and there is, indeed, a dna train to this. the governor's election. then soon after words we have chris christie. it was a new way starting where republicans were responding to the excess is a spending, democrats who had not factored in the success of the gentleman to my chris christie in new

jersey and others, letter the republican takeover of the house. in all fairness, even though he is very low-key, not one to get loud, not remotely italian like me. he spoke loudly with his actions very good to have you. very nice job of there. what is your thought about this party, this night, and how it is getting the message have? >> well, there were two objectives of this convention. one is to make sure that people knew that mitt romney is a good, decent man, good family man, loving, loves america. i thought she hit it out of the part of that message. neil: so disappointed that she did not human lazar has been enough to matell more stories or show that he is more than just this rich smart guy. >> that is not the way it affected me. i am the father of five. we listen to that story about the first base and has cool and having that little apartment flat. nothing to talk about after they

got married. i really felt, this is a normal guy. the second thing, even more important. this is not a popularity contest is a serious election. it is about getting the greatest country on our out of debt and back to work. and people are going to vote on the economy, jobs, taxes, energy, spending, not on tax returns and social issues. neil: i'm sorry. you mentioned social issues. our friend. speaking right now. very popular social conservatives. a standout. governor huckabee is speaking. a lot of the social conservatives, well represented. they are espousing. but they are not the big force here. and it is not -- i understand social issues are not unimportant, but it seems that the economy is more important. would you agree? >> absolutely.

we make no apologies for being the party and embrace the protection of human life and traditional marriage a property rights and the second amendment in this traditional liberties. absolutely. the front of the minds of the independent voter, in particular , how do we get this nation out of debt, 16 chilean debt. how do we get people back to work? the policies coming out of washington, hurt the ability tundish america's energy resources. they want solutions on those issues, and that is why i think there will to control. neil: i know you don't like to talk about this sort of stuff, but invariably obnoxious reporters let myself cannot get out of the fact of handicapping the next race. who would be the rising stars to make your name comes up, a guy who is quickly becoming a blue state. we hope some of your pals. finish that in the fall. but that you are a rising presidential star.

>> i will be campaigning for reelection in 2016. make sure virginia stays. i am chairman of the republican governors association. neil: to you think it will? the president has anomaly read no. neil: and virginia we went from eight points down, even in virginia. independent voters breaking seven and ten points for mitt romney in virginia. obviously of canada say if i know where viejo qaeda when the presidency. i think are going to do it. i have always learned, don't look at the hill behind you until you take the helm in front of you. i am sorry about winning this election. a few more republican governors in the future will take care of itself. neil: some falling from your family tree. your daughter. a great speaker. iraqi war veteran. the idea, the idea of service and remembering country in remembering generation responsibilities to the country,

a lot of people, governor clinton to say, that sounds so passe to my cliche, silly. what to use a? >> that's nonsense, and i appreciate your bringing that up. my dad, world war ii that. came off the but a hundred years ago. i learned a lot. my daughter is in iraq. i served in the military. i don't think there is anything better that you can do then use our talents to give back to your community, serve the people i love it. it is filling. i think that the degree that americans would get back, that tradition of service the of the first to governors perry if we ever lose that we will be a very different country. the most generous country on earth, and that is the heart and soul of what americans are all about. we need to keep that are we will be a different nation. neil: thank you very much. always good seeing you. neil: very good.

a little bit. speaking to the crowd right now. every and joining us, the former energy secretary. >> of sterling record of problem solving that has marked the lives of mitt romney. we are confident that we will do better. i am proud to say that romney has been loyal to his lovely wife had not acted out of the park last night in this arena. he has been loyal to his sons, his country, his employees, and to his church. i am sure now that the press is going to tell you, he is a perfect. my friends, for the past four years we have tried the one that the press thought was perfect, and that has worked out all that

well for us. ♪ that is why tonight i tell you, we can do better. >> our founding fathers left taxation and tyranny seeking religious liberty. a society of meritocracy rather than aristocracy. what they created was a bold experiment in government believing that god gave us unalienable rights and that the role of government is simply to make sure that those rights are protected. so the government would grow beyond their intention. even after crafting our magnificent constitution they said, we can do even better. they added amendments. we called them the bill of rights. does bill of rights limit what the government can do, and they

guarantee what we, the people, have the unimpeded right to do, whether to speak, a symbol, worship, pray, publish, or even refuse intrusions into our homes many of those founders died to pass on their heritage. they have lived under the boot of big government, and what they said was we can do better. [applause] as a kid growing up in a household my dad never finished school. i grew up in a family in which no mail upstream from the had never finished high school much less gone to college. i was taught that even though there was nothing i could do about what was behind me, i could change everything about what was in front of me. my working poor parents told me that i could do better. they taught me that i was as good as anybody else, and it

never occurred to them to tell me that i could just rest comfortably and wait for good old uncle sugar to feed me, leave me, and then leave me. [applause] they told me to get off my backside, work hard to my take risk, and treat people honestly and on early off look at me today. i have become, as the press like to label me, a failed candidate. it is true. i have fallen from the hyper to politics. now i wallow in the mud of the media. but i still know that as a country we can do better. and with mitt romney and paul ryan we will do better. neil: all right. the former presidential candidate, arkansas governor, a colleague of mine.

