WE WILL HAVE MUCH MORE HEAD ON MEET THE PRESS, WHICH STARTS RIGHT NOW. >> [ MUSIC ] >>> WELCOME TO MEET THE PRESS NOW, I AM ETER ALEXANDER HERE IN WASHINGTON. AS WE LIKE TO SAY AROUND THESE PARTS, IF IT IS TUESDAY, VOTERS ARE VOTING SOMEWHERE TODAY, THAT SUMMER IS THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, A KEY BATTLEGROUND THIS ALL WHERE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE HOLDING PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES, AND WILL POST THAT BOAT TO THE LIKELY NOMINEES IN BOTH PARTIES ARE ALSO TAKING CENTER STAGE. FIRST, THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, THIS IS THE SECOND DONALD TRUMP VERSUS NIKKI HALEY MATCHUP IN FOUR DAYS WITH HALEY LOOKING TO SOLIDIFY THAT 40% OF THE ANTI- TRUMP VOTE AS WE HEAD INTO SUPER TUESDAY, JUST ONE WEEK FROM TODAY. ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, THE PROTEST VOTE AGAINST PRESIDENT BIDEN IS NOT A RIVAL CANDIDATE, BUT RATHER A VOTE OF O CONFIDENCE. MICHIGAN PRIMARY VOTERS ARE ALLOWED TO CAST UNCOMMITTED BALLOTS, AND MANY ACTIVISTS WITH ROOTS IN THE SIZABLE ARAB AND MUSLIM COMMUNITIES IN MICHIGAN ARE PUSHING MICHIGANDERS TO VOTE UNCOMMITTED AS A WAY TO PROTEST THE PRESIDENT'S HANDLING OF THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR. PROGRESSIVES HAVE BEEN RATCHETING UP THEIR PRESSURE ON THE PRESIDENT TO STOP BACKING ISRAEL'S MILITARY CAMPAIGN IN GAZA AND WHILE NOT THE PERMANENT CEASE-FIRE THEY WANT, PRESIDENT BIDEN SET A POSITIVE INFIGHTING COULD BE COMING SOON. >> WELL, I HOPE. BY THE END OF THE WEEKEND. MY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR TELLS ME THAT WE ARE CLOSE. WE ARE CLOSE, NOT DONE YET. MY HOPE IS BY NEXT MONDAY, WE WILL HAVE A CEASE-FIRE. >> ORGANIZERS SAY THE UNCOMMITTED CAMPAIGNS GOAL IS 10,000 VOTES TODAY, BUT THAT NUMBER WOULD ACTUALLY BE SMALLER THAN WHAT IS CONSIDERED A TYPICAL UNCOMMITTED TURNOUT IN THE STATES DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY. CHECK THIS OUT, MICHIGAN'S LAST DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES ALL SAW ABOUT 20,000 UNCOMMITTED BALLOTS IN EACH CYCLE, EVEN WHEN IT WAS NOT AN ORGANIZED CAMPAIGN PUSHING PEOPLE TO VOTE THAT WAY. PRESIDENT BIDEN WON MICHIGAN IN NOVEMBER 2020, BY THE WAY, BY MORE THAN 100,000 VOTES. STILL, TODAY COULD REALLY HIGHLIGHT WHAT IS A POLITICAL LIABILITY FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN AT THE MOMENT THAT OTHER VULNERABILITIES ARE ALSO ON DISPLAY, THAT INCLUDES HIS HANDLING OF THE CRISIS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER WITH MEXICO. AN ISSUE THAT DONALD TRUMP CLEARLY WANTS TO TRY TO MAKE CENTRAL TO HIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. A NEW MONMOUTH POLE AS 61% OF ADULTS CALLING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. THAT INCLUDES 41% OF DEMOCRATS AND 58% OF INDEPENDENTS. PRESIDENT BIDEN IS SCHEDULED TO HEAD TO THE BORDER ON THURSDAY WHERE HE IS CERTAIN TO PUT ASIDE HOUSE REPUBLICAN EFFORTS TO TRY TO BLOCK A BIPARTISAN BORDER SECURITY AND FOREIGN AID BILL. THE 81-YEAR-OLD PRESIDENT IS ALSO CONTINUALLY FIGHTING CONCERNS OVER HIS AGE, AND HERE IS HOW HE TRIED TO BRUSH ASIDE THOSE CONCERNS YESTERDAY AT A LATE-NIGHT APPEARANCE. >> YOU ARE CURRENTLY 81 YEARS OLD. >> WHO TOLD YOU THAT? >> HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT CONCERN GOING FORWARD, AS YOU COME UP TO THE 2024 ELECTION? >> A COUPLE THINGS. NUMBER ONE, THE OTHER GUY IS ABOUT HOW OLD I AM. THIS IS A GUY WHO WANTS TO TAKE US BACK ON ROE V. WADE, A WHOLE RANGE OF ISSUES, AND I REALLY THINK HIS VIEWS ON WHERE TO TAKE AMERICA ARE OLDER THAN -- ANYWAY -- >> PART OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S CONVERSATION JUST YESTERDAY WITH SETH MEYERS ON NBC. MIKE IS ON THE GROUND IN DEARBORN, MICHIGAN, THE HEART OF THAT STATES ARAB-AMERICAN POPULATION. MICHAEL, IT IS A VOTING DAY ON BOTH SIDES BUT UNCOMMITTED ORGANIZERS APPEAR TO MANAGE THE EXPECTATIONS WITH THE 10,000 VOTE TARGET. HOW LIKELY, BASED ON YOUR REPORTING THERE, IS IT A HIT THAT TOTAL? WHAT ARE THOSE ON THE GROUND TELLING YOU? X PETER, SIMPLY ON THE HISTORICAL TRACK RECORD, IT IS LIKELY THE UNCOMMITTED VOTE WHAT WILL BE MORE THAN THOSE. THEY'RE CAREFULLY MANAGED EXPECTATION OF 10,000. THIS IS SUCH AN UNUSUAL PRIMARIES SO FAR. THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY, PRESIDENT BIDEN WASN'T EVEN ON THE BALLOT, 90% OF THE VOTE. AND IN NEVADA. NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHERE THIS IS GOING TO END UP HERE IN MICHIGAN. PART OF THAT IS ALSO BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME MICHIGAN IS VOTING IN THIS EARLIER WINDOW. IT IS NOTABLE THAT THIS WAS MICHIGAN'S MOVE INTO THE EARLY WINDOW, WAS MEANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE STRAKES OF PRESIDENT BIDEN WITH BLACK VOTERS AND UNION MEMBERS. INSTEAD, IT HAS JUST PUT A REAL SPOTLIGHT ON HIS HANDLING OF FOREIGN POLICY, A CONCERN MANY DEMOCRATS HAVE OVER HIS SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL AND A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS THAT WE ARE SEEING IN GAZA, THAT HAS BEEN FRONT AND CENTER WITH SOME OF THE VOTERS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO TODAY, TAKE A LISTEN. >> WHAT MADE US COME OUT AND VOTE TODAY, I THINK, IS THE DESIRE FOR PEACE. THE DESIRE TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION FOR A CEASE-FIRE. >> NEED TO BE SHIFTED. [ INDISCERNIBLE ] CHILDREN HAVE PASSED AWAY, MURDER IN THIS CASE. INNOCENTLY. THAT SHOULDN'T BE THE RESULT. [ INDISCERNIBLE ] HIS DECISION SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR. >> SO, PETER, WE ARE STARTING TO GET THAT RUSH-HOUR SURGE OF THE VOTING HERE WHERE WE ARE IN DEARBORN. IT IS INTERESTING, MICHIGAN DOES HAVE SOME NEW LAWS MAKING IT EASIER TO VOTE EARLIER IN ABSENTEE, AND THE MICHIGAN SECRETARY OF STATE SAID BEFORE POLLS EVEN OPENED TODAY, 1 MILLION BALLOTS HAD BEEN CAST IN BOTH PRIMARIES, AND NOTABLY, SHE SAID THERE HAD BEEN STRONG TURNOUT IN ANN ARBOR. YOU KNOW MICHIGAN, YOU KNOW THAT GEOGRAPHY OF ANN ARBOR, THAT IS A COLLEGE TOWN, AND THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT ACTIVISM AMONG YOUNG VOTERS IN PARTICULAR ABOUT GAZA. IMPORTANT TURNOUT. >> YOU AND I HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS ALL DAY PRIVATELY, BUT NOW THAT WE ARE ON CAMERA TOGETHER HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE HEARING. HOW SERIOUSLY THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN IS TAKING THIS PROTEST. IS THERE A LEVEL OF CONCERN THAT THIS REALLY HAS IMPLICATIONS THAT GO WELL BEYOND THE PRIMARY? >> OF COURSE, THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE MORE FUN OFF CAMERA, BUT FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONVERSATION WITH A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WATCHING, LISTEN, THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN IS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE SEEING TODAY, THEY ARE ALSO DOWNPLAYING IT. THEY SAY, WE ARE HEARING THESE VOTERS. BUT THERE HAVE BEEN EFFORTS ON THE PART OF THE CAMPAIGN TO SEND TOP OFFICIALS, MAYBE NOT THE PRESIDENT, HE HAS ONLY COME HERE ONCE, BUT OTHERS TO HEAR THE CONCERNS. IT WAS INTERESTING TALKING TO THE MICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRWOMAN TODAY, SHE SAID OU CAN TELL THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN LISTENING TO THESE CONCERNS BECAUSE OF THE COMMENT HE MADE YESTERDAY, ICE CREAM CONE IN HAND, TALKING ABOUT A CEASE- FIRE BEING LIKELY. THEY ALSO HAVE DRAWN A DISTINCTION BETWEEN A PRESSURE CAMPAIGN NOW TO TRY TO INFLUENCE THE PRESIDENTS FOREIGN POLICY AND WHAT THESE VOTERS WILL DO IN NOVEMBER. THEY SAY THOSE VOTERS WILL BE BEHIND THE PRESIDENT WHEN IT COUNTS IN NOVEMBER. A BIG QUESTION, THOUGH, WE WILL SEE. >> MIKE, STAY SAFE ON THE TRAIL, WE WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT LATER, MY FRIEND. JOINING US NOW IS MICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE, THE MAJORITY LEADER IN THE MICHIGAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, BACKING THE UNCOMMITTED CAMPAIGN IN THE STATE. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR BEING WITH US. I WANT TO ASK YOU OUT OF THE GATE, LAST WEEK, ORGANIZERS WERE SHOOTING FOR ABOUT 20,000 UNCOMMITTED VOTES. TODAY, WE ARE HEARING 10,000. THE GOAL FOR THE UNCOMMITTED CAMPAIGN. WHAT WOULD YOU VIEW AS SUCCESS? >> I THINK SUCCESS WOULD BE RECORD TURNOUT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONCERNS OF THE DEMOCRATIC COALITION, AND MULTIRACIAL, MULTI-RELIGION COALITION. WE BELIEVE THE UNITED STATES SHOULD NOT BE FUNDING WAR. THE UNITED STATES SHOULD NOT BE BACKING ANY INITIATIVE THAT IS KILLING ANY INNOCENT MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD, AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT HAPPEN OVER THE LAST 140 DAYS. TONIGHT, WE ARE EXPECTING TO HAVE A VERY STRONG SHOWING AND WE WILL SEE THAT ONCE THE POLLS CLOSE. WE SAW A RECORD TURNOUT [ INDISCERNIBLE ] AND WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THAT. >> JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT, RECORD TURNOUT FOR? RECORD TURNOUT OVERALL, FOR THE UNCOMMITTED NUMBER? THE 10,000 GOAL THAT WAS SET WAS OBVIOUSLY WELL BELOW THE NUMBER IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST. JUST TO BE CLEAR, FOR WHOM ARE YOU LOOKING TO SEE A RECORD AND WHAT DOES THAT RECORD NEED TO BE? >> WE WANT TO SEE PEOPLE TURN OUT AND VOTE. I THINK THAT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL. >> NOT FOR THE UNCOMMITTED? >> [ INDISCERNIBLE ] LOVE, AS SOMEBODY [ INDISCERNIBLE ] I WILL SAY, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A NUMBER OF FOLKS VOTING UNCOMMITTED [ INDISCERNIBLE ] >> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT WHAT GOVERNOR WHITMER TOLD US ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S HANDLING OF THE CONFLICT JUST YESTERDAY, I WILL PLAY THAT FOR OUR AUDIENCE. >> I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE PRESIDENT, I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOUT IT, AND I KEEP VERY CLOSE TO OUR ARAB- AMERICAN COMMUNITY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT FEELINGS AND STRONG ONES. AND PAIN THAT PEOPLE ARE FEELING. AND I ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO IS WORKING 24/7 TO TRY TO BRING CALM TO THE REGION AND PEACE TO THE REGION. HE IS, I THINK, WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD TO RESOLVE WHAT IS HAPPENING. >> HE IS WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD TO RESOLVE WHAT IS HAPPENING. DO YOU ACCEPT THAT ASSESSMENT? >> HE CERTAINLY HAS NOT DONE ENOUGH. WHEN HE SEES 30,000 DEAD INNOCENT MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN IN GAZA. AND YOU SAW THAT THE PRESIDENT, FOR THE LARGE PART OF THIS WAR, DID NOT SPEAK OUT FORCEFULLY AGAINST THE DEHUMANIZATION OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. IT IS ONLY NOW THAT WE ARE SEEING A SHIFT IN THE MESSAGING, AND THAT IS LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE ORGANIZING EFFORTS WE HAVE DONE HERE IN MICHIGAN AND THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE HAD WITH THE WHITE HOUSE. >> TO BE CLEAR, DO YOU THINK HE IS RESPONDING TO YOUR CONCERNS? [ INDISCERNIBLE ] DURING THEIR VISIT? >> MORE THAN HAVING MEETINGS, BUT WE NEED TO SEE -- THE WHITE HOUSE MUST ACT ON THIS ISSUE, WE HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR. A PERMANENT CEASE-FIRE ENDING THE FUNDING OF THESE BOMBS THAT ARE KILLING INNOCENT MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, AND RESTORING MANAGER IN AID TO THE PEOPLE IN GAZA. THAT HAS BEEN OUR MISSION FROM THE START, WE WILL KEEP PUSHING FOR THAT. WE HAVE YET TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. >> YESTERDAY, THE PRESIDENT SAID HE IS HOPEFUL THERE COULD BE A CEASE-FIRE, HE WAS SPECIFIC, HE SAID BY MONDAY. IF THERE IS A CEASE-FIRE OR IF THIS WAR ENDS BEFORE NOVEMBER, DO YOU BELIEVE UNCOMMITTED VOTERS IN MICHIGAN WILL BE WILLING TO VOTE FOR THE PRESIDENT, OR IS THAT RELATIONSHIP, IN YOUR VIEW, IRREPARABLY DAMAGE? >> YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT AS TRANSACTIONAL AS MANY PEOPLE WANTED IT TO LOOK LIKE. IT IS NOT IF YOU HAVE A CEASE- FIRE, YOU STOP THE KILLING. WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS THE PRESIDENT HAS NOT LISTENED TO THE CALL OF THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS. 70+ PERCENT OF DEMOCRATS, 50+ PERCENT OF AMERICANS WHO HAVE SAID WE DO NOT WANT THE UNITED STATES TO FIND ANYMORE THAT IS GOING INNOCENT MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN. SO, WE ARE PUSHING BACK ON THAT. WE ARE HOPING THE PRESIDENT WILL HEED THE CAUSE OF HIS CONSTITUENCY. THAT IS THE MOST DEMOCRATIC THING TO DO. WE ARE USING THE SELECTION TODAY TO SEND THAT MESSAGE, SO THAT COME NOVEMBER, THERE IS NOT A CONVERSATION AROUND ARE THERE STILL PEOPLE IN PALESTINE UNDERGOING A GENOCIDAL CAMPAIGN BY BENJAMIN NETANYAHU. >> SO, TO BE CLEAR, THE PRESIDENT RIGHT NOW SAYS ISRAEL HAS GONE OVER THE TOP IN ITS ACTIONS THERE, HE HAS BEEN TRYING TO PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THEM, OBVIOUSLY THAT IS NOT SUFFICIENT WITHOUT A CEASE-FIRE FOR YOU. BUT JUST TO BE CLEAR, WHAT SPECIFICALLY DO YOU NEED TO SEE TO FEEL SATISFIED THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE DIRECTION OF NOT JUST WHAT ARAB AND MUSLIM AMERICANS SAY, BUT NUMBER OF AMERICANS ARE SAYING RIGHT NOW QUESTION >> WE HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR, RESTORING MANAGER AND EIGHT, ENDING THE UNCONDITIONAL FUNDING TO ISRAEL AND BENJAMIN NETANYAHU'S RADICAL REGIME, AND A PERMANENT CEASE-FIRE TO USHER IN PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD AND SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR ALL WHO LIVE IN THE REGION. IT IS NOT COMPLICATED. WE ARE ASKING THE UNITED STATES TO LEAD WITH MORAL CLARITY AND TO STOP FUNDING ANY INITIATIVE THAT IS KILLING INNOCENT MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, WHICH WE HAVE SEEN 30,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE NOW SUFFERED THROUGH. AND UNFORTUNATELY, EVERY HOUR