JIM: THIS WEEK ON A LIVELY EXPERIMENT.

>> I AM HELENA FOULKES AND I'M RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR FOR RHODE ISLAND.

JIM: THE LATEST DEMOCRAT TO ANNOUNCE SHE IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

WHAT AFFECTS WELL THE PROGRESSIVES HAVE IN THIS YEAR'S ELECTION CYCLE?

>> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, A LIVELY EXPERIMENT PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF IMPORTANT POLITICAL ISLANDERS AT FACE RHODE ISLAND'S.

I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS GREAT PROGRAM AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.

JIM: JOINING US WITH HER INSIGHTS, SUE CIENKI, CHAIRMAN OF THE RHODE ISLAND REPUBLICAN PARTY, BILLY HUNT, CHAIRMAN OF THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF RHODE ISLAND, AND FORMER PROVIDENCE MAYOR, JOE PAOLINO.

JIM: HI, EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO LIVELY.

I AM JIM HUMMEL AND IT IS GREAT HAVE YOU WITH US.

THE FIELD IS GETTING CROWDED.

HELENA FOULKES ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY SHE WOULD BE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, CONFIRMING SOMETHING RUMORED FOR MONTHS.

DESPITE HER DEEP RHODE ISLAND ROOTS, SHE HAS VIRTUALLY NO NAME RECOGNITION BUT DOES HAVE A TON OF MONEY.

WILL THAT BE ENOUGH TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE PACK?

LET ME BEGIN BY BEGINNING WITH OUR RESIDENT DEMOCRAT WHO HAS RUN IN A FEW RACES WITH MANY PEOPLE IN IT.

JUST YOUR INITIAL REACTION.

HAD YOU HEARD THE RUMOR SHE WAS GOING ON?

JOE: HER THAT SHE WAS LOOKING AT IT, BUT SHE IS HIGHLY CREDIBLE.

FORGET THE MONEY.

DARTMOUTH, HARVARD, 25 YEARS AT CVS, HEADED UP SAKS FIFTH AVENUE.

SHE IS A HIGHLY CREDIBLE PERSON.

I DON'T KNOW HER THAT WELL OR IF I EVER HAD A LONG CONVERSATION WITH HER EXCEPT TO SAY HELLO BUT I HAVE BEEN AN ADMIRER OF HERS.

SHE IS SUPER SMART AND I THINK SHE WANTS TO RUN FOR THE RIGHT REASONS, TO DO SOMETHING IN RHODE ISLAND.

JIM: WHAT DOES SHE BRING THE OTHER CANDIDATES DO NOT HAVE?

JOE: GOOD BUSINESS SENSE AND HOPEFULLY GOOD COMMON SENSE IN SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS HOW TO BRING PEOPLE IN FROM ALL SECTORS AND BRING THEM TO THE TABLE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT PROBLEMS.

SHE HAD GREAT MARKETING SPILL ASH MARKETING SKILLS AT CBS.

SHE CUT TOBACCO OUT OF 8000 CVS STORES NATIONWIDE.

THAT IS PRETTY GOOD.

SHE WAS INVOLVED IN MAKING THOSE THINGS HAPPEN, SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HER AND GINA RAIMONDO, GINA BECAME GENERAL TREASURER AND PEOPLE KNEW HER.

THEN WHEN SHE RAN FOR GOVERNOR, WITH HELENA, SHE WILL HAVE TO GO ON THE TWO QUICKLY TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE PEOPLE OF RHODE ISLAND.

SUE: GINA RAIMONDO 2.0.

WE KNOW GINA RAIMONDO ENCOURAGED HER TO GET INTO THE RACE AND QUITE A FEW DEMOCRATS CALLED ME UP AND SAID LISTEN, SUE, WHY DON'T YOU TALK TO HELENA FOLKS TO RUN.

SHE WILL NEVER RUN AS A REPUBLICAN BECAUSE SHE HAS THE POLITICAL TIES.

SHE IS THE NIECE OF CHRISTOPHER DODD, JOE BIDEN CAME TO HER MOTHER'S WAKE.

IT WAS A LINE FILLED WITH ESTABLISHMENT DEMOCRATS.

THE ESTABLISHMENT SENDS TWO MESSAGES, WE DON'T LIKE MICKEY, HE IS SCREWING UP, AND I IMAGINE IN SETH MAGAZINE'S HOUSE BECAUSE I THINK HE THOUGHT HE HAD ROMANO'S BACKING.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

I SAY LET'S POP THE POPCORN AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

IT'S BUT THIS IS GINA RAIMONDO 2.0 AND CERTAINLY IS THIS ANOTHER PERSON THAT WILL USE RHODE ISLAND AS A STEPPING KNOWN TO TRY TO GET TO THE U.S. SENATE?

