+ THIS --
>> THE SPRINTER NOVEMBER BEGINS.
BUT WHAT WILL THE PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGN LOOK LIKE THIS FALL?
EARLY VOTING HAS ALREADY BEGUN
FOR NEXT MONTH'S RHODE ISLAND
PRIMARY.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE TELLS US
WHAT ELSE TO LOOK OUT FOR.
ANNOUNCER: A LITERALLY
EXPERIMENT -- LIKELY EXPERIMENT
IS OPEN -- UNDERWRITTEN BY.
>> I'M JOHN JUNIOR, I AM PROUD
TO SUPPORT THIS GREAT PROGRAM
AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.
♪
ANNOUNCER: JOINING US ON THE
PANEL, BRANDON BELL, FORMER
CHAIRMAN OF THE RHODE ISLAND
PUBLIC AND PARTY.
POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR
WENDY SCHILLER, AND POLITICAL
ANALYST FOR THE PUBLIC'S RADIO,
SCOTT MCKAY.
JIM: WELCOME, EVERYBODY.
IT IS GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US.
THE RACE TO NOVEMBER BEGINS THIS
WEEKEND AS DONALD TRUMP AND JOE
BIDEN TRY TO USE THEIR
RESPECTIVE NATIONAL CONVENTIONS
AS A SPRINGBOARD TO THE FALL
CAMPAIGN.
OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS EACH
PARTY HAS PAINTED A VASTLY
DIFFERENT PICTURE OF AMERICA AND
OF EACH OTHER.
BRANDON, LET ME BEGIN WITH YOU.
WE ARE TAPING ON A THURSDAY
MORNING.
TO LISTEN TO THESE CONVENTIONS,
THE REPUBLICANS SEEM TO BE
PUTTING THE PANDEMIC IN THE PAST
TENSE AND THE ECONOMY DOESN'T
HAVE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
UNEMPLOYED.
THE DEMOCRATS SEEM TO BE
IGNORING A LOT OF THE WRITING.
-- WRITING.
GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS.
BRANDON: THE DEMOCRATS WERE DOOM
AND GLOOM.
I THINK THE REPUBLICANS HAVE
DELIVERED A POSITIVE MESSAGE.
THIS IS AN INFOMERCIAL.
WE KNOW THAT.
IT IS JUST ONE BIG INFOMERCIAL.
I THINK THIS YEAR, BECAUSE OF
THE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES, DOING
SOME OF THE LIVE SHOTS AND
HAVING SOME OF THESE FOLKS TALK,
THE GUY LAST NIGHT FROM NORTH
CAROLINA, THE CONGRESSIONAL
CANDIDATEWHO STOOD UP BECAUSE
HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO STAND
FOR THE FLAG -- YOU KNOW, THAT
IS RED MEAT FOR THE BASE BUT
THERE ARE UNDECIDEDS WATCHING
THIS.
THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING
TO HAPPEN FOR THE NEXT FOUR
YEARS.
OVERALL IT HAS BEEN A GREAT
CONVENTION, UNDER THE
CIRCUMSTANCES.
THERE'S NOT MUCH I COULD SAY TO
CRITICIZE.
BOTH SIDES DO THEIR THING EVERY
FOUR YEARS.
FOR ME, I WATCHED LAST WEEK AND
THOUGHT, AT LEAST ABOUT RHODE
ISLAND, CALAMARI IS GREAT, BUT
FOR THREE YEARS OUR STATE HAS
SUCKED.
JIM: WHEN -- WHEN THE YOUTH
LAUNCHED -- WATCHED A LOT OF
CONVENTIONS OVER THE YEARS.
WENDY: IT HAS BEEN AMAZING, AND
A LOT OF WAYS.
THE PRODUCTION VALUE IS VERY
GOOD.
THERE IS SOME CRITICISM.
THE PRESIDENT IS BUMPING UP
AGAINST THE HATCH ACT AND OTHER
KINDS OF PROHIBITIONS ABOUT
USING OFFICIAL RESIDENCES OR
OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE CABINET
TO SPEAK AT THE CONVENTION, BUT
THESE ARE EXTRAORDINARY TIMES.
THERE IS AN ARGUMENT TO BE MADE
THAT YOU DON'T WANT THE
PRESIDENT TO BE TRAVELING
AROUND.
HE DID TRAVEL MONDAY, THAT I
THINK THOSE CRITICISMS WILL FADE
AWAY.
I THOUGHT THIS WAS A TYPICAL DO
NO HARM CONVENTION.
SAME WITH DEMOCRATS.
I DISAGREE WITH BRANDON.
I DON'T THINK RHODE ISLAND IS
ALL THAT BACK.
-- THAT BAD.
I THINK THE CALAMARI WAS GREAT.
IT EXPLODED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
I THINK DO NO HARM WAS THE
DEMOCRATS AND DO NO HARM IS THE
REPUBLICANS.
IT HAS BEEN, SURPRISINGLY TO ME,
MODERATE.
I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE MORE
FOR THE CORE TRUMP SUPPORTERS.
THE PRESIDENT IS LOOKING AT
POLLS AND PAYING ATTENTION TO
THE FACT THAT INDEPENDENTS ARE
UNDECIDED.
HE WON IN THE SUBURBS.
HE'S GOT TO HOLD ONTO THAT
MARGIN TO WIN AGAIN.
IT'S BEEN A SMART CONVENTION ON
THE PART OF THE GOP.
JIM: SCOTTY?
SCOTT MACKAY: IF YOU ASK THAT
RONALD REAGAN QUESTION AND YOU
LOOK AT THE COUNTRY, ARE YOU
BETTER OFF WHEN YOU WERE FOUR
YEARS AGO?
THE COUNTRY IS SICKER, POOR, AND
MORE DIVIDED THAN WHAT IT WAS.
THEY ALMOST WANT TO STOP THE
CLOCK IN JANUARY.
THEY ARE ASKING YOU TO REELECT
THE GUY WHO SAID, I ALONE CAN
FIX THIS.
YET, HERE WE SEE ALL OF THESE
PROBLEMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I THINK THERE ARE VERY FEW SWING
VOTERS IN BATTLEGROUND STATES
THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING TO.
I WONDER IF IT IS MORE THAN 7%,
6%.
I JUST DON'T SEE IT IN THE
POLARIZED COUNTRY AS THERE BEING
A LOT OF PERSUADABLES OUT THERE.
I THINK BOTH CONVENTIONS WERE
AIMED AT TURNOUT OF PEOPLE WHO
ALREADY SUPPORT THEM.
OF COURSE, WE ALL KNOW THAT
CONVENTIONS, COUPLED WITH
DEBATES, ARE THE REAL FOCUS FOR
THE TIMES WHEN CANDIDATES
RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT GET EARNED
OR SO-CALLED FREE MEDIA.
NOT PAID ADVERTISING.
I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR
BOTH PARTIES TO DO THAT AND GET
OUT THERE AND PUT THEIR SPIN ON
IT.
THEY BOTH TRIED TO DO THAT.
I THINK THAT FOR THE VICE
PRESIDENT TO TALK ABOUT THINGS
LIKE, WELL, WE ARE IN
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, IT IS
AN ABSOLUTE LIE.
THIS ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO
OVERTURN THE ENTIRE ACA,
OBAMACARE.
THAT'S NOT A PERFECT SYSTEM, BUT
THEY HAD TIME TO FIX THIS AND
THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.
EVEN WHEN THEY CONTROLLED THE
WHITE HOUSE, THE HOUSE, AND THE
SENATE THEY DID NOTHING FOR THE
HEALTH CARE OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
BRANDON: I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO
SOMETHING WENDY SAID.
WHAT THE PROFESSOR SAID IS,
UNFORTUNATELY THE MEDIA HAS DONE
IS PERPETUATE THESE LIES.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN 1940 IN FRONT OF
THE WHITE HOUSE AND THEN IN 1944
IN THE PACIFIC COAST NAVAL
ARENA.
THIS IS NOT ANYTHING NEW.
WENDY: THAT WAS A TIME OF WAR.
IN 1940 WE WERE NOT AT WAR, IN
1944 WE WERE AT WAR.
BRANDON: IN MANY WAYS, THIS IS A
WAR RIGHT NOW.
THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES WE HAVE
TO DEAL WITH.
YET, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
IMAGERY.
PRESIDENT OBAMA IN 2012, WHICH
WOULD BE COMPARABLE IN TERMS OF
CONVENTIONS, HAD SECRETARY ARNE
DUNCAN, HAD ALL OF THESE FOLKS
UP.
THERE CONVENTION.
WHY THE PRESS IS PUSHING THAT
NARRATIVE THAT TRUMP IS
VIOLATING THE HATCH ACT -- IT IS
RIDICULOUS.
SCOTT: WHAT ABOUT THE SECRETARY
OF STATE?
THAT IS NO.
POLITICS USED TO STOP AT THE
WATER'S EDGE IN THIS COUNTRY.
UNTIL THE REPUBLIANS TOOK OVER
CONGRESS.
UNDER RONALD REAGAN WE LOST
MARINES IN A ROOT DO YOU THINK
TIPPLE NEIL WOULD TRY TO MAKE A
POLITICAL ISSUE OUT OF THAT IN
THE WAY THE REPUBLICANS DID THIS
RIDICULOUS BENGHAZI THING AND WE
LOST FOUR PEOPLE?
IT IS CHANGED.
TIMES HAVE CHANGED AND THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY AS PART OF A
PROBLEM HERE.
WHEN THESE PEOPLE IN CONGRESS,
STARTING WITH GINGRICH,
POLARIZING THE COUNTRY AND
MAKING THIS STUFF REALLY, REALLY
NASTY.
WENDY: TWO POINTS.
ONE IS THAT TO BOTH BRANDON AND
SCOTT'S POINTS, THAT IS THE
POINT ABOUT HOW IMPRESSIVE THE
GOP CONVENTION HAS BEEN TO SOME
EXTENT BY DOWNPLAYING THAT,
SCOTT.
THIS IS THE STRIKING THING.
CLEARLY THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE
POLLS.
THEY ARE ABOUT 6%, 7%
PERSUADABLE SPIRIT TRUMP WON BY
FEWER THAN 90,000 VOTES IN THE
ELECTORAL COLLEGE.
WHEN HE THINK ABOUT THAT MARGIN,
THAT IS THE MARGIN HE NEEDS.
THEY HAVE BEEN DISCIPLINED.
WE WILL SEE IF THAT CONTINUES,
BUT THEY HAVE BEEN DISCIPLINED.
THAT IS THE STRIKING THING.
WE ARE NOT AT WAR PER SE, I
THINK OFFICIALLY WE ARE TRYING
TO GET OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.
YES, THERE IS A WAR ON COVID.
THE FACT IS THE GOP HASN'T
REALLY MENTIONED COVID.
THE THING THE GOP IS TRYING TO
FIGHT, IN TERMS OF THE
PRESIDENCY, AND TERMS OF THE
PANDEMIC, AS SOMETHING NOT
MENTIONED MUCH.
AS FAR AS CONVENTIONS GO -- I
WILL TAKE YOUR POINT ABOUT
FORMER SECRETARIES OF THE
CABINET.
WRAPPING THAT UP, IN THE END,
THIS IS MORE TONED DOWN, LESS
HYPERBOLIC AND DIVISIVE THEN
PEOPLE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED FROM
A TRUMP CONVENTION.
THAT SHOWS YOU TWO THINGS.
THE PRESIDENT'S TEAM IS CAPABLE
OF BEING DISCIPLINED.
SECOND, THEY ARE LOOKING AT
POLLS AND NOTE THEY ARE IN
TROUBLE IN THE SUBURBS.
BRANDON: HOW DO YOUR WOMEN
FRIENDS IN SUBURBS LIKE THE
MCCLOSKEY'S?
A BUNCH OF NUTCASE'S WHO WERE
ABOUT THEIR GUNS.
BRANDON: HOW DO DEMOCRATS LIKE
THE RIOTS AND LAWLESSNESS IN THE
STREETS?
SCOTT: THERE WERE NO RIOTS AT
THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
JOE BIDEN DOES NOT WANT TO
DEFUND THE POLICE.
JOE BIDEN IS THE MODERATE,
INSIDER POLITICIAN.
TO PAINT HIM AS THE
REINCARNATION OF CARL MARX IS
LUDICROUS.
JIM: IT SEEMS THE MEMO WENT OUT
TO ALL THE REPUBLICAN SPEAKERS
TO USE THE WORDS RADICAL
SOCIALISTS.
SCOTT: RIGHT, IT IS INSANE.
JIM: THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE
PLAYBOOK FOR BERNIE SANDERS.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY WERE READY
FOR BERNIE SANDERS, BUT THE
PLAYBOOK HAS NOT KEPT UP.
I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT AND
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE
WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAYS TONIGHT,
IF HE MENTIONS THE PANDEMIC AT
ALL.
I THOUGHT IT WAS BRILLIANT TO
HAVE THE FIRST LADY COME OUT --
YOU HAD OTHER PEOPLE SAY, OUR
HEARTS GO OUT.
EVEN THE FIRST ACKNOWLEDGMENT
THAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS BEEN A
PROBLEM.
WHAT ABOUT THAT?
THE WHOLE RADICAL SOCIALIST,
EVERY DEMOCRAT WANTS TO COME FOR
YOUR CIVIL LIBERTIES?
I UNDERSTAND THAT IS THE
PLAYBOOK, BUT DOES THAT PLAY TO
THE UNDECIDEDS?
BRANDON: I THINK IT DOES.
THE PEOPLE WATCHING US ARE
WATCHING AT BECAUSE, IF THEY ARE
UNDECIDED OR THERE IS NO WESTON
THAT THEY ARE DECIDED.
IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
ABSOLUTELY VOTING.
THERE IS A -- YOU KNOW, I
HAVEN'T HEARD THE WORD SOCIALIST
-- ALTHOUGH THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CUBA, THE REFUGEE, THAT WAS
POWERFUL STUFF.
THERE IS A REASON BIDEN ONE THIS
PRIMARY.
BECAUSE HE MOVED SO FAR TO THE
LEFT.
THAT IS A PROBLEM FOR HIM.
BRANDON: NO HE DID NOT.
ON WHAT?
SCOTT: ON JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.
HIS ENTIRE MESSAGE THROUGH THE
PRIMARY.
JIM: HOLLAND, BRANDON.
AHEAD, WENDY.
WENDY: I THINK THE DEMOCRATIC
CHALLENGE IS TO POINT OUT
INCONSISTENCIES IN TRUMP'S
CLAIMING OF CREDIT ABOUT THE
STATE OF THE NATION.
BRANDON IS POINTING OUT THERE
JUST FINDING THE SWEET SPOT
BETWEEN EMPHASIZING WHAT THEY
THINK WILL PULL THEIR OWN PACE
IN, BUT ALSO REMINDING VOTERS ON
THE FENCE THAT TRUMP PRESIDED
OVER A GOOD ECONOMY, THAT TRUMP
IS LAW & ORDER -- AND WE CAN
DEBATE THAT IF WE WANT.
THIS IS A FINE BALANCING ACT.
I THINK WHAT IS INTERESTING IS
HOW THEY ARE TRYING TO WALK THE
LINE.
IT IS A HARD THING TO DO.
WHAT IS ALSO NOTABLE AT THE
CONVENTION IS THAT THERE ARE 23
REPUBLICAN SEATS UP IN THE
SENATE.
DEFENDING THOSE IS GOING TO BE A
CHALLENGE.
THERE ARE VERY FEW PUBLIC
--REPUBLICAN SENATORS FEATURED
AT THE CONVENTION.
I WAS SHOCKED THAT IF YOU
REPUBLICAN CHALLENGERS IN THE
HOUSE, BUT ALMOST NO SENATORS.
I WAS CURIOUS.
IS THAT BECAUSE SENATORS DON'T
WANT TO SPEAK OR BECAUSE TRUMP
WANTS TO WIN WITHOUT THEM?
HE JUST WANTS TO WIN REELECTION?
IF THE SENATE LOOKS LIKE IT IS
GOING TO GO, BECAUSE INDIVIDUAL
CANDIDATES IN DIFFERENT STATES,
TRUMP MAY SAY YOU BETTER KEEP ME
OUT.
BRANDON: THAT MAY BE THE
STRATEGY.
I DO KNOW MITCH MCCONNELL -- YOU
KNOW, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
TWO CONVENTIONS IS SOME OF THAT
CELEBRITY STUFF LAST WEEK WAS SO
RIDICULOUS.
I WAS EMBARRASSED AND IT WAS
SCREECHING TO WATCH JULIA
LOUIS-DREYFUS TRY TO MAKE JOKES
AND TALK ABOUT -- THEY ARE SUCH
ELITISTS.
I THINK THE REPUBLICAN
CONVENTION WAS TRYING TO BRING
ON EVERYDAY PEOPLE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STRATEGY
IS THERE.
MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING TO IT,
TO NOT HIGHLIGHT A LOT OF THE
U.S. SENATE RACES.
JIM: BRANDON, EVERYDAY PEOPLE.
EVERY MEMBER OF DONALD TRUMP'S
FAMILY.
BRANDON: YOU KNOW SOMETHING?
I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
I THINK THERE WERE TOO MANY
PEOPLE WITH THE LAST NAME TRUMP.
WENDY: ARIZONA, FOR EXAMPLE,
ARIZONA HAS A VERY TOUGH RACE.
THOSE ARE SWING STATES.
WHY NOT HAVE TIME TELL US?
I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING.
I'M GOING BACK TO THAT INTERNAL
POLLING IN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.
I'M NOT SAYING HE'S GOING TO
LOSE, BUT THEY THINK THEY HAVE
LOST OR MIGHT USE SOME OF THOSE
PEOPLE THAT VOTED FOR HIM IN
2016 AND THEIR EFFORTS ARE GOING
TO BE AT THE BACK.
>> I THINK THAT IS A GREAT
POINT.
IT HAS TO BE CHOREOGRAPHED.
THEY DID A GREAT JOB WITH THE
CHOREOGRAPHING THE MUSIC.
THE WEST WING STUFF.
I THINK THAT IS GREAT.
THERE IS PROBABLY A STRATEGY
BEHIND THAT AND WE WILL PROBABLY
FIND OUT AFTER THE CONVENTION.
JIM: ALL RIGHT, SCOTTY, GET THE
LAST WORD ON THIS.
SCOTT: CLOSER TO HOME HERE, WE
DID NOT SEE SUSAN COLLINS
ANYWHERE NEAR THIS CONVENTION.
THE OTHER DAY IN MAINE SHE
SHOWED UP AT A RALLY AND IT WAS
A LARGE TRUMP BANNER THERE.
THE PLACE IN MAINE WHERE SHE IS
CAMPAIGNING FOR REELECTION
AGAINST THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
IN MAINE.
SURE ENOUGH, WHEN THEY PUT THE
PHOTOS OUT LATER, THE COLLINS
CAMPAIGN AIRBRUSHED THE TRUMP
MANNER OUT OF -- BANNER OUT OF
THE SHOT.
JIM: THAT MAY BE A COMMENTARY ON
THINGS TO COME.
LET'S MOVE ON.
VOTING HAS ALREADY BEGUN FOR THE
SEPTEMBER PRIMARY.
MAYBE YOU HAVE YOUR MAIL BALLOT
ALREADY.
I HAD A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN WITH
THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
AS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT OVER THE
PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, VOTING IS
GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT.
HE WAS A PRIMER OF WHAT TO LOOK
FOR.
>> TOO LATE TO GET A MAIL BALLOT
FOR SEPTEMBER 8, BUT NOT TOO
LATE TO GO VOTE EARLY IN PERSON.
I AM EXCITED THAT WE FINALLY GOT
EARLY IN PERSON VOTING.
THIS IS NOT JUST FOR THIS YEAR.
THERE WILL BE A 20 DAY EARLY
VOTING.
-- EARLY VOTING PERIOD FOR EVERY
ELECTION.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT YOUR
KNOWLEDGE IN THE MAIL, YOU CAN
DROP IT OFF FOR NOVEMBER, I KNOW
THE BOARD HAS PURCHASED OUTSIDE,
24/7 MAIL BALLOT DROP BOXES.
WE DO NOT HAVE TO DROP YOUR
BALLOT AT YOUR OWN CITY AND
TOWN.
YOU CAN DROP IT OFF AT ANY JOB
BOX WITHIN RHODE ISLAND.
BY THE WAY, YOU CAN TRACK YOUR
BALLOT ON THE SECRETARY OF
STATE'S WEBSITE.
WE HAVE 48,000 MAIL BALLOTS HAVE
BEEN REQUESTED FOR THE SEPTEMBER
8 PRIMARY.
FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION WE ARE
EXPECTING THE TSUNAMI OF
ELECTIONS.
ELECTION OFFICIALS ARE GEARING
UP FOR THAT.
