GWEN: COULD DEVELOPMENTS IN UKRAINE TURN U.S. FOREIGN UKRAINE TURN U.S. FOREIGN POLICY UPSIDE DOWN?
POLICY UPSIDE DOWN?
AND HOW THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS AND HOW THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS COULD DO THE SAME THING TO COULD DO THE SAME THING TO DOMESTIC POLICY.
DOMESTIC POLICY.
TONIGHT ON "WASHINGTON WEEK."
TONIGHT ON "WASHINGTON WEEK."
>> RUSSIA HAS OFFERED A VARIETY >> RUSSIA HAS OFFERED A VARIETY OF ARGUMENTS TO JUSTIFY WHAT IS OF ARGUMENTS TO JUSTIFY WHAT IS NOTHING MORE THAN LAND GRAB.
NOTHING MORE THAN LAND GRAB.
>> THE UNITED STATES REACTS >> THE UNITED STATES REACTS RUSSIA'S MILITARY INTERVENTION RUSSIA'S MILITARY INTERVENTION AND LAND GRAB IN CRIMEA.
AND LAND GRAB IN CRIMEA.
>> RUSSIA NEEDS EUROPE MORE >> RUSSIA NEEDS EUROPE MORE THAN EUROPE NEEDS RUSSIA.
THAN EUROPE NEEDS RUSSIA.
EN: GWTHE WEST GAMBLES TOUGHER EN: GWTHE WEST GAMBLES TOUGHER SANCTIONS CAN FORCE RUSSIA BACK SANCTIONS CAN FORCE RUSSIA BACK FROM THE BRINK.
FROM THE BRINK.
>> THE UKRAINIANS SHOULDN'T >> THE UKRAINIANS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE WEST HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE WEST AND RUSSIA.
AND RUSSIA.
GWEN: WUT COULD RUSSIA'S GWEN: WUT COULD RUSSIA'S ANNEXATION OF CRIMEA ENFLAME ANNEXATION OF CRIMEA ENFLAME OTHER TENSIONS AROUND THE OTHER TENSIONS AROUND THE WORLD?
WORLD?
ON THE DOMESTIC FRONT, THE ON THE DOMESTIC FRONT, THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS FIGHT BEGINS MIDTERM ELECTIONS FIGHT BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE.
TO TAKE SHAPE.
>> MY BELIEF IS THAT IT'S GOING >> MY BELIEF IS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY BIG WIN, TO BE A VERY BIG WIN, ESPECIALLY AT THE U.S. SENATE ESPECIALLY AT THE U.S. SENATE LEVEL.
LEVEL.
>> 2014 WILL BE A CHOICE.
>> 2014 WILL BE A CHOICE.
INCREASING OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME INCREASING OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME VERSUS INCREASING OPPORTUNITY VERSUS INCREASING OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.
FOR ALL.
GWEN: BUT BOTH PARTIES ARE GWEN: BUT BOTH PARTIES ARE WORRIED.
WORRIED.
WE EXPLORE WHY.
WE EXPLORE WHY.
COVERING THE WEEK, DAVID SANGER COVERING THE WEEK, DAVID SANGER OF "THE NEW YORK TIMES."
OF "THE NEW YORK TIMES."
MICHAEL CROWLEY OF "TIME" MICHAEL CROWLEY OF "TIME" MAGAZINE.
MAGAZINE.
DAN BALZ OF "THE WASHINGTON DAN BALZ OF "THE WASHINGTON POST."
POST."
AND BETH REINHARD OF "THE WALL AND BETH REINHARD OF "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL."
STREET JOURNAL."
>> AWARD WINNING REPORTING AND >> AWARD WINNING REPORTING AND ANALYSIS.
ANALYSIS.
COVERING HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS.
COVERING HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS.
LIVE FROM OUR NATION'S CAPITAL, LIVE FROM OUR NATION'S CAPITAL, THIS IS "WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THIS IS "WASHINGTON WEEK WITH GWEN IFILL."
ONCE AGAIN, LIVE FROM WASHINGTON, MODERATOR GWEN WASHINGTON, MODERATOR GWEN IFILL.
IFILL.
GWEN: GOOD EVENING.
GWEN: GOOD EVENING.
NOTHING IS IMMEDIATE.
NOTHING IS IMMEDIATE.
NOTHING IS SWIFT.
NOTHING IS SWIFT.
THE SEARCH FOR THE MISSING THE SEARCH FOR THE MISSING MALAYSIAN JET IS TURNING INTO MALAYSIAN JET IS TURNING INTO AN OPEN-ENDED MYSTERY.
AN OPEN-ENDED MYSTERY.
THE DOMESTIC POLITICS WE COVER THE DOMESTIC POLITICS WE COVER HERE EVERY WEEK IS TWISTING AND HERE EVERY WEEK IS TWISTING AND SHIFTING IN THE RUN-UP TO A SHIFTING IN THE RUN-UP TO A CRITICAL ELECTION AND THE CRITICAL ELECTION AND THE STANDOFF OVER UKRAINE AND STANDOFF OVER UKRAINE AND CRIMEA IS TURNING INTO A CRIMEA IS TURNING INTO A REFERENDUM ON U.S. FOREIGN REFERENDUM ON U.S. FOREIGN POLICY THAT EXTENDS FAR BEYOND POLICY THAT EXTENDS FAR BEYOND RUSSIA.
RUSSIA.
BUT FOR NOW, IT'S A SANCTIONS BUT FOR NOW, IT'S A SANCTIONS WAR.
WAR.
>> WE'VE EMPHASIZED THAT RUSSIA >> WE'VE EMPHASIZED THAT RUSSIA STILL HAS A DIFFERENT PATH STILL HAS A DIFFERENT PATH AVAILABLE.
AVAILABLE.
ONE THAT DE-ESCALATES THE ONE THAT DE-ESCALATES THE SITUATION AND ONE THAT INVOLVES SITUATION AND ONE THAT INVOLVES RUSSIA PURSUING A DIPLOMATIC RUSSIA PURSUING A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION WITH THE GOVERNMENT IN SOLUTION WITH THE GOVERNMENT IN KIEV.
KIEV.
GWEN: DE-ESCALATION IS A GWEN: DE-ESCALATION IS A FAVORITE WORD.
FAVORITE WORD.
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR SUSAN NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR SUSAN RICE WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE RICE WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING ROOM TODAY.
BRIEFING ROOM TODAY.
>> OUR INTEREST IS NOT IN >> OUR INTEREST IS NOT IN SEEING THE SITUATION ESCALATE.
SEEING THE SITUATION ESCALATE.
AND DEVOLVE INTO HOT CONFLICT.
AND DEVOLVE INTO HOT CONFLICT.
OUR INTEREST IS IN A DIPLOMATIC OUR INTEREST IS IN A DIPLOMATIC RESOLUTION, DE-ESCALATION.
RESOLUTION, DE-ESCALATION.
AND OBVIOUSLY ECONOMIC SUPPORT AND OBVIOUSLY ECONOMIC SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE.
FOR UKRAINE.
GWEN: AS DAVID SANGER WROTE GWEN: AS DAVID SANGER WROTE THIS WEEK, THE STANDOFF WITH THIS WEEK, THE STANDOFF WITH RUSSIA HAS BECOME ONLY THE RUSSIA HAS BECOME ONLY THE LATEST TEST OF PRESIDENT LATEST TEST OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S APPROACH TO FOREIGN OBAMA'S APPROACH TO FOREIGN POLICY.
POLICY.
HOW IS THAT?
HOW IS THAT?
DAVID?
DAVID?
>> WELL, GWEN, IT'S A TEST >> WELL, GWEN, IT'S A TEST BECAUSE PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS BECAUSE PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS REALLY PREMISED HIS FOREIGN REALLY PREMISED HIS FOREIGN POLICY OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS POLICY OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS ON THREE BIG THOUGHTS.
ON THREE BIG THOUGHTS.
ONE OF THEM IS THE DAYS OF ONE OF THEM IS THE DAYS OF SUPERPOWER, COLD WAR THINKING SUPERPOWER, COLD WAR THINKING IS OVER.
IS OVER.
ANOTHER ONE IS THAT THE DAYS OF ANOTHER ONE IS THAT THE DAYS OF THESE LONG WARS OF OCCUPATION THESE LONG WARS OF OCCUPATION WERE OVER SO THAT THE U.S. CAN WERE OVER SO THAT THE U.S. CAN SOLVE A LOT OF MILITARY SOLVE A LOT OF MILITARY PROBLEMS IT FACES WITH ITS PROBLEMS IT FACES WITH ITS TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANTAGE, TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANTAGE, DRONES, CYBER OR SPECIAL DRONES, CYBER OR SPECIAL FORCES.
FORCES.
AND THE THIRD ONE IS THE U.S. AND THE THIRD ONE IS THE U.S. CAN PLAY THE LONG GAME AND THAT CAN PLAY THE LONG GAME AND THAT ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ARE FREAKLY ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ARE FREAKLY THE WAY TO DO THAT.
THE WAY TO DO THAT.
