that "the des moines register" advocated.her important reason cited four years ago in endorsing president obama was the supremely important reason of supreme court justices. obama promises to appoint justices with an expansive view of constitutional rights and equal justice. mccain's appointments more likely would continue the court's conservative shift and threaten abortion rights, search and seizure protections and other individual liberties." this year's presidential endorsement of mitt romney does not mention the supreme court. exactly the same paragraph could have been written in this year's editorial about the supreme court and they just have to substitute the word romney for the word mccain, but "the des moines register" editorial board no longer cares. they don't care about the united state supreme court. the number one reason to vote for president. that's how much they've rewritten their criteria for presidential endorsements in four years. can you imagine what that vigorous debate was like among the five people in "

out very, very badly for america and very badly for "the des moines register." they should have learned their lesson. that's in tonight's "rewrite." and tea parties. i'll have more awkward conversations than i'm equipped for because i'm raising two girls on my own. i'll worry about the economy more than a few times before they're grown. but it's for them, so i've found a way. who matters most to you says the most about you. massmutual is owned by our policyholders so they matter most to us. massmutual. we'll help you get there. who have used androgel 1%, there's big news. presenting androgel 1.62%. both are used to treat men with low testosterone. androgel 1.62% is from the makers of the number one prescribed testosterone replacement therapy. it raises your testosterone levels, and... is concentrated, so you could use less gel. and with androgel 1.62%, you can save on your monthly prescription. [ male announcer ] dosing and application sites between these products differ. women and children should avoid contact with application sites. discontinue androgel and ca

insurance is a big sector in des moines. jobs in general, when you create the environment that people are willing to invest, they will invest in the jobs will be created. host: salem, ore., democratic line. caller: midmorning. my question to the gentleman is somehow they misplace the eight years that george bush was in office. they seemed to disregard everything that happened during that period it just never happened. it all began under the obama administration. it just astounds me how the whole platform is based on george bush's policies. this 12 million at job creation is, again, just the smoke and mirrors. they use this every time they run. bush said he would lower taxes, create jobs. the tea party said they were born to create jobs. it seems like the same rhetoric over and over again. guest: great question, doug. i was critical of the bush presidency. we funded things like no child left behind. we created prescription drug programs in the not pay for them. the american people held the republican party responsible for it

i'll ask your opinion, the des moines register has not in decades endorsed a republican. they have said that governor romney, and they make interesting points about it's the economy that's most important to people, and even though both president obama and governor romney are harvard law graduates and good family men, when it comes to running a business and getting people back to work, which at least 23 million people are concerned about, governor romney is the man for the job and the des moines register is endorsing governor romney. >> huge in iowa, potentially. obviously completely stuck in the polls, the president seems to have had more people coming out in early voting but the statewide polling in iowa shows romney gaining. six electoral votes, it could come down to a margin of victory in the single digits. this one matters. it's also the case that the des moines register has gotten this endorsement correct in five of the -- all five of the last races. they endorsed al gore in 2000 and he got most of the popular vote. 80s pretty good bellwether. >> we're going to take

>> not in des moines, in iowa. >> 182,000. you have got more people than that. >> in the latino community? yeah, i'm speaking specifically in the latino community. >> bill: all right, so you have 182,000 latinos in the state. and what's the 44,000 you mentioned? >> those are registered to vote. >> bill: okay. now, the state is a dead heat. your radio station very powerful. is your radio station endorsing anybody? >> we have not endorsed anybody just yet. >> bill: do you have a feeling on who is going to take iowa? >> if it was right -- i will will tell you the race is really close. i mean, i would probably say obama and it would be by a very small margin. but, again, i am out, i'm talking to folks all the time. and i see a lot of mitt romney supporters. i really can't tell you at this point. >> bill: as we said rasmussen has it a dead heat. ms. franco thanks very much. we appreciate it we would like to you vote in our bill o'reilly.com poll. we are asking was governor romney aggressive enough in the third debate? you can make

politics is indeed dna of the des moines register. we take very seriously the first in the nation status as a caucus state. we take seriously the ability to affect candidates that are not on the radar screen until after they emerge from iowa. very informal opportunity to sit down over coffee to talk about what is in front of us. what is the position for that. i do think our endorsement matters. we probably spent a lot of time doing diligence and being thoughtful in all of our conversations, particularly the final one to support governor mitt romney. host: we are talking with the editor of the des moines register. let me ask you about the process. you had a telephone conversation that ran 30 minutes with the president. the white house said it was off the record. and it was released in the published the transcript on there website. you had a different face to face meeting with governor mitt romney. did any of them make a difference? caller: initially the white house had asked for an off the record five or 10 minute conversation. we prot

politics is indeed dna of the des moines register. we take very seriously the first in the nation status as a caucus state. we take seriously the ability to affect candidates that are not on the radar screen until after they emerge from iowa. very informal opportunity to sit down over coffee to talk about what is in front of us. what is the position for that. i do think our endorsement matters. we probably spent a lot of time doing diligence and being thoughtful in all of our conversations, particularly the final one to support governor mitt romney. host: we are talking with the editor of the des moines register. let me ask you about the process. you had a telephone conversation that ran 30 minutes with the president. the white house said it was off the record. and it was released in the published the transcript on there website. you had a different face to face meeting with governor mitt romney. did any of them make a difference? caller: initially the white house had asked for an off the record five or 10 minute conversation. we prot

