Here & Now

Debate, Campaign Visit, Final Stretch

Frederica Freyberg:

As we head into the final days before the November 3rd election, was the final debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden a win, lose or draw for them? We dive into the debate and where we stand 11 days out with our political panelists: Republican Bill McCoshen and Democrat Scot Ross. Thanks to both of you for being here.

Bill McCoshen:

Thanks for having us.

Scot Ross:

Great to be here.

Frederica Freyberg:

So first, your overall reaction to the final match-up between Trump and Biden. Will either performance move the needle? First to you, Bill.

Bill McCoshen:

Historically they don’t have a huge impact, but I thought Trump was the clear winner last night for a variety of reasons. Number one, his tone, his style, his calmness, his command of the fact but more importantly, he made this a choice election. He was able to draw a sharp contrast between he and Biden. He being the outsider gone to DC to shake things up versus a 47-year career politician who doesn’t have a lot to show for it. So I thought on balance, Trump accomplished what he needed to accomplish. Now there’s 3 or 4 or 5% undecided. That was his target audience last night and I think he gave himself a chance. I think he did better with the undecided voters last night than Biden did.

Frederica Freyberg:

Scot, a win, lose or draw here for Biden?

Scot Ross:

I think it was a big win for Biden. I mean he needed to go in there and establish that he is the mature adult in the room who has a plan to deal with the most important things facing this country: the pandemic, the economic situation, systematic racism and climate change. And he showed that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have a plan for all four of those. In contrast, Donald Trump said we’ve rounded the corner and, you know, it’s going away when it comes to the pandemic. We have seen that science, you know, is a lot more powerful than Donald Trump and his handling of the pandemic has been a disaster for the people of Wisconsin and people all over the country. That I think is what people are going to be left with after that race. Joe Biden had a plan. Donald Trump offered more of the same, which was nothing.

Frederica Freyberg:

All right. We’re going to get more into that in a moment, but we invited each of you to choose a clip from the debate and we’re going to start with yours, Bill, from Donald Trump. So here it is.

Donald Trump:

Why didn’t he get it done? See, it’s all talk, no action with these politicians. Why didn’t he get it done? That’s what I’m going to do when I become president. You were vice president along with Obama as your president, your leader, for eight years. Why didn’t you get it done? You had eight years to get it done.

Frederica Freyberg:

So, Bill, he’s talking here about criminal justice reform?

Bill McCoshen:

Well, he used this same line in almost every topic last night. He was trying to remind voters of why they supported him four years ago in 2016 as the outsider to go to DC to shake things up. They didn’t want more of the same. They did not want the status quo. More importantly, Frederica, he was trying to draw a contrast with Biden that Biden is an insider, the ultimate insider who’s been there for 47 years and again, doesn’t have much to show for it.

Frederica Freyberg:

Scot, Biden in that clip was talking about a federal law passed in the ’80s sending people to prison for drugs. He said it was a mistake. Is that a good or bad decision on Joe Biden’s part?

Scot Ross:

I think anytime you’re honest with the American people, it’s important. And let’s remember that the Crime Bill, for the many flaws that it had, also was the thing that kept automatic weapons off the street. I mean talk to a kid right now who has to — who when they were in school would have to do preparation drills. The idea, you know, to tell them, hey, at one point in time we actually banned automatic weapons. The fact is that Donald Trump, he — the — I would say this. The one mistake that Joe Biden made was that he didn’t quickly point out, listen, the entire Republican strategy has been to block everything that President Obama tried to do and we’re seeing it now with Senator Ron Johnson being the single person in Wisconsin most response for people not getting an extension of their unemployment benefits, for preventing the $1200 in the Hero Act that was passed by the House Democrats back in May. The obstructionism of the Republicans should be on the ballot because we need to move forward and they don’t want to do anything because it might compromise them politically.

Frederica Freyberg:

I’m going to move along now to the next clip and this one, Scot, you chose. Let’s take a listen.

Joe Biden:

220,000 Americans dead. If you hear nothing else I say tonight, hear this. Anyone who’s responsible for not taking control, in fact not saying I take no responsibility initially, anyone who’s responsible for that many deaths should not remain as president of the United States of America.

Frederica Freyberg:

So, Scot, President Trump’s response to COVID-19 is what voters most care about especially in Wisconsin where latest positive numbers we saw today hit over 4300 again?

Scot Ross:

Absolutely. I mean the Republicans and Trump have ignored science and they ignored the need to even wear masks and instead have turned it into some sort of political Republican litmus test. The fact is that — it should be a point of patriotic pride that people wear masks to protect not just themselves but their neighbors as well. Donald Trump has done exactly the opposite of that. And as you said, Wisconsin has, this past week, had the single most — had a day with the single most number of cases, over 4200. We have had our death rate go up for the first time since June. 1730 Wisconsinites have lost their lives because of this pandemic that the Republicans did nothing to prevent.

Frederica Freyberg:

Bill, I’m going to give you a chance to jump in on this. Clearly a very serious, frightening situation.

Bill McCoshen:

I think the COVID question actually on points, Donald Trump won and let me tell you why. Joe Biden was all about gloom, doom and death last night. He was the grim reaper. People want hope. They want some encouragement that there’s a way to get through this and I thought Donald Trump offered a balanced plan that we have to work our way through this. We have keep our schools open. We have to keep our businesses open. We have to find a way to do all these things safely. So I thought while Scot thinks that might have been Biden’s strongest point, I think it was one of his weaker points of the night and it was a good opportunity for the president to show optimism about we’re going to get through this and we’re going to find a way to do it together.

Frederica Freyberg:

I’m going to move along to the final days of this campaign. As you both know, Donald Trump is coming to Wisconsin again tomorrow, to Waukesha for a rally. He’s also planned one now for Tuesday near La Crosse. What are your comments on that, Bill?

Bill McCoshen:

So one last thing about the debate. I think at the end Biden wore out. I mean he looked gassed at the end of the debate. This is the hardest job on the planet and he barely had the stamina to get through 90 minutes with Donald Trump. I think voters saw that. Now as it relates to Trump, he’s coming to Waukesha tomorrow which is very smart. He has to do well in the suburban wing of Milwaukee. He’s going to La Crosse on Tuesday. Frankly, that’s not where I would put him if I was running the campaign. I would have him in Green Bay but it might help Derrick Van Orden in the one competitive congressional seat we have here which is the 3rd. Derrick Van Orden against Ron Kind. So don’t be surprised.

Frederica Freyberg:

I got to get Scot in. What do you think about these big rallies all over the place?

Scot Ross:

I mean this is just — if you look at the spending between August and Election Day, the advertising spent by the Biden campaign in Wisconsin is $32 million. Trump is under $6 million. He has abandoned — his campaign has abandoned Wisconsin and they’re just sending him here because it makes him feel good because he’s the baby-in-chief. But I do like the fact that Bill mentioned the 3rd Congressional District because you know, we’re hear about the WOW counties, right? The Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington. We’re hearing about the BOW counties: Brown, Outagamie and Winnebago. I think we need to focus this election a little bit more on what I call the French Quarter, which is Eau Claire and La Crosse. If you go — if Democrats go there and they do well, they win statewide elections. It’s as simple as that. In 2016 and 2018, the Democrats got — the Republicans got 41%. When Democrats run up the score there, they win big.

Frederica Freyberg:

We have to leave it there. We won’t speak with you before the election again. We’ll talk after. Thank you so much, you guys. Really appreciate it.

Bill McCoshen:

Good to be with you.

Scot Ross:

Thank you. Everybody go out and vote.