is jordan lieberman, managing director of campaign grid and here in new york, executive director of themerican values constitution, alexis mcgill johnson, and ben ben smith from buzzfeed.com. ben, let me begin with you you're the nonpartisan voice. what do you think of it? >> i think the democrats got complacent watching the republicans kill each other during the primary. it's over. the closely divided country with a terrible economy, i think a lot of obama advisers did expect that, and it's going to be a very tight race. >> jordan, let me turn you, was this sense of inevitability is this norrer more more of a surge? will it last? can if survive? >> yeah, i think it's going to last for a while. there's not a lot of news that will change the dynamics of the race really until the convention. this is about all the little stuff, dugs. >> we'll come to seamus later. >> we'll get to that. this race, i think that mitt romney has had a good week. i don't think it has much to do with rick santorum. the primary is over, a lot of republicans know there is no other choice. this is it. >> alexis i w

jordan say they can support this guy? >> the only candidate you hear being talked about are those being seen as more conservative than romney. there is no talk of a joe lieberman are something like that this year, which is what we heard four years ago with senator mccain. you hear people be more willing to say, "i think marco rubio, i think chris christie." date usually give the nominee space to make that decision, but there be more forthright about wanting to see this person or that person in the consideration. >> for that reason, i think you will see met romney -- mitt romney leading toward a popular conservative candid it just to help -- candidate to shore up conservative. santorum and gingrich are running in the south, but the view is that in the general election, they will rally behind romney and vote for him anyway, even in the southern states. you want them to come out and vote. by choosing a conservative vice- president candidate it will help to rally their base and bring more people out. >> i think we're definitely seeing a shift in the republican party where they are fearful of romney being the nominee, but now they are just wary. >> russell berman a