>> THIS IS A WMUR COMMITMENT 2020 SPECIAL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INSTITUTE FOR POLITICS, "CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CANDIDATE." >> SOMEBODY LIKE ME TRYING TO
SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE IF IT WEREN'T FOR THINGS LIKE THE ROLE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
>> WE CAN'T REPEAT ANOTHER YEARS OF POLITICS LIKE WE'VE HAD THE LAST 10 YEARS.
>> WE ARE IN THE THIRD INNING OF THE GICAL TRANSFORMATION IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY.
>> WE HAVE LED THE WORLD NOT JUST BY THE EXAMPLE OF OUR POWER, BUT THE POWER OF OUR EXAMPLIS A GROUP OF PEOPLE.
>> I BELIEVE SO MUCH IN THIS >> WE ALL HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN WHAT SEPARATES US.
>> WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BRING ABOUT A CHANGE IN WASHINGTON.
[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.
VISIT NCICAP.ORG] ADAM: GOOD EVENING.
I'M WMUR POLITICAL DIRECTOR ADAM SEXTON.
LAST SEVEN MONTHS, WE'VE GIVEN VOTERS HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE CHANCE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT, RIGHT HERE ON THIS SPECIALLY BUILT SET IN OUR
MANCSPECIAL SERIES HAS BEEN PART OF A RECORD-BREAKING PRIMARY SEASON.STED 25 OF THESE TOWN HALLS, GIVING YOU THE CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS OF THE PEO SEEKING AMERICA'S HIGHEST
OFFICE.
24 DEMOCRATS AND ONE REP JOINED US.RUMP DECLINED OUR INVITATION.
WE'VE COVERED A LOT OF GROUND, FROM CLIMATE CHANGE, TO REFORMING GUN LAWS, HEALTH CARE, AND IMMIGRATION.
AND NOW TH FIELD HAS NARROWED, WE'RE BRINGING YOU HIGHLIGHTS OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CANDIDATES TO HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY STAND ON
KEY ISSUES.
>> THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY IN AMERICA TODAY IS THAT THE MIDDLE CLASS IS.
>> I'M LITERALLY THE ONLY ONE IN THIS FIELD THAT WON IN A SAT DON >> I THINK THE JOB OF THE PRESIDENT IS TO MAKE EVERYBODY FEEL GOOD ABOUT BEING AN AMERICAN.
>> RUGGED INDIVIDUALISM DIDN'T GET US TO THE MOON, IT DIDN'T BEAT THE NAZIS.
>> THIS IS THE HEART OF IT.
I'VE WORKED ON TRYING TO BUILD A GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT.
>> I'M NOT GOING TO APOLOGIZE.
THE PEOPLE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE WILL >> ALL I SAY IS GIVE ME MY FAIR SHARE OF EXPOSURE.
>> I PROMISE TO ALWAYS TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
>> I'VE TOLD YOU I'M GOING TO SHOW HOW TO PAY FOR STUFF.
>> WE HAVE TO LO CHANCE TO TURN A SETBACK INTO A NEW 21ST CEN OPPORTUNITY.
>> LET'S NAME THE CHALLENGE, LET'S MEET THE CHALLENGE, AND LET'S HAVE A BEER AFTERWARDS.
ADAM: ONE OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY DISCUSSED TOPICS THAT GENERATES PASSION, HEARTACHE, AND STRONG OPINIONS.
THE DEBATE OVER GUN LAWS, ESPECIALLY IN THE WAKE OF SEVERAL MASS SHOOTINGS,TIONAL RESPONSES.
>> I COME AT THIS ISSUE IN A WAY THAT NOBODY ELSE UNITED STATES SENATE, NOBODY ELSE DOES IN THIS PRESIDENTIAL RACE.
I LIVE IN A MAJORITY BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY.
MY COMMUNITY IS BELOW THENE, BUT IN MY LIFE MISTAKEN WEALTH WITH WORTH.
MY CHILDREN ARE AS BEAUTIFUL AS ALL AMERICAN CHILDREN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND MY COMMUNITY, AND WE DEAL WITH THIS VIOLENCE NOT WHEN THERE IS THESE HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE MASS
SHOOTINGS, BUT ON A REGULAR, REGULAR BASIS.
JUST DAYS AGO, THERE WAS A SHOOTING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD A COUPLE BLOCKS FROM WHERE I LIVE, WHERE TWO YOUNG MEN WERE SHOT.IH KILLED WITH AN ASSAULT RIFLE ON MY BLOCK.
