names. >> and joannie wrote, saying i hope president obama puts bain on the table in next debate since if was clear from the first debate he does not understand a single thing about business. >> that is it for us, special live coverage of that debate is next, good night from new york. >> here is neil cavuto. neil: get ready for rumble in hofstra but it is close to a rematch with barack obama and mitt romney, from a forum that will be a desperate move on the part of the president to make things right from what turned so wrong about two weeks ago.

this is the scene at long island hofstra university, a forum you will have 82 average americans, presumably all undecided. i don't know how they prove that. i have no idea, but they are in there they are undecided. they all submitted their questions to the even mad rate -- moderator, candy crowley who caused a dust up not long ago, saying she had the liberty to ask other questions beyond what were coming out of the questioners, after they are submitted if she wants clarification, she is free to do that causing angst. i wanted to some clarification, candy was not moving off the reservation, turns out all sides agree she could clarify but she is not supposed to re-ask or go into a new area, hopefully all

egoes were assuaged and we could move on. this is a night both issues foreign and domestic affairs likely and will come up, but these questions are raised by average folks who are said to be undecided. alan simpson wants to make sure among those questions raised will be debt, deficits, i think it will is fair to say, alan, co-chair. they will be. what do you think, how do you think the candidates respond to the environment like this? >> well, i think for someone so say when one of you will do the best job of restoring solvency of social security over 75 years, then they will turn as white as your shirt, that the not work well. then somebody will say what will do you about a $16 trillion debt, and the deficit, can you tell us really, and be specific. let me tell you, it will -- as i say, it will look like fred a

stair on steroids as they tap dance through that. neil: maybe not, maybe they will surprise you. >> they have, to somebody in the audience according to polling the people of america are asking about the debt and deficit. neil: a lot more. >> especially women, which since arresting. neil: we're -- when is interesting. neil: we're told they can't ask a follow-up, i can't imagine a couple are not tempted to, do you believe they are all undecided. >> no, i can't believe that, i like your view, to get a ticket in i'm undecided. neil: and last within 10 points to barack obama. most of country was 4 years ago, but, it is possible you could get plants in the audience. >> i think you will get every question that every american wants to ask, when erskine and i go around the country talking

about debt and deficit we irritated everyone. neil: he has not but you have. >> i know, i try. my wife told me like living with me is a religious exer ier expea living hell, no. neil: you were doing one commission forum last night. >> we did one here, we do a half our or 45 minutes of questions, you get the best questions, than any narrator gives. >> you there was a news network that snipped that notion of average americans taking time away from important journalists, what do you make of that. >> have you as many goofies in your profession as we have. >> you are right, average joe and joanne's get to the heart. >> if this is the audience they have described, you get every

question that every pundit has said, why don't they do this. they read, and write, they are smarter than their elected officials who are worshipping the god of reelection. neil: a forum like this can work for you if you are good at it. both of these guys, i say, look at tell are pretty good at this forum. will style make a difference? will how you present versus what you say matter just as much? >> it will. and last time the commanding performance was romney. i think that the president you know -- they have him all juiced up now. neil: but not like abide en is he? >> no. neil: what did you think of that. >> people keep calling me, say did you hear that joe biden got his foot in his mouth, i said no but i've done as much of that as

he has, i don't agree with joe. but i did think a bit too much of the dismissiveness. ryan i thought handled it well. but that is joe. neil: your argument. anything that stopped would have been a freefall post president's debate i guess you could argue would be a victory for biden. right. >> i think that people gained something, by watching two people, and watch their demeanor, some were offended by joe, and some ryan, i thought it was a wash, tonight is quiz night at the opera. neil: if the debt does not come up, or they don't answer it satisfactorily. what does alan simpson do tomorrow? >> i don't have to, they are call bob schieffer for next debate, they will is a bob, you are key ask them this question, bob schieffer will do it, he gets to pick his questions, in

the next one in florida. neil: okay. very good, i have a tight time schedule. >> you call this -- from manila. neil: something like that. nothing. you say, i know you have to run in there, take a chill pill. alan simpson, all right, we'll take a quick break. a couple things are going to be different about fox business. which has senator torn. we're going to be surveying you throughout the evening, go to fox business tell us how you think it is going, you can tweet, we'll be monitoring it as the debate ensues, a chance for your instance reaction, and we'll monitor foreign market reaction as it comes in, first debate had a pronounced affect on foreign markets.

they were surprised. we'll follow our futures markets and any announcement that is due out, this is something you combine with general news and business news, it makes a very, very nice salad. that is my little italian thing, i'm done with that we have governor bobby jindal coming up. he said, that is romney ryan has already given enough specifics to earn elections. music is a universal language. but when i was in an accident... i was worried the health care system spoke a language all its own with unitedhealthcare, i got help that fit my life. information on my phone.

