Major Garrett

We're going to focus on issues Iowans say they still want to know more about. We won't talk a lot about issues like Iraq or immigration. They're important issues no doubt but I wouldn't say they know where the candidates are coming from --

Well that was the moderator and yes today's debate among and between the Republican presidential candidates. And that we are delighted to hooked in to hook up with the one and only major Garrett. From Fox News fire major we understand you're on the ground out they're in Iowa now good morning to wish there we go Wendy Murphy here Michael piloted Tom Finneran and it's a delight. After her up with the I get a tight in my studio guys were having some fun at DR expense yesterday. When you -- now gone to -- security and then you were being whisked to the fertile soil of Iowa. They -- make an all sorts of rants and accusations about you. It's now if if you used any bathrooms and we know what was going on and tied him on the stand -- never have to answer it people and opera what you know watch out of people with a wide stance in the airport restrooms so. I'm not now nor ever ever been my yeah. Listen it's been awake since we talked and it just been doing a court little less grow the up in might correct three weeks from today. Three weeks from today Iowa cock really yeah it is is is -- believe I mean this is deadly scrambled time now for candidates. Desperate for every facial every opportunity to have faced with any interest that caucus --

Oh absolutely and here in Iowa dissent is that. Hillary Clinton's still hasn't. -- a moment and she lost couple three weeks ago that are number respect that they might be dropping a little bit. Obama still have pretty good surge and keeper John Edwards because. The -- or strategy has always been use it long standing relationship in this state organizationally output box. Both Clinton and Obama. And this running Clinton Obama do you now it's reached such a level of intensity. -- so triple weeks ago it was John Edwards who looked like angry man this sort of -- fire breathing populist. He called let down quite a bit his commercials are much more positive much more upbeat talking about a unified fight for all people to get things to all -- believe it and serve any. -- down his once fiery demeanor the airports people do believe they've really have a shot and I would beat Clinton that the people poverty here and whether or not that's enough. To catapult them into the top ranks in the interest South Carolina is undetermined but that's their only strategy left and they believe it's what --

a major if we can't let's focus on some of the candidates other than the top three right now. -- as it relates to the debate which will be held later today. Do you expect any of them to try anything outlandish to break in are for the most part. I think going to fold like you know -- like like second -- professionals.

Well I think Joe Biden has the best chances of moving up here in Iowa got a very good have a television analysis look. There -- a campaign going on a lot slogan -- slogan so mean anything what you decompress it talks about his. Loose partition plan for Iraq that authority it received bipartisan support I'd ought to lead I don't need slogan you don't need to slogans. Was prepared not just for the campaign but the next president. And I think it -- people sent a message like that a lot of violence will be motivated police moved into his camp. What not a lot that a certain number on caucus -- the question is. Well you have enough of those to meet that threshold of -- not widow's bite people go to -- what supporting Joe Biden because you like experiential like his approach to or populated step. But you're not viable if you go to Edwards -- Obama -- Clinton that's a big question. And major may not go to Obama because he's perceived I think almost universally is lacking experience but you have Edwards pretty good clip that this huge question.

Major at the extra issue aside and no I wouldn't scare -- that and I'm also told and this is reported constantly that Iowa has added that the the big issue for them is immigration. And what should the candidates you think is it is sincerely it on the right page in terms of the -- carcasses and the issue of immigration who's likely to make the most impact there on that issue.

Well off on the Republican side that's going to be sorted out at the on going debate between Rami and Huckabee in the -- people believe they've very much network the other defensive. On the question supporting taxpayer financed tuition and college or illegal immigrants. And it's nice that -- my time going to democratic -- are accurate think about immigration it's about civil -- generalized concern about how to balance all of these varied interest. You don't hear from democratic audience audience is is expensive or what you plan to secure the borders you here are we going to sort all this out. And -- did the question is both Democrats the way that we sort it all out. Edwards Obama and Clinton -- more or less work their way through that they won't it be operated that we need to get the -- or here despite a path to legalization. That I think all sort of settles -- so what my in my the most democratic audience I think. Immigration and that was the great army yes this Republican debate moderator takes up people.

All the riddle and that's right that's right -- in the red meat away from the dot that in hand yet.

That's the most important issue -- being debated by the candidates can you give voters already know of people became editor that's just became engaged or another on this central question people right off the table that's where the debate in the -- all the Republican and pepper from. --

Yeah in you know -- idol I like the idea that she wanted to try to broaden the conversation a little bit to other subjects but you're right. Missed an opportunity to really shop and the engagement which was developing on its own. And -- and for the life of me I scratch my head all afternoon major 2 PM eastern time two broadcast I I just don't know if there you could've chosen. A more inappropriate time to reach an audience and had to be one of the narrowest audiences of all time was that means.

Analysis after the fact which I you know I paid attention to. Get more out of the analysis then they do out of watching these things and wait just declare I -- Hillary Clinton stands to lose the most ground on immigrants she's got these flip flopping positions and it's just completely unclear to me. That she's got this -- the securing the border mindset and and of all the people who you know. Needs to keep grounder gain ground -- it is you know what's weird terms of the sentiment about Hillary Clinton's potential for -- it it to succeed not a given how important immigration is there.

