- Ford Motor Co., the only large U.S. automaker that didn’t receive a U.S. government bailout, would’ve failed along with General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC if President Barack Obama’s administration hadn’t rescued the industry, said Steven Rattner, who headed Obama’s auto task force. “Ford would have closed because it wouldn’t have been able to get parts, because the parts industry in this country was in arguably worse shape than the assemblers,” Rattner said at the Center for American Progress in Washington. Rattner, now chairman of the Willett Advisors LLC investment firm, led the $63.4 billion bailout in 2009 of GM and Chrysler, which he said would have fired all their workers and ceased to exist without the bailout. President George W. Bush, who preceded Obama, “did the right thing” by beginning the bailout process, giving $17.5 billion to GM and Chrysler in 2008, Rattner said.  Joining Tony to talk about this is Bloomberg's Angela Greiling Keane

 - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney assailed Obama's foreign policy in a speech Monday saying the risk of conflict in the Middle East has grown under President Barack Obama's leadership. With his speech at the Virginia Military Institute, Romney is hoping to undo a string of foreign policy stumbles, taking aim at an issue where polls show President Barack Obama holds a clear lead. Saying there is, "a longing for American leadership in the Middle East," Romney called for the U.S. to take a more assertive role in Syria. He also wants new conditions on aid to Egypt and would impose tighter sanctions on Iran. Will Mitt Romney's Foreign policy remarks have any impact on undecided voters? Politics Analyst (who worked in Congress) Bethany Blankley chats with Tony.


 - With the Vice Presidential debate just a day away, what must each candidate do to win in Danville?  With Tony is CBS News Political Analyst Dottie Lynch.

 - Big Bird will not be anyone's political puppet. Sesame Workshop has asked the Obama campaign to take down a new TV ad that prominently features the famous talking bird, in a satirical spot mocking Mitt Romney for calling for an end to PBS subsidies. "Sesame Workshop is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization and we do not endorse candidates or participate in political campaigns. We have approved no campaign ads, and as is our general practice, have requested that the ad be taken down," Sesame Workshop said in a statement. An Obama campaign official said it has received the request and "will review their concerns.&q uot; The statement follows a week of Big Bird saturation in the media and on the campaign trail. Romney touched off the frenzy when he said at last week's debate he wants to "stop the subsidy to PBS" even though "I like Big Bird." The line took off on Twitter. "Saturday Night Live" included a Big Bird bit. Obama has repeatedly mocked Romney for the line in his post-debate stump speeches. And the Obama campaign ad released Monday featured a menacing voiceover warning of Romney's anti-Big Bird agenda. How big of a deal is Big Bird to the Presidential race?  Fox News Political Analyst / Washington Times Columnist / President of BGR Public Relations Jeff Birnbaum chats with Tony this morning. 


 - The price of gasoline equaled the all-time average high in California of $4.61 a gallon, fueled by a reduced supply and a volatile market. Prices throughout the state were expected to increase for several more days before leveling off, after a temporary reduction in supply triggered a price spike that saw fuming motorists paying $5 or more per gallon in some locations and station owners shutting down pumps in others. AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge report released Saturday said the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded across California rose 12 cents from its Friday mark of about $4.49. Saturday's price, the highest in the nation, equaled the record average high for California set in June 2008 of $4.61. The Golden State leapfrogged Hawaii as the state with the most expensive fuel. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded across California was 47 cents more than a week ago, according to the AAA report. The national average Saturday was about $3.81 a gallon, the highest ever for this time of year. However, gas prices in many other states have started decreasing, which is typical for October. The dramatic surge came because of a power outage Monday at a Southern California refinery reduced supply in an already fragile and volatile market, analysts said, but the refinery came back online Friday and prices were expected to stabilize by next week. After Labor Day we should have seen significant declines and yet gas has been hovering near summer driving season highs. Each week the experts reassure us that prices are going to be coming down. What's taking so long? Will there be any relief from high gas prices in the near future? Financial Adviser with Financial Strategist with Hodges Capital Clark Hodges joins Tony.