nation," from charlotte, north carolina, here come the democrats. >> he called my health care law obamacare. i call his plan "romney doesn't care." ( applause ) he's running on the romney doesn't care platform. glef republicans turned it on in tampa. now the democrats will roll out their biggest stars to turn the page in charlotte. the vice president was warming to the task even before he got here. >> can i say hi?

>> we'll goa get a preview of te democratic conditions. we'll get analysis from dan balz of the "washington post." georgetown university's michael eric dyson. trish regan, bloomberg television anchor, and host of "street smart" and our own john dickerson. let's talk some politics because this is "face the nation." captioning sponsored by cbs >> and now from the site of the democratic national convention, face the nation with bob schieffer. >> schieffer: good morning, again. welcome to "face the nation." we are on the floor of the time warner center in charlotte. with us today, former new mexico

governor, and maryland governor martin o'malley. governor o'malley, let me just start with you. we come out of the republican convention, and their theme seems to be everybody is disappointed in barack obama. they don't say he's a bad guy. it's like from the requested wizard of ozits" when he said, "i'm not a bad man. i'm just a bad wizard." that seems to be what they're saying about barack obama. how do you handle that? >> look, there were three things that you didn't see at the republican convention. you didn't see any new ideas for creating jobs. you didn't see george bush. and you didn't see mitt romney's tax returns. and the fact of the matter is, it was george bush's policy that drove our country into the worst set of problems any president as inherited since franklin delano roosevelt. but facts are facts and we can't deny for 29 months in a row we have seen positive private sect job growth, foreclosures are better than before the president took office. this is hard.

these are deep problems. what you're going to see in the next few days here in charlotte, san agenda and a vision for america's future, where our middle class is actually growing, becoming stronger, where we create opportunity. their only idea is ladling on bigger tax breaks for billionaires. we believe in greater security for our jobs, our homes and in our golden years. >> schieffer: stephanie cutter, do you see any openings here coming out of the republican convention. paul ryan is no longer the policy one of. he is the attack dog. did he leave any opening for you? >> i think the big opening they left for the president is they never said where they wanted to take the country or what they wanted to do. it was a week of personal attacks, empty platitudes, and the one thing you were left with is they really think lying is a virtue, and i think the american people disagree with that. this week will be very different. you'll get a sense-- at the ends of this week you'll have a real sense of how the president wants to move this country forward and

welookhe thing we've been able to do over the pasturc forward, whether saving the auto industry and a million jobs with it. helping kids afford college. passing health care reform, where millions of people are already benefitting from it across the country. so this will be a very different feel. we're going to be talking to all americans, flotjust rallying our base like we saw last week. >> schieffer: well, are you saying they're just a bunch of liars? >> no, bob. i didn't say that. >> schieffer: well you said, lying is a virtue." >> i heard a lot of things that weren't true last week. i think we can all agree with that. i think we can all agree they blamed the president for closing an auto plant in janesville, wisconsin that closed under president bush. they claim plame the president for cutting medicare, when paul ryan had the same cuts in his plan. there are a number of things like that. the 12 million jobs they promised the american people. book bob, you know, those are already forecasted under the president's plan.

economic forecasters already said over the course of the next four years, if we stay on the president's plan, we'll create 12 million jobs. >> schieffer: bill richardson, you have become kind of a tradition on ow preconvention "face the nation" broadcast. i remember in 2004, we were out on the convention floor in boston. sitting there with us was kathryn grant holm, the governor of michigan, and a senator from illinois that nobody knew too much about, barack obama. and you were there with us. i want to ask you about this-- this disappointing, hoe, that the republicans are pushing. there's no question that there is not as much enthusiasm for barack obama as there was last time out, especially among some young people. >> my sense is that, that coalition that elected the president, the young, "minorities, independent voters, is going to be there. i think there's a view that the president is moving very much in

the right direction, that the second term will show him i think go from a good president to a great president. i think what you're also seeing in this convention is a convention that's positive, that's going to show the contrast between where we want to go, the democratic party, and the president, help the middle class, the workerrer, not have trickle-down, warmongering foreign policy as the republicans want to go. you know, i was struck-- i've been through a lot of conventions-- you mentioned '04s supposed to speak and al sharpton took my time away. ( laughter ) i don't know if you remember that. i was supposed to be on prime-time. >> schieffer: he was sort of the clint eastwood. >> right. you mentioned clint eastwood, the lonely gunfighter. that's what the republicans were projecting. it's all individual responsibility. yes, but i think the democratic partly is about family, about

unity, about bringing people together. we're all in this together, we're all trying to rebuild the economy together. and i think you're going to see this convention not appeal to the base, not have a bunch of nasty attacks. you're going to see a convention filled with promising young hispanic speakers, you're going to see diversity, you're going to see multiculturalism. you're going to see a real effort to engage the middle class, engage the american worker, and say that we want to be positive about this country. we're not going to be a bunch of negativists. >> schieffer: well, let me ask you about this. so bill clinton turns out to be one of the big-- maybe the big star, other than the president, of course, of this convention. stephanie cutter, what does that mean? i mean, bill clinton is a centrist. does this mean that barack obama is trying to move the democratic party back to the center becau because, after all, bill clinton is called for extending at least temporarily the bush tax cuts. >> yeah, well, bob, i don't

agree that the party has moved left, right, or center. bill clinton is going to describe the type of economic policy that led to the greatest expansion, the greatest economic expansion in a searchry by investing in our people, investing in education, cutting taxes for the middle class, but asking the wealthy to pay their fair share. that's what built that clinton expansion, and that's what the president's policies today are all about. and that's where the president wants to take this country. so what president clinton is going to say is if you're for a president who can grow the middle class, create that economic expansion, move away from the policies of the past that actually crashed our economy and punished the middle class, then barack obama is your guy. i've done it. he's doing itr that's the clear choice in this election. we know what not to do, what was done over the previous decade. and we know what to do under the clinton administration in terms of how to build a balanced economy where everybody can get ahead. >> schieffer: what do you think of having bill clinton here? he does have good things and bad things in his past.

>> well, i think for all of the reasons that miss cutter just outlined, i think it's going to electrify this place. let's face it, look, ideology doesn't move our country forward. we have to do the things that we know work, and what we did in president clinton's years was to create jobs, was to make our middle class not only stronger and more secure in their own homes, but to give their children better opportunities. this is all about opportunities that grow our middle class. bill clinton did it. and you know, bob, at the same time he created a surplus when he had been left by ronald reagan a big deficit. and ronald reagan and the first president bush. and in the same way, though, i mean, he did not do that in one term. he did not do that in one term. and i think it's important to remember that. >> schieffer: let me ask you about that. can you honestly say that people are better off today than they were four years ago? >> no, but that's not the question of this election. the question, without a doubt,

we are not as well off as we were before george bush brought us the bush job losses,s bush recessions, the bush deficits, the series of desert wars, charged for the first time to credit cards, the national credit cards -- >> schieffer: but i mean, governor richardson and stephanie cutter. george bush is not on the ballots. >> but we are making progress. >> in terms of the question, "are people better off today than they were four years ago?" i want to remind you what was happening four years ago at this time. in the quarter before the president took office, we lost three million jobs. our country was bleeding. our financial system was on the verge of collapse. we were passing bank bailouts to ensure that our system could stay afloat. that's what was happening before the president took office. >> and, bob, the best difference and the best progress has been made in the area of foreign policy. president has gotten us out of iraq. s we getting us out of afghanistan. we've got free trade agreements in latin america we have a

president that brilliantly dealt with the situation in libya, with the arab spring. we have solid relations with china and russia. we're competitive with both. but we're not going to be like governor romney who says on his first day he's going to start a trade war with china. and our biggest geopolitical foe is russia. just those words as enervating and putting a lot of people nervous. i think what this president has done is restored our prestige abroad. we're leaders but we're collaborating with other nations. nato, europe, we're all tackling this economic crisis internationally together. outreach to the third world, to africa, asia, latin america. the president is not running overseas, but everywhere you go, all around the world-- and i travel a lot-- the international community wants to see this president re-elected. obviously, we've got to do it here. >> schieffer: all right, well, i want to thank all of you. >> thank you, bob.

>> schieffer: we'll be back to you, and we'll be right back with more from the site of the democratic convention. so stay with us. recently, students from 31 countries took part in a science test. the top academic performers surprised some people. so did the country that came in 17th place. let's raise the bar and elevate our academic standards.

let's do what's best for our students-by investing in our teachers. let's solve this. so, what's the problem? these are hot. we're shipping 'em everywhere. but we can't predict our shipping costs. dallas. detroit. different rates. well with us, it's the same flat rate. same flat rate. boston. boise? same flat rate. alabama. alaska? with priority mail flat rate boxes from the postal service. if it fits, it ships anywhere in the country for a low flat rate. dude's good. dude's real good. dudes. priority mail flat rate boxes. starting at just $5.15. only from the postal service. now in charlotte with cbs news political director john dickerson, dan balz of the "washington post." michael eric dyson, professor of sociology at georgetown, and trish regan, bloomberg television anchor and host of

