Former Sen. Evan Bayh (D., Ind.) argued Sunday the state of the economy and the candidates' debate performance will decide the election, on "Fox News Sunday":
WALLACE: The Obama campaign has been hammering Romney—for a period of time, now—for his refusal to release more than two years of tax returns. Let's look at an Obama campaign ad:
OBAMA AD: Makes you wonder if some years he paid any taxes at all. We don't know because Romney has released just one full year of tax returns, and won’t release anything for 2010.
MITT ROMNEY: I put out as much as we’re going to put out.
AD: What is Mitt Romney hiding?
WALLACE: Is that a good issue for the Obama campaign?
EVAN BAYH: It's a helpful issue. But I should point out our friend Bill Kristol is also hammering Romney to release his tax returns. You do release them if you can, so there must be something there. My guess is that it's more of the same and plays into the narrative—a wealthy individual, had bank accounts overseas, had some tax shelters—
WALLACE: is there anything wrong with that?
BAYH: I think the American people get that. And does it bother some in the middle class? I think it does. I think they've already processed that. I don't think this is dispositive. I think it all comes back to that four or five percent who are undecided in swing states--to the economy. Is there some unexpected data in the next few months? Probably not. If not, then it comes down to the debates, and that's where they each need to elevate their game. Who can present a plausible case that they can create jobs, grow this economy, and appeal to people's aspiration of a better America? I think these debates are going to be as critical as the last ones when Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, when Reagan finally crossed the threshold--I'm not saying Romney will--but he finally crossed the threshold of people thinking of him as a plausible president.