add quickly, larry, that the circling firing squad as begun with national republicans accusing martha coakley of running a terrible campaign, and them shouting back with them having a terrible mood. >> larry: john king, we'll check in with you later, but ms. coakley was not the strongest of candidates, was she? >> no, she was not the strongest candidate but she was also running against the republicans. the democrats and other key races across the country are going to look at these results, and you already see a lot of statements from democrats saying, we can't sugar coat this, we better learn a lesson. how will that affect health care? how will that affect the president's budget, spending, tax policy? some big drama to see play out in washington because of what happened in massachusetts. >> larry: thanks, john king. those were our reporters, and now let's go to our analysts. ari fleischer served as white house press secretary for president george w. bush. she's in stanford, connecticut. david was an adviser to nixon, ford, reagan and clinton. and katherine kennedy townsend, the lieutenant gov

martha coakley was not rejected. her method -- her message did get out, the problem was it was rejected. it is a rejection of barack obama and his policies. it should tell republicans out there, we are not interested in bottled republicans. we are interested in conservatives and those principles. i am an independent. i live in massachusetts my whole life. the people's republic of massachusetts is what we called it. it was a referendum on barack obama. host: let's hear from our guests, beginning with a walter -- with amy walter. guest: i think it was a referendum on the policies in washington, the policies put forward by the president. when you reject a candidate, a democratic candidate, you have rejected a president. at the same time, you have a president whose approval rating in massachusetts remains relatively high, certainly much higher than it is nationally. in some polls he is close to 60%, it is probably around the mid 50's. what you have in president obama is somebody that the majority of people in massachuset

superman did try to save in and save martha coakley. if you look at his speech sunday, that was all over the place. you have to question the missteps of their making when they belittle the trouble over and oebl again. he campaigned for the tax that scott brown was opposing. the democratic messages seems all over the place at the highest levels. >> paul, how badly does this faekt the president? >> well, you know this will be a bit of a character test for him. my own view is he has a good deal more steel in his spine than his critics i believe, and i think daifsh i -- i hope weigh see a tougher, stronger obama. i don't think verndz is ever a good strategy and i don't think the people want weakness in their leader. he believes in these things and health care reform and deficit reductions that democratics did when the we balance the budget. he ought to really believe in these causes and fight for this. >> larry: we'll take the break and get the cost of what andy thinks about all that. don't go away. a new way from alka-seltzer plus to... ge

you heard from martha coakley earlier. we want to hear from you. our lines are open 202-737-0002, that's the one for democrats and four republicans, 202-737-0001. if you are in massachusetts voter the number to call is 202-628-0205. we will hear from in the first from madisonville kentucky as the republicans now have 41 seats in the u.s. senate meaning the democrats no longer have the 60 seat majority necessary to end any filibuster. what do you think? >> caller: i think it was a good win for mr. brown. i am a somewhat of a democrat, but i think this shows a week as the people, i mean we are part of president obama and harry reid and nancy pelosi trying to do, they are trying to shove this health care down people's throat and they don't want to and in fact obama -- we want him to work for the people and everything and they are not doing it right now and hopefully this will send a message saying wake up and stop lending dustin the wrong road. >> host: and you are a democrat? >> guest: >> caller: yes. host could you voted for barack obama in 2008? >>

guest: i think on the democratic side, martha coakley's supporters -- democrats tend to have an evanish on the ground on election day because they outnumber republicans but they are trying to stop this surge of brown that sort of dominated the race recent days. i think the turnout is going to be quite high. the secretary -- secretary of state says it should mirror a general election turnout. host: what is each candidate doing specifically to get out the vote? what do their turnout machines look like? guest: the democrats always have the advantage. a lot are from out of state on both sides -- the usual blocking and tackling, making phone calls to people you think will vote for your candidate and make sure you get to the polls. it is not rocket science. host: how are these two candidates spending their last day, the last 24 hours before

martha coakley is somebody who has never really experienced the hardships of the world. i don't know much of their difference but i see a lieutenant colonel in the national guard. this is somebody who has endured. i see that as a fine candidate. host: what is going to happen tuesday? what is your prediction? caller: i believe that brown will win because the voice of independents are the sleeping giants in massachusetts. host: your reaction? guest: the numbers don't suggest that the numbers are closing but if you look at the boston globe and even at some of the polls that just call people sort of on the phone, those are the ones that have it now around double digits, around 10, maybe a little less, but not much. host: but it is a special e@@@@ in a special election it's who shows up and lower turnout than for a normal election.

