This Week with George Stephanopoulos Full Broadcast - Sunday, July 28, 2024

>> Announcer: "THIS WEEK" WITH GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS STARTS RIGHT NOW. >> Martha: A BRAND-NEW CAMPAIGN. >> OURS IS A FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] AND IT IS A FIGHT FOR FREEDOM. >> Martha: KAMALA HARRIS KICKS OFF HER CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT AFTER JOE BIDEN STEPS ASIDE. >> SO I'VE DECIDED THE BEST WAY FORWARD IS TO PASS THE TORCH TO A NEW GENERATION. >> Martha: THE VICE PRESIDENT SWIFTLY LOCKS UP DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT. >> WE ARE BRIMMING WITH EXCITEMENT, ENTHUSIASM, UNITY. >> KAMALA IS ABOUT STRENGTH AND DETERMINATION. >> MICHELLE AND I COULDN'T BE PROUDER TO ENDORSE YOU. >> Martha: AS HER SEARCH FOR A RUNNING MATE HEATS UP. >> SHE'LL MAKE THAT DECISION WHEN SHE'S READY. >> I TRUST HER TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION. >> I FULLY ENDORSED HER AND WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO HELP HER WIN. >> Martha: DONALD TRUMP LAUNCHES FRESH ATTACKS AT HIS NEW RIVAL. >> EVERYTHING KAMALA TOUCHES TURNS INTO A TOTAL DISASTER. >> Martha: AND RETURNS TO FAMILIAR RHETORIC ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. >> IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'M NOT GOING TO BE NICE. >> Martha: THIS MORNING, THE LATEST ON THE RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE JUST 100 DAYS TO THE ELECTION. OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS J.B. PRITZKER AND WES MOORE, AND REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR CHRIS SUNUNU. PLUS, RESULTS FROM OUR BRAND-NEW POLL AND ANALYSIS FROM OUR POWERHOUSE ROUND TABLE. >> Martha: GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME TO "THIS WEEK." WE ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE MIDDLE EAST THIS MORNING AFTER ISRAEL RESPONDED OVERNIGHT TO THE DEADLIEST ATTACK ON AN ISRAELI-CONTROLLED AREA SINCE OCTOBER 7th. 12 CHILDREN WERE KILLED BY A ROCKET LAUNCH FROM LEBANON THAT HIT A SOCCER FIELD IN THE GOLAN HEIGHTS. BENJAMIN NETANYAHU CUT HIS TRIP TO THE U.S. SHORT AND IS BACK IN ISRAEL, BUT WE BEGIN WITH THIS WILD U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. WE ARE OFFICIALLY 100 DAYS TO ELECTION DAY, AND YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN FOR NEEDING TO CATCH YOUR BREATH AFTER THE TRANSFORMATIONAL EVENTS OF THE PAST 31 DAYS. IT WAS JUST ONE MONTH AGO THAT THE 2024 RACE WAS TURNED ON ITS HEAD BY PRESIDENT BIDEN'S CATASTROPHIC DEBATE PERFORMANCE LEADING TO A DRUMBEAT OF CALLS FOR HIM TO LEAVE THE RACE. JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSIN TRIED TO TAKE THE LIFE OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, BUT HE ROSE UP WITH DEFIANCE HEADING INTO THE GOP CONVENTION WITH SEEMINGLY ALL THE MOMENTUM BEHIND HIM AND THE NEW TRUMP-VANCE TICKET, AND IT WAS JUST ONE WEEK AGO THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN DID WHAT HE SAID ONLY THE LORD ALMIGHTY COULD MAKE HIM DO, ANNOUNCING HE WAS LEAVING THE RACE AND GIVING HIS FULL SUPPORT TO HIS VICE PRESIDENT, KAMALA HARRIS. A TIDAL WAVE OF ENDORSEMENTS FOLLOWED PUTTING HARRIS ON TRACK TO BE THE SECOND WOMAN IN HISTORY TO BE A MAJOR PARTY NOMINEE AFTER HILLARY CLINTON WHO WAS DEFEATED BY DONALD TRUMP. OUR ABC NEWS/IPSOS POLL SHOWS HARRIS GETTING A REAL BOUNCE. HER FAVORABILITY RATING AMONG ALL AMERICANS UP EIGHT POINTS IN JUST ONE WEEK. THE NUMBERS EVEN BETTER AMONG INDEPENDENTS WITH HER FAVORABILITY RISING FROM 28% TO 44% SINCE BIDEN LEFT THE RACE, AND THERE APPEARS TO BE NEW ENTHUSIASM FOR HARRIS WITH 48% ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT HER AS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE COMPARED TO 39% ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT TRUMP AS THE GOP NOMINEE. IT HAS BEEN A STUNNING TURN OF EVENTS IN A PRESIDENTIAL RACE THAT HAS DEFIED EXPECTATIONS TO HELP US MAKE SENSE OF THIS WILD WEEK. LET'S TURN TO ABC'S SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, TERRY MORAN. GOOD MORNING, TERRY. >> Reporter: GOOD MORNING, MARTHA. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT'S BEEN JUST A WEEK SINCE PRESIDENT BIDEN ENDED HIS BID FOR ELECTION AND TRANSFORMED THIS CAMPAIGN, AND NOW WITH VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS HAVING BASICALLY LOCKED UP THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT, THIS RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE HAS BEEN RADICALLY TRANSFORMED. A BRAND-NEW BALL GAME WITH JUST 100 DAYS TO GO UNTIL ELECTION DAY. IT WAS THE REMATCH SO MANY AMERICANS DID NOT WANT UNTIL SUDDENLY -- [ CHANTING ] -- AFTER WEEKS OF MOUNTING PRESSURE TO END HIS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN, JOE BIDEN PASSED THE TORCH TO VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS, AND HARRIS GOT RIGHT TO IT ARGUING HER CASE AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP BEFORE A FIRED UP CROWD IN THE BATTLEGROUND STATE OF WISCONSIN. >> I TOOK ON PERPETRATORS OF ALL KINDS. PREDATORS WHO ABUSED WOMEN, FRAUDSTERS WHO RIPPED OFF CONSUMERS, CHEATERS WHO BROKE THE RULES FOR THEIR OWN GAME. SO HEAR ME WHEN I SAY, I KNOW DONALD TRUMP'S TYPE. >> Reporter: AND IN AN OVAL OFFICE ADDRESS TO THE NATION, PRESIDENT BIDEN LAID OUT THE STAKES IN THIS RACE AS HE SEES THEM. >> I RAN FOR PRESIDENT FOUR YEARS AGO BECAUSE I BELIEVED THAT THE SOUL OF AMERICA WAS AT STAKE. THE VERY NATURE OF WHO WE ARE WAS AT STAKE, AND THAT'S STILL THE CASE. >> Reporter: BY MONDAY NIGHT, HARRIS ALREADY HAD COMMITMENTS FROM ENOUGH DELEGATES TO SECURE HER PARTY'S NOMINATION, AND TOP DEMOCRATS QUICKLY RALLIED AROUND HER. >> KAMALA HARRIS IS A COMMON SENSE LEADER WHO KNOWS HOW TO DELIVER REAL RESULTS. >> SHE IS CAPABLE OFFICIALLY, PERSONALLY, AND POLITICALLY TO LEAD US TO VICTORY IN NOVEMBER. >> KAMALA? >> HELLO? >> Reporter: AND FRIDAY, THE MOST POPULAR DEMOCRATS IN THE COUNTRY, FORMER PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY BARACK AND MICHELLE OBAMA ENDORSED HARRIS CAPPING OFF A HISTORIC WEEK WHERE HER CAMPAIGN RAISED $200 MILLION. AFTER SPENDING YEARS ATTACKING JOE BIDEN, DONALD TRUMP IS NOW FORCED TO REFOCUS HIS ATTENTION ON HARRIS. >> WE HAVE A NEW VICTIM NOW, KAMALA. >> SHE WAS A BUM THREE WEEKS AGO. SHE WAS A BUM. >> SHE IS A RADICAL LEFT LUNATIC WHO WILL DESTROY OUR COUNTRY. >> Reporter: A PRIME TARGET FOR THE GOP ATTACKS ON HARRIS, HER ROLE WORKING WITH GOVERNMENTS IN LATIN AMERICA TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF MIGRATION ACROSS OUR SOUTHERN BORDER. >> THE ONE JOB KAMALA HAD WAS THE BORDER. THAT'S THE ONLY JOB, AND IT WAS THE BIGGEST DISASTER IN ALL OF BORDER HISTORY. >> Reporter: THE CANDIDATE'S VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEES COULD BE PIVOTAL IN WHAT'S EXPECTED TO