I CAN'T TELL YOU THE GRUESOME REALITY OF LIVING IN A COMMUNITY WHERE YOU SEE CHILD AFTER CHILDD AND WHAT'S WORSE THAN THAT, NOW THAT THIS IS WAKING UP AS A REALITY FOR ALL AMERICANS, NOW
SLAUGHTERED IN A CHURCH, NOTHING CHANGES.
AMERICANS KILLED AT A CONC AMERICANS KILLED AT A SYNAGOGUE, IN MY LIFETIME, 50 YEARS, WE HAVE HAD MORE PEOPLE KILLED BY GUN VIOLENCE IN AMERICA TH EVERY OTHER WAR IN OUR COUNTRY'S
HISTORY FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR NOW COMBINED.
THIS A UNIQUELY AMERICAN PROBLEM, AND APATHY IS NOT ENOUGH.
I'M TIRED OF THOUGHTS AN PRAYERS.
IN MY CHURCH, I WAS TAUGHT THAT AND SO YOU'RE RIGHT.
THIS TOO MANY AMERICANS, BUT FOR BLACK AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN AND BOYS, WE'RE 6% OF THE NATION'S POPULATION BUT OVER 50% OF THE HOMICIDE VICTIMS.
TO BRING A FIGHT TO THIS ISSUE GOING TO BRING A FIGHT TO THIS ISSUE LIKE HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE.
I'M GOING TO WAKE UP THE MORAL WE SHOULD NOT BE A NATION WITH THIS KIND OF CARNAGE.
>> I USED TO BE A PROSECUTOR, AND I SAW THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF GUN VIOLENCE, NOT JUST IN THE MASSACRES WE SEE LIKE IN PARKLAND AND SANDY HOOK, WHAT WE JUST SAW IN THE
SYNAGOGUE.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE DAY-TO-DAY VIOLENCE, STREET VIOLENCE.
WE HAVE KIDS KILLED EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SO I THINK FIRST OF ALL, UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS MAKES THE MOST SENSE AS SOMETHING WE COULD PASS THAT WOULD REDUCE SUICIDES.
IT WOULD ALSO REDUCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
LIKE NEW HAMPSHIRE, I COME FROM A STATE THAT HAS A PND FISHING, SO I LOOK AT ALL THESE PROPOSALS, AND I SAY, DOES THIS AND?
[LAUGHTER] AND WHEN I LOOK AT THINGS LIKE UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS, THEY DON'T DO THAT.
LIVES.ON'T DO THAT.
THIS IDEA OF DOING SOMETHING WITHOMESTIC VIOLENCE -- YOU HAVE SOMETHING CALLED THE BOYFRIEND LOOPHOLE RIGHT NOW THAT ALLOWS PEOP THAT HAVE DOMESTIC-VIOLENCE
CONVICTION RELATIONSHIPS.
THAT'S ACTUALLY THE BILL THAT I LEAD, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PASS IT AS PART OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT.
SO THERE IS JUST SO MUCH I LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THIS COUNTRY, I ALWAYS THINK OF THOSE SANDYARE OFFICE THE DAY THAT WE HAD TO TELL THEM THIS BILL WE HAD WORKED O
BACKGROUND CHECKS, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PUBLIC SUPPORTS, WAS GOING DOWN.
AND I STILL REMEMBER THIS MOM THAT WAS SITTING THERE T ME THE STORY HOW SHE HAD BSE THA FOR HER CHILD, AND SHE HAD KISSED HIM GOODNIGHT, GOODBYE THAT MORNING, HE HAD POINTED TO
THE SCHOOL AIDE ON T THE PICTURE OF HIS SCHOOL AIDE THAT WAS WITH HIM ALL THE TIME BECAUSE HE COULDN'T TALK, AND HE LOVED THAT WOMAN.
AND AS TIN THAT FIREHOUSE, OF COURSE SHE WAS SOBBING FOR HER SON, BUT IN THE BACK OF HER MIND, SHE THOUGHT OF THAT SCHOOL AIDE, AND SHE KNEW THAT THEY'D LOST HER,
TOO.
AND WHEN THEY FOUND THEM SHOT, THAT TEACHER HAD HER ARMS AROUND >> IT'S LONG OVERDUE THAT WASHINGTON TOOK ACTION TO PASS THIS IS NOT ABOUT INFRINGING O PEOPLE'S SECOND AMENDMENT
RIGHTS.
IT'S ABOUT PUTTING RESPONSIBLE SAFETY REGULATIONS IN PLACE SO THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE OUR COMMUNITD OUR FAMILIES AND OUR SOCIETY IS SAFE.
I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OFHER ADDRESS.
