>> FUNDING FOR "TO THE CONTRARY" PROVIDED BY THE E. RHODES AND LEONA B. CARPENTER FOUNDATION, THE COLCOM FOUNDATION, AND THE CHARLES A. FRUEAUFF FOUNDATION.

>> Bonnie: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "TO THE CONTRARY"!

A WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS SHOW COVERING ALL ISSUES AFFECTING WOMEN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

WE HAVE THE PLEASURE THIS WEEK OF SPEAKING WITH SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH, DEMOCRAT FROM ILLINOIS, AND, OF COURSE, ONE OF THE LEADING PEOPLE TO POTENTIALLY JOIN FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ON THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, SENATOR DUCKWORTH, THAT DONALD TRUMP'S MOST VULNERABLE POSITION IS?

>> Sen. Tammy Duckworth: I THINK THAT HE HAS GROSSLY FAILED TO ACT IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19.

I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT HE WAS USING MAGICAL, WISHFUL THINKING IN SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS THING WILL BE GONE BY APRIL MAGICALLY, AND I THINK HE SAID, AND THE FACT IS THAT AMERICANS ARE HURTING, REALLY HURTING ACROSS THE COUNTRY NOW.

AND THEY NEED HELP.

AND THIS PAST WEEKEND WHEN WE WERE APPROACHING 150,000 DEAD, HE WAS OUT GOLFING.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE DO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT WHERE AMERICA ISN'T WHERE ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE, AND WE HAVE TO GET AHEAD ON THIS PANDEMIC.

>> Bonnie: DOES IT SURPRISE YOU AT ALL THAT HE GETS THE SUPPORT OF THE MILITARY CONSIDERING -- WHEN HE ATTACKED YOU ABOUT THAT?

HE RESPONDED TO HIM BY CALLING HIM A FIVE-TIME DRAFT DODGER.

AND YET, HERE YOU ARE, WINNER OF A PURPLE HEART.

AND I KNOW YOU DON'T SEE YOURSELF AS A HERO.

YOU'RE TOO MODEST TO DO THAT.

BUT MOST OF AMERICA WOULD THINK THAT A HELICOPTER PILOT IN IRAQ WAS ATTACKED AND LOST BOTH LEGS WOULD BE A HERO, WITH THAT THE DEFINITION OF A HERO.

>> Sen. Tammy Duckworth: WELL, I'M NOT A HERO.

THE MAN WHO CARRIED ME TO SAFETY, THEY ARE THE REAL HEROES OF THE DAY.

AND I ALSO HAPPEN TO THINK THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING THE GROCERY STORE CHECKOUT RIGHT NOW IN THE MIDDLE -- ON THE FRONT LINES OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, THEY ARE THE REAL HEROES THAT GO OUT THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND NOT TO MENTION THE DOCTORS AND NURSES AND ALL THE PEOPLE WORKING IN HOSPITALS RIGHT NOW.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE MILITARY IS NOT MONOLITHIC.

I THINK THERE IS A GENERATIONAL SHIFT HAPPENING IN THE MILITARY THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE.

ALL OF THE BABY BOOMERS HAVE PRETTY MUCH LEFT THE MILITARY.

VIETNAM VETERANS ARE, YOU KNOW, THE TOP, TOP, TOP FOUR STARS GENERALS.

AND WHERE THE MILITARY IS, IS GEN X -- IS MY GENERATION IS NOW IN CHARGE.

IN THE MILLENNIALS OR MIDCAREER.

MILLENNIALS AT THIS POINT FOR THE COMPANY COMMANDERS.

AND SO, BOTH GEN XERS AND MILLENNIALS ARE FORMER PROGRESSIVE IN OUR SOCIAL VALUES THAN THE PREVIOUS GENERATION.

IN FACT, IN THE MILITARY, YOU KNOW, THE GEN XERS AND MILLENNIALS HAVE ONLY SERVED IN THE MILITARY , WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR SEVEN RIGHT TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT AND ALSO LGBTQ+ WELL.

