ADAM: WELCOME BACK TO “CLOSE UP.” THIS WAS A BIG WEEKEND FOR DEMOCRATS BEYOND THE SHEER NUMBER OF CANDIDATES AND ACTIVISTS AT THE CONVENTION.
AND WE HAVE SOME THINGS TO TALK ABOUT IN THE REPUBLICAN SENATE PRIMARY AS WELL.
WMUR POLITICAL REPORTER JOHN DISTASO JOINS US NOW TO HELP SORT THINGS OU THE NHGOP IS REALLY TRYING TO GAIN EQUAL FOOTING WITH THE NHDP IN TERMS OF THE FUND-RAISING.
CLEARLY, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A HUGE ADVANTAGE WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS IN THE STATE AND THE CONVICTION THAT SOLD SO MANY TICKETS.
WHERE DOES THE MONEY STAND NOW?
JOHN: DEMOCRATS ARE FAR AHEAD.
THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CASH IN NOT ONLY ON THE TICKETS FROM YESTERDAY’S CONVENTION BUT THEY SOLD THEIR VOTER FILES AT $100,000 EACH FOR MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE CANDIDATES.
THAT WILL HELP THEM, TOO.
THERE’S A BIG DISPARITY.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS TRYING TO GET ON EQUAL FOOTING.
THEY ARE LOOKING TO WORK WITH THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO BE ABLE TO PUT OUT THE MESSAGE ON BEHALF OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.
I THINK WE WILL SEE MORE OF THAT AS WE GET INTO THE NEXT YEAR.
IT MAY NOT BE AS ONE-SIDED AS IT LOOKS ULTIMATELY, THE RIGHT NOW IS PRETTY ONE-SIDED ON PAPER.
ADAM: THE CHAIRMAN HAS MADE IT A PRIORITY.
JOHN: HE HAS TIES WITH THE TRUMP PEOPLE.
EVERYONE KNOWS THAT.
SOME OF THIS MAY WORK INTO THE NEXT SUBJECT WHICH HAS TO DO WITH THE SENATE RACE AND WHO IS RUNNING AND WHO IS NOT.
ADAM: WE KNOW COREY LEWANDOWSKI WANTED TO CLEAR THE FIELD.
BUT CORKY MESSNER JUST JUMPED IN.
BILL O’BRIEN AND DON BOLDUC STAYED IN.
DO YOU THINK THESE CAMPAIGNS ARE SAYING, LET’S CALL HIS BLUFF?
JOHN: I THINK THEY WERE REACTING IN SOME WAYS TO COREY LEWANDOWSKI’S ASSUMPTION THAT THEY SHOULD GET OUT.
I THINK THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF GETTING OUT.
THEY MAY HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT IF THE FUND-RAISING NUMBERS BECOME SO ONE-SIDED ON BEHALF OF COREY LEWANDOWSKI WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE HE WOULD BE THE ULTIMATE WINNER IN A PRIMARY.
BUT NOW, I THINK THEY WILL STAY IN, AT LEAST MOST OF THEM.
I AM NOT SURE ABOUT ONE OF THEM.
BUT I THINK AT LEAST TWO OF THEM ARE GOING TO STAY IN, ESPECIALLY MESSNER WHO JUST GOT IN AND BOLDUC BEING A MILITARY GENERAL AND LOVING THE BATTLE, I DON’T THINK HE HAS ANY INTENTION OF
LEAVING THE RACE.
BILL O’BRIEN CONTINUES TO CONSIDER HIMSELF THE ONLY TRUE CONSERVATIVE IN THE RACE.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF HE GOES AGAINST COREY LEWANDOWSKI.
THEY ARE FRIENDS.
ADAM: HE HAS KEY SUPPORT.
IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING PRIMARY TO SEE THESE CONSERVATIVES BATTLE.
JOHN: IT WILL RAISE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
THAT WILL HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH IT.
WE WILL SEE WHEN THE MONEY IS RECORDED AT THE END OF THIS QUARTER, THAT MAY DETERMINE A LOT IN TERMS OF WHETHER COREY LEWANDOWSKI GETS IN.
AND IF HE DOES, WE KNOW HE HAS A LOT OF FUNDRAISING PROWESS THROUGH THE TRUMP PEOPLE AND HIS OWN CONTACTS.
ADAM: THE SEASON IS CHANGING.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE PRIMARY IN THE FALL?
JOHN: WE ARE NOW GOING INTO THE POINT WHERE THINGS BECOME MORE SERIOUS IN TERMS OF REACHING OUT BEYOND THE CORE ACTIVISTS.
WHILE THE PEOPLE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE ARE LATE DECIDERS, THEY ARE NOT LATE TO THE CONSERVATION ASPECT AND WILL BE PAYING ATTENTION.
I THINK THE CANDIDATES IF THEY ARE SMART WILL BE COMING HERE FAR MORE OFTEN THAN WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST SUMMER.
ADAM: A SLOW SUMMER, BUT IT WILL PICK UP.
THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT STAR