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>> AFTER A RECORD-BREAKING TURNOUT AND DELAYS OFFBALLOTS COUNTING -- >> IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WE COUNT EACH AND EVERY VOTE.
>> THE RACE WAS CLOSER THAN SOME POLLS SUGGESTED.
COUNT EVERY VOTE.
>> REVEALING A DIVIDED ELECTORATE.
>> WE CAN NOW PROJECT FORMER VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS BEEN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> JOE BIDEN DECLADE THE WINNER.
I'LL WORK AS HARD FOR THOSE WHO VOTED AGAINST ME AS FOR ME.
>> BUT TRUMP IS MOUNTING LEGAL CHALLENGES IN KEY STATES.
>> WE WANT THE LAW TO BE USED IN A PROPER MANNER.
>> A DEEPLY POLARIZED NATION.
THIS IS ELECTION 2020, A "PBS NEWSHOUR" SPECIAL.
>> WOODRUFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THIS PBS NEWSHOUR SPECIAL, ON THE NIGHT JOE BIDEN HAS BEEN DECLARED THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
I'M JUDY WOODRUFF.
IN JUST A MOMENT, PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT KAMALA HARRIS WILL APPEAR BEFORE CAMERAS IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, TO MAKE THEIR FIRST REMARKS SINCE THE WINNER WAS CALLED.
IT'S BEEN FOUR DAYS SINCE THE NATION GATHERED AT TV SETS AND SMART PHONES TO WATCH ELECTION RETURNS, ONLY TO DISCOVER THE VOTE COUNT WOULD TAKE LONGER.
WE'VE BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY SINCE THEN, AND LATE THIS MORNING, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CALLED THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR BIDEN, PUTTING BIDEN ABOVE THE 270 ELECTORAL VOTES NEEDED TO BECOME PRESIDENT.
HIS RUNNING MATE KAMALA HARRIS IS BREAKING THREE GLASS CEILINGS AT ONCE: BECOMING THE FIRST WOMAN, THE FIRST BLACK AMERICAN, AND THE FIRST ASIAN AMERICAN TO SERVE AS VICE PRESIDENT.
WE EXPECT BOTH OF THEM TO SPEAK SHORTLY IN WILMINGTON AND TO SEE SOME OF THE CELEBRATION TO FOLLOW.
WE'LL TALK WITH ANALYSTS AND WITH OUR CORRESPONDENTS, INCLUDING YAMICHE ALCINDOR AT THE WHITE HOUSE, WHERE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DISPUTED THE RESULTS AND CHARGED DEMOCRATS WITH FRAUD.
JOHN YANG IN WILMINGTON WITH THE BIDEN TEAM, DANIEL BUSH IN PENNSYLVANIA, STEPHANIE SY IN ARIZONA, MILES O'BRIEN I GEORGIA, AND HERE ALONG WITH ME IN THE STUDIO IS AMNA NAWAZ, LISA DESJARDINS AND AMY WALTER LOOKING AT HOW VOTERS VOTED.
LATER, WE'LL REVIEW THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY AFTER SUCH A COMPETITIVE AND FRAUGHT PRESIDENTIAL RACE THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THE MIDST OF A ONCE-IN A CENTURY PANDEMIC.
BEFORE I TALK TO OUR CORRESPONDENTS, A WORD OF EXPLANATION BEFORE WE MOVE FURTHER INTO THIS EVENING: THE NEWSHOUR AGAIN THIS YEAR HAS RELIED ON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TO DECLARE THE OUTCOMES OF THE ELECTION.
FOR 174 YEARS, THE A.P.
HAS BEEN REPORTING THOROUGHLY AND FAIRLY ON EVENTS IN THIS COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD.
THEY ADHERE TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF JOURNALISM.
THEIR TEAM OF EXPERT POLITICAL OBSERVERS COLLECTED VOTER DATA AND CRUNCHED NUMBERS, AND ONLY WHEN THEY WERE CONFIDENT THERE WAS NO PATH FOR ANOTHER CANDIDATE TO WIN, DID THEY DECLARE WINNERS.
NOW WITH ME AS WE WAIT FOR THIS IMPORTANT MOMENT, I WANT TO GO TO OUR JOHN YANG IN WILLIAMINGTON.
JOHN, YOU ARE THERE.
THEY ARE WAITING FOR JOE BIDEN AND DR. JILL BIDEN, HIS WIFE, TO ARRIVE.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.
THEY'RE HAPPY.
>> Reporter: WELL, I'LL TELL YOU, THEY ARE HAPPY INDEED.
THERE IS NOT ONLY A DRIVE-IN RALLY HERE, PEOPLE PARKED IN CARS IN THIS PARKING LOT, BUT ALONG THE FENCE LINE OVER HERE TO THE SIDE OF ME, WE CAN'T GET A SHOT OF IT, THERE ARE PEOPLE, SEVERAL DEEP, PRESSED UP AGAINST A CHAIN LINK FENCE.
THEY HAVE BEEN HERE FOR HOURS.
THEY HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON, LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS MOMENT.
AS YOU SAY, WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT SINCE TUESDAY.
JOE BIDEN HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT SINCE 1987, WHEN HE FIRST RAN FOR THE PRESIDENCY.
THIS IS HIS THIRD CAMPAIGN, AND IN SOME WAYS, THIS IS SOMETHING OF A REMARKABLE POLITICAL STORY, HIS THIRD CAMPAIGN, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT HE ACTUALLY WON A POLITICAL PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY WHEN HE WON THE SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY.
REMEMBER, HIS CANDIDACY WAS GIVEN UP FOR DEAD AT SOME POINT EARLY ON IN THIS CAMPAIGN, AND HE SURGED BACK ONCE THE CANDIDATES, OTHER CANDIDATES CONSOLIDATED AROUND HIM AND WALTZED TO THE CONVENTION AND THEN THROUGH THIS CAMPAIGN AND TO THIS LONG ELECTION NIGHT, WHICH IS ENDING ON SATURDAY NIGHT, BEGAN TUESDAY NIGHT.
I TALKED TO A SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN TO FORMER VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN ABOUT THIS LONG WAIT, AND THE ADVISOR SAID, YOU KNOW, NOTHING ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN EASY, SO WHY SHOULD WE HAVE EXPECTED THAT THE ELECTION WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY?
>> Woodruff: YEAH, WELL, FOR SURE.
AND, JOHN, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LAYOUT THERE.
YOU ARE AT WHAT'S CALLED THE CHASE CENTER, THIS BIG SPORTS ARENA IN WILMINGTON.
THIS IS WHERE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN SPOKE DURING THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
THIS IS WHERE HE AND KAMALA HARRIS WILL BE.
>> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT, CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS IS LOCATED INSIDE THE CHASE CENTER.
SITTING IN A BIG PARKING LOT AROUND IT.
THERE IS A STAGE SET UP OUTSIDE.
CARS SORT OF SET UP LIKE AT A DRIVE-IN MOVIE THAT HAVE DRIVEN UP.
A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE APPEAR TO BE SOME PERHAPS DONORS.
THEY'RE WELL DRESSED IN SUITS.
THERE ARE SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS AMONG FOLKS IN THEIR CARS AT THIS DRIVE-IN RALLY.
FOLKS ALONG THE FENCELINE, ALSO.
SENATOR HARRIS' MOTORCADE ARRIVED HERE MAYBE 20 MINUTES AGO.
SHE'S GOING TO INTRODUCE VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN.
SOMETHING OF A DEPARTURE.
USUALLY ON VICTORY STATEMENTS ON ELECTION NIGHTS, THE VICE PRESIDENT ELECT IS SEEN BUT NOT HEARD, BUT I THINK THEY WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MOMENT OF THOSE THREE GLASS CEILINGS AS YOU MENTIONED THAT ARE BEING BROKEN HERE TONIGHT.
SHE WILL SPEAK FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND INTRODUCE VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN, WHO WILL SPEAK FOR ABOUT 18 TO 20 MINUTES, WE HAVE BEEN TOLD, AND THEN, AFTERWARD, WE'RE TOLD THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A DRONE LIGHT SHOW.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT THAT IS.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, QUITE FRANKLY.
THERE WILL BE SOME FIREWORKS FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.
THIS IS A NIGHT THAT THEY HAD HOPED TO DO LAST NIGHT, AND THERE WAS ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT OF F FRUSTRATION AMONG SOME CAMPAIGN OFFICIALS, FRUSTRATED THAT THE NETWORKS AND OTHER NEWS ORGANIZATIONS OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HADN'T MADE THE CALL THAT WOULD DECLARE VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN NOW THE PRESIDENT-ELECT.
THEY HELD OFF LAST NIGHT MAKING THIS MOVING HERE TO THE CHASE CENTER TO MAKE THE STATEMENT.
I'M HEARING A CHEER COMING UP, THE MOTORCADE NEARING, MAYBE THEY'RE SEEING SOME FLASHING LIGHTS.
>> Woodruff: I WANT TO TURN TO YAMICHE ALCINDOR AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
YAMICHE, PRESIDENT TRUMP IS THERE AND HAS NOT ACCEPTED THESE RESULTS, HAS NOT CONCEDED IN ANY WAY AND IS TALK ABOUT LAWSUITS.
>> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT, THE PRESIDENT HAS NOT AT ALL WANTED TO EMBRACE THE IDEA OR THE FACT AT THIS POINT THAT HE IS ONLY THE TENTH U.S. PRESIDENT NOT TO WIN REELECTION.
THE PRESIDENT IS IN COMPLETE DENIAL.
PEOPLE CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENT SAID HE IS FUMING, ANGRY.
HE IS SITTING IN THE WHITE HOUSE NOW RELEASING STATEMENTS THAT THE ELECTION IS NOT OVER, CLAIMING HE WON THE ELECTION, WHICH IS NOT TRUE.
WE ARE WATCHING A DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN HAPPENING, HEADQUARTERED AT THE WHITE HOUSE, WHERE THE PRESIDENT IS TRYING TO WRESTLE BACK THE ELECTION.
BUT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN REPUBLICANS, JEB BUSH, BROTHER OF FORMER GEORGE BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT, A REPUBLICAN, ALLIES OF ENGLAND, CANADA, CONGRATULATING VICE PRESIDENT ELECT JOE BIDEN.
HERE AT THE WHITE HOUSE, THERE ARE PROTESTORS CHEERING AROUND THE WHITE HOUSE.
THERE ARE LARGE A LOT OF STREETS CLOSED BECAUSE THERE ARE A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE CELEBRATING PRESIDENT TRUMP FAILING THIS.
HE IS LAUNCHING A BUNCH OF LEGAL MANEUVERS TRYING TO SEE WHAT HE CAN DO, BUT THERE ARE ALREADY JUDGES TOSSING OUT ARGUMENTS AND CASES FROM THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA, MICHIGAN AND PENNSYLVANIA.
SO THE PRESIDENT IS CONTINUING TO SAY HE'S GOING TO FIGHT ON, BUT THE STRATEGY AND MATH IS NOT ON HIS SIDE.
>> Woodruff: IT'S INTERESTING, MITT ROMNEY IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE WHO HAS TWEETED THAT THE TIME TO RESPECT THE RESULTS IS NOW, AND I'M JUST HEARING A FEW MINUTES AGO THAT FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF MICK MULVANEY IS SAYING THE TIME HAS COME TO RESPECT THE RESULTS.
SO YOU DO SEE REPUBLICANS STARTING TO MAKE THESE STATEMENTS, BUT CERTAINLY, YAMICHE, NOT EVERYBODY AROUND THE PRESIDENT.
THE PEOPLE VERY CLOSE TO THIS PRESIDENT ARE STICKING WITH HIM.
>> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT, PEOPLE CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENT ARE STICKING WITH HIM, BUT I TALKED TO SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE PRESIDENT, AND THERE ARE REALLY TWO SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT HAPPENING IN THE WHITE HOUSE NOW.
FIRST, THEY WANT TO FIGHT FOR THE PRESIDENT, THEY WANT TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THE PRESIDENT GETS EVERY SINGLE LEGAL ARGUMENT HEARD IN COURT.
THEY'RE EVEN POSSIBLY THINKING THE SUPREME COURT MIGHT TRY TO STEP IN SOMEHOW AND GET THIS, WRESTLED BACK FROM THE PRESIDENT, BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE CRITICS OF THE PRESIDENT SAY IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO LAUNCH SOME SORT OF LAWSUIT THAT WILL END UP AT THE SUPREME COURT.
