1 00:00:01,301 --> 00:00:01,901 >> FUNDING FOR OVERHEARD WITH 2 00:00:01,901 --> 00:00:03,503 EVAN SMITH IS PROVIDED IN PART 3 00:00:03,503 --> 00:00:06,706 BY MFI FOUNDATION, IMPROVING THE 4 00:00:06,706 --> 00:00:07,907 QUALITY OF LIFE WITHIN OUR 5 00:00:07,907 --> 00:00:08,508 COMMUNITY. 6 00:00:08,508 --> 00:00:10,043 AND FROM THE TEXAS BOARD OF 7 00:00:10,043 --> 00:00:12,145 LEGAL SPECIALIZATION, BOARD 8 00:00:12,145 --> 00:00:14,047 CERTIFIED ATTORNEYS IN YOUR 9 00:00:14,047 --> 00:00:14,948 COMMUNITY. 10 00:00:14,948 --> 00:00:16,249 EXPERIENCED, RESPECTED AND 11 00:00:16,249 --> 00:00:17,350 TESTED. 12 00:00:17,350 --> 00:00:19,753 ALSO BY HILCO PARTNERS, TEXAS 13 00:00:19,753 --> 00:00:21,755 GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CONSULTANCY, 14 00:00:21,755 --> 00:00:23,857 AND ITS GLOBAL HEALTHCARE 15 00:00:23,857 --> 00:00:25,759 CONSULTING BUSINESS UNIT, HILCO 16 00:00:25,759 --> 00:00:26,559 HEALTH. 17 00:00:26,559 --> 00:00:29,863 AND BY THE ALICE KLEBERG 18 00:00:29,863 --> 00:00:32,065 REYNOLDS FOUNDATION, AND VIEWERS 19 00:00:32,065 --> 00:00:32,665 LIKE YOU. 20 00:00:32,665 --> 00:00:32,966 THANK YOU. 21 00:00:32,966 --> 00:00:34,668 >> I'M EVAN SMITH. 22 00:00:34,668 --> 00:00:35,969 THEY'RE VETERAN POLITICAL 23 00:00:35,969 --> 00:00:37,671 REPORTERS WHO HAVE MASTERED THE 24 00:00:37,671 --> 00:00:38,672 ART OF THE SCOOP-FILLED 25 00:00:38,672 --> 00:00:41,074 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. 26 00:00:41,074 --> 00:00:45,178 THEIR BEST TELLING TOME "GAME 27 00:00:45,178 --> 00:00:47,480 CHANGE," THEIR FOLLOW-UP ON THE 28 00:00:47,480 --> 00:00:50,884 2012 RACE, "DOUBLE DOWN" IS NOW 29 00:00:50,884 --> 00:00:51,584 IN STORES. 30 00:00:51,584 --> 00:00:54,587 THEY'RE JOHN HEILEMANN AND MARK 31 00:00:54,587 --> 00:00:56,990 HALPERIN, THIS IS OVERHEARD. 32 00:00:56,990 --> 00:00:58,291 >> I GUESS WE CAN'T FIRE HIM 33 00:00:58,291 --> 00:00:58,792 NOW. 34 00:00:58,792 --> 00:01:00,493 >> I GUESS WE CAN'T FIRE HIM 35 00:01:00,493 --> 00:01:02,095 NOW. 36 00:01:02,095 --> 00:01:03,697 IT WOULD BE NICE THAT I WIN AN 37 00:01:03,697 --> 00:01:04,297 EMMY. 38 00:01:04,297 --> 00:01:05,799 BEING ON THE SUPREME COURT WAS 39 00:01:05,799 --> 00:01:07,801 AN IMPROBABLE DREAM. 40 00:01:07,801 --> 00:01:08,902 IT'S HARD WORK, AND IT'S 41 00:01:08,902 --> 00:01:11,838 CONTROVERSIAL. 42 00:01:11,838 --> 00:01:13,340 >> IT'S JOURNALISTS WHO PROVIDE 43 00:01:13,340 --> 00:01:13,940 THAT. 44 00:01:13,940 --> 00:01:15,642 >> WINDOW ROLLS DOWN AND A GUY 45 00:01:15,642 --> 00:01:20,347 SAYS, HEY, HE GOES TILL 11:00. 46 00:01:20,347 --> 00:01:25,752 [LAUGHTER]. 47 00:01:25,752 --> 00:01:27,454 >> MARK, JOHN, WELCOME. 48 00:01:27,454 --> 00:01:28,755 >> GREAT TO BE HERE. 49 00:01:28,755 --> 00:01:29,856 >> NICE TO 50 00:01:29,856 --> 00:01:32,659 HAVE YOU BACK. 51 00:01:32,659 --> 00:01:34,260 CONGRATULATIONS. 52 00:01:34,260 --> 00:01:36,262 NO. 3 ON THE HARD SELLER BEST 53 00:01:36,262 --> 00:01:40,367 DEBUT, NO. 1 eBOOK IN AMERICA. 54 00:01:40,367 --> 00:01:40,967 >> VICTORY. 55 00:01:40,967 --> 00:01:41,968 GREAT SUCCESS. 56 00:01:41,968 --> 00:01:42,369 >> THANK YOU. 57 00:01:42,369 --> 00:01:44,070 >> THIS IS A FANTASTIC BOOK IN 58 00:01:44,070 --> 00:01:45,472 WHICH WE LEARN SO MUCH MORE THAN 59 00:01:45,472 --> 00:01:47,674 WE THOUGHT WE KNEW AT THE TIME, 60 00:01:47,674 --> 00:01:48,875 JUST LIKE THE LAST ONE. 61 00:01:48,875 --> 00:01:50,076 SOMETHING I GUESS WE DID KNOW AT 62 00:01:50,076 --> 00:01:52,379 THE TIME, BUT IS REINFORCED AS I 63 00:01:52,379 --> 00:01:54,381 READ THE BOOK, JOHN, IS THIS IS 64 00:01:54,381 --> 00:01:56,583 AN ELECTION BETWEEN TWO FLAWED 65 00:01:56,583 --> 00:01:58,585 CANDIDATES. I GUESS EVERY 66 00:01:58,585 --> 00:02:00,286 ELECTION, TO SOME DEGREE, IS AN 67 00:02:00,286 --> 00:02:02,088 ELECTION BETWEEN TWO FLAWED 68 00:02:02,088 --> 00:02:03,690 CANDIDATES, BUT IT REALLY SEEMED 69 00:02:03,690 --> 00:02:05,792 IN THIS CASE THAT EITHER OF 70 00:02:05,792 --> 00:02:08,795 THESE GUYS COULD HAVE LOST THIS 71 00:02:08,795 --> 00:02:14,034 RACE. 72 00:02:14,034 --> 00:02:15,035 >> PRESIDENT OBAMA'S LEAD WAS 73 00:02:15,035 --> 00:02:17,237 SMALL BUT DURABLE THROUGHOUT. 74 00:02:17,237 --> 00:02:18,938 GOVERNOR ROMNEY IS A FASCINATING 75 00:02:18,938 --> 00:02:20,240 CHARACTER THAT COMES THROUGH IN 76 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:20,940 THIS BOOK. 77 00:02:20,940 --> 00:02:23,243 REALLY, THE PICTURE OF ROMNEY SO 78 00:02:23,243 --> 00:02:26,046 MUCH AT ODDS WITH WHAT SO MANY 79 00:02:26,046 --> 00:02:27,947 PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY DEMOCRATS AND 80 00:02:27,947 --> 00:02:28,848 ESPECIALLY IN THE WHITE HOUSE, 81 00:02:28,848 --> 00:02:30,950 THOUGHT OF ROMNEY. 82 00:02:30,950 --> 00:02:36,856 HE'S REALLY AMBIVALENCE 83 00:02:36,856 --> 00:02:39,259 INCARNATE THROUGHOUT THE BOOK. 84 00:02:39,259 --> 00:02:41,261 47%, WHEN HE'S CHALLENGED, HE 85 00:02:41,261 --> 00:02:43,863 DOESN'T HAVE THE WILL OF THE 86 00:02:43,863 --> 00:02:45,665 RESOLVE AND THE ENERGY TO GO OUT 87 00:02:45,665 --> 00:02:47,467 AND CONFRONT THOSE CHALLENGES, 88 00:02:47,467 --> 00:02:49,169 HE'S ALMOST PASSIVE ABOUT IT 89 00:02:49,169 --> 00:02:50,770 WHEN HE'S HIT IN THESE MOMENTS 90 00:02:50,770 --> 00:02:51,471 WHEN HE REALLY SHOULD BE 91 00:02:51,471 --> 00:02:53,473 MARSHALLING ALL OF HIS FORCES. 92 00:02:53,473 --> 00:02:54,674 IT'S KIND OF AN AMAZING PICTURE 93 00:02:54,674 --> 00:02:56,476 IN SOME WAY BECAUSE IT'S NOT AT 94 00:02:56,476 --> 00:02:57,977 ALL WHAT MOST PEOPLE THOUGHT. 95 00:02:57,977 --> 00:03:00,680 >> THE CONFIDENCE HE MAY LACK IN 96 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:01,981 HIMSELF IS MET BY THE CONFIDENCE 97 00:03:01,981 --> 00:03:03,883 OTHERS LACK IN HIM ALL 98 00:03:03,883 --> 00:03:05,785 THROUGHOUT HIS NOMINATIONS, EVEN 99 00:03:05,785 --> 00:03:07,287 WHEN IT SEEMS INEVITABLE, 100 00:03:07,287 --> 00:03:08,788 THERE'S STILL AN EFFORT BY SOME 101 00:03:08,788 --> 00:03:10,924 PEOPLE TO GO FIND SOMEBODY ELSE. 102 00:03:10,924 --> 00:03:12,425 THEY THINK, WHETHER IT'S DONORS 103 00:03:12,425 --> 00:03:14,327 OR POLITICAL PROFESSIONALS, HE 104 00:03:14,327 --> 00:03:15,829 MAY NOT REALLY BE UP TO THE 105 00:03:15,829 --> 00:03:16,429 TASK. 106 00:03:16,429 --> 00:03:17,731 >> WHAT'S INTERESTING TO US, THE 107 00:03:17,731 --> 00:03:19,332 GROUP THAT WAS LOOKING FOR 108 00:03:19,332 --> 00:03:20,433 SOMEONE ELSE FOR THE MOST PART 109 00:03:20,433 --> 00:03:22,035 WOULD BE PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE 110 00:03:22,035 --> 00:03:25,438 CHARTER MEMBERS OF THE MITT 111 00:03:25,438 --> 00:03:27,040 ROMNEY FAN CLUB. 112 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:27,340 >> RIGHT. 