this is a will slow moving storm. it is important for everyone to

remain vigilant. our crews can work in the winds once they go to 45 miles per hour. and again, we are not expecting. no issues with the levee. and we are expecting localized street flooding. we have to pump and get multiteleinches of rain in a short period of time. we are confident systems are in place to respond to that. >> that is good to know how things are going in the city of new orleans. and we'll hand it over to phil keating who is live in alabama with the latest, phil. >> we are in mobile county. 20 miles south of the city of mobile. and 20 miles north that way.

right now, the island is isolated the only way out of there is out. there is no power and so anybody there weathering the storm and hunkering down is absolutely going to be having a stock pile of supplies for the food and water. a great day to heed all warnings . it is approaching 11:00 a.m. . storm surge is six feet and 12 feet in the coast of louisiana. three feet on the florida panhandle coastline. the rain and wind continues. back to you. >> brian: thank you very much. last night ann romney took the stage in a much anticipated speech. she introduced her husband fully . by the way. say hello to the women out

there whom republicans need in their colume. >> gretchen: they are polling better with married women than single and latino women. here is a snippet of the speech. >> mitt will be the first to tell you he is the most important man in the world. he had strong parents and he had the chance to get the education his father never had. but as his partner on the amazing journey. i can tell you that mitt romney was not handed success. he built it. . i read that mitt have a story book marriage. in the story books that i read there were never, long, long rainy afternoons in a house with five boys screaming at once. and those story books never seemed to have a chapter called ms or breast cancer.

a story book marriage, nope, not at all. what mitt romney and i have is a real marriage. i know this good and decent man for what he is. he's warm and loving and patient. this is the man that america needs . this is a man who will make up every day to solve the problems that others can't solve. this is the mann who will work harder than anyone so that we will work less hard. i can't tell you what will happen in the next four years. i can only stand here tonight as a wife and grandmother, an american and make a solemn commitment. this man will not fail.

>> steve: and she was electricifying and condoleezza rice will be with us. at the conclusion of her speech. her husband came out. kiss've a couple of kisses and embraces and took a wave and went up to watch chris christy. >> she didn't yell. she was totally comfortable and i think she loved every minute of it. to me she seemed to be havinga . >> gretchen: she will be with us tomorrow and ask her how she felt if there were nerves. meanwhile someone who was used to taking the stage is governor chris christie of new jersey. he some people said he asked him to tone it now. >> it doesn't matter how we got here. there is enough blame to go around. what matters is what we do

now. see, i know. i know we can fix our problems. when there are people in the room who care more about doing the job they were elected to do than winning reelection and working at this time and achieve principle compromise and give us results for people who gave us the job in the first place. i know. i know we can be the men and women our country calls on us to be tonight. i believe american history tonight. we choose the path that defies our path's history. we answer the call that so many generations had the courage to answer before us . we stand as next president of the united states, together. [applause]

and together, everybody, together, we will stand up once again for american greatness for our children and grandchildren. god bless you, and "god bless america"! >> brian: very, very nice. not the attack dog as a lot of people have seen. >> steve: the campaign believes that the country has a negative view of the president. and so last night with chris christy it was setting up a vision and he has a vision. the republican party has a vision and mitt romney is the man to do it. >> brian: talking about the tough decisions and the american public has the legalness. gretchen, he started out deliberate and direct and by the end, i saw the energy.

>> gretchen: i do think he was toned down. >> brian: you do? >> gretchen: he was not as we have only seen him. but it was appropriate personality for the republican center stage. let us know. you can tweet or e-mail us. coming up in "fox and friends", we are watching a development and bring you the latest on the situation there. >> steve: chris christy said hello to a president and leadership and determines our national security. that's coming up next. >> brian: force a school to hear a hearing impaired page what he said in sign language is too violent. >> steve: are you kidding me? >> brian: i couldn't kid on that. ♪ the one and only, cheerios

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>> i believe in america and her history and only one thing is missing, lead hership. you don't get leadership from reading a poll. you see, mr. president, real dollarers don't follow a poll, real leaders change the posals. >> brian: whether you love or hate him he is a leader. how important is leadership and. as a former contractor with the cia. jeremiah welcome back. first of all 54 percent think that the president's foreign policy is just fine. do you agree? >> absolutely not. the american people don't

understand the dangers that are still on the horizon. we got rid of al-qaida in afghanistan. but as far as the long-term picture of what is happening in that region and shaping pakistan and india and china's role, it is running amok. even iran is part of that scenario. we have no clear leadership . we seem to be managing. >> brian: american people are fatigued of what we are doing internationally and tired of the lack of respect. finding out our guys are killed by the people we are training. what is your answer? >> this is a sad reality of history. history is full of war and conflict. we have to be more proactive. >> brian: we write the story of libya qaddafi is gone. but sarkozy who pulled us

kicking and screaming . in syria. a socialist leader of france who is telling the syrian rebel, you form a government we'll recognize you. we used to do that. >> this president missed incredible opportunities. we had the green revolution in 2009. we could have supported the student movement and mercommant class movement and instead we are faced with an iran with a nuclear weapon on the horizon . we are missing incredible opportunities because of the lack of leadership. >> brian: we don't have the money to invest in the rebel movements. >> there is not a lot of money involved in this. we are talking about specialops and agencies and funding revolutionaries. and we have allies in the

region. saudies for instance that would back roll this. what is missing is a game plan and looks for 6-8 years out. >> brian: in afghanistan we are leaving in a year and we are not looking at a situation that looks good six months or so. >> mitt romney should be talking about bringing to the table karzai in afghanistan. he may not be leaving. last elections were questionable . the next president of the united states needs to be bringing india and china and paction to the table. >> brian: you didn't blink when the bugs blew in and out. i will talk to my colleague steve who is doing okay.

>> we are doing okay. it is a little early. first of the white house said it doesn't leak secrets. new information that shows it gave hollywood, a sneak peek inside of the real osama bin laden raid. and need a ride to the convention? meet tampa's newest taxi driver, me. i have just stolen the car and have no idea about the lay out of the town. i don't know where the street is, i am looking for a chop shot. see what happens when the producers gave me the key to the "fox and friends" chevy blazer. from the university of tampa marching band. ladies and gentlemen, hit it. ♪

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♪ "fox and friends". >> gretchen: 24 minutes after the top of the hour. quick headlines . two southwest flights made an emergency land nothing oakland airport. the first flight was forced to land because of pressure issues and second smoke in the cockpit. both landed safety. timothy cardinal dolan will not only pray in the republican. he will give the benediction in the democratic. neither is an endorsement of either party. >> it is looking like it is.

>> steve: of course we'll be there next week. here in tampa as it turns out. there is a whole fleet of "fox and friends" channel vehicles and they have our likenesses on one of the vehicles and they have shepand greta and bill, and sean hannity. producers gave me the keys to the "fox and friends" vehicle. it is different driving with a car with your face on outside. >> brian: you don't do it at home? >> steve: not really. it is weird to drive. i pulled over and talked to people not only about tampa and the candidates and it was a combination of tampa trivia and a test drive. watch. ♪

it is unsafe me drive talking . >> you are not texts. >> steve: what do you think of the vehicle in >> very foxy. >> steve: what makes it different. >> mr. doocy is in it. >> steve: in it or. >> on it >> foxy wagon. doocy mobile. >> truth yesterday and the american way. >> steve: what do you say. i was thinking of suv steve utility vehicle. >> sure. >> steve: have you been on a vehicle. >> on. i am on this car. no, i thought you meant. >> steve: i don't know where the treat is. i am looking for a chop shop. i, i, i, i. look up. "fox and friends" coming through. ♪ >> steve: you watch much fox. >> watch it in the mornings

and evenings. >> steve: what is your favorite fox show? >> you know a lot about the candidates? >> yes. >> steve: which of the major candidates has four working fireplaces in his house. >> mitt romney. >> steve: wrong. barack obama. >> yeah. >> steve: which of the candidates his freshman high school his report card said you waste too much time in algebraclass. >> i would say romney. >> steve: you are right. which presidential candidate can bench press 200 pands. >> i would think that paul ryan could. >> steve: turns out barack obama. >> i got to go. the guy . s us to move. >> steve: obviously they never are seen game shows.

which candidate worked in baskin robins greing up and doesn't like ice cream. >> that is a good one. >> steve: that is a good one. >> i know you will give me, a, bor c. >> steve: barack or obama. >> barack obama. which major candidate failed kindergarten. >> bill o'reilly. >> steve: no. >> it would be mitt romney. >> steve: it is mitt romney. congratulations. which vice-presidential candidate is famous for pull willing all nighters? >> what kind much. i know that. that was steve doocy >> chris: i am not currentlyy running for president yet. >> joe biden.

>> steve: joe biden. >> is he on the ticket? >> steve: he's running for vice-president. >> no, he is a late night comledy routine. how do you like your city. >> steve: i like it. i am having a bad hair day. >> you look fantastic. >> steve: you said yes on the rain. >> you look great. welcome to tampa. >> steve: thank you very much. >> steve: welcome to tampa. we get the "fox and friends" mobile so we can show up in a car with our face on it. >> brian: if you know what it looks like it might be a high school reunion. is that how you get around steve. >> steve: yes, >> gretchen: thank you for picking us up. maybe pick us up tomorrow morning. >> brian: great job. watching the breaking gepments as hurricane isaac hits

louisiana. and there is more new to report. >> gretchen: no doubt, this was the theme last night. >> he built it. >> built that. >> we built it. >> you did build that in america. >> gretchen: can republicans do a better job in helping maul business owners build jobs. >> steve: first happy birthday to leiah michele of glee. the only 26 year old in high school. >> brian: that we know of. ♪ ♪ [ female announcer ] you can always measure the growth of your children by the way they clean themselves in the bathroom. try charmin ultra strong. with a new duraclean texture, charmin ultra strong helps you get clean. plus it's four times stronger than the leading value brand. and you can use up to four times less.

