history the unions have brought to this country. david, is that something you agree with? especially when it comes to teach are your kids. >> look, i have to, in full disclosure, my great-grandfather was a union labor leader in philadelphia. i'm very proud of that and proud of the american labor union and think they've been an intricate part of our nation as well. something i they need need to say. it's about growing the pie for everybody. it's good economics. >> david goodfriend. nice to see you. thanks. that does it for us. thomas roberts. "hardball" with chris matthews starts right now. show me the jobs. let's pl "." good evening. i'm chris matthews at the ronald reagan presidential library in simi valley, california.

leading off tonight, well, this is the week. today's tuesday. by friday a.m. we'll know two things we don't know now. does president obama have a convincing jobs plan? and the hard commitment to sell it to the american people, and to fight the republicans tooth and nail to get it passed. or make them pay if they try and stop him. great question. question two -- can governor rick perry prove himself the obvious conservative challenger to president obama next year? comes down to two events. the big obama speech thursday. the big republican debate here tomorrow night. by friday a.m., reviews in and we'll know where things stand. what a week. we start coverage now with a "wall street journal" poll with lows for both president obama and the u.s. congress. politico's editor-in-chief co-moderates the debate with brian williams and john heilemann. look at the first big set of number, gentlemen. these are amazing.

start with the bleak numbers for president obama from our nbc/"wall street journal" poll. here's a new low. when it comes to job approval, the best number can you have, just 44% approve's how he's handling his job as president. 51%, now a majority, disapprove. also a personal low when it comes to his handling of the economy. no surprise. 59% disapprove. 54% think he's facing a long-term setback unlikely to get better. a number of pollsters say it's dangerous for him. like the number for president george w. bush after katrina. one positive note for the president, and i'm not sure i believe this one. 70% of the american people, seven in ten of us, say they still like him personally. to john heilemann who wrote "game change" starting with the obama situation. looks to me like president obama is in serious trouble of the american people beginning, if they haven't already to change their minds about him.

>> well, yeah, chris, i think that's right and i think the fact is that president obama has been personally popular throughout the time that he's been in office, and as the economy has stayed bad and in some respects got a little better but now it seems to have gotten worse with zero job growth whatsoever in august, always a question had those economic numbers would start to weigh him down. start to weigh down his approval rating more broadly. that's what we're starting to see happen now. people are beginning to think that the president is a good man who tried his best over the course of the first 2.5 years of his presidency, but what he has tried has not worked and are at least, at a minimum, open to looking for other alternatives and other solutions. >> john harris, good luck tomorrow night. break a leg, as they say in show business. have the american people made recessesment of the presidents skills? >> i don't know about the american people.

in terms of political skills, in view of a president's substantive skills. is he able to run the country? and specifically in this -- is he able to do something about a structurally unhealthy economy? and all they can look at so far is evidence, and there's no way to say yes to that. the best case you can make is he needs more time in order to prove his case. the other case is, no. he's had his chance, had his time. now let's try something different. >> quickly, maybe can you make a -- tell me if you can, a friend and as well as colleague. can the president make a decision this week in that speech he gives thursday night with everyone in the country watching, a big nfl night besides everything else, can he decide, go left, do something populist that ed schultz and a lot of my other friends would love, even if it wouldn't sell for republicans but a hell of a sales pitch, something republicans would choke on but have to buy or give them something soft and tasty that

would seem republican? which way would you go? >> i don't know, chris. here's the fundamental -- >> that is the question. you don't want to answer it, fine. john, where would you go? down the middle, off to the right or somewhere in the middle? >> i believe trying to do something down the middle. >> down the middle? >> some measures that republicans would have no excuse not to support. republican ideas. but if you ask for a national audience, if you say, i want to speak to the congress and the whole country, you've got to -- that's a big moment. you've got to fill that moment. i don't believe it's all going to be kind of incremental -- >> okay. back to john. more time with that one. trying too find out whether he wants to get something across the plate the batter can swing at, republicans. or a bad pitch. we know you won't give me help. let's not kid ourselves. i'll give you something ed shultz will love? >> i think the president and people recognize the likelihood of republican it's approving anything that would

