. >>> for more on this we go to our man in iowa domenico montonado who is there.he debate last night change the der rterrain at all iowa? >> well, it is interesting, jonath jonathan, because this is a candidate where the candidates pointed at each other for first time and signaled that this debate is all about ames. and tim pawlenty, and michele bachmann have the most at stake for ames, and minnesota-nice, it was not. >> and so, domenico, some say that this is the dating phase and the big dance before the republicans decide what candidate they want to marry for the caucuses, so who has the fullest dance card, and who's playing the sad wallflower? [ laughter ] >> i don't even know how to continue the extended metaphor there, but, look, michele bachmann clearly needs the win. rick perry getting in, she is going to have some competition for the t-evangelical mold, because they both appeal to the tea party and the evangelical mold, and everyone is talking about iowa and new hampshire, but only south carolina since 1980 has the republican nominee won every time since 1

aim at the big fat target, president obama. >> and you know, it is interesting, which candidates, domenico, have the most at stake here when we come out of this saturday? >> yeah. well, there's no question tim pawlenty has the most at stake for this, and when you look at someone like rick perry and someone like michele bachmann, there is not a lot of oxygen out of that, and bachmann has a lot of stake, too, because everyone expects her to win, and that could take her down a peg with perry getting in and challenging for the same kinds of voters. pawlenty needs a strong second-place showing and anything less than that and people are going to start questioning the campaign and questioning how long he stays in the race, you know. i don't think that you will see them necessarily drop out or anything like that very soon after that, and you know, they want to see where it will go and if they have strength elsewhere as well. >> and thank you, live for us in iowa. and joining us is roger simon from politico. and great to see you. >> great to see you. >> and you were on with lawrence o'donnell last

. >> and thank you, domenico, i like the bracket you have going there. >> thank you. >>> and now to talke about the gop and the party divide is nationally syndicated talk show host michael smerconish, and msnbc contributor, and michael, i saw you last night on "hard ball with chris matthews" and you talked about the article that you were going to publish which is now out, and it is about the establishment that domenico was talking about with bachmann and perry against romney and you believe that bachmann and perry have a problem, and when you look at exclusively the state of pennsylvania and key counties there. >> right. and you might say, tamron, that is a narrow focus, but it is suburbia generally, and as go the suburbs by way of philadelphia so goes the state, and perhaps hence the nation. and the question is, who poses for the republicans the strongest opportunity against president obama in a general? that ben bernanke comment by governor perry is the red meat for the troop, the shock troops in a primary, i think will come back to bite you in the fannie when you are a general electio

army men was an equal miss america and danko allows of each who could give a tally and defended domenico could see his debut five points separate the sides at the moment in the league the last time they met to skull were awarded to technical victory after is neat failed to field at least one home grown. now elsewhere today angie welcome tom will be. called who will join them after russia's friendly with serbia next week. head to head and go back and face an in-form dinara who've won their last five to the games. now one of the nominees new signings of symmetry is still trying to make an impression at the club the attacking midfielder from serbia has netted twice in thirteen games say far this season but believed in arm i can keep up their good start and even reach the champions league he spoke with artie's constantine to top off. this is the machine which was born in munich and developed through the system of local say born in winning his first moments league title in two thousand and three however the bosnian serb played just three majors for the german powerhouse before leaving the clu

but first, let's go to nbc political reporter domenico montanaro.don't want to put too much politics because a lot of people are in danger. there are politics in everything. we know that. talk about how handling a hurricane, a snowstorm, some other natural disaster, has impacted people in the past, politically, and what we think about this one. >> obviously we're all concerned with what could happen here on the most coast and where the touchdown of irene actually could come in. there have been, though, the political consequences for people who, you know, and how they've handled these situations. some politicians have been able to shine. and others, it's really hurt them. so this is something that we've seen through the years. >> you know what's a fascinating thing, the last ten years or so, ever since bill clinton declared the era of big government is over, it feels like people tend to like less government, except in these situations when they want their government to do things for them. they want their government to be active. >> right. >> bobby ji