you know, he has done a lot of speaking tips for me over the years. an impressive speaker. there is no denying. that is the charm that paul wright is going to have to roll out tonight. the part of this ticket is already very clear. as smart duo, a very smart duo, but do they have it here? to they have the passion, the chris christie type of in-your-face approach to dealing with the nation's problems that could galvanize voters beyond their respective party? you will see tonight. we have spencer abraham, former energy secretary. secretary, energy is a big thing. so many. they say, this is the party that has to open up the land and get the drilling going and the to the energy options. you can't get out. you agree with that? >> you know, the ability we have, will let the energy sector

loose. create jobs. their global competitiveness is amazing. in a few short years we turn things around to make ourselves less dependent on imported energy. become really a world center for energy again. neil: to you think that the administration might have a second to say we are to fossil fuel dependent. it is not a matter of either or. another is in there and every time the technology goes bust, we are actually cutting off our own hand. we are all the more defensive -- dependent on fossil fuels. >> and all of the above strategy. he does not rule out other options, but we have not just in the natural gas area alone the potential to become the world leader, to be in a situation. neil: governor romney, dreams. that is what a lot of his critics say kutcher the energy independence in under a year.

neil: well, i think that if we are willing to tap our resources and at the same time use and all of the above approach because start to come in that direction. at the same time, create jobs and create exports. through that effort we build this economy. neil: to you get a sense that whether deliberately on the part of the administration costs in the messes that we can do anything. what do you think? >> to some extent, and it is also a reflection of the reality of what has happened in terms of the development of new technology that led as tap natural resources and a safe enormously from the white. heal -- the obama administration seems to want to ignore that. the run the administration will take advantage of it. neil: thank you. you might be noticing, working the crowd right now. he has been having the

university, they'd university, not too far from this locale where he has been preaching the same policies that he is now in the campaign. energy independence. this idea, simple government. a gingrich campaign had some promising starts. not enough might to keep it going. that was that. he just got off the dais seconds ago. joining us right now. former minnesota governor. again, on a short list for vice presidential candidate. once again you are bridesmaid. >> also the second guest on your show. always second. neil: always. >> good to be with you. neil: good to have you. any regrets? starting to fade out early. you got out earlier than anyone. money was and is. mitt romney had it. you did not. what he did.

coming of the gate it made a very tough. >> look. we had our chance. we did not get it done. no excuses. no regrets. the future is doing all we can to get mitt romney elected president. he has all the tools, the experience, maturity, wisdom, judgment, and the right direction. neil: i know this is water under the bridge. really serious about you, and then they went with ryan. four years ago, you get to a point of saying, what is it? >> no, i don't. it is an honor to be considered. i did not expect to be the vice-president this time, a selected to be the nominee, so you can't be disappointed with something you didn't expect. neil: to you think the republicans have a shot at winning here? >> minnesota is an uphill battle. there is a chance. there is hope.

minnesota has not come republican since 1972. neil: that long? >> the longest unbroken streak of any state in the nation. neil: governor, if wisconsin no-shows' a nominal, and i said nominal lead for the republicans, the argument is a spillover across the midwest. to you by that? >> i think there is some direction and momentum that you can have in a region, but each is clearly different which is -- with its own culture and history and tradition. i am hopeful that minnesota can come into play, but if you looked at the history if it is fair to say it is a bit upheld. neil: you heard this job, convincing people that it is up to the job. many people think. the polls make a big deal of this. it has to be psychobabble. i don't know. the president to i don't know how you measure likability. generally is someone gives me a job and makes me feel good i like him.

but be that as a make, does this ticket have to work and that? and have? >> look. each candidate brings strengths or weaknesses to the table. incredible strength. by the way, as a challenger against an incumbent president he is no worse. by many national policy is ahead . neil: the lousy economy. he should be doing better. >> it's hard to beat an incumbent president. and i also say that most people make their final decisions in the paul -- of fall. the gracious kind generous optimistic hopeful energetic man in person that he is. they're going to like him. he did not pander to people. the argument in this day and age , it is going to be nasty. even petty.

and that is just the way it is. the sensitive debate is gone. what you say? >> i don't buy that. obviously in exchange back-and-forth that can get a little sleepy. but i think the voters still want to see, can you bring something to the table? it is not just rhetoric. it will actually solve the problem. neil: thank you very much. a great job. neil: thank you. a rising star in this party already. also among those. that short list. vice-president. she is addressing the crowd tonight on an issue that john mccain touched on earlier, foreign policy. right now. >> thank you very much. thank you. thank you.