BE A VERY TIGHT RACE. REPUBLICANS HOPE TO WIN OVER SUBURBAN WOMEN, BUT SOME RESURFACED COMMENTS FROM TRUMP'S RUNNING MATE, OHIO SENATOR, JD VANCE, MAY HURT THAT EFFORT. >> WE'RE EFFECTIVELY RUNNING IN THIS COUNTRY VIA THE DEMOCRATS, VIA OUR CORPORATE OLIGARCHS BY A BUNCH OF CHILDLESS CAT LADIES. AND HOW DOES IT MAKE ANY SENSE THAT WE'VE TURNED OUR COUNTRY OVER TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T REALLY HAVE A DIRECT STAKE IN IT? >> Reporter: DESPITE THE BACKLASH, VANCE DOUBLED DOWN. >> THIS IS ABOUT CRITICIZING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR BECOMING ANTI-FAMILY AND ANTI-CHILD. >> Reporter: WHO HARRIS PICKS COULD HELP COUNTER THAT SHE IS TOO LIBERAL. SOURCES TELL ABC NEWS, SEVERAL MODERATE GOVERNORS, PENNSYLVANIA'S JOSH SHAPIRO, ROY COOPER, KENTUCKY'S ANDY BESHEAR, AND ARIZONA'S MARK KELLY ARE AMONG THE CONTENDERS. SHE'LL MAKE A DECISION QUICKLY. SHE'S EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE HER CHOICE BY AUGUST 7th. AND MARTHA, THIS CAMPAIGN REALLY IS IN FULL SWING NEXT WEEK. BOTH CANDIDATES WILL BE HEADING TO BATTLEGROUND STATES. VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS IS SCHEDULED TO BE CAMPAIGNING IN GEORGIA AND DONALD TRUMP, HE IS GOING BACK TO PENNSYLVANIA WHERE JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, HE SURVIVED AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT. MARTHA? >> Martha: OUR THANKS TO YOU, TERRY. I'M JOINED NOW BY DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR WES MOORE OF MARYLAND. GREAT TO SEE YOU THIS MORNING, GOVERNOR. YOU HAD BEEN A VERY STRONG SUPPORTER OF JOE BIDEN STAYING IN THE RACE JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER THAT DISASTROUS DEBATE SAYING, HE IS NOT GOING TO TAKE HIMSELF OUT OF THE RACE NOR SHOULD HE. DID YOUR CONCERNS GROW AS THE WEEKS WENT ON? >> WELL, YOU KNOW, I HAD PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT, AND I'M A BIG BELIEVER THAT WHEN YOU CARE ABOUT SOMEBODY, YOU TELL THEM THE TRUTH, AND I HAD PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS WHERE I WAS TELLING THE PRESIDENT THE TRUTH. I ALSO KNOW THAT THE PRESIDENT DESERVED BETTER THAN PEOPLE RUNNING AROUND AND GOING IN PUBLIC AND DEMANDING THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES STEP DOWN. PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TRACK RECORD OF THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION. I HAVE HAD A PHENOMENAL PARTNER IN THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER THE KIND OF RESULTS THAT WE NEEDED IN MARYLAND, AND SO I KNEW THAT IF HE SAID THAT HE WAS GOING TO CONTINUE PUSHING FORWARD, THAT I WAS GOING TO STAND WITH HIM. HIM THE TRUTH. WHAT WAS THE TRUTH? >> WELL, I THINK THE TRUTH WAS THAT THERE WERE REAL CONCERNS. THERE WERE REAL CONCERNS THAT I KNOW THAT PEOPLE HAD FELT, BUT ALSO THAT PEOPLE WERE TELLING ME THAT THEY HAD FELT. I ALSO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M A LOYALTY PERSON, AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN HAVE PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS AND TELL PEOPLE THE TRUTH AND, YOU KNOW. AND BE ABLE TO TELL THEM WHAT YOU'RE HEARING WITHOUT TURNING AROUND AND TRYING TO PUBLICLY EMBARRASS THEM. >> Martha: OKAY, GOVERNOR, BUT YOU HAVE A WHOLE NEW RACE NOW. YOU SAW THOSE NUMBERS, THOSE POLL NUMBERS WITH HARRIS, THE MOST CRUCIAL PERHAPS IS THE NUMBER OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS. FAVORABILITY RISING FROM 28% TO 44%. PRETTY GOOD NEWS FOR YOU. >> I THINK IT'S GREAT NEWS BECAUSE I THINK WHAT IT'S SHOWING IS THE MORE PEOPLE GET TO KNOW THE VICE PRESIDENT, THE MORE PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT HER VISION FOR THE FUTURE. SHE HAS BEEN SUCH A REMARKABLE PARTNER INSIDE OF THE WORK. I THINK ABOUT IT IN HER OWN STATE WHERE IN JUST THE PAST 18 MONTHS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO FROM 43rd IN UNEMPLOYMENT TO NOW HAVING ONCE THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, SOME OF THE FASTEST DROPS IN VIOLENT CRIME IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. THE LAST TIME THE HOMICIDE RATE WAS THIS LOW IN BALTIMORE CITY, I WASN'T BORN YET, BUT I KNOW WE'RE ABLE TO DO ALL OF THESE THINGS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION. SO IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THESE GROUPS WHO ARE MOBILIZED, GROUPS WHO ARE EXCITED BECAUSE THE MORE THEY LEARN ABOUT VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, THE MORE EXCITED PEOPLE GET. >> Martha: BUT YOU KNOW THIS WAS A WEEK WHERE SHE HIT THE ROAD, WHERE SHE WAS WITH BENJAMIN NETANYAHU. SHE RAISE $200 MILLION AT LEAST, AND IS GOING, BUT YOU ALSO KNOW SHE NEVER REALLY GAINED TRACTION IN 2020, DROPPING OUT EVEN BEFORE THE IOWA CAUCUS. DO YOU THINK NOW THAT PEOPLE THINK SHE'S BEEN UNDERESTIMATED OR ARE YOU CONCERNED LOOKING BACK? >> I THINK WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING NOW IS WE CAN FINALLY HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CHOICE THAT PEOPLE HAVE IN THIS ELECTION, THAT PEOPLE SEE THAT IT'S NOT JUST THAT DEMOCRACY IS ON THE LINE. IT'S ALSO THE FACT THAT BASIC VALUES OF HOW WE THINK ABOUT ECONOMIC FREEDOMS ARE ON THE LINE. THE ABILITY TO CREATE PATHWAYS FOR WORK AND WAGES AND WEALTH ARE ON THE LINE, AND EMBRACE A PROJECT 2025 OR ACTUALLY EMBRACE OF A PROSPEROUS FUTURE IS ON THE LINE. >> Martha: NOTHING GIVES YOU PAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT AND KNOW SHE DROPPED OUT EARLY. >> NO. >> Martha: IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO. >> BUT I ALSO KNOW IT WAS PRETTY LONG AGO, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THAT WE -- SINCE THEN, WE HAVE HAD AN ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO SEE HER WORK. THROUGHOUT THAT TIME, WE HAVE HAD AN ENTIRE PERIOD WHERE PEOPLE CAN SEE WHERE WE HAVE HISTORICALLY LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATES THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY. I THINK PEOPLE ARE SEEING WHAT A HARRIS LEADERSHIP CAN LOOK LIKE, AND WHAT IT CAN BRING TO THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY. >> Martha: WE'RE GETTING AN EARLY LOOK AT HOW REPUBLICANS ARE RESPONDING TOWARD DONALD TRUMP AS WELL, AND OF COURSE, HOW THE DEFINE HER. TRUMP ATTACKED HER AS A RADICAL EXTREMIST, AND I WANT YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS CLIP BY REPUBLICAN PENNSYLVANIA SENATE CANDIDATE DAVE McCORMICK. >> NONPARTISAN HAS RATED YOU AS THE MOST LIBERAL SENATOR. >> I AM PREPARED TO GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER, TO PASS A DEAL. >> WE'RE NOT GOING TO TREAT PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED AND CROSS THE BORDER AS CRIMINALS. THAT'S CORRECT. >> IT'S WRONG HEADED THINKING TO THINK THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN GET COMMUNITIES TO BE SAFE IS TO PUT MORE POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREET. >> Martha: HOW DOES SHE DEFEND AGAINST THAT KIND OF ATTACK FROM REPUBLICANS USING HER OWN WORDS? >> I THINK SHE NEEDS TO CONTINUE PUTTING TOGETHER HER VISION FOR THE FUTURE. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW SHE APPROACHES THINGS LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY -- FIRST OF ALL, IT'S REMARKABLY DISINGENUOUS TO CALL SOMEONE WHO WAS A PROSECUTOR SOMEONE WHO IS SOFT ON CRIME OR SOMEONE WHO BELIEVED IN DEFUND THE POLICE. SHE'S NEVER BELIEVED IN DEFUND THE POLICE. I BELIEVE WHEN YOU THINK -- WHEN YOU LOOK AT FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN OUR STATE WHERE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN PROSECUTORS AND U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND AT THE SAME TIME, MAKE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITY GROUPS, THE THING IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT HAVING AN ALL OF THE ABOVE APPROACH TO SAFETY, IT DRIVES THE RESULTS THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR, AND THAT'S THE VISION THE VICE PRESIDENT HAD. >> Martha: YOU HAVE HEARD OTHER ATTACKS ON VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS. SOME LAWMAKERS ARE SAYING SHE'S A DEI, DIVERSE EQUITY CONCLUSION PICK. WHEN YOU WERE A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, YOU DID NOT CHECK A BOX. >> CORRECT. >> Martha: DID PRESIDENT BIDEN OPEN HER UP TO THIS KIND OF CRITICISM WHEN HE ANNOUNCED EVEN BEFORE HE CHOSE HER AS VP, THAT HE WOULD PREFER A PERSON OF COLOR AND WOULD CHOOSE A WOMAN? >> I THINK THE PRESIDENT CHOSE SOMEONE HE BELIEVED WAS GOING TO BE HIS BEST PARTNER, AND SOMEONE WHO IS BRILLIANT AND SOMEONE WHO IS PREPARED, YOU KNOW, AND I REMEMBER WHEN PEOPLE SAID THAT TO ME WHEN I CHOSE ARUNA MILLER WHO ARE BECAME THE FIRST IMMIGRANT IN THE HISTORY IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, AND PEOPLE SAID TO ME, YOU'RE MAKING A BIG MISTAKE, AND I SAID TO THEM -- IN FACT, SHE SAID THAT TO ME, AND I SAID TO PEOPLE, LISTEN. I'M PICKING THE PERSON WHO I WANT TO BE MY PARTNER. I'M NOT GOING THROUGH AN EXERCISE OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THIS PERSON CAN GET ME, AND FRANKLY IF A PERSON WAS NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR ME BECAUSE I SELECTED A WOMAN OF COLOR AS MY RUNNING MATE, THEY WERE NEVER GOING TO VOTE FOR ME IN THE FIRST PLACE. >> Martha: VOTERS CONSISTENTLY RANK IMMIGRATION AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES. KAMALA HARRIS HAS BEEN CRITICIZED A LOT ABOUT THE BORDER. I KNOW THINGS ARE IMPROVING, BUT SHE HAS A RECORD THAT EVEN SOME DEMOCRATS DID NOT LIKE. >> YEAH. I MEAN, WE DO HAVE A BORDER CRISIS, AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT, AND IT'S IMPACTING ALL OF OUR STATES AND FRANKLY, AS A CHIEF EXECUTIVE, THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS NO GOVERNOR THAT CONTROLS IMMIGRATION POLICY. WE THEN JUST SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF IT, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION, THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION, ACTUALLY WORKED BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TO GET A DEAL DONE, TO GET A DEAL DONE THAT COULD INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF BORDER PATROL AGENTS THAT WE HAVE, TO -- THAT WOULD HAVE ACTUALLY HELPED TO CURTAIL THE AMOUNT OF FENTANYL THAT'S COMING INTO THE COUNTRY. THIS WAS A DEAL THAT WAS HELPED NEGOTIATED BY SENATOR LANGFORD FROM OKLAHOMA, A REAL CONSERVATIVE, AND IT WAS KILLED BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP FELT THAT IT WOULD HURT HIM ELECTORALLY. THERE'S A LACK OF SERIOUSNESS, AND FRANKLY A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY THAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE WHERE PEOPLE ARE BLAMING A BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION ON THIS ISSUE WHEN WE ACTUALLY HAD A BIPARTISAN DEAL THAT WAS KILLED. >> Martha: I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU FINALLY. YOU'VE SAID YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED IN BEING VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS' VICE PRESIDENTIAL PICK. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT WHEN SHE LOOKS AT A CANDIDATE? SWING STATE? A RED STATE GOVERNOR? >> I HAVE BEEN VERY FLATTERED BY THE LEVEL OF INTEREST, AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY JOB, AND I WANT TO CONTINUE DOING MY JOB. I THINK THE THING THAT SHE NEEDS TO LOOK FOR MOST IS THE PERSON THAT GIVES HER A SENSE OF COMFORT THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE MY PARTNER IN THE WORK. I DO NOT THINK SHE NEEDS TO GO THROUGH AN EXERCISE OF BEING ABLE TO FIND WHAT BOXES TO CHECK OR WHAT PART OF THE COUNTRY. THE TRUTH IS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT -- YOU LOOK AT RECENT HISTORY, THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE IN RECENT HISTORY. THE LAST TIME THAT'S ACTUALLY EVEN FACTORED IN WAS MAYBE 1960. SO SHE'S GOT TO PICK SOMEONE WHO SHE KNOWS IS GOING TO BE HER PARTNER INSIDE THE WORK, AND I THINK THAT IS THE ONLY GATING CRITERIA THAT SHE SHOULD FOCUS ON. >> Martha: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT TO SEE YOU THIS MORNING. >> THANK YOU. >> Martha: AND LET'S BRING IN DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, J.B. PRITZKER OF ILLINOIS. GOOD MORNING, GOVERNOR. LET'S JUST GET THIS OUT OF THE WAY. YOU WERE ONE OF SEVERAL PEOPLE BEING FLOATED AS A POSSIBLE VP PICK. I KNOW YOU SAID YOU DON'T WANT TO DISCUSS PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS, BUT HAVE YOU SUBMITTED ANY VETTING PAPERWORK, TALKED TO KAMALA HARRIS ABOUT IT AT ALL? >> WELL, CERTAINLY I'VE TALKED TO KAMALA HARRIS LAST WEEK, OF COURSE, AS THINGS WERE EVOLVING. I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH HER, AND I PLEDGED TO HER THAT NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THIS PROCESS, THAT I WOULD BE WORKING HARD FOR HER AND MAKING SURE SHE WINS IN NOVEMBER. IT'S TOO IMPORTANT. WE'VE GOT TOO MUCH AT STAKE, NOT JUST DEMOCRACY, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT, AND IT'S NOT A SMALL TOPIC, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SECURING WOMEN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR WORKING FAMILIES, THAT WE'RE RAISING WAGES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AND GROWING THE ECONOMY, AND THAT'S WHAT SHE'S BEEN DOING ALONG WITH OUR -- >> Martha: BUT GOVERNOR, LET ME ASK YOU AGAIN. HAVE YOU SUBMITTED ANY VETTING PAPERWORK? >> I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT. I AM GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT IN THIS CAMPAIGN, AND THAT'S WINNING, BEATING DONALD TRUMP, STANDING UP FOR DEMOCRATIC VALUES. >> Martha: OKAY, GOVERNOR. THIS WEEK, THE ARIZONA DEMOCRATIC PARTY ENDORSED SENATOR MARK KELLY FOR VP. PENNSYLVANIA DEMOCRATS ENDORSED GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO. IN NORTH CAROLINA, DEMOCRATS ENDORSED ROY COOPER ARGUING THAT THEIR RESPECTIVE CHOICES WOULD PUSH THESE BATTLEGROUND STATES IN DEMOCRATS' FAVOR. HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK THE BATTLEGROUND CONSIDERATION IS WHEN CHOOSING A VICE PRESIDENT? >> WELL, WINNING THOSE BATTLEGROUND STATES IS MOST IMPORTANT. THERE'S NO DOUBT, BUT I THINK WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST, WELL, DECADES, THAT WHO YOU PICK AS YOUR VICE PRESIDENT DOESN'T DETERMINE WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO WIN A STATE OR NOT. WHAT IT DOES DETERMINE IS WHETHER YOU'VE GOT THE MESSAGE RIGHT ACROSS THE BOARD, AND OF COURSE, I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE IN ILLINOIS. WE'VE BANNED BOOK BANS. WE'VE BANNED ASSAULT WEAPONS. WE'VE STOOD UP FOR A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE IN MY STATE, BUT FOR PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO NEED TO EXERCISE THOSE RIGHTS SOMEWHERE, AND WE'VE BECOME AN OASIS FOR THAT, AND OF COURSE, WE'VE GROWN THE ECONOMY AND GROWN JOBS, AND SO I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE HERE, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE PUT INTO PLACE IN ILLINOIS LIKE RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $15. THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING NATIONALLY. >> Martha: AND I'M SURE THESE LATEST POLLS ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS ARE HEARTENING TO YOU AND OTHER DEMOCRATS, BUT DO YOU SEE THAT BUMP AS MORE RELIEF THAT JOE BIDEN GOT OUT OF THE RACE OR A STRONG ENDORSEMENT OF KAMALA HARRIS WHO AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, HAD DROPPED OUT OF THE 2020 RACE VERY EARLY? >> LOOK. THE ELECTORATE IS ENERGIZED. DEMOCRATS ARE READY TO GO. YOU'VE SEEN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE SIGNING UP TO VOLUNTEER. PLUS OUR CANDIDATE IS THE ENERGIZER BUNNY. SHE'S BEEN EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS, AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. TO GET TO SEE HER IN THE BATTLEGROUND STATES AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND HER MESSAGE IS ONE THAT I THINK RESONATES WITH PEOPLE. ONE OF THOSE THINGS, OF COURSE, IS POINTING OUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE TWO CANDIDATES. I MEAN, ON THE OTHER SIDE, THEY'RE JUST WEIRD. I MEAN, THEY REALLY ARE. THE THINGS THAT THEY STAND FOR, DONALD TRUMP OF COURSE, IS AFRAID OF WINDMILLS AND, YOU KNOW, HE TALKS ABOUT ALL KINDS OF CRAZY STUFF. YOU KNOW, HIS RUNNING MATE AS YOU PROBABLY HAVE HEARD IS, YOU KNOW, GETTING KNOWN FOR HIS OBSESSION WITH COUCHES, AND SOMEBODY WHO IS HIDING HIS VIEWS ON A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE, AND THEN JUST BROADLY, THE ATTACK ON PEOPLE WHO ARE CHILDLESS AND SAYING THAT WE OUGHT TO RAISE TAXES ON CHILDLESS PEOPLE AND CALLING THEM CAT LADIES, I THINK, YOU KNOW, HE APOLOGIZED TO CATS, BUT, YOU KNOW, HE HASN'T APOLOGIZED TO WOMEN. >> Martha: AND I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO HARRIS. ASIDE FROM HER RELATIVE YOUTH, WHAT IS IT THAT SHE BRINGS TO THIS RACE THAT JOE BIDEN DID NOT? >> I WANT TO BACK UP AND JUST -- A LITTLE BIT, TALK ABOUT YOUR QUESTION, BECAUSE TO BE FRANK WITH YOU, WE ALL HAVE ENORMOUS REFERENCE FOR WHAT JOE BIDEN HAS DONE. HE'LL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS ONE OF THE GREAT PRESIDENTS AND A PERSON WILLING TO MAKE A SACRIFICE BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT WE'VE GOT TO BEAT DONALD TRUMP. NOW WHAT DOES KAMALA BRING? FIRST OF ALL, I TALKED ABOUT THE ENERGY, BUT SECOND, REMEMBER THIS IS A PERSON WHO WAS A PROSECUTOR. SHE'S SOMEBODY WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT MAKING THE CASE IS HOW YOU WIN, THAT GOING OUT THERE AND EVERY DAY, PROSECUTING THE CASE, ESPECIALLY AGAINST A 34-TIME CONVICTED FELON AND FRANKLY, A CONGENITAL LIAR, THAT'S SOMETHING SHE'S DONE IN A COURTROOM. SHE'S DONE IT AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND NOW HE'S DOING IT AS A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. >> Martha: I KNOW THE DEMOCRATS ARE GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO GET OUT HERE AS WELL, BUT WHEN YOU TALK TO VOTERS, IT'S THE ECONOMY. IT'S -- I KNOW INFLATION IS DOWN. I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT PEOPLE SEE GROCERY BILLS GOING UP. THEY SAW GAS BILLS GOING UP DURING THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION, AND THEN THERE WAS THE DISASTER ON THE BORDER. AGAIN, THAT IS IMPROVED, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING SHE IS GOING TO HAVE TO DEFEND. >> WELL, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE POINTING TO IS THE ISSUE OF AFFORDABILITY BROADLY, AND THAT'S SOMETHING DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE BRINGING DOWN THE COST OF GOODS AT GROCERY STORES. KAMALA HARRIS AND JOE BIDEN TOGETHER HAVE FOUGHT TO BRING DOWN GAS PRICES, HAVE FOUGHT TO BRING DOWN THE COST OF GOODS, AND I HAVE BEEN AMAZED ACTUALLY AT THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE. THINK ABOUT THIS. THEY'RE CANCELING MEDICAL -- THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DID HERE, I THINK FIRST IN THE NATION IN ILLINOIS. CANCELING MEDICAL DEBT THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD ON THEIR RECORDS FOR SO LONG. YOU CAN BUY THAT DEBT DOWN AND EXTINGUISH IT FOR, YOU KNOW, A PENNY ON THE DOLLAR. THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH WE'RE MAKING LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR WORKING FAMILIES, AND THEN OF COURSE, RAISING WAGES. >> Martha: I WANT TO DO IMMIGRATION. I WANT TO LOOK AT IMMIGRATION. SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THAT PROBLEM. DID SHE? ARE YOU PLEASED WITH WHAT SHE DID? BECAUSE YOU WANTED MORE MONEY THERE IN ILLINOIS. YOU WANTED MORE FEDERAL MONEY BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PROBLEM, AND LET ME JUST SAY WE GOT LEFT THIS PROBLEM BY THE FORMER PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, AND SO LOOK. THEY WORKED ON IT TOGETHER, THIS ADMINISTRATION, AND THEN CAME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE, IN THE CONGRESS RATHER, AND GUESS WHAT? REPUBLICANS WERE WILLING TO WORK WITH DEMOCRATS TO GET SOMETHING DONE, AND YOU KNOW WHO BLEW THAT UP? WHO BLEW UP THE OPPORTUNITY FOR BORDER SECURITY? IT WAS DONALD TRUMP. HE'S THE ONE WHO WENT TO THE REPUBLICANS AGAINST HIS OWN -- ONE OF HIS OWN LEADERS, LANGFORD -- >> Martha: DID DEMOCRATS PLAN WELL ENOUGH FOR THAT. DID DEMOCRATS PLAN WELL ENOUGH FOR THAT, OR ARE THEY TOO DEPENDENT ON THAT LEGISLATION? >> HOW DO YOU -- HOW DO YOU PLAN