1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,070 ROBERT COSTA: Tonight, a special report inside the final days of this campaign. 2 00:00:06,070 --> 00:00:09,460 PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: (From video.) If I don't sound like a typical Washington 3 00:00:09,460 --> 00:00:14,250 politician, it's because I'm not a politician. 4 00:00:14,250 --> 00:00:16,790 FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN: (From video.) We need a president who's going to 5 00:00:16,790 --> 00:00:19,490 bring us together, not pull us apart. 6 00:00:19,490 --> 00:00:25,940 COSTA: The future of America on the line as record numbers vote early and outbreaks 7 00:00:25,940 --> 00:00:28,790 spike in key states. 8 00:00:28,790 --> 00:00:32,090 PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: (From video.) What's his closing argument? 9 00:00:32,090 --> 00:00:37,590 That people are too focused on COVID. He's jealous of COVID's media coverage. 10 00:00:37,590 --> 00:00:43,850 COSTA: Democrats hope for a revival of the Obama coalition and push into the South and 11 00:00:43,850 --> 00:00:48,150 Sun Belt, but it all could come down to Pennsylvania. 12 00:00:48,150 --> 00:00:52,130 JOANNE KOGOY: (From video.) What is Trump giving you? He's giving everything to the rich. 13 00:00:52,130 --> 00:00:55,880 TINA HAMILTON: (From video.) I think that he's more for America than anybody I can think of right now. 14 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:58,820 COSTA: Next. 15 00:00:58,820 --> 00:01:08,020 ANNOUNCER: This is Washington Week. Once again, from Washington, moderator Robert Costa. 16 00:01:08,020 --> 00:01:13,880 COSTA: Good evening and welcome to a special hourlong edition of Washington Week kicking 17 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:19,160 off the final weekend of a campaign that has left this nation tense and divided. 18 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:23,430 In our first half-hour we will discuss the latest on the fight for the White House and 19 00:01:23,430 --> 00:01:28,150 Congress, and in our second half-hour - which will be carried by many PBS stations - we 20 00:01:28,150 --> 00:01:31,490 will take you on a journey across Pennsylvania. 21 00:01:31,490 --> 00:01:36,460 But first we begin with three trusted reporters who have been friends of this program 22 00:01:36,460 --> 00:01:41,740 throughout the campaign: Kristen Welker, White House correspondent for NBC News and 23 00:01:41,740 --> 00:01:47,390 co-anchor of Weekend Today - she also served, as you know, as the steady and sharp 24 00:01:47,390 --> 00:01:53,580 moderator of that final presidential debate; Yamiche Alcindor, White House correspondent 25 00:01:53,580 --> 00:01:59,180 for the PBS NewsHour, and today we learned the winner of the National Association of 26 00:01:59,180 --> 00:02:04,830 Black Journalists Award for journalist of the year - congratulations, Yamiche; and Dan 27 00:02:04,830 --> 00:02:08,580 Balz, chief correspondent for The Washington Post. 28 00:02:08,580 --> 00:02:12,760 So glad to have you all here on this important Friday evening. 29 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:18,130 Let's begin with a quick listen to the closing arguments on the pandemic, which has 30 00:02:18,130 --> 00:02:25,850 killed nearly 230,000 Americans. And as case numbers spike, here is what they're saying. 31 00:02:25,850 --> 00:02:31,090 PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: (From video.) If you vote for Biden, it means no kids in school, 32 00:02:31,090 --> 00:02:35,990 no graduations, no weddings, no Thanksgiving, no Christmas. 33 00:02:35,990 --> 00:02:39,160 FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN: (From video.) I'm not going to shut down the 34 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:43,070 economy. I'm not going to shut down the country. But I am going to shut down the virus. 35 00:02:43,070 --> 00:02:46,660 PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: (From video.) COVID, COVID, COVID, COVID. 36 00:02:46,660 --> 00:02:49,990 By the way, on November 4th you won't hear about it anymore. 37 00:02:49,990 --> 00:02:54,350 FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN: (From video.) Dr. Fauci called last week for a mask 38 00:02:54,350 --> 00:03:00,030 mandate. This isn't a political statement; it's patriotic duty, for God's sake. 39 00:03:00,030 --> 00:03:05,050 COSTA: Kristen, when you're talking to your sources at the White House, do they believe 40 00:03:05,050 --> 00:03:10,030 the president's argument on the pandemic is breaking through or are swing voters, women 41 00:03:10,030 --> 00:03:13,050 in the suburbs not convinced? 42 00:03:13,050 --> 00:03:17,700 KRISTEN WELKER: Well, Bob, thanks for having me and thanks for that introduction. 43 00:03:17,700 --> 00:03:22,460 Look, I think there is some trepidation about President Trump trying to turn the page on 44 00:03:22,460 --> 00:03:26,860 the COVID crisis even among some of his closet advisors and allies. 45 00:03:26,860 --> 00:03:32,590 Yes, they acknowledge that they want him to try to project confidence, but they don't 46 00:03:32,590 --> 00:03:36,350 want him to appear out of step with the reality on the ground. 47 00:03:36,350 --> 00:03:40,500 And what are we seeing as we head into the final four days of this race? 48 00:03:40,500 --> 00:03:45,590 Cases of COVID spiking in key battleground states, Bob, and all across the country, 49 00:03:45,590 --> 00:03:50,250 frankly. They want his message to be clear. They want it to be targeted. They also 50 00:03:50,250 --> 00:03:55,320 want him to focus more on the economy. We got a strong report on the GDP growth earlier 51 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:58,630 this week. They want him to stay focused on that. 52 00:03:58,630 --> 00:04:02,830 As you know, he's spent a lot of time on the campaign trail in these key battleground 53 00:04:02,830 --> 00:04:07,790 states taking aim at some of his political rivals, and so not staying focused on what 54 00:04:07,790 --> 00:04:11,670 they think continues to be his strongest talking point, which is the economy. 55 00:04:11,670 --> 00:04:16,230 And I can tell you, I was out talking to voters and those who support him continue to go 56 00:04:16,230 --> 00:04:20,490 back to that argument. They say, look, we think ultimately he is going to be the 57 00:04:20,490 --> 00:04:24,650 best person for our bottom line, for our business, and so that's why his advisors 58 00:04:24,650 --> 00:04:28,510 want him to stay on track, want him to stay on message, Bob. 59 00:04:28,510 --> 00:04:32,360 COSTA: And Yamiche, you've spent a lot of time talking to voters in Florida, such a 60 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:35,560 critical state. What have you learned? 61 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:40,380 YAMICHE ALCINDOR: What I've learned is that if you're a supporter of President Trump 62 00:04:40,380 --> 00:04:44,770 then you get onboard with this idea that the coronavirus has had too much attention and 63 00:04:44,770 --> 00:04:49,080 it's occupying too much space in the media landscape. You get onboard with the idea 64 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:53,440 that even if you get the coronavirus that it's not that bad, that it won't kill you. 65 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:57,010 You get onboard with the idea that it's somewhat like the flu. 66 00:04:57,010 --> 00:05:00,690 What we do know, of course, as Kristen just said, is that the coronavirus is spiking all 67 00:05:00,690 --> 00:05:06,750 across the country; 47 states. Today we passed 9 million cases overall in the United States. 68 00:05:06,750 --> 00:05:10,380 So if you're a Trump supporter you're looking at those numbers and saying, well, those 69 00:05:10,380 --> 00:05:14,090 numbers are bad, but it doesn't matter who is president these numbers would still be bad. 70 00:05:14,090 --> 00:05:18,980 What I hear from supporters of Joe Biden is that they feel as though the president's 71 00:05:18,980 --> 00:05:22,650 message is callous. They think that it's ridiculous for the president to be walking 72 00:05:22,650 --> 00:05:26,050 around talking about the fact that he got the coronavirus and he's OK because, of 73 00:05:26,050 --> 00:05:29,360 course, he had access to some of the best medical care. 74 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:33,530 And I'm hearing from Biden supporters a real nervousness that also, when they look at the 75 00:05:33,530 --> 00:05:37,130 polls, that while they don't like the president's message - President Trump's message, 76 00:05:37,130 --> 00:05:40,820 they're worried that the person that they are supporting, Joe Biden, that he might not 77 00:05:40,820 --> 00:05:44,750 get the turnout needed in key battleground states like Florida, like Wisconsin, like 78 00:05:44,750 --> 00:05:48,310 Pennsylvania to make sure that this election goes his way. 79 00:05:48,310 --> 00:05:52,410 When you talk to supporters of the president, also the one thing that I'm really stuck by 80 00:05:52,410 --> 00:05:56,170 is the way that you view this election is really life or death and the way that you view 81 00:05:56,170 --> 00:05:59,700 the coronavirus, it goes hand in hand with the way that you view who you're voting and 82 00:05:59,700 --> 00:06:02,810 who you're supporting in this election. 