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we want to be your partner moving forward. so switch to regions. and let's get going. together. >> steve: we begin with a folks news alert. hurricane isaac overturning the levee. seven years ago today the levees were breeched by katrina. some homes are flooded. it is confirmed that people are trapped. maria molina is following isaac in the extreme weather center. and first to elizabeth new orleans. >> hi, steve. yes, you are right. we have reports of --

and the levee topped by water. and hour south of where we are located. that area -- it is under mandatory evacuation . folks were supposed to leave their homes on monday. it is a vulnerable area. and reschi efforts by the sheriff deputies. that is very dangerous situation here. there is impresence flooding in the area. and they are getting 60-80 miles per hour wind gust. we are in a parking lot filling up with water. tollbooths are toppling over. this situation will fot get better soon. it is between 28-48 hours in this area. >> steve: thank you very much. we'll go to the extreme weather center. i am noticing that the torm is

moving at 5 miles per hour. that is not good. more water means more flooding. >> exactly, steve. it is a slow moving storm system. it was stationary and dumping heavy rain in southeastern louisiana and reports of six inches of rain feel over new orleans and heaviest rainfall right now occurring in new orleans and surrounding areas and that iwall start to move on shore. another concern with hurricane isaac when they make landfall is a risk for tornados, we have a tornado warning in northwest jackson county . hopefully every is hunkered down. it goes until 5:45 central time. a tornado watch in florida panhandle and suth eastern louisiana. gretchen, we'll deal with the heavy rain. locally 20 inches and a storm

surge as high as 12 feet. >> gretchen: maria molina, thank you so much. a couple of headlines, 35 minutes after the top of the hour. congressman jeff flake winning the republican senate nomination and scored a wen over will carton . flake filling a seat. quinqual was the 12th house member to lose this year. quayle is son of former the vice-president quayle. making of zero dark 30. holy wood film that killed osama bin laden. one. e-mails from a cia spokesman. i know we don't pick favorites, but it makes sense to get behind a winning horse.

they had acess to people who participate in the raid and details about bin laden pakistani compound. they were trying to use the movie for political gain. unfortunately for them. the release date is pushed back to december. a three year old deaf boy needs to change his name. he signs it if you wenter and makes his hands look like a gun. the grand island district has a policy to prevent kids from bringing weapons to the school district. let us know what you think about that. >> steve: thank you, gretchen. president's comments telling maul business owners that if you had a business you don't build that. listen. >> this is our america. this is the america we know because we built it.

>> i heard that story and he said, well, if you can get a business, you didn't built build. we throw him out. >> you did make that happen and you did build that in america. mitt romney was not handed success. he built it. >> brian: built it. >> steve: here now is the panel of tampa maul business owners. marcus meyers ceo of greator cleaning. and managing partner with a company with his name in it and dr. mona betty is the medical director of dermatology associates and reflections med-ispa. you all three voted for the guy who is president of the united states. marcus you say probably not

this time. you drank the koolaid. >> i drank the koolaid. we were looking for a small cnge. gas prices were important to us . with bush and the way the gas prices were going, i figured only one way it help that and that was to drink the koolaid. >> steve: the white house has all of the above strategy. have we seen a new atomic power plant and open up the key stone. that is frustrating and the drilling in the gulf. pretty much at a stand still. >> right. >> steve: really something. let's talk to you josiah. how do you feel about what you were promised versus where we are today? >> it looks as if more can be done. as a small business owner i have a consulting firm that focus on clean property

solutions to corporate america. a lot of them are hurting because of what the government is doing . we hope that things will continue to improve. but a lot can be done. >> steve: we heard governor nicky halle talk about the government should get out of the way . the national relations board stepud in and suing boeing to keep the jobs from coming to south carolina. do you feel like regulations are burdensome. >> it depends. we have to strike a balance. okay. as a maul business owner, definitely i built my business but with the government's help. part of my business is the internet . we need to the government to some extent but also need them to get out of our way. >> steve: you are not only

impacted because you built a business. sorry mr. president but you are a doctor and you are impacted by the affordable care act as well i understand you feel the economy is tough enough and you don't need the president of the united states critizing you. >> i started the business myself with one employee as a receptionist and another one as a medical assistant and i have luckily despite the economy grown to where i have two offices and a med spaand another physician and three assistants. i feel it is a slap in a business. of course, i dedicate everything to my patients and to my staff. but hard work and diligence and giving good customer service and care is what it boils down to. we need to take responsibility ourselves as americans to do that. >> steve: who will vote for mitt romney. >> you are the undecided person that everybody is

after. josiah marcus and. next up on the run down. live from tampa. hurricane isaac battering the gulf coast. and we are going to talk to the parish president where it is happening, coming up. next, with dualing ads out whose medicare message is getting the swing voters. former presidential candidate tim pawlenty reacting to chris christy and his speech last night. ♪ g.g.g.

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>> gretchen: welcome back everyone. swing voters will have a major

impact on the outcome of the presidential election. one the hot buttons here in florida is the topic of medicare. which side is doing a better job? >> steve: our old friend frank, joins us. >> medicare is hot as the weather is down here, seniors vote. they have the highest segment of the population and we tested the medicare ads that are going back and forth. you can't swing a dead cat and see them jam each other. we have romney adand obama. >> gretchen: this is the romney ad. >> paying into medicare for years, every paycheck and when you need it obama cut $716 billion from medicare. why? to pay for obama care and now the money that you paid for the guaranteed health care is going to a massive new government program that is not for you.

the romney-rhine roin plan strengthens the plan for next generation . >> i am mitt romney and i approved this message. >> gretchen: how did it fare. >> much better than a typical ad. and that is because it was clear $716 billion dollars. i talked to the delegates here, and there are two important numbers. 24 million that are unemployed and 716 billion cut from medicare. that is why that ad is effective. obama campaign realized it was in trouble and so it challenged the ad. but this addoesn't do as well take a lookk. >> i am bark obama and, approved the message. >> now mitt romney is attacking the president on medicare. obama care cracks down on medicare fraud waste and abuse

and strengthens guaranteed benefits and ryan plan aarp said it would under cut medicare and lead to higher cost. and ryan vouch are plan could raise future retired cost more than $6000. get the facts. >> steve: okay mountain not ass steep. >> i have tested how candidates start the advertising. when it was paid for barack obama and they know it is pro obama and people tune out. it would be for the obama cam pain to put the tease in the end. slow motion walk. voters tell us that it seems arrogant and not presidential . if i were advertising president obama pull that out. and response to the adis not clear and concise and voters don't have a positive reaction. >> steve: so the war over the medicare ads. mitt romney wins. >> he was slow to return fire.

when obama came out to him in ohio. over the last three or four weekings. romney's carries a punch and targeted and for that adit works with seniors and retired. >> steve: you can take off your jacket again. >> i made it. >> gretchen: i made it. >> best thing for the convention for me. >> steve: you made it, baby. >> gretchen: you can go over the and there is a band. i don't know if you are interested at all. >> steve: on the run down from tampa. hurricane isaac forcing a levee to go over the top. we'll talk to the parish president. coming up next. >> gretchen: former minnesota governor tim pawlenty joins us live with reaction to the convention speech. god morning, gov. >> how are you. ♪ ♪ where i come from .

>> steve: hurricane isaac slamming in the southwest louisiana. a storm surge overtopping one levee in the parish . there are reports of homes flooded by 6-8-10 12 feet of the water and people are trapped. we are joined by the president billy nungasser. >> thank you. >> steve: thanks for joining us. the levee has broken the water is going over the top. >> it doesn't matter.

the water is coming over in such volume and came on so quick it doesn't matter. it is 5 or six or 7 feet over the levee . so far under the water it doesn't matter. we have area in that area. wood land is an area that had no water from katrina and we have five foot of water in woodlandd area. and so even that area was evacuated and not a safe haven for people trying to get out. 92 billy, are there residents trapped in their homes? i know you had two parish employees on the levee when the water overcame them and they are trapped. who else are trapped. >> a woman on the roof and our fire department has several calls of people trapped in their homes that didn't heed the warning of the evacuation

and are trapped. until we get light, the wind is blowing so hard and the rain, we have emergency personnel ready to go rescue them. but we can't see the wind is blowing so hard and the rain, and we also have the coast guard and national guard trying to come up with a plan to get people out >> chris: man, i know you have your hands full. we'll let you get back to your job. billy, nunguesser. thank you. gretchen. >> gretchen: >> gretchen: governor chris christy telling americans it is a choice election between the republicans and democrats. >> american people don't want to heart truth and extent of fiscal difficulties. they believe the american people need to be coddled by big government and they believe the american people are content to live the lie with them. we believe in telling our seniors the truth over our

over burdened entitlements. we know seniors want the program to survive but want them secured for their grandchildren. our seniors are not selfish. >> gretchen: we have reaction from former governor pawlenty. you were in the convention hall. >> i was. >> gretchen: it is different in their than on tv. what did it feel like for you. >> ann romney off of the charts and hit the point of bringing forward the fact that mitt romney not only a great leader and brought forth the soft huan side . christie talking about real solutions. remember outside we have five-seven percent of undecided voters that we will bring in our team. his speech spoke to them. >> gretchen: some people argue that he was told to tone down

how he used to speaks . you never know what he will say. you had an interesting point with regard to the independents. why is that important. >> we would to mobilize and excite the page. but the last five or seven percent are going to decide the election. they are not hard partisans and they know the country is in trouble and they want to see someone sizing up the problems . a tone of getting it done constructively and that's what chris christy's messang was. >> gretchen: constructive and we built it and that is the theme of the convention and so many of the governors there, 21 of those elected in 2010 were republicans. and many of them gave that message as well you think it is a good campaign speech off of what president obama said. >> refering to president's comments you didn't build it. people are saying we did build

it look, i lost my job and started a shob and working 80 hours and put a second mortgage. of course they built it and bringing forward next generation of governors and that is a powerful message. >> gretchen: disappointed you were not given the nod for vp. >> i didn't expect it. you are not disappointed for something you didn't get. paul ryan is fabulous on the ticket and they will win the election and get the country fixed. >> gretchen: great to see you from my home state of minnesota. guess who is coming up. another governor from a neighboring state of minnesota. governor cot walker of wisconsin. he will come up later in the show. we are live in tampa and news about the democratic national convention and hillary clinton will not be attending. that is big new,we'll tell you why. we'll have a line up.

senator rob portman is here from ohio. he will be playing president obama in the debate and governor walker, too we'll be right back . [ wife ] your dad's really giving him the business... the designated hitter's the best thing to happen to baseball! but it's not the same game! [ wife ] wow, he's really gonna get us a good deal. it's better! no it's not! the pitcher comes up and he's out! [ dealer ] he can bunt! whatever. but we're good with 0% apr for 60 months? oh yeah, totally. thank you so much. that must've been brutal. [ male announcer ] the volkswagen autobahn for all event. at 0% apr for 60 months, no one needs to know how easy it was to get your new volkswagen. that's the power of german engineering.