WELL ENOUGH THAN HAVING A FORMER PRESIDENT COME AND TELLING ALL THE REPUBLICANS TO WALK AWAY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE IT A POLITICAL ISSUE? THE FACT IS THAT THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH THAT A PRESIDENT CAN DO BY EXECUTIVE ORDER. THAT'S WHY HE WENT TO THE CONGRESS. THAT'S WHY THEY WENT AND ASKED FOR BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION WHICH THEY WERE ON THE VERGE OF GETTING DONE, BUT REPUBLICANS WALKED AWAY. THEY DON'T REALLY WANT TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THEY JUST THINK THEY WANT A POLITICAL ISSUE. THE REALITY IS IT'S GOING TO BOOMERANG BACK ON THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO CREATED THE ISSUE IN THE FIRST PLACE DURING DONALD TRUMP'S TERM DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT IT, AND THEN WALKING AWAY WHEN WE HAD AN ACTUAL SOLUTION ON THE TABLE. >> Martha: OKAY, GOVERNOR. I THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE, NO DOUBT. WE'LL SEE YOU THERE IN CHICAGO IN A FEW WEEKS. >>> UP NEXT, HOW SHOULD REPUBLICANS PIVOT AFTER DEMOCRATS RESET THE RACE? I'LL ASK NEW HAMPSHIRE GOVERNOR CHRIS SUNUNU. WE'RE BACK IN TWO MINUTES. >>> CHRISTIANS, GET OUT AND VOTE, JUST THIS TIME. YOU WON'T HAVE TO DO IT ANYMORE. FOUR MORE YEARS, YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'LL BE FIXED. IT'LL BE FINE. YOU WON'T HAVE TO VOTE ANYMORE, MY BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIANS. I LOVE YOU, CHRISTIANS. I'M A CHRISTIAN. I LOVE YOU. YOU GOT TO GET OUT AND VOTE. IN FOUR YEARS, YOU WON'T HAVE TO VOTE AGAIN. WE'LL HAVE IT FIXED SO GOOD, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE. >> Martha: FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP FACING SOME BACKLASH FOR THOSE MOMENTS FRIDAY NIGHT SAYING HIS SUPPORTERS WON'T HAVE TO VOTE AGAIN IN FOUR YEARS. I'M JOINED NOW BY THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, CHRIS SUNUNU. GOVERNOR, WHAT THE HECK DID HE MEAN THERE? >> WELL, I THINK THAT WAS A CLASSIC TRUMPISM IF YOU WILL. I THINK HE'S JUST TRYING TO MAKE THE POINT THAT THIS STUFF CAN BE FIXED. OBVIOUSLY IT'S -- WE WANT EVERYBODY TO VOTE IN ALL ELECTIONS, BUT I THINK HE WAS JUST TRYING TO MAKE A HYPERBOLIC POINT THAT IT CAN BE FIXED AS LONG AS HE GETS BACK INTO OFFICE AND ALL THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, CLASSIC TRUMP RIGHT THERE. >> Martha: OKAY, AND JUST DAYS -- LET'S TURN TO PRESIDENT BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS. JUST DAYS BEFORE PRESIDENT BIDEN ENDED HIS CAMPAIGN, YOU SAID IF HE WAS REPLACED ON THE TICKET, IT WOULD BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. YOU SAW THOSE POLLS WITH KAMALA HARRIS, ESPECIALLY THOSE INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. SO HOW MUCH MORE DIFFICULT WILL IT BE FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP NOW THAT KAMALA HARRIS IS IN THE RACE? >> YEAH, WELL -- WELL, THIS IS THE HONEYMOON, RIGHT? I MEAN, THIS IS THE HONEYMOON PERIOD. THEY HAD THE COURAGE TO PUSH HIM OFF THE BALLOT. VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS IS IN THERE. THE MEDIA IS FAWNING. EVERYONE'S EXCITED. IT'S A WHOLE NEW RACE. THAT'S ALL VERY TRUE, AND THAT'S GOING TO LAST FOR ABOUT 30 DAYS. I THINK THE DEMOCRATS CAN TAKE THAT MOMENTUM INTO THE CONVENTION. THE FIRST POLL THAT I BELIEVE THAT WILL ACTUALLY MATTER, IF I MAY, IS THE ONE AFTER LABOR DAY. FOLKS WILL SETTLE, GET BACK, TALK TO THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, COME OFF A SUMMER VACATION, ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF AND THEN THEY'LL START REALLY THINKING ABOUT WHAT THIS RACE REALLY MEANS, AND YOU'RE GOING GOING TO GET BACK TO TO GET BACK TO NUMBERS YOU SAW ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE THE ORIGINAL DEBATE WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY A NECK AND NECK RACE OR AT LEAST WITHIN THE MARGIN OF ERROR. TRUMP UP BY A LITTLE BIT NATIONALLY. SOME OF THE SWING STATES ALL IN PLAY, AND IT'S GOING TO COME BACK TO ISSUES. I THINK YOU BROUGHT UP THIS ISSUE VERY WELL WITH GOVERNOR PRITZKER. THE BORDER ISSUE, THE INFLATION ISSUE. THESE ARE REAL ISSUES. IT WON'T BE ABOUT, WE NEED TO VOTE FOR VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS BECAUSE SHE'S A WOMAN OR WE NEED TO VOTE FOR HER BECAUSE IT'S JUST A CHANGE AND IT'S NOT DONALD TRUMP. >> Martha: OKAY, BUT WHAT OF THOSE -- ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN KAMALA HARRIS ADDRESS IS FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 34 FELONY CONVICTIONS. SHE IS STARTING TO FRAME HER CAMPAIGN AS A PROSECUTOR TAKING ON A CRIMINAL. A REUTERS/IPSOS POLL CONDUCTED THAT AFTER TRUMP WAS FOUND GUILTY, 1 IN 4 INDEPENDENTS SAID HIS CONVICTION MADE THEM LESS LIKELY TO SUPPORT HIM IN NOVEMBER. THOSE ARE PRETTY SERIOUS NUMBERS. THOSE AREN'T CHANGING AFTER LABOR DAY. >> YEAH. I WOULD DISAGREE IN THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF US THOUGHT THAT THE TRIALS AND THE CONVICTIONS WOULD ALL HAVE SERIOUS IMPACT. THEY DIDN'T. I MEAN, LOOK AT THE NUMBERS BEFORE THE DEBATE. TRUMP WAS STILL WINNING. THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE IMPACT, AND I WOULD -- I WOULD ALMOST WARN THE DEMOCRATS. >> Martha: THE INDEPENDENTS -- LET ME READ IT AGAIN. ONE IN FOUR INDEPENDENTS, LESS LIKELY TO SUPPORT HIM IN NOVEMBER. YOU NEED ALL THOSE VOTES IF YOU ARE GOING TO WIN. >> WHICH MEANS THREE IN FOUR DON'T CARE, MARTHA. THAT MEANS THREE IN FOUR DON'T CARE. THEY CARE ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE RECORD CREDIT CARD DEBT. THEY SEE THE BORDER CRISIS OUT OF CONTROL AND THAT FALLS DIRECTLY ON HER AND HER ADMINISTRATION. THEY SEE THE MIGRANT CRISIS, THE HOMELESSLESS CRISIS, THE LAWLESSNESS CRISIS. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO J.B. PRITZKER, HE CAN BRAG ABOUT ILLINOIS ALL HELMETS. EVERYONE IS MOVING OUT OF CHICAGO. THE POPULATION IS DECREASING FOR CHICAGO AND NEW YORK. THAT'S A BAD POLICY. SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH POLICY. IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT JANUARY 6th, ELECTION DENIAL AND THE TRIALS, THAT'S ALL BEEN OUT THERE FOR AMERICA TO ABSORB FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS AND IT HASN'T MOVED THE NUMBERS. >> Martha: AND GOVERNOR, WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH, WHAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH IS NOT JUST STICKING TO THE ISSUES, BUT THE KIND OF CAMPAIGN THAT DONALD TRUMP IS RUNNING. LET'S LISTEN. >> SO NOW WE HAVE A NEW VICTIM TO DEFEAT. LYIN' KAMALA HARRIS. SHE WOULD BE THE MOST RADICAL, FAR LEFT EXTREMIST TO OCCUPY THE WHITE HOUSE TIMES TEN. THERE'S NEVER BEEN A LUNATIC LIKE THIS IN THE WHITE HOUSE. SHE IS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY, A TRUE THREAT TO DEMOCRACY. SHE'LL