>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR NEXT UP.
THIS NEXT HALF HOUR, RAY AND I WILL PEPPER TWO GENTLEMAN WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON TUESDAY.
WE ARE JOINED IN THIS NEXT UP BY KEN, WELCOME BACK.
>> FORMER STATE SENATOR, JOHN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WE'LL START WITH YOU, KEN.
WE THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE A RED WAVE AND REPUBLICANS WOULD WIN IN GREATER NUMBERS.
WHO IS WRONG HERE?
THE MEDIA OR THE POLLSTERS?
>> THE POLLSTERS.
RAY AND I WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THAT PROBABLY LATER.
THE POLLSTERS WERE RIGHT ON IN THE RACES.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE PENNSYLVANIA RACE, THEY WERE CLOSE.
AND NOT REAL CLEAR POLITICS THAT PEOPLE LOOK AT.
AND YOU LOOK AT NATE -- AND MAKES ODDS AND HE PREDICTED.
THE POLLSTERS WERE PRETTY MUCH WERE CLOSE.
I MEAN, LOOK AT GEORGIA.
DID THEY NOT PREDICT A NECK AND NECK RACE.
IT IS THAT.
DID THEY KNEW THAT LAKE WOULD WIN IN ARIZONA.
LAKE IS GOING TO WIN THAT PROBABLY.
AND DID THEY NOT PREDICT THAT IT IS CLOSE FOR KELLY IN ARIZONA, JOHNSON WINNING A COUPLE OF PERCENTAGE POINTS IN WISCONSIN.
THEY PRETTY MUCH GOT IT RIGHT.
>> I THINK IT IS RIGHT.
I THINK THE MEDIA, THINK THERE ARE EXAMPLES, FOR EXAMPLE, IN WASHINGTON, THEY PREDICTED MURRAY TO BE 4-5 POINT.
IT WAS LIKE A 15 POINT RACE.
THERE WERE SOME THEY MISSED.
I DO THINK THEY UNDERESTIMATED THE DOBBS EFFECT.
THEY UNDERESTIMATED WOMEN, AND NOT JUST WOMEN, PRO-CHOICE THEY UNDER ASSIMILATED THE TURNOVER-OUT.
-- UNDERESTIMATED.
THAT THE PRO-LIFE WOULD WON AND THEY LOST BY 18.
YOU ARE RIGHT, MOST OF THE WHETHER IT WAS ON THE LEFT OR RIGHT, IT WAS EQUAL, ALL ABOUT A RED TSUNAMI AND ALL OF THE MEDIA, IT WAS THE MEDIA.
PART OF THIS IS THE MEDIA AND LEFT IS FREAKED OUT BY 2016.
AND THEY WERE TRYING TO RALLY THE BASE.
AND THE MEDIA INTERPRETATION WAS WORSE.
>> IT IS UNUSUAL TIMES THAT WE LIVE.
YOU ARE RIGHT, THE LEFT AND RIGHT MEDIA WAS IN A PANIC.
THE RIGHT OH, THIS IS WONDERFUL.
IF YOU WATCHED THE MORNING JOE, THERE WERE SAYING THERE'S THIS HUGE WAY.
KEN IS RIGHT.
RAZOR THIN.
THE FACT THAT WE LOOKED HIS HISTORICALLY, WE HAVE A PRESIDENT THAT IS WAY DOWN IN POPULARITY.
WE LOOK AT THE ISSUE SETS AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT REPUBLICANS CAN RUN ON AND IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS PRIME TO BE A RED WAVE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WILL OWN THE HOUSE, HOLD THE HOUSE AND WE HAVE THE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE.
IF YOU WENT TO REPUBLICANS TWO MONTHS AGO, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE A PLUS 10 IN THE HOUSE AND PLUS ONE IN THE SENATE, THEY WOULD BE HAPPY.
>> HOW ABOUT THE SENATE RACE, TRUDY, FIRST TIME SHE RAN FOR OFFICE.
