WEBVTT 00:02.033 --> 00:05.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Alcindor: This past weekend -- this past Labor Day weekend marked the traditional kickoff 00:06.433 --> 00:08.933 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% of the midterms general campaign season. President 00:08.933 --> 00:12.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Biden and former President Trump are campaigning in battleground states, 00:12.700 --> 00:16.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% including Ohio and Pennsylvania, states will be talking about a lot I'm sure. 00:16.466 --> 00:20.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% On Thursday, at a Democratic National Committee meeting in Maryland, 00:20.866 --> 00:24.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% President Biden made his pitch for electing more Democrats. 00:26.100 --> 00:28.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Biden: Imagine if we just elected to more Democrats in the Senate and keep the House 00:28.933 --> 00:33.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% of Representatives. Imagine. We'll codify Roe v. Wade. We'll ban assault weapons. 00:36.500 --> 00:38.500 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% We'll protect Social Security and Medicare. 00:38.500 --> 00:40.833 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% We'll protect voting rights. We'll pass election reform. 00:40.833 --> 00:45.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Alcindor: Meanwhile, Republicans have been accusing President Biden of wasting money 00:46.566 --> 00:48.266 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% and hurting the economy. 00:48.266 --> 00:51.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Here is Senate Minority Whip John Thune taking aim at the president's 00:51.700 --> 00:53.766 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% student loan forgiveness program. 00:53.766 --> 00:56.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Sen. John Thune (R-SD): The Democrats demonstrated once again, they don't care 00:56.733 --> 01:01.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% about fiscal responsibility. They don't care about debt or deficit reduction. Right now, 01:01.433 --> 01:06.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% they care about one thing and that is buying votes going into a November election. 01:08.366 --> 01:11.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Alcindor: Joining the conversation now is NBC News correspondent Dasha Burns. 01:11.600 --> 01:13.900 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% She's been running all across the country. 01:13.900 --> 01:17.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% So, let's discuss the races to watch ahead of November's elections. 01:17.200 --> 01:19.666 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% So, Dasha, like I said, you have been crisscrossing the country, 01:19.666 --> 01:23.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% going to battleground states including Pennsylvania. Talk about what your 01:23.200 --> 01:28.200 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% reporting has shown about what is at stake in this midterm election, what voters are talking about, 01:30.200 --> 01:32.133 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% and how Pennsylvania in particular is sort of a microcosm of what's going on out there. 01:32.133 --> 01:34.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Dasha Burns, News Correspondent, NBC: Yeah, Yamiche. You know, I have been spending a 01:34.800 --> 01:39.800 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% whole lot of time in Pennsylvania, so have you. And we are about to spend a lot more time. All 01:41.766 --> 01:44.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% of our lives are regarding more absorbed with this state and the races that we see there. 01:44.833 --> 01:49.800 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% Not just because it is probably the Democrats' best shot of picking up a Senate seat, something 01:51.400 --> 01:53.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% President Biden was pointing to in his some bite you played there, 01:53.466 --> 01:58.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% but also it really is pretty representative of politics in the age of Trump. 02:01.066 --> 02:04.433 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Look, you've got Dr. Oz, a celebrity candidate who nobody really thought would be running in a race 02:07.000 --> 02:10.666 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% like this. People still, voters that I talk to are a little bit confused to see a celebrity doctor, 02:13.433 --> 02:18.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% reality TV star running for Senate. But he is and has received Trump's endorsement. 02:20.400 --> 02:22.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% On the other side, you have his opponent, Democratic candidate John Fetterman, 02:22.500 --> 02:27.466 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% the lieutenant governor who himself is a bit of a larger-than-life character. This 6'8" guy 02:29.400 --> 02:34.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% with lots of tattoos who has painted himself very much as an outsider, and I'll tell you, 02:34.133 --> 02:38.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Yamiche, the language that I hear voters use when they talk about 02:38.300 --> 02:42.066 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Fetterman is pretty similar to the language I've heard voters use talking heard voters use talking 02:42.066 --> 02:47.066 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% about Trump in 2016 and in 2020, this guy is not a typical politician. He tells it like it is. 02:48.966 --> 02:53.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% So, you've got these two battling it out. Oz has recently been focusing on Fetterman, 02:55.800 --> 02:59.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% attacking him as soft on crime, not willing to debate. Meanwhile, Fetterman, 02:59.466 --> 03:04.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and we will talk more about this, I'm sure, has started to put abortion as an issue that 03:04.333 --> 03:09.333 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% is front and center. On Sunday, he's going to hold an abortion-rights rally in Pennsylvania. 03:10.066 --> 03:11.566 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% So, you've got -- 03:11.566 --> 03:12.833 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Alcindor: Yeah, a lot to talk about there. A lot of sort of -- 03:12.833 --> 03:13.766 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% Burns: Absolutely. 03:13.766 --> 03:16.400 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% Alcindor: -- fighting it out. 03:16.400 --> 03:19.800 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% And, Amy, when you think about this -- I want to put up this poll from NBC -- I'm sorry, from NPR, 03:21.866 --> 03:25.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% PBS NewsHour and Marist. And it shows that in a generic ballot, 40 percent of registered voters 03:28.233 --> 03:32.633 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% are saying they prefer a Democratic candidate, and 44 percent are saying they prefer a Republican. 03:32.633 --> 03:37.300 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Of course, we have you. We are excited to get you on the program because you could break down what 03:37.300 --> 03:40.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% is at stake here, what are the big trends that we are seeing when you think about that poll? 03:40.933 --> 03:45.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Walter: So, we have seen some movement in the so-called generic ballot where voters that 03:48.433 --> 03:51.100 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% question, who would you vote for in November? Democrats or Republicans? Now, Republicans have 03:51.100 --> 03:56.100 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% been up a couple of points earlier in the year. So it has been a 3, 4, 5 shift in Democrats favor. 03:58.033 --> 04:00.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% The most fascinating thing, though, Yamiche, which is 04:02.700 --> 04:06.433 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% even people who have been doing politics years and years, folks I talk to say this is the strangest 04:08.433 --> 04:11.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% election I've ever been through because the president is still really unpopular. Even though 04:14.200 --> 04:16.833 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% his approval rating is not as bad as it was, say, at the end of July when it was at 38 percent. 04:18.800 --> 04:22.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% At 42 percent, that is not a great place to be when you are the party in power. 04:24.066 --> 04:27.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% But underneath it, we're seeing -- like you just put that number up, Democrats at 04:30.300 --> 04:33.066 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% 48 percent even of the president is at 41 percent. Democrats somehow outperforming the president, 04:36.400 --> 04:39.200 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% that is not something you typically see. 04:41.766 --> 04:44.833 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% The real question, again, the other had scratcher is, what role is abortion going to play in this? 04:46.466 --> 04:49.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Alcindor: I want to ask you a quick follow-up which is New Hampshire, 04:49.833 --> 04:52.000 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% why is that interesting to you? What stands up there? 04:52.000 --> 04:56.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Walter: So, this is sort of the last chance for Republicans. Earlier this year, 04:56.700 --> 05:01.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% they thought they were going to be able to put four, five Senate seats in play because 05:03.100 --> 05:06.300 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% the environment looked good and the incumbent senator there, 05:06.300 --> 05:11.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% her first reelection campaign, not -- doesn't have as strong numbers in that state. 05:13.600 --> 05:16.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% But they have a primary on Tuesday between, 05:18.800 --> 05:21.866 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% surprise, surprise, a Trumpian kind of candidate and a more establishment candidate. Right now, 05:24.266 --> 05:27.133 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% the more Trumpian candidate is ahead. It's going to be very hard for that candidate to survive. 05:29.166 --> 05:32.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% This is another place where had Trump not been engaged -- he has not endorsed here, 05:34.866 --> 05:38.100 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% but he was really responsible for making it really hard for the popular Republican in that state, 05:40.533 --> 05:43.833 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% the governor, to say yes to a Senate run. And -- 05:43.833 --> 05:45.566 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% Alcindor: Yeah. 05:45.566 --> 05:47.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Walter: Yeah. So, we'll look back. If Democrats to hold onto the Senate, 05:47.833 --> 05:51.266 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% we'll look at the place what could have been. 05:53.266 --> 05:57.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Alcindor: Nia, I want to come to you. We have seen Biden and Trump fighting it out and going 05:59.366 --> 06:03.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% to states like Ohio, what are you hearing when you think about how these two presidents are 06:05.466 --> 06:09.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% dueling it out when there are so many issues like abortion, like inflation on voters' minds? 06:11.300 --> 06:14.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Henderson: Well, listen, I mean, you obviously hear Biden trying to make this a choice election 06:16.866 --> 06:21.533 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% rather than a referendum election. He gave that big speech, really pointing the finger 06:24.000 --> 06:26.600 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% at Trump and his more ardent followers as a danger to the country, as a danger to democracy. 06:28.066 --> 06:30.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% And you have Trump doing what Trump does, 06:32.766 --> 06:36.033 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% going to different states, Pennsylvania. I am sure he will be in Georgia. Ohio, for instance, 06:38.033 --> 06:42.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% where he's got a big following, attacking his message about 2020 being a fraudulent election. 06:45.500 --> 06:50.500 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% They are taxing his message about him being a target of a witch hunt from the FBI, from the DOJ, 06:52.500 --> 06:55.