make that point. to talk to moderate republicans, conservative democrats, and the broad reach of independents to say between these two guys, who do you think, a, can beat -- who are you more comfortable with? when they say romney, then he beats obama. these things will become more important as we go to actual voting. i think chris is right. that's what the romney campaign is doing. they're playing a very strategic game. they think they found kind of a hinge against which they can pivot for the next four months in social security. >> is there anyway for the obama campaign to deal with having a preference in terms of these possible nominees? is it, you know, just criticize mitt romney and sort of lay off perry? is there anyway to play that game? >> i think they went to a different point them tried the the sort of death hug to it.