JIM: THIS WEEK ON "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT," DOWN THE HOME STRETCH THEY GO AS CANDIDATES IN TUESDAY'S PRIMARY SCRAMBLE TO ROUND UP VOTES.

WE HAVE A FULL RUNDOWN AND ANALYSIS OF ALL THE MAJOR RACES.

ANNOUNCER: "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> FOR OVER 30 YEARS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS BEEN AN INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I'M A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM ON ROILED PBS -- RHODE ISLAND PBS.

JIM: JOINING US WITH THEIR INSIGHTS, DEVELOPER AND FORMER PROVIDENCE MAYOR, JOE PAOLINO.

BILL BARTHOLOMEW, FOUNDER OF THE BARTHOLOMEWTOWN PODCAST AND FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL, ARLENE VIOLET.

HELLO, EVERYONE.

AND WELCOME TO "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT."

IT IS GREAT TO BE BACK WITH YOU THIS WEEK.

I'M JIM HUMMEL.

AS WE ARE ON SPRINT TO PRIMARY DAY AS CANDIDATES MAKE THEIR LAST-MINUTE SWITCH TO SWAY UNDECIDED VOTERS AND TO GET THEIR SUPPORTERS TO THE POLLS ON TUESDAY.

FIRST UP, CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR HAD TWO HIGH-STAKES TELL VIETZED DEBATES OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS AND OF COURSE YOU CAN'T TURN ON YOUR TV OR RADIO THESE DAYS WITHOUT HEARING ADS, A LOT OF WHICH ARE GOING NEGATIVE RECENTLY.

BILL, LET ME START WITH YOU.

YOU WERE THE IRONMAN UP.

DID ALL THE RADIO DEBATES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DEBATES.

ANY THOUGHTS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS HOW THIS HAS PLAYED OUT?

BILL: I THINK IT'S VERY INTERESTING RIGHT NOW.

THE MOMENT IS ABOUT THE UNDECIDED VOTERS OF WHICH THERE ARE TONS.

LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT IT.

DO UNDECIDED VOTERS LOOK TO FOULKES FOULKES AS THE OUTSIDER CANDIDATE OR DO THEY PIVOT TOWARD GOVERNOR MCKEE OR MAYBE SECRETARY GORBEA?

INTO AN ELECTION.

THIS YEAR MORE SO THAN EVER BEFORE.

THAT'S WHO I THINK EACH OF THE CANDIDATES ARE VYING FOR.

THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY EVEN TRYING TO RETAIN THEIR EXISTING COALITIONS, THEY'RE JUST SAYING TO THE PERSON WHO HAS BARELY EVEN BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN RHODE ISLAND POLITICS, HERE'S WHY YOU SHOULD COME MY CAMP.

ARLENE: WE ASSUME THAT THE UNDECIDEDS ARE GOING TO VOTE.

ANOTHER REAL ISSUE HERE IS TO WHAT DEGREE ARE PEOPLE MOTIVATED TO GO OUT AND VOTE?

IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY TO START WITH.

BUT I SEE THE NEGATIVE ADVERTISING, BUT I THINK IT'S TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE.

WE POLITICAL JUNKIES PAY ATTENTION TO THE NUANCES OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE BEING RAISED BUT MOST PEOPLE ARE TOO BUSINESS REQUEST WITH THEIR LIVES TO PAY MUCH ATTENTION -- BUSY WITH THEIR LIVES TO PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO THAT.

I FEEL THAT THE CANDIDATE, HELENA FOULKES, EVEN GORBEA, WHO IS GETTING IN TROUBLE OVER THE VOTING FIASCO THAT HAS OCCURRED, THEIR ATTACK ON MCKEE I THINK IS GOING TO FALL SHORT AND FRANKLY HIS ADS ARE FABULOUS.

PARTICULARLY THE ONE WITH HIS MOTHER.

HIS MOTHER'S GOING TO WIN HIM THE ELECTION, IN MY VIEW.

JOE: YOU COULD BE RIGHT ON THAT.

I RAN FOR GOVERNOR 32 YEARS AGO.

BACK THEN THE PROVIDENCE GENERAL HAD ABOUT A 300,000 CIRCULATION THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND EVERYBODY WAS WONDERING, IS IT GOING TO BE JOE OR FLAHERTY?

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

TODAY I THINK THE JOURNAL HAS ABOUT 30,000 CIRCULATION, WHICH MEANS IT HASN'T BEEN ON THE TOPIC OF THE PEOPLE.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS RACE THE WAY THEY DID 32 YEARS AGO.

JIM: WHO GOT THE ENDORSEMENT, JOE?

JOE: BACK THEN, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY ENDORSED IN THE PRIMARY.

I THINK THEY DID ENDORSE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION BUT THE JOURNAL $DID NOT ENDORSE IN THE PRIMARY.

BUT I'M SEEING SOMETHING THAT HELENA FOULKES IS DOING THAT SUMMONED IT.

SOMEONE TRIED TO PUT ME AND FRANK FLAHERTY AS TWO PEAS IN A POD, TWO POLITICIANS.