"street smart." tricia, i want to start with you, because i continue to believe this election is going to be about the economy. what are we going to see from the economy between now and election day? >> well, it's not looking good, bob. i mean, you look at the jobs report. the jobs reports have been coming out, none of them have been very good, and the expectation is between now and november, we're going to see more of the same. next friday, we'll get a critical jobs report. the expectation is unemployment will hold steady around 8.3%. we're adding about 128,000 jobs to the economy each month. that's not enough to keep pace, even with population growth. so you need to be looking at 300,000, 400,000 jobs a month on a consistent basis if you're really going to chip away at that unemployment rate. we're not there. you add europe and its mess into the mix. you add slow growth in china and none of this is good news for us. >> schieffer: and it's also not good news for barack obama. >> absolutely right. i mean, this is an election at the end of the day that's going

to come down to the economy. people tend to vote their pocketbook. we've seen this time and time again. >> schieffer: so, michael eric dyson, let me go to you next. you had minorities last time out. young people very enthusiastic about the president. this election is so close. i'm not sensing the enthusiasm that we saw the last time out from those groups. >> well, i think, first of all, you had a historic campaign. you had a figure of incredible value articulating a vision that united america in a unique fashion. so it's hard to repeat that magic. you know, you want to go back to the hat and try to pull out the rabbit again, but you realize-- and i think obama campaign has deftly deployed its resources in realizing you can't create that magic again. but you've got to speak as trish indicatedly to the fundamental economic realities that people confront. if it looks bad now, i think the obama campaign says imagine what

it's going to look like under romney and ryan, you know, cutting all of these jobs, women's job. it looked like it was a lovefest for women last week, except where it count, in the pocketbook, in the home. women still make 77 cents on the dollar as what a man makes. as a result of cutting nutrition programs that stand between many poor women and being able to survive, i think the obama campaign is reaching out to those minorityes, women including to suggest, yeah, it's been tough. we had a horrible condition we inherit. give us a little bit more time to fix this because it doesn't take just three or four years. but at the same time, they were selling a vision and a value that i think appeals to those people. we'll see how successful that is. >> schieffer: dan, you had a big, long piece in the "washington post" today. what do you think that president obama has to do here? >> well, i mean, one of the-- one of the issues is -- and it was-- it was set up at the tampa convention with the notion that people are disappointed with the president. they went hard on the idea he's

not a bad person, but he's not been a successful president. the key, i think, is whether they can turn disappointment into rejection. and i think what he's got to do here is two things. work as rerric suggested, something has to be done to energize or reenergize the coalition he put together. it's not 2008 again but they need to do more work on that. i think equally responsibility to come in here and give a clearer sense of what a second-term agenda is really about. they've done a good job this summer in attacking governor romney. i think here they have to-- he-- and he in particular-- has to be more forward looking in a more precise way about what that second term looks like. >> schieffer: and bill clinton, john, what about having bill clinton here? what does that amount to? >> the first thing, bill clinton adds some excitement. in talking to democratic strategists the last few days they said one of the problems if you-- and they meant us the media-- finding something exciting in charlotte.

you had chris christie, paul ryan, these are exciting figures, even if you don't agree with their ideology. in the democratic convention, it lacks that excitement, in part of the because of the hangover of the economy and in part because the president has to wriggle his way out of getting out of the economy. bill clinton adds excitement and a way of explaining this election to people. he is better than most politicians alive today at connecting policies with people's lives. and that's what barack obama ultimately has to do, but bill clinton gets to kind of plow the fielded and prepare it for president obama when he comes and talks thursday night by saying, i understand, we understand the difficulties of the life you lead now, and here are specific wales that we are trying to help you. and that's where the democrats think governor romney missed a step in his convention was saying, "i understand you, and here's a specific way in which the way i understand you is going to make your life better." >> schieffer: dan, where do you think this race is right now? >> i think it's very close. i would assume the romney campaign got a small bump that will disappear pretty quickly.

the president may get a small bump at the end of this week, but everything we've seen over the last four, five, six months is that this race will settle back to where it has been, which is an almost dead-even race, and neither candidate quite at the 50% level you need. the debates are, obviously, going to be critical when we get to october. the jobs reports that we get will be a factor. but this race looks like it could be close right to the end. >> schieffer: trish, i want to ask you, because you're a work mom. >> uh-huh. >> schieffer: ann romney made i thought a really very, very good speech. >> uh-huh. >> schieffer: she'd told us things about her husband that i think a lot of people didn't know. but you think she-- and it was obviously aimed directly at women. do you think she will change any minds? will that be a factor? >> well, i think it's a pretty tall order to expect ann romney to close this gender gap for her husband. for as many women that are going to relate to her, you have

single moms, you have working moms that simply won't. and when she seahawks about gas prices and when she talks about grocery bills, they're thinking to themselves,un, that's been a long time since you really had to feel that pain if ever. so it's a little bit of a challenge for her. but without doubt, mitt romney needs to get his message across to women because women are the c.f.o.s of their pam prepares they're the ones that are writing the checks and balancing the checkbook every week. and they care about this economy. they care about their children's future. so debt matters to them. and if he can-- if he can convey that he is the most competent man for the job, i think he stands a shot. in other words, barack obama, without doubt, certainly has the popularity vote. but it could come down to competency, and that's the issue. they're not marrying the guy, right. they're hiring him fair job, and if he can prove he's the one, then he's got a better shot.

