Captioning sponsored by WNET
>> Sreenivasan: ON THIS EDITION
FOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31:
THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES HIT
KEY SWING STATES IN THE FINAL
WEEKEND BEFORE ELECTION DAY.
THE BATTLEGROUND STATE OF
NORTH CAROLINA: AT THE FOREFRONT
OF A CHANGING CLIMATE.
>> IKE FOR PRESIDENT, IKE
FOR PRESIDENT.
>> Sreenivasan: AND A LOOK AT
POLITICAL ADS, IN THE MOST
EXPENSIVE CAMPAIGN YEAR IN
HISTORY.
NEXT ON PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND.
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>> Sreenivasan: GOOD EVENING
AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WE ARE REPORTING THIS WEEKEND
FROM NORTH CAROLINA, THE LAST
STOP ON OUR "ROADS TO ELECTION
2020" SERIES-- BUT NOT THE END
OF OUR COVERAGE OF THE VOTE, THE
VOTE COUNT, AND THE CANDIDATES
ON THE BALLOTS IN EVERY STATE.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND
FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN,
THEIR RUNNING MATES, AND MANY OF
THEIR BEST-KNOWN POLITICAL
SUPPORTERS ARE ON THE CAMPAIGN
TRAIL IN THESE FINAL DAYS BEFORE
VOTING ENDS ON TUESDAY.
KEY EVENTS THIS WEEKEND ARE IN
BATTLEGROUND STATES INCLUDING
PENNSYLVANIA, MICHIGAN, FLORIDA,
AND RIGHT HERE IN NORTH
CAROLINA.
WHILE THE SPEECHES TOUCH ON A
WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS, ONE OF THE
ISSUES VOTERS AND VIEWERS SAY
THEY WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IS
CLIMATE CHANGE.
WE WILL HAVE AN IN-DEPTH REPORT
ON THAT FROM HERE IN NORTH
CAROLINA, ALONG WITH REPORTING
ON THE BILLIONS SPENT ON
ADVERTISING THIS ELECTION YEAR,
BOTH COMING UP RIGHT AFTER THE
NEWS SUMMARY.
♪ FROM THE LAKES OF MINNESOTA,
TO THE HILLS OF TENNESSEE ♪
>> Sreenivasan: IT'S THE FINAL
WEEKEND PUSH IN THE 2020
CAMPAIGN SEASON.
PRESIDENT TRUMP PLANNED FOUR
STOPS IN PENNSYLVANIA TODAY,
STARTING IN BUCKS COUNTY, JUST
NORTH OF PHILADELPHIA.
THE KEYSTONE STATE WAS CRUCIAL
TO THE PRESIDENT'S 2016 WIN, AND
IS A FOCAL POINT FOR BOTH
CAMPAIGNS.
♪ ♪ ♪
FORMER VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN
CAMPAIGNED WITH FORMER PRESIDENT
BARACK OBAMA IN MICHIGAN TODAY,
AT A DRIVE-IN RALLY IN FLINT AND
ANOTHER PLANNED FOR DETROIT.
TOMORROW, BIDEN WILL BE IN
PENNSYLVANIA, STARTING IN
PHILADELPHIA FOR A "SOULS TO THE
POLLS" EVENT.
PRESIDENT TRUMP PLANS RALLIES IN
FIVE STATES TOMORROW.
WITH THREE DAYS LEFT TO ELECTION
DAY, MORE THAN 90 MILLION EARLY
VOTES HAVE BEEN CAST SO FAR.
THAT'S NEARLY TWO-THIRDS THE
BALLOTS CAST IN THE 2016
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
THE CORONAVIRUS CONTINUES TO
SPREAD RAPIDLY IN MANY STATES
THIS WEEKEND.
YESTERDAY, THE NATION RECORDED
MORE THAN 99,000 NEW CASES,
ACCORDING TO THE "NEW YORK
TIMES."
THAT'S THE HIGHEST DAILY NUMBER
SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.
THE "TIMES" DATABASE SHOWS 14
STATES SET NEW DAILY CASE
RECORDS, AND THREE-- TENNESSEE,
MONTANA, AND NEW MEXICO--
RECORDED NEW RECORD-HIGH NUMBERS
OF DEATHS FROM COVID-19.
AS OF THIS MORNING, JOHNS
HOPKINS UNIVERSITY'S CORONAVIRUS
RESOURCE CENTER REPORTS THE
UNITED STATES HAS HAD MORE
THAN NINE MILLION CONFIRMED
CASES OF THE VIRUS DURING THE
PANDEMIC, ONE-FIFTH OF THE MORE
THAN 45 MILLION CASES GLOBALLY.
