Romney knows Michigan is ‘must-win’

>> the next seven days to the michigan prime could be the most important for mitt romney 's political life and he is playing to the crowd includie ining in this moment.

>> i love this state. the trees are the right height here. i love cars. it used to be that you showed me a square foot of the car, i could tell you the model of it and so forth. i love cars, i love american cars and long may they rule the world , let me tell you.

>> fred is a romney supporter. can you transplate for us, what is he talking about?

>> he was talking to a hometown crowd, a city and state where he was born and raised, where his father was governor. he was kind of greeting the people in the hometown, he was engaging on their turf and talking about things that surround them, trees and cars and all that makes michigan a great state.

>> are people calling you, some of the money people who you go to ask to contribute to mitt romney and say what is going on here?

>> i don't think that the clip is saying what the campaign is all about. i think it's about getting to offensive about economy and jobs. any day wasted talking about other things is a day wasted particularly with a target rich president.

>> the problem is that rick santorum is right now at least leading in the polls and i know they are volatile, this is just a snap shot. but santorum seems to be have the momentum in michigan , not on jo jobs and the economy, but is he throwing out every day a bit of red meat . the values questions.

>> social issues have a part in the american debate and perhaps even in an election day bait. that is not what this election is about. what people want to see, is what you will do to get the economy amped up. unemployment, and those looking for work, the numbers are not acceptable and they know that mitt romney is the only one that created jobs and led an organization and he is the only one that has a plan for so doing. we got to get back on track on talking about that and i would like to see santorum and romney and gingrich, instead of attacking, i would rather have them talk about growing the economy out of the recession we are in.

>> let's talk about the religion issue, franklin graham was asked about the mormon question and this is the way he handled it. he said that christians do not view the mormon faith as a christian faith . let me play it for you.

>> what about mitt romney ?

>> i like him.

>> is he a christian?

>> he is a mormon .

>> he said that he is part of the christian faith , do you take him at his word on that?

>> most christians do not recognize mormonism as part of the christian faith .

>> he is not a christian?

>> most christians will not recognize mormonism .

>> the whole question of mitt romney 's more -- mormon faith, is it an issue in south carolina w will it be an issue in michigan , will it be an issue on super tuesday in the south?

>> i don't think it's know issue at all, it's a sad day in america if we elect somebody or vote against somebody because of their religion. i was president of the marriott hotels , and worked for mormons , they believe what we believe in, which is a strong and safe america , a growing economy, a rise in the private sector and that is what we are all about, that is what the people are all about.

>> is the campaign worried about this? romney does not talk much about his experiences. he was a major figure in his mission work overseas as well as his work when he came back to the states. is he afraid to talk about his faith or is he afraid it's a negative?

>> my experience with mormons has been that they are hard working and they have a work ethic , they have a belief in america and in country. and they know what the rewards are from hard work and this missionary work is part of developing that.

>> do you think it hurts him politically for someone like franklin graham to say that christians do not view mormons as being christian?

>> i do not think it's does. and i'm not sure that franklin graham meant there's anything wrong with mormonism or with mitt romney 's belief in mormonism . i think he was talking more technically and i believe they are christians and i think that most americans believe that as well. it's not an issue. that is not what this campaign is about, if it is, we have a problem in america that is broader than the election.

>> and should the issue be whether president obama has a deep enough faith. the questions about jeremiah wright ?

>> no, it should not be. i don't think it should be at all. i don't think his faith or his pastor or anything like that is part of in. what is part of this is who can governor america and who can get the country back on track who are can have -- who can have this country standing up as a sign of freedom and get the people back to work. i think that romney is the only one that can do it. i think the people in michigan are seeing that increasingly. and i think he wins tuesday.

>> what if he does not win tuesday?

>> march on to super tuesday, don't give up.

>> what about us being told if he does not win on tuesday, parties lead er will have to look around for a jeb bush or mitch daniels or someone else to get in the race?

>> i have heard some of that speculation, but that is not going happen. let me tell you why, it's an extraordinarily high risk proposition for a political figure to jump into something like that. and it would be risky. i cannot see anybody that wants to take that risk. if you look at the math, getting enough delegates between super tuesday and the convention, unless you are in now and get started. i do not any it will happen, but i think it's healthy that we have a contested primary, i think it's healthy that our nominee, mitt romney is going through his process and getting toughened up, he will be a better candidate and nominee because of it.

>> fred, thank you very much as always. in 1970 title ten which funds family planning