THE RECRUITMENT OF POLL WORKERS
IS DONE AT YOUR LOCAL BOARD OF
CANVASSERS.
IF YOU HAVE A LOCAL PERSON THAT
IS HEALTHY, AND GET TO WATCH AN
ELECTION AT THE GROUND LEVEL, I
WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO TALK TO
YOUR LOCAL BOARD.
IT WAS A WEBSITE THAT THE BOARD
OF ELECTIONS HAS DEVELOPED TO
RECRUIT PEOPLE.
THERE IS A LOT OF EFFORT THAT
HAS BEEN PUT INTO MAKING SURE
THAT EARLY IN PERSON VOTING AND
THE DAY OF THE PRIMARY AND
GENERAL ARE SAFE AND SECURE.
NOT JUST FOR THE VOTERS, BUT FOR
THE ELECTION OFFICIALS, THE POLL
WORKERS.
JIM: WENDY, THERE IS THIS GREAT
UNEASE ABOUT MAIL BALLOTS.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO HAVE TO GO TOWARD THAT.
I FIND EARLY VOTING INTRIGUING
AND THE FACT THAT THEY ARE
PUTTING UP THE DROP BOXES.
IF YOU DON'T TRUST THE U.S.
POSTAL SERVICE, YOU GO TO YOUR
BOARD OF CANVASSERS AND PUT IT
IN.
WENDY: THIS IS TOTALLY FAKE NEWS
ON EVERY LEVEL.
FIRST OF ALL, THE POST OFFICE
HANDLES BILLION'S OF PIECES OF
MAIL EVERY WEEK.
BILLIONS.
THE POST OFFICE IS FINE.
THE BALLOTS WILL GET THERE.
WHAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT FOR
JUST MANPOWER AND WOMAN POWER
PURPOSES IS COUNTING BALLOTS.
TO ME, THAT IS THE THING WE ARE
NOT FOCUSED ON.
THERE WILL BE MILLIONS MORE --
AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE
ACKNOWLEDGED AS MUCH -- MORE
PAPER BALLOTS COMING IN HAVE TO
GET SCANNED AND RECORDED AND
COUNTED.
THAT IS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE.
16 STATES IN THE COUNTRY EXCEPT
MAIL-IN BALLOTS.
WHEN THEY COME IN, THEY HAVE
BETWEEN ONE AND 14 DAYS TO COUNT
THEM, AS LONG AS THEY ARE
POSTMARKED BY ELECTION DAY.
SOME STATES LIKE TEXAS HAVE A
DAY, BUT OHIO HAS TWO WEEKS.
OHIO IS A KEY SWING STATE.
I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE STAFFING
AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE BOARD
OF ELECTIONS IN TERMS OF
ACTUALLY COUNTING THE BALLOTS.
I'M NOT THE LEAST BIT WORRIED
ABOUT THE BALLOTS GETTING THERE.
JIM: BRANDON?
BRANDON: THIS NARRATIVE THAT THE
FRAUD DOESN'T EXIST -- LET ME
JUST MAKE THIS FOR THE RECORD.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH MAIL ALEC
VOTING.
IT IS THE SAFEGUARDS WE HAVE IN
PLACE BY STATE ELECTION LAW,
WHICH ARE SUSPENDED.
UNCONSTITUTIONAL IN OTHER
PLACES.
MAIL BALLOT FRAUD DOES EXIST.
PATERSON, NEW JERSEY IS ONE
EXAMPLE.
THEY CANCELED AN ELECTION AS A
RESULT.
THE THING I'M CONCERNED ABOUT
HERE, MORE SO THAN ANYTHING
ELSE, DO WE HAVE ALL OF THE
SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE?
I JUST SAW SOMETHING YESTERDAY
OR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
ACKNOWLEDGED WE DON'T EVEN HAVE
THE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MAIL
BALLOT APPLICATION SIGNATURE TO
BE MATCHED TO THE SIGNATURE ON
FILE.
THEREFORE IT HAS TO BE DONE BY A
HUMAN.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO
DO THAT KIND OF THING.
DR. FAUCI SAID TWO WEEKS AGO, HE
SAID, IN PERSON VOTING IS SAFE.
IF YOU DON'T TRUST ME, YOU DON'T
TRUST THE PRESIDENT, CLEARLY A
LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T.
THE ANSWER IS THAT DR. FAUCI
SAID.
WEAR YOUR MASK, SOCIAL DISTANCE,
IF YOU WANT TO VOTE BY MAIL,
JUST DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.
SCOTT: FIVE STATES VOTE
COMPLETELY BY MAIL.
THEY INCLUDE RED UTAH, THEY
INCLUDE BLUE OREGON, AND A
PURPLE STATE LIKE COLORADO.
IT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT
HAS BEEN DONE FOR MANY, MANY
YEARS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THEY HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT FRAUD,
HAVE DONE IT RIGHT.
I ONLY WORRY THAT RHODE ISLAND
AND PERHAPS OTHER PARTS OF THE
COUNTRY HAVE NOT STUDIED ENOUGH
WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IN STATES
THAT HAVE HANDLED THIS
SUCCESSFULLY FOR MANY, MANY
YEARS.
>> MY ONLY CONCERN IS I HAD FIVE
PEOPLE CALL IN WHO HAD BEEN
VETERAN POLL WORKERS -- WE ALL
KNOW THEM.
THEY HAVE BEEN THERE FOR YEARS.
ALL OF THEM -- IT SKEWS OLDER.
WENDY, THIS GOES TO YOUR POINT.
TO HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO
MENOPAUSE.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS, IF
YOU ARE YOUNGER, IF YOU NEED
SERVICE HOURS OR WHATEVER.
THINK OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE MADE YOUR POLLING STATIONS
THAT ARE GOING TO TAKE A PASS
THIS YEAR.
I HAVE CONCERNS FOR THE IN
PERSON VOTING BECAUSE OF THAT.
WENDY: THAT IS THE IRONY OF THE
PANDEMIC.
ESPECIALLY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
HAS BEEN PUSHING IN PERSON
VOTING.
IN TERMS OF VALIDITY, WHEN WE GO
IN AND CHECK IF YOU ARE ON THE
LIST, THAT IS THE SAME KIND OF
CONCERN ABOUT VOTER BEHAVIOR.
WE HAVE PROBLEMS ALL AROUND.
THE BACKFIRING THAT THIS COULD
HAPPEN ON THE GOP IS THAT THE
GOP TYPICALLY WINS BETWEEN 8%
AND 12% PEOPLE OVER AGE 65 THAN
DEMOCRATS.
OLDER PEOPLE THIS YEAR ARE GOING
TO VOTE I MAIL IN RECORD
NUMBERS.
THEY ARE JUST GOING TO EXPAND.
BY DISCOURAGING OR PUTTING DOUBT
AND MAKE VOTING BY MAIL MAY IN
FACT DIMINISH OR DETER THEIR OWN
VOTING BASE AND THEY HAVE AN
ADVANTAGE.
I THINK THAT IS WHY THE
PRESIDENT SAID I HAVE NO PROBLEM
WITH ABSENTEE BALLOTING.
TRUMP SAID, POST OFFICE WILL GET
IT DONE.
BECAUSE THEY NOW REALIZE THEY
COULD BE DETERRING VOTING AMONG
A POPULATION GROUP THEY HAVE
BEEN -- THEY HAVE AN DVANTAGE
IN.
JIM: YOU GET THE LAST WORD,
BRANDON.
BRANDON: AS FAR AS I'M
CONCERNED, I DON'T THINK ALL
PEOPLE ARE NECESSARILY GOING TO
VOTE IN LARGE NUMBERS WITHOUT
GOING TO THE POLLS.
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE EARLY
VOTING.
20 DAYS IN ADVANCE -- DEBATES
STILL ARE NOT DONE.
THANKS UP NOT HAPPEN.
THERE WERE SO MANY ISSUES WHEN
IT COMES TO EARLY VOTING.
JIM: YEAH, ISN'T THAT BUYER
BEWARE?
MAYBE FOR YOUR LOCAL ELECTIONS,
DON'T YOU THINK MOST PEOPLE HAVE
DECIDED ON THE PRESIDENTIAL
RACE?
IT'S NOT LIKE THERE'S GOING TO
BE AN OCTOBER 31 SURPRISE.
IF PEOPLE WANT TO DO THAT, THAT
IS ON ME.
I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN, BUT
ON'T WORRY ABOUT ME.
BRANDON: IT'S NOT JUST THE
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
IT IS THE DOWN BALLOT RACES AS
WELL.
THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
IT HAPPENED A COUPLE OF YEARS
AGO WHERE THERE WAS A SCANDAL IN
RHODE ISLAND.
THERE WAS A SCANDAL IN THE
STATEHOUSE ONLY A WEEK FOR THE
ELECTION.
PEOPLE WHO HAD EARLY VOTED, THAT
WOULD HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM.
JIM: WE ARE MOVING QUICKLY.
SCOTTY, DO YOU HAVE AN OUTRAGE
OR KUDO THIS WEEK?
SCOTT: I THINK THE OUTRAGES THIS
17-YEAR-OLD KID WHO KILLED
PEOPLE WITH A HIGH-POWERED
WEAPON THAT IS ILLEGAL TO HAVE.
HE CROSSED STATE LINES.
THIS KID IS NOT OLD ENOUGH TO
VOTE OR BY A BEER.
WHAT THE HECK WAS HE DOING
THERE, RAKING CURFEW AND WHERE
ARE THIS GET'S PARENTS?
THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
JIM: WENDY, WHAT DO YOU HAVE?
WENDY: SECOND AMENDMENT ASIDE.
I THINK THAT SOME OF THE CONCERN
, IN TERMS OF POLICE SHOOTINGS
-- OF COURSE THESE ARE TRAGIC
SHOOTINGS.
JUST THE PRESENCE OF GUNS, TOO
MANY GUNS.
ILLEGAL, LEGAL, TOO MANY GUNS IN
GENERAL.
OF COURSE A POLICE OFFICER IS
GOING TO BE SCARED AND A PERSON
BEING CONFRONTED BY THE POLICE
WILL BE SCARED, BECAUSE
EVERYBODY HAS A GUN.
I THINK THAT SOMETHING WE HAVE
TO REEVALUATE ACROSS THE BOARD.
JIM: BRANDON?
BRANDON: IF YOU GO BACK TO THE
50 SHOWS I HAVE BEEN ON WITH
YOU, I USUALLY COMPLAIN ABOUT
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEING IN
SESSION.
I'M GOING TO COMPLAIN THAT THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS DOING
NOTHING.
JIM: WE CAN NEVER SATISFY YOU.
BRANDON: NO OVERSIGHT
WHATSOEVER.
IT HAS BECOME THE MOST
RIDICULOUS THING IN THE WORLD.
WE ARE FIVE AND A HALF MONTHS
AFTER THE SHUTDOWN AND OUR
ASSEMBLY HAS NOT FIGURE OUT HOW
TO MEET REMOTELY AND DO
OVERSIGHT ON THE NURSING HOME
ISSUES AND ALL OF THESE ISSUES
RELATED TO COVID.
THEY STILL HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT A
WAY.
JIM: LET'S ELABORATE ON THAT.
I GO TO THE GOVERNOR'S WEEKLY
BRIEFINGS AND IT HAS BEEN VERY
FRUSTRATING.
TAKE FOR EXAMPLE THE
UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION.
THE PRESIDENT CARVED OUT THE
FEMA MONEY.
SHE SAID WERE NOT GOING TO DO
THIS.
THE NEXT DAY THEY ARE DOING IT.
>> WAY OF BALANCING THE BUDGET.
THEY DESERVE TO BE SKEWERED FOR
THAT.
AS FAR AS THE HURRICANE GOES,
LOOK, I HAVE RELATIVES.
MY WIFE IS HELPING HER FAMILY IN
ORLEANS.
I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY CAN SAY A
LITTLE PRAYER FOR THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE IN THE PATH OF THE
HURRICANE.
JIM: ABSOLUTELY.
THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.
SCOTT WAS ACTUALLY AGREEING WITH
BRANDON ON SOMETHING.
WE WILL LOOK BACK ON THIS AND
WONDER WHAT THAT WAS.
FOLKS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WENDY, AND SCOTT, AND BRANDON
ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON.
JOIN US BACK YOUR NEXT WEEK,
GOVERNOR RAIMONDO WAS GOING TO
BE MAKING ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT
SCHOOL NEXT WEEK.
WE ARE GOING TO BE COVERING THAT
AND A WHOLE PILE OF OTHER STUFF.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK, EVERYBODY.
♪
ANNOUNCER: "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT"
IS GENERALLY UNDER WRITTEN --
GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY.
>> I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT 