RESCUE WORKERS IN THE TURKISH
CITY OF IZMIR PULLED THREE WOMEN
ALIVE FROM UNDER THE RUBBLE OF A
COLLAPSED BUILDING TODAY, AS THE
SEARCH CONTINUES FOR SURVIVORS
FOLLOWING YESTERDAY'S POWERFUL
EARTHQUAKE IN THE AEGEAN SEA.
THE EARTHQUAKE TOPPLED SEVERAL
BUILDINGS AND AT LEAST 37 PEOPLE
WERE KILLED AND 800 INJURED
ALONG TURKEY'S WESTERN COAST.
THE QUAKE, WHICH WAS ALSO FELT
IN GREECE, LEFT TWO PEOPLE DEAD
ON THE ISLAND OF SAMOS.
TURKEY'S DISASTER AGENCY SAID
TODAY THE AREA HAS EXPERIENCED
MORE THAN 450 AFTERSHOCKS.
>> I ADMIRE YOUR LUCK, MR....
>> BOND.
JAMES BOND.
>> Sreenivasan: SEAN CONNERY,
THE SCOTTISH ACTOR BEST KNOWN
FOR PLAYING THE SMOOTH-TALKING
CHARACTER JAMES BOND, HAS DIED.
BORN IN 1930 IN EDINBURGH,
SCOTLAND, CONNERY WENT ON TO
WORK A SERIES OF JOBS, INCLUDING
A COFFIN POLISHER, MILKMAN AND
BODY BUILDER, BEFORE LANDING HIS
BREAKOUT ACTING ROLE AS AN
INTERNATIONAL SPY.
HE LIT THE SILVER SCREEN FOR
MORE THAN FOUR DECADES, STARRING
IN SEVEN JAMES BOND MOVIES, AND
IN FILMS INCLUDING "INDIANA
JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE" AND
"THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER."
IN 1987, HE WON AN ACADEMY AWARD
FOR HIS PORTRAYAL OF A CHICAGO
COP IN THE FILM "THE
UNTOUCHABLES," AND,
IN RECOGNITION FOR HIS
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ARTS, WAS
KNIGHTED BY BRITAIN'S QUEEN
ELIZABETH IN 2000.
CONNERY'S SON SAID HIS FATHER
DIED PEACEFULLY IN HIS HOME IN
THE BAHAMAS.
SEAN CONNERY WAS 90 YEARS OLD.
>> Sreenivasan: FOR MORE
ELECTION COVERAGE AND THE LATEST
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS,
VISIT www.pbs.org/newshour.
>> Sreenivasan: EARLIER THIS
FALL, WE ASKED YOU WHAT ISSUES
WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON THIS
ELECTION SEASON.
THE ANSWER OVERWHELMINGLY WAS
THAT YOU WANTED MORE COVERAGE OF
CLIMATE CHANGE.
SO, ON THIS WEEKEND BEFORE
ELECTION DAY, WE'RE REPORTING
FROM NORTH CAROLINA, A SWING
STATE WITH CONSEQUENTIAL RACES
UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT, BUT ALSO
A STATE THAT, HAVING BEEN
BATTERED BY MULTIPLE HURRICANES
IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, HAS BEEN
AT THE FOREFRONT OF EXPERIENCING
THE CHANGING CLIMATE.
THIS STORY IS PART OF OUR
ONGOING SERIES "PERIL AND
PROMISE: THE CHALLENGE OF
CLIMATE CHANGE."
WHEN HURRICANE FLORENCE MADE
LANDFALL NEAR WILMINGTON IN
SEPTEMBER OF 2018, IT WAS ONLY
A CATEGORY ONE STORM.
BUT WHAT FLORENCE LACKED IN
SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS, IT MADE
UP FOR IN RAIN.
>> IT JUST RAINED AND IT RAINED
AND IT BLEW AND IT RAINED.
BUT ALL THAT WHILE, YOU HAVE TO
TRY TO MAKE SURE YOUR ANIMALS
ARE SAFE.
>> Sreenivasan: GINA MARASCO IS
THE OWNER OF HUMPHREY FARMS, A
500-ACRE FARM ABOUT 30 MILES
FROM THE COAST IN PENDER COUNTY.
AFTER AN ESTIMATED THREE FEET OF
RAIN OVER THREE DAYS, SHE AND
HER HUSBAND, ROBERT, NEEDED A
CANOE TO CHECK ON THEIR
LOW-LYING HOG HOUSES.
>> FLORENCE, YOU STINK!
WE WENT BY THE HOUSES SO WE
COULD SEE THE ANIMALS AND WE
COULD SEE THAT THEY WERE ALIVE,
WHICH WAS A BEAUTIFUL THING.
BUT WE COULDN'T EVEN TURN OFF
THE POWER.
SO WE'RE JUST, "PLEASE LET
EVERYTHING BE OKAY,"
BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING WE
COULD DO.
>> Sreenivasan: IN 2018,
HUMPHREY FARM HAD ABOUT 7,500
HOGS.
