Major Garrett

" WRKO Boston's biggest best lively and local talk show joined by state representative -- took a brilliant. Democrat from Watertown -- joined by Fox News correspondent may. Major Garrett every week we do this little bit with that major Garrett and we had delighted to have you back hey major ally it today."

" But it's great to graduate you calling you from very cold the Moines Iowa."

" It is cold out here too so you are into mowing your right a path that men in the scene the action."

" Absolutely I will be basically where the Democrats are from now until caucus -- you primary night in New Hampshire and South Carolina -- with a."

" Loud you sound like a sleuth like a detective of sorts. After I did not going to be any alarm in New Hampshire -- major want to -- right what the headlines during today's Boston Globe an I assume this is gone coast to coast. Further immigration woes. Not tied to Mitt Romney with the landscape company have what Rudy called his sanctuary mansion. The globe in a follow up story has once again demonstrated. Continued the company continues to use illegal aliens is this much ado about nothing are is that does this have traction out there on the ground in Iowa."

" I -- it well attraction I would not because people necessarily expect Mitt Romney you devote. Substantial personal time. -- through and keeping out the details of who is that it was not legally employed for the company that India has Bogut lawn of the mansion. Although considering the evidence that the -- the immigration issue they might reasonably expect that the problem but larger problem. For Rodney is this -- into what has been the most persisted in the most damaging problem for Romney which it. People don't get a sense that there is that core conviction. And that it's -- to look at its emphasis on immigration as expedient as opposed to principle. And anything that reinforce that image which already exist. This close to the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary is the problem."

" While that's yet the timing is everything it you know if you're right major that's going to be very discouraging for him because I'd I do think in this issue I don't think it's really much of a flip flop he may have been not been particularly aggressive as a governor on stuff. But when an issue came forward on for example driver's licenses all instate tuition. He was adamant he was decisive he was firm on that and he made the democratic legislature in my opinion the link because he knew that confronted a veto. And yet it looks as if maybe in a presidential campaign. The blunder might be hey he didn't do what tripled checked. On the identity that guy who stay out of the lot -- the leaf ball like double checked and double -- you had a question about tomorrow night. Yes -- apparently this going to be big speech tomorrow night oh very big speech ready you make that out that way and I'll answer that -- he had a Mormon speech element that -- what does he have to do to make this affected you to perhaps maybe are closed the wound that has been opened up on flip -- issues in the expedience versus core principles into people care about the weather was -- Mormon or not."

" You know -- I think the timing of this piece is terribly terribly troubling for the Romney campaign. See I don't believe based on long running our agents of the -- happened and I that I really had spent the last month. Exclusively covering the Democrats but these -- ahead of the -- people I believe -- relevant up until Sunday when they announced they -- about to give that speech that the intention was. It this speech was to be given all it would be given under circumstances of political updraft not political downdraft. That is today but I'm the best time to give a speech about the intersection between your religious life and your political life that you want a couple of race. And that's -- closer that your closing speech. To basically remove any lingering doubts related to the orthodoxy your religion are believed giving this speech now. In a situation in which those who will be listening to it not only in the national media but in the state like Iowa New Hampshire and South Carolina will be saying wait a minute. -- is attributing his problems. Cute discomfort with -- Mormon -- I don't think that's true I think the bigger problem Romney is that he or whatever reason. As appeared to lack. That genuine authenticity and that course that are principal. Mike huckabee at the state -- I like guarantee would -- it having both court convictions and stable principal. And now -- is trying to -- solve a problem. But I don't really believe it this with a speech that I think will be interpreted. As a discourse on the intersection between politics and religion a problem isn't that Romney intersection between his policies and politics."

" So this should be about you know how how being a Mormon has affected his decisions and who he is and not so much about how Americans treat mormons."

" Well that's what he's certainly -- that that is going to be the orientation not -- because Ronnie has studiously avoided. Long description about what is it says and what his great we'll talk about great and -- woman as an as a motive greater and it's quiet. But he doesn't want to talks in any detail at all about what Mormon --"

" About the so he's not he's not gonna talk about the a a a primer on I'm Mormon as a -- and that I would doubt very much in would see that we make at that point about authenticity. And Mike huckabee I think his ear of the charm of him the reason he's picking up steam. On -- when he's asked about his fate you know how it -- and he said my fate doesn't affect me my feet defines me and that is entirely true from everything that I Albanian and it says -- he carries himself and how easily that sort of rolls off the tongue because it's true."

" At any you know major way and let me -- Mac it would -- major Garrett Fox News correspondent on the ground into Moines Iowa and covering Democrats will get to the Democrats in a minute but I want to stay on Rachel's question. What are you seeing and feeling about -- two pots. What is the momentum real unsustainable to. Is is does he have an Achilles heel any we're out there in Iowa on this push polling controversy."

" He might my experience with what's Poland is edit care about a lot more than actual voters do. Because candidates are not in control of the questions being asked in the political push on Grier was -- quickly pushed forward went I'd value up and there are eight. I'd like as usual questions about the race. Q are you registered Republican do you plan to go to caucus at all very generic -- And edit it or get a preference well I like Mark huckabee -- interest -- what got you got -- supporter. Did you know that he raced ActiveX number I'm an Arkansas did you know he did this all negative things cease start with the sort of generic questions that are open up the participant on the polling call all then what you established their court you start hitting a -- negative stuff. To peel them away and that evidence from the support that they already articulated that -- which only works. -- I care about that immensely because they're not in control of that conversation. My experience what voters did they have become very sophisticated particularly as state like I will witness did not in any way shape or form a new tactic. And get -- what's going on Baylor they're campaign to it becomes an immediate -- story been my experience that was -- it -- are more problems for the push polar. But it does quality push -- leave you well."

