Joan Venocchi

Columnist for the Boston Globe the one and only Joan -- not -- hate Java knocking how idea 68 -- it is great CEO voice -- you know you've been critical of the the governor I'm curious to.

Say bet the I do something I had a --

Just a little bit critical from time to time what's your take on this a decision on he is now going to Q what I call the Mormon speech.

Well I have I -- two points to make the first would be it's kind of ironic that the one thing he actually believes that his religion is causing him. And problem.

That that it is probably the YM constant you can count on what may have beaten probably won't flip on this one.

I hope not because that would be the ultimate flip -- And that you know that decision to give this speech is as calculated anything else in the -- needs and I think. I guess I agree with -- that some you know what you said -- before the break here we -- a lot of agreement sorting out here I think it can't help but help them. First of all anything that makes them look like -- human being a person with feelings convictions of principles will be helpful but am I you know personally I think that is bigger -- and.

You know I I I love the point that you make because many many times written it will come across has the camp -- antiseptic bloodless. Corporate robot with a PowerPoint. As opposed to an off that thick flesh and blood guy or gal the person next to a who either you love or you were infuriated by bad at least is a real reaction to a real. Person and this is a priceless moment foreign -- but you agree would you not I mean this is about as high stakes as it gets in the presidential contest.

I think -- high stakes I think is looking not Iowa right now he's thinking. Look at huckabee could -- could be probably will -- thing he needs to keep the firewall in New Hampshire just the -- Hillary Clinton's. And quite honestly. This is where it you know east coast mentality and you know all of the liberal view award. Will come into play because people here I believe will be offended at the idea that religion to be held against. What's happening in Iowa you know what happens in Iowa State Iowa I think is looking. Has that same without you I've got to show humanity have got to have conviction have got so maybe -- of the tear in my you know on human emotion and that helps in the -- answer.

He should -- of bill Clinton's available for coaching keep -- the IA on command with Bill Clinton. You know going to keep -- local because she wrote about the fire wall affected and the necessity of a fire wall for Hillary up in New Hampshire let's stay with permit for a minute but let's keep it local New Hampshire -- neighbors and friends right to the north just moments away in many listening right now Joan tell us about the dynamics as you see them on the ground are here about the on the ground in New Hampshire specifically with net.

Well rob is still got a big lead there and I think that again you know. Mike huckabee in Iowa that can happen maybe that will happen. But as Mike huckabee and storm New Hampshire and -- on -- basically you know in what is is his second home state. Anything could happen in politics but I find that I -- Believe it kind of leave an opening for Rudy Giuliani but Giuliani is so under attack right now. For real issues of trustworthiness real character issues interminable you know the -- having to do -- So called thrift with his mistress and what's going on -- and he Rudy seems like he's got real problems here and so whatever it Romney comes in second Iowa he's still got. But the the strain then and here in New Hampshire.

And any -- obviously you be closely followed then by South Carolina and Michigan I have to expect that Romney will do well in Michigan if for no other reason and his dad and you know he's a native -- he's -- from the wolverines stage from many places. Of course but. He could claim legitimately to be a son of the wolverines stayed and that has to count for something out the F. As well as he's got more money than huckabee I mean -- had his money maybe it's a different race but you know.

I spoke with huckabee wins Iowa that he can raise more money in the pocket because it's -- South Carolina if if if you need it I've -- it's really the 12 -- of Iowa and New Hampshire and everything takes off after that.

Let's stay with a couple of other things up there in in New Hampshire an an and move back and for the removed to Barack Obama and specifically Deval Patrick. Any sense from the Deval Patrick -- assessment of Iraq that daddy is translating. On the ground up in New Hampshire. Is devolved worth an Oprah to each of them brings dimensions that the others just hope to match in his Hillary had trouble.

Well I know you never posted it on the radio that you don't know it is the question but I have no idea how Deval Patrick -- in New Hampshire as far as I can Kelly went up there once that is inadequate excited now.

In China right now as we speak you can add up it got.

That would connect Deval Patrick would be a non factor at this particular moment. I think Obama is kind of the opposite of -- if he wins Iowa that does. Cause real problems -- Hillary Clinton in cancer because the momentum built that you could see from this week's press coverage that Barack Obama is the media darling of the week. He'd get in the front page magazine treatment he's getting. The story you know revival in the grass roots coming alive and Hillary looking like a little bit on the ropes right now again you know. Things happen in politics in this bill amounts to -- that momentum since the on Barack Obama's site right. Now nothing has really -- that welfare Hillary actually had the so called hostage crisis. But quite honestly. When she gave her a little press conference if she did fine but she didn't have that couldn't hear her --

You know. Yeah she LI is not PL I mean a strict addresses that she's not built in a weakness of hers is she is not bill. I'm I'm also told John Kennedy inside stuff by by Hillary people in Iowa. That they are looking at people in the organization Iraq has built an Iowa and they are impressed. The Hillary people who are as good as it gets a lookin' at the other side insane. You know boys and girls we get a serious competitor over there this guy is not just you know not just a pretty pretty cover on a magazine this.

And if the woman you have the so called woman's vote turns on Hillary in Iowa. Obviously that is very bad news for her she can't win without women voters and I mean. Don't know the polling numbers that I it's because things and headline that shows that women are sort of breaking for Obama right now that's where -- go in Holbrook plays then and -- that he can win Iowa.

To what it's one more candidate up -- New Hampshire and then an issue that I let -- go join you've been great to to call and we're going to have to do this more often. Tell me what you see or hear about McCain in New Hampshire is that. The battleground for him is that make or break territory for John McCain and how do you see him. Doing particularly after his debate performance the other night.

Well he won that important newspaper endorsement look and from my perspective he was the winner of the debate given night. He has you know character teach those principles is not afraid to say things. That turn off you know pieces of an audience important well -- that the audience. But this summer I didn't vote analytical and crazy Republicans but those conservative Republicans. Just don't like John McCain's principle I mean if he could turn that around and when New Hampshire would be great stories but much -- can't.

Yeah on the issue and this is one that I think cuts across much more broadly but much broader than just the Republican primary voters. Immigration -- I hear it all the time not just hear on the radio but in the street and I hear from a lot of what I'll characterize says. Democratic suburban women almost you know the classic soccer mom label that we apply. To that demographic to that's that that group of of the population. Concerned about this issue about immigration either in part because they think may be the us on our daughter is not going to get a fair chance in and around college that they're paying at one rate and somebody who's not here. With the right papers is paying -- another rate. Do you sense the breadth in the depth and that passion of this immigration issue or you really think it's isolated just on the Republican side.

I think it is you know see. Hot button issue heavily -- every candidate has come into the globe from the late Sam Brownback who would have been dropped out. And -- to Bill Richardson has said the same thing. They have not encountered such passion less anger. As they have on the immigration issue so I think it really stands to the sadly I'm very important instantly.

What we have historic campaigns in Barack Obama historic campaigns and Hillary Clinton a historic emperor perhaps as I said a moment ago very bright very deep issue that every candidate is going to have to stand up and be measured on IE immigration and we haven't even talked about the war in Iraq it tells me John we're going to have to do this more often. It's your wrist -- you BK -- pullout dear T even do go out today because I know you can work very skillfully and successfully from home but did you.

And one of those suburban women will be point in their cars outside 90s there right. So these groups these go