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request your free decision guide. call or go online today. after all, when you're going the distance, it's nice to have the experience and commitment to go along with you. keep dreaming. keep doing. go long. >> gretchen: good morning, everyone. it's wednesday, august 29, 2012. i'm gretchen carlson live in tampa. thank you for spending part of your day with us today. fox news alert, hurricane isaac pounding the gulf coast and right now water coming over the top of a levee near new orleans. flooding neighborhoods. the breaking details moments away. >> brian: ann romney stealing the show at the republican national convention as many predicted, introducing her husband to the country. >> i can only stand here tonight as a wife and a mother and a grandmother, an american and make you this solemn commitment. this man will not fail. [ cheers and applause ]

>> brian: she hopes he gets the chance. more from her examine her speech and some analysis straight ahead. >> steve: and a common theme, get rid of the president. >> mr. president, i'm here to tell the american people we're awake and we're not buying what you're sell not guilty 2012 -- selling in 2012. >> steve: strike up the band, "fox & friends," hour two, for wednesday, live from tampa starts right now! ♪

>> brian: who ever the says the guys in the band never get the cheerleaders. the spartan band playing. got their instruments ready and came out for us. the tampa bay buccaneers, this is their final dress rehearsal. >> gretchen: the inspiration fort band members to keep tooting along. >> brian: i know. right now they've been told to stop about two minutes ago. they just keep playing. >> steve: apparently our camera operator is actually in charge of staging now. >> brian: i love the university of tampa and i also like the tampa bay buccaneers cheerleaders. >> steve: we were supposed to be outside a couple of days ago. but because of the hurricane, and it is now a hurricane, we're finally outside. the tampa bay history center, we'll be here outside we hope today, tomorrow, and friday as well. >> gretchen: that all will depend on the weather situation. so let's begin now with a fox

news alert out of louisiana because water has come over the top of a levee near new orleans there. reports of people trapped in their homes. close to 415,000 people now without power in that state alone. we have fox team coverage. phil katy something in theodore, alabama. first, let's go to jonathan serrie live in new orleans. >> good morning, again. you mentioned the power outages. we still have electricity in this portion of downtown new orleans. most of the city is reportedly without electricity. however, city officials say this is not affecting the drainage system. all of the sewer pumps are working. power outages not affecting them. the levee system protecting new orleans is holing up and forgetting the city. but it's a different story in portions of placquemine parish. there is a levee on the east bay that's been overtop.

there were two placquemine parish inspectors inspecting it, they were trapped. local authorities are in contact with them. they're okay and it's just a matter of time before they can get rescue crews out to them. however, local authorities is going door to door to homes in that low lying area. it was under a mandatory evacuation, but some die hard residents decided to stay behind. local authorities going door to door and telling those residents to get out. it's no longer safe. back to you guys. >> brian: it's hit landfall. this is the second time. jonathan, thanks so much. now let's go to phil keating live in theodore, alabama. not kite as bad -- quite as bad, correct? >> not as bad. the further away from the center of hurricane isaac. we're about 175 miles east of

new orleans. these outer bands of wind and rain that have been rotating counter clockwise and pelting us off and on all throughout morning, they're also bringing a grave threat of tornado warnings. two of them just west of us. one in jackson county, mississippi, and also another one earlier this morning across mobile bay. take a look at mobile bay now. it's churning. high tide is approaching around 11 a.m local officials don't think the storm surge here is going to be the six feet possible that was predicted. however, you can see the effects of hurricane ivan and katrina out this in the water. that's all those two hurricanes left of those docks. so it's going to be a day long of rain and wind and everyone is pretty much advised if you don't have to go out in this mess, don't do it. >> brian: all right, thank you so much. we still have on this very show,

it seems almost like the weekend in review. governor scott walker, senator portman, rick santorum, rudy guiliani and governor perry, all within the next two hours. >> steve: because the building next door has got pretty much every prominent republican in the political universe for the convention. last night was the first official night. it was supposed to start the night before that. but because of isaac, things were put on hold until last night and the republicans took the stage and for the most part, the message was this: the current president of the united states has failed in his job. it's time for him to go and replace him with that man in the picture, mitt romney. >> mr. president, i'm here to tell you the american people are awake and we're not buying what you're selling in 2012! [ cheers and applause ] this is our story. this is our america. this is the america we know because we built it! [ cheers and applause ]

>> big government didn't build america. you built america. small businesses don't come out of washington, d.c. premade on flat bed trucks. >> we deserve a president who won't sacrifice american jobs and american workers to pacify the bullying union bosses he counts as his political allies. >> that's why this governor will not stop fighting until we send him back to chicago and send ann and mitt romney to 1600 pennsylvania avenue! >> my grandfather like millions of other immigrants, didn't come here for some government guarantee of income equality or government benefits to take care of his family. in 1923 there were no government benefits for immigrants, except one, freedom. [ cheers and applause ] >> maybe we should have known that night in denver that things that began with styrofoam greek columns and artificial smoke

typically don't end well. maybe the hollywood stars and the glamour blinded us a little. you thought it was the glare. some us thought it was a halo. we led with our hearts and our dreams that we could be more inclusive than america had ever been and no candidate had ever spoken to beautifully. but dreams meet daybreak. the jobless know what i mean. so do the families who wonder how this administration could wreck a recovery for three years and counting. >> gretchen: why is he so republican speaking at the republican national convention? just two, three years ago, he was still a democrat. in fact, he took part in the democratic national convention endorsing barak obama last time around. >> brian: i think he introduced him. and he was very significant. i thought he was very comfortable. the loudest applause, i believe,

was outside ann romney and i had to go back to the hotel for governor christie, was governor scott walker. when he walked out, and i'm curious when he comes out, if he was even surprised by it because it was deafening when the guy that was supposed to be recalled ends up overcoming it all. >> steve: because he's exhibit a of reforms republicans are trying to push and it's working now in the great state of wisconsin. and he is coming up. but the star of the show, aside from the keynoter last night, the always interesting governor of new jersey, chris christie. we're talking about ann romney. it was going to be her chance to talk about the man she's been married to for 42 years and she gave a presentation as powerful as they come. here is mrs. romney talking about her husband and their marriage. >> mitt will be the first to tell you that he's the most fortunate man in the world. he had two loving parents who gave him strong values and taught him the value of work. he had the chance to get the education his father never had.

but as his partner on this amazing journey, i can tell you mitt romney was not handed success. he built it! [ cheers and applause ] i read somewhere that mitt and i have a storybook marriage. well, let me tell you something. in the storybooks i read, there never were long, long rainy winter afternoons in a house with five boys screaming at once. [ laughter ] and those storybooks never seemed to have a chapter called ms or breast cancer. a storybook marriage? nope, not at all. what mitt romney and i have is a real marriage. [ cheers and applause ] i know this good and decent man for what he is. he's warm and loving and patient. this is the man america needs! [ cheers and applause ] this is the man who will wake up

every day with a determination to solve the problems that others say can't be solved, to fix what others say is beyond repair. this is the man who will work harder than anyone so that we can work a little less hard. i can't tell what you will happen over the next four years, but i can only stand here tonight as a wife and a mother and a grandmother, an american and make you this solemn commitment: this man will not fail. [ cheers and applause ] >> gretchen: this is a much anticipated speech 'cause many people said if anyone can make mitt romney more human, that's been the criticism about him, his wife should be able to do that. she was so comfortable up there. i really felt like she seemed like she has given thousands of speeches and probably hasn't. >> brian: reminded me more of oprah than a big speech. juan williams -- >> steve: the governor came out right afterwards.

>> brian: juan williams last night is still getting e-mails because he said it was like a corporate wife where brit hume came back and said, it was the single most effective speech he's heard from a candidate's wife in his career. >> steve: i think so much was the authenticity. it seemed so real. what do you think about the presentation last night? give us an e-mail about ann romney and chris christie and what else you thought on day one. >> brian: two themes, hispanic vote and the other theme is, hey, women, don't forget about us. we're republicans and we care. those are the two themes that seemed to go through most of the speeches. >> gretchen: coming up, trouble for travelers, hundreds of flights delayed and passengers given handwritten boarding passes like this? check that out on your screen. when have you seen that? we'll tell you the details straight ahead. >> brian: then he's set to play the part of president obama and mitt romney's debate preps tell how is snort rob portman preparing? he thought he'd come here and

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they helped me put my whole life back together. caitlin's life is one of nearly a million changed by donations from people like you. send your love to the rescue. donate today. >> steve: from the vice president's short list to debating mitt romney, ohio senator rob portman has now been passed for the job of pretending he is president obama for mitt romney's debate preparation. so how is he getting ready for the role? let's ask him. here he is joining us, the senator from the great state of ohio, rob portman. good morning to you. >> great to be with you. >> steve: in the past you played barak obama for john mccain. you played joe lieberman for dick cheney and bill clinton.

how do you prepare to effectively pretend you're barak obama? >> you try to anticipate what they're going to say. to a certain extent when what their style will be. with al gore, i anticipated he would come up to president bush mano a mano and he did. >> steve: he did. >> you don't try to physically imitate them as much as try to understand where they're coming from, which is a good exercise to go through. it makes you more committed to your own principles. but often we don't hear what they're saying because sometimes it seems a little out there. but it's interesting to go through the process. >> steve: so you know exactly what barak obama has said in the past and what he may say. but at the same time, you got to kind of push mitt romney just in case they've got something else in the back room. >> yeah. the job is to be tougher than the opponent will be so that halfway throughout debate, in the case of dick cheney, he said, gosh, this is easy. i'm glad portman is not there. you kind of want to be tougher.