substantially alter's economic conditions in the united states and election day is zero nap would require a big figure to get passed and republicans are not going to pass something like that. the problem, if he proposes something really big and that shows the kind of fight that a lot of populists and people on left would really love, it's not going to be that popular in the country. the truth is most people in the country, we can say they may be wrong about this, most in the country now are against big spending programs. they don't look at the stimulus and say it was a success. again, put aside the merit of the argument. politically, the things that show him to be a big thinker or a big, bold political leader are things that would not necessarily be popular in the middle of the country, would not necessarily help his political prospects. the white house is looking at this as a political speech it puts him in a difficult box trying to do something big and bold but broad lly popular. not many things fall into that basket. >> let me just try something specifically. we're preparing this here at

"hardball." a real graphic display what he could do. see if he does it. suppose takes every bridge, safety code, democratic politics, i'm going to fix every bridge below code, put the engineering to work, semiskilled, every worker in the city and create a million jobs doing it. is that a good thing to do? basic safety. >> what he has to do is try something new. as hileman pointed out, a lot of people didn't like the stimulus. we'll see more stimulus. a reaction, you tried that. it didn't work. he has to, to fill the moment, come up with something that feels genuinely new. and worthy of the problem. worthy of the moment. >> right now to the republicans. what a night they'll have here tomorrow night. among republican voters, rick perry is top. boy, this guy zoomed up to 38% favoring him right now as the nominee. look at this. mitt romney down to 23% and ron paul in third. michele bachmann dropping to fourth. compare that to just a month ago when rick perry was -- hardly

anywhere while michele bachmann lost half her votes in the last month and trails ron paul. rp lapp the commanding lead among the tea party republicans and surprisingly tea partiering favoring michele bachmann comes in fourth among her own crowd. and perry wins along non-tea party republicans. winning in both groups. they do shed light on how the candidates are faring. let me go with you on that. john, that seems to me, is the field simply so volatile that a guy comes in not from washington, gubernatorial experience, governor of a big state, good jobs number. those tr the tickets? they don't know -- 21% of the people in the new poll gave him a favorable rating. 38% want limb to be president. twice as many support him for the nomination who know him. >> clearly there's a republican hunger for a broader field. that's why perry shot to the top. n your numbers, flbs "wall street

journal" poll showed, and another poll showed the same thing. 17% for romney. >> do they know perry? >> of course not. the numbers might be femoral, why the debate tomorrow is so important. >> and two stages. you pick a profile of the candidate you like. whether gary hart, outdoorsy, young, whatever. and then look inside and say, "where's the beef?" is that the question this week? >> i think that's a huge question and right now a poll came out from gallup. romney and perry are among people who know them both broadly liked. an intensely factor on the perry side. people hoop like perry like him a lot. people who know romney just like him. really good reporting in politico last week saying the book he wrote has a lot of land mines in it. people will explodes the land

mines to see if he has staying power. there was never a question about the fact mitt romney was not going to be able to waltz to this nomination. not the front-runner and get the nomination next year. he would face a big challenge. looks like rick perry is the big challenge nap doesn't mean mitt romney can't bounce back. especially if people look under the hood, as you put it in terms of has rick perry is, what he believes and whether he could win a general election. >> two points now. it the concern about rick perry -- not whether conservatives like him or not. conservatives are really conservative, republican party. or the fear he won't pass muster next november? is it possible, you can't go too far right for the tea partiers? >> i think there's two questions about rick perry, to hit on what you're asking, chris. one, does he have depth? is he ready to be president? is he going to look plausible next to barack obama in a general election a year from

now? two, does he have national appeal? he obviously has intense regional appeal for sung sun southerners. it's not enough to win an election. can he broaden it? those two question, depth, national appeal. >> to congress now. we don't tend to spend a lot of time thinking about congress. usually a second question. look at this. 13% of the american people, you have to wonder who they are, approve of congress' job approval this year. 82% disapprove. to me, one of those great questions. who are these 13% who like the job that eric cantor did this year? that boehner did this year? that pelosi did this year? what did they do you could approve? >> the ones on the far right ideologically, the people behind the movement of the tea party into power. the mid-term elections last year who wanted the outcome of the debt ceiling debate, said it was a good thing, on the side of the holdouts in the republican caucus. there are people like in in