i am an independent and voted for martha coakley in the democratic primary. i also sent her an e-mail, i would love to see a woman senator. but i'm not voting against martha coakley, and i am not really voting for scott brown, but i am voting because the political parties have gotten so out of hand in this country, i did not like to see either party have the kind of control they had during the bush administration and now with obama. so, i'm really voting for checks and balances. host: have you talked to your neighbors and friends and family? do they have the same mental attitude toward this election as you do, that this is about checks and balances and not about the candidates? caller: you know, i really think that that is true. i think people think the democrats have overplayed their teens. and a lot of people around here are socially liberal but more and more people are getting concerned, very concerned, with the overspending that is going on. they really don't see scott brown as the threat to social liberalism that coakley's campaign is trying to betray hi

senate candidate mark the coakle -- martha coakley. from northeastern university, this is about half an hour. >> thank you. thank you. thank you, everybody, thank you. fired up. fired up. first of all, i'm going to let michelle know that you sang her happy birthday. she will be pleased to know. i love you back. you know i do. let me begin by thanking liz for the wonderful introduction, where did she go? there she is. give her a big round of applause. nice job. i told her on the way i hear, you're going to be great. she said, i am going to rock the house. she did. i want northeastern. -- i want to thank in northeastern -- thank you, northeastern. the president and his lovely wife, thank you so much for the hospitality. i want to thank the boston mayor who is in the house. the governor, the ball patrick -- deval patrick. the great senior senator from this -- i know where we are. massachusetts. john kerry. i want to thank the kennedy and the entire kennedy family. they have been great friends for so long. to all the of standing members of

senate can it martha coakley. the massachusetts attorney general is running in a special election against joe kennedy and scott brown. from northeastern university, this is about half an hour. >> thank you. thank you to the church family for welcoming our family today. it feels like a family. [applause] thank you for making us feel that way. to pastor and his lady, thank you for welcoming us here today. congratulations on jordan denise. [laughter] aka cornelia. [laughter] michele and i have been blessed with and knew that you this year. -- a new nephew this year. maybe at the appropriate time, we can make introductions. if jordan's father is like me, that will be in about 30 years. [laughter] that is a great blessing. michele and malia and sasha and i are thrilled to be here today. i know that sometimes you have to go through a little fuss to have me as a speaker. let me apologize in advance for all of bus -- the fuss. we gather [no audio] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] >> how is

my husband fought for them, and so does martha coakley. >> warner: brown's campaign has been active on the web, too, with ads and vigorous fund- raising. though a "boston globe" poll last sunday had coakley up by 15 points, a suffolk university survey last night showed brown with a four-point lead. one further wild card, with implications for the health care vote-- the massachusetts secretary of state says it will take ten days or more to certify the results of the election. >> lehrer: and to the analysis of shields and brooks-- syndicated columnist mark shields and "new york times" columnist david brooks. mark, how could it be that this massachusetts senate race has suddenly become too close to call? >> massachusetts isn't that democratic a state, jim. they have ten congressman, they're all democrats. they have two senators, they're both democrats. they have 200 people in the legislature, 176 of them are democrats and all 6 constitution al officers are democrats. so that is the question. >> lehrer: what's the answer? >> well, the answer you get, at least talking to people involved pol

[cheers and applause] i also want to thank martha coakley for her call of congratulations.est is behind us. and now we must come together as a commonwealth. thank you, martha! [applause] as you know, this special election came about because we lost someone very, very dear to massachusetts and to america. senator ted kennedy was a tireless worker and a big-hearted public servant. and for most of his lifetime was a force like no other in this state. [cheers and applause] the first call i made was to his wife vicki. and i told her that his name will always command the affection and respect by the people of massachusetts. and i said we feel the same about her. [cheers and applause] there's no replacing a man like that. but tonight i honor the memory, and i pledge to be the very best and try to be a worthy successor to the late senator kennedy. and i said at the very beginning, when i sat down at the dinner table of my family that win or lose we would run a race which would make all of us proud. i kept my word, and we ran a clean, issues-oriented, upbeat campaign. and i wouldn't

