michael bennett. [applause] senator bennett goes forward with the full support of the democratic party and was an -- and with the full support of thousands of people across colorado of every political affiliation because he has earned it. he has shown us that he has a vision to build a world-class education system that he will and the partisanship in washington, that he will work to solve our nation's most pressing problems including bringing down the national debt and that he will bring the openness and transparency and the accountability to washington that this nation deserves. we are lucky to have senator michael bennett as their candidate representing the democratic party and fighting for the people of colorado. . i want to thank you all for being here. we will all work together to win in november. we have wonderful candidates up and down the ballot. thank you very much. is my privilege now to introduce a great friend and a gray color of a leader, senator mark udall. [applause] >> is always a trea

michael bennett. -- the honorable michael bennett. [applause] >> i want to say a few words in thanks to the thousands of people this supported our campaign, the folks who volunteered and voted for us, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the support you showed. proud of our team and proud to see so many folks standing with us together in this united democratic party today, but not just for my sake and not even for the sake of the democratic party, i am asking you today to throw your support fully and unequivocally behind michael bennett for the united states senate. [applause] i say this not for the sake of the democratic party, because the truth is, the party is a vehicle, all means to an end. the end that we share is a better quality of life, a cleaner and healthier environment, more affordable healthcare, stronger schools, more jobs, those goals which we share would be better advanced by michael bennett then any other candidate in this race. is an easy call. -- it is an easy call. [applause] this is a time of it so much pain f

michael bennett has never been in politics. he had come out of the school system. he was superintendent of schools in denver. he had no political network, no political fund raising network or political base. he was plucked from relative obscurity into this seat. he has had to spend the last 18 months becoming well known to people who had no idea who he was. that made him vulnerable in the fall in part because of the political winds but also because he isn't well known. when andrew romanov stepped in he was very much on the attack against michael bennett who was somebody who had become a creature of special interests in washington. >> ifill: do the presidential endorsements make any difference at all? >> they don't seem to have made a lot of difference. michael bennett obviously has the support of the president and the national democratic establishment. they have been hard at work for him. the president made a call last week out to colorado, a conference call, to supporters urging them to get out and vote. former president clinton endorsed andrew romanov. he did not

host: michael bennett will now face buck. there is michael bennett with his daughter. he was not wearing a tie last night. michael bennett wanted to look like he was not part of the washington establishment, or is this part of his personality? guest: i did a couple of stories from colorado at the end of july. if it is an act that he is putting on, i think he is doing it very well. he is never senator bennett. he is always michael. he does not like to wear a tie. when i first met him on capitol hill, i remember him ripping off his tie. that is kind of his schtick. wear cowboyett's boots. host: what does the general election look like? guest: it will be a tough race. a few polls have -- public policy voting out of colorado -- they did a poll over the weekend that showed michael bennett was up by three, but there was a 3.1 margin of error. she had johnthe nra se-- mccain go out and campaigned with her last week. the chairman went out and did a joint fund raiser with her. that is what got a lot of the tea party people riled up, and was the reason buck's campaign surged. he

he never is senator bennett, always michael. when i met up with him at one rally he was wearing a shirt with a frayed collar and had holes in part of the collar. he doesn't like wearing a tie. the first time i met him on capitol hill right after he was appointed last year i remember him kind of ripping his tie off. i saying i hate wearing one of these. that's kind of his shtick. ken buck likes the cowboy image. his boots were a symbol of this campaign and almost got him in trouble a little bit in one of the comments he made about cowboy boots versus high heels. remember that? host: how do these two fare? what does it look like host: guest: it's going to be a very tough race. there have been a few polls in recent months that has bennett down to whatever republican was going to come out, but public policy polling out of north carolina, a democratic firm, they did a poll over the weekend that showed to be a statistical tie. bennett up by three but a 3.1 margin of error in that poll. regardless of what happens, this is a key senate

