>>> FUNDING FOR "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY -- NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJ REALTOR.COM.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

ROWAN UNIVERSITY, EDUCATING NEW JERSEY LEADERS, PARTNERING WITH NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES, TRANSFORMING NEW JERSEY'S FUTURE.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE.

THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, REPORTING TO EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES OF THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.

AND BY POLITICO'S NEW JERSEY PLAYBOOK, A TOPICAL NEWSLETTER ON GARDEN STATE POLITICS, ONLINE AT POLITICO.COM.

♪ >>> IT'S THE END OF AN ERA IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM.

ONE OF THE GREATS IS HANGING UP HIS CLEATS.

HI, EVERYBODY.

IT'S "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

OUR PANEL TODAY INCLUDES DANIEL HAHN, HEALTH CARE REPORTER FOR POLITICO NJ.

CHARLES STILE, POLITICAL COLUMNIST FOR THE RECORD, USA TODAY NETWORK.

AND KENNETH BURNS, SOUTH JERSEY REPORTER FOR WHYY.

WE'LL HEAR FROM THE PANEL IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, BUT WE BEGIN TODAY WITH A FOND FAREWELL TO ONE OF THE GREATS IN THIS BUSINESS.

HE'S BEEN IN THE NEWS GAME FOR 30-PLUS YEARS, COVERING EVERYTHING FROM WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP PARADES TO THE TRAGEDIES OF 9/11 AND COVID AND SO MUCH MORE.

AS A FORMER RADIO GUY, I'LL ADMIT TO BEING A LITTLE STARSTRUCK THE FIRST TIME I MET HIM, AND IT'S A GREAT PLEASURE TO WELCOME TO "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE" PETER HASKELL.

PETER, GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> THANK YOU, DAVID.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO I WANT TO SAY THERE'S BEEN AN OUTPOURING OF LOVE FOR YOU FROM COLLEAGUES AND FANS ALIKE.

I MEAN IT SAYS A LOT THAT A RADIO GUY CAN BREAK THROUGH TO AN AUDIENCE LIKE THAT.

WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THIS OUTPOURING?

>> I'M STUNNED.

I'VE BEEN STUNNED AND OVERWHELMED AND GRATIFIED.

IT'S BEEN SO NICE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE YEARS TO REACH OUT AND SAY NICE THINGS.

AND I JUST CAN'T SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE IT.

IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY TOUCHING.

>> YOU KNOW, FOR US, THIS COULD BE A BIT OF AN EGO BUSINESS FOR A LOT OF US.

BUT YOU ARE AN EXTREMELY HUMBLE GUY, AND I SEE EVEN NOW THAT IT AFFECTS YOU, THAT OUTPOURING FROM PEOPLE.

>> LOOK, YOU KNOW, I DID MY JOB EVERY DAY.

IT'S NOT ABOUT ME.

IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE I COVER, AND THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE POLITICIANS, AND I'VE COVERED A FAIR NUMBER OF THEM.

IT'S JUST PEOPLE WHOSE STORIES THAT WE ALL TRY TO TELL, AND WHETHER IT'S A SURVIVOR OF 9/11 OR A FAMILY MEMBER OF SOMEONE WHO DIED OR PEOPLE TRYING TO RECOVER FROM SUPERSTORM SANDY OR TRYING TO MAKE IT THROUGH COVID, THESE ARE -- THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUR NEIGHBORS.

AND I THINK TO ME, JUST GO TO WORK EVERY DAY TRYING TO TELL THEIR STORIES, TRYING TO DO THE BEST JOB I COULD DO, AS ALMOST ALL THE REPORTERS I KNOW DO.

AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

>> SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY YOU'RE LEAVING.

>> SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I NOTICED A CHANGE WITH MY VOICE AND WAS POTENTIALLY DIAGNOSED WITH A VOCAL CONDITION CALLED SPASMODIC DISPHONIA.

THERE'S NOT A CURE FOR IT.

THERE IS A TREATMENT, AND I'VE BEEN TREATED.

AND IN THE BEGINNING, THE TREATMENT WORKED PRETTY WELL, AND I WAS ABLE TO DO WHAT I WOULD NORMALLY DO WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE.

BUT AS TIME HAS GONE ON, IT'S GOTTEN INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO DO WHAT I NEED TO DO.

I'VE REACHED A POINT WHERE I STARTED TO THINK, CAN I CONTINUE DOING THIS?

AND I JUST REACHED THE POINT WHERE I FIGURED I COULD NOT.

FORTUNATELY IT'S NOT A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION.

IT DOES NOT OTHERWISE AFFECT MY HEALTH, BUT IT AFFECTS MY VOICE, AND CLEARLY THAT'S WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING.

>> YEAH.

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR CAREER.

HAS IT BEEN 30 YEARS AT WCBS ALONE?

>> 28 YEARS AT WCBS.

I SPENT -- BEFORE THAT I WAS AT WCTC IN NEW BRUNSWICK AND COVERED ALL KINDS OF THINGS THERE.

IT WAS A GREAT PROVING GROUND.

I HAD A GREAT BOSS, WHOSE SON IS BRETT JOHNSON AT THE STAR LEDGER.

BRUCE WAS A GREAT TEACHER, AND IT'S BEEN 28 YEARS AT WCBS WITH JUST SOME OF THE FINEST JOURNALISTS THAT YOU CAN EVER WORK WITH.

>> THIS IS THE GREATEST NEWS MARKET IN THE COUNTRY, IF NOT THE WORLD.

WE MENTIONED A COUPLE OF YOUR HIGHLIGHTS EARLIER.

CAN YOU POINT TO A COUPLE OF YOUR MOST MEMORABLE STORIES, BOTH THE POSITIVE ONES, THE HAPPY STORIES, BUT ALSO THE ONES THAT STILL TUG AT YOUR HEART TODAY.

>> WELL, I COVERED 9/11.

I'M PROUD TO SAY I'VE COVERED EVERY ANNIVERSARY CEREMONY SINCE THEN, AND I'VE DONE COUNTLESS 9/11-RELATED STORIES.

I THINK SOMETHING IS -- I MEAN IT'S BEEN A STORY THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.

I'VE MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS IN THE 9/11 COMMUNITY.

I MADE THREE TRIPS TO WASHINGTON AS THEY TRY TO GET THE WORLD TRADE CENTER HELP PROGRAM PASSED.

ONE WAS GOING WITH RESPONDERS AS THEY LOBBIED SENATORS AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO TRY TO PASS THE BILL.

A SECOND WAS FOR CONGRESSIONAL HEARING.

JON STEWART WAS THERE, VERY FIERY.

AND A GUY BY THE NAME OF LOU ALVAREZ, WHOSE NAME IS ON THE BILL.

HE HAS UNDERGONE ALMOST 70 CHEMOTHERAPY.

HE WAS A BIG BURLY GUY, SHRUNKEN, FRAIL.

HE SPOKE WITH A FEROCITY AND TOLD THE COMMITTEE, YOU TOLD US YOU'D NEVER FORGET, AND I'M HERE TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T.

AND LOU BECAME A FRIEND WHEN HE WENT TO HOSPICE.

HIS BROTHER PHIL CALLED AND SAID, HEY, LOU WANTS TO KNOW IF YOU WANT TO COME BY AND TALK TO HIM.

SO I INTERVIEWED HIM IN A HOSPICE, WHICH WAS SO POWERFUL.

I MET HIS PARENTS AND HIS SIBLINGS AND HIS CHILDREN AND HIS WIFE, AND IT WAS JUST SO MOVING.

HE DIED A SHORT TIME LATER SA SADLY.

AND THE THIRD TRIP TO WASHINGTON THAT WAS WHEN THE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT TRUMP, SIGNED THAT BILL.

>> YOU KNOW, BOTH WCBS AND 1010 WINS NOW HAVE THE SAME OWNERS.

YOU GO BACK TO THE DAY WHEN THAT WAS ACTUALLY AGAINST THE LAW.

IS THERE STILL THAT COMPETITION AMONGST RADIO REPORTERS OR REPORTERS IN GENERAL?

>> I THINK THERE'S A COMPETITION THAT YOU WANT TO GET A STORY THAT OTHER PEOPLE DON'T HAVE.

BUT I THINK THERE'S A GREAT CAMARADERIE IN THE FIELD.

AS YOU KNOW, I WOULD SEE YOU AROUND.

AND I THINK THEY TRY TO HELP EACH OTHER.

LOOK, IF YOU GET AN EXCLUSIVE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE IT TO ME.

BUT IF YOU NEED SOMETHING, I'M GOING TO TRY TO HELP YOU.

YOU'RE GOING TO TRY TO HELP ME.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GREAT, YOU KNOW, IN HELPING, AND I'VE TRIED TO DO THE SAME FOR OTHERS.

>> YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO SAY I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT.

EARLY IN MY CAREER, I HAD SHARP ELBOWS.

BUT NOW I GUESS, YOU KNOW, YOU GAIN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF WHERE YOU REALIZE, HEY, WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

SO I TRY ALSO TO BE HELPFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES, YOU KNOW, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.

AS YOU SAID, I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU THAT EXCLUSIVE.

AND YOU REALLY ARE A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT, I HAVE TO SAY.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO MISS THE MOST ABOUT ALL THIS?

>> I THINK A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE IS I LOVE TELLING STORIES, AND THIS IS A JOB I'VE ABSOLUTELY LOVED.

I'VE BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT IT SINCE THE TIME I WAS A KID.

AND THERE'S JUST AN ENERGY AND AN EXCITEMENT TO COVER BREAKING NEWS.

YOU GO TO TIMES SQUARE ON NEW YEAR'S EVE OR THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON, OR I COVERED EIGHT POLITICAL CONVENTIONS.

THERE'S THAT ENERGY IN BREAKING NEWS FOR SURE.

AND THE OTHER THING IS THE PEOPLE.

THE OTHER MEDIA TYPES THAT I WOULD RUN ACROSS, THAT I'VE BECOME FRIENDS WITH THROUGH THE YEARS, AND THE PEOPLE WHOSE STORIES THAT I GET TO TELL.

IT'S -- IT'S HUMBLING WHEN SOMEBODY IS WILLING TO SHARE THEIR STORY WITH YOU, TO TRUST YOU WITH THEIR STORY AND TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THEIR STORY.

AND I'VE ALWAYS TRIED MY DARNEDEST TO DO THAT STORY JUSTICE.

>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S NEXT, WHAT YOUR PLAN IS?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S NEXT.

I'M NOT RETIRING.

I'M JUST GOING TO TRY TO DECOMPRESS.

THIS IS THE ONLY THING I'VE EVER DONE.

SADLY, IT'S NOT JUST WHAT I'VE DONE.

IT'S A GOOD PART OF WHO I AM.

>> YEAH.

>> AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST ADJUSTMENT FOR ME.

SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO CATCH MY BREATH FOR A LITTLE BIT, TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT COMES NEXT, WHAT I WANT TO DO, WHAT I WOULD BE GOOD AT, HOW MY SKILLS AS A REPORTER TRANSLATE.

IT'S A BIG WORLD OUT THERE, BUT I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE HOW WHAT I'VE DONE IN THE PAST COULD TRANSLATE TO SOMETHING ELSE IN THE FUTURE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

PETER HASKELL, I CANNOT OVERSTATE HOW MUCH OF A FAN I AM.

I'M GLAD WE COULD GET YOU ON.

GOOD LUCK, MAN.

THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> DAVID, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IT WAS ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU OUT IN THE FIELD, AND I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> ALL RIGHT.

PANEL, DAN, CHARLIE, KENNY, GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

SPECIAL WELCOME TO KEN BURNS, MAKING HIS ROUNDTABLE DEBUT.

I HOPE YOU GOT THE COMPLIMENTARY T-SHIRT, MAN, BECAUSE AS DAN HAHN WILL TELL YOU, THERE AIN'T NO COMPLIMENTARY T-SHIRTS.

WELCOME NONETHELESS.

LET'S START WITH THESE MIDTERMS JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AWAY.

YOUR OVERALL THOUGHTS ON THE SEASON AND WHAT RACES YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT FOR NEWS.

LET'S START WITH YOU, KEN.

>> IN THE DECADE OR SO OVER THE COURSE OF TWO STATES -- THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST COMPLICATED CAMPAIGN YEARS THAT I'VE FOLLOWED PERSONALLY BECAUSE EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT A REPUBLICAN BLOODBATH.

THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THE HOUSE.

THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THE SENATE.

AT THE SAME TIME, THERE SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH ENERGY AMONG THE DEMOCRATS TO KIND OF STIFLE THAT, IF NOT HOLD TO WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, WHICH IS AN EVENLY SPLIT -- DEMOCRATIC CONTROL.

>> DAN, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ON THE EVE OF THE MIDTERMS?

>> I THINK THAT IF WE ARE TO SEE A RED WAVE THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IT IN THE COMPETITIVE NORTH JERSEY DISTRICTS LIKE THE 5th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND THE 11th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

THOSE ARE DISTRICTS THAT JOE BIDEN WOULD HAVE WON BY DOUBLE DIGITS.

BUT COULD THEORETICALLY STILL BE IN PLAY DURING A YEAR THAT REPUBLICANS REALLY SWEEP.

SOMETHING ELSE I'M WATCHING IS DOWN IN SOUTH JERSEY, THE 3rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT HAS BEEN UPGRADED IN ITS COMPETITIVENESS RECENTLY.

REPUBLICAN BOB HEALEY HAS BEEN RUNNING A STRONG CAMPAIGN DOWN THERE.

AND OF COURSE THE MARQUEE RACE WITHIN NEