>> what's the stew for florida? >> makes it a battle royale. and we're going to have a great time down there. >> don't speak french. next you'll be talking about your garage. if it's way too early, what time is it? >> it's "morning joe thank you. thank you, south carolina, the mills house in charleston. we'll see you back here on monday. >> see you guys, later. thank you. did thut newt walk away with last night's debate in the first five minutes? how about rick santorum's strong showing? does it make a difference? and did mitt romney blow it by giving yet another answer on his tax returns? our complete analysis of the final showdown before tomorrow's south carolina vote. plus, even if newt keeps it competitive for months ahead, will he ever see another day like yesterday from overturning the iowa caucus result, a candidate dropped out, explosive allegations about marital

infidelity and the president in front of disneyworld. to top it off, he ended the night in new york. the donors saying let's stay together. >> then to know that reverend al greene was here -- ♪ ♪ i'm so in love with you wow. it's friday, january 20th, 2012. the craziest 24 hours maybe in a decade in american politics. this is "can tthe daily rundown" mitt romney ahead in this state's primary but that could all change if if he loses tomorrow night in south carolina. let's get right to my first reads of the morning. tomorrow south carolina primary could determine if the

republican race ends or if it continues for weeks or even months. newt gingrich, all the momentum behind him. did he win the debate in the first five minutes? another standing ovation with a fiery assault on the media channelling that resentment, that rage that's in republican primaries taking on the elephant in the room, his ex-wife. >> she says you asked her, sir, to enter into an open marriage. would you like to take some time to respond to that? >> no, but i will. i think the destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the muse media makes it harder hard er to governor this country and i am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that. every person in here has had someone close to them go through

painful things. to take an ex-wife and make it two days before the primary a significant question in a presidential campaign is as close to despicable as anything i can imagine. the story is false. every personal friend i have during that period says it is fault. i am tired of the elite media protecting barack obama by attacking the public. >> that was, of course, in response to this claim by his sex wife to abc's "night line." >> i said to him we've been married a long time, and he said, yes, but you want me all to yourself. calista doesn't care what i do. he was asking to have an open marriage and i refused. >> he wanted an open marriage? >> yeah, did i accept the fact that he has somebody else in his

life. >> well, the campaign apparently felt so good about gingrich's response which got a standing ovation from the audience, that his daughters canceled their scheduled appearances on all the morning shows this morning. look, the bottom line is newt has channelled -- he's been the alpha dog this week and as joe scarborough pointed out well this morning he has a way of channelling that conservative resentment that sits there in conservative voters particularly here in the south in a way that mitt romney has never been able to figure out how to connect on that front. that's why he has the momentum. but it's also why there's a big gender gap when it comes to gingrich and that's another big question mark going into tomorrow's voting. now last night had a last stanfield for rick santorum. he's trailing in south carolina. and he unleashed a series of attacks. he fileted romney, frankly, on health care. >> it is an abject answer. he's standing by it and he's

going to have to run against the president who will say, look, look at what you did for massachusetts and you're the one criticizing me? i've been fighting for health reform, bottom up, the way america works best for 20 years while these two guys were playing footsies with the left. >> and he got to the heart of the issue most republicans have with gingrich that he thinks he's the smartest guy in the room no matter what. >> grandiosity has never been a problem with newt gingrich. he handles it very, very well. and that's really one of the issues here, folks. as times you have sort of that worrisome moment that something is going to pop and we can't afford that. >> spent 16 years on a grandiose project called creating republican majority in the house. 16 years. you're right. i think grandiose thoughts. this is a grandiose country of big people doing big things, and we need leadership prepared to

take on big projects. >> romney's biggest fumble of the night came when he was asked if he would follow his father, george romney, who released 12 years of tax returns as a candidate and several years of his own. >> when you release yours, will you follow your father's exam snm. >> maybe. you know, i don't know how many years i'll release. i'll take a look at what our documents are -- and i'll release multiple years. i don't know how many years. >> that, of course, another new answer. another new pledge. romney's been doing contortions on his taxes the last 30 days. since i first asked him the simple question in december if he was going to release his tax returns. >> i doubt it. >> no? >> i will provide all the financial information which is an extraordinary pile of documents that show investments and so forth but i don't intend

