♪♪♪ >>> HELLO, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO "AMANPOUR AND COMPANY."

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP.

>> AMERICA, HOPE IS MAKING A COMEBACK.

>> CAN KAMALA HARRIS REBUILD THE OBAMA COALITION?

MIDWAY THROUGH THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION, I ASK CONGRESSWOMAN VICTORIA ESCOBAR, CO-CHAIR OF THE HARRIS/WALZ CAMPAIGN.

THEN -- ♪♪♪ >>> INSIDE "THE WEST WING."

25 YEARS SINCE THE ICONIC SERIES DEBUTED, I'M JOINED BY ITS STARS, MARTIN SHEEN AND MELISSA FITZGERALD TO DIGEST AN ENDURING LEGACY.

ALSO AHEAD -- >>> I FEEL A LITTLE OUT OF PLACE TONIGHT, BUT I FEEL MORE AT HOME HERE THAN IN TODAY'S REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> THE REPUBLICAN BACKING KAMALA HARRIS.

JOHN GILES, MAYOR OF MESA, ARIZONA, TELLS HARI WHY HE CAN'T SUPPORT HIS OWN PARTY'S NOMINEE.

♪♪♪ >>> "AMANPOUR AND COMPANY" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- THE ANDERSON FAMILY ENDOWMENT.

JIM ATTWOOD AND LESLIE WILLIAMS.

CANDACE KING WEIR.

THE SYLVIA A.

AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM.

THE FAMILY FOUNDATION OF LEILA AND MICKEY STRAUS.

MARK J. BLECHNER.

THE FILOMEN M. D'AGOSTINO FOUNDATION.

SETON J. MELVIN.

THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

CHARLES ROSENBLUM.

KOO AND PATRICIA YUEN, COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG.

JEFFREY KATZ AND BETH ROGERS.

AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM, EVERYONE, I'M CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR IN LONDON.

HALFWAY ACROSS THE WORLD AND HALFWAY THROUGH THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IN CHICAGO, AFTER THE OBAMAS ROCKED THE HALL, TONIGHT, THE VP NOMINEE, TIM WALZ, PITCHES HIMSELF TO THE BIGGEST CROWD OF HIS CAREER, REACHING OUT TO A PUBLIC AROUND THE NATION THAT DOESN'T FULLY KNOW HIM YET.

AND HE HAS A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW, BECAUSE LAST NIGHT, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND THE FORMER FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA BOTH DELIVERED BARNSTORMING SPEECHES THAT TRIED TO RECAPTURE THE ENERGY AROUND HIS 2008 CAMPAIGN.

>> I AM FEELING HOPEFUL, BECAUSE THIS CONVENTION HAS ALWAYS BEEN PRETTY GOOD TO KIDS WITH FUNNY NAMES WHO BELIEVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

>> IT'S SPREADING ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY WE LOVE, A FAMILIAR FEELING THAT'S BEEN BURIED TOO DEEP FOR FAR TOO LONG.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

IT'S THE CONTAGIOUS POWER OF HOPE.

>> BUT BOTH ALSO INSISTED THAT DESPITE THAT SURGING HOPE AND ENTHUSIASM, IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY TIGHT RACE.

SO, LET'S GET THE LATEST FROM CHICAGO WITH REPORTER KEVIN LIPTAK.

KEVIN, WELCOME.

SO, YOU'VE BEEN THERE, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT, IT'S DAY THREE.

BEYOND THE BARNSTORMING SPEECHES THAT ARE TAKING EVERYBODY BY, YOU KNOW, BY THE NECK, SO TO SPEAK, WHAT ARE THEY SAYING WHAT ARE THE DELEGATES SAYING?

DO THEY -- YOU KNOW, GET BEYOND SORT OF THE ENTHUSIASM AND DOWN TO THE NITTY-GRITTY OF TURNING THAT INTO VOTES?

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN GET PAST THE ENTHUSIASM IN SOME WAYS.

THIS IS A CONVENTION THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE THAT DEMOCRATS WERE PLANNING A MONTH AGO WHEN JOE BIDEN WAS GOING TO BE THE NOMINEE, AND NOW THAT KAMALA HARRIS IS THE DEMOCRATIC STANDARD BEARER, THERE HAS BEEN SOMETHING OF A RELEASE OF ENERGY INSIDE THIS CONVENTION HALL.

DEMOCRATS ARE ENTHUSED, THEY, YOU KNOW, GREET THEIR SPEAKERS WITH DEAFENING APPLAUSE, AND I THINK YOU REALLY CAN'T IMAGINE A MORE DIFFERENT SPECTACLE IF JOE BIDEN WAS STILL THE NOMINEE.

I THINK IT WAS JAMES CARVILLE WHO SAID THIS CONVENTION WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE SITTING SHIVA IF JOE BIDEN WAS THE CANDIDATE.

IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT EVENT THAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE THIS WEEK, AND YOU SAW THAT WHEN THE OBAMAS WALKED OUT ON STAGE LAST NIGHT.

IT WAS RAUCOUS APPLAUSE.

YOU COULD NOT HEAR YOURSELF THINK WHEN MICHELLE OBAMA EMERGED ONTO THAT STAGE.

WHAT I THINK WAS SO INTERESTING IN THE OBAMAS SPEECHES, THOUGH, THEY DIDN'T NECESSARILY TALK ABOUT DONALD TRUMP AS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY.

THAT HAD BEEN JOE BIDEN'S MESSAGE, THAT IS THE CAMPAIGN HE WANTED TO RUN ON.

THAT'S NOT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, BARACK OBAMA DOESN'T CARE ABOUT DEMOCRACY, AND YOU KNOW THAT WELL, YOU INTERVIEWED HIM NOT THAT LONG AGO ABOUT THAT VERY TOPIC, BUT THEY HAVE CLEARLY MADE THE CALCULATION THAT VOTERS WANT TO HEAR LESS ABOUT DEMOCRACY AND MORE TAKEDOWNS OF DONALD TRUMP, AND THEIR SPEECHES WERE FULL OF SORT OF LAUGH LINES ABOUT DONALD TRUMP.

THEY HAVE MADE THE CALCULATION THAT NOTHING GETS UNDER DONALD TRUMP'S SKIN THAN NOT BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY, AND I THINK THAT'S SUCH A WHOLESCALE DIFFERENT APPROACH THAN JOE BIDEN WAS TAKING, AND IT KIND OF TELLS YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HOW THIS CAMPAIGN HAS CHANGED AND HOW THIS CONVENTION HAS CHANGED SINCE KAMALA HARRIS EMERGED AS THE NOMINEE.

>> SO, TELL US KIND OF ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TIM WALZ, BECAUSE HE IS NOT KNOWN WIDELY ACROSS AMERICA.

WHAT WAS HIS CHALLENGE AS HE TAKES TO THE STAGE?

>> YEAH, AND I'LL TELL YOU, HE'S ACTUALLY NOT ALL THAT WELL KNOWN AMONG THE DELEGATES HERE.

IN CHATTING THEM UP OVER THE COURSE OF THIS WEEK, MANY OF THEM SAID THAT HE WASN'T REALLY EVEN ON THEIR RADAR UNTIL TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN HE BECAME THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE.

AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST PLUGGED IN PEOPLE IN DEMOCRATIC POLITICS.

SO, HE WILL HAVE A TASK IN FRONT OF HIM IN INTRODUCING HIMSELF TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

AND I THINK WHAT HE'S GOING TO WANT TO DO IS RELY ON HIS BIOGRAPHY, HIS ROOTS IN NEBRASKA, HE WAS A FOOTBALL COACH, HE WAS A TEACHER, HE WAS A CONGRESSMAN, AND HE WANTS TO PUT THAT FORWARD AS SOMETHING OF A TESTAMENT TO HIS CHARACTER.

HE HAS ALSO EMERGED AS SOMETHING OF A JOYFUL WARRIOR ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

HE IS THE ONE WHO ORIGINATED THE ATTACK LINE ON THE REPUBLICANS AS WEIRD, WHICH HAS GENERATED AND ENORMOUS RESPONSE.

AND SO, THAT, I THINK, WILL BE HIS TASK WHEN HE COMES ON THE STAGE TONIGHT, TO JUST LET AMERICANS KNOW WHO EXACTLY THIS PERSON IS.

>> AND JUST BECAUSE I'M SITTING OVER HERE ACROSS THE POND, SO TO SPEAK, WITH ALL THE WORLD WATCHING THIS ELECTION COMING UP, HAS ANYBODY ARTICULATED A WORLD VIEW YET?