83 00:06:02,810 --> 00:06:07,280 COSTA: Dan, those are high stakes. You study polls as closely as anyone. 84 00:06:07,280 --> 00:06:13,130 Is the Biden campaign nervous that the pandemic might not be the driver in terms of voter 85 00:06:13,130 --> 00:06:18,170 energy that they hoped in terms of getting swing voters and independent voters to listen 86 00:06:18,170 --> 00:06:20,910 closely to the vice president? 87 00:06:20,910 --> 00:06:26,290 DAN BALZ: I think, Bob - and first of all, let me just say congratulations to Kristen 88 00:06:26,290 --> 00:06:31,130 and to Yamiche. Those are - those are both wonderful things that they've done and I 89 00:06:31,130 --> 00:06:36,920 congratulate them. Back to the polls, I think the Biden campaign feels as though they 90 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:42,180 are in a good place, but given what happened in 2016 there has to be nervousness. 91 00:06:42,180 --> 00:06:48,380 If you talk to people around the Biden campaign, they express confidence but there are 92 00:06:48,380 --> 00:06:50,760 many Democrats who are nervous. 93 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:55,730 I talked to a Republican strategist today and he said, you know, in many ways if you look 94 00:06:55,730 --> 00:07:01,380 at the polling you could argue that this campaign is in pretty good hands for Biden to 95 00:07:01,380 --> 00:07:06,320 win it, and yet, he said, because of what happened in 2016 many people are unwilling to 96 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:11,090 do that. There is still a path for the president to win this, and so there's nervousness all 97 00:07:11,090 --> 00:07:17,650 around. But in the key states at this point, the Biden campaign feels as though 98 00:07:17,650 --> 00:07:23,600 they go into election day and with the early voting in a pretty decent position. 99 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:28,300 COSTA: Let's get into this idea of turnout on the Democratic side and energy. 100 00:07:28,300 --> 00:07:32,520 And one of the moments this week that really mattered in my notebook is when President Obama 101 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:39,360 returned to the campaign trail in Orlando, Florida, as Democrats try to revive the Obama coalition. 102 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:43,660 PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: (From video.) We've got to turn out like never before, Orlando. 103 00:07:43,660 --> 00:07:50,190 We have to leave no doubt. We can't be complacent. We were complacent last time. 104 00:07:50,190 --> 00:07:58,410 Folks got a little lazy, folks took things for granted, and look what happened. 105 00:07:58,410 --> 00:08:03,480 COSTA: Kristen, what does President Obama's reentry onto the scene mean for Democrats in 106 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:09,550 places like Philadelphia, your home city, and in places like Georgia in the Deep South? 107 00:08:09,550 --> 00:08:15,110 WELKER: Well, there's no one who energizes Democrats and, frankly, the coalition that 108 00:08:15,110 --> 00:08:21,500 put President Obama into office like Mr. Obama. He is the person who energizes the 109 00:08:21,500 --> 00:08:27,800 Democratic base, also brings together some independents, those suburban women that are 110 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:31,410 going to be so critical, that this election is ultimately going to turn on. 111 00:08:31,410 --> 00:08:36,660 And don't forget he is the best character witness for Joe Biden, and so he is there 112 00:08:36,660 --> 00:08:41,950 taking aim at President Trump in ways that we have not seen, frankly, until he has hit 113 00:08:41,950 --> 00:08:47,550 the trail in recent days, and really serving to underscore Biden's key point, which is 114 00:08:47,550 --> 00:08:51,380 that he thinks he's going to be better at fighting COVID-19. 115 00:08:51,380 --> 00:08:56,790 So this is going to be critical, particularly as we are seeing rates of early voting that 116 00:08:56,790 --> 00:09:02,720 we did not see in 2016 - Democrats outpacing Republicans, that is what you would expect. 117 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:07,450 So the question is going to be, can Republicans match that turnout and beat it on 118 00:09:07,450 --> 00:09:12,400 election day? Democrats are feeling confident though about these early numbers. 119 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:16,920 It's worth noting that by election day, Bob, we're expecting two-thirds of the expected 120 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:21,880 electorate to have already voted. That is significant. The question is, where are 121 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:25,750 those votes going? But undoubtably former President Obama is going to be significant 122 00:09:25,750 --> 00:09:29,170 in terms of energizing that coalition of voters to the polls. 123 00:09:29,170 --> 00:09:32,560 COSTA: And what about that Bernie Sanders coalition, Yamiche? 124 00:09:32,560 --> 00:09:36,020 You've covered Senator Sanders for years. 125 00:09:36,020 --> 00:09:39,280 I noticed Senator Harris, Vice President Biden's running mate, has been campaigning with 126 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:44,440 him this week. Are the Sanders voters going to come out, based on your reporting? 127 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:51,580 ALCINDOR: Based on my reporting the Sanders voters see Joe Biden as a more palatable 128 00:09:51,580 --> 00:09:56,290 person that they can back, as opposed to Hillary Clinton in 2016. We saw a real 129 00:09:56,290 --> 00:10:01,950 anti-Hillary Clinton sentiment among former Biden - former Sanders supporters, rather. 130 00:10:01,950 --> 00:10:05,420 They were people that never really got on board with Hillary Clinton. 131 00:10:05,420 --> 00:10:09,280 I'm not seeing that same feeling when it talk to former Sanders supporters. 132 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:12,980 I was in Miami talking to a young Black man who said: I'm voting for Joe Biden. 133 00:10:12,980 --> 00:10:15,690 I'm not enthusiastic. He wasn't my first pick. 134 00:10:15,690 --> 00:10:19,580 I was really hoping Bernie would get in there, that he would be able to have a more 135 00:10:19,580 --> 00:10:23,300 progressive tone, that the Democratic Party would go more to the AOC wing with the Green 136 00:10:23,300 --> 00:10:26,530 New Deal and banning fracking, and all sorts of things. 137 00:10:26,530 --> 00:10:31,060 That being said, the voters, especially in the Democratic Party, they see President 138 00:10:31,060 --> 00:10:34,390 Trump as an existential threat. They see him as a threat to democracy. 139 00:10:34,390 --> 00:10:38,080 They also see him as a threat to their daily lives, when you think about not only the 140 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:41,950 coronavirus but also police killings and criminal justice in this country. 141 00:10:41,950 --> 00:10:46,700 So my feeling on the ground is that the progressives are more energized by Joe Biden than 142 00:10:46,700 --> 00:10:49,040 they were Hillary Clinton. 143 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:52,900 The big question, of course, is can Joe Biden run up the numbers enough so that the 144 00:10:52,900 --> 00:10:56,460 coalition that he built - which will likely be different from the coalition from Hillary 145 00:10:56,460 --> 00:11:01,190 Clinton and Barack Obama - can he build a coalition that outpaces the coalition that 146 00:11:01,190 --> 00:11:03,700 we're seeing in the Trump campaign. 147 00:11:03,700 --> 00:11:07,010 The Trump campaign feels very good about their numbers when it comes to places like 148 00:11:07,010 --> 00:11:10,980 Florida. They feel like they can run up White non-college educated Americans. 149 00:11:10,980 --> 00:11:15,620 Suburban women they still feel good about. But the big question is, can they turn out 150 00:11:15,620 --> 00:11:19,950 the Trump coalition that came out in 2016 again? And of course, that is the big question. 151 00:11:19,950 --> 00:11:24,760 COSTA: Dan you've written a column this week about Wisconsin, and Michigan, and the 152 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:29,830 Midwest. What is the outlook there? We see this blizzard of polling, but what 153 00:11:29,830 --> 00:11:35,140 is your veteran perspective on what's going on in the Midwest? 154 00:11:35,140 --> 00:11:41,190 BALZ: Well, Bob, those are the three keys to this election. There are many states in play. 155 00:11:41,190 --> 00:11:47,050 There's a lot of competition in a lot of places. But I think most people believe that 156 00:11:47,050 --> 00:11:50,620 this race is likely to come down to those three states. 157 00:11:50,620 --> 00:11:55,860 If the president is able to hold everything in the South that he won before, wins again 158 00:11:55,860 --> 00:12:01,430 in Ohio and Iowa, both of which are competitive but which he won pretty easily last time, 159 00:12:01,430 --> 00:12:05,530 then those three states that you mentioned are the keys to the outcome. 