>> thank you. thank you. >> thank you so much. good evening. good evening. good evening. good evening. good evening distinguished delegates, good evening fellow republican. the evening my fellow americans. we gather here at a time of significant -- significance and challenged. this young century has been a difficult one. i can remember as if it were yesterday when my young assistants came into my office at the white house to say that the plane and at the world trade center. and then as second planned. and then a third plane home, the pentagon. and later we would learn that a plane had crashed into the fields in pennsylvania, driven

into the ground by brave souls who died so that others might live. [applause] from that day on, from that day on our sense of vulnerability and our concept of security has never been the same. then in 2008 the global financial and economic crisis would stun us. and it still reverberates as we deal with unemployment and economic uncertainty and bad policies that taxed an american economy in recovery that is desperately needed at home and abroad. and we have seen that the desire for liberty and freedom is, indeed, universal as men and women in the middle east rise up to seize it. yet the promise of the arab spring is engulfed in

uncertainty, internal strife, and hostile neighbors. our challenging of the young fragile democracy, dictators butcher their people and threatening regional security. russia and china prevent a response, and everyone asks where does america stand? indeed. indeed. that is the question of the hour. where does america stand? b.c., when friends or foes alike don't know the answer to that question, unambiguously and clearly, the world is likely to that question, unambiguously and clearly come in the world is more likely to be a dangerous and chaotic place. since world war to the united states states has had an answer to that question. we stand for free people and free markets. we will defend and support them.

neil: you are looking at the condoleezza rice address. it was punctuated by america's unique role in the world and that we should never give that up. despite her financial problems, we is the world's leading democracy and uncontested power, without has a great responsibility to protect and shepherd the process along. it is a point that newt gingrich raised often. the former speaker of the house the last republican on capitol hill. newt gingrich. >> great to be here. neil: our economic ills are part of a bigger problem, too. how do we address that?

>> i think this is why, if you look at mitt romney's plan for it prosperity, the number one thing is american energy independence. his argument is that by the end of the decade, you can literally have a north american production so massive that you don't care. you liberate yourself so that you can make decisions based on economic strength and not having fear of what could happen in the strait of hormuz or the version gulf. you know, lastly, the u.s. geological survey increase its natural gas outlook by 42 -- not 20%, to 4200% more natural gas in ohio than they thought there was two weeks ago. because all of this new

technology, all of this innovation, the first step for mitt romney is to get us back to energy independence, which automatically puts our balance of trade, a huge flow of money, creating all those new jobs. rebuild the economy. when you fix this energy problem, you become the leading manufacturer in the world. you lower the cost of manufacturing. by the end of the decade, the number one energy producer in the world, the number one manufacturing producer, we have a positive balance of trade for the first time in a long time. in the world says, wow, they did again. neil: i don't think we can do it again, when you oh, you don't have a lot of wiggle room and

you certainly can't influence policy debate. what is the order of events? >> at the newton university.com site, they walked through the largest thing that comes through. they walked us through what happens in the federal government. about three quarters of a trillion dollars almost overnight. first you fix the economy and you get the economy going. second, you control spending. you don't put paul ryan on unless they are serious about fundamental budget reform. neil: do you believe it is a

conservative ticket? >> i believe that mitt romney reached a conclusion, much like margaret thatcher in the late 1970s. that would take extraordinary and bold leadership and that he wanted to preside over the spread of being a guy that was a turnaround artist at bain capital, being a guy who goes to the country, tells the truth, lays it out and get the country to help him get to the congress to pass things that he couldn't imagine. neil: do you believe this? >> it is a metaphor for this. >> if he had not picked paul ryan, i wouldn't be leaning forward for this. neil: you are a great student of history as well. in 1981 conservatives had the win over moderes with reagan when moderates were getting a

little conservative, and a split race, if you think about it, mitt romney -- without onboard [inaudible] will they get on board now? >> there are maybe 10 people that would've fit the conservative bill. you don't put up paul ryan budget with an architect of another budget. neil: ron paul doesn't. >> that's a game that ron paul plays. [talking over each other] >> i think he is sincere in trying. it's his right to be who he is. in the end, the question i asked ron paul is if you look your grandchildren in the eye and say i helped reelect barack obama. because that's what it is. in the end, there are two votes. a vote for mitt romney and the vote to elect barack obama. april or a libertarian is a vote for barack obama. only one vote squinted to be him and that is governor romney. [talking over each other] neil: the former speaker of the

