If this had been a boxing match, the ref would have stopped the fight....

On today's CNN This Morning, Republican communications strategist Erin Perrine demolished Dem Brad Woodhouse.

The topic was Biden's value on the campaign trail for Kamala Harris, and his supposed popularity in the blue wall states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.

In Round 1, Woodhouse boasted about "how powerful Joe Biden is in these blue wall states."

Perrine counterpunched: "If Joe Biden was so strong in these blue wall states, Democrats wouldn't have booted him off the top of the ticket."

In Round 2, Woodhouse bragged that Biden had won the blue wall states in 2020. 

Countered Perrine: "He wasn't about to this cycle, which is why Democrats gave him the old heave-ho." 

And finally, the climactic Round 3. Woodhouse, already wobbly on his feet, clung to the "four-and-a-half minute standing ovation" that Democrats gave Biden at the DNC.

Perrine delivered her knockout blow: "After they took him out back like Old Yeller."

Woodhouse could only admit defeat, mumbling: "Okay, all right."

CNN This Morning
9/3/24
6:17 am EDT

KAMALA HARRIS: When union wages go up, everybody's wages go up. When union workplaces are safer, all workplaces. When unions are strong, America is strong. 

JESSICA DEAN: There Vice President Harris reaching out to union workers on labor day. She and her surrogates, laser-focused on the backbone of America, blue-collar workers in the so-called blue wall states. The Vice President campaigning in Pittsburgh with President Biden by her side, while her running mate was stumping in battleground Wisconsin, echoing the same theme.

TIM WALZ: Folks, start thinking about running. I can remember, and this was when Republicans came up to me in one of my campaigns and they said, Tim is in the pocket of organized labor. I said that's a damn lie. I am the pocket, I am the pocket.

DEAN: Those battleground states are up for grabs. In a recent Quinnipiac poll, Harris leads Trump by three points among likely voters in Pennsylvania. But that's just outside the margin of error. 

. . .

BRAD WOODHOUSE: Well, first of all, this [sic] events yesterday were incredible. And I think the one thing that people underestimate with the change at the top of the ticket is how powerful Joe Biden is in these blue, in blue wall states. If you win the blue wall states, you win the presidency. And there's nowhere that Joe Biden has a more effective message to help Kamala Harris than in those in those blue, in those blue wall states. 

But this, this issue of her position on price gouging and lowering housing costs is pretty incredible because, you know, about 90% of people, probably, want to see the cost of housing lower. Want to see the cost of groceries lower. 

As soon she comes out and says, I have the plan to take on price gouging, the Republicans come out and say, well, you can't dot hat. That's, that's price controls. They said the same thing about prescription drug costs. Again, 90% of Americans want a lower prescription drug cost. Biden-Harris got it done. I think she'll get this done. 

It also speaks to her biography, that she is the prosecutor, wanting to take on people like corporate, corporate grocery stores, and speculators in the real estate market.  

DEAN: But Erin, this is, of course, a weakness for her. Not everyone is happy with the economy. It presents an opportunity for the former president. How should he approach this issue, especially in next week's debate?

ERIN PERRINE: This is, this is I think actually an easy one for Donald Trump. I think that she's in the White House. To your point, she's there. If you can get this done, get it done. Democrats are going to say, well, Donald Trump stopped the immigration bill because he put his hand on the lever. He stopped progress. This is Kamala Harris stopping progress. This is Kamala Harris stopping progress. If she's sitting in the White House, and she is there right now. Why aren't they working to get things done? If you can deliver today, why wait until tomorrow? 

WOODHOUSE: I think --

PERRINE: That's ineffective leadership at best. And Republicans absolutely have every reason and ability to say, you want to look at what direction the country's going in? It's because of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. You want to know why things are more expensive today? It's because of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. You want to know why you feel less safe? It's because of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. 

And so the more they put Joe Biden out there with Kamala Harris out there, and to your point [turns to Woodhouse], if Joe Biden was so strong in these blue wall states, Democrats wouldn't have booted him off the top of the ticket. 

WOODHOUSE: Well, he, he, look --

PERRINE: They would have kept him up there to keep running. 

WOODEHOUSE: I will tell you --

PERRINE: So I think we could all say that that's not necessarily a fact.

WOODHOUSE: I'll tell you it wasn't the blue wall states, he beat Donald Trump last time --

PERRINE: And he wasn't about to this cycle, which is why Democrats gave him the old heavE-ho.

WOODHOUSE: He beat, he beat all of them last ending was about to this cycle which Democrats he beat him, all of them last time. Look, one of the key elements of winning elections is turning out your base. The base of the Democratic party loves Joe Biden.  At the Democratic convention they gave him a four-and-a-half minute standing ovation.

PERRINE: After they took him out back like Old Yeller. 

WOODHOUSE: Okay. All right.