NO EXPERIENCE, JUST MONEY SINCE THE U.S. SENATE IS A BIG JOB.
LET'S SAY THAT DEMOCRATS PUT SOMEONE ELSE UP THERE.
IT COULD HAVE CHRIS CAME OUT OF PRIVATE SECTOR OR CLAIR, IS THERE ANY DEMOCRAT IN YOUR OPINION, ANY DEMOCRAT, THAT COULD HAVE DEFEATED ERICK SCHMIDT IN MISSOURI?
>> YOU WOULD THINK NO.
IF YOU LOOK AT HOW ERICK MAN HIS CAMPAIGN, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT CANDIDATE.
AND THE LOST -- WOULD'VE CHANGED THE ENTIRE NATURE.
>> I AGREE.
>> IT WOULD'VE BEEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR SCHMIDT.
I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CAMPAIGN DURING THE PRIMARY.
AND HE DIDN'T AFTER THE PRIMARY.
AND THE ALL STAR BENCH MAYBE, MAYBE, YOU KNOW, CHRIS IS IN THE BACK OF EVERYONE'S MINDS THAT COULD BE FORMATABLE.
IN 2022, THE DEMOCRATS RAN THE PERFECT CANDIDATE, NO CHANCE OF WINNING FOR THEM AND IT MADE IT EASIER FOR SCHMIDT.
>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT YOU PUT A PRETTY GOOD SPIN FOR YOUR PARTY.
AS FAR AS THE SENATE, YOU HAVE TO WIN 2 OUT OF 3 INCUMBENTS TO DO THAT IN NEVADA.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR BEST CHANCE.
KELLY AND ARIZONA WHICH DOESN'T LOOK LIKE.
I WOULD ARGUE THAT HERSHELL WALKER IS NOT THE BEST CANDIDATE THAT CAME DOWN AND HE LOST BY A REGIONAL MARGIN.
YOU SAY THE PEOPLE WOULD BE HAPPY WITH IT.
A TYPICAL RETURN IN A MIDTERM ELECTION, TYPICAL OUTCOME IS 30, 40, 60 SEATS.
YOU HAVE TO ADMIT, EVERYONE WAS EXPECTING THAT.
IS THERE GOING TO BE -- IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S MORE PEOPLE CALLING OUT THE FORMER PRESIDENT THAN THERE HAVE BEEN.
DO YOU NOT SEE SOME SORT OF CIVIL WAR IN THE REPUBLICAN WAR?
>> 40, 60 IS A WAVE.
>> THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE CALLED IT.
>> WE WERE HOPEFUL.
>> NO, THEY WERE CALLING IT.
THERE WAS TED CRUZ THAT WERE CALLING IT THAT.
>> AND OTHERS TOO.
>> OBAMA LOST 63 IN 2010.
>> WHAT IS INTERESTING AND DIFFERENT IN THIS INSTANCE, BIDEN CAME INTO OFFICE IN 2020, HE WON WITH 81 MILLION VOTES AND LOST 14 HOUSE SEATS.
IN TERMS OF THE HISTORICAL PRECEDENCE, IT WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED, THEY BRING IN WHERE THE HOUSE GOES WITH THEM.
WHAT HAPPENED, WHAT I'M SUGGESTING, THE 10 TO 15 SEATS WE PICKED UP, WE PICKED THEM UP IN 2020.
IF BIDEN PICKED UP 1 OR 2, THERE WERE 30 SEATS TO PICK UP.
WE PICKED UP TO 15 SEATS THAT WE LOST IN 2020.
AND WE WILL PICK UP 15 MORE.
>> PUTTING IT IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, YOU WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THAT THE PARTY OCCUPYING THE WHITE HOUSE WOULD HAVE LOST A LOT OF SEATS.
IF YOU GO BACK TO 1866, ONLY THREE TIMES DID THE PARTY OCCUPYING THE WHITE HOUSE NOT LOSE SEATS.
ALL RIGHT?
1934, 1998, AND 2002.
SO, BIDEN HAS BUCKED THIS TREND BECAUSE HE IS GOING TO LOSE SEATS AND HE IS GOING TO LOSE NOT THAT MANY.
>> I WOULD GO BACK TO 1978, CARTER'S MIDTERM, EVERYONE EXPECTED A TSUNAMI AND HE OVER-PERFORMED.
HE LOST THREE SENATORS AND 18 HOUSE SEATS.
IT IS MORE LIKE THAT.
IT IS SIMILAR TO 1978 AND THE ECONOMY, INFLATION, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT WAS CARTER'S MIDTERM.
FOR REPUBLICANS, IT CAME OUT -- >> TRUMP LOST 40 SEATS, HOUSE SEATS AND HE GAINED 2 SENATE SEATS IN 2018.
>> AFTER TUESDAY, KEN, DO YOU THINK THERE IS LESS PRESSURE FOR THE PRESIDENT TO STEP ASIDE AND NOT RUN FOR REELECTION?
>> NO, I THINK THERE'S PRESSURE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW OLD HE IS.
HE WILL BE 80 YEARS OLD.
>> 82.
>> WHEN HE RUNS.
>> JANUARY 20.
THAT'S RIGHT.
2025, HE WOULD BE 82.
86 WHEN HE LEFT.
THAT'S RIDICULOUS.
LET'S LOOK AT TRUMP.
IF TRUMP RAN.
HE WOULD BE IN HIS 80S TOO.
THIS GUY IS NO SPRING CHICKEN.
IT IS LOOKING GOOD FOR DESANTIS TO STEP IN AND RUN FOR A REPUBLICAN.
HE WILL ATTRACT A LOT OF PEOPLE BEING AS YOUNG AS HE IS.
PEOPLE THINK AGE IS THE FACTOR.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?
>> IN WHAT RESPECT?
>> THE QUESTION ABOUT BIDEN?
>> LOOK, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WILL WELCOME BIDEN RUNNING FOR REELECTION.
WHEN WE LOOK FOR SILVER LININGS WAS THAT FACT.
AND IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE, YESTERDAY, I THINK, AND HE CAME OUT AND I DIDN'T DO WELL THERE'S NO REASON FOR ME TO GO ANYWHERE.
HE DIDN'T DECIDE.
>> HE IS RUNNING.
>> I'M AN INDEPENDENT.
I WOULD SAY THE DEMOCRATS WOULD BE HAPPY ABOUT TRUMP RUNNING THAN BIDEN RUNNING AGAIN.
>> YOU ALLUDED TO BIDEN'S UNPOPULARITY.
IT IS ROUGHLY THE SAME, IT IS HIGHER.
>> BY 2 PERCENT.
>> ABOUT THE SAME AT OBAMA.
AND ABOUT THE SAME CLINTON.
>> IT IS IDENTICAL TO REAGAN.
>> THIS TIME, GEORGE W. BUSH WAS AT THIS POINT AT ONE POINT AT 9/11, IT WAS 91 PERCENT, INCLUDING ME.
THERE WAS A LOT -- BUT, I MEAN, MY QUESTION IS, IT IS A GREAT NARRATIVE.
BIDEN IS NO MORE UNPOPULAR THAN TRUMP WAS.
I DON'T REMEMBER -- >> HE IS NOT EFFECTIVE.
>> HIS POPULARITY.
>> CAMPAIGNS ARE DIFFERENT.
YOU DON'T POLL.
HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY IN THIS LAST CYCLE TO STAY HOME.
WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC.
HE CAMPAIGNED FROM HIS BASEMENT.
THEY KEPT A SHORT LEASH ON BIDEN.
HE MANAGED TO MESS UP AND GETTING RID OF COAL AND SELF-SUFFICIENT.
>> I WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK.
>> HE PICKED UP 2 POINTS IN THE INDEPENDENCE.
GOING BACK TO 2006, IT HAS BEEN 15.
THAT'S A HUGE TURN AROUND.
I THINK THAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE IN THESE ELECTIONS, THE REASON YOU DIDN'T EXPERIENCE THE RED WAVE IS THAT INDEPENDENCE DID NOT GO FOR THE OUT-PARTY WHICH THEY USUALLY DO.
THEY WENT 2 POINTS FOR THE, YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
THAT'S EXTRAORDINARY.
IS THAT DUE TO BIDEN CAMPAIGNING?
NO.
POLITICAL SCIENCE IS NOT A SCIENCE.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT MISSOURI, JOHN.
HERE WE HAVE THE THIRD TIME, A PROGRESSIVE BALLOT MEASURE OR AMENDMENT PASSES, WE HAD AN EXPANSION OF MEDICAID.
VOTERS APPROVED THAT AND THE RIGHT TO WORK.
THAT WAS PROGRESSIVE AND THIS TIME THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA.
>> LET SAY RAY WRITES A COLUMN AND THE RIGHT TO ABORTIONS IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.
DO YOU THINK THAT WILL COME TO FRUITION, IT WILL BE AN AMENDMENT AND IT WILL PASS IN THE STATE?
>> IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE LANGUAGE IS.
I FULLY EXPECT THAT IT IS COMING.
AND YOU HAVE REFERENCED OTHER NOT PETITIONS, BUT THEY HAVE PASSED.
THE CHALLENGE IN MISSOURI AND ANY PLACE, IF SOMEONE PUTS FORWARD THE INITIATIVE AND IT IS A MILLION AND A HALF TO GET IT ON THE BALLOT AND EXPANSION, AND GETTING IT TO PASS, SPENDING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS, AND IT IS NOT THE CIRCUMSTANCE TO FIGHT BACK.
RIGHT, SO, WHEN YOU DO A PRO-LIFE BALLOT INITIATIVE.
IT WILL COME.
THERE IS PRO-LIFE MONEY TO TAKE IT ON.
IT IS INTERESTING.
THE AMENDMENT THREE, THERE WAS NO MONEY TO FIGHT AMENDMENT THREE.
THAT'S HOW IT GOES DOWN.
>> TO THAT POINT, THE HOUSE, COMING HOUSE LEADER, DEAN FROM ST. LOUIS.
>> I KNOW DEAN QUITE WELL.
>> YOU KNOW HIM.
I THINK A TRADITIONAL REPUBLICAN AS TO A TRUMP ONE.
I COULD BE RUN.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL YOURSELF THESE DAYS.
HE IS RUMORED TO BE OR SAID GOING TO GO WHAT THEY CALL AN INITIATIVE REFORM WHICH IS TO DISCOURAGE THESE.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG ITEM.
I DO THINK, THERE'S NO DANGER, I WILL WRITE ABOUT THIS, THERE'S NO DANGER ON HAVING IMPACT ON ANYBODY.
MY OWN VIEW THAT THE INITIATIVE SHOULD BE MODELLED AFTER THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.
IT IS NOT 39 PAGES, IT SHOULD SAY THAT THE STATE OF MISSOURI SHOULD NOT RESTRICT ABORTIONS PASSED 36 WEEKS.
I DO NOT THINK THE CODIFY THAT -- I'M SORRY.
I WANT TO ASK.
DO YOU THINK IT IS GOING TO BE HEADED OFF TO MAKE IT HARDER?
>> WE SHOULD CHANGE THE WAY WE DO IT.
THE COLLECTING OF SIGNATURES.
THEY ARE THEY ARE TWO CONSERVATIVE PARTS OF THE STATE WHERE THE SIGNATURES WERE NOT REQUIRED.
IT IS A SIMPLE MAJORITY.
IT IS COMPLETELY WRONG.
YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW INSTEAD OF MAKING CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT CHANGES THEY ARE LEGISLATING IN THE CONSTITUTION BECAUSE IT IS SO SIMPLE.
>> BECAUSE THE LEGISLATION IS WHAT IT IS.
