to make -- take advantage of president obama? what is it about the obama record so far they're planning to use as bullet points? >> reporter: that's the key the there, the obama record and not obama himself. the president remains personally popular. people don't like to attack him personally. look at scott brown in massachusetts. but former rnc chairman haley bar ber calls it the barber doctrine, attack the policies without laying a glove on the president himself. people don't want negative politics. they may be skeptical about his policies. we've seen that gap and we think the republicans will try to destroy it. >> barber, one-time director for ronald reagan, and nobody does effective politics with a bigger smile and nicer. he could do mean really, really nice. it's a talent. >> reporter: well -- >> i say that admiringly. he's an old pal. >> reporter: it's a tough game. what they realize is that they're seeing vulnerability in places they never thought they would see vulnerability. we're not just talking about the