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and from everyone and their mother. So, that very much resonates with his voters. 06:55.733 --> 07:00.766 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I think the problem that Republicans are seeing, and you can see a firing squad already 07:02.833 --> 07:06.800 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% circulating among these Republicans who I talked to is that some of these Trumpist candidates 07:08.800 --> 07:12.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% might be great for primary voters, but not so great for independent voters. Not so 07:14.300 --> 07:17.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% great for suburban white women voters who are reacting to a lot of the news 07:19.066 --> 07:21.333 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% we are seeing, particularly around the Dobbs decision. 07:21.333 --> 07:26.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% You see something really happening in the data. Inflation is certainly a huge issue. 07:28.866 --> 07:31.933 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% I think it is the number one issue among voters. The second most important issue is health care. 07:33.833 --> 07:38.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Alcindor: You bring up abortion -- I want to talk about the importance it has. Dasha, 07:40.733 --> 07:44.533 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% you have been talking to candidates, especially Republicans who had to sort of shift their 07:44.533 --> 07:48.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% messaging I think in Washington state. Tell us what you are hearing on the campaign trail? 07:50.866 --> 07:53.033 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Burns: Well, look, I have had the privilege of being on the ground in several states, so we're 07:53.033 --> 07:58.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% sort of bellwethers, that gave us the signal that abortion would be a big driving issue for 08:00.566 --> 08:04.200 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% voters. I was on the ground in Kansas in the month leading up to that big decision where voters voted 08:06.233 --> 08:10.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% down the antiabortion amendment. What's really important, when I have been talking to voters in 08:13.433 --> 08:17.466 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% 2020 and over the last couple of years, there was a lot of focus on politics of personality, right? 08:19.500 --> 08:23.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Is this a candidate that I like? Is this somebody I want to get a beer with? Is this somebody I 08:23.266 --> 08:28.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% trust? Is this somebody's authentic? That is how Donald Trump won over a lot of voters. 08:28.133 --> 08:33.133 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% Recently, especially since Dobbs, it has been much more a politics of policy. For the first 08:35.133 --> 08:39.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% time in a while, I am hearing voters bring up these issues like abortion and inflation 08:41.166 --> 08:44.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% that are actually impacting them, that they feel that direct connection that 08:44.533 --> 08:48.300 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% whoever I like, who I vote for will impact my life. 08:48.300 --> 08:53.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And it's true. Running as a Republican in the post-Dobbs era is a bit of a challenge. 08:55.266 --> 08:58.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I heard that in Washington state I was there last week. I interviewed Senate candidate 08:58.133 --> 09:03.133 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Tiffany Smiley who has made it very clear, she's tried to make it clear that she is pro-life, but 09:04.933 --> 09:08.633 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% she would not vote for a federal abortion ban. 09:08.633 --> 09:13.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% You saw Blake Masters, right, NBC News reporting that he's saying he scrubbed his website 09:13.100 --> 09:18.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% of antiabortion language. When I was reporting on New York's 19th district race, generic 09:21.333 --> 09:26.333 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Republican versus generic Democrat, no offense to them, but it was really a contest of issues, 09:28.366 --> 09:32.700 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% Republicans running on inflation, Democrats running on abortion. The Republican in that race 09:34.766 --> 09:39.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% walked back the message, saying, look, I think the Supreme Court upended what I thought was lost. 09:41.433 --> 09:46.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% You are seeing this shift in messaging and seeing voters very much coming out to the 09:48.933 --> 09:51.633 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% polls based on this issue. So many folks I have been talking to, I asked them what to do vote on, 09:53.533 --> 09:55.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% what did you think about when you cast your ballot and they said Roe. 09:57.200 --> 10:00.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Alcindor: And, Amy, last 30 seconds, when we think about sort of race in conversation, 10:00.466 --> 10:03.033 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% what do you say -- actually I'm being told 10 seconds. How much 10:04.233 --> 10:06.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% are these other cultural issues playing a factor? 10:06.300 --> 10:09.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Walter: It's definitely a factor. And, look, you're going to -- you are already 10:09.733 --> 10:13.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% starting to see Republicans, they want to change the conversation. Talk about crime, 10:15.666 --> 10:19.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% inflation, the border. Democrats, you can see, ad after ad, really focusing in 10:21.000 --> 10:24.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% on roe and abortion and that issue. So, it's going to be a fight. 10:24.300 --> 10:26.533 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Alcindor: Well, definitely more to talk about. Thank you so much 10:26.533 --> 10:29.500 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% to our panel for joining us and for sharing your reporting.