mr. schmidt. the simple issue is i was issued a notice of violation last july regarding alleged problems with a step, which was not true. nonetheless, instead of going to the extent of this procedure, i simply repaired it. these are old-boy style steps, manufactured stone block steps. there was one crack in it on the second or third step up, which i filled in with some special adhesive. it was never a problem. safety, or any other danger. the only reason i was cited was retaliatory, because i was not present for the inspection. r issue with the fire escape ladder, which has always function. i submitted that proof. there is no reason for anyone to suspect it did not function, but nevertheless, i submitted the proof for that. those are the two items on the original notice, which are wrongly cited in the first place, but i did what they requested. he came out to inspect those items, and lo and behold, he finds something else that was very evident the first time. it is clear this is retaliatory. the o

mr. romney to take the podium, we're joined by john harwood and steve schmidt is with us. he's now a political analyst for msnbc. as we wait for mr. romney's remarks, thanks for being with us. >> you bet. >> this looked to be a relatively easy win for mr. romney. the this an opportunity to make a nationally televised address? what should he aim for? >> they have an opportunity to get out there and talk to millions of americans across a multi-network policemlatform. we have seen the candidates have some good nights where they hit the mark on these speeches and other nights where they have been out of it. every tuesday is a big night. we'll see how he does tonight. >> steve, thank you. if you can stick with us. i'd love to get your comments on mr. romney's remarks when he's done. we're joining mitt romney live. >> in this room and across illinois. what a night. thank you, illinois. what a night. and, of course, i'd like to congratulate my fellow candidates on a hard fought contest. i'd like to thank volunteers and our friends across the state. i appreciate their unwaving supp

. >> steve schmidt, listening to mr. santorum tonight attacking mitt romney as a manager who does what he is told, who has no core, does what the political climate tells him to believe, is he building a bain-centered campaign? >> i think one of the things you heard rick santorum talk about tonight which i think is intended to insulate him from calls to get out of the race or to accept aside is that he's looking forward to the pennsylvania primary five weeks from now. giving no indication that he's planning to get out of the race. the gloves are off. he's going to continue to make a tough case, he's going to continue to mike an idealogical case attacking mitt romney from his right. his strategy is to deny mitt romney the number of delegates he needs to be nominated under the hope that rick santorum in his mind the more conservative of the two can come up with a strategy at the convention if there's not enough delegates to nominate. >> nbc's andrea mitchell and steve schmidt, strategists for the campaign of 2008. thank you

>> john, is it your perception the gingrich campaign would agree with steve schmidt there is pressure behind the scenes for mr. gingrich to guess out of the race that he might be susceptible to the pressure if he doesn't win both of these tonight? >> i think he will feel pressure from voters and donors, evidence he enif he himself has a hard time accepting reality that his strategy won't be sufficient, he won't be the nominee. he continued flying around the country and giving speeches but once the air starts coming out of the balloon and it would start at a more rapid pace coming out of the balloon, if he loses both of these states, he could keep going but be a walking dead candidate who has diminished ability to divide vote with rick santorum. santorum has goal is not so much for him to get out of the race but stop taking votes for him. that would difficult min irrelevant. >> he might stop being the factor that he's being -- >> exactly. >> steve, one of the things so interesting we talked about on super tuesday last week was the idea that you might have a republican nominee win the nomination without winning

smith schmidt mr. chairman, i'll yield -- mr. smith: mr. chairman, i'll yield to the gentleman from georgia, dr. gingrey. the chair: the gentleman is recognized for as much time as he may consume. mr. gingrey: i thank chairman smith for yielding to me. as good a communicator as the gentlewoman from california is, i would be quick to state that she's not the great communicator . the great communicator of course , president ronald reagan. and the gentlewoman from california talked about comments that were made on my side of the aisle, members of the judiciary committee and named a couple of members on my side of the aisle that were concerned about federalism and the 10th amendment and states' rights, but i just want to remind her that at least from our perspective, the gentlewoman may not agree with this at all, but from our perspective on this side of the aisle the great communicator was president ronald reagan. . in a speech of 1986 to the u.s. chamber of commerce after a commission had reported to him on this issue of medical liability ref