MIKE: WE ARE HERE IN LOS ANGELES WITH CHUCK TODD, MODERATOR OF THE MEET THE PRESS.
LET’S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT POLITICS, ESPECIALLY PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS.
HIS PRESIDENT TRUMP’S BASE HOLDING FIRM?
CHUC IT IS CRACKING A LITTLE BIT.
NOT A LOT.
IF HIS BASE GOES IN AND OUT WITH THE TIDE, THERE IS A SEASHELL OR TWO THAT STICKS TO THE SHORE AND HAS A REPUBLICAN CRAB THAT WANTS TO CALL FOR SAFETY.
BUT IT IS STILL ONE OR TWO.
THE PROBLEM FOR THE PRESIDENT IS THAT EACH OF THESE CONTROVERSIES, HE HAS LOST ANOTHER ONE OR TWO AND DOESN’T GAIN ANYBODY NEW.
IT IS A SLOW EROSION.
WHAT WASHINGTON IS UNSURE OF IS WHAT DOES THE SENATE SUPPORT LOOK LIKE?
HOW TRANSACTIONAL IS IT GOING TO BE?
IS THERE A POINT WHERE MIKE PENCE LOOKS LIKE THE STRONGER GUY?
WE’VE NEVER HAD AN IMPEACHMENT IN A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR, AND YOU HAVE A REPUBLICAN SENATE THAT WANTS TO STAY THAT WAY.
BOTH PARTIES THINK THEY KNOW HOW THE COUNTRY IS GOING TO GO BUT BOTH PARTIES ARE NOT SURE HOW IMPEACHMENT ULTIMATELY PLAYS.
THERE IS A NERVOUSNESS IN BOTH PARTIES OF WHAT IS THE VOTE GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS?
THEY KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE NOW POLITICALLY BUT THE SMARTER ONES ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT -- THINK ABOUT THE IRAQ WAR.
WHAT THE VOTE LOOKED LIKE IN THE MOMENT AND IN FIVE YEARS.
A LOT OF MEMBERS HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT, WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE IN FIVE YEARS.
I THINK THAT MINDSET, IF YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT, IS SOMETHING TO WORRY ABOUT.
MIKE: WE KNOW IN 2016, ENTHUSIASM WAS IMPORTANT, CERTAINLY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS BASE.
ARE WE STILL SEEING THAT LEVEL OF ENTHUSIASM, AND IF SO, WHO ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE IS GENERATING THAT ENTHUSIASM?
CHUCK: THE TWO PEOPLE I THINK HAVE GENERATED THE SAME LEVEL OF ENTHUSIASM AS THE PRESIDENT IS WARREN AND SANDERS.
THE SANDERS AND TRUMP BASE HAVE THE MOST IN COMMON, NOTHING SHAKES THEM.
A LOT OF US THOUGHT THE HEART ATTACK COULD CAUSE SANDERS OF SUPPORT BUT WE DON’T SEE THAT EVIDENCE YET.
THAT TELLS YOU SOMETHING, THE FACT THAT THAT IS NOT SHAKEN.
YOU SEE IT THERE.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT FATIGUE IS A FACTOR IN TRUMP’S SUPPORT, BUT AS IT KEEP PEOPLE FROM VOTING OR SIMPLY KEEP PEOPLE FROM LISTENING AND THEY VOTE NO MATTER WHAT?
THAT IS THE QUESTION NEITHER PARTY CAN ANSWER FOR SURE.
WE CAN’T ANSWER THAT YET ABOUT 2020.
MIKE: I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS.
WE COVERED HER CAMPAIGN WHEN SHE KICKED OFF IN OAKLAND IN JANUARY, BUT SINCE THAT TIME, HER STAR HAS FADED.
WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT TO?
CHUCK: I THINK THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SPACE INSIDE SANDERS AND BIDEN AND THE THEORY WAS TO BE THE ALTERNATIVE TO SANDERS, HARRIS.
THE PROBLEM WAS ELIZABETH WARREN CAME IN AND CLAIMED TERRITORY JUST TO THE RIGHT OF SANDERS AND SUDDENLY IT MEANT OK, ARE YOU WITH SANDERS’S SOCIALISM, THE WARREN AGGRESSIVE CAPITALISM, OR
BIDEN?
AND I THINK HARRIS STILL TRIED TO FIND A MIDDLE GROUND.
HER MEDICARE FOR ALL ATTEMPTS ARE THE SYMBOL OF WHAT HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE FOR HER.
SHE’S TRYING TO SAY, I AM WITH THEM BUT I AM WITH BIDEN, A LITTLE OF THIS AND A LITTLE OF THAT.
I DON’T KNOW IF THERE IS A CONSTITUENCY FOR SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN.
MIKE: FINAL QUESTION, ABOUT JOE BIDEN, IF FUNDRAISING IS AN INDICATOR OF SUPPORT, DOES JOE BIDEN HAVE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT?
CHUCK: I THINK HE DOES AND DONORS ARE SHOPPING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE ENDED THAT EXPLAINS POODLE -- EXPLAINED PETE BUTTIGIEG IN PARTICULAR.
HE HAS BECOME THE BIDEN BACKUP CANDIDATE FOR NATIONAL DONORS.
WE WILL SEE.
I THINK HE’S MADE FOR IOWA, THE QUESTION IS WHAT CAN HE DO AFTER IOWA?
THAT’S THE DOUBT I HAVE AND A LOT OF NATIONAL DEMOCRATS HAVE.
MIKE: THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHT AND EXPERTISE.
AND REMEMBER THAT IF IT I