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on both sides before and after all this, every time i see this scene, i don't mean to be disrespectful it reminds me of the pbs pledgeathon, where you get a mug and an umbrella, if you pledge a lot you get a mug and an umbrella. i think you know the spin on the spin, everyone beforehand comes in low balls their candidate's expectations then they come in say how positively brilliant they were, and there in lies the debates on debates, whether you believe what they said prior or after, governor bobby jindal said prior and after guillermo governor romney. this is a town hall forum they can't go at each other. >> i almost feel bad for the

president, i don't care if he had speaking abilities of president clinton and churchill put together. people said he didn't show up, he needs to drink his red bull, and have his caffeine, and be be aggressive, that is not it he has had a bad 4 years. the facts are a disturbon thing, and second thing that i think that governor romney did so well last time, and i think he will do well tonight. neil: you don't think there is more press for him tonight because he did so la last time. >> so yes, we have obsidia be os distorting governor romney's records, i people saw him, and thought wait a minute he is not that evil guy that we've been hearing about from the obama team. the president cannot run on his

record. neil: he argues, about that, not surprisingly, i am putting you down as a no on obama. but i think he did a poor job selling it he will look at the same numbers and say, the jobs have been looking up, and lately data and industrial production have been looking up and wall street has been looking up, you are right always in the eye of the beholder, but he did not bring his a game. >> have you heard any new policies from this president? his message is yeah things are bad but they could have been worse. not an inspiring message, net household worth is at a two decade low. and inial income down since he has been elected. >> can he do that in this forum. you are answers questions from average joe and joannes who we're told have very good

questions, candy crowley decides, which get questioned. maybe she can pinpoint them a little bit better, but a dozen wechtquestions asked each with 0 second to 2 minute response. you have a returning knock out. >> no, i don't think that it allows them -- i think you are right, he has to be careful, he become across like vice president biden if too aggressive. neil: the aggressive thing with biden did not bother me as much as that spooky joker smile, a little bit was okay, but he would not stop. >> he did not look comfortable. the take away tonight, americans are asking themselves, are we better off than 4 years ago, the answer is no. and we're becoming more like europe, when it president gets off the teleprompter he tells us

what he really believes, like the private sector is doing fine, and you didn't build that and american people are lazy and soft, i think he is telling us what he believes, american people saying we don't want to be like europe. neil: they say he has never had two back-to-back poor performances. >> he cannot change his record, american people know we're not better off, this is not sustainable, we don't want to mortgage our children's future. neil: are you holding any position in the romney cabinet. >> i have a great job as governor of louisiana. i want to be there. neil: you say no. >> i'm doing everything i can to help him get elected but i like my job in louisiana. neil: governor bobby jindal, from louisiana, once considered

for number 2 spot on the ticket. you never know with politics, you never know what can happen in a debate. silly things can get noteitionoticed, iguarantee youe every since george bush sr. looked at his watch in middle of a debate, one dates have -- candidates have sworn off watches in debates. more after this. ♪

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neil: a lot of you. what to know what is fox business difference covering these evens, this is one of them, looks at futures markets as they are trading and foreign markets. we had a big run-up in underlying markets today, which has been a trin oo late after what was a steady week of battering in stocks. but some are convinced that maybe technology will turn things round, better days ahead, ibm and intel out with numbers a tiny bit better than expected. i want to switch to venue here hofstra university, the candidates will go at it, at it may not be the operative word. it is a forum, 82 average americans, we're told are undecided. i don't know how they arrive, they call them, say are you undecided, sure? can i get in this debate? i'll be undecided. i don't mean to be jaded but

there is really no way to prove it, anyway, they submitted their questions already, candy crowley is going through them, she will the questions she wants. they will not ask follow-ups but she is free to for clarification, we have mayor chrystyne reed of the fine city of atlanta, that is a multitiers process that could hurt president obama. >> i think that president wants to draw a sharp contrast, and address issues fully. >> it did not happen last time. >> we all haved about days. neil: you had a thousand debates, you did not have a bad day. >> but he is responsible for keeping the country safe. neil: he seemed bummed out, it