" It becomes -- out of integrity of like how can such such a campaign like do this like you know dastardly evil doing an."

" I -- end and and I look beyond it in the history of American politics but a lot things -- was also."

" I that I -- now -- Joe Kennedy comes to mind. Exactly let's let -- the Democrats if we -- and made -- again major Garrett Fox News correspondent on the grounded -- Moines -- would do this every week with major tell us what is going on what we read what we sense is that the Hillary inevitable Blige has been slowed. And that the is something called momentum on the side of a guy called Obama is it. Real and and and it what are you seeing and feeling out there on the campaign trail in Iowa and -- Edwards and."

" All -- I would step we're going to keep Edwards in the next here's what's happening in Iowa this week -- and we're we're gonna talk about this every week I'm -- years that protective. Grade every week because this great. As and will continue to change our week by week basis if not it day by day basis this week here's what I -- One -- Clinton campaign note in trouble. But the -- register poll on Sunday indicated is substantial double digit drop aren't support among women in Iowa that's a significant problem or Hillary because 60% of pocket attendees likely will be women. And it hurt support diminishes among women that core and most loyal audience which is cultivated throughout this campaign. But the problem and you go to military police that polling data because she is now. Began to attack Obama on the choice issue now I think it's rather interesting on the democratic side to have 200% pro choice Democrat. -- each other about who's. What potent on that issue but Clinton has opened up that divide on Obama clearly indicating she believes she lost -- among women and need to regain. Edwards has gained in union households and -- also has. Highest percentage of people who say Edwards is their second choice he also has the best organization. In this state there in 1990 counties in Iowa 1780 or precinct. In those 1007 or 80 or precinct. John Edwards has not only a precinct captain Kirk recently co captain in 87% of those precinct why does that matter. It would be discussed last week this caucus process is an open and recalling dialogue and it you have articulate well first. People what are the dialogue read your campaign you can change room you can change people's mind Edwards has that potential. The moment Obama is really. And it's not just student driven by the the student driven component of it is significant but probably -- there is that historically. College student -- people under 30 art simply don't go to the caucuses they just skip the -- 17% a caucus goers are under the age of 35. But the contingent robot not new electric exciting easy huge crowds there is deep and currently Obama camp that will put some stop. On January 3 they won't be there. And yet what people believe they're folks will be will be -- give that but he gave it the second layer all. In Iowa negative campaigning he'd never pocket there is that bought the Edwards and Obama camp that Hillary is taking out doctor Obama as we. In hopes. To try Obama's numbers down even if they mean edwards' numbers rise why would Clinton want to do that the theory Edwards and Obama camp is that Hillary believe. You can withstand an Edwards victory in Iowa because people leadership of -- against him in New Hampshire and it should not about it -- she can be proud of South Carolina sure. Similarly there's a belief in the Edwards and Obama camps that Hillary believes he can't withstand all be much more typical -- it was standard Obama victory. In Iowa because she may not have a firewall against the New Hampshire and she's currently can't expect to have one. And South Carolina where African American votes are huge part of the South Carolina democratic primary process."

" Except she's calling way above Obama and was among black voters."

" Yes but that those numbers checked them in the last three weeks there all right."

" They can -- that can change major I've got to have you got you have to help me in every listener understand. Women who were committed to Hillary you say the numbers show a draft and it may be to drift toward Obama more than anybody else but it's adrift. Help me understand why a woman. Who was committed to Hillary for whatever reason all of these past couple weeks yup picking it up and everybody else is starting to move and migrate away what's they they knew that she was in the opinion of some brassy in the opinion of others divisive and polarizing they knew that they were with their anyway and yet something has happened recently that is now causing them to draft what is that something."

" I would give -- reactors. The Iran debate. One of the Whitman accord at the point register on Sunday said -- support of the bush administration. On declaring. Iranian revolutionary guard corps a terrorist organization -- what -- what approach on Iran even a lot of other Democrats did. It then worried about are being too hawkish ran creating a war -- there. -- like ability. -- much better on the stop there's no question about that. But she simply not as -- all as Barack Obama or it's John Edwards that that oh -- And I would say in the last month. The driver's license in immigration the not what speed the technical policy answer but the taste and or or the double answer reinforce something that has long troubled people about the an approach to politics. I would say those three being taken together have created a bit hypocritical Mac. That's -- a bit update track for Clinton Aaron Guiel it's less visible in New Hampshire more visible here. And also it's important remember Clinton's route here at Iowa are much shallower than they --"

" And a New Hampshire -- that -- about Iraq or block maybe and you have been you have been great with -- time I'd -- and I say it already I can't wait until next week. And -- say it every week it changes I can't wait. Until next week that is major Garrett Fox News correspondent regular PGA Iran -- for a I love this -- a -- and he is -- is an -- I occasionally what did -- opt -- he -- oh -- shot he's always like you know -- even -- always managing -- at the -- the -- coming -- John McCain is the next -- he has tried to meet the criticism -- he's too old right head on and you know what he -- to -- experience -- experience counts of wondered do you think he's too well and hey you know what -- this would drive -- crazy Curt Schilling is -- awesome again in campaign with him. There's the Schilling endorsement. Help John McCain R is it just knowing would Arizona -- help well -- it is going to be in New England in Arizona will explore that and other topics with you in a moment -- and 680 WRKO"