>> schieffer: michael, i mean, most people in every poll, an overwhelming majority think the country is headed in the wrong direction. >> yeah. >> schieffer: how does barack obama handle that? i mean, you can't just keep saying it's all george bush's fault. you have to go beyond that. what does he need to do here? >> i think, look, first of all, just by the very statesman-like character of the president, the that in the face of vicious opposition, think about clint eastwood's little, you know, montage of scenes there where he's speaking to an empty chair. gee, i didn't know you read ralph ellison like that and understood the invisible man. they're conjuring a barack obama that is a figment of their imagination which is a metaphor for how this republican party has seen him. you can talk about competency, but here's a guy, mitt romney, he won't release his taxes for several years. he doesn't talk about-- >> schieffer: is that really a big deal that he won't release his taxes? >> it is a big deal because it indicates something about character. he continues to make obama the other, the significant person

outside our perspective here. and i think that's quite interesting and intriguing from a guy who comes from a lperspective that has fought for significant inclusion in the mainstream of american culture. here you have like huckabee says i don't care where he takes his family to church. i care where he takes this country. a good line, but you said obama who is a christian like you, can't be trusted. barack obama is a cool character. he understands that he has to talk about the bottom line, and, yes, i can't keep blame the other guy, but somebody else stole the furniture. i moved spot house. you're mad at me because the furniture is gone, give me a chance to buy something from a cheap place or even ikea. i think it comes down to what trish said, selling the belief that there is a person who can steady the economic ship in in the midst of rough waters. i've seen nothing from the romney campaign to suggest that their suggestions will do

something better, except can cut government and hate the size of the government, which is no kind of recommendation. >> schieffer: let me ask dan quickly. who has the best team out there right now, just from the standpoint of getting the word out and doing what needs to be done in a mechanical kind of way? >> i think over the course of the summer, the obama campaign showed itself to be very aggressive and relentlessly negative in going after governor romney. and they've been very disciplined about that. what we will see about the romney campaign is whether their willingness to let some of that happen and come to the sense if we can get to labor day with a dead-even race, we are really in this. they took a lot of pounding and they took criticism for allowing some of that to happen. they have a theory of this election, and we'll see whether they're right. >> schieffer: well, i want to thank all of you. it was a lot of fun talking to you. we'll be back in a moment. i'll have some final thoughts. this country was built by working people.

the economy needs manufacturing. machines, tools, people making stuff. companies have to invest in making things. infrastructure, construction, production. we need it now more than ever. chevron's putting more than $8 billion dollars back in the u.s. economy this year. in pipes, cement, steel, jobs, energy. we need to get the wheels turning. i'm proud of that. making real things... for real. ...that make a real difference. ♪ he speaks a weird language... [ gargling ] drinks green stuff. he says he's from albuquerque. i'm not buying it. i mean, just look at him. and one more thing -- he has a spaceship. [ whirring ] the evidence doesn't lie. my dad's an alien. [ male announcer ] the highly advanced audi a6. named to car and driver's 10 best. experience the summer of audi event

before september 4th and get exceptional values on the audi you've always wanted. before september 4th it's something you're born with. and inspires the things you choose to do. you do what you do... because it matters. at hp we don't just believe in the power of technology. we believe in the power of people when technology works for you. to dream. to create. to work. if you're going to do something. make it matter. general election will soon be under way, and this time it's an unusual match-up. a president who doesn't much like politics and a challenger who's not all that good at it. to be sure, they are both qualified to hold the office. good men of high moral character, and both are lawyers, for whatever that's worth. but it is the little things that

give me pause. it is well known in washington that hanging out with other politicians is barack obama's least-favorite thing. and now we learn from the "wall street journal" that he has finally bonn to write thank you notes to his big donors. that's hard to believe. but it is no more surprising than mitt romney deciding to remodel the beach house, the one with the car elevators, with an election approaching, or going to london and wondering out loud whether the british were ready to host the olympics. old-time politicians would know better. i appreciate anyone willing to take the abuse that comes from getting into the areinand trying to make things better. but somehow our modern politicians seem to have forgotten the basics of politics. what i miss are the politician who were not just good at it but had a real zest for the game-- the reagans and l.b.j.s and tip o'neills. somehow their obvious love of politics gave me confidence they

could work things out. it's just a small thing, but i wish we could see more of that. back in a minute. ome risk,

>> schieffer: that's all our time for today because of sports but we'll be back with our regular one-hour broadcast next week. thank you for being with us here on "face the nation." captioning sponsored by cbs captioned by media access group at wgbh access.wgbh.org ,,,,,,,,,,