could have been the altitude or he had no response to someone directly. >> i don't think that is the case, he has been running the country for almost 4 years, i think that the responsibilities that come with being president are different, i think governor romney has been at this five 1/2 and a half years. president walked into a debate. neil: you are not doing the low balls the president thing ahead of this then afterwards saying he was a generous. >> no like the ali, and frazier fight of '71. history remembers winners. neil: so this case, it is -- the second crucial fight. >> correct. neil: muhammad ali comes back with a vengeance, but i argue,

it is mano a mano. >> yes it will be a good night for america, neither one of look at audience in the eye and be dishonest. neil: i wonder, bill clinton was very good in this forum, he could take whatever question was asked him and bring it to a narrative about time for change. bush senior years, getting long in the tooth, they never really answered a question at hand. >> they will answer tonight. and both of the men are going to force each other to answer. good thing about the debate, tonight is both of these people who are men who did well when their backs up against the wall. neil: you are right about that. and you think the president as

well. >> i think so. neil: the democrats are getting nervous that their guy could lose. >> no, i don't know any democrats that are nervous, i think that everyone knows that president is feeling good, we take our hand every time. neil: are you surprised he is trailing in national polls now. >> well,. neil: things could change. >> he is winning a majority of swing states, let's be fair, winning ohio. neil: a few points. you are not nervous. >> i believe it is 4 points, i believe he will win florida. neil: you think he will win florida? >>ia. w yeah and we could all go homee night. neil: there is something to be said of that, thank you very were. >> thank you. neil: on the falcons i don't

know what to make of them. >> 6 and 0 a new stadium coming to town. neil: really. >> yes. >> when we comeback, we have schwab's read on this. he said it has to do with the economy stupid, who is right, the mayor or the millionaire? after this. the millio million air. all eyes, right here.

his is our year. i thought it was last year.. turns t i was wrg. none of us would walk in here and settle. that's how we are! i forgot what i was going to say. patrick, i want 100% commitment! because i care man, ok? who are we!? 49ers! 49ers! 49ers! yeah! [ all cheering ] what the heck is going on in here? sorry coa, i just got a little carried away.

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neil: all right, our screen will tell the story in the debate will tell the story and your chance to tell the story you think as the debate is progressing who is winning go to foxbusiness.com/cavuto and vote

as it is ensuing. you can keep score and we will relay what you are saying and how you're voting in what you are thinking moving the dial. we learn a lot from that, lot of you e-mailing me personally in the last couple of debates in your thoughts on everything from the vice presidential one, joe biden smiling to paul ryan's obsession with drinking water. you name it, heard a lot from you on points that were making sense and others that were nonsensical. just how people step back and look at the debate. the nation's first homeland security secretary, former governor of pennsylvania watching closely with your state now considered up for grabs, unthinkable but is it really doable? >> first of all there are a lot of independent democrats in pennsylvania. secondly i think people are paying a lot more attention over the past three or four weeks.

last time i checked it was four. they want a decisive problem-solving leader. i haven't seen that with the incumbent. they want a man who can articulate a vision. we have not heard anything from obama other than the same period when unemployment is up, the deficit continues to grow, also there's a big difference with regard to energy independence and that is a national security issue and natural gas in pennsylvania they understand a lot of family sustaining jobs in those directing those industries and indirectly that could make a difference. neil: updating the folks not familiar, huge positive natural gas and almost like gold in some respects. >> a little in new york, some

pennsylvania and west virginia. neil: it is that don't touch it. >> the epa will look at the process. a thousand, 10,000, looking at the water quality. neil: it is a big message in ohio. homeland security secretary, that the president did not know and could not have been briefed on those developments in benghazi. you are part of the briefings, i am sure it had to come up. >> you know, i was not fair, but i have a strong feeling that

displayed clinton taking a hit at the top, the thing that bothered me the most was happened on september 11, 7 days later on david letterman the president of united states was still talking abbut a spontaneous reaction to that ugly film, so in that seven days if they didn't kkow, shame on them. if they know and are not willing to be forthcoming with america, shame on them. neil: when joe biden said no one told us, hillary clinton today saying well, this is at the state department, how could they know? and i'm reminded of the security briefings, chief of staff in the wash senior white house and said that would almost have to come up. >> every day under president bush when i was there, sometimes even saturday and sundays, there was a national security briefing

