john king, also political analyst gloria borger, david gergen, donna brazile, ari fleischer, and ericrickson joins us by remote. ari, it surprised me that newt gingrich, who has been lobbying these attacks against governor romney in his investments in fannie mae and freddie mac seemed unaware or unprepared for him to say, you know what, you have invested in them, too. >> when you look at opposition research and having a campaign structure underneat you, romney has a big one, and newt is newt. he has his own coverage. he doesn't have many people helping him. i think that was a surprise. it took him by surprise. that's what i meant about romney had a good night, stepping up his game, going after newt. jab, jab, jab. newt throws haymakers and he didn't get a chance to connect on his haymakers tonight. he was flat. >> and romney demanded an apology from newt gingrich for the language he used calling him anti-immigration, saying it was repulsive. we haven't heard that out of mitt romney. this is mitt romney taking it to newt gingrich. >> he knew that tonight was critical. >> everybody knew

ari fleischer, you worked for george w. bush, what did you think of that speech? >> there was hardly anything in the speech i liked. let me start with the thing i like and like a lot. that was, i salute the president, the courageous decision to authorize the decision to get bin laden. he deserves the credit for that and he got it tonight. the rest of it, the whole emphasize, the whole reason for being in government is to spend other people's money. is to take from those who have money and redwint it to others he thinks should have money instead. this is everything he seeks to do in the presidency. the body language, the emotion, little to nothing there on reducing the debt. very little to nothing on social security or medicare. or as we're about to hear from mitch daniels, the red menace of death. really passing mentions, wasn't the emphasize of the speech tonight. you get the sense what he really wants to talk about, how to spend more people's money on this program, that program, that program because the federal government creates a lot of entitlement, and the sp

. >> ari fleischer, you worked for president george w. bush, you served in congress, earlier you worked in congress. what did you think of that speech? >> wolf, there was hardly anything in the speech i liked. let me start with the one thing that i really liked and liked a lot. that was i salute the president, the courageous decision to authorize the mission to get bin laden. president obama deserves the credit for that, and he got it tonight. but the rest of it, it was his whole emphasis, his whole reason for being in government is to spend other people's money. to take those who have money and redistribute it to others who he feels should have the money instead. this is everything he seeks to do in the presidency. the poddy language, the motion, very little to nothing there on reducing the debt, very little to nothing on saving social security or on medicare, or as we're about to hear from mitch daniels on what mitch has called the red menace of debt. really just passing mentions. it wasn't the emphasis on his speech tonight. you get th

that's fine if that's what ari fleischer wants to say. >> same ari fleischer also came out today in aolumn and said that actually given the amount of fire power you have going into south carolina with the super pac and ads it can buy you, buys a lot of ad time, you could be the one that could threaten mitt romney quite seriously. a dent to him there could precipitate a whole new battle ground. >> i think south carolina on the 21st is unbelievably important. okay? romney, although he has anywhere close to getting majority, 3 to 1 republicans in iowa voted against him, 2 to 1 in new hampshire were against him. nonetheless, he can claim he won both, even if one was won by eight votes. if he wins here, he has enormous momentum towards the nomination. >> unstoppable? >> in this day and age, i don't know that anything is unstoppable, but he would have enormous momentum. >> if he won by more than 10%. >> if he wins by one point, he >> if you don't win, given you set that parameter, do you drop out? >> i don't know. i don't want to prejudge anything. >> is it that crucial? >> first of all, i

you have ari fleischer with us. it was the ultmal swing state when it began. florida was close.'s look at it now. you mentioned the unemployment rate going up. i'm going to move this a bit. the darker the green, there higher the unemployment. it was 8% when it president took off. some of the state lighter, but a lot of dark green. it's at 9.9%. this is what the republican candidates for president are hammering and how much of a role did the economy play? what do they think about the president's economic policy as we go forward. they need republican votes or democratic votes. you see the blue up here. this is the most important part of the state. you saw earlier the green, you see blue, blue, obama care last time. independent voters, republicans and swing voters. most of this was john mccain. down here is important for the president, but again, a lot of retires from the north. most of them democrats, but it could be competitive in a tough election. if you blank it out, go back to the map, the demographics, poverty, the darker, the higher rate. it's an issue in parts of florida. t

you have ari fleischer with us. it was the ultmal swing state when it began. florida was close.ook at it now. you mentioned the unemployment rate going up. i'm going to move this a bit. the darker the green, there higher the unemployment. it was 8% when it president took off. some of the state lighter, but a lot of dark green. it's at 9.9%. this is what the republican candidates for president are hammering and how much of a role did the economy play? what do they think about the president's economic policy as we go forward. they need republican votes or democratic votes. you see the blue up here. this is the most important part of the state. you saw earlier the green, you see blue, blue, obama care last time. independent voters, republicans and swing voters. most of this was john mccain. down here is important for the president, but again, a lot of retires from the north. most of them democrats, but it could be competitive in a tough election. if you blank it out, go back to the map, the demographics, poverty, the darker, the higher rate. it's an issue in parts of florida. the p