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did you check the des moines register just last night. this is just in here. they have now officially endorsed the republican candidate. a strong record of achievement in both the private and public sectors and ran a successful business that turned around failing companies. keep many mind, they endorsed barack obama four years ago and also the morning times, they're going with president obama here. the newspaper published an op ed just this morning. as much of an endorsement as the president -- as a rebuke of republicans really. "the times" writes that mr. obama has impressive achievements despite the implaquable wall of refusal provided by congressional republicans so intent on stopping him they risked pushing the nation into depression, held its credit rating hostage, and hobbled economic recovery." more on politics in just a bit. >>> to hawaii now where the islands are under the tsunami advisory. these warnings, they have now been downgraded after the first few tsunami waves hit the coast. look at all the people, though. back to back to back heading inland

mitt romney himself had to take back what he said yesterday to the "des moines register." but the democrats are not letting it go. they might have let it go in previous years, but this is the year when democrats, for some reason, got their sea legs on how to campaign on this issue. and president obama brought it up tonight, talked about it tonight in his first debate season interview with abc's diane sawyer. >> governor romney is now saying there is no abortion legislation that is part of his agenda. your campaign has called that a lie. >> well, look, diane, this is another example of governor romney hiding positions he's been campaigning on for a year and a half. >> is it a lie? >> no, i actually think his position on, when it comes to women's rights to control their own health care decisions, you know, what he has been saying is exactly what he believes. he thinks that it is appropriate for politicians to inject themselves into those decisions. i mean, governor romney has made very clear that if a bill comes to his desk that overturns roe versus wade, that he will be ful

"des moines register" endorsed romney.ndorsed a republican since endorsing columbus. how to explain the switching from "d" to "r"? this is a tweet -- how does it feel to work for a racist, rob? apparently that tweet has been removed. >> eric: i wasn't eva longoria. it was his. >> dana: is anybody else having this problem? >> greg: a lot of papers flipped to romney. the des moines register, a big deal? >> bob: a big deal. it's been six or seven and i think one or two flipped from republican to obama. >> greg: "the billings gazette." >> bob: in texas, they're three papers and they will go republic. "the des moines register" matters. it's bigest in the state and has political influence. if there one paper i want for all in the country it's that paper. >> kimberly: thank you for that truthful and refreshing -- >> eric: you say that, unless "new york times" endorsed a republican. >> bob: you tracked it on polls. it makes a difference. if you can't win ohio, you have to win at great length. needs to win a number of stat states.

it is now up on the des moines register website. i'm going to read you one of the interesting parts of the interview, thomas. there are a lot of different elements. take a listen to this. the president says in one instance, i'm going to be very blunt since this is off the record, should i win a second term, a big reason i will win a second term is because the republican nominee and the republican party have so alienated the fastest growing dem graphic group in the country, the latino he community. an interesting perspective from the president about immigration. this was sort of an unwelcome were to the obama campaign as they stump here in this key battleground state of iowa. >> kristen welker reporting for us in iowa. let's listen to the president speaking there talking about iowa is where it all began for barack obama. >> he's been running around saying he's got a five-point plan for the economy. let me tell you, it turns out it's only a one-point plan. folks at the very top get to play by a very different set of rules than you do.

. >> iowa came out over the weekend, "the des moines register" it to endorse mitt romney. they haven't endorsed aa republican for president since nixon 40 years ago. are you surprised? >> a little bit just because of the record of them supporting democrats. look, it's all about turnout at in the point. i'm not sure where this falls down. republicans tout their efforts to get out of the vote and point to these things like "the des moines register" endorsement. look, the fact is we have to get out and vote, and the efforts of the republicans while they're touting them being better than 2008, 2008 isn't the standard. it's 2012 against this obama machine and not 2008. right now i'm intently paying attention to what's going on with the get out of the vote effort in both camps. >> my thanks to our power ponl panl this morning. i appreciate your time. >> thank you. >> so the president is on his way back to the white house. yet, the fight for florida continues with a high profile stand-in. former president bill clinton took the stage in orlando about an hour ago. coming up joe loc

