Major Garrett talks about Elizabeth Warren and Scott Brown

It's not a touch of -- -- fight network capital funding corporation your future -- finance. On Wednesdays at this time we're joined by major error from the National Journal major good morning GO. Good morning gentlemen it's been a busy period of time with a lot of exciting things going on are you well rested. I am well rested but yes it. Now -- -- to -- we we we have really no way to begin to stat Mitt Romney clinches you got the Wisconsin brawl that is about it comes to its closing punches. We've got Donald from while all sorts of things what jumps out at the major what is interesting to you since we last talked. Well I'm still are fascinated by the walker recall race and between the coveted we've had the last couple weeks -- my column National Journal today. I just really believe global walker the walker race against Tom Barrett in Wisconsin recall election there and everything surrounding it. The money the organization. The democratic. Unhappiness with pension reform the whole -- of that issue it's up for grabs in Wisconsin. And Republican now at internalize. A walker victory if they are disappointed that's going to be huge. Dividend the road Republican psychologically generally and it will leave and impair Mitt Romney's campaign certainly in Wisconsin -- Republicans hold. They would done what they expected to do. They'll believe Wisconsin's on the map in the general election it might or might not be but they're gonna believe in America reports Obama Democrats support still more money into Wisconsin. So I'm still fascinated me I just think the spider web of things. That radiate out of whatever happened in Wisconsin live with a from. -- you have some sense that the Republicans. Lost their focus on it because the polls have been showing that Scott marker will win his recall election. Well I think that's the danger. Yes the polling suggests that he has an edge and nothing better than an edge. I wouldn't be comfortable with it. Three or four point margin in any sort of recall atmosphere because you're doing don't know -- -- -- -- is going to be don't know who's gonna show you don't know with a more motivated -- -- voters and if Republicans. Either of those observing those on the ground allow themselves to be lulled into a false sense of security they might all. Be awakened to the root. Surprise. Some Q and rip. Well I think you're right if Scott Walker does not win that recall election I think you're right the Republicans have already. Assumed that that victory is common. And if you don't have it doesn't happen that will be a major upset but you never know. At that major upset might be the thing that Republicans need to really light a fire under for the the November elections in every other things are gonna work out. You can view it that way that I've covered a lot of races that -- by surprise one party or another down the stretch and that's usually a talking point become well also really rattle us out of our lethargy and we will will be even more doubly committed it never happened. Yeah that's it I I think those memories that are excited like anyone any and it's easy to get discouraged when you lose what you should have you want but at the same time if you look at Massachusetts Scott Brown win was a major motivating force Democrats to get it together to be able to win the 2002 and go out against a national trend here. In 2010. Right the point. But that but that's -- longer horizon will we be talking about a Wisconsin is June to November and I think in the June to November timeframe. The senate race there would continue to play out and Republicans would be -- and invest in that senate race but I think war. And and war regardless of the psychology of winning or losing I think the bigger loss for the bigger difference. Would be. If walker loses the idea that pension reform is something that Republicans can identify work on and change. Goes by the boards and then that is potentially bad news for a lot of states around the country. Well on that issue that we're told even though the walker Barrett race might be closer than in the polls suggesting an opinion -- the -- -- walker still might lose this thing. I read polls that say the issues themselves -- walker raised in pushed through pension reform healthcare contributions by public employees. Hold very favorably may be sixty plus percent maybe 7% to you picking up that same information may drop. Certainly and and that is. You know that's true because if it weren't true. Tom Barrett and Democrats would be running on those issues against the governor they seek to recall -- enough. They're running against ethics issues and the and the fact that there's been. To their mind. It's efficient job creation. In Wisconsin. Those situations there they're trying to take Governor Walker with nothing official -- that the whole. You all and brochure they feel they've already lost and that one and they're looking for a winning issue now. Right and that and and wind as we discussed let's sweep of Republicans as that is why are we having this recall election. What's the point what what are you are you serious that there really something worth having a recall election or if the precipitating set of issues. Isn't even on the top of mind of the Democrats -- replace the governor why we go into all. What's I think when we -- two weeks ago the story line in Wisconsin that seemed to the most powerful was people saying just what you're alluding to. Why are we having this we elected a governor for four years he's only been in two years. I will vote keep him in for the rest of his term and then we can decide in two more years -- we wanna do right is that still the dominant theme or something else emerged. That's that's certainly the dominant team on the walker side of things that this is an unnecessary waste of taxpayers' money I think the approximate cost the recall statewide about ten million dollars -- that's -- yeah. And and and the other thing that walker says his win win the pension reforms are raised -- -- look look at the cities and counties in the state of Wisconsin. Teachers are still on the payroll. And -- counties and cities are funded better because we've made these. If he can point tonight resonance a lot of people were evidently he's saying he could say we've made a comeback -- and so we did. Right there haven't they haven't gained jobs in this is what this is if you really sort of get down with India inside baseball with cuts and it's sort of -- by no number well -- it will allow a -- there's almost an Obama esque feel to it could've been worse but it's not worse so it's better. That's not exactly analogous but there's an element of that saying look they're people who still have jobs who otherwise would have been laid off so that this that the job faith in Wisconsin. Fight over the unprovable. Right yeah RA is have you