coincidentally his name is george stephanopoulos. good morning to you, sir. the romney people are conceding that the battle ground state math is tough for them. what can they do about it? >> well, you saw in david's piece, one of the things they're doing for them, they're trying to flip what has been a solid democratic state, the state of wisconsin, the home of romney's running mate, paul ryan. they'll have to do that in order to open up their possibilities right now. if you look at that map that david kerley put in his piece, right now, president obama now has a very small lead but he's got a lead in all of the major battleground states, lead or tied. that gives him many more paths to get the 270 electoral votes he needs. >> you got paul ryan on the show this morning, do you think he can help put the campaign over the top in wisconsin. >> he can make a difference. there's no question about that. the minute he was chosen he increased mitt romney's chances in wisconsin. overall, he's been kind of a wash. he excited conservatives. made mitt romney feel better o

it's "this week" with george stephanopoulos. thank you, george. >>> in just two days will mark the 11th the attacks of 9/11. abc news has obtained a law enforcement bulletins of lone wolf attacks. in previous years, terrorist chatter increased leading up to this anniversary date. >> we stepped up airport security and law enforcement always remaining on high alert. but this year the security assessment has changed. as law enforcement agencies prepare for the anniversary of september 11th a new bulletin obtained by abc has been told by a decline in 9/11 messaging by al qaeda. law enforcement will still remain vigilant. but these scale-back statements pale in comparison. >> on heightened alert. >> there are special, credible, but unconfirmed threat information. >> reporter: >> why is al qaeda quieter this year? >> 23 of the top 30 al qaeda commanders are off the field, either dead or captured. this has been a pretty tough of months for al qaeda. >> reporter: while as an al qaeda threat has been downgraded the threat of lone wolf ha

is stephanopoulos right?amous dead white male whose name i can't remember asking stephanopoulos about media bias is asking him to take out his eyes to see what color they are. it's like the customer in the palmolive commercial. he has no idea he is soaking in it. he has no idea. the scariest thing is he believes it and that makes him the 2012 walter durante award winner. how does he think he got his job? good looks? he has sex appeal of a -- you know what? you can't say anything about height. >> dana: it's more about you than about me. >> greg: i know that. >> kimberly: listen, you're both short. move on. there are headlines that may show media is wising up. look. "l.a. times." obama faces deep division. and huffington post barack obama promised new kind of politics but played the same game. you and i were scanning other -- >> dana: those aren't great if you are a campaign. shoot. if those would have been about bush it would have been worse. it would have been bush destroys republican party. that was the type

it's "this week" with george stephanopoulos. thank you, george. >>> in just two days will mark the 11th the attacks of 9/11. abc news has obtained a law enforcement bulletin warning of lone wolf attacks. we have been looking into that in washington, in previous years, terrorist chatter had typically increased leading up to this anniversary date? >> that's right, bianna. we stepped up airport security and law enforcement always remaining on high alert. but this year the security assessment has changed. as law enforcement agencies across the country, prepare for the anniversary of september 11th, a new bulletin obtained by abc news has been told by a decline in 9/11 messaging by al qaeda. but they warn, lone offender threats are still a concern. law enforcement will still remain vigilant. but these scale-back statements pale in comparison. to the climate before last year's ten-year anniversary. >> entire intelligence community has been on heightened alert. >> there are specific, credible, but unconfirmed threat information. >> rep

he's the host of "this week" with george stephanopoulos. how is that for an intro? >> i like it. >> his advisers are saying it needs a reset. >> number one, he just -- he has to have do no harm strategy. he can't have another week defined by a gaffe. knowing that the president is going to pounce on anything that might resemble a pounce. saturate the battleground states with mitt romney. right now, he's behind or barely tied in any single battleground. he's not ahead. in any one of them right now. and number three, he's got to focus, again, hard, on the economy, one of the things that's helping president obama right now is more and more americans think the country is going in the right direction and he's pulled to even with romney on the economy. >> there's another big turning point in ten days, the debate, people say this is a real potential opportunity for romney. if you're in the room prepping him, what are you telling him to do that night? >> picking up on what i just said, every single answer that mitt romney gives in that first debate, the last big audience of

we'll take a short >>> once again, diane sawyer and george stephanopoulos. >>> great to have you back with us, as we await former president bill clinton. i want to turn to matt dodd who has worked for both republicans and democrats. it struck me one of the things that president clinton has to do tonight is address the idea that president obama is anti-business. we're hearing a two-toned approach here. we just heard elizabeth warren, coming up, bill clinton. what's the difference? >> i think what lease going to do is saying being fair isn't anti-business. doing what's right to the middle class isn't taking away from business. i think bill clinton will go through a reverse of initiatives that not only he did, but barack obama did to prove out that theory. i think it's an easy arguments to make, bill clinton made it on his presidency. >> with donna brazile, the whole question of health care reform. we're seeing ads saying that barack obama is trying to gut reform that bill clinton passed. will he address it tonight? >> i think he should. it's a signature issue that bill clinton used a lo