now, john avlon, gloria borger and ari fleischer. got to yell for ari to hear me. >> some of what you're saying is being drowned out. >> you go with the 99%. it's great. the super pacs supporting newt gingrich had not spent a dollar in florida before this week. this week, tied with mitt. >> without these super pacs, i don't think newt gingrich would be able to continue his campaign, period. he'd be dead in the water. he's got sheldon him giving him a lot of money, $10 million, and you need this money to continue because newt gingrich was unable to raise this kind of money, so what these super pacs have done is extend the life of this campaign and it could go on after florida because you're competitive when you can go up on the air. >> what's interest, arriving here was very different than arriving in manchester or south carolina. you saw lots of signs on the road and people's houses there. >> ads matter here. you've got ten media markets in florida. an expensive place to run. mitt romney and his super pac have been up with negative a

host of the cnn state of the union, candy crowley and david gergen and ari fleischer, former white house secretary. what are you expecting if anything? often these speeches, a lot of hoopla about them, not much remembered about them. this may be different because of the campaign. >> it's an opportunity for the president to issue his 2012 "politico" manifesto. here's what he wants to do after he's elected. much of what he proposes will not go anywhere. the "new york times" reported some time ago president obama's own people are saying there's only about one or two things he expects this congress to do, mostly extending payroll tax and unemployment insurance. he's not looking to them to do much else. it's presidential but mostly about politics. i've actually been involved in this kind of speech before, dating way back to 1976, when g president ford made the state of the union. the politics overwhelmed the substance of it. >> how does that work out. take us into a white house working on these speeches, what is it like? >> big group growth. a lot of players get involved. the campaign aides,

let's bring in john king, ari fleischer. the debate over bain capital, is that one that is still resonating here in south carolina. >> i think it is to a degree, and the degree is even if the evangelical meeting in texas, a lot of people wanted to defend capitalism, but they understand, how do you make money when you lose and win at the same time? and the entry tonight, we want someone who grew up in the streets of america. i scratched my head and said which one of your five houses in the streets of america, martha's vineyard really the streets of america? >> eric is not a romney fan. >> not a romney fan. >> it leaves a lot of people with that question. he has been, the reason he stumbugs in the debate that is more surprising is he has been such a consistent debater or the course of the campaign and he's corrected mistakes. there's something about the last week, something about the tax question. we don't read minds, don't understand the strategy. when gingrich first serves, they were complaining, but they got back it in. and

. >> that was ari fleischer, the white house press secretary to george w. bush, attacking newt gingrich. a porcupine, he says. everywhere you look, someone's getting pricked. >> i don't think that's my reputation, but that's fine if that's what ari fleisher wants to say. >> the same ari fleischer has come out today and said the amount you have going to south carolina, you could be the one that now threatens mitt romney quite seriously and that a dent to him there could precipitate a whole new battleground. >> look, i think south carolina on the 21st is unbelievably important, okay? romney, although he has yet to get anywhere close to a majority, by three to one, republicans in iowa voted against him. by two to one, republicans in new hampshire voted against him. nonetheless, he can claim he won both, even if one was by eight votes. if he wins here, he has enormous momentum towards the nomination. >> unstoppable, do you think? >> well, in this day and age, i don't know if anything's unstoppable. but he would have enormous momentum. >> if he won by more than

i guess that's who congressman paul was talking to there. >> paul begala, dana lash, ari fleischer.on the robitussin® relief finder. click on your symptoms. get your right relief. makes the cold aisle easy. robitussin®. relief made simple. ♪ [ female announcer ] if whole grain isn't the first ingredient in your breakfast cereal, what is? now, in every box of general mills big g cereal, there's more whole grain than any other ingredient. that's why it's listed first on the side. from honey nut cheerios to cinnamon toast crunch to lucky charms, get more whole grain than any other ingredient... without question. just look for the white check. on my journey across america, i've learned that when you ask someone in texas if they want "big" savings on car insurance, it's a bit like asking if they want a big hat... ...'scuse me... ...or a big steak... ...or big hair... i think we have our answer. geico. fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance. [♪...] >> announcer: with nothing but his computer, an identity thief is able to use your information to open a bank