to release tax returns. i do remember when i was running for ted kennedy and he ran for president, he wouldn't release his tax returns. >> it's not that hard to make a commitment if you're elected president of the united states that you would release the tax returns. every president does. >> if i become president, then i'll consider that. we'll see what the future holds. i don't have any plans right now to release tax returns. >> i sort of feel like we're showing a lot of exposure at this point and if i become our nominee and what's happened in history people have released them in april of the coming year and that's probably what i'll do. if i'm not nominee, people want to see the most recent year, we'll wait until tax returns for the year are completed and release it. i don't know how many years will be released. i'll take a look at what our documents are. and i'll release multiple years. >> well, there you go. that's been the last 29 days. on this issue of tax returns he

has simply struggled with this. he's acting like he has something to hide and it cuts to the heart of when he said at one point last night that he didn't want to see his tax returns used in a way that would hurt him in a general election that would help president obama. it's an odd decision for him. he has not handled this well. he's got to figure out how to do it and he's -- there seems to be growing pressure even among many in the conservative media that are saying it is time to release something. if this year's return isn't ready, release last year's return. there's a lot of material out there they don't want to see out there. finally, when books are written about this campaign, there will be a chapter that simply is titled january 19th. easily the day in american politics last year, two years, maybe ten, to begin with our own new paul that shows gingrich surging cutting into romney's lead. then we found out rick santorum, not mitt romney, had won iowa. >> there have been two

primaries. we've won one. >> and then rick perry said adios, dropping out of the race and endorsing newt gingrich. >> newt is not perfect but who among us is? the fact is there is forgiveness for those who seek god. and i believe in the power of redemption. >> but was immediately rained on as abc released early excerpts of the interview with his second wife. >> steps away from cinderella's castle. you can't make it up. literally down the street from fantasy land as the republicans enjoyed reminding us all day yesterday. the night ended with a raucous debate and lest we forget to top it all off the president

performed karaoke. let's hear that one more time. ♪ i'm so in love with you >> those guys didn't think i would do it. i told you i was going to do it. the sandman did not come out. >> that is some fal set toe. well, it's only fit that go one of the craziest political days in recent memory was capped with the toughest and maybe most entertaining debate so far. national political correspondent for "the new york times," jonathan martin the senior political reporter over at politico. gentlemen, i know i've leapfrogged ahead with what may be the next biggest, most important showdown as it is here in florida but let's talk about the next 24 hours, what's going

to happen on saturday and let's not forget mitt romney did have some strong moments and i think perhaps his best one was when he enjoyed going and playing arbiter between santorum and gingrich on who was the better reformer in congress. here it is. >> i served with -- i was there. i knew what the problems were going on in the house of representatives when newt thut was leading there. >> i think long before rick came to congress i was busy being a rebel. >> what you listen to in my view, this involvement in washington is in my view a perfect example of why we need to send to washington someone who has not lived in washington but someone who has lived in the real streets of america. >> jonathan martin, the real streets of america, still being able to lampoon congress. that was one of romney's better moments in another tough debate. >> it was a good moment there. he was reaching for the mantle

but this is the sort of story of romney's campaign the last two weeks. he keeps stumbling his way into these verbal cul-de-saccul-de-s. the real streets of america doesn't really conjure wolf-boro. so i think that was sort of a luster of these sort of awkward moments that we keep seeing here in the last few weeks and i think it partially explains why he is not running through south carolina and why he is stumbling and why newt is surging. it may not matter for the long run. chuck, you know very well that romney is a solid organizational man, he's not wrapping this thing up in the sort of sure-fire way that a lot of folks in d.c. and the party establishment thought he was going to. >> and, jeff, the problems that we thought mitt romney was going to have in this primary race back before he even officially announced, they're still here.

