On economy, Romney polls better

>>> on the endless campaign trail today, the topic turned back toward the issue so many americans consistently say they care about the most. that's the economy. our political director chief white house correspondent chuck todd with us from the white house tonight. chuck, good evening.

>> good evening, brian. no matter who the president sits down with for interviews or where he does them, the subject always goes back to the one that will make or break his chances at re-election, the economy. even if a softer setting like "the view," it was a economy on the economy that seemed to strike a cord.

>> how do you grade yourself honestly in terms of how you've done in terms of economics.

>> i won't give us a letter grade . it's incomplete, we have work to do, and we still have some head winds out there.

>> those head winds are greece, gas prices and housing. the president is pinning his hopes on the election not being a remember dumb.

>> we were talking about joe biden , joe has a favorite expression, don't compare me to the all mighty, compare me to the alternative.

>> reporter: for now, though, the alternative is polling better than him on the economy. according to a new usa today gallup poll , 56% believe things will get better under a president romney. back in iowa for the first time since january, romney focused on the national debt .

>> this debt is america's nightmare mortgage. it's ajustible, no money down, and assigned to our children. these have been years of disappointment, and a decline. and soon we could put all that behind us.

>> reporter: the president's appearance on the view is part of a conservative effort for women voters. recently he shared personal anecdotes about his daughters. normally they try to shield them from the media.

>> malia didn't get a phone until last year.

>> how old?

>> she's 13, will be 14 in july. they can only use their cell phones on the weekend. not during the week.

>> topics all over the place, including gay marriage , and whether the president knew anything about that steamy novel "shades of grey." the president did not.

>> chuck todd , thanks.