BILLY: I AGREE WITH SUE 100%.

THIS IS SOMETHING TO ADVANCE HER POLITICAL CAREER.

SHE IS LOOKING TO ENTER THE FRAY AND SHE DOES NOT SEEM LIKE THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT WILL START AS A STATE SENATOR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THIS SEEMS LIKE A NATURAL FIT FOR HER TO GO AND JUMP IN AS THE GOVERNOR.

TO JOE'S POINT, I WAS UNINSPIRED BY HER ANNOUNCEMENT VIDEO.

FOR SOMEONE WHO HAD DONE BOLD THINGS LIKE REDUCING THE TOBACCO AND ALL OF THE MARKETING THINGS FOR CVS AND WALGREENS AND EVERYTHING INVOLVED WITH THAT, THIS INAUTHENTICITY ON HER CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT, SHE TOUCHED SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS ON THE CLIMATE CHANGE AND BEING A LEADER IN THE GREEN ECONOMY, TO PLACATE THAT TYPE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BUT WHO SHE IS FOCUSING ON ARE THE ESTABLISHMENT DEMOCRATICS SHE WILL LEAN ON HEAVILY TO GET ELECTED IN THE PRIMARY.

JOE: I DON'T THINK SHE IS LOOKING AT IT AS A STEPPING STONE.

SHE'S A HIGHLY CREDIBLE BUSINESSWOMAN WHO HAS GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS BEHIND HER.

I THINK WE ARE LUCKY TO GET HER IN.

YOU TALKED ABOUT MAGAZINE THAT WEREN'T TOO HAPPY, I DON'T KNOW THE PATH OF VICTORY FOR HER BECAUSE SHE IS A MODERATE.

I WOULD ASSUME MICKEY IS SOMEONE OF A MODERATE AND YOU KNOW, TODAY, THE PERSON THAT BENEFITS THE MOST IS PROBABLY NOT BROWN.

I WILL -- NAT BROWN.

WITH FIVE CANDIDATES IN THE RACE AND A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, YOU COULD WIN WITH 20% OF THE VOTE.

THIS WILL CALL FOR RUNOFFS.

YOU NEED A RUNOFF PRIMARY ELECTION FOR BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

-- JIM: YOU WANT 50%?

JOE: YOU NEED 50%.

WE CAN'T HAVE PEOPLE NOMINATED WITH 25%-20 8% OF THE VOTE TO NO MATTER WHAT POLITICAL PARTY YOU ARE IN.

I THINK THE LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS.

DO WE WANT A NOMINEE OF EITHER PARTY BECOME THE NOMINEE WITH 20% OF THE VOTE?

I DON'T THINK THAT IS RIGHT -- 28% OF THE VOTE?

I DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

IF YOU DON'T GET 50%, LET THE TWO TOP VOTE GETTERS RUN AFTER EACH OTHER IN THE TWO WEEKS AFTER AND THE WINNER WINS.

JIM: WHY STOP AT THE PRIMARY?

WHY NOT DO THEM IN THE GENERAL ELECTION IT WOULD GIVE THE ABILITY FOR AN INDEPENDENT THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATE TO RUN FOR OFFICE?

JOE: I AGREE.

JIM: AND WHY THE TAXPAYERS PAYING FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO ESTABLISH WHO THEIR CANDIDATE IS?

LIBERTARIAN PARTY WILL NOMINATE OUR SLATE OF CANDIDATES AT OUR CONVENTION ON A PRY TAXPAYER EXPENSE.

THE FACTS WE ARE FUNDING BOTH OF THESE PRIVATE CORPORATIONS TO DECIDE WHO THEIR CANDIDATE WILL BE AND THEN HAVE THE CANDIDATE WIN WITH A LOW PERCENTAGE OF THE VOTE IN LESS THAN 30% OF THE ELIGIBLE VOTERS IN THE STATE VOTING IN A PRIMARY SEEMS LIKE A NONEFFECTIVE WAY TO ELECT A LEADER IN THE STATE.

SUE: I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

WE'VE ALREADY SEEN ONE OF THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES DROP OUT OF THE RACE.

HE HAD A LARGE CAMPAIGN FUND, SO WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

YOU MAY NOT END UP WITH ALL SIX OF THESE PEOPLE.

I'M SURE THEY WILL DO THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT POLLING TO SEE NAME RECOGNITION AND HOW CREDIBLE A CANDIDATE AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHO DROPS OFF BEFORE NEXT SEPTEMBER.

THAT IS A LONG WAY OFF.

I DO NOT DISAGREE WITH YOU.