>> steve: but at the same time, he's your friend and you hate to whack him too hard. >> the idea is to have the candidate and his family really dislike you by the time you're done. >> steve: well, good luck with that. >> john and cindy mccain, who is a dear friend of mine now, the process -- >> steve: speaking of you want them to not like you by the end of the campaign, so many people talked about the president is such a likeable guy. the likeability factor is so much higher than mitt romney. i think that's one of the things that has been perpetuated by the main stream media is he seems robotic. i think he seems completely natural. but there has been so many negative ads out there. i think the president is less likeable than he was a couple months ago. >> well, i think mitt romney has a huge advantage here, which is there they have the negative ads run. in mo ohio, overwhelmingly

negative ads. i think they started to see it last night. ann romney did a great job. we'll see mitt romney himself talk about himself and his background and what he wants to do for our country. that will be terrific. he has a lot of room to grow. then over the next couple of months, it will be more positive about his background and experience and record and the fact that he does have a plan to turn this economy around. so i think it's an advantage now for mitt. he's a great guy. he's a genuine guy. he's very family oriented and i think when people get to know him better, they'll like him a lot. >> steve: one of the things you were talk being yesterday is with the president of the us u people say he's so cool! cool doesn't cure the economy. >> well, we tried that and by the president's own standards, it hasn't worked. he said we'd be in much better shape than we are and whether it's the deficit or health care costs or in terms of jobs, it just doesn't work. by the measurement the president set u. i think what folks will say back whole are undecided, by the end of the process, they'll

say, you know what, he tried, he promised, he couldn't do it. let's go for someone who has the experience and record to get it done. >> steve: you and i and brian are the only three guys wearing jackets. take care. >> thank you. >> steve: straight ahead, hurricane isaac pounding the gulf region. breaking news coming in that water is going over the top of a levee near new orleans. not in new orleans. near it. we're live on the ground with that. and some say he received the loudest ovation of the night. who is it? we're talking about scott walker, the governor. he joins us next. come up. you're our next contestant, governor the capital one cash rewards card

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>> steve: fox news extreme weather alert this morningment water going over the top of a levee in placquemine parish, louisiana. flooding houses. there are reports of people being trappe their homes. baton rouge is also in the storm's path. anna kooiman joins us. what's the situation? >> not too bad, it's the calm before the storm, but it's expected to get absolutely nasty. but we are getting our media briefings from louisiana governor bobby jindal. expected to get another one mid-morning. we'll hear about the levee that has been overtopped in placquemine parish outside of new orleans. that area hit hard. you mentioned people being trapped inside their homes. local affiliates telling us that at least three people have been rescued by emergency officials

from a roof top in the area. also want to mention the emergency operation center in the parish is telling us it's not clear how much flooding and damage has been done on the ground as a result of this levee overtopping. the army corps of engineers telling us that their levees, all theirs r intact and the one that overtoppled was one that did belong to the parish. back to you. >> steve: anna, thank you very much. gretch, over to you and a special guest. >> gretchen: it's governor scott walker of wisconsin. last night he received a huge welcome as he took to the rnc stage, reminding delegates how his policies turned the state of wisconsin around and mitt romney can do the same thing. >> in wisconsin two years ago, too many americans think our country is headed in the wrong direction. mitt romney understands, like i understand, that people, people, not governments, create jobs.

>> gretchen: i'm joined by wisconsin governor scott walker. good to see you. >> good to be with you. >> gretchen: in person. many times we've interviewed and i've spoken via satellite. speaking of being in person, you got one of the best ovations last night. obviously you've done a lot of hard work in wisconsin, much appreciated by the republicans. >> yeah. it was nice. you don't do it for applause, but it doesn't hurt along the way. i think the nice thing is, it wasn't about me or my personality. it was really about the fact we did bold things. i think people appreciated that. it was about the policy. >> gretchen: i heard your speech. you often mentioned the date june 5. on june 5, you're embattled because you won reelection again on june 5. >> and in a state that's a swing state. one of those battle ground states where we have a real shot for mitt romney and paul ryan to win. the voters in our state back months ago had a clear choice. do you go back to the days of

the million dollars deficits and record job loss or take our reforms, reforms that put the power back in the hands of the hard work taxpayers and move our state forward? i think the same choice will be out there. other states like ohio, iowa, michigan, some of those key battle ground states. >> gretchen: is it nice for wisconsin to nine be getting some attention? you yourself, then you have reince previn, the head of the rnc from wisconsin. paul ryan obviously, now the vp nominee. and last night you also mentioned home this year's miss america. thank you very much. >> that's right. we got the nfl mvp, he's a great guy. and miss wisconsin is miss america. so we're pretty pumped up. >> gretchen: that means you had front row seats. when you were delivering your speech, people in wisconsin and every other state heard you talk about this. this is what you cut from your budget gap. $3.5 billion to 1.6. you cut unemployment as well. what were your secrets? >> we just stuck with the reforms.

paul ryan and i the last year laughed when people call us courageous because in the end, politics has got to be the only profession we get courageous, just by keeping your word. did it without raising taxes, helped small business create more jobs. one of the people i mentioned last night wasn't adjust small business owner. someone who in the recession took a pay cut to keep her job, eventually got laid off, got hired by another company called g 3 industries because that small business owner believed in our reforms and he's hired more people. sandy is one of those people. that's good example. but also people that can benefit if mitt romney was president. >> gretchen: governor chris christie spoke about something else you it, which was to take on the unions. >> they believe the educational establishment will always put themselves ahead of children, that self interest will always trump common sense. they believe in pitting unions against teachers, educators against parents, lobbyists against children.

they believe in teachers unions. we believe in teachers. [ cheers and applause ] >> gretchen: i think that's really important point the he said at the end. they believe in teachers unions. we believe in teachers because sometimes that gets muddled together and teachers don't like that, quite frankly. >> all last year during the debate, i kept reminding folks that both of my kids were in public high schools at the time and i said, i love teachers. in the end, the system that chris talked about that we did in us with us, no seniority north texas tenure, we can pay based on performance and hire based on merit and put the best in our classrooms and keep them there. we're the ones who care about kids and education. not just about the education bureaucracy. >> gretchen: you made me feel like i was home. you said oh that little accent from the midwestern state. all you have to do is put the cheese head on. >> with paul ripe, we'll be happy to do it. >> gretchen: thank you. coming up, while we're here,

there is news that someone is skipping the dnc, secretary of state hillary clinton taking a pass. we'll tell you why. and texas governor rick perry hanging out with the tampa bay buc cheerleaders. no, instead, it's brian and the cheerleaders. he's here telling us about last night look! she wears the scarlet markings! out! your kind is not welcome here! nor your odd predilections! miracle whip is tangy and sweet, not odd. [ villager 1 ] it's evil! if you'd try it, you'd know. she speaketh the truth! [ villagers gping ] reverend? ♪ can i have some? ♪

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>> steve: we start this half hour with a fox news alert. now hurricane isaac slamming louisiana at 80 miles per hour. some gusts up to 100. rescue efforts underway for people trapped in placquemine parish. the hurricane causing at least one leveehere to overtop. water going over the top. 400,000 people in the state without juice. we have fox team coverage following the hurricane. maria molina is tracking it. but let's start with elizabeth prann in new orleans. let's start with you where it is windy. >> yes. we get a moment of reprieve like we're getting now. then we get these gusts of about 61 miles per hour. we're also seeing this rainfall that is just unyielding. it's starting around 8:00 p.m. last night. we expect the conditions to stay

overt next 24 to 48 hours because the eye of the storm is 55 miles southwest of where we are in new orleans, which means we're in the eastern quadrant, why we're getting a violent effect of the storm. really shows you just how long it will last 'cause we still have 24 hours. we have new information regarding those levees in placquemine parish. it's very low lying area. we know there are search and rescue efforts going on now. keep in mind, the wind gust is not a safe speed. there's a long road ahead for folks here. >> steve: all right. thank you very much. >> brian: doing the best to stay upright with that wind and we're looking at 20 inches of rain before it's all said and done. maria molina is at the weather center. where is this heading and is this a slow moving storm. >> slow moving storm system. we're talking about moving at a speed of 6 miles per hour.

pretty much just sitting across southeastern louisiana, producing a lot of heavy rain. another big concern with it has been tornadoes. we do currently have a tornado warning, big concern with this one because it does include long beach, gulfport examine biloxi, mississippi. so looking at pretty significant cities being impacted by this storm right now. possible were tornado on the ground and this tornado warning goes into effect until 6:45 a.m. central time. again, the cities of long beach, gulfport, and biloxi in mississippi are under a tornado warning. we do also have a tornado watch across extreme western portions of the state of florida, also parts of southern alabama, mississippi and southeastern louisiana. in effect until 7:00 a.m. local time out here. you can also see something else that has changed with hurricane isaac. that eye wall across the western part of the storm system originally or earlier this morning was dry air. now it's started to fill in with more heavy rain. so we're starting to look at it a little better organized. maximum sustained winds at

80 miles per hour and still expected to be a very slow moving storm system in the next 12 to 24 hours. not out of louisiana until early friday morning. 20 inches of rain and a sister-in-law as high as 12 feet. -- storm surge as high as 12 feet. back to you. >> brian: thank you very much. if the republicans are going to take back the, who find a way to take the senate and hold the house, a lot of the credit will be going to the governors, successful governors race in the republicans. when you talk about governor christie, when you talk about governor daniels and you talk about governor perry. do you sense that the republican party understands what you guys are doing in the trenches? governor perry, welcome back. >> it's good to bely. i think they do. it's not just the republican faithful. it's people in all of our states, regardless of their political indoctrination, if you will, that you understand those governor, whether it's scott

walker in wisconsin, whether it's bobby jindal who, by the way, is doing a fabulous job of overseeing his state with this hurricane that's coming in, he's in the right place doing the right job. phil bryant, governor bentley, all of those are facing hurricane or massive flooding now. between not only managing their states during these big type of events like this, but also putting economic policies in, when you talk about tax, regulatory legal system in place, republican governors will -- >> brian: take the initial hit. >> they will put policies in place to get their people working again. >> brian: when you get results, people support you. i want you to hear analysis on this part of keynote address last night with governor christie. he talked about love, respect, talked about popularity and talked about effectiveness. let's watch. >> it's been easy for our leaders to say, not us. not now. it's taking on the really tough issues. unfortunately, we've stood silently by and let them get away with it.

but tonight i say enough. tonight i say together, let's make a much different choice. tonight we're speaking up for ourselves and stepping up. tonight we're beginning to do what is right and what is necessary to make america great again. we are demanding that our leaders stop tearing each other down and work together to take action on the big things facing america. tonight we are going to do what my mother taught me. tonight we're going to choose respect over love. >> brian: you get that theme? >> yes, sir. >> brian: you think america got that theme? >> i think they did. when you have paul ryan out talking about here is what we're going to doing to save social security. >> brian: he's coming up tonight. >> to deal with the medicare program, that's the type of tough love that americans will respect and i think that was the theme that governor christie was talking about and i do think

it's an important one. this old idea that somehow or another the status quo is going to carry us through the day, this administration for 3 1/2 years has had the opportunity. now we're further in debt than we've ever been. we've got economic problems that are drowning this country. americans are seeing republican governors across this country put policies in place to get their citizens and inn their states back to work. that's what they want our president to do. that's when mitt romney will do. >> brian: everyone should stop worry being reelection. i want to bring to you ted cruz. i know you were supporting the lieutenant governor. but ted cruz prevailed. >> he'll be a great senator. >> brian: he put the podium down into the stage. he walked around. i think it was something you would do. here is ted cruz last night. >> two-thirds of all new jobs in our economy come from small businesses and 2.3 million hispanics own small businesses.