>> I THINK THE KAMALA HARRIS DOCTRINE IS A VERY MUCH UNKNOWN THING AT THIS POINT.

SHE HAS ENTERED THE VICE PRESIDENT SI WITH NOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE ON THE FOREIGN STAGE.

SHE'S LEARNED AS SHE WENT ALONG, AND JOE BIDEN IS SOMEBODY ABLE TO DO THAT, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN ON THE WORLD STAGE FOR SO LONG.

SHE'S TAKEN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TASKS, CERTAINLY SHE WAS FOCUSED ON UKRAINE, SHE'S VISIT UKRAINE.

I THINK IF YOU CAN IDENTIFY THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM, IT'S PROBABLY ON THE WAR IN ISRAEL.

SUBSTANTIVELY, I DON'T THINK SHE WOULD BE DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN JOE BIDEN IS DOING AT THIS POINT, BUT IN TERMS OF EMPHASIS, SHE HAS BEEN MUCH MORE STRINGENT IN TALKING ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF THE PALESTINIANS, THE NEED FOR A CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA.

SHE HAS SAID THAT JUST THIS WEEK, AS WELL.

THIS CONVENTION IN SOME WAYS HAD BEEN OVERSHADOWED WHERE PEOPLE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE OVERSHADOWED BY PROTESTS RELATED TO THE WAR IN GAZA, WHICH HAS DIVIDED THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN SOME WAYS.

THOSE HAVE REMAINED OUTSIDE THE CONVENTION HALL SO FAR.

IT HAS NOT DISRUPTED THE PROCEEDINGS HERE IN THE ARENA.

>> KEVIN LIPTAK, THANK YOU.

AND THURSDAY NIGHT, TOMORROW NIGHT, IS KAMALA HARRIS' NIGHT.

EVERYBODY WILL BE TUNED IN.

AND LATER IN THIS PROGRAM, CONGRESSWOMAN VERONICA ESCOBAR, CO-CHAIR OF THE HARRIS/WALZ CAMPAIGN, WILL JOIN ME WITH MORE.

>>> NOW, MUCH HAS BEEN MADE OF HOW THIS DNC HAS BEEN TRYING TO RECAPTURE THE HOPE OF OBAMA'S 2008 RUN.

BUT IF YOU WANT REAL POLITICAL FANTASIA, YOU HAVE TO LOOK A LITTLE FURTHER BACK IN TIME, TO 1999, WHEN AARON SORKIN'S SERIES "THE WEST WING" HIT THE AIR WAVES WITH ITS DYNAMIC, FAST-PACED SCRIPTS AND SOARING POLITICAL OPTIMISM.

HERE'S JUST ONE CLIP TO REMIND US WHEN ACTOR MARTIN SHEEN WAS PRESIDENT.

>> THERE'S A PROMISE THAT I ASK EVERYONE WHO WORKS HERE TO MAKE.

NEVER DOUBT THAT A SMALL GROUP OF THOUGHTFUL AND COMMITTED CITIZENS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.

YOU KNOW WHY?

>> IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT EVER HAS?

>> SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME AGO, BUT A NEW BOOK IS GOING BEHIND THE SCENES, CALLED "WHAT'S NEXT: A BACKSTAGE PASS TO THE WEST WING, ITS CAST AND CREW AND ENDURING LEGACY OF SERVICE."

I'M JOINED NOW BY THE ALUM MELISSA FITZGERALD, AS WELL AS PRESIDENT BARTLETT HIMSELF, THE MULTIAWARD-WINNING ACTOR MARTIN SHEEN.

WELCOME, BOTH OF YOU, TO THE PROGRAM.

IT REALLY DOES SEEM APPROPRIATE TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND YOUR LEGACY, THE PROGRAM'S LEGACY, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS CONVENTION.

BECAUSE, AS MICHELLE OBAMA SAID, IT DOES SEEM THAT HOPE HAS BEEN REKINDLED, AT LEAST FOR THIS WEEK.

MARTIN SHEEN, HOW DO YOU SEE WHAT'S GOING ON NOW IN REAL LIFE AND SORT OF AS A POST-SCRIPT TO WHAT YOU ALL HOPED AND PREDICTED BACK WHEN "THE WEST WING" WAS ON THE AIR?

>> WELL, CLEARLY, THERE IS A GROUNDSWELL, AND IT HAS CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION OF THE WHOLE NATION, AND NO ONE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE ANTICIPATED IT, AND LEAST OF ALL, THE REPUBLICANS, AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I WOULD OFFER JUST A FEW WORDS OF ADVICE TO MR. TRUMP -- DONALD, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED A BIGGER BOAT.

THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

THERE IS A TIDAL WAVE SWEEPING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND IT'S LIFTING EVERYBODY UP WITH THIS OPTIMISM AND JOY AND HOPE.

SOMETHING THAT WE COULD NOT POSSIBLY HAVE IMAGINED UNTIL VERY RECENTLY, AND SO WE'RE ALL, FRANKLY, JUST HAPPY AS LARRY THAT FINALLY, THE DAM HAS BROKEN, AND IT'S OKAY TO -- TO JOIN THE -- JOIN THE WAVE.

>> SO, OF COURSE, YOU SPEAK FROM A PARTICULAR PERSPECTIVE, AND ONE THAT YOU ALL CREATED AND SHOWED THE WORLD DURING "THE WEST WING."

SOME CALL IT A LIBERAL FANTASY.

MELISSA FITZGERALD, WHAT I WANT TO ASK YOU IS ABOUT THE BOOK THAT YOU'VE WRITTEN ABOUT IT.

WHAT'S NEXT, AND IT HAS A LONG SUBTITLE.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR ALL THESE YEARS LATER FROM THE CAST, FROM THE CREW, FROM THE OTHERS WHO TOOK PART IN THIS INCREDIBLE SERIES?

>> WELL, I THINK WE ARE AT A MOMENT OF GREAT HOPE, OF JOY, AS MARTIN SAID, OF OPTIMISM, AND WE ALL FELT SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN PART OF A SHOW THAT ENVISIONED A GOVERNMENT THAT WAS FILLED BY SMART, COMMITTED PEOPLE WHO WENT TO WORK EVERY DAY TRYING TO DO THE MOST GOOD FOR THE MOST PEOPLE, AND WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE FANS AND PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT THE BOOK, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN OUT FOR ABOUT A WEEK NOW, AND WE'VE GOTTEN SUCH A FLOOD OF POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM PEOPLE SAYING THAT THIS BOOK IS MEETING THE MOMENT THAT WE ARE IN NOW.

AND THAT HAS BEEN THRILLING AND EXCITING THAT WE ARE IN THIS MOMENT OF GREAT OPTIMISM, JOY, AND HOPE, WHICH WAS REALLY WHAT "THE WEST WING" WAS ABOUT, AND WHY I BELIEVE IT CAUGHT SUCH FIRE.

>> SO, LOOK, I'M GOING TO PLAY A LITTLE CLIP, AND, YOU KNOW, IT TALKS ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT, THE ORIGIN OF THAT PHRASE, OR, THAT QUESTION, WHICH IS ALSO THE TITLE OF YOUR BOOK.

HERE WE GO, LET'S FLASH BACK FOR A MOMENT.

>> SAM, IF WE WIN IN ILLINOIS, DO WE HAVE A SHOT AT CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK?

>> IF BEWIN IN ILLINOIS, WE'RE GOING TO RUN THE TABLE.

>> WELL, THAT'S IT THEN.

WE SAVE PEOPLE THE TROUBLE OF VOTING.

WHAT'S NEXT?

>> OUR POINT IS THAT IT'S -- >> I UNDERSTOOD THE POINT.

WE'RE GOING TO SOUTH CAROLINA TO SET UP ILLINOIS.

WHEN I ASK WHAT'S NEXT, IT MEANS I'M READY TO MOVE OPT OTHER THINGS.

SO, WHAT'S NEXT?

>> WE'RE DONE.

>> FANTASTIC.

>> I MEAN, IT SUMS UP SO MUCH, MARTIN SHEEN.

THAT WAS THE LATE JOHN SPENCER, ALSO, OBVIOUSLY, IN THAT CLIP.

TELL ME ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT?

I MEAN, YOU SORT OF EXPLAIN IT THERE, BUT HOW DID THAT BECOME THE SORT OF -- THE ICONIC PHRASE?

>> WELL, HE'D NEVER WANTED TO -- TO LOOK BEHIND HIM.

HE WAS ALWAYS LOOKING FORWARD, SO, WHEN HE SAID WHAT'S NEXT, HE'S SAYING TO HIS STAFF AND TO ANYONE WITHIN EARSHOT THAT WE -- I'VE GOT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO TELL ME, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD, AND I'M CARRYING WHAT YOU TOLD ME WITH ME, SO, WHAT'S NEXT?

>> SO, HE GOT IT, IN OTHER WORDS, HE DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE ENDLESS LONG MEETS.

>> YEAH.

>> MELISSA, SO, AS WE'VE ESTABLISHED, "THE WEST WING" -- IT'S LIKE COMFORT VIEWING.

IT GAVE PEOPLE A SENSE OF HOPE, A SENSE OF CAN-DO, THAT POLITICS WAS THERE TO MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER.

AND THINGS THAT CAME LATER WERE VERY CYNICAL, WHETHER IT WAS "HOUSE OF CARDS," "IN THE THICK OF IT," "VEEP," EVEN, FUNNY, BUT QUITE CYNICAL.

HOW DO YOU ACCOUNT FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE HOPEFUL VERSION, MELISSA?

WHEN YOU LOOK BACK, YOU KNOW, 25 YEARS LATER?

>> I BELIEVE -- I AM A HOPEFUL PERSON AT MY CORE, AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE.

WE WANT THAT, WE WANT TO KNOW THAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS THERE FOR US.

WE DO OWN IT.

IT IS OURS, AND WE -- WE HAVE TO BUILD IT.

WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IT, AND I KNOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE THAT HOPE IN THEM AND WE NEED THAT, AND I THINK THAT WAS PART OF THE SUCCESS OF THE SHOW, AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT, MARY AND I CHOSE THAT, MARY McCORMICK, WHO IS THE COAUTHOR, CASTMATE, AND DEAR FRIEND, SPENT FIVE YEARS WRITING THIS BOOK, AND WE CHOSE THAT TITLE CAREFULLY, BECAUSE NOT ONLY WAS IT THE PRESIDENT'S CATCHPHRASE, BUT IT'S ALSO WHAT WE BELIEVE.

EVERYONE THAT READS THE BOOK, WE THE PEOPLE, WE'RE WHAT'S NEXT, BECAUSE WE MAKE OUR GOVERNMENT, AND WE GET THE GOVERNMENT THAT WE BUILT.

SO, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT, WE'RE EXCITED THAT FANS ARE, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY ARE READING THE BOOK WITH THEIR FAMILIES, AND THAT THEY ARE IN THIS MOMENT OF HOPE AND INSPIRATION, AND IT'S JUST A THRILLING TIME TO BE ALIVE.

>> YEAH, AND ACTUALLY, THE SERIES HIT ANOTHER WHOLE WAVE OF, YOU KNOW, OF PEOPLE AND VIEWERS DURING COVID, AND PEOPLE STILL WATCH IT AND BINGE IT, EVEN YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WERE BARELY BORN WHEN THE SERIES DEBUTED.

BUT I WANT TO ASK YOU, MARTIN, AS WELL, BECAUSE THE IDEA OF SERVICE IS VERY, VERY CLEAR.

PUBLIC SERVICE THROUGH THE PRESIDENCY, THROUGH GOVERNMENT, AND ALSO INDIVIDUAL SERVICE AND PAYING BACK.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF YOU, AS REGULAR CIVILIANS, REALLY DID TAKE ON A LOT OF SERVICE.

MAYBE YOU WERE ALL DOING PUBLIC SERVICE, VARIOUS THINGS BEFORE, BUT MARTIN, TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE IT'S INTERESTING THAT THE CAST AND CREW AND MANY OF YOU HAVE ENGAGED IN THAT.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

YOU KNOW, COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE WAS -- WAS PART OF OUR LIVES AS A COMMUNITY WITH "THE WEST WING," BUT ALSO INDIVIDUALLY, AND I THINK IT HAD A LARGE PART TO DO WITH WHY WE WERE CAST IN THE SHOW.

WE CAME FROM A PLACE AND WE STOOD FOR SOMETHING, AND IF WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS NOT COSTLY, THEN YOU'RE LEFT TO QUESTION IT'S VALUE, AND SO FOR US, PUBLIC SERVICE WAS A -- A FORM OF PATRIOTISM THAT WENT BEYOND THE MILITARY, AND WAS EXPECTED FROM ALL OF US.

I GREW UP IN A VERY DIFFERENT TIME, OF COURSE, IN THE MIDWEST IN THE 1950s, EISENHOWER WAS PRESIDENT, HE WAS LIKE A GRANDFATHER.

THEN HERE COMES JOHN KENNEDY, AND A SPARK WAS LIT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND MORE AND MORE YOUNG PEOPLE GOT INVOLVED, BECAUSE HE SAID, ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY?

AND THAT MADE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON YOUNG PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.

AND WE SORT OF ECHOED THAT WITH "THE WEST WING," WE REACHED OUT AND SAID, NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE, WHO YOU ARE, AND WHAT YOU'RE INVOLVED IN, YOU'VE GOT TO GO HIGHER TO MAKE THE COUNTRY BETTER.

AND YOU'LL BE BETTER AS A RESULT.

YOU'RE GOING TO CARRY WITH YOU ALL THAT YOU BELIEVE AND ALL THAT YOU'VE SACRIFICED, AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE MEANING.

VERY OFTEN, THE ONLY TIME WE SEE ANY RESULTS OF OUR ACTIVISM IS ON OURSELF OR, AND THAT'S WHERE IT STARTS.

YOU CAN'T THINK, WELL, I'M INVOLVED IN SOMETHING AND EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE CHANGED BY IT -- NO, NO.

IF YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE THAT'S CHANGED, THEN YOU'RE ALREADY A SUCCESS.

>> YOU KNOW, AS YOU'RE TALKING, I'M FLASHING BACK TO AFTER 9/11, PRESIDENT BUSH FAMOUSLY SAID, YOU KNOW, GO SHOPPING, BE, YOU KNOW, LEAD NORMAL LIVES, WHERE MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT WAS A MOMENT TO GET ORDINARY AMERICANS TO GET NATIONAL SERVICE, NOT TALKING ABOUT MILITARY SERVICE, NATIONAL SERVICE, TO GO OUT AND REALLY MEET THE MOMENT, AND I WONDER WHETHER YOU ALL THINK THAT WAS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY?

>> I -- I THINK IT WAS.

I THINK THAT PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WERE HIT IN, YOU KNOW, IN THE HEART OF WHERE WE LIVE, CIVILIANS WERE MURDERED IN AN UNIMAGINABLE SCALE.

SO, CIVILIANS EVERYWHERE, YOU KNOW, HAD -- HAD TO CHERISH EACH OTHER, NEIGHBORS THAT THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW BECAME PRECIOUS.

ALL HUMAN LIFE.

WE SAW EACH OTHER WITH A CLEAR AND DIFFERENT LIGHT.

HOW PRECIOUS EVERY SINGLE LIFE WAS.

AND HELPLESSLY, WE WATCHED THAT HORRIBLE DAY ON 9/11, AND WE COULDN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING.

THE HEROES WERE RUNNING INTO THE FIRE.

AND SO, IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO -- WE HAD TO -- WE HAD TO EMBRACE ALL OF LIFE, HOW IMPORTANT EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL LIFE WAS, AND THAT'S COMMUNITY.

THAT'S BASICALLY A CIVIC PRIDE, YOU KNOW?

BUT IT'S A DEEPLY SPIRITUAL REALITY, AS WELL, THAT WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

>> AND MELISSA, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU AGREE, BUT SOME PEOPLE FEEL THAT THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY, THAT -- THAT, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, THERE HAVE BEEN POLITICAL AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, BUT NOW, PEOPLE TAKE IT TO SORT A LEVEL, IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH ME, YOU'RE MY ENEMY, AND VICE VERSA.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE SERIES SHOWED WAS THE ABILITY, WHEN IT WAS NECESSARY AND POSSIBLE, FOR THE POLITICIANS TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE.

AND TO ACTUALLY GET THINGS DONE.

AND PRESIDENT BARTLETT SHOWED THAT.

NOW, IN A RECENT INTERVIEW, AARON SORKIN, WHO WROTE THE SERIES AND CREATED IT SAID IF HE WAS PRODUCING IT NOW, THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF A REASONABLE REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION WOULD BE IMPLAUSIBLE.

WHAT DO YOU -- DO YOU REFLECT ON THAT, MELISSA?

>> YEAH, I WAS ACTUALLY SITTING NEXT TO HIM WHEN HE SAID IT.

>> OKAY.

>> ONE OF THE TIMES THAT HE SAID IT.

BUT I DO -- I DO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN GET BACK TO THAT.

AND WE WILL GET BACK TO THAT.

WE ARE FACING ENORMOUS PROBLEMS, NOT JUST IN OUR COUNTRY, BUT IN THE WORLD, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED TO SOLVE ALL THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS, WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER, WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER WITH KINDNESS, EMPATHY, UNDERSTANDING, AND WE HAVE TO WORK HARD TO SOLVE THEM, AND I BELIEVE WE CAN.

AND WE MUST.

EVERYONE IS COUNTING ON US TO DO IT.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, MARTIN HAS SET THAT EXAMPLE IN SERVICE, AND I THINK THE ENTIRE CAST REALLY HAS BEEN INSPIRED BY MARTIN'S MARCH TOWARDS SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND HE HAS LED WITH KINDNESS, EMPATHY, TREATING EVERYONE WAS DIGNITY AND RESPECT, AND WE'RE ALL GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

>> AND, OF COURSE, THE EXAMPLE COMES FROM THE TOP.

BUT I WANT TO ASK YOU THIS, MELISSA, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE REALLY WATCHING THIS, AS I SAID, A LOT OF THEM REALLY, REALLY LIKE IT.

THERE'S SOME GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES, CLEARLY, FROM 25 YEARS AGO TO NOW.

AND SOME ONLINERS SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE ASPECTS MAY NOT HAVE AGED WELL, SEXUAL DYNAMICS IN THE WORKPLACE, MOSTLY WHITE CASTING, THE UNDERCURRENT OF AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM.

DO YOU THINK THAT WAS JUST REFLECTING THE TIMES, OR WAS IT TOO OPTIMISTIC?

>> I MEAN, I THINK IT WAS REFLECTING THE TIMES 25 YEARS AGO, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.

BUT I ALSO THINK, YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW BETTER, YOU DO BETTER, AND YOU GROW, AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT WHERE WE ARE TODAY, AND WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US.

BUT YOU KNOW, I -- I DO BELIEVE THAT THE SHOW, THE CORE OF IT WAS HOPE.

AND THE CORE OF IT WAS THAT GOVERNMENT CAN BE A FORCE FOR GOOD.

AND I THINK WE'RE THERE AGAIN.

>> YEAH.

IT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

I WANT TO PLAY ANOTHER CLIP, MARTIN, BECAUSE IT'S, AGAIN, IT'S YOU AND YOU ARE HERE IN THE SCENE WITH THE LATE JOHN SPENCER, WHO WAS THE CHIEF OF STAFF, RICHARD SCHIFF, YOUR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, AND IT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT A PRETTY EXISTENTIAL STORY.

HERE WE GO.

>> DURING AN EYE EXAM, THE DOCTOR DETECTED ABOUT NORMAL PUPIL RESPONSES AND ORDERED AND MRI.

THE RADIOLOGIST FOUND PLAQUE ON MY BRAIN AND SPINE.

I HAVE A RELAPSING COURSE OF MS. >> I'M SORRY, SIR?

>> I HAVE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, TOBY.

>> I MEAN, BOTH OF YOU, MARTIN, IT IS JUST EERIE HOW ART IS IMITATING LIFE OR VICE VERSA, GIVEN WHAT'S HAPPENED AND THE, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERED -- BIDEN HAS CONSIDERED TO HAVE AGED OUT AND STEPPED DOWN.

THIS WAS AN AMAZING STORY IDEA.

WHAT -- FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW THE NEXT BIT OR WHAT -- WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT?

THAT WAS A POTENTIALLY DISQUALIFYING CONDITION FOR A PRESIDENT.

>> WELL, IT WAS, BUT HE WAS -- HE WAS SURROUNDED BY SUCH OPTIMISM AND SUCH CARE AND LOVE AND RESPECT THAT NO ONE ABANDONED HIM.

THEY KNEW THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF OPPOSITION, BUT THAT HE WOULD -- HE WOULD PREVAIL.

YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THAT'S GOING ON AND WITH HOW IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE COVERED SO MANY OF THE EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING NOW 25 YEARS AGO, OVER THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS OF THE SERIES.

I THINK OF WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT WAS -- I LIKE TELLING THE STORY, THE IRISH TALE ABOUT A MAN WHO ARRIVES AT THE GATES OF HEAVEN AND ASKS TO BE LET IN, ST. PETER SAYS, OF COURSE, JUST SHOW US YOUR SCARS.

THE MAN SAYS, I HAVE NO SCARS.

ST. PETER SAYS WHAT A PITY.

WAS THERE NOTHING WORTH FIGHTING FOR?

I THINK EVERYONE ON "THE WEST WING," EVERYONE INVOLVED WITH IT, EVERYONE CONNECTED WITH IT, FOUND SOMETHING WORTH FIGHTING FOR, THEY FOUND A WAY TO UNITE THE WILL OF THE SPIRIT WITH THE WORK OF THE FLESH, AND WHEN WE DO THAT, THE WORLD DISCOVERS FIRE FOR THE SECOND TIME.

>> YEAH, THAT'S AN AMAZING ANIEK DOTE.

LOOK, YOU BOTH VISITED THE WHITE HOUSE LAST WEEK AND MARTIN, YOU SPOKE WITH THE PRESIDENT.

HOW DID THAT FEEL?

I MEAN, WAS IT -- DID IT FEEL LIKE A HOMECOMING?

I'M KIND OF JOKING.

BUT WERE YOU SORT OF CONSUMED BY THE PATHOS OF IT ALL, GIVEN THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD STEPPED DOWN?

>> WELL, I ADORED HIM, AND TO MEET HIM, FRANKLY, I WAS TONGUE TIED.

I CANNOT REMEMBER ANYTHING I SAID TO HIM.

I REMEMBER HIM SAYING TO ME, MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE, AND I COULDN'T -- I COULDN'T THINK OF ANYTHING THAT I HAD DONE.

AND WHEN HE WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE, YOU KNOW, HE INVITED US TO WALK OUT ONTO THE LAWN, HE TURNED AROUND, I SALUTED HIM, HE SALUTED ME AND HE CAME BACK UP AND -- TO SHAKE HANDS AND SAY GOOD-BYE, AND PEOPLE WONDERED, WHAT DID HE SAY TO YOU?

HE ASKED ME IF I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO THE PRESS.

I SAID, NO, THANKS, THAT'S NOT WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING.

>> WELL, LISTEN, I WANT TO PUT THAT LAST QUESTION TO YOU, MELISSA, BECAUSE YOU WERE DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY, I MEAN, YOU SEE THE WAY THE PRESS GREETS ANY LEADER RIGHT NOW.

REMIND US WHAT IT WAS LIKE DURING THE SERIES, HOW WAS THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS ROOM?

>> WELL, IT WAS NOT DISSIMILAR TO HOW IT IS NOW.

I THINK IT WAS -- THERE WAS SLIGHTLY GREATER, YOU KNOW, DEEPER LINE THAT PEOPLE WOULDN'T CROSS IN TERMS OF RESPECT, BUT THERE WAS STILL CHALLENGES TO THE PRESS SECRETARY THAT WE SEE NOW.

BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ALWAYS -- THE PRESS SECRETARY WAS ALWAYS IN SERVICE OF THE PRESIDENT AND IT WAS -- IT WASN'T AN HONOR TO BE PART OF THAT SERIES AND PART OF THAT SHOW, AND TO GET TO WORK WITH ALLISON AND THE REST OF THE CAST, AND AS MARTIN SAID, THE WHOLE COMMITMENT TO SERVICE HAS REALLY KEPT OUR RELATIONSHIPS AS A FAMILY.

WE ARE REALLY A FAMILY, TO THIS DAY.

WE TALK DAILY.

>> IT'S AMAZING.

>> WE TALK ALL THE TIME.

AND WE COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER'S ISSUES AND CAUSES, INCLUDING THE ONE THAT I DO NOW, I WORK IN JUSTICE SYSTEM REFORM AT AN ORGANIZATION CALLED ALL RISE.

AND THE ENTIRE CAST, MARTIN GOT ME INVOLVED IN IT, AND THE ENTIRE CAST HAS SUPPORTED IT, AND EVERYBODY HAS SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND IT'S INSPIRING TO GET TO DO THAT.

WE WERE GIVEN A GREAT GIFT -- >> YEAH.

AND YOU HAVE GIVEN IT BACK, IT'S LIKE A FINE WINE, YOU KNOW?

THE QUALITY SURVIVES AND THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING WITH PEOPLE STILL WATCHING.

MARTIN SHEEN, MELISSA FITZGERALD, THANK YOU SO MUCH, INDEED, FOR JOINING US.