113 00:03:27,340 --> 00:03:29,442 >> HE DID SERVE ONLY ONE TERM AS 114 00:03:29,442 --> 00:03:30,944 GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS. 115 00:03:30,944 --> 00:03:33,146 BASED ON HIS RESUME AND HIS 116 00:03:33,146 --> 00:03:33,947 BEARING, YOU WOULD THINK THAT 117 00:03:33,947 --> 00:03:35,949 OTHER ELITE RICH PEOPLE WOULD BE 118 00:03:35,949 --> 00:03:36,649 ALL FOR HIM. 119 00:03:36,649 --> 00:03:38,551 WE WRITE ABOUT A GROUP OF 120 00:03:38,551 --> 00:03:45,258 MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES 121 00:03:45,258 --> 00:03:47,560 TRY TO GET CHRIS CHRISTIE IN THE 122 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:50,163 RUNNING. 123 00:03:50,163 --> 00:03:52,465 MITT ROMNEY IS IN A WAR WITH 124 00:03:52,465 --> 00:03:53,466 RICK SANTORUM. 125 00:03:53,466 --> 00:03:55,568 WE'RE EITHER GOING TO GET RICK 126 00:03:55,568 --> 00:03:57,971 SANTORUM AS THEIR NOMINEE OR A 127 00:03:57,971 --> 00:04:00,473 VERY WEAK MITT ROMNEY AND THEY 128 00:04:00,473 --> 00:04:01,975 THINK CAN WE GET SOMEONE ELSE 129 00:04:01,975 --> 00:04:02,275 IN. 130 00:04:02,275 --> 00:04:04,678 THAT GROUP INCLUDED HAILEY 131 00:04:04,678 --> 00:04:07,580 BARBER, IT INCLUDED JOHN 132 00:04:07,580 --> 00:04:08,882 BOEHNER, THE SPEAKER OF THE 133 00:04:08,882 --> 00:04:10,617 HOUSE, AND IT INCLUDED PAUL 134 00:04:10,617 --> 00:04:13,720 RYAN, WHO JUST A FEW MONTHS 135 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:17,123 LATER WOULD BECOME MITT ROMNEY'S 136 00:04:17,123 --> 00:04:17,924 RUNNING MATE. 137 00:04:17,924 --> 00:04:18,324 >> RIGHT. 138 00:04:18,324 --> 00:04:20,627 >> THESE OVERTURES, JOHN, THAT 139 00:04:20,627 --> 00:04:22,529 MARK IS REFERRING TO, WE HEARD A 140 00:04:22,529 --> 00:04:25,131 LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT OUT IN THE 141 00:04:25,131 --> 00:04:27,934 GEN POP, THE CHRISTIE APPROACH 142 00:04:27,934 --> 00:04:31,538 TO THESE FOLKS WAS REMARKABLE 143 00:04:31,538 --> 00:04:33,139 BECAUSE AS MUCH AS WE THOUGHT 144 00:04:33,139 --> 00:04:34,941 CHRIS CHRISTIE KIND OF LOOKED AT 145 00:04:34,941 --> 00:04:36,843 THE RACE, YOU SPEND A LOT OF 146 00:04:36,843 --> 00:04:38,845 TIME REFERRING TO AS HAMLET OF 147 00:04:38,845 --> 00:04:42,248 DRUM SWACKET. 148 00:04:42,248 --> 00:04:44,751 HE'S WATCHING UP TO THE -- HE'S 149 00:04:44,751 --> 00:04:46,152 WALKING UP TO THE EDGE OF BEING 150 00:04:46,152 --> 00:04:49,656 MARIO PLOMO IN THIS RACE, 151 00:04:49,656 --> 00:04:51,458 ULTIMATELY DECIDES NOT TO RUN. 152 00:04:51,458 --> 00:04:52,959 BUT CHRIS CHRISTIE WAS LOOKING 153 00:04:52,959 --> 00:04:55,662 AT THIS FAIRLY LATE INTO IT. 154 00:04:55,662 --> 00:04:56,863 >> MUCH MORE CLOSER THAN ANYBODY 155 00:04:56,863 --> 00:04:57,964 THOUGHT AND MUCH MORE CLOSER 156 00:04:57,964 --> 00:04:59,666 THAN HE EVER ADMITTED UNTIL THE 157 00:04:59,666 --> 00:05:01,468 DAY HE ANNOUNCED HE WASN'T GOING 158 00:05:01,468 --> 00:05:02,268 TO DO IT. 159 00:05:02,268 --> 00:05:03,670 UP UNTIL THAT MOMENT, HE KEPT 160 00:05:03,670 --> 00:05:05,271 SAYING NOTHING'S CHANGED, 161 00:05:05,271 --> 00:05:06,673 NOTHING'S CHANGED, IN FACT, IN 162 00:05:06,673 --> 00:05:08,375 PRIVATE, HE'S ON THE PHONE WITH 163 00:05:08,375 --> 00:05:09,876 GEORGE W. BUSH, HE'S ON THE 164 00:05:09,876 --> 00:05:11,878 PHONE WITH BARBARA BUSH, HE'S 165 00:05:11,878 --> 00:05:13,580 MEETING WITH DONORS, THE FOUNDER 166 00:05:13,580 --> 00:05:15,382 OF HOME DEPOT, HE'S MEETING AT 167 00:05:15,382 --> 00:05:17,984 HIS HOUSE WITH CARL ROWE TO GO 168 00:05:17,984 --> 00:05:19,085 THROUGH THE STEPS OF WHAT IT 169 00:05:19,085 --> 00:05:19,586 WOULD TAKE. 170 00:05:19,586 --> 00:05:21,588 HE'S DOING A LOT OF STUFF, GOING 171 00:05:21,588 --> 00:05:24,090 PUBLICLY TO THE REAGAN LIBRARY 172 00:05:24,090 --> 00:05:26,192 AND GETTING SPEECH THERAPY, HE'S 173 00:05:26,192 --> 00:05:27,994 DOING A LOT OF RECON FOR A GUY 174 00:05:27,994 --> 00:05:31,097 THAT SAYS HE'S NOT AT ALL 175 00:05:31,097 --> 00:05:31,998 GETTING IN THE RACE. 176 00:05:31,998 --> 00:05:33,700 AND THEN HE SAYS HE'S GOING TO 177 00:05:33,700 --> 00:05:34,901 DECIDE THIS WEEKEND. 178 00:05:34,901 --> 00:05:36,102 AND THEN AT THE END OF THE 179 00:05:36,102 --> 00:05:38,104 WEEKEND, HE STILL HASN'T MADE UP 180 00:05:38,104 --> 00:05:38,605 HIS MIND. 181 00:05:38,605 --> 00:05:40,407 HE STILL NEEDS ONE MORE DAY WITH 182 00:05:40,407 --> 00:05:42,108 HIS MIND TO TELL HIM, MAYBE THIS 183 00:05:42,108 --> 00:05:43,610 COULD WORK, AND HIS GUT THAT 184 00:05:43,610 --> 00:05:45,111 TELLS HIM, I'M NOT SURE I'M 185 00:05:45,111 --> 00:05:46,413 READY FOR THIS. 186 00:05:46,413 --> 00:05:48,114 >> THE FACT THAT HE'S 187 00:05:48,114 --> 00:05:53,319 CONSIDERING IT IS BORN OF ANGST, 188 00:05:53,319 --> 00:05:55,021 MY FAVORITE THING OF THE ENTIRE 189 00:05:55,021 --> 00:05:56,222 BOOK, AS I'VE SHARED WITH YOU, 190 00:05:56,222 --> 00:05:58,725 WHEN GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE 191 00:05:58,725 --> 00:06:02,429 DECIDES NOT TO RUN, HE BRINGS 192 00:06:02,429 --> 00:06:06,032 THE ROMNEYS TO HIS HOUSE TO TELL 193 00:06:06,032 --> 00:06:09,369 THEM HE'S GIVING THEM HIS PRIZED 194 00:06:09,369 --> 00:06:11,471 ENDORSEMENT IN THE RACE. 195 00:06:11,471 --> 00:06:13,773 GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE SAYS I 196 00:06:13,773 --> 00:06:15,275 DO KNOW HOW BIG THIS IS. 197 00:06:15,275 --> 00:06:16,676 AND I THOUGHT THIS GUY, I HOPE 198 00:06:16,676 --> 00:06:18,378 THIS GUY RUNS, TO SEE THIS GUY 199 00:06:18,378 --> 00:06:19,879 AND RICK PERRY, FOR INSTANCE, IN 200 00:06:19,879 --> 00:06:21,781 A RACE TOGETHER KNOCKING HEADS 201 00:06:21,781 --> 00:06:23,283 WOULD BE SOMETHING ELSE. 202 00:06:23,283 --> 00:06:25,185 >> WELL, PART OF WHAT THE TIMING 203 00:06:25,185 --> 00:06:27,287 OF GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE 204 00:06:27,287 --> 00:06:28,688 INTENSE CONSIDERATION OF THIS 205 00:06:28,688 --> 00:06:30,090 WAS AROUND THE TIME 206 00:06:30,090 --> 00:06:31,191 GOVERNOR PERRY GOT IN. 207 00:06:31,191 --> 00:06:32,992 HE DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF 208 00:06:32,992 --> 00:06:34,394 GOVERNOR PERRY AND HE THOUGHT 209 00:06:34,394 --> 00:06:35,695 ROMNEY WOULD PROBABLY BE THE 210 00:06:35,695 --> 00:06:37,397 NOMINEE, BUT THE FACT THAT 211 00:06:37,397 --> 00:06:41,001 GOVERNOR PERRY WAS BEING THOUGHT 212 00:06:41,001 --> 00:06:44,304 OF AS SUCH A SERIOUS CANDIDATE 213 00:06:44,304 --> 00:06:45,805 REALLY GOT UNDER HIS SKIN. 214 00:06:45,805 --> 00:06:49,009 HE THOUGHT IF THIS IS GOING TO 215 00:06:49,009 --> 00:06:50,810 BE THE BIG DOG IN THIS RACE, 216 00:06:50,810 --> 00:06:51,911 MAYBE I SHOULD RUN. 217 00:06:51,911 --> 00:06:53,513 IF A GROUP OF PEOPLE, NOT VERY 218 00:06:53,513 --> 00:06:55,515 BIG, BUT, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZABLE 219 00:06:55,515 --> 00:06:57,017 WHO THINK SOME DAY I'M GOING TO 220 00:06:57,017 --> 00:06:58,218 RUN FOR PRESIDENT, AND THE 221 00:06:58,218 --> 00:07:00,320 QUESTION THEY ALWAYS FACE IS, IS 222 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:01,421 THIS MY TIME? 223 00:07:01,421 --> 00:07:04,824 CAN I WAIT FOUR MORE YEARS? 