IT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT.

WE HAVE TO GET AWAY FROM THE POLITICIANS.

GO TO AN INDEPENDENT BUSINESS PERSON AND BRUNO WOULD BE THAT PERSON AND IT WORKED.

I'M SEEING HELENA TRYING TO GROUP NELLIE AND THE GOVERNOR TOGETHER.

NOW, THIS IS A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

AND ORGANIZATION IS KEY.

AND THE GOVERNOR HAS A PRETTY GOOD TRACK RECORD ON WORKING WITH ORGANIZED LABOR.

THEY'RE OUT THERE FOR HIM.

AND HE'S GOING TO HAVE A GOOD BLOCK OF VOTES AND I AGREE, GOT HIM BACK INTO THAT RACE VERY STRONG.

NELLIE I THINK HAS HURT HERSELF.

SHE HAS THE PROBLEM THAT KATHY HAD YEARS AGO WHEN MESSING UP THE BALLOT.

KATHY LOST TO BARBARA LENIN FOR RE-ELECTION OF STATE OF SECRETARY AND I THINK NELLIE NOW, BEFORE LOOKED LIKE SHE COULD WIN IT, NOW IT'S A TWO-PERSON RACE BETWEEN HELENA FOULKES AND THE GOVERNOR.

IF I SAY THE ELECTION TODAY, I THINK THE GOVERNOR.

THE ELECTION'S NOT TODAY.

ELECTION'S ON TUESDAY.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED TO SEE AN UPSET WITH HELENA FOULKES.

JIM: FOULKES HAS THE BOSTON GLOBE ENDORSEMENT FOR WHATEVER THAT'S WORTH.

IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO HAVE.

BUT I WONDER, IT REMINDS ME OF BACK IN THE 2000 ELECTION, REMEMBER THE R.G.A.

PUMPED IN A LOT OF MONEY.

THAT WAS THE GENERAL, IF THERE HAD BEEN TWO MORE WEEKS.

YOU WONDER IF SHE HAS ENOUGH TIME TO BRIDGE THE GAP.

BILL: THAT'S TRUE.

I'VE BEEN SAYING, MORE RHODE ISLANDERS CAN NAME FIVE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS PLAYERS THAN FIVE PEOPLE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS OBVIOUSLY BUT THAT'S THE REALITY.

AND DON'T KNOW THAT HELENA FOULKES IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO PULL IN, YOU KNOW, ENOUGH OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO, AGAIN, HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN PAYING ATTENTION, AREN'T THE POLITICAL JUNKIES, TO GET THEM OUT TO THE POLLS ON SEPTEMBER 13 TO MAKE THAT FINAL CREST TO TAKE THE ELECTION.

ARLENE: IT'S SO SACRELIGIOUS BUT TWO WOMEN RUNNING FOR THE SAME POSITION DOES CREATE A PROBLEM.

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS RUNNING AND COURTNEY SNYDER, THE REPUBLICAN RUNNING FOR CONGRESS, SHE WAS LIKE FIVE INCHES ON ME.

SHE WEARED JEWELRY UP TO HERE.

TONS OF JEWELRY.

AND I'D RUN INTO HER LATER IN THE DAY, SHE SAID, I GOT YOU MANY VOTES TODAY.

PARADING AND SHAKING HANDS WITH PEOPLE, THEY SAID, HI, SISTER VIOLET.

AND I SAID, HI, LOVE YOU.

LOVE YOU.

I SAID, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE LOOKED NOTHING ALIKE.

I CERTAINLY DIDN'T WEAR JEWELRY BACK THEN.

BUT PEOPLE WOULD CONFUSE HER, WHO IS GREAT LOOKING, WITH THE DOWDY NUN.

I JUST WORRY THAT THERE'S A SIMILAR THING GOING ON.

JIM: I GO ALONG WITH BILL ON THIS -- JOE: I GO ALONG WITH BILL ON THIS.

IF YOU'RE UNDECIDED, I THINK THE VOTE GOES TO HELENA FOULKES.

BUT DON'T UNDERESTIMATE GOVERNOR MCKEE.

HE HAS A STRING OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

HE'S DEALT A HAND OF CARDS, HE'S BEEN PLAYING THEM PRETTY GOOD.

AND HAVING ORGANIZED LABOR, I THINK, IS IMPORTANT.

RIGHT NOW I SAY IT'S BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.

I GIVE THE EDGE TO THE GOVERNOR.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF HELENA CAN PULL IT OFF.

JIM: ORGANIZED LABOR GIVES THAT YOU GROUND GAME.

ARLENE: TURNOUT, TURNOUT, TURNOUT.

BILL: AND EXPERIENCE A CAMPAIGN BEFORE.

MCKEE HAS DONE THIS BEFORE.

THIS IS THE FIRST TRY FOR HELENA.

JOE: I THINK SOMETHING GOES FOR EXPERIENCE WHEN CURE GOING THROUGH THE POLITICAL PROCESS.

JIM: WHAT ABOUT THIS WHOLE ELECTION SNAFU?

WE REFER TO IT WITH KATHY.

