Time's Halperin Gleefully Declares: 'White House is Loving' Republican 'Chaos'

Appearing on Saturday's NBC Today, Time magazine and MSNBC political analyst Mark Halperin chatted with co-host Amy Robach about how thrilled the Obama White House has been with the Republican presidential race: "I think the White House is loving this. They've said all year the chaos in the Republican race is good."

That proclamation was prompted by Robach wondering if during the ongoing GOP primary season, "the Obama White House sitting back and enjoying the view?" Halperin asserted: "The President's State of the Union is coming up this week, I think that'll be a good moment for him...the contrast between a guy who is working...versus what's going on, on the Republican side..."

Halperin concluded: "That could all change when there's a Republican nominee, but for now, they like the chaos, they like the debate."

Here is a portion of the January 21 exchange:

7:10AM ET

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AMY ROBACH: And Mark, the Obama White House sitting back and enjoying the view?

MARK HALPERIN : I think the White House is loving this. They've said all year the chaos in the Republican race is good. The President's State of the Union is coming up this week, I think that'll be a good moment for him. And the contrast between a guy who is working and has got the party nomination sewn up, versus what's going on, on the Republican side here, definitely looked at very favorably by both the White House and by the President's re-election campaign in Chicago. That could all change when there's a Republican nominee, but for now, they like the chaos, they like the debate.

ROBACH: Alright. Mark Halperin, thanks so much.

HALPERIN: Thanks, Amy.