house, obviously, walking through the delegation. rockstar status of his party. we are watching condoleezza rice address us before the big speech of paul ryan. he will be addressing this crowd and you yes to sell that ticket. unfortunately, paul ryan brought down the house as well. here is what you have to know. i have gained a couple of lines and winked at him he didn't take any of that advice. governor, very good to have you. >> hello, i would do anything for you. neil: you brought this pace down. >> i just hope that i don't have

to have a hazmat cleanup after i came out here. neil: you mentioned something interesting. even have to run anything by the romney folks. but they trusted you. >> they are probably regretting it right now. it's remarkable to me. i spoke at many rnc conventions and i have never had such a level of trust from the candidates at the convention as i did with the mitt romney team. neil: did they prove your speech? >> yes, they proved it. [talking over each other] [talking over each other] neil: doesn't matter? >> maybe they were fearful that no one would be awake to matter what i said. it shows they're playing big boy ball. they surrounded themselves with a lot of adults. people who care deeply about them and the country.

the last thing i would want to do is hurt the romney team. i hope that i didn't. but the most important thing is -- neil: i don't think you did out there. there are a lot of social conservatives that are clear leaders. who are a little put out a place and they feel that yes, we can understand that it's all about winning and they can see all that. >> not all of them. let's face it. when a person runs for the presidency, somebody's going to win and several other people are going to lose and you have to suck it up. as i well know. and you have to accept that people chose someone else. i'm not going to repeat those famous lines. not appropriate for me to say or you hear fred. neil: it's a family show. is it difficult to get on the stage and to think that you look at the crowd, governor, would have should have could have? >> you know, i do not. people say wow, this could've

been my moment, but it wasn't. it's mitt romney's moment. he worked hard and he deserves it. he has earned and he will have the full support of the republican party and he has my full and total support. because this is an issue not about what i would call the small differences between various republicans. the vast difference between the platform and the kind of leadership that he is going to bring, versus, versus leadership of barack obama for the past four years. neil: there's been a lot of mainstream media comments on this convention. clearly some latinos, some eight latino speakers. one publication has said it is the only latino ticket and this is all for show and that this is an elaborate show. how do you answer that? >> let's be honest.

it is a show. of course it is. next week is going to be a show in charlotte. there is no drama. neil: the folks are going to go to charlotte. >> there is no mystery as to who is going to get the nomination. we know about it. the delegates are picked. what it is is an opportunity for the parties and candidates to tell america who they are and what they stand for. when i say that, i say it with all the sense of candor, but also the sense of why not? it is an important show. americans need to know who are these people, whether they stand for. and the political conventions give americans an opportunity to listen very carefully and decide who they think can lead this country. neil: we think of the argument? i don't trivialize it. i think that you can be the smartest guys in the room. you can do that but you will screw up.

sometimes the smartest man in the room has gotten himself in some major debacles. i don't minimize that. that is something the ticket has to work on. having become likable? >> you can't change your personality. nor do i think a candidate shirt. then it looks inauthentic. number one of everything else, people are looking for authenticity and the people that are going to candidates. the analogy that i have used, and i think it works is this. but if you are going to the doctor for routine checkup, you want the doctor to sit down and chat with you and talk about the kids and how razorbacks football is doing. but if you are really sick, you honestly are not interested so much in the doctor's bedside manner as you are in his confidence to treat your illness. i think america is in the icu economically. we are in the icu internationally. and we need the best doctor we can get. when people look at the choices, mitt romney clearly in the world of politics has the advanced

degree and practicing political medicine. neil: the bedside manner is a little important. if you have a good one, you can hear the patients. and i am wondering if that is part of the problem. >> i think that mitt romney is very much in tune with the problems of this country. let's look at his past. he is a guy that went into companies that were in deep trouble. he was able to analyze them and understand them. bring them back to life. that is a real gift, and it's an important one. america needs someone to show who we are and understand after diagnosing is not to say it is someone else's fault, which is what we have for four years. but to say that we will make you better. that is why i believe when americans start looking at this, all of the hope and change and promises in the rhetoric we have had -- we are sick. we need medicine. it has to work.

governor, it's a real pleasure. i made him what he is today. okay. [laughter] neil: we have condoleezza rice continuing on the platform or it is going to be a big theme. it's one i want to pick up on. john mica the final republican congressman from the state of florida. we will be getting you to this issue about how much our indebtedness hurts right now our foreign policy. one of the things that condoleezza rice has been saying, and we have been listening to her comments, it echoes something john mccain said. that when you are in the economic barrel, not only does the world respect you less, but it means you have less influence over the world. and this is something that john mica has said. we have to correct it. very good to have you, sir. you know, it is interesting, the

connection between our economic policy and how it is abroad. >> first of all, you improve the level of leadership. [inaudible] you heard the governor of new jersey last night talking about -- [inaudible] you have had just the opposite. you have to have economic strength, and right now, we are in a very tough economic situation. do people respect the country of greece? no. neil: part of what greece is dealing with is raining in its own entitlement.

it has not gone to that extent here. this is a ticket that is raining in the growth of entitlement spending. and they are risking that in ground zero of entitlements in your fine state. is it going to hurt them? >> well, not if they want a brighter future for americans. you have to candidates two candidates that can make a change in people's lives. people are concerned about their future. [inaudible] [inaudible] >> they are concerned about jobs with security. you have a candidate at the top of the ticket who has taken businesses and turned it around. he has gone into a tough crowd is how does washington.

i see that everyday. he has turned around massachusetts, lower taxes, higher employment. lower unemployment. paul ryan can save medicare and other programs that are now endangered and respect that we should deserve it. because we are strong. neil: thank you very much, sir. there is another big issue dominating the scene. not only foreign policy and how it affects us, but bottom line from the biggest runway topic we have right now is health care. our debt actually takes a backseat to the rising costs of health care. running at a double-digit rate, an increase. overall health care costs in

this country are advancing at an 11% annual rate. 11%. just like the average american receives 2.5%. you could do the math. the president's health health care law was supposed to alleviate that. it seems just the opposite. what is happening here? >> basically, he didn't try to cut our costs. he tried to solve the financing problems. for instance, i'm going to pay 11% in taxes january 1 because of obamacare. neil: we are selling certain assets and properties, medicare,

after the cost -- it will cost us 25,000. neil: when we get to that? >> we don't get anything. obamacare adds no value to the system whatsoever. 2600 pages we have an economic issue. we have doctors who control health care. on the other hand, we have patients under spending money but they're not paying for. fundamentally we have an economic mismatch. neil: the rap against republicans is that they are very good at ripping apart something democrats come up with.

>> from our standpoint, there are some positive things. for instance, you could draft a 20 page bill that talks about conditions in some of these other things that they are selling the whole process on. but what we have to do is go back to the free market and be able to identify patients and doctors working together and having them have an incentive. we have to get patients with an incentive, otherwise it will always be out of control. neil: thank you very much. good luck with everything. i hope you enjoy yourself at the convention. we are only a few minutes away until paul ryan speaks. you probably can't my one-on-one with paul ryan.

it was picked up by all of the media earlier today. this is the one where instantly paul ryan recognized me and wanted to talk. if we still have that available, this was the interview that shocked the world. this is from the few hours ago and do we have that? three this is paul ryan earlier today. neil: how to go out there, congressman? did you get a good feel? are you ready for tonight? how long will the speech be? >> i have been waiting in that way, after he had been practicing his speech. you could see he recognized me. enough with cavuto and you know,

the rest of the story. but in all seriousness, there is pressure on paul ryan. the conservative movement and getting spending under control. the trouble is that paul ryan comes after chris christie last night. >> artisoft governor christie and it will not listen to all those people. all the political classes didn't get to speak. neil: that was not a speech with folks in this room. >> it was a speech for the people of the country. he needs to speak to his big challenges. he is a good-looking guy and he's intelligent. what he has to do in the obama

effort to demonize him -- with a look at and what he needs to do is get beyond the more they can't touch him tonight. he has to not only speak to the base. neil: they also have to package it? >> that's right. neil: by the way, the democratic convention is next week, too. does he need it -- does he need to present an image? in other words that is not a hatchet i. >> that is not a hatchet i and an ideologue grid which i think you can do. neil: ronald reagan could be an ideologue. >> he was also a democrat. in his early life. so he connected in a way. he understood because he came from a background. which is the problem right now for mitt romney.

with working-class democrats and independents, this could really move them. they are going to try to make ryan into a caricature. it is up to him to show that he is approachable and thoughtful and that he cares on picking up on christie's theme, what is at stake. neil: you heard the post wortham on chris christie. he didn't mention mitt romney. do people really pay attention to that? >> the only people who do -- it's what i predicted to you, right away, the political people, those who live in the belly culture, they wouldn't give that speech. that is what speech wasn't for them. it was for the people here in the people in the country. but i reread it this morning and went through the whole thing. the amazing things he said. it really resonated powerfully with people.