ONE IS DEALINGAL -- LACK OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACROSS OUR COUNTR BUT ALSO, REALLY, I THINK WHAT'S AT THE HEART OF THIS, IS HOW FURTHER AND FURTHER OUR COUNTRY
IS BEING DIVIDED.
WHEN WE SEE RACISM AND BIGOTRY BEING FOMENTED, PITTING ONE SIDE IDENTITY POLITICS ARE BEING USED FOR THE PURPOSES OF FURTHERING POLITICAL INTERESTS OR CAMPAIGNS, I
THAT'S FURTHER FUELING THIS, ANIMOSITY AND PEOPLE WHO LACK COMPASSINS.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE CONGRESS WE'VE GOT TO COME TOGETHER AS A COUNTRY TO DO SO.
I THINK THE LEGISLATION I BELIEVE THAT WAS RECENTLY PASSED HERE OR WILL BE PASSED SOON, CLOSING SOME LOOPHOLES ON BACKGROUND C OF THING THAT WE NEED TO DO
AGAIN THAT HAS THE SUPPORT OF MOST AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
BUT ULTIMATELY WE HAVE GOT TO COME TOGETHER IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THAT AND RECOGNIZE THIS IS WITHIN ALL OF OUR INTERESTS, BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO SEESHOPPING AT WALMART AND WO
WHETHER OR NOT THEY'LL COME HOME.
NO ONE WANTS TO SE OFF TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING AND WONDER IF THEY'LL SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE GOT TO COME TOGETHER AS AOVERCOM HYPER- PARTISAN DIVIDES THAT
HAVE STOOD IN THE WAY FOR FAR TOO LONG.
ADAM: FROM BUILDING A WALL ON THE SOUTHERN BORDER TO ICE DEPORTATIONS AND DEBATE OVER THE FAMILY SEPARATION POLICY, IMMIGRATION IS ANOTHER MAJOR TOPIC IN THIS PRIMARY ELECTION
AND THIS ISSUE ALSO GOT PERSONAL FOR ONE CANDIDATE WHO TELLS THE STORY OF HIS FAM AMERICA.
>> LIKE YOU, M IMMIGRANT STORY ON ONE SIDE OF THE FAMILY.
MY MOM AND HER GRANDPARENTS WERE POLISH JEWS WHO MIRACULOUSLY SURVIVED THE HOLOCAUST.
THEY ACTUALLY -- THEY STAYED IN POLAND BECAUSE MY GRANDFATHER COULDN'T IMAGINE LEAVING HIS AND EVERYBODY WAS KILLED IN THEIR FAMILY EXCEPT THE THREE OF THEM AND AN AUNT.
AND AFTER THE WAOVER, THEY LIVED IN POLAND FOR TWO YEARS, THEN THEY WENT TO STOCKHOLM IN SWEDEN FOR A YEAR, THEN THEY WENTLACES, TO MEXICO CITY FOR A YEAR.
AND THEN THEY CAME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO REBUIRED LI THEY BECAME, YOU KNOW, AMONG THE MOST PATRIOTIC AMERICANS I'VE EVER KNOWN.
WHAT I WOULD DO IS WORK TO PASS COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM I WAS PART OF THE GANGDEMOCRATS REPUBLICANS WHO NEGOTIATED THE IMMIGRATION BILL IN THE SENATE.
WE GOT 68 VOTES FOR TH BORDER SECURITY THAN WHAT DONALD TRUMP'S TALKING ABOUT.
IT HAD $46 BILLION IN BORDER SECURITY.
DONALD TRUMP SAYS DEMOCRATS ARE FOR OPEN BORDERS.
FOR A SECURE BORDER.
YOU'RE FOR THE RULE OF LAW ON IMMIGRATION, I'M FOR THE RULE OF LAW ON IMMIGRATION.
BUT WE WEREN'T BUILDING A MEDIEV THERE.
WE WERE ACTUALLY USING TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER KINDS OF BARRIERS BORDER.
WE CREATED INTERNAL SECURITY AS PART OF THAT BILL, SO THAT THIS WHOLE ISSUE OF THE FACT THATO AR AS UNDOCUMENTED CAME LAWFULLY BUT OVERSTAYED THEIR VISA?ICA HA THAT RIGHT NOW.
WE FIXED THAT PROBLEM.
ADAM: THANK YOU.
QUICK FOLLOW-UP, SENATOR.
ON THE ISSUE OF OES HAVE A ROLE, THOUGH, AT SOME PARTS OF THE BORDER?
