Hardball Big Number
On Friday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why $238 and $35 are the Hardball Big Numbers of the day.
"No matter what your politics are, you can't help but be impressed with Gov. Mike Huckabee's Iowa victory last night. This is a guy who emerged from obscurity and beat out all the other better-known politicians. What's more impressive is how badly he was outspent by second-place finisher Mitt Romney.
The first Big Number is the amount of TV ad money Romney spent for each of his votes in Iowa. That number is roughly $238 per vote. How much TV ad money did Huckabee spend for each of his Iowa votes? Roughly $35 per vote. $238 verses $35. An amazing difference." Watch video
On Thursday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why 41% was the Hardball Big Number.
"By now you've seen the candidates barnstorming Iowa in the final hours, maximizing every last second of time out on trail. Forty-one is the percentage of Iowans in 2004 who waited until the final three days to make up their mind, according to Associated Press entrance polling. Four out of ten voters probably made their decision sometime between Tuesday and right now. Every minute matters." Watch video
On Wednesday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why 92 was the Hardball Big Number.
"Some of our presidential candidates do the same thing, bragging about torture, freaking us out over "Islamo-fascism." Well, for all you politicians who would appeal to our darker side, I offer you Wednesday's Big Number...92! That's the percentage of Americans who say they're personally happy. A majority of Americans even describe themselves as very happy. Ronald Reagan knew it. Bill Clinton knew it. George Bush used to know it." Watch video
On Friday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why 13 was the Hardball Big Number.
"During crises, politicians often unwittingly show their true colors. Some act like grown-ups and others act like children. Benazir Bhutto was assassinated yesterday at 8:30 AM. A courageous woman is killed when trying to stir the Democratic heart of her country.
Well, it took Mike Huckabee roughly just 13 hours to publicly call for this:
"We ought to have an immediate, very clear monitoring of our border, and particularly to make sure, if there's any unusual activity of Pakistanis coming into the country. We just need to be very very thorough in looking at every aspect of our own security internally."
What??? The lesson from yesterday is to make sure Pakistanis don't sneak into the United States? Thirteen is the amount of HOURS it took Mike Huckabee to turn the Bhutto assassination into a push for good ole Paki-bashing." Watch Video
On Wednesday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why 45 was the Hardball Big Number.
"Voters in Iowa and New Hampshire put a lot into the presidential nominating process. Not only do they study the candidates' positions, they often trudge through the snow and brave the nasty cold to come out and see the contenders up close. You would think that the candidates would show respect for these folks, if not out of gratitude then at least to win their votes.
But not John Edwards. Today's New York Times reports that he regularly shows up to events late, making his audiences just sit there and wait. And for how long? It's common practice for him to be at least 45 minutes late! A little case of passive aggression, don't you think? Forty-five minutes cooling your heals for John!" Watch video
On Thursday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why 8 was the Hardball Big Number.
"It's a number that Barack Obama isn't going to like. Not one bit. And, as we discussed earlier in the show, guys like Bob Kerrey might be to blame for this one. Eight is the percentage of Americans who think Barack Obama is a Muslim, according to the new NBC-Wall Street Journal poll. He's not." Watch video
On Wednesday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why 35 was the Hardball Big Number.
"Today President Bush signed a new energy bill and the new law is the product of hard work by lots of people, notably Massachusetts Congressman Ed Markey. It forces America's automakers to do something they might not otherwise do: increase the fuel efficiency standards of our cars and trucks by 40 percent.
That brings us to tonight's Hardball Big Number, 35, as in 35 miles per gallon, which will be the required fuel efficiency average by the year 2020 under this new law." Watch video
On Tuesday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why 41 was the Hardball Big Number.
"Bill Clinton's latest angle to help Hillary sounds a bit "obtuse." CNN reports that Monday in South Carolina, Bill said the "first thing" Hillary plans to do as president is to send him and former President George Herbert Walker Bush around the world "to tell them that America is open for business and cooperation again."
Really? Does Bill think putting his arm around one Bush will help Hillary follow the other one? Does it really make her the "change" candidate to join forces with the "father" of who needs changing? Doesn't this spotlight the Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton dynasty scenario that makes people a little antsy?
As Bill says, your "answer" depends on what "you" think the question is. Either way, we know what the Hardball Big Number is: 41, as in Bush 41, who, according to Bill, would be a major player on Hillary's foreign policy line-up." Watch video
On Monday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why zero was the Hardball Big Number.
"What would it be like to have Bill Clinton back in the White House? It's a question that all of us have had to consider at one time or another. It's also a less polite way of wondering whether Bill could pull another Monica.
Thanks to a new poll from the New York Daily News, we now know where America stands on that pivotal question. Fifteen percent worry Big Bill could cause more trouble if Hillary gets elected. I take that as the latest, wondrous example of my country's unrivaled capacity for optimism." Watch video
On Friday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why zero was the Hardball Big Number.
"The Politico reports that Iowa Republicans might hold ANOTHER debate before Caucus day on January 3rd. You'll recall that this week's GOP debate was supposed to be the very last one. The reason for an 11th hour debate? Because, in my humble opinion, on a scale from 1-10, Wednesday's showdown was a big, fat, boring ZERO." Watch video