what i would like to say is something important. i'm starting to sing chanting something about mitt romney. neil: you mean to everyone. your nasty in a good way. [laughter] [laughter] >> i'm just harsh. romney is showing a talent to let other big people around him and not be afraid of that. i have seen politicians who are afraid of having someone who might outshine him. the romney campaign vetted the speech and approve it. they knew what they were getting, and that's a good sign for my romney. he loves having paul ryan what

i'm saying is he doesn't mind having great leaders. i'm not sure that we shouldn't be asking questions -- we need someone who is noninteger have other stars around him. that is the really successful type of leaders. neil: before we go to the video on the congressman, what does he need to do? in the end, what judges access? >> success because every convention has a different problem it is trying to deal with were something they are trying to advance. every convention should be judged. can they raise the stakes high enough and make this election about something more tan i want to be elected and replace the other guy. that is why i said the chris

christie speech is important. paul brian is important for drawing the intellectual case. the payoff tomorrow night will be it governor romney can meet the bar that he has let other people set. if he does, and offer up that i can make things better -- he doesn't need the negative. he needs this convention. neil: at the very least you can do no harm. you can't be divided and crossover. >> no, that would be a disaster. neil: that's what happened with democrats in the 1980s. >> that's exactly what happened. it happened in 1976 with reagan and ford and carter and kennedy and in 1980. they have to come out and say something. solve something. neil: thank you very much. this is the man.

changing the room's perspective. paul ryan. >> the promise of america. his leadership begins with character and values. he is a person of great steadiness. whose integrity is unquestioned and his word is good. he understands the fiscal challenges facing america and the catastrophe that awaits us if we don't change course. today's a good day for america. there are better days ahead. >> when i look at all he has done, his wife and family, i am just so proud. i know his father would be as well. especially tonight. >> i am so proud to introduce my husband, the next vice president of the united states, paul ryan. [applause] [cheers]

>> hello, everybody. hello, everybody. [cheers] [applause] >> thank you. thank you. thank you very much. [cheers] [applause] >> thank you. in wisconsin -- thank you. thank you. [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] >> you guys are great, thank you so much. thank you. mr. chairman. mr. chairman, delegates, and fellow citizens. i am honored by the support of

this convention for vice president of the united states. [cheers] [applause] i accept the duty to help lead our nation out of a jobs crisis and back to prosperity. and i know we can do this. [applause] i accept the calling of my generation to give our children the america that was given to us with the opportunity for the young, and security for the old. and i know that we are ready. our nominees are ready. his whole life prepared him for this moment. to meet serious challenges in a serious way without excuses and words of access.

for years of getting the runaround, america needs a turnaround and the man for the job as governor mitt romney. [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] >> i am a newcomer to this campaign, so let me share a first impression. i have never seen opponents so silent about their record. so desperate keep their power. they brought up ideas. there moment came and went. fear and division is all that they have left. with all of their attack ads, the president is just throwing away money. he is pretty experienced at that. [laughter]

[applause] >> you see, some people can't be dragged down by the usual cheap tactics. because their character and ability and play and decency are so obvious. ladies and gentlemen, that is mitt romney. [cheers] [applause] >> for my part, your nomination is an unexpected turn. it certainly came as news to my family. [laughter] i would like you to meet them. my best friend and wife, liza, my daughter liza, and our boys charlie and sam.

[cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] >> the kids are happy to see their grandmother who lives in florida. there she is, my mother, betty. [cheers] [applause] >> my dad is a small-town lawyer named paul. until we lost him when i was 16 years old, he was a gentle presence in my life. i would like to think he would be proud of me and my sister and my brothers. [cheers] [applause] >> you know what? i am sure proud of him and where i come from. janesville, wisconsin.

i live on the same block where i grew up. we belong in the same parish where i was baptized. janesville is that kind of place. the people of wisconsin have been good to me. i try to live up to their trust. now, i'm asking those hard-working men and women to join our cause and get this country working again. [cheers] [applause] when governor romney asked me to join the ticket, i said let's get this done. that is exactly what we are going to do. [cheers] [applause] president barack obama came to office during an economic

crisis. as he has reminded us of time or two. [laughter] those are very tough days. any fair measure of his record has to take that into account. my home state voted for president obama. when he talked about change, many people like the sound of it. especially in janesville. we were about to lose a major factory. a lot of guys i went to high school with worked out that at that plant. right there at that plant, candidate obama said i believe that if our government is there to support you, this plant will be here for another 100 years. that is what he said in 2008. well, as it turned out, that plant did not last another year. it is locked up an empty tuesday. that is how it is in so many counts. the recovery that was promised is nowhere in sight.