it's this issue with conservatism. >> no question. and it shouldn't be that surprising, right, because up until now a wide array of people to pick from. and michele bachmann for a while. they've had herman cain for a while, all of these people. it is a little striking now as i travel around south carolina, i guess we've been here for eight or nine days, the level of enthusiasm for mitt romney is not even on the scale -- i mean, even at his own events people feel like they are sort of dutifully showing up here not necessarily seeing a bit of history because it looks like some people told them to be there but at the end of the day i'm with jonathan. i'm not sure how much this matters in the long term here. people still want to defeat president obama, but what i'm watching most in the next 24 hours is newt gingrich. he had a very strong debate perfo performance last night, no question. he still has this propensity as rick santorum said yesterday to sort of have visions of

grandiosity. and whenever he gets in this sort of mood where he can see the nomination as he says so many times, he does something. so i'm watching to see if he's able to sort of control himself in the next 24 hours before voting begins. >> what's the old saying, chuck -- >> jonathan -- >> i'm sorry, ducks his words when he's doing his best. go ahead. >> right. no, no, no, that's been the pattern with him. jonathan, winning changes everything. and if gingrich wins something and we have this historical first, we were talking about a historical first 72 hours ago of one guy going 3-0, now we're talking about a historical first three different people winning iowa and new hampshire and south carolina. winning could change everything and what does it do? we talk about this organization. what does it do to the confidence of the romney campaign? you know, this was a gutsy call to try to play into south carolina in a way, frankly, that they didn't even play in iowa.

>> yeah, look, if you go from being on the verge of being 3-0 to being one and two, that is quite a jarring sort of place to be. i think the romney folks are still very confident about what could happen in florida. look at history, 2008. john mccain didn't have much of a floor in the organization but he had momentum because of what happened in south carolina and he went down there and got some key endorsements in the final weekend, chuck, as you know, and he was able to win in a closed primary. john mccain won in the closed primary. that matters coming out of here, momentum can sometimes trump organization. it's going to be interesting, though, chuck, to see if newt can stain, and that was jeff's point. can he stain it until january 31st. those are ten days here he's going to have to hold it together under what i'm sure is going to be a withering attack from romney and romney surrogates. it will be fascinating to watch. also, see after saturday how

many more endorsements romney calls. i think if newt pulls this thing off there are going to be alarm bells sounding and you'll see more of the ralph portmans and the bob mcdonalds of the world coming out for romney. >> but, jeff, i guess that's my question. that is the assumption. i have the same assumption we're going to see that but is there then the next assumption which says, wow, mitt romney can't beat rick san are tore torum in conservative states? do we have a problem here is this do we need to look elsewhere because we're not comfortable looking at the two alternatives actually running. >> i think there may be the biggest worrisome sign is all those people who said -- who have soared of come to terms with, okay, we'll vote for mitt romney. we don't love him but he's better than the alternative. i think if there is more of an alternative it will be hard to get some of those people back. there's no question that people are looking for one. our polling this week found more

republican voters now are unsatisfied than a few months ago. the fact is there are no choices left. i mean, i think that the field is what it is. so the advantage still at this hour is mitt romney in the long term. >> chuck, it does seem like you see newt winning here. if he puts together two in a row i think you may see more of that. >> then you have a problem. >> they'll see if romney can pull it out. >> all right. jonathan martin, jeff, i have to leave it there. what a 24 hours. coming up next, tim scott south carolina republican right here. ♪ he was a 21st century global nomad ♪ ♪ home was an airport lounge and an ipad ♪ ♪ made sure his credit score did not go bad ♪ ♪ with a free-credit-score-dot-com ♪ ♪ app that he had ♪ downloaded it in the himalayas ♪ ♪ while meditating like a true playa ♪ ♪ now when he's surfing down in chile'a ♪ ♪ he can see when his score is in danger ♪ ♪ if you're a mobile type on the go ♪ ♪ i suggest you take a tip from my bro ♪

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24 hours left.