WHILE MARASCO SAYS THEIR WELFARE
WAS IMPORTANT, SHE WAS ALSO
WORRIED ABOUT THE FARM'S EIGHT-
ACRE HOG LAGOON.
THAT'S WHERE WASTE FROM THE PIGS
IS STORED.
RUNOFF FROM THE LAGOON, WHICH
HAS HIGH LEVELS OF AMMONIA AND
NITRATES, CAN HARM AQUATIC LIFE.
>> 36 INCHES OF RAIN BROUGHT US
OVER THE TOP.
THANKFULLY, THOUGH, THE AMOUNT
OF WATER WAS SO GREAT THAT THE
DILUTION WAS ENOUGH TO KEEP IT
FROM BEING A TOXIC SITUATION.
>> Sreenivasan: THE HIGH WATERS
FROM FLORENCE DAMAGED OR OVER
TOPPED NEARLY 50 HOG LAGOONS, A
RELATIVELY SMALL FRACTION OF THE
STATE'S 3,000.
BUT THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF RAIN
AFFECTED HUGE SWATHS OF NORTH
CAROLINA.
>> MY NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS
FLOODING ACROSS THE ENTIRE
STATE.
>> Sreenivasan: KATHIE DELLO IS
THE STATE CLIMATOLOGIST FOR
NORTH CAROLINA.
SHE'S ALSO ONE OF THE AUTHORS OF
THE STATE'S CLIMATE SCIENCE
REPORT, AN INDEPENDENT
SCIENTIFIC ASSESSMENT RELEASED
THIS YEAR ON PAST CLIMATE
TRENDS, AND HOW CLIMATE CHANGE
WILL AFFECT THE STATE AS HUMANS
CONTINUE TO EMIT GREENHOUSE
GASSES.
THE REPORT FINDS THAT NORTH
CAROLINA HAS ALREADY WARMED ONE
DEGREE FAHRENHEIT OVER THE LAST
120 YEARS, AND THAT HEAVY RAINS
FROM HURRICANES AND OTHER
WEATHER SYSTEMS WILL BECOME MORE
FREQUENT AND INTENSE.
THAT'S ALREADY BEING FELT HERE
BY NORTH CAROLINIANS.
>> FOLKS EXPERIENCE THREE BIG
HURRICANES IN FOUR YEARS AND
TRULY SAID, "SOMETHING'S GOING
ON HERE.
THIS ISN'T THE NORTH CAROLINA
THAT I GREW UP IN.
WE DON'T SEE HURRICANES LIKE
THIS WITH THAT MUCH RAIN.
WE DON'T SEE FLOODING LIKE
THIS."
PEOPLE HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCES
WITH THE CLIMATE AND THEY'RE
NOW SAYING, "OKAY, CLIMATE
CHANGE IS HERE AND IT'S REAL."
>> I CAN TRUTHFULLY SAY IN MY
LIFETIME, I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THE DEVASTATION
THAT FLORENCE CAUSED.
IT WAS A CATASTROPHIC EVENT,
THERE'S NO QUESTION.
>> Sreenivasan: REPUBLICAN STEVE
TROXLER IS NORTH CAROLINA'S
AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER, AND
HE'S RUNNING FOR HIS FIFTH
CONSECUTIVE FOUR-YEAR TERM,
OVERSEEING THE STATE'S $92
BILLION AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY.
AFTER FLORENCE, HIS OFFICE
HELPED DISTRIBUTE MORE THAN $230
MILLION IN AID TO FARMERS.
HE SAYS COMPARED TO HURRICANE
FLOYD, WHICH HIT NORTH CAROLINA
IN 1999, THE STATE'S AGRICULTURE
INDUSTRY WAS BETTER PREPARED.
>> DURING HURRICANE FLOYD, WE
LOST 28,000 HOGS IN NORTH
CAROLINA TO DROWNING.
DURING HURRICANE FLORENCE, WHICH
WAS, YOU KNOW, MUCH, MUCH WORSE
THAN THAT, WE LOST ABOUT 5,000.
>> Sreenivasan: SINCE 1999, THE
AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO
RUN A VOLUNTARY BUYOUT PROGRAM
FOR HOG FARMS LOCATED IN
100-YEAR FLOODPLAINS.
THE STATE SELECTS THE MOST
AT-RISK FARMS FOR A ONE-TIME
PAYMENT THAT CANNOT EXCEED THE
VALUE OF THE OPERATION.
IN EXCHANGE, THE FARMER AGREES
TO END CONCENTRATED ANIMAL
FEEDING OPERATIONS.
43 HOG FARMERS HAVE
PARTICIPATED.
AND AFTER FLORENCE IN 2018, THE
AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT OPENED UP
THE PROGRAM AGAIN FOR
APPLICATIONS.