yes, martha coakley ran a terrible campaign. but the notion that somehow this suggests that the entire country has shifted, i think, is just not exactly accurate. i think what we need to do -- >> isn't that obama that believes that? >> larry: let her finish. >> we forget there are tens and tens of millions of people on election day notwithstanding the enthusiasm a lot had for this president and this administration, tens of millions said they wanted sarah palin to be the number two with her finger on the button. this president has always had some opposition. they're very mobilized now, and he has to mobilize. i agree with stephanie. the time for bipartisan may be pasted. he has to set his own agenda. left-hand side more on this when we come back. hold it. hold it. we'll be right back. only alka-seltzer relieves your upset stomach, heartburn, indigestion and headache... so you're good to go in the morning. you're late. alka-seltzer brings you back. >> larry: stephanie, as a liberal, do you have a fear that your president is now a

martha coakley fell asleep at the wheel and now we're taking her laziness as a refer referendum on the democratic platform, and i think that's wrong. >> larry: ben, you were saying? >> i'm just saying i don't know what stephanie means. it's obama that's changed his course. it's not we saying he should change his course, he actually is. so apparently what he thought happened in massachusetts is different from what you thought happened in massachusetts, and i think he has a better view of it than you do. >> well, i beg your pardon, you think he might have information i don't have? >> i think i like him more than you. >> i beg your pardon. i want to wait, ben, i want to wait until tomorrow night and see exactly what the president is going to say. but i agree with you, ic think the lesson for massachusetts is that the health care bill is not liberal enough. the american people have wanted a robust public option. that's not in any of the bills anymore. that's been in every poll for a year. >> that is not the polls that i'm reading in the wall street journal or the new york times. i question

they sent out letters and e-mails to everybody on their e-mail list saying, "vote against martha coakley. she supported restrictions on direct shipping of wine and sided with the big wholesalers." under misyoon's view that wine store is not allowed to speak to their customers and say vote against martha coakley. we have to side with the big interest what amounts to the ability really to change the law. corporations don't speak with one voice any more than individuals do. >> brown: if a similar case were to come up tomorrow, assuming that the court's decision have an impact gipping tomorrow, that case, that could have been-- that would not have been illegal. >> exactly. that's exactly right. >> brown: go ahead. >> it would never have been illegal for the wine store to send out that e-mail to anyone. we're talking about specifically funded broadcast advertisement that are paid for with shareholder funds. we're not talking about a corporate political action committee speaking. we're not talking about lobbying. we're not talking about direct public outreach. we're not talking about any of th

the president will commemorate the birth of martin luther king and will campaign today for martha coakley for the senate seat given up by the death of ted kennedy. we'll talk about that later in the air but first, this piece this morning from "the washington post." clinton believes that the country can come back stronger in the future. bearing so, bottled water and other supplies, secretary clinton flew into the battered capital and told the haitian people that the u.s. will be here today, tomorrow, and in times ahead as the u.s. struggles to organize a relief effort for a barely functioning haitian government. mrs. clinton said she was here at the invitation of the country's president and came in large part to hear what was needed by the people. you can also send us a tour comment. you can send us an e- mail,jopuranl@c-span.org. caller: i think long term commitment should not be there. is this going to be a land grab with all these people coming inde? i don't think the united states should be there but the chinese or what ever could come in there. but fake with the closures and layoffs,

( applause ) >> ifill: brown's definitive victory over state attorney general martha coakley left senate democrats with 59 votes. that's one short of the super- majority the party's used to get key bills passed. and it instantly raised questions about the fate of health care reform legislation. brown campaigned against the democratic health care bills. he argued they would pose an unfair burden on massachusetts, which already has its own health care system. this morning, the senator-elect said what he opposes is washington's approach to health care. >> i think it's important for everyone to get some sort form of health care. so, to offer a basic plan for everybody, i think, is important. it's just a question of whether we're going to raise taxes, we're going to cut half a trillion from medicare, affect veterans' care. i think we can do it better. >> ifill: republicans declared voters sent a clear message in yesterday-- that democrats need to slow down. >> i'm convinced now that no gamesmanship will be played by the other side with regard to future votes in the senate >> the american peop

are you going to vote for martha coakley this morning? caller: yes, i am.ink every good democrat needs to get behind her and don't allow massachusetts to have a republican representative. in a ted kennedy seat. that's a travesty. host: why do you think that martha coakley lost the wide lead that she had coming into this race? caller: honestly this weekend i was pretty much all around the state and it just seemed like all you heard on the -- especially the radio, was nothing but scott brown ads. but scott brown adds. everything was him all weekend. and i think what helped it, too, was that we have -- three weeks ago she had a 40% side lead. so, nobody ever expected to say, i don't think, to ever go republican. i don't think nobody really in massachusetts thought that scott brown had a chance. but i would like to say to the people of massachusetts, we put scott brown in and definitely you are telling people that we are giving away a woman's right to choose. everybody remember this in massachusetts when you are voting today that this vote is really important.

first come here is -- first, here is his opponent, martha: coakly coakley. >> [chanting "martha"] >> thank you very much. [inaudible] >> thank you. thank you. i just got off the phone with scott brown. i offered him my congratulations and best wishes on his victory tonight. i wish to him in jail and to his daughters -- i wished to him, and gayle, and his two daughters well. the wish to get better news tonight. we are not. i want to take this moment for all of you in this room and those of you who are probably still out working, you pour your heart and souls into this campaign. there are thousands of you out on the street since september. i want to say a sincere thank you for everything you did it, not just for me, but for the campaign. let's give yourselves a huge round of applause for what you have done. thank you. thank you. i will not forget the fierce determination with which we approach this, not just about this campaign, but the things we believe in and still believe then and we will still fight for after tonight. i know you will join me in that. we never lost our focus for our

martha coakley, scott brown, an independent joseph kennedy. the moderator is david gergen. and that the viewers -- joe kennedy is not related to senator ted kennedy who died last summer. >> this coming tuesday will be a crucial time here in massachusetts. voters will go to the polls and select a person who may well determine the outcome of a long fight over health care legislation in washington. at stake it well is jobs, energy, the environment, abortion, the war's oversea. we have much to talk about. moreover, the candidates are seeking to fill a seat that is legendary in american politics. among the giants of the past, ted kennedy and his brother john, to henry cabot lodge, charge sumner, daniel webster, and john quincy adams. those are some shoes to fill. this debate is sponsored by the edward m. kennedy institute for the united states senate. where it gathered at the boston campus of the university of massachusetts, on whose land the kennedy institute will eventually be built. in an order determined by lottery, let me introduce the three candidates that are with us. sco

martha coakley, the democratic candidate is the attorney general of massachusetts.he was elected in 2006 after serving eight years as district attorney of middlesex county. joseph kennedy, no relation to the late senator, is an independent candidate who is a member of the national libertarian party. preparing questions, i consulted members of the media and other peoples whose judgment i trust. the questions themselves are known only to me. to the audience, please hold your applause until the end. we will begin with a series of questions leaving time in each round for a response and discussion. but lottery, the first question will go to mr. brown, then ms. coakley and then mr. kennedy. we will then rotate the order. the candidates will then have time later on to ask each other questions. let us begin. president obama and democrats in congress are now in the final stages of him bring out a national health care bill. there is a very real possibility that the winner of this election will be in a position to ensure passage of the bill or its defeat. do you want posers --

first, here is his opponent, democrat martha coakley. >> [chanting "martha"] >> thank you very much. [inaudible] >> thank you. thank you. i just got off the phone with scott brown. i offered him my congratulations and best wishes on his victory tonight. i wished to him, gail, and his two daughters well. we wished to get better news tonight. we did not. i want to take this moment for all of you in this room and those of you who are probably still out working, you pour your heart and souls into this campaign. there are thousands of you out on the street since september. i want to say a sincere thank you for everything you did it, not just for me, but for the campaign. let's give yourselves a huge round of applause for what you have done. thank you. thank you. i will not forget the fierce determination with which we approach this, not just about this campaign, but the things we believe in and still believe then and we will still fight for after tonight. i know you will join me in that. we never lost our focus for our determination. you never demonstrated discouragement as far as i am co

been are successful in doing that and in massachusetts it has been playing out where you have martha coakley is not getting the kind of support from the democratic base that she would expect. much more importantly, she is having a very hard time getting a number of independent voters that she would need, who are accessed with these questions of tax and spending and deficit. -- obsessed with these questions of tax and spending and deficit. guest: one of the most serious moments in the book is clinton's attempt to get teddy kennedy to endorse hillary over barack obama, and the frustration and anger that both clintons felt. they had gone sailing with him. president clinton would tell people how angry and frustrated he was that he had done so much for the kennedy family as president and they were drifting towards obama. hillary and bill clinton have incredible political support in massachusetts, and one of the satisfying moments for them on super tuesday was despite the fact that senator kennedy had endorsed barack obama, hillary was able to win massachusetts. some of her field operatives in mas