160 00:12:05,530 --> 00:12:12,540 Throughout the fall Vice President Biden has held a lead - a lead of four points, five 161 00:12:12,540 --> 00:12:17,150 points, six points, eight points - you look at different polls they're in different 162 00:12:17,150 --> 00:12:20,530 places. But he's held a fairly steady lead. 163 00:12:20,530 --> 00:12:24,100 But it is not necessarily an insurmountable lead, because we don't know what the 164 00:12:24,100 --> 00:12:27,720 composition of the electorate ultimately is going to be like. 165 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:32,030 We've all been poring over these early vote numbers, trying to - you know, trying to 166 00:12:32,030 --> 00:12:36,440 read clues, and get signs and signals. But it's very difficult, because we don't 167 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:41,080 know what's left among the people who haven't voted and how they're going to break. 168 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:46,330 We assume that the election day vote will be much more heavily in favor of President Trump. 169 00:12:46,330 --> 00:12:50,580 We know that the early vote in many places has been more heavily in favor of Biden. 170 00:12:50,580 --> 00:12:56,710 But in those three states, this is - these could be close, or Biden might have a lead 171 00:12:56,710 --> 00:13:01,800 that's sustainable and gets him through. The other thing to know about those states 172 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:05,500 is that none of them is likely to have full results on the night of the election. 173 00:13:05,500 --> 00:13:10,630 They have a lot of unprocessed mail ballots that will take hours and perhaps days before 174 00:13:10,630 --> 00:13:13,060 they're fully counted. 175 00:13:13,060 --> 00:13:17,860 COSTA: Dan, just to be clear, you're talking about Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan. 176 00:13:17,860 --> 00:13:22,070 BALZ: Correct, yes. Those three states. None of them - none of them can begin to 177 00:13:22,070 --> 00:13:26,800 process until Michigan on Monday and the other two on Tuesday. 178 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:31,180 So it will be a slow process. Everybody needs to be patient. 179 00:13:31,180 --> 00:13:36,320 COSTA: Let's talk about that point, because the courts, they are the cloud over all of this. 180 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:41,700 And Judge Amy Coney Barrett this week became Justice Barrett, as the Senate confirmed her 181 00:13:41,700 --> 00:13:47,590 on a 52 to 48 vote. Democrats remain outraged about that process, but Majority Leader 182 00:13:47,590 --> 00:13:52,120 Mitch McConnell has certainly been taking a victory lap. Justice Barrett has not yet 183 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:57,890 participated in election cases. But that could change in the coming weeks amid the 184 00:13:57,890 --> 00:14:04,530 court challenges referenced by Dan on vote counts. Kristen, when you look at the 185 00:14:04,530 --> 00:14:09,880 court challenges on the horizon, what's the preparation going on in both parties? 186 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:15,080 WELKER: Oh, boy, a lot of preparation, that is for sure. And of course, questions to 187 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:20,890 Justice Amy Coney Barrett, would she recuse herself, and she's declined to answer that question. 188 00:14:20,890 --> 00:14:27,930 But that alone could energize voters to come out, and perhaps the president's supporters 189 00:14:27,930 --> 00:14:33,620 to turn out. But we do know that both campaigns already have a robust effort in these 190 00:14:33,620 --> 00:14:39,270 critical states. They are ready if and when there are legal challenges to meet those 191 00:14:39,270 --> 00:14:44,530 legal challenges. And again, they are underscoring to voters that the key here is patience. 192 00:14:44,530 --> 00:14:49,370 I have to tell you, I spent time in Florida this week as well, in Tampa, and of course 193 00:14:49,370 --> 00:14:54,890 that is a part of a critical swing district. And I spoke with election officials there. 194 00:14:54,890 --> 00:14:58,900 And what's significant about Florida, of course, is that they are already counting those 195 00:14:58,900 --> 00:15:03,330 early votes. And so they say it is likely we will know the results of Florida if not on 196 00:15:03,330 --> 00:15:09,020 election night, soon thereafter. That is a big, big prize with its 29 electoral votes. 197 00:15:09,020 --> 00:15:13,750 But in those other critical states, that is where the action is going to be. 198 00:15:13,750 --> 00:15:16,860 And both sides say they're ready for it. 199 00:15:16,860 --> 00:15:20,040 COSTA: Yamiche, I spoke to Jim Clyburn, the House majority whip, this week. 200 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:24,640 And he expressed a lot of concern about voter suppression in his state of South Carolina. 201 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:29,360 Jamie Harrison, the Democrat, trying to topple incumbent Lindsey Graham, the long-time 202 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:35,160 Republican senator. You track voter suppression around the country, what are activist groups 203 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:41,110 and Democratic leaders saying behind the scenes about what they're detecting on the ground? 204 00:15:41,110 --> 00:15:46,770 ALCINDOR: Well, there's a lot of nervousness about voter suppression, especially looking 205 00:15:46,770 --> 00:15:50,320 at states like South Carolina, looking at states like Georgia. 206 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:55,990 People are very worried that the Republican legislatures - which of course are many and 207 00:15:55,990 --> 00:16:01,730 plentiful in this country - that they will somehow find a way to have legislation as well 208 00:16:01,730 --> 00:16:06,590 as backing of voter suppression efforts. They're very worried that there are polling 209 00:16:06,590 --> 00:16:10,250 stations that are going to be closed. They're very worried about long lines. 210 00:16:10,250 --> 00:16:14,260 People have faced hours - sometimes four hours, six hours - to vote in this country. 211 00:16:14,260 --> 00:16:20,500 Republicans have been the party that historically has had the most voter suppression in 212 00:16:20,500 --> 00:16:25,380 terms of allegations. We all remember that North Carolina judge saying that in that 213 00:16:25,380 --> 00:16:32,420 state Republicans targeted Black voters with surgical precision to try to suppress 214 00:16:32,420 --> 00:16:36,420 their vote. So I think there's a lot of nervousness among Democrats. That's why you've 215 00:16:36,420 --> 00:16:42,600 heard Joe Biden say, as well as Michelle Obama, as well as Barack Obama, vote early. Make a plan. 216 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:47,580 Because Democrats understand that they might be up against voter suppression efforts, and 217 00:16:47,580 --> 00:16:51,420 they want an electorate that understands that this is an election that they want to see a 218 00:16:51,420 --> 00:16:55,320 blowout with, because any sort of issues with voter suppression, any sort of close 219 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:59,250 elections, that makes people very, very nervous. That makes people feel like there 220 00:16:59,250 --> 00:17:05,190 might be litigation. As Kristen said very smartly, both campaigns have amassed numbers 221 00:17:05,190 --> 00:17:10,460 of lawyers to get ready for this. The RNC telling me just tonight that they have 222 00:17:10,460 --> 00:17:14,150 $20 million set aside already for legal battles ahead. 223 00:17:14,150 --> 00:17:17,780 So what you see is both campaigns being very, very nervous. 224 00:17:17,780 --> 00:17:21,480 But on the Democratic side in particularly being nervous about voter suppression. 225 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:25,160 COSTA: Dan, when we all wake up on Wednesday morning - we may end up staying up all 226 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:30,460 night, of course - what's your outlook for the U.S. Senate majority and the U.S. House? 227 00:17:30,460 --> 00:17:34,590 Does it remain in Democratic hands in the House and in Republican hands in the Senate? 228 00:17:34,590 --> 00:17:38,290 I mean, you look at some of these Senate races, Dan, like Michigan, very tight up there, 229 00:17:38,290 --> 00:17:42,580 Montana pretty tight, South Carolina also in the mix. 230 00:17:42,580 --> 00:17:48,760 BALZ: Bob, I think everybody believes that the Democrats will continue to hold the 231 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:53,380 House and might in fact add to their majority in the House. In the Senate, Republicans 232 00:17:53,380 --> 00:17:57,830 are quite nervous about their ability to hold onto their majority. 233 00:17:57,830 --> 00:18:03,580 There are several races that they have pretty much given up on - Colorado being one, 234 00:18:03,580 --> 00:18:10,180 Arizona being another. We know that in Maine Senator Collins is in real trouble. 235 00:18:10,180 --> 00:18:14,430 We know that in Iowa Senator Joni Ernst is in trouble. 236 00:18:14,430 --> 00:18:18,980 There are - there are any number of races - and there are two in Georgia that look very 237 00:18:18,980 --> 00:18:23,600 close at this point and are likely to, one or both, go into a run-off. 238 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:28,930 So I think at this point Republicans are fearful that the majority that they have will 239 00:18:28,930 --> 00:18:32,780 disappear on election night. But it's certainly not a given. 240 00:18:32,780 --> 00:18:38,180 COSTA: And, Kristen, it appears the president's running his own campaign. He was there 241 00:18:38,180 --> 00:18:42,820 in Arizona with Senator McSally. He brought her on stage for what seemed like a minute, 242 00:18:42,820 --> 00:18:47,910 and then she got off the stage. She of course had a moment at a debate a few weeks ago 243 00:18:47,910 --> 00:18:53,110 where she wasn't clear when she was asked whether she is proud to stand with President Trump. 244 00:18:53,110 --> 00:18:59,600 WELKER: Well, absolutely, and all of those senators who are in tough spots are being 245 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:05,540 pressed on what they think about President Trump's handling of the COVID crisis, and so 246 00:19:05,540 --> 00:19:09,790 that has created some real tensions. And I think that moment that you reference 247 00:19:09,790 --> 00:19:13,640 underscores exactly what we are seeing in these key races. 248 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:18,420 Here the president had her on stage - barely a ringing endorsement from President Trump 249 00:19:18,420 --> 00:19:22,620 for her. She was just there for a minute, as you say. 250 00:19:22,620 --> 00:19:29,010 And so it just speaks to how precarious some of these seats actually are. 251 00:19:29,010 --> 00:19:34,420 You talk about Georgia and that race between John Ossoff and Perdue, for example. Those are 252 00:19:34,420 --> 00:19:38,760 one of the - that's one of the races that undoubtedly is going to drive turnout in that state. 253 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:43,480 That's one of the reasons that you saw Biden campaigning there earlier this week; not 254 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:49,380 just because he believes he potentially could pull off a win in reliably red Georgia, but 255 00:19:49,380 --> 00:19:55,310 also because he wants to drive up the turnout for those critical Senate races in that state. 256 00:19:55,310 --> 00:19:59,660 COSTA: Let's do a lightning round. We're on the eve of the election - at least Washington Week - 257 00:19:59,660 --> 00:20:06,180 a few days before the election. Yamiche, what will you be watching on election night? 258 00:20:06,180 --> 00:20:10,270 ALCINDOR: Since we're coming to a close, the first thing I just want to say is I'm so 259 00:20:10,270 --> 00:20:13,520 excited to be on this panel, especially with you and Kristen. 260 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:18,510 So I will be watching all of you covering this race because I feel like all of you have 261 00:20:18,510 --> 00:20:22,450 just, I think, really approached this with such grace and such smartness. 262 00:20:22,450 --> 00:20:26,930 That being said, I'm going to be watching this because I feel it's a race about how 263 00:20:26,930 --> 00:20:31,090 people are feeling about the empathy that people are feeling because this is a race that 264 00:20:31,090 --> 00:20:34,760 is really life and death. When I was talking to voters, it's not about policies and 265 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:38,230 about the different political platforms, it's about whether or not people feel like 266 00:20:38,230 --> 00:20:41,570 whoever they are supporting will help them survive and thrive in this. 267 00:20:41,570 --> 00:20:44,470 That's something that's different from past elections that I've seen. 268 00:20:44,470 --> 00:20:49,000 So I'm going to really be watching how people emotionally react to all that's going on, 269 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:54,010 and how people tell people about how they voted, and how they made their decisions based 270 00:20:54,010 --> 00:20:57,340 on their hearts and minds rather than on policy. 271 00:20:57,340 --> 00:21:01,560 COSTA: Kristen, you will be part of NBC's special coverage on election night starting at 272 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:05,390 7:00 p.m. Eastern. What will you be watching? 273 00:21:05,390 --> 00:21:09,950 WELKER: Well, Bob, and I return the compliment to Yamiche and all of you - looking forward to 274 00:21:09,950 --> 00:21:17,060 seeing all of your coverage. I'm going to be watching to see what the Latino turnout will be. 275 00:21:17,060 --> 00:21:22,780 There has been so much focus in these closing days on trying to drive up the Latino vote. 276 00:21:22,780 --> 00:21:27,080 We just saw Vice President Biden announce that, if in fact he is elected, he's going to 277 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:32,770 form a taskforce on day one to try to reunite those children - some 500 children who are 278 00:21:32,770 --> 00:21:38,230 separated from their parents under President Trump's "zero tolerance" policy, it's a 279 00:21:38,230 --> 00:21:41,800 policy that has been reversed, but there are still those hundreds of children that haven't 280 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:46,030 been reunited with their families. Was it too late to announce that type of initiative? 281 00:21:46,030 --> 00:21:51,490 Or will it have an impact? The Latino vote is going to be so critical in a number of 282 00:21:51,490 --> 00:21:56,580 these states, particularly in the Sun Belt - Florida; also states like Arizona. So that 283 00:21:56,580 --> 00:22:02,660 could make a big difference in terms of who winds up pulling out a win in these critical states. 284 00:22:02,660 --> 00:22:06,590 COSTA: Dan Balz, what will you be watching? 285 00:22:06,590 --> 00:22:10,910 BALZ: Well, Bob, in addition to watching the main battlegrounds like everybody in this 286 00:22:10,910 --> 00:22:15,810 panel tonight and everybody around the country, I'm going to be watching Texas. 287 00:22:15,810 --> 00:22:19,570 Texas is a fascinating story this year. We don't know how it's going to come out. 288 00:22:19,570 --> 00:22:23,140 I think at this point you have to say President Trump would still be the favorite. 289 00:22:23,140 --> 00:22:26,660 But there has been an amazing amount of early voting in that state. 290 00:22:26,660 --> 00:22:32,110 Texas passed nine million early votes yesterday, continuing to add to it. 291 00:22:32,110 --> 00:22:37,990 They have already had more people vote early than who voted in all of the 2016 election. 292 00:22:37,990 --> 00:22:44,820 Every major urban county, with only a couple of exceptions, has already surpassed its 293 00:22:44,820 --> 00:22:50,590 2016 total vote, and the ones that haven't will be there certainly within a day or two or 294 00:22:50,590 --> 00:22:56,350 three. So what is going on in Texas is the transformation that we're seeing across 295 00:22:56,350 --> 00:23:00,570 other places in the Sun Belt - Arizona and Georgia being part of it. 296 00:23:00,570 --> 00:23:06,100 There's a demographic change. There's economic growth. There's influx of new people. 297 00:23:06,100 --> 00:23:10,600 There's the changing suburban vote that we're seeing in other places around the country 298 00:23:10,600 --> 00:23:16,240 that's also affecting Texas. So this has turned a state that Donald Trump won by nine 299 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:21,140 points four years ago and that other Republicans have won by double digits for many, 300 00:23:21,140 --> 00:23:25,690 many years now being a competitive state. And if you talk to people on both 301 00:23:25,690 --> 00:23:29,800 sides, as I've done today, they each believe that they can win. 302 00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:35,090 COSTA: And what I'll be watching as a reporter is what President Trump says. 303 00:23:35,090 --> 00:23:40,930 Does he declare victory or not as many states still wait for the count of their vote? 304 00:23:40,930 --> 00:23:46,030 How does he handle this crossroads for him politically, personally, someone who cares so 305 00:23:46,030 --> 00:23:49,920 much about his brand? It's something to watch on election night at a critical moment 306 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:53,200 for democracy. But we'll have to leave it there for now. 307 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:57,690 Many thanks to our reporters: Kristen Welker, Yamiche Alcindor and Dan Balz. 308 00:23:57,690 --> 00:24:03,990 And after a quick break, we will continue our special tonight on many PBS stations, and 309 00:24:03,990 --> 00:24:10,660 go deep into the battleground of Pennsylvania. I'm Robert Costa. See you soon. 310 00:24:10,660 --> 00:24:13,010 (Break.) 311 00:24:13,010 --> 00:24:19,010 COSTA: Inside battleground Pennsylvania with the voters who could decide it all. 312 00:24:19,010 --> 00:24:25,210 Will President Trump stun the political world once again, or will Vice President Biden 313 00:24:25,210 --> 00:24:31,260 win the state and the White House? The pandemic, of course, is a key issue. 314 00:24:31,260 --> 00:24:35,390 ELIZABETH PARKER: (From video.) It was political for our president from the very beginning. 315 00:24:35,390 --> 00:24:40,060 COSTA: But so are debates on rights and race. 316 00:24:40,060 --> 00:24:42,720 MICAH REAM: (From video.) He has been one of the most pro-life presidents of our generation. 317 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:46,010 ZOE STURGES: (From video.) I would like police officers removed from Philadelphia schools. 318 00:24:46,010 --> 00:24:49,750 COSTA: And the economy, it hovers over everything. 319 00:24:49,750 --> 00:24:55,130 GUY BERKEBILE: (From video.) My company has lost literally dozens of jobs to the Chinese. 320 00:24:55,130 --> 00:24:57,700 JOANNE KOGOY: (From video.) The working man is getting nothing. 321 00:24:57,700 --> 00:25:01,330 COSTA: Coming up on Washington Week's Special Report. 322 00:25:01,330 --> 00:25:11,610 ANNOUNCER: This is Washington Week. Once again, from Washington, moderator Robert Costa. 323 00:25:11,610 --> 00:25:15,630 COSTA: Good evening and welcome to this special edition of Washington Week. 324 00:25:15,630 --> 00:25:20,290 We'll soon be joined by Kristen Welker, White House correspondent for NBC News. 325 00:25:20,290 --> 00:25:25,970 But first we begin a reporting journey into a state that's more critical than ever: 326 00:25:25,970 --> 00:25:30,780 Pennsylvania. Its voters have been courted in recent days and at the center of the 327 00:25:30,780 --> 00:25:35,790 nation's debate over voting rights amid a pandemic. The Supreme Court has even weighed 328 00:25:35,790 --> 00:25:40,800 in, allowing some mail-in ballots to be counted up to three days after election day. 329 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:45,440 But tonight's trek, it's what we call a follow in the newsroom - a follow of the story I 330 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:49,040 published four years ago in The Washington Post. 331 00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:54,350 I drove across my home state to hear from voters in small towns and cities, and those 332 00:25:54,350 --> 00:25:58,930 exchanges revealed so much. They hinted at President Trump's coming victory. 333 00:25:58,930 --> 00:26:05,180 So this year I decided to go back, linked remotely this time by a camera crew, and we 334 00:26:05,180 --> 00:26:11,380 begin in western Pennsylvania - starting in the same place as last time. 335 00:26:11,380 --> 00:26:22,950 Aliquippa was a thriving steel town until the J&L Mill closed in the 1980s. 336 00:26:22,950 --> 00:26:29,460 Now downtown is almost deserted, a union hamlet that went for Hillary Clinton, but it's 337 00:26:29,460 --> 00:26:36,050 nestled in a county won by Trump and it's the kind of place Biden needs to do well - but 338 00:26:36,050 --> 00:26:41,610 it won't be easy. John, it's good to see you. It's been four years. John Rita's father 339 00:26:41,610 --> 00:26:46,660 and two uncles worked at the steel plant, and so did he for a while. He told me in 340 00:26:46,660 --> 00:26:52,200 2016 that he was skeptical of Trump, but this time around he's leaning toward the president. 341 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:57,110 JOHN RITA: (From video.) I'm leaning towards Trump because he's got a pulse on 342 00:26:57,110 --> 00:27:01,130 everything. I mean, he's rude, he's crude, he's obnoxious, but you know what? 343 00:27:01,130 --> 00:27:06,060 Biden, he's just - he's just there. He said he's from Scranton, but I don't know. 344 00:27:06,060 --> 00:27:10,480 COSTA: John credits Trump with improving the economy here, which includes a new plastic 345 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:17,320 plant on the banks of the Ohio River, and he worries the Democrats' drift left could pull Biden along. 346 00:27:17,320 --> 00:27:21,050 JOHN RITA: (From video.) He wants to give everybody free hospitalization, free college. 347 00:27:21,050 --> 00:27:23,390 Hey, man, nothing's for free. 348 00:27:23,390 --> 00:27:28,800 COSTA: But Aliquippa's mayor, Dwan Walker, backs Biden and says many here won't buy the 349 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:33,870 president's populist pitch again. Mayor, when I was driving through your city four 350 00:27:33,870 --> 00:27:38,220 years ago I heard a lot about China, I heard a lot about trade. 351 00:27:38,220 --> 00:27:42,130 President Trump convinced many people in that region on that front. 352 00:27:42,130 --> 00:27:45,700 Do you believe he could do the same again in 2020? 353 00:27:45,700 --> 00:27:48,530 ALIQUIPPA, PA MAYOR DWAN WALKER: (From video.) Listen, there's people sitting in bars 354 00:27:48,530 --> 00:27:52,260 right now in Aliquippa hoping the steel mills come back, but to say that you will be the 355 00:27:52,260 --> 00:27:55,320 one person that bring it back, nah, you set the bar too high for that. 356 00:27:55,320 --> 00:27:57,430 You made a promise you could not keep. 357 00:27:57,430 --> 00:28:00,650 COSTA: The economic drivers in the region are health care and energy, including 358 00:28:00,650 --> 00:28:04,840 fracking. Both parties claim credit for the new jobs. Chris, you voted for 359 00:28:04,840 --> 00:28:09,800 President Trump in 2016 and plan to do so again in 2020. Why? 360 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:13,540 CHRISTOPHER BRETT: (From video.) What I've seen over the last, you know, three years has 361 00:28:13,540 --> 00:28:17,820 been a tremendous transformation. This was all dilapidated in the late '70s and early '80s, 362 00:28:17,820 --> 00:28:22,420 but when you drive by here, hiring, hiring, hiring - and even, you know, with the pandemic. 363 00:28:22,420 --> 00:28:27,350 COSTA: Elizabeth Parker didn't vote in 2016. She thought Clinton was a shoo-in. 364 00:28:27,350 --> 00:28:30,530 This time the pandemic is top of mind. 365 00:28:30,530 --> 00:28:34,990 ELIZABETH PARKER: (From video.) I'm a hospice nurse, and I think the saddest part of 366 00:28:34,990 --> 00:28:39,660 this pandemic is that it hasn't been controlled and it's been let loose. 367 00:28:39,660 --> 00:28:42,050 COSTA: Do you blame President Trump? 368 00:28:42,050 --> 00:28:46,010 ELIZABETH PARKER: (From video.) I blame the rhetoric that is used right now. 369 00:28:46,010 --> 00:28:50,610 It's almost cult-like the way his supporters are acting. 370 00:28:50,610 --> 00:28:53,960 PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: (From video.) All I know is I took something, whatever the hell 371 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:59,220 it was, I felt good very quickly. I don't know what it was, antibodies - antibodies. 372 00:28:59,220 --> 00:29:04,420 I don't know. I took it and I said I felt like Superman. 373 00:29:04,420 --> 00:29:07,850 FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN: (From video.) He says it is what it is. 374 00:29:07,850 --> 00:29:11,490 Well, it is what it is because he is who he is. 375 00:29:11,490 --> 00:29:20,540 COSTA: Next stop, Pittsburgh. Long known for football's Steelers and steel, it's 376 00:29:20,540 --> 00:29:24,950 been known in recent years as a hub for tech and medical innovation. 377 00:29:24,950 --> 00:29:31,500 But on the north side, which I visited in 2016, many were struggling then and now. 378 00:29:31,500 --> 00:29:39,310 JACQUELINE THOMAS: (From video.) I'm going to vote for Joe because I think he's wonderful and honest. 379 00:29:39,310 --> 00:29:43,320 COSTA: And Black Lives Matter matters here. 380 00:29:43,320 --> 00:29:47,060 HAROLD WOOD II: (From video.) Pittsburgh has a problem. You've got policemen who 381 00:29:47,060 --> 00:29:52,320 only live in a certain area. How the hell are you going to communicate with people 382 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:56,800 that you say you live in Pittsburgh with but you don't know their neighborhood? 383 00:29:56,800 --> 00:30:01,460 VERNICE JOHNSON: (From video.) Well, to me Trump is - I'm just going to say it - to me 384 00:30:01,460 --> 00:30:05,080 he seems like he's for the rich and famous, and he's racist. 385 00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:09,220 COSTA: Dr. Benjamin Davies lives in a Squirrel Hill section right near the Tree of 386 00:30:09,220 --> 00:30:13,970 Life Synagogue, where 11 people were murdered in 2018. 387 00:30:13,970 --> 00:30:20,220 Some voters here say the president's rhetoric on immigration fueled the violence. 388 00:30:20,220 --> 00:30:22,800 PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: (From video.) This is an invasion. 389 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:26,590 BENJAMIN DAVIES: (From video.) It does bring up that issue that people are really more 390 00:30:26,590 --> 00:30:33,030 able to express racist propaganda. That day still is just - makes me nauseous, and in 391 00:30:33,030 --> 00:30:39,250 fact three of my patients passed away. So yeah, I mean, I still - people still walk 392 00:30:39,250 --> 00:30:43,320 around with that haze, you know, from that event. 393 00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:47,310 FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN: (From video.) There is no place for hate in America. 394 00:30:47,310 --> 00:30:50,030 REGINA DONAHUE: (From video.) Christopher, oh, yes! 395 00:30:50,030 --> 00:30:53,930 COSTA: For Regina Donahue, the abortion debate is front and center. 396 00:30:53,930 --> 00:30:59,140 A mother of five and a Catholic, she was troubled by Trump's character in 2016 but voted 397 00:30:59,140 --> 00:31:02,250 for him anyway, and she'll do it again. 398 00:31:02,250 --> 00:31:05,960 REGINA DONAHUE: (From video.) I'm a pro-life feminist and I believe that the Trump 399 00:31:05,960 --> 00:31:10,610 administration is - it believes that America is capable of providing women with the 400 00:31:10,610 --> 00:31:13,790 resources that they need to choose life. 401 00:31:13,790 --> 00:31:21,570 COSTA: Next stop, Somerset County - Trump country. 402 00:31:21,570 --> 00:31:25,820 VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE: (From video.) It is great to be here in Somerset. 403 00:31:25,820 --> 00:31:29,150 REPORTER: (From video.) Vice President Mike Pence greeted hundreds of people at the Guy 404 00:31:29,150 --> 00:31:31,900 Chemical facility in Somerset. 405 00:31:31,900 --> 00:31:35,810 COSTA: Guy Berkebile is a Trump supporter. He's actually the Guy in Guy Chemical 406 00:31:35,810 --> 00:31:40,280 and says manufacturers like him are being hurt by China. 407 00:31:40,280 --> 00:31:43,990 GUY BERKEBILE: (From video.) These are the unfair trade practices that we've been seeing 408 00:31:43,990 --> 00:31:48,160 for years and no one did anything about until President Trump came into office. 409 00:31:48,160 --> 00:31:53,460 COSTA: Guy, one thing I noticed when I was driving around Pennsylvania in 2016 is 410 00:31:53,460 --> 00:31:59,520 sometimes it would take me two to three to even four questions to get a person to reveal 411 00:31:59,520 --> 00:32:03,220 their support for then-candidate Trump. 412 00:32:03,220 --> 00:32:08,290 Do you believe those so-called quiet supporters are there again in Pennsylvania? 413 00:32:08,290 --> 00:32:11,800 GUY BERKEBILE: (From video.) Yes, and I believe the silent majority is here in 414 00:32:11,800 --> 00:32:16,430 Pennsylvania and we believe in law and order. What a lot of the Trump supporters are afraid 415 00:32:16,430 --> 00:32:21,560 of is retaliation, that somebody's going to come up and smack them against the head. 416 00:32:21,560 --> 00:32:26,880 COSTA: Mike Ream is a 20-year-old Evangelical Christian who is voting for Trump. 417 00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:29,400 What about his character, Mike? 418 00:32:29,400 --> 00:32:32,650 MICAH REAM: (From video.) Some of the things he says, some of the actions he does in his 419 00:32:32,650 --> 00:32:36,890 personal life I may not condone, but to me that's not a key issue for a public servant. 420 00:32:36,890 --> 00:32:39,530 It's really his actions, not what he says. 421 00:32:39,530 --> 00:32:45,490 COSTA: But in western PA there is also Democratic outrage over the Republican rush to install a 422 00:32:45,490 --> 00:32:51,020 new justice on the bench. What went through your mind when you heard Justice Ginsburg had died? 423 00:32:51,020 --> 00:32:55,330 ERIN SHIFFLETT: (From video.) It was a moment of profound sadness and then followed 424 00:32:55,330 --> 00:32:58,050 quickly by a moment of profound fear. 425 00:32:58,050 --> 00:33:02,000 My concern is that any justice that is put through by this administration will be a 426 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:07,330 conservative justice who is not going to interpret the law appropriately, but instead 427 00:33:07,330 --> 00:33:12,470 will make sure that the ideals of this administration will be fulfilled. 428 00:33:12,470 --> 00:33:18,250 COSTA: And we met Everett Sechler. A former schoolteacher and tree tapper, he makes his 429 00:33:18,250 --> 00:33:23,690 own syrup. Everett, you supported President Trump in 2016. Are you going to support him again? 430 00:33:23,690 --> 00:33:26,030 EVERETT SECHLER: (From video.) I certainly am. 431 00:33:26,030 --> 00:33:27,730 COSTA: Why? 432 00:33:27,730 --> 00:33:31,510 EVERETT SECHLER: (From video.) The present-day Democratic Party should be honest with 433 00:33:31,510 --> 00:33:34,800 Americans and change their name to the Socialist Party. 434 00:33:34,800 --> 00:33:39,250 COSTA: Everett, Vice President Biden keeps telling voters he's a pretty down-the-middle 435 00:33:39,250 --> 00:33:41,430 Democrat. You don't buy it? 436 00:33:41,430 --> 00:33:43,800 EVERETT SECHLER: (From video.) I don't buy it. 437 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:49,250 We know that Bernie Sanders and AOC is going to lead him around by the nose. 438 00:33:49,250 --> 00:33:52,590 PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: (From video.) He has handed control to the socialists and 439 00:33:52,590 --> 00:33:54,930 Marxists and left-wing extremists. 440 00:33:54,930 --> 00:33:57,700 FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN: (From video.) I'm running as a proud Democrat, but 441 00:33:57,700 --> 00:34:00,980 I'm going to govern as an American president. 442 00:34:00,980 --> 00:34:08,310 COSTA: Our final stop out west was to Rick Telesz's soybean farm in Volant. 443 00:34:08,310 --> 00:34:14,560 Rick voted for Trump in 2016. He says the trade war with China has hurt soybean farmers. 444 00:34:14,560 --> 00:34:19,480 He has not only decided to switch his vote, but went so far as to appear at the 445 00:34:19,480 --> 00:34:22,290 Democratic National Convention. 446 00:34:22,290 --> 00:34:25,950 RICK TELESZ: (From video.) Past experience is if something doesn't work for you it's 447 00:34:25,950 --> 00:34:29,650 time for a change, and that's why I'm supporting Joe Biden all the way. 448 00:34:29,650 --> 00:34:34,940 I'll tell you, Donald Trump, whenever he campaigned in '16, he gave us a hell of a sales 449 00:34:34,940 --> 00:34:41,790 pitch, promised us a lot of changes, everything positive, and I see nothing positive come 450 00:34:41,790 --> 00:34:47,010 from his administration over the years. So yeah, I mean, to me Joe Biden's an easy choice. 451 00:34:47,010 --> 00:34:52,890 COSTA: Joining me is Kristen Welker, White House correspondent for NBC News and 452 00:34:52,890 --> 00:34:58,870 co-anchor of Weekend Today. She served as the moderator of the final presidential debate. 453 00:34:58,870 --> 00:35:03,970 Kristen, what's your takeaway after you heard from those voters? 454 00:35:03,970 --> 00:35:11,640 KRISTEN WELKER: What a great report, Bob, and I think it captures what is happening in Pennsylvania. 455 00:35:11,640 --> 00:35:16,500 You have some of President Trump's staunchest supporters who aren't going anywhere and 456 00:35:16,500 --> 00:35:21,000 you hear some of what we hear from President Trump on the campaign trail coming out of 457 00:35:21,000 --> 00:35:25,920 their mouths, concerns about Joe Biden and potentially a socialist agenda, which of 458 00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:31,550 course he would argue is not the case at all, and then you have some of those voters - 459 00:35:31,550 --> 00:35:36,200 the farmer who you interviewed who said he feels as though he's been hurt by the trade 460 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:42,890 war with China. So that is the tension, and of course those critical voters in the suburbs, 461 00:35:42,890 --> 00:35:48,610 particularly suburban women. That is where this race is going to turn, I think, in 462 00:35:48,610 --> 00:35:52,740 Pennsylvania, so we'll be watching closely to see what happens in the suburbs. 463 00:35:52,740 --> 00:35:58,480 And then Philadelphia. This is a region that Hillary Clinton just didn't get the same 464 00:35:58,480 --> 00:36:05,000 numbers that Barack Obama did. She was about 4,000 short, and so that allowed President 465 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:09,730 Trump to run up the numbers in some of those more rural areas of the state. 466 00:36:09,730 --> 00:36:15,330 So a lot is at stake here, but that's why you have Joe Biden, his top surrogates focused 467 00:36:15,330 --> 00:36:19,740 on Pennsylvania. President Trump, as well, he's going to be there the day before 468 00:36:19,740 --> 00:36:25,000 election day. So the significance of the Keystone State cannot be overstated, Bob. 469 00:36:25,000 --> 00:36:29,320 COSTA: Kristen, I grew up in Bucks County outside of Philadelphia. You're from Philadelphia. 470 00:36:29,320 --> 00:36:34,230 And that city, it's a great city, City of Brotherly Love; it's been roiled by protests 471 00:36:34,230 --> 00:36:40,700 and anguish following the police shooting of 27-year-old Black man Walter Wallace Jr. 472 00:36:40,700 --> 00:36:45,990 It's been a tragic event, and Kristen, you pressed the candidates to speak directly to 473 00:36:45,990 --> 00:36:50,540 Black and brown Americans at the debate you moderated. As you track what's going on in 474 00:36:50,540 --> 00:36:57,420 Philadelphia, our home city, what do you think this crisis means for the campaign? 475 00:36:57,420 --> 00:37:03,540 WELKER: I think that that critical city that you mention - and you're absolutely right - 476 00:37:03,540 --> 00:37:09,710 has been devastated by those protests, by those who have lost their lives, and so I think 477 00:37:09,710 --> 00:37:14,850 that that is going to be one of the motivating factors undoubtedly on election day and in 478 00:37:14,850 --> 00:37:20,530 the early voting process as well. It will undoubtedly energize African American voters 479 00:37:20,530 --> 00:37:26,020 who, of course, are going to go to the polls not all voting for the same person, but 480 00:37:26,020 --> 00:37:31,340 again they will be voting, some of them, on that issue of Black Lives Matters. 481 00:37:31,340 --> 00:37:36,230 And those peaceful protests - the ones that have been peaceful - who will be energized to 482 00:37:36,230 --> 00:37:41,770 come out who are calling for change. Now, Joe Biden has said that he understands the 483 00:37:41,770 --> 00:37:45,370 message. He is someone who has said that he believes in the Black Lives Matter movement. 484 00:37:45,370 --> 00:37:50,420 But very different messaging from President Trump on this topic, as you know. 485 00:37:50,420 --> 00:37:55,050 In fact, he has put the focus on those who have tried to capitalize on the peaceful 486 00:37:55,050 --> 00:38:00,140 protests and have turned those protests violent. And so President Trump has used that to 487 00:38:00,140 --> 00:38:05,490 underscore what he calls his law and order messaging, to appeal to some of those suburban voters. 488 00:38:05,490 --> 00:38:09,480 So the question is, will he be able to offset what will likely be a large turnout in 489 00:38:09,480 --> 00:38:14,270 Philadelphia and the surrounding region, for all of the reasons that you're laying out? 490 00:38:14,270 --> 00:38:16,730 That's the key question. 491 00:38:16,730 --> 00:38:20,260 COSTA: And when you talk to your sources at the White House, what are you hearing about 492 00:38:20,260 --> 00:38:23,500 the final days as the president goes to Pennsylvania? 493 00:38:23,500 --> 00:38:28,820 Will it be about law and order only? Will other issues be discussed? 494 00:38:28,820 --> 00:38:34,750 WELKER: Well, look, if it were up to his aides and advisors, President Trump would put 495 00:38:34,750 --> 00:38:41,960 the focus on the economy, and he would have a very directed message, and try to argue 496 00:38:41,960 --> 00:38:47,140 that he is the candidate to turn the economy around and to help with the comeback, 497 00:38:47,140 --> 00:38:52,190 essentially. And of course, as we've noted before, he has spent a fair amount of 498 00:38:52,190 --> 00:38:56,520 time talking about the strong GDP number that we got earlier this week. 499 00:38:56,520 --> 00:39:01,650 But as you know, when he goes into these cities - particularly Philadelphia - and when he 500 00:39:01,650 --> 00:39:07,010 goes into Pennsylvania he has stressed that law and order message. So, yes, I think we're 501 00:39:07,010 --> 00:39:10,900 going to hear more of that. I also think you're going to hear more of the type of language 502 00:39:10,900 --> 00:39:15,030 that we heard earlier this week, when he talked about you have to watch the governors. 503 00:39:15,030 --> 00:39:18,920 You have to watch what they're doing, trying to essentially raise questions about the 504 00:39:18,920 --> 00:39:24,080 very validity of the election process, despite the fact that there's just no evidence 505 00:39:24,080 --> 00:39:28,990 suggesting that there's any fraud or that any of the votes have been miscounted. 506 00:39:28,990 --> 00:39:34,160 And so you have Democratic leaders of the state, the governor there Tom Wolf, pushing 507 00:39:34,160 --> 00:39:39,520 back against that narrative very strongly. And I do think that that type of messaging 508 00:39:39,520 --> 00:39:45,060 runs counter to what a number of his advisors feel is his most effective message. Voters 509 00:39:45,060 --> 00:39:50,800 think that he is strong on the economy, so they want him to stay on track and on that point. 510 00:39:50,800 --> 00:39:54,190 COSTA: I was talking to some strategists today, Republican strategists, and they said: 511 00:39:54,190 --> 00:39:58,180 The president wants to run against Governor Wolf, but it's hard to run against Governor 512 00:39:58,180 --> 00:40:02,450 Wolf, they privately confided, because Governor Wolf is so low-key. 513 00:40:02,450 --> 00:40:06,180 He's not like Governor Whitmer of Michigan, who's in the headlines. 514 00:40:06,180 --> 00:40:10,460 Many Pennsylvanians aren't really familiar with Governor Wolf. 515 00:40:10,460 --> 00:40:16,700 WELKER: It's a really great point. And in fact, after President Trump took direct aim 516 00:40:16,700 --> 00:40:21,690 at the governor, he was pressed about that by NBC's Craig Melvin. 517 00:40:21,690 --> 00:40:26,590 And was asked essentially: Do the president's comments amount to voter intimidation? 518 00:40:26,590 --> 00:40:30,910 And Governor Wolf said, no. I just think he doesn't understand how the process works, 519 00:40:30,910 --> 00:40:34,320 because the governor is not counting every vote that comes in. 520 00:40:34,320 --> 00:40:38,430 It's rather something that happens at the state and county level. 521 00:40:38,430 --> 00:40:41,480 COSTA: Well, Kristen, we'll leave it there. Really appreciate you being here. 522 00:40:41,480 --> 00:40:45,510 And we can all catch you on Tuesday as part of NBC's special coverage on election night, 523 00:40:45,510 --> 00:40:50,910 starting at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. But now let's go to our second leg of our trip. 524 00:40:50,910 --> 00:41:01,270 Let's head east. Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love. 525 00:41:01,270 --> 00:41:06,080 While there is little love here for the president, the big question is: How much love for 526 00:41:06,080 --> 00:41:10,250 Biden? To win PA, Democrats need strong turnout. 527 00:41:10,250 --> 00:41:13,150 CROWD: (From video.) (Chanting.) Black Lives Matter! 528 00:41:13,150 --> 00:41:18,460 COSTA: Just this week the city was once again a hotspot after the shooting death of a 529 00:41:18,460 --> 00:41:24,960 Black man by police. Zoe Sturges protested for racial justice this summer. 530 00:41:24,960 --> 00:41:29,940 Zoe, I saw this picture of you, your hands in the air. You and thousands of others 531 00:41:29,940 --> 00:41:35,540 came out to protest in Philadelphia. But I do wonder, Zoe, will they come out to vote? 532 00:41:35,540 --> 00:41:39,770 ZOE STURGES: (From video.) I hope so. And you know, I really hope that Biden sees 533 00:41:39,770 --> 00:41:42,900 the amount of enthusiasm there is for police reform. 534 00:41:42,900 --> 00:41:47,690 COSTA: Are you enthusiastic about Joe Biden and Senator Harris, or not? 535 00:41:47,690 --> 00:41:51,880 ZOE STURGES: (From video.) I'm not super enthusiastic about them because Kamala Harris's 536 00:41:51,880 --> 00:41:58,240 record as a DA, especially putting the parents of truant children in jail, is pretty upsetting to me. 537 00:41:58,240 --> 00:42:03,220 COSTA: Senator Harris has since expressed regret over that policy. But she and Biden 538 00:42:03,220 --> 00:42:10,010 still face the challenge Clinton had, getting that progressive voter to be enthusiastic. 539 00:42:10,010 --> 00:42:14,640 JASON PETERS: (From video.) Voting for Joe Biden is like going to the bathroom in a port-a-potty. 540 00:42:14,640 --> 00:42:19,540 It's not what you want to do, but if you're considering it it's probably your best option. 541 00:42:19,540 --> 00:42:22,600 OLLIE MEIER: (From video.) I'm going to vote for Joe Biden because he's the Democratic 542 00:42:22,600 --> 00:42:25,850 option. But I don't love him the most. 543 00:42:25,850 --> 00:42:28,120 COSTA: Who were you more into in the primary? 544 00:42:28,120 --> 00:42:30,550 OLLIE MEIER: (From video.) I was much more of a Bernie bro. 545 00:42:30,550 --> 00:42:32,800 COSTA: What about Biden? 546 00:42:32,800 --> 00:42:36,910 ADELE SCHNEIDER: I really like him because he will unite the country. 547 00:42:36,910 --> 00:42:41,590 COSTA: Adele Schneider is originally from South Africa while Gordie Cohen is from 548 00:42:41,590 --> 00:42:44,570 Canada. Both are U.S. citizens. 549 00:42:44,570 --> 00:42:48,690 GORDIE COHEN: (From video.) I'm disturbed by the roughly 40 percent who respect the 550 00:42:48,690 --> 00:42:52,720 words of what we see as a demagogue and his many untruths. 551 00:42:52,720 --> 00:42:57,230 ADELE SCHNEIDER: (From video.) I'm feeling very much like it's becoming how South Africa was under 552 00:42:57,230 --> 00:43:04,100 Apartheid. It's beginning to feel like we have a dictator whose party just goes along with him. 553 00:43:04,100 --> 00:43:11,320 COSTA: And many other core Democrats like Biden. They see him as a continuation of the Obama coalition. 554 00:43:11,320 --> 00:43:15,350 PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: (From video.) For eight years Joe was the last one in the room 555 00:43:15,350 --> 00:43:20,250 when I faced a big decision. He made me a better president. 556 00:43:20,250 --> 00:43:24,920 COSTA: Is Joe Biden's connection to President Obama going to help him in Philadelphia 557 00:43:24,920 --> 00:43:27,110 and outside of Philly? 558 00:43:27,110 --> 00:43:30,670 HAZEL MCGRIFF: (From video.) I believe so, because they've already seen him for eight years. 