>> THE MASSACHUSETTS PRIMARY ELECTION IS SET FOR TUESDAY,
SEPTEMBER 4TH.
WINNER THERE ADVANCE TO THE NOVEMBER 6TH GENERAL ELECTION.
THERE'S BEEN A DRASTIC INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FEMALE
CANDIDATES, SUCH AS TAHIRAH AMATUL-WADUD SEEKING OFFICE
NATIONALLY.
WHY IS THAT?
AND WHAT DOES THE FIELD LOOK LIKE FOR STATE AND LOCAL RACES
IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS?
I RECENTLY SPOKE WITH TWO JOURNALISTS WITH INSIGHT INTO
THIS AREA AND MORE.
ROBERT RA SDUT QUO, ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR OF THE
REPUBLICAN AND MASSLIVE AND MATT SZAFRANSKI, EDITOR AND FOUNDER
OF WESTERN MASS POLITICS AND INSIGHT.
>> I THINK THE BIGGEST SUPPORTER IS PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.
HE WON ONE ELECTION DESPITE HAVING, BY LAST COUNT, 19
DIFFERENT CHARGES OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT OR WORSE LEVELS
AGAINST HIM.
AND YOU SAW THE DAY AFTER HIS INAUGURATION BY SOME COUNT THE
LARGEST PROTEST IN THE AMERICAN HISTORY, WOMEN'S MARCH, OF
COURSE.
AND I THINK THAT HAS MOTIVATED A LOT OF WOMEN WHO HAD BEEN ON THE
P PERIPHERY OF POLITICS TO
ACTUALLY GET INVOLVED AND ONE OF THE MOST DIRECT WAYS TO DO THAT
IS TO ACTUALLY RUN.
THERE ARE TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT ALWAYS EXISTED, THEY HAVE
PROBABLY BEEN AT CAPACITY THESE DAYS SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY JUMP
IN.
>> I WAS AT THE WOMEN'S MARCH IN D.C.
I COVERED IT FOR THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE AT THAT TIME, AND I WAS
VERY SURPRISED TO SEE THE MIX OF WOMEN WHO WERE DOWN THERE, THE
AGE GROUP AND ALSO THE MEN WHO WERE MOBILIZED ALSO TO RAISE
THEIR VOICES AROUND THAT ISSUE.
BUT OFTENTIMES THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK, ANYWAY, AROUND THAT
TIME ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE WOULD BE FOLLOW THROUGH.
WERE YOU SURPRISED TO SEE A CHALLENGER AGAINST RICHARD NEAL
FROM WIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY?
>> NOT SO MUCH JUST FROM BEING WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY,
BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE JUMP UP TO KIND OF CHALLENGE HIM
BEFORE.
BUT TO SEE A POLITICAL NEWCOMER THAT IS A WOMAN STEP INTO THE
RING AND SAY THAT SHE WANTS TO SHAKE THINGS UP, IT WAS
DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOUS CHALLENGERS.
ANDREW NUCEFARO AND SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO CHALLENGED HIM
IN THE PAST, SOMETIMES A MORE LIBERAL CHALLENGER, WE'VE SEEN
THAT AS THE PARTY MOVES FURTHER TO THE LEFT BUT SHE'S DEFINITELY
A NEW FACE TO POLITICS.
>> YES.
MATT, YOU RECENTLY WROTE ON YOUR BLOG ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO
UNSEAT AN INCUMBENT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> I THINK EVERY DISTRICT IS DIFFERENT.
THAT'S ONE THING YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND.
RICHARD NEAL'S DISTRICT INCLUDES MOST OF HAMPTON COUNTY, BER
SHIRE COUNTY AND WESTERN INFRINGES MANY HAMP SHIRE AND
FRANKLIN.
SO IN ORDER FOR SOMEBODY TO BEAT IN THE PRIMARY, SPRINGFIELD,
WHERE HE USED TO BE THE MAYOR, IS A HUGE PART OF THAT
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTE.
THEY WOULD NEED TO CRACK A SIGNIFICANT PART OF HIS SUPPORT
AWAY, WHICH WOULD NOT BE EASY.