>> that george stephanopoulos had mischaracterized the position. i didn't hear a lot of mischaracterization. it's a complicated business. i think governor romney may have forgotten the nuance. >> the question is what is erik's interest in a nuclear iran post-arab spring? it's an important issue. if you're going to engage in that debate, explain what u.s. policy needs to be in egypt, where there are different issues than in tunisia, than in libya or irap. -- iran. take that case to the american public. if you don'ts, you run the risk of looking at what romney did, looking crass or bluffletter. and state what you would do differently than the existing president. >> it's difficult for him politically because it does come across as flailing on a number of these issues and now you have the contrast with president obama. what's he doing? standing in the rose garden talking about a tragedy. he's at andrew's air force base where these bodies are coming home. he is acting as commander in chief and polling shows he has a big edge on the ability to handle for

george stephanopoulos has the morning off. we're in the home stretch, just 51 days until the election and our powerhouse roundtable is standing be i to get to all of the week's politics. but first, the crisis that has the potential to shake up the presidential election. the wave of anti-american protests and violence now sweeping the globe. for more on what happened and why, let's bring in the u.s. ambassador to the united nations, susan rice. >> first of all, what is the latest on who these attackers were at the embassy or at the consulate at benghazi? they're saying some people were from outside the country and some even al qaeda ties. what's the latest information? >> jake, it's important to know that there's an fbi investigation that has begun and it will take some time to be completed. that will tell us with certainly what transpired. our current assessment, is that fact what began as was a spontaneous not a premeditated response to what had transpired in cairo, there was a violent protest that was undertaken in reaction

reporting live from the time warnerable arena in charlotte, north carolina, diane sawyer and george stephanopoulos. >>> and good evening, to you all, once again from charlotte, north carolina. the democratic national convention in high gear as you can hear and tonight the main event. one of the most formidable competitors in modern politics. former president bill clinton will enter the arena right across that stage and try to give his patented rocket fuel. >> and president obama will be watching from this arena tonight. likely to come out on stage. what a journey for these two men. they come from different generations, different political worlds. they have built it up step-by-step. he's starring now in campaign ads. and diane, one of the building blocks is when president obama wanted to make hillary clinton secretary of state, bill clinton became the chief persuader. >> they've been good friends for a long time but it's definitely a candid and open relationship. if you're wondering about the president's former adversary, hillary clinton, she's in east te temor. secretary of states are exempt from

" and host of "this week with george stephanopoulos." welcome. you're the perfect guy to ask. when you were with bill clinton you went through great highs and the occasional massive low. mitt romney has clearly hit a bit of a buffer moment here. could be a game changing moment. could be an election ending moment in terms -- >> that's going a little far. >> is it going too far? people are calling it that. >> you know why you're low to him in the september before the election, bill clinton's lows were more during the primary season, january, february. he was on an ascent going into the fall. look, even after all of the hullabaloo over the 47% this week, gallup poll comes out today, mitt romney picks up a point. it's dead even. now, the polls are all over the map right now and mitt romney is running out of both time and space, but you can't say game ender yet. >> all these gaffes, supposedly gaffes, do you see them as gaffes with your old white house hat on? how significant are these alleged gaffes? >> i think there have been more unforced

george stephanopoulos will join us to discuss that all. >>> we'll talk about that coming up. >>> some answers on that crazy story about the guy who jumped into the tiger's den into the bronx zoo. turns out that this wasn't a suicide attempt. something very different. >>> and we're just hours away from one of hollywood's biggest nights. the big emmy awards tonight on abc. we have your backstage pass to everything you need to know like, what happened to "modern family" when all six adult actors are up against each other? only two can get the prize. >> i want to know what happens on the set the next day. >>> lot of news breaking overnight. we want to start this morning. ron is on vacation. but paula faris. >> good morning. dan and the ladies this morning, right? >> just the way we like it>>> the giant wildfires scorching the northwest. two large fires in the northwest are threatening to merge. forcing them to wear masks. fierce that lightning storms today could add more fuel to the fires. ginger zee is tracking it all. >> 23 large fires in six western states. all of the fires plotted her

romney spoke to george stephanopoulos and he was asked about the debates.s is what he said about the president of the united states. ben, listen to this. >> i think the challenge that i'll have in the debate is that the president tends to -- how shall i say it? say things that aren't true. that was a pretty blunt comment. what did you make of that, ben? >> i think at some point last month this whole presidential campaign degenerated into the two sides calling each other liars, in part over specific things like paul ryan's marathon time that maybe were a little bit fudged but mostly over policy disagreements. it's more effective in the focus group to call each other names and both indulged in that quite a bit. i think romney is trying to lower expectations for the debate. >> that's pretty blunt, margaret, to call the president of the united states in effect a liar. >> yeah. i mean, look, i can't disagree with you there. i think a lot rests on the first debate. and i do think there is and i hope that there is not a lowering of the bar. mitt romney needs to hi