[ cheers and applause ] and yet, this administration has waged a war on small businesses. >> brian: hispanic community, we're out here, republicans are out here. we'd like new our camp. he's one of the leaders along with marco rubio. >> s that an intactally superior individual. he is a brilliant orator. you had brian sandoval last night as well, the governor of nevada. you had great juxtaposition, miss martinez. if you're an hispanic leader looking for leadership that are leading states, you had two opportunities here over the next 24 hours to see along with ted cruz. >> brian: the numbers are overwhelming in favor of the democrat when is it comes to hispanic community. we'll see if this works because the first lady of puerto rico, you had ted cruz last night, and marco rubio will be introducing what they hope would be the next president of the united states, mitt romney. governor, great run of the it's

been great seeing you on the national scene and great to see you last night. having fun with the texas delegation, as you always do. gretchen, you solely have the headlines. i trust you can handle it. >> gretchen: thank you so much, brian. and hello to the governor. now to the rest of the headlines. when democrats gather for their own convention in a few derek one of their biggest stars, secretary of state hillary clinton, will not be there. she will instead be hard at work traveling from the south pacific to asia and then on to russia. it will be the first convention she has missed since 1968. however, her husband, former president bill clinton, will be there delivering the speech to formally nominate president obama. united airlines trying to get flights back on schedule after their computer system crashed, delaying hundreds of flights. the crash lasted about three hours creating long lines at airports. united employees even issuing handwritten boarding passes like this one. when was the last time you saw that, if ever? until could get back on-line. they're struggling with several computer issues since merging

with continental. it may cost you more now the next time you decide to buy a new car. auto dealers say new fuel standards just finalized by the obama administration, will force changes that make car prices soar by $3,000. president obama hailing the new standards which will require that cars average 54.5 miles per gallon that is by 2025. this is something california definitely doesn't want to be first in. a brand-new study finding state has the highest debt in the entire country. the nonpartisan state budget solutions group says california has $617 billion in total debt. neond with $300 billion, followed by texas, with 286 billion. the study factored in budget gap, future spending, unfunded public pension liabilities and other spending obligations. those are your headlines. coming up on "fox & friends," one city trying to ban yet another beverage. officials say they are deceiving consumers and we have all the details for you. and from reality stars to

political sweethearts, this republican power couple says women and hispanics should vote this time around for the gop. congressman sean duffy and his wife, rachel campo, here next. (bell rings) hi. good morning. big news. we're spreading the word about new honey bunches of oats fruit blends and their unique taste combinations. like peach/raspberry... and banana/blueberry. we're telling everyone. with one flavor in the granola bunch and one on the flake. try some. mmm! two flavors. in harmony. yummy. four nutritious grains and two big fruit flavors

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>> brian: welcome back. the wall street journal reporting new york's attorney general is investigating if energy drinks are deceiving consumers about ingredients and health benefits. it says the makers of monster and five hour energy were both subpoenaed. good luck with that. and rover curiousity sending

these new photos back to earth where we are. they show a detailed view of the rover's landing site, including its ultimate target, the mount sharp. it's my favorite mountain. gretch? >> gretchen: thanks. you heard it this election season, democrats claiming that the gop is waging a war on women. but ann romney says it's untrue and she knows firsthand. >> it's the moms of this nation, single, married, widowed, who really hold this country together. we're the mothers. we're the wives. we're the grandmothers. we're the big sisters. we're the little sisters and we are the daughters. i love you women! [ cheers and applause ] and i hear your voices. >> gretchen: joining me now to react to the speech is wisconsin representative sean duffy and his wife, rachel cam president obama duffy. -- campo duffy.

good to see you. a lot of focus right now on women, trying to get the female vote. did ann romney do a good job in reaching out to women last night? >> i think she did. as an hispanic woman, what i really found refreshing was that she didn't cat gorize us. she -- categorize us. we're all women and have the same concerns for our family, for the economy. and especially for our children. i think she really reached in examine touched us in that place that all women have, regardless of race or income level. i think we're all a little tired of all the categorizing and divisiveness and i think she spoke to the unity that we all have as moms. >> i think if you look at how well she did, you had not just women shaking their heads, you had a lot of men saying that's absolutely right how women pick up the slack for the men in the family and the community. guys are shaking their head as well. i thought she was that powerful. >> gretchen: thinking about the

of two you and the similarities between you as a couple and the romneys as a couple, you have six children. >> we're overachievers. >> gretchen: you're overachievers in procreating and practice bely many other things. the romneys have five boys. do you find yourself thinking they're a lot like me? >> i think when i heard her speech, i did. i also saw a lot of my mom because when she speaks as a grandmother, i think that really resonates. you really felt that deep love that she has not just for her kids, but for her grandchildren. i see myself, my mom. i think that's what she want to do do was reach a wide swath of women about issues that we really care about. >> you look at the quality of the family, i met a few of the boys before. they're good guys. you don't have that happen by accident. it takes a mom and a dad. you don't outsource that to somebody else. that is a mom and a dad who are raising families, raising kids. i think they've done a great

job. that is underscored by how great those five boys are. >> that's testament of who they are. >> gretchen: let's look at a poll of who women right now want to be president. so we have barak obama on top at 50%. women 42% for mitt romney. if we break that down even more, maybe we don't physically have the numbers, but i know single women tend to go more for barak obama. married women tend to go more for mitt romney. what do you think about that? >> well, it kind of makes sense in the sense that married women, i think, are looking for a competent in terms of leadership, so we can kind of lead our lives and see our children prosper. it is hard to be a single mom. so perhaps some of the programs that barak obama is promoting and maybe -- it makes sense to me why that would be the case.

>> gretchen: what do the republicans need to do to try and up that? >> i look at my own wife. if you look at everything we do is for our kids. i think if you look at a lot of married women with children, they're concerned about the next generation. they'll start to pay attention more closely about the ideas about how we move the economy and jobs forward, how we address the $16 trillion debt. as you look at barak obama's vision, which isn't very explicit. there is no plans out there. then look at mitt romney, i think more women are going to come to mitt romney and say, this guy who turned around businesses, who turned around the olympics, he's a guy who can turn around the economy and that's an environment and a country that i want my kids to grow up in. so i think we have a great opportunity to hit moms in america. >> gretchen: you guys must feel happy because wisconsin is right in the front row this time around. a lot of powerful wisconsin people in politics at this convention. congressman duffy and rachel, great to see new person. have a great rest of the week.

>> thanks. >> gretchen: coming up, we still have a huge show kicking off our next hour, condoleeza rice will be here. and being the huge football fan that she is, she's hanging out with the bucs cheerleaders as well who will perform for us after the break. [ female announcer ] so you think your kids are getting enough vegetables? yeah, maybe not. v8 v-fusion juice gives them a full serving of vegetables plus a full serving of fruit. but it just tastes like fruit. v8. what's your number?

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>> steve: for over 15 years, i guess it's because you're the sports guy, but when you're out and about, you like to inject sports into an event, even if it's political. >> brian: it's great blend, steve. am i right? it's time to mean lauren and karen, two of the leaders of the tampa bay buccaneers cheerleaders. a round of applause for these

tremendous women and athletes. you're the captain. you're the captain, karen, right? >> lauren. >> brian: i knew that. what is your responsibility with this group? >> well, with this group, it's really a lot about communication. 2003 a lot of community outreach as well. a lot of stuff out. a lot of charity work we do. so that's really the primary thing that we do with being a buccaneer cheerleader. >> brian: you guys are incredibly fit. what are the physical demands for this? >> we're out there in 100-degree weather. so we all have to be physically fit and be able to laugh on game day, with smiling and dancing. we have to be able to do it every single time. >> steve: and the republicans have taken over your town for the most part. how nice is it to have tens of thousands of republicans here to say hello to? >> it's honestly, very cool having all the team in the bay area and really letting people know that we're even a city that is here. obviously we have a bunch of different sports teams here. >> steve: the super bowl here and stuff like that.

but this is the first big national convention. >> this is absolutely perfect for the city. >> everyone has been awesome. >> brian: and lauren, you also said to me that there is a lot of security here and a lot of people who look like? >> ghostbuster. >> steve: i hadn't thought about that. but you're exactly right. feel like from dan akroyd, you ready to fire us up? >> we're ready. >> brian: let's do it. ♪ start me up ♪ yes, you start me up ♪ i'll never stop ♪ yes, you start me up ♪ yes, you start me up, i'll never stop ♪ ♪ i'll be running hot ♪ got so i blow my top.

♪ yes, you start me up ♪ ♪ yes, you start me up ♪ i never stop, never stop, never stop ♪ ♪ you make a grown man cry ♪ you make a grown man cry >> steve: very nice [ applause ] round of applause [ applause ] >> brian: you can start them up but you can't stop them. as you dance that, let's go back over to gretchen to tell us what is coming up next. gretch? >> gretchen: i don't know if i'll get you guys back up on the set for the final hour. all right. coming up on "fox & friends," breaking developments as hurricane isaac batters louisiana right now. the eye of the storm slow churning. it's getting closer and closer to new orleans. we are live with the very latest. then she is set to take the rnc stage tonight. what can we expect to hear from former secretary of state condoleeza rice? we'll ask her live at the top of the hour. good morning, madam secretary. good to see you.

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to promote proper sleeping posture all night long. the revolutionary recharge sleep system... from beautyrest. it's you, fully charged. >> gretchen: good morning, everyone. it's wednesday, august 29, 2012. i'm gretchen carlson. thanks for sharing your time with us today. fox news alert for you because the whipping winds and rains, hurricane isaac battering the gulf coast right now. this morning water coming over the top of a levee near new orleans. we'll have the very latest details straight ahead. >> steve: meanwhile, chris christie's harsh message to the current president of the united states. >> you see, mr. president, real leaders don't follow polls. real leaders change polls. [ cheers and applause ] >> steve: chris christie toned it down much? more of his keynote address coming up am. >> brian: plus ann romney steals the show, many are saying, telling americans they can put their faith in her husband.