and what was once assumed to be a certain victory by democrat martha coakley is now anything but, aspolls show support for republican state senator scott brown has surged in recent days. last-minute strategies were on display today, first in this new coakley ad, with some star support. >> martha knows the struggles massachusetts working families face because she's lived those struggles. she's fought for the people of massachusetts every single day as attorney general. she took on wall street and recovered millions for massachusetts tax payers. she went after big insurance companies, took on predatory lenders. that's what martha cokely is about. every vote matters. every vote matters. we need you. on tuesday. >> brown: and this web video from the brown >> brown: this web video from the brown campaign highlighted some of his appeal. >> i am enthusiastically supporting scott brown because this is all about america, our freedom, our security, our money. god bless america. go, scott brown! >> massachusetts does not want the trillion dollar obama health care that being forced on american p

i agree he's good looking and charismatic and i think martha coakley unfortunately was not just a goodhow, you know, if this is the end of civilization as we know it as a lot of the republicans like to cast this. >> larry: mark, do you think there will be a health bill coming forth? >> well, i think there will be a health bill but i think that it's really going to be changed over time here. i think this election says that there's a lot of opposition to this bill, a lot of concern about it. you know, i think that, you know, you may take a step-by-step approach, might be a wiser approach. i think people are looking for progress first on the economy before health care and so i think this is going to be a process that now gets considerably slowed down. >> larry: ben, what's the effect on the president who apparently retains his personal popularity? >> i think the effect on the president is to say, go back to square one and say, look, the country has got a really bad recession. it's not getting better as fast as we thought it would. foreclosure crisis is still a crisis. let's concentrate on

martha of coakley is not in touch with the people. is an elite liberal. ovpshe is the strongest candidae that scott brown will the fate. that is the way i feel about it. thank you for taking my call. host: one more call from knoxville, tenn., and our independent line. caller: this is not about massachusetts. this is a%Ñ call against obama. everything that he has tried to do, they are scary people so bad against health care, they are afraid to step up and take the bullet and save it will work. if it doesn't work, republicans can reformat. nobody has stood -- no republican has to up and said they want to work and try to find a better solution. they keep hollering and harping on being against everything. democrats and republicans -- republicans are sleeping in the bed with the insurance companies. they don't care. if theyá overthrow this, nothing will change. they will go in the back with the insurance companies, smoke a a a big cigar, and laugh about what they have done to the american people. host: thank you for all participated during

that's the major differences between martha and me. >> ms. coakley. >> the question was about the deficit and let's remember a little history here that when the democrats the presidency before george w. bush we were on a pay-as-you-go for spending. you either have to have it in the budget or make sure there was a revenue source. that completely went out the window with the bush-cheney administration. so we have deficit spending with reckless spending, and regulate its been, on a regulated wall street that got us into the problem, and to me it is astounding that scott brown will stand here and say that this problem must have just come out of nowhere, and his solution is to do nothing except to make sure that we do some kind of across-the-board tax cut. it's not going to work and what i said and he knows it in the past is the way to get tax revenues up to. we need to get the engine of this economy running again, get people back to work to get tax revenues -- >> how would you get tax revenues of? are you going to increase taxes? >> no, getting people ba

republican scott brown faced democrat martha coakley. he vowed to deny democrats the 60th vote they need to pass health care reform. the candidates voted this morning, as a light snow fell across much of the state. but election officials said turnout appeared to be strong. democratic leaders insisted today their push to pass health care reform will stay on course, regardless. the election in massachusetts sent wall street sharply higher. it was driven by speculation that the outcome will undercut health care reform. the dow jones industrial average gained more than 115 points to close at 10,725. the nasdaq rose 32 points to close at 2,320. the federal reserve has asked for a full review of its role in rescuing insurance giant a.i.g. fed chairman ben bernanke made the request to the government accountability office. the a.i.g. rescue cost more than $180 billion. the bailout has drawn fire over disclosures about bonuses, and payments made to goldman sachs and other big banks. a congressional probe is already underway. in afghanistan, two u

that is one of the differences between martha coakley and i. at a time when we just do not needed. i would propose going and allowing states to do this individually with the government incentivizing it. we can export what we have done and show them how to do it. i am looking forward to be the party -- the 41st vote and get that plan back to the drawing board. >> thank you for hosting us here this evening. i would be proud to be the 60th vote to make sure that we need health care reform that was so badly need. we have taken the lead here in massachusetts, and now we are attacking the cost to provide competition and transparency to bring the costs down. we spent $2.60 trillion on health care in this country. we do not get our money. we do not have transparent terry -- transparency in competition. we do not have the kind of health care that we need. senator kennedy said that it is the right and not a privilege. by doing it incrementally is the way that we're going to do it, and we will set the groundwork for the revolutionary way in which we provide coverage for those it cannot get co

