0 overall there s a ten-point advantage among those republicans who call themselves nines or tens when on a scale of one to ten asked how interested they are in this election. there s been a ten-point gap pretty consistent all year. that s why for instance on the registered voter number, the president has a seven-point lead and it shrinks more than in half down to three, because the republican vote is more enthusiastic and they get through our likely voter screens. there s a lot of hispanics not getting through our likely voter screens. howard, there s a number that talks about people who haves extremely positive views of president up to 37%. how do we square those two numbers? well, i think the president obviously has solidified his base very well. i think the convention helped to do that in charlotte. i think that was a terrific job by his team of exciting the base. but as chuck said, people on the periphery, and sometimes hispanic voters are on the periphery in terms of turnout,
that s why they ve been preparing with their debate camps. they will be focusing broadly on all voters but in particular undecided voters who after hearing all the convention speeches and seeing the television ads are trying to make up their minds. for the president that means talking about the economy, how things are still difficult but the economy is i a much better place and heading in a much better direction. for romney it will be talking about the president s failed promises and perhaps a preview of that we saw yesterday with the help of vice president biden while he was out on the campaign trail. he was describing how middle class americans will be hurt under mitt romney. and then he sort of put framed their plight over the last four years this way. this is deadly earnest. how they can justify, how they can justify raising taxes on the middle class has been buried the last four years. how in lord s name can they justify raising taxes with these tax cuts? vice pres
being dismissed that way, injury added by insult. i m joined by chuck todd and howard fineman with the huffington post. the latest poll shows among likely voters the president leads 49% to 46% for romney. that s down net two points from two weeks ago when the president was up by five. to what to you attribute the movement, chuck todd? well, first of all, the more important number has always been the president sitting at 49% or 50%. i would go through his job approval rating at 49%, his ballot test at 49%, those converge, and that s what matters and 49% puts you in the, quote, re-elect zone. what s affecting romney, this is something we ve been watching all year long. there is an enthusiasm gap among core republican voters among core democratic groups. overall there s a ten-point advantage among those republicans who call themselves nines or tens when on a scale of one to ten asked how interested they are in this election. there s been a ten-point gap pretty consistent all
and we will keep you posted on what goes on there. construction is set to start in early 2013. i contacted the city of san jose. it is aware of the plans and aware of the history of the site. correctly pointing out that lots of cleanup has been done through the years. janelle? thanks, scott. you bet. in other news tonight, milpitas may be putting its police department on the chopping block. the city council is considering outsourcing its law enforcement to the santa clara county sheriff s office. the issue is on the agenda for tonight s city council meeting which is open to the public. it begins at 7:00 p.m. at city hall. was ate crime of passion or pre-med etated murder. that s the issue surfacing in the trial of michelle esteban accused of killing michelle le. today esteban s boyfriend took the witness stand, telling the court about her escalating jealous of his platonic relationship with le. the 26-year-old nursing student disappeared in may of last year. her body
ideologically, at least enough how to win the republican primary, but how it s affected him at all, we don t know. and the fact that he hasn t communicated thatle is interesting, chris. i think it s very interesting. it would actually be a good question to ask mitt romney at the debate. if jim lehr is watching, maybe he should ask him that. i used to think, i still think, massachusetts is a poor training ground for presidential candidates because it s a weird culture up there. maybe the republicans run was not a good preparation for general election this year. anyway, in swing states the obama campaign has bombarded voters, as you said, with this powerful ad going after romney for his 47% putdown. let s take a look. 47% of the americans who vote for the president who are dependent, who believe they re victims, who believe the government has to care for them, who believes they re entitled to health care, food, housing, you name it, and they will vote for this president no matter wha