now before the south carolina republican primary. and since last summer tim scott of south carolina has hosted each of the presidential candidates at town hall forums with the exception of ron paul. he's seen them up close and perm but hasn't endorsed anyone yet. instead, kept his focus on president obama. here is representative scott at the southern republican leadership conference yesterday. >> why aren't we upset about a president who does not believe in the american people but he believes in socialism? >> congressman tim scott joins me now. before i get to south carolina politics here, i really am curious if where you're coming down to, i know you're down to two or three candidates, only four left. it's the one guy -- >> yes. >> it's the one guy that didn't show up to one of your forums. that's a tough charge on the president. you don't think he believes in the american people, this is a philosophical difference about size of government but to take

it that next step and say he doesn't believe in the american people is a tough charge. >> that's a good question, chuck. i would say this simply that i want a president who believes in the american people that we start putting the focus on what the american people can do for themselves and not what the government has to conclude on their behalf. that's a very strong distinction and my distinction was that we need a president who believes more in the american people than he does in the size of the federal government in order to protect the american people. >> let me go to south carolina politics here. i know yesterday in an interview with npr you said you were down to two or three candidates. are you any closer, did anything happen that made you say, you know what, i'm with romney or santorum or newt? >> i have not made that decision i'm going to need the next 24 hours. this is a photo finish that at

least in my own heart i believe so. the momentum heading in his direction and even the story that broke yesterday actually has served as a launching pad for many supporters to join the newt camp. >> i understand that analytically. do you think -- has it bothered you -- speaker gingrich's past personal indiscretions, does that bother you? is that a hurdle for you in thinking about pulling the lever for him? >> there's no question that what we have to analyze is what each person brings from an asset perspective and their liabilities and without any question when you look at the liabilities of all the candidates you find things that you just find inappropriate and uncomfortable with those things and i find myself in a position of focusing today on the strengths that i think we need as a party to make sure that

president obama returns to chicago and not the white house. we have a lot of work to get done in a very little bit of time. this economy is getting better. our opportunity to strike is to find the candidate that best represents the ability to coalesce the republican troops, the tea party, and have strong electability. clearly seen as the most delectable when we do these polls with the exit polling and the previous two states, our nbc/marist poll. he seems to not be the guy able to coalesce the republican party. is that the way you see it with governor romney? >> there certainly is a conflict going on in the world of politi politics. i think it's true. we see two different skill sets. who wins the debates against president obama and the white

house. that question is yet to be cleared and i think i will drag it through until tomorrow when i vote. >> let's talk about this connection. what is it about speaker gingrich and his ability to connect right now with the south carolina republican primary voter and what appears to me mitt romney sort of struggle to connect. what is he doing that romney is not? >> he's a forceful person. he's a direct person. he's incredibly confident. that sometimes gets him in trouble and sometimes it's an asset. so what's happening is the more he's being attacked, it seems like the better he gets. romney, governor romney has run a solid campaign. the challenge is the last few minutes in a football game. you have to finish strong.

and right now romney has got a strong organization but for the long 0 run which makes it very difficult the last 24 hours of a campaign to pull it off. >> one of the issues that's tied him in knots is his tax return. speaker gingrich cleverly last night release it had during the debate to almost force the issue on the debate stage. do you think he should release all of it now like his father? >> my strongest advice to governor romney on the tax return issue is to be clear. when you say it, mean it, and then stop talking. the answer is according to him was, yes, i will release my tax returns. yes, it will be more than one year, and then stop talking. >> all right. congressman tim scott, we will check back in with you apparently tomorrow. what time are you going to vote? >> i'll be voting early to get it over with. that way i can spend some time talking about why i made the decision i did, yes.