AND ALSO RUN UP THE SCORE IN PLACES THAT ARE FAR AWAY PERFECT
SPRINGFIELD.
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T JUST THINK OF WHEN HE WAS THE MAYOR AS HIS
BASE BEING IN THE CITY.
IT'S ALSO PEOPLE THAT USED TO LIVE IN THE CITY THAT HAVE MOVED
OUT TO THE SUBURBS, SOME OF WHICH MAY LOOK BACK ON HIS
MAYORALITY IN A POSITIVE LIFE.
SOME MAY NOT BUT MANY WILL.
SO IT'S A VERY HIGH BAR TO CLEAR.
YOU'VE GOT TO CRACK A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN SATISFIED
WITH HIS REPRESENTATION, EVEN IF PEOPLE OUT IN THE BERKSHIRES AND
UP IN THE UPPER VALLEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN.
>> AND THEY'VE CRITICIZED HIM FOR NOT GETTING OUT THERE NOW.
WE WILL SEE.
AND WE RECENTLY SAW IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THE CONSOLIDATION, WE
LOST THAT SEAT WHEN WE DID THE REDISTRICTING OF THE AREA.
WE WILL SEE WHERE THAT GOES.
BEFORE WE GET TOO MUCH DEEPER INTO CONVERSATION ABOUT FEMALES
COMING TO THE FLOOR HERE OR IN THE POLITICAL ARENA, WE DID
INVITE A FEMALE REPORTER TO JOIN US THIS WEEK BUT SCHEDULING
CONFLICTS GOT IN THE WAY.
MAN SLING AWAY, FELLAS.
LET'S LOOK AT STATEWIDE RACES FOR REPS AND SENATORS.
SO FAR THREE WOMEN ARE GETTING INTO THE RACE THERE.
HOW DOES THIS SQUARE WITH HISTORY?
>> I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING STATEWIDE IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING
ACTUALLY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE MORE AND MORE OF IT, IT'S
MORE AND MORE WOMEN ARE HAVING THAT FOLLOW THROUGH, ARE
DECIDING I AM GOING TO GIVE IT A SHOT.
THE SYSTEM NEEDS CHANGING.
WHO BETTER TO CHANGE IT THAN ME?
AND THEY ARE STEPPING UP AND TAKING THESE LEADERSHIP ROLES.
AND HERE IN WESTERN MASS, THEY'RE FROM BOTH PARTIES.
>> REPUBLICANS CHALLENGING DEMOCRATS.
>> YES.
SO IT'S ACROSS THE SPECTRUM THEY'RE SHOWING I'M NOT GOING TO
FIT ANY ONE MOLD JUST BECAUSE I'M A WOMAN BUT THEY'RE STEPPING
UP AND THEY'RE STEPPING UP IN NUMBERS.
>> ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD, MATT?
>> I THINK WHAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH IS HOW THIS
INTEREST AND SURGE IN WOMEN GETTING IN POLITICS RUNS UP
AGAINST THE TRADITIONAL DYNAMICS THAT OFTEN CONTROL A LOT OF
THESE RACES.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IN LONG MEADOW WHERE THE REPUBLICAN IS RUNNING,
LONG MEADOW IN THAT DISTRICT IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF
PLACES THAT HAVE BEEN TURNING AGAINST REPUBLICANS SINCE THE
2016 ELECTION.
SO IS HER INTEREST AND ENTHUSIASM GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO
OVERCOME THAT?
MEANWHILE, THE OTHER ONE OUT THAT'S BECOME A VERY REPUBLICAN
AREA AS THOSE AREAS DRIFTED AWAY FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, WILL
HER INTEREST AND ENTHUSIASM OVERCOME THAT DYNAMIC?
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL BE VERY INTERESTING TO WATCH.
>> WE WILL SEE HOW IT UNFOLDS AS THE DAYS AND WEEKS STEAM AHEAD
TOWARDS NOVEMBER.
LET'S LOOK AT STAN ROSENBERG.
HE HAS BEEN A HIGHLY REGARDED REPRESENTATIVE IN THIS AREA,
CURRENTLY HIS HUSBAND IS FACING SOME ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL
MISCONDUCT AND THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT
HIS HUSBAND USED UNDUE INFLUENCE WIELDED SENATOR ROSENBERG'S
INFLUENCE IN THE STATE SENATE.
DO YOU THINK THAT THIS THEN OPENED UP A LANE FOR SOMEONE
ELSE TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS RACE?
>> I THINK SENATOR ROSENBERG IS STILL WIDELY POPULAR, BELOVED
FROM DEMOCRATS AND BASICALLY HIS ENTIRE DISTRICT.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT ANYONE IS UNTOUCHABLE BECAUSE THAT'S
NOT POLITICALLY TRUE JUST GENERALLY SPEAKING BUT I THINK
HE'S PRETTY SAFE.
>> I WOULD AGREE.
THERE IS A -- IT'S NOT JUST THEY LIKE HIM AS A DEMOCRAT OR AS A
LONG-TERM.
HE'S BEEN THERE FOR 25 YEARS.
IT'S JUST AS A SENATOR, EVEN LONGER IF YOU INCLUDE STATE REP
AND BEFORE THAT.
THEY APPRECIATE HIS WONKINESS.
HE LIKES DIVING INTO THE DETAILS.
HE REPRESENTS HOW MANY COLLEGES UP IN THAT DISTRICT?
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO DEVOUR THE KINDS OF THINGS HE THRIVES ON IN
THE STATEHOUSE.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HARD FOR SOMEBODY TO GATHER TOGETHER
A COLLISION THAT COULD OVERCOME HIM IN A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY AND
THAT DISTRICT ISN'T ELECTING ANYBODY BUT A DEMOCRAT ANY TIME
SOON.
>> YOU DON'T THINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WOULD SEE THIS
AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY RALLY A CANDIDATE THERE?
NOT EVEN GOING TO TOUCH IT?
>> NO, I THINK THEY WOULD RATHER SPEND THEIR MONEY SOMEWHERE
ELSE.
>> BUT AT THE SAME TIME I DON'T THINK ANYBODY EXPECTED STAN
ROSENBERG TO LOSE THE SENATE PRESIDENCY, AND ALSO BE STRIPPED
OF ALL OF THE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH WE'VE SEEN
TRANSPIRE IN RECENT WEEKS.
>> THIS PARTICULAR SCANDAL WOULD HAVE TO ESCALATE CONSIDERINGLY
FURTHER THAN IT ALREADY HAS.
IT WOULD HAVE TO COME RIGHT INTO HIS OWN CONTROL, SOMETHING HE
ACTUALLY DID.
THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME DAMAGE OF TRUST AMONG SOME OF THE
SENATORS THERE, BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT WHICH THEY'RE GOING TO
START CALLING FOR A COLLEAGUE TO RESIGN ENTIRELY OR NOT RUN.
>> LET'S PIVOT HERE, INTERESTING NEWS FROM THE FORM GOVERNOR BILL
WELD, WHO IS SUING TO MAKE A CHANGE THAT WOULD HAVE ACTUALLY
A NATIONAL IMPACT IF IT WERE TO MOVE FORWARD AND IT LOOKS AT THE
ELECTION SYSTEM.
HE WANTS TO CHANGE THE WINNER TAKE ALL SYSTEM THAT'S CURRENTLY
IN PLACE REGARDING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING HERE REALLY ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
POPULAR VOTE AND ELECTORAL COLLEGE, RIGHT?
>> YES.
>> WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPLICATION?
>> THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT WAYS YOU COULD BREAK IT DOWN.
COULD YOU HAVE A PERCENTAGE OF THE VOTE DETERMINE HOW MANY OF
THE POPULAR VOTE GOES TO THE WINNER EITHER WAY, AND THEN
ANOTHER WAY THAT IS TECHNICALLY DONE IN MAINE AND NEBRASKA,
WHERE THE WINNER OF THE ENTIRE STATE GETS THE TWO ELECTORAL
COLLEGE VOTES THAT REPRESENT THE SENATE SEATS AND THEN THE WINNER
OF INDIVIDUAL CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS GET THAT SEAT'S
ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE.
SO IT REALLY KIND OF DEPENDS WHICH WOULD FALL DOWN WHICH THE
PLAINTIFFS THINK IS MORE EQUITABLE OR WHAT THEY WANT TO
SEE.
IT COULD REALLY CHANGE IT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER DRAMATICALLY.
ESPECIALLY SINCE SOME STATES HAVE VERY FEW SEATS.
EVEN IF YOU HAVE A PERCENTAGE BASE BUT EVEN BY CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR ONE-SEAT CONGRESSIONAL
STATES.
>> WHY DO YOU THINK FORMER GOVERNOR WELD IS COMING FORWARD
WITH THIS ISSUE NOW?
>> I THINK AS YOU SAW WITH FORMER GOVERNOR WELD'S OWN
PRESIDENTIAL RUN AND DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION HE JUST FLAT-OUT
CALLED ON PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR HILLARY CLINTON, WHO WAS A
DEMOCRAT, DESPITE HIM PREVIOUSLY BEING A REPUBLICAN BECAUSE HE
DIDN'T THINK THAT DONALD TRUMP WAS RIGHT FOR THE COUNTRY.
I THINK THAT THIS KIND OF FOLLOWS IN THAT VEIN BUT WHAT
WE'VE SEEN IN THIS LAWSUIT IS MASSACHUSETTS AND CALIFORNIA,
BOTH OF WHICH THE POPULAR VOTE WENT FOR HILLARY AND SOUTH
CAROLINA AND TEXAS, BOTH OF WHICH STATES WENT FOR DONALD
TRUMP, ALL JOINING THIS LAWSUIT.
I THINK IT REFLECTS WHAT WE ARE SEEING AT SOME OF THE NATIONAL
POLLING THAT'S BEEN TRENDING FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, THAT SUPPORT
FOR THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE IS EXTREMELY LOW.
I THINK PEOPLE GENERALLY DO FEEL IT DIMINISHES THEIR POWER.
IT TAKES AWAY FROM THEIR ABILITY TO ELECT PEOPLE OF THEIR
CHOOSING TO THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENCY.
>> RIGHT.
AND DO YOU THINK THAT ENDS UP AFFECTING VOTER TURNOUT, WHEN
PEOPLE LIKE, WELL, MY VOTE DOESN'T MATTER ANYWAY?
>> IN SOME STATES DEFINITELY.
I THINK I WAS LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE NUMBERS RECENTLY FOR LOCAL
ELECTIONS, AND FOR A LONG TIME, SPRINGFIELD JUST TO USE ONE
EXAMPLE, MASSACHUSETTS, BLUE STATE.
IT'S ONLY VOTED REPUBLICAN FOR RONALD REAGAN IN THE LAST 30, 40
YEARS.
SPRINGFIELD'S TURNOUT FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS WAS LIKE
IN THE LOW TO MID-40'S. 2008 COMES AROUND YOU HAVE
BARACK OBAMA, WHO REALLY ENERGIZED A LOT OF PEOPLE, IT
SHOOTS UP TO 50,000.
AND ELIZABETH WARREN, PARTLY BECAUSE OF HER CAMPAIGN IN 2012
RUNNING FOR SENATE AND HILLARY CLINTON 2016, THEY KEEP IT AT
THAT LEVEL.
SO PEOPLE WERE INTERESTED ON A LEVEL THEY HAD NOT BEEN BEFORE
BUT IT WAS BECAUSE OF VERY DIFFERENT KINDS OF RACES.
IT WASN'T THE SAME HUM DRUM PRESIDENTIAL RACE.
SO, YES, THE IDEA THAT YOUR VOTE DOESN'T MATTER FOR A
PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST I THINK DOES DEPRESS TURNOUT IN SOME
CASES.
>> WE WILL SEE WHERE THIS LAWSUIT GOES.