224 00:07:04,824 --> 00:07:07,227 IN THIS CASE, CHRIS CHRISTIE 225 00:07:07,227 --> 00:07:09,863 DECIDES HE COULD WAIT FOUR MORE 226 00:07:09,863 --> 00:07:10,363 YEARS. 227 00:07:10,363 --> 00:07:11,464 >> : I THINK JOHN IS CORRECT, 228 00:07:11,464 --> 00:07:13,667 WHEN YOU GET INTO THE RACE AT 229 00:07:13,667 --> 00:07:15,268 THAT POINT, PRESIDENT OBAMA IS 230 00:07:15,268 --> 00:07:17,771 THE PRESUMPTIVE FAVORITE. 231 00:07:17,771 --> 00:07:19,072 THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY, THE 232 00:07:19,072 --> 00:07:20,373 UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, AND SO MANY 233 00:07:20,373 --> 00:07:21,875 OTHER THINGS COMING OUT OF THE 234 00:07:21,875 --> 00:07:25,879 DEBT CEILING DEBACLE OF 2011. 235 00:07:25,879 --> 00:07:28,181 HE WAS THE BEATABLE INCUMBENT, 236 00:07:28,181 --> 00:07:30,083 RIGHT? 237 00:07:30,083 --> 00:07:30,984 >> ABSOLUTELY BEATABLE. 238 00:07:30,984 --> 00:07:32,385 AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE 239 00:07:32,385 --> 00:07:33,787 PRESIDENT FACED IN TERM OF THE 240 00:07:33,787 --> 00:07:35,188 WRONG TRACK PEOPLE THINKING OF 241 00:07:35,188 --> 00:07:36,890 THE COUNTRY, HE'S ON THE WRONG 242 00:07:36,890 --> 00:07:38,391 TRACK, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, 243 00:07:38,391 --> 00:07:40,093 THINGS GOT A LITTLE BIT BETTER, 244 00:07:40,093 --> 00:07:41,294 THE PERCEPTIONS AND THE 245 00:07:41,294 --> 00:07:42,595 STATISTICS GOT A LITTLE BIT 246 00:07:42,595 --> 00:07:43,797 BETTER TOWARDS THE ECONOMY 247 00:07:43,797 --> 00:07:44,898 TOWARDS THE END. 248 00:07:44,898 --> 00:07:47,600 BUT TO THE END OF 2012, I THINK 249 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:48,702 IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT A 250 00:07:48,702 --> 00:07:51,404 STRONGER CANDIDATE WOULD HAVE AT 251 00:07:51,404 --> 00:07:52,906 LEAST MADE IT A HIGHLY 252 00:07:52,906 --> 00:07:56,609 COMPETITIVE RACE, MAYBE TAKING 253 00:07:56,609 --> 00:07:59,512 TRADITIONAL STATES, VIRGINIA. 254 00:07:59,512 --> 00:08:00,814 >> HAD YOU MADE THIS A CAMPAIGN 255 00:08:00,814 --> 00:08:04,918 LITIGATED ABOUT THAT AS OPPOSED 256 00:08:04,918 --> 00:08:08,221 TO ANOTHER SUBJECT. 257 00:08:08,221 --> 00:08:09,856 JOHN, WE'RE USED TO THE 258 00:08:09,856 --> 00:08:12,058 PRESIDENT'S SIGNATURE PHRASE, A 259 00:08:12,058 --> 00:08:13,259 PHRASE THAT'S BEEN ASSOCIATED 260 00:08:13,259 --> 00:08:15,362 WITH HIM, "I GOT THIS." THE 261 00:08:15,362 --> 00:08:16,963 PRESIDENT'S COOL UNDER FIRE. 262 00:08:16,963 --> 00:08:18,465 THERE WERE MANY MOMENTS, NOT 263 00:08:18,465 --> 00:08:20,166 JUST THAT FIRST DEBATE IN 264 00:08:20,166 --> 00:08:23,570 DENVER, WHERE THE PRESIDENT 265 00:08:23,570 --> 00:08:25,171 DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE VERY MUCH OF 266 00:08:25,171 --> 00:08:27,173 ANYTHING AS A CAMPAIGNER, WE 267 00:08:27,173 --> 00:08:30,276 WERE USED TO THE 2008 OBAMA. 268 00:08:30,276 --> 00:08:32,479 THE 2012 OBAMA WAS MUCH LESS 269 00:08:32,479 --> 00:08:32,779 CONFIDENT. 270 00:08:32,779 --> 00:08:33,780 >> I THINK THAT'S TRUE. 271 00:08:33,780 --> 00:08:35,482 THERE WERE TWO BIG MOMENTS, 272 00:08:35,482 --> 00:08:37,584 PUTTING ASIDE THE DEBATES YOU 273 00:08:37,584 --> 00:08:40,387 TALKED A MINUTE AGO WHEN HE WAS 274 00:08:40,387 --> 00:08:42,088 AT HIS MOST VULNERABLE, YOU 275 00:08:42,088 --> 00:08:43,490 KNOW, THE PRESIDENT'S GOING 276 00:08:43,490 --> 00:08:45,191 THROUGH THIS SERIES OF MEETINGS 277 00:08:45,191 --> 00:08:47,093 WITH HIS SENIOR ADVISERS, AND 278 00:08:47,093 --> 00:08:48,795 THEY REALLY ARE KIND OF AMAZING. 279 00:08:48,795 --> 00:08:50,397 WE DETAILED THEM MEETING BY 280 00:08:50,397 --> 00:08:51,798 MEETING, BECAUSE THEY ARE IN A 281 00:08:51,798 --> 00:08:54,801 LOT OF WAYS -- ONE PERSON IN THE 282 00:08:54,801 --> 00:08:56,603 MEETING DESCRIBES THEM WHERE THE 283 00:08:56,603 --> 00:08:57,704 PRESIDENT IS JUST JUST LAYING 284 00:08:57,704 --> 00:09:00,507 OUT STRATEGIES AND TACTICS, 285 00:09:00,507 --> 00:09:02,609 GOING THROUGH, REMAKES THIS LONG 286 00:09:02,609 --> 00:09:04,411 LIST OF REGRETS IN OFFICE, THIS 287 00:09:04,411 --> 00:09:06,312 IS A GUY WHO'S SEARCHING, HE'S 288 00:09:06,312 --> 00:09:07,514 NEVER REALLY SUFFERED ANYTHING 289 00:09:07,514 --> 00:09:12,352 LIKE THESE KIND OF SETBACKS. 290 00:09:12,352 --> 00:09:15,655 HE'S REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT 291 00:09:15,655 --> 00:09:18,458 WHAT HAVE I DONE, VERY UNCERTAIN 292 00:09:18,458 --> 00:09:19,259 OF HIS FOOTING. 293 00:09:19,259 --> 00:09:20,560 AND AT THAT TIME, THE REST OF 294 00:09:20,560 --> 00:09:22,062 THE CAMPAIGN, EVEN WHEN THEY'RE 295 00:09:22,062 --> 00:09:30,970 KIND OF AN -- ANNIHILATING ON 296 00:09:30,970 --> 00:09:32,672 NEGATIVE ADDS. 297 00:09:32,672 --> 00:09:34,274 >> EVEN ONE OF THOSE THINGS, 298 00:09:34,274 --> 00:09:35,575 VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THAT. 299 00:09:35,575 --> 00:09:37,077 >> THE REALITY, JOHN, HE HAS 300 00:09:37,077 --> 00:09:38,878 BEEN A CONTRADICTION IN A LOT OF 301 00:09:38,878 --> 00:09:39,279 WAYS. 302 00:09:39,279 --> 00:09:41,281 HE SAYS I WANT TO RUN A POSITIVE 303 00:09:41,281 --> 00:09:42,682 CAMPAIGN, BUT HE RAN THE MOST 304 00:09:42,682 --> 00:09:45,285 NEGATIVE ADS IN 2008 I GUESS 305 00:09:45,285 --> 00:09:48,188 IT'S SAID OF ANY CANDIDATE EVER, 306 00:09:48,188 --> 00:09:50,490 AND IN 2012, THEY TRIED TO TAKE 307 00:09:50,490 --> 00:09:52,692 OUT, AND I GUESS ULTIMATELY TOOK 308 00:09:52,692 --> 00:09:55,895 OUT, ROMNEY OUT OF THE REALM OF 309 00:09:55,895 --> 00:09:57,297 PLAUSIBILITY AS HE WAS THE 310 00:09:57,297 --> 00:09:58,798 MASTER OF NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN. 311 00:09:58,798 --> 00:10:00,500 SO FOR ALL OF HIS TALK OF NOT 312 00:10:00,500 --> 00:10:02,102 BEING COMFORTABLE WITH IT, IT 313 00:10:02,102 --> 00:10:04,104 WAS A SUCCESSFUL TACTIC. 314 00:10:04,104 --> 00:10:06,206 >> YOU'RE RIGHT, IN 2008, HE RAN 315 00:10:06,206 --> 00:10:08,708 TONS AND TONS OF NEGATIVE ADS 316 00:10:08,708 --> 00:10:09,743 BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE 317 00:10:09,743 --> 00:10:11,244 RATIO, AS MUCH NEGATIVE AS THERE 318 00:10:11,244 --> 00:10:13,747 WAS IN 2008, THERE WAS ALSO THIS 319 00:10:13,747 --> 00:10:16,449 WHOLE POSITIVE ASPIRATIONAL 320 00:10:16,449 --> 00:10:17,450 SIDE. 321 00:10:17,450 --> 00:10:19,352 >> TEAR DOWN MITT ROMNEY. 