>> as his partner on this amazing journey, i can tell you mitt romney was not handed success. he built it! [ cheers and applause ] >> brian: live from tampa, the home of the rnc and this is the true home of the 2012 election. "fox & friends" starts now. ♪ ♪

♪ >> brian: they're ad libbing that to the song. they don't usually dance to the band. solely focused on the music, on their instruments. now they are playing with the tampa bay buc cheerleaders. >> steve: today there are fireworks as we ignite this third hour of "fox & friends" live. we're on the grounds of the tampa bay history center. we've been here for the last couple of days. we've been inside because of the big storm. the rnc is being held just about 500 yards from where we're sitting right now. coming up very shortly, we'll talk to that woman who will be one of the big speakers tonight. >> brian: condoleeza rice. welcome, madam secretary. >> thank you. >> brian: as you know, the other big story is what's happening in louisiana with the hurricane. >> gretchen: we're going to go to that now. we have a fox news alert out of louisiana. water has come over the top of the levee near new orleans trapping people in their homes right now. let's go live to jonathan serrie

in new orleans. >> good morning to you. that levee is in placquemine parish in one of the outlying areas near the east bank. local authorities are going around door to door warning residents that they need to get out of that outlying area of placquemine parish. it was under a mandatory evacuation, but some die hard residents refused to leave. what happened is the water levels got so high that they overtopped this levee. this was not an army corps of engineer levee, but a local levee. only eight feet tall. the water has been lapping over and according to some reports, beginning to creep into some of those homes there. meanwhile, there were two placquemine parish employees on that levee inspecting it. they became stranded on the levee. they're okay and they're in radio communication with their supervisors. but it will be a matter of time before rescuers can get out and

get them off that levee. here within the city of new orleans, the advance levee system, improved levee system that the army corps of engineers invested more than $14 billion in is holding just fine. the city is doing fine and even though much of the city is without electricity, more than half of the city is without city, we're told the sewage pumps are still working. so right now we're just feeling in new orleans -- dealing in new orleans with heavy winds and torrential downpour. back to you. >> gretchen: jonathan live for us in new orleans, thanks very much. let's bring in former secretary of state condoleeza rice because a lot of people were wondering how do you handle the situation here? you've got the convention where people are hooping and hollering and then at the same time, you have potential damage and potential lives not necessarily looking so great? >> i think every american is indeed focused on what's going on in louisiana, in and around

new orleans. these people have been through enough. my father's family is from louisiana and i think we just hold them in our prayers and hope this will come out for the best. it's difficult time. >> steve: last night when ann romney started her presentation, she ad libbed and talked for a minute about the storms bearing down in louisiana at that point. that was ad libbed and there she is coming out right there for her presentation. if you missed it, she really stole the show. a lot of the bloggers and commentators and the columnists are saying this morning. her message was clear: i've known mitt romney for 42 years and you can trust him to fix america. here is ann romney. >> mitt will be the first to tell you he's the most fortunate man in the world. he had two loving parents who gave him strong values and taught him the value of work. he had the chance to get the education his father never had. but as his partner on this amazing journey, i can tell you mitt romney was not handed

success. he built it! [ cheers and applause ] i read somewhere that mitt and i have a story book marriage. well, let me tell you something. in the story books i read, there never were long, long rainy winter afternoons in a house with five boys screaming at once. and those storybooks never seemed to have a chapter called ms or breast cancer. a storybook marriage? nope. not at all. what mitt romney and i have is a real marriage. [ cheers and applause ] i know this good and decent man for what he is. he's warm and loving and patient. [ cheers and applause ] this is the man america needs! [ cheers and applause ] this is the man who will wake up every day with a determination to solve the problems that others say captain be solved, to

fix what others say is beyond repair. this is the man who will work harder than anyone so that we can work a little less hard. i can't tell you what will happen over the next four years, but i can only stand here tonight as a wife and a mother and a grandmother, an american, and make you this solemn commitment: this man will not fail! [ cheers and applause ] >> gretchen: connecticut, you were there sitting next to -- connecticut, you were there sitting there next to them. what was it like being so close? >> it was wonderful. she was amazing. so human, so down-to-earth. she really communicated that. the line about the not having breast cancer or ms, you realized this is a family that's held together through a lot and i never seen anyone beam like mitt romney when he came into that box. he was so thrilled.

it was wonderful. >> brian: then they have a chance to sit down. you were sitting right next to them. ann has not talked to mitt yet about the speech's reflection. i'm sure he was happy. then you wonder about the governor's reaction to the other governor as a keynote address. in the big picture, i saw some themes. it was right up top, one of the reasons you'll speak tonight. women, don't forget the republican party is out here, too. what message has to get across for this convention to be successful for the women vote? >> first of all, women are concerned about the things that all americans are concerned about. the state of our economy, joblessness, the debt because women know that we are mortgaging the futures of generations to come. of course, women want to know that these are -- this is a party that welcomes them. you had a parade of very successful women who are making their way in the republican party. and so i think the message is getting through not by saying a lot, but simply by what's being communicated by who is here, who

is speaking, the great young women who are coming up leading their states, leading us. it's a very good message for women. >> steve: madam secretary, during ann romney's comments, i was watching the fox news coverage, and the best coverage on television, i might add. they took you a couple of times and at one point it looked like you were tearing up a little bit. >> absolutely. when ann romney talked about that chapter with ms and breast cancer, my mother had breast cancer and any family that goes through that knows that there is a new normal after that. and i could just see in ann romney the love and concern that i saw in my own family. so it was quite a wonderful moment. >> gretchen: that's interesting because you're talking about this relateability and a lot of people said mitt romney maybe doesn't have that and ann's speech would help humanize him. so you felt in your gut we'll have to see how the voters felt. governor chris christie from new jersey, a lot of people were looking forward to what he would say. you never quite know what might

come out of the governor's mouth. did he hit it on the mark? you be the judge. listen to a piece of it. >> it doesn't matter how we got here. there is enough blame to go around. what matters is what we do now. see, i know. [ applause ] i know we can fix our problems. when there are people in the room who who care more about doing the job they were elected to do than they worry about winning reelection, it's possible to work together, achieve principled compromise and get results for the people who gave us these jobs in the first place! [ cheers and applause ] i know. i know we can be the men and women our country calls on us to be tonight. i believe in america and in our history. tonight we choose the path that has always defined our nation's history. tonight we finally and firmly answer the call that so many generations have had the courage

to ask before us. tonight we stand up for mitt romney as the next president of the united states and together -- [ cheers and applause ] and together everybody together, we will stand up once again for american greatness for our children and grandchildren! god bless you and god bless america! [ cheers and applause ] >> brian: what i also took from his speech is he's saying listen, there will be unpopular moves that have to be made by the next president by governor romney. cuts, he believes we're grown up enough to do it. did it get crews? >> absolutely. chris christie stands for truth telling to the american people about what we have ahead of us. americans know that we don't have an easy road to deal with

entitlements, to deal with the state of the economy, to deal with the debt. they know that. and he gave a speech to americans that said we're going to treat you like grownups and enlist you as americans who have this marvelous heritage of having dealt with difficult circumstances and come through them. we're going to enlist you in solving our problems together. i thought it was a masterful speech. >> brian: you got the -- >> we've been through a light. >> steve: on the other side of a quick time out, we want to try to see if we can possibly drag one nugget of news about what you're going to say tonight. >> brian: i think the most important thing he came out with yesterday was that are you willing to make that sacrifice? can you get somebody's vote in something for sacrifice? >> absolutely, because americans know we have to sacrifice. it's really important that our leaders tell us what is ahead of us and then lead us through it so that we can come out on the other side as strong as america

has ever been. that's the future ahead of us. that's what chris christy was talking about last night. >> gretchen: we're thrilled you decided to stick around and we'll get that nugget about your speech and other topics, plus look who else is here. rick santorum is going to join us live as our star studded political show rolls on from tampa. >> brian: he had a great speech as well last night. >> steve: he did. at usaa, we believe honor is not

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>> gretchen: instead of touting what makes america great, president obama spent his first months in office apologizing for america to the rest of the world. >> there have been times where america has shown arrogance and

been dismisssive, even derisive. i know in the past the united states has sometimes fallen short of meeting our responsibilities. we've at times been disengaged and at times we've sought to dictate our terms. >> gretchen: we're back with former secretary of state condoleeza rice under president george w. bush, of course. she's speaking tonight and a lot of her speech will talk about american exceptionalism. i guess it will be a dikiotome to what the president has said in the past? >> the only thing that the world hates more is no american leadership because there has to be a country that says here is the view of how history unfolds. the united states says that's about free people examine free markets. we've been willing to defend it and support it. as a result, we helped defeat communism examine the soviet union. as a result, we have strong democracies in asia, like japan and south korea, democracy spread not guilty latin america.

now the middle east. without american leadership, the world is the chaotic place and so being unambiguous about that and unapologetic about it is very important. >> brian: do you find it frustrating we're sitting on the side lines while the massacre continues for 18 months in syria? >> personally, i have to tell you that i'm glad to be on the side lines. i had eight years -- >> brian: as a country we are. >> as a country and as an american, watching bashar al assad slaughter his people, watching the iranians help him to do so, watching the russians and the chinese prevent international action, and saying, where is the united states? where is the united states in all of this? i think that's a question that everybody is asking. >> steve: that's what's happening over there. but one of the things that is very troubling that's happening here, madam secretary, is the fact that there have been so many national security leaks that have been leaked to the "new york times" and now for books. there is one thing in common, they all make the president of the united states look really good. it looks like they're being leaked for political purposes.