america. but i think to go back to the top of our conversation, the unpopular of congress is one opening that barack obama has. there is an opening here for a truman strategy to run against these guy, because they are broadly unpopular. even the republican party, broadly unpopular. obama can get mileage attacking them starting this week and carrying forward to next november. >> proof of that footage on harris, a new poll number, never seen one like it. if given the option to vote on every member of congress -- if you could go with a voter, walk in to a booth and say no to the members of congress, throw them out, men, women, left, right, center, black, white, hispanic, asian, throw them ought out, would you do it? the majority said they'd love to have the chance to throw them out. and they go into the booth and vote for the same old people they've voted for. >> revealing number. congress has never -- never been so low, but never popular. people usually say, but i like my guy. he's doing a good job.

throw them out. all of them umplg. >> it reminds me of 1980. people so angry at carter. i was on an airplane as a speechwriter. voted straight republican, almost gave the house away. gave the senate away to republic republicans. swept 33 seats for reagan. you get angry, vote for a shift from right to left our left to right. will there be a shift? >> this is different than 1980. a genuine ideological solichift the right. rear on track for a fourth straight change election. 2006, kick him out. 2008 change. 2010 xlachange. not an ideological direction, a radical fluidity. people aren't happy with the way washington and government works. >> we're stuck with another divided government where nothing gets done. thank you. great segment. good luck with the press. and break a leg co-moderating

with brian williams. remember, brian williams, and john harris, the man to my immediate left, will moderate the american presidential debate right reagan presidential library and join us thursday for the president's big jobs speech at 7:00 p.m. eastern. speaking early before the nfl game. when we return, the stakes for the president and his big jobs speech. he can't just give -- remember the drug stores signs? sundries and notions? just the little things, usual suss spent. time for him to go big. we all think. huge watchi ing "hardball" onlyn msnbc. ♪ [ male announcer ] unlike some car companies, nissan is running at 100%, which means the most innovative cars are also the most available cars. nissan. innovation for today.

innovation for all. ♪ big shake-up in the bachmann campaign. ed rollins stepped down as the day-to-day leader of michele bachmann's operations. ran an '84 campaign and is exhausted. assuming an advisory role in the

campaign. also leaving the campaign citing differences. and it frankly boils down to perry against romney. we'll be right back.pa of this . re/max agents know their markets, and they care enough to get to know you, too. nobody sells more real estate than re/max. visit remax.com today. new newtons fruit thins. real cranberries and cranberry citrus oat... crispy whole grain. newtons fruit thins, one unique cookie. it's schwab at your fingertips wherever, whenever you want. one log in lets you monitor all of your balances and transfer between accounts, so your money can move as fast as you do. check out your portfolio, track the market with live updates. and execute trades anywhere and anytime the inspiration hits you.

even deposit checks right from your phone. just take a picture, hit deposit and you're done. open an account today and put schwab mobile to work for you.

welcome back to "hardball." the stakes couldn't be higher for president obama this thursday when he gavs big jobs speech before a joint session of congress. his chance, of course to lay out a strong vision. a vision from obama for the economy and how he proposes creating jobs in contrast to the republicans who will likely reject whatever he says. an assumption we're making here. also an opportunity for the president, perhaps one of his last before the next election, that shows he's a leader. will he take it and will his speech live up to what's been a dramatic buildup in the last week because of him or fall flat by failing to present a flan can be embraced by the average person watching from home, and

will it contain a lot of little things but nothing big and memorable? tough questions. to discuss what we can, we're joined by msnbc senior political analyst an "time" magazine eder it large mark halperin and an msnbc political analyst. mark first. i guess the simple question is, should the president go down the middle and offer up something that the republicans will at least nibble at, or should he offer something so broad and new deal that they're obviously reject it, but the american people on the democrats' side will love it? what should he do? >> he should do whatever he thinks is most likely to create jobs. and my sense is, through all year, the thing most likely to create jobbance finding common ground between john boehner and barack obama. the way the speech has been led up to, the things likely to be in the speech, the republicans pre-reaction to what's going to be in the speech all suggest that this speech even if it's brilliantly delivered is not going to produce the kind of bipartisan that is required to get something approved by john