AND IRAN WAS OBVIOUSLY THE BEST AND IRAN WAS OBVIOUSLY THE BEST EXAMPLE OF SANCTIONS THAT DROVE EXAMPLE OF SANCTIONS THAT DROVE THEM TO THE BARGAINING TABLE.
THEM TO THE BARGAINING TABLE.
THE TEST NOW IS DO ANY OF THESE THE TEST NOW IS DO ANY OF THESE WORK IN THE CASE OF RUSSIA AND WORK IN THE CASE OF RUSSIA AND UKRAINE?
UKRAINE?
SO FAR THEY HAVEN'T WORKED SO FAR THEY HAVEN'T WORKED TERRIBLY WELL IN SYRIA.
TERRIBLY WELL IN SYRIA.
AND NOW THE QUESTION IS, WOULD AND NOW THE QUESTION IS, WOULD THE PRESIDENT LOOK AS IF HE HAS THE PRESIDENT LOOK AS IF HE HAS PULLED BACK TOO FAR FROM THE PULLED BACK TOO FAR FROM THE WORLD IF HE DOES NOT HAVE A WORLD IF HE DOES NOT HAVE A STRONGER RESPONSE HERE?
STRONGER RESPONSE HERE?
GWEN: SO UKRAINE, AND MICHAEL, GWEN: SO UKRAINE, AND MICHAEL, YOU WERE IN KIEV NOT LONG AGO, YOU WERE IN KIEV NOT LONG AGO, IS UKRAINE DEPENDING ON THE IS UKRAINE DEPENDING ON THE UNITED STATES TO FIGURE THIS UNITED STATES TO FIGURE THIS OUT?
OUT?
>> WELL, THERE MAY BE >> WELL, THERE MAY BE UKRAINIANS WHO HOPE THAT UKRAINIANS WHO HOPE THAT AMERICA CAN COME TO THEIR AMERICA CAN COME TO THEIR RESCUE.
RESCUE.
PEOPLE SAID THINGS TO THAT PEOPLE SAID THINGS TO THAT EFFECT WHEN I WAS IN KIEV.
EFFECT WHEN I WAS IN KIEV.
WE WANT OBAMA TO DO MORE.
WE WANT OBAMA TO DO MORE.
WE WANT AMERICA TO DO MORE.
WE WANT AMERICA TO DO MORE.
THERE'S SO MUCH THAT HAS TO BE THERE'S SO MUCH THAT HAS TO BE DONE FOR UKRAINE.
DONE FOR UKRAINE.
THERE'S NOT -- IT'S NOT AS THERE'S NOT -- IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS AMERICA COME AND THE SIMPLE AS AMERICA COME AND THE WEST COMING AND RESCUING THIS WEST COMING AND RESCUING THIS COUNTRY.
COUNTRY.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE AID PACKAGE IF YOU LOOK AT THE AID PACKAGE THAT'S BEING DISCUSSED IN THAT'S BEING DISCUSSED IN CONGRESS RIGHT NOW, AND THERE'S CONGRESS RIGHT NOW, AND THERE'S OPTIMISM THAT IT WILL BE PASSED OPTIMISM THAT IT WILL BE PASSED AGAIN NEXT WEEK THAT'S $1 AGAIN NEXT WEEK THAT'S $1 BILLION IN LOAN GUARANTEES.
BILLION IN LOAN GUARANTEES.
THIS IS AN ECONOMY THAT NEEDS THIS IS AN ECONOMY THAT NEEDS PROBABLY $15 BILLION IN THE PROBABLY $15 BILLION IN THE MEDIUM TERM.
MEDIUM TERM.
LONGER THAN THAT TENS AND TENS LONGER THAN THAT TENS AND TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
AND THERE IS -- THERE IS AND THERE IS -- THERE IS ECONOMIC TIES TO RUSSIA.
ECONOMIC TIES TO RUSSIA.
OIL -- GAS PIPELINES.
OIL -- GAS PIPELINES.
AND OTHER BUSINESS INTERESTS AND OTHER BUSINESS INTERESTS THAT JUST CONNECT UKRAINE TO THAT JUST CONNECT UKRAINE TO RUSSIA IN A WAY THAT MAKES IT RUSSIA IN A WAY THAT MAKES IT VERY HARD FOR AMERICA TO COME VERY HARD FOR AMERICA TO COME IN AND SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS.
IN AND SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS.
>> THIS IS THE TYRANNY OF THE >> THIS IS THE TYRANNY OF THE AGE OF INTERDEPENDENCY.
AGE OF INTERDEPENDENCY.
WE TELL THE RUSSIANS OVER THE WE TELL THE RUSSIANS OVER THE LONG TERM, YOU NEED US, YOU LONG TERM, YOU NEED US, YOU NEED OUR MARKETS.
NEED OUR MARKETS.
THE RUSSIANS TELL US, OVER THE THE RUSSIANS TELL US, OVER THE SHORT TERM, UKRAINE AND BY THE SHORT TERM, UKRAINE AND BY THE WAY ALL THE REST OF EUROPE WAY ALL THE REST OF EUROPE NEEDS OUR GAS.
NEEDS OUR GAS.
AND VLADIMIR PUTIN REALLY HAS AND VLADIMIR PUTIN REALLY HAS HIS HAND ON THAT VALVE.
HIS HAND ON THAT VALVE.
AND THAT EXPLAINS IN PART WHY AND THAT EXPLAINS IN PART WHY IT IS THAT THE EUROPEANS ARE IT IS THAT THE EUROPEANS ARE REALLY BEHIND THE UNITED STATES REALLY BEHIND THE UNITED STATES IN HOW QUICKLY THEY LAID OUT IN HOW QUICKLY THEY LAID OUT THIS SET OF SANCTIONS.
THIS SET OF SANCTIONS.
GWEN: SO IS OUR LONG GAME TO, T GWEN: SO IS OUR LONG GAME TO, T ADMINISTRATION'S LONG GAME IS ADMINISTRATION'S LONG GAME IS BACKFIRING IN SITUATIONS LIKE BACKFIRING IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS?
THIS?
>> WELL, IT COULD.
>> WELL, IT COULD.
THERE WAS SOME ENCOURAGING NEWS THERE WAS SOME ENCOURAGING NEWS OUT OF MOSCOW TODAY WHEN OUT OF MOSCOW TODAY WHEN VLADIMIR PUTIN SAID HE THOUGHT VLADIMIR PUTIN SAID HE THOUGHT THAT THERE DIDN'T NEED TO BE THAT THERE DIDN'T NEED TO BE FURTHER RETALIATION BY RUSSIA FURTHER RETALIATION BY RUSSIA AGAINST THE STEPS TAKEN -- AGAINST THE STEPS TAKEN -- GWEN: HE ALSO SAID HE WASN'T GWEN: HE ALSO SAID HE WASN'T GOING TO ANNEX CRIMEA.
GOING TO ANNEX CRIMEA.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
SO WE HAVE TO HAVE A HEALTHY SO WE HAVE TO HAVE A HEALTHY SKEPTICISM.
SKEPTICISM.
BUT YOU CAN -- WE CAN SEE THIS BUT YOU CAN -- WE CAN SEE THIS GET A LOT WORSE A LOT FASTER.
GET A LOT WORSE A LOT FASTER.
IF HE PROCEEDS INTO -- AGAIN, IF HE PROCEEDS INTO -- AGAIN, HE SAID HE'S NOT GOING TO DO A HE SAID HE'S NOT GOING TO DO A VARIETY OF THINGS THAT HE'S VARIETY OF THINGS THAT HE'S PROCEEDED TO DO.
PROCEEDED TO DO.
THE LATEST THING HE SAID HE'S THE LATEST THING HE SAID HE'S NOT DOING IS MOVE INTO EASTERN NOT DOING IS MOVE INTO EASTERN UKRAINE AND GRAB MORE UKRAINE AND GRAB MORE TERRITORY.
TERRITORY.
IF THAT HAPPENS I DON'T THINK IF THAT HAPPENS I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A HOT WAR OR A SHOOTING WE HAVE A HOT WAR OR A SHOOTING WAR BUT WE HAVE A SORT OF WAR BUT WE HAVE A SORT OF ECONOMIC SHOOTING WAR.
ECONOMIC SHOOTING WAR.
THE FIRST ROUND OF ECONOMIC THE FIRST ROUND OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS WERE LIKE A WARNING SANCTIONS WERE LIKE A WARNING SHOT.
SHOT.
THE SECOND ROUND THAT WE HAD THE SECOND ROUND THAT WE HAD JUST YESTERDAY WERE SORT OF JUST YESTERDAY WERE SORT OF RUBBER BULLETS.
RUBBER BULLETS.
BUT THEN IF WE START TARGETING BUT THEN IF WE START TARGETING FOR INSTANCE THE RUSSIAN FOR INSTANCE THE RUSSIAN FINANCIAL SECTOR, ENERGY FINANCIAL SECTOR, ENERGY SECTOR, WE ARE IN ALL-OUT SECTOR, WE ARE IN ALL-OUT ECONOMIC SHOOTING WAR THAT ECONOMIC SHOOTING WAR THAT COULD BE VERY UGLY.