>> OF COURSE, BUT LOOK, DONALD A HE HAS A PHOTO OP, AND HE STANDS -- I DON'T KNOW IF I'M ALLOWED TO WALK OVER HERE, IS THAT ALL RIGHT? STANDS FROM ANY THREE OF WHAT, LIKE THIS, HIS
THREE STEEL SLATS, THAT'S WHAT HE CALLS THEM.
WE HAD 350 MILES OF STEEL SLATS IN THE GANG OF 8 BILL.
350 MILES.S SORT OF FOISTED ON AMERICAN PEOPLE THE IDEA THAT THERE ARE PEOP DON'T REALLY WANT BORDER SECURITY.
>> W MAKE AT THE BORDER FOR BORDER SECURITY TO PREVENT UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS FROM CROSSING AS WELL AS ILLEGAL CARGO ON TRUCKS AND SHIPS?
>> YEAH, SO YOU SAID TRUCKS AN WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS DO THE THINGS WE KNOW WE NEED TO DO BETTER, WHICH IS SECURE OUR PORTS, HAVE ADEQUATE STAFFING AND PERSONNEL AT THE BORDER.
THE WALL IS NOT A SOLUON.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE ACTUAL CONFIGURATION OF THE BORDER, THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES WHERE BUILDING A WALL WOULD BE COMPLETELY IMPRACTICAL, AND ALL YOU'RE GOING TO DO IS CHANNEL
RESOURCES TO OTHER PARTS OF THE BORDER.
SO I LOOKED INTO THIS, I INTO WHETHER THERE WAS SOME TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION ONE COULD IMPLEMENT, AND THERE IS NOT.
WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS WE HAVE TO ADEQUATELY STAFF AND SECURE THES WORK.
SO THAT THERE'S NO SILVER BULLET WHERE THE BORDER'S CONCERNED.
WHAT HAPPENED TO NEW HAMPSHIRE IN THE EARLY PART OF THE 20TH CENTURY IS NOW HAPPENING TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
WE'RE NOT BEING HONEST ABO FACT THAT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MANUFACTURING WORKERS WILL NOW HAPPEN TO THE RETAIL WORKS, TH FAST-FOOD WORKERS, THE TRUCK DRIVERS, WHICH ARE UNFORTUNATELY
THE FOUR MOST COMMON JOBS IN ECONOMY.
SO I'M RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT TO WAKE AMERICA UP TO THE FACT THAT IT IS NOT IMMIGRANTS THAT ARE CAUSING ECONOUND THE COUNTRY.
IT IS THE FACT THAT OUR ECONOMY HAS CHANGED IN FUNDAMENTAL WAYS.
>> MOST PEOPLE DON'T LEAVE HOME.
THIN OF US DON'T WANT TO LEAVE HOME, WE DON'T LIKE TO LEAVE HOME.
AND WE LEAVE THERE BECAUSE THE IS -- EITHER WE'RE FLEEING SOMETHING WHERE THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT, BUT WE HAVE TO F SO I OPERATE FROM THAT
PRINCIPLE, BUT THEN LET'S GO EVEN FURTHER.E'VE SEEN IN TERMS CHILDREN AND PARENTS THAT YOU'RE HAVE FLED MURDER CAPITALS.
THINK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF AHAS DECISION TO PAY A COYOTE, TO PAY A STRANGER TO TRANSPORT THEIR CHILD FROM THEIR ENTIR OF ORIGIN THROUGH THE ENTIRE COUNTRY OF MEXICO, FACING
UNKNOWN PERIL.
WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT THEY KNOW STAYED WHERE THEY ARE, IT WOULD BE WORSE.
BUT WH DONE?
IT LOOKS AT THESE FAMILIES AND IT SAYS, GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM.
IT'S INHUMANE AND IT'S UNAMERICAN SO WHAT WOULD WE DO?
WHAT WOULD I DO?
WELL, FIRST OF ALL HAVE A LEGITIMATE PROCESS ABOUT HE THEM A LEGITIMATE OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK ASYLUM.
WHEN WE CONSTRUCTED THE LAWS OF OUR NATION, WE I THESE THINGS WILL HAPPEN, THAT PEOPLE FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES WILL ARRIVE HERE FLEEING HARM.
SO WE PUT IN PLACE A PROCESS.
WELL, LET'S HONOR THAT PROCESS.
ADAM: ANOTHER MAJOR ISSUE IN THIS CAMPAIGN IS CLIMATE CHANGE.
STILL AHEAD, CANDIDATES GET SPECIFIC ABOUT THEIR PLANS TON EXISTENTIAL THREAT.
PLUS, THEY'RE RUNNING TO WIN ONE PART TO REPRESENT ALL AMERICANS.
HOW WILL THEY RESTORE UNITY TO DIFFERENCES IN POLIT