WE HAVE ALREADY HAD A GOVERNOR HERE THAT WAS NOT ELECTED BY 50% OF THE PEOPLE.

JOE: A NUMBER OF THEM.

YOU HAD LINCOLN CHAFEE, GINA RAIMONDO.

WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED MAYOR, I HAD 41% OF THE VOTE BECAUSE THERE WAS FRED LIPPITT AND KEVIN MCKENNA.

THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RUNOFF AFTERWARDS AND I THINK THAT IS A UNIFYING MESSAGE THAT YOU AS A LEADER OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND DEMOCRAT AND CHAIRMAN SHOULD GET TOGETHER AND SAY "WE WANT A GOVERNOR WHO IS GOING TO BE ELECTED WITH 50% OF THE VOTE OR MORE."

IF THERE'S A LIBERTARIAN OR INDEPENDENT, TOO WEEKS LATER, LET THEM -- BILLY: THE THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATE HURT ONE IN THE PAST.

JIM: WE'RE SEVEN MINUTES INTO THIS PROGRAM AND WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SUE CIENKI FOR THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS.

WHO IS GOING TO RUN ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AND WHO WILL GET -- YOU SET A COUPLE MONTHS AGO WE WILL HAVE SOMEBODY BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER AND LAST I CHECKED IT IS OCTOBER 15.

SUE: YES.

AS STATE PARTY CHAIR YOU HAVE A SCHEDULE AND YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR CANDIDATE TO COME OUT AND SAY I AM ABSOLUTELY RUNNING, BUT THE CANDIDATE HAS A DIFFERENT SCHEDULE.

YOU KNOW IT IS A BIG LIFT AND IMPACTS SOMEONE'S FAMILY, IMPACTS FINANCES, HOW YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE A PATHWAY TO VICTORY, AND CERTAINLY WITH THE NUMBER OF DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES, YOU ARE WATCHING TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

I WILL AGREE WITH JOE THAT I THINK HELENA FOULKES JUMPING INTO THE RACE, THE PERSON THAT BENEFITS THE MOST IS NAT BROWN BECAUSE HE HAS SUCH A DIFFERENT MESSAGE THAT ANY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT.

JIM: DAVE DARLINGTON KIND OF CAME OUT OF LEFT FIELD TWO WEEKS AGO.

A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW -- WE KNOW WHO HE IS BUT DO HAVE PEOPLE SUE: YES.

JIM: WHEN DO YOU EXPECT THAT ANNOUNCEMENT?

SUE: SOMETIME SOON.

[LAUGHTER] HELENA FOULKES QUITE FRANKLY -- JOE: QUITE FRIENDLY, WHO KNEW JOHN ROVER TIED AND YOUR MOST ONE.

THE ELECTION IS NOT TODAY AND ONE WEEK AS A LIFETIME IN POLITICS.

YOU HAVE TO WAIT IT OUT.

WHEN I SAY I THINK BROWN BENEFITS TODAY FROM ELINA'S ANNOUNCEMENT, -- HELENA'S ANNOUNCEMENT, THAT IS TODAY.

BILLY: MICKEY HAS HAD A ROCKY COUPLE MONTHS.

JOE: MICKEY HAS EVERYTHING GOING FOR HIM.

YOU'VE GOT THE VACCINATION GIVING OUT, ALL OF THE MONEY TO GIVE OUT.

SOME OF THE PROBLEMS HE HAS IS SELF-INFLICTED.

IT IS TOO BAD.

HE IS A GOOD MAN AND HE IS TRYING HARD, WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK, BUT HE HAS CREATED SOME OF HIS OWN PROBLEMS AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE HOPEFULLY HE LISTENS.

YOU CAN'T HAVE THESE PROBLEMS.

BILLY: TO THE POINT ABOUT MATT BROWN AND HIS BENEFIT OF HAVING FOLKS JOIN THE RACES THAT THE CAMPAIGN AND DEMOGRAPHICS OF HOW CAMPAIGNS ARE DONE NOW SEEM TO BE CHANGING, ESPECIALLY IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

IT IS LESS ABOUT THE MEDIA BUYS, ADVERTISING, AND MORE ON THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, VOLUNTEERS, DOORKNOCKING.

AS WE SEE WITH MATT'S BROWN AND THE POLITICAL COOPERATIVE HE IS INVOLVED WITH, THEY HAVE THOSE RESOURCES TO GET THE VOLUNTEERS.

LOOK AT THE SPECIAL ELECTION ON THE EAST SIDE OF PROVINCE.

FOR THE SENATE RACE, THE NUMBER OF DOORKNOCKER'S AND VOLUNTEERS AND MONEY THAT CAME INTO THE RACE DIRECTLY AS A RESULT OF THE PROGRESSIVE LEFTIST MOVEMENT IN THE STATE.