boehner, harry reid and barack obama. >> but there's a conflict. i know you know this. a conflict in what you said. offer up a bipartisan offering knowing it will be rejected? >> no. they should have been consulting with republicans all along. i don't think it's too late. to go in, give a speech he seems he's going give, offering up new massive spending proposals with nothing on the other side would be a trade-off worth taking for them. it's going to lead again to the gridlock and partisanship and bickers that isn't going to solve the problem. the president is more worried about re-election, but the way he's headed is not going to produce anything that can be approved by john boehner, harry reid and barack obama. if the president is going to create jobs, they have to be onboard. >> a great question i never thought about. get to you.

should the president engage in, got a couple days, engage 24 a courtship where he goes up to the hill through his emissaries, through bill daley and whoever else and figure out the common ground or and we know, we've seen a lot of these proposals. there are some good ones in there. there are some good ideas that he has, and some of what the president will talk about, some of these tax cuts, will parallel

what the republicans want to do. so it may be that they can find common ground, but he has to lay out a democratic vision of what government's responsibility is, and that includes putting people to work immediately. you know, chris, in 1933 when roosevelt became president, he said, i want 250,000 young people working in the national parks by summer. three months later. and he did it. he got it done. >> okay. >> in other words, the president can at least lay that out in terms of what he thinks the government's responsibility to help people who are jobless. it's a philosophical difference to have to be heightened and illuminated in his speech. >> you did a -- >> it's september 2011 -- the election's in -- he could do this a year from now. i agree it could's a fool's

error and agree the smartest thing economically a massive new spending program. it's possible but not going to happen. to say everybody should make their best argument for the election in 2012 and it's the first time the government will come together and act in crisis for january of 2013, i just don't think that's the right thing to do for the country. >> they can act on things like extending pay roll tax cuts. tax credits to businesses for hiring new employees. there is common ground. they can act on that and he should stress there is common ground. room for bipartisanship, but he also needs to say some bold things about what a democratic president believes should be done to create jobs so the voters can make an intelligent choice next fall. it's not too early to do that. >> okay. yeah. one thing i like about john, hess to

historic sense. roosevelt had three stages. relief. people desperately looking for work besides more unemployment. recovery and then reconstruction. don't get the three layers confused. he's got to do something about the jobs right now. what president obama said this weekend in a speech of what it could include in terms of both republicans and democrats can get behind. he said, the president speak at a labor day rally in detroit teasing about what his strategy is coming off this speech. let's listen. >> we're going to see if we've got some straight shooters in congress. we're going to see if congressional republicans will put country before party. we'll give them a plan and then we'll say, do you want to create jobs? then put our construction workers back to work rebuilding america. do you want to help our companies succeed? open up new markets for them to sell their products. you say you're the party of tax cuts? well, then, prove you'll fight

just as hard for tax cuts for middle class families as you do for oil companies and the most successful americans. show us what you've got. >> if we can get a run, you've got to get a hit. let me say something that reconciling both points. both of you are skeptical republicans that go along with anything, but you argue against the populist approach and say go with the practical. shouldn't the president say, look, a bunch of things we can agree to get done in the next couple of weeks. how about we get it done by, say, halloween, november 1st say. and here what i like. something on payroll taxes, something on extension of unemployment benefits or a business break or something and try to get that package done by end date, when you give me a vote, mr. boehner, mr. speaker? would you do that, mark? in other words, keep the aggressive posture, even if it's small potatoes? >> i think the culture of washington, the current relationship between the white house and capitol hill, republicans just don't lend themselves to that producing a

result. i don't know exactly what would. i don't think that would. i think -- look, the president needs to say what he believes. the problem is, it's increasingly clear that republicans -- at some level they want the economy to get better. as a political matter, it's not in their interest to make the economy better. it's not in their interest. >> you guys are both argues but you agree. john, you awe glee. bong you guys think the republicans will screw any plan he sends up there. moderate, middle, right wing, left wing, down the middle. no matter what he puts up before they read it they'll say "this sucks" and do it, why not act accordingly. john? >> a big package, yes. i like your idea that you expressed, which is to right there in the hall on thursday night challenge boehner. give me up or down votes on these proposals. now, they can be split up. it doesn't have to be one big omnibus packag acage and he can