the candids are martha coakley, scott brown, and joseph kennedy.the race is decided, we'll have acceptance speeches here on c-span 2. >> this weekend on book tv, john mueller believes the chance of terrorist attacks is smaller than people believe. and from the annual operating cost to globallg, anne talks about her book. and get the latest booktv updates on twitter. >> now haley barbour delivers the state of the state address. we spoke about hurricane katrina and how jobs are being created. from jackson. this is 40 minutes. >> thank you, y'all. thank you very much. [applause] >> thank you, y'all. thank you, y'all. mr. speaker, governor bryant, members of the legislature, distinguished guest and fellow mississippians, for the 7th time i'm honored to come before you to share my view of the state of our state. i appreciate your inviting me, and i want to say that i appreciate mississippi public broadcasting and it's presenters for telecasting tonight's speech live, again for the 7th time. welcome back to all of you legislators who had to go home early

not [applause] [inaudible conversations] >> the candidates or messages to need general martha coakleycott brown and independent joe kennedy. the moderator is harvard aggressor and commentator david gergen. it was held yesterday at the edward m. kennedy institute for the u.s. senate in boston. it's an hour. [applause] >> good evening. i'm david gergen and i would like to welcome all of you to this closing debate among the candidates or next week's election to the united states senate. this coming tuesday will be a crucial times your in massachusetts. voters will go to the poll and select a person who may well determine the outcome of the long fight over health care legislation in washington. that stake as well, jobs, energy, the environment, abortion, wars overseas. we have much to talk about tonight. moreover, the candidates in this election are seeking to fill a seat that is legendary in american politics. among its occupants have been giants of the past from teddy kennedy and his brother john to henry avalos, charles sumner, daniel webster, and john quincy adams. those are some shoe

>> or on the table. >> robert, why isn't the president going to campaign for martha coakley? s a tight race, very important to his agenda potential. >> it's just not on the schedule to go to next week. >> has he been asked by the coakley campaign to come? dak not that i'm aware of. >> has he been asked to stay away? >> not that i'm aware of. [laughter] >> is to conserve -- it just doesn't make any sense -- is concerned that his current popularity ratings -- if he goes up that might hurt her campaign? >> nope. >> so it's -- it's just not on the schedule. it's the schedulers, actually, who has decided not to send him? [laughter] >> no, i didn't say it was -- you didn't ask me that. we just -- it's not on the schedule as a trip the president is going to make. >> thanks, robert. >> robert, it looks like harold ford is very serious about jumping into the senate race in new york. what is the white house's position of having a candidate like harold ford room for the senate seat? >> look, i think the white house is quite happy with the leadership and the representation of senator jala

brown won the special election shun massachusetts yesterday defeating state attorney general martha coakley. from the capitol, this is 20 minutes. >> good morning, everyone. slow news, huh? the people of massachusetts had an opportunity to speak yesterday, and they spoke rather loudly that they would like to see congress go in a different correction. direction. the massachusetts special election shun was unique in many ways. i was flying from kentucky last day, a number of people on the plane brought up as they have in last few months can you the health care bill? most interesting came up to me i'm con went of yours but i'm married to a man from massachusetts. here he is. and she introduced me to him. we're going to massachusetts to vote for scott. they made a special trip to go to massachusetts so he could vote for scott brown. this was in many way as national referendum princely on the major issue we're wrestling with here in congress which is whether or not the government should take over 1/of our economy, slash medicare by half a trillion dollars, raise taxes by half a trillion dollars

been are successful in doing that and in massachusetts it has been playing out where you have martha coakleyt she would expect. much more importantly, she is having a very hard time getting a number of independent voters that she would need, who are accessed with these questions of tax and spending and deficit. -- obsessed with these questions of tax and spending and deficit. guest: one of the most serious moments in the book is clinton's attempt to get teddy kennedy to endorse hillary over barack obama, and the frustration and anger that both clintons felt. they had gone sailing with him. president clinton would tell people how angry and frustrated he was that he had done so much for the kennedy family as president and they were drifting towards obama. hillary and bill clinton have incredible political support in massachusetts, and one of the satisfying moments for them on super tuesday was despite the fact that senator kennedy had endorsed barack obama, hillary was able to win massachusetts. some of her field operatives in massachusetts and new hampshire are now, as i understand, working f