BUT HOW DAMAGING THAT IS TO SECRETARY GORBEA AND THEN SHE'S IMMEDIATELY THROWING THE BOYS UNDER THE BUS.

AS BAD AS IT LOOKED, IF SHE HAD STEPPED UP AND SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, THE BUCK STOPS HERE, IT MAY HAVE BEEN SOMEBODY ELSE'S BUT WE NEED TO FIX THIS, THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM, DOES THE THROWING UNDER THE BUS, IS THAT WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM?

ARLENE: I KNOW WHY SHE DID, BECAUSE IF YOU REALLY READ THE STATUTES, IT WAS THE BOARD OF ELECTION RESPONSIBLE FOR LAYOUT WHICH WAS KATHLEEN'S PROBLEM, THE BALLT THAT WENT ON FOREVER.

SO THEORETICALLY IT WAS THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS BUT THE AVERAGE PERSON OUT THERE DOES NOT GET THAT NUANCE.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, SHE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE SAID, I SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE TO MAKE THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS DO ITS JOB AS OPPOSED TO I'M ON MY HANDS TO CLEAN.

NO ONE'S GOING TO GET THAT NUANCE.

JIM: FINALLY, THE TELEVISED DEBATE.

I WAS ON VACATION FOR THE 10 DEBATE AND I WENT BACK AND WATCHED IT.

A LITTLE FEISTIER, A LITTLE BIT LOOSER.

WHO -- HOW DID YOU SCORE THAT?

AND CHANNEL 12, A LITTLE BIT MORE BUTTONED UP.

I THINK VARIOUS CANDIDATES MADE GOOD POINTS.

LUIS MUNOZ ALWAYS IMPRESSES ME IN THESE DEBATES EVEN THOUGH HE WAS DOWN IN THE POLLS.

BILL: EVEN THOUGH HE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE CHANNEL 12 DEBATE.

I THINK IN THE DEBATE WE SAW -- THE CHANNEL 10 DEBATE WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE THE STAGE WAS OBVIOUSLY VERY HOT.

MATT BROWN LOOKED LIKE HE WAS JUST -- JUST GONE FOR A RUN.

JIM: AND MCKEE SAID THAT.

BILL: I THINK IT SHOWS.

THERE'S A PERFORMTIFIC ASPECT TO THIS THAT'S IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE GOING IN FRONT OF A STATEWIDE AUDIENCE.

I THINK THAT THE LAST DEBATE, THE CHANNEL 12 DEBATE, THE GOVERNOR WAS -- DID NOT ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS ON WHETHER OR NOT HE'S GOT, YOU KNOW, ADMINISTRATION WHO WILL RECEIVE SUBPOENAS VERY WELL.

I THINK HELENA FOULKES DID PERFORM THE BEST IN THAT DEBATE.

BUT NONETHELESS, DO WE KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE WATCHING THAT DEBATE?

DO WE KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE -- THE NUANCES OF TIDE WATER LANDING MUCH I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, NO ONE KNOWS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOW MUCH PA TUCT'S GOING TO PAY FOR IT -- PA TUCK ET'S GOING TO PAY FOR IT, VERSUS THE STATE.

JIM: IS THERE GUM ON THE GOVERNOR'S SHOE WITH THE CONTRACT?

SILVER RESIGNED A YEAR AGO.

BUT IS ANY OF THAT STICKING?

MATT BROWN WENT FULL OUT BALLISTIC, INDICTMENT, F.B.I., THEY'RE ABOUT TO ARRIVE WITH THE HANDCUFFS.

WILL THAT BACK FIRE ON YOU?

JIM: I DON'T KNOW IF IT BACK FIRES ON MATT BROWN BUT THE GOVERNOR, I'M SURE HE WISHED HE DIDN'T HAVE THAT SITUATION IN FRONT OF HIM.

BUT HE'S BEEN ABLE TO OVERCOME A LOT OF THAT ALREADY.

AND PEOPLE ARE HEARING IT NOT FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THEY'RE HEARING IT FROM THESE TELEVISION ADS.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TO SAY, OK, WHY IS NELLIE SAYING THAT ABOUT HIM?

BECAUSE SHE WANTS HIM TO LOSE.

WHY IS THIS OTHER PERSON SAYING IT?

SO THEY'RE JUST FIGHTING FOR THEMSELVES.

BUT IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T HELP.

JIM: YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE DEBATE?

ARLENE: FOULKES WON BOTH, HANDS DOWN.

BUT THIS IS ALL ABOUT TURNOUT.

WHEN YOU HAVE THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE UNIONS WHO ARE RELIGIOUS ABOUT GETTING THEIR MEMBERS OUT THERE STROARKTS I THINK THAT GIVES MCKEE THE EDGE.

JIM: ALL RIGHT.

MAYERS RACES ALSO COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE.

IT'S INTERESTING, THERE'S NOT BEEN ANY POLLING HERE.

BRETT SMYLY HAS THE MONEY, HE'S BEEN ON TV, HE'S WALKING AROUND WITH EVERYBODY SEEMINGLY IN PROVIDENCE.