>>> AND AS WE'VE JUST DISCUSSED, "THE WEST WING" IS A PORTRAYAL OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AT ITS BEST, WITH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS OFTEN WORKING TOGETHER ACROSS THE POLITICAL AISLE.

OUR NEXT GUEST IS A REAL-LIFE EXAMPLE.

HE'S THE REPUBLICAN MAYOR FROM MESA, ARIZONA, JOHN GILES, WHO IS PLEDGING HIS SUPPORT TO KAMALA HARRIS.

AND HE EVEN SPOKE AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

>> FEEL A LITTLE OUT OF PLACE TONIGHT, BUT I FEEL MORE AT HOME HERE THAN IN TODAY'S REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THE GRAND OL PARTY HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED BY EXTREMISTS AND DEVOLVED INTO A CULT.

THE CULT OF DONALD TRUMP.

>> AND HE JOINS HARI NOW TO EXPLAIN WHY HE WAS COME PEOPLED TO SWITCH SIDES, AS WELL AS HOW IMMIGRATION IS ON THE BALLOT THIS ELECTION, AND THE NEED FOR KAMALA HARRIS TO RESET THE MESSAGING ON THAT ISSUE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

IN YOUR CAREER, DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD BE ON A NATIONAL STAGE AS A LIFELONG REPUBLICAN ADDRESSING THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION?

>> NO, I MEAN, IF YOU'D ASKED ME, YOU KNOW, TO LIST 100 THINGS THAT WERE GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME THIS YEAR, THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM THAT I WOULD HAVE IDENTIFIED.

AS A LIFELONG REPUBLICAN, I MEAN, FRANKLY, I'VE NEVER BEEN A -- SUCH A GUNG-HO REPUBLICAN THAT I'VE GOT TO A REPUBLICAN CONVENTION, BUT I CERTAINLY NEVER WOULD HAVE IMAGINED GOING TO A DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

>> OKAY, YOU WERE THERE, PARTLY BECAUSE YOU HAD PREVIOUSLY ENDORSED KAMALA HARRIS FOR PRESIDENT.

WHY THAT CHOICE?

>> YOU KNOW, AS -- AS A MAYOR, I SERVE REALLY IN A NONPARTISAN POSITION.

EVERYONE KNOWS I'M A REPUBLICAN, BUT AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, IN MY CITY COUNCIL, I WORK WITH VERY PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS AND VERY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS ON MY CITY COUNCIL, AND WE GET ALONG VERY, VERY WELL, AND WE -- BECAUSE WE FOCUS ON SOLVING PROBLEMS.

AND SO, I DON'T GENERALLY LIKE TO -- TO GET INVOLVED IN TOXIC, YOU KNOW, PARTISAN, POLARIZING EVENTS.

BUT SOMETIMES THERE'S ELECTIONS, OR THERE'S ISSUES THAT REALLY SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION, AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE VERY PIVOTAL ELECTIONS, I THINK, IN OUR LIFETIME.

>> WAS IT A DIFFICULT DECISION TO MAKE FOR YOU?

>> IT WAS AND IT WASN'T.

LIKE I SAID, I DON'T LIKE TO GET INVOLVED IN MEAN-SPIRITED POLITICS, AND THAT'S WHAT PARTISAN POLITICS IS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I KNEW IT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF MY CITY, AND IF I DIDN'T SPEAK OUT, I WOULD REGRET IT.

>> I WONDER -- THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF OTHER REPUBLICANS WHO, WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THEY NO LONGER HAVE A POLITICAL OFFICE THAT THEY'RE SEEKING OR GETTING RE-ELECTED TO OR THEY LOOKED AT THE MATH, SAY, I CAN'T WIN RIGHT NOW, THEY SEEM TO FIND A NEW KIND OF SPINE, AND THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

AND LOOK, I MEAN, SENATOR FLAKE FROM ARIZONA COMES TO MIND, BUT YOU'RE ALSO A TERM-LIMITED MAYOR, AND I'M WONDERING, WHY NOW?

WHY CHOOSE TO MAKE THIS PUBLIC SORT OF SPLIT WITH THE TOP OF YOUR TICKET?

>> WELL, I -- I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOUR ASSESSMENT, AND NEITHER DO, APPARENTLY, A LOT OF ELECTED REPUBLICANS, BECAUSE WHEN YOU DO SEE REPUBLICANS THAT STILL HAVE TO CONTEND IN PARTISAN PRIMARIES, YOU DON'T SEE VERY MANY OF THEM BEING CRITICAL OF MR. TRUMP.

MY PERSONAL SITUATION IS, I'VE NEVER ASPIRED TO HAVE A JOB OTHER THAN THE ONE THAT I HAVE NOW.

AS MAYOR OF MY HOMETOWN.

AND I'M TERM LIMITED OUT, SO, MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THAT -- THAT'S WHERE I FIND MY COURAGE.

BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE WAY IT IS, AND I AM FREE TO SPEAK MY MIND AND TO STATE THE OBVIOUS, WHICH IS THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS IN A LOT OF TROUBLE.

WE'VE ALWAYS HAD, YOU KNOW, THE FAR-RIGHT AS PART OF OUR COALITION, BUT THAT -- THAT SEGMENT OF THE PARTY HAS TAKEN OVER, AND TO -- TO PARAPHRASE CARRY LAKE, ONE OF OUR CANDIDATES IN ARIZONA, SHE'S TOLD PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PART OF THE MAGA CONTINGENT TO GET THE HELL OUT OF THE ROOM.

SO, THAT'S NOT A HEALTHY REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU ENDORSED A DEMOCRAT.

BACK IN 2022, YOU ENDORSED MARK KELLY, AND SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, THEY WANTED YOU TO -- THEY WANTED OTHER REPUBLICANS TO CEASE RECOGNITION OF YOU AS A REPUBLICAN AND TO CEASE SUPPORTING YOU IN ANY FUTURE ELECTION.

THAT DOESN'T SOUND, YOU KNOW, EVEN TWO YEARS AGO, THAT BIG TENT HAS SHRUNK A LOT SMALLER.

>> IT ABSOLUTELY HAS.

AND THAT'S THE PATH THIS PARTY HAS CONTINUED TO GO DOWN.

IT HASN'T BEEN A WINNING STRATEGY.

IN ARIZONA, THE MAGA PARTY HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN EXCLUDING A LOT OF US, AND THEY CONTINUE -- THEY WIN THE PARTISAN PRIMARY ELECTIONS, AND THEN THEY FAIL MISERABLY IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF -- I MEAN, RIGHT NOW IN ARIZONA, THE INDEPENDENTS EQUAL THE NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

BECAUSE, AGAIN, OF THIS EXCLUSIONARY POLICY OF THE MAGA CROWD, TRYING TO CLEANSE THE PARTY OF ANYBODY THAT DISAGREES WITH THEM.

>> SO, WHAT HAPPENS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE CENTRIST, FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, PERHAPS LESS PROGRESSIVE FROM THE DEMOCRAT SIDE, WHERE DO THEY GO?

>> WELL, WE'RE -- A LOT OF US ARE POLITICALLY HOMELESS, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT RIGHT NOW, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, YOU'RE SEEING A PUSH FOR OPEN PRIMARIES, WHERE INSTEAD OF SENDING YOU YOU KNOW, THE FAR-RIGHT AND THE FAR-LEFT CANDIDATES INTO THE GENERAL ELECTION AND YOU KIND OF HAVE A CHOICE OF THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS, THE MAINSTREAM ELECTORATE GETS TO WEIGH IN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND HAS THE PRIVILEGE OF CHOOSE WHO THE FINAL TWO CANDIDATES WILL BE.

>> LAST NIGHT AT THE CONVENTION, ONE OF THE QUOTES YOU HAD, I HAVE AN URGENT MESSAGE FOR THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WHO LIKE ME ARE IN THE POLITICAL MIDDLE.

JOHN McCAIN'S REPUBLICAN PARTY IS GONE, AND WE DON'T OWE A DAMN THING TO WHAT'S BEEN LEFT BEHIND.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS THAT ANIMATES PEOPLE TO STAY LOYAL, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO FEEL LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE, THIS IS -- THIS IS -- THIS IS MY POLITICAL TRIBE, I CAN'T DEFECT?

>> WELL, I -- I ABSOLUTELY RELATE TO THEM, AND I'VE BEEN A LIFELONG REPUBLICAN, AND IT'S BEEN -- IT HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF DEBATE IN -- PREVIOUSLY IN MY LIFE WHO TO VOTE FOR.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, I HAVE -- AS YOU'RE AWARE, NOT BEEN SHY ABOUT VOTING FOR THE BEST CANDIDATE WHEN I KNOW IT'S NOT THE REPUBLICAN.