already, maybe they'll agree on the tax cut holiday package, or not on jobs. some will pass. most will fail. but the president will have laid out what he wants to do for the country. >> name an instance in which a president challenged congress with a deadline and they got it? >> look, let's try it. >> you've got to -- if you say to the public, do you want a jobs first agenda or not? tell us in washington -- do you want jobs first or not? >> the public's with him. that's the problem. with him on almost everything. >> weigh in on -- >> you know what? it beats sitting around for the next three moss watching the super committee decide how much to cut of debt. there's a loser. anyway, thank you mark halperin and jonathan. right here on "hardball" time, the president's speech. and what's sarah palin

talking about pole dancing? weren't of the strangest associations. wait until you hear this. tomorrow night's big republican debate, first of the fall. (telephone ring. pick up) usa prime credit. my name ...peggy. you got problem? ggy? third time i've called, 's time i speak with a supervisor. supervisor is genius...i transfer. transfer! transfer! transfer! transfer! transfer!

hello...my name is... peggy? come on!!! hello? want better customer service? switch to discover. ranked #1 in customer loyalty. it pays to discover. impact wool exports from new zealand, textile production in spain, and the use of medical technology in the u.s.? at t. rowe price, we understand the connections of a complex, global economy.

it's just one reason over 75% of our mutual funds beat their 10-year lipper average. t. rowe price. invest with confidence. request a prospectus or summary prospectus with investment information, risks, fees and expenses to read and consider carefully before investing.

back to "hardball." after the first "sideshow" from the reagan library. first up, how's this for a plan. still feeding the rumor mill schae not ruled out entering the 2012 race, sarah palin spoke at a tea party event in iowa. the former governor of alaska launched an attack on the "permanent politicians in washington" and used public opinion polling as an example how disconnected those in washington are from the rest of the country. let's listen. >> -- actually usually on the

poles with strippers and cross-country skiers. actual actually -- [ inaudible ] the economy would actually improve. see, there may not be a recession in your town, but there is in the rest of america. >> i don't know. anyway, i love governor palin to just tell us what pole she's taking about from georgetown and why she's talking about strippers? and next up, the first anti-rick perry, coming from another member of the 2012 gop field. which of the candidates beat the rest of the pack in this oneturns out ron paul, hear what he has to say on the texas governor. >> after reagan, senator al gore ran for president pledging to raise taxes and increase spending. pushing his liberal values, and al gore found a cheerleader in texas named rick perry.

rick perry helped lead al gore's campaign to undo the reagan revolution, fighting to elect al gore president of the united states. now america must decide who to trust. al gore's texas cheerleader? or the one who stood with reagan. >> what about this guy? a totally unfair advertisement. back in 1980, if anybody has a memory, perry was a conservative democrat back then and al gore is running to the right of all the other democrats that year. if were you a democrat you had to be with gore. gore was a hawk in that race. does anybody remember this stuff? no political memory. used to think better of you. anyway, the takeover of the republican party voted rick perry to the front of the presidential pack. and can big labor turn out like the tea party is on the other? can labor balance the tea party? in fact, knock them off?

you're watching "hardball" at the site of tomorrow night's big republican debate. cer ] the most headroom per dollar of any car in america. from $10,990. the all-new nissan versa sedan. innovation upsized. innovation for all.