BUT QUEUIVEO HAS PICKED UP SOME MAJOR ENDORSEMENTS AND FORTUNE.

JOE, ARE YOU ENDORSING ANYBODY?

JIM: NOBODY CARES WHO I ENDORSE BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHO I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR.

AND LET ME EXPLAIN PROVIDENCE.

I THINK MY CITY, WHICH I LOVE, I LIVE -- I WORK AND I HAVE A LARGE INVESTMENT IN PROVIDENCE.

EMOTIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY.

I THINK IT'S BROKEN.

I THINK IT'S BEEN BROKEN FOR A LONG TIME.

AND I'M NOT HAPPY WITH QUALITY OF LIFE GOING ON IN THE CITY WITH A.T.V.

'S GOING DOWN THE STREETS.

THEY HAVE SPEED BUMPS EVERYWHERE.

WHY DO WE HAVE ALL THESE SPEED BUMPS?

THEY HAVE THESE BIKE LANES WITH BARRIERS IN THE STREET.

YOU CAN'T EVEN PLOW THE SNOW.

YOU NEED TO USE COMMON SENSE.

SO ONE THING I LEARNED WHEN I WAS MAYOR IS IDEOLOGY DOES NOT EXIST.

YOU CAN'T BE A PROGRESSIVE, A LIBERAL OR MODERATE.

YOU HAVE TO BE COMMON SENSE AND PRACTICAL TO RUN AND MANAGE A LARGE CITY LIKE THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE.

SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE THINGS I'VE SEEN BROKEN.

SUPERMAN HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR 10 YEARS.

THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO FIX IT UP.

WHEN?

INTEREST RATES WENT FROM 2% TO 5%.

SO HOW IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN?

WHEN I LOOK AT THE CANDIDATES, NERVER, I MET HER A FEW TIMES.

I DON'T KNOW HER WELL.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE HER EXPERIENCE IS.

EVERY TIME WHEN I HEAR HER, SHE'S ALWAYS COMPLAINING THAT IT'S SOMEBODY ELSE'S FAULT ON SOMETHING.

SO I KIND OF LIKE, OK, PASS ON THAT.

GONZALO CUERVO, HE'S SMART BUT I DON'T LIKE HIS IDEAS.

WE CAN'T BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYONE.

AND IT SEEMS TODAY THAT PEOPLE WANT TO BE THREE SIDES TO ONE QUARTER.

YOU CAN'T DO IT.

YOU GOT TO CARVE OUT WHAWK DO.

NOW LOOK AT BRETT SMILEY.

IF ANYBODY TOLD ME YEARS AGO I'D BE VOTING FOR HIM I'D SAY, I DON'T THINK SO.

BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HIM.

AND NOW I KNOW HIM.

I'VE SEEN HIM RELATE TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

I'VE SEEN HIM RELATE TO THE PERSON ON THE STREET.

CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.

I'VE BEEN ABLE TO VIEW HIM WHEN HE WORKED FOR MERLE LAWSER AND GOVERNOR.

AND I THINK, QUITE FRANKLY, HE'S WHAT PROVIDENCE NEEDS RIGHT NOW.

IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO COME TO THAT DECISION.

I FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT.

I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR BRETT SMILEY AND I HOPE HE BECOMES THE NEXT MAYOR OF PROVIDENCE.

JIM: YOU LIVE IN PROVIDENCE.

BILL: I DO.

I MODERATED THE MAYORAL DEBATE ON THE RADIO.

WHEN IT COMES TO A.T.V.

'S, EVERYBODY AGREES IT'S A NUANCE, ON -- NUISANCE, OBNOXIOUS AND A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE.

ALL THE CANDIDATES, WHEN I ASKED IF THEY WERE GOING TO ADDRESS IT, THEY SAID THEY WOULD.

RIGHT NOW THE PULSE I'M HEARING IS I FEEL LIKE GONZALO CUERVO IS SWERVING.

I DON'T THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH THE ENDORSEMENT.

IT'S JUST THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT HIM.

IN A WAY THAT I'M NOT HEARING PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

THEY'RE SAYING GONZALO.

I HEAR THAT NAME IN DIFFERENT CIRCLES.

ARTIST CIRCLES, LOCAL POLITICS CIRCLEK, WHATEVER IT IS.

BUT IT IS GOING TO BE A VERY TIGHT RACISM THE ONLY POLL WE REALLY SAW WAS -- RACE.

THE ONLY POLL WE SAW WAS THE MAYOR'S PRIVATE POLL THAT SHOWED A TIGHT RACE.

TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE TO GET MOMENTUM AS THE EDUCATION CANDIDATE BUT IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

I THINK IT'S ANYBODY'S RACE BETWEEN CUERVO AND SMILEY RIGHT NOW.

ARLENE: SMILEY'S ADS HIT THE SWEET SPOT.

FIX THE POT HOLES.

GET THIS DONE.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE HIM THE ULTIMATE WINNER.

JIM: WHAT ABOUT THE TREASURER'S RACE?

IT'S BEEN INTERESTING IN THE PRIMARY.

ULTIMATELY JAMES IS WAITING -- I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HEAR MORE ABOUT HIM.

HE HAS A STRONG FINANCIAL BACKGROUND, THE REPUBLICAN.

BUT IT'S PRYEOR AND JAMES THAT EACH HAVE POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES.

NOW PRYOR HAS SET DIOSA UP AS HE'S HAD FINANCIAL MISSTEPS.

THIS WHOLE NARRATIVE ABOUT TURNING AROUND CENTRAL FAILLE FALLS MAY BE TRUE.

AS YOU READ THAT, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

ARLENE: AGAIN, THE POLITICAL PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO ALL OF THAT.

I'M NOT QUITE SO SURE THE PUBLIC ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO IT.

BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A CLOSE RACE.

BOTH OF THEM HAVE SOME UNION ENDORSEMENTS.

EVERYTHING IS ABOUT TURNOUT ON THAT DAY.

I DO THINK DIOSA DID TAKE ON WITH HIS 26 STRIPS THAT HE TOOK TO PARTS UNKNOWN OR INTERNATIONALLY, ETC.

WHEN HE WAS MAYOR.

HE TAKES CREDIT A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH FOR WHAT HE DID IN CENTRAL FALLS.

THAT TWITTER ACCOUNT.

SO THAT -- I WAS ALWAYS A FAN OF DIOSSA'S BUT I GOT TURNED OFF WHEN HE DID THAT.

JIM: I LIKE JIM DIOSSA.

I DON'T LOOK AT HIM AS THE GENERAL TREASURER.

I COULD SEE HIM RUNNING FOR ANOTHER OFFICE.

JIM: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

SECRETARY OF STATE.

JOE: WHEN PRYOR'S IN THAT RACE, HE HAS THE CREDENTIALS, INS ELECT, HE HAS THE -- INTELLECT, HE HAS THE BACKGROUND, THE BIG PICTURE LOOK.

HE'S BEEN ABLE TO DO A GREAT JOB.

I WAS IN THAT JOB WHEN IT WAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

HE'S BEEN THERE THE LONGEST OF ANYBODY.

I THINK HE'S DONE A FINE JOB THERE.

AND I THINK HE WINS.

JIM: YOU AGE IN DOG YEARS IN THAT POSITION, DON'T YOU?

THAT'S TOUGH.

A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION TO BE IN.

JOE: IT'S A TOUGH JOB.

BUT I ENJOYED IT.

AND I KNOW STEFAN ENJOYED IT BECAUSE HE WAS TRYING TOOTH SO MANY PROJECTS DONE -- TO GET SO MANY PROJECTS DONE BEFORE HE ANNOUNCED.

I SAID, IF YOU'RE RUNNING YOU HAVE TO GET INTO THIS THING.

HE STILL HAD PROJECTS HE WANTED TO COMPLETE AND HE DELAYED THAT.

WHICH COULD COST HIM THE ELECTION BUT I HAVE A FEELING HE'LL WIN THIS RACE.

BILL: I THINK IT'S A MATCHUP OF THE MAYORAL, THE NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND MAYORAL OLD GUARD VERSUS THE ALUMNI NETWORK.

AND WHICH OF THESE TWO UNIT, IF YOU WILL, APPEALS MORE TO, AS YOU SAY, JOE PUBLIC OUT THERE.

THE LATEST POLLING IN THE TREASURER'S RACE SHOW THEY WERE NECK AND NECK IN SOMETHING LIKE 50% OR 60% -- HAD NO IDEA WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE.

JOE: IT WAS 18 TO 17.

BILL: AND OVER 50% OF THEM DECIDED.

YOU MAY HAVE THAT UNINFORMED VOTER WHO SAYS, MAYBE I KNOW WHO I WANT TO VOTE FOR FOR MAYOR OR GOVERNOR, WHO ARE THESE TWO PEOPLE?

LET ME PICK ONE.

MY NAME ENDS WITH P SO LET ME CHOOSE PRY OR.

THERE MAY BE THAT NONSENSE.

THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT STEFAN PRYORS MORE QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB BUT DIOSSA IS APPEALING TO PEOPLE IN POLITICS.

DOES HE GET IT FOR THAT REASON?

JOE: ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PEOPLE IN THE STATE RIGHT NOW IS -- THAT SHOWS IN A LOT OF POLLS, IS FORMER GOVERNOR GINA.

THERE ARE THREE CANDIDATES THAT OUT TO JENNA.

YOU HAVE BRETT S -- GINA.

YOU HAVE BRETT SMILEY.

YOU HAVE FOULKES.

AND YOU HAVE STEFAN PRYOR.

THAT'S NOT BY ACCIDENT.

JIM: WHAT'S INTERESTING IS I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, DID I A LOT OF THOSE STORIES ABOUT THE MONEY NOT GETTING OUT TO THE SMALL BUSINESSES AND WHAT I'VE HEARD AND I WAS PRESSING THE GOVERNOR ON THAT DURING ALL THOSE PRESS CONFERENCES, WHAT I HEARD IN THE INTERIM IS THAT PRYOR WAS WORKING WITH THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES.

I TALKED TO SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE WHO WERE APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT HE DID.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT GROUND GAME GOING INTO IT.

JOE, TIDEWATER LANDING, TALKING ABOUT MR. E.D.C.

SOME OF THE NUMBERS LOOK PROBLEMATIC.

YOU HAVE TAKE AN LOOK AT THAT PROJECT?

JOE: I LOOKED LAST WEEK.

IT'S HARD FOR ME TO MUTT MY ARMS AROUND IT TO EMBRACE IT.

I'M STILL DISAPPOINTED THAT THE RED SOX WERE SAVED IN ROLE.

HOW WE LET THAT GO IS BEYOND ME.

IT WAS WRONG.

I CAN'T TOTALLY EMBRACE THAT AS OF RIGHT NOW.

ALTHOUGH THE MAYOR GAVE ME A GOOD ARGUMENT OF WHY HE THINKS IT'S GOOD.

BUT I JUST DON'T SEE IT RIGHT NOW.

JIM: A LOT OF HEAD SHAKING GOING ON TO YOUR LEFT.

ARLENE: IT'S A FIASCO.

17 GAMES AND THE PROJECT I THINK WAS SOLD AS THE TOTAL PROJECT ORIGINALLY WHERE THERE WAS COMMERCIAL, THERE WAS RENTALS, ETC.

AND NOW ALL THE MONEY IS GOING JUST TO THE STADIUM.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BECOME THE NEXT 38 STUDIOS PROBLEM AND I THINK DAN MCKEE WAS DISINGENUOUS DURING THE DEBATES WHEN HE TRIED TO PORTRAY THAT THIS WAS OH, A WONDERFUL THING AND IT'S THE MOST PROTECTED PROJECT, IT IS NOT.

IT'S GOING TO BE A BOOM DOINGLE.

DOGGLE.

JIM: IF THE B SIDE OF THIS PROJECT, THE AUXILIARY DEVELOPMENT, THE PARKING LOT, THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, THE PROPOSAL, THE REAL ESTATE FOR HOUSING IS NOT COMPLETED, THE PEOPLE OF RHODE ISLAND MUST RISE UP IN AN UNPRECEDENTED MANNER AND DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY LIKE WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

BILL: IT'S AN OUTRAGEOUS THOUGHT THAT THIS STADIUM WOULD JUST BE FUNDED AND PROVIDE 17 GAMES ALONE.

I'VE REFEREED IN THE U.S.L.

GRANTED IT WAS 10 YEARS AGO BACK WHEN I WAS A SOCCER REFEREE.

FROM VERMONT TO FLORIDA, I NEVER SAW MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE IN A GAME.

MAYBE THE THING HAS GROWN IN LEAPS AND BOUNDS AND SOCCER'S HUGE AND ALL THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER, BUT IF WE DON'T GET THAT B SIDE OF THIS DEVELOPMENT WHICH THE GOVERNOR, WHETHER IT BE GOODWILL OR ECONOMIC MECHANICS, SAYS WE WILL GET, YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE -- JIM: IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE SKEPTICAL IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

BILL: HOW COULD MINOR LEAGUE SOCCER GENERATE THE TYPE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT'S PROMISEED?

PAIR THAT WITH THE REST OF THE PROJECT, YOU HAVE SOMETHING THERE FOR SURE.

BUT YOU HEAR MIKE MCNALLY FROM THE COMMERCE BOARD COMPLAINING AND STATING, HEY, LOOK, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE FUNDED JUST THE STADIUM ALONE AS CURRENTLY -- HE VOTED AGAINST IT.

LOOK, HE'S IN THE FOLKS' CAMP.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT -- FOULKES CAMP, THERE'S NO DOUBT IT'S A LEGITIMATE ARGUMENT.

BUT IF THEY COMPLETE THAT SECOND PORTION, THE B SIDE, THEN IT'S A VIABLE PROJECT.

BUT THEY MUST DO THAT.

JIM: LET ME SWITCH GEARS QUICKLY, NATIONALLY.

AND THEN WE'LL GET TO OUTRAGEOUS.

THE TALK OF THE TOWN HAS BEEN THE SEIZURE OF THE DOCUMENTS BY THE F.B.I.

AT MAR-A-LAGO AND NOW THE JUDGE, YOU ALWAYS HATE TO HAVE TO SAY TRUMP-APPOINTED JUDGE BUT THAT'S WHAT SHE IS, SAYS THAT SHE'S GOING TO GRANT HIS REQUEST FOR A SPECIAL MASTER NO.

BETTER PERSON TO BREAK THIS DOWN LEGALLY THAN YOU.

ARLENE: LEGALLY SHE'S DEFINITELY INCORRECTED.

WHETHER SHE'LL BE APPEALED, IN THE NEXT BODY WHERE IT GOES TO, SIX OF THE 11 JUDGES, TRUMP APPOINTED.

IT SHOULD NEVER MATTER.

BUT REALLY THE CASELOAD WAS TOTALLY AGAINST THE ACTION SHE TOOK TO APPOINT A MASTER.

PARTICULARLY IF THESE DOCUMENTS ARE TOP SECRET.

AT MOST, AT ANY ONE MOMENT OF TIME, THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT 100 PEOPLE IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT ARE AUTHORIZED TO SEE THOSE TYPES OF DOCUMENTS.

AND THAT'S REALLY A MAXIMUM NUMBER.

WHO ARE THEY GOING TO GET AND THE PROBLEM ABOUT LEAKS AND INFORMATION GETTING OUT OR EYES SEEING INFORMATION THEY SHOULD NEVER SEE, THAT IS SO PROBLEMATIC.

SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THAT JUDGE WAS DEAD WRONG.

JIM: HOW DO YOU THINK THE 11TH CIRCUIT WILL HANDLE THAT?

ARLENE: AS YOU KNOW, ORIGINALLY IT WILL GO TO THREE JUDGES.

WE DON'T KNOW WHICH THREE OF THE 11.

OF WHICH SIX -- IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ALREADY A MECHANISM IN PLACE WHICH THREE WOULD COME UP NEXT.

SO NO ONE KNOWS THAT.

FOR JUDGE TOM, HIS RELATIVE I CLERKED.

THE SYSTEM WAS ALREADY SET AS TO WHO IS GOING TO BE THE LEAD JUDGE BEFORE ANY CASE IS EVEN DOCKETED, THIS THEY HAVE A ROTATION.

JIM: THE FIRST STEP IS THEY'RE ASKING HER TO RECONSIDER HER OWN DECISION.

THAT'S A NONSTARTER.

SHE'S NEVER GOING TO GO BACK ON WHAT SHE SAID, RIGHT?

ARLENE: IT'S PROBABLY A NECESSAY FIRST STEP FOR THEM.

JIM: PLIT COMMIT ARMING -- BILL: POLITICALLY, TRUMP'S INFLUENCE IS BEGINNING TO WANE.

I WONDER AT THE MIDTERMS WHETHER HE BECOMES LESS AND LESS OF A FACTOR.

I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE.

THE MORE LEGAL CHALLENGES AND SCENARIOS THAT TRUMP GETS INTO, I THINK THE MORE AND MORE THAT HIS BRAND STARTS TO DIP, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

YOU EVEN HEAR SOME OF HIS SUPPORTERS IN THE MEDIA EVEN LOCALLY STARTING TO BACK OFF FROM HIM AS A RESULT OF THIS.

I THINK JUST FROM AN OPTICS STANDPOINT, IT'S MAYBE DEFLATING THE BALLOON A LITTLE BIT.

AT THE SAME TIME, HEY, CAN'T GO A WEEKEND WITHOUT SEEING SOMEBODY OR A PARADE OF PICKUP TRUCKS WITH TRUMP FLAGS COMING THROUGH ANY MUNICIPALITY.

JIM: YOU WONDER IF THAT'S NOT A VOCAL MINORITY?

JOE: HE'S GOT A STRONG HOLD ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND HE'S NOT GOING AWAY.

WE ALL HAVE FRIENDS IN BOTH PARTIES.

BUT WHEN PEOPLE GO TO THE EXTREMES, THEY BECOME FANATICAL AND THEY'RE WAY TO THE LEFT OR WAY TO THE RIGHT.

YOU CAN'T TALK TO THEM.

THAT'S WHY I THINK WE HAVE TO START GETTING INTO HAVING RUNOFF ELECTIONS.

PEOPLE GET ELECTED AND NOMINATED, THEY GET OVER 50% OF THE VOTE, MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE CAN VOTE.

THEN WE'LL KNOW WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE.

BUT I DON'T WANT THE FRINGES CALLING THE SHOTS.

JIM: WHAT ABOUT THE LARGER ISSUE OF THE MIDTERMS?

JOE BIDEN NOW, THEY WANTED TO KEEP HIM AWAY, IS NOW OUT CAMPAIGNING FOR PEOPLE.

HE'S HAD SOME LEGISLATIVE WINS.

I THINK THERE'S SOME MOMENTUM.

I THINK THE HOUSE PROBABLY, GIVEN TO THE REPUBLICANS, MAYBE NOT.

JIM: NOT -- JOE: NOT NECESSARILY.

I WAS WITH DAVID SIS LINNEY -- CICILLINE AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE ALASKA ELECTION.

HE SAID THEY TARGETED IT TO BE A SARA PALIN SEAT AND A DEMOCRAT WON THAT.

THERE COULD BE SOMETHING GOING ON THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN.

I DON'T KNOW IF TRUMP IS HELPING THE CAUSE OR NOT WITH THE GENERAL ELECTORATE.

THE INDEPENDENTS ARE GOING TO CALL A LOT OF THE SHOT.

ARLENE: HE'S HELPING HIS CAUSE.

IF THERE'S EVER A CHANGE, IF REPUBLICANS TAKE CONTROL OF EITHER HOUSE, THAT INVESTIGATION'S GOING TO BE DEEP SIXED.

JIM: WHERE DOES ROE V. AID AND THE ABORTION -- ROE V. WADE AND THE ABORTION ISSUE FIT IN?

JOE: IT'S MOBILIZING DEMOCRATS AND PRO-CHOICE DEMOCRATS TOOTH OUT THERE, RECOGNIZING HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS.

JIM: BILL, LET'S START WITH YOU.

BILL: THIS IS A WEIRD THING THAT JUST POPPED UP.

BUT OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS THERE'S BEEN A STORY, QUOTE-UNQUOTE, ABOUT STUDENTS WHO ARE DRESSING LIKE CATS.

AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR MEDIA HERE WHO IN SOME CASES ARE RESPECTED AND ELECTED OFFICIALS MAKING UP STORIES ABOUT -- THAT THE SCHOOL PUT A LITTER BOX IN THE GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOM FOR THESE KIDS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

NOW, LOOK, THAT'S BEEN COMPLETELY DEBUNKED.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD DRESS IN A MANNER THAT'S DISTRACTING OR DISRUPTIVE.

THERE IS A POINT WHERE COMMON SENSE HAS TO STEP IN.

BUT TEEN SUICIDE RATES, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, IS THROUGH THE ROOF.

IF A KID WANTS TO WEAR A CAT EARS OR CAT WHICH IS KERS OR -- WHISKERS OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE, HOWEVER THEY WANT TO DRESS, LET THEM DO IT.

AS LONG AS IT'S NOT DISRUPTIVE AND DISTRACTING TO THE OTHER STUDENTS IN THE BUILDING.

AND FOR ADULTS IN POSITIONS OF PROMINENCE IN THIS STATE TO BE HARASSING THESE KIDS AND CREATING A BULLYING TYPE MENTALITY IS DISGRACEFUL.

AND I CALL ON EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE MEDIA WHO HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN THIS NONSENSE TO RECANT WHAT THEY'VE SAID AND APOLOGIZE TO THESE KIDS.

ARLENE: MEOW.

I'M GOING TO DO A KUDOS WITH QUEEN ELIZABETH.

TALK ABOUT DEVOTION TO DUTY.

I HOPE TOME LATE HER BY STILL WORKING -- TO EMULATE HER BY STILL WORKING WHEN I'M 96.

WHEN THE TOUGH DECISIONS HAD TO BE MADE THAT INVOLVED HER FAMILY, INCLUDING PRINCE ANDREW, SHE DID THE RIGHT THING FOR THE COUNTRY.

I THINK SHE'S A ROLE MODEL OF SERVICE AND WANT TO GIVE HER -- JIM: SHE A GREAT RUN.

JOE: HERE'S AN INDIVIDUAL, I'M GOING TALK ABOUT QUEEN ELIZABETH ALSO.

TWO DAYS BEFORE SHE PASSED AWAY, SHE LOOKED HE WILL GANLT, 96 YEARS OLD -- ELEGANT.

96 YEARS OLD.

SHE GREETED THE NEW PRIME MINISTER.

THIS IS A WOMAN THAT WAS ABLE TO ADVISE OTHER PRIME MINISTERS AFTER SHE WAS ADVISED BY CHURCHILL.

SHE WAS A SPECIAL LADY.

SHE WAS THE QUEEN OF THE WORLD.

JIM: IT WAS THE LONGEST WAIT TO GET CALLED UP FROM TRIPLE-A FOR CHARLES.

CAN YOU IMAGINE?

HE'S WAITING FOR THE CALL FROM THE BULLPEN.

I READ AN ACCOUNT, ONE OF THE QUEEN'S TOP AIDES, THEY WERE OUT, THERE WERE SOME AMERICANS HIKING NEAR THEIR PLACE IN SCOTLAND AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO THE QUEEN WAS.

AND THE GUY SAID, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THIS ACCOUNT.

HE SAID, AND THEY WERE TALKING, OH, DO YOU GET OUT HERE MUCH?

I HAVE A HOUSE IN LONDON BUT WE COME OUT HERE.

YOU HAVE EVER MET THE QUEEN?

AND THE GUY GOES, YEAH, I HAVE.

AND HE SAID, WHAT'S HE LIKE?

OH, SHE'S A CANTANKEROUS WOMAN.

THEY WERE LIKE, CAN WE GET A PICTURE WITH YOU AND WE CAN TELL OUR FRIENDS THAT YOU MET THE QUEEN AND IT WAS THE QUEEN IN THE PICTURE.

IT WAS A WONDERFUL STORY.

I WONDER HOW THAT'S GOING TO GO FOR CHARLES.

IT'S TOUGH TO BE YOUR OWN MAN AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.

JOE: BUT HE'S NOW KING.

JIM: YEAH.

LOVE LIVE THE KING.

THAT IS GREAT.

FOLKS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

JOE AND ARLENE AND BILL, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

A WEEK FROM NOW WE WILL KNOW WHO WON, WE WILL HAVE A FULL ANALYSIS.

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CHECK THAT OUT.

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GET OUT AND JOKE AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT NEXT WEEK AS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" CONTINUES.

ANNOUNCER: "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> HI.

FOR OVER 30 YEARS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.