HOW MUCH WOULD YOU MAKE IT?
WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE?
>> IT IS CLOSER TO 60, OR TWO THIRDS.
IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
THE CONSULTING CLASS, THE HIGHEST PROFIT MARGINS FOR CONSULT AN ANTS -- CONSULTANTS, THEY GET PAID TO GET THE SIGNATURES.
>> IT IS HUGE.
>> IT IS IN THEIR INTERESTING.
TO GET IT TO THE BALLOT.
IT IS SOMETHING WHEN I FIRST GOT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND PEOPLE HAVE TRIED EVERY YEAR.
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO WIN.
IT IS TOO PROFITABLE TO CHANGE.
>> WOULD SUCH A MEASURE EVERY PASS IN MISSOURI, KEN?
>> I THINK THE CHANCES ARE HIGH.
THE POLLING DATA IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PRO-CHOICE, WOMEN'S RIGHT TO CHOICE, IT IS PASSING IN CONSERVATIVE STATES LIKE KENTUCKY THE OTHER DAY.
THE OPPOSITION.
TWO AT THE PASSAGES.
KANSAS, ALL OVER.
EVEN IN CONSERVATIVE PLACES.
IT IS 60 PERCENT FAVORED PRO-CHOICE.
>> HOW DOES SCHMIDT BECOME THE NEXT SENATOR?
>> WE POLLED ON THAT.
WE ASKED THAT.
MISSOURI IS SO RED, MOST PEOPLE WERE OPPOSED TO THE REVERSAL OF ROE V. WADE, THE PEOPLE DIDN'T COME AROUND AND VOTE AGAINST SCHMIDT AS A RESULT OF THAT THOUGH.
THIS STATE IS TOO RED.
THERE ARE TOO MANY REPUBLICANS FOR THAT TO BE A DEAL BREAKER.
>> 13 WEEKS IS WHERE WE ARE GOING TO GO.
THAT'S WHAT I WILL SUGGEST IS 13 WEEKS.
NO ONE WILL LISTEN TO ME.
I WILL SAY 13 WEEKS.
WOULD YOU AGREE THAT IS AN INTERESTING CHALLENGE RATHER THAN SAYING CODIFY ROE V. WADE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT A CONSERVATIVE CHOICE.
>> THAT IS POLITICAL SMART.
I CELEBRATE THAT ROE V. WADE WAS TURNED OVER.
AND NOW IT IS BACK IN THE STATES.
>> THAT'S HOW I WOULD APPROACH IT.
>> LET ME ASK YOU -- >> NO.
I HAVE QUESTIONS.
>> IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT DESANTIS.
I WOULD LOVE TO TALK ABOUT HIM.
>> I WANT TO.
>> I SEE REPUBLICAN POLLS THAT SHOW A MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS DO NOT BELIEVE THAT DONALD TRUMP LOST THE 2020 ELECTION.
SOME FASHION.
MAYBE I DON'T KNOW WHAT -- YOU MADE REFERENCE TO 81 MILLION VOTES.
I DON'T THINK IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THAT.
I DON'T KNOW -- I DON'T THINK I KNOW ANYONE WHO BELIEVES THAT.
I HAVE A LOT OF REPUBLICAN FRIENDS.
I DO NOT -- I MEAN -- DO YOU -- DO MISSOURI REPUBLICANS REALLY BELIEVE THAT THAT, DONALD TRUMP WON THE ELECTION?
IT IS NOT A LEADING QUESTION.
I WANT TO GET YOUR VIEW TOO.
IS THAT A REAL THING?
YOU DON'T HEAR MUCH OF THAT SAID.
BUT IT -- I -- >> SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT ABOUT 2020 ELECTION.
AND IT IS NOT JUST REPUBLICANS.
YOU LOOK AT POLLS CONSISTENTLY SINCE 2020 WERE IN THE HIGH 50'S OF ALL OF THE POPULATIONS, IT WASN'T RIGHT.
>> THAT WASN'T MY QUESTION.
>> I THINK IT.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT TRUMP WON?
>> YOU -- ARE YOU NOT SURE THAT BIDEN WON IT FAIR AND SQUARE?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST ELECTION.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN ARIZONA.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA.
THAT LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY.
ALMOST 60 PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY THINKS THAT SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT AND 35 PERCENT OF THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS FEEL THAT WAY TOO.
>> IT IS NOT RIGHT.
I THINK THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS THAT THE ELECTIONS ARE HONEST.
SOME HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE 2020 ELECTION.
YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF; HOW COULD THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH IT?
YOU TAKE ARIZONA.
THEY HAD AUDITS, AND REPUBLICAN-SPONSORED ARIZONA FOUND THAT BIDEN WON BY MORE VOTES THAN WHAT WAS RECORDED.
YOU HAVE AUDITS IN GEORGIA.
YOU KNOW?
RECOUNTS, RECOUNTS, AUDITS.
WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM.
OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
THE TALLIES ARE THE SAME.
>> WHAT IS GOING ON IN NEVADA AND IN ARIZONA.
THEY ARE ADDING UP THE VOTES.
THAT'S THE WAY THEY DO EVERY TIME.
THERE'S NO -- NOTHING NEFARIOUS ABOUT THIS.
THEY HAVE RULES THAT THEY CAN'T ADD THE MAIL IN BALLOTS.
>> THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THE FACT THAT TRUMP WAS FAR AHEAD.
I DID RAY'S SHOW.
TRUMP WAS WINNING.
AND ALL OF THESE MAIL IN BALLOTS WERE GOING TO COME IN.
AND REPUBLICANS THAT WERE, YOU KNOW, NOT SAVVY TO THE PROCESS.
THEY FELT OH WELL THESE ARE ALL OF THE VOTES, CHEATING VOTES.
THEY WERE SIMPLY COUNTING LEGAL MAIL IN BALLOTS.
>> WHICH WAS SHOW -- >> WE HAVE PLOWED THIS FIELD IN THE PAST.
>> WE HAVE A WIN BY PRITZKER.
HE WON THAT STATE.
AND BECAUSE HIS SPEECH DIDN'T ATTACK BAILEY BUT TRUMP THAT HE MAY BE A CANDIDATE, KEN WARREN, FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2024.
DO YOU THINK PRITZKER, POPULATION IS LEAVING THE STATE AND LOST CORPORATIONS LIKE CAT R PILLAR AND BOEING.
DO YOU THINK HE IS A FAIR CANDIDATE FOR 2024?
>> WELL, HE WOULDN'T BE MY FAVORITE CANDIDATE.
I THINK HE IS A POPULAR GOVERNOR.
IN A VERY DEMOCRATIC STATE.
LIKE DESANTIS IS A POPULAR GOVERNOR IN A REPUBLICAN STATE.
PRITZKER LOOKS OKAY.
I THINK THERE WILL BE OTHER CHOICES BESIDE ME.
>> HE CAN SELF-FINANCE.
HE HAS MADE IT CLEAR HE IS GOING TO RUN.
>> MONEY DOESN'T BUY ELECTIONS.
>> I THINK MICHAEL BLOOMBERG WILL SAY THAT.
>> IT IS A GOOD QUESTION.
ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION IN 2006, A BLACK GUY FROM ILLINOIS DO YOU THINK HE WOULD WIN.
NO ONE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT OBAMA WOULD HAVE HAD A CHANCE.
>> AND HILLARY CLINTON.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT TRUMP.
AND DESANTIS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE A TRUMP GUY.
THERE'S A VERY CLEAR DISTINCTION IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND AGAIN FOR BOTH OF YOU.
HOW DO YOU THINK THAT IS GOING TO PLAY OUT?
I HAPPEN TO AGREE THAT THE DEMOCRATS WILL END UP WITH SOMEONE DIFFERENT THAN BIDEN.
>> TRUMP OR DESANTIS?
>> HERE'S A SILVER LINING FROM TUESDAY LINING, DESANTIS CLEARED THE REST OF THE FIELD.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE TEN GUYS UP ON THE STAGE.
WE HAVE DESANTIS AND TRUMP.
I PERSONALLY LIKE TO SEE A CAGE FIGHT.
HAVE THE TWO OF THEM DECLARE THEIR CANDIDACY AND WE WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT DESANTIS AND IT WILL MAKE THEM BOTH STRONGER AND WHOEVER WINS THAT PRIMARY WILL BE BETTER FOR HAVING DONE IT.
YOU PUT THEM IN A CAGE FIGHT FOR THE POSITION AND I AM FINE WITH WHOEVER.
>> YOU ARE FINE WITH TRUMP?
>> IF TRUMP CAN GO TOE TO TOE WITH DESANTIS, THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.
>> PAUL ALLEN, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT TRUMP IS NOT GOING TO GET IT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO STOP HIM BECAUSE HE IS POPULAR.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO STOP HIM?
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO STOP HIM?
>> THERE'S A CHANGE.
WHAT I MEAN, WHAT TRUMP DID WHEN HE CAME IN, I THOUGHT TRUMP WAS GOING TO WIN BEFORE 2016.
CHANGED THE PARTY'S MAKEUP.
THE PARTY OF THE WORKING CLASS.
NON COLLEGE EDUCATED MEN AND WOMEN SUPPORT REPUBLICANS AND WOMEN SUPPORT REPUBLICANS.
PRIOR TO THAT, THINK OF THE ELITES, BUSHES, ROMNEY, THEY WERE THE COUNTRY CLUB REPUBLICANS.
NOW WE ARE THE BLUE COLLAR REPUBLICANS.
THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
>> A LOT.
>> THEY LOVE TRUMP AND SUPPORT TRUMP THEY LIKE THE WAY DESANTIS HANDLES THEMSELVES.
THEY ARE NOT POLITICAL JUNKIES LIKE US.
THEY KNOW WHO DESANTIS IS NOW.
THEY WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE TWO GUYS SQUARE OFF.
WHOEVER COMES OUT OF THE PRIMARY, IF IT IS THE TWO OF THEM, THEY ARE STRONGER FOR HAVING GOING THROUGH THE PRIMARY AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THEY WILL RALLY AROUND WHOEVER COMES OUT OF THE RACE.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE THE PARTY ELITE IS BACKING OFF.
>> THEY HAVE PICKED THEIR CANDIDATE.
THEY ARE PICKING DESANTIS.
>> PAUL RYAN SAYS THAT DESANTIS AND JEB BUSH SAYS HE IS RAISING MONEY FOR HIM.
AND RYAN RELEASED ANTI TRUMP.
TRUMP IS THE POPULAR ONE.
DESANTIS SOUNDS LIKE IT AND THE CHALLENGE FOR DESANTIS HE NEEDS TO RING IN THE POPULAR SIDE OF THE PARTY AT THE SAME TIME LET EVERYONE KNOW HE IS GOING TO ESTABLISH THIS.
>> I THINK THE PARTY IS SEEING THAT TRUMP MAY BE TOXIC.
GIVEN THE LAST ELECTION.
>> DOES THAT PLAY IN -- >> THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SAW HIM A PROBLEM THE TIME HE CAME DOWN THE ELEVATOR.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT THE PEOPLE ARE TROUBLED BY TRUMP OVER THROWING THE DEMOCRACDEMOCRACY.
>> YOU HAVE BIDEN IS TOO OLD TO KEEP GOING.
>> I DIDN'T SAY THAT.
>> I CAN LOOK AT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND I WILL SAY I WILL TAKE ALL OF HIS POLICIES.
>> JON, THANK YOU.
>> KEN, THANK YOU AS WELL.
>> THANKS, RAYS.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
SEE YOU NEXT THURSDAY.
STAY WARM.