right now, 23 million men and women are struggling to find work. 23 million people are unemployed or underemployed. nearly one in six americans is in poverty. millions of young americans have graduated during the obama presidency, ready to use their gifts and get moving in life. half of them can't find the work they studied four or any work at all. so here is the question. without a change in leadership, why would the next four years be any different than the last four years? [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] the first troubling sign came

with a stimulus. it was president obama's first and best shot at fixing the economy. at a time when he had everything he wanted under one-party rule. it costs $831 billion. the largest one-time expenditure ever by our federal government. they went to companies like solyndra with their goldplated connections, subsidized jobs and make-believe markets. the stimulus was a case of political corporate welfare and cronyism afterwards. you are cut out of the deal is the american people of this country. what if taxpayers get out of the obama stimulus? they got more debts. that money wasn't just spent and wasted. it was borrowed, spent, and

wasted. maybe the greatest waste of all was time. here we were, faced with a massive job crisis so deep that everyone out of work stood in single file, that unemployment line would stretch the length of the entire american continent. you would think that any president, whatever his party, would make job creation and nothing else his first order of economic business. but this president did not do that. instead, we have a long, divisive, all or nothing attempted for the federal government in charge of health care.

obamacare comes to more than 2000 pages of rules, mandates, taxes, fees, and finds that have no place in a free country. [cheers] [applause] that's right. do you know what? the president has declared that the debate over government controlled health care is over. that will come as news to the millions of americans who will elect mitt romney so we can repeal obamacare.

[cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] the biggest and boldest power-play obamacare came at the expense of the elderly. you see, even with all the hidden taxes to pay for the health care takeover, even with the new law and new taxes, nearly a million small businesses, the planners in washington still better have enough money. they needed more. they needed hundreds of billions more. so they just took it all away from medicare. hundreds of billion dollars

approved by obama. the obligation we have to our parents and grandparents is being sacrificed to pay for a new entitlement we didn't even ask for. the greatest threat to medicare is obamacare. we are going to stop it. [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] >> in congress, when they pick up the heavy books and the wall charts about medicare, my thoughts go back to her house on garfield street in janesville. my wonderful grandmother, janet, had alzheimer's. she moved in with my mother and me. though she felt lost at times, we did all the little things that made her feel loved. we had help from medicare.

and it was there, just like it's there for my mother today. medicare is a promise, and we will honor it. a romney-ryan administration will protect and strengthen medicare for my moms generation, my generation, and for my children and yours. [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] our opponents can consider themselves on notice. in this election, on this issue, the usual posturing on the left isn't going to work. mitt romney and i know the difference between protecting the program and reading it. ladies and gentlemen, our nation needs this debate. we want this debate. we will win this debate.

[cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] obamacare, as much as anything else explains why a presidency that began with such anticipation now comes to such a disappointing close. it began with a financial crisis. it ends with a job crisis. it began with the housing crisis that they alone did not cause. it ends with the housing crisis they didn't correct. [cheers] [applause]

it began with a perfect aaa credit rating for the united states. it ends with a downgraded america. it all started off with stirring speeches. greek columns, the thrill of something new. all that is left is a presidency adrift. slogans that are tired, grasping a moment that has already passed. like a sailboat trying to sail on yesterday's window. [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] you know, president obama was asked not long ago to reflect on any mistakes he might have made. he said well, i have not

communicated or not. he said that his job is to tell a story to the american people. is if that is the whole problem here? he needs to talk more, and we need to be better listeners? ladies and gentlemen, these past four years, we have suffered no shortage of words in the white house. what is missing is leadership in the white house. [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause]

[cheers] [applause] the story that barack obama does tell, forever shifting blame to the last administration is getting old. the man assumed office almost four years ago. isn't it about time that he assumed responsibility? [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] in this generation, a defining responsibility of government is to steer our nation clear of the debt crisis while there is still time. back in 2008, candidate obama called a 10 trillion-dollar national debt unpatriotic.

serious talk from what looks like a serious performer. yet, by his own decisions, president obama has added more debt than any other president before him. more than all the trouble governments of europe combined. one president, one term, 5 trillion new debts. he created a new bipartisan deck commission. they came back with an urgent report. he sent them on their way, and then did exactly nothing. republicans stepped up with good paper forms and solutions equal to the problems. out of did the president respond? by doing nothing. nothing except to dodge and demagogue the issue. here we are. $16 trillion in debt and still,

he does nothing. in europe, massive debts have put entire governments at risk of collapse. still, he does nothing. all we have heard from this president and his team are attacks on anyone who dares to point out the obvious. they have no answer to this simple reality. we need to stop spending money we don't have. [cheers] [applause] my dad used to say to me, son, you have a choice. you can be part of the problem,

or you can be part of the solution. the present administration has made its choices. mitt romney and i have made hours. before the momentum overwhelms us all, we are going to solve this nation's economic problems. [cheers] [applause] i am going to level with you. we don't have that much time. but if we are serious and smart and lead, we can do this. after four years of government trying to divide up the wealth, we will get america creating mop again. with tax fairness and reform and we will put government back on the side of creating jobs. and the men and women who need

jobs. my mom started a small business. and i have seen what it takes. my mom was 50 years old when my dad died. she got on a bus everyday for years and wrote 40 miles each morning to madison, wisconsin. she had learned new skills to start her business. it wasn't just a new livelihood. it was a new life. and it transformed my mom from a widow in greek to a small businesswoman whose happiness wasn't just in the past. her work gave her hope. it made our family proud. to this day, my mom is my role model. [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause]

[cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] behind every small business, there is a story worth knowing. all the corner shops in the towns and cities, the restaurants, cleaners, gyms, hair salons, hardware stores -- these didn't come out of nowhere. a lot of her goes and each one. if small business people say that they made it on their own, all they are saying is that nobody else works seven days a week in their place. nobody showed up to open the door at five in the morning. nobody did their thinking and worrying and sweating for them. after all that work and in a bad

economy, it sure doesn't help to hear from the president that government if the credit. what they deserve to hear is the truth, yes, you did build that. [cheers] [applause] we have a plan for a stronger middle class with a goal of generating 12 million new jobs over the next four years. in a clean break from the obama years. frankly, from the years before this president. we will keep federal spending at 20% of gdp or less. because that is enough.

[cheers] [applause] the choice is whether to put hard limits on econom growth were hard limits on the size of government. we choose to limit government. [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] i learned a good deal about economics in america read from the author of the reagan tax reforms, the great jack kemp. [cheers] [applause] will gave jack that incredible enthusiasm was his belief in the possibilities of free people and the power of free enterprise and strong communities to overcome poverty and despair. we need that same optimism right now. in our dealings with other nations, a romney-ryan

administration will speak with confidence and clarity. whenever men and women rise up for their own freedom, they will know that the american president is on their side. [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] leaving allies to doubters and adversaries to test us, we will act in the conviction that the united states is still the greatest force for peace and liberty that this world has ever known. [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] president obama is the kind of politician who puts promises on

the record and calls that the record. but we are four years into his presidency. the issue is not the economy that barack obama inherited. not the economy that he envisions. but this economy that we are living. college graduates should not have to live out their 20s in their childhood bedrooms, staring at obama posters and wondering when they can move out and get going with life. [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause]

[cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] everyone who feels stuck in the obama economy is right to focus on the here and now. i hope you understand this, too. if you are feeling left out were passed by, you have not failed. your leaders have failed you. [cheers] [applause] none of us should have to settle for the best this administration offers. a dull and adventure with journey, a government plant life. a country where everything is free but us. [cheers] [applause] listen to the way we are spoken to. [cheers] [applause] [cheers]

[applause] is into the way the we are spoken to already. is it everyone is stuck in some class or station in life. victims of circumstances beyond our control. with the government there to help us cope with our fate. it is the exact opposite of everything that i learned growing up in wisconsin were at college in ohio. [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] when i was washing dishes and waiting tables, i never thought of myself as stuck in some station and mike. i was on my own path in life, an american journey where i could think for myself and decide for myself and define happiness for myself. that is what we do in this country. that is the american dream. that is freedom, and i will take it any day over the supervision

and sanctimony of these government planner is. [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] by themselves -- by themselves, the failures of one administration are not in mandate for new administration. the challenger must stand on his own merits. you must be ready and worthy to serve in the office of president. we are a full generation apart. governor romney and myself. in some ways, we are different. there are the songs on his ipod, which i have heard on the campaign bus. and i have heard it on many hotel elevators. [laughter] [applause] he actually urged me to play some of the songs or the

campaign rallies and i said, look, i hope it's not a dealbreaker, but my playlist starts with ac/dc and ends with led zeppelin. [cheers] [applause] the generation apart, but that doesn't matter. it makes us different, but not in any of the things that matter. mitt romney and i both grew up in the heartland. we know what places like wisconsin and michigan look like when times are good. we know what these communities look like when times are good. when people are working. when families are doing more than just getting by. and we know it can be that way again. we have had very different careers. mine in public service and his mostly in the private sector. he helped start businesses and turned around failing ones. by the way, eating successful in

business -- that's a good thing. [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] mitt romney has not only succeeded, but he has succeeded where others could not. he turned around the olympics at a time when a great institution was collapsing under the weight of bad management. overspending and corruption. it sounds kind of familiar, doesn't it? he was a republican governor of the state were almost nine and 10 legislators are democrats. yet, he balanced the budget without raising taxes. unemployment went down. household incomes went up.

massachusetts saw its credit rating upgraded. [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] mitt and i also go to different churches. but in any church, the best kind of preaching is done by example. and i have been watching that example. the man who will accept your nomination tomorrow is purple and faithful and honorable. he offers an example of marriage at its best. not only a fine businessman, he is a fine man. worthy of leading this optimistic and goodhearted country. our faiths come together in the same moral creed.