559 00:43:30,670 --> 00:43:40,020 COSTA: Next stop, the Philly suburbs. This is where I grew up, and for decades it has 560 00:43:40,020 --> 00:43:45,420 been a crucial national political battleground - mostly White with a moderate streak. 561 00:43:45,420 --> 00:43:50,910 But the nation's raging debates - they are raging here, too, especially the president's 562 00:43:50,910 --> 00:43:53,440 law and order message. 563 00:43:53,440 --> 00:43:57,530 TINA HAMILTON: (From video.) We have these policemen that have dealing with a lot, and 564 00:43:57,530 --> 00:43:59,830 they're being demoralized. 565 00:43:59,830 --> 00:44:04,480 COSTA: Tina Hamilton organized a "Back the Blue" rally this summer in Upper Darby. 566 00:44:04,480 --> 00:44:10,030 You've been out there protesting in favor of President Trump, supporting police 567 00:44:10,030 --> 00:44:13,410 officers. Why is that so important to you? 568 00:44:13,410 --> 00:44:17,950 TINA HAMILTON: (From video.) Law and order, safety - I don't want it to be like a 569 00:44:17,950 --> 00:44:20,160 free-for-all and a lot of crime. 570 00:44:20,160 --> 00:44:22,520 COSTA: Tina, did you support President Trump in 2016? 571 00:44:22,520 --> 00:44:25,000 TINA HAMILTON: (From video.) Yes, I did. I think that's he's more for America 572 00:44:25,000 --> 00:44:27,710 than anybody I can think of right now. 573 00:44:27,710 --> 00:44:31,810 COSTA: There was unrest here in Upper Darby over the summer amid protests nationwide. 574 00:44:31,810 --> 00:44:38,390 The town has a Democratic mayor, Barbarann Keffer. What's changing politically in your area? 575 00:44:38,390 --> 00:44:42,090 UPPER DARBY, PA MAYOR BARBARANN KEFFER: (From video.) The demographics are changing. 576 00:44:42,090 --> 00:44:46,720 Republicans are moving further west as part of the - kind of like White flight. 577 00:44:46,720 --> 00:44:52,690 COSTA: Nearby, GOP activist Chris Mundiath says he supported other Republicans in 2016, 578 00:44:52,690 --> 00:44:55,490 but ended up voting for Trump. 579 00:44:55,490 --> 00:44:58,780 CHRIS MUNDIATH: (From video.) As soon as he became the nominee, you know, I was convinced 580 00:44:58,780 --> 00:45:02,520 that he would be the right person to lead the country. Donald Trump is my president. 581 00:45:02,520 --> 00:45:05,930 COSTA: This year Chris was featured in an ad supporting the president. 582 00:45:05,930 --> 00:45:08,770 CHRIS MUNDIATH: (From video.) The Democrats are trying to overturn the election. 583 00:45:08,770 --> 00:45:11,550 COSTA: But in recent weeks, he turned. 584 00:45:11,550 --> 00:45:14,180 CHRIS MUNDIATH: (From video.) I changed my mind because of Donald Trump's debate 585 00:45:14,180 --> 00:45:17,320 performance, and Judge Coney's "super-spreader" event, and the fact that he got 586 00:45:17,320 --> 00:45:20,710 coronavirus. That was very irresponsible. He didn't care about masks. 587 00:45:20,710 --> 00:45:23,730 And I will not be voting for him this year in this election. 588 00:45:23,730 --> 00:45:27,590 COSTA: But there were undecided Republicans in the 'burbs in late October. 589 00:45:27,590 --> 00:45:32,000 Mary Landers is a Republican who voted for Clinton four years ago. 590 00:45:32,000 --> 00:45:35,560 MARY LANDERS: (From video.) I would say at that point - last time I wasn't such a huge 591 00:45:35,560 --> 00:45:41,010 fan of hers, but I felt that kind of what would happen with Trump did happen with Trump; 592 00:45:41,010 --> 00:45:44,600 that he kind of would make everybody anxious. 593 00:45:44,600 --> 00:45:47,110 COSTA: But she's not sure about Biden. 594 00:45:47,110 --> 00:45:51,620 MARY LANDERS: (From video.) I'm concerned about a lot of things that are happening in 595 00:45:51,620 --> 00:45:56,410 various cities around the country: protests, the upheaval, and I'm nervous about that happening. 596 00:45:56,410 --> 00:45:59,660 FRANK GUGLIELMELLI: (From video.) I'm a rare gay Republican, and I've lost a lot of gay 597 00:45:59,660 --> 00:46:03,010 friends who don't talk to me anymore, but that's their loss, not mine. 598 00:46:03,010 --> 00:46:06,990 COSTA: Former school teacher Frank Guglielmelli is a Trump supporter, fed up with the 599 00:46:06,990 --> 00:46:10,610 pandemic. Why do closings frustrate you so much? 600 00:46:10,610 --> 00:46:13,460 FRANK GUGLIELMELLI: (From video.) Because people are losing their jobs! 601 00:46:13,460 --> 00:46:17,030 People are losing their houses! Doesn't that bother you? 602 00:46:17,030 --> 00:46:18,960 COSTA: Do you think that pushes voters - 603 00:46:18,960 --> 00:46:21,000 FRANK GUGLIELMELLI: (From video.) Doesn't that bother you? 604 00:46:21,000 --> 00:46:23,560 COSTA: It's an economic crisis, no doubt about it. 605 00:46:23,560 --> 00:46:25,840 FRANK GUGLIELMELLI: (From video.) Does that not bother you, sir? 606 00:46:25,840 --> 00:46:28,750 COSTA: As a reporter it bothers me to see anybody in pain. 607 00:46:28,750 --> 00:46:30,770 FRANK GUGLIELMELLI: (From video.) There you go. 608 00:46:30,770 --> 00:46:34,580 COSTA: Do you believe all of these closings will push people toward Trump? 609 00:46:34,580 --> 00:46:37,700 FRANK GUGLIELMELLI: (From video.) I believe the people who own these businesses and 610 00:46:37,700 --> 00:46:40,990 their families will be pushed towards Donald Trump, yes, I do. 611 00:46:40,990 --> 00:46:43,950 STAN CASACIO: (From video.) Hey, out there in Montgomery County, Bucks County, Chester 612 00:46:43,950 --> 00:46:46,810 County, Philadelphia, this is Stan Casacio. 613 00:46:46,810 --> 00:46:51,250 COSTA: Stan is a radio host and Trump backer. What's your read on the race? Where does it stand? 614 00:46:51,250 --> 00:46:56,260 STAN CASACIO: (From video.) My feeling is - is similar to what happened in 2016; that 615 00:46:56,260 --> 00:47:01,020 there is this enthusiasm that is not being picked up by anyone. 616 00:47:01,020 --> 00:47:06,540 COSTA: David DiGregorio is a retired postal worker and anything but a silent Trumper. 617 00:47:06,540 --> 00:47:09,260 What about the Supreme Court vacancy? 618 00:47:09,260 --> 00:47:11,720 DAVID DIGREGORIO: (From video.) Yes! 619 00:47:11,720 --> 00:47:14,490 COSTA: Why did you put your hands in the air like that? 620 00:47:14,490 --> 00:47:18,060 DAVID DIGREGORIO: (From video.) I'm ecstatic! It took us like how many decades - we've 621 00:47:18,060 --> 00:47:23,320 got a majority on the Supreme Court, and now Democrats are, oh, can't be, we've got to stack it. 622 00:47:23,320 --> 00:47:28,110 Look at the people he's put there: Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett - these are like solid 623 00:47:28,110 --> 00:47:32,790 people! You've got to get limited government. You've got to get the rule of law! 624 00:47:32,790 --> 00:47:38,160 COSTA: My final chat in the suburbs was with 23-year-old Hafiz Tunis, a Democratic 625 00:47:38,160 --> 00:47:42,380 councilman who is excited and inspired to vote this year. 626 00:47:42,380 --> 00:47:48,300 What about Senator Kamala Harris? What has her entry into this race meant to you? 627 00:47:48,300 --> 00:47:53,210 HAFIZ TUNIS: (From video.) I personally really was in favor of a woman candidate for 628 00:47:53,210 --> 00:47:59,230 president. As a Black American, it's also very inspirational to see a strong Black woman. 629 00:47:59,230 --> 00:48:09,150 COSTA: Next stop, Luzerne County, up in the northeast. It voted for Obama twice, and 630 00:48:09,150 --> 00:48:15,260 then Trump in 2016. My sources in both campaigns tell me it's the battleground within 631 00:48:15,260 --> 00:48:19,750 the battleground, and it's not far from Biden's hometown of Scranton. 632 00:48:19,750 --> 00:48:25,090 We went to Exeter, where tributes to the military are everywhere, including banners 633 00:48:25,090 --> 00:48:30,680 showing residents who served. At the VFW Hall, the president is popular. 634 00:48:30,680 --> 00:48:34,030 KEVIN SHANNON: (From video.) I think he's doing a lot of good for the country. 635 00:48:34,030 --> 00:48:40,200 Anything that you could really ask for he's been doing, you know. He needs to stay 636 00:48:40,200 --> 00:48:44,400 off Twitter a little bit and stop being cocky, but he's the man for the job. 637 00:48:44,400 --> 00:48:47,790 COSTA: Down the street we found signs for both candidates. 638 00:48:47,790 --> 00:48:52,790 Joanne Kogoy has Biden signs in front of her house; across the street is a banner showing 639 00:48:52,790 --> 00:48:58,080 her in the Air Force. She doesn't understand her neighbors who back Trump. 640 00:48:58,080 --> 00:49:01,710 JOANNE KOGOY: (From video.) When the Republicans want to cut Medicare and Social 641 00:49:01,710 --> 00:49:06,660 Security, it's like punching yourself in the face. I don't understand; I really don't. 642 00:49:06,660 --> 00:49:12,630 I think a lot of people in this area, maybe Luzerne County, I'm just guessing a lot of 643 00:49:12,630 --> 00:49:15,930 the immigrants, I think, might have bothered them. 644 00:49:15,930 --> 00:49:19,610 Trump started to preach his hate, and it just fed into them. 645 00:49:19,610 --> 00:49:23,270 COSTA: And at the end of every day, she follows a ritual. 646 00:49:23,270 --> 00:49:27,090 JOANNE KOGOY: (From video.) I take my signs in every night. I don't leave them out. 647 00:49:27,090 --> 00:49:47,640 COSTA: I'm Robert Costa. Good night from Washington.