322 00:10:19,352 --> 00:10:20,854 A MEASURE, MARK, THAT YOU 323 00:10:20,854 --> 00:10:22,355 REVEALED IN THE BOOK, IN FACT, 324 00:10:22,355 --> 00:10:24,257 WHEN THE BOOK WAS FIRST IN 325 00:10:24,257 --> 00:10:26,159 PEOPLE'S HANDS, MAYBE A LITTLE 326 00:10:26,159 --> 00:10:27,861 BIT EARLIER THAN YOU-ALL 327 00:10:27,861 --> 00:10:29,262 INTENDED FOR IT TO BE, AND THERE 328 00:10:29,262 --> 00:10:30,864 WAS NEWS FROM THE BOOK, IT WAS 329 00:10:30,864 --> 00:10:32,265 RELATED TO EXACTLY WHAT SORT OF 330 00:10:32,265 --> 00:10:33,967 A SITUATION THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN 331 00:10:33,967 --> 00:10:37,370 THOUGHT THEY WERE IN THAT BILL 332 00:10:37,370 --> 00:10:38,471 DAILY, THEN THE CHIEF OF STAFF, 333 00:10:38,471 --> 00:10:40,974 AND SOME OF THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN 334 00:10:40,974 --> 00:10:43,076 STAFF APPARENTLY POLLED SWAPPING 335 00:10:43,076 --> 00:10:45,178 OUT JOE BIDEN FOR HILARY CLINTON 336 00:10:45,178 --> 00:10:47,681 AS A RUNNING MATE IN 2012 MIGHT 337 00:10:47,681 --> 00:10:49,382 BE A DESIRABLE IDEA, BUT IT 338 00:10:49,382 --> 00:10:50,784 MIGHT BE A NECESSARY THING TO 339 00:10:50,784 --> 00:10:54,287 PULL THE PRESIDENT OVER THE LINE 340 00:10:54,287 --> 00:10:55,789 SO UNCERTAIN WERE THEY ABOUT 341 00:10:55,789 --> 00:10:58,191 THIS ELECTION. 342 00:10:58,191 --> 00:10:59,392 >> THEY COULDN'T ASSUME THAT IT 343 00:10:59,392 --> 00:11:00,994 WOULD LEAD TO A WEAKENED 344 00:11:00,994 --> 00:11:02,896 REPUBLICAN NOMINEE. 345 00:11:02,896 --> 00:11:03,296 >> YEAH. 346 00:11:03,296 --> 00:11:04,798 >> AND THE PRESIDENT FELT 347 00:11:04,798 --> 00:11:08,401 OBLIGATED TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING. 348 00:11:08,401 --> 00:11:09,836 BILL DAILY, WHO WAS THEN THE 349 00:11:09,836 --> 00:11:11,938 CHIEF OF STAFF, HAS KNOWN JOE 350 00:11:11,938 --> 00:11:15,141 BIDEN FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES, 351 00:11:15,141 --> 00:11:17,944 THEY'RE VERY CLOSE, BILL DAILY 352 00:11:17,944 --> 00:11:19,446 WAS THE LEADER IN SAYING WE OWE 353 00:11:19,446 --> 00:11:20,547 IT TO THE PRESIDENT TO LOOK AT 354 00:11:20,547 --> 00:11:20,747 THIS. 355 00:11:20,747 --> 00:11:22,248 THEY KNEW THERE WOULD BE A 356 00:11:22,248 --> 00:11:24,451 DOWNSIDE, YOU REPLACE A RUNNING 357 00:11:24,451 --> 00:11:25,652 MATE IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT, 358 00:11:25,652 --> 00:11:27,053 IT'S GOING TO APPEAR WEAK AND 359 00:11:27,053 --> 00:11:28,755 MAYBE PANICKY, BUT IF 360 00:11:28,755 --> 00:11:31,057 HILARY CLINTON WILL BOOST US IN 361 00:11:31,057 --> 00:11:32,859 SOME WAY IN THE POLLS, WE'VE GOT 362 00:11:32,859 --> 00:11:34,060 TO LOOK AT IT. 363 00:11:34,060 --> 00:11:35,362 WE SAY IN THE BOOK IN THIS 364 00:11:35,362 --> 00:11:36,763 POLITICAL TEAM IT WAS BETTER TO 365 00:11:36,763 --> 00:11:41,568 BE HARDHEADED THAN SOFTHEARTED. 366 00:11:41,568 --> 00:11:45,271 AND IF IT EVER CAME OUT, AS IT 367 00:11:45,271 --> 00:11:48,174 DID WHEN OUR BOOK CAME OUT, THAT 368 00:11:48,174 --> 00:11:50,076 BIDEN'S FEELINGS WOULD BE HURT. 369 00:11:50,076 --> 00:11:51,978 PEOPLE DON'T VOTE FOR THE BOTTOM 370 00:11:51,978 --> 00:11:53,580 OF THE TICKET, AND WHATEVER 371 00:11:53,580 --> 00:11:56,483 POPULARITY, HILARY CLINTON 372 00:11:56,483 --> 00:11:57,884 DIDN'T BOOST IT THAT MUCH. 373 00:11:57,884 --> 00:11:58,885 >> JUST THE FACT THAT THEY 374 00:11:58,885 --> 00:12:00,387 CONSIDERED IT, PUT MONEY ON IT. 375 00:12:00,387 --> 00:12:02,088 >> IT SHOWS YOU, A, HOW 376 00:12:02,088 --> 00:12:04,090 DESPERATE THEY ARE, AND, B, 377 00:12:04,090 --> 00:12:05,392 AGAIN, HOW KIND OF CUT-THROAT 378 00:12:05,392 --> 00:12:07,394 THEY ARE, TAKE TO THE PRESIDENT 379 00:12:07,394 --> 00:12:09,429 THE NOTION MAYBE WE'VE GOT TO 380 00:12:09,429 --> 00:12:11,831 REPLACE YOUR FRIEND JOE BIDEN 381 00:12:11,831 --> 00:12:16,336 WHO YOU'VE BASICALLY ALREADY 382 00:12:16,336 --> 00:12:17,537 PROMISED YOU'RE GOING TO RUN 383 00:12:17,537 --> 00:12:17,937 WITH. 384 00:12:17,937 --> 00:12:19,439 >> HOW DID SOMETHING LIKE THAT 385 00:12:19,439 --> 00:12:21,041 NOT GET OUT AT THE TIME? 386 00:12:21,041 --> 00:12:22,442 THIS BOOK CONTAINS SO MANY 387 00:12:22,442 --> 00:12:23,843 THINGS, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE 388 00:12:23,843 --> 00:12:25,245 BOOK IN A FEW MINUTES. 389 00:12:25,245 --> 00:12:26,846 BUT THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS IN 390 00:12:26,846 --> 00:12:28,048 THIS BOOK, AND THIS WAS AT THE 391 00:12:28,048 --> 00:12:30,450 TOP OF THE PYRAMID, TO THINK IN 392 00:12:30,450 --> 00:12:32,252 THIS WORLD WHERE THERE ARE NO 393 00:12:32,252 --> 00:12:34,054 SECRETS, WHERE EVERYBODY LEAKS, 394 00:12:34,054 --> 00:12:35,655 THERE ARE A THOUSAND WAYS TO 395 00:12:35,655 --> 00:12:37,757 LEARN SOMETHING THAT NEVER 396 00:12:37,757 --> 00:12:39,259 EXISTED BEFORE, HOW DOES 397 00:12:39,259 --> 00:12:40,560 SOMETHING NOT GET OUT? 398 00:12:40,560 --> 00:12:42,562 >> WELL, IN THAT CASE, YOU WILL 399 00:12:42,562 --> 00:12:44,164 RECALL, EVAN, THERE WAS A RUMOR 400 00:12:44,164 --> 00:12:44,664 ABOUT IT. 401 00:12:44,664 --> 00:12:46,566 PEOPLE WILL GO ON CABLE AND 402 00:12:46,566 --> 00:12:47,967 SPECULATE, THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD 403 00:12:47,967 --> 00:12:49,169 IDEA, MAYBE IT'S ON THE TABLE. 404 00:12:49,169 --> 00:12:50,770 AND THE WHITE HOUSE DENIED IT UP 405 00:12:50,770 --> 00:12:52,872 AND DOWN, WHICH, OF COURSE, ONLY 406 00:12:52,872 --> 00:12:54,274 MADE US MORE INTERESTED IN 407 00:12:54,274 --> 00:12:55,475 TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER OR 408 00:12:55,475 --> 00:12:56,476 NOT THERE WAS SOMETHING THERE. 409 00:12:56,476 --> 00:12:59,679 IT WAS A PRETTY CLOSELY GUARDED 410 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:02,082 SECRET WITHIN A VERY SMALL GROUP 411 00:13:02,082 --> 00:13:02,882 OF PEOPLE. 412 00:13:02,882 --> 00:13:04,484 THIS WAS LIKE ONLY A HANDFUL OF 413 00:13:04,484 --> 00:13:06,686 PEOPLE WHO KNEW ABOUT IT BECAUSE 414 00:13:06,686 --> 00:13:07,887 IT WAS SO SENSITIVE. 415 00:13:07,887 --> 00:13:09,222 >> NOW A COMPARABLE EXAMPLE ON 416 00:13:09,222 --> 00:13:11,925 THE OTHER SIDE WOULD ACTUALLY BE 417 00:13:11,925 --> 00:13:13,126 THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL 418 00:13:13,126 --> 00:13:15,829 DELIBERATIONS ON THE OTHER SIDE. 419 00:13:15,829 --> 00:13:19,933 YOU ALL PROVIDE AN EXTRAORDINARY 420 00:13:19,933 --> 00:13:21,334 AMOUNT OF DETAIL ON THE VETTING 421 00:13:21,334 --> 00:13:22,836 OF CANDIDATES, FIRST THE LIST OF 422 00:13:22,836 --> 00:13:24,637 11, THEN DOWN TO THE LIST OF 423 00:13:24,637 --> 00:13:24,938 FIVE. 424 00:13:24,938 --> 00:13:26,940 THIS IDEA THAT IT WAS CALLED 425 00:13:26,940 --> 00:13:28,241 PROJECT GOLDFISH AFTER THE SNACK 426 00:13:28,241 --> 00:13:30,243 CRACKERS, AND THEN EACH OF THE 427 00:13:30,243 --> 00:13:32,045 FIVE FINALISTS FOR THE VICE 428 00:13:32,045 --> 00:13:33,747 PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION 429 00:13:33,747 --> 00:13:37,150 ALONGSIDE ROMNEY ALL HAD CODE 430 00:13:37,150 --> 00:13:37,851 NAMES. 431 00:13:37,851 --> 00:13:39,152 >> THEY WERE TERRIFIC, REALLY 432 00:13:39,152 --> 00:13:40,854 KIND OF GREAT, ALMOST OBVIOUS, 433 00:13:40,854 --> 00:13:45,058 WINCE, KIND OF CODE NAMES. 