democratic leaders have been, you know, texting people to go vote for the democratic candidate, martha coakleyyet scott brown, the republican candidate, continues to rise in the polls. do you think that the text message endorsements actually have a big effect or are they just preaching to the choir? >> it's a great question. i think a lot remains to be seen. again, ed just made the point, it's not just what you're doing online, it's what you're doing off-line that also counts. there's been interesting news stories about massachusetts, so even the fact that the republicans see a little bit of light of day there, that we could actually take ted kennedy's senate seat, there's a lot of excitement around that, and i think other folks in the state who might lean a little bit to the right are getting energized about that. other people in the country are getting energized about that. so i'm sure that more money is flowing into that. and so, you know, in some ways, text message social security just a way to keep in touch with your folks up there and your supporters. but, you know, to ed's point about t

the latest poll has democrats martha coakley leading senator scott brown 50-41%. previously coakley had been leading by more than 20 points. the year is young, but can we expect some political slug fesses along the way? some washington heavy weights will be missing from at that battle. take a listen. >> i have been a connecticut senator for 30 years. i'm very proud of the job i've done and the results delivered. but none of us is irreplaceable. >> brian: this week, three big democrats throw in the towel. are the democrats in for a tough year? larry sabato director of university of virginia center for politics and author of "the year of obama" is here to help us sort out this year's political landscape. good to see you. >> thank you, brian. >> brian: let's talk first of all the thing about has a few tongues wagging in political circles, whether or not a seat held by ted kennedy as long as anyone can really remember may, may, there's a chance, could be picked up by the publics? how good a chance do the republicans have in this race? >> it's amazing it's even close,

later the president will make a stop in boston for the campaign of martha coakley.esident of first lady will the debate in a service activity in the washington area and in the evening the president of first 80 -- lady will attend the let freedom ring concert, a musical celebration of dr. martin luther king, where the president will also deliver remarks. on tuesday the president will attend meetings at the white house. on wednesday the president will host an event that the white house and honor of national mentoring month. on thursday the president will meet with a delegation from the u.s. conference of mayors at the white house to talk about strengthening the economy and creating jobs in communities large and small across america. on friday the president will travel, as we previously announced, to loraine, ohio, on the next out of the white house to meet strict war and he will hold a town hall at the lorain county community college with workers, business leaders and small business owners for ideas on continuing to grow the economy and putting americans back to work.

when you consider that scott brown's campaign was ninja-like, and martha coakley brand the worst, almost pathetic campaign in the world, and turn off everybody by the time she was done, i am not surprised that scott brown one. and i think teddy up there in haven't got a big kick out of it. -- i think teddy up there in heaven got a big kick out of it. he would work with scott brown. i think this was a personal, emotional thing that the people of massachusetts had to pick what the coakley it sat there on beacon hill -- some people call it collegeville layhill -- caligula hill -- while three house speakers were dragged away in handcuffs. where was she? host: next caller. caller: good morning, susan. you look terrific. i really mean it about your hair. the last one on the foundphone -- keep going, left wingers, key to being in denial about massachusetts, and you'll be smashed. last summer, everybody was called a racist, and i am shocked that he did not come out and put a end to that. it will not stop until he comes out and explains what his policies are, and with everybody who opposes the pr

senator robert menendez, chairman of democratic senatorial campaign committee helping to oversee martha coakley's losing bid is that the key in the next months is to make sure we find a way to engage independent voters. let us hear -- listen to the senate's democratic leaders. let us hear what harry reid had to say. >> we are not going to rush into anything. as we have heard, we are going to wait until a new senator arrives before we do anything on health care. remember, the bill that we passed in the senate is good for a year. there are many things we can do it moving forward on health care but we are not making any of those decisions now. one message i got from the leadership meeting held this morning and the caucus i just had it is the fact that we are concerned about everything going on in the country and we are not going to rush to judgment on any one of them. >> are you committed to finishing that health care bill? are you confident you can get past the president? >> i am confident that health care is an issue in this country and we would everything we can to alleviate the pain and sufferin

expectations upside-down as republican state senator scott brown now leads democrat attorney general martha coakleyccording to the suffolk university -- news poll and it found independent candidate joseph kennedy, no relation to the legendary clan, had 3%, and 1% undecided. ohio, scott on independent line. best way to help haiti. caller: first off, i would like to say i called a few months ago. i'm an unemployed nurse. since our government seems to be the to spend so much money on some of different programs, i'm wondering if there is anybody listening in washington, there would be any way that they could round up, say, unemployed and retired health-care professionals to be able to put them together and send them when there are tragedies like what is going on in haiti. because i know the doctors and nurses that are there are pretty overwhelmed, and they could probably use the help. and i guess i want to close by saying that i really would like to thank pat robertson and rush limbaugh for making those of us who feel like we are conservatives look like incentives jerks. host:, the republican line. cal

