Frederica Freyberg:
Senior political reporter Zac Schultz brought live analysis from Media Row at the convention all week. And tonight wraps it up with our political panelists Republican Bill McCoshen and Democrat Scot Ross. Zac.

Zac Schultz:
Thanks, Fred. And I am joined here. Scot Ross, Bill McCoshen, it’s been a great week. Thank you for coming back one more time. A little shorter today. That’s all we have the energy for after the whole week. Let’s start. First reactions to the speech last night. Kamala Harris came out. Scot, did she hit her marks? Did she do what she needed to do?

Scot Ross:
Well, Kamala Harris needed to give the remarks of her career and instead she gave the inauguration speech for the ages. I mean, I don’t think we’ve ever seen so much enthusiasm. I actually talked to somebody who had been in convention since 1984. They said they’ve never heard a reaction quite like that. You know, what we get with Kamala Harris and Tim Walz is the most experienced, most energetic, most qualified ticket in American presidential history in our 248 years.

Zac Schultz:
What’s your reaction?

Bill McCoshen:
Won’t surprise you. I saw it a little bit different. I think we all agree that the vibe down there, the energy Monday through Wednesday was off the charts and I was starting to get worried about that as a Republican. And so the expectation for Harris was extremely high. I don’t think she met the mark. And let me tell you why. There were three segments of her speech. The first part was about her childhood. I thought that was very, very good. The second part was really about all about Donald Trump. I don’t think that was in her best interest or very good. And then the last part was high level platitudes, but without any specifics. So there was a lot of style this week. There wasn’t a lot of substance. She spent more time talking about the John Lewis Voting Rights Act than she did about inflation for gas prices or rent or groceries, and those are the things that voters care about. So I don’t think she hit the mark.

Zac Schultz:
One of the topics that stood out to me was about foreign policy, which she really went into, and she got a big reaction from the crowd talking about support for Ukraine, talking about support for Israel, and support for the Palestinians to have some level of self-determination. Do you think that’s sea tide? Did she need to hit that mark? We haven’t really addressed the Palestinian protest down in Chicago during the week, but did she do enough for her own party there?

Scot Ross:
Oh, absolutely, I think so. And I think again, and with the conversation about Donald Trump, this was about showing the difference that you have: compassion, dignity, fairness. Those words aren’t even in Donald Trump’s vocabulary. He doesn’t even know those words. And again, on foreign policy, you’re going to get what Donald Trump gave us or you’re going to get what Kamala Harris laid out last night, which is a reasoned, responsible understanding, compassionate, compassionate foreign policy.

Bill McCoshen:
I — the part I liked best about the speech is what she said about Israel. I think that was very important to let our strongest ally in the region know that regardless of how this election turns out, the United States of America is going to stand with Israel. I think that was critical, and I was glad she said that. The part about Ukraine, I think she could have gone into a little bit more detail there, but overall, they wanted this to be about freedom, about America and flag waving. In some ways, it felt like a Republican convention, to be honest. So I did enjoy that part.

Zac Schultz:
And that is something that we’ve been talking about because after the GOP convention, we talked about that didn’t feel like your grandfather’s GOP convention. That felt different. This didn’t feel like your grandfather’s Democratic convention. Have the parties — I mean, we know realignment is real, are they — are we seeing it in policy and on the stage at the same time?

Bill McCoshen:
Yeah, I think we are. It, you know, a lot more working people are with the Republican Party which I like, because that’s how I grew up. That’s what attracted my dad to Ronald Reagan back in 1980. So I like that. I hope we continue down that path. I don’t want to be the country club party. I want to be the party of the people.

Scot Ross:
I think that the Republican Party has regressed into a very small, very cynical, very bitter, divisive party. And I think the Democrats, again, you saw from, you know, you saw from the stage. Independent Oprah Winfrey, Republican Adam Kinzinger, this is going to be the biggest coalition to deliver the biggest victory for a Democratic candidate in American history.

Zac Schultz:
Is this race closer to a blowout or closer to a nail biter in your estimation?

Scot Ross:
I mean, I want to say it’s going to be a nail biter because everybody’s got to do every piece of work they need to do. But I think that Kamala Harris will win Wisconsin by more than Obama, Barack Obama did.

Zac Schultz:
Nail biter?

Bill McCoshen:
It’s a nail biter, no question about it. And I think the debate on September 10th could be decisive. Let’s not forget the last debate ended Joe Biden’s political career.

Scot Ross:
And I think the prosecutor versus the 34-year convicted — 34-time convicted felon might end that 78-year old’s career.

Zac Schultz:
So we have seen some massive twists and turns in just the last few months.

Bill McCoshen:
Unbelievable.

Zac Schultz:
With the assassination attempt, with Biden dropping out, with this huge resurgence in enthusiasm among Democrats, are there still more to come, or do you think the race is kind of leveled off and this is what we’re going to get?

Bill McCoshen:
I think there’s two potential surprises left. Does Taylor Swift get involved in the race, number one. Number two, does Joe Biden step aside and make her the president of the United States during the race?

Scot Ross:
I don’t think the second thing is going to happen. I don’t know if the first thing is going to happen.

Bill McCoshen:
I hope not.

Scot Ross:
But I do think this. I think we have a better, a better chance of seeing Beyonce and Taylor Swift teaming up for a duet on the campaign trail for Kamala Harris than we see Melania Trump coming out to campaign for Donald Trump.

Bill McCoshen:
I know some of you guys want Lil Jon. He’s already made his decision. He’s with Kamala.

Zac Schultz:
We will have some polling coming out. Is Harris leading in the next Marquette poll in Wisconsin? And by how much, in your eyes?

Scot Ross:
I think if Kamala Harris isn’t leading that poll, everybody should start ignoring that poll once and for all, because it’s very clear every single indicator from inside and outside of the state is that the momentum is on Kamala Harris and Tim Walz’s side and Democrat side, and freedom side. And there’s a reason for that. It’s the policies: abortion, you know, democracy and such.

Bill McCoshen:
The last one had Trump leading by one with registered voters. It had Harris leading by one with likely voters. If there is one next week, which is traditional for Marquette, I would imagine she’d be up by a couple points.

Zac Schultz:
All right, Bill, Scot, thank you for a wonderful week. We appreciate you coming back.

Scot Ross:
Absolutely. I just want to say, I was at the Republican convention. I didn’t know if I’d feel welcome. Bill, I think is the same way with the Democratic convention. I just want to say the reason that we felt so welcome was because of the PBS Wisconsin team. You know, you, Frederica, Cynthia, Andrew, the other Zach, Ethan, Steven and Marisa. Phenomenal job. Thank you so much.

Bill McCoshen:
Thank you.

Scot Ross:
And thanks to your viewers and thank you.