better to make these direct attacks in may and june than in october and november. i think the calculation is do it now so you don't have to do it later. >> right, but i guess what i would respond to that, andrea, is by saying the best thing politically speaking that the president has going for him is his likability. even folk that's will not vote for him thinks he is a decent guy. doesn't he run the risk of driving down that popularity number if he is the attack dog? >> he does and he needs to worry about the independent voters and losing them. some of the bain attacks have lost him support in the business community. that said, if you look at the enthusiasm gap we now see where there is so much less enthusiasm on the part of the democratic base for president obama compared to the enthusiasm on the part of the republican base for mitt romney, then you have to really figure you are going to fire up that base and you