Character Hit News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Look at it and it raises other questions. but this was the president in a more unfiltered way, trying to explain his pattern. i think what is really striking to me that i still don't have a handle on is that he is so willing to praise at a minimum the service and friendship and loyalty of michael flynn who was ousted from this administration, who arguably has brought a lot of criticism upon the administration, and yet he was at the same time so willing to be personally critical of james comey, who has a broad level of respect for his public service. we didn't hear that from the president today...

This has been harder to do, you know, when you go after somebody on a negative campaign you not only have to have issues but get the character hit. newt, the character hit turned out to be pretty easy because there was plenty of verified -- the character hit has been harder with santorum because the character hit goes at his own personal beliefs. you have to get into the whole social conservative conversation which is not a great place for mitt romney. >> it's a tricky subject. >> it is a trickier hit and that's where they've been trying to go. the thing is santorum has helped him here. the me...

Character hit goes at his own personal beliefs. you have to get into the whole social conservative conversation which is not a great place for mitt romney. >> it's a tricky subject. >> it is a trickier hit and that's where they've been trying to go. the thing is santorum has helped him here. the media and asking of this question and santorum's inability to get out of anything. >> you think he is too weird for the voter. >> i think he -- what he has presented himself to be this week is not good for -- >> he always seems to step in it just when he's getting a lead like he did coming out of iowa....

In arizona, however, romney has more breathing room and beats santorum by 16 points. i'd call that breathing room. 43 to santorum's 27. but these numbers tell a big story about how the race is playing out. we'll get into it with nbc political director and chief white house correspondent chuck todd. so great to have you here as always. >> all right. >> let's talk about this race generally. if romney squeaks next week and wins by two or three or four or whatever, can he claim victory in michigan? >> i think a win is a win at this point. particularly, the romney people will feel like they won a h...