mr. john sununu? in history.e frequent heartburn treatment as prilosec otc. now with a fancy coating that gives you a burst of wildberry flavor. now why make a flavored heartburn pill? because this is america. and we don't just make things you want, we make things you didn't even know you wanted. like a spoon fork. spray cheese. and jeans made out of sweatpants. so grab yourself some new prilosec otc wildberry. [ male announcer ] one pill each morning. 24 hours. zero heartburn. satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. >>> only 11 days to go and a brand new abc news/"washington post" poll shows just how close this race has become. mitt romney currently polling at 49%. the president at 48%. yesterday the same poll had mr. romney with 50% of the vote, the president 47%. and at this point, my friends, i am officially polled out. so let's see if one of the president's top lieutenants can help us. we're joined by patrick gaspart executive director of the democratic national committee and i must say, sir, we're delig

mr. sununu needs to take those words back, as we say in the congress. fortunate for somebody to be saying that about this president who has done a great job. >> mr. romney said last night he wants to sit down with democrats and work out a solution to health care and so on. what ft. you're faced with a president romney. what would you tell him about health care? >> what i would tell him is that health care is probably the most important thing that we have done in this congress because it's saving many people's lives. >> you haven't done much else, sir, have you? >> i would say to him that i don't think that he has a plan to replace it. he's not going to replace, martin, adessing the pre-existing conditions, our young people staying on their policies until they're 26 years old, and helping the people i see in my district who now are able to get health care that weren't able to get health care before. and so, you know, again, i think mr. romney talks about his success, by the way, with regard to the folks in massachusetts, but he's got to remember that he w

mr. sununu.angerous and striking and fundamentally that would be an extension of the believes of a campaign that's not been very sensitive around the issues of race. when you couple that insensitivity with the effect of these remarks, all you can conclude is that this is what the man believes and he allows his attack dog to go out and say things he can't directly say. >> professor, we just had lawrence wilkerson on, former chief of staff for colin powell and he made this comment. i want you to respond to it. here it is. >> my party is full of racists. and the real reason a considerable portion of my party wants president obama out of the white house has nothing to do with the content of his character, nothing to do with with his competence as president, and everything to do with the color of his skin. >> professor dyson, your response to that. >> there it is. the truth has never been more clearly spoken than when he expressed that. here's the presup sogs of so many people of the republican party

mr. sununu and his comment that colin powell was backing president obama because he's black. >> the reality is individuals make comments on both sides that both candidates don't agree with both campaigns. >> he's a surrogate not an individual. >> colin powell is a great american. he's made his individual decisions on his who criteria. i don't attribute that to anything other than his own personal views and feelings. at the end. day it's about the thrust and focus and message of the two campaigns and that's what the voters have to come down to. >> let me just say john sununu was channels his inner rush limbaugh. if you recall back in '08 rush limbaugh said the only reason general powell, secretary powell is endorsing barack obama is because they are both african-americans. the demographics of this country are trending against the republicans and the republicans are exacerbating that. so i just think -- i think actually john sununu did us a favor. he showed us exactly the mentality of divide and conquer that seems to be going on in the republican party. this is the same republican party that

mr. sununu for saying president obama's-- >> do we have a clip. >> what people saw, i think, is a presidentvealed his incompetence, how lazy and detached he is. >> governor, i want to give you a chance to maybe take it back. did you really mean to call barack obama, the president of the united states lazy? >> yes, i think you saw him admit it the night before when he delivered the pizzas. he said, you know, they're making me do this work. he didn't want to prepare for this debate. he's lazy and disengaged. >> so. >> so andrea mitchell was all outraged and governor, do you care to walk back that comment? hell no, she was disgusted with the fact that dnc communication director on the same network said governor romney was a liarment she didn't say he was lying. governor romney is opening his mouth, he's lying. that didn't seem to be too outrageous, but saying he's lazy. >> president obama admitted he was lazying talking to barbara walters. >> yes, but you're not allowed to say it. >> wait a second, wait a second. he said having grown up in hawaii he thinks there's laziness in him a guy who is

mr. sununu, even though i used to work under him at the white house.hink people base endorsements on who they think is the best person for the job. i am proud that an african-american is president of the united states. i happen to support mitt romney, and i made that decision based on the facts of what i think are the important issues that move me. i'm sorry that governor sununu made a comment like that. >> listening to what you are saying, joe, where is the outrage from your party about this statement? >> i think there are so many statements made in the closing days of the campaign, nobody is paying attention to the comments. the race is very close, and i agree with governor dean, endorsements don't mean a whole lot. except in a case like this. where the race will be razor thin, the margin of victory may be razor thin. any endorsement is certainly helpful to mitt romney in iowa. >> this came in the very same week as richard mourdock's rape comment. and the list goes on. are you comfortable with where your party is headed? which direction it's going in

mr. sununu likes to make news by saying controversial things.ments about rape and those are going to make big news. >> the president also called mitt romney a bser yesterday, too. >> in rolling stone. >> who cares? it's totally unpresidential. >> he didn't actually say that. he referred generically. >> the point is, if you're saying these little things are going to tip the balance of the race, they're happening on both sides. in terms of sununu, that is a very unfortunate comment. in terms of president obama's endorsement from colin powell, i think it made a really big difference four years ago. there are a lot of independents and, frankly, republicans who ended up voting for senator obama into being president who were persuaded into that. four years later a lot of those independents who ended up voting for president obama may not vote for him again and it has nothing to do with the economy or for colin powell's endorsement of him. >> always great to have you here. we'll go to margaret's home state, colorado, for some rocky mountain high. on the

mr. sununu and his remarks on president obama? guest: governor sununu is a knowledgeable former governor of new hampshire. he was chief of staff for herbert walker bush. he knows national politics and has been doing quite a bit of television on behalf of the republican party. a very smart man, very well respected. certainly, anyone in politics who is on television a lot and is commenting sometimes may or may not say something that they regret. i am not going to judge each one of his remarks, but -- host: has it had an impact on the new hampshire voter? guest: is very well-respected in new hampshire, which is maybe one reason why he has been up front for the republican party. he is among people in new hampshire would tend to listen to. the senator is very popular, and our outgoing governor, the president pass campaign used him in advertising because he is so popular. he has been on the stage with the president. they are using surrogates like that. i think that the president's campaign is very smart to use some of these people like

mr. sununu did not make taxes because the legislature is controlled by republicans. she never had the opportunity. she had advocated tax increases. that is unfair to say that she did not vote for tax increases because she never had the opportunity. >> would you raise taxes and the federal government? we have heard that in debates around the country, the idea of the $250,000 earners per year should pay more. >> those are individuals. who haveusiness owners s-corps and llc that pay at the individual rate. they must have the resources to reinvest into our community. they need the resources to create more jobs. it is unfair to tax those individuals who supply 90% of the jobs in this country. >> it is trickle-down economics that does not work. teachers, nurses, doctors, >> i don't think that make $250,000 and they cannot be considered a millionaire. >> i never got a job for my poor person. don't ever where their money. -- don't take away rich people's money and expect jobs to go up. it will go the opposite way. no corporation or business in this country pays any tax. all

sununu. joining me now is brett o'donald a debate coach for mitt romney as well as -- >> i want to take a his within you to mrchair john sununu in an interview on thursday. i'm sure you've heard it but let's play it for our viewer who may not have. >> when you take a look at colin powell you have to wonder if that's an endorsement based on issues or if he's got a slightly different reason for preferring president obama. >> what reason would that be? >> well, i think when you have somebody of your own race that you're proud of being president of the united states, i applaud colin for standing with him. >> so brett, what was your reaction when you heard that? >> well, i mean, i think that's a little off message. and governor sununu has addressed that remark. i respect colin powell. the messenger that really needs to be paid attention to is governor romney. and paying attention to what he's actually saying. and i think the speech he delivered in iowa sort of laid out exactly what their message is going to be for the rest of the campaign. >> you know, there are cynics who would suggest, brett, that john sununu is

mr. obama raised questions about, that the president is instead looking for short term day of news cycled jabbed. two days left for closing arguments for romney. you have governor sununu coming up next, my pal from the granite state. i'm interested to know how he can explain who are how mr. romney's going to do in the granite state having campaigned there more than any other presidential candidate in new england presidential candidate history. howard dean from maine. romney has been a taxpayer in new hampshire nearly a decade so i'm interested in hearing him explain why it's a tie in the polls. >> we're going to ask him. three days until the debate, the question is what does governor romney have to do to breakaway? joining us, former new hampshire governor sununu john sununu. >> tell carl, romney will win by two or three points. >> he wants to know why romney is in a tight race in your home state. >> look, because the democrats are pumping money in here. the president's been up here a few times, biden's been here. it's always a tight race in new hampshire in the presidential campaign. obama won last time. romo will win this time by two or three points. >> let's move t

earlier this month sununu raised eyebrows with this critique of mr. obama's first debate performance. >> what people saw last night i think was a president that revealed his incompetence, how lazy and detached he is. >> reporter: after a long campaign that's almost reached the end, keeping the candidates straight is also a challenge. as it was for iowa senator charles grassley. >> we will put america on a new path to a new day with a new president, obama -- a new president romney -- pardon me. you know, i want to forget that word. >> reporter: the final stretch of this race could be in for a bumpy ride. not just because of the tough campaign rhetoric, but also because of the weather. the romney campaign was forced to reschedule an event on sunday because of a major storm threatening the east coast this weekend. in the words of one romney advisor, we're keeping an eye on it. wolf. >> jim acosta traveling with the romney campaign. thanks. let's dig a little deeper now with our chief political analyst gloria borger. john's still with us as well. they bil

sununu, senior adviser to the romney campaign. >> i don't own stock in either fannie mae or freddie mac. mr. speaker i know that sounds like an enormous revelation. but have you checked your own investments? you also have investments in mutual funds that invest in fannie mae and freddie mac. [ female announcer ] food, meet flavor. flavor, meet food. it's time for swanson flavor boost. concentrated broth in easy to use packets. mix it into skillet dishes, for an instant dose of... hell-o! [ female announcer ] get recipes at flavorboost.com. bill: a major scare for passengers onboard two american airline flights. their seats came loose in mid-flight. an american airlines pilot putting the heat on the company for that. >> american airlines operates the oldest fleet in america. as your car gets older it requires more maintenance. as our aircraft gets older it requires more maintenance. not just pilots can write an aircraft. there are 1,000 furlough notices. bill: what needs to happen here? this has happened before and just in the past week? what's going on? >> reporter: this is the third reporte

sununu, former chief of staff under george h.w. bush. good to have you on. thank you. as for the president, the campaign says mr.ma did what he set out to do. >> was he satisfied with his performance? >> well like i, i've said before, presidents never is satisfied with his performance. he is always challenging himself and he will, this, he will review it. if he wants to make some changes in the next debate he will do so. what he was satisfied with that he went and told the american people the truth and i think is fairly well-convinced that governor romney didn't meet that standard. jon: so to be fair and balanced here is ben labolt, the obama for america national press secretary. let me read you a quote from maggie haberman at "politico". >> sure. jon: post-debate the president's campaign was spinning valiantly in the media center that no mistake among democratic operatives here and in other states that obama blew it. if that is the thinking of the mainstream media, how do you try to counter that notion? >> well, listen, governor romney delivered a great work of performance art last night. something that think c

mr. obama. >> when you have someone of your own race that you're proud of being president of the united states, i applaud him for standing by him. >> reporter: sununuicy related. >> reporter: the president has maintained a lead in the polls as the make or break vote. >> if we don't win ohio it's tough to see us winning the election nationally. >> reporter: florida, virginia, colorado and nevada are also being vigorously contested by both men, evidenced by recent trips and now the watch is on to see how sandy stretches in, already nixing campaigns in virginia this weekend and a new hampshire stop for the first lady early next week. >> reporter: governor romney in campaigns today in florida with senator marco rubio, paul ryan will embark on a two-day, 400-mile bus tour this weekend and the president will campaign later today in new hampshire. >> ron mott, thanks. karen finney is former communications director for the democratic national committee and steve schmitt is the cnbc political analyst for the 2008 mccain campaign. good morning to both of you. thanks for coming on. >> good morning. >> good morning. >> steve, let me start with you. ohio has be

sununu answers that. martha: the governor's personal finances come front and center, as the governor comes out swinging. that exchange straight ahead. >> have you looked at your pension, mresident, have you looked at your pension? martha: the candidates came out swinging last night in round two, they traited jabs. one of the most heated exchanges happened when they discussed the tereist attack i terrorist attack in libya. i'm martha maccallum good morning. bill: i'm bill hemmer good morning. president obama, governor romney clashing over the characte characterization of the terror attacks in benghazi on september 11th leaving four americans dead. governor romney questioned the president's claim on whether his administration started calling the attack an act of terror setting up one of the more memorable moments of this debate, number two. >> you said in the rose garden the day after the attack it was an act of terror, it was not a spontaneous demonstration, is that what you're saying? >> please proceed, governor. >> i want to make sure we get that for the record because it took the president 14 days before he called the attack in benghazi an act of tere roar. >> get the

mrs. jones, what do you think? >> there was nothing sleepy about it. >> very interesting to watch. dana, thank you very much. another man who has been up for a little bit as well, john sununu, the former governor of new hampshire, a senior adviser to the romney campaign, joining us this morning. good morning, sir. so nice to see you. thank you for talking with us. >> good morning. how are you? >> i'm really well, thank you. >> pretty one-sided package you put forth. you left out the fact that candy crowley admitted later on that mitt romney was right on the libya terrorism issue. so it would be nice to include that the next time -- >> well let's include it right now. you love to jump right into it. let's go for that. talking about benghazi, let's play a chunk first of the original exchange. i know dana just had that a moment ago in her piece but we'll play it again and and and where candy jumps in and talks about act of terror and then we'll play what she said after that. go ahead. >> well you played it already. >> no, no, no, let's do it again. >> the day after the attack, governor, i stood in the rose garden. and i tolded american people and the world that we are going t

mr. obama speaks in shorter sound bites. they're also trying to make sure he doesn't look like he's lecturing. mitt romney will try to get punches off. john sununubut at the same time, you don't want mitt romney to appear too mean to the president. >> gretchen: the american people just want to hear as many answers as possible. so i do hope they have these time limits and that the candidates are forced to say what they mean and what they think in a short period of time. is it that tough? the american people have so many unanswered questions, especially the people who have not made up their mind about who they'll vote for. so if they're going to invest 90 minutes in watching this debate tonight, they want to hear a lot of answers. tomorrow night. so they want to be able -- we're talk being it so much, it feels like it's tonight. it's tomorrow night. they want to hear as many answers as possible. i hope the time limits will be in effect. >> brian: shear why president obama is in unchartered water. he hasn't debated in four years. instead of being the 40 something senator who has got two years in office with this great orator skills and promise, tal