mitt romney with a surprise endorsement from "the des moines register."ning me now is howard dean and joe watkins, former white house aide under george w. bush. >> good to see you, alex. how are you? >> i'm well, thank you. >> governor dean, look at this first republican endorsement since 1972 from "the des moines register," after president obama wasn't able to meet with the editorial board in person. do you thiyou think that had an influence. i spoke with rick green, he said it didn't. >> petulence is a major factor in newsrooms. look, they endorsed john edwards in the '04 primary. endorsements don't matter very much in races like this. they matter in down ballot races where people don't know them very much, but i don't think anybody is waiting to decide in this incredibly close election to see what "the des moines register" does. people read editorials because they are written by smart people, but they are read by smart people as well. >> i spoke with anne cornblunt, and she brought up that the tribune in salt lake city endorsed president obama. that st

we've got the shocking numbers coming snup. >> alisyn: and the des moines register hasn't endorsed a president lose their support and could this be the final boost that mitt romney needs? chris wallace will talk about that nevenlths next. ...seems like you guys got a little gassed out there. enough already. c'mon guys. next question. mr. lewis? what's your favorite color? what's my favorite color? yes. purple. what's your favorite animal? sea turtle. what's your bedtime? do you believe in space aliens? ...i love puppies. hash browns or home fries? home fries. do you like my dress? why can't you guys ask good questions like this? [ morgan ] for a chance to interview an nfl player and more, join visa nfl fan offers and make your season epic. [ morgan ] for a chance to interview an nfl player and more, every room deserves to look us what our great.te color is? and every footstep should tell us we made the right decision. so when we can feel our way through the newest, softest, and most colorful options... ...across every possible price range... ...our budgets won't be picking the style.

and was his statement to the des moines paper an attempt to tailor the message to voters there or was simply a misstatement or a mistake? his views have changed over time often it seems to coincide where and when he's running for office and where he was running for office. in 1994 he was running against senator ted kennedy in massachusetts. he said this. >> i believe that abortion should remain safe and legal in this country. i believed that since roe v. wade has been the law for 20 years, we should sustain and support it i sustain and support that law, and the right of a woman to make that choice. >> he lost that election. eight years later running for governor in massachusetts he said this. >> so when asked will i preserve a woman's right to choose, i make an unequivocal answer, yes. >> he said he would not make it more change, is that would "make it more difficult for a woman to make that choice herself." once elected, though, mr. romney changed his position and vetoed a bill expanding access to emergency contraception. fred thompson made an ad using that 1994 pro-choice clip again

the des moines register hasn't endorsed a republican since 1972 richard nixon, they endorsed romney, saying that he offers a fresh economic vision. it said that barack obama rocketed to the presidency from relative obscurity with a theme of hope and change. a different reality has marked his presidency. his record on the economy the past four years does not suggest that he would lead in the direction the nation must go in the next four years. how much does this hurt? >> they endorsed romney in the primary. it was surprising to read that editorial. it wasn't based in reality. it said that romney would reach the aisle, but it would be the exact opposite. over the course of running for president over this last six years, he's never once stood up to the far extreme right wing. just this past week, we saw it, where he wouldn't take down his ad for richard mourdock. he's not willing to stand up when it matters. the fact that he's going to bring people together is just nonsense. in terms of newspaper endorsements we feel pretty good where we are. this morning, brings the miami herald, the p

the pro-life moderate who spoke in iowa to the "des moines register" on record? or the hard right-winger on the campaign trail? which is it? >> honestly, i think he was lying to the "des moines register." i think he is hard right. i think the that he will -- he will be as good as his promise to defund planned parenthood, to defund family planning clinics that offer abortions, or that even refer women to abortion. i think that he will -- that he will absolutely support and sign a personhood amendment, if it should get to his desk, which we intend not to let that happen. i think he was lying to the "des moines register," because he knows that those very positions are deeply unpopular. they're unpopular with male voters, but they are particularly unpopular with women voters. and i think it's important for your viewers to know, women are not fooled. >> sure. >> women are not as stupid as he seems to think we are. >> bob, what about mitt romney? has he always lacked a political core and it's just rearing its head throughout this long process of this campaign season? t

"the des moines register" endorsed president obama in 2008.e is now saying there will be a gaggle shortly. we expect that any minute. they do expect this will come up at the gaggle. we will break in if we get anymore information on it. let's bring in our friend, tucker carlson, editor of "the daily caller" an fox news contributor. alan colmes, host of the alan colmes radio show and author of the book, thank the lib liberals for saving america. what do you say to this. >> i like to hear at the gaggle in terms of going to address it. in terms of transpair enaresy obama released bundlers, tax returns and white house logs. mitt romney has not been as transparent in general as a candidate. if the conservatives like tucker if they're upset about obama about this have the same about the tax returns and bundlers that mitt romney is not addressed and he has not run a transparent campaign. martha: it is a interesting story and if you read what the editor had to say, tucker. we've been pursuing the president to try to get this interview with him. "the de

for mitt romney to say i'm going to fix it, nobody believes any of that. >> "the des moines register"nk that the most power argument that they end up making that could have some impact, they seem to back up this idea mitt romney has a better chance for bipartisanship. >> i found that surprising. if you go back and look at massachusetts, mitt romney vetoed 800 bills by the democratic legislature in massachusetts. 4% approval rating when he left office. i don't know if we start peeling back on the onion on that. >>> we got to take a quick break. lot more coming up. we'll look at the final week of the campaign and more. all by cob. and you...rent from national. because only national lets you choose any car in the aisle... and go. you can even take a full-size or above, and still pay the mid-size price. i'm going b-i-g. [ male announcer ] good choice business pro. good choice. go national. go like a pro. [ male announcer ] good choice business pro. good choice. i'i invest in what i know.r. i turned 65 last week. i'm getting married. planning a life. there are risks, sure. but, there's no

now just eight days away like an undecided voter, "the des moines register" finally made up its mindts throwing its support behind romney machine. it came saturday online and sunday in the print edition under the headline, romney offers a fresh economic vision. the paper's editorial board writes, quote, voters should give mitt romney a chance to correct the nation's fiscal course and to implode the partisan gridlock that shackled washington and the rest of the america with want understanding he would face the aim assessment in four years if he does not succeed. pundits debate the value of these endorsement, so why does in matter? iowa's six electoral votes could decide who sits in the oval office january 20th. right now the president has a slim two-point lead if you average the recent state polls and the register's endorsement could give romney the boost he needs. it validates romney there, not to mention this is the time the register endorsed a republican in 40 years, the last one was richard nixon in 1972. we know how it turned out. mitt romney is heading to dann port this evening.

the des moines register decided the way they did.hink women voters will be energized to vote one way or the other. but i think women voters are energized. women voters on both sides of all issues that affect women understand that there is a pretty stark choice in this election and that they understand. they need understand they need to vote. i feel both candidates have convinced women this is an election they will be affected. the things that affect women will be affected by which candidate wins this election, in other words. there will be real concrete change. so they are energized. typically, i would say, in most elections that would favor democrats, because women tend to vote more democratic than men do. if we will see how it plays out. host: the front page of the des moines register from a few days ago attracted attention because of the way it portrays president obama and the way it portrayed governor romney, showing president obama in one light and governor romney in another. tell us about the fallout from this. guest: had i bee

>> well, i think y put your finger on it with "the des moines register," here's a newspaper that hasn't endorsed a republican in 40 years, now they were for obama four years ago, they switched. the fact is, the paper in florida this morning did the same thing, pro-obama, it switched. in ohio, we clearly have gained ground. i think across the country, we have. and if you look at the internals of the washington post poll, i doubt that obama will carry virginia. don't know if it's the economy or the benghazi. where we had this strange story over the weekend that the secretary of defense apparently refuse to obey the president's order, if the president is telling the truth and he instructed his assistants to get aid to benghazi, we're now being told that the secretary of defense canceled that. i think these type of things drag down the president. you notice that he's cancelling his trips over the hurricane. he didn't cancel his trips over benghazi and you have to wonder, between benghazi, the price of gasoline and unemployment, just how much the burden the president is going to carry into t

the des moines register seems to say yes. in its endorsement of romney the first republican to receive the backing in 40 years the editorial board writes -- in recent weeks, romney has been pointing to his alleged record of bipartisan saying yesterday that he would work with democrats as long as they're the good ones. >> we're going to have to do something that has been done in the past in this country, reach across the aisle, we're going to have to find good democrats. good democrats love america too. we have to reach across the aisle, work together, collaborate, meet and fight for the american people and we will. >> it is unclear who mitt romney considers to be, quote, good democrats. but it's worth noting that when governor romney was the governor of massachusetts, he and the democratic controlled legislature were hardly on good terms. though he and the lawmakers reached a deal on health care reform "the new york times" reported this month -- steve, i always go to you when we talk about massachusetts politics. >> i like th

the "des moines register" and caucuses is gold.rgument is it's not just saying, hey, votes for this guy, a newspaper like the "times" makes arguments in favor of a candidacy, which can get picked up by others and commentators. does that just disappear into the echo chamber? >> i think it largely does. i agree with lauren. i would point out that many of these editorials are substantive in their pointing -- they're pointing out important stuff which goes to our last conversation. i'm not sure about the "des moines ridgester's" endorsement. i don't know how many people are really left who are in that persuadable category -- >> about 12. >> right. so 12 people -- >> in ohio -- >> maybe that will make a difference. >> i think you have to make tv ads out of joan doermof endorsem to have impact. >> they don't have the impact they used to. >> i think tv sad a good idea except that a lot of people will have no power this week and won't see them. lauren, michael, thanks for an interesting discussion. >>> ahead, barack obama goes everywhere f