DESTROY OUR NATION. >> Martha: YOU HAD SAID REPUBLICANS SHOULD STICK TO THE ISSUES, STICK WITH UNITY, STICK WITH POSITIVITY, WHICH WAS HOW THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION STARTED. HAS DONALD TRUMP MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY HERE? >> HE'S MISSING IT NOW, BUT HOPEFULLY THEY CAN GET BACK ON TRACK. I THINK HE WAS ON TRACK FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS THERE. I THINK THAT THE CHANGE IN THE CAMPAIGN HAS KIND OF FIRED HIM UP TO GO AGAINST HER PERSONALLY. EVEN VIVEK RAMASWAMY, AND I DON'T AGREE WITH HIM ON MUCH OF ANYTHING, BUT HE HIT IT ON THE HEAD WHEN HE SAID, WE HAVE TO STOP WITH THE PERSONAL ATTACKS. WE HAVE TOO MUCH WE CAN WIN ON WHEN IT COMES TO POLICIES. I WOULD REFLECT TO JOE BIDEN'S STATEMENT THIS PAST WEEK. HE MADE A 15-MINUTE STATEMENT AND ALL IT WAS WAS VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS OR YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY. BIDEN SAID IT THERE. THOSE ARE DANGEROUS WORDS THERE. THEY'RE NOT APPLICABLE. I GUARANTEE YOU ONE THING. NO MATTER WHO WINS ON NOVEMBER 5th, THE SUN WILL COME UP ON NOVEMBER 6th. WE'RE GOING TO BE OKAY AS A NATION. OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE GOING TO STAND STRONG, SO LET'S GET OUR CANDIDATES TALKING ABOUT THOSE ISSUES, AND I THINK, AGAIN, YOU'VE HIT IT RIGHT ON THE HEAD -- >> Martha: DO YOU REALLY? >> THEY'RE AFFECTING THE AVERAGE AMERICAN. >> Martha: DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU CAN GET DONALD TRUMP TO STICK OTT ISSUES? IF YOU HAD ALL THOSE PEOPLE SAYING LET'S TALK ABOUT UNITY, AND THEN YOU HAD SOME REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS AND COMMENTATORS ATTACKING HARRIS OVER HER GENDER AND RACE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO SAID, SHE WAS A DEI CANDIDATE? >> YEAH. THAT'S NOT HELPFUL AT ALL, AND NOBODY CAN GET DONALD TRUMP TO DO ANYTHING, BUT HOPEFULLY THE NUMBERS -- THE POLLS WILL GET DONALD TRUMP TO REALIZE WHAT WAS WORKING AND WHAT DIDN'T. IT KIND OF -- IF ANYTHING, MAYBE HE LEARNS BY TRIAL AND ERROR, BUT STICKING TO THE ISSUES IS TOO GOOD OF AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REPUBLICANS, BOTH NATIONALLY AND STATEWIDE BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, YOU ASKED J.B. PRITZKER, WHAT'S THE BEST THING THAT VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS BRINGS THAT JOE BIDEN DOESN'T? HE SAID SHE'S A LAWYER. NOBODY WANTS LAWYERS IN WASHINGTON. THAT'S THE WORST THING YOU CAN POSSIBLY BE. PEOPLE WANT A CHANGE. THEY WANT SOME SORT OF DISRUPTION. THEY'RE TIRED OF THE ELITISM, THE WOKISM AND ELITISM AND THE LIBERALISM COMING OUT OF THE COUNTRY TELLING PEOPLE HOW TO LIVE THEIR LIVES. THEY WANT THE FREEDOM TO LIVE THEIR LIVES. >> Martha: GOVERNOR, LET'S TALK ABOUT JD VANCE, AND THE CHILDLESS CAT LADY COMMENTS THAT HE'S TRYING TO WALK BACK OR THAT PEOPLE WITHOUT CHILDREN SHOULD PAY MORE TAXES. BOTTOM LINE, DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT JD VANCE AS THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL PICK? >> NO. I DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERNS OVER JD DIRECTLY. I DON'T THINK THOSE COMMENTS WERE HELPFUL. AGAIN, STICK TO ISSUES. THOSE ARE PERSONAL ATTACKS THAT CAN ALIENATE A HUGE PART OF THAT INDEPENDENT VOTER BLOCK THAT YOU NEED, BUT IF YOU STICK TO ISSUES, STICK TO WHAT'S DRIVING ANXIETY. PEOPLE HAVE ANXIETY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR BILLS. THEY HAVE ANXIETY BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THEIR HOMES OR IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WILL DRIVE THEM TO GO MAKE A VOTE FOR TRUMP IN NOVEMBER, AND IF YOU STICK ON THOSE ISSUES, STAY AWAY FROM THE INSULTS. I THINK, YOU KNOW, HE'S A YOUNGER GUY. I THINK THIS IS ALL VERY, VERY NEW TO HIM. HE'S ONLY BEEN TO WASHINGTON 18 MONTHS. HE'S AN OUTSIDER HIMSELF. I THINK HE'S SURROUNDING HIMSELF OBVIOUSLY WITH A LOT OF THE FOLKS IN THE CAMPAIGN THAT KIND OF -- KIND OF FEEL AN ENERGY OFF OF THOSE PERSONAL ATTACKS, BUT THAT AIN'T WHAT'S GOING TO DRIVE THE VOTE. >> Martha: OKAY, GOVERNOR. THANKS. WE'LL WATCH AND SEE IF THEY STICK TO THE ISSUES. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. >> YOU BET. >> Martha: WE'LL BE BACK WITH THE POWERHOUSE ROUND TABLE ON ALL THE WEEK'S POLITICS AND LATER, ABC'S AARON KATERSKY WITH EXCLUSIVE REPORTING ON THE LOCAL S.W.A.T. TEAM ON DUTY AT THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. >>> IT'S BEEN THE HONOR OF MY LIFE TO SERVE AS YOUR PRESIDENT, BUT IN THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACY, WHICH IS AT STAKE, I THINK IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY TITLE. NOTHING, NOTHING CAN COME IN THE WAY OF SAVING OUR DEMOCRACY. THAT INCLUDES PERSONAL AMBITION. SO I'VE DECIDED THE BEST WAY FORWARD IS TO PASS THE TORCH TO A NEW GENERATION. >> Martha: PRESIDENT BIDEN ADDRESSING THE NATION ON WEDNESDAY. LET'S BRING IN OUR POWERHOUSE ROUND TABLE, FORMER DNC CHAIR DONNA BRAZILE, FORMER SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO SPECIAL TRUMP, MARK LAWSUITER, ASMA KHALED, AND LAURA BARONE-LOPEZ. WE WERE SITTING HERE FOR CALLING TO STEP ASIDE. HE DID THAT. HE'S PASSING THE TORCH TO A NEW GENERATION, BUT HE WAS REALLY PUSHED OUT. >> YOU KNOW, MARTHA, WHEN I SAT HERE LAST SUNDAY, ALL I WAS THINKING ABOUT AND MARK, YOU'LL APPRECIATE THIS. I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE DELEGATES BECAUSE LATER THAT AFTERNOON, THE CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE -- WE HAD A VOTE TO CONFIRM THE DELEGATES. HE DECIDED TO STEP BACK A FEW MINUTES BEFORE OUR VOTE, BUT STILL, HIS DELEGATES HELD, AND THE MONEY DIDN'T DRY UP. IT'S BEEN A VERY INTERESTING A SELFLESS ACT OF PATRIOTISM ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENT, BUT I WANT TO TELL PEOPLE THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, WE'RE THE PARTY OF THE FUTURE. WE'RE NOT PRISONERS OF THE PAST. WE'RE NOT SITTING AROUND WRITING ADS, DRAWING A PICTURE THAT'S DARK AND DREARY. WE ARE PIONEERS OF THE FUTURE, AND I THINK IF VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS IS ABLE TO GO OUT THERE AND SPEAK TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T FEEL SEEN OR RESPECTED OR HEARD, BE A PART OF THE CIRCLE OF OPPORTUNITY, THEN SHE CAN WILL WIN THIS RACE. AS. >> Martha: ASMA, WERE YOU SHOCKED AT HOW LONG IT TOOK, OR THAT HE FINALLY DID IT? >> I THINK I WAS SHOCKED ON TWO FRONTS. ONE THAT HE DID THIS BY A PAPER STATEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA ON SUNDAY. WE IN THE NEWSROOM HAD BEEN EXPECTING SOME NEWS, BUT I WOULD SAY NOT IN THAT WAY ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON. I WAS GETTING READY -- >> Martha: NONE OF US DID. >> EQUALLY SHOCKING TO ME BECAUSE I HAD CLOSELY COVERED THE