SO I THINK THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS THE KIND OF SUPPORT FROM THE MILITARY AS HE WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO THINK.

IN FACT, HE IS LOSING THE BECAUSE HE'S TRYING TO POLITICIZE THE MILITARY AND PUSH THEM AND USE FOR HIS OWN AGENDA, AS HE DID WHEN HE ORDERED HELICOPTERS TO FLY BOTH PEACEFUL PROTESTERS IN LAFAYETTE SQUARE.

>> Bonnie: RIGHT.

NOW, YOU CAME TO THE ATTENTION OF SENATOR DICK DURBIN BECAUSE, WHEN YOU CAME BACK FROM IRAQ, YOU ARE ADVOCATING NOT ON BEHALF OF YOURSELF FOR VETERANS' BENEFITS, BUT ON BEHALF OF OTHER PEOPLE, YOU ARE IN THE HOSPITAL WITH.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

WHAT DID YOU DO FOR YOUR FELLOW VETS WHEN YOU WERE STILL RECUPERATING FROM YOUR OWN GRIEVOUS LOSSES?

>> Sen. Tammy Duckworth: WELL, WE WERE -- LISTEN, I DID WHATEVER SOLDIER DOES, WHICH WAS TAKE CARE OF YOUR BUDDIES.

I HAPPENED TO BE THE HIGHEST-RANKING AMPUTEE AT WALTER REED, HIGHEST-RANKING AMPUTEE PATIENT AT WALTER REED FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

AND I HAD MET SENATOR DURBIN, WHO MADE THE GRAVE, GRAVE, GRAVE, GRAVE MISTAKE OF GIVING ME HIS PERSONAL CELL PHONE NUMBER.

[LAUGHTER] >> Sen. Tammy Duckworth: ON HIS BUSINESS CARD, BECAUSE THERE WERE ONLY TWO OF US FROM ILLINOIS AT THE TIME.

AND HE SAID HE GAVE EACH ONE OF US A BUSINESS CARD WITH HIS PERSONAL CELL PHONE.E SAID, CALL ME IF YOU NEED ANYTHING.

I WILL DO WHATEVER I CAN TO HELP YOU.

AND THEN AS THE HIGHEST RANKING PATIENT THERE FOR A WHILE, I STARTED SEEING PROBLEMS WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE CARE.

THE HEALTH CARE WAS ABOVE THE BEST, THEIR HEALTHCARE WAS BEYOND GOOD.

BUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CARE JUST WASN'T THERE.

PEOPLE COULDN'T FIND A PLACE FOR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS TO SLEEP BAD PEOPLE WERE MISSING THEIR PAYCHECKS ALL ABOUT.

SO I STARTED ABUSING THE PRIVILEGE OF SENATOR DURBIN'S PHONE NUMBER.

CALLING HIM AND SAYING, SIR, I HAVE SOLDIERS FROM ILLINOIS, TEXAS, I GOT A MOM FROM SOLDIER, FROM NEBRASKA, WHATEVER.

DID NOT MATTER WHERE THEY COME, DICK DURBIN HELPED.

HE SORT OF BECAME THE UNOFFICIAL OMBUDSMAN FOR WALTER REED AND I WAS JUST SOMEWHAT ABUSING HIS TRUST IN HIM GIVING ME HIS PHONE NUMBER.

SO THAT'S HOW I STARTED ADVOCATING FOR MILITARY FAMILIES AND TROOPS AND VETERANS, AND THAT'S HOW DICK AND I BECAME FRIENDS.

>> Bonnie: AND HE, OF COURSE, WAS THE ONE WHO ENCOURAGED YOU AND HELPED YOU TO RUN FOR HOUSE AND OF COURSE ENCOURAGED YOU TO RUN FOR THE SENATE.

WHAT DO YOU -- IF YOU ARE SELECTED BY VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN, WHAT WOULD -- AND YOU, OF COURSE, WOULD RUN FOR THE PRESIDENT BECAUSE HE'S PROMISED TO BE A ONE TERM PRESIDENT.