434 00:13:45,058 --> 00:13:51,965 PAUL RYAN WAS FISHCONSIN. 435 00:13:51,965 --> 00:13:53,466 >> THEY HAD A CODE NAME FOR YOU, 436 00:13:53,466 --> 00:13:55,168 TOO. 437 00:13:55,168 --> 00:13:56,770 >> I'M NOW UNDONE FOR THE 438 00:13:56,770 --> 00:13:59,472 REMAINDER OF THIS INTERVIEW. 439 00:13:59,472 --> 00:14:01,074 >> THE BEST ONE WAS 440 00:14:01,074 --> 00:14:07,981 CHRIS CHRISTIE WAS PUFFER FISH. 441 00:14:07,981 --> 00:14:08,982 >> THIS IS AFTER WE FIND OUT 442 00:14:08,982 --> 00:14:10,817 EARLIER IN THE BOOK THAT THE 443 00:14:10,817 --> 00:14:12,619 NICKNAME FOR CHRIS CHRISTIE IS 444 00:14:12,619 --> 00:14:13,620 BIG BOY. 445 00:14:13,620 --> 00:14:16,423 BUSH 43'S NICKNAME OF 446 00:14:16,423 --> 00:14:19,225 CHRIS CHRISTIE IS BIG BOY. 447 00:14:19,225 --> 00:14:20,226 THEN THEY HAVE THE VICE 448 00:14:20,226 --> 00:14:24,831 PRESIDENTIAL SWEEPSTAKES AND HIS 449 00:14:24,831 --> 00:14:26,833 CODE NAME IS PUFFER FISH. 450 00:14:26,833 --> 00:14:27,434 KIND OF GREAT. 451 00:14:27,434 --> 00:14:29,436 YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP. 452 00:14:29,436 --> 00:14:31,237 >> VICE PRESIDENTIAL SELECTION 453 00:14:31,237 --> 00:14:33,239 PROCESS IS ALWAYS INTERESTING, 454 00:14:33,239 --> 00:14:37,544 AND IT'S ANOTHER CASE EVERY 455 00:14:37,544 --> 00:14:40,046 POLITICAL REPORTER IN THE 456 00:14:40,046 --> 00:14:41,948 COUNTRY IS TRYING TO BREAK THIS. 457 00:14:41,948 --> 00:14:43,750 IMAGINE IF SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE 458 00:14:43,750 --> 00:14:45,352 REPORTED IN THE CAMPAIGN THAT 459 00:14:45,352 --> 00:14:48,355 CHRIS CHRISTIE'S NICKNAME WAS 460 00:14:48,355 --> 00:14:49,055 PUFFER FISH. 461 00:14:49,055 --> 00:14:50,457 THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN QUITE A 462 00:14:50,457 --> 00:14:50,857 THING. 463 00:14:50,857 --> 00:14:52,359 >> THE VETTING OF CHRIS CHRISTIE 464 00:14:52,359 --> 00:14:54,361 AS A POTENTIAL NOMINEE WHICH 465 00:14:54,361 --> 00:14:56,763 THEY DID AND DID NOT GET ACCESS 466 00:14:56,763 --> 00:14:59,265 TO, I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO 467 00:14:59,265 --> 00:15:00,166 READ ABOUT THAT. 468 00:15:00,166 --> 00:15:04,170 ROB PORTMAN'S DECISION TO BE 469 00:15:04,170 --> 00:15:05,372 VETTED, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS 470 00:15:05,372 --> 00:15:06,473 CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT ON 471 00:15:06,473 --> 00:15:08,575 HIS SON WHO AT THE TIME WAS NOT 472 00:15:08,575 --> 00:15:10,577 KNOWN NATIONALLY TO BE GAY, ONLY 473 00:15:10,577 --> 00:15:12,879 ON HIS COLLEGE CAMPUS AND 474 00:15:12,879 --> 00:15:13,380 FAMILY. 475 00:15:13,380 --> 00:15:16,483 AND ROB PORTMAN'S DECISION TO 476 00:15:16,483 --> 00:15:19,586 SWITCH HIS POSITION ON SAME-SEX 477 00:15:19,586 --> 00:15:20,987 MARRIAGE BECAUSE OF HIS SON. 478 00:15:20,987 --> 00:15:22,188 >> GREAT HUMAN STORY. 479 00:15:22,188 --> 00:15:25,291 >> ALL ON THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL 480 00:15:25,291 --> 00:15:27,394 STUFF IS NEW STUFF THAT YOU 481 00:15:27,394 --> 00:15:28,595 WOULD HAVE IMAGINED IN THIS 482 00:15:28,595 --> 00:15:30,697 WORLD WOULD HAVE COME OUT. 483 00:15:30,697 --> 00:15:32,198 >> WE HAVE ENJOYED IN BOTH OF 484 00:15:32,198 --> 00:15:36,703 OUR BOOKS FOCUSING ON VICE 485 00:15:36,703 --> 00:15:38,405 PRESIDENTIAL VETTING. 486 00:15:38,405 --> 00:15:39,906 THEY'RE ALL EXAMPLES OF THE SAME 487 00:15:39,906 --> 00:15:41,608 THINGS, IN BOTH -- THE SAME 488 00:15:41,608 --> 00:15:43,209 PHENOMENON, WHICH IS THAT WE 489 00:15:43,209 --> 00:15:45,211 HAVE THIS INCREDIBLY SPED UP 490 00:15:45,211 --> 00:15:48,114 MEDIA ECOLOGY THAT WE LIVE IN 491 00:15:48,114 --> 00:15:50,417 WHERE THE METABOLISM IN THE 492 00:15:50,417 --> 00:15:52,018 MEDIA MOVES SO FAST. 493 00:15:52,018 --> 00:15:54,521 PEOPLE FOCUS ON SUCH A VERY 494 00:15:54,521 --> 00:15:57,524 BRIEF AMOUNT OF TIME, ONE OF THE 495 00:15:57,524 --> 00:15:58,625 THINGS THAT WE BRING REALLY IS 496 00:15:58,625 --> 00:15:59,526 JUST TIME. 497 00:15:59,526 --> 00:16:00,627 >> AND IT'S THE SAME FOCUS, 498 00:16:00,627 --> 00:16:01,227 RIGHT? 499 00:16:01,227 --> 00:16:03,430 >> WE HAVE TIME, SUSTAINED 500 00:16:03,430 --> 00:16:06,232 FOCUS, INTERVIEWS, MANY OF THEM 501 00:16:06,232 --> 00:16:07,534 DONE AFTER ELECTION DAY. 502 00:16:07,534 --> 00:16:08,735 THERE'S NOBODY ON THE WORLD 503 00:16:08,735 --> 00:16:11,271 TODAY WHO'S ON TWITTER, ON 504 00:16:11,271 --> 00:16:13,573 NEWSPAPER, ON TELEVISION IS 505 00:16:13,573 --> 00:16:15,075 GOING BACK AND ASKING PEOPLE 506 00:16:15,075 --> 00:16:17,877 ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED SIX MONTHS 507 00:16:17,877 --> 00:16:18,378 AGO. 508 00:16:18,378 --> 00:16:20,480 >> WE GO BACK, IT'S SIX MONTHS 509 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:21,781 LATER, WE'RE STILL TALKING TO 510 00:16:21,781 --> 00:16:23,183 PEOPLE ABOUT THESE THINGS, OVER 511 00:16:23,183 --> 00:16:24,484 AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. IT'S 512 00:16:24,484 --> 00:16:26,486 REALLY JUST A MATTER OF AS MUCH 513 00:16:26,486 --> 00:16:29,889 AS PERSPIRATION AS IT IS 514 00:16:29,889 --> 00:16:31,191 ANYTHING ELSE, JUST HAVING THE 515 00:16:31,191 --> 00:16:31,691 TIME. 516 00:16:31,691 --> 00:16:32,992 >> AT THE SAME TIME, PEOPLE ARE 517 00:16:32,992 --> 00:16:33,993 ON TO YOU NOW. 518 00:16:33,993 --> 00:16:36,596 FOUR YEARS AGO BEFORE "GAME 519 00:16:36,596 --> 00:16:38,398 CHANGE," THE KIND OF BOOK YOU 520 00:16:38,398 --> 00:16:39,699 WROTE ULTIMATELY HAD BEEN 521 00:16:39,699 --> 00:16:41,601 WRITTEN IN SOME WAYS BEFORE. 522 00:16:41,601 --> 00:16:43,003 THERE WAS THE CLASSIC NEWSWEEK 523 00:16:43,003 --> 00:16:44,504 "LET'S REPORT THE CAMPAIGN," BUT 524 00:16:44,504 --> 00:16:46,206 NOT ACTUALLY REPORT IT UNTIL 525 00:16:46,206 --> 00:16:47,207 AFTER THE FACT, THAT'S THE 526 00:16:47,207 --> 00:16:48,108 AGREEMENT, AND THEN THEY COME 527 00:16:48,108 --> 00:16:49,009 OUT WITH THIS THING. 528 00:16:49,009 --> 00:16:50,610 BUT "GAME CHANGE" WAS SORT OF 529 00:16:50,610 --> 00:16:52,912 THE VERY BEST AND THE MOST 530 00:16:52,912 --> 00:16:55,715 SUCCESSFUL OF THOSE. 531 00:16:55,715 --> 00:16:57,317 IS IT HARDER FOR YOU, PEOPLE WHO 532 00:16:57,317 --> 00:16:58,918 SAW THE LAST BOOK, WERE THERE 533 00:16:58,918 --> 00:17:00,620 PEOPLE MORE RELUCTANT TO TALK TO 534 00:17:00,620 --> 00:17:01,421 YOU? 535 00:17:01,421 --> 00:17:03,623 TALK ABOUT THIS TIME VERSUS LAST 536 00:17:03,623 --> 00:17:04,024 TIME. 537 00:17:04,024 --> 00:17:05,025 >> IT WAS ALMOST EXACTLY THE 538 00:17:05,025 --> 00:17:06,626 SAME IN TERMS OF HOW HARD IT 539 00:17:06,626 --> 00:17:07,127 WAS. 540 00:17:07,127 --> 00:17:07,727 >> YEAH. 541 00:17:07,727 --> 00:17:09,062 >> WIDESPREAD EXTENSIVE 542 00:17:09,062 --> 00:17:11,564 COOPERATION FROM PEOPLE IN BOTH 543 00:17:11,564 --> 00:17:12,065 PARTIES. 544 00:17:12,065 --> 00:17:12,465 >> : RIGHT. 