ari fleischer, you worked for george w. bush, what did you think of that speech? >> there was hardly anything in the speech i liked. let me start with the thing i like and like a lot. that was, i salute the president, the courageous decision to authorize the decision to get bin laden. he deserves the credit for that and he got it tonight. the rest of it, the whole emphasize, the whole reason for being in government is to spend other people's money. is to take from those who have money and redwint it to others he thinks should have money instead. this is everything he seeks to do in the presidency. the body language, the emotion, little to nothing there on reducing the debt. very little to nothing on social security or medicare. or as we're about to hear from mitch daniels, the red menace of death. really passing mentions, wasn't the emphasize of the speech tonight. you get the sense what he really wants to talk about, how to spend more people's money on this program, that program, that program because the federal government creates a lot of entitlement, and the sp

cnn contributors donna brazil, ari fleischer and -- let me start with you on the end.ou've worked in a lot of campaigns. too many debates, not enough debates? about right? >> yeah, it's too many debates. >> no, it's not. [ laughter ] >> but on the other hand, it's kind of like music, the crescendos. each debates get more important the fewer the candidates are. these are now the singular events that drive voter behavior. if you thought a guy with no money could win iowa, that debates were influencing voters more than ads it's pretty good for democracy. >> now you're down to four in a big state. how much debates in south carolina are very important, the debates in florida were very important. in big state like this, some tv ads, how factor in the debates. >> i think these debates tonight is huge. this is the biggest one yet of the campaign. as a matter of fact, may be the biggest one at the end. because tonight is romney versus gingrich. it's the last two men standing really for the nomination. and if mitt romney can tie tonight, the tie will probably go to him. because

donna brazile and ari fleischer are here with me, standing by for our strategy session.il (stuffy): hey, tylenol. you know we're kinda like twins. tylenol: we are? nyquil (stuffy): yeah, we both relieve coughs, sneezing, aches, fevers. tylenol: and i relieve nasal congestion. nyquil (stuffy): overachiever. anncr vo: tylenol cold multi-symptom nighttime relieves nasal congestion... nyquil cold & flu doesn't. not quite knowing what the next phase was going to be, you know, because you been, you know, this is what you had been doing. you know, working, working, working, working, working, working. and now you're talking about, well you know, i won't be, and i get the chance to spend more time with my wife and my kids. it's my world. that's my world. ♪ can you enjoy vegetables with sauce and still reach your weight loss goals? you can with green giant frozen vegetables. over twenty delicious varieties have sixty calories or less per serving and are now weight watchers-endorsed. try green giant frozen vegetables with sauce. >>> joining us our cnn contributors, donna brazile an

bush secretary, ari fleischer, eric erickson, and rolen martin. is this surge so powerful he could win tonight? >> absolutely. >> do you think he will? >> i do. i predict newt gingrich is going to win south carolina. i spoke to several leading south carolina republicans today who know the state in and out. and they thought he would win by a small margin. i spoke to a pollster who thinks he's going to win big. the ground has it started shifted monday. i think he wins. >> do you agree with the prediction, and what went wrong for romsny. >> the debate on monday and then the debate last night sealed it for him. gingrich had a huge amount of momentum. after monday, the polling shifted dramatically, and last night locked it in. this was also a proxy fight between the governor who endorsed mitt romney and the speaker who endorsed gingrich. he's fired it up to get grass roots activists to get to the polls tomorrow, and i think newt is going to win. >> if he does win, what do you think that means moving forward? >> the same thing we said on the night of th

other thing i notice today, i follow my former colleague and previous white house press secretary ari fleischerte a column at another place, we won't mention. he made a good point. he was there in 1994 working as a staff person on contract with america. democrats totally ignored it. the media downplayed it and thought it was hooey. a huge water shed year for republicans to turn things around. there was quibbling about who was the leader but newt gingrich was the speaker after that. people look at that and say he can win. >> bob: he was the speaker after that, but remember he was ousted as speaker. one thing that newt did not get subjected to last week was attack at the debate. he had foils to attack obama via the media. romney stayed off of him and tried to play a safe game. we have talked about that. that defense is not the way to play in south carolina. i think now that mitt is going to come after him, already indicating he will hit him hard, can gingrich take the heat of being attacked not by media but fellow republicans? >> dana: can romney show he can take a punch and get off the mat. >> k

we'll be right back with james carville and ari fleischer.our car and how much the people in your life count on you. that's why we offer accident forgiveness, man: good job. where your price won't increase due to your first accident. we also offer a hassle-free lifetime repair guarantee, where the repairs made on your car are guaranteed for life or they're on us. these are just two of the valuable features you can expect from liberty mutual. plus, when you insure both your home and car with us, it could save you time and money. at liberty mutual, we help you move on with your life. so get the insurance responsible drivers like you deserve. looks really good. call us at... or visit your local liberty mutual office, where an agent can help you find the policy that's right for you. liberty mutual insurance. responsibility. what's your policy? >>> ann romney is speaking, introducing her husband in marion, iowa. let's listen in. >> we would tell people when we were in public. there would be five of them. they would be so well behaved. i would get