VICE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS IS HOW QUICKLY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS COALESCED AROUND HER. I REMEMBER GOING OUT TO EVENTS, HEARING FROM VOTERS, WHAT HAS SHE BEEN DOING, HEARING CALLS FROM WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT SHE OUGHT TO BE DROPPED FROM THE TICKET ALTOGETHER. TO WITNESS HOW QUICKLY THE PARTY, THE MONEY, THE VOLUNTEERS HAVE COALESCED AROUND HER, HAS ALSO BEEN A SURPRISE TO ME. IT IS NOT WHAT I HEARD COVERING HER THESE LAST, YOU KNOW, PLAYER -- PARTICULARLY THESE LAST TWO YEARS. >> I'VE TALKED TO ORGANIZERS IN ARIZONA AND WISCONSIN AND GEORGIA, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT TECHNICALLY ATTACHED TO THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN, AND THEY'VE SAID THAT THE CHANGE IS NIGHT AND DAY. WHEN THEY WERE OUT KNOCKING DOORS WHEN BIDEN WAS THE CANDIDATE, THEY WERE MET WITH RELUCTANT VOTERS, VOTERS WHO WONDERED IF HE WAS GOING TO DROP OUT. ONE SAID THEY WEREN'T SURE THEY WERE GOING TO VOTE AND NOW WHEN THEY'RE KNOCKING DOORS AND THEY SAID IN THE DAYS SINCE, THE ENERGY IS DIFFERENT AND IT'S PALPABLE. VOTERS ARE MUCH MORE EXCITED AND THEY'RE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT HARRIS AND THEY'RE SAYING THEY MAY ACTUALLY VOTE AGAIN THIS ELECTION CYCLE. IT'S BIG. >> Martha: I'M SURE YOU'RE LOVING HEARING ALL OF THIS, BUT LOOK. THE VOTERS IN LARGE PART, DID NOT WANT THE TRUMP/BIDEN REMATCH, BUT DONALD TRUMP DID. >> WELL, I DON'T THINK IT REALLY MATTERS EITHER WAY BECAUSE, I MEAN, THE DONORS, THE VOLUNTEERS, THE DOOR KNOCKERS MAY CHANGE. THE POLICIES DON'T. THERE WAS A REASON WHY JOE BIDEN WAS THE MOST UNPOPULAR PRESIDENT IN THE 70 YEARS AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS WAS THE MOST UNPOPULAR VICE PRESIDENT, AND IT'S TRACKING THAT METRIC. GAS PRICES, GROCERY PRICES, THE BORDER. KAMALA HARRIS OWNS THOSE POLICIES AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT HER PLANS ARE, WE CAN GO BACK TO HER 2020 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, SHE'S EVEN MORE RADICAL THAN BERNIE SANDERS. DEFUND THE POLICE. SHE BELIEVES IN DECRIMINALIZING THE BORDER CROSSING. SHE WANTS SENIORS TO WAIT IN LINE FOR MEDICARE ALONG WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. >> Martha: WE'LL LET YOU FINISH THAT THOUGHT. YOU FINISHED? >> I'M SO READY FOR THIS BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MEAN OLD MAN, A MEAN, OLD FORMER PRESIDENT WHO HAS NOT STEPPED BACK. JOE BIDEN DID THE RIGHT THING FOR THE COUNTRY. HE DID THE RIGHT THING FOR THE PARTY. DONALD TRUMP SHOULD NOW TAKE A LOOK AT HIMSELF AND SAY, AM I THE FUTURE? AM I THE PERSON WHO'S GOING TO LOWER THOSE GAS PRICES? MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN MAKE ENDS MEET? NO, HE WILL NOT. >> HE ALREADY DID IT. >> HE DID NOTHING OF THE KIND. >> THE WORLD WAS SAFER UNDER DONALD TRUMP. >> AND WE GOT COVID AND MORE PEOPLE DIED -- >> UNDER JOE BIDEN THAN UNDER DONALD TRUMP. >> MORE PEOPLE COULDN'T GET THE RELIEF THAT THEY NEEDED, BUT WE'RE READY TO FIGHT THIS BATTLE BECAUSE THE BATTLE IS BETWEEN THE PAST THAT THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO HOLD ONTO AND THE FUTURE THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO PASS ONTO THEIR CHILDREN. WE'RE READY FOR THIS FIGHT. WE'RE READY FOR THE BORDER BECAUSE YOU WON'T SIGN A DEAL THAT WILL CLOSE THE BORDER, SECURE THE BORDER, EVEN FIX OUR BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM. >> Martha: ALL RIGHT, DONNA. WE HAVE A PREVIEW -- JUST WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, LAURA, THIS IS CLEARLY A PREVIEW. WE HAD A PREVIEW EARLIER ON THIS SHOW AS WELL FROM THE DEMOCRATS. HOW DO YOU SEE THIS RACE PLAYING OUT? I MEAN, YOU ALSO HAVE A CANDIDATE IN DONALD TRUMP WHERE THE UNITY MESSAGE HAS DISAPPEARED. >> IT'S TOTALLY DISAPPEARED. HE JUST IN HIS SPEECHES YESTERDAY, HE WAS CALLING KAMALA HARRIS EVIL, SAYING -- HE REPEATEDLY SAYS SHE'S DUMB. HE EVEN SAID THAT, OH, PEOPLE THINK I'VE CHANGED. I HAVEN'T ACTUALLY CHANGED. I'VE GOTTEN WORSE. THAT UNITY MESSAGE, IF IT EVER EXISTED, IS GONE. I THINK THAT, LOOK. KAMALA HARRIS SAID THIS. THE VICE PRESIDENT SAID THIS AT HER FUND-RAISER LAST NIGHT. SHE SAID, I'M AN UNDERDOG, AND I THINK THAT'S TRUE ACROSS THE BOARD, AND DEMOCRATS KNOW THAT THEY HAVE AN UPHILL BATTLE IN THIS RACE. I MEAN, EVEN WITH THE EXCITEMENT THAT THEY HAVE AND THE ENTHUSIASM THAT THEY HAVE AND THE MONEY THAT THEY'RE RAISING IN THE TIME THAT SHE'S BEEN IN SO FAR, SHE STILL IS NOT NECESSARILY JUMPING AHEAD OF TRUMP IN THE POLLS BY ANY MEANS OR IN THE BATTLEGROUND STATES. SO THEY'RE TRYING TO REALLY TARGET IN SPECIFIC WAYS, ON ABORTION, SUBURBAN WOMEN, WOMEN ACROSS THE BOARD. SHE -- THE CAMPAIGN ISN'T NECESSARILY TOTALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE IMMIGRATION ARGUMENT. THEY DO UNDERSTAND THAT SHE'S ON HER BACK FOOT WITH IT, BUT THAT THEY FEEL AS THOUGH THEY HAVE THE ARGUMENT THAT DONNA MADE WHICH IS THAT ESSENTIALLY REPUBLICANS KILLED THE DEAL THAT THEY STARTED. >> Martha: YOU HAVE AS YOU MENTIONED, COVERED KAMALA HARRIS AND JOE BIDEN FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS. YOU ALSO HAD THOUGHTS THAT IN THE BEGINNING, PEOPLE DID NOT THINK KAMALA HARRIS WAS READY TO BE PRESIDENT, AND THAT THERE WERE SOME STUMBLES. HOW DID THAT CHANGE? >> I THINK IT CHANGED A LOT AROUND THE TIME OF THE MIDTERMS AND WHEN THE SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN ROE VERSUS WADE, AND THE PRIMARY REASON IS INSTANTLY THE VICE PRESIDENT BECAME THE ADMINISTRATION'S MAIN MESSENGER ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, YOU KNOW, BIDEN DOES NOT AND HAS NOT HISTORICALLY FELT COMFORTABLE SPEAKING OUT ABOUT ABORTION. SHE WAS RALLYING THE TROOPS ON THAT ISSUE. DEMOCRATS SAW BETTER THAN EXPECTED RESULTS IN THE MIDTERMS AND I THINK THAT KAMALA HARRIS' FORTUNES CHANGED AS A RESULT. I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT MARK SAID BECAUSE I FOREIGN MINISTERIALLY BELIEVE I SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO VOTERS ABOUT INFLATION. I THINK THAT THE ECONOMY REMAINS A WEAKNESS FOR DEMOCRAT THAT THEY HAVE TO NAVIGATE, BUT I THINK THE DYNAMIC IS DIFFERENT WITH HARRIS AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO, AND SHE WILL LEAN HEAVILY INTO ABORTION WHICH REPUBLICANS ARE ON THEIR BACK FOOT PARTICULARLY WITH JD VANCE. >> Martha: I WAS JUST GOING TO GO TO YOU WITH JD VANCE, NOT JUST ON ABORTION, BUT HE SAID HE WANTS TO MAKE IT ILLEGAL ACROSS THE NATION. WE KNOW DONALD TRUMP HAS A DIFFERENT STAND ON THAT, BUT ON SKPINGS THAT KAMALA HARRIS' FORTUNES CHANGED AS A RESULT. I WANT TO GO BACK TO ONE THING MARK SID BECAUSE I FIRMLY BELIEVE -- I SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO VOTERS ABOUT INFLATION. I THINK THE ECONOMY REMAINS A WEAKNESS FOR DEMOCRATS THAT THEY HAVE TO NAVIGATE, BUT