COULD BE VERY UGLY.
>> DAVID, PICKING UP ON WHAT >> DAVID, PICKING UP ON WHAT MICHAEL JUST SAID, WHAT IS THE MICHAEL JUST SAID, WHAT IS THE REASON THAT THE RUSSIANS HAVE REASON THAT THE RUSSIANS HAVE PUT SO MANY TROOPS RIGHT ALONG PUT SO MANY TROOPS RIGHT ALONG THE BORDER OF UKRAINE?
THE BORDER OF UKRAINE?
WHAT IS IN PUTIN'S MIND AT THIS WHAT IS IN PUTIN'S MIND AT THIS POINT ABOUT THAT?
POINT ABOUT THAT?
>> THERE ARE TWO BIG THEORIES >> THERE ARE TWO BIG THEORIES HERE.
HERE.
ONE IS THAT THIS IS ALL A BIG ONE IS THAT THIS IS ALL A BIG HEAD FAKE AND HE PUT 60,000 HEAD FAKE AND HE PUT 60,000 TROOPS OR WHATEVER THE NUMBER TROOPS OR WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS TODAY ON THAT BORDER.
IS TODAY ON THAT BORDER.
IT IS TO INTIMIDATE THE IT IS TO INTIMIDATE THE UKRAINIANS INTO THINKING THAT UKRAINIANS INTO THINKING THAT THEY COULD BE NEXT.
THEY COULD BE NEXT.
THAT HE COULD SPLIT THE COUNTRY THAT HE COULD SPLIT THE COUNTRY UP.
UP.
THAT HE COULD BUILD ABRIDGE DOW.
THAT HE COULD BUILD ABRIDGE DOW.
BECAUSE REMEMBER, CRIMEA BECAUSE REMEMBER, CRIMEA DEPENDS ON UKRAINE FOR ALL OF DEPENDS ON UKRAINE FOR ALL OF ITS GAS AND IT'S NOT CONNECTED ITS GAS AND IT'S NOT CONNECTED TO THE REST OF RUSSIA BY TO THE REST OF RUSSIA BY ANYTHING.
ANYTHING.
EVEN A BRIDGE.
EVEN A BRIDGE.
SO THAT'S ONE POSSIBILITY.
SO THAT'S ONE POSSIBILITY.
THE OTHER POSSIBILITY IS THAT THE OTHER POSSIBILITY IS THAT HE REALLY IS PLANNING TO GO IN HE REALLY IS PLANNING TO GO IN AND SPLIT OFF AT LEAST THE AND SPLIT OFF AT LEAST THE RUSSIAN-SPEAKING PART OF RUSSIAN-SPEAKING PART OF UKRAINE.
UKRAINE.
EXACTLY WHAT PRESIDENT OBAMA EXACTLY WHAT PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS SAID WOULD RESULT IN A MUCH HAS SAID WOULD RESULT IN A MUCH GREATER ESCALATION OF GREATER ESCALATION OF SANCTIONS.
SANCTIONS.
AND HE MAY LOOK AT THESE EARLY AND HE MAY LOOK AT THESE EARLY SANCTIONS AND SAY, YOU KNOW, SANCTIONS AND SAY, YOU KNOW, THE EUROPEANS, PRESIDENT OBAMA, THE EUROPEANS, PRESIDENT OBAMA, THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THEIR THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THEIR HEART IN IT.
HEART IN IT.
>> THIS IS HAPPENING AT A TIME, >> THIS IS HAPPENING AT A TIME, THIS CRISIS IS HAPPENING AS THE THIS CRISIS IS HAPPENING AS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS ENGAGED IN REPUBLICAN PARTY IS ENGAGED IN A PRETTY ROBUST DEBATE OVER A PRETTY ROBUST DEBATE OVER FOREIGN POLICY.
FOREIGN POLICY.
IS IT GOING TO CONTINUE ITS IS IT GOING TO CONTINUE ITS TRADITION OF BEING STRONG ON TRADITION OF BEING STRONG ON NATIONAL DEFENSE AND HAWKISH, NATIONAL DEFENSE AND HAWKISH, OR THIS LIBERTARIAN STRAIN LED OR THIS LIBERTARIAN STRAIN LED BY RAND PAUL THAT IS ADVOCATING BY RAND PAUL THAT IS ADVOCATING LESS INTERVENTION IN FOREIGN LESS INTERVENTION IN FOREIGN CONFLICTS AND WE'RE SEEING A CONFLICTS AND WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THAT IN THE LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THAT IN THE POLLS?
POLLS?
>> POLITICALLY INSIDE THE >> POLITICALLY INSIDE THE COUNTRY THERE ARE TWO REALLY COUNTRY THERE ARE TWO REALLY FASCINATING STORYLINES.
FASCINATING STORYLINES.
ONE IS THE PERCEPTION OF HOW ONE IS THE PERCEPTION OF HOW PRESIDENT OBAMA IS HANDLE BEING PRESIDENT OBAMA IS HANDLE BEING THE CRISIS.
THE CRISIS.
CRITICS ARE SAYING THAT HE'S CRITICS ARE SAYING THAT HE'S TOO WEAK AND BEING PUSHED TOO WEAK AND BEING PUSHED AROUND BY VLADIMIR PUTIN.
AROUND BY VLADIMIR PUTIN.
THERE'S ALSO THIS CLARIFYING THERE'S ALSO THIS CLARIFYING EFFECT, POTENTIALLY WITHIN THE EFFECT, POTENTIALLY WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
THERE HAS BEEN THIS LONG THERE HAS BEEN THIS LONG DEBATE, MAYBE WE'LL CALL IT ON DEBATE, MAYBE WE'LL CALL IT ON THE ONE HAND THE RAND PAUL THE ONE HAND THE RAND PAUL WING.
WING.
AND HE HAS -- HE HAS SAID AND HE HAS -- HE HAS SAID ESSENTIALLY NOBODY KNEW WHERE ESSENTIALLY NOBODY KNEW WHERE CRIMEA WAS BEFORE THIS CRISIS CRIMEA WAS BEFORE THIS CRISIS STARTED.
STARTED.
MOST PEOPLE COULDN'T FIND IT ON MOST PEOPLE COULDN'T FIND IT ON A MAP.
A MAP.
IT'S NOT REALLY ONE OF OUR TOP IT'S NOT REALLY ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES AND ACTUALLY BACKED PRIORITIES AND ACTUALLY BACKED AWAY FROM THAT AND OTHER AWAY FROM THAT AND OTHER COMMENTS BECAUSE YOU'RE SEEING COMMENTS BECAUSE YOU'RE SEEING SORT OF -- WE'LL CALL IT THE SORT OF -- WE'LL CALL IT THE MARCO RUBIO WING SAY WE HAVE TO MARCO RUBIO WING SAY WE HAVE TO BE TOUGHER AND FOR THOSE HAWKS BE TOUGHER AND FOR THOSE HAWKS IT'S A CHANCE TO ASSERT THAT IT'S A CHANCE TO ASSERT THAT VOICE THAT I THINK THEY'RE MOST VOICE THAT I THINK THEY'RE MOST COMFORTABLE IN AS NATIONAL COMFORTABLE IN AS NATIONAL SECURITY RUBLIEPCANS, THE SECURITY RUBLIEPCANS, THE PROJECTION OF AMERICAN POWER, PROJECTION OF AMERICAN POWER, STANDING UP FOR OUR PRINCIPLES STANDING UP FOR OUR PRINCIPLES AND OUR VALUES AND THERE HASN'T AND OUR VALUES AND THERE HASN'T BEEN AN EASY WAY TO SAY THAT BEEN AN EASY WAY TO SAY THAT RECENTLY.
RECENTLY.
AND I THINK THEY'RE REALLY AND I THINK THEY'RE REALLY SEIZING ON IT AND A CHANCE FOR SEIZING ON IT AND A CHANCE FOR THEM TO REGAIN MOMENTUM THEY THEM TO REGAIN MOMENTUM THEY HAVE LOST WITHIN THE PARTY.
HAVE LOST WITHIN THE PARTY.
GWEN: THE U.S. HAS GOT A LOT GWEN: THE U.S. HAS GOT A LOT MORE AT STAKE HERE THAN JUST MORE AT STAKE HERE THAN JUST WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE DOMESTICALLY OR EVEN WHAT'S DOMESTICALLY OR EVEN WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WHITE HOUSE HAPPENING IN THE WHITE HOUSE ABOUT RUSSIA.
ABOUT RUSSIA.
THE EYE TO EYE, EYEBALL TO THE EYE TO EYE, EYEBALL TO EYEBALL THING WE SEE GOING ON EYEBALL THING WE SEE GOING ON BETWEEN OBAMA AND PUTIN.
BETWEEN OBAMA AND PUTIN.
AND THAT'S THAT THERE ARE AND THAT'S THAT THERE ARE NUCLEAR TALKS UNDER WAY NUCLEAR TALKS UNDER WAY INVOLVING IRAN IN VIENNA RIGHT INVOLVING IRAN IN VIENNA RIGHT NOW.
NOW.
THERE'S COOPERATION WITH THERE'S COOPERATION WITH GETTING -- WELL, NOT THAT HE'S GETTING -- WELL, NOT THAT HE'S GOING ANYWHERE BUT GETTING GOING ANYWHERE BUT GETTING BASHAR AL-ASSAD OUT OF POWER IN BASHAR AL-ASSAD OUT OF POWER IN SYRIA.
SYRIA.
IT SEEMS LIKE ALL OF THAT IS IT SEEMS LIKE ALL OF THAT IS NOW ON TIPTOE STANCE.
NOW ON TIPTOE STANCE.
>> IT IS, GWEN.
>> IT IS, GWEN.
AND THIS IS WHAT MAKES THIS SO AND THIS IS WHAT MAKES THIS SO COMPLICATED.
COMPLICATED.
BECAUSE PUTIN HAS WAYS OF BECAUSE PUTIN HAS WAYS OF GETTING IN THE WAY OF OTHER GETTING IN THE WAY OF OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE AMERICAN ELEMENTS OF THE AMERICAN AGENDA.
AGENDA.
NOW, YOU COULD ARGUE THAT NOW, YOU COULD ARGUE THAT BEFORE UKRAINE EVEN CAME INTO BEFORE UKRAINE EVEN CAME INTO THE HEADLINES, PUTIN WAS NOT THE HEADLINES, PUTIN WAS NOT BEING TERRIBLY HELPFUL ON BEING TERRIBLY HELPFUL ON SYRIA.
SYRIA.
AND ASSAD WAS GAINING POWER.
AND ASSAD WAS GAINING POWER.
AND THERE WAS NOTHING THE AND THERE WAS NOTHING THE RUSSIANS WERE GOING TO DO TO RUSSIANS WERE GOING TO DO TO UNDERCUT THAT.
UNDERCUT THAT.
THEY WERE A BIT HELPFUL IN THEY WERE A BIT HELPFUL IN PUSHING ASSAD TO GIVE UP THE PUSHING ASSAD TO GIVE UP THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS, WHICH WE CHEMICAL WEAPONS, WHICH WE LEARNED THIS WEEK ARE ABOUT LEARNED THIS WEEK ARE ABOUT HALF OF THEM, A LITTLE LESS HALF OF THEM, A LITTLE LESS THAN HALF OF THEM ARE OUT OF THAN HALF OF THEM ARE OUT OF THE COUNTRY.
THE COUNTRY.
IRAN IS A MORE COMPLEX ISSUE.
IRAN IS A MORE COMPLEX ISSUE.
PUTIN DOESN'T WANT TO SEE IRAN PUTIN DOESN'T WANT TO SEE IRAN GET NUCLEAR WEAPONS, EITHER.
GET NUCLEAR WEAPONS, EITHER.
BUT HE MAY NOT WANT TO GIVE BUT HE MAY NOT WANT TO GIVE PRESIDENT OBAMA THE ONE GREAT PRESIDENT OBAMA THE ONE GREAT FOREIGN POLICY WIN THAT HE HAS FOREIGN POLICY WIN THAT HE HAS WITHIN HIS GRASP WHICH IS THE WITHIN HIS GRASP WHICH IS THE POSSIBILITY OF REACHING A POSSIBILITY OF REACHING A LONG-TERM AGREEMENT WITH THE LONG-TERM AGREEMENT WITH THE IRANIANS.
IRANIANS.
AND IT IS SORT OF TURNING ON AND IT IS SORT OF TURNING ON ITS HEAD THIS QUESTION OF WHAT ITS HEAD THIS QUESTION OF WHAT WOULD THE OBAMA FOREIGN POLICY WOULD THE OBAMA FOREIGN POLICY BE REMEMBERED FOR?
BE REMEMBERED FOR?
IF THE PRESIDENT CAN'T GET AN IF THE PRESIDENT CAN'T GET AN IRAN AGREEMENT, IF HE CAN'T IRAN AGREEMENT, IF HE CAN'T STOP THE CARNAGE IN SYRIA, STOP THE CARNAGE IN SYRIA, WHICH IS LARGELY BEYOND OUR WHICH IS LARGELY BEYOND OUR CONTROL, IF EUROPE SUDDENLY IS CONTROL, IF EUROPE SUDDENLY IS REVERSE COURSE FROM 20 YEARS OF REVERSE COURSE FROM 20 YEARS OF INTEGRATION, AND IF CHINA INTEGRATION, AND IF CHINA CONTINUES BEING AN EXPANSIONIST CONTINUES BEING AN EXPANSIONIST POWER, PRESIDENT OBAMA RUNS THE POWER, PRESIDENT OBAMA RUNS THE RISK, TOO EARLY TO TELL, BUT HE RISK, TOO EARLY TO TELL, BUT HE RUNS THE RISK OF BEING VIEWED RUNS THE RISK OF BEING VIEWED AS A PRESIDENT WHO PRESIDED AS A PRESIDENT WHO PRESIDED OVER A PERIOD OF OVER A PERIOD OF GWEN: EXCEPT HE HAS PRESIDED GWEN: EXCEPT HE HAS PRESIDED OVER A PERIOD OF RETRENCHMENT, OVER A PERIOD OF RETRENCHMENT, HAS HE NOT?
HAS HE NOT?
HE PULLED US BACK FROM TWO WARS HE PULLED US BACK FROM TWO WARS AND TALKED ABOUT LIGHTFOOT AND TALKED ABOUT LIGHTFOOT PRINTS AND SOFT POWER, IS THAT PRINTS AND SOFT POWER, IS THAT BEING PROVEN NOT TO WORK?
BEING PROVEN NOT TO WORK?
THE MITT ROMNEYS OF THE WORLD THE MITT ROMNEYS OF THE WORLD THINK SO.
THINK SO.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
HE WOULD INTERJECT BY TAKING HE WOULD INTERJECT BY TAKING CREDIT FOR SAYING I'VE WOUND CREDIT FOR SAYING I'VE WOUND DOWN THESE TWO WARS.
DOWN THESE TWO WARS.
THE WAR IN IRAQ WAS WINDING THE WAR IN IRAQ WAS WINDING DOWN ANYWAY.
DOWN ANYWAY.
BUT HE WILL TAKE CREDIT FOR IT.
BUT HE WILL TAKE CREDIT FOR IT.
AND I THINK -- HAS DONE A VERY AND I THINK -- HAS DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OF FIGHTING AL QAEDA GOOD JOB OF FIGHTING AL QAEDA WITH DRONES.
WITH DRONES.
AND KEEPING THE COUNTRY SAFE AND KEEPING THE COUNTRY SAFE FROM SIGNIFICANT EXTERIOR FROM SIGNIFICANT EXTERIOR TERRORIST ATTACK.
TERRORIST ATTACK.
BARRING THE BOSTON MARATHON BARRING THE BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING.
BOMBING.
BUT I AGREE WITH MOST OF WHAT BUT I AGREE WITH MOST OF WHAT DAVID JUST SAID.
DAVID JUST SAID.
AND ACTUALLY WHEN YOU THINK AND ACTUALLY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT'S LEFT, IT'S THE ABOUT WHAT'S LEFT, IT'S THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS WHICH MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS WHICH IS THE GREAT ROCK -- FOR ONE IS THE GREAT ROCK -- FOR ONE PRESIDENT AFTER ANOTHER AND PRESIDENT AFTER ANOTHER AND HE'S PUSHING THAT BOULDER AND HE'S PUSHING THAT BOULDER AND HE MAY THINK THAT ONLY IF I CAN HE MAY THINK THAT ONLY IF I CAN GET THIS BOULDER TO THE TOP OF GET THIS BOULDER TO THE TOP OF THE HILL I WILL HAVE A LEGACY.
THE HILL I WILL HAVE A LEGACY.
BUT I THINK IT'S A REAL LONG BUT I THINK IT'S A REAL LONG SHOT.
SHOT.
FORTUNATELY, RUSSIAN FORTUNATELY, RUSSIAN COOPERATION ON THAT PARTICULAR COOPERATION ON THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE IS NOT NEARLY AS ISSUE IS NOT NEARLY AS IMPORTANT AS IT IS ON SOME OF IMPORTANT AS IT IS ON SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT WE'VE THE OTHER ISSUES THAT WE'VE MENTIONED.
MENTIONED.
SO MAYBE THEY CAN PULL IT OUT.
SO MAYBE THEY CAN PULL IT OUT.
GWEN: CALL THE MIDDLE EAST GWEN: CALL THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS A HAIL MARY.
PEACE PROCESS A HAIL MARY.
BUT NOT MUCH BETTER.
BUT NOT MUCH BETTER.
>> THE PRESIDENT GOES ABROAD >> THE PRESIDENT GOES ABROAD NEXT WEEK WITH WHAT LOOKS TO BE NEXT WEEK WITH WHAT LOOKS TO BE IMPORTANT MEETINGS WITH IMPORTANT MEETINGS WITH EUROPEANS.
EUROPEANS.
WHAT'S HIS GOAL AND WHAT'S HIS WHAT'S HIS GOAL AND WHAT'S HIS OBJECTIVE AND WHAT COULD BE OBJECTIVE AND WHAT COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED IN THAT IN TERMS ACCOMPLISHED IN THAT IN TERMS OF THE U.S.-RUSSIA-UKRAINE OF THE U.S.-RUSSIA-UKRAINE ISSUE?
ISSUE?
>> THE SENSIBLE REASON FOR >> THE SENSIBLE REASON FOR GOING ABROAD IS FIRST TO GO TO GOING ABROAD IS FIRST TO GO TO THE NUCLEAR SECURITY SUMMIT THE NUCLEAR SECURITY SUMMIT WHICH HAS BEEN ACTUALLY ONE OF WHICH HAS BEEN ACTUALLY ONE OF HIS MORE SIGNIFICANT FOREIGN HIS MORE SIGNIFICANT FOREIGN POLICY SUCCESSES, SWEEPING UP POLICY SUCCESSES, SWEEPING UP THE LOOSE NUCLEAR MATERIAL THE LOOSE NUCLEAR MATERIAL THAT'S AROUND THE WORLD.
THAT'S AROUND THE WORLD.
AND CERTAINLY IN A WORLD OF AND CERTAINLY IN A WORLD OF THIS KIND OF CHAOS DON'T WANT THIS KIND OF CHAOS DON'T WANT TO HAVE A LOT MORE OF THAT.
TO HAVE A LOT MORE OF THAT.
THEN TO GO MEET THE EUROPEANS THEN TO GO MEET THE EUROPEANS IN WHAT HE WAS HOPING WOULD BE IN WHAT HE WAS HOPING WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD PUSH SOMETHING THAT WOULD PUSH FORWARD TRADE DEALS.
FORWARD TRADE DEALS.
INSTEAD, UKRAINE IS GOING TO BE INSTEAD, UKRAINE IS GOING TO BE DOMINATING ALL OF THIS.
DOMINATING ALL OF THIS.
AND I THINK THE BIG QUESTION AND I THINK THE BIG QUESTION IS, CAN HE GET THE EUROPEANS ON IS, CAN HE GET THE EUROPEANS ON THE SAME PAGE SO THAT THEY ARE THE SAME PAGE SO THAT THEY ARE SPEAKING AS TOUGHLY TO PUTIN AS SPEAKING AS TOUGHLY TO PUTIN AS HE IS?
HE IS?
GWEN: AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT GWEN: AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE DURING THE A LITTLE BIT MORE DURING THE WEBCAST.
WEBCAST.
WELCOME TO "WASHINGTON WEEK," WELCOME TO "WASHINGTON WEEK," MICHAEL.
MICHAEL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GWEN: THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS ARE GWEN: THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS ARE BEGINNING TO COME INTO FOCUS.
BEGINNING TO COME INTO FOCUS.
EVERYBODY'S NERVOUS.
EVERYBODY'S NERVOUS.
THE PARTY LEADERS WON'T SAY SO THE PARTY LEADERS WON'T SAY SO OUT LOUD.
OUT LOUD.
REPUBLICAN PARTY CHIEF REINCE REPUBLICAN PARTY CHIEF REINCE PRIEBUS IS TRYING TO CAPITALIZE PRIEBUS IS TRYING TO CAPITALIZE ON AN TEP THINK TOWARD ON AN TEP THINK TOWARD OBAMACARE.
OBAMACARE.
>> YOU LOOK AT THE SAN DIEGO >> YOU LOOK AT THE SAN DIEGO MAYOR'S RACE AND FLORIDA 13, MAYOR'S RACE AND FLORIDA 13, YOU HAD THE NATIONALIZATION OF YOU HAD THE NATIONALIZATION OF BARACK OBAMA AND OBAMACARE IN BARACK OBAMA AND OBAMACARE IN BOTH OF THOSE PLACES.
BOTH OF THOSE PLACES.
AND AS I SAID IT IS A POISONOUS AND AS I SAID IT IS A POISONOUS ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS.
ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS.
GWEN: DEMOCRATIC CHAIR DEBBIE GWEN: DEMOCRATIC CHAIR DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ SAYS THE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ SAYS THE G.O.P.
IS OVERREACHING.
G.O.P.
IS OVERREACHING.
>> REALLY HOPE THAT MY >> REALLY HOPE THAT MY COUNTERPART REMAINS BULLISH AND COUNTERPART REMAINS BULLISH AND BELIEVES THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN BELIEVES THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN THE DUMPS.
THE DUMPS.
THEY WERE PREDICTING UP TO THEY WERE PREDICTING UP TO HOURS BEFORE THE POLLS CLOSED HOURS BEFORE THE POLLS CLOSED ON ELECTION DAY IN 2012 THAT WE ON ELECTION DAY IN 2012 THAT WE WOULD ALL BE INAUGURATING WOULD ALL BE INAUGURATING PRESIDENT MITT ROMNEY, TOO.
PRESIDENT MITT ROMNEY, TOO.
GWEN: NEITHER ONE OF THEM GWEN: NEITHER ONE OF THEM SOUNDED VERY CONVINCING TO ME.
SOUNDED VERY CONVINCING TO ME.
WHICH PARTY REALLY HAS THE MOST WHICH PARTY REALLY HAS THE MOST TO WORRY ABOUT?
TO WORRY ABOUT?
>> WELL, I DON'T THINK IT'S >> WELL, I DON'T THINK IT'S CLOSE AT THIS MOMENT.
CLOSE AT THIS MOMENT.
I THINK IT'S CLEARLY THE I THINK IT'S CLEARLY THE DEMOCRATS.
DEMOCRATS.
THIS IS A MIDTERM ELECTION, THE THIS IS A MIDTERM ELECTION, THE SIXTH YEAR OF A PRESIDENCY.
SIXTH YEAR OF A PRESIDENCY.
THE PARTY IN POWER OR THAT THE PARTY IN POWER OR THAT HOLDS THE WHITE HOUSE ALMOST HOLDS THE WHITE HOUSE ALMOST ALWAYS LOSES SEATS.
ALWAYS LOSES SEATS.
SO THAT'S JUST FOR STARTERS.
SO THAT'S JUST FOR STARTERS.
THE HOUSE IS VERY DIFFICULT.
THE HOUSE IS VERY DIFFICULT.
AFTER THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, AFTER THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, THERE WERE SOME DEMOCRATS, THERE WERE SOME DEMOCRATS, BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS TOOK BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS TOOK SUCH A HIT WHO WERE SAYING WELL SUCH A HIT WHO WERE SAYING WELL MAYBE WE HAVE A CHANCE EVEN TO MAYBE WE HAVE A CHANCE EVEN TO TAKE BACK THE HOUSE.
TAKE BACK THE HOUSE.
I DON'T THINK YOU HEAR ANY OF I DON'T THINK YOU HEAR ANY OF THEM SAYING THAT WITH ANY -- THEM SAYING THAT WITH ANY -- WITH ANY TRUTHFULNESS.
WITH ANY TRUTHFULNESS.
THE BIGGER ISSUE IS CLEARLY THE THE BIGGER ISSUE IS CLEARLY THE SENATE.
SENATE.
THE REPUBLICANS NEED A NET OF THE REPUBLICANS NEED A NET OF SIX SEATS TO TAKE BACK THE SIX SEATS TO TAKE BACK THE SENATE.
SENATE.
THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES IN THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES IN SEVEN STATES WHERE THE SEVEN STATES WHERE THE DEMOCRATS NOW HOLD SEATS THAT DEMOCRATS NOW HOLD SEATS THAT ARE RED STATES.
ARE RED STATES.
THIS IS A TOUGH MAP.
THIS IS A TOUGH MAP.
GWEN: ROMNEY WON.
GWEN: ROMNEY WON.
>> THAT ROMNEY WON.
>> THAT ROMNEY WON.
THAT ARE CLEARLY REPUBLICAN THAT ARE CLEARLY REPUBLICAN STATES AT THE PRESIDENTIAL STATES AT THE PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL AND INCREASINGLY DOWN THE LEVEL AND INCREASINGLY DOWN THE BALLOT.
BALLOT.
SOME OF THESE HAVE INCUMBENT SOME OF THESE HAVE INCUMBENT DEMOCRATS RUNNING.
DEMOCRATS RUNNING.
SOME ARE OPEN SEATS.
SOME ARE OPEN SEATS.
IT'S HARDER TO DEFEAT AN IT'S HARDER TO DEFEAT AN INCUMBENT THAN IT IS TO PICK UP INCUMBENT THAN IT IS TO PICK UP AN OPEN SEAT.
AN OPEN SEAT.
BUT NONETHELESS, THESE ARE BUT NONETHELESS, THESE ARE TOUGH RACES.
TOUGH RACES.
AND BEYOND THAT, YOU HAVE THE AND BEYOND THAT, YOU HAVE THE STATE OF THE OBAMA PRESIDENCY.
STATE OF THE OBAMA PRESIDENCY.
AND THE UNHAPPINESS THAT A LOT AND THE UNHAPPINESS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE.
OF PEOPLE HAVE.
HIS APPROVAL RATINGS NATIONALLY HIS APPROVAL RATINGS NATIONALLY ARE IN THE LOW 40'S.
ARE IN THE LOW 40'S.
41%, 42%, 43%.
41%, 42%, 43%.
IN THESE RED STATES THEY ARE IN THESE RED STATES THEY ARE MUCH LOWER THAN THAT.
MUCH LOWER THAN THAT.
AND SO HE IS A DRAG ON THESE AND SO HE IS A DRAG ON THESE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES IN THESE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES IN THESE RACES.
RACES.
SO IT'S A TOUGH SITUATION.
SO IT'S A TOUGH SITUATION.
GWEN: THE REPUBLICANS ARE GWEN: THE REPUBLICANS ARE WORRIED, TOO AND THEIR CHOICES WORRIED, TOO AND THEIR CHOICES BETWEEN 2014 AND 2016.
BETWEEN 2014 AND 2016.
AND WHETHER THE FOCUS ON POLICY AND WHETHER THE FOCUS ON POLICY OR THE POLITICS OF THOSE TWO OR THE POLITICS OF THOSE TWO YEARS.
YEARS.
>> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT.
AND IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT AND IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT TYPE OF REPUBLICAN YOU ASK.
TYPE OF REPUBLICAN YOU ASK.
IF YOU ASK CONGRESSIONAL IF YOU ASK CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICAN WHO'S INTERESTED IN REPUBLICAN WHO'S INTERESTED IN MAXIMIZING THEIR CONTROL OF THE MAXIMIZING THEIR CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, AND SEIZE THE SENATE, HOUSE, AND SEIZE THE SENATE, TANTALIZINGLY IN REACH, THEY TANTALIZINGLY IN REACH, THEY WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, KEEP WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, KEEP FOCUSING ON 2014.
FOCUSING ON 2014.
OBAMACARE IS WORKING FOR US.
OBAMACARE IS WORKING FOR US.
THE PRESIDENT -- THE THE PRESIDENT -- THE PRESIDENT'S LOW APPROVAL IS PRESIDENT'S LOW APPROVAL IS WORKING FOR US.
WORKING FOR US.
FULL STEAM AHEAD.
FULL STEAM AHEAD.
YOU KNOW, ALL SIGNS ARE LOOKING YOU KNOW, ALL SIGNS ARE LOOKING VERY FAVORABLY.
VERY FAVORABLY.
FOR REPUBLICANS.
FOR REPUBLICANS.
IF YOU TALK TO FOLKS WHO ARE IF YOU TALK TO FOLKS WHO ARE LOOKING AHEAD TO 2016, WE'RE LOOKING AHEAD TO 2016, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL THINKING ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, WHO REMEMBER HOW CAMPAIGN, WHO REMEMBER HOW POORLY MITT ROMNEY DID WITH POORLY MITT ROMNEY DID WITH HISPANICS AND NATIVE AMERICANS HISPANICS AND NATIVE AMERICANS AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
AND NOT AS WELL WITH UNMARRIED AND NOT AS WELL WITH UNMARRIED WOMEN.
WOMEN.
THEY'RE SAYING WOW, I WISH WE THEY'RE SAYING WOW, I WISH WE HAD DONE IMMIGRATION REFORM.
HAD DONE IMMIGRATION REFORM.
BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE HARD BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO DO THAT IN 2015.
TO DO THAT IN 2015.
>> YOU MENTIONED THE RESULTS OF >> YOU MENTIONED THE RESULTS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
AND YOU'LL REMEMBER THE AND YOU'LL REMEMBER THE REPUBLICANS DID THIS LONG SORT REPUBLICANS DID THIS LONG SORT OF AUTOPSY REPORT JUST A LITTLE OF AUTOPSY REPORT JUST A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AGO ON THAT.
MORE THAN A YEAR AGO ON THAT.
AND THEY CAME OUT WITH SOME AND THEY CAME OUT WITH SOME LESSONS, PARTICULARLY ABOUT LESSONS, PARTICULARLY ABOUT APPEALING TO HISPANIC VOTERS APPEALING TO HISPANIC VOTERS AND APPEALING TO WOMEN AND SO AND APPEALING TO WOMEN AND SO FORTH.
FORTH.
A YEAR LATER, WHAT'S THE STATUS A YEAR LATER, WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THAT REPORT?
OF THAT REPORT?
DID IT REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE DID IT REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY THEY ARE CONDUCTING IN THE WAY THEY ARE CONDUCTING THEIR CAMPAIGNS FOR THE MID THEIR CAMPAIGNS FOR THE MID TERMS?
TERMS?
>> I THINK THE R.N.C.
HAS >> I THINK THE R.N.C.
HAS DEFINITELY POINTED THE PARTY IN DEFINITELY POINTED THE PARTY IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION.
A CERTAIN DIRECTION.
I MEAN, THEY'VE MADE IT CLEAR I MEAN, THEY'VE MADE IT CLEAR THESE ARE THE PRIORITIES.
THESE ARE THE PRIORITIES.
THIS IS THE OUTREACH WE NEED TO THIS IS THE OUTREACH WE NEED TO DO.
DO.
AND THEY ACTUALLY WENT SO FAR AND THEY ACTUALLY WENT SO FAR AS TO SAY WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND AS TO SAY WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU TAKE UP IMMIGRATION THAT YOU TAKE UP IMMIGRATION REFORM.
REFORM.
BUT THE R.N.C.
IS A PARTY BUT THE R.N.C.
IS A PARTY APPEAR -- PARTY APPARATUS.
APPEAR -- PARTY APPARATUS.
THEY CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH.
THEY CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH.
AND CLEARLY IMMIGRATION REFORM AND CLEARLY IMMIGRATION REFORM IS BARELY ALIVE.
IS BARELY ALIVE.
AND WE MAY NEVER SEE IT THIS AND WE MAY NEVER SEE IT THIS CYCLE.
CYCLE.
SO THAT IS REALLY, IF YOU COULD SO THAT IS REALLY, IF YOU COULD SAY WHAT -- WHAT HASN'T SAY WHAT -- WHAT HASN'T HAPPENED, THAT IS REALLY THE HAPPENED, THAT IS REALLY THE GLARING VOID.
GLARING VOID.
GWEN: WHY TALK ABOUT GWEN: WHY TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION REFORM WHEN YOU CAN IMMIGRATION REFORM WHEN YOU CAN TALK ABOUT OBAMACARE?
TALK ABOUT OBAMACARE?
WHICH CERTAINLY WILL TEST A LOT WHICH CERTAINLY WILL TEST A LOT BETTER AND THE DEMOCRATS DON'T BETTER AND THE DEMOCRATS DON'T SEEM TO HAVE AN ANSWER.
SEEM TO HAVE AN ANSWER.
>> WELL, THE DEMOCRATS THINK >> WELL, THE DEMOCRATS THINK THERE IS A PARTIAL ANSWER.
THERE IS A PARTIAL ANSWER.
WHICH IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE WHICH IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE POLLING, THERE'S A NEW PEW POLLING, THERE'S A NEW PEW RESEARCH CENTER POLL OUT THIS RESEARCH CENTER POLL OUT THIS WEEK.
WEEK.
THAT SHOWS THAT 53% OF THAT SHOWS THAT 53% OF AMERICANS DISAPPROVE OF THE AMERICANS DISAPPROVE OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
THOSE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN PRETTY THOSE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN PRETTY STATIC.
STATIC.
THEY'VE BOUNCED A LITTLE BIT AT THEY'VE BOUNCED A LITTLE BIT AT CERTAIN MOMENTS.
CERTAIN MOMENTS.
BUT BASICALLY SINCE THIS LAW BUT BASICALLY SINCE THIS LAW WAS ENACTED OPPOSITION HAS BEEN WAS ENACTED OPPOSITION HAS BEEN GREATER THAN SUPPORT.
GREATER THAN SUPPORT.
BUT WHEN YOU DRILL DOWN ON BUT WHEN YOU DRILL DOWN ON THAT, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO THAT, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO DISAPPROVE OF IT SAY ELECTED DISAPPROVE OF IT SAY ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD WORK TO TRY TO OFFICIALS SHOULD WORK TO TRY TO MAKE IT MORE EFFECTIVE.
MAKE IT MORE EFFECTIVE.
A SMALLER PERCENTAGE SAY THEY A SMALLER PERCENTAGE SAY THEY SHOULD -- ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD -- ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD GET RID OF IT.
SHOULD GET RID OF IT.
THE DEMOCRATS' VIEW IS A THE DEMOCRATS' VIEW IS A MESSAGE OF MEND IT, DON'T END MESSAGE OF MEND IT, DON'T END IT AS THEY PUT IT IS A MORE IT AS THEY PUT IT IS A MORE EFFECTIVE MESSAGE THAN REPEAL EFFECTIVE MESSAGE THAN REPEAL AND REPLACE THAT THE AND REPLACE THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE.
REPUBLICANS HAVE.
THERE WAS A TEST OF THIS IN THE THERE WAS A TEST OF THIS IN THE FLORIDA SPECIAL ELECTION A WEEK FLORIDA SPECIAL ELECTION A WEEK AGO.
AGO.
THE DEMOCRATS, JEFF GAREN WHO THE DEMOCRATS, JEFF GAREN WHO WAS DOING POLLING, A DEMOCRATIC WAS DOING POLLING, A DEMOCRATIC POLLSTER SAID THEIR ARGUMENT POLLSTER SAID THEIR ARGUMENT POLLED BETTER THAN THE POLLED BETTER THAN THE REPUBLICAN ARGUMENT.
REPUBLICAN ARGUMENT.
AND THAT THEREFORE THERE IS A AND THAT THEREFORE THERE IS A WAY FOR DEMOCRATS AT LEAST TO WAY FOR DEMOCRATS AT LEAST TO TRY TO NEUTRALIZE THIS ISSUE IN TRY TO NEUTRALIZE THIS ISSUE IN THE MIDTERM.
THE MIDTERM.
REPUBLICANS ARE ABSOLUTELY REPUBLICANS ARE ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED AS REINCE PRIEBUS CONVINCED AS REINCE PRIEBUS SAID IN THE SETUP THERE THAT SAID IN THE SETUP THERE THAT THIS IS A WINNING ISSUE.
THIS IS A WINNING ISSUE.
FOR REPUBLICANS.
FOR REPUBLICANS.
AND THAT -- IT IS A WINNING AND THAT -- IT IS A WINNING ISSUE BECAUSE IT MOTIVATES ISSUE BECAUSE IT MOTIVATES REPUBLICAN VOTERS.
REPUBLICAN VOTERS.
IT PUTS DEMOCRATS VERY MUCH ON IT PUTS DEMOCRATS VERY MUCH ON THE DEFENSIVE.
THE DEFENSIVE.
AND IT DRAWS ATTENTION TO THIS AND IT DRAWS ATTENTION TO THIS LARGER DISSATISFACTION OF THE LARGER DISSATISFACTION OF THE GROWTH OF GOVERNMENT UNDER THE GROWTH OF GOVERNMENT UNDER THE PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT.
>> DAN, ABOUT THAT SPECIAL >> DAN, ABOUT THAT SPECIAL ELECTION.
ELECTION.
IT'S ALWAYS SOMEWHAT SATIRICAL IT'S ALWAYS SOMEWHAT SATIRICAL THE PARTY THAT WINS SAYS THIS THE PARTY THAT WINS SAYS THIS IS A BELLWETHER AND WE'VE GOT IS A BELLWETHER AND WE'VE GOT THE MOMENTUM AND WATCH OUT.
THE MOMENTUM AND WATCH OUT.
WE'RE ON FIRE.
WE'RE ON FIRE.
AND THE PARTY THAT LOSES PLAYS AND THE PARTY THAT LOSES PLAYS IT OFF, LOCAL FACTORS, IT WAS IT OFF, LOCAL FACTORS, IT WAS -- BUT IN THIS CASE SAYING IT -- BUT IN THIS CASE SAYING IT WAS A WAKE-UP CALL FOR WAS A WAKE-UP CALL FOR DEMOCRATS.
DEMOCRATS.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT SPECIAL >> YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT SPECIAL ELECTIONS.
ELECTIONS.
THEY ARE POOR PREDICTORS UNTIL THEY ARE POOR PREDICTORS UNTIL THEY AREN'T.
THEY AREN'T.
AND OCCASIONALLY THERE IS ONE.
AND OCCASIONALLY THERE IS ONE.
BUT YOU ONLY KNOW THAT IN BUT YOU ONLY KNOW THAT IN RETROSPECT.
RETROSPECT.
THERE WERE SOME DEMOCRATS AFTER THERE WERE SOME DEMOCRATS AFTER THEY LOST THAT SPECIAL THEY LOST THAT SPECIAL ELECTION, WHICH WAS A WINNABLE ELECTION, WHICH WAS A WINNABLE RACE FOR DEMOCRATS, NOT AN EASY RACE FOR DEMOCRATS, NOT AN EASY WIN BUT A WINNABLE RACE, WHO WIN BUT A WINNABLE RACE, WHO KIND OF TRIED TO SUGARCOAT THE KIND OF TRIED TO SUGARCOAT THE LOSS.
LOSS.
OH, IN A SPECIAL ELECTION, THIS OH, IN A SPECIAL ELECTION, THIS IS A REALLY TOUGH DISTRICT, ELECTORATE TILTS WAY AGAINST ELECTORATE TILTS WAY AGAINST US.
US.
AND CUT ALL THROUGH THAT AND AND CUT ALL THROUGH THAT AND SAID THIS SHOULD BE A SCREAMING SAID THIS SHOULD BE A SCREAMING SIREN TO US ABOUT NOVEMBER.
SIREN TO US ABOUT NOVEMBER.
WHICH IS TO SAY WE HAVE A WHICH IS TO SAY WE HAVE A TURNOUT PROBLEM.
TURNOUT PROBLEM.
DEMOCRATIC TURNOUT BETWEEN DEMOCRATIC TURNOUT BETWEEN PRESIDENTIAL AND OFF-YEAR PRESIDENTIAL AND OFF-YEAR ELECTIONS FALLS.
ELECTIONS FALLS.
THEIR COALITION SHOWS UP LESS THEIR COALITION SHOWS UP LESS THAN REPUBLICANS.
THAN REPUBLICANS.
REPUBLICANS OFF YEAR ELECTIONS REPUBLICANS OFF YEAR ELECTIONS TEND TO BE AN OLDER ELECTORATE TEND TO BE AN OLDER ELECTORATE AND A WHITER ELECTORATE.
AND A WHITER ELECTORATE.
AND SO WHAT PLOUFFE IS AND SO WHAT PLOUFFE IS BASICALLY SAYING IS WE HAVE TO BASICALLY SAYING IS WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET OUR FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET OUR VOTERS THERE.
VOTERS THERE.
AND I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF AND I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE IN THE PARTY WHO OTHER PEOPLE IN THE PARTY WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT IT.
ARE THINKING ABOUT IT.
BUT IT WAS A WAY FOR HIM TO BUT IT WAS A WAY FOR HIM TO KIND OF PUNCH THROUGH THE WAY KIND OF PUNCH THROUGH THE WAY OF EXPLAINING AWAY AN OF EXPLAINING AWAY AN UNFORTUNATE LOSS FOR THEM.
UNFORTUNATE LOSS FOR THEM.
>> AND MOTIVATION IS KEY.
>> AND MOTIVATION IS KEY.
AND WE KNOW WHO IS MORE AND WE KNOW WHO IS MORE MOTIVATED IN OFF-YEAR ELECTIONS MOTIVATED IN OFF-YEAR ELECTIONS AND GENERALLY UNHAPPY PEOPLE AND GENERALLY UNHAPPY PEOPLE ARE MORE MOTIVATED.
ARE MORE MOTIVATED.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT -- IS THAT DOES THAT MEAN THAT -- IS THAT A FORMULA FOR THE TEA PARTY A FORMULA FOR THE TEA PARTY WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO HAVE A BIG DAY?
HAVE A BIG DAY?
>> WELL, I MEAN, IT CERTAINLY >> WELL, I MEAN, IT CERTAINLY LOOKS LIKE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY LOOKS LIKE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS GOING TO HAVE A GOOD IS GOING TO HAVE A GOOD NOVEMBER.
NOVEMBER.
WHETHER TEA PARTY CANDIDATES IN WHETHER TEA PARTY CANDIDATES IN PARTICULAR ARE GOING TO BE PARTICULAR ARE GOING TO BE VICTORIOUS IN THE PRIMARIES VICTORIOUS IN THE PRIMARIES BETWEEN NOW AND THEN -- BETWEEN NOW AND THEN -- GWEN: IT'S NOT AN OPPORTUNITY GWEN: IT'S NOT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM?
FOR THEM?
>> WELL, THEY HAVE FIELDED A >> WELL, THEY HAVE FIELDED A LOT OF CANDIDATES.
LOT OF CANDIDATES.
AND I THINK THE TEA PARTY IN AND I THINK THE TEA PARTY IN SOME WAYS HAS ALREADY WON IN SOME WAYS HAS ALREADY WON IN THAT THEY'VE STEERED THE PARTY THAT THEY'VE STEERED THE PARTY SO MUCH -- SO FAR TO THE RIGHT.
SO MUCH -- SO FAR TO THE RIGHT.
WHETHER -- I DON'T KNOW HOW WHETHER -- I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY LIKE INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATES MANY LIKE INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATES WE'RE GOING TO SEE.
WE'RE GOING TO SEE.
GWEN: ARE YOU SAYING THAT ONCE GWEN: ARE YOU SAYING THAT ONCE MITCH MCCONNELL WALKS ON STAGE MITCH MCCONNELL WALKS ON STAGE WITH A GUN -- WITH A GUN -- >> IT'S ALL OVER.
>> IT'S ALL OVER.
THE OTHER OLD SAW AS REFERRED THE OTHER OLD SAW AS REFERRED TO, AS WHAT DAN WAS TALKING TO, AS WHAT DAN WAS TALKING ABOUT IT ALWAYS COMES OUT TO ABOUT IT ALWAYS COMES OUT TO TURNOUT.
TURNOUT.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THAT.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THAT.
>> DAN, IT'S EASY TO LOOK AT >> DAN, IT'S EASY TO LOOK AT THE MAP AND SEE WHERE THE THE MAP AND SEE WHERE THE REPUBLICANS CAN PICK UP SEATS.
REPUBLICANS CAN PICK UP SEATS.
IS THERE ANY WAY THAT YOU TURN IS THERE ANY WAY THAT YOU TURN THAT MAP AROUND AND YOU SEE THAT MAP AROUND AND YOU SEE WHERE DEMOCRATS CAN?
WHERE DEMOCRATS CAN?
>> THERE ARE TWO PLACES.
>> THERE ARE TWO PLACES.
WE JUST MENTIONED ONE.
WE JUST MENTIONED ONE.
KENTUCKY.
KENTUCKY.
MITCH MCCONNELL, THE REPUBLICAN MITCH MCCONNELL, THE REPUBLICAN SENATE LEADER, IS IN A REAL SENATE LEADER, IS IN A REAL FIGHT.
FIGHT.
HE'S GOT A TEA PARTY OPPONENT HE'S GOT A TEA PARTY OPPONENT IN THE PRIMARY.
IN THE PRIMARY.
SO FAR, HE'S HOLDING HIS OWN ON SO FAR, HE'S HOLDING HIS OWN ON THAT.
THAT.
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAT WILL BE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAT WILL BE A SERIOUS THREAT AS SOME PEOPLE A SERIOUS THREAT AS SOME PEOPLE SAID.
SAID.
WE'LL SEE.
WE'LL SEE.
BUT IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, BUT IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, HE'S FACING SECRETARY OF STATE HE'S FACING SECRETARY OF STATE ALLISON GRIMES.
ALLISON GRIMES.
AND THE POLLING DOWN THERE AND THE POLLING DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW SHOWS THAT THIS IS A RIGHT NOW SHOWS THAT THIS IS A VERY TIGHT RACE.
VERY TIGHT RACE.
THE OTHER OPPORTUNITY IS IN THE OTHER OPPORTUNITY IS IN GEORGIA.
GEORGIA.
SACKS BY CHAMBLISS IS RE-- SACKS BY CHAMBLISS IS RE-- SAXBY CHAMBLISS IS RETIRING.
SAXBY CHAMBLISS IS RETIRING.
MANY REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR MANY REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR THAT AND DON'T KNOW WHO THE THAT AND DON'T KNOW WHO THE NOMINEE IS AND THE DEMOCRATS NOMINEE IS AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A CANDIDATE, MICHELLE HAVE A CANDIDATE, MICHELLE NUNN, DAUGHTER OF FORM SENATOR NUNN, DAUGHTER OF FORM SENATOR SAM NUNN AND HAS CENTRIST SAM NUNN AND HAS CENTRIST CREDENTIALS AND HIS NAME.
CREDENTIALS AND HIS NAME.
AND GEORGIA IS A TOUGH STATE AND GEORGIA IS A TOUGH STATE FOR DEMOCRATS.
FOR DEMOCRATS.
THEY THINK OVER TIME I THEY THINK OVER TIME I BECOMING A MORE -- A BETTER BECOMING A MORE -- A BETTER OPPORTUNITY.
OPPORTUNITY.
THAT'S THE OTHER WAY ON THE THAT'S THE OTHER WAY ON THE BOARD WHERE THEY MIGHT DO A BOARD WHERE THEY MIGHT DO A PICKUP.
PICKUP.
>> ALLISON GRIMES IN KENTUCKY, >> ALLISON GRIMES IN KENTUCKY, A STATE WHERE THE PRESIDENT IS A STATE WHERE THE PRESIDENT IS EXTREMELY UNPOPULAR.
EXTREMELY UNPOPULAR.
BUT SHE'S -- SHE'S REALLY BUT SHE'S -- SHE'S REALLY LATCHED ON TO THE MINIMUM WAGE LATCHED ON TO THE MINIMUM WAGE ISSUE.
ISSUE.
SHE'S NOT TRYING TO DEFEND SHE'S NOT TRYING TO DEFEND OBAMACARE.
OBAMACARE.
SHE DOESN'T WANT THE ELECTION SHE DOESN'T WANT THE ELECTION TO BE ABOUT OBAMACARE.
TO BE ABOUT OBAMACARE.
AND POLLS SHOW THE MINIMUM WAGE AND POLLS SHOW THE MINIMUM WAGE IS VERY POPULAR.
IS VERY POPULAR.
ESPECIALLY AMONG WOMEN.
ESPECIALLY AMONG WOMEN.
ARE -- OUR MOST RECENT "WALL ARE -- OUR MOST RECENT "WALL STREET JOURNAL"-NBC POLL SHOWED STREET JOURNAL"-NBC POLL SHOWED WOMEN WERE 65% MORE LIKELY TO WOMEN WERE 65% MORE LIKELY TO VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE WHO VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE WHO SUPPORTS A MINIMUM WAGE SUPPORTS A MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE.
INCREASE.
SO IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE HOW SO IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE HOW DEMOCRATS LIKE HER ARE TRYING DEMOCRATS LIKE HER ARE TRYING TO STEER THE CONVERSATION AWAY TO STEER THE CONVERSATION AWAY FROM OBAMACARE.
FROM OBAMACARE.
INTO MORE FRIENDLY TERRAIN.
INTO MORE FRIENDLY TERRAIN.
GWEN: HOW MUCH OF A DRAG OR GWEN: HOW MUCH OF A DRAG OR BONUS IS IT FOR THE PRESIDENT BONUS IS IT FOR THE PRESIDENT TO BE AS UNPOPULAR AS HE IS TO BE AS UNPOPULAR AS HE IS RIGHT NOW FOR THESE TWO RIGHT NOW FOR THESE TWO PARTIES?
PARTIES?
>> IT'S DEFINITELY A BONUS FOR >> IT'S DEFINITELY A BONUS FOR THE REPUBLICANS.
THE REPUBLICANS.
I MEAN, VIRTUALLY EVERY I MEAN, VIRTUALLY EVERY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE IN THE COMPETITIVE RACE HAS EITHER COMPETITIVE RACE HAS EITHER SAID DIRECTLY OR SUGGESTED NO SAID DIRECTLY OR SUGGESTED NO THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
>> DON'T HAVE TO COME CAMPAIGN >> DON'T HAVE TO COME CAMPAIGN FOR ME.
FOR ME.
>> I CAN'T THINK OF A GOOD >> I CAN'T THINK OF A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHERE A PRESIDENT EXAMPLE OF WHERE A PRESIDENT HAS BEEN UNDER 45% IN HIS -- HAS BEEN UNDER 45% IN HIS -- AND HIS PARTY HASN'T DONE AND HIS PARTY HASN'T DONE ANYTHING BUT LOSE A LOT OF ANYTHING BUT LOSE A LOT OF SEATS.
SEATS.
GWEN: OK. GWEN: OK. WE'LL -- WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW WE'LL -- WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT AND CONTINUE AND UP ON THAT AND CONTINUE AND WALK MORE ABOUT THAT.
WALK MORE ABOUT THAT.
ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE WOMEN ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE WOMEN PART.
PART.
BECAUSE I THINK IT'S REALLY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S REALLY INTERESTING.
INTERESTING.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
I THINK WE COVERED THE I THINK WE COVERED THE WATERFRONT.
WATERFRONT.
WE HAVE TO LEAVE YOU NOW.
WE HAVE TO LEAVE YOU NOW.
BUT THE CONVERSATION IS GOING TO CONTINUE AMONG US ONLINE.
TO CONTINUE AMONG US ONLINE.
ON THE "WASHINGTON WEEK" ON THE "WASHINGTON WEEK" WEBCAST EXTRA.
WEBCAST EXTRA.
IT WILL BE STREAMING LIVE AT IT WILL BE STREAMING LIVE AT 8:30 P.M. EASTERN TIME.
8:30 P.M. EASTERN TIME.
AND ALL WEEK LONG AT AND ALL WEEK LONG AT PBS.ORG/WASHINGTONWEEK.
PBS.ORG/WASHINGTONWEEK.
AMONG OTHER THINGS, WE WILL BE AMONG OTHER THINGS, WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT WHO BOTH PARTIES TALKING ABOUT WHO BOTH PARTIES ARE COMPETING FOR THOSE WOMEN ARE COMPETING FOR THOSE WOMEN VOTERS.
VOTERS.
KEEP UP WITH DAILY DEVELOPMENTS KEEP UP WITH DAILY DEVELOPMENTS NOW SEVEN NIGHTS A WEEK ON "THE NOW SEVEN NIGHTS A WEEK ON "THE PBS NEWSHOUR."
PBS NEWSHOUR."
AND WE'LL SEE YOU HERE NEXT AND WE'LL SEE YOU HERE NEXT WEEK ON "WASHINGTON WEEK."
WEEK ON "WASHINGTON WEEK."
GOOD NIGHT.