james carville and ari fleischer are here in "the situation room" and you'll find out who is castingst 2012 showdown. stay with us. to the gulf, we knew it would take time, but we were determined to see it through. today, while our work continues, i want to update you on the progress: bp has set aside 20 billion dollars to fund economic and environmental recovery. we're paying for all spill- related clean-up costs. and we've established a 500 million dollar fund so independent scientists can study the gulf's wildlife and environment for ten years. thousands of environmental samples from across the gulf have been analyzed by independent labs under the direction of the us coast guard. i'm glad to report all beaches and waters are open for everyone to enjoy. and the economy is showing progress with many areas on the gulf coast having their best tourism seasons in years. i was born here, i'm still here and so is bp. we're committed to the gulf for everyone who loves it, and everyone who calls it home. at liberty mutual, we know how much you count on your car and how much the people in yo

bush secretary, ari fleischer, eric erickson, and rolen martin. is this surge so powerful he could win tonight? >> absolutely. >> do you think he will? >> i do. i predict newt gingrich is going to win south carolina. i spoke to several leading south carolina republicans today who know the state in and out. and they thought he would win by a small margin. i spoke to a pollster who thinks he's going to win big. the ground has it started shifted monday. i think he wins. >> do you agree with the prediction, and what went wrong for romsny. >> the debate on monday and then the debate last night sealed it for him. gingrich had a huge amount of momentum. after monday, the polling shifted dramatically, and last night locked it in. this was also a proxy fight between the governor who endorsed mitt romney and the speaker who endorsed gingrich. he's fired it up to get grass roots activists to get to the polls tomorrow, and i think newt is going to win. >> if he does win, what do you think that means moving forward? >> the same thing we said on the night of th

. >> we're trying to be -- we're going to talk to her analyst, to ari fleischer and dana lash, rolandly say three letters. o-m-g. look what's going on. one vote. one vote right now separating mitt romney, rick santorum, mitt romney has taken the lead with 99% of the precincts reporting. anderson, talk to your friends. >> what's going on? >> go ahead. they look like they want to say something. >> i was trying to log in to twitter. >> edith and carolyn who helped us solve this mystery on tv are trending on twitter and worldwide. edith, carolyn and edith and carolin caroline. cnn after dark is trending. there you go. not that cnn after dark. >> we're going to continue this tradition with our brand new nightly show after each of these contests. tell our viewers a little l bit about it. >> that's right, welcome, baby. it's cnn after dark. >> we have any graphics for that? >> where's the music? >> that's not cnn after dark. it's got to be more of like -- a little barry white. we're going

let's talk about it with political contributor, ari fleischer and democratic strategist belcher.ow do you think it looks for romney and gingrich? >> anderson, i think it's looking great for mitt romney because of the debates. that's been the driver for the primary election so far, opened up a lead after his big south carolina loss. i think mitt romney will win florida by nine percentage points, a good-sized win, not as big as other polls indicate because there's nagging conservative questions about mitt romney but it will be a very good night for mitt romney in florida tomorrow. >> cornell, a smart move for gingrich cede nevada and michigan to romney? >> i think it is. one of the beauties about the obama campaign early on how we were able to establish as the candidate early on, we took the grassroots and turned it into fund-raising. if newt gingrich can turn his grassroots conservative tea party network into fund-raising and match mitt romney where he's being out-spend, 4 or 5-1, he has a chance, particularly when it moves south. if mitt romney didn't like south carolina, wait un

louis tea party organizer and editor and chief, ari fleischer and ball begala who joins me in des moinesw surprising is it to? what do you make of? >> it's stunning. seven front-runners in iowa. three aren't in the race anymore. santorum seems like the guy who never did lead. i see him as franc finkle? he's the only guy that survived the battle of little big horn. he survived because his horse couldn't get him there in time. santorum wasn't in the fire. he was too far back so nobody was shooting at him. god bless him, he's surging. i actually think he's going to win. >> do you?. >> i do. >> mary thought his surge had stopped. >> which means i'm probably wrong. in polling i would say trust the trend. in ann seltzer's poll, he went from tenth to fourth. but mary is more -- she's more knowledgeable about her party. i trust that trend. i think he's going to win here. >> dana, how surprised are you by santorum's surge? does it have any life regardless of how he does, assuming he's in the top three here? does very a campaign beyond iowa? >> no, i don't think that he does. rick santorum, one of