BUT SINCE THE PROGRAM STARTED
OVER 20 YEARS AGO, MORE THAN 100
FARMS THAT HAVE WANTED TO
PARTICIPATE HAVE BEEN TURNED
AWAY.
>> THERE HAVE NOT BEEN THE
RESOURCES AVAILABLE, YET, BUT
YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BE ABLE
TO DO THIS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE
VALUE OF AGRICULTURAL LAND AND
OPERATIONS TODAY.
>> IT LEVELED THIS HOUSE PRETTY
GOOD, AS YOU CAN SEE.
>> Sreenivasan: GINA MARASCO
APPLIED FOR THE BUYOUT PROGRAM,
BUT HER FARM WAS NOT CONSIDERED
ONE OF THE MOST AT-RISK, SO
NORTH CAROLINA WON'T PAY.
>> WE'RE IN GROUP B AND THEY'RE
LOOKING FOR THOSE THAT ARE IN
GROUP A, WHICH WAS VERY
DISHEARTENING.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL
OVER IT.
ELEVATIONS CHANGE...
>> Sreenivasan: BUT EVEN WITHOUT
THE BUYOUT, MARASCO DECIDED TO
END THE HOG OPERATION THAT HER
FATHER STARTED MORE THAN 50
YEARS AGO.
>> IT WAS A DECISION MADE WITH A
VERY HEAVY HEART BECAUSE, "GOSH,
DAD, WE'RE GOING TO STOP DOING
WHAT YOU EXPECTED US ALL TO DO
INTO PERPETUITY.
I'M SORRY, YOU KNOW."
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE CAN'T
AFFORD TO, JUST TO BE VERY
HONEST WITH YOU, WE JUST
COULDN'T AFFORD THE REBUILDING
PROCESS.
AND IT WAS SAD, YOU KNOW,
BECAUSE MY DAD WAS THE HOG MAN
AND I WAS THE HOG FARMER'S
DAUGHTER.
>> IT'S OUR CHILDREN WHO HAVE TO
LIVE WITH THE BRUNT OF OUR
INACTION IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE
CHANGE, UNLESS WE BEGIN TO ELECT
LEADERS WHO FROM DAY ONE ARE
UNAPOLOGETIC IN THEIR COMMITMENT
TO ADDRESSING THE CLIMATE CRISIS
HEAD ON.
HEY, HOW ARE YOU?
>> Sreenivasan: JENNA WADSWORTH
IS A DEMOCRAT RUNNING TO BE
NORTH CAROLINA'S COMMISSIONER OF
AGRICULTURE.
>> SO I ACTUALLY GREW UP ON A
FAMILY FARM NOT FAR FROM HERE.
>> Sreenivasan: FOR THE LAST TEN
YEARS, WADSWORTH HAS BEEN ON THE
WAKE COUNTY SOIL AND WATER
CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS.
AND SHE'S MADE CLIMATE CHANGE
ACTION FRONT AND CENTER IN HER
CAMPAIGN.
>> I'VE LOOKED AROUND AND I SEE
THAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF SO MANY
OF THE ISSUES THAT OUR FARMERS
ARE FACING DEALS WITH CLIMATE
CHANGE OR STEMS FROM CLIMATE
CHANGE, BE IT CHANGING HARVEST
DATES, CHANGING YIELDS,
UNPREDICTABLE YIELDS, KNOWING
THAT THERE ARE SEVERE WEATHER
EVENTS.
YOU KNOW, STORMS ARE GOING TO
GROW MORE INTENSE AND MORE
FREQUENT OVER THE COMING YEARS.
>> Sreenivasan: WADSWORTH HAS
BEEN ENDORSED BY THE SUNRISE
MOVEMENT, THE YOUTH-LED CLIMATE
CHANGE ACTIVIST GROUP.
SHE HAS ALSO SIGNED ONTO A
PLEDGE NOT TO TAKE ANY MONEY
FROM THE STATE'S TWO ELECTRIC
UTILITIES, DUKE AND DOMINION,
AND TO NOT SUPPORT ANY NEW
FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> MY OPPONENT DIFFERS WITH,
DIFFERS WITH ME WHEN IT COMES TO
UNDERSTANDING THAT CLIMATE
CHANGE IS REAL AND IT'S AN
URGENT PRIORITY THAT WE HAVE TO
ADDRESS IN ORDER TO ENSURE A
LONG-TERM FUTURE IN AGRICULTURE.
>> Sreenivasan: TROXLER
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE CLIMATE
HAS CHANGED, AND SAYS THAT
FARMERS ARE ALREADY DOING A LOT.
>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD ASK, WHAT
MORE CAN AGRICULTURE DO RIGHT
NOW THAN THEY'RE DOING AS FAR AS
CLIMATE CHANGE?
WE'RE THE ONES WHO PLANT THE
GREEN CROPS THAT SEQUESTER
CARBON.
WE'RE THE ONES THAT PLANT TREES
THAT SEQUESTER CARBON.