george stephanopoulos on that. john stossel investigating the teachers striking in chicago. there a socialist communist element involved in this? those reports after these >> bill: as we've been reporting elements of the far left were prominently featured at the democratic national convention in prime time. we talked to leaders of planned parenthood, activist sandra pluck, celebrities. the question becomes who is running the party? moderators extremists. joining us, the anchor of this week, george stephanopoulos who once advised president clinton. you used to be a moderate democrat. now that you're a journalist in that field, i know you put your politics on the shelf. >> i still vote, but don't bring them to work. >> bill: that's good. the guy you work for, bill clinton, moderate democrat. i think of all the people who spoke at the convention and he was the most well received. >> the most successful. >> bill: so there is a very strong moderate faction within the democratic party. however, speaker after speaker after speaker was very, very far left. did that surprise you? >>

when he pulls his ear twice and says magnolia, that means i'm supposed to kill george stephanopoulos.time so was barack's. in term of fun democrats will always win. but i don't want them to turn out like my twin sister at the beauty pageant, all laughs and no votes. >> you have a twin sister? >> jemima carville. >> what does she do? >> she waits by the phone. that's sad. then call her. >> no, i don't want to. given everything that's happened, do you feel confident obama will win? >> i hope so, if i have to, i'll vote for him twice. once walking forward and once walking backward. >> james carville, everybody, the ragin' cajun. >>> a new device is being sold called the poppenater which is a voice activated popcorn machine that launches a single piece of popcorn into the user's mouth. the device is activated by the phrase "i'm so lonely." >>> according to reports robert pattinson has forgiven kristin stewart for her affair and has gotten back together with her. stewart's friends say she's absolutely slouching with joy. >>> lindsay lohan on wednesday was arrested for hitting a pedestrian

once again, diane sawyer and george stephanopoulos. >>> and hello once again.come back, we're in charlotte, north carolina, of course, and we are awaiting first lady michelle obama. what it is to be first lady these days. we're told she's traveled 79,000 miles in this campaign cycle alone. we're talking not only about campaign events and live events, in addition to raising her children back at the white house watching. >> advocacy for veterans and military families. she's going to hit that hard tonight. also something brought into the hall by the woman introducing michelle don't, elaine brye. >> elaine brye of winona, ohio, you should know, she's the mother of five, and four of her children are currently serving in different armed force units out there. >> she's an air force veteran herself. >> and the fifth is planning to go in and serve as well. they are showing a video right now in the hall. a video that the democratic national committee prepared of kind of a biography of her and also to talk about her as a mother. and we will join that. and then coming up r

george stephanopoulos will join us in just a few minutes to discuss that all. >> mitt romney says that campaign doesn't need a reset. some of his advisers says it does. we'll talk about that coming up. >>> we're getting some answers on that crazy story about the guy who jumped into the tiger's den at the bronx zoo. turns out this was not a suicide attempt but instead something very different. we'll tell you about that coming up. >>> and we're just hours away from one of hollywood's biggest nights. >> cue the techno music. >> everyone getting ready for the big emmy awards tonight on abc. and we have your backstage pass to everything you need to know like what happened when "modern family" cast when all six billed actors are up against each other? only two can get the prize. >> i want to know what happens the next day on the set. there undoubtedly will be some tension. >> they'll all be winners. >> you're so optimistic. >> i'm happy this sunday. >>> a lot of news breaking overnight. we want to start this morning with a look at the headlines. ron is on vacation. but abc's paula faris is h

once again, diane sawyer and george stephanopoulos. >> and welcome back once again here in charlotte, north carolina, the vice president has finished his speech. everyone is cheering, and again, this is the last night of the big democratic national convention. countdown on to president obama coming up. >> that's right. we have another video on president obama. but let's hear more from our team here in the booth. we just heard joe biden, the bumper sticker. >> the president comes out and gives an all-time brief speech, one word. comes out and says mulligan. that's what golfers say when they muck the first shot and would like a do-over. he can't do that because he's not conceding that progress hasn't been made. instead he must ask the american people to be something they famously are not -- patient. >> we've heard the word patient a lot, but the democrats in the first two nights of the convention believe that michele obama and president clinton, and biden cleared the way to talk about the future, more than the past. >> absolutely. president obama has one simple assignment, to tell the c

george stephanopoulos on that. john stossel investigating the teachers striking in chicago. there a socialist communist element involved in this? those reports after these messages does your phone give you all day battery life ? droid does. and does it launch apps by voice while learning your voice ? launch cab4me. droid does. keep left at the fork. does it do turn-by-turn navigation ? droid does. with verizon, america's largest 4g lte network, and motorola, droid does. get $100 off select motorola 4g lte smartphones like the droid razr. >> bill: as we've been reporting elements of the far left were prominently featured at the democratic national convention in prime time. we talked to leaders of planned parenthood, activist sandra pluck, celebrities. the question becomes who is running the party? moderators extremists. joining us, the anchor of this week, george stephanopoulos who once advised president clinton. you used to be a moderate democrat. now that you're a journalist in that field, i know you put your politics on the shelf. >> i still vote, but don't bring them to w