martha coakley is somebody who has never really experienced the hardships of the world. i don't know much of their difference but i see a lieutenant colonel in the national guard. this is somebody who has endured. i see that as a fine candidate. host: what is going to happen tuesday? what is your prediction? caller: i believe that brown will win because the voice of independents are the sleeping giants in massachusetts. host: your reaction? guest: the numbers don't suggest that the numbers are closing but if you look at the boston globe and even at some of the polls that just call people sort of on the phone, those are the ones that have it now around double digits, around 10, maybe a little less, but not much. host: but it is a special e election. isn't the key getting out the vote? guest: yes, in a special election, it is who shows up. it will be a lower turnout than a normal election. that brings us back to the fact that there is such a strong democratic machine in massachusetts that they can produce the votes. nour, i think that brown's team is counting on the fact t

. >> host: based on that, martha coakley and scott brough will you vote for? >> guest: >> caller: basically scott brown for the stand on the bil as a middle class individual i see marvelous the line as somebody that's not experienced the hardships of the world. i see, i don't much of the difference i see lieutenant colonel and national guard. this is somebody who has endured and i see that as a fine candidate. >> host: i want to come back to the earlier point was we to happen on tuesday what is your prediction? >> guest: i believe brown will win because the voice of the independents are the speaking giants of massachusetts. >> host: the reaction and follow up with you. >> guest: the numbers don't suggest that you get the numbers are closing, but i think if you look at the "boston globe," if you look at even some of the polls that just call people sort of on the phone, those are the ones that have it now account double-digit, ten maybe less. but not much. >> host: it's a special election. is the key -- >> guest: i was going to say is, steve come in a special el

mark the copley had seemed so certain of winning the special election -- martha coakley seemed so certainf winning the special election on january 19 that she barely campaign. but the dynamic has changed in recent days. the news that two democratic senators will retire this year in the face of bleak reelection prospects has created anxiety. it says that a ground when it is improbable give the democrats outnumber republicans in massachusetts by two-one. a tight to it than expected margin in the closed watched race -- but a tighter-than- expected margin in the closely watched rates would prompt soul- searching among democrats nationally." here is a health care story, one that you might find interest. "hospital cuts dialysis care for the poor in miami. to chip away at a deficit, miami's public hospital system stopped paying for kidney dialysis for the indigent this week, beating some patients to rely on -- leaving some patients to rely on emergency rooms for their life sustaining treatments. a total of 175 patients were affected by the decision by jackson held system, which runs south florid

you know, texting people who are on their list to go vote for the democrat he can candidate, martha coakley, yet, scott brown continues to rise in the polls. do you think the text message endorsements have great effect? >> that's a great question. a lot is to be -- it's not just what you're doing online, it's what you're doing off line that also counts. there's been interesting stories over the past few days about massachusetts, so i think even the fact that republicans even see a little bit of light of day there, that we could actually take ted kennedy's senate seat. there's a lot of of excitement around that and i think other folks in the state who might lean a little bit to the right are getting energized about that. other people in the country are getting energized about that, so i'm sure that more money is flowing in to that, so you know, in some ways, text messaging is just pa way to keep in -- a way to keep in touch with your folks out there and your supporters. but ed's point about the ground campaign, i live in virginia that's mostly retired military, and i couldn't go to an event,

does the president have any intention to travel to massachusetts to campaign for martha coakley. >> the president doesn't have any travel plans to campaign in massachusetts. >> do you think the president has done right by a movement that was so much a part of his victory in november, the labor movement, that if he, has he done right by them? has he advanced their agenda the way he should? >> i think the president has represented working men and women in this country. in everything that he's worked on. whether it was, making a decision to save two companies from going bankrupt, whether it was, pushing a recovery plan, i think a whole host, obviously of legislative initiatives that have benefited working men and women in this country. absolutely. >> robert, just one quick question, on the timetable on iran sanctions. you said last year we were looking, once end of the year came we would be looking at a decision. do you have, when do you hope to have a coalition together to move forward? is there any timetable? >> we continue to work with our partners in the p5 plus one as you heard the pr