been following a Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren would take on this race. It's impossible not to follow what I thought several Republicans and Democrats about this race. Yesterday and Democrats privately conceded to me what I would probably have I'm sure they have that it was in Massachusetts -- obviously the polling data. That level -- Suffolk poll had the race tied effectively I think four -- 48. And Democrats said to me look based on the publicity the last three weeks will take that that Apple's true and they believe it is. Anything that they keeps that was the war and in the race and close to Scott Brown they'll take considering what she and they have been through collectively in the past two or three weeks. They also said to -- and Republicans I talked to did not fundamentally disagree with this if this story about her. The first disputed and now I think completely discredited. Cherokee. Lineage hadn't broken I was the -- might be ahead so she's decided that she hasn't lost anything everyone I talked yes it says yes she's lost. To behind she be she might be ahead of brown to victory. 45 maybe six points ahead that's more optimistic on the democratic side Republicans and asymmetric -- -- most but the fact. You're saying if this story hadn't robbed her of the last month. Yes she would be in a better position advantageous to some degree maybe outside the margin of -- So it is had an effect and I would never suggest otherwise than Democrats I talked to -- absolutely it's an effect. But it hasn't. At least so far it appears. Knocked her completely out of this race. The perception it's up there. You know I I think it's more serious than other people that I you know I look at that Paul I see her losing FEF five points may be in her favor -- And having spent one point four million dollars for an ad campaign to keeper herself propped up during my site call. And I and that's money you can't spend the second time I mean that's that's that's money it's just trying to plug the hole. In your -- And yes and and now she has some -- from the media I think she's in deep trouble. Well and it and at that becomes the next wave of this story that she's uncomfortable talking about everything else and her campaign because she's simply. Will not address this issue or tried any sort of way to copyright the -- or move beyond it. Then that will become the next wave and and of the -- and I'm sure will reflect the kind of things you're talking about because of voters get that sense not only that. Well maybe she gets up and get some sort of favorable advantage to not only comfortable with that. It may or may not be this qualifier but I know I'm not comfortable with it and then she's uncomfortable talking to me about that -- and anything else. But that really didn't does begin wrote. Yeah I I think Todd might be onto something but I'm not ready to write the obituary just yet it's late may Scott Brown has just come out without. A nice little -- nifty positive one for himself. Which is started to erupt zero Todd night of each scene and but I I think the next -- pulled the instructive -- spent a boatload of money and seems to have survived what is. Clearly. A distraction -- not an embarrassment. Yeah I mean look well think about it this way. This is a three set tennis match. And in the first set through a series of grotesque and unforgivable unforced errors she lost 62. Sides to sit down one set. To work that. -- yup which you don't want that shot and to hope that we wanted to. Yeah Donald Trump be on the news yesterday media making a big deal this is somehow damaging to Mitt Romney and he shouldn't be making the association. What's your take on the story. Well I think it's interesting. Mitt Romney took about four seconds to repudiate your rickets and a plan to talk about President Obama. Op plan that was that some level of consideration we don't really know and have just sent -- -- got to direct its new owner of the Chicago Cubs. Longtime Republican donors instant reducing federal spending. And and they're running campaigns announced that repudiated that instantly. I had the campaign to now be about character assassination also developing. And he's not in anyway dis associating himself personally Donald Trump although his campaign says. Mitt Romney does not have any. But resolved curiosity or questions about the presence that American citizen -- the validity of his birth certificate. And I thought it was and see if they commit crime that they had need to get -- -- 41 and if you have -- -- if people want -- be president and I'm good with that. And so he's. Not necessarily giving oxygen to trumps the about the president's citizenship for the quality of his birth certificate but he's not pushing himself pushing him away and I don't think. Honestly Mitt Romney needs Donald Trump. I really don't but he reveals there is something. That if he puts great distance between himself and Donald Trump and possibly this issue. That might. Undercut some of his support the Republican Party. You can't come to any other conclusion but that I'm not sure that's true but obviously in the Romney campaign they've internalized. That it's close to possibly being through it too close for comfort. Well how about there are -- to push it away pub but the idea Major Garrett that the thing that he doesn't want to face is Donald Trump. Coming after him. Certainly although. Again. There is that there is the volatility about Donald Trump that is interesting it's certainly telegenic it helps is. Ratings for the apprentice. But I I just have never seen any evidence anywhere in any race under any set of circumstances. The Donald Trump is just woke them of anything not even 1% I mean perhaps he could become an irritant. But I I just don't I just don't know what the real downside of being either criticized by Donald Trump or the great upside of being praised by -- for a peace seems to me to be a completely individual entity. Who was very good publicity for himself. Better than average in the real estate mogul but in the political year I've just never known or seen any evidence. That he moved the needle one Olivia. Well said major well demonstrated in the -- so we'll see how it plays out. Major Garrett. Great to have you there's good stuff meant to have enjoyed to and we we enjoy this every week I say I -- -- title I -- yeah I wrote an -- or talk but I will be lessened and Todd is gonna who are continue to drive the ship and I will be listen because -- he is not a lot. Tommy will be dearly missed by me and I know everyone in that market and I I I just wish you godspeed in every respect in. It's been a great relationship which you go longer but everything in my change. They go all right major thanks a million and by the way to time together with Major Garrett as it is every week is brought to buy -- guys. Cobb by made easy sound off coming next time a -- WRKO.