>> i can tell you that i've been stunned by some of the things that i've read in the press. some of the crown jewels of national security. everybody understands that a white house will paint a picture of what the president is doing for the american people to see that. but one has to be awfully careful about revealing in any way operations or how things are done because that really does compromise our security and i don't know the sources of these leaks, but i will say this, they need to stop. >> steve: they've been rumored to be very, very high. >> they've been rumored to be. my view is wherever they're coming from, stop it. >> brian: that would be good, or investigate where they did come from. >> absolutely. >> brian: let's talk about a cabinet, which many people are saying since your presence is here and you gave two incredible speeches of late that people thought were very political for what you normally give, are you considering any or have you been offered any type of position should mitt romney win? >> i want mitt romney to be elected president.

that's why i'm here. that's why i've been out trying to am a very happy stanford professor and i intend to be one for the foreseeable future. after all, i've been secretary of state. i love foreign policy. i don't love politics. i love policy. >> gretchen: as form alum of stanford, i'm glad to have you back at stanford a female in a very high ranking position. let me ask but hillary clinton, another high ranking female. we've been reporting she will not be going to the democratic national convention and you say? >> that's tradition. indeed, i didn't go to the convention because the secretary of state, the secretary of defense, secretary of the treasury are all officials who carry a kind of nonpartisan brief, if you will. so it's absolutely tradition. they are rarely, if ever, at the convention. >> brian: jeb bush said something that was interesting. stop blaming my brother. has that been agonizing for you

because you are in literally the eye of that storm? >> it's not work, because after 3 1/2 years whatever is happening to this country is owned by the occupant of the white house. and that's what the american people think. president bush led in really, really difficult times. he kept us safe. he led with honor and integrity. i think the american people are seeing that and history, i believe, will judge him that way. >> steve: the headline for tonight has speech you're going to give? >> i'm going to talk about america at home and abroad, the need for america to speak with a voice that the world can hear. but a need for america to rebuild at home, too, because the essence of american exceptionalism is who we are here. >> steve: they're going to eat that up. >> brian: are you going to be nervous? >> well, let's say i always have a healthy respect for making sure you do a good job. >> gretchen: very diplomatic. we would expect nothing less. >> brian: then she'll go play

golf at augusta. >> looking forward to that. thank you. i'm really honored. looking forward to donning a great jacket. >> gretchen: i'll get your picks for the football season coming up. >> you got it. >> gretchen: good to see you. >> steve: straight ahead on this telecast live from tampa, a school forcing a hearing impaired child to change his name. why? because it apparently was too violent in sign language. we'll explain. >> gretchen: he says the dream of freedom has become a nightmare of dependency under president obama. but can this country turn it around? former presidential candidate rick santorum coming up to the stage as well. >> brian: and there is elephant here's in town this week. literally? [ wife ] your dad's really giving him the business... the designated hitter's the best thing to happen to baseball! but it's not the same game! [ wife ] wow, he's really gonna get us a good deal.

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>> brian: it was the centerpiece his speech last night. how has the government gone overboard in giving out happenedouts? >> my grandfather, like millions of other immigrant, didn't come here for some government guarantee of income equality. or government benefits to take care of his family. in 1923, there were no government benefits for immigrants, except one. freedom! [ cheers and applause ] >> gretchen: joining us now is former presidential candidate and former senator from pennsylvania, rick santorum. good to see you in person. >> it's nice to be here. thank you for having me. >> brian: in the arena last night you nailed it. you were totally relaxed in the room. it was a guy that -- >> i've continue doing a few speeches, so it's a little easier. >> brian: it was all about entitle ams and the numbers are

staggering. if someone is getting free food ask a lot of free stuff, of course they're likely to vote for you, aren't they? >> that's sort of the problem here. that's why i used the term dependency because once people -- look, i said this story 15 years ago, people are making rational economic decisions with respect to themselves and when the government is willing to line up a whole series of benefits and you say, look, can i qualify for these benefits or by work can i lose them and have to work harder and may not make enough money to feed my children? you make economic decisions and it's a trap. it's a trap. i was in wisconsin during the campaign and a state senator there said if you're a single mom in wisconsin, making $15,000 a year with two children, if you marry someone who is making $40,000 -- $30,000 a year, you lose $38,000 in benefits. now, why would you marry him? you can't marry!

>> gretchen: it's the same analysis if you remain single and you get a job in the private sector, you don't get the same amount of benefits. >> there is something where government needs to be a safety net. but we've reached the point where benefits are stretching almost half of the american public -- >> gretchen: they're advertising for people to get the benefits. >> when i was in iowa, i had someone who worked in the governor's office and the medicaid division and president obama was punishing the state of iowa for not signing up enough people on medicaid. look. >> brian: food stamp recipients is up. sadly, people go, that's a reflection of the economy. look at that upscale. from 17,000 and 23,000, 28,000 to 46,000. it goes back to elections. senator, it's going to be tough for the governor to go out and say to everyone, listen, i'm going to be cutting a lot of the entitlements. a loft you are going to be feeling more at risk. they're going to go with the guy that says hey, i'll take care of you. how do you counter that? >> first off, one of the reasons

we're saying this is because the economy stinks because this president is destroying the economy through overregulation and taxation and going around this country beating up on anybody that makes a profit. that was sort of the theme from last night. but it's really true. this president is the most hostile president to the private sector since franklin roosevelt. look what happened under roosevelt. years after years of playing the class warfare, which he did, and he drove businessmen away, he scoped creativity, that's what's happening. one of the reasons these rolls are going up is because of this president and his hostility toward the private sector in america. and it's a place to get money to then redistribute it to those who will hopefully vote for him. this is a -- this is what happened in the great depression and if we keep this up, we're going to experience even more economic problems. >> gretchen: people feel we're at the tipping point, once you go over 50% of society on the

government dole. it just case across that president obama said did he not watch any of the republican national convention last night. do you believe that? >> what i've seen over the course of the last four years, he never wants to hear the truth. and i think we laid out the truth last night in our speech. chris christie did the same. he wants to live in his own bubble. look, i never was president, but i had some idea of what a bubble is like, having secret service protection and the like. and it can be a bubble and in the white house, it's even a worst bubble. he's living in his bubble. he doesn't understand what's going on across america and i'm not surprised he doesn't want to hear the truth. >> brian: he has decided to campaign for the first time as a sitting president during the rnc or during the opposing convention. that's the first time. >> he knows he's in trouble and he has to do everything he can. >> brian: great speech last night. >> thank you. >> gretchen: coming up, other rnc speakers rallying around one common theme. they want to get rid of president obama.

>> mr. president, i'm here to tell you the american people are awake and we're not buying what you're selling in 2012! >> gretchen: what other words they had for the president straight ahead. >> brian: and it's not just politicians that rolled into tampa. elephant, too. i mean real elephants. >> gretchen: they're on our show, too? >> brian: i'm pretty sure. -oh, that's just my buds. -bacon. -my taste buds. -[ taste buds ] donuts. how about we try this new kind of fiber one cereal? you think you're going to slip some fiber by us? okay. ♪ fiber one is gonna make you smile. ♪ [ male announcer ] introducing new fiber one nutty clusters and almonds.

>> steve: a fox news extreme weather alert. hurricane isaac, 80 miles per hour sustained winds. slowly churning in the gulf with the eye just miles off the coast of new orleans where they're already getting pounded. we have fox team coverage right now. phil keating live at theodore, alabama. let's start in new orleans and jeff. tell us. >> i sometimes don't like to come down to the french quarter in new orleans for hurricanes because this we found out after katrina, this is actually the safest and spot that gets the least wind and the least rain 'cause it's on high ground in terms of flooding. today, we're really getting pounded town here. the angle much approach from this, although it's not as strong as katrina, this angle of approach put new orleans in the worst east quadrant that, tough

quadrant that gets the worst of the weather. that has really pounded us here today from last night. we went to bed last night, took a little bit of opportunity to get some sleep. it's been blowing and raining like this the whole time and if the weather forecast is true, we're going to have this maybe for another 24 hours. it would be an extraordinary test for new orleans and that new pumping system and those new levees. not as strong as katrina, but a good test none the less. >> steve: no kidding. jeff, thanks very much. let's go to alabama. phil keating, how is it there? >> hurricane isaac is bringing us so much threat to all four states here right now. we've had the driving wind, driving rain for hours and hours, the threat of flooding.

storm surge, now we've seen evidence of pretty decent erosion in the back yards of the people that live right here along mobile bay. at the end of our road as far as the camera distance, this goes down a good eight feet. it's about five feet by three feet and brand-new hole here and also more erosion over there. it remains very dangerous now. the advisories from all law enforcement and emergency responders, as well as the governors of alabama, mississippi, as well as louisiana, is if you really don't have to go out in this, you live out in the coastal communities being impacted by these hurricane and tropical storm conditions, just don't if you don't have to today because you can cause a greater danger on the road, especially we see all of this rain as predicted, up to 15, 20 inches of rain reported when it's said and done. it will cause flash flooding, standing water, roads under

water, and could just cause major problems compounded by all of these elements. the storm surge here in alabama anticipated to be up to six feet. whether it actually materializes here the next couple of hours, we shall see. back to you. >> steve: indeed. thank you very much. >> brian: that got considerably worse. >> steve: it has there. as for the levees, the new levees built by the army corps of engineers around new orleans, they're holding fine. we understand. but there are some levees, or at least one levee in placquemine parish outside of new orleans which the water has already overtopped examine some people at this hour are trapped in their homes. >> gretchen: at the same time that we're following that storm, we're here in tampa for the rnc convention. last night the speakers took to the stage for the first real night of the convention. they rallied the crowd around one common theme. you sean romney after her speech with her husband, governor mitt romney, and condoleeza rice who was just on the show. what was that theme?

from governor chris christie and others? it was all about not having any more of president obama. >> mr. president, i'm here to tell you the american people are awake and we're not buying what you're selling in this is our story. this is our america. this is the america we know because we built it! [ cheers and applause ] >> big government didn't build america. you built america. small businesses don't come out of washington, d.c. premade on flat bed trucks. >> we deserve a president who won't sacrifice american jobs and american workers to pacify the bullying union bosses he counts as his political allies. >> that's why this governor will not stop fighting until we send him home, back to chicago, and send mitt and ann romney to 1600 pennsylvania avenue! [ cheers and applause ] >> my grandfather, like millions

of other immigrant, didn't come here for some government guarantee of income equality or government benefits to take care of his family. in 1923, there were no government benefits for immigrants, except one, freedom. [ cheers and applause ] >> maybe we should have known that night in denver that things that began with styrofoam greek columns and artificial smoke typically don't end well. maybe the hollywood stars and the glamour blinded us a little. you thought it was the glare. some us thought it was a halo. we led with our hearts and our dreams that we could be more inclusive than america had ever been and no candidate had ever spoken so beautifully. but dreams meet daybreak. the jobless know what i mean.

so are the families who wonder how this administration could wreck a recovery for three years and counting. >> steve: he was electrifying. >> gretchen: a former democratic congressman from louisiana. now he's decided to become a republican, may run for office in the state of virginia. >> steve: the republicans got a great first night under their belt and tonight paul ryan, who everybody wants to hear from, he should as well electrify the crowd. >> brian: it will be a little hard because the hurricane is hitting. it will be interesting decision tonight with the canned -- what the candidates say when they hop on the podium and maybe it doesn't go forward. is there a chance they say it's too serious? >> gretchen: we'll have to wait and see. >> steve: at this point, we saw there is a lot of wind. there is some topping in one parish. but so far, we don't know until the sun comes up, the damage. >> gretchen: let's get to some of the headlines for wednesday morn. newly leased e-mails show the obama administration played a

bigger role. one says, it makes sense to get behind a winning horse. others show the white house gave the film's producers special access to people involved in the raid, as well as other undisclosed details. critics say president obama and his advisors are trying to use the movie for political gain ahead of the presidential election. but unfortunately, the movie's release date has been pushed back 'til after the election in december. nebraska school district wants a three-year-old deaf boy to change his name. they say the way he actually signs his name, hunter, makes his hands look like a gun. the district has a policy to prevent kids from bringing any instrument to school that looks like a weapon. his parents say they will fight 'til he gets to keep his name intact as hunter in sign language. a new report says california used $423,000 in taxpayer money on ipads even though the state

is facing major budget woes. the waste allegedly coming after governor jerry brown saying his administration would do away with cars and cell phones for government workers. departments like veterans affairs, water resources, and the dmv reportedly bought those ipad devices. the dmv order to turn over 11 ipads that it purchased. >> steve: meanwhile, thousands flocking to tampa this week for the rnc. everybody from politicians to members of the media, to even a herd of elephant. >> brian: it's true. fox news radio correspondent todd starnes grabbed a camera and joins us from bush gardens to explain. hey, todd. >> good morning. it's not just elephants here at tampa's bush gardens. elephant t-shirts and hats and elephant art. tampa bay is now home to a herd of pachyderm picassos. giant elephant sculptures created by local artists to make the grand old party feel right at home.

