welcome back to "hardball." after yesterday's spectacular stock market surge, plus huge retail sales numbers over the thanksgiving weekend, could there finally be signs americans can feel that the economy's improving? well, plus, cable tv seems to have rewritten rules for retail politics in a presidential race. has the power of face-to-face, one-on-one politicking, especially in early caucus and primary states been replaced now by the tv debate and by tv interviews, especially on the republican side on fox? these are the questions for our strategist today. number one, with mitt romney selling himself as the businessman candidate, who'll save the economy, could a better economy be bad for mitt? number two, how does this new political playbook with tv being so important change the game for{ both democrats and republicans? steve mcmahon, our buddy on the democratic side, he's a strategist. todd harris, our buddy on the republican side. gentleman, it's great to have you. let me start with todd harris about this game change and your side.