SO, WE JUST NEED TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT THEY ABSOLUTELY -- THERE'S NO REASON TO FEEL TREMENDOUS LOYALTY TO A POLITICAL PARTY.

AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO VOTE FOR THE BEST CANDIDATE, AND IN THIS ELECTION, THAT'S NOT DONALD TRUMP.

>> I HAVE TO ASK, I MEAN, I GUESS -- WHAT DREW YOU TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHEN YOU STARTED IN POLITICS?

WHAT IS THAT PARTY LIKE, JUXTAPOSED TO WHERE YOU FIND THE MAJORITY OF POWER IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TODAY?

>> WELL -- AND PEOPLE WILL JILT MATLY ASK ME, WHY DO YOU CONTINUE TO BE A REPUBLICAN?

AND THE ANSWER IS, I AM MORE COMFORTABLE IN TERMS OF POLITICAL POSITIONS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAN I AM IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

I CONTINUE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT OPEN BORDERS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT'S ADVOCATED FOR IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, I CONTINUE TO BE PRO-LIFE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU TAKE THE EIGHT OR NINE TOP ISSUES THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS FOUNDED ON, YOU KNOW, I'M PROBABLY THERE WITH THEM ON SIX OR SEVEN OF THEM.

AND SO, I RESENT BEING TOLD THAT I HAVE TO LEAVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, BECAUSE THAT'S THE PARTY WHERE MY POLITICAL PHILOSOPHIES ARE MORE CLOSELY ALIGNED.

I DIDN'T LEAVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS TRYING DESPERATELY TO LEAVE ME.

AND I THINK IT'S -- WE -- I NEED TO REMIND THEM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT VOICES LIKE MINE CONTINUE TO REMAIN IN THE PARTY, AND POINT OUT THAT THIS IS NOT A HEALTHY DIRECTION, THAT WE ARE SPIRALING DOWN INTO OBSCURITY AS A PARTY.

>> TELL ME -- LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BORDER AND IMMIGRATION.

YOU ARE A BORDER STATE, YOU KNOW THIS VERY WELL.

TELL ME ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS HAD, AND WHY THIS IS SO ANIMATING FOR REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS AND EVEN DEMOCRATS IN ARIZONA.

>> SURE.

AS A BORDER STATE, WE SEE FIRST-HAND THE IMPACT OF ANY TIME THERE'S A SURGE AT THE BORDER, OR -- WE HAVE SOME FAILED POLICIES AT THE BORDER, AND IN OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE -- KAMALA HARRIS NEEDS TO GET OUT AND HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT HAVE BEEN USED BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND MORE RECENTLY UNDER PRESIDENT BIDEN TO MODIFY ASYLUM SEEKERS AND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE POLICIES AT THE BORDER, THEY ARE NO SUBSTITUTE FOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO ACTUALLY FIX THE LOOPHOLES IN OUR IMMIGRATION AND BORDER POLICIES.

SO, THE SOLUTION -- SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BORDER ACT THAT MY OWN SENATOR CINEMA AND CONSERVATIVE SENATOR LANGFORD AND OTHERS WORKED ON FOR MANY, MANY MONTHS, WAS ABSOLUTELY AGREED TO BY THE LEADERSHIP OF BOTH PARTIES, AND THE PRESIDENT.

AND WAS ON ITS WAY TO HAVING SOME REAL IMPACT UNTIL DONALD TRUMP DECIDED THAT HE WANTED THIS VERY DIVISIVE, EMOTIONAL WEDGE ISSUE TO BE FRONT AND CENTER, BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS -- IT WOULD PLAY TO HIS POLITICAL ADVANTAGE.

SO, THAT, TO ME, THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY DONALD TRUMP IS DISQUALIFIED AS PRESIDENT.

HIS PRIORITIES CLEARLY ARE NOT WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COUNTRY.

>> I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO SAY, LOOK, I'M NOT FOR WIDE OPEN BORDERS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I ALSO AM TRYING TO EMPATHIZE WITH THE REASON THAT SOME OF THESE WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE MAKING THESE INCREDIBLY TREACHEROUS JOURNEYS.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO TRY TO REACH THIS BALANCE?

>> WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE'S A VERY COMPELLING HUMAN ELEMENT TO THIS SITUATION, AND THERE'S A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, REAL SUFFERING THAT IS HARD TO IGNORE AND THAT WE NEED TO BE EMPATHETIC FOR.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN WE SEND CONFLICTING MESSAGES, AND THAT PROVOKES PEOPLE TO TAKE THESE -- TAKE ON THESE VERY DANGEROUS JOURNEYS AND TO EXPOSE THEMSELVES TO THESE TYPES OF DANGERS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT SOUND POLICY.

AND FRANKLY, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN CONTROL OF OUR BORDERS RIGHT NOW ARE THE CARTELS THAT ARE MAKING A LOT OF MONEY, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THESE FOLKS, AND THEN THEY HAVE -- THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, VERY GOOD U.S. IMMIGRATION LAWYERS THAT HELP THEM EXPLOIT THE LOOPHOLES IN OUR LAW, IN OUR BORDER POLICY.

SO, SHAME ON US FOR NOT BEING -- FOR NOT SENDING THE RIGHT MESSAGE AND FOR NOT HAVING CLEAR POLICIES.

I CAN TELL YOU, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED IMMIGRATION IN OUR COUNTRY.

IN MY CITY, I HAVE A LOT MORE JOBS THAN I HAVE PEOPLE.

AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF IMMIGRATION IS VERY SIGNIFICANT.

THE BORDER IS NOT A LIABILITY IN ARIZONA, THE BORDER IS A HUGE ADVANTAGE.

IT'S AN AMAZING PART OF OUR ECONOMY.

AND SO, THAT'S PART OF WHY I'M SO ANXIOUS TO SEE IMMIGRATION REFORM, IS WE NEED TO -- FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T AWARE OF WHAT AN ASSET THE BORDER IS, WE NEED TO HELP RESET THAT MIND-SET.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS -- AND HIS SUPPORTERS -- HAVE MADE QUITE A FEW ADS TALKING ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS AS A FAILED IMMIGRATION AND BORDER CZAR.

WHAT WAS -- YOU KNOW IN THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD TO SPEAK WITH VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO HER, WHAT WAS YOUR KIND OF NUMBER ONE ISSUE THAT YOU FELT LIKE SHE COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT, AS PRESIDENT?

BECAUSE WHAT SHE COULD DO MAYBE AS AN EXECUTIVE ACTION IS DIFFERENT THAN BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH CONGRESS.

>> WELL, I THINK SHE NEEDS TO EXPLAIN EXACTLY THAT, THAT WHAT POWER DOES THE EXECUTIVE HAVE IN INFLUENCING THIS, ABSENT ACTION FROM CONGRESS.

DONALD TRUMP HAD THE ADVANTAGE OF TITLE 42, YOU KNOW, FOR A GOOD PORTION OF HIS PRESIDENCY, THE BORDER WAS UNDER A LARGE LOCKDOWN BASED ON COVID.

PRESIDENT BIDEN TRIED TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT UNTIL THE COURTS TOLD HIM HE COULDN'T DO IT ANYMORE.

SO, VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS HAS TO EXPLAIN WHAT HER ROLE HAS BEEN TO THIS POINT, THE GOOD WORK THAT SHE DID IN THE NORTHERN TRY ANGLE, TRYING TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF MIGRATION OUT OF THAT PORTION OF THE WORLD, BUT ALSO THAT -- AND SHE HAS DONE THIS, THAT SHE'S VERY WILLING TO ADVOCATE FOR THE BIPARTISAN IMMIGRATION REFORM ACT THAT WAS POISED TO BE PASSED A FEW MONTHS AGO.

SHE CONTINUES TO BE COMMITTED TO THAT, AND THAT'S A GOOD SOLUTION.

IT'S FAR FROM PERFECT.

IT'S VERY MUCH A COMPROMISE.

IT DOESN'T INCLUDE IMPORTANT ISSUES LIKE ADDRESSING DREAMERS, BUT IT ACCOMPLISHED A LOT.

AND I JUST THINK SHE NEEDS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE, BECAUSE THERE'S SOME PROPAGANDA THAT'S COMING OUT OF THE TRUMP CAMP THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.

>> A CONCERN THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE WATCHING THIS ELECTION SEASON IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN ARIZONA, BECAUSE IT IS NOT JUST A KEY BATTLEGROUND STATE, BUT IT HAS ALSO BEEN THE EPICENTER FOR SO MANY ELECTION MISINFORMATION, DISINFORMATION, FRANKLY, ELECTION DENIALISM CAMPAIGNS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THE LAST ELECTION.

