0 been since we've seen them on the road together. because a lot of people do say that paul ryan brings out the best in mitt romney when they're on the trail. >> reporter: absolutely. that a lot of folks are starting to beat that drum. good morning. the last time they were together was in florida on september 1st. as you mentioned, tomorrow they will be on the second day of this bus tour down in and around the cincinnati area and in and around the dayton area. paul ryan kicks it off solo today here in lima. and then on wednesday, the last day of the tour, governor romney will go it alone, hit the rest of the towns across this state. they've got their work cut out for them, but the message is simple. it's emblazoned on the bus. more jobs, morte-home pay. that's the message that the governor wants to get around to folks here in ohio and elsewhere around the country. they've got their work cut out. they've got points to make up here on the president. the latest university of cincinnati poll puts the president up about five points. and yesterday as he often does on the campaign trail, governor romney says he needs to get some now, within that same poll itself, it puts the president ahead of the governor on the issues of taxes, also on medicare, the two are tied on jobs. romney leading on one issue and one issue only, basically the budget and spending. in your latest argument or article, rather, you make the argument about mitt romney saying that voters don't need more mitt. what they need is core mitt. do you think we're going to see core mitt over these next three days because ohio being such a key battleground state that it is, that the president right now is leading, do you think that he can turn it around right now on this bus trip? >> you know, thomas, we keep expecting that he'll do that, and then he gets off and distracted on the latest flavor of the week or of the day. so he seems to be bouncing around and not giving a coherent cohesive message. this has been his problem throughout. now, the polls are continuing to edge more and more in obama's direction, particularly in the battleground states. but as you're pointing out, somewhat nationally as well. this doesn't mean this thing is over. and it is theoretically possible for romney to get this back on track. but why isn't he out there actually giving people some sort of an alternative to obama to be actually out there giving specifics? we're still waiting. >> a lot of people were watching last night, susan, to "60 minutes," both president obama and mitt romney appeared on the show. and the governor was asked whether he needs to change up his campaign. and get through these next 43 days with a major shift. let's show everybody. >> mitt romney, i think, has an advantage because he's been through 20 of these debates in the primaries over the last year. he even bragged that he was declared the winner in 16 of those debates. >> so that's robert gibbs, not "60 minutes." so i lied to everybody when i just said we were going to watch something from "60 minutes." guys, can we pull up the sound bite from "60 minutes"? yes. i'll smile loving into the camera until i see the "60 minutes" piece, you know? >> okay. >> all right. they're telling me that we don't have it. i'll stop smiling lovingly into the camera. one thing we did play off the top was part of mitt romney's "60 minutes" interview where he talked about the big idea was freedom. also not saying that he's going to make any campaign changes between now and election day. but the big idea about freedom, has mitt romney crafted that vision large enough for republicans across this country? because the only thing we hear about when it comes to freedom is not freedom of choice, it's not going to be freedom to marry your same-sex partner, it's not going to be freedom to go to the polls and vote unless you've got the right voter i.d. to do it. so where is your freedom? >> well, i think to step back where the campaign needs to go if there's going to be a shift, it really goes to dana's point earlier about where is the core mitt? he's got to talk more about than freedom. he's got to offer specifics. what's he going to offer up? in the debate coming up in nine days is a chance for him to do that and to continuously stay on that message. if he doesn't do it, especially with unemployment numbers coming out two days after that, if he can't get on a roll and stay with it, it's going to be very difficult for him to come back. >> all right. so one thing that we need to talk about is what robert gibbs had to say, keith, about the fact that they are preparing both sides aggressively for the debates. and they're both kind of downplaying it. the great order is over here and shiny and smart over here. but one thing that mitt romney has had practice at is getting through the primaries, and that was a rigorous debate schedule they went through there. but as we look at what the president has to get ready for, do you think that they're both trying to lower expectations with robert gibbs, you know, out on the talkers saying my ing mid the practice and the romney camp is saying romney is very smart and a great debater? >> of course that's what's going on. obviously mitt romney is a good debater. he made it through the primaries and has had practice this year. barack obama, debating is not his greatest strength. he's a wonderful orator and has been a successful president. i think he'll do a good job, but i think it's going to be a competitive debate. >> do you think it's going to make a big difference for mitt romney to really show himself and really for these two men to be on the same stage? >> well, that helps mitt romney to be on the same stage with the president of the united states. there's no doubt. it always helps the challenger with the incumbent. the problem, though, is i think what susan pointed out and dana pointed out is that we really don't know who mitt romney is. so the question is which mitt romney will appear on the debate stage? and that will determine whether people will believe whatever candidate shows up at that time. >> all right. dana, real fast, though, president obama has a lot on his agenda. starting tomorrow, he's going to be here in new york city. and what's on the schedule is this high-stakes speech before the u.n. nbc's first read is calling it the president's do-no-harm week. and the reason they're saying that is because he doesn't really have on one-on-ones with any other world leaders. he's got to sit down with the ladies of "the view." sure, i mean, and they're going to hit him with some hard questions. but, you know, it's not going to be the same thing as meeting with world leaders. the romney campaign is going after the president on this issue. is that a mistake for the president and his foreign policy to not have any one-on-ones this week at the u.n. session? >> i'm not sure it's the smartest thing to send the message of going on "the view" without these other things set up. but of course, romney's been doing -- making the rounds in similar ways, so he can't really make an argument on that. but, look, the president will be seen as commander in chief in that limelight this week. that generally works to an incumbent president's advantage. >> and the funny thing is romney said in that secret tape in florida that he didn't want to go on "the view." >> whoopi goldberg. >> afraid of whoopi, and now he should be since he said that. today's power panel, dana, keith and susan, thank you, i appreciate it. success for all. how a low-income school district? ohio turned itself around and is now scoring very high marks. some of the best in the state. you need to see that. plus blocking 10 million votes. why the new tougher voting laws could keep people from the polls on election day. the new voter i.d. laws, tweet me @thomasaroberts. we're back after this. have to find new ways to help make life easier, more convenient and more rewarding. it's the reason why we don't have costumers. we have members. american express. welcome in.