Her problem on immigration was one not only policy but a sort of can't think around issue. Philadelphia debate MS -- and basically gave she got herself would be wrapped around the axle LE that it planned to give our flight to legal. You know if you could really peeled back the -- on the popular Obama and Edwards altogether that different than now and it's the only one along with dot. With absolutely positively get drivers like for legal. Edwards and Obama are much more open does that on policy. Did their their they might be more out of step with violent that issue that Hillary now it's the probable for Hillary it's. She took that hit because it sounded as if she was trying to -- a everything to all he looked up -- him jump on both sides of that issue which. It'd been the first time any voter Iowa or anywhere else in CNET from a Clinton it would be okay because it was. Sure of that reinforced the period create a problem with Hillary Clinton but still part of Bill Clinton. Approach to politics which is. -- it's like being constantly yeah and and and and and moving around an issue so it was immigration not a policy question but it became a much larger problem. Because it reinforced every a pre existing. Setting aside yeah but what and when you bring Bill Clinton are here. Routinely get they have and when Bill Clinton the couple weeks but you know I was against the Iraq war the very beginning it was accurate that is --

Yeah I got I got out the other quotes the quotes a damning and devastating actually and the Clinton MO I think you make a great point major. Yeah every everybody's reminded of what they Lou Lou. Liked least. About Bill Clinton depositing the dicing slicing as you say the -- the triangulation on both sides. Wink -- over here we -- you can't trust a different -- to an audience -- what I'm curious about major -- I listened to -- are you following it closely with that we are -- a major Garrett Fox News correspondent on the ground and -- following mostly. The Democrats in the pursuit the the the nomination which of the candidates has the I guess the personality two punch out at Obama who as people are now starting to punch out at Huckabee showing you know as he chose movement and momentum is there anybody the who has the personality the disposition. To go once that the punch out and really become more forceful in their critique. Of Barack Obama and his relative lack of experience.

We don't use up pretty good example of it yesterday Justin you're technical words with Billy -- The husband of former governor -- you know New Hampshire and who will soon be US -- candidate in the entry gene gene goes a long time cockpit bill and Hillary Clinton. That's the Washington Post you know these nasty Republicans are going to bring up Barack -- drug use and they're gonna say you know who -- so what do it. And how often did you take it it -- did you take it and basically all these questions putting them in the bowels of Republicans. Always -- co chairman of Hillary Clinton's New Hampshire campaign you're saying it first. Territory -- out. About what we reported Hampshire primary in the context of Barack Obama elect ability which is what Clinton's own campaign has been hammering on the last few days. The work village he talks. Then by the end of the night she -- that I open were I apologized ever bring that up campaign ever outright or condone this. Well what that shows the difficulty. Waiting -- at Barack Obama because. It anything like -- because old bed at the other thing it's so ironic is looked. Bill Clinton added zone. Drug use probably New Hampshire it was not being candid about it was not saying anything about it when he was caught they -- it'll be Obama has done everything he can't preemptively. To build a wall around.

It's here say that just because he preemptively came out instead I've Donna I tried it I experimented I did also to bad things that that means it's off the table to SCSI admitted.

That I mean it's off the table but it means it's more risky to put on the table three weeks before the election win the polls that morning sure your point point lead at this picture. In particular the legitimate policy issue with a with a pop the issue with legitimate elect bill the issue where it's been.

And he is seen as a new and different type of politician connecting very easily and comfortably across the board racially and with younger people and the people -- not so troubled by the fact that at a certain age he experiment that may you know went so fires cocaine or whatever the -- he's acknowledged and admit.

At not saying that that bill machine has brought I think it will yield -- I think he will be an issue in -- people are I don't think it I don't think the vast majority of Americans -- gotten over that yet. We sort of took twenty years to get over the marijuana. Very here I'm archer people prepared to climb over the cocaine barrier because they're precision what what -- don't we climb over for the for president but. If that Ed about that is that I'm not saying it it would give an -- everything you with being war. We gave you bring it up in the context all the poll numbers and crunch time back before the holidays when you know you can't launch a band. You can't logic to -- Hampshire primary care much war -- war degenerate -- Iowa Clark is. Yet to get it out now and you get -- apologizing bored by nightfall. Again it it reinforces the sense in the Clinton campaign that there are more nervous that made it ought to.

Because -- the right way to raise it then just quickly we only have we only have a few seconds left.

At my opinion there is I don't know if you read it on the table that you you attack Obama on -- policy leadership experience. That's what what has been doing along and if you do it we abandon that message looked as if you're nervous.

Careful victory cable at the imports like crazy and narrow stance there are standards and it might. Yeah and I. -- We'll talk next week the major Garrett right around a Conner around Mike Huckabee the -- a lot of Hillary Clinton Giuliani and at least one other politicians stay with me they would Wendy -- will be back and mama -- and 680 WI --