she's in a competitive race here with congressman jim matheson. he's a democrat obviously so they are really trying to showcase her as one of the younger fresher faces of the party. she's one you'll see continually out on the campaign even though she's from a state like utah not considered a battle ground state. >> woodruff: the political report. how much diversity is there in the republican members of congress right now. >> i think it's growing. it's slowly growing but it's something that they're trying to get through this recruiting class. it's not just mia love. someone like ricky gill in california. so they are trying to cycle by cycle grow the minority base of the republican party and the faces within the party. >> woodruff: why do they think that's important. >> in part, when you look at polls you have the president and the majority of african american votes and the majority of hispanic voters. they really have been showing this tonight with the theme of the economy. what we're looking at here as well the economy touches everyone. it doesn't

she's in a competitive race here with congressman jim matheson. he's a democrat obviously so they are really trying to showcase her as one of the younger fresher faces of the party. she's one you'll see continually out on the campaign even though she's from a state like utah not considered a battle ground state. >> woodruff: the political report. how much diversity is there in the republican members of congress right now. >> i think it's growing. it's slowly growing but it's something that they're trying to get through this recruiting class. it's not just mia love. someone like ricky gill in california. so they are trying to cycle by cycle grow the minority base of the republican party and the faces within the party. >> woodruff: why do they think that's important. >> in part, when you look at polls you have the president and the majority of african american votes and the majority of hispanic voters. they really have been showing this tonight with the theme of the economy. what we're looking at here as well the economy touches everyone. it doesn't

>> obviously, we have a long- term incumbent in jim matheson. we feel great about her candidacy in utah. she will have to stay within 30 points of the romney/ryan ticket. he might hit 80 in this district. >> 80? >> we had him at 74. >> talk about the candidates that spoke yesterday. why choose them? >> we worked with the rnc and the romney team, but i think it was a good mix of fresh and candidates that we have on the stage. the doctor from michigan did very well, then we had a good group of candidates. we highlighted north carolina because we will take up a lot of seats in north carolina. the democrats have already given us two of the four, and when you are running in cease their overwhelming, i think we will get 55, 56%, maybe even 57%. >> let's talk about the paul ryan conversation we had with congressman sessions. we have heard the ideological argument. what do the polls tell you about both sides of the medicare argument? >> we have been doing medicare for one year and have the house races. there is not one additional medicare and run becaus

>> that's right, she's up against a guy named jim matheson. >> he's been in for a while. >> he's beenrms, a very conservative democrat. the district, while just kind of reworked, is going to make it a very close election. in fact, jim matheson will be up probably by ten points or so but i think it's going to be a nailbiter. >> we're playing zeppelin? >> for, yeah, i know, for paul ryan. >> "rage against the machine" that wasn't bad. >> we'll turn to the big easy where things have been uneasy, tropical storm isaac drenching the gulf coast, continuing its slow spin north. we're live in new orleans next with the latest. >>> comments? questions? send them to@squawkcnbc on twitter. follow the show and look for updates from andrew, becky, joe and the "squawk" staff. "squawk box" on cnbc. and on twitter. you trade? with scottrader streaming quotes, any way you want. fully customize it for your trading process -- from thought to trade, on every screen. and all in real time. which makes it just like having your own trading floor, right at your fingertips. [ rodger ] at scottrade, seven dollar

love would become the first black republican woman in congress if she defeats jim matheson in the electionnovember. martha: hurricane isaac sweeps through the gulf coast. we have gotten word that it overtopped a levee in new orleans. cutting power to millions of homes there. they are still feeling some of the remnants of hurricane isaac in some areas along the coast. i'm pleased to be joined by haley barbour, the former governor of mississippi, the former rnc chair. he used to be in charge of this event. talk to me about the people at home in mississippi. how are they doing and when do they expect the worst of it? >> even thought it's a large and well-covered storm, it's not a very strong storm. the storm surge in mississippi has not been great. the winds have not been too bad. a lot of people worry the biggest economic damage may be to the crops. we have a huge storm being dropped on the field, if you have 20 inches of rain to that it will do billions of dollars worth of damage. martha: our thoughts are with all your folks in mississippi and we'll be thinking about that. i want to play a

>> obviously, we have a long- term incumbent in jim matheson. we feel great about her kennedy see in utah. she will have to step -- candidacy in utah. she will have to stay within 30 points of the romney/ryan ticket. he might hit 80 in this district. >> 80? >> we had him at 74. >> talk about the candidates that spoke yesterday. why choose them? >> we worked with the rnc ann romney team -- and the romney team, but i think it was a good mix of fresh and candidates that we have on the stage. the doctor from michigan did very well, then we had a good group of candidates. we highlighted north carolina because we will take up a lot of seats in north carolina. the democrats have already given us two of the four, and when you are running in cease their overwhelming, i think we will get 55, 56%, maybe even 50%. >> let's talk more about the -- 57%. >> let's talk about the paul ryan conversation we had with congressman sessions. we have heard the ideological argument. what do the polls tell you about both sides of the medicare argument? >> we have been doi