Page 5 - Michael Shere News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

On a nomination for the pentagon, you know, something the president -- >> well, you know, he was making a little fun -- but nia, there was ann wasn't enthusiastic support among democrats about chuck hagel. >> that's right. lots of complaints on his record about gay rights, energy, and so far obama hasn't used these cabinet departments to energize the base at all. kerry's fine. but you're right, in some ways, it's the policies around gun control and immigration. but these picks so far, people are sort of like -- >> hagel symbolizes something else. an enlisted grunt at the head of the pentagon. ...

That's ryan. nobody would ever call mitt romney a conviction politician, ever. they're not to be confused. anyway, thank you john nichols, and thank you, michael shere. when we return or when i return, let me finish with the democratic party's big opportunity to become a huge political party after that election, after this election. you're watching "hardball," the place for politics.

0 down in florida, the president's lead in the poll is nine, 53-44. the president looks to be opening up a big lead now, even in the face of this coordinated attack from the right. with me now are mother jones bureau chief and msnbc political contributor david corn and cynthia tucker. i want to talk about the good news for the obama team right now. cynthia, why do you think -- take a minute here -- despite this ugly campaign i've just pointed out in its pattern, its thread, what they are doing to try to delegitimize this president, why is he doing well in the toughest states? >> we've talked a...

together his aions. and -- >> i would like to have him show his birth certificate, because if he can't, then he has pulled e of the great conin the a- ory of politics. >> i wish this president would love how to be an american. >> and -- >> no one's ever asked to see my birth certificate. >> and this tweet, obama sympathizes with attackers in t. and then last night -- >> he's not a real president. >> tonight on "hardball" we show you the true ugly campaign being run against the president. even in the face of this ugly attack, there are two big new poll numbersunning in his direion. t'...

You know, it didn't really go that well for sergeant shriver after running with mcgovern in '72. so i do think that ryan thinks about it. my sense is that he wants to get out there and be more in front on this ticket. whether that creates tension, i don't know. there's no question that at one point, mitt romney and paul ryan really liked one another, and really thought they were going to gel. we have not seen that yet. and frankly, they need to do that in october if they're going to begin to turn this campaign around. >> is this important to you? do you see they have to look like they like eac...