545 00:17:12,465 --> 00:17:13,767 >> THE THINGS THAT CAUSED PEOPLE 546 00:17:13,767 --> 00:17:15,769 TO COOPERATE WITH US THE FIRST 547 00:17:15,769 --> 00:17:17,070 TIME WERE ALL STILL THE CASE, 548 00:17:17,070 --> 00:17:18,371 INCLUDING OR LONG-STANDING 549 00:17:18,371 --> 00:17:20,373 PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH 550 00:17:20,373 --> 00:17:21,975 PEOPLE IN BOTH PARTIES. 551 00:17:21,975 --> 00:17:22,375 >> YEP. 552 00:17:22,375 --> 00:17:25,879 >> AND A RESPECT FOR THEIR TIME 553 00:17:25,879 --> 00:17:27,881 AND FOR WHAT THEY DID IN PUTTING 554 00:17:27,881 --> 00:17:29,282 THEIR HEART AND SOUL INTO 555 00:17:29,282 --> 00:17:30,784 WHATEVER CAMPAIGN THEY WORKED ON 556 00:17:30,784 --> 00:17:32,786 OR FOR THE CANDIDATES' CAMPAIGNS 557 00:17:32,786 --> 00:17:33,186 THEY RAN. 558 00:17:33,186 --> 00:17:34,988 WE HAD VERY FEW PEOPLE DECLINE 559 00:17:34,988 --> 00:17:35,989 TO PARTICIPATE. 560 00:17:35,989 --> 00:17:37,090 >> OF COURSE, THAT'S THE UP 561 00:17:37,090 --> 00:17:37,290 VERSION. 562 00:17:37,290 --> 00:17:39,192 THE MORE CYNICAL VERSION IS 563 00:17:39,192 --> 00:17:40,894 PEOPLE WANT THEIR VERSION OF THE 564 00:17:40,894 --> 00:17:41,494 STORY OUT THERE. 565 00:17:41,494 --> 00:17:42,796 SO IN SOME RESPECT, THEY'RE 566 00:17:42,796 --> 00:17:48,802 MOTIVATED TO TELL THEIR VERSION 567 00:17:48,802 --> 00:17:49,903 OF THE STORY. 568 00:17:49,903 --> 00:17:51,104 >> HONESTLY, THE QUESTIONS OF 569 00:17:51,104 --> 00:17:53,106 THE MOTIVATIONS OF WHY PEOPLE 570 00:17:53,106 --> 00:17:55,308 TALK TO US, IT'S ALMOST BESIDE 571 00:17:55,308 --> 00:17:57,110 THE POINT. 572 00:17:57,110 --> 00:17:59,112 IN JOURNALISM, WHATEVER 573 00:17:59,112 --> 00:18:01,314 JOURNALISM YOU DO, DAILY, 574 00:18:01,314 --> 00:18:04,017 MONTHLY, WEEKLY, BROADCAST, 575 00:18:04,017 --> 00:18:05,318 ELECTRONIC, WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS 576 00:18:05,318 --> 00:18:07,520 SORTING AMONG ALL KINDS OF 577 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:09,155 MOTIVATIONS. 578 00:18:09,155 --> 00:18:10,256 THAT'S WHAT YOU DO. 579 00:18:10,256 --> 00:18:11,358 THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ABOUT. 580 00:18:11,358 --> 00:18:13,059 THAT'S WHAT OUR JOB IS. 581 00:18:13,059 --> 00:18:13,159 >> RIGHT. 582 00:18:13,159 --> 00:18:14,260 >> IT'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT 583 00:18:14,260 --> 00:18:15,061 WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED, 584 00:18:15,061 --> 00:18:17,464 REGARDLESS OF WHAT PEOPLE'S 585 00:18:17,464 --> 00:18:18,665 MOTIVATIONS FOR TELLING YOU. 586 00:18:18,665 --> 00:18:20,066 IF THEY TELL YOU SOMETHING, IT'S 587 00:18:20,066 --> 00:18:22,168 TRUE; IF THEY TELL YOU SOMETHING 588 00:18:22,168 --> 00:18:23,570 IS FALSE, IT'S FALSE. 589 00:18:23,570 --> 00:18:24,771 AND OUR JOB IS TO FIGURE THAT 590 00:18:24,771 --> 00:18:25,171 OUT. 591 00:18:25,171 --> 00:18:26,973 >> THE VOLUME OF THE INTERVIEWS 592 00:18:26,973 --> 00:18:29,175 ARE OBVIOUSLY QUANTITATIVELY 593 00:18:29,175 --> 00:18:31,878 DIFFERENT THAN WHAT JOURNALISMS 594 00:18:31,878 --> 00:18:33,279 ARE ABLE TO DO THESE DAYS. 595 00:18:33,279 --> 00:18:36,182 IF YOU ARE INTERVIEWING SOMEBODY 596 00:18:36,182 --> 00:18:37,183 EIGHT TIMES, AFTER A SENSE 597 00:18:37,183 --> 00:18:39,486 YOU'RE GOING TO GET A SENSE IF 598 00:18:39,486 --> 00:18:42,989 WHETHER THEIR STORY MATCHES UP. 599 00:18:42,989 --> 00:18:44,991 THAT QUANTITY OF INTERVIEWS JUST 600 00:18:44,991 --> 00:18:45,892 MAKES THAT POSSIBLE. 601 00:18:45,892 --> 00:18:47,694 >> WHAT IS THE TAKE-AWAY FROM 602 00:18:47,694 --> 00:18:48,194 THIS BOOK? 603 00:18:48,194 --> 00:18:49,295 SO IF SOMEBODY WHO IS COMING TO 604 00:18:49,295 --> 00:18:50,897 THIS BOOK, THEY PAID SOME 605 00:18:50,897 --> 00:18:52,298 ATTENTION TO THE CAMPAIGN BUT 606 00:18:52,298 --> 00:18:55,301 THEY NOW WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT 607 00:18:55,301 --> 00:18:57,303 THE LESSON OF THIS CAMPAIGN IS 608 00:18:57,303 --> 00:18:58,605 THROUGH THE LENS OF YOUR BOOK. 609 00:18:58,605 --> 00:19:00,907 >> WELL, BOILING IT DOWN TO ONE 610 00:19:00,907 --> 00:19:02,809 IS HARD, IT'S KIND OF THE SAME 611 00:19:02,809 --> 00:19:04,711 LESSON AS LAST ONE, WHICH 612 00:19:04,711 --> 00:19:06,112 RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IS AN 613 00:19:06,112 --> 00:19:08,014 EXTRAORDINARY HUMAN ENDEAVOR 614 00:19:08,014 --> 00:19:09,049 THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF SKILL AND 615 00:19:09,049 --> 00:19:10,850 A GOOD MEASURE OF LUCK. 616 00:19:10,850 --> 00:19:11,151 >> SAME. 617 00:19:11,151 --> 00:19:12,352 DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? 618 00:19:12,352 --> 00:19:13,753 >> I WOULD SAY THE MAIN LESSON 619 00:19:13,753 --> 00:19:16,456 OF THIS BOOK -- THERE'S TWO. 620 00:19:16,456 --> 00:19:16,856 >> YES. 621 00:19:16,856 --> 00:19:18,758 >> ONE IS THAT -- LET THE RECORD 622 00:19:18,758 --> 00:19:21,361 SHOW I RESTRICTED MYSELF TO ONE. 623 00:19:21,361 --> 00:19:22,062 >> YOU DID. 624 00:19:22,062 --> 00:19:25,765 >> ONE IS THAT YOU REALLY OUGHT 625 00:19:25,765 --> 00:19:26,466 TO GET SLEEP. 626 00:19:26,466 --> 00:19:28,468 SLEEP IS CRUCIAL. 627 00:19:28,468 --> 00:19:30,170 ALMOST EVERY BIG MISTAKE -- I 628 00:19:30,170 --> 00:19:30,770 THINK IN LIFE. 629 00:19:30,770 --> 00:19:34,374 EVERY BIG MISTAKE MADE IN THE 630 00:19:34,374 --> 00:19:38,778 BOOK IS MADE BY A CANDIDATE IS 631 00:19:38,778 --> 00:19:40,080 BECAUSE THEY'RE OVERTIRED. 632 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:41,981 THE OTHER IS GOLF. 633 00:19:41,981 --> 00:19:43,483 WE HAD NO IDEA, BUT THERE ARE 634 00:19:43,483 --> 00:19:46,386 APPARENTLY, LIKE, 13 PIVOTAL 635 00:19:46,386 --> 00:19:47,787 GOLF SCENES IN THE BOOK. 636 00:19:47,787 --> 00:19:49,389 WE DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE WRITING A 637 00:19:49,389 --> 00:19:51,091 BOOK ABOUT GOLF, BUT WE WERE. 638 00:19:51,091 --> 00:19:52,592 >> LET ME ASK YOU TO ROLL 639 00:19:52,592 --> 00:19:53,993 FORWARD, YOU HAVE LIVES AS 640 00:19:53,993 --> 00:19:56,596 EXPERT POLITICAL REPORTERS, 641 00:19:56,596 --> 00:19:58,698 COMMENTATORS, YOU PAY ATTENTION 642 00:19:58,698 --> 00:19:59,699 TO THIS STUFF ALL THE TIME. 643 00:19:59,699 --> 00:20:01,801 YOU DIDN'T STOP PAYING ATTENTION 644 00:20:01,801 --> 00:20:03,103 WHEN THE BOOK REPORTING WAS 645 00:20:03,103 --> 00:20:05,305 DONE. THE PRESIDENT IS IN A 646 00:20:05,305 --> 00:20:06,506 WORLD OF HURT RIGHT NOW. 647 00:20:06,506 --> 00:20:08,008 IF THE ELECTION HAD BEEN IN 648 00:20:08,008 --> 00:20:10,243 2013, AS OPPOSED TO 2012, YOU 649 00:20:10,243 --> 00:20:11,745 CAN ALWAYS PLAY THIS GAME, MUCH 650 00:20:11,745 --> 00:20:13,446 MORE CHALLENGING SITUATION FOR 651 00:20:13,446 --> 00:20:13,747 HIM? 652 00:20:13,747 --> 00:20:15,749 HE HAD NOT A VERY GOOD YEAR FOR 653 00:20:15,749 --> 00:20:17,751 A GUY WHO WON ELECTION A YEAR 654 00:20:17,751 --> 00:20:18,351 AGO. 655 00:20:18,351 --> 00:20:19,152 >> TAKE IT BACK TO THE BOOK, 656 00:20:19,152 --> 00:20:20,754 BECAUSE THAT'S MY ANALYSIS. HE 657 00:20:20,754 --> 00:20:22,055 RAN IN A WAY BASICALLY SAYING 658 00:20:22,055 --> 00:20:23,757 THE LAST YEAR OF HIS FIRST TERM 659 00:20:23,757 --> 00:20:25,258 WAS GOING TO BE DEVOTED NOT TO 660 00:20:25,258 --> 00:20:26,359 GETTING ANYTHING DONE, BECAUSE 661 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:27,761 HE DIDN'T THINK HE COULD WITH 662 00:20:27,761 --> 00:20:30,363 THE REPUBLICANS, BUT TO TRY TO 663 00:20:30,363 --> 00:20:32,065 WIN THE ELECTION, GET A NEW 664 00:20:32,065 --> 00:20:34,567 MANDATE, AND GET THINGS THROUGH. 