SUE: I AGREE WITH BILLY.

IT COMES TO YOUR GROUND GAMES.

THE RHODE ISLAND COOPERATIVE, DON'T COUNT THEM OUT.

THEY ARE SMART, THEY HAVE A PASSION TO GET OUT THERE, AND THEY DO.

THEY GO OUT AND DOORKNOCKING AND IT WILL BE DIFFERENT.

I ALSO AGREE WITH JOE THAT IT IS A LONG TIME UNTIL NEXT NOVEMBER.

THINGS CAN HAPPEN QUICKLY.

I AGREE, I WAS ANTICIPATING VERY ENCOURAGED WHEN MICKEY TOOK OVER BECAUSE HE PROMOTED HIMSELF AS A SMALL BUSINESS GUY.

HE IS VERY APPROACHABLE, HAS MET WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT GROUPS, AND HE CAME IN AND THINGS HAVE NOT GONE WELL FOR HIM.

JOE: HE IS LUCKY THE ELECTION IS NOT RIGHT NOW.

HE CAN PUT TOGETHER MAYBE A BETTER TEAM WITH HIM AND HAVING A GOOD INVESTMENT OF HOW THAT MONEY IS GOING TO BE SPENT, INVESTMENT, NOT SPENDING IT, BUT WE GOT TO INVEST IN RHODE ISLAND, YOU HAVE THE RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION COMING OUT NEXT WEEK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS.

BILLY: ON THE PANEL STIMULUS MONEY.

JOE: ON HOW TO INVEST THAT STIMULUS MONEY.

I THINK THAT WILL BE A GUIDE FOR THIS GOVERNOR TO FOLLOW, TO INVEST IN RHODE ISLAND.

IF HE FOLLOWS THAT, HE WILL BE TOUGH TO BEAT.

SUE: I THINK THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS A GROUP THEY HAVE AMASSED TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT HOW THAT MONEY IS BEST.

JIM: WHAT A CHANGE FROM YEAR AGO WHEN THE GOVERNOR WAS MAKING THE DECISIONS.

JOE, YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND YOU KNOW AS WELL AS ANYONE, WHAT ABOUT THE EFFECT OF THE POLITICAL COOPERATIVE?

THEY HAVE HAD A COUPLE HICCUPS WHERE THERE HAS BEEN SOCIAL MEDIA ISSUES AND CHANGING ON POSITIONS AND WHATEVER.

WHAT EFFECT ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE ON THE SELECTION AND DOES IT TRICKLE INTO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY?

JOE: IT IS HAVING AN EFFECT.

THEY ARE VERY PASSIONATE, BUT SOMEBODY ONCE SAID TO ME THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LIBERAL AND A PROGRESSIVE IS A LIBERAL YOU CAN TALK TO, REASON, TRY TO COME TO COMPROMISE.

WE SEE SOME OF THAT HAPPEN IN WASHINGTON.

BUT THE PROGRESSIVES, IF YOU DISAGREE WITH THEM ON ONE ISSUE, YOU ARE DEAD.

AND THAT IS THEIR PROBLEM.

IS AN ART OF COMPROMISE.

GOVERNING IS THE ART OF COMPROMISE.

REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS COMING TOGETHER.

I'M A DEMOCRAT BUT I'M TICKED OFF THAT THERE IS NOT MORE BIPARTISANSHIP GOING ON IN WASHINGTON.

I'M UPSET MCCONNELL DOES NOT WANT TO DO THINGS WITH THE DEMOCRATS, UPSET THAT BERNIE SANDERS IS SAYING IT IS MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY AND THEY ARE ALL GOING CRAZY TODAY.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO SIT AT THE TABLE LIKE YOU DID YEARS AGO.

IT IS TIME FOR COMMON SENSE.

COMMON SENSE NEEDS TO DICTATE, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THE PROGRESSIVES START SEEING MAYBE THEY ARE BETTER OFF WORKING AT THE TABLE AND LESS AT THE MICROPHONE.

SUE: I AGREE WITH JOE.

JIM: THERE IS ENTIRELY TOO MUCH AGREEMENT HERE.

JOE: COMMON SENSE.

SUE: COMMON SENSE.

WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO THE DAYS OF RONALD REAGAN WHERE THEY SAT DOWN.

POLITICS IS ALL ABOUT COMPROMISE, COMING TOGETHER IN FINDING A SOLUTION THAT IS BEST.

CERTAINLY BEST FOR RHODE ISLAND.

THE PROGRESSIVES HAVE CERTAINLY TAKEN OVER AND SAID IT IS EITHER OUR WAY OR THE HIGHWAY.

