steve rasmussen, the ceo of nationwide insurance, a fortune 500 company, a national leader in insurance, banking and mortgage products believes rich will embrace the partnerships he's built with the business community as leader of the cfpb. rich has the bipartisan support of former ohio attorneys jenin colluding the current one, former republican u.s. senator mike dewine, that he would win the praise of his former opponent speaks to his integrity and his professionalism. and, mr. chairman, i have letters that i'd like to submit for the record, one signed by mike van buskirk of the ohio bankers' league, one signed by steve rasmussen, the ceo of nationwide insurance, one signed by our former colleague and national hero, john glenn, all of whom are supporting this fine public servant. and, mr. chairman, if for no other reason we should confirm him, rich cordray was a five-time jeopardy champion. [laughter] and i actually tried out for jeopardy once, and i didn't get through the first round. so not sure what that says, but nonetheless -- [laughter] rich cordray is, i am very proud -- i was

steve. thanks. according to the latest rasmussen poll, newt gingrich has his motor running.mitt romney 39% to 17% in new hampshire. president obama's re-election team continues to focus their facts on mitt romney oochlt. >> the one thing that's certain in this republican primary, if you don't like where newt gingrich is today, wait until tomorrow. it's like the weather. >> they think they can erase the past, what you said before doesn't matter now. when it comes to his public character, he doesn't have the core. >> jordan lieberman is the managing director of campaign grid and the former senior advisor to hillary clinton for president campaign and the managing director of the porter novelli public services. nice to have both of you this morning. kiki, let's start with you. smart strategy managing a campaign looking at somebody and calling him a flip-flopper repeatedly, is that smart for the obama administration keeping going after romney this way? >> the variety of candidates but mitt romney has a record not only has a former presidential candidate but as a governor of massa

martha: we just showed you rasmussen now has romney ahead in iowa which is fascinating. stevew from sioux city, iowa. newt gingrich says he's committed that his campaign is not going to go negative, steve. a lot of negativity has come his way, though, in the last few days, so what do we expect tonight? >> reporter: well, we expect the candidates to be, perhaps, even more aggressive than they were on saturday. you mentioned this is the last opportunity before the straw poll or, excuse me, before the caucuses begin. so if you're going to get your jabs in, tonight would seemingly be the night. gingrich out with a new ad today really enforcing that he's going to go positive with a positive television ad airing here in iowa starting today. but it look like the slings and arrows are still heading his way. rick santorum last night at an event in des moines seemingly took aim -- not by name -- but seemingly took aim at gingrich when he recently wrote he believes life begins at conception. have a listen. >> this is one of the reasons i have some problems with some of the folks, you kno

rasmussen. romney up 10. that is narrowing, with gingrich at 24%. then in iowa, american research group, has newt gingrich at 27%. romney at 20. ron paul at 16%. we're back with the panel. steve status of the race? where do things stand? >> really? is it wise for me to tell you of what i think the status of the race is now? it could be different in a week or two. one thing is true and has become more evident every the past several weeks. washington, d.c., has underappreciated the momentum and the support that newt gingrich has in the rest of the country. people in washington who have worked with newt gingrich, and the enemies he made here, you know, all along going back months and months have suggested he can't catch on. he has got the baggage. he has been on all sides of the issue. we're seeing increasingly in the polls and anecdotally talking to voters, that that just doesn't matter to them. i think people are not concerned about newt gingrich's personal baggage. we have seen it again in those polls and others. the question is going to be can he get through this next five weeks? six weeks. until the voters actually start voting and people go to caucuses without making a big

steve: congratulations. meanwhile, there was an electrifying headline on the drudge report and it was the results of a brand-new rasmussen a look. mitt romney 25%. he pulled ahead of ron paul, who had been surging and newt gingrich, his numbers have really moderated. it's those ron paul ads, certainly have taken their toll. >> brian: ron paul, michelle bachmann, mitt romney really weighed on newt gingrich. but in iowa, some are looking at the rise of ron paul, while they appreciate the organization and how much work they've been doing for the last six years there, you have rich lowery writing that if they win, if ron paul wins in iowa, iowa looks horrible. here is his quote. iowa caucus goers are protective. if they deliver victory to a history making ron paul, no one should take them as seriously again. >> steve: talking about the state of iowa. >> alisyn: yes. his point is that ron paul's foreign policy stance, among other things, basically disqualifies him, that he's said some out there things such as the u.s. wants to go at war against muslims. 1.2 million muslims. >> brian: they have no choice to bomb us because we'