WHAT WOULD BE THE BASIS OF YOUR CAMPAIGN?

WHAT DO YOU THINK MARKS YOU SPECIALLY FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND FOR THE ISSUES THAT THEY CARE ABOUT AS A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE?

>> Sen. Tammy Duckworth: WELL, I'M NOT INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

LET ME JUST SAY THAT RIGHT NOW.

I AM TEAM BIDEN ALL THE WAY.

MY FOCUS IS FOCUSED ON GETTING JOE BIDEN ELECTED.

I THINK A BIDEN TICKET, WHETHER IT IS BIDEN-DUCKWORTH OR BIDEN OR ANY OTHER NAMES OF VERY WELL-QUALIFIED PEOPLE THAT HE COULD PICK FROM, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE WHEN THE REFLEX JOE BIDEN.

AND THAT I THINK IS THE BEST -- DESCRIBED WITH TWO WORDS IS GREAT IN RESILIENCY: THE GRINCH TO SURVIVE SOME PRETTY TRAGIC THINGS IN HIS LIFE AND THE RESILIENCY TO KEEP GOING ON.

AND, BY THE WAY, THOSE TWO THINGS ALSO DESCRIBE AMERICANS AND WORKING FAMILIES ALL ACROSS THIS GREAT COUNTRY.

AND SO, I THINK THAT THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET WILL BE ABLE TO UNIQUELY TOUCH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND TALK TO THEM WITH THE GREATEST EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE STRUGGLES THEY ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.

>> Bonnie: BUT ONE QUESTION AFFECTING WHOMEVER HE WOULD PICK WOULD BE THAT IT NEEDS TO BE SOMEBODY WITH EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE.

THAT IS OF COURSE EFFUSIVELY PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE ANY KIND OF LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENTAL EXPERTISE AND CREDENTIALS AFTER ELECTING A TALKSHOW HOST TO BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

BUT WHAT WOULD YOU -- WHAT IS YOUR EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE THAT QUALIFIES YOU TO STEP INTO THE ROLE OF PRESIDENT, IF THE SITUATION WERE TO ARISE?

>> Sen. Tammy Duckworth: WELL, I DO THINK THAT EXPERIENCE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WHOEVER'S JOE BIDEN'S RUNNING MATE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT WHATEVER MISSION HE ASKS THEM TO CARRY OUT.

IT COULD BE TAKE OVER HIS CANCER MOONSHOT INITIATIVE, IT COULD BE ANY NUMBER OF THINGS.

I'M VERY PROUD THAT I LEAD AND WAS THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT AND STATE GOVERNMENT.

I WAS ON A GOVERNORS CABINET, AND OF COURSE IN THE ABOUT A DESPOT AND ADMINISTRATION, AS ASSISTANT SECRETARY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

AND HAVING SERVED IN THE HOUSE OF IN THE SENATE IN 23 YEARS IN THE MILITARY, MY EXPERIENCES VERY MUCH BROAD-BASED.

BUT, REALLY, WHAT VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN NEEDS IS SOMEONE WHO WILL STEP UP AND BE PART OF THE TEAM AND, FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT MY POSITION ON THE TEAM.

I CAN PLAY FIRST BASE, I CAN PLAY 2ND.

YOU KNOW, I COULD BE IN THE OUTFIELD.

THE KEY IS TO HAVE A TEAM THAT WILL GET HIM ELECTED AND WILL HELP HIM COOL THE COUNTRY OUT pOF THE MANY, MANY CRISES THAT WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW.

>> Bonnie: AND OF THOSE CRISES, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY SHOULD BE VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS ALREADY PUT FORTH A JOBS BILL, MUCH MORE RECENTLY THIS WEEK HE PUT FORTH A CHILDCARE BILL.

WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM FACING THIS COUNTRY COMING OUT OF A TRUMP PRESIDENCY?

AND THAT'S MY FINAL QUESTION.

>> Sen. Tammy Duckworth: THE BIGGEST THING IS THE PANDEMIC.