THE OTHER THOUGHT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ACCEPTING THE LOSS THAT ARE CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENT, BUT THE IDEA IS HOW DO THEY HOLD ON TO THE TRUMP BASE.
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO CAST THEIR VOTE FOR TRUMP ARE QUESTIONING THE ELECTION.
A LOT OF REPUBLICANS ARE THINKING ABOUT 2022 AND 2024, THAT IF THEY ABANDON T TRUMP TOO QUICKLY, THOSE MIGHT TURN ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
HE'S STILL AHEAD OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE PRESIDENT IS IN COMPLETE DENIAL AND HE IS VERY MUCH ANGRY AT ALL THE DEFENSE REPUBLICANS WHO COMING OUT SAYING THAT THEY CONGRATULATE JOE BIDEN AS PRESIDENT-ELECT.
I SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS GOLFING WHEN THIS NEWS CAME OUT.
HE IS SOMEONE WHO HAD TO DRIVE BACK INTO THE WHITE HOUSE AND SEE A LINE OF PROTESTERS WHO WERE CELEBRATING HIS FAILURE, SO THERE'S ALSO A TOUGH THING GOING ON.
THE PRESIDENT HAS ADMITTED THAT HE DOES NOT LIKE TO LOSE, THAT HE HATES TO LOSE, IN FACT, SO THE PRESIDENT IS HAVING TO DEAL WITH HARD REALITIES AS HE SITS AT THE WHITE HOUSE WATCHING ALL THIS PLAY OUT ON TV.
>> Woodruff: ONE OTHER THING, YAMICHE, THE LAWSUITS THAT THE PEOPLE AROUND THE PRESIDENT, INCLUDING RUDY GIULIANI, HIS PERSONAL LAWYER, ARE TAKING ABOUT, I MEAN, THESE ARE SERIOUS PURSUITS THEY'RE MAKING.
I THINK THERE'S A SENSE THAT -- WE DON'T GET A CLEAR SENSE OF WHO HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES ARE.
>> Reporter: THERE'S NO ONE, JUDY, HEADING UP OFFICIALLY THE LEGAL STRATEGY FOR THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN, WHICH IS WHY ALL OF THIS IS REALLY, REALLY CONFUSING.
THERE IS DAVID BOSSY, HE WAS THE HEAD OF A CONSERVATIVE ADVOCACY GROUP CITIZENS UNITED, WHO IS TRYING TO THINK THROUGH THE STRATEGY HERE, BUT HE IS NOT HEAD ATTORNEY.
THEY ARE CLAIM AGO OUTOF KNEES LAWSUITS ARE SERIOUS, SAYING THERE ARE IRREGULARITIES AND VOTER FRAUD BUT THERE'S JUST NO EVIDENCE OF THAT, JUDY.
THERE'S NO EVIDENCE TO BACK UP THE LEGAL CLAIMS WHICH IS WHY YOU'VE SEEN JUDGES IN STATE AFTER STATE STARTING TO TOSS OUT THE LAWSUIT.
THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN SAYING A LOT OF THINGS ON TWITTER.
TWITTER HAS BEEN HAVING TO LABEL TWEET AFTER TWEET AFTER TWEET SAYING IT'S DISPUTED INFORMATION, INCORRECT, DISINFORMATION, SO THAT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF WHAT THE LAWSUIT AND THE LEGAL ARGUMENTS ARE, THEY'RE NOT REALLY FOUNDED ON ANY SORT OF EVIDENCE.
WHEN I'VE ASKED THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN FOR EVIDENCE, I'VE GOTTEN NOTHING.
SO THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN IS TRYING TO MAKE THIS CASE THAT THE PRESIDENT IS A VICTIM OF SOME SORT OF CONSPIRACY THEORY.
THE TOUGH THING OF THAT, OF COURSE, IS THERE ARE REPUBLICANS WHO HAD GREAT GAINS.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, A COUPLE NEW SEATS ON THE G.O.P.
SIDE, THE REPUBLICANS MAY HOLD ON TO THE SENATE, IT SEEMS, SO THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING I AM THE VICTIM OF THIS CONSPIRACY STRETCHING COAST TO COAST, BUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AS A WHOLE ACTUALLY SAW A GOOD WAVE, A RED WAVE, HE SAID, AT SOME POINT, SO IT'S A TOUGH THING FOR HIM TO ARGUE.
>> Woodruff: YAMICHE WILL STAY WITH US AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
JOHN YANG IN WILMINGTON.
WE'LL STAY AT THE STUDIO WHILE WE WAIT FOR S KAMALA HARRIS TO INTRODUCE THE PRESIDENT-ELECT.
I'M HERE WITH AMNA NAWAZ, CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT LISA DESJARDINS, ALONG WITH AMY WALTER OF THE COOK POLITICAL REPORT, AND HOST OF "WNYC'S POLITICS WITH AMY WALTER."
REPUBLICANS DID WELL, BETTER THAN EXPECTED.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, AND WE'LL BE DIGGING THROUGH THE DATA IN THE COMING DAYS.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF VOTERS WHO CONTINUED VOTING FOR REPUBLICANS BUT DID NOT VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP.
THEY LIKED THE IDEA OF A DIVIDED GOVERNMENT, THEY WERE GOING TO VOTE FOR JOE BIDEN, EXPECTED HIM TO BE IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
THEY DIDN'T LOVE THE IDEA OF HAVING ONE PARTY IN CONTROL.
WE SAW SOME DISTRICTS THAT IN THE 2018 WAVE WENT TO DEMOCRATS.
THEY MOVED BACK TO THEIR SORT OF ANCESTRAL HOME, YOU COULD SAY, ESPECIALLY WAITING FOR THE FENNEL RULES BUT IN PLACES LIKE ORANGE COUNTIES OR CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, WHERE DEMOCRATS HAD THOUGHT MAYBE THEY MADE PERMANENT INROADS INTO THESE PLACES.
SO THIS IS GOING TO BE FASCINATING, JUDY.
AS YAMICHE SAID, WE'RE WONDERING ABOUT THE TRUMP BASE AND IS IT GOING TO STICK AROUND FOR REPUBLICANS IN 2022, IF THEY FEEL LIKE REPUBLICANS HAVE ABANDONED THE PRESIDENT?
BUT THE OTHER QUESTION IS CAN ANYBODY OTHER THAN DONALD TRUMP TURN OUT THESE VOTERS?
WE'RE GOING TO FIND THAT OUT IN THE COMING YEARS.
>> Woodruff: I WANT TO TAKE THAT WE TO AMNA NAWAZ.
AMNA, YOU DID SPEND TIME IN THIS CAMPAIGN TALKING TO VOTERS, SOME OF THEM OBVIOUSLY VERY LOYAL WHO LIKED DONALD TRUMP, AND OTHERS WHO LIKED JOE BIDEN.
DID YOU GET A SENSE OF HOW MUCH THEIR ATTITUDE TOWARD PRESIDENT TRUMP, IF THEY WERE PLANNING TO VOTE FOR HIM WAS BECAUSE OF PERSONAL APPEAL AND HOW MUCH WAS IT THE ISSUES?
TELL US ABOUT THAT.
>> YEAH, JUDY, IT'S INTERESTING.
ON ELECTION NIGHT, WHICH NOW FEELS LIKE A FULL LIFETIME AGO, I WAS IN TOUCH WITH A NUMBER OF TRUMP SUPPORTERS WHO WERE VOTED FOR IN 2016 AND TRACKING HOW THEY WERE VIEWING THE PRESIDENCY OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, AND THERE WAS THE FULL RANGE OF HUMAN EMOTION IN THERE, AS YOU CAN EXEC.
WE'VE HEARD ALL THESE ISSUES REPORTED OUT BEFORE ABOUT HOW SOME OF HIS POLICIES AND DECISIONS AND RHETORIC RESONATED ACROSS DIFFERENT PARTS OF HIS BASE.
ONE THING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN 2017 AND 2018 AND TEXAS WHO HAD THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SUPPORT IN 2016 IS 90% OF THE COUNTY IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE VOTED FOR HIM, THAT INCREASED IN THIS PAST ELECTION, THAT LEVEL OF SUPPORT.
AMONG THESE VIEWERS WERE PEOPLE.
WHO THEY HAD TO HOLD THEIR NOSE TO VOTE FOR HIM BACK THEN.
I THINK NOW BOTH SIDES HERE PROBABLY HAVE THE FULL RANGE OF VOTERS, RIGHT.
THEY'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE ALL IN WITH THE CANDIDATE, PEOPLE WHO FEEL LIKE THERE ARE SOME POLICIES THAT SPEAK TO THEM.
BUT I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TONIGHT TO REFLECT ON WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY GOING TO BE A VICTORY SPEECH WE ARE GOING TO HEAR, THE KINDS WE USUALLY HEAR ON THAT NIGHT, THE VOTE IS GONE AND THE RACES ARE CALLED, BECAUSE, AS JOHN MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THIS HISTORY THAT IS BEING MADE IN SO MANY WAYS FOR VICE PRESIDENT ELECT -- FOR PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN, RATHER, IS DECADES IN THE MAKING, BUT FOR SENATOR HARRIS, IT'S HUNDREDS OF YEARS IN THE MAKING, AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD LOSE SIGHT OF THAT TONIGHT, THAT IT'S A MOMENT, REGARDLESS OF YOUR POLITICS, THAT HUNDREDS OF YEARS AFTER THE FIRST ENSLAVED BLACK PEOPLE WERE BROUGHT TO THIS COUNTRY, 100 YEARS AFTER WOMEN WERE FIRST GIVEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE, THAT WE HAVE THE FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR TO HOLD THAT OFFICE, FIRST BLACK WOMAN, FIRST ASIAN-AMERICAN WOMAN, A CHILD OF IMMIGRANTS, AND IF THE IDEA OF OUR DEMOCRACY IS A REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.
THERE ARE SO MANY MORE AMERICANS WHO MAY FEEL THEY ARE REPRESENTED BY THIS TICKET THAN TICKETS OF THE PAST.
WE ARE STILL, AS EVERYONE HAS POINTED OUT, DEEPLY DIVIDED.
YOU'VE SEEN VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN CROSS THE 75 MILLION VOTE MARK IN TERMS OF POPULAR VOTE, BUT AS POINTED OUT MORE THAN 70 MILLION VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP.
THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THIS TICKET INHERITS AND VERY MUCH INFLUENCE HOW THEY GOVERN MOVING FORWARD.
BUT WE SHOULDN'T LOSE SIGHT OF THIS TONIGHT BECAUSE REGARDLESS OF YOUR POLITICS, IT'S A MOMENT FOR AMERICA.
>> Woodruff: NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
I THINK WE CAN'T POINT THAT OUT OFTEN ENOUGH BECAUSE WE KNOW BOTH PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT ELECT HARRIS ARE MOVING INTO A TRULY CHALLENGING TIME WITH THE PANDEMIC, TWO THE ECONOMY, SO MANY OTHER ISSUES FRONT AND CENTER, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THE LIST GOES ON, NESTIC, INTERNATIONAL, AND I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE DO TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS MOMENT MEANS IN HISTORY.
LISA DESJARDINS, I WANT TO, WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR THE BIDEN-HARRIS TICKET TO SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE, JOE BIDEN WILL BE AT THE WHITE HOUSE BUT HE IS DEALING WITH AN EVEN LARGER REPUBLICAN MINORITY, IF YOU WILL, IN THE HOUSE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE DEMOCRATS ARE NOT GOING TO BE IN THE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE.
SO, I MEAN, THE REALITY OF GETTING ANYTHING DONE IS DAUNTING.
.
IT IS DAUNTING AND WE STILL WILL FACE MULTIPLE CRISES THAT WE DON'T THINK WILL BE SOLVED IN A MONTH OR TWO OR THREE MONTHS BY INAUGURATION.
WHEN YOU TALK TO SOMEROOMS, I DID HEAR ONE ELEMENT OF HOPE THAT SOME REPUBLICANS, EVEN THOSE WHO WORKED FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP TELL ME AS THIS WAS UNFOLDING IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT THEY ACTUALLY ARE OKAY WITH THE IDEA OF A PRESIDENT BIDEN IF THERE WAS A REPUBLICAN SENATE.
THEY WERE SAYING OPENLY THIS IS A CHANCE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO SORT OUT ITS OWN IDENTITY BEYOND TRUMP IF THERE IS AN IDENTITY I DON'T TRUMP FIT WORKS OUT THAT WAY.
REGARDLESS OF WHO CONTROLS THE SENATE, THE THERE ARE MODERATE MEMBERS WHO DON'T GO WITH THE EXTREME SIDE OF THE PARTY.
THE PROGRESSIVES AND THE MODERATES WILL BE AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC FOR NANCY PELOSI TO CONTAIN AS FEE TAKES ON CLIMATE CHANGE.
THERE ARE PROGRESSIVES WHO WANT TO GO WITH A GREEN NEW DEAL.
MODERATES DON'T WANT THAT.
THEY ARE SCARED AND THEY DON'T WANT LARGER GOVERNMENT.
THAT'S HOW THEY SEE IT.
PROGRESSIVES SAY NO, THIS IS GOVERNMENT THAT WILL HELP MORE PEOPLE.
THAT IS AN UNRESOLVED ISSUE.
HERE COMES BIDEN WHO WANTS TO EXPAND HEALTHCARE WITH A PUBLIC OPTION WHICH IS A SORT OF FIRST STEP TOWARD UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE.
WILL HE EVEN BE ABLE TO GET THAT?
IT'S NOT CLEAR.
SO HE DOES -- HE IS SOMEONE WHO SAYS HE WANTS TO WORK WITH COMPROMISE.
HE HAS TO TO GET ANYTHING DONE.
ONE OTHER PERSONAL NOTE, I HAVE BEEN COVERING JOE BIDEN IN THIS CYCLE, AND I HAVE TO SAY, HE KIND OF IS THE ULTIMATE COMEBACK KID.
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HE FIRST CONSIDERED RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 1984.
HE FIRST ACTUALLY RAN IN 1988.
SO THIS HAS BEEN ON HIS MIND A LONG TIME.
I'M THINKING BACK TO THE DAYS A YEAR AGO WHEN IT REALLY LOOKED LIKE JOE BIDEN WAS NOT GOING TO BE THE CANDIDATE TO RISE.
ALMOST SOME PEOPLE SAID HE SHOULD HAVEN'T DONE THIS, HE'S CHANGING HIS LEGACY, EMBARRASSING HIMSELF.
IT WASN'T UNTIL SOUTH CAROLINA, CAMPAIGN SAID ONCE WE WIN SOUTH CAROLINA EVERYTHING CHANGES, WE WEREN'T SURE IT WAS TRUE AND IT WAS TRUE.
>> Woodruff: I GO BACK TO REMEMBERING HOW HE FLAMED OUT IN 1988.
IN 2008 I REMEMBER AN INTERVIEW SITDOWN WITH HIM IN IOWA WHEN HE WAS COMING IN LAST OF ALL THE CANDIDATES.
KIND OF A HUMILIATING EXPERIENCE, BUT HE HAD THE JOE BIDEN ENERGY, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, EVEN THOUGH THE POLLS SHOWED HE WAS, LIKE, 2%, I THINK.
AMY AMY WALTER, KAMALA HARRIS IS SERVE HER FIRST TIME IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE AND SHE'S NOW LITERALLY A HEART BEAT AWAY FROM THE PRESIDENCY.
SHE IS VICE PRESIDENT TO A MAN WHO WILL BE 78 WHEN HE'S INAUGURATED.
>> RIGHT, AND CERTAINLY THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF ATTENTION THEN ON KAMALA HARRIS AND THE ROLE SHE'S GOING TO PLAY.
EVERY VICE PRESIDENT HAS SORT OF A DIFFERENT ROLE BASED ON WHETHER THE PRESIDENT FEELS MOST COMFORTABLE WITH THAT PERSON SITTING, RIGHT, AND JOE BIDEN, WHEN HE WAS PRESIDENT OBAMA'S VICE PRESIDENT, HE WAS THE GUYT THAT THEY SENT TO THE HILL, RIGHT, BECAUSE HE HAD THE RELATIONSHIPS ON CAPITOL HILL.
HE LIKED CAPITOL HILL UNLIKE PRESIDENT OBAMA WHO WASN'T AS FOND OF DEALING WITH MANY OF THE PERSONALITIES THERE, BIDEN LOVED IT.
THE THEORY, OF COURSE, NOW, IS SHOULD REPUBLICANS HAVE CONTROL OF THE SENATE WHEN HE TAKES THE OATH OF OFFICE, THAT THOSE SKILLS WILL COME IN HANDY, RIGHT.
HE KNOWS HOW TO WORK WITH MITCH McCONNELL BECAUSE HE'S DONE IT BEFORE.
HE KNOWS HOW TO WORK IN DIVIDED GOVERNMENT BECAUSE HE'S DONE IT BEFORE.
BUT THIS IS VERY, VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE CONGRESS HE CAME TO IN 2000, WHEN HE WAS VICE PRESIDENT.
BUT THE CONGRESS THAT HE WENT IN FRONT OF IN 2009.
>> Woodruff: IN 2009.
AND EVEN WITH A GREAT -- THE GREAT STILLS THAT HE HAS, THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT HE HAS, AND, OF COURSE, MANY OF THE SENATORS HE SERVED WITH ARE GONE.
AS LISA SAID, THESE ISSUES ARE TOUGH ONES.
HEALTHCARE, THERE'S NOT UNANIMITY ON HOW TO APPROACH HEALTHCARE IN THIS COUNTRY, THERE'S NOT UNANIMITY ON WHAT TO DO ABOUT TAXES, THERE'S NOT UNANIMITY ON CLIMATE.
>> WELL, AND THE INCENTIVE STRUCTURE IN AND OF ITSELF, LISA SAID, THESE FOLKS ARE THINKING OF 2022, AND 2024, POSSIBILITY OF THE HOUSE FLIPPING TO THE REPUBLICANS NOW THAT THE MARGIN IS SMALLER, THE SENATE, KEEPING IT IN REPUBLICAN HANDS, AND PEOPLE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE POSITIONING THEMSELVES TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2024, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A LOT OF INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO WORK WITH JOE BIDEN, NECESSARILY.
THE INCENTIVE IS TO DO WHAT WE CAN FOR OURSELVES POLITICALLY, AND THE OTHER BIG QUESTION MARK OVERALL IS WHERE DOES PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHAT ROLE DOES HE PLAY BOTH DURING THIS TIME, OF COURSE, WHILE HE'S STILL SERVING AS PRESIDENT, BUT IN THE POST-PRESIDENCY, I THINK THE EXPECTATION IS HE'S STILL GOING TO BE OUT THERE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND ON THE TWITTERS TELLING PEOPLE WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHICH KIND OF CANDIDATES THEY SHOULD SUPPORT AND WHAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE DOING AND HOW THEY SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T BE DEALING WITH A BIDEN WHITE HOUSE.
>> Woodruff: AND A CONVERSATION OF WHETHER HE WILL RUN AGAIN IN 2024.
>> RIGHT.
>> Woodruff: LIVE PICTURES IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.
WE HAVE A P PEEK OF THE WHITE HOUSE IN D.C. THOSE ARE JOE BIDEN FANS YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
WE'RE MINUTES AWAY FROM HEARING VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS INTRODUCE THE PRESIDENT-ELECT.
SO I QUICKLY WANT TO GO TO OUR DANIEL BUSH, HE IS IN PHILADELPHIA IN THE STATE THAT TURNED THIS ELECTION, DECIDED IT FOR JOE BIDEN.
DAN, PEOPLE STILL GATHERED AROUND DOWNTOWN PHILADELPHIA, TELL US WHAT IT'S LIKE THERE.
>> PHILADELPHIA HAS TURNED INTO ONE BIG BLOCK PARTY, JUDY, AS ONLY PHILLY CAN.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, HAS BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS BUT THE STATE HAS BEEN SO IMPORTANT TO DEMOCRATS AND JOE BIDEN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
JOE BIDEN SPENT HIS EARLY CHILDHOOD YEARS IN SCRANTON.
HE LAUNCHED HIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN IN PHILLY A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
LAST WEEK IN THE RUNUP TO THE ELECTION, THE PRESIDENT-ELECT SAID THAT WINNING PENNSYLVANIA WOULD BE PERSONALLY MEANINGFUL FOR HIM, NOT ONLY, OF COURSE, DID HE END UP WINNING THE STATE BUT IT WAS THE STATE THAT PUT HIM OVER THE TOP.
WHEN THAT NEWS BROKE EARLIER TODAY, HIS SUPPORTERS TOOK TO THE STREETS TO CELEBRATE, AND IT'S BEEN STRIKING SPEAKING TO THEM OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, ESPECIALLY TO WOMEN, IMMIGRANTS, PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO TOLD ME THAT THEY FELT THAT UNDER THIS PRESIDENT THEY'VE HAD SERIOUS EMOTIONAL TOLL BECAUSE THEY FEEL AS THOUGH PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS NOT RESPECTED THEM, HAS NOT VALUED THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS COUNTRY, AND YOU CAN SEE FOR THESE SUPPORTERS OF BIDEN, THE RELIEF THAT THEY FEEL, AND, OF COURSE, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS.
BIDEN FACES A LOT OF SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES TO UNITE NOT JUST THE COUNTRY, THE DEMOCRAT PARTY WHICH IS JUST AS DIVIDED NOW ON A LOT OF THESE ISSUES AS IT WAS WHEN THIS PRIMARY PROCESS BEGAN WITH JOE BIDEN A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
BUT RIGHT NOW FOR THESE SUPPORTERS OF JOE BIDEN OUT CELEBRATING IN THE STREETS, ALL OF THAT IS IN THE FUTURE TONIGHT, THEY ARE HAPPY AND PARTYING.
>> Woodruff: AND THEY ARE PARTYING, AND SO MUCH OF THIS ELECTION, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE YOU TO THE SCENE IN WIMMING -- WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, WHERE WE'RE EXPECTING KAMALA HARRIS.
IN MANY WAYS, THIS ELECTION WAS A VERDICT ON PRESIDENT TRUMP.
I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY MANY AMERICANS HAVEN'T COMPLETELY THOUGHT THROUGH WHAT THEIR EXPECTATIONS ARE OF JOE BIDEN.
THEY KNEW THOUGH THAT THEY WANTED DONALD TRUMP NOT TO SERVE A SECOND TERM.
SO HERE WE ARE.
LET'S GO TO WILMINGTON.
>> THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, KAMALA HARRIS.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) >> GOOD EVENING.
GOOD EVENING.
GOOD EVENING.
GOOD EVENING.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) SO CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS -- CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS, BEFORE HIS PASSING, WROTE, DEMOCRACY IS NOT A STATE, IT IS AN ACT, AND WHAT HE MEANT WAS THAT AMERICA'S DEMOCRACY IS NOT GUARANTEED.
IT IS ONLY AS STRONG AS OUR WILLINGNESS TO FIGHT FOR IT.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) TO GUARD IT AND NEVER TAKE IT FOR GRANTED, AND PROTECTING OUR DEMOCRACY TAKES STRUGGLE, IT TAKES SACRIFICE, BUT THERE IS JOY IN IT, AND THERE IS PROGRESS BECAUSE WE THE PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) AND WHEN OUR VERY DEMOCRACY WAS ON BALLOT IN THIS ELECTION, WITH THE VERY SOUL OF AMERICA AT STAKE, AND THE WORLD WATCHING, YOU USHERED IN A NEW DAY FOR AMERICA.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) TO OUR CAMPAIGN STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, THIS EXTRAORDINARY TEAM, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER BEFORE INTO THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) AND FOR MAKING THIS VICTORY POSSIBLE, TO THE POLL WORKERS AND ELECTION OFFICIALS ACROSS OUR COUNTRY WHO HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO MAKE SURE EVERY VOTE IS COUNTED, OUR NATION OWES YOU A DEBT OF GRATITUDE.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) YOU HAVE PROTECTED THE INTEGRITY OF OUR DEMOCRACY, AND TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY, THANK YOU FOR TURNING OUT IN RECORD NUMBERS TO MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) AND I KNOW TIMES HAVE BEEN CHALLENGING, ESPECIALLY THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
THE GRIEF, SORROW AND PAIN, THE WORRIES AND THE STRUGGLES.
BUT WE HAVE ALSO WITNESSED YOUR COURAGE, YOUR RESILIENCE, AND THE GENEROSITY OF YOUR SPIRIT.
FOR FOUR YEARS, YOU MARCHED AND ORGANIZED FOR EQUALITY AND JUSTICE, FOR OUR LIVES AND FOR OUR PLANET, AND THEN YOU VOTED.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) AND YOU DELIVERED A CLEAR MESSAGE -- YOU CHOSE HOPE AND UNITY, DECENCY, SCIENCE, AND, YES, TRUTH.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) YOU CHOSE JOE BIDEN AS THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) AND JOE IS A HEALER, A UNITER, A TESTED AND STEADY HAND, A PERSON WHOSE OWN EXPERIENCE OF LOSS GIVES HIM A SENSE OF PURPOSE THAT WILL HELP US AS A NATION RECLAIM OUR OWN SENSE OF PURPOSE, AND A MAN WITH A BIG HEART WHO LOVES WITH ABANDON.
IT'S HIS LOVE FOR JILL WHO WILLL BE AN INCREDIBLE FIRST LADY -- (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) -- IT'S HIS LOVE FOR HUNTER AND ASHLEY AND HIS GRANDCHILDREN AND THE ENTIRE BIDEN FAMILY.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) AND WHILE I FIRST KNEW JOE AT VICE PRESIDENT, I GOT TO KNOW HIM AS THE FATHER WHO LOVED BEAU, MY DEAR FRIEND WHO WE REMEMBER HERE TODAY.
AND TO MY HUSBAND DOUG -- (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) -- AND OUR CHILDREN COLE AND ELLA AND MY SISTER MIA AND OUR WHOLE FAMILY, I LOVE Y'ALL MORE THAN I CAN EVER EXPRESS.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO JOE AND JILL FOR WELCOMING OUR FAMILY INTO THEIRS ON THIS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY AND TO THE WOMAN MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR MY PRESENCE HERE TODAY, MY MOTHER, SHYAMALA GOPAIAN HARRIS WHO IS ALWAYS IN OUR HEARTS.
WHEN SHE CAME HERE FROM INDIA AT THE AGE OF 19, SHE MAYBE DIDN'T QUITE IMAGINE THIS MOMENT, BUT SHE BELIEVED SO DEEPLY IN AN AMERICA WHERE A MOMENT LIKE THIS IS POSSIBLE, AND, SO, I AM THINKING ABOUT HER AND ABOUT THE GENERATIONS OF WOMEN -- BLACK WOMEN -- (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) -- ASIAN, WHITE, LATINA, NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN -- (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) -- WHO, THROUGHOUT OUR NATION'S HISTORY, HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR THIS MOMENT TONIGHT, WOMEN WHO FOUGHT AND SACRIFICED SO MUCH FOR EQUALITY AND LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, INCLUDING THE BLACK WOMEN WHO ARE OFTEN, TOO OFTEN OVERLOOKED, BUT SO OFTEN PROVED THEY ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) ALL THE WOMEN WHO HAVE WORKED TO SECURE AND PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR OVER A CENTURY, 100 YEARS AGO WITH THE 19 19th AMENDMENT, 55 YEARS AGO WITH THE VOTE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, AND NOW IN 2020 WITH A NEW GENERATION OF WOMEN IN OUR COUNTRY WHO CAST THEIR BALLOTS AND CONTINUED THE FIGHT FOR THEIR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO VOTE AND BE HEARD.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) TONIGHT, I REFLECT ON THEIR STRUGGLE, THEIR DETERMINATION, AND THE STRENGTH OF THEIR VISION TO SEE WHAT CAN BE UNBURDENED BY WHAT HAS BEEN, AND I STAND ON THEIR SHOULDERS, AND WHAT A TESTAMENT IT IS TO JOE'S CHARACTER THAT HE HAD THE AUDACITY TO BREAK ONE OF THE MOST SUBSTANTIAL BARRIERS THAT EXISTS IN OUR COUNTRY AND SELECT A WOMAN AS HIS VICE PRESIDENT.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) BUT WHILE I MAY BE THE FIRST WOMAN IN THIS OFFICE, I WILL NOT BE THE LAST.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) BECAUSE EVERY LITTLE GIRL WATCHING TONIGHT SEES THAT THIS IS A COUNTRY OF POSSIBILITIES, AND TO THE CHILDREN OF OUR COUNTRY, REGARDLESS OF YOUR GENDER, OUR COUNTRY HAS SENT YOU A CLEAR MESSAGE -- AGREEMENT WITH AMBITION, LEAD WITH CONVICTION, AND SEE YOURSELF IN A WAY OTHERS MAY NOT SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY'VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE, BUT KNOW THAT WE WILL APPLAUD YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) AND TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, NO MATTER WHO YOU VOTED FOR, I WILL STRIVE TO BE A VICE PRESIDENT, LIKE JOE WAS TO PRESIDENT OBAMA, LOYAL, HONEST AND PREPARED, WAKING UP EVERY DAY THINKING OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY BECAUSE NOW IS WHEN THE REAL WORK BEGINS, THE HARD WORK, THE NECESSARY WORK, THE GOOD WORK, THE ESSENTIAL WORK TO SAVE LIVES AND BEAT THIS EPIDEMIC, TO REBUILD OUR ECONOMY SO IT WORKS FOR WORKING PEOPLE TO ROOT OUT SYSTEMIC RACISM IN OUR JUST SYSTEM AND SOCIETY, TO COMBAT THE CLIMATE CRISIS, TO UNITE OUR COUNTRY AND HEAL THE SOUL OF OUR NATION.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) AND THE ROAD AHEAD WILL NOT BE EASY, BUT AMERICA IS READY, AND SO ARE JOE AND I.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) WE HAVE ELECTED A PRESIDENT WHO REPRESENTS THE BEST IN US, A LEADER THE WORLD WILL RESPECT AND OUR CHILDREN WILL LOOK UP TO, A COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WHO WILL RESPECT OUR TROOPS AND KEEP OUR COUNTRY SAFE, AND A PRESIDENT FOR ALL AMERICANS.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) AND IT IS NOW MY GREAT HONOR TO INTRODUCE THE PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, JOE BIDEN!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) >> HELLO, MY FELLOW AMERICANS!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) AND THE PEOPLE ABROAD, MAY THEY DANCE, DELAWAREANS.
I SEE MY BUDDY SENATOR TOM CARPER DOWN THERE.
I THINK SENATOR COONS IS THERE, AND I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS AROUND.
IS THAT RUTH ANN?
AND FORMER GOVERNOR RUTH ANN, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY MY SASSIERS IN LAW AND MY SISTER VALERIE.
FOLKS, THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION HAVE SPOKEN, THEY'VE DELIVERED US A CLEAR VICTORY, A CONVINCING VICTORY, A VICTORY FOR WE THE PEOPLE.
WE'VE WON WITH THE MOST VOTES EVER CAST ON A PRESIDENTIAL TICKET IN THE HISTORY OF A NATION, 74 MILLION!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) WHAT I JUST ADMIT THAT SURPRISED ME, TONIGHT WE'RE SEEING ALL OVER THIS NATION ALL CITIES AND ALL PARTS TO HAVE THE COUNTRY, INDEED ACROSS THE WORLD, AN OUTPOURING OF JOY, HOPE, RENEWED FAITH AND TOMORROW BRING A BETTER DAY!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) AND I AM HUMBLED BY THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE YOU'VE PLACED IN ME.
I PLEDGE TO BE A PRESIDENT WHO SEEKS NOT TO DIVIDE BUT UNIFY, WHO DOESN'T SEE RED STATES AND BLUE STATES, ONLY SEES THE UNITED STATES.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) AND WORK WITH ALL MY HEART WITH THE CONFIDENCE OF THE WHOLE PEOPLE TO WIN THE CONFIDENCE OF ALL OF YOU, AND FOR THAT, IS WHAT AMERICA, I BELIEVE, IS ABOUT.
IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE, AND THAT'S WHAT OUR ADMINISTRATION WILL BE ALL ABOUT.
I SOUGHT THIS OFFICE TO RESTORE THE SOUL OF AMERICA, TO REBUILD THE BACKBONE OF THIS NATION, THE MIDDLE CLASS, AND TO MAKE AMERICA RESPECTED AROUND THE WORLD AGAIN, AND TO UNITE US HERE AT HOME.
IT'S THE HONOR OF MY LIFETIME THAT SO MANY MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE VOTED FOR THAT VISION, AND NOW THE WORK OF MAKING THAT VISION IS REAL, IT'S A TASK -- THE TASK -- OF OUR TIME.
FOLKS, AS I SAID MANY TIMES BEFORE, I'M JILL'S HUSBAND.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) AND I WOULD NOT BE HERE WITHOUT HER LOVE AND TIRELESS SUPPORT OF JILL AND MY SON HUNTER AND ASHLEY MY DAUGHTER AND ALL OUR GRANDCHILDREN AND THEIR SPOUSES AND ALL OUR FAMILY.
THEY'RE MY HEART.
JILL'S A MOM, A MILITARY MOM, AN EDUCATOR, AND SHE'S DEDICATED HER LIFE TO EDUCATION, BUT TEACHING ISN'T JUST WHAT SHE DOES, IT'S WHO SHE IS.
FOR AMERICAN EDUCATORS, THIS IS A GREAT DAY FOR Y'ALL!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE OF YOUR OWN IN THE WHITE HOUSE!
AND JILL'S GOING TO MAKE A GREAT FIRST LADY.
I'M SO PROUD OF HER!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) I'LL HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING WITH A FANTASTIC VICE PRESIDENT WHO YOU JUST HEARD FROM, KAMALA HARRIS.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) WHO MAKES HISTORY AS THE FIRST WOMAN, FIRST BLACK WOMAN, FIRST WOMAN FROM SOUTH ASIAN DESCENT, FIRST DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS TO THIS COUNTRY!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) DON'T TELL ME IT'S NOT POSSIBLE IN THE UNITED STATES!
IT'S LONG OVERDUE!
AND WE'RE REMINDED TONIGHT OF THOSE WHO FOUGHT SO HARD FOR SO MANY YEARS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
ONCE AGAIN, AMERICA'S BENT THE ARC OF THE MORAL UNIVERSE MORE TOWARD JUSTICE.
KAMALA, DOUG, LIKE IT OR NOT, YOU'RE FAMILY.
YOU'VE BECOME AN HONORARY BIDEN AND THERE'S NO WAY OUT.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) FOR ALL THOSE OF YOU WHO VOLUNTEERED AND WORKED THE POLLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PANDEMIC, LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU DESERVE A SPECIAL THANKS FROM THE ENTIRE NATION.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) AND TO MY CAMPAIGN TEAM AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS AND ALL WHO GAVE SO MUCH OF THEMSELVES TO MAKE THIS MOMENT POSSIBLE, I OWE YOU, I OWE YOU, I OWE YOU EVERYTHING.
AND TO ALL THOSE WHO SUPPORTED US, I'M PROUD OF THE CAMPAIGN WE BUILT AND RAN, I'M PROUD OF THE COALITION WE PUT TOGETHER, THE BROADEST AND MOST DIVERSE COLCOALITION IN HISTORY -- DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, INDEPENDENTS, PROGRESSIVES, MODERATES, CONSERVATIVES, YOUNG, OLD, SUBURBAN, RURAL, GAY, STRAIGHT, TRANSGENDER, WHITE, ASIAN-AMERICAN, AND WHEN THIS CAMPAIGN WAS AT ITS LOWEST EBB, THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY STOOD UP AGAIN FOR ME.
YOU'VE ALWAYS HAD MY BACK, AND I'LL HAVE YOURS.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) I SAID AT THE OUTSET I WANTED TO REPRESENT THIS CAMPAIGN TO REPRESENT AND LOOK LIKE AMERICA.
WE'VE DONE THAT.
NOW THAT'S WHAT I WANT THE ADMINISTRATION TO LOOK AND ACT LIKE.
FOR ALL THOSE OF YOU WHO VOTED FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP, I UNDERSTAND THE DISAPPOINTMENT TONIGHT.
I'VE LOST A COUPLE OF TIMES MYSELF.