I THINK THE DYNAMIC REMAINS WITH HARRIS AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET BECAUSE REPUBLICANS ARE ON THEIR BACK FOOT PARTICULARLY WITH JD VANCE AS THEIR RUNNING MATE. >> Martha: I WAS JUST GOING TO GO TO YOU WITH JD VANCE, NOT JUST ON ABORTION, BUT HE SAID HE WANTS TO MAKE IT ILLEGAL ACROSS THE NATION. WE KNOW DONALD TRUMP HAS A DIFFERENT STAND ON THAT, BUT ON ABORTION AND ON GENERALLY WHAT HE HAS BEEN SAYING THIS WEEK. HE SAYS THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO. IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO HE MADE THOSE STATEMENTS. IT WAS 2021. THE CAT LADY SAYING NOW, OH, I WAS JUST TRYING TO SAY THE DEMOCRATS ARE ANTI-FAMILY AND ANTI-CHILD. THAT'S A LOT I JUST THREW AT YOU, MARK. >> JD VANCE IS OBVIOUSLY VERY PRO-FAMILY AND HE BELIEVES THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTRAST THAT WITH GOVERNMENTS, WHO THINKS THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE DECIDING WHERE KIDS GO TO SCHOOL, AND THEY SHOULD DOUBLE THE CHILD CARE CREDIT, AND MADE IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE. THESE ARE LEGITIMATE ARGUMENTS. IF WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON JD VANCE SAYING, HE'LL MAKE PEOPLE THINK DIFFERENTLY. ONCE YOU HAVE A FAMILY, YOU TEND TO VIEW THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHERS. >> Martha: AND YOU SHOULD PAY FEWER TAXES, DONNA? >> EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE CHILDREN, YOU DO CARE ABOUT KIDS. YOU CARE ABOUT THEIR FUTURE. I'VE NEVER HAD ONE CHILD, AND YET I THINK I CAN CLAIM HUNDREDS OF THEM BECAUSE I LOVE THEM. I WANT TO PROTECT THEM. I WANT TO HELP FEED THEM. I WANT TO GIVE THEM A HEAD START AND A HEALTHY START, AND JD VANCE IS AGAINST THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PROJECT 2025 -- HE WON'T GIVE KIDS LIKE ME WHO GREW UP IN POVERTY -- HE GREW UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE HILL. I GREW UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACK. KAMALA HARRIS IS GOING TO PROSECUTE THAT CASE ABOUT KIDS WHO NEED A HEALTHY START. THIS IS BEYOND ABORTION. THIS IS REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH. IT'S GIVING WOMEN ACCESS. THE FACT THAT MY NIECES RIGHT NOW ARE IN RED STATES, IF THEY HAVE -- IF THEY HAVE A MISCARRIAGE, SHE'LL BLEED OUT AND DIE BEFORE THEY GET THE HEALTH CARE THEY NEED. THAT'S WHAT THIS ELECTION IS GOING TO BE ABOUT, AND THAT'S WHY HARRIS CAN PROSECUTE. >> Martha: MARK, I'LL GIVE YOU 15 SECONDS. >> THAT'S THE ISSUES YOU WANT TO FIGHT THIS ON. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES, MAKING GROCERIES MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THAT FAMILY. GAS MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THAT FAMILY, AND STOP 12 MILLION ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS STREAMING ACROSS OUR BORDER WHO BY THE WAY, ARE THREATENING THE LIVES IN SOME CASES OF THOSE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN. >> Martha: THIS IS A PREVIEW FOR SURE OF WHAT'S TO COME. THANKS ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US. >>> UP NEXT, EXCLUSIVE REPORTING ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE TO THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. >> Martha: NOW TO AN ABC NEWS EXCLUSIVE. OUR SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT AARON KATERSKY SPEAKING WITH THE LOCAL PENNSYLVANIA S.W.A.T. TEAM ON DUTY DURING TRUMP'S RALLY IN BUTLER WHEN A GUNMAN TRIED TO TAKE TRUMP'S LIFE AND AARON JOINS ME NOW. AND AARON, YOU INTERVIEWED THE LOCAL S.W.A.T. TEAM TASKED WITH SUPPORTING THE SECRET SERVICE AT THAT RALLY IN BUTLER TWO WEEKS AGO. THEY PLAYED SOME KEY ROLE THAT IS DAY ALONG WITH THE D.A. AND CHIEF OF DETECTIVES OVERSEEING THE TEAM. I WANT TO PLAY WHAT THE LEAD SHARP SHOOTER OF THE TEAM TOLD YOU. LET'S LISTEN. >> WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET A FACE-TO-FACE BRIEFING WITH THE SECRET SERVICE SNIPERS WHENEVER THEY ARRIVED, AND THAT NEVER HAPPENED. SO I THINK THAT THAT WAS PROBABLY A PIVOTAL POINT WHERE I STARTED THINKING THINGS WERE WRONG BECAUSE THAT NEVER HAPPENED, AND WE HAD NO COMMUNICATION WITH THE SECRET SERVICE. >> YOU HAD NO COMMUNICATION WITH THE SECRET SERVICE AT ALL ON THAT SATURDAY? >> NOT UNTIL AFTER THE SHOOTING. >> AND BY THEN -- >> IT WAS TOO LATE. >> Martha: AARON, FIRST CAN YOU TELL US WHERE THAT S.W.A.T. TEAM WAS LOCATED, AND GIVE US A SENSE OF YOUR CONVERSATION WITH THESE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN? THIS IS EVEN AS THE GUNMAN WAS IDENTIFIED AS SUSPICION -- AS SUSPICIOUS AHEAD OF THE SHOOTING. >> THIS IS THE S.W.A.T. TEAM FROM BEAVER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, MARTHA, THAT IDENTIFIED THOMAS MATTHEW CROOKS AS SUSPICIOUS. THEY WERE LOCATED ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE BUILDING THAT CROOKS EVENTUALLY USED AS HIS PERCH, AND THAT'S WHERE THEY WERE ASSIGNED TO BE. FROM THAT VANTAGE POINT, THEY COULD SEE INTO THE CROWD, BUT THEY COULDN'T SEE CROOKS ON THE ROOF. IT WASN'T THE ROOF BEING SLOPED OR THE WEATHER BEING TOO HOT FOR THEM TO BE UP THERE. THEY WERE ASSIGNED AND TOLD BY THE SECRET SERVICE TO BE ON THE SECOND FLOOR. ONCE THEY TRIED TO IDENTIFY HIM AS SUSPICIOUS, THEY SOUNDED THE ALARM. THEY SENT TEXT MESSAGES WITH A DESCRIPTION. THEY TOOK PICTURES OF HIM. THEY TRIED TO TRACK HIS MOVEMENTS, BUT NONE OF THAT EVER REACHED THE DECISIONMAKERS ON THE GROUND, MARTHA, BUT THEY SAY THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION WITH THE SECRET SERVICE, AND FROM THE GET GO THEY SAY, IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THEY WERE SOMEWHAT ISOLATED IN THEIR POSITION. >> Martha: SO AARON, HOW ARE THEY RESPONDING TO THIS IDEA THAT IT WAS THE LOCAL OFFICIALS WHO FAILED AT SECURING THIS EVENT INCLUDING THE ROOF OF THE BUILDING WHERE THE GUNMAN TOOK HIS SHOTS? >> AND THEY'LL TAKE SOME OF THE FAILURE. THEY SAY THEY DID FAIL THAT DAY BECAUSE SOMEBODY WAS KILLED. THE FORMER PRESIDENT WAS SHOT AT, BUT THEY SAY THEY WERE NOT IN CHARGE OF MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR OWN MOVEMENTS. ONE OF THE SNIPERS TOLD ME THAT IF HE HAD HIS DRUTHERS, HE HAD NOT BEEN WHERE HE WAS POSITIONED BECAUSE HE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A VERY EFFECTIVE PLACE TO BE, AND NOW THEY ARE LIVING WITH WHAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE QUITE A HEAVY BURDEN. THEY'RE WILLING TO ADMIT THEIR FAILURES, MARTHA, BUT THEY SAY THIS IS NOT ENTIRELY ON THEM. >> Martha: AND SO MUCH STILL TO LOOK INTO. THANKS SO MUCH, AARON. YOU CAN SEE MORE OF AARON'S EXCLUSIVE REPORTING TOMORROW MORNING ON "GMA." >> Martha: THAT'S ALL FOR US TODAY. THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR SUNDAY WITH US. CHECK OUT "WORLD NEWS TONIGHT" AND "GMA," AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.