WE CANNOT REOPEN OUR ECONOMY AND GET BACK TO WORK IF WE DON'T HAVE THIS PANDEMIC OUT, YOU KNOW, UNDER CONTROL, WHICH MEANS WIDESPREAD TESTING, WHICH MEANS ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

SO THE PANDEMIC IS NUMBER ONE ON THE AGENDA OF THINGS THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

THE ECONOMY IS A CLOSE NUMBER TWO, MAYBE IT'S A 1.5.

BUT IT'S ALSO TIED TO BEING ABLE TO HANDLE THE PANDEMIC.

THEN, OF COURSE, I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT HEALTHCARE.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT A FAMILY LEAVE POLICY, AND NATIONAL FAMILY LEAVE POLICY IN THE VICE PRESIDENT'S AGENDA FOR THE COUNTRY.

I THOUGHT HE WAS VERY, VERY SMART TO RECOGNIZE THAT CHILDCARE IS VITAL TO ECONOMIC POLICIES, BECAUSE PARENTS CANNOT GO BACK TO WORK AND HELP GROW OUR ECONOMY IF THERE IS NO CHILDCARE, IF SCHOOLS ARE NOT OPEN OR THEY CANNOT AFFORD CHILDCARE.

SO WE'RE ACTUALLY RESTRICTING THE PRODUCTIVITY OF OUR NATION AND OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH BY NOT HAVING, FOR EXAMPLE, UNIVERSAL PRE K AND WIDESPREAD CHILDCARE AVAILABLE TO WORKING FAMILIES.

>> Bonnie: TERRIFIC.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH, DEMOCRAT OF ILLINOIS.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEWS NEXT WEEK.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

BE WELL.

>> Bonnie: HELLO, DONNA EDWARDS, FORMER DEMOCRATIC HOUSE MEMBER FROM MARYLAND.

HELLO ANNE STONE, LONGTIME POLITICAL CONSULTANT AND ALLY OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.

SO LET'S GO DOWN THE BAKER'S DOZEN OR SO LIST OF WOMEN THAT IS CONSIDERING AND WHAT STRENGTHS AND WHAT WEAKNESSES THEY BRING TO THE TICKET.

SO, DONNA, YOU, ILLINOIS DEMOCRATIC SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH.

>> Rep. Donna Edwards: I THINK IT'S A MIXED BAG.

FESTIVAL, I THINK IT'S A REALLY STRONG GROUP OF WOMEN WHO ARE BEING CONSIDERED, AND I THINK FOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH, I MEAN, IT'S THE AGE-OLD QUESTION OF HOW MANY PEOPLE NOW ARE PARTICULAR NOMINEE.

THERE IS NOT A LOT OF TIME FOR VOTERS TO GET TO KNOW THE FULL TICKET.

I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT SENATOR DUCKWORTH HAS, BUT SHE ALSO BRINGS A LOT TO THE TABLE.

SHE IS A COMBAT VETERAN, SHE WAS WOUNDED, YOU KNOW, IN COMBAT.

SHE HAS BEEN A UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS AND A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

SO SHE BRINGS A LOT TO THE TABLE.

>> Bonnie: WELL, WHAT ABOUT, I MEAN, I THINK HER MILITARY BRAVERY IS, IF NOT EVERYBODY IN THE UNITED STATES KNOWS ABOUT IT, IT CERTAINLY A STANDUP FACT ABOUT HER.

IN THE FACT THAT WHEN THE PRESIDENT ATTACKED HER ON TWITTER ON SOMETHING HAVING TO DO WITH MILITARY SERVICE, SHE SAID VERY FAMOUSLY NOW, I'M NOT GOING TO ANY RESPECT OR SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO A FIVE-TIME DRAFT DODGER, WHEN HE OR SHE IS HAVING LOST BOTH LEGS WHEN HER HELICOPTER IN IRAQ WAS SHUT DOWN BY AN ENEMY MISSILE.

DOESN'T THAT MAKE HER KIND OF BULLETPROOF AS FAR AS HER PATRIOTISM AND HER LOVE OF COUNTRY AND HER APPEAL TO THE MILITARY?

>> Rep. Donna Edwards: I THINK THAT THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT TAMMY DUCKWORTH BRINGS A LOT OF STRENGTHS TO THE TABLE.

ALL I'M SAYING IS I THINK IF YOU GO DOWN THE LIST, YOU CAN POINT TO THE RELATIVE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF AN AWFUL LOT OF THE WOMEN WHO ARE BEING CONSIDERED.

AND I THINK FOR THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT, THE REAL KEY FOR HIM, AND HE SAID THIS, IS TO TRY TO FIND THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP THAT HE HAD WITH BARACK OBAMA, WHEN IN WHICH HE COULD PLAY, YOU KNOW, AN ADVISOR BEHIND-THE-SCENES WHERE THEY GOT ALONG WELL AND THEY COULD, YOU KNOW, SEE THINGS ON THE SAME COURSE AND THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA COULD TRUST HIM WITH SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF HIS AGENDA.

AND I THINK THAT HE IS LOOKING FOR THAT KIND OF A RELATIONSHIP.

AND SO, IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT THESE VARIOUS WOMEN BRING TO THE TABLE IN TERMS OF THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES OR, YOU KNOW, THE STATES THAT THEY REPRESENT OR THE AREAS THAT THEY -- AND INTEREST THEY COVER.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT HIM FINDING THE RIGHT THING THAT MAKES IT CLICK SO THAT THEY CANNOT JUST BE GOOD PARTNERS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, BUT THE QUESTION OF WHAT KIND OF GOVERNING TEAM TO BRING US OUT OF THIS MORASS THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN INTO A NEW ECONOMY AND INTO A FUTURE, AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT IS LOOKING FOR.

>> Bonnie: WHAT ABOUT YOU, AND MIA DOES IT HAVE TO BE MORE THAN THAT PARTICULARLY SINCE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT HAS ARTIE SAID HE'S GOING TO BE A ONE TERM PRESIDENT IF ELECTED PRESIDENT?

AND SO, ISN'T THE COUNTRY GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR A WOMAN BECAUSE HE SAID IT WILL BE A WOMAN WHO THE COUNTRY CAN TRUST TO STEP IN AND BECOME THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?

>> Anne Stone: WELL, I THINK YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT.

I THINK EVERYTHING THAT DONNA SAID ABOUT HIM HE IS CORRECT, CERTAINLY HER MILITARY VETERAN PUTS HER IN A BETTER POSITION THAN A LOT OF THE DEMOCRATS THAT HE'S CONSIDERING IN TERMS OF THE GENERAL AMERICAN POPULATION.

HOWEVER SHE HAS NO REAL EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE.

AND THAT'S WHY I THINK HE WOULD PROBABLY BE BETTER OFF CHOOSING A GOVERNOR AS OPPOSED TO A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, BECAUSE I THINK MOST PEOPLE DO SEE WHOEVER HIS VPS IS LIKELY TO BECOME PRESIDENT, PERHAPS EVEN BEFORE HIS FIRST TERM IS UP.

SO FROM THAT STANDPOINT ALONE, I THINK HE NEEDS SOMEONE WITH MORE EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE.

BUT, AGAIN, SHE HELPS INOCULATE HIM ON OTHER THINGS, OTHER OF HIS CANDIDATES WOULD BE ATTACKED ON.

>> Bonnie: DO YOU THINK BECAUSE HE WILL BE SELECTING WOMAN THERE IS -- I HATE TO ASK THIS, BUT THERE'S MORE PRESSURE TO SELECT SOMEONE WITH EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE?

BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP SURE DID NOT HAVE EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE.

BARACK OBAMA HAD TWO YEARS IN THE U.S. SENATE AND NON- IN THE HOUSE.

SHE HAS MORE CERTAINLY LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE THAT HE HAS HAD.

I MEAN, AREN'T WE SORT OF BEYOND THE POINT -- ISN'T IT MORE OF A POPULARITY CONTEST NOW THAN IT USED TO BE?

>> Anne Stone: WELL, THERE IS A LOT OF THAT.

IN FACT, I'M NOT SURE IF TAMMIE IS THAT LIKABLE.

I MEAN, I THINK SOME OF THESE OTHER CHOICES ARE SEEN AS BEING MORE LIKABLE.

BUT, YES, THERE WILL BE PRESSURE.

THIS WILL BE THE FIRST, POSSIBLY THE FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT THAT PUTS AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON WHO THAT PERSON IS, ABSOLUTELY.

>> Rep. Donna Edwards: TO ME, PRESUMING THAT THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MIGHT NOT SERVE OUT HIS TERM, I THINK THAT'S ALL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A BIG STRETCH.

AND SO -- >> Bonnie: LET ME JUMP IN.

I DID NOT MEAN TO IMPLY THAT.

I MEANT THAT WHOEVER HE SELECTS WILL MOST LIKELY BE THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE AND HAVE TO STEP INTO THAT JOB FROM VP TO PRESIDENT.

>> Rep. Donna Edwards: WELL, THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE I'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH DEMOCRATS DON'T NECESSARILY BELIEVE THAT THAT IS TRUE, THAT THE NEXT VICE PRESIDENT CERTAINLY GOING TO HAVE A LEG UP, BUT THAT WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE IN 2024, IF IT COMES TO THAT, A VERY ROBUST COMPETITION AMONG DEMOCRATS FOR THE NOMINATION.

AND SO, I DON'T WANT US TO GET AHEAD OF OURSELVES.

I AM MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN WHETHER THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT WHO HAS LAID OUT A REALLY ROBUST GOVERNING AGENDA, AS WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, WHETHER HE IS GOING TO CHOOSE SOMEONE THAT HE CAN PUT TO THE TASK OF AN INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN, PUT TO THE TASK OF FIGURING OUT HOW WE PROVIDE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE FOR WORKING FAMILIE, AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

AND HE MIGHT BE MAKING A CHOICE ABOUT SOMEBODY MORE OF A TASKMASTER WHO WILL GET IN THERE AND DO THE WORK.

AND SO, I WILL BE FASCINATED TO SEE WHO HE CHOOSES.

WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT THAT LIST OF WOMEN HE IS CONSIDERING, WHETHER THEY ARE GOVERNORS OR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, IS A REALLY STRONG CATEGORY OF CHOICES FOR VICE PRESIDENT.

>> Bonnie: NOW, LAST TIME I CHECKED, LBJ WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO PUSH THINGS THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH FOR THE PRESIDENT.

BUT WHO DO YOU THINK OF ALL THE FEMALE CANDIDATES, ELIZABETH WARREN?

I DON'T THINK SO, WHO ELSE DO YOU THINK HAS THE REQUISITE LEGISLATIVE ABILITIES?

TAMMY BALDWIN, WHO?

>> Rep. Donna Edwards: WELL, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I THINK, TO ME, IT REALLY IS ABOUT FINDING THAT NEXT.

KEEP IN MIND THAT IT'S NOT LIKE THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT IS LACKING IN LEGISLATIVE TALENTS AND SKILLS.

AND SO, THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A GAP HE NEEDS TO FILL.

CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT HE HELPED PRESIDENT OBAMA WITH IN TERMS OF KNOWING THE CAPITOL HILL AND OF COURSE KNOWING THE SENATE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN LOOK AT KAMALA HARRIS WHO HAS, YOU KNOW, STRONG LEGISLATIVE SKILLS.

SHE ALSO HAS EXECUTIVE SKILLS, HAVING BEEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN CALIFORNIA.

BUT THEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT SOMEBODY LIKE, YOU KNOW, EVEN A VAL DEMINGS WHO WAS THE, YOU KNOW, THE POLICE CHIEF.

AND THAT CERTAINLY REQUIRES A LOT OF EXECUTIVE AND POLITICAL ACUMEN.

I THINK YOU CAN GO DOWN THE LIST OF EACH ONE OF THESE WOMEN.

AND, OF COURSE, ELIZABETH WARREN, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT IN BYTEDANCE GOVERNING AGENDA, HE HAS ACTUALLY BORROWED A LOT FROM ALL OF THE PLANS THAT ELIZABETH WARREN PUT OUT THERE.

SO I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW THAT THAT WOULD BE A BAD CHOICE.

I MEAN, DONALD TRUMP HAS TAKEN WHEN HIT AT HER AND ANOTHER, AND SHE HAS, YOU KNOW, NOT PULL PUNCHES WITHIN.

AND SO, SHE'S PROVEN THAT SHE CAN TAKE THAT.

AND I THINK IN SOME WAYS, WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN, AND I THINK THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT DOES, THAT WE FIND SOMEBODY WHO HAS THE ABILITY TO BE ON THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN SEEN IMMEDIATELY AND TAKE A PUNCH, THROW A PUNCH, AND GET UP.

>> Anne Stone: IF I MIGHT, WHEN HE SAID TRUMP HAD NO EXECUTIVE EXPENSE, I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WOULD DIFFER WITH YOU.

THEY WOULD SAY RUNNING THE LARGE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HE FOUNDED AND BUILT AND RAN CONSTITUTE A LOT OF EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE, AGAIN, THAT THESE FOLKS DON'T HAVE.

THE OTHER THING, LIKE ABILITIES GOING TO BE -- >> Bonnie: WAIT, WAIT.

ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT HIS TV SHOW OR HIS BUILDING EMPIRE THAT HE ESSENTIALLY INHERITED FROM HIS FATHER?

>> Anne Stone: HE DID NOT INHERIT IT.

HE BUILT HIS TOTALLY SEPARATE ORGANIZATION.

HIS FATHER WAS OUT IN THE SUBURBS, HE BUILT HIS ORGANIZATION IN MANHATTAN.

WAS TOTALLY SEPARATE.

BUT, ANYWAY, MOVING RIGHT ALONG, THE LIKABILITY FACTOR AS PART OF IT.

BUT ALSO WHICH ONE OF THESE WOMEN HE'S CONSIDERING HAVE ANY SORT OF RECORD OF LEGISLATIVE SUCCESS?

WARREN IS THE ONLY ONE WHO'S GOTTEN ANYTHING REALLY SIGNIFICANT PASSED.

THE REST OF THEM DON'T HAVE ANY RECORD AT ALL.

SO FROM THAT STANDPOINT, I THINK SHE DOES STAND OUT AS SOMEBODY WHO, YOU KNOW, CAN BRING A LITTLE BIT MORE GRAVITAS THAT SHE CAN SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, LOOK WHAT I HAVE DONE, WHICH THE OTHERS CANNOT.

THE OTHERS HAVE OTHER THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY RECOMMEND THEM AS WELL, BUT SHE'S THE ONLY WHEN THE HAS A RECORD OF SUCCESS.

>> Bonnie: ANNE, I VICE PRESIDENT OF QUESTION FOR YOU TOO.

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF RUMORS AND HAVE BEEN FOR SIX MONTHS OR MORE THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTS TO GET RID OF VICE PRESIDENT PENCE AS HIS RUNNING MATE IN THE NEXT GO AROUND.

AND HE'S LOOKING AT FORMER GOVERNOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA NIKKI HALEY.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT?

>> Anne Stone: NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

THAT IS THE FANTASIES OF SOME VERY STRANGE PEOPLE.

I THINK NIKKI, HOWEVER, WILL RUN AT THE END OF TRUMP'S SECOND TERM, NO DOUBT AT ALL.

BUT PENCE, HIS PEOPLE ARE OVER THE ADMINISTRATIONIS TENTACLES ARE VERY FAR AND WIDE.

IS VERY INVOLVED IN POLICY AT ALL LEVELSHAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Bonnie: ALL RIGHT.

YOU SAY AT THE END OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S NEXT TERM, YOU ARE ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE IN POLITICS I'VE SPOKEN WITH RECENTLY WHO BELIEVES THAT'S A STRONG POSSIBILITY -- BE GREAT IF YOU REMEMBER IN 2016, I WAS ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE YOU TALKED TO WHO THOUGHT IT WAS A POSSIBILITY THEN TOO, SO... >> Bonnie: OKAY, BUT WHAT I'VE HEARD MOST RECENTLY IS THAT, I MEAN, AMID SUCKING POLLS ALL OVER THE PLACE, AMID DOUBLE-DIGIT LEADS IN BATTLEGROUND STATES PROVIDED, THE ONE THING I HAVE HEARD IS THAT IF THERE IS A VACCINE BEFORE NOVEMBER AND IF THE ECONOMY TURNS AROUND AND THE WHOLE WORLD, AT THIS POINT SEEMS TO BE CONSERVATIVE MONEY MANAGERS AS WELL, I THINK WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF A NASTY DEPRESSION AT THIS POINT, THAT THEN HE COULD PULL IT OUT.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?> Anne Stone: WELL, I SAY WE ARE IN MORE OF A V SHAPE THEN U SHAPED RECOVERY.

THAT IS HAPPENING.

YOU WILL SEE A VERY LARGE GDP GROWTH NEXT QUARTER, ESPECIALLY, VERY BIG.

THIS QUARTER, NOT SURE YET.

>> Bonnie: DOES THE PRESIDENT HAVE A WAY OF WINNING?

DO YOU SEE A PATH TO VICTORY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP?

>> Anne Stone: OH, ABSOLUTELY.

>> Rep. Donna Edwards: YOU KNOW, I HAVE RUN FOR OFFICE.

I DON'T THINK YOU EVER SAY NEVER.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT FEWER THAN 100 DAYS AGO IN THE SELECTION.

AND I THINK THAT RIGHT NOW I'D RATHER BE JOE BIDEN THEN DONALD TRUMP.

I ALSO BELIEVE THAT JOE BIDEN IS ACTUALLY PLAYING THIS EXACTLY THE RIGHT WAY.

IS NOT LEANING ON ANY POLL NUMBERS.

HE'S CONTINUING TO GET OUT AND TO REACH VOTERS IN STATES THAT WE DID NOT EVEN THINK WERE ON THE TABLE IN PAST ELECTIONS.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM 2016 IS THAT WE HAVE MUCH BETTER STATE PULLING IN 2020 THAN WE HAD IN 2016.

THE STATE POLLS WERE WAY OFF EVEN THOUGH THE NATIONAL POLLS WERE STRAIGHT ON WITH REGARD TO THE POPULAR VOTE.

AND SO, I THINK THERE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE ACCURACY THERE THEN WE SAW REFLECTED IN 2016.

THIS CORONAVIRUS IS REALLY TAKEN ITS TOLL IN THE PRESIDENT'S RESPONSE TO AND THE ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE TO IT, WHICH, FRANKLY, HAS BEEN WOEFUL, AND I THINK YOU WILL SEE THAT REFLECTED IN THE POLLS.

AND THE REALITY IS THAT NOW WITH MORE THAN 150,000 PEOPLE DEAD, MORE THAN 4 MILLION PEOPLE IMPACTED AND HAVING GOTTEN THIS VIRUS AND STILL NO RESPONSE TO THAT -- EVEN IF A VACCINE COMES OUT, WE COULD BE APPROACHING 200,000 PEOPLE DEAD BY THE TIME WE GET TO THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

I THINK THAT IS GOING TO WEIGH HEAVILY ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHEN THEY GO TO CAST THEIR VOTES IN NOVEMBER.

AND SO, JOE BIDEN AND DEMOCRATS SHOULD NOT JUST REST ON THEIR LAURELS AND REST ON THESE POLLS AND CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK, BUT THIS PRESIDENT IS VERY VULNERABLE RIGHT NOW.

>> Bonnie: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR TIME.

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