WHAT COULD BE A BLEAK WINTER.
GOOD MORNING.
WE JUST EMERGED FROM A WEEK OF SOME OF THE MOST INTENSE GRANITE STATE DEBATES WE’VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME.
FROM DATING LIVES BEING DRAGGED INTO THE MIX AND JEANNE SHAHEEN LETTING IT RIP IN A SENATE DEBATE.
FOR ANALYSIS WE TURN TO OUR OWN JOHN DISTASO.
YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 40 YEARS, HOW UNIQUE WAS THE LAST WEEKEND DEBATE?
JOHN: I WAS SURPRISED, PLEASANTLY SO, IT WAS SO CONTENTIOUS.
THE LAST ONE PERHAPS LESS THAN THE FIRST THREE, BUT I WAS SURPRISED THE CHALLENGERS -- NOT SO SURPRISED THAT THE CHALLENGERS, BUT SURPRISED BY THE INCUMBENTS, MANY OF THEM
WITH BIG LEADS IF YOU BELIEVE THE POLLING, GOING AFTER THEIR CHALLENGERS WITH NO HOLDS BARRED.
I THOUGHT THAT THE FOLKS WHO WERE STILL OUT THERE TRYING TO DECIDE GOT A VERY GOOD CONTRAST ON ALL FOUR OF THOSE MAJOR RACES.
ADAM: IT IS LIKE THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE BETWEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP AND JOE BIDEN LIFTED THE LID AND EVERYONE WAS MORE COMFORTABLE WITH EXCHANGES LIKE THAT.
DAN FELTES NEEDING TO THROW AND CATCH A HAIL MARY.
HE DID BETTER IN THIS THAN IN THE PRIMARY DEBATE.
LET’S LOOK AT ONE OF THE BIG EXCHANGES.
>> EVERYTHING ISN’T FINE.
WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC AND FOLKS IN THIS STATE HAVE DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB.
MY OPPONENT LIKES TO INVOKE MY NAME AND THE IDEA WE ARE AGAINST HEALTH CARE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY I’M ONE OF THE FEW REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS IN THE COUNTRY FIGHTING TO KEEP THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT SUPREME COURT TODAY.
NEW HAMPSHIRE IS ON THE LAWSUIT TODAY FIGHTING TO KEEP THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
I AM ONE OF FOUR OR FIVE REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS BUCKING THE TREND.
I KNOW THAT DAN LIKES TO MAKE AN EASY POLITICAL STATEMENT THAT SOUNDS NICE, BUT THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS.
>> THESE ARE YOUR OWN WORDS.
IN 2016 WHEN YOU RAN FOR GOVERNOR FOR THE FIRST TIME YOU RAN ON THE PLATFORM OF APPEALING OBAMACARE.
YOU SAID I WOULD SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP BECAUSE HE WOULD IN HORRIBLE PROGRAMS LI OBAMACARE.ON THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL YOU VOTED IN 2012 TO TEAR DOWN THE OBAMA
HEALTH CARE EXCHANGE.
AND YOU CHEER LIT THE REPEAL OF OBAMACARE WITH NO REPLACEMENT.
ADAM IS HE REALLY TRYING TO PULL BACK AS MANY DEMOCRATS AWAY FROM GOVERNOR SUNUNU?
JOHN: I THINK SO.
THE GOVERNOR HAS THE SUPPORT OF MORE THAN A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF DEMOCRATS.
DAN FELTES IS GOING TO HIS BASE TO TRY TO ROUTE THEM UP.
HEALTH CARE IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY BIG ISSUE, STATEWIDE AND WITHIN THE DEMOCRAT PARTY.
HE DID HAVE THE GOVERNOR A LITTLE ON THE DEFENSIVE, BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID THE THINGS THAT DAN FELTES HAS SAID HE SAID, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE GOVERNOR DID DIRECT THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL TO GET INVOLVED IN THE CASE GOING BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT RIGHT AFTER THE ELECTION.
THE GOVERNOR DID SAY SINCE WE DO NOT HAVE A REPLACEMENT THAT WE NEED TO DEFEND THE CURRENT LAW.
DAN FELTES’ HEALTH CARE IS A WAY FOR HIM TO CARRY THROUGH HIS OVERALL THEME OF TRYING TO TIE THE GOVERNOR TO DONALD TRUMP.
ADAM: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BLEW UP IN A BAD WAY FOR SENATOR FELT THIS IS WHEN HE SAID "I AGREE" WHEN ANDRU VOLINSKY SAID HE WOULD COMMUTE THE DEATH SENTENCE OF MICHAEL ADDISON IN
MANCHESTER AND LATER SENATOR FELT HIS SAID WHAT HE WAS REALLY SAYING WAS HE SUPPORTED A COMMUTATION PROCESS, BUT IF HE WAS GOVERNOR HE WOULD VETO IT IF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DID IT.
HE WAS GIVEN A CHANCE TO CLEAN THIS UP IN A DEBATE.
>> WILL YOU PLEASE DEFINITIVELY ANSWER THE QUESTION, WOULD YOU COMMUTE HIS SENTENCE OR ALLOW HIM TO BE EXECUTED?
>> I’VE BEEN CONSISTENT SUPPORTING A COMMUTATION PROCESS MOVING FORWARD, BUT NOT RIGHT NOW.
IN ADDITION, I DON’T THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE POLITICIZED.
CHRIS SUNUNU HAS POLITICIZED THIS.
I DON’T THINK WE SHOULD BE POLITICIZING THE MURDER OF A COP.
WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER.
>> HE SAID HE HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AND WHATNOT COMMUTE HIS SENTENCE, BUT AT SOME POINT HE NEEDS TO COMMUTE HI SENTENCE.
THAT IS THE MOST INCONSISTENT THING OF EVER HEARD.
I’VE STOOD WITH THE FAMILY.
I’VE GOT TO TELL YOU, WHEN YOU CAN LOOK INTO THEIR EYES AND SAY WE ARE NOT GOING TO COMMUTE THE SENTENCE OF A COP KILLER, UNEQUIVOCABLY -- I AND I UNDERSTA DAN HAD ONE POSITION
IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY AND NOW ANOTHER, THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF POLITICS.
I HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
ADAM: MANCHESTER IS HOME TO A LOT OF DEMOCRATIC VOTES BUT THEY TEND BE PAROCHIAL VOTERS.
HOW BADLY COULD THIS HURT DAN FELTES?
JOHN: THE KEYWORD THAT YOU AND DAN FELTES SAID WAS PROCESS.
THIS IS SOMETHING YOU DON’T WANT TO GET INTO THE DETAILS OF PROCESS.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW ARE YOU FOR IT OR AGAINST IT?
I DON’T THINK IT IS A GOOD MOVE FOR DAN FELTES TO TRY TO SPLIT THAT HAIR.
THE GOVERNOR HAD A GOOD POINT THAT DAN FELTES MADE DURING THE PRIMARY.
HE IS CONSISTENT, BUT IT IS TOO MUCH IN THE WEEDS.
I DON’T THINK IT DOES DAN FELTES ANY GOOD.
IF HE IS TRULY IN FAVOR OR OPPOSED TO COMMUTATION, HE SHOULD HAVE SAID SO FROM THE BEGINNING AND GONE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES IN THE PRIMARY, AND HAVE THAT, NOT A CONFUSING
ASPECT OF HIS CAMPAIGN RIGHT NOW.
ADAM: LET’S MOVE TO JEANNE SHAHEEN.
FIRST OF ALL, WOW.
I WOULD RECOMMEND IF ANYONE HAS NOT SEEN THE DOCUMENTARY "THE PREMIER PRIMARY," THERE IS A ACTIVIST JEANNE SHAHEEN.
SHE IS NOT THE GOVERNOR OR SENATOR.
THERE ARE SPARKS FLYING OFF OF HER AND YOU CAN SEE THE CHARISMA THAT WOULD COME TO BEAR IN FUTURE ELECTORAL RACES SHE WOULD WIN.
WE GOT TO SEE THE SPARKS RETURN TUESDAY NIGHT.
JOHN: I WAS SURPRISED.
I REMEMBER THAT JEANNE SHAHEEN, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
WHEN I FIRST MET HER SHE WAS HANDLING JIMMY CARTER’S REELECTION CAMPAIGN IN PORTSMOUTH.
WE HADN’T SEEN THAT IN A WHILE.
I WAS SURPRISED.
IF YOU BELIEVE THE POLLING SHE HAS A FAIRLY LARGE LEAD.
THE IDEA IS SORT OF DEFEND, BUT SHE REALLY WENT AFTER CORKY MESSNER ON A VARIETY OF FRONTS.
SHE TIED HIM TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, SAID HE QUESTIONED MASK WEARING, SAID HE DID NOT DISAVOW TRUMP’S SUGGESTION THAT PEOPLE DRINK DISINFECTANTS.
HE SAID SHE WAS MISREPRESENTING, BUT HER OVERALL DEMEANOR WAS FEISTY.
WE HAVEN’T SEEN THAT IN A WHILE.
WE SAW IT WHEN SHE WAS GOVERNOR, BUT NOT MUCH OF HERE IN THE U.S.
SENATE.
ADAM: SHE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DEPLOY THAT WHEN SHE NEEDED.
YOU CORKY MR. THOUGHT HE HAD A GOOD -- YOU CAN TELL CORKY MESSNER THOUGHT HE HAD A GOOD DEBATE.
LET’S TAKE A LISTEN.
>> IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SUGGESTING AFTER THE SHUTDOWN OF THE TRAVEL BAN?
THAT IS UN-AMERICAN.
YOU SAID 40,000 PEOPLE WERE LET BACK IN.
YOU WANTED TO KEEP AMERICANS OUT OF THIS COUNTRY?
WHAT KIND OF SENATOR IS THAT TO NOT BRING SENATE ERRORS -- TO THE UNITED STATES?
>> THAT WAS THE PROBLEM.
THE PROBLEM WAS PEOPLE CAME IN AND THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THEY WEREN’T INFECTED.
ONE OF THE REASONS WE SAW THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS WAS BECAUSE THERE WERE NOT CONSISTENT MEASURES PUT INTO PLACE, WHICH IS WHAT WE NEED TO GET AHEAD OF THIS PANDEMIC.
ADAM: I KNOW WE WERE SURPRISED WHEN WE GOT A MORE COMBATIVE JEANNE SHAHEEN.
YOU THINK CORKY MESSNER COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN ABACK?
JOHN: I THINK THEY WERE, BUT MESSNER HAD GOOD MOMENTS.
HE WAS ON THE OFFENSIVE.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD EXCHANGE FOR HIM.
THERE IS ANOTHER INVOLVING THE FOREIGN AND TROOPS, AND WHAT SHE REALLY SAID OR DID NOT SAY ABOUT THE NUMBER OF TROOPS IN THE MIDEAST.
I THINK MESSNER HAD A GOOD DEBATE.
I DON’T THINK HE CAN COME AWAY FEELING LIKE HE LEFT ANYTHING ON THE TABLE. DID HE EXPECT HER TO FIGHT BACK LIKE THAT?
PROBABLY NOT.
ADAM: CD-1 BLEW IT AWAY.
THIS IS ONE OF THE FILL THE ROOM DEBATES.
WE DIDN’T HAVE AN AUDIENCE, BUT THIS WAS VERY MUCH BEING IN THE DEBATES.
YOU COULD FEEL THE ANIMOSITY IN THE ROOM AS IT BUILT.
LET’S START WITH ONE OF THE EXCHANGES.
I WILL STAND UP TO THE SPECIAL INTERESTS IN WASHINGTON WHO LIKE TO GET THESE SPECIALIZED BREAKS.
MATT MAUER’S IS THE SPECIAL INTEREST BECAUSE HE HAS CASHED IN AFTER HE LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE AND IS WORKING FOR THE BIG DRUG COMPANIES AND EASY LOBBYING FIRMS.
LET’S TALK ABOUT TAX POLICY.
CONGRESSMAN PAPPAS IS SUPPORTING A TAX HEIGHT IN WASHINGTON DC -- TAX HIKE IN WASHINGTON, D.C..
HE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE HIS NAME OFF THE BILL THAT WOULD RAISE TAXES FOR MIDDLE INCOME AMERICANS AND HE IS CHOOSING NOT TO.
GOVERNOR SUNUNU AND I WILL PROTECT THE NEW HAMPSHIRE WAY.
JOHN: MATT MAUER IS RUNNING UNDER THE WING OF CHRIS SUNUNU AND TAKING AN AGGRESSIVE TONE.
YOU HAVE SWING VOTERS IN CD-1 WITH GOVERNOR SUNUN SEEMINGLY.
WILL THEY BUY AND WITH HIS DEMEANOR SO DIFFERENT FROM THE GOVERNOR’S?
JOHN: IN TERMS OF THE BASE HE IS THE AGGRESSIVE, FEISTY, YOUNG CONSERVATIVE THAT WILL PLAY WELL WITH THE IN TERMS OF THE IMPORTANT MIDDLE GROUND PEOPLE, THAT WILL BE MORE
OF A CHALLENGE FOR HIM.
CHRIS PAPPAS IS A LAID-BA AND IS NOT AS AGGRESSIVE.
IN THIS CASE HE WAS ON THE DEFENSIVE BY MOWERS.
THE EXCHANGE, WE SHALL SEE, BUT IT REMINDED ME OF THE FIRST TRUMP-BIDEN DEBATE.
HE MAY HAVE TAKEN A PAGE FROM THAT TO JUST SPEAK OVER PAPPAS.
TO KEEP SAYING, "OH, COME ON" AND KEEP SHAKING HIS HEAD, ETC., ETC.
ADAM: LET’S LOOK AT ANOTHER TUSSLE OVER HEALTH CARE.
>> I THINK ABOUT PEOPLE I MEET EVERY DAY WHO HAVE A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION.
THEY WOULD BE LEFT WITHOUT PROTECTION IF THE EFFORT THAT MY OPPONENT SUPPORTS -- >> NOT TRUE.
TO STRIP AWAY THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
I WILL STAND UP FOR THE HEALTH CARE OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY.
MATT MOWER STANDS FOR THE SPECIAL INTERESTS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES.
CONGRESSMAN PAPPAS HAS TAKEN A PAGE OUT OF THE D.C. PLAYBOOK.
I HAVE SAID I WOULD SUPPORT PROTECTING THOSE WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS.
CONGRESSMAN PAPPAS KEEPS WANTING TO LIVE.
IF YOU WANT REWRITE YOUR RECORD, THAT’S FINE, DON’T REWRITE MY STATEMENTS.
WE NEED TO PROTECT THOSE WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS IN A WAY THAT’S AFFORDABLE.
YOU SUPPORT EFFORTS THAT WOULD DOUBLE PREMIUMS.
THIS IS THAT PETTY POLITICS THAT MAY GO WELL ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, BUT DON’T BRING THEM TO NEW HAMPSHIRE.
ADAM: AFTER THIS WAS WHEN MATT MOWERS ANNOUNCED TO EVERYONE THAT PAPPAS WAS DATING A CORPORATE LOBBYIST.
PAPPAS SAID THIS WAS OUT OF BOUNDS AND FOLLOWED UP WITH PUSHBACK THAT INCLUDED BRINGING THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN I INSINUATING THAT WAS SOMEHOW HOMOPHOBIC.
WAS THE WRONGDOING, ANY VIOLATION OF LAW OR CONGRESSIONAL ROLE BY DATING ANYONE LIKE THIS?
JOHN: THERE WAS NOT.
I DON’T KNOW EXACTLY, AND I’VE ASKED MR. MOWE, WHAT DID HE WANT CHRIS PAPPAS TO DISCLOSE?
WAS HE SUPPOSED TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT?
I THINK MATTOWERS NEEDED TO HAVE MORE FACTS ABOUT WHAT HE WAS CHARGING WAS WRONG, THAT WHAT CHRIS PAPPAS DID BY HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH A LOBBYIST AND NOT MAKING AN ANNOUNCEMENT
ABOUT IT, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO REQUIREMENT HE NEEDED TO DO THAT.
ADAM: WE WILL SEE HOW THIS LANDS WITH VOTERS.
LET’S MOVE TO THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND WATCH WHAT I THOUGHT WAS ONE OF THE MORE TELLING MOMENTS OF THE DEBATE WHEN STEVE NEGRON WAS HAMMERING AWAY ON QUALIFIED
IMMUNITY.
YOU NEED QUALIFIED IMMUNITY BECAUSE YOU NEED LAW-ENFORCEMENT.
THAT IS WHY I RECEIVED THE POLICE’S SUPPORT BECAUSE YOU HAVE ABANDONED THEM.
WE NEED TO SAY THAT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
WE NEED THE POLICE TO PROTECT US.
BY YOUR STANCE ON QUALIFIED IMMUNITY YOU HAVE ABANDONED LAW ENFORCEMENT.
>> I WONDERED IF HE WAS GOING TO ANSWER THE QUESTION SHE ASKED, SO I’M GOOD.
ADAM: EVEN THOUGH THIS RACE IS WITHIN THE MARGIN OF ERROR, IT LOOKS LIKE CONGRESSWOMAN CUSTER MAY HAVE PULLING OF HER OWN AND THINKS THIS RACE IS NOT CLOSE.
JOHN: I THINK THEY THINK THE RACE IS NOT CLOSE.
WE CAN SEE THAT.
IT WAS A GOOD DEBATE WITH A LOT OF GOOD ISSUES.
THIS ONE WAS MORE SUBDUED, BUT THERE WAS GOOD BACK-AND-FORTH.
I THINK THAT WAS THE MOST FEISTY EXCHANGE.
YOU KNOW, NEGRON HAS DONE WELL, BUT CUSTER DEFENDED HER GROUND EFFECTIVELY AND DID POINT OUT PIECES OF LEGISLATION SHE SUPPORTED AND INITIATIVES SHE HAS TAKEN.
I WAS SURPRISED THE LAST THING THAT NEGRON DID NOT TRY TO TIE HER MORE TO THE SQUAD, NANCY PELOSI.
THERE WASN’T TOO MUCH OF THAT.
I EXPECTED THAT TO COME OUT OF HIS MOUTH EVERY ANSWER.
ADAM: CONGRESSWOMAN CUSTER HAS BEEN DOING DEBATES DATING BACK TO 2010 AND IS VERY MUCH IN HER ELEMENT.