>> all right. we will exit poll you then. congressman tim scott, thank you for coming on "daily rundown." >> thank you, chuck. >> up next, a check on what's moving the markets. it's a friday and weird things always happen on fridays on wall street. first today's trivia question. what was south carolina's nickname before being known as the palmetto state? the answer @dailyrounddown. the answer and more coming up on "the daily rundown." on my jour,

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we are minutes, perhaps seconds, away from the opening bell. it's a friday. what kind of friday is it? >> we're seeing a little bit of

a weaker open. right now things are getting under way and there's a lot of pressure from the earnings coming out. general electric out with its earnings earlier this morning and of course general electric owns 49% of our parent company, nbc universal. it came in with earnings of 39 cents a share, a penny better than the street was expecting but the revenue line was $2 billion shy and that's what has some people watching the stock closely. it looked like it was under pressure this morning. we're keeping track of technology stocks and, chuck, if you had to guess, if you looked at the high flyer google and tech old lines, microsoft, ibm, and guess which would miss out on earnings who would it be? >> i would assume ibm. >> not the case. it was actually google, the tech high flyer, that missed last night. that stock was indicated sharply lower this morning down about 8% after it came in with sales numbers that were lighter than expected on click through ads. the technology stocks all beat expectationses so that's where things will play out today on the nasdaq.

we'll be watching tech stocks. >> maybe i'll find my commodore 64. maybe that will be valuable again. becky quick, thank you very much. well, the republicans weren't the only ones campaigning yesterday. president obama released his first campaign out of the season responding to attacks on him for his early support of the failed solar panel maker. with me now is patrick gaspart, a former political director and

now director at the democratic national committee. patrick, nice to see you. long time. >> great to see you, chuck. envious that you're in florida and i'm here in 20-degree weather. >> well, you know, we'll be back. it's always fleeting. let me start out with the fact it was -- the message that's being sent about what we're expecting in the general election campaign that the president's campaign is all there having to start out with a response ad essentially, not a positive, not a laying the predicate for re-election but having to start out with a response to negative ad. >> well, todd, of course as you know while the republicans are out hammering one another, the president has been focused on governance. we thought that it was exceedingly important to just set the record straight on a number of issues and as you well know in addition to the republicans who are running for president we have karl rove in the battleground states.

it was important to set the record straight. >> is this how you're assuming this campaign is going to be about where it is going to be constantly having to respond not just to your republican nominee but to these outside groups? >> well, todd, i think that fundamentally this campaign is going to be about who is prepared to fight for economic security for all americans, and if i could, todd, i want to quickly commend you for challenging scott who was on the air for the way in which he went after the president's americanism. i think at the end of the day all americans, democrats, republicans, independents, are tired of that kind of divisive brand of politics. folks want to know in very, very tough climate who is fighting on their behalf, who will make sure the next generation can be as successful as past generations have been and i believe that when they pause we finally have a republican nominee and they're able to see all of the ways in

which they want to drag us back to the past, while the president it continues to focus forward. in terms of the debate we'll be successful. >> let me ask you about some interim party political -- potential political issues. you are a former activist and worker in the labor community and the administration's made some tough decisions that have not made labor happy on the campaign front picking charlotte, picking north carolina, a right to work state, some labor folks not happy about that decision. and the keystone pipeline decision, the decision to delay the -- delay it, reject this fast tracking of the building of the pipeline. maybe it comes up again in a few months. but that also upset some trade unions who believed that it was going to be an opportunity to create more jobs. are you concerns that the labor -- that labor is going to be there for you in a way that you need them, not just support

rhetorically but financially? >> todd, i think on your show yesterday you noted that ask me is already out with affirmative ads in a battleground state like florida promoting all the ways in which this president has defended their workers and promoted the interests of the middle class. if i could just pause for a second on keystone. let's be clear there, chuck. the republicans were the ones who drove that decision. the president, the state department, made it abundantly clear that a much longer review, environmental impact study, was required for the keystone pipeline and as a consequence of republicans in congress tea party led republicans in congress forcing a really tight time line of 60 days for that to be reviewed. they kind of sealed the fate of keystone at that moment. i think that we're going to continue to rely on robust and dynamic support from working men and women in this country. those who are affiliated with