THAT IS NOT THE WAY TO DO THINGS.

NO ONE IS RIGHT 100% OF THE TIME.

YOU HAVE TO LISTEN AND I DO NOT THINK THERE IS ENOUGH LISTENING GOING ON.

IN TERMS OF MITCH MCCONNELL, HE WENT AND COMPROMISED.

HE SAID LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DEBT CEILING AND THERE WERE PEOPLE -- JOE: YOU TOLD ME HOW THAT HAPPENED, JOE MANCHIN MADE THE DEAL.

SUE: BUT THAT IS OK. THAT IS OK. YOU HAVE TO FIND WHATEVER IT IS TO GET THE DEAL DONE.

JIM: LET'S SEE HOW IT GOES IN DECEMBER.

BILLY: THERE ARE CERTAINLY ANY ORTHODOXY IN THEIR PHILOSOPHY.

PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS LIVE UP TO THAT ORTHODOXY THAT THEY ARE PUSHING.

I THINK WHAT TO THIS SHOULD BE FOR EVERYBODY IS A WAKE-UP CALL ABOUT HOW ORGANIZED THEY ARE AND THEY ARE NOT JUST WILLING TO BE HAPPY.

I THINK THE $50 AN HOUR MINIMUM WAGE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.

THE CO-OP STARTED IN 2019 AND WERE PUSHING FOR THE $15 MINIMUM WAGE AND WE ARE IN 2021 INTO THE 2022 ELECTION AND THAT IS ALREADY INCREASED TO $19 AN HOUR.

THAT IS A PROBLEM IN THE STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY BUT THAT IS A BIG JUMP OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS.

I THINK REALLY THE THING PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THEY ARE OPERATING OUT OF A NECESSITY TO THIS CAUSE I NONPROFIT STATUS BECAUSE THEY ARE A SEPARATE ORGANIZATION FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

WE FACE A LOT OF THE SAME ISSUES AS LIBERTARIAN PARTY BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE THE SAME STATUS AS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS SO WE HAVE TO FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO HAVE EVENTS, FUNDRAISERS, MONEY TO CANDIDATES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THEY ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME THING.

MY PROBLEM WITH THAT APPROACH IS NOT SO MUCH HOW THEY ARE DOING IT, IT IS THE DISINGENUOUSNESS AND DISHONESTY OF RUNNING A CAMPAIGN THAT IS NOT DEMOCRATIC, AS JOE SAID.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY, THEY ARE CHANGING THE PARTY AND THINK THE DEMOCRAT PARTY SHOULD EITHER FULLY AND BRAVE -- FULLY EMBRACE THE PROGRESSIVES LABEL OR THE PRESSES SHOULD START THEIR OWN PARTY.

JOE: MATTIE SMITH SAID TO ME ONCE, I NEVER LEFT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEFT ME.

THAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TOO.

ALL OF THAT TRUMP STUFF.

IT IS THE MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD, IT IS THE COMMON SENSE BETWEEN THE 40 IN THE 40 OUTLYING.

THAT IS WHERE THE COUNTRY IS AND THAT IS WHERE RHODE ISLAND IS.

JIM: BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I'M OLD SCHOOL AND I WAS USED TO DID -- TO THE DAY WHERE YOU GET THE PODIUM, ANNOUNCED, THEN YOU ANSWER QUESTIONS.

HELENA FOULKES IS SITTING IN HER HOUSE.

SETH HAD THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND DID NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS AND JUMPED IN THE CAR.

IS YOUR GUY GOING TO HAVE A TRADITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT?

JOE: SHE DID A NUMBER OF INTERVIEWS YESTERDAY.

SUE: AFTER THE FACT.

JIM: BUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS THIS CANNED THREE MINUTE VIDEO.

WHAT ABOUT STANDING IN FRONT OF A PODIUM AND TAKING IT FROM ALL OF THE REPORTERS.

I UNDERSTAND THEY CAN ONLY DO A MINUTE OR MINUTE AND A HALF ON TELEVISION.

JOE: YOU THINK THE REPORTERS ARE GOING TO GO WITH ALL OF THIS COVID STUFF?

[LAUGHTER] SUE: I THINK SO.

I THINK THEY'RE INTERESTED IN THE STORY.

THE NUMBER OF REPORTERS THAT REACHED OUT TO ME AND WHILE I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH THEM, THEY WERE GOING BACK AND FORTH IN EMAILS TO THE CANDIDATES.

JOE: THEY SAID I AM ANNOUNCING FOR GOVERNOR, OF COURSE THEY ARE GOING TO BE.

SUE: AND IT CERTAINLY HELPS YOU.