SO, I WONDER, HEADING INTO THIS CYCLE, DO YOU THINK THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION THAT WILL BE CERTIFIED BY A BOARD OF ELECTORS, REGARDLESS OF WHO THE WINNER IS?

>> I DO.

ARIZONA IS ACTUALLY VERY GOOD AT PUTTING ON ELECTIONS, BUT ELECTION DENIERS ARE VERY GOOD AND BRAVE ABOUT CHALLENGING THEM.

SO -- IN THE LAST SEVERAL ELECTIONS, THERE HAS ABOUT BEEN ANY INDICATION THAT THERE'S BEEN ANY WRONGDOING IN THE WAY ELECTIONS ARE CARRIED OUT IN ARIZONA.

WE'VE GOT VERY COMPETENT ELECTED AND PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE IN THAT AREA IN ARIZONA, SO, I DON'T HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SECURITY OF OUR ELECTIONS.

BUT I -- AT THE SAME TIME, I ABSOLUTELY WILL GUARANTEE YOU THAT THERE WILL BE PEOPLE STEPPING UP, MAKING THOSE TYPES OF ALLEGATIONS, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST ELECTION, AND ELECTION DENIALISM IS ALIVE AND WELL IN ARIZONA.

SO, IT WILL BE A PROBLEM.

BUT THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT THERE'S ANY SUBSTANCE TO THAT.

>> YOU'VE SAID BEFORE THAT IF PRESIDENT TRUMP IS R-ELECTED TO OFFICE, THAT HE MAY NOT LEAVE OFFICE AT THE END OF THAT TERM.

IS THAT BEING HYPERBOLIC?

>> IT WAS A LITTLE BIT.

BUT IT'S LESS HYPERBOLIC THAN MR. TRUMP, YOU KNOW, HE'S THE ONE WHO SAID, IF YOU VOTE FOR ME THIS ELECTION, YOU WON'T HAVE TO VOTE ANYMORE.

SO SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TAKE DONALD TRUMP AT HIS WORD.

YOU KNOW, WHEN HE'S LITERALLY SUGGESTING THAT WE ONLY NEED ONE MORE ELECTION AND THEN THE COUNTRY WILL BE GREAT, HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

THAT'S HYPERBOLIC.

NOW, IS HE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE CAPABLE OF MAKING IT SO THAT WE DON'T NEED TO VOTE AFTER THIS ELECTION?

OF COURSE NOT.

BUT I THINK WE NEED TO POINT OUT HOW, YOU KNOW, THE LANGUAGE THAT HE'S USING AND THE FLIPPANT NATURE HE HAS IN DESCRIBING OUR ELECTIONS THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE, EITHER.

>> WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, IF TRUMP WINS, AND IF TRUMP LOSES?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS -- THIS IS A BIG QUESTION, BECAUSE THAT -- THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS VERY MUCH ON THE BALLOT, YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR.

I -- YOU KNOW, AS SOMEONE WHO CONTINUES TO HOLD OUT HOPE THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CAN TURN AROUND, YOU KNOW, IN SOME WAYS, I'M CERTAINLY HOPING THAT THE TOP OF OUR TICKET IS NOT SUCCESSFUL.

I'M HOPING THAT THE MAGA CANDIDATES WHO ARE LOYAL TO MR. TRUMP ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL, AND THAT MAYBE SOME CONTINUED FAILURE WILL MOTIVATE THEM TO MAKE -- TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEED FOR A BIGGER TENT.

AND THAT CONTROL OF THE PARTY WILL BE WRESTLED AWAY FROM THE MAGA FOLKS.

BUT IT'S ALSO CLEAR THAT THE TRUMP BASE, YOU KNOW, IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE THEIR MIND.

AND SO, I THINK THERE'S BEEN SPECULATION THAT EVEN IF MR. TRUMP LOSES, YOU KNOW, FOR AS LONG AS HE WANTS TO EXERT INFLUENCE OVER THE PARTY, HE'S IN CONTROL.

SO, THAT'S -- THAT'S THE DOOMSDAY SCENARIO THAT -- THAT I'M NOT SURE HOW WE RECOVER FROM.

THIS COUNTRY NEEDS TWO STRONG PARTIES AND AS LONG AS DONALD TRUMP IS DICTATING WHAT HAPPENS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE CASE.

>> MAYOR OF MESA, ARIZONA, JOHN GILES, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>>> AND OF COURSE, AS WE JUST HEARD FROM THE MAYOR, IMMIGRATION IS BECOMING A TOP CONCERN FOR MANY AMERICANS AHEAD OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

AND MY NEXT GUEST KNOWS WHAT THIS ISSUE MEANS TO VOTERS BETTER THAN MOST.

SHE'S VERONICA ESCOBAR, THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN FROM THE BORDER TOWN OF EL PASO, TEXAS.

SO, IT'S NOT JUST A NATIONAL CONCERN FOR HER CONSTITUENTS, IT'S A VERY LOCAL ONE.

SHE'S THE NATIONAL CO-CHAIR OF THE HARRIS/WALZ CAMPAIGN AND WILL BE PRESIDING OVER THE DN C's FINAL DAY AND SHE'S JOINING ME FROM CHICAGO INSIDE THE CONVENTION HALL.

WELCOME, CONGRESSWOMAN.

>> WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> YOU, TOO, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE GETTING READY, AND YOU'VE BEEN PRACTICING YOUR SPEAKING FOR YOUR BIG TURN IN THE LIMELIGHT.

AND ON THAT BIG STAGE, WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY BARNSTORMING SPEECHES.

CAN I JUST ASK YOU TO REFER BACK TO WHAT THE MAYOR SAID?

BECAUSE HE TALKED ABOUT SUPPORTING KAMALA HARRIS, HE'S A REPUBLICAN, AND I KNOW THAT CLEARLY ONE AIM OF THIS CONVENTION IS TO GET AS MANY REPUBLICANS TO DECIDE TO SUPPORT HER AS POSSIBLE.

HOW DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING EXTRAORDINARILY WELL.

AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COURAGEOUS REPUBLICANS LIKE THE MAYOR, LIKE OLIVIA TROY, AN EL PASOAN, BY THE WAY, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER REPUBLICANS WHO ARE SPEAKING OUT ON THE NATIONAL STAGE, TALKING TO FELLOW AMERICANS, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT WHILE THEY MIGHT HAVE VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP IN 2016, THEY ARE VOTING FOR KAMALA HARRIS AND TIM WALZ IN 2024, BECAUSE THE COUNTRY IS TOO IMPORTANT, AND THE COUNTRY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THEIR PARTY, WHICH, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, HAS BEEN HANDED OVER TO EXTREMISTS.

SO, WE ARE DELIGHTED TO WELCOME THEM, NOT JUST ON THE NATIONAL STAGE, BUT AT THE BALLOT BOX, AND THEY ARE CREATING A PERMISSION STRUCTURE FOR OTHER REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ELECTION IS TOO IMPORTANT TO BLINDLY GIVE THEIR VOTE TO A REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT HAS LEFT THEM.

>> SO, AS YOU KNOW VERY WELL, IMMIGRATION IS A MASSIVE BUG DEAL, AND IF IT'S NOT AT THE TOP OF THE LIST OF PEOPLE'S CONCERNS, IT'S RIGHT UP THERE WITH THE ECONOMY, AND DONALD TRUMP SEEMS TO BE, ANYWAY, IN CURRENT POLLS, INCLUDING IN THE SWING STATES, POLLING MUCH BETTER, MUCH FAR AHEAD OF THE DEMOCRATS, AHEAD OF BIDEN AND AHEAD OF KAMALA HARRIS, ON THAT ISSUE.

AND LAST NIGHT, PRESIDENT OBAMA, WHILE TAKING SWIPES AT TRUMP, SPOKE ABOUT THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE.

LET ME JUST PLAY WHAT HE SAID.

>> THE TRUTH IS, DONALD TRUMP SEES POWER AS NOTHING MORE THAN A MEANS TO HIS ENDS.

HE WANTS THE MIDDLE CLASS TO PAY THE PRICE FOR ANOTHER HUGE TAX CUT THAT WOULD MOSTLY HELP HIM.

AND HIS RICH FRIENDS.

HE KILLED A BIPARTISAN IMMIGRATION DEAL WRITTEN IN PART BY ONE OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS, THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED SECURE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER, BECAUSE HE THOUGHT TRYING TO ACTUALLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM WOULD HURT HIS CAMPAIGN.

HE DOESN'T -- [ BOOING ] DO NOT BOO.

VOTE.

>> SO, CONGRESSWOMAN, PRESIDENT OBAMA IS PUTTING A REALLY IMPORTANT FINGER ON A FACT THAT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS -- HAS FAILED TO DEAL WITH IMMIGRATION.

DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, AND WHAT CAN YOU DO TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS A PROBLEM THAT DOES NEED ADDRESSING?

AND IN WHAT PARTS DOES IT NEED ADDRESSING?

WHAT WOULD AN IDEAL IMMIGRATION REFORM BILL LOOK LIKE TODAY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I'LL TELL YOU, AMERICANS WANT CONGRESS TO GET TO WORK AND REFORM OUR OUTDATED IMMIGRATION LAWS.

THE MAYOR MENTIONED THAT EXECUTIVE ORDERS CAN ONLY ACCOMPLISH SO MUCH, IN FACT, AMERICANS HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AMNESIA ABOUT THE DONALD TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WITH IMMIGRATION.

THAT WAS MY FIRST TERM IN CONGRESS, AND I BROUGHT HUNDREDS OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS -- WELL, I BROUGHT ABOUT 25% OF CONGRESS TO EL PASO TO SEE THE CONDITIONS, THE EXTRAORDINARY CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH PEOPLE WERE BEING HELD IN THE MOST INHUMANITARIAN WAY BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, SO, WE -- WE HAD A HIGH NUMBER OF BORDER ENCOUNTERS AND APPREHENSIONS, EVEN DURING DONALD TRUMP'S ERA.

BUT WHAT WE WANT, AND WHAT AMERICANS WANT, AND FRANKLY, NO ONE WANTS REFORM MORE THAN THOSE OF US WHO LIVE ON THE BORDER.

WHAT WE WANT IS FOR CONGRESS TO GET TO WORK.

I HAVE A BIPARTISAN COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM BILL.

IT'S NOT EVERYTHING THAT DEMOCRATS WANT, IT'S NOT EVERYTHING REPUBLICANS WANT, BUT IT IS A COMPROMISE.

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS CAME TO EL PASO.

SHE UNDERSTANDS THE COMPLEXITY OF THE ISSUE.

SHE KNOWS THAT CONGRESS NEEDS TO WORK IN A BIPARTISAN WAY, AND SHE IS A LEADER THAT WILL HELP US ACHIEVE THAT.

THAT'S WHY THIS CONVENTION IS SO IMPORTANT.

WE NEED TO ELECT DEMOCRATS UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT WHO WILL GIVE HER THE SUPPORT AND, FRANKLY, GIVE US THE MAJORITIES IN ORDER TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.

WE KNOW THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE STOOD IN THE WAY AND HAVE ACTUALLY OBSTRUCTED THE LAST THREE EFFORTS AT IPARTISAN COMPROMISE ON THIS ISSUE.

IN THE LAST DECADE ALONE, THREE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN SCUTTLED BY REPUBLICANS.

SO THE QUESTION IS, WHICH PARTY IS MORE SERIOUS?

AND IT IS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

>> YOU MAY SAY THAT, BUT 36% OF AMERICANS SAY NOT ONLY IS IT A TOP IMMIGRATION ISSUE, 46% TRUST TRUMP TO DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE.

I WANT TO PLAY, YOU KNOW A REPEATED ATTACK LINE THAT TRUMP IS USING ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE, AND ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS HERSELF.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MIGRANT CRIME, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMING IN FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, CRIMINALS ARE COMING INTO OUR COUNTRY, BECAUSE WE'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE AN OPEN BORDER, KAMALA HARRIS, WHO WAS THE BORDER CZAR.

>> THAT WAS TO CNN YESTERDAY DURING A CAMPAIGN APPEARANCE IN MICHIGAN.

SO -- HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ADDRESS THIS, THEN?

BECAUSE IT IS A FAMOUS ATTACK LINE, AND IT WORKED IN THE LAST 2016 ELECTION.

>> WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET OUR MESSAGE OUT.

AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN THE REMAINING COUPLE OF MONTHS LEADING UP TO NOVEMBER.

WE'VE GOT TO DRAW THE CONTRAST.

DONALD TRUMP SEPARATED FAMILIES AT THE BORDER.

AND HIS PROJECT 2025 IS SEEKING TO TAKE US BACK TO A VERY DARK ERA IN AMERICAN HISTORY, WHEN DURING THE EISENHOWER ADMINISTRATION, 60% OF PEOPLE WHO WERE DEPORTED AS PART OF A MASS DEPORTATION EFFORT WERE LEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

AND TRUMP'S PROJECT 2025 SEEKS TO REMOVE LEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM THIS COUNTRY.

LOOK, WE KNOW -- DEMOCRATS KNOW THAT THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND NEEDS TO BE REFORMED.

BUT WHAT DONALD TRUMP IS PUSHING IS UN-AMERICAN.

MASS DEPORTATIONS CLAIMING THAT IMMIGRANTS POISON THE BLOOD OF AMERICA, THAT'S VILE LANGUAGE.

AND WE KNOW THAT IMMIGRANTS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR ECONOMY.

IN FACT, THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE TALKED ABOUT HOW POST-COVID, IT WAS IMMIGRANTS AND THE IMMIGRANT LABOR FORCE THAT SAVED OUR COUNTRY WE'VE GOT TO REFORM THE SYSTEM IN A WAY THAT RESPONDS TO WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY AT OUR NATION'S FRONT DOOR, BUT THAT ALSO OPENS UP LEGAL PATHWAYS FOR IMMIGRANTS, BECAUSE OUR COUNTRY, A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS, NEEDS IMMIGRANTS.

>> AND IT IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT BALANCING ACT THAT HAS TO BE TAKEN, AND HAS TO BE RESOLVED.

I'M REMINDED THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION, PEOPLE WERE WAVING SIGNS ABOUT MASS DEPORTATION AND THE LIKE.

HOW DO YOU ACCOUNT FOR THE LATINO VOTE?

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FAIR TO ASK YOU THAT, BUT CLEARLY, THERE ARE CONSTITUENCIES THAT EACH PARTY IS TRYING TO WIN.

THEY MAKE UP 10% OF THE ELECTORATE, THEY DID IN 2020.

KAMALA HARRIS IS MAKING UP SOME GROUND THAT BIDEN SORT OF -- REMAINS BELOW BIDEN'S 2020 LEVELS.

WHERE DO YOU THINK THAT VOTE IS GOING TO GO?

WE HEAR THAT A LOT OF LATINO MEN, FOR INSTANCE, MORE INCLINED TO THE REPUBLICANS, BUT MAYBE OTHER DEMOGRAPHICS NOT.

WHERE IS THE -- WHERE IS YOUR WORK CUT OUT FOR YOU?

>> WELL, I WANT TO SAY, FIRST, THAT THE BIDEN/HARRIS CAMPAIGN, WHEN PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS STILL AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET, FOCUSED EARLY ON ON LATINO VOTERS.

AND WE LAUNCHED LATINOS CON BIDEN/HARRIS VERY EARLY ON.

WE MADE INVESTMENTS WITHIN LATINO COMMUNITIES.

THE HARRIS/WALZ CAMPAIGN IS BUILDING ON THAT EARLY WORK.

WE HAVE A GROUND GAME.

I HAVE BEEN SPENDING TIME WITH LATINO COMMUNITIES IN BATTLEGROUND STATES TO LISTEN TO LATINO VOTERS, TO ENGAGE WITH THEM, TO TALK WITH THEM, AND TO THE VICE PRESIDENT'S POINT, SOMETHING SHE SAYS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, TO EARN THEIR VOTE.

WE ARE NOT TAKING LATINOS FOR GRANTED, BUT WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE TREMENDOUS POWER IN THEIR VOTE, AND THAT WE ARE THE PARTY, AND KAMALA HARRIS AND TIM WALZ ARE THE TICKET THAT WILL HELP ENSURE THAT LATINO COMMUNITIES PROSPER AND THRIVE.

WE WANT TO REMIND LATINO COMMUNITIES THAT THE DONALD TRUMP/J.D.

VANCE TICKET REALLY IS ONLY IN IT FOR THE BILLIONAIRE CLASS, AND THAT THEIR TRICKLE DOWN STRATEGIES DON'T WORK FOR US.

WE BELIEVE IN LATINO COMMUNITIES, WE CARE ABOUT LATINO COMMUNITIES, AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP TALKING TO LATINO COMMUNITIES TO ASK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

CONGRESSWOMAN VERONICA ESCOBAR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FROM THE CONVENTION.

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