in colorado, democrats hope michael bennett can hold on to his senate seat. more about that race now from jeff greenfield. >> reporter: it was a split decision tuesday night in colorado, not between republicans and democrats but between insiders and outsiders. democrats gave a comfortable primary victory to interim senator michael bennett who survived a strong challenge from former statehouse speaker andrew romanoff. they also spared president obama who campaigned hard for bennett the embarrassment of having to explain why colorado democrats had rejected his candidate. >> i've worked as a truck driver... >> reporter: it was a different story on the republican side. district attorney ken buck, the tea party favorite, one a close race against former lieutenant governor jane norton, the choice of the republican establishment. buck was helped by two million dollars worth of adds and mailers for americans with job security. >> norton pushed the largest tax hike in colorado history. as a regulator, she managed a multimillion dollar surge in government spending. >>

democrat michael bennett never expected to be colorado's senator. but he's scrambling to keep the job now. >> we have worked as a team from day one. >> reporter: bennett actually had zero political experience until he was appointed to fill a vacancy last year. president obama has gone all out, appearing in person and in tv ads. >> michael is a different kind of leader. >> it's a tough year to be an incumbent. it's a great year to be someone who's never had their name on a ballot. and i have never had my name on a ballot until right now. >> reporter: but another democrat backed by president bill clinton defies the obama white house and refused to stay out of the race. >> we need a senator for the rest of us. >> reporter: of the state house, slammed bennett's investment background with a barrage of tough tv commercials. >> he's had almost no money. he had to sell his house to buy his final ad. that's a hungry candidate. >> reporter: and hungry describes republicans. this is a seat they can win. former lieutenant governor jane norton is up against the

. >> obama backs michael bennett. a loss could be an embarrassment for obama. it's a political smackdown in connecticut. >> i approve this message because it's time for something different. >> former world wrestling entertainment ceo linda mcmahon hopes to trade the ring for the senate. >> what i hear when i'm around in our state is not, they're not concerned about soap opera story lines. >> the conservative is expected to advance to november likely pitting her against connecticut attorney general richard blumenthal. in georgia... >> are you ready to vote for a constitutional conservative that will fight for you? >> sarah palin is testing the national gop. she supports handle for governor. handle is endorsed by the nra, mike huckabee and newt gingrich. the biggest surprise? pending political power in your corner. voters in florida have two weeks to decide if key races. the official primary day is august 24th but early voting is already underway. abc news. >> it's 4:57. one of silicon valley leaders comes to the defense of h. p.'s ousted ceo. >> it was one year

. >> michael bennett of colorado. >> who just won the democratic nomination. >> rose: continues as a nits senator and he says as he's listening to this and watching nothing happening, "i wonder what they're doing in china." >> that was a kind of haunting remark. it was as if he was saying what are we doing to create a more dynamic society, to create a competitive society, to create jobs. when, in fact what he came as an outsider, he never held elective office. they was superintendent of the denver school system appointed by president obama to replace ken salazar who became the interior secretary. so in a way michael bennett is sort of the citizen senator of one's ideal and he arrives and has the idea that he's going to work on the debt, climate change big issues. and he finds insaid that he's sitting in the chair learning how to preside and watching a lot of nothing. and he now has four years or six years if he wins in november to decide whether this is the place where he wants to spend his career. more and more of them are deciding it's not. >> rose: is it likely to change? is there

and number 4 in napa, down goes phrasier, ricky brown lights up michael bennett. talk about nutcracker. >>> number 3, two-time loser, the fan lost the we're, and lost the ball. isn't that terrible? >> oh. >> look at his expression. number 2, indian catcher carlos santana paid a big price trying to block the plate against the red sox. early indication no serious damage to ligaments, indians won the game. >>> birmingham, alabama, atop the 56-foot tall vulcan statue, nothing but net. check the ground level angle. it is now considered the world's longest basketball shot, i always am rather sceptical with the legitimacy of these accomplishments. >> we don't believe it for a minute. >> ha ha. >> that's three syllables there. >> you know. people are often underrated. >> ,,,,,,,,,, . >>> i bet you anything the oakland a's provided another free beer. >> you want a free beer. >> i heard that brad pitt brought that guy a free beer. >> ha. >>

in most years, you could expect michael bennett or john norton to cruise to the party nomination on the strength of establishment coat tails. this is not most years. on the democratic side, andrew romanov has the backing of bill clinton. he has a good chance to win. that would be a blow to president obama. on the republican side, ken buck, a favorite of the tea party crowd could beat jane norton. could be the latest state where the tea party candidate and the tea party energy is forcing the republicans in a different direction than the national leadership might want. >> another big political story this week, nancy pelosi, the house speaker, has called members of congress back into session. tell us what's going on there. >> reporter: you could not ask for a more stark display of the differences between the parties. speaker pelosi cutting short the summer recess to vote for a $26 billion package of aid to states. this would help education and medicaid among other things. to democrats, this is what government should be doing. this displays government providing crucial services. to republic

. >> colorado senator michael bennett won his bid tuesday night. he spoke to supporters at his primary headquarters at the mile high station in denver. flu >> first of all, it's so nice to see so many familiar faces. i can't wait for the party to start. it was just a week ago that washington odds makers started counting us out of this face. they didn't think we were negative enough to spend more time talking about our opponents and what we stand for. to the opponents, welcome to colorado >> as all of you know now, this election is the first time my name has ever been on a ballot. after only 20 months in the senate and on the campaign trail traveling over 25,000 miles and 64 counties more than once, from the western slope to the eastern plains to the denver suburbs. i know one thing, washington has a lot to learn from colorado. [applause] >> the sad fact is that washington is full of politicians more interested in scoring points than turning the hard work of the country around. the gap in which we hear on television and what i hear from town hall me

bennett meets outside andrew romanoff. >> at some point is, you have to stand up to the leadership of your own party when you think they're doing something wrong. i'm doing that right now. >> the gop senate primary in connecticut may not be as close, but it is sure to be in the spotlight with wrestling executive linda mcmahon expected to pin down the gop nomination. three democrats who want to be minnesota's next governor will be pressing hard in their states. a republican state legislator in the state's gop primary. >>> virginia lawmakers are lashing out on plans to close the joint forces command center. they say it would eliminate 5,000 jobs in the area. defense secretary robert gates says he wants the closure to eliminate overspending and proposes slashing the pentagon's budget for military contractors. but virginia lawmakers say many of the contractors are modeling and simulation researchers and are critical to national security and global competitiveness. >>> the pat tillman story is one that touches a special nerve in the bay area, now his story is being hold through the eyes of

bennett meets outsider andrew romanoff. >> at some point is, you have to stand up to the leadership of your own party when you think they're doing something wrong. i'm doing that right now. >> the gop senate primary in connecticut may be close, but it is sure to be in the spotlight with wrestling executive linda mcmahon expected to pin down the gop nomination. three democrats who want to be minnesota's next governor will be pressing hard in their states. a republican state legislator in the state's gop primary. >>> commuters stuck in the slow lane have a chance to pay for a faster trip in the east bay. the first express lane is about to roll out on 680. it's a 14-mile stretch between highways 84 and 237. carpoolers are still free, however single drivers can now pay for access. the fee depends on the traffic. the expense lanes rules go into effect from 5:00 in the morning until 8:00 p.m. alameda county congestion management agency has said the average price will be $3 or $4. >>> time coming up on 6:08. we want to check in with felipe who is watching traffic this morning. he's in for

. >> obama backs michael bennett. a loss for bennett could be an embarrassment for obama. it's a political smackdown in connecticut. >> i approve this message because it's time for something different. >> former world wrestling entertainment ceo linda mcmahon hopes to trade the ring for the senate. >> what i hear when i'm around in our state is not, they're not concerned about soap opera story lineses. >> the conservative is expected to advance to november likely pitting her against connecticut attorney general richard bomben that will. in georgia... >> are you ready to elect a pro-life common sense, constitutional conservative who will fight like a mamma grisly for you? >> sarah palin is testing the national gop. she supports karen handle for governor. handle is up against deal who's endorsed by the nra and newton beginning gingrich. voters have two weeks to decide its key races. the official primary day is august 24th but early voting is already underway. abc news. >> a happy reunion is in store today for a kitten stolen from the san francisco spca more than a year ago.

in particular this primary battle in colorado where the incumbent, michael bennett, the person appointed senator, was in a tough intraparty battle. president barack obama had clearly picked sides and was backing bennett over his challenger andrew romanoff. and it looked like this place was pretty close. in the end it turned out not to be so close. i think it was eight points by which bennett won. if he hadn't won, it would have been a real embarrassment. the white house knew it. they were primed for it. i was talking just yesterday with a senior obama political radded advisor who was very nervous and if they knew bennett had stumbled it would have been not just his defeat but seen as a defeat for obama because obama had been out to colorado time and time again and made it clear in his choice. so anyway, they got some good news for a change and they've needed it. >> rose: it's said that by him... by the president that what he was able to do in 2008 was make his personal narrative a narrative of the country. he clearly did that. what narrative would the president like for the country to se

. >> because they were able to renominate michael bennett in colorado. that made them feel good because they had backed him. what does that stay about the star of the tea party movement? >> endorsements to me are questionable anyway. because voters automatically make the decision. sarah palin on the republican side has the most energy and emotion and passion behind her than any other candidate. she can still walk into a city and get 3,000, 5,000 people. no one else can do that. she have that emotionally. she can charge that and ultimately it's about here. i think the interesting thing on the results is that there is this big wave coming into washington. democrats have a sea wall. what happens, republicans nominated people that may not be able to win. basically the republicans are putting bricks on the seawall, and building it higher. they have a less chance of winning because of their election because of who they nominated in some places. >> their biggest problem, i would suspect, if they did win, suppose the republicans did win control of the house and

bennett. on the gop side, ken buck is the latest tea party favorite to catch fire. though bennett has the support of president obama, challenger andrew romanoff is backed by a president of his own, bill clinton. >> hi, this is bill clinton. i'm supporting andrew romanoff for the u.s. senate. and i hope you'll vote for him in tuesday's democratic primary. because he's not really good ideas on the economy. >> reporter: in georgia, the latest display of palin power. sarah palin is lined up against the nra, backing her own candidate for governor, karen handel. >> are you ready to elect a pro-life, pro-second amendment, commonsense constitutional conservative who will fight like a mama grizzly for you? >> reporter: in connecticut, political smackdown. linda mcmahon, former ceo of world wrestling entertainment, is vying for the republican nod for senate. she's up against rob simmons. who lifted his campaign off the mat when questions swirled about how pro wrestling treated women -- >> bark like a do

michael bennett. -- the honorable michael bennet. thanks to all the colorado people who have supported our campaign and voted for us. thank you from the bottom of my heart. i am very proud of our grass- roots team and to see so many folks standing with us together in this united democratic party today for not just my stake for the sake of the democratic party, i am asking you to throw your support behind michael bennet for the united states senate. i say this not for the sake of the democratic party. the truth is, the party is as a vehicle, a means to an end. at the end we share is a healthier environment, more affordable health care, more jobs, the goals which we share. they will be advanced by michael bennet better than any other candidates. it is an easy call for me. it should be an easy call for all of you as well. this is a time of so much pain for so many people across this state and across this land. so many americans we have that have lost so much. we have that families who lost their jobs and homes and lost their savings, lo

. >>> in colorado with the backing of president obama, in couple ben michael bennett won the u.s. senate nominations. he faces republican and tea party favorite ken buck. in connecticut former wrestling executive linda mcmahon easily captured the republican senate nomination. in october she'll face attorney general richard blumenthal. she told erica she'll spend $50 million of her own money on that campaign. >> well, the money i'm spending in this race i have clearly earned. i'm investing in myself to be a public servant. >> mcmahon and blumenthal are battling for the seat held by retiring senator chris dodd. >>> president obama continues focusing on the economy this week. mr. obama signs a bill boosting manufacturing by $4.6 billion and to help cut the trade deficit. it could support 90,000 jobs by cutting tariffs on some materials. yesterday mr. obama signed the jobs bill that is supposed to save 300,000 jobs of teachers, police officers and others. >>> escaped arizona prisoner john mccluskey remains at large this morning. authorities are tightening border crossings to canada as

flu >> colorado senator michael bennett won his bit. then charlie wrangle talks about the ethics charges brought against him. topics this morning on washington journal include u.s. energy policy. >> every weekend in august, book tv returns to book festivals we have been to around the country. the chicago tribune printer's broe bookfest and the harlem fume fair this week on c-span 2. go to book tv.org for the full lifting. >> available any time on c-span radio in the washington area at 90.1 fm, nationwide on sirius channel 132. on your i phone or i pad. c-span radio is available any time call 202-626-8888. it's free but check with your phone service provider for any additional charges. even more available on your phone. >> linda mcman won her bid to be the republican party senate representative for connecticut. she spoke from cromwell, connecticut. this is about nine minutes. >> thanks to my family and friends, my tireless staff and to all of the volunteers. many of you. [applause] because without the efforts of all of our volunteers, i

in the race between michael bennett and andrew roam number of, what is the lateest? >> well, as many 4 people know this has become somewhat of a showdown between barack obama and bill clinton. bill romanoff is being backed by clinton. and bennett is alleged to have abused money that was supposed to be used for the school system. then again, colorado voters have been voting for weeks now. so we'll see. >> and people are watching this to get a feel for how long the anti-establishment mood is in the country. why is that? >> absolute limit in this case you have a democratic challenger to a sitting incumbent. somebody who has the support of the senate and barack obama against somebody who was discouraged from challenging him in the first place. and he's able to pull out takeover money and support bennett has institutionally, that will tell you how anti-incumbent voters are feeling. >> and what are the differences between these two candidates? >> on the republican side you have a man who is accused of plagiarism, a man who worked at one point for a think tank and was paid

the white house has been adamant in backing senator michael bennett. if he were to lose tonight, how would that not be interpreted as -- >> hypothetical. >> i haven't even finished the question. >> you already had the conditional sense of a verb. >> i guess i'll go to a different topic. a week ago, robert gates said he didn't want to weigh in on the issue no new york city, it was too local. we now have national figures from both parties, including the majority of potential candidates in the republican party weigh in on the issue. how come you're so reluctant to offer an opinion from the white house about the cultural and religious debate in this country? >> this is an issue that's been thought through, it's gone through the process in new york city and a decision -- -- a decision has been made and it's going forward. we're not going to be in a position where a local government is going to make a decision that we go in and readjute -- adjudicate. the president made clear we are not at war with islam and that we can have these sorts of discussions well w

there is a great line in an article where michael bennett says what are the chinese doing right now? that is a very wise sentiment. but it is a generational sentiment. i suggest that we looking little closer to home. we are sitting right now in a city where 9% of the kids who start ninth grade will have a bachelor's degree within nine years of that experience. d.c. is not a anomalous in that regard. you can go to l.a. and see the same numbers, chicago, philly. you can see those same kinds of figures. it is a generational issue. it is not the chinese. it is what we're doing to ourselves year after year, allowing these things to persist, and means of social equity, poverty, social compact. that is a much more media conversation and then what the chinese, the indians, or some of the western europeans are doing. >> we only have 10 sox in our door. [laughter] we need to take up a collection to give up to 20 at least. >> [unintelligible] >> all i will do is read one last question. martin, it seems to me that something that is immediately relative from a policy standpoint goes to this quest

. >> reporter: in colorado president obama's choice to hold the democratic senate seat michael bennett faces a tough insider/outsider battle with former state house speaker andrew romanoff. and in georgia today the republican run-off for governor has turned into a 2012 republican presidential proxy fight with newt gingrich and mike huckabee on one side supporting former congressman nathan deal and sarah palin on on the other side, in support of her mama grisly, karen handel. >> show the nation how you are ready to bring it on, georgia. >> reporter: a political comeback is being attempted by mark dayton, he's trying to become his party's nominee for governor. >> chuck todd in washington for us. thank you, chuck. >>> uss john mccain docked in vietnam today as two former enemy nations mark 15 years of renewed diplomatic ties. the destroyer is named for admiral john mccain sr. and junior, the grandfather and father of arizona senator john mccain who was held as a p.o.w. during the vietnam war. >>> now 7:12 pacific time. back to meredith, matt and al. >> thank you very much, natalie. mr. ro

bennett. >> i've never run for office before. i've spent my life turning around distressed companies and then most recently working in local government. >> reporter: bennett is facing a tough liberal challenge from former state house speak er andrew romanoff who claims even though his opponent has been in the senate less than two years, he's already become part of the establishment. >> i would have fought for the public option. my opponent did not. i would have voted for banks becoming too big to fail. my opponent voted against that proposal. >> reporter: before first lady michelle and daughter sasha got back from a private visit in spain, a trip that's got panned by some for looking out of touch, the president got in some quality basketball time sunday with stars joakim noah and derrick rose of his beloved chicago bulls, lebron james and magic johnson were also there. it was followed by a white house barbecue that included gulf coast shrimp. the president with his family in tow returns to the gulf later this week for a mini vaca

bennett, appointed to the seat, was branded the establishment candidate even though this was his first time on a ballot. in his corner, the endorser in chief, president barack obama. romanoff ran as the outsider despite his years in state politics. romanoff had the backing of former president bill clinton. bennet avoided becoming the third sitting senator this year to lose in a primary. t.j. wingic, abc news, washington. >>> new york democratic congressman charlie rangel is not resigning despite facing more than a dozen ethic charges. he made that clear at an unexpected 37-minute speech on the house floor. any call on the house ethics committee to move it along without delay. >> don't leave me swinging in the wind until november. i do want the dignity that the president had said. if i can't get my dignity back here, then fire your best shot in getting rid of me through ex-pulse. >> he admitted to making mistakes but maintains he has done nothing corrupt. >>> a new storm is menacing the gulf coast as it heads to the site of the big bp oil spill. a relief well has been suspended and a go

bennett will face republican ken buck this fall, a tea party favorite. in minnesota, tom emmer won the republican nomination for governor. the georgia republican governors race is too close to call this morning. it could be decided when the provisional and militar are coun >>> despite the advice of his friends, colleagues, and attorneys, new york democric congressman charlie ange delivered a 37-minute rant on the floor of the house. during his speech, rangel made it clear that he is not resigning because of the 13 ethics charges he's now facing. and he demandet thhics committee move forward with his case. >> don't leave me swinging in the wind until november. for god's sake, just don't believe that i don't have feelings, that i don't have pride, that -- that i do want the dignity that the president had said. if i can't get my dignity back here, then fire your best shot in getting rid of me through expulsion. >> rangel also admitted he's made mistakes in the past but said he is not corrupt. one of the reasons why he spoke on the house floor is that nothin

for michael bennett's case, an appointed senator there is a precedent. the last time an appointed senator ran for his own six-year term and lost was david karnes in 1988 in nebraska and he allowed bob kerry to be seated on election day. that is the the right thick to do and we urge michael bennett if he loses he ought to resign and not vote on a lame duck session. i think we have an opportunity, i talked about it earlier, we have an opportunity to appeal to moderate members of both parties that cheating the process, ov overturning a national election is inappropriate, unacceptable regardless of what you think on the underlaying policy issue and i would encourage you to echo that back to your u.s. senators and house guys. because it is easy to say nancy pelosi has the big majorities, she can force this through in the lame duck. it won't necessarily be that way. it won't necessarily be the case that all of these democrats will be willing to disregard a national election and vote for these things. i think those will be very difficult votes especially the on