BUT NOW LET'S GIVE EACH OTHER A CHANCE.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) IT'S TIME TO PUT AWAY THE HARSH RHETORIC, LOWER THE TEMPERATURE, SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN, LISTEN TO EACH OTHER AGAIN, AND TO MAKE PROGRESS, WE HAVE TO STOP TREATING OUR OPPONENTS AS OUR ENEMIES.
THEY ARE NOT OUR ENEMIES, THEY ARE AMERICANS.
THEY ARE AMERICANS.
THE BIBLE TELLS US, TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON, A TIME TO BUILD, A TIME TO REAP AND A TIME TO SOW AND A TIME TO HEAL.
THIS IS THE TIME TO HEAL IN AMERICA.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) NOW THIS CAMPAIGN IS OVER, WHAT IS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE?
WHAT IS OUR MANDATE?
I BELIEVE IT'S THIS, AMERICANS C HAVE CALLED UPON US TO MARSHAL THE FORCES OF DECENCY, FAIRNESS, SCIENCE AND THE FORCES OF HOPE AND THE GREAT BATTLES OF OUR TIME, THE BATTLE OF CONTROL OF THE VIRUS, THE BATTLE TO BUILD PROSPERITY, THE BATTLE TO SECURE YOUR FAMILY'S HEALTHCARE, THE BATTLE TO ACHIEVE RACIAL JUSTICE AND ROOT OUT SYSTEMIC RACISM IN THIS COUNTRY.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) AND THE BATTLE TO SAVE OUR PLANET BY GETTING CLIMATE UNDER CONTROL.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) THE BATTLE TO RESTORE DECENCY, DEFEND DEMOCRACY AND GIVE EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTRY A FAIR SHOT, THAT'S ALL THEY'RE ASKING FOR, A FAIR SHOT.
FOLKS, OUR WORK BEGINS WITH GETTING COVID UNDER CONTROL.
WE CANNOT REPAIR THE ECONOMY, RESTORE OUR VITAL, OR RELISH LIFE'S MOST PRECIOUS MOMENTS, HUGGING OR GRANDCHILDREN, OUR CHILDREN, BIRTHDAYS, WEDDINGS, GRADUATIONS, ALL THE MOMENTS THAT MATTER MOST TO US UNTIL WE GET IT UNDER CONTROL.
ON MONDAY, I WILL NAME A GROUP OF LEADING SCIENTISTS AND EXPERTS AS TRANSITION ADVISORS TO HELP TAKE THE BIDEN-HARRIS PLAN AND CONVERT IT TOON ACTION BLUEPRINT THAT WILL START ON JANUARY 20, 2021.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) THAT PLAN WILL BE BUILT ON BEDROCK SCIENCE, IT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED OUT OF COMPASSION, EMPATHY AND CONCERN.
I WILL SPARE NO EFFORT -- NONE -- OR ANY COMMITMENT TO TURN AROUND THIS PANDEMIC.
FOLKS, I'M A PROUD DEMOCRAT -- (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) -- BUT I WILL GOVERN AS AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT.
I WILL WORK AS HARD FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T VOTE FOR ME AS THOSE WHO DID.
LET THIS GRIM ERA OF DEMONIZATION IN AMERICA BEGIN TO END HERE AND NOW!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) REFUSAL OF DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TO COOPERATE WITH ONE ANOTHER, IT'S NOT SOME MYSTERIOUS FORCE BEYOND OUR CONTROL, IT'S A DECISION, A CHOICE WE MAKE, AND IF WE CAN DECIDE NOT TO COOPERATE, THEN WE CAN DECIDE TO COOPERATE.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS PART OF THE MANDATE GIVEN TO US FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE -- THEY WANT US TO COOPERATE IN THEIR INTEREST, AND THAT'S THE CHOICE THAT I'LL MAKE, AND I'LL CALL ON CONGRESS, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ALIKE, TO MAKE THAT CHOICE WITH ME.
THE AMERICAN STORY IS ABOUT SLOW YET STEADILY WIDENING THE OPPORTUNITIES IN AMERICA, AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, TOO MANY DREAMS HAVE BEEN DEFERRED FOR TOO LONG.
WE MUST MAKE THE PROMISES TO THE COUNTRY REAL FOR EVERYBODY, NO MATTER THE RACE, ETHNICITY, FAITH, IDENTITY OR THEIR DISABILITY.
FOLKS, AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN SHAPED BY INFLECTION POINTS, BY MOMENTS IN TIME WHERE WE'VE MADE HARD DECISIONS ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE WANT TO BE.
LINCOLN, IN 1860, COMING TO SAVE THE UNION.
F.D.R.
IN 1932 PROMISING A BELEAGUERED COUNTRY A NEW DEAL.
J.F.K.
IN 1960 PLEDGING A NEW FRONTIER.
AND 12 YEARS AGO, WHEN BARACK OBAMA MADE HISTORY, HE TOLD US, YES WE CAN!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) FOLKS, WE STAND AT AN INFLECTION POINT.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEFEAT DESPAIR, TO BUILD A NATION OF PROSPERITY AND PURPOSE.
WE CAN DO IT, I KNOW WE CAN.
I'VE LONG TALKED ABOUT THE BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF AMERICA.
WE MUST RESTORE THE SOUL OF AMERICA.
OUR NATION IS SHAPED BY THE CONSTANT BATTLE BETWEEN OUR BETTER ANGELS AND OUR DARKEST IMPULSES, AND WHAT PRESIDENTS SAY IN THIS BATTLE MATTERS.
IT'S TIME FOR OUR BETTER ANGELS TO PREVAIL.
TONIGHT THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING AMERICA, AND I BELIEVE THAT OUR BEST, AMERICA IS A BEACON FOR THE GLOBE.
WE WILL LEAD NOT ONLY BY THE EXAMPLE OF OUR POWER, BUT BY THE POWER OF OUR EXAMPLE!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED, AND MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY, I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED WE CAN DEFINE AMERICA IN ONE WORD -- POSSIBILITIES.
THAT, IN AMERICA, EVERYONE SHOULD BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO AS FAR AS THEIR DREAMS AND GOD-GIVEN ABILITY WILL TAKE THEM.
YOU SEE, I BELIEVE IN THE POSSIBILITIES OF THIS COUNTRY.
WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AHEAD, AHEAD TO AN AMERICA THAT'S FREER AND MORE JUST, AHEAD TO AN AMERICA THAT CREATES JOBS WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT, AHEAD TO AN AMERICA THAT CURES DISEASES LIKE CANCER AND ALZHEIMER'S, AHEAD TO AN AMERICA THAT NEVER LEAVES ANYONE BEHIND, AHEAD TO AN AMERICA THAT NEVER GIVES UP, NEVER GIVES IN.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) THIS IS A GREAT NATION.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A BAD BET TO BET AGAINST AMERICA.
WE'RE GOOD PEOPLE.
THIS IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANYTHING, NEVER BEEN ANYTHING WE HAVE BEEN NOT ABLE TO DO, WHEN WE'VE DONE IT TOGETHER.
FOLKS, IN THE LAST DAYS OF THE CAMPAIGN, I BEGAN THINKING ABOUT A HYMN THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME AND MY FAMILY, PARTICULARLY MY DECEASED SON BEAU, IT CAPTURES THE FAITH THAT SUSTAINS ME AND WHICH I BELIEVE SUSTAINS AMERICA, AND I HOPE IT CAN PROVIDE SOME COMFORT AND SOLACE TO THE 230,000 AMERICANS WHO HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE TO THIS TERRIBLE VIRUS THIS YEAR.
MY HEART GOES OUT TO EACH ONE OF YOU.
HOPEFULLY THIS HYMN GIVES YOU SOLACE AS WELL.
IT GOES LIKE THIS, AND HE WILL RAISE YOUR UP ON EAGLE'S WINGS, BEAR YOU ON THE BREATH OF DAWN AND MAKE YOU A SIGN LIKE THE SUN AND HOLD YOU IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND.
AND NOW TOGETHER, ON EAGLES' WINGS, WE'VE EMBARK ON THE WORK GOD HAS CALLED US TO DO, WITH FULL HEARTS, STEADY HANDS, FAITH OF AMERICA AND IN EACH OTHER, FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY AND A THIRST FOR JUSTICE, LET US BE THE NATION WE KNOW WE CAN BE, A NATION UNITED, A NATION STRENGTHENED, A NATION HEALED, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THERE'S NEVER, NEVER BEEN ANYTHING WE'VE TRIED AND NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO.
SO REMEMBER, AS MY GRANDPA SAID WHEN I WALKED OUT OF HIS HOME WHEN I WAS A KID IN SCRANTON, HE SAID, JOEY, KEEP THE FAITH.
AND OUR GRANDMOTHER WHEN HE WAS ALIVE, SHE YELLED, NO, JOEY, SPREAD IT.
SPREAD THE FAITH.
GOD LOVE YOU ALL!
MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA, AND MAY GOD PROTECT OUR CHURCH!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (HONKING) >> Woodruff: PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN AND SPEAKING TO MANY OF THE THEMES WE HEARD DURING HIS CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT, APPEALING TO UNITY, APPEALING TO AMERICANS COMING TOGETHER SAYING HE WANTS TO BE A PRESIDENT NOT JUST OF THE DEMOCRATS BUT OF ALL OF AMERICA.
JOHN YANG, TO YOU VERY QUICKLY, THEY ARE WATCHING THIS AND WATCHING THE CROWD.
THIS WAS THE JOE BIDEN WE SAW RUNNING, AND THERE IS DR. JILL BIDEN, HIS WIFE, HE GIVES HER A LOT OF CREDIT FOR GETTING THROUGH THIS CAMPAIGN.
THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT TOGETHER IN THEIR FAMILY.
BUT, JOHN YANG, THIS IS A MESSAGE THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT JOE BIDEN RAN ON.
>> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT, AND ALSO CONSISTENT WITH HIS YEARS IN PUBLIC LIFE TALKING ABOUT CONCILIATION, BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, TALKING ABOUT WORK TO CONTROL THE CORONAVIRUS, WORKING TO REBUILD THE ECONOMY, WORKING TO BRING RACIAL JUSTICE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES, THE TRANSITION WILL BE BASED HERE IN WILMINGTON.
I'M TOLD THAT THE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE HE TALK ABOUT, WE SHOULD LOOK TO THE FORMER SURGEON GENERAL, DAVID KESSLER, AND ZEKE EMANUEL WHO HELPED THEM DESIGN THE FORMERCARE ACT, AND WE SHOULD HERE MORE SENIOR POSITIONS NEXT WEEK AND CABINET OFFICIALS START TOCK NAMED IN DECEMBER.
JUDY.
>> Woodruff: AND AS WE WATCH THE BIDEN'S CELEBRATION, A QUICK NOTE TO VIEWERS NOW, SOME PBS STATIONS WILL RETURN TO REGULARLY-SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING RIGHT NOW BUT YOU CAN CONTINUE TO WATCH THIS SPECIAL ON OUR WEB SITE, THAT'S pbs.org/NewsHour, STREAMING ALSO ON YouTube, Facebook AND TWITTER.
FOR THE REST OF YOU, PLEASE STAY WITH US, OUR COVERAGE CONTINUES HERE ON PBS.
♪ ♪ ♪ SO WE SEE THE BIDEN FAMILY JOINED BY KAMALA HARRIS AND HER HUSBAND DOUG EMHOFF.
YAMICHE ALCINDOR, I'M GOING TO WRITE BRING YOU INTO THE CONVERSATION QUICKLY.
AT THE WHITE HOUSE, THEY ARE NOT CELEBRATING.
THE PRESIDENT IS THERE BUT WATCHING.
>> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT, THE PRESIDENT IS NOT CELEBRATING BUT THERE IS A CELEBRATION OUTSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE GATES WITH FIREWORKS GOING OFF AS JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS WERE SPEAKING.
THE PRESIDENT NEVER DID THE THINGS YOU JUST SAW JOE BIDEN AND COMASHZ TO DO, THEY SOUGHT TO UNIFY THE COUNTRY.
THEY TALKED ABOUT NOT BEING GI DiVIDEED.
THE PRESIDENT DOWNPLAYED THE VIRUS THROUGHOUT HIS CAMPAIGN AND IT CONTRIBUTED TO HIS FAILURE.
THERE'S ALSO A LIT BY THE OF POETRY.
SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS SPOKE AND STANDING TON SHOULDERS OF WOMEN WHO CAME BEFORE TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT BLACK WOMEN AND SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN.
PRESIDENT TRUMP BEGAN HIS POLITICAL CAREER WITH THE BIRTHER CONSPIRACY THEORY, THE ONE THAT SAID THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESIDENT WASN'T BORN IN THIS CON AND IS ENDING WITH A BLACK WOMAN COMING TO THE WHITE HOUSE.
>> Woodruff: COMING FULL CIRCLE, YAMICHE ALCINDOR AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
NOW I'LL BRING IN OUR MILES O'BRIEN WHO IS IN GEORGIA WHERE THEY ARE STILL COUNTING VOTES.
MILES, I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING TO VOTERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY AS WE WATCH THE BIDEN-HARRIS CELEBRATION, TELL US WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IN ATLANTA.
>> Reporter: JUDY, THEY'RE STILL COUNTING VOTES IN GEORGIA.
THERE'S A LITTLE BOOKKEEPING LEFT AND IT WILL TAKE QUITE SOME TIME BEFORE THERE'S A CERTIFIED ELECTION IN THIS STATE, AT LEAST TILL THE 20th, AND BEFORE THAT THERE WILL PROBABLY BE AN AUTOMATIC RECOUNT.
RIGHT NOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JOE BIDEN AND PRESIDENT TRUMP IS 7,200 VOTES.
THE COUNTING CONTINUES, BUT AS THAT HAPPENS, THE PEOPLE HERE IN THE STREETS OF MIDTOWN ATLANTA, THEY'RE NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT THE BOOKKEEPING, QUITE FRANKLY.
THEY SEE A BLUE SHIFT IN GEORGIA FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1992, IT APPEARS A DEMOCRAT WILL HAVE WON THE PRESIDENCY, AND THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT HERE.
THE FOCUS OF THE POLITICAL WORLD WILL NOW TURN TO GEORGIA OVER THE NEXT EIGHT WEEKS BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO SENATE SEATS STILL IN PLAY WITH RUNOFF ELECTIONS, AND THE WINNERS OF THOSE SEATS COULD SHIFT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER CONTROL OF THE SENATE.
A LOT OF FOLKS HERE, JUDY, GIVING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CREDIT TO STACEY ABRAMS WHO IN 2018 RAN FOR GOVERNOR HERE AND LOST AMID ALLEGATIONS OF VOTER SUPPRESSION.
SHE DID A LOT OF WORK TO GET PEOPLE REGISTERED TO VOTE, AND IT APPEARS THAT GEORGIA HAS FLIPPED FROM RED TO BLUE AFTER A VERY LONG PERIOD AS A RED STATE.
SO WE'LL BE WATCHING GEORGIA OVER THE COMING WEEKS FOR SURE.
JUDY.
>> Woodruff: NO QUESTION.
STACEY ABRAMS DESERVES ENORMOUS CREDIT FOR WHAT SHE'S DONE TO BRING OUT THE VOTE TO GET PEOPLE REGISTERED IN THE PEACH STATE AND IN OTHER STATES WHERE SHE HAS BEEN WORKING HARD SINCE HER OWN RACE.
TO ARIZONA, TO PHOENIX WHERE OUR STEPHANIE SY IS.
STEPHANIE, ARIZONA HAS BEEN CALLED FOR JOE BIDEN, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO COUNT VOTES.
TUMS WHAT YOU'RE SEEING -- TELL US WHAT YOU'RE SEEING.
>> Reporter: THIS IS A STATE THAT FEELS DEEPLY DIVIDED TONIGHT.
THERE HAVE BEEN SCATTERED CELEBRATIONS FOR THE PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN THAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT, BUT THE MOST VISIBLE RALLY, JUDY, WAS FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.
IN FACT, WE WERE AT THE RALLY EARLIER TODAY WHERE HUNDREDS OF HIS SUPPORTERS TURNED OUT AND THE GENERAL GENTMENT THERE ECHOED THAT IF THE PRESIDENT, THEY FEEL THIS IS A STOLEN ELECTION AND THEY ARE FOCUSED ON THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN'S CONTINUED LAWSUITS IN STATES NOW INCLUDING ARIZONA.
BUT IT IS A WINDY NIGHT HERE JUDY, AND YOU CAN TELL, THERE IS NO DENYING THAT THE POLITICAL WINDS HAVE SHIFTED IN THIS HISTORICALLY RED STATE THAT HAS NOT VOTED FOR A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT SINCE BILL CLINTON.
THEY NOW ARE SENDING TWO DEMOCRATIC SENATORS TO WASHINGTON.
BUT IT WAS CLOSE, AND VOTERS WE SPOKE TO POINT TO THE FACT THAT BIDEN WILL HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT ABOUT HALF THIS COUNTRY, AS REFLECTED IN A STATE LIKE ARIZONA, DO NOT NECESSARILY EMBRACE THE PRESIDENT-ELECT'S AGENDA.
>> Woodruff: NO QUESTION, STEPHANIE SY.
THIS WAS A STATE THAT NO SO LONG AGO, TOO, HAD TWO REPUBLICAN SENATORS, NOW TWO DEMOCRATS, AND, AS YOU SAY, SHIFTING INTO THE DEMOCRATIC COLUMN FOR PRESIDENT.
BUT JOE BIDEN WILL NO DOUBT NEED TO PAY ATTENTION.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO WATCH THE CELEBRATION, HISTORIC CELEBRATION, IN WIMMING:DELAWARE, HOMETOWN OF JOE BIDEN AS THEY LOOK AT THE FIREWORKS AND, I GUESS WE WERE EXPECTING A DISPLAY OF DRONES AND WE'RE STILL LOOKING TO SEE WHAT THAT IS.
BUT WE ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON THAT, AT THE SAME TIME WE KNOW EVEN WITH A WINNER DECLARED THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS NOT CONCEDING, HE IS PLEDGING SEVERAL LEGAL CHALLENGES, STARTING IN A HANDFUL OF STATES, POSSIBLY MANY MORE.
THE PRESIDENT ALLEGES WITHOUT ANY PROOF THAT BALLOTS HAVE BEEN COUNTED IMPROPERLY, INCLUDING THOSE OF DEAD PEOPLE, AND THAT BALLOTS HAVE BEEN COUNTED WITHOUT REQUIRED WITNESSES.
TO LOOK NOW AT WHETHER THERE ARE GROUNDS FOR MY OF THESE LEGAL CHALLENGES I'M JOINTED BY VANITA GUPTA, FORMER ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION.
SHE WAS THE FIRST SOUTH ASIAN-AMERICAN TO HEAD THAT DIVISION.
SHE IS NOW PRESIDENT OF THE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
AND THOMAS DUPREE, HE WAS A DEPUTY ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION AND A MEMBER OF THE LEGAL TEAM THAT ARGUED THE CASE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT THAT ULTIMATELY DECIDED THE 20000 ELECTION.
THOMAS DUPREE, TO YOU FIRST, AS YOU LOOK AT ALL THE ALLEGATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE TRUMP TEAM, DO YOU SEE ANY OF THEM THAT HAVE THE MERIT THAT MAY TAKE THEM TO SOMEWHERE, THAT COULD AMOUNT TO SOMETHING?
>> SO FAR THE ANSWER TO THAT IS SIMPLE, NO.
I'VE LOOKED AT CASES THAT HAVE BEEN FILED AND THE PROBLEM HERE IS THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN HASN'T COME UP WITH ANYTHING YET REMOTELY TO PROVE THE MASSIVE SYSTEMIC FRAUD THEY'D NEED TO OVERTURN AN ELECTION IN THE STATES.
SO THE ODDS OF THEM PREVAILING A LEGAL CHALLENGE IS SO SMALL.
IT'S HARD TO SEE THE MICROSCOPE AT THIS POINT.
>> Woodruff: SORRY ABOUT THE AUDIO WE'RE HAVING, BUT WE CAN MAKE OUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
VANITA GUPTA, TO YOU, TOO, I KNOW YOU'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS.
WE KNOW YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, OF COURSE, JOE BIDEN PREVAILING, BUT AS YOU LOOK, I MEAN, WHAT WORRIES YOU, IF ANYTHING, IN ALL THESE ALLEGATIONS THAT THE TRUMP TEAM HAS PUT TOGETHER?
>> SO, JUDY, I'M A CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATE, IT'S NONPARTISAN, BUT WHAT I DO CARE ABOUT IS MAKING SURE EVERYONE HAS THE ABILITY TO VOTE AND THAT WHEN THEY VOTE THEIR VOTES ARE COUNTED, AND THAT'S WHAT THE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE HAS BEEN SQUARELY FOCUSED ON.
IT HAS BEEN AN AMAZING PAST WEEK.
WE WARNED REPORTERS, WE HAD PLAYED THIS OUT AND UNDERSTOOD THE SCENARIOS THAT WE WERE FACING, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE THE SPACE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO DO THEIR JOBS, TO COUNT THE VOTES THAT HAVE BEEN LEGALLY CAST, AND THAT IS WHAT THEY'VE DONE THIS PAST WEEK.
THEY HAVE NOT -- AS WE ARE DOING THIS INTERVIEW NOW THERE ARE STILL LOCAL ELECTION OFFICIALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY LAST VOTE IS COUNTED.
BUT THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT MOMENT, AND I THINK IT IS A TERRIBLE SHAME FOR OUR DEMOCRACY TO HAVE A SITTING PRESIDENT WHO IS TRYING TO DO TICKY-TACK LITIGATION TO, YOU KNOW, FRUSTRATE THE WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND AMERICAN VOTERS.
WE ALL HOPE THAT HE WILL EVENTUALLY CONCEDE, GIVEN THAT NONE OF THESE LITIGATIONS STAND ANY CHANCE EITHER IN THE LAW OR THE FACTS, TO ACTUALLY CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION THAT HAS TAKEN PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN OVER THE 270 ELECTORAL COUNT.
IT IS TIME -- IT'S NOT A GOOD THING FOR OUR DEMOCRACY TO HAVE A SITLE PRESIDENT UNWILLING TO CONCEDE.
THAT SAID, THE CONSTITUTION DOESN'T DEMAND THAT THE PERSON WHO LOSES THE ELECTION CONCEDES.
THE VOTERS DECIDED THIS ELECTION, THOSE VOTES HAVE BEEN COUNTED, THE OUTCOME HAS BEEN DETERMINED AND THE LITIGATION IS NOT GOING TO STOP THAT.
>> Woodruff: VANITA GUPTA, I APPRECIATE YOU POINTING OUT THE NONPARTISAN NATURE OF THE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR DOING THAT.
BUT I JUST WANT TO CIRCLE BACK.
WHAT THE TRUMP TEAM IS DOING AND SAYING WE'RE GOING TO CHALLENGE WHETHER THERE WERE ENOUGH WITNESSES, WHETHER THEY WERE CLOSE ENOUGH, WHETHER DEAD PEOPLE VOTED, THEY DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO BRING THESE QUESTIONS BEFORE THE COURT, DO THEY NOT?
>> THEY CERTAINLY HAVE THE RIGHT TO BRING THEM.
THE REALITY, THOUGH, THE THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE THAT THEY HAVE PUT BEFORE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO SUGGESTION THAT THERE IS ANY BASIS FOR THESE LAWSUITS.
THE BASIS OF THESE LAWSUITS REALLY APPEARS TO BE DISINFORMATION THROUGH LITIGATION, TO REALLY DISRUPT THE KIND OF NORMAL TRANSFER OF POWER IF THAT HAPPENS IN THIS KIND OF MOMENT.
THESE LAWSUITS HAVE BEEN FRIVOLOUS AND BASELESS AND COURT AFTER COURT HAS ACTUALLY DECLARED THEM TO BE.
I THINK AT THIS POINT THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN IS ABOUT 0 FOR 9, I HAVE LOST COUNT, BUT THEY ARE NOT WINNING THE LAWSUITS THEY ARE BRINGING.