SO WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AFTER
THE LAND AND THE ENVIRONMENT
BECAUSE WE FARM OUTSIDE AND WE
DEPEND ON IT.
>> Sreenivasan: TROXLER ALSO
WARNS THAT ADDRESSING CLIMATE
CHANGE CAN'T COME AT THE EXPENSE
OF FARMS SURVIVING.
>> ANY TIME THAT WE CAN DO
ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO HELP
LONG TERM, WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.
BUT WITH THE CAVEAT THAT FARMERS
HAVE GOT TO REMAIN IN BUSINESS
IF WE'RE GOING TO EAT.
>> IF WE DO NOT ADDRESS CLIMATE
CHANGE, THERE WON'T BE A FUTURE
IN AGRICULTURE, SO WE HAVE TO
MAKE MEANINGFUL ACTION IN
ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE,
MAKING SURE THAT FARMERS HAVE
THE TOOLS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO
MOVE INTO SUSTAINABLE,
REGENERATIVE, AND ORGANIC
PRACTICES, PRACTICES THAT
PRIORITIZE SOIL HEALTH AND
CONSERVATION AND ALLOW FOR THEM
TO BE VIABLE IN THE LONG TERM.
>> Sreenivasan: FOR HUMPHREY
FARMS, LONG-TERM VIABILITY MEANS
A BIG TRANSITION.
THE HOG HOUSES ARE EMPTY NOW,
AND THE EIGHT-ACRE WASTE LAGOON
IS SLOWLY BEING TRANSITIONED TO
A FRESHWATER POND.
(COWS MOOING )
AFTER FLORENCE, MARASCO HAD TO
SELL OFF PART OF THE FARM'S
CATTLE HERD, BUT SHE IS NOW
BUILDING IT BACK UP.
16 CALVES WERE BORN THIS SEASON,
INCLUDING A FEW JUST THIS WEEK..
>> THE MIDDLE OF THE BUILDING IS
THE ONLY THING THAT WAS LEFT
INTACT.
>> Sreenivasan: MARASCO IS ALSO
BANKING ON TOURISM.
SHE'S TURNING AN ALMOST
100-YEAR-OLD TOBACCO BARN TO A
YEAR-ROUND FARMERS MARKET, ART
GALLERY, AND LOCAL GOODS STORE.
>> WE EVEN HAVE THE OLD
ELECTRICAL BOX.
>> Sreenivasan: MARASCO IS A
STRONG SUPPORTER OF STEVE
TROXLER FOR REELECTION AS
AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER, AND
CITES HIS EFFORTS HELPING FARMS
RECOVER FROM FLORENCE.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE
CHANGE, SHE SAYS IT'S A BIG
FACTOR IN THINKING ABOUT THE
LONG-TERM FUTURE OF HER FARM AND
MOVING AWAY FROM HOGS.
>> WE DON'T WANT TO BE THAT ONE
THAT CAUSES OUR WATER SYSTEM TO
BE COMPROMISED.
AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU
JUST HAVE TO REALIZE YOU JUST
CAN'T FIGHT IT.
YOUR SAIL IS NOT BIG ENOUGH TO
GET THROUGH THAT STORM.
AND SO WE JUST FELT LIKE IT WAS
TIME TO DO SOMETHING NEW.
>> Sreenivasan: HERE IN NORTH
CAROLINA, AS IN PREVIOUS
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, THE
STATE HAS EMERGED AS AN
IMPORTANT BATTLEGROUND.
BOTH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND
VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
HAVE BEEN MAKING FREQUENT STOPS
HERE, AND THERE IS ALSO A CLOSE
SENATE RACE.
THE TARHEEL STATE ALSO FINDS
ITSELF FACING ISSUES OF RISING
COVID-19 CASES, INCREASING COSTS
OF HEALTH CARE, AND ECONOMIC
LOSSES, SOME DUE IN PART TO A
CHANGING CLIMATE.
FOR MORE ON HOW THE ISSUES MAY
PLAY OUT HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA
ON ELECTION DAY, I SAT DOWN WITH
RUSTY JACOBS, POLITICS REPORTER
FOR WUNC, NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC
RADIO.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM
AND A LOT OF ATTENTION IN
GENERAL, AND YOU'VE SEEN SOME
REALLY IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS IN
THE TURNOUT SO FAR IN NORTH
CAROLINA.
TUFTS HAS BEEN DOING SOME
RESEARCH ON THE TURNOUT OF YOUNG
VOTERS, 18 TO 29.
NORTH CAROLINA IS RIGHT UP AT
THE TOP, RIGHT BEHIND FLORIDA
AND TEXAS, AS HAVING THE BIGGEST
NUMBER OF THAT YOUNG VOTER AGE
RANGE TURNOUT ALREADY.
