In a special convention edition of Meet the Press, two elder statesmen in the Republican party weighed in on the race and the political climate in our country: Fmr. Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).
Bush, a man many in the GOP hoped would run for president this year, believes negative campaigning by President Obama will adversely affect his current lead in the polls on the issue of who cares most about average people.
"It's an advantage the president has temporarily," Bush said. "But as the president goes on the attack... I think his connectivity with people will drop." Bush added that the convention gives Romney a chance to "reconnect with people."
The gathering of influential Republicans in Tampa comes amid two storms: one, a tropical storm making its up the Florida coast; the other, a political storm after comments from Republican Congressman Todd Akin (MO) about abortion and "legitimate rape."
Arizona's Senior Senator John McCain, chided Akin, going so far as to say that if Akin wins his race against incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), he would "not be welcome by Republicans in the United States Senate."
You can watch the entire show on our website including a special roundtable featuring Governor Jan Brewer (R-AZ); chair of the Democratic National Committee, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) as well as GOP strategist Mike Murphy and NBC's Chuck Todd.
Also, don't miss this morning's live blog of Meet the Press with great commentary and analysis from NBC's Carrie Dann.
We'll be back next week. If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