THE MORE YOU DO IT AND TALK TO REPORTERS, THE BETTER YOU GET AT IT AND PEOPLE UNDERSTAND.

JIM: BUT YOU SAW HER MONDO HIDE BEHIND HER SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT GOT HER OVER 50%.

JOE: I'M KNOCKING TO CRITICIZE GINA RAIMONDO, SHE HAS THE SECRETARY OF CONGRESS AND HAD A GOOD 10 YEAR -- TENURE.

SUE: IS HE IN THE SAME UNIVERSE I AM?

WE ARE 50, BOTTOM OF ALL OF THE RANKINGS.

ABOUT GOVERNOR MCKEE, I THINK HE IS MUCH MORE APPROACHABLE.

I THINK THE REPORTERS DO LIKE HIS ACCESS HE HAS GIVEN UP.

MUCH BETTER THAN GINA RAIMONDO.

BILLY: IT IS GINA 2.0.

YOU ARE RUNNING THE CAMPAIGN BASED ON PR PEOPLE, THE ONES MAKING THE DECISIONS AND PUTTING OUT THE VIDEOS.

EVERYTHING IS PRE-CANNED SPECIALLY SET UP LIKE JOE BIDEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE WITH HIS TV SET.

NOTHING IS AS IT APPEARS AND ECHOES BACK TO MY POINT THAT THERE IS NOT A LOT OF AUTHENTICITY TO OUR MESSAGE.

SHE IS THIS ESTABLISHED CANDIDATE WHO WILL PROVIDE THE POLITICAL STATS AND THAT IS WHAT IT IS.

SUE: I THINK THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THE ANGER, ANGER IN THE POPULATION, THAT PEOPLE ARE UPSET WITH THE CANNED ANSWERS.

THEY WANT AUTHENTICITY, THEY WANT TO BE IN FRONT OF PEOPLE, THEY WANT THE ANSWERS.

WE ARE NOT SEEING THAT FROM THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE ENTERED THE RACE.

JOE: WE GO THROUGH EDDIE -- EVERY CITY AND STATE IN THE NATION AND WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HEALTH CARE, CAREGIVING FOR SENIORS OR CHILDCARE.

PROBLEMS IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY AND HOTEL INDUSTRY.

800,000 PEOPLE HAVE NOT GONE BACK TO WORK, AND WE HAVE BARGES THAT ARE IN FRONT OF THE SUEZ CANAL OR PANAMA CANAL.

THEY ARE IN L.A.

TRYING TO DELIVER GOODS AND DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH WORKERS TO DO THAT.

YOU HAVE TRUCKS -- LET ME FINISH.

HAVE TRUCK DRIVERS -- YOU CAN'T RECRUIT TRUCK DRIVERS ANYMORE.

THOSE ARE THE PROBLEMS WE ARE FACING TODAY.

IF ANYTHING, HELENA IS NOT A POLITICIAN BUT SHE UNDERSTANDS THE ISSUES THAT I JUST TALKED ABOUT.

BILLY: I'M AS SURPRISED AS YOU ARE THAT THE MAYOR OF SOUTH BEND INDIANA IS NOT DOING A BETTER JOB WITH TRANSPORTATION IN THIS COUNTRY.

THIS IS THE ISSUE, WE GET THESE POLICY WONKS, PEOPLE RUNNING THEIR ENTIRE CAMPAIGN ON PR, NO SUBSTANCE THERE, THEY ARE GETTING BROUGHT INTO THE CABINET, GIVEN RIDICULOUS POSITIONS WAY ABOVE THEIR -- JOE: YOU DON'T THINK SHE IS QUALIFIED FOR THAT POSITION?

[LAUGHTER] BILLY: HE'S BRINGING EQUITY TO TRANSPORTATION.

JOE: DIDN'T HE GET AN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL PASSED IN THE SENATE AND THEY'RE WORKING IN THE HOUSE?

SUE: HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO SOUTH BEND, INDIANA?

I THINK THE THING THAT MAKES IT SUCCESSFUL IS THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME.

OTHER THAN THAT, I'M NOT QUITE SURE HE WAS A SUCCESSFUL MAYOR.

JOE: AS LONG AS I HAVE THE TWO CHAIR PEOPLE HERE OF THE INDIVIDUAL PARTIES, HOW'S IT GOING IN TERMS OF LINING UP CANDIDATES.

JIM: IT STARTS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, STATE HOUSE, GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND LOCAL.

SUE: GO LOWER TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND TOWN COUNCIL.

WE HAVE HAD SO MUCH INTEREST IN RUNNING FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE BASED ON WHAT IS GOING ON IN HE SCHOOLS.

JIM: STATEWIDE OR POCKETS -- SUE: EVERYWHERE.

THERE IS SUCH A GROWING FRUSTRATION WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS AND I SAID ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT HAPPENED AFTER COVID WAS PARENTS WERE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS BEING TAUGHT TO THEIR CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS.

I THINK A LOT OF PARENTS WERE HORRIFIED AS TO THE EDUCATION THEIR STUDENTS WERE GETTING SO THEY STARTED BECOMING MORE INVOLVED.

AND TO MORE SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS -- MEETINGS IN THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS THEN I WAS WHEN I WAS ON A SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

JOE: WE HAVE FEWER THAN 50% OF THE GENERAL SYMBOL SEATS UNCONTESTED.

THAT HAS BEEN A BIG PROBLEM.

SUE: RIGHT.

FROM A REPUBLICAN STANDPOINT, YOU HAVE TO START SMALL.

YOU HAVE TO START WITH YOUR FARM TEAM AND THE TEAM'S SCHOOL COMMITTEE, TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS.

GET PEOPLE INVOLVED IN LOCAL POLITICS BECAUSE ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL.

JIM: IT'S ALL ABOUT STARTING SMALL.

BILLY: THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

I THINK WE ARE DEALING WITH A LOT OF THE SAME ISSUES REPUBLICANS ARE.

WE HAVE THE ADDED DIFFICULTY OF PEOPLE NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY IS OR PHILOSOPHY IS AND THAT IS A TOUGH ROAD TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE.

I THINK AS PEOPLE START GETTING MORE INVOLVED IN WAKING UP TO THE DIFFERENCES AND CHANGES IN POLITICS, I THINK THEY WILL START TO REALIZE THERE IS OTHER OPTIONS OUT THERE.

SOMEBODY WHO MAY NOT BE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT RUNNING FOR REPUBLICAN MAY BE OPEN TO RUNNING FOR A LIBERTARIAN.

SOMEBODY THINKING ABOUT RUNNING AS AN INDEPENDENT WANT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THEY CANNOT GET GOING ALONE.

IT IS A MATTER OF GETTING THE MESSAGING OUT AND WE ARE DISADVANTAGED BECAUSE WE HAVE TO SPLIT OUR FOCUS FROM THE LOCAL TO ALSO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO FIND A GOVERNOR TO GET 5% OF THE VOTES SO WE CAN GET PARTY STATUS IN THE STATE.

JOE: THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, IF YOU CARE THAT MUCH ABOUT THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY, IT IS NOT WINNING THE ELECTION, IT IS MAY BE FOR BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TO THANK SOMEONE, LIBERTARIAN, AND MAYBE MANY OF THE VIEWS YOU CAN HAVE BRING PARTIES TOGETHER BECAUSE THERE ARE GOOD IDEAS THE LIBERTARIANS HAVE.

I BELIEVE THE BIG ISSUE WE WILL BE SEEING THE YEAR IS GOING TO -- AND I BELIEVE THIS -- I THINK YOU WE WILL SEE THE LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE TO CHANGE ELECTION LAWS AND A DO THIS RUNOFF.

I THINK IT IS TO THEIR BEST INTEREST, SOMETHING THAT COULD BRING THE REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRATIC, AND LIBERTARIAN PARTIES TOGETHER.

JIM: WHAT ABOUT HAVING GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RUN TOGETHER?

JOE: SURE.

SUE: IT IS INTERESTING, I NEVER LIVED IN A STATE OR THEY DID NOT RUN TOGETHER, SO MOVING TO RHODE ISLAND 25 YEARS AGO AND REALLY ROB HEALY BROUGHT THE STATUS TO THE LIEUTENANT OR -- LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THAT THEY HAVE NO ROLE.

HE CERTAINLY SAW THAT WITHROW MONDO AND MICKEY THAT THEY REALLY GET ALONG.

THEY SHOULD BE ON THE SAME TICKET AND GET THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SOME POWER, SOMETHING TO DO.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS GINA RAIMONDO LEFT FOR WASHINGTON AND DAN MCKEE, THEY DIDN'T COORDINATE, THEY DIDN'T HAVE CONVERSATION.

JOE: DAN MCKEE WENT OUT TO SMALL BUSINESSES -- [OVER TALK] ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE TENET GOVERNORS IN THE HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.

BILLY: IT IS A RAW SHACK JUST, WHATEVER THE PERSON DECIDES IT IS BECAUSE THERE'S NO DEFINITION OF THE ROLE.

YOU JUST ELIMINATE IT ENTIRELY.

SUE: SAVE $1 MILLION.