JOE BIDEN MAINTAINS AN EDGE
RIGHT NOW, MAYBE THREE OR FOUR
PERCENT OVER DONALD TRUMP.
AND YOU SEE IN THOSE NUMBERS AN
ADVANTAGE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC
TICKET FROM WOMEN, A MAJORITY OF
WOMEN, ACCORDING TO RECENT
POLLS, SUPPORTING THE BIDEN
HARRIS TICKET AND BLACK VOTERS,
VERY KEY BLOC HERE IN NORTH
CAROLINA.
AND THEY ARE OVERWHELMINGLY AT
THIS POINT THROUGH POLLS
INDICATING SUPPORT FOR BIDEN AND
HARRIS OVER DONALD TRUMP AND
MIKE PENCE.
>> Sreenivasan: THERE'S ALSO A
TON OF MONEY THAT'S BEEN POURED
IN ON BOTH SIDES ON THE SENATE
RACE.
WE ALSO HAD IN THE MIDDLE OF
THAT RACE, OR LATE IN THAT RACE,
A REVELATION THAT THE
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE HAD AN
EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR.
HAS THAT PLAYED INTO WHAT'S
HAPPENING NOW?
>> NOT SO FAR.
LET'S PUT IT THIS WAY: CAL
CUNNINGHAM, THE DEMOCRAT
CHALLENGING FIRST-TIME...
FIRST-TERM INCUMBENT THOM
TILLIS, MAINTAINS AN EDGE.
KIND OF LIKE JOE BIDEN, HE'S IN
THAT THREE TO FIVE PERCENT RANGE
RIGHT NOW OVER THOM TILLIS,
ACCORDING TO RECENT POLLS.
BUT AS YOU NOTED, THAT'S KIND OF
SURPRISING, CONSIDERING THAT
JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, IT EMERGED
HE HAD BEEN ENGAGING IN
INAPPROPRIATE, SEXUALLY
SUGGESTIVE TEXTS WITH ANOTHER
WOMAN, NOT HIS WIFE.
HE'S BEEN VERY DISCIPLINED ABOUT
NOT ANSWERING QUESTIONS ON THAT
SUBJECT.
HE'S AVOIDED ANSWERING
QUESTIONS.
HE SAID IT'S A PRIVATE MATTER.
HE HAS CONSISTENTLY STUCK TO THE
ELECTION ISSUES THAT SEEM TO BE
RESONATING THE MOST WITH VOTERS:
ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH
CARE, HANDLING OF THE
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.
IT ALSO DIDN'T HURT CAL
CUNNINGHAM THAT AT THE SAME TIME
THE SCANDAL EMERGED, THOM TILLIS
CONTRACTED COVID-19.
AND YOU GOT TO REMEMBER, HE
ATTENDED THE NAMING CEREMONY FOR
THEN-NOMINEE AMY CONEY BARRETT
FOR THE SUPREME COURT.
A LOT OF TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
OFFICIALS AND THE PRESIDENT
CONTRACTED COVID-19.
THAT IN A WAY NOT ONLY
COMPROMISED THOM TILLIS' HEALTH,
BUT IT MAY HAVE COMPROMISED HIS
PRINCIPLES.
AT ONE TIME HE WAS SEEN AS
SOMEWHAT INDEPENDENT.
THERE WAS A TIME HE FAMOUSLY
OPPOSED EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S BORDER WALL.
HE THEN INFAMOUSLY FLIPPED ON
THAT ISSUE AND CAST AN IMPORTANT
VOTE SUPPORTING THAT FUNDING.
SO HE'S TIED HIS FATE TO DONALD
TRUMP, BUT HAS CONTRACTED
COVID-19.
AND THAT, IN A WAY, SYMBOLIZES
FOR SOME PEOPLE AND MAYBE SOME
KEY VOTERS, SUPPORT FOR A KIND
OF A RECKLESS POLICY WHEN IT
COMES TO HANDLING OF THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
>> Sreenivasan: SO IT SOUNDS
LIKE IT IS ABOUT CORONAVIRUS.
IT IS ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP.
AND THOSE ARE THE SORT OF
PRIMARY DRIVERS AND HOW YOU VIEW
THOSE TWO THINGS IS IN PART
RESPONSIBLE FOR WHY NORTH
CAROLINA'S BECOME SUCH A
CONTENTIOUS BATTLEGROUND.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
LET'S LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR RACE
IN NORTH CAROLINA RIGHT NOW.
THAT, IN A WAY, THAT RACE WHERE
GOVERNOR COOPER HAS A BIG
ADVANTAGE RIGHT NOW, IS IN A
WAY EMBLEMATIC OF THE
PRESIDENTIAL RACE.
THE VERY ISSUES THAT LT. GOV.
DAN FOREST IS RUNNING ON, SAME
AS PRESIDENT TRUMP, HE TRAILS
THE DEMOCRAT, ROY COOPER, WHO'S
RUNNING ON A LOT OF THE SAME
ISSUES THAT JOE BIDEN IS.