THEY DO NOT HAVE THE LAW ON THEIR SIDE, AND EVEN IF THEY DID HAVE THE LAW ON THEIR SIDE, THE NUMBER OF VOTERS THEY ARE RAISING THESE CHALLENGES ON BEHALF OF, IN ONE CASE 53 VOTERS, I MEAN, THESE ARE SMALL NUMBERS THAT WILL NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION, AND THAT IS WHY, ULTIMATELY, THE VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN, THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE THRESHOLD WAS CROSSED BY PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN, AND WE ARE HERE WHERE WE ARE, AND IT IS TIME NOW FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND.
THIS ELECTION, PEOPLE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ALL OF THE THREATS.
WE ANTICIPATED THIS UNFORTUNATE OUTCOME WHERE PRESIDENT TRUMP IS RESISTING THE KIND OF TRANSFER OF POWER OR THE CONCESSION.
BUT LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
FOR ANY LEGAL EXPERTS I'VE SPOKEN TO, NONE OF US SEE THE PATH FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP ON ANY OF THESE CHALLENGES, AND COURTS ARE BACKING THAT UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN STATE AFTER STATE.
>> Woodruff: VANITA GUPTA ON THE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
OUR APOLOGIES ABOUT THE AUDIO WITH THOMAS DUPREE, FORMERLY DEPUTY ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION.
BUT TOM DUPREE, WE THANK YOU AND WE THANK VANITA GUPTA.
AND RIGHT NOW, IN EVERY ELECTION, THE RESULTS AND THE SURVEYS OF VOTERS TOGETHER REVEAL A TROVE OF INFORMATION THAT TELL US WHO VOTED HOW AND WHY.
TO HELP US DIG INTO THAT DATA, JOINED BY MY "NewsHour" COLLEAGUES SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT AMNA NAWAZ, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT LISA DESJARDINS, HERE AT THE TABLE WITH ME AMY WALTER OF THE "COOK POLITICAL REPORT" AND YNYC'S POLITICS WITH AMY WALTER.
AMNA TO YOU AND LISA, BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO REVEAL THINGS.
>> WE ARE GOING TO DIG THROUGH THE TROVE NOW.
WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE GOT HERE AND WHERE THE COUNTRY GOES FROM HERE.
THE MAP LOOKS DIFFERENT THAN 2016.
>> LET'S TART TWO THE 2016 MAP.
YOU SEE THE BLUE LEFT WEST COAST AND YOU SEE THE NORTHEASTERWISE DOTS, ISLANDS OF BLUE IN THE COUNTRY.
NOW LET'S MOVE TO 2020.
YOU SEE THIS MAP?
THIS IS WHAT HISTORY LOOKS LIKE IN 2020.
YOU SEE NOW INSTEAD, MORE OF A RIBBON OF BLUE.
THE GREAT LAKES UNITED, THE NORTHEAST EXTENDED, STARTING TOT OUTLINE THIS COUNTRY, SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WE SAW IN 2016.
>> LET'S LOOK HOW THE BIDEN-HARRIS TICKET GOT TO 27 0RBGS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STATES WHERE DIFFERENCE WAS MADE, WISCONSIN, PENNSYLVANIA, MICHIGAN, WHEN WE LOOKT AT PENNSYLVANIA AND TAKE A CLOSER LOOK THERE, WE KNOW THE COUNTING CONTINUES, WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW?
>> THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED IN PENNSYLVANIA, RIGHT HERE WHERE I AM, PHILADELPHIA AND THE SUBURBS AROUND PHILADELPHIA, BIDEN GAINED SOME 100,000 VOTES OVER HILLARY CLINTON IN THIS AREA, OVER NEAR YOU PITTSBURGH, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, ONE COUNTY ALONE THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN PICKED UP 50,000 VOTES OVER WHAT HILLARY CLINTON WAS ABLE TO DO.
SO YOU THE SUBURBAN AREAS AND PITTSBURGH HELPING THEM.
>> 20 ELECTORAL VOTES FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
MICHIGAN, 16 ELECTORAL VOTES.
>> LET'S GO TO A COUNTY, KENT COUNTY, SUBURBAN COUNTY OUTSIDE OF GRAND RAPIDS, THE SCENIC GRAND RIVER RUNS THERE.
PRESIDENT TRUMP WON THIS COUNTY IN 2016.
LOOK AT HILLARY CLINTON'S VOTES IN 2016, 138,000 IN THIS COUNTY.
LOOK AT WHAT FORMER VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS ABLE TO DO, A PICKUP IN THIS ONE SUBURBAN COUNTY.
WAYNE COUNTY IN MICHIGAN SIMILAR TO PENNSYLVANIA, THIS IS THE URBAN COUNTY OUTSIDE OF DETROIT, WHERE WE SAW BLACK VOTERS SHOW UP AS VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID, THEY HAD HIS BACK.
>> LET'S LOOK AT THE KEY VOTING BLOCKS THAT HELPED DELIVER MICHIGAN TO MR. BIDEN.
893% OF BLACK VOTERS FOR MR. BIDEN, 45% OF WHITE VOTERS, AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 9 POINTS FROM WHAT CLINTON DID IN THE SAME STATE AND 54% OF SUBURBAN VOTERS THERE, SOME OF THE KEY VOTING BLOCKS THERE.
LISA, LET'S TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE NATIONAL MAP, THOUGH.
I FORGOT TO MENTION, 68% OF THE KEY URBAN VOTES THERE AS WELL.
WHEN YOU GO BACK TO THE NATIONAL MAP, THERE ARE STATES PEOPLE THOUGHT THE DEMOCRATS WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PICK UP.
>> THESE ARE THE EXPANSION STATES.
THIS IS WHAT THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN WANTED TO IMPROVE ON FROM TIMES PAST.
LET'S TALK ABOUT ARIZONA.
GEORGIA WE'RE WAITING FOR FINAL RESULTS BY THE VICE PRESIDENT LEADING.
ARIZONA AND MARICOPA COUNTY IN ARIZONA, 68% OF THE STATE LIVES THERE.
LOOK AT THIS, THIS IS A COUNTY THAT SAW ALMOST A HALF MILLION NEW VOTERS REGISTER SINCE 2016, WHO GOT THE VOTERS?
300,000 VOTES FOR FORMER VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN OVER HILLARY CLINTON.
PRESIDENT TRUMP GAINED IN THESE AREAS BUT NOT NEARLY BY AS MUCH AS AS FORMER VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN.
>> WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE CLOSER RACE IN ARIZONA, 59% OF THE URBAN VOTERS THERE IN ARIZONA FOR BIDEN, 59% AMONG LATINO VOTERS AS WELL AND ALSO AMONG YOUNG VOTERS, AMERICANS AGE 18 TO 29.
LISA, WE SHOULD MENTION WHEN MR. BIDEN IS SWORN IN, HE WILL INHERIT AS I SAID BEFORE A VERY DIVIDED NATION.
THE SENATE BALANCE OF POWER FOR EXAMPLE IS A TIE.
RACE IS OUTSTANDING.
>> IT IS AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR DEMOCRATS TO TAKE OVER THE SENATE BUT REGARDLESS A CLOSE MARGIN IN THE SENATE.
I ALSO WANT TO LOOK WHERE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STANDS IN A DIFFERENT KIND OF MAP, A MAP IN THE COUNTRY, THE BLUE AND RED DOTS OVER WHO IS REPRESENTING THESE AREAS IN CONGRESS.
HERE IS WHERE YOU SEE OUR POLITICAL DIVIDE REMAINS, WE'RE DIVIDED AND ALSO POLITICALLY SEGREGATED, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE WHO GOVERNS IN 2021 WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
IT'S.
>> IT'S A LOOK AT THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, RIGHT THERE IN ONE PICTURE.
JUDY, BACK TO YOU.
>> Woodruff: SO INTERESTING.
FASCINATING TO LOOK AT ALL THE DETAILS.
I KNOW WE'LL SPEND DAYS AND WEEKS DOING THAT IN THE FUTURE.
LISA, AMNA, THANK YOU BOTH.
AMY, BEFORE WE LET THIS GO, WHEN IT COMES TO DIVISIONS, YOU AND I WERE TALKING BEFORE THE PROGRAM STARTED TONIGHT, YOU WERE SAYING SO MUCH OF THE DIVISIONS ARE REALLY ON THE MARGINS.
>> YEAH, SO MUCH OF WHAT THIS MAP LOOKS LIKE WAS JOE BIDEN BEING ABLE TO JUST DO A LITTLE BIT BETTER IN SOME OF THESE KEY COUNTIES THAN HILLARY CLINTON WAS ABLE TO DO.
SO PICKING UP A COUPLE OF POINTS HERE AND THERE, THIS IS WHY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, ALL THOSE STATES THAT LISA POINTED OUT WERE STILL WON BY BIDEN BY A VERY NARROW MARGIN.
WE DON'T HAVE THE FINAL TOTALS YET, BUT BEING ABLE TO RAISE THE VOTE IN THE SUBURBS, DO BETTER IN PLACES LIKE, AS LISA POINTED OUT, BUT ALSO BEING ABLE TO SHAVE OFF SOME OF THE TRUMP MARGIN IN SOME OF THOSE COUNTIES WHERE HILLARY CLINTON CAME UP SHORT.
>> Woodruff: QUICKLY, YOU ALSO WERE SAYING TO ME, AMY, HOW THE FIERCE OPPOSITION TOWARD THE OTHER CANDIDATE ON THE PART OF BOTH TRUMP AND BIDEN VOTERS.
>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SPEECH THAT THE PRESIDENT GAVE TALKING ABOUT UNIFYING AMERICA AND THE TOP ISSUE THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO TACKLE, THE CORONAVIRUS, OF COURSE, HE MADE VERY IMPORTANT.
AND HE SAID THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO BRING THAT UP, THE VERY FIRST THING HE DOES IS THIS CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE POLLING THAT CAME OUT, THE A.P.
VOTE CAST, WHAT WE FIND, NOT SURPRISING, IS THAT HALF THE COUNTRY A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN HALF THE COUNTRY, 49% SAY THE VIRUS IS SOMEWHAT UNDER CONTROL, 50% SAY THE VIRUS IS NOT AT ALL UNDER CONTROL, BUT THOSE WHO SAY THAT THE VIRUS IS SOMEWHAT UNDER CONTROL, 80% OF THEM VOTED FOR TRUMP.
THOSE WHO THINK THE VIRUS IS NOT AT ALL UNDER CONTROL, 83% VOTED FOR BIDEN.
SO HERE'S THE PRESIDENT SAYING WE HAVE A PANDEMIC.
WE ALL AGREE THERE'S A PANDEMIC, SO LET'S FIX IT.
EVEN THE COUNTRY IS DIVIDED ON THAT.
WE ALSO KNOW FROM PEW THAT 90% OF BIDEN SUPPORTERS BEFORE THIS ELECTION THOUGHT THAT IF DONALD TRUMP WERE ELECTED, HE WOULD CAUSE LASTING HARM TO THE COUNTRY, 89% OF TRUMP SUPPORTERS THOUGHT A BIDEN ELECTION COULD CAUSE LASTING HARM.
UNIFYING THE COUNTRY IS GOING TO BE REALLY CHALLENGING.
>> Woodruff: AND MAYBE THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS JOE BIDEN SPENT SO MUCH TIME TALKING ABOUT IT IN THOSE REMARKS JUST A MINUTE AGO.
AMY WALLER, THANK YOU.
NOW WE WANT TO STEP BACK FOR A FEW MOMENTS AND LOOK AT WHAT THIS ELECTION SAYS ABOUT BOTH OUR HOPES AND CHALLENGES IN THE FUTURE WITH KAREN TUMULTY, POLITICAL COLUMNIST FOR "THE WASHINGTON POST."
DANIEL GARZA WITH AN ADVOCACY GROUP FOCUSING ON THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
ELD ED CHAIR TO HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF FRAIRN STUDIES AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY.
GEORGE PACKER IS A STAFF WRITER AT "THE ATLANTIC."
AND GARY ABERNATHY A WRITER IN SOUTHWESTERN OHIO, ALSO A CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST TO "THE WASHINGTON POST."
I WANT TO ASK ALL OF YOU FOR A MOARNTLE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK THESE RESULTS SAY BROADLY ABOUT OUR COUNTRY.
EDDIE GLAUDE, HOW DO YOU SEE THIS?
>> WELL, IT'S AN HISTORIC DAY.
WE'VE ELECTED THE FIRST WOMAN AND BLACK WOMAN TO BE VICE PRESIDENT, AND WE'VE PUT BEHIND US FOUR YEARS OF CHAOS, BUT WE ARE DEEP RE DIVIDED -- A DEEPLY DIVIDED NATION.
THE SCALE TO HAVE THE PROBLEMS WARRANTED AN EXTRAORDINARY RESPONSE.
IN SOME WAYS I WANT TO INSIST THE NATION IS ON A KNIFE'S EDGE STILL, AND THE QUESTION IS HOW MIGHT WE RESPOND.
SO THE ELECTION, TO MY MIND, OCCURRED IN THE CONTEXT OF A BROADER RECKONING ABOUT HOW DO WE TAKE OURSELVES TO BE, AND ITS ANSWER, IN EFFECT, IS THAT WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
>> Woodruff: GARY ABERNATHY, WHAT DOES THIS ELECTION SAY TO YOU?
>> WELL, WE'RE STILL DIVIDED, FOR SURE.
YOU KNOW, THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, VICE PRESIDENT ELECT BIDEN HAS MADE THE POINT TO POINT OUT, AS I WOULD IF I WERE HIM, THAT HE'S GOTTEN MORE VOTES THAN ANYONE IN HISTORY, ANY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.
GUESS WHO'S NUMBER TWO?
TRUMP, WHO THIS ELECTION HAS OVER 70 MILLION VOTES, COMING UP ON 71 MILLION.
IT WAS A HUGE TURNOUT, BUT A DIVIDED NATION.
I THINK IT'S A LITTLE EARLY TO BE TALKING ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP RESISTING THE TRANSFER OF POWER.
LET'S GIVE HIM A FEW DAYS, YOU KNOW, TO PURSUE THESE QUESTIONS.
EVEN THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES NEED TO BE SHOT DOWN AND THE THE BEST WAY TO SHOOT THEM DOWN IS FOR COURTS TO HEAR THEM AND SEND THEM BACK.
SO LET'S GIVE HIM A COUPLE OF DAYS.
I THINK IF THE SITUATION WERE REVERSED, THIS IS A RAZOR-TIGHT ELECTION.
I DON'T THINK JOE BIDEN WOULD BE RUSHING OUT TO CONCEDE TONIGHT, I THINK HE'D SAY, HEY, LET'S LET THE PROCESS PLAY OUT, LET'S COUNT ALL THE VOTES, ALL THE LEGAL VOTES SHOULD BE COUNTED, SO LET'S DO THAT, AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE THINGS WILL PAN OUT AND BE OKAY AT THE END OF THE DAY.
>> Woodruff: KAREN TUMULTY, WHAT IS THIS MOMENT SAYING TO YOU?
>> WELL, I DISAGREE A BIT WITH GARY IN THAT THIS WASN'T A RAZOR-TIGHT ELECTION.
IF YOU LOOK THAT PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN'S MARGIN OF VICTORY, IT'S PRETTY AVERAGE FOR A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN MODERN HISTORY.
BUT I HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY, IN HIS RHETORIC, HOW HE SEEMS TO RECOGNIZE WHAT HE IS UP AGAINST, AND THE LINE THAT REALLY STUCK OUT FOR ME TONIGHT WAS LET'S GIVE EACH OTHER A CHANCE.
HE KNOWS THIS IS A VERY DEEPLY DIVIDED AND YET INTENSELY ENGAGED ELECTORATE, HE KNOWS THAT HE IS LIKELY TO BE DEALING WITH A REPUBLICAN SENATE LED BY MITCH McCONNELL, BUT HE HAS REALLY BEEN TALKING -- THIS HASN'T BEEN A TRIUMPHANT FEW DAYS FOR HIM.
HE REALLY HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT HEALING AND ABOUT BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND I THINK THAT IS EXACTLY THE RIGHT MESSAGE.
>> Woodruff: DANIEL GARZA, I WANT TO COME TO YOU NEXT.
DIVISION SEEMS TO BE THE WORD OF THE DAY, THE WORD OF THE NIGHT.
IS THAT WHAT WE'RE LEFT MAINLY TO THINK ABOUT RIGHT NOW?
>> WELL, LET ME JUST SAY BRAVO TO PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN WHO SAID PART OF HIS MANDATE IS TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE BECAUSE IT DOES LOOK LIKE OUR NATION IS SORT OF RIPPING APART AT THE SEAMS AND THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A FRACTURE BETWEEN TWO ALMOST DISTINCT GROUPS, AND AMNA AND LISA WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT IN THE BREAKDOWN BETWEEN WHITE URBAN COLLEGE EDUCATED MOSTLY WHITE PROFESSIONALS WHO CONTROL TECH -- PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTIONS LIKE EDUCATION, UNIVERSITIES AND GOVERNMENT.
AND THE SECOND GROUP IS SORT OF A WORKING CLASS GROUP THAT I THINK FEELS RESENTED FOR THEIR FAITH, FOR REALLY THEIR PATRIOTISM, ALMOST, AND FOR WANTING TO DEFEND THE FREEDOMS THAT THEY SHARE SO MUCH AND THAT THEY WILL NOT SEE.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECONCILIATION.
I THINK THAT THE WORST PART ABOUT THIS 2020 ELECTION WAS HOW WE TALK TO EACH OTHER.
I FIND IT INCREDIBLE THAT THE SELF-APPOINTED THOUGHT POLICE WHO WANT LATINOS TO CONFORM TO THEIR IDEAS WILL CALL LATINOS RACIST.
THAT IS ASTONISHING TO ME, AND I THINK YOU JUST NEED TO TEMPER IT DOWN, AND THAT'S WHY I THINK I APPRECIATED PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN'S WORDS TODAY.
>> Woodruff: GEORGE PACKER, YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT JOE BIDEN HAD TO SAY AND ON ALL THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT DIVISION, RECONCILIATION.
>> WELL, I THINK THE FIRST THING THE ELECTION DID AT THE PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL WAS TO REJECT DONALD TRUMP.
IT WAS A PROFOUND REJECTION OF A PRESIDENT WHO HAS RULED BY DIVISION AND BY HATEFULNESS AND BY CHAOS AND BY CONTEMPT FOR EXPERTISE AND FOR HIS OPPONENTS, AND THE LONG LINES OF VOTERS, THE INCREDIBLE DEDICATION OF POLL WORKERS, ELECTION OFFICIALS, THE FACT THAT AMERICANS CAME OUT IN THE HIGHEST NUMBERS EVER TO VOTE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC SHOWS THAT OUR DEMOCRACY IS -- THAT RUMORS OF ITS DEATH ARE PREMATURE, THAT WE STILL HAVE A LIVING DEMOCRACY, IF WE CAN KEEP IT.
BUT YOU LOOK AT ALL THE OTHER RESULTS OF THE ELECTION, AND YOU SEE WE ARE, AS EVERYONE HAS SAID, FUNDAMENTALLY DIVIDED, AND KNIGHTER SAID IS GOING TO DISAPPEAR AND AT TIMES EACH SIDE THINKS THE OTHER WILL DISAPPEAR EITHER DEMOGRAPHICALLY OR POLITICALLY OR SOMEHOW WILL BE REJECTED BY THE VOTERS, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
AND THE PROBLEM THAT I SEE BIDEN FACING IS, FOR ME, THE ONLY WAY THAT THE DEEP SIFTIONS -- DEEP DIVISIONS ARE GOING TO HEAL IS NOT JUST THROUGH RHETORIC, WHICH HE'S VERY GOOD AT, BUT THROUGH POLICY, ACTUALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S EVERYDAY LIVES, AND IF WASHINGTON FOR FOUR YEARS IS THE SITE OF BLOCKAGE AND SQUABBLES AND CULTURE WARS AND PARTISAN -- ENDLESS PARTISAN POSTURING AND SYMBOLIC POLITICS RATHER THAN REAL POLICY, THEN IT'S GOING TO BE BAD FOR EVERYONE, BUT IT WILL BE BAD FOR JOE BIDEN BECAUSE HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TELL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT THEY VOTED FOR CHANGE AND HE BROUGHT THEM CHANGE.
>> Woodruff: WE HAVE ONLY A FEW MINUTES LEFT, UNFORTUNATELY.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK EACH ONE OF YOU TO TELL ME BRIEFLY WHETHER YOU HAVE HOPE RIGHT NOW, OR DOES DESPAIR AND WORRY ABOUT THIS DIVISION OVERCOME THAT?
EDDIE GLAUDE, JR., IN JUST A FEW SECONDS.
>> SURE.
THRTS A WONDERFUL LINE THAT JAMES BALDWIN USED IN 1970, HE SAID HOPE IS INVENTED EVERY DAY, AND THOSE ARE FOLKS WHO HAVE TO FACE A WORLD THAT SEEMS TO BE ARRAYED AGAINST THEM BUT THEY HAVE TO MUSTER THE ENERGY TO GET UP ANYWAY.
I HAVE HOPE BUT IT'S BLUE THAT COMES OUT OF THE TRADITION OF WHICH I COME WHICH IS NOT NAIVE ABOUT THE UGLINESS OF AMERICA, ITS UNDERSIDE, BUT WE HAVE THE POSSIBILITY WE CAN SHOW UP, SO I HAVE HOPE IN US.
>> Woodruff: GARY ABERNATHY?
YEAH, I DO HAVE HOPE, TOO.
WE SHOULD ALL BE OPTIMISTIC.
KEY POINT, DONALD TRUMP DIDN'T LOSE THE ISSUES BECAUSE OF -- LOSE THE ELECTION BECAUSE OF HIS ISSUES.
TOO MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT DONALD TRUMP WAS SIMPLY -- THEY DIDN'T LIKE HIS DEMEANOR.
THEY THOUGHT HE WAS CRUEL, UNFEELING, UNEMPATHETIC.
JOE BIDEN HAS A CHANCE TO BRING THOSE THINGS BACK TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND THAT GOES A LONG WAY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
>> Woodruff: KAREN TUMULTY.
YEAH, IF THE CHALLENGE IS TO REACH OUT AND BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THERE IS A PERSON MORE WELL SUITED FOR THIS MOMENT THAN JOE BIDEN, SO, YES, I DO HAVE HOPE.
>> Woodruff: DANIEL GARZA?
E'RE AMERICANS, WE DEBATE, WE HAVE DISAGREEMENTS, BUT ULTIMATELY WE RECOGNIZE WE'RE ALL WANTING THE SAME THING, WHICH IS PEACE, PROSPERITY AND WELL BEING FOR ALL AND THAT END GAME WILL INSPIRE US I THINK TO SEARCH, TO SEEK DIALOGUE AND UNDERSTANDING OF EACH OTHER.
SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS BUILD POLICY COALITIONS WHERE THERE IS COMMON GROUND, WHERE THERE IS MUCH AGREEMENT.
WE SAW THAT WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, WE CAN DO IT ON EDUCATION, IMMIGRATION AND HEALTHCARE.
>> Woodruff: GEORGE PACKER.
IN A WAY FOR DEMOCRACY TO WORK, THERE HAS TO BE A FOUNDATION OF TRUTH, AND WHAT GIVES ME HOPE IS THAT WE WILL NO LONGER BE SUBJECTED TO A BA A BE OF LIES COMING FROM THE VERY TOP.
EVERYONE IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO THEIR OWN SELF-DECEPTION BUT WE WILL AT LEAST BE HEARING FACTS AND TRUTH I THINK FROM THE TOP, AND THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A CLEANSING EFFECT.
>> Woodruff: WE THANK EACH ONE OF YOU SO VERY MUCH ON THIS SPECIAL NIGHT.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR BEING WITH US.
THIS IS AN HISTORIC DAY FOR THE U.S. ANOTHER BARRIER BROKEN, THE FIRST WOMAN ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT WHO HAPPENS TO BE BLACK AND ASIAN DESCENT, AND MORE AMERICANS HAVE VOTED IN THIS ELECTION THAN ANY OTHER IN HISTORY.
FOR ALL TO HAVE THE DIVISIONS IN OUR COUNTRY WE'VE HEARD, OUR DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM, SO FAR, IS HOLDING AND THE TRANSITION TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN HAS BEGUN.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
PLEASE STAY WITH US ONLINE AT pbs.org/NewsHour.
THANK YOU.
PLEASE STAY SAFE AND WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.
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AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
Captioning sponsored by NEWSHOUR PRODUCTIONS, LLC Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org