THERE ARE SO MANY, SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS BUT I THINK I AM STILL OUTRAGED OVER THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHEN HE SAID HE WANTED TO GET THE NAMES OF PARENTS THAT WERE DOMESTIC TERRORISTS FOR GOING TO THEIR SCHOOL BOARDS AND THE VIOLENCE.

THEY HAVE BEEN -- THERE HAVE BEEN NO INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST SCHOOL BOARDS.

IT IS REALLY ANGRY MOMS THAT ARE GOING AND TALKING ABOUT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

I THINK HE OVERSTEPPED HIS BOUNDS.

ANY ISSUES THAT HAPPEN AT A LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD CAN CERTAINLY BE TAKEN CARE OF BY THE LOCAL POLICE.

THEY DO A GOOD JOB.

I THINK IT SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE, TRYING TO SILENCE PARENTS WHEN THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY SO OUTRAGED AT WHAT IS HAPPENING.

JOE: YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY THEY ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE JIM: DON'T MESS WITH THE ANGRY MOMS.

OUTRAGE OR KUDO?

BILLY: A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

YESTERDAY, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT CLOSING EMERGENCY HOSPITALS AND 90% VACCINATION RATE IN THE STATE.

WE HAVE OVER 70% VACCINATION AND YET HE IS GOING TO EXTEND THE STATE OF EMERGENCY SATURDAY.

MY BIG QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE STATE OF EMERGENCY?

WHY ARE WE HAVING THIS?

INSTEAD OF THE REPORTERS ASKING THE QUESTION WHAT IS THE REASON FOR HAVING THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER, THEY WILL ASK WHEN THE NEXT VACCINATION MANDATE, WHO WILL THIS AFFECT NEXT.

HE SHOULD BE ASKING ABOUT WHEN THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER WILL END.

THE KUDO I HAVE FOR DAN MCKEE'S IS THERE IS NO INDICATION HE WILL REQUIRE PEOPLE WHERE GARLIC AROUND THE NEXT WITH KEEPING VAMPIRES AWAY.

JIM: THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE OFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.

SUE: 19 MONTHS IS TOO LONG FOR A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

JIM: AND OUTRAGE OR KUDO?

JOE: TWO THINGS.

VACCINATION IS AN OUTRAGE, WHY PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING VACCINATED.

RHODE ISLAND HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES, NUMBER TWO OR THREE.

OVER 70%, WE HAVE TO BE OVER 100%.

IF YOU LOVE YOUR FRIEND OR NEIGHBOR, GET VACCINATED.

SECONDLY, I WANT TO SAY THAT RHODE ISLAND LOST AN ICON, A BUSINESS ICON, THE CHAIRMAN OF HASBRO.

A GOOD MAN, CARED ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR HIM, ABOUT THE INDUSTRY AND BROUGHT GREAT RECOGNITION TO HASBRO TO NOT BEING JUST A TOY COMPANY BUT BECAME AN ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY INVOLVED IN MOVIES AND EXPANDED HASBRO IN A BIG WAY, WILL BE A BIG LOSS TO THE PEOPLE OF RHODE ISLAND TO HIS PASSING, HE AND HIS FAMILY, AND THE FELLOW WORKERS AT HASBRO.

I THINK ALL RHODE ISLANDERS WILL MISS HIM.

SUE: YES.

I THINK HE DID A GREAT JOB.

LASTLY, WE WANT TO WISH FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON A SPEEDY RECOVERY.

WE ALL KNOW HE IS IN THE HOSPITAL AND WE WANT TO WISH HIM WELL.

BILLY: ABSOLUTELY.

JIM: WE HAVE SOME NATIONAL ISSUES TO DISCUSS SO IT'S TO A LIVELY EXTRA RIGHT NOW.

GO TO RIPBS.ORG/LIVELY.

WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE VACCINE MANDATES AND A COUPLE OTHER THINGS ON THE NATIONAL FRONT.

IF YOU CANNOT CATCH US FRIDAY AT 7:00 AND SUNDAY AT NOON, YOU CAN ALWAYS CATCH US ONLINE AGAIN AT RIPBS.ORG/LIVELY.

CHECK US OUT ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND TWITTER AND ALSO CATCH US ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST.

I JOKED LAST WEEK, WE WERE NOT SURE WHO WOULD BE OUT FOR GOVERNOR NEXT AND WE HAD AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

BACK NEXT WEEK JUST IN CASE.

FOR THOSE WHO CAN STAY WITH US, THANKS.

FOR THE REST OF US, STAY WITH US FOR ONE MORE SEGMENT AND WE SEE YOU NEXT WEEK AS A LIVELY EXPERIMENT CONTINUES.

♪ >> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> MORE THAN 30 YEARS, A LIVELY EXPERIMENT PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF IMPORTANT POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLAND.