the second that ross newsom said we were number one in the polls was three or four days -- i looked at michael, and we celebrated for five minutes, and then i said this will hurt. i knew something had to happen. within four or five days, it was everything under the sun came out. what they don't understand is that that only motivated me to fight more. it was everything that was wrong with politics. they were using politics as a distraction. i was going to show them that i was not going to be distracted. i told them it was lies and false. i told them this is exactly why we need to look at somebody new for governor. >> and it worked. >> and it worked. >> and i wonder how many of those consultants who wouldn't take your money back in 2004 have since been back around trying to knock on your door? >> they are my best friends now. [laughter] [applause] >> sitting here where we are today in washington d.c., the idea of the damage that washington can do around the country and the damage that the federal government can do, it particularly, this administration, can sometimes be theoretical. but a