>>> FOR MONTHS, WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE CAPITOL HAS FOLLOWED THE
CANDIDATES ONTO THE TRAIL.
NOW IT THREATENS TO TAKE SOME OF
THEM OFF THE ROAD AT A CRUCIAL
TIME.
TIME. FIVE CANDIDATES WHO ARE ALSO
SENATORS PREPARING TO TRADE
PRECIOUS FACE TIME WITH VOTERS
FOR LONG DAYS IN D.C.
THOSE VOTERS KEENL AWARE TIME
WITH SOME OF THESE CANDIDATES
COULD SOON BE SCARCE.
CANDIDATES AND STAFF ALIKE NOW
TRYING TO CONTEND WITH JUGGLING
THESE TWO MASSIVE POLITICAL
MOMENTS.
MOMENTS. >> DO YOU FLY BACK AND FORTH?
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT IT AT
ALL?
ALL? >> NO ONE KNOWS YET WHAT THIS
TRIAL’S GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND
HOW MITCH McCONNELL IS GOING TO
RUN IT.
RUN IT. >> MY STRATEGY IS TO BE IN NEW
HAMPSHIRE A LOT.
>> HOW DO YOU BALANCE THAT?
>> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO.
>> WITH THE SENATORS BOUNCING
BETWEEN THE TRAIL AND A TRIAL,
THE REST OF THE FIELDS CAN
CAMPAIGN UNINCUMBERED.
CAMPAIGN UNINCUMBERED. >> THE QUESTION IS NOT FIRST AND
FOREMOST WHAT ABOUT IMPEACHMENT.
>> OUT HERE ON THE TRAIL OUR JOB
IS TO TALK TO VOTERS ABOUT HOW
THEIR LIVES ARE GOING TO BE
IMPACTED BY WHO’S SITTING IN THE
WHITE HOUSE.
WHITE HOUSE. >> WE HAVE TO STOP BEING
OBSESSED OVER IMPEACHMENT.
>> AND WHEN IMPEACHMENT IS ON
VOTERS’ MINDS, MOST CANDIDATES
TRY TO TIE IT BACK TO A LARGER
CAMPAIGN THEME.
CAMPAIGN THEME. >> BUT THE WAY I SEE THIS IS
WE’VE NOW SEEN THE IMPACT OF
CORRUPTION, AND THAT’S WHAT’S
CLEARLY ON THE STAGE IN 2020.
>> CONGRESS CAN WALK AND CHEW
BUBBLE GUM AT THE SAME TIME.
>> PERHAPS THE ULTIMATE TEST OF
DOING TWO THINGS AT ONCE.
>> MY COLLEAGUE ALI VITALI
LAYING OUT THE STAKES FOR THE
FIVE DEMOCRATIC SENATORS RUNNING
FOR PRESIDENT THAT WILL ALSO
HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STILL
TO BE SCHEDULED SENATE
IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.
IMPEACHMENT TRIAL. OF THAT GROUP SENATOR CORY
BOOKER OF NEW JERSEY IS THE ONLY
ONE WHO’S UP FOR RE-ELECTION IN
2020.
2020. THE TABLE IS BACK.
BASIL, YES, THEY CAN WALK AND
CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME,
THEORETICALLY.
THEORETICALLY. I’D LIKE TO SEE THEM DO IT.
BUT THEY CAN’T PHYSICALLY BE IN
TWO PLACES AT THE SAME TIME.
AND THIS COMES DOWN TO A
SCHEDULER ON EACH OF THOSE
CAMPAIGNS DECIDING WHERE THEY’RE
GOING TO BE AND WHEN.
IF YOU WERE RUNNING ONE OF THESE
CAMPAIGNS, HOW WOULD YOU COUNSEL
YOUR CANDIDATE?
YOUR CANDIDATE? >> REALLY INVEST IN STAFF.
YOU GOT TO HAVE SOME GREAT
SURROGATES.
SURROGATES. AND IF YOU DIDN’T DO THAT
ALREADY, IT’S GOING TO BECOME A
PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU’RE GOING TO
HAVE FOLKS LIKE ANDREW YANG AND
PETE BUTTIGIEG IN THERE BECAUSE
THEY DON’T HAVE --
>> AND JOE BIDEN WHO DON’T HAVE
A FORMAL ROLE IN THIS PROCESS
TAKING SOME OF YOUR VALUABLE
TIME AWAY WHILE YOU ARE DOING
GOD’S WORK IN THE SENATE.
THAT SAID, IT IS A PROCESS THAT
HAS ALWAYS FAVORED FOLKS WITH
MONEY AND FOLKS WITH A VERY
STRONG GROUND GAME.
SO EVEN WITH THAT SAID AND EVEN
WHILE THEY’RE IN D.C., I EXPECT
FOLKS LIKE BERNIE SANDERS AND
ELIZABETH WARREN TO STILL HAVE A
VERY STRONG PRESENCE IN THOSE
EARLY STATES.
EARLY STATES. BUT IT IS GOING TO BE A
CHALLENGE.
CHALLENGE. >> AND, JONATHAN, IF YOU’RE NOT
IN THAT TOP TIER OF CANDIDATES,
IS THIS THE MOMENT WHERE YOU
REALLY NEED TO DO THE DEEP
DIGGING AND THE ANALYSIS ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT THE RISK IS WORTH
THE REWARD?
THE REWARD? >> WELL, I THINK THE ONES WHO
ARE STILL IN IT ARE GOING TO,
LIKE, TAKE THEIR CHANCES ON THE
CAUCUSES, WHICH ARE COMING UP.
>> YEP.
>> YEP. >> AND NOT NECESSARILY NEW
HAMPSHIRE BUT AT LEAST SEE HOW
THEY DO IN IOWA.
WHY DROP OUT AT THIS POINT, YOU
KNOW?
KNOW? ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE NOT ONE OF
THE SENATORS.
THE SENATORS. BUT I THINK FOR SOMEBODY LIKE
AMY KLOBUCHAR WHO HAS A CHANCE
TO MAYBE EMERGE.
SHE’S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF
MOMENTUM.
MOMENTUM. BUT YOU WANT TO BE ON THE
GROUND.
GROUND. IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE IN
THE STATE.
THE STATE. SO IF YOU’RE IN WASHINGTON FOR A
TWO-WEEK TRIAL IN THE MIDDLE OF
JANUARY, THAT’S REALLY A
PROBLEM.
PROBLEM. AND IF JOE BIDEN IS ALSO
BEGINNING TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF
MOMENTUM, HE HAD A GOOD DEBATE,
AND HE’S THERE EVERY DAY DOING
RETAIL POLITICS, WHICH HE DOES
QUITE WELL, THAT REALLY GIVES
HIM AN ADVANTAGE THAT WE MAYBE
HAVEN’T FOCUSED ON ENOUGH.
>> JACKIE, THE COST HERE IS
OBVIOUS.
OBVIOUS. BUT THERE IS ALSO POTENTIAL
REWARD.
REWARD. IF YOU ARE AMY KLOBUCHAR, SHE
HAD SOME BIG MOMENTS DURING THE
KAVANAUGH HEARING WHEN SHE DID
HAVE THE ATTENTION OF LOTS OF
AMERICANS, OF LOTS OF VOTERS.
HOW DO YOU TURN THIS LEMON INTO
LEMONADE?
LEMONADE? >> THE PROBLEM HERE, AS ALI
POINTED OUT IN HER FANTASTIC
PIECE IS THAT THESE SENATORS
HAVE TO SIT IN SILENCE ALL DAY
LONG.
LONG. THEY CAN’T ASK ANY QUESTIONS,
THEY CAN’T HAVE ANY VIRAL
MOMENTS.
MOMENTS. >> JUST IN GENERAL HARD FOR THEM
TO SIT IN SILENCE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> EXACTLY.
>> EXACTLY. ALTHOUGH MITCH McCONNELL SEEMS
TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A GOOD
TEST OF THEIR CONSCIOUS FOR THEM
AND HUMBLES THEM A BIT.
BUT FOR SOMEONE LIKE AMY
KLOBUCHAR, THAT’S GOING TO MEAN
EVEN MORE LIMITED AIR TIME.
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THEY
CAN HAVE PRESS CONFERENCES AFTER
THESE LONG DAYS OF, YOU KNOW,
THESE WHITE HOUSE -- THE WHITE
HOUSE LAWYERS AND THE HOUSE
MANAGERS WHO ARE OFFICIATING
THESE TRIALS.
THESE TRIALS. BUT IF THERE’S ANYTHING THAT
DONALD TRUMP KNOWS HOW TO DO,
IT’S HOW TO SUCK UP ALL THE
OXYGEN IN THE ROOM.
AND THE STORY IS GOING TO BE
FOCUSED ON HIM DURING A TIME
WHERE NORMALLY THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC WOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION
TO THE FIRST IN THE NATION
PRIMARY AND CAUCUS.
>> IF THERE WAS A SURPRISE GUEST
THAT COULD FORCE PEOPLE TO PAY
ATTENTION, IT WOULD LIKELY BE
FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA.
AND HE SAID HE WOULD NOT
ENDORSE, AND YET THERE IS THIS
REPORTING FROM "THE HILL" SAYING
BEHIND THE SCENES IN RECENT
MONTHS, FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA
HAS GONE TO BAT FOR WARREN.
WHEN SPEAKING TO DONORS
RELUCTANT TO SUPPORT HER GIVEN
HER KNOCKS ON WALL STREET AND
THE WEALTHY, THE FORMER
PRESIDENT HAS STOPPED SHORT OF
AN ENDOWMENT AND HAS EMPHASIZED
HE IS NOT ENDORSING IN THE
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY RACE BUT HAS
ALSO VOUCHED FOR HER
CREDENTIALS, MAKING IT CLEAR
THAT HE DEEMS HER A CAPABLE
CANDIDATE.
CANDIDATE. >> THE LEVEL OF DIRECT AND
INDIRECT SHADE THAT OBAMA HAS
THROWN AT JOE BIDEN.
EVERYTHING THAT LEAKS OUT OF HIS
CAMPAIGN, EVERYTHING THAT LEAKS
OUT OF HIS FORMER OFFICE IS I
REALLY DON’T THINK YOU SHOULD DO
THIS, AND THIS IS PARTICULARLY
POWERFUL GIVEN WHAT IS SORT OF
ACRIMONIOUS RELATIONSHIP
ACRIMONIOUS RELATIONSHIP ELIZABETH WARREN SOMETIMES HAD
WITH HIM WHEN HE WAS IN THE
OFFICE.
OFFICE. I DON’T THINK HE’S GOING TO DO
ANYTHING TO DISRUPT THIS
PROCESS.
PROCESS. BUT WHAT I DO SEE IS THIS.
WE THINK OF OBAMA IN ONE PLACE,
AND MITCH McCONNELL AND THESE
SENATORS WHO ARE RUNNING.
WASN’T IT THE 2000 ELECTION
WHERE GEORGE BUSH KEPT TRYING TO
GET THE DEBATES DURING WORLD
SERIES?
SERIES? SCHUMER IS NOT GOING TO GET
LISTEN SET UP THIS TRIAL IN A
WAY THAT’S GOING TO DISRUPT THE
PRIMARY PROCESS.
PRIMARY PROCESS. IF THIS MEANS THAT WE DON’T DO
ANYTHING UNTIL AFTER SUPER
TUESDAY, THAT MAY BE WHAT OCCURS
BECAUSE THERE’S NOT A CHANCE
THAT DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO
ALLOW, ESPECIALLY IF IT’S
COMPETITIVE, IF JOE BIDEN AND
BERNIE SANDERS AND ELIZABETH
WARREN ARE ALL REALLY CLOSE, YOU
ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE TWO PEOPLE
GET PULLED OUT OF THE GAME JUST
BECAUSE MITCH McCONNELL THINKS
THIS IS A GOOD CHANCE FOR US TO
RUN AGAINST THE WEAKEST
CANDIDATE.
CANDIDATE. >> BASIL, DOES IT SURPRISE YOU
TO HEAR HIM SAYING THAT ABOUT
ELIZABETH WARREN?
ELIZABETH WARREN? >> AFTER HE SAID THAT -- IF
ANYONE IN LEAD COUNTRIES SAID WE
ARE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE, IT’S
NOT SURPRISING.
NOT SURPRISING. HE HAS THROWN A LOT OF SHADE THE
WAY OF JOE BIDEN.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT’S MORE OF A
BOONE FOR ELIZABETH WARREN OR A
BUST FOR JOE BIDEN?
>> IT’S A BUST FOR JOE BIDEN
BECAUSE HE’S RUNNING ON THE
OBAMA RELATIONSHIP.
OBAMA RELATIONSHIP. BUT WHAT I WILL MAKE THIS ONE
CAVEAT.
CAVEAT. IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE ROLE THAT
BERNIE SANDERS HAS PLAYED SINCE
2016 IN SORT OF RESHAPING RULES
AT THE DNC, RESHAPING RULES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IT ALSO
FAVORS HIM QUITE A BIT BECAUSE
HE IS FORCING A LOT OF FOLKS
INCLUDING ELIZABETH WARREN TO
SORT OF RUN A RACE SIMILAR TO
THE RULES AND THE SORT OF
PATTERN THAT HE’S ALREADY LAID
DOWN.
DOWN. SO WHILE ALL OF THIS STUFF IS
HAPPENING, HE’S VIEWED, FOR
RIGHT OR WRONG, AS THE MOST
CONSISTENT SORT OF CANDIDATE OUT
THERE.
THERE. AND EVEN IF OBAMA IS SORT OF
LEANING TOWARDS OR GIVING THESE
HINTS THAT ELIZABETH WARREN’S
THE RIGHT CHOICE, IN SOME WAYS I
STILL THINK IT’S GOING TO -- IN
SOME WAYS IT HIGHLIGHTS THAT
TENSION BETWEEN HER AND BERNIE
SANDERS.
SANDERS. >> I DO WANT TO REMIND THOUGH
OUR VIEWERS THAT OBAMA WAS ALSO
THE PERSON WHO SAID THAT OUR
CANDIDATES SHOULD BE MORE
MODERATE, THAT VOTERS ARE NOT IN
THE MOOD FOR SUPER PROGRESSIVE
AND LEFTIST IDEAS AND POLICIES.
>> I THINK HE’S STILL TRYING TO
BE AN HONEST BROKER.
AND HE’S ESSENTIALLY SAYING TO A
LOT OF FOLKS THAT, YOU KNOW,
MEET IN NEW YORK AND THE COASTAL
ELITES WHO ARE -- SOME OF THEM
ARE SCARED OF ELIZABETH WARREN.
HE’S BASICALLY SAYING DON’T BE
AFRAID OF HER.