>> with the rnc here, i decided to do it. >> rick: the elephant is the official symbol of the republicans and these versions are made from fiberglass, standing four feet tall, weighing 70 pounds. some covered in mosaic tiles, while others take on a more patriotic flair. the pachyderms are sponsored by herd about tampa, installed across the city from the airport to the convention center. >> definitely the first time i've made an elephant, especially anything that size. elephants are really cool and represents the republican party. >> republicans don't seem to mind talking about the giant elephants in the room. >> they're terrific. they really add a lot to the whole ambience of the celebration. there they're artistic. they're creative. >> i think they're really great. >> i appreciate that the elephants look like elephants and not some sort of high modern abstract that looks like it was painted by a gerbil strung out on red bull. now, what does earn discerning

art collector wouldn't want this? martha's vineyard meets wild kingdom. back here, i've got to tell you, this is a republican friendly art exhibit, guys. not a single dive of taxpayers -- dime of taxpayer money was used. if you haven't noticed, yes, we on have republican elephant couture here with hats folks are wearing around town. >> steve: todd, i want to see you wear that next week in charlotte. >> one of the elephants is giving me the eye back here. >> brian: todd, thank you very much. coming up straight ahead, did you really think he would tone it down? >> you see, mr. president, real leaders don't follow polls. real leaders change polls!

[ cheers and applause ] >> gretchen: how do republicans think governor chris christie did last night? we're going to ask former new york mayor rudy guiliani next. more from the university of tampa marching band first. ♪ if you have copd like i do, you know how hard it can be to breathe

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♪ i can do anything today ♪ i cano anywhere ♪ i can go anywhere today ♪ la la lla la la la [ male announcer ] dow solutions help millions of people by helping to make gluten free bread that doesn't taste gluten free. together, the elements of science and the human element can solve anything solutionism. the new optimis >> gretchen: there has been lot of reaction in response to new jersey governor chris christie's keynote speech last night at the republican national convention. many had thought his tough love approach would land him the vp spot and the governor was on romney's so-called short list. so what worked in his speech? and what didn't? >> brian: here to comment is former mayor of new york city himself, who hung out with the new yorks last night, mayor rudy

guiliani. welcome back. >> we had a great time last night. all my old pals. >> brian: there was a report that governor kristy was going to come out and emanated from you and told to tone it down. number one, do you think it's true? and number two, did he? >> i think he gave his speech the convention wanted him to give, which was give a philosophical contrast between a failed obama -- >> brian: he's philosophical, get the idiot off the beach? >> chris is a very smart guy, accomplished guy, very good lawyer. he gave exactly the speech the romney campaign wanted him to give. >> gretchen: you know him well. you were standing out there endorsing him. >> do you remember where he announced? in front of corzine's apartment. >> gretchen: i do remember. >> went right to his apartment. i'm running and taking the job away from this guy. >> steve: they didn't really need the attack dog because i understand the campaign feels that so many americans have a bad image, a negative image of barak obama, they wanted to set

up the vision thing and he started the ball. >> i think that's right. he basically laid the ground work for i think what will be paul ryan's speech tonight. this is -- we have a president who fails to make tough decisions. he's afraid to take on medicare. he's afraid to take on social security. if we keep having this fear, we're going to lose it. i think paul ryan tonight can say we're not afraid to take these things on and we're not taking medicare away from you. we're going to save it for you because this guy is going to make it go bankrupt. >> gretchen: one of the things a lot of people were surprised about governor christie's speech was they might have expected him to say more get off the beach kind of lines and show up in front of corzine's house. did they expect a softer side of him? listen to this. >> the greatest lesson that mom ever taught me was this one: she told me there would be times in your life when you have to choose between being loved and being respected. now, she said to always pick being respected. she told me that love without respect was all fleeting, but

that respect could grow into real and lasting love. >> gretchen: all right. so the softer side? >> interesting thing, my father taught me the same thing. my father would always say, it's more important that you respect me than love me. if you respect me, you'll eventually love me in the right way. that's how i conducted myself as mayor. it was more important for me to do the right thing as mayor than to have people off and oning over me. >> brian: you see this in governorship, from ohio, to indiana, new jersey. >> i know the polls will dip. but this is what's got to be done. >> chris represent has group of governors like him. they may have a different style, but they're willing to cut expenses. they're willing to deal with pensions so they can save them. they're willing to take on unions and make sure the unions aren't really taking advantage. that takes a lot of courage to do that. i think you can look at michigan, wisconsin, you can look at ohio, you can look at virginia, you have guys like chris christie. i think that's what he was representing. >> steve: last night we heard from a lot of the reformers and then with the key it is noter --

keynoter. we heard him do a zinger. did you pick up on this? >> there is only one hinge missing now, leadership. it takes leadership that you don't get from reading a poll. you see, mr. president, real leaders don't follow polls. real leaders change polls! >> steve: okay. so it's all about leadership. >> that's right. taking on the things that this president has failed to take on because he's afraid. failed to tell the american the truth about social security, about medicare. setting up a commission to make recommendations on the budget and the economy, the simpson bowles commission and then ignoring them. not meeting with his jobs council for months and months and months while he goes out and raises money. this is a president who is guided very much by one thing examine one thing alone, getting himself reelected. the best advice i got when i first became mayor was, act like you're a one-term mayor. forget about getting elected. if you don't get elected, you can be proud and if you do, you can get elected for good reason.

that was from bill powers who i sat with last night. >> steve: great, great speech last night. >> i think it was an a plus. for what he had to do. all of us who know him wanted to see him go out there and just punch the heck out of president obama, which he's perfectly capable of. i think it's a real mark of what an effective speaker he is that he can do something different and do it effectively. i thought ann romney was a remarkable -- particularly given the fact she's never given a speech like that before. chris is a professional. he can do five different kinds of speeches. she's not a professional. >> steve: mayor, we're going to step aside. you're sticking around. >> gretchen: we've been talking about who would be mitt romney romney -- be in mitt romney's cabinet. let's check in with bill hemmer. >> good morning to you. now we go to night number two, the headliner is paul ryan. you're going to hear from ed rollins, karl rove, joe trippi,

haley barber action brit hume. we'll preview ryan's big night when martha examine i see new ten minutes live here in tampa as our coverage rolls on right after this people really love snapshot from progressive, but don't just listen to me. listen to these happy progressive customers. i plugged in snapshot, and 30 days later, i was saving big on car insurance. with snapshot, i knew what i could save before i switched to progressive. the better i drive, the more i save. i wish our company had something this cool. you're not filming this, are you? aw! camera shy. snapshot from progressive. test-drive snapshot before you switch. visit progressive.com today. i was born with scoliosis.

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before break, we did a bit of a tease. we said would rudy guiliani become attorney general if mitt romney is elected president? so? >> i'm not seeking any job. i'm here because i'm worried about the country. i'm worried about another four years of barak obama and what irrepairable damage it will do to our economy and other things. he'll have a lot of choices for a lot of things examine that's way, way down the road. >> gretchen: would you say yes if asked?

>> i don't know. it would depend on the conversation you had with the president. you can't decide that in advance. >> brian: right. i understand now. with governor romney, you've been around him a lot and competed against him. what does testify do in his speech -- >> i don't think he has to do a lot in his speech. >> brian: really? >> paul ryan has to introduce himself. in the case of mitt romney, i think if he just lays out what he wants to do for the country, that's exactly what he should too. he's been doing it for five or six years now. he's got a very, very clear plan of how to straighten out the economy, which is based on the model of all these governors. he's willing to do the things that snyder did, that kasich did, that christie did, daniels. all these people have done. he's in the mold of a reformer and he's contrasting that with a president not willing to take any of the tough decisions that are needed to straighten us out. >> steve: before you go, it was supposed to be four nights of speakers. three nights. they had to saw one night off because of the storm.

how do you think they've handled it? >> very well. we had this last time, four years ago as well. maybe this is what america can stand, three-day convention instead of a four-day convention. after all, there is a real question of how many peep listen, how much they pay attention. i think the more contract it, the more you pay attention. governor romney, i think america wants a competent businessman as president and not somebody that's all smoke and mirrors, which i think is what this president has sold us. i think it might be good contrast the president's razzle dazzle with a guy who has been successful in life before he became president. that's how we usually choose our president. >> gretchen: the theme of this convention, which is we built it, off the heels of the comment by the president. >> he did. i thought mrs. romney was terrific last night when she said that the president, or president romney, we hope, shouldn't be embarrassed about his success in business. this is a positive. if he can do for america what he did for bain capital, we would be so much better off.

>> brian: thank you for coming in. we appreciate the quality time. >> thank you. >> steve: we'll take a time out. cheerleaders, when we come back. >> gretchen: university of tampa spartan band, two minutes away. [ wife ] your dad's really giving him the business... the designated hitter's the best thing to happen to baseball! but it's not the same game! [ wife ] wow, he's really gonna get us a good deal. it's better! no it's not! the pitcher comes up and he's out! [ dealer ] he can bunt! whatever. but we're good with 0% apr for 60 months? oh yeah, totally. thank you so much. that must've been brutal. [ male announcer ] the volkswagen autobahn for all event. at 0% apr for 60 months, no one needs to know how easy it was to get your new volkswagen. that's the power of german engineering.

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