665 00:20:34,567 --> 00:20:36,670 HE DID IT ALIENATING THE 666 00:20:36,670 --> 00:20:38,171 BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND HE DID IT 667 00:20:38,171 --> 00:20:39,572 IN A WAY THAT DIDN'T LEAVE HIM 668 00:20:39,572 --> 00:20:40,974 THAT CLOSE TO DEMOCRATS IN 669 00:20:40,974 --> 00:20:41,274 CONGRESS. 670 00:20:41,274 --> 00:20:43,176 SO HE STARTS THE TERM IN A VERY 671 00:20:43,176 --> 00:20:43,877 WEAK POSITION. 672 00:20:43,877 --> 00:20:45,478 AND I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR A 673 00:20:45,478 --> 00:20:48,682 WHILE, IF HE CAN'T WRITE THE 674 00:20:48,682 --> 00:20:50,183 SHIP THIS YEAR, THE NOTION THAT 675 00:20:50,183 --> 00:20:51,985 REAL WIN BACK CONTROL OF THE 676 00:20:51,985 --> 00:20:52,986 HOUSE TO THE DEMOCRATS, I THINK, 677 00:20:52,986 --> 00:20:54,688 IS PRETTY LUDICROUS, AND THAT 678 00:20:54,688 --> 00:20:56,589 MEANS HE MAY HAVE A FOUR-YEAR 679 00:20:56,589 --> 00:20:58,892 TERM WHERE NOTHING GETS DONE. 680 00:20:58,892 --> 00:21:00,393 >> THAT'S THE DISCUSSION RIGHT 681 00:21:00,393 --> 00:21:02,896 NOW, THE HEALTHCARE.GOV 682 00:21:02,896 --> 00:21:04,397 SITUATION, AND WE'RE NOT OUT OF 683 00:21:04,397 --> 00:21:06,099 IT, BUT BASICALLY ROLLING OUT OF 684 00:21:06,099 --> 00:21:08,001 IT, HE MAY BE A LAME DUCK NOW 685 00:21:08,001 --> 00:21:09,836 AND UNABLE TO GET ANY BIG -- 686 00:21:09,836 --> 00:21:11,438 LOOK WHAT IT'S DOING TO HIS 687 00:21:11,438 --> 00:21:17,744 JUDICIAL NOMINEES AS WE SIT 688 00:21:17,744 --> 00:21:18,044 HERE. 689 00:21:18,044 --> 00:21:18,745 >> THE ONE THING THAT THE WHITE 690 00:21:18,745 --> 00:21:22,349 HOUSE HOLDS ON TO IS THE BEAT OF 691 00:21:22,349 --> 00:21:24,651 THE NEWS CYCLE. SIX WEEKS AGO 692 00:21:24,651 --> 00:21:25,552 REPUBLICANS WENT AFTER THE 693 00:21:25,552 --> 00:21:31,257 SHUTDOWN, AND IT WAS JUST OVER. 694 00:21:31,257 --> 00:21:33,360 THE HEALTHCARE THING HIT IN A 695 00:21:33,360 --> 00:21:34,060 BIG WAY. 696 00:21:34,060 --> 00:21:35,762 NOW OBAMA HAD DEEMED IT 697 00:21:35,762 --> 00:21:37,163 IMPOSSIBLE, THIS WILL HAVE A 698 00:21:37,163 --> 00:21:40,467 SHORTER HALF-LIFE THAN WE THINK, 699 00:21:40,467 --> 00:21:42,168 ESPECIALLY IF THEY CAN GET THE 700 00:21:42,168 --> 00:21:43,570 PROBLEM FIXED WITH HEALTHCARE. 701 00:21:43,570 --> 00:21:44,971 THE COMBINATION OF THE 702 00:21:44,971 --> 00:21:46,172 HEALTHCARE WEBSITE AND THE 703 00:21:46,172 --> 00:21:47,374 THINGS THAT ARE ATTACHED TO 704 00:21:47,374 --> 00:21:49,876 THAT, THE SYSTEMIC ISSUES AROUND 705 00:21:49,876 --> 00:21:51,978 THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, IF THOSE 706 00:21:51,978 --> 00:21:53,680 THINGS GET FIXED IN A RELATIVELY 707 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:55,782 TIMELY WAY, I THINK HE CAN STILL 708 00:21:55,782 --> 00:21:56,182 RECOVER. 709 00:21:56,182 --> 00:21:58,184 IF THEY CAN'T, HE'LL BE DONE, 710 00:21:58,184 --> 00:21:59,386 BECAUSE HIS CREDIBILITY NOW IS 711 00:21:59,386 --> 00:22:00,587 SO MUCH AT STAKE. 712 00:22:00,587 --> 00:22:02,889 >> I THINK DOING HEALTHCARE IN A 713 00:22:02,889 --> 00:22:04,591 PARTISAN WAY IS GOING TO GO DOWN 714 00:22:04,591 --> 00:22:07,494 IN HISTORY AS SOMEWHAT AN ERROR 715 00:22:07,494 --> 00:22:11,731 AND MAYBE A GIGANTIC ERROR. 716 00:22:11,731 --> 00:22:13,633 THEY SUGAR-COATED THAT THERE'S 717 00:22:13,633 --> 00:22:15,135 GOING TO BE LOSERS UNDER THIS 718 00:22:15,135 --> 00:22:15,735 REFORM. 719 00:22:15,735 --> 00:22:17,237 >> THERE HAS TO BE. 720 00:22:17,237 --> 00:22:18,838 >> AND AS MORE PEOPLE SEE THEIR 721 00:22:18,838 --> 00:22:20,340 HEALTHCARE CHANGE OR THEIR 722 00:22:20,340 --> 00:22:22,642 PREMIUMS GO UP OR THE OVERALL 723 00:22:22,642 --> 00:22:24,944 COST IN TERMS OF HOW THEIR 724 00:22:24,944 --> 00:22:26,246 HEALTHCARE SPENDING GOES, I 725 00:22:26,246 --> 00:22:29,149 THINK HE'S GOING TO FACE A 726 00:22:29,149 --> 00:22:32,452 NITPICKING BY HIS OPPONENTS THAT 727 00:22:32,452 --> 00:22:33,653 IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT 728 00:22:33,653 --> 00:22:35,055 TO MAKE THIS SEEM IN THE 729 00:22:35,055 --> 00:22:36,756 SHORT-TERM LIKE A WINNER OF THE 730 00:22:36,756 --> 00:22:37,157 COUNTRY. 731 00:22:37,157 --> 00:22:38,858 >> YOU GUYS WILL END HERE. 732 00:22:38,858 --> 00:22:41,261 DOES IT LEECH INTO 2016? SO 733 00:22:41,261 --> 00:22:42,962 HILARY CLINTON LEAVES THE 734 00:22:42,962 --> 00:22:44,364 ADMINISTRATION AT THE END OF THE 735 00:22:44,364 --> 00:22:45,965 FIRST TERM, SHE'S CHILLING, BUT 736 00:22:45,965 --> 00:22:47,167 OBVIOUSLY SHE'S LOOKING REALLY 737 00:22:47,167 --> 00:22:48,668 HARD BY ALL ACCOUNTS AT RUNNING 738 00:22:48,668 --> 00:22:50,570 IN THE NEXT ELECTION. AND UNTIL 739 00:22:50,570 --> 00:22:52,472 THESE PROBLEMS, THE ASSUMPTION 740 00:22:52,472 --> 00:22:54,174 WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER 741 00:22:54,174 --> 00:22:55,675 HAPPENED IN THE OBAMA 742 00:22:55,675 --> 00:22:59,379 ADMINISTRATION MIGHT NOT REALLY 743 00:22:59,379 --> 00:23:01,681 LAND AT HER FEET. 744 00:23:01,681 --> 00:23:03,383 DOES THAT CALCULATION, JOHN, NOW 745 00:23:03,383 --> 00:23:03,983 CHANGE? 746 00:23:03,983 --> 00:23:04,884 >> WELL, I THINK YES. 747 00:23:04,884 --> 00:23:05,385 CERTAINLY. 748 00:23:05,385 --> 00:23:06,586 I MEAN, SHE'S GOING TO BE 749 00:23:06,586 --> 00:23:08,388 RUNNING -- IF SHE RUNS, AND IF 750 00:23:08,388 --> 00:23:10,724 SHE BECOMES THE DEMOCRATIC 751 00:23:10,724 --> 00:23:12,125 NOMINEE, THE DIFFICULTY, 752 00:23:12,125 --> 00:23:15,528 HISTORIC DIFFICULTIES OF WINNING 753 00:23:15,528 --> 00:23:17,130 A THIRD CONSECUTIVE TERMS FOR 754 00:23:17,130 --> 00:23:18,732 THE IN-POWER PARTY ARE, YOU 755 00:23:18,732 --> 00:23:20,433 KNOW, HIGH BAR. 756 00:23:20,433 --> 00:23:20,633 >> RIGHT. 757 00:23:20,633 --> 00:23:21,835 >> AND RIGHT NOW, PUT ASIDE 758 00:23:21,835 --> 00:23:23,436 HEALTHCARE, RIGHT NOW, THE 759 00:23:23,436 --> 00:23:26,339 ECONOMY'S GOTTEN A LITTLE 760 00:23:26,339 --> 00:23:27,140 BITTER, BUT THE OVERALL EIGHT 761 00:23:27,140 --> 00:23:28,341 YEARS OF OBAMA MAY NOT BE A 762 00:23:28,341 --> 00:23:29,542 PERIOD THAT ANYONE WILL EVER 763 00:23:29,542 --> 00:23:31,144 LOOK BACK ON AS HAVING BEEN A 764 00:23:31,144 --> 00:23:32,245 PERIOD OF STRONG ECONOMIC 765 00:23:32,245 --> 00:23:33,546 GROWTH. UNEMPLOYMENT IS STILL 766 00:23:33,546 --> 00:23:34,948 ACTUALLY QUITE HIGH. 767 00:23:34,948 --> 00:23:39,052 AND HE -- SHE WAS A MEMBER OF 768 00:23:39,052 --> 00:23:39,953 HIS ADMINISTRATION. 