[ male announcer ] the most legroom per dollar of any car in america. from $10,990. the all-new nissan versa sedan. innovation upsized. innovation for all.

i know you'rworried about making your savings last and having enough income when you retire. that's why i'm here -- to help come up with a plan and get you on the right path. i have more than a thousand fidelity experts working with me so that i can work one-on-one with you. it's your green line. but i'll be there every step of the way. call or come in and talk with us today.

i'm brad goode on your cnbc market wrap. helping stocks crawl back from big declines. dow jones industrial climb back from the red after being down 300 points at the start of the session. the standard & poor's losing and the nasdaq up to 6. the general consensus, things aren't great in the u.s. but they are a heck of a lot worse in europe. european shares did a two-year low closing overnight on concerns enthusiasm for bailing out its neighbors could be wani waning. here the service sector snapping a three-month streak in slower growth and solid interest in techs and biopharmaceutical

stocks. dell teaming up to dwept a tablet computer for the chinese market, netflix launches a movie stream service in brazil and sunoco off refining to focus on logistics and a new arthritis drug met two main goals in late-stage trial. that's it for cnbc pshgs first in business worldwide. now back to "hardball." welcome back to "hardball." at the nbc/"wall street journal" poll numbers have show earlier confirm aches the tea party is taking over the republican party fueling rick perry's rise to the top. is this is road map while losing the general election? big question. michael steele, msnbc political analyst and david corn, national bureau chief also an msnbc

political analyst. this is an away game for you, david, my friend. a home game for michael. it was for year as home game. let's go this question. perry's rise to greatness. 38% overnight. i point out, a higher level of support in this new nbc poll today than people that have a favorable attitude. 20% say they like him. 34% are for hill. amazing leap to the top. is it the whole republican party or -- >> it's not a leap in that sense. you're seeing a name identification. when you peel back and say now that you know the guy, do you support or not support him? that's how you get a disparate any the number. 38% shows more and more people are getting to know who he is around the country both inside and outside of the party. >> they all know he's a tea party guy? >> they may know that, but i'm saying, then you ask the next question, which gets you your 21%, 23%, 24%. >> i wonder whether they -- i

think they like his position. don't know him personally. they don't care, as long as he questions the federal government. long as he's against taxes. as long as he has a jobs record, david. seems that's good enough. they'll vote for him over obama. i'm talking moderate republicans. i'm not sure that he decided that yet. >> right now the idea of rick perry is polling very well. better than perhaps rick perry himself will do as michael just referred to. once people get to know him they may not like him as much. it's clear the candidate who's in the lead of the republican primaries until voting day will be whoever wins the "i feel your anger" contest. we're talking empathy. the republicans are mad as hell. they hate barack obama. he hate the federal government and want someone to reflects that. that's why michele bachmann looked so attractive not so long ago, but questions about her electability. now, rick perry has come in and lassoed up support without people knowing much about him or

even reading his books. >> yeah. the problem with romney is he has a voice that's so st. paul, so -- you're laughing already, michael. that's why i like you. reminds me of my friend dr. bob arnott. a wonderful intelligent guy. doesn't seem to have the passion of the working -- >> you're absolutely right. that's what tomorrow night will be for him. with perry standing on the stage with them he's going to have to come out of the box and show that other side. top show that -- >> is he there? >> one of the -- >> wait a minute. >> i know. what other side? i think -- i think the romney people understand -- i think romney himself. listen to his tone and approach over the last two weeks. he's getting there and has to. otherwise perry sucks all the air out of the room. >> i think he's too -- wild guy. jimmy hoffa made it clear. have fun and go to the left.

jimmy hoffa made clear who democrats need to -- now it's speakable. boy, has our lingo dropped in class. you're allowed to say this stuff on television. let's listen. >> we got to keep an eye of the battle we face, a war on workers. we see it everywhere as the tea party. only one way to be and win that war. the one thing about working people is we like a good fight. everybody here's got a vote. if we go -- keep our eye on the prize, let's take this sons of bitches and give america back to do it belongs. >> who is this guy? patton? s.o.b.? >> on the stump -- >> he's a union guy talking to union crowd. this is what they've been saying for years. michele bachmann as the "post" reported used that same phrase. let's take them out. the context you played, he was talking about political action. use your vote. let's take out these s.o.b.s and the grand course of things, it's

