in today's "new york times" maureen dowd writes that, quote -- white house officials seem a bit flummoxed by christie's bear hug. they speculate christie who always puts chris fi first has decided it's better for his presidential ambitions to be a maverick blue state governor with a democratic chief executive exiting in 2016 than to have president romney and tea party republicans in congress pulling him to the extreme right for the next eight years. christie for his part shrugged off the notion of political calculus in an interview last flight. >> the president does things that deserve praise, i will give him praise. and when the president does things that deserves scorn i'll give him scorn. when someone asks me an honest question i give an honest answer. how has the president been to deal with? he's been outstanding to deal with on this and i look forward to see him tomorrow. >> mitt romney is back on the trail in florida after turning a previously scheduled campaign event in ohio into a makeshift humanitarian relief event. >> we've got people right now that are having some hard times be

a couple of examples, maureen dowd talking aboutie's relationship with obama.ne is fault of the climate change deniers. al gore using other people misery to advance his own profile. >> dana: there are very few people who look at this and think they shouldn't cooperate. i don't think it changes their mind on how they feel about the obamacare, keystone pipeline not going through, stimulus bill, foreign policy, leaning from behind stuff. if you felt other ways about romney. get to the political roundup here. because andrea, kick it off with you on early voting. big topic. a lot of people might not realize in many states there is early voting. both parties try to lock it up. give us your take. >> andrea: take a look here. this is early voting and now. 52% over obama 46% according to gallup. look at the numbers in 2008. if we could pull that up. a big difference. barack obama had 53% to john mccain's 43%. what does it tell you? for weeks we have been hearing the media paint a storyline while obama is ahead in early voting. now we know that isn't true. particularly i

definition of a made-up story to eleanor cliff, won the fnc beater two reading theth bitter column by maureen dowdrnament of the main stream media. refusing to acknowledge a real scandal. how is she an intel expert? if she was special agent cliff, somehow related to somebody killed, after calls for help was ignored she would feel differently. if you want the story to go away, just answer the questions. >> bob: mccain said it was worst scandal in his lifetime. the worst scandal is the war he suffered through for eight years of the prison of war. >> kimberly: that is not what he is saying. >> bob: he said it's the worst scandal in his lifetime. worse than watergate.? yes, people didn't die in watergat but constitution was ripped up. >> kimberly: it's significant that he says that. >> eric: you can't think that benghazi has not been a negative mark on president obama -- >> bob: of course. >> eric: approval rating and success. >> bob: of course. >> eric: we are just trying to find out what happened. >> greg: coverup by the media. >> dana: bob, i have to say -- from a media perspective. i like richard

maureen dowd writes this this morning, quote, while romney campaigns in florida yesterday, christie and obama plan to tour storm damage in new jersey. a picture of bipartisanship, putting distressed people above ki dirt-slinging politics and that's a grand bargain for both of them. susan, is this politically perhaps better than campaigning for the president? >> of course we're not saying that's the reason that this is happening with the president and governor christie, but i think it's probably good politics for both of them. it shows the president helping americans at a time in need. it shows the federal government doing something to help people. that's an argument that he's been trying to make with voters general low. and, you know, chris christie may well face a re-election fight next year for governor against newark mayor cory booker. it's probably helpful for governor christie as well. the only person it's not helpful for is maybe governor romney to have one of his chief surrogates out there touring today with the president. >> somebody we should remind people that this was the key