769 00:23:39,953 --> 00:23:42,055 THERE'S STILL, SHE'S -- HER MAIN 770 00:23:42,055 --> 00:23:44,457 THING -- HER LAST JOB WOULD HAVE 771 00:23:44,457 --> 00:23:47,761 BEEN SECRETARY OF STATE FOR 772 00:23:47,761 --> 00:23:51,965 BARACK OBAMA, AND SHE'S GOING TO 773 00:23:51,965 --> 00:23:54,467 BE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THAT. 774 00:23:54,467 --> 00:23:54,868 >> AGREE? 775 00:23:54,868 --> 00:23:55,769 >> I DO. 776 00:23:55,769 --> 00:23:57,871 THE THIRD PARTY IS A TOUGH 777 00:23:57,871 --> 00:23:58,171 THING. 778 00:23:58,171 --> 00:23:59,372 ONE OF THE THINGS THE PRESIDENT 779 00:23:59,372 --> 00:24:01,775 HAS NEVER SOLVED IS WHAT IS THE 780 00:24:01,775 --> 00:24:03,176 OBAMA THEORY ABOUT THE CASE OF 781 00:24:03,176 --> 00:24:03,476 THE ECONOMY. 782 00:24:03,476 --> 00:24:05,979 AND THE ECONOMIC STATISTICS, 783 00:24:05,979 --> 00:24:09,015 UNLESS THERE'S SOME CHANGES, 784 00:24:09,015 --> 00:24:10,517 WILL NOT BE GOOD. 785 00:24:10,517 --> 00:24:12,218 >> FAIRLY LIMPING ALONG. 786 00:24:12,218 --> 00:24:14,020 >> I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO SEE A 787 00:24:14,020 --> 00:24:15,422 PRESIDENT IN THIS AGE WITH SO 788 00:24:15,422 --> 00:24:17,624 MUCH UNCERTAINTY IN ECONOMY, 789 00:24:17,624 --> 00:24:19,526 THAT'S HIS PLAN, THAT'S HIS 790 00:24:19,526 --> 00:24:21,127 THESIS ABOUT HOW THE AMERICAN 791 00:24:21,127 --> 00:24:21,928 ECONOMY SHOULD WORK. 792 00:24:21,928 --> 00:24:23,129 I DON'T THINK HE'S MADE THAT 793 00:24:23,129 --> 00:24:24,531 CASE IN A WAY THAT I COULD 794 00:24:24,531 --> 00:24:26,933 ENUNCIATE, I THINK MOST VOTERS 795 00:24:26,933 --> 00:24:27,834 WOULD FEEL THE SAME WAY. 796 00:24:27,834 --> 00:24:29,436 I THINK THAT'S A DANGER FOR HIM. 797 00:24:29,436 --> 00:24:31,338 AS WELL AS A DANGER FOR THE NEXT 798 00:24:31,338 --> 00:24:33,740 DEMOCRAT. BUT IF THEY'VE GOT A 799 00:24:33,740 --> 00:24:36,242 BETTER WAY TO ENUNCIATE IT, THEN 800 00:24:36,242 --> 00:24:37,644 MAYBE THEY HAVE A CHANCE. 801 00:24:37,644 --> 00:24:39,346 >> ONE BIG THING IN HER FAVOR 802 00:24:39,346 --> 00:24:40,947 WHICH THE REPUBLICAN HAVE DONE 803 00:24:40,947 --> 00:24:42,749 NOTHING, NOTHING, IN THE LAST 12 804 00:24:42,749 --> 00:24:44,351 MONTHS TO CURE THE FUNDAMENTAL 805 00:24:44,351 --> 00:24:47,053 STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS THEY HAVE 806 00:24:47,053 --> 00:24:51,458 WITH WINNING A NATIONAL 807 00:24:51,458 --> 00:24:53,460 ELECTION. 808 00:24:53,460 --> 00:24:53,860 >> YEAH. 809 00:24:53,860 --> 00:24:55,261 >> THEY'VE NOT MOVED THE BALL 810 00:24:55,261 --> 00:24:56,963 FORWARD 1 INCH SINCE ELECTION 811 00:24:56,963 --> 00:24:59,866 DAY OF 2012, AND IF THEY ARE AT 812 00:24:59,866 --> 00:25:01,768 STATUS QUO FROM ELECTION DAY 813 00:25:01,768 --> 00:25:05,972 2012, THEY WILL LOSE BIGGER THAN 814 00:25:05,972 --> 00:25:08,575 THEY LOST IN 2012, BECAUSE 815 00:25:08,575 --> 00:25:10,777 THEY'RE JUST STRUCTURALLY 816 00:25:10,777 --> 00:25:12,879 BEDEVILED RIGHT NOW. 817 00:25:12,879 --> 00:25:15,982 >> THE HUNT FOR PUFFER FISH, 818 00:25:15,982 --> 00:25:17,684 WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE BOOK 819 00:25:17,684 --> 00:25:18,785 GOING TO BE? 820 00:25:18,785 --> 00:25:23,490 >> AS YOU STAY IN THE TELEVISION 821 00:25:23,490 --> 00:25:24,891 WORLD, STAY TUNED. 822 00:25:24,891 --> 00:25:26,393 >> THANK YOU, BOTH, FOR COMING 823 00:25:26,393 --> 00:25:26,893 BACK. 824 00:25:26,893 --> 00:25:29,396 GREAT TO SEE YOU BOTH, 825 00:25:29,396 --> 00:25:31,197 PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY. 826 00:25:31,197 --> 00:25:33,600 JOHN HEILEMANN, JOHN HALPERIN, 827 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:34,801 THANKS VERY MUCH. 828 00:25:34,801 --> 00:25:35,402 >> THANK YOU. 829 00:25:35,402 --> 00:25:36,403 >> THANK YOU. 830 00:25:36,403 --> 00:25:38,805 >> WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU JOIN US 831 00:25:38,805 --> 00:25:40,206 IN THE STUDIO. 832 00:25:40,206 --> 00:25:42,108 VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT 833 00:25:42,108 --> 00:25:45,011 KLRU.ORG/OVERHEARD TO FIND 834 00:25:45,011 --> 00:25:48,615 INVITATIONS TO INTERVIEWS, Q AND 835 00:25:48,615 --> 00:25:52,619 AS OF PAST GUESTS AND AN ARCHIVE 836 00:25:52,619 --> 00:25:56,523 OF PAST EPISODE. 837 00:25:56,523 --> 00:25:58,425 >> CHRIS CHRISTIE PURSUES THE 838 00:25:58,425 --> 00:26:01,728 GUY BRANDISHING AN ICE CREAM 839 00:26:01,728 --> 00:26:04,030 CONE HECKLING HIM, NOT 840 00:26:04,030 --> 00:26:04,931 NECESSARILY THE MOST 841 00:26:04,931 --> 00:26:12,272 PRESIDENTIAL ACT EVER COMMITTED. 842 00:26:12,272 --> 00:26:14,474 >> FUNDING FOR OVERHEARD WITH 843 00:26:14,474 --> 00:26:16,276 EVAN SMITH IS PROVIDED IN PART 844 00:26:16,276 --> 00:26:18,778 BY MFI FOUNDATION, IMPROVING THE 845 00:26:18,778 --> 00:26:19,779 QUALITY OF LIFE WITHIN OUR 846 00:26:19,779 --> 00:26:21,081 COMMUNITY, AND FROM THE TEXAS 847 00:26:21,081 --> 00:26:23,283 BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION, 848 00:26:23,283 --> 00:26:25,285 BOARD CERTIFIED ATTORNEYS IN 849 00:26:25,285 --> 00:26:26,086 YOUR COMMUNITY. 850 00:26:26,086 --> 00:26:27,787 EXPERIENCED, RESPECTED AND 851 00:26:27,787 --> 00:26:28,888 TESTED. 852 00:26:28,888 --> 00:26:31,691 ALSO, BY HILCO PARTNERS, TEXAS 853 00:26:31,691 --> 00:26:33,393 GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CONSULTANCY 854 00:26:33,393 --> 00:26:35,695 AND IT'S GLOBAL HEALTH CARE 855 00:26:35,695 --> 00:26:37,697 CONSULTING BUSINESS UNIT, HILCO 856 00:26:37,697 --> 00:26:40,200 HEALTH, AND BY THE ALICE KLEBERG 857 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:42,702 REYNOLDS FOUNDATION AND VIEWERS 858 00:26:42,702 --> 00:26:43,403 LIKE YOU. 859 00:26:43,403 --> 00:27:09,462 THANK YOU. 860 00:27:09,462 --> 00:27:11,064 >> NEXT TIME ON OVERHEARD, THE 861 00:27:11,064 --> 00:27:13,867 COAUTHORS OF "DOUBLE DOWN" JOHN 862 00:27:13,867 --> 00:27:17,871 HEILEMANN AND MARK HALPERIN. 863 00:27:17,871 --> 00:27:18,772 >> IF THEY TELL YOU SOMETHING 864 00:27:18,772 --> 00:27:19,773 IT'S TRUE, IT'S TRUE. 865 00:27:19,773 --> 00:27:20,974 IF THEY TOLD YOU SOMETHING WAS 866 00:27:20,974 --> 00:27:21,975 FALSE, IT'S FALSE. 867 00:27:21,975 --> 00:27:23,376 THE THINGS THAT CAUSED PEOPLE TO 868 00:27:23,376 --> 00:27:24,978 COOPERATE WITH US THE FIRST TIME 869 00:27:24,978 --> 00:27:27,180 IS STILL THE CASE, INCLUDING OUR 870 00:27:27,180 --> 00:27:28,381 LONG-STANDING PROFESSIONAL 871 00:27:28,381 --> 00:27:30,884 RELATIONSHIPS IN BOTH PARTIES, 872 00:27:30,884 --> 00:27:32,085 NOT JUST IN THE OBAMA AND ROMNEY 873 00:27:32,085 --> 00:27:37,290 WORLD.