not that big a deal. >> okay. i want to keep this tape and so the next time a republican says something that's a little off color like that i want to play it back so that we're all clear -- >> anytime, sure. >> it's fair game. anytime. absolutely. so the reality of it is you know, republicans have said either you lie or made some other, you know, loud noise about the president. >> that's not the same? >> start screaming, so, you know -- >> is this -- not -- >> an appropriate way to introduce the president of the united states. let's call it what it is. >> not used yet. if somebody says that, in the white house, you will be right. take a look at vice president biden. his language is much better. here he is talking about labor unions to stand up and fight in an easier language. here he is. let's listen. >> this is a fight to the heart and soul of the labor union. it's a fight literally for our right to exist. don't misunderstand what this

is. don't misunderstand -- you are the only folks keeping the barbarians at the gates. you are the only nongovernmental power. the only nongovernmental power. the other side has declared war on labor's house and it's about time we stand up. >> well, there he is. joe biden, regular guy. can he do it? david corn, can he take the labor movement along with the people like james hoffa and turn on the passion that we're seeing from the right? >> you know i think it's okay to call them barbarians. >> himming and hawing. you're himming -- >> no, no, no. chris, what's important, not a speech that biden gives as a rally, which he can do quite well. it's important what the president lays out thursday night and whether that in and of itself and the fight plan that comes with it, if there is a

fight plan, motivates those people in that crowd to do something other than applaud a speech line. so it's really up to the white house now. biden wants to lead that fight with the president, they've got to get out and front of that crowd and give them something to fight for. >> if he says that s.o.b. eric cantedor, you will be there to say -- don't talk like that. anyway, thank you. >> i'm thinking of a rodney king moment here. can't we all get along? >> thank you michael steele. thanks for coming out here. the one thing rick perry fleeds to do in his first republic republican presidential debate. what do they needed to do to come out on top. michele bachmann, mitt romney and rick perry. how do they all have to act tomorrow might to get in? don't forget, you can only watch the debate here on msnbc. this is a unique monopoly tomorrow night. you've got to watch it here to find out what republicans are up to. what a revolt and development

that must be. this is "hardball," only on msnbc. [ female announcer ] instantly smooth wrinkles with a shot? wait a second... with olay challenge that. new regenerist wrinkle revolution... relaxes the look of wrinkles instantly, and the look of deep wrinkles in 14 days. ready, set, smooth... regenerist. from olay.

tomorrow night republicans who want to be president will take the stage behind me for a debate at reagan library. one republican who won't be here, new jersey governor chris christie. the big "but" that he won't get into the race won't die. a smart guy said sunday christie is ak tifbly considering jumping into the race and suggesting republican voters aren't happy with the current field. we'll see. for his part, christie is repeatedly denying he's running for president and said so for months. we'll be right back. at exxon and mobil, we engineer smart gasoline that works at the molecular level to help your engine

run more smoothly by helping remove deposits and cleaning up intake valves. so when you fill up at an exxon or mobil station, you can rest assured we help your engine run more smoothly while leaving behind cleaner emissions. it's how we make gasoline work harder for you. exxon and mobil.

it's schwab at your fingertips wherever, whenever you want. one log in lets you monitor all of your balances and transfer between accounts, so your money can move as fast as you do. check out your portfolio, track the market with live updates. and execute trades anywhere and anytime the inspiration hits you. even deposit checks right from your phone. just take a picture, hit deposit and you're done. open an account today and put schwab mobile to work for you.

presidential library, you can see in simi valley, california. airs one, the one the president's flying back when president reagan was in office, the site of the republican presidential debate here tomorrow night on msnbc. the first time the new gop front-runner in our poll, rick perry, will take part in the debate and not only have something to prove also a target figuratively speaking on his back. what does perry what does mitt romney have to do with michele bachmann and bring perry down a notch. joining us is michelle bernard and pat buchanan. should he invoke the ronald reagan rule that you shalt not speak ill of a fellow republican? >> no, because he may have to do

some real fighting before the night is over. he wants to come off as a tough, strong, conservative leader, but as johnny cash said, rick, don't bring your guns to town. don't bring the swagger, but stand up there and solve one of the problems you've got. is this guy a president? i think he's got to come off as presidential at the same time tough. >> can he ever explain why he -- >> it's because of the coyote that's no longer with us. >> let me go to michelle. where does he hide the gun anyway? let me go to michele bachmann.

