we're joined by cynthia tucker and kamau bell. so glad to have you both inside "the war room."the war room," president clinton was a little bit off message there, talking about romney's sterling business career. do you think he honestly believes that, or is he just thinking non-attacking bain is a lousy message? he doesn't think bain is a good message for the president? >> i sort of as a black guy have to play he is a rich white guy, romney is a rich white guy and that trumps party lines. he has got to be like, hey, that rich white guy made a lot of money, i try to make a lot of money that's bigger than democrat and republican. [ laughter ] >> i don't know. but these surrogates don't seem to be having much impact on the polls. should president obama be further ahead, or considering a new message? >> president obama? >> yeah. >> i think the president has exactly the right message, and i think attacking bain is part of that right message. what it is about democrats and why they didn't get their act together, i don't know. you know what will rogers today? i'm a member of no organi

joining me now is ed rendell and cynthia tucker. a visiting professor of journalism at the university of georgia. thanks to both of you for being with me this evening. >> my pleasure. >> good to be here, reverend. >> governor rendell, let me start with you. the republicans are trying to use health care to their advantage this election, but do they have the wrong messenger? >> no doubt about it. the message is skewed. president obama since he's been president, he average working family has seen a tax cut of $3600. then secondly make clear that on the mandate which the supreme court properly says is a tax, only 2% of americans will pay the tax penalty. which is after the first year $666. that's what 2% of americans will pay. if you're in a health insurance plan now and you're paying into that health insurance plan, you do not have to worry about the tax that comes from the mandate. it's only the people who are the free riders. so it's less than 2% of the population. and they're attacking a president who's cut taxes to almost the tune

cynthia tucker is a visiting professor at the university of georgia and syndicated columnist, alex burns is a national political reporter for politico. ladies, here are the numbers. according to the latest nbc news/wall street poll, president obama's personal favorability rating is eight points higher than his unfavorable but his job approval numbers are much closer, at 48-46 that is a statistical high. cynthia, what's the story behind those numbers? >> well, i think it's pretty clear. the economy is still not in great shape. and that has been dragging down the president's job approval rating for some time now. the good news for him, it isn't as bad as it might have been. having said that, it is clear people still like the president very much. now you that, certainly doesn't apply to hardcore republicans, who hate him. but many americans like the american. he's a good guy. he is a good father, a good husband. he projects warmth on the campaign trail. and so that has helped him i think some. >> alex, you wrote about this for politico, i think cynthia is right in terms of characterizing wh

joining me now is dana milbank, and cynthia tucker, a visiting professor of journalism at the university here tonight. let me start with you cynthia. does jeb bush's comments matter? is the republican fever, as the president says, about to break? >> i'm not so sure that they do matter. this is not the first time jeb bush has said something like this. back in february in the middle of the crazy and occasionally terrifying debates, he says i used to be a conservative, and i don't think i've changed, but i watch debates and wonder about people just appealing to people's fears and emotions. there's a good run he didn't run for president this year. he didn't the to pay the crazy tax of birthers, bashing immigrants. there are no signs that i see that the fever will break any time soon, certainly not in 2012. >> dana, the crazy tax. let me show you the gap between the right and the left. since 1987, republicans and democrats have moved further apart in their belief president difference in opinion in 1987 was 23 points. in 2012 was 41. labor unions were 20 points. now it's 37. the split between