unions, those who are not. i suspect that residents of north carolina are excited by the fact that the democratic convention is coming to town and will really help engender great development in that city. >> all right. let me ask you finally, a lot of stuff comes out from the dnc on mitt romney, very little about rick santorum or newt gingrich. why shouldn't it be characterized -- why shouldn't we assume here in the media when we see this that the dnc is worried as the republican nomin nominee? >> i would say a couple of things to that, chuck, cheerily he has been running longer than anyone else in the republican field for president despite the fact he says he's not a career politician and he set himself up as the front-runner and has been challenging the president every single day so we thought it was important to buy some forensics there, that there was a good deal made about the question of whether or not newt gingrich's alleged open relationship with his ex-wife is fodder for this

campaign. i think the people of south carolina and as far as we can see republicans have been casting their ballots thus far are much more concerned about mitt romney's open relationship with the truth and whether or not somebody who is probably paying at a 15% tax rate has his money off to the cayman island tax agent and someone who has an economic can plan that benefits the highest earners in the country as the kind of person they want to send to the white house. >> so you believe as a political -- as a political pro, a political operative that mitt romney -- mitt romney has more baggage than newt gingrich going into the general election? do you believe that? >> todd, i think that everyone on that stage last night for the republican party has some serious and profound challenges despite the fact that mitt romney says he's from the real streets of america. i suspect that people who are on the real streets of america who know that president obama

inhearthed the greatest recession since the great depression and has done all that he can to restart jobs, restart economic security, have to be concerned with the focus and emphasis from this party which, again, continues to reward those who were absolutely reckless, who cause this had down turn and who all together have no credible response. i think they're all challenged. >> patrick gaspard over at the dnc, former white house political director. got to leave it there. talk to you soon. >> thank you, chuck. all right. up next, it's the friday political panel. simple question. what happens if romney doesn't win south carolina? and this monday don't miss the next debate. the nbc news republican presidential debate with brian williams moderating live from tampa. it starts at 9:00, 8:00 central on all of your nbc stations. the first broadcast prime time

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mistake by playing so hard in south carolina where romney finished fourth four years ago? last night in an odd moment rom think ended a strong answer, anti-washington answer, by losing his train of thought. >> now you asked me an entirely different question. >> beats me. i don't know. where are we at, john? >> well, he lost track there of the debate question but as the campaign losing track of where they should be heading? nathan gonzalez is the founder of politics stereo.com and contributor for "roll call." jen sake is a former communications direct or and susan page, washington bureau chief for the first newspaper i read this morning, "usa today," because it's right in front of my hotel door. nathan, i want to start with you. you have done a lot of

thoughtful coverage of south carolina over the years. did romney make a mistake by going so hard? was it a trap? >> no, i think that really he had no choice based on the trajectory of the race he had to go all this but i think we can't lose sight of the fact romney's strategy, he's always been built for the long-term strategy and that ending it early was only going to be a luxury. it wasn't something i don't think they expected or planned for. so even having that opportunity out there was good. i think he had to play and i don't think even if he does come up short, come in second tomorrow, i don't think it's going to be the end. i just think it's going to be a much longer campaign than what we thought 48 hours ago. >> and susan page, what really seems to have knocked romney off his game is this conversation about his wealth, his tax returns. here is another portion from the debate last night where he talks about how he didn't inherit any money. here it is.

>> it was occurring in my bedroom in our apartment in washington, and he always called me at night. he always ended with i love you. while she was there listening. >> right next to him. >> in my home. >> we jumped the gun a little bit there. susan, let me play the sound bite. i want to talk about marianne gingrich in the next breath but let's one more time roll the romney clip from the debate. >> let's get on to the real issue. >> congressman, i think too often all of us are on the receiving ends of attacks from the media. it's very disturbing because sometimes they're not based on facts and we suffer the consequences. the people have to sort this out but i think setting standards are important and i'm proud that my wife of 54 years is with me