michelle bernard, of course, not michele bachmann. how do you get back into the race when you don't seem to be a natural politician. how does he catch a guy like rick perry, who seems to be a born politician. >> for mitt romney right now, the key might be to sit back and wait and see what happens. we don't know if this bump that rick perry is seeing is a temporary bump or whether or not it will last through all of last year. he seemed presidential, made others apt as if the candidacies were below him. maybe the strategy is to wait it out and see what happens. is rick perry going to choose somebody else. what else will come out about rick perry's book. romney might not have to do that much in terms of strategy with dealing with perry. >> michelle is exactly right. mitt romney has basically won

every debate he's come in, or come in second. he's doing very well, running behind perry right, but perry will be gone after by michele bachmann and by ron paul as well. they're going to have a battle. what romney should do, he should be prepared, about el what he is, personal, nice guy, strong leader, but be ready to throw a punch in perry comes at him. >> absolutely. >> last person, michele bachmann, i mentioned her a moment ago by accident. michelle bernard, is she out of the race? these two guys seem to have grabbed the lead. >> i think we will, from now throughout the rest of the year, for bachmann, a lot of it will depend on, will sarah palin enter the race or not? if she enters, we'll see them battling out for the tea party vote. i think if sarah palin enters the race, michele bachmann is

out. she's got to get her mojo back. if rick perry makes a huge misstep, she might be in the number two slot again. he is sitting on her constituency. >> absolutely. >> romney is not. romney's got his own. what a great fight that will be. the republican debate is right here tomorrow night. you've got to watch it, left, right or center, this could be the op against obama. when we return, big questions that will start to be answered this week. you're watching "hardball," only on msnbc. ♪

[ male announcer ] unlike some car companies, nissan is running at 100%, which means the most innovative cars are also the most available cars. nissan. innovation for today. innovation for all. ♪ look at all this stuff for coffee. oh there's tons. french presses, espresso tampers, filters. it can get really complicated. not nearly as complicated as shipping it, though. i mean shipping is a hassle. not with priority mail flat rate boxes from the postal service. if it fits it ships anywhere in the country for a low flat rate. that is easy. best news i've heard all day! i'm soooo amped! i mean not amped. excited. well, sort of amped. really kind of in between. have you ever thought about decaf? do you think that would help? yeah. priority mail flat rate shipping starts at just $4.95, only from the postal service. a simpler way to ship. excuse me? my grandfather was born in this village. [ automated voice speaks foreign language ] [ male announcer ] in here, everyone speaks the same language. ♪

in here, forklifts drive themselves. no, he doesn't have it. yeah, we'll look on that. [ male announcer ] in here, friends leave you messages written in the air. that's it right there. [ male announcer ] it's the at&t network. and what's possible in here is almost impossible to say. i know you're worried about making your savings last and having enough income when you retire. that's why i'm here -- to help come up with a plan and get you on the right path. i have more than a thousand fidelity experts working with me so that i can work one-on-one with you. it's your green line. but i'll be there every step of the way. call or come in and talk with us today. setting that goal to become a principal. but, i have to support my family, so how do i go back to school? university of phoenix made it doable. i wouldn't be where i am without that degree.

my name is dr. carrie buck. i helped turn an at risk school into an award winning school, and i am a phoenix. [ male announcer ] university of phoenix is proud to sponsor education nation. because we believe an educated world is a better world.

let me finish tonight, i've been seeing the glory of this country with our daughtcaroline snake river in wyoming, is the wonders of yellowstone. the best rodeo in the world and sat for two hours looking at the manmade wonder of mt. rushmore. teddy roosevelt tern respect who was wary of dare i can say it

the wilderness he historically protected, and lincoln, clear-eyed and true. i what we're going to know, what the president has to bring to this country, to bring it back economically. restore the hope nim he ran, and we will learn who leads the republican party once led by abe ray ham linking and teddy roosevelt. if the party has been won over by the antigovernment zealotry. is the president able to win back the faith and hopes of the american majority. can he display a strong hand in rebuilding the economic. brought low by unsound fiscal risktaking. can we stimulate investment and consumption? can he create the basic economic demand that remains the essential ingredient of recovery, or not? and