AS YOU SAY, FOUR STATES RIGHT NOW ARE LOOKING AT THE ISSUE AND
WHICH COULD REALLY HAVE A NATIONAL IMPACT.
LET'S LOOK TO FLORIDA.
THE MASS SHOOTING.
WE CONTINUE TO HEAR CONVERSATIONS THIS WEEK.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT SEEMS LIKE A BIT OF A PATTERN.
THERE'S A MASS SHOOTING AND THEN THERE'S ANGER, HURT, TRAUMA,
FRUSTRATION, OBVIOUSLY ALL VERY WARRANTED.
AND THEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION BUT NOT A WHOLE LOT OF ACTION.
IT SEEMS LIKE THIS TIME AROUND THE BIG, POTENTIAL CHANGE MAKER
ARE THE STUDENTS.
WE'VE SEEN THEM GO TO WASHINGTON.
WE'VE SEEN THEM GO TO THEIR OWN STATE CAPITAL.
DO YOU SEE THAT THESE STUDENTS THAT PROTEST THE VOICES THESE
KIDS ARE RECOGNIZING COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE AROUND THIS ISSUE?
>> I THINK THEY COULD.
I AM JUST GENERALLY CYNICAL THAT NATIONALLY ANYTHING IS EVER
GOING TO BE DONE BECAUSE OF THE, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT FOR GUN RIGHTS
ARE SO STRONG AND THE GUN LOBBY.
SO I'M KIND OF QUESTIONABLE IF ANYTHING MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE
WILL BE MADE.
BUT IF ANYTHING IS GOING TO DO IT, THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE
PUSHING REALLY HARD.
THIS IS A GROUP OF ENGAGED, TECH-SAVVY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO KNOW
HOW TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA.
THEY KNOW HOW TO SPEAK TO PEOPLE.
AND THEY KNOW HOW TO ENGAGE.
THERE WAS A KIND OF TOWN HALL DISCUSSION LAST NIGHT WITH
SENATOR MARCO RUBIO AND SOME OF THESE KIDS WERE VERY, VERY
ELOQUENT IN THEIR APPROACH.
AND I THINK IT'S THAT KIND OF MODERN, TECH SAVVY, YOU KNOW,
NUMBERS-DRIVEN APPROACH THAT IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF
ANYTHING IS.
>> TO YOUR POINT ABOUT TECH SAVVY, HERE IN WESTERN
MASSACHUSETTS, I HAVE SEEN STUDENTS MOBILIZING CONNECTED TO
THE WOMEN'S MARCH.
THERE'S A MOVEMENT CALLED #ENOUGH, WHICH WILL HAVE A
NATIONAL WALKOUT MARCH 14TH.
AT LAST CHECK THERE WERE AT LEAST EIGHT SCHOOLS IN WESTERN
MASSACHUSETTS THAT HAVE STUDENTS THAT INTEND TO WALK OUT THAT DAY
IN SOLIDARITY.
ANY THOUGHTS, MATT?
>> I THINK THE ONLY THING TO ADD IS WHAT WILL BE DECISIVE IS ARE
THEY PREPARED TO KEEP AT IT THROUGH WHATEVER FRUSTRATION'S
GOING TO COME?
BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE SOME MINIMAL CHANGES SHORT TERM BUT
THEY ALREADY SAID THOSE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE I THINK SOME ELECTION CYCLES, MAYBE SOME OF
THESE KIDS TO AGE INTO VOTING THEMSELVES, TO MAKE THE KIND OF
CHANGES THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY SEEKING.
SO I THINK ROB'S RIGHT TO BE CYNICAL IN THE SHORT TERM.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A DRAMATICALLY BETTER BACKGROUND
CHECK OR ASSAULT WEAPONS BANS THIS YEAR, BUT THIS MIGHT BE
DIFFERENT IN THE SENSE WE MIGHT SEE IT TWO, THREE, FOUR YEARS
FROM NOW.
WHERE AS A MONTH AGO, NOBODY WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT THAT WAS
POSSIBLE.
>> GENTLEMEN, WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.
THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.