>> Sreenivasan: RUSTY JACOBS,
THANKS SO MUCH.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> Sreenivasan: THE 2020
ELECTION CYCLE IS BY FAR THE
MOST EXPENSIVE CAMPAIGN YEAR IN
HISTORY.
ADVERTISING SPENDING ON
CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR FEDERAL
OFFICE ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAS
REACHED TOTALS OF AT LEAST $2.5
BILLION SO FAR.
SINCE JANUARY OF LAST YEAR,
CLOSE TO FIVE MILLION ADS FOR
PRESIDENT, SENATE, AND CONGRESS
HAVE AIRED ON TELEVISION
AIRWAVES ALONE.
THAT'S MORE THAN TWICE THE
VOLUME OF ADS IN THE PAST TWO
PRESIDENTIAL CYCLES.
NEWSHOUR WEEKEND'S CHRISTOPHER
BOOKER SAT DOWN WITH ERIKA
FRANKLIN FOWLER, CO-FOUNDER OF
THE WESLEYAN MEDIA PROJECT,
WHICH TRACKS POLITICAL
ADVERTISING, TO FIND OUT MORE.
>> ♪ IKE FOR PRESIDENT,
IKE FOR PRESIDENT.
♪ YOU LIKE IKE, I LIKE IKE,
EVERYBODY LIKES IKE FOR
PRESIDENT. ♪
>> POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENTS HAVE
COME A LONG WAY SINCE THIS 1952
DWIGHT EISENHOWER COMMERCIAL.
WHILE EISENHOWER'S CAMPAIGN WAS
THE FIRST TO USE THE TELEVISION
LIKE THIS, NEARLY 70 YEARS
LATER...
>> CHANGE IS WHAT WE GOT.
>> CHOOSE A PRESIDENT WHO
BRINGS OUT OUR BEST.
>> TELEVISION IS STILL
PLAYING A PROMINENT ROLE IN
CAMPAIGNS, EVEN AS NEW PLATFORMS
CAPTURE MORE AND MORE OF THE
PUBLIC'S ATTENTION.
>> WHEN WE GOT IN TRACKING
TEN YEARS AGO, PEOPLE WERE
ALREADY AT THAT POINT PREDICTING
THE DEMISE OF TELEVISION.
AND IN EVERY YEAR THAT WE'VE
BEEN TRACKING-- THERE WAS A
PLATEAU, BUT PRIMARILY VOLUMES
HAVE ONLY GONE UP.
>> ERIKA FRANKLIN FOWLER IS THE
CO-DIRECTOR OF THE WESLEYAN
MEDIA PROJECT, WHICH BEGAN
TRACKING BROADCAST ADVERTISING
IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS TEN YEARS
AGO, AND DIGITAL ADS TWO YEARS
AGO.
THIS YEAR, FOWLER CO-AUTHORED A
STUDY COMPARING HOW CANDIDATES
ADVERTISED ON TV VERSUS FACEBOOK
IN THE 2018 MIDTERMS.
>> TELEVISION ADS ARE REALLY
THERE TO PERSUADE.
DIGITAL ADS HAVE A WHOLE WIDE
VARIETY OF DIFFERENT GOALS.
SO YOU'LL HAVE ADS THAT ARE
SEEKING TO GET CITIZENS TO SIGN
UP FOR THEIR MAILING LIST SO
THAT THEY STAY INFORMED.
YOU'LL ALSO HAVE ADS THAT ARE
ABOUT DONATING TO A PARTICULAR
RACE.
DIGITAL ADS IN A LOT OF WAYS
DRIVE FUNDRAISING AND CAN DRIVE
MORE MONEY TO SPEND EVERYWHERE,
WHICH CAN INCLUDE MORE MONEY
ON TELEVISION.
SO IN SOME WAYS, THEY FEED
EACH OTHER IN THIS WAY.
>> SINCE THE GENERAL ELECTION
BEGAN IN APRIL, FORMER VICE
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS OUTSPENT
PRESIDENT TRUMP ON TELEVISION
ADS BY MORE THAN 69 PERCENT.
COLLECTIVELY, THE TWO CAMPAIGNS
HAVE PUT MORE THAN $360 MILLION
TOWARDS FACEBOOK AND GOOGLE ADS.
AND FOWLER SAYS THE 2020
ADVERTISEMENT TSUNAMI IS
REFLECTIVE OF SOMETHING ELSE.
>> CERTAINLY AS A SOCIETY, WE
HAVE BECOME MUCH MORE POLARIZED.
WE'VE BECOME MUCH MORE
NATIONALIZED.
THE THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT,
EVEN WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
LOCAL POLITICS, ARE OFTEN MUCH
MORE ABOUT NATIONAL
CONVERSATIONS, ABOUT HEALTH CARE
AND OTHER SORTS OF PROVISION OF
THINGS THAN THEY ARE NECESSARILY
ABOUT SPECIFIC LOCAL ISSUES.
>> FOWLER SAYS PART OF WHAT'S
DRIVING THE INCREASE IN AD
SPENDING AND CHANGE IN TONE ARE
POLITICAL ACTION GROUPS, OR
PACS.
>> JOE BIDEN IS A JOB-KILLING,
TAX-RAISING DISASTER.
>> REFUSING TO PREPARE...
>> THE 2010 CITIZENS UNITED
SUPREME COURT RULING ALLOWS
OUTSIDE GROUPS AND PACS, LIKE
PRIORITIES USA AND AMERICA FIRST
ACTION, TO RAISE AND SPEND
UNLIMITED FUNDS ON ELECTIONS.
THIS YEAR, DEMOCRATIC SUPER PACS
HAVE DRAMATICALLY INVESTED IN
ADVERTISING, HITTING DONALD
TRUMP ON HEALTHCARE AND HIS
RECORD DURING THE PANDEMIC, FROM
MICHAEL BLOOMBERG'S INDEPENDENCE
USA...
>> IF TRUMP GETS HIS WAY, OVER
40 MILLION FLORIDIANS WITH
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS LIKE
CANCER AND DIABETES COULD
LOSE THEIR HEALTHCARE.
>> ...TO FUTURE FORWARD, A NEW
SUPER PAC BACKED BY A GROUP OF
SILICON VALLEY BILLIONAIRES,
INCLUDING FACEBOOK CO-FOUNDER
DUSTIN MOSKOVITZ AND FORMER
GOOGLE CEO ERIC SCHMIDT.
>> JOE BIDEN HAS A PLAN.
>> HE ACTUALLY HAS A PLAN.
>> THE TWO PACS HAVE POURED AN
ASTONISHING $90 MILLION SO FAR
INTO TV AD SPOTS SINCE APRIL.
>> THIS SUSAN COLLINS VOTED TO
MAKE MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES PAY
MORE.
>> AND IT'S NOT JUST THE
PRESIDENTIAL RACE, THIS IS
HAPPENING IN DOWN BALLOT RACES
AS WELL.
NEARLY HALF OF THE ADS IN THE
MAINE SENATE RACE HAVE BEEN
FUNDED BY OUTSIDE GROUPS, LIKE
THIS ONE AGAINST REPUBLICAN
SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS.
>> OUTSIDE GROUPS AND PARTIES
TEND TO PLAY THAT ROLE OF
ATTACK DOG.
CITIZENS GENERALLY DON'T LIKE
NEGATIVE ADVERTISING, AND IF I
AS A CANDIDATE GO NEGATIVE
AGAINST MY OPPONENT, THAT AD
MIGHT BE EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING
THE FAVORABILITY OF MY OPPONENT,
BUT I ALSO TEND TO SUFFER SOME
BACKLASH FROM AIRING THE
NEGATIVITY IN THE FIRST PLACE.
>> THE NEGATIVITY IS A FAR
DEPARTURE FROM EISENHOWER'S
DANCING ELEPHANTS, BUT DOES IT
REALLY MAKE AN IMPACT ON HOW
WE VOTE?
>> AS A SOCIETY WE TEND TO
OVERSUBSCRIBE THE EFFECTS OF
ADVERTISING, AND SCHOLARS FOR A
VERY LONG TIME HAVE BEEN SAYING
ADVERTISING MATTERS AT THE
MARGIN.
IF I GO FURTHER DOWN THE BALLOT
AND I'M SEEING ADS FOR
CANDIDATES THAT I DON'T KNOW
VERY MUCH ABOUT, THOSE ADS ARE
MORE LIKELY TO ACTUALLY HAVE AN
INFLUENCE.
>> OUTSIDE GROUPS HAVE ALREADY
SPENT MORE THAN $2.5 BILLION
IN POLITICAL ADVERTISING THIS
ELECTION, NEARLY TWICE WHAT WAS
SPENT IN 2016.
>> Sreenivasan: WE WILL HAVE
MORE FROM NORTH CAROLINA
TOMORROW ON OUR FINAL WEEKEND OF
OUR "ROADS TO ELECTION 2020"
COVERAGE.
AND, NEWSHOUR WEEKEND'S
CHRISTOPHER BOOKER WILL BE BACK
IN PENNSYLVANIA, THE PLACE WHERE
WE STARTED THIS SERIES, AND A
STATE WHERE IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL
DAYS TO COUNT ALL THE VOTES.
DON'T FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCKS
BACK ONE HOUR TONIGHT-- IF
YOU'RE IN DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
AREAS-- AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF
PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND.
I'M HARI SREENIVASAN.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
STAY HEALTHY, AND HAVE A
GOOD NIGHT.
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