tonight. >> well, susan, it was -- i'll characterize the clip i was hoping to have. you do a little satellite, we're remote, it's been a long week, crazy hours in the campaign. but romney was talk iing about e fact he didn't inherit his money, but he has struggled talking about his wealth. it's almost as if he's afraid to talkb&=

if there's anything americans like more it's the idea of wall street tycoons. he said he wasn't going to apologize for being successful and talked about the belief in free enterprise. he doesn't have that response down in a clear and consistent way and he really has to and, you know what, he has to put this tax issue to bed. >> clearly seems to be hanging over his head. the other issue is how gingrich would handle yesterday. it went so well and then we heard from marianne gingrich, a little earlier than i expected. we heard from her. i thought that was perhaps the moment that may have resonated the most in creating this gender gap that gingrich has and maybe if he doesn't win south carolina it'll be because there's a lot

of ivevangelical women that hea what marianne gingrich said last night about that affair and didn't like it. >> well, i think it's clear that the republicans in the debate are not going to make this a campaign issue. so it is to the point that you just made. it's whether people at home watching the interview, whether people who are seeing coverage of it today are thinking, wait a second, who is this guy? does he have the kind of character that i want in a president? but it's not a surprise. gingrich came to the race with a great deal of baggage. ironically he's really surging in south carolina as we've seen even though mitt romney has the best organization, has spent the most money and his super pac is drilling the airways with ads. so this really is interesting because his response to me and the reaction is more about him being better on his feet and better able to handle questions and then you saw mitt romney who seemed shocked that he got a question about his tax returns and his taxes and has created this veil of secrecy around that

issue this week which should be troubling to his supporters and to his campaign. >> all right. well, when we come back we're going to talk about sort of what will the fallout be? what will happen? how will the campaign handle if they don't indeed win south carolina. we ask, though, what was south carolina's nickname before being known palmetto state. nathan gonzalez, i know you would have known this. what is it? >> the iodine state. >> because of the large percentage of iodine found in plants native to south carolina. it was even emblazened on license plates. that's like us here in florida putting the landfill state. that would be no good. we'll be right back. you're watching "the daily rundown" only on msnbc.

let 'bring back the panel. susan, you've been a veteran campaign reporter, you have these moments in these primary campaigns where something, a strategy fails, it doesn't work. you think it's going to work and it doesn't. sunday morning, monday morning, mitt romney, his campaign leadership, are they going to have a trust issue if they don't win south carolina? >> i think they're going to have to show some stuff in florida. they're going to to show he can deal with some of these issues, but he does have a campaign, the only campaign along with ron paul that's kind of built for the long haul. michigan he won four years ago, so i think it means a longer fight, and i think it will mean that romney is going to be tested in a way that he survives and thrives will be good for him in the general election.

>> i keep having flash backs of romney to bill clinton. none of them seemed like better bets, but there was something flawed at the time about clinton. you understood why democrats were hesitant and in some cases gave jerry brown some victories. is that mitt romney's future here? >> i think it's clear that there are a majority of republican voters looking for any excuse not to nominate mitt romney, but i think the longer this goes on, not only is this campaign built like we talked about, but the more opportunity there is for newt to get himself in hot water. as we've seen, whenever he popped up before and was attacked, he plummeted, so i think there's still room, still a path to victory, though there will be intense media pressure on him if he comes in second tomorrow.

>> gen psaki, on your campaign four years ago, the drawnout campaign, the calendar was your ally, it seemed like it lined up perfectly. this huge gap, if there is a huge gap, how uncomfortable is that if you're having a rough moment? >> well, you know, it gives even more time for the candidates to be out there, even more time for mistakes to be made, even more time for them to be fighting each other to the right to achieve the support from the people they need in the states that are ahead. so it can be dangry. with obama, it certainly helped him, made him a stronger candidate, but we've seen these candidates in the republican race. they continue to race to the right as the race continues. >> very quickly, shameless plugs, make them fast. go, nating. today we're launching texas, a small state south of oklahoma,

but we have burnt orange report, texas tribune, big jolly politics, so check out politics hysteria.com/texas. >> they love their politics in

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