with a significant part of that briefing. neil: what if you don't read the briefing? there are other people who brief you, right? >> normally president bush would look at it every night before he went to bed. neil: the morning briefing, you should know. if it wasn't part of the briefing, that should be discerning. >> if it wasn't told that day, so be it. but the next day, 24 hours when it is quite clear there wasn't a spontaneous response to the film, a preordained, organized attack, the next day for sure. the secretary of state is to blame, intelligence community is to blame. they may have sent a message come around to us, the fact is they knew and didn't disclose it or they didn't know and should

have. the ultimate accountability for that. neil: know you try to resist being petty in something like this, but i spoke too many who say boy, they were hot to trot, say what george bush did and when he knew about weapons of mass instruction with the same questions are asked of this president, a very different story. >> they are absolutely amazing. at the end of the day, the accountability, they are round like peacocks because they got bin laden. all right, some credit is due, you get it. how about this one. are you not accountable for this failure of intelligence gathering? neil: you don't think it will come up tonight? >> i think it should. neil: thank you very much. or first homeland security secretary. you know the drill, they're

explaining the drill how 82 folks randomly selected all undecided voters we are told have already submitted their questions, the debate facilitator, not a moderator, chooses what are going to be asked of each candidate, each candidate getting two minutes to respond. maybe getting a dozen questions in. and there you go. about 90 minutes. charles schwab on what is at stake tonight. and what is at stake for our country well beyond tonight.

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nothing can reverse copd spiriva helps me breathe better. (blowing sou) ask your doctor out spiriva. neil: all right. we told you we want you to be part of this show and engage in this progres process and tell ut you think not jus just talking o pundits but talking to the newsmakers, getting for market reaction, hearing from you.

you're already getting tweaked to that effect. this one i personally love. for the first time tonight i set my dvr to o'reilly and i am watching you live. you are very entertaining. oh, behave. and we will get a lot more like that, no doubt, tonight. not only the tweets but on fox business.com/cavuto. respond with what you like, what you don't like. who you like moore, who you like less and see if we can gather anything from that. back to our guests and what is at stake. charles schwab, the big mutual fund, personal investing, average investor, he is for mitt romney di.

they will not be a drain on the treasury, in the end the governor is right, they will be revenue neutral. i asked him to explain that, this is how he did it. >> i think the more successful people in our society will likely place more in the way of taxes. neil: slightly more example, people would care more? >> what he pays more in in the way of taxes. in my case i looked at the bill very carefully and yes, there will be a reduction in the tax rate, but they will certainly take away. neil: you'll end up paying more under romney? >> i likely would. neil: and you are okay with that? >> if we can get the country turn around and get back to where growth counts, where success counts as good things, not as negative things. neil: finally, am i looking at a romney administration and the

next treasury secretary or federal reserve chairman? >> thank you for the compliment, but that is not what i am thinking about. neil: do either one of those jobs entice you? >> i know some confident younger men that would take the role and probably do a good job. neil: what is your advice? >> this issue of savings for seniors really is an important issue for me and that is one of the key reasons why i have supported the romney-ryan take it because i think they will get the economy moving. you heard them talking about employment reduce, that rates won't go up, that is the secret sauce that needs to happen, that is what is not happening with the present administration. neil: charles schwab, mena could have a positive role in the romney administration.

some have mentioned the possible federal chairman issued. sun microsystems chairman and romney backer joins me now. talking about what has been of late more of a tidal wave of corporate types speaking out against the president. up until now very few like you, like chuck schwab spoke announced this regard but now more and more are because they're fed up or feel they have less to risk. what is going on with corporate america? >> if you have been in new york and gone to the shows around here do have one called defending a caveman. ceos and small-business owners s are defending the wealth creators. what do people who have wealth? i agree with all that chuck says, but a little bit of a national tragedy that his weal

wealth, which he does for things with as well, he saves it, which lowers the cost of capital so people can run businesses, invest it so people can start new businesses, he gives it away and he spends it. all of which are good, positive thing. government taking it and spending it on pork and cronies this and that, solyndra, public sector unions and all these other things are negative to the society and we are taking away from someone who knows exactly what to do with it and gives it away. if you look at the small businesses where the jobs are being created, one of the things we are doing around the country, i'm heading to colorado during the colorado show in denver on thursday, a small business symposium, there is a website called unleash small business.com. they are going out and signing a

petition saying this is what needs to happen to make small businesses successful. i just signed up today and signed a petition and encourage any small business owner or small business employee who wants to keep the momentum and the jobs that are in that sector of our economy to go to that site and sign up. we've got to get the word out there. neil: what do you fear the most, scott, if barack obama were reelected, what do you fear? >> i fear we become a public sector dominated economy. my biggest fear down the road is when you don't have economic freedom and liberty, you're going to lose your personal liberties, that is what i really worry about. when ceos are afraid to talk out against the government because so much business is done through the public sector, when people are being told how big of a soft drink to drink, they are told what health care they are allowed to get access to, this

was not about big bird, this was about state-sponsored media. these are things i grew up wondering why would anyone have that, what happened to the world of freedoms? economic freedoms are key. i don't agree with all of the social perspectives and republican party has, but i do agree if we don't solve and limit the size of government, we're not going to have a personal freedoms both sides of the aisles expect and deserve for this country. neil: scott mcnealy, great to have you on. >> thank you. neil: they're going over thh rules can be cannot clap, you cannot show any bias, all of that stuff. this is the drill they go through in every debate.

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neil: we have tried to make a point of the town hall forum debate. the heart of american ceo alliance member. what do you think? we talked to the business types large and small and everything in between.

what does it come down to for those who represent and those who want to see represented? >> anybody that watches your show on a regular basis has heard it over and over again. we need a certainty in texas, cerrainty and regulations, a can-do american spirit where we can still build things and get things going in this country where we don't segregate, but celebrate. people that go out and create jobs. we just came back from china, smudges i'd read about china, i was not repaired for what i saw. it was mind-boggling. i quit counting after 100 powertrains. i thought that was an american spirit, we need to regain that kind of can-do spirit. neil: is that your group that

the taxes and regulations they would be more inclined to expand and barring that they don't, that's why they sit on cash or they don't spend it? >> i think people are scared. we have 22 days left to go before we see what direction this country is going. the best way to describe it is kind of like this. we're kind of flat, i think governor romney and congressman ryan get elected you will see the economy pop. with the same kind of enthusiasm was soft and the business community. neil: how do you know that? >> i just think first of all they will give a certainty in the taxes, they will stop the regulatory garage we have had from this group. i'm afraid if we reelect them, everybody will go back, sat down

over the holidays and came back the businesses and said we are hunkering down. neil: thank you very much. we will see if either side begins to address the issues you just outlined. all right, seven minutes away from the top of the hour right now. this will kick off, they're very strict about this, both candidates at the same time. and the questions begin from audience members about the 82 seeded in that realm will have their chance to get their questions asked. what is at stake on this big night as we monitor reaction, for market reaction, asia's market reaction, your reaction, your e-mails, your tweets. not one of you has sent me a facebook. more after this.

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neil: all right. this is the point in each debate where it is so quiet, you can almost hear a pin drop. i think i'm the only one talking in hempstead, new york. i don't know what it is about this minute, peter barnes in spinally, candy crowley has already given the riot act to the people in the room. what can we expect, peter?

>> reporter: well, neil, we're expecting the president is going to come out and be somewhat more aggressive, as i'm sure you've been talking about all night and we've been talking about all day here. governor romney maybe has less at stake tonight as we've also been discussing. but the bottom line is we have about 3,000 credentialed media here, a number of them are sitting out here, and they're all waiting for this debate to get underway. going to be reporting, hanging on every word, and then after that the spin room. this is actually it looks more like a spin room than in denver. remember, we were in denver, and it was like an alley. but this is a room. here's the interesting thing, we have counted up the number of surrogates who are going to be participate anything the spin room tonight. there are serious surrogate inflation going on. we have a pulse screen for you. in denver the obama campaign had five surrogates, tonight it has 22 listed as coming out after the debates including senator dick durbin of illinois showing up for the first time, some

other governors including deval patrick of massachusetts, senator chuck schumer of new york is going to be here to help spin for the obama campaign. the romney campaign, about steady with surrogates, 17 up to 19 tonight. and the feeling here is that the last time around the obama folks, the obama spinners were outgunned. and needed to beef up their ranks tonight. neil? neil: would you say outgunned, peter, were they outgunned or especially after the first debate performance, they didn't want the beating up? >> reporter: yes. neil: or was it just that that was coincidental? >> reporter: first of all, they took their time getting out here because i think as we all saw what was unfolding during the debate, the obama team did have to kind of scramble, and its surrogates in denver took their time, the five official campaign people, david axlerod, jim messina, stephanie