[Baldwin:] This just in. Governor Nikki Hailey of South Carolina will deliver the Republican address following the president's state of the union next week. In a statement she says quote "this is a time of great challenges for our country but also of great opportunities. I intend to speak about both." So let me bring in our chief political correspondent Dana Bash. Now we have the name. You know, obviously, my immediate thought was, potential future VP pick. Talk to me a little bit about that and how this is also sort of become this whoever, you know, issues this response to the president it's become like an infamous or an interesting position for these folks.
[Dana Bash, Cnn Chief Political Correspondent:] Yes. It's a 'be careful what you wish for" because it doesn't always go well. Let's start with what you just began with that she's a potential VP pick. She is absolutely there's so much buzz around her as that she is, you know, a pretty successful, very successful, I think, certainly if you're a Republican, governor of a southern state. She has been doing well when it comes to the economy, when it comes to education reforms and others. So it is let's just start where we should start, which is her record and her experience and her abilities. But let's also look at what I was just calling her, the pronoun, she's a she. And the bottom line, blunt way, there's no other way to say it, Brooke, but Republicans in Washington, particularly on Capitol Hill, are desperate to counter the idea that the Republican Party has turned into an anti-woman bigoted party. So what better way to do it, then again, let's start with her experience and her credentials, to have a successful southern governor who was a woman, who is a minority, and can show that side of the Republican party. So I think if you look at the full package for the party, it is frankly genius. When it comes to Nikki Hailey, it's you know, it is kind of a tough bag because you will never know what is going to happen. You had Marco Rubio's infamous water moment. Bobby Jindal did not do himself any favors. It was, you know, awkward and a little bit odd. And the list goes on when it comes to Republican responses.
[Baldwin:] All right. So Governor Haley for that. Let's move on and talk about a date that I'm sure you have on your calendar for quite a while, February 1st, the Iowa caucuses. Take a look at this map. I love this map because you have 20 stops, town halls, events, appearance all to date. The candidates there on the trail in full force. Not only is the trail heating up, you know, sort of these ad wars. You have several ads from Republican candidates and the groups that support them. They are launching today across Iowa and New Hampshire. And two alone are from a group that supports Marco Rubio both with the same target. Watch this.
[Unidentified Male:] Chris Christie could well be Obama's favorite Republican governor. Why? Christie's record. He instituted an internet sales tax, supported common core and liberal energy policies. Incredibly Christie even backed Obamacare's Medicaid expansion. Chris Christie, one high tax common core, liberal energy loving Obamacare Medicaid expanding president is enough. Conservative Solutions PAC is responsible for the content of this advertising.
[Baldwin:] So not only is it a Rubio super PAC, it's the Rubio campaign going straight after Chris Christie. Why? Why Chris Christie?
[Bash:] This is a perfect example of how these campaigns are trying to play a game of chess with the map that you just showed. People who support Rubio, including and obviously especially the super PAC who by laws isn't supposed to talk to the campaign, are worried about the fact that in New Hampshire Chris Christie is doing better. I'm told that internally inside the super PAC that Rubio is still beating Chris Christie, but that Chris Christie is coming up on Rubio. So for Marco Rubio to be the kind of establishment alternative going down the road, he has to do well somewhere. And let's just assume in New Hampshire Donald Trump wins because he is ahead in the polls and I'm told, you know, he is even in some private polling among many Republicans. Then, if Marco Rubio loses in New Hampshire to Chris Christie, he is in trouble. He's got at least perform a strong second if not win to be able to continue on and do well where the Rubio campaign I know hopes to do very well, which is South Carolina. So that is the reason. It's because they are looking ahead. They see Chris Christie as a potential threat to their long-term game and they want to try to nail them. And I'm told by a source at the super PAC, they are worried that Chris Christie is, you know, basically living in New Hampshire right now. He has been winning support on his personality. He has a big personality. And he has having these town halls day in and day out, but they want to remind people of his record which is what they added to that.
[Baldwin:] All right. So all these candidate, all these other people at work heating up. Just quickly, why is no one directly targeting the front runner? Where's the anti, you know, Donald Trump campaign ad?
[Bash:] You know what, Brooke? It's simple. It doesn't work. People have tried it. Jeb Bush is out there saying it until he is blue in the face. He is probably talking about it as we speak. It's not working.
[Baldwin:] Yes.
[Bash:] End of story.
[Baldwin:] OK. The end. There you go. Dana Bash, thank you so much.
[Bash:] Thank you.
[Baldwin:] My next guest says President Obama is siding with Iran over Saudi Arabia as the sides are escalating, the violent dispute in the Middle East. Hear his reasons for saying that, coming up next.