THAT GOES THERE, MORE PALESTINIANS DIED AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THE U.S. IS FINDING THAT. >> YOU TOLD POLITICO RECENTLY, IT IS INSULTING WHEN PEOPLE TELL ARAB AND MUSLIM COMMUNITIES THAT IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT BIDEN, YOU ARE EFFECTIVELY SUPPORTING FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. IF THAT IS THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER, ISN'T THAT SORT OF THE WAY ULTIMATELY THAT IT WOULD BE WORKING? IF YOU ARE NOT SUPPORTING BIDEN, YOU WOULD BE SUPPORTING THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN? >> TODAY, WE ARE SUPPORTING AN UNCOMMITTED EFFORT TO ALLOW THE PRESIDENT TO CHANGE COURSE ON THIS ISSUE. LOVE, MY UNCLE WAS KILLED IN AN AIR STRIKE THREE DAYS BEFORE THE TRAVEL BAN. IF ANYBODY KNOWS THE PERSONAL PAIN OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S POLICIES, IT IS PEOPLE LIKE ME, PEOPLE LIKE MY COMMUNITY. WE RECOGNIZE THE DANGER OF DONALD TRUMP, I KNOW HE IS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY. THE QUESTION HAS TO BE ASKED TO THE CANDIDATES, NOT TO THE VOTERS, WHAT IS PRESIDENT BIDEN WILLING TO DO TO PROTECT AND SAVE DEMOCRACY? IS HE GOING TO LISTEN TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE OR WILL HE CONTINUE TO BE A PACIFIST AND ALLOWING BENJAMIN NETANYAHU TO DICTATE WHATEVER RETURNS HE WANTS, THAT RESULTS AND KILLING 30,000 PEOPLE. THE QUESTION IS FOR THE PRESIDENT. WE STAND WITH DEMOCRACY AND NOT GENOCIDE. >> SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU, MICHIGAN REPRESENTATIVE, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOU SPENDING YOUR TIME TO SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVE. IT IS TRUMP VERSUS HALEY IN MICHIGAN, REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTE TODAY. DELEGATES ARE ON THE LINE THANKS TO SOME, CANDID AND CONFUSING ROLES IN THIS CONTEST, AS WELL AS SOME INTERNAL REPUBLICAN CHAOS. NBC'S JACK BREWSTER IS ON THE GROUND IN GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. WITH WHAT AND WHERE HE IS WATCHING TONIGHT. FIRST, MICHIGAN IS ALSO SAID TO BE THE LAST PRIMARY FOR SUPER TUESDAY, WHICH TRUMPS ARRIVAL NIKKI HALEY IS PUTTING HER HOPES ON. WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM VOTERS THERE AND WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR? >> WELL, THEY ARE COMING OUT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS HERE. I WILL TELL YOU, SOME PEOPLE SAY THIS IS A RAW POLITICAL CALCULATION. SOME FOLKS HAVE AID THEY ARE SUPPORTING NIKKI HALEY, TOLD ME THEY ARE ONLY DOING SO AS A METHOD AND MEANS TO STOP DONALD TRUMP. I HAVE HEARD FROM SUPPORTERS COME OUT AND SAY THIS IS ABOUT THE ISSUES FOR THEM. THEY LIKED WHAT THEY SAW UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S LEADERSHIP AND THEY WANT HIM BACK IN THE WHITE HOUSE. AND I HEARD FROM FOLKS WHO ARE SUPPORTING PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN. THEY POINT TO THE ECONOMY, THE OVER PERFORMING ECONOMY, THEY SAY THEY WANT MORE OF THAT LEADERSHIP AND THEY THINK HE IS THE ONLY OPTION TO FIGHT THIS BATTLE AGAINST TRUMP. I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME SOUND FROM SOME OF THE VOTERS THAT I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO, LET'S TRY TO PLAY SOME OF THAT NOW. >> BEEN TRADITIONALLY A REPUBLICAN, BUT THE LAST YEAR HAD ME LEANING MORE TOWARDS DEMOCRAT. >> WHY DIDN'T YOU VOTE FOR BIDEN THIS TIME? >> I FEEL IT IS MORE IMPORTANT AT THIS POINT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, I AM ALMOST EMBARRASSED WITH SOMETIMES. >> YOU SAY THAT AS A REPUBLICAN. >> EXACTLY, I AM A MODERATE REPUBLICAN, THE PARTY IS LEAVING ME. >> AND THIS IS A UNIQUE PART OF THE STATE. WE ARE IN KENT COUNTY, A SWING COUNTY AS OF LATE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE RECENT CYCLES. IT IS A PLACE NIKKI HALEY IS HOPING TO HAVE A STRONGER PERFORMANCE THAN WHAT YOU WOULD SEE STATEWIDE. AT LEAST ACCORDING TO SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT I TALKED TO, YOU DO HAVE SOME PEOPLE COMING OUT BECAUSE OF HER ATTENTION IN THIS AREA. ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, THERE IS ALSO A PRIMARY, BUT THE DELEGATE ALLOTMENT WORKS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THERE, WALK US THROUGH HOW THE GOP HANDLES IN MICHIGAN. >> I THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO CONFUSE ALL OF US, PETER POINT IF YOU LOOK AT THE DELEGATES, YOU KNOW THAT 55 DELEGATES ARE UP FOR GRABS IN THIS PRIMARY, BUT ONLY 16 OF THOSE DELEGATES WILL BE ALLOCATED BASED ON THE RESULTS OF WHAT YOU SEE AT THE POLLS TONIGHT. THE REST, THE 39 REMAINING DELEGATES WILL BE ALLOCATED AT STATE CONVENTIONS, PLURAL, THAT WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY. BOTH IN GRAND RAPIDS AND DETROIT. WHY ARE THERE MULTIPLE CONVENTIONS? THERE ARE CURRENTLY DUELING OR RIVAL OR COMPETING LEADERS OF THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY. YOU HAVE THE FORMER LEADER WHO STILL HAS CONTROL OF THE EMAIL LIST AND WEBSITE. SHE IS HAVING A CONVENTION IN DETROIT. AND YOU HAVE THE TRUMP BACK TO LEADER, A FORMER REPRESENTATIVE, HAVING THE CONVENTION IN GRAND RAPIDS. IT IS VERY CONFUSING, VERY COMPLICATED, BUT BY THE END, WE WILL KNOW HOW THIS ALL SHAKES OUT. EQUALLY CONFUSING, IT IS 71 DEGREES AND LATE EVERY IN GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. WE WILL SAVE THAT CONVERSATION FOR ANOTHER TIME. IT IS MUCH BETTER THAN MY EXPERIENCES COVERING THE CAMPAIGN THIS TIME OF YEAR THERE. HAVE FUN. WE WANT TO TURN NOW TO STEVE. HE IS AT THE BIG BOARD. STEVE, WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING IN TONIGHT'S RESULTS? >> OKAY, A COUPLE BIG STORY LINES HERE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, WHERE TO WATCH. TONIGHT, I WILL START ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE HERE, BECAUSE THE QUESTION IS, IS DONALD TRUMP CLEARLY HAD A BIG ADVANTAGE? HOW WELL CAN NIKKI HALEY DO HERE? COULD SHE HIT THAT 40% NUMBER SHE GOT IN SOUTH ATLANTA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE? IF SHE DOES SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHERE TO LOOK FOR IT MOST IS RIGHT IN THIS AREA, KENT COUNTY WHERE GRAND RAPIDS IS. THAT'S WHERE HOLLAND IS. AND THERE IS A REGION HERE THAT COMBINED MAKES UP ABOUT 17% OF ALL THE REPUBLICAN VOTES, THAT IS ABOUT ONE OUT OF EVERY SIX. WHAT MAKES THIS REGION SO UNIQUE TO WATCH, TO SEE HOW HALEY IS DOING, THIS IS THE MOST TRUMP RESISTANT PORTION OF THE STATE IN THE 2015 REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY. IT IS A TRADITIONALLY REPUBLICAN AND CONSERVATIVE AREA, BUT IN 2016, WHEN TRUMP WAS RUNNING THE IRST TIME, HE GOT 37% OF THE VOTE IN THE MICHIGAN PRIMARY. NOT SO IN KENT COUNTY. IN KENT COUNTY IN 2015, HE GOT 23%. NEXT DOOR, 19%. ABOUT ALMOST HALF OF WHAT YOU GOT STATEWIDE. THIS WHOLE AREA HERE WAS A HUGE WEEK SOURCE FOR DONALD TRUMP IN 2016. IS IT AGAIN TONIGHT? IS IT A SOURCE OF STRENGTH FOR HALEY? IN TERMS OF THE DEMOCRATIC RACE HERE, CALL THAT UP ON THE SCREEN. GO BACK TO STATEWIDE HERE. THE STORY LINE HERE IS BIDEN. THIS IS WHAT WORRIES THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN, UNCOMMITTED ACTIVISTS WHO OPPOSED BIDEN'S POLICY ON ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR ARE ENCOURAGING DEMOCRATS TO VOTE UNCOMMITTED AS A PROTEST TO JOE BIDEN. IF IT IS GETTING ANY TRACTION TONIGHT, WE CAN LOOK IN TWO BIG CASES FOR IT. WAYNE COUNTY. AND THE CITY OF DEARBORN, MICHIGAN. WITH OVER 100,000 RESIDENTS, IT IS MAJORITY ARAB-AMERICAN, HAS THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF MUSLIM AMERICANS PER CAPITA OF ANY CITY IN THE COUNTRY. SO, TAKE A LOOK AT WAYNE COUNTY, AND IN PARTICULAR DEARBORN TO SEE THE UNCOMMITTED. ALSO, NEXT DOOR, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY, WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF ACTIVATION ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AGAINST JOE BIDEN'S POLICY ON ISRAEL AND HAMAS. WE HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN POLLING THAT SHOWS YOUNGER, COLLEGE-AGE VOTERS, ARE MOST OPPOSED TO THAT POLICY. LOOK IN THIS COUNTY TO SEE IF THAT SEGMENT OF VOTERS IS ACTUALLY TURNING OUT AND CHECKING OFF THE UNCOMMITTED OPTION HERE. IF YOU ARE NOT SEEING IT IN THOSE TWO PLACES, YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT SEEING IT ANYWHERE. STEVE, THANK YOU SO MUCH. COMING UP NEXT YEAR, AN OVAL OFFICE SIT DOWN WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN'S MEETING WITH MIKE JOHNSON. AS WASHINGTON TRIES TO AVERT A PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN THAT COULD HAPPEN AS EARLY AS THE END OF THIS >>> WELCOME BACK, PRESIDENT BIDEN HOSTED THE TOP FOUR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS AT THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY AS LAWMAKERS SCRAMBLE TO TRY TO AVERT A PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BY THE END OF THIS WEEK. RIGHT NOW, THE PRESIDENT TELLING THOSE LAWMAKERS AT THE WHITE HOUSE IT'S CONGRESS'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FUND THE GOVERNMENT, WARNING THAT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN WOULD DAMAGE THE ECONOMY SIGNIFICANTLY. FOLLOWING THEIR MEETING, THERE WAS CAUTIOUS BIPARTISAN OPTIMISM FROM BOTH SPEAKER JOHNSON AND THE LEADER THAT THE SHUTDOWN COULD BE AVOIDED. JOHNSON ALSO TOLD REPORTERS HE ENGAGED IN A SEPARATE ONE-ON ONE MEETING BRIEFLY WITH THE PRESIDENT IN THE OVAL OFFICE. ROLLING OVER ALL OF THIS IS THE PRESIDENT'S EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST FOR FOREIGN AID THAT HAS BEEN STALLED IN CONGRESS FOR MONTHS AND IT REMAINS A MAJOR POINT OF CONTENTION ON CAPITOL HILL. >> THE MEETING ON UKRAINE WAS ONE OF THE MOST INTENSE I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED IN MY MANY MEETINGS IN THE OVAL OFFICE. I SAID IT HAS BEEN AROUND HERE A LONG TIME, MAYBE FOUR OR FIVE TIMES THAT HISTORY IS LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER AND IF YOU DON'T DO THE RIGHT THING, WHATEVER THE IMMEDIATE POLITICS ARE, YOU WILL REGRET IT. >> THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE SUPPLEMENTAL SPENDING PACKAGE AND I WAS VERY CLEAR WITH THE PRESIDENT AND ALL THOSE IN THE ROOM THAT THE HOUSE IS ACTIVELY PURSUING AND INVESTIGATING ALL THE VARIOUS OPTIONS ON THAT, AND WE WILL ADDRESS THAT IN A TIMELY MANNER. BUT AGAIN, THE FIRST PRIORITY OF THE COUNTRY IS OUR BORDER AND MAKING SURE IT IS SECURE. THAT'S JOINING ME NOW IS [ INDISCERNIBLE ] WALK US THROUGH THIS. I WAS THERE, LISTENING TO REMARKS FROM BOTH A DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN LEADERS THERE. DID THIS MEETING, FROM YOUR REPORTING AT THE WHITE HOUSE MOVE THE BALL ON GOVERNMENT FUNDING? WHAT ARE THE KEY STICKING POINTS THAT NEED TO BE SORTED OUT ON THAT AS WE REACH THIS WEEK'S DEADLINE? >> MOVES THE BALL A LITTLE BIT, PETER. THE VIBES WERE POSITIVE COMING OUT OF THIS WHITE HOUSE MEETING, EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE IN AGREEMENT THAT THEY ARE MOVING TOWARDS THE RESOLUTION HERE. MIKE JOHNSON TALKED ABOUT HOW THEY ARE WORKING IN GOOD FAITH TO RESOLVE IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, LITERALLY WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK. SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER FLOATED THE POSSIBILITY THAT YET ANOTHER STOPGAP MAY BE NECESSARY TO PREVENT THE SHUTDOWN ON FRIDAY. [ INDISCERNIBLE ] SAYING SIMPLY THAT THEY ARE GETTING CLOSER, GETTING CLOSER. HE FEELS THEY CAN GET THIS DONE. THE BIGGEST STICKING POINT, PETER, IS THE POLICY I DON'T [ INDISCERNIBLE ] LARGELY SETTLED THE TOPLINE AMOUNT IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SPEND DUE TO A HOLDUP IN PRIOR GOVERNMENT FUNDING BILLS, THAT HAS BEEN RESOLVED. THE HOLDUP NOW HAS BEEN LARGELY HOUSE REPUBLICAN DEMANDS FOR CONSERVATIVE POLICY MEASURES. AND OF COURSE, DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE AND PRESIDENT BIDEN ARE NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT A LOT OF THE DEMANDS THAT HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE PUTTING FORWARD. SO, WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US? THERE ARE JUST A LITTLE OVER 72 HOURS UNTIL THE FRIDAY NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT DEADLINE. THAT DOESN'T LEAVE MUCH TIME TO GET THIS DONE IN TIME. EVEN IF THEY WERE TO RELEASE -- CLOSE THE DEAL AND RELEASE THE BILL TONIGHT, THEY WOULD HAVE TO MOVE VERY, VERY QUICKLY AND HOPE THE SENATE GETS IT DONE. THAT IS PROBABLY THE SINGLE BIGGEST OBSTACLE TO AVERTING A SHUTDOWN IN TIME. THEY WOULD HAVE TO NOT ONLY STRIKE THE DEAL, BUT ALSO PASS IT THROUGH BOTH CHAMBERS. OF COURSE, THIS IS JUST PART OF THE GOVERNMENT, PETER. THIS IS A MARCH 1st DEADLINE FOR CERTAIN AGENCIES LIKE VETERANS AFFAIRS. THE MARCH 8th DEADLINE FOR OTHER PARTS OF THE GOVERNMENT LIKE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THAT WILL BE EVEN TOUGHER THAN THIS PROTECTS THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, WE GET TO DO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN. I WANT TO ASK YOU, SUPPLEMENTAL, THAT IS THE MONEY FOR UKRAINE, FOR THE END OF PACIFIC, SPECIFICALLY TAIWAN, FOR ISRAEL, ALSO DISCUSSED IN THIS MEETING AT THE WHITE HOUSE. I WAS LISTENING TO THIS AND IT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE SPEAKER JOHNSON WAS ANY CLOSER TO PUTTING THIS ON THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE. HE WAS STILL FOCUSED VERY HEAVILY ON TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING FOR THE BORDER BEFORE HE WOULD EVEN CONSIDER THAT, NO? BUT THAT IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, PETER, STILL VERY MUCH UP IN THE AIR. SPEAKER JOHNSON IS STILL NOT MAKING ANY COMMITMENTS. FOREIGN AID PACKAGES, INCLUDING UKRAINE FUNDING, WELCOME TO THE FLOOR. IN PART BECAUSE GOVERNMENT FUNDING IS A PRIORITY. HE IS FACING THREATS TO HIS JOB, FROM HIS SPEAKERSHIP FROM THE HARD RIGHT REBELS IF HE WERE TO ALLOW THIS TO PASS. THIS HAS BEEN A RALLYING CRY IN THE MAD WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. THIS IS CLEARLY THE MOST TENSE PART OF THAT WHITE HOUSE MEETING, BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM, INCLUDING PRESIDENT BIDEN, INCLUDING ALL THE LEADERS ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, AND MIKE JOHNSON WERE IN FAVOR OF UKRAINE EIGHT. MIKE JOHNSON HAS NOT MADE ANY COMMITMENT. [ INDISCERNIBLE ] HE WILL REGRET IT FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. >> LAWMAKERS RIGHT NOW JUST WANT TO ALLOW FOR A VOTE AND SEE HOW MANY DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WOULD JOIN. THEY FEEL VERY STRONGLY THEY WOULD HAVE ENOUGH VOTES TO HAPPEN, BUT MIKE JOHNSON HAS TO ALLOW THAT HAPPEN, BUT RIGHT NOW HE'S NOT GOING TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN. AFTER THE BREAK, WE ARE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AS NIKKI HALEY PUSHES TO STAY IN THE RACE AS >> WELCOME BACK, VOTERS ARE VOTING. TODAY IN MICHIGAN. NIKKI HALEY'S CAMPAIGN IS ALREADY LOOKING PAST THIS BUT A WEEK FROM NOW, SUPER TUESDAY. IN COLORADO, ONE OF MORE THAN A DOZEN STATES HOLDING CONTESTS A WEEK FROM TODAY. A POOR SHOWING FOR HALEY REALLY COULD MEAN THE END OF HER CAMPAIGN. TRAVELING WITH THE HALEY CAMPAIGN, HAS THE VERY LATEST FROM CENTENNIAL, COLORADO. ALLIE? >> HEY, PETER, FROM COLORADO, WHERE NIKKHALEY IS CONTINUING HER SPRINT THROUGH THE SUPER TUESDAY FINISH HERE. SHE HELD TWO EVENTS IN MICHIGAN, DEPARTING THAT STATE JUST AS VOTERS WERE OFFICIALLY HEADING TO THE POLLS. ON THE MICHIGAN FRONT, IT IS ONE OF THE STATES THAT THE HALEY CAMPAIGN OFTEN LOOKS AT AND SAYS THIS IS ONE OF THE STATES. I HAVE MET DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, AND INDEPENDENTS WHO ARE NO FAN OF TRUMP, SHOWING UP AT THE HALEY EVENTS IN DETROIT AND GRAND RAPIDS. THOSE ARE EXACTLY THE KIND OF VOTERS THAT I AM ALSO MEETING HERE IN OUTSKIRTS OF DENVER AS HALEY AGAIN MAKES THAT SIMILAR PITCH, THE IDEA THAT SHE IS THE MORE ELECTABLE CANDIDATE IN A GENERAL ELECTION AGAINST PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN. AS WE HAVE SAID BEFORE AND WE WILL NEED TO SAY AGAIN, YOU DON'T GET TO GENERAL WITHOUT FIRST GETTING TO THE PRIMARY. FOR HALEY, THE REALITY OF THAT BECOMES SLIMMER AND SLIMMER BY THE DAY. THE REPUBLICAN APPARATUS REALLY READY TO MOVE ON AND PUT THEMSELVES OUT OF THE PRIMARY ELECTION POSTURE AND INTO A GENERAL ELECTION POSITIONING WITH TRUMP AS THE NOMINEE, BUT I HAVE GOT TO TELL YOU, VOTERS I HAVE SPOKEN TO IN MICHIGAN AND COLORADO SAY THEY WANT TO SEE NIKKI HALEY CONTINUED TO STICK IT OUT AND FIGHT. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HALEY WANTS TO HEAR AS SHE SAYS SHE IS GOING TO BE GETTING VOTERS AN ALTERNATIVE ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CALENDAR, AT LEAST THROUGH SUPER TUESDAY. >> A JOINING US NOW, OUR PANEL, EUGENE DANIELS, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT. WE ALSO BROUGHT EUGENE ROBINSON AT THE WASHINGTON POST. ALSO, NBC NEWS POLITICAL ANALYST ERIC CHAMBERLAIN IS WITH US AS WELL. I HOPE YOUR MIDDLE NAME IS NOT NEW GM. OUR FRIEND EUGENE SCOTT. LET ME START WITH YOU, HALEY IS ARGUING RIGHT NOW 40% OF THE VOTES SHE GOT, THAT IS A BIG ISSUE THAT DONALD TRUMP SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT RIGHT NOW. THE FACT HE IS THE INCUMBENT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, HOW CONCERNED SHOULD THE TRUMP FOLKS BE ABOUT THAT, DOES SHE HAVE A POINT THERE? >> THEY SHOULD BE VERY CONCERNED. MAINSTREAM REPUBLICANS, THAT IS THE GROUP HE IS LOSING. SUBURBAN, WELL-EDUCATED PEOPLE. I THINK THEY COULD COME BACK AROUND. HE CERTAINLY LIKED HIS POLICIES. THE ISSUE THEY HAVE WITH HIM IS HIS PERSONALITY AND SOME OF THE THINGS HE SAYS. >> I WANT TO GET YOUR TAKE ON THAT AS WELL, THE 40% FIGURE FEELS LIKE A LOT. BIDEN IN SOUTH CAROLINA GOT 95, 100% THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF HALEY VOTERS SAY THEY WILL NOT VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP. SOMETHING LIKE 25% OF REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS ARE SAYING THEY WON'T VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP. NOW, I EXPECT A LOT OF THOSE REPUBLICANS TO COME HOME. BUT WHAT IF JUST HALF OF THEM COME HOME? >> [ INDISCERNIBLE ] >> 10, 12% IN THE REPUBLICAN VOTE. THAT IS A PROBLEM. SO, >> SO, LET ME GET YOUR TAKE ON THIS, EUGENE. THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, JOE BIDEN RIGHT NOW IS IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, HE SPOKE WITHIN THE HOUR TO THE DEMOCRATIC MICHIGAN LEADER, ABRAHAM. AND HE WAS MAKING THE ARGUMENT THAT THE ARAB AND MUSLIM AMERICAN COMMUNITY IS BASICALLY NEED TO HEAR MORE FROM THIS PRESIDENT. NOT THAT THEIR DECISION IS MADE UP RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY NEED TO SEE MORE ACTION FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES BUT WHAT KIND OF ALARM BELLS ARE SOUNDING AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND AT THE CAMPAIGN IN WILMINGTON, GIVEN THE UNCOMMITTED QUESTION MARK WE ACTUALLY SEE PRETTY DECENT NUMBERS FROM THEM. BUT THEY DON'T SEEM OVERLY CONCERNED. [ INDISCERNIBLE ] IT SHOWS CRACKS IN WHAT COULD BE THE FACE OF THE PARTY COME NOVEMBER. THE SAME PROBLEM THAT TRUMP IS GOING TO HAVE WITH BOTH MAINSTREAM REPUBLICANS, THIS PRESIDENT IS GOING TO HAVE WITH ARAB AMERICAN, MUSLIM AMERICAN VOTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. MICHIGAN IS THE FIRST PLACE WHERE THEY CAN TEST THAT. AND MICHIGAN ALREADY HAS THIS ENERGY OF UNCOMMITTED. I THINK NO MATTER WHAT THE NUMBER IS, THE MESSAGE BEATS JOE BIDEN. THEY ARE PAYING A LOT OF ATTENTION TO MESSAGE THAT. >> THE HALEY FOLKS AND THE UNCOMMITTED FOLKS. BOTH CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT, TRUMP AND BIDEN, LOOK LIKE THEY ARE ERODING VOTES ALL OVER THE PLACE. >> [ LAUGHTER ] >> YEAH, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE BEST PERIOD FOR THESE TWO CANDIDATES RIGHT NOW. ONCE WE GET INTO THE ACTUAL GENERAL ELECTION, ONE ASSUMES THAT DEMOCRATS WILL COME HOME TO BIDEN AND REPUBLICANS WILL TEND TO COME HOME TO TRUMP, AND WE WILL SEE WHO IS LEFT OVER. THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN. JUST IN TERMS OF TONIGHT, IT IS HARD TO HAVE LIKE A BENCHMARK, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS GOING TO BE AN IMPRESSIVE UNCOMMITTED VOTE. BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING TO REALLY -- I WAS LOOKING BACK AT PREVIOUS RESULTS. IN 2012, WHEN OBAMA WAS THE INCUMBENT, THOSE WERE CAUCUSES, NOT A PRIMARY, BUT UNCOMMITTED -- AGAINST A POPULAR INCUMBENT. >> THAT IS THE WRONG OBAMA. >> DON'T BE SURPRISED I WOULD THINK ANYTHING BELOW THAT WOULD BE A HUGE VICTORY. >> AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO THURSDAY THERE IS ALWAYS A BATTLEGROUND, AND OTHER BORDER YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE BIDEN AND TRUMP SHOWING UP TO THE BOARD ON THE SAME DAY. IMMIGRATION IS AN ISSUE THEY THINK THEY HAVE ADVANTAGES ON. DONALD TRUMP THINKS IT IS A NO BRAINER, AN ISSUE FOR HIS CAMPAIGN. THINGS TO MANY UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS COME INTO THE COUNTRY. JOE BIDEN SAYS WE GAVE A LOT OF CONCESSIONS ON A BIPARTISAN BORDER DEAL AND YOU GUYS ARE THE PROBLEM HERE. WHO HAS THE ADVANTAGE? >> I ACTUALLY STILL THINK THE REPUBLICANS DO. YOU GUYS WILL DISAGREE WITH ME, I AM SURE, THEY GAVE US SOME CONSENSUS, BUT NOT ENOUGH. THEY'RE STILL ALLOWING 5000 PEOPLE TO COME OVER EVERY DAY. THEY WERE GOING TO MOVE WHERE YOU HAVE THE TRIALS TO TEXAS. THE MOST LIBERAL COURT IN THE COUNTRY. TO PUT THE IMMIGRANTS THROUGH THERE IS KIND OF A JOKE. >> I THINK REPUBLICANS HAVE THE UPPER HAND HERE, BECAUSE OF THE MESSAGING. THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT TALKED ABOUT OR REALLY WANTED TO WORK ON IMMIGRATION, AS MUCH AS THEY SAY THEY WANTED TO, THEY HAVEN'T DONE MUCH ON IT. BUT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN USED IMMIGRATION AND UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS, AND ONCE YOU HAVE THAT BASE, -- TURNING IT INTO A STRENGTH BY SAYING LOOK, WE GAVE YOU THE BILL. AND, YOU CAN ARGUE ABOUT THE MERITS OF THE BILL AND IF IT IS -- BUT IT IS FURTHER. >> YES. SOME ARE SUPPORTIVE OF IT. >> YES. >> THIS IS NOT A LIBERAL, RIGHT? THIS IS NOT A LIBERAL ON IMMIGRATION. SO, I THINK, I JUST WONDER WHY THEY ARE NOT LEANING SNOW IT MORE. >> THEY NEVER LEAN INTO ANYTHING. >> WELL. >> SORRY. >> WELL, THERE IS THAT. >> THERE IS THAT. >> SHE MAKES A GOOD POINT. MESSAGING IS A REAL THING FOR THE WHITE HOUSE. THE PRESIDENT OR NOT, UNABLE TO FOCUS ON HIS AGE, DELIVERING A CLEAN SOUND BITE. THIS IS WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH. >> THEY TALKED ABOUT IT FOR YEARS. THEY HAVE FAILED TO TELL THEIR STORY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THERE IS ALWAYS A KICK START, WE ARE GOING TO DO IT NOW AND IT NEVER HAPPENS OR IT HAPPENS AND IT IS NOT CONSISTENT. THAT IS WHERE REPUBLICANS ARE BETTER AT MESSAGING BECAUSE WHEN THEY HAVE A MESSAGE THEY STICK WITH IT ACROSS THE ECO SYSTEM. THAT IS NOT SOME THE DEMOCRATS OR THE WHITE HOUSE HAS DONE WELL. >> IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING COUPLE OF DAYS. WE HAVE MORE THAN SIX MONTHS TO GO RIGHT NOW. ISRAEL WAS NOT EVEN A TOPIC SIX MONTHS AGO. >> RIGHT. >> GET READY FOR THE WHOLE CONVERSATION TO TWIST AND TURN AS WE GO FORWARD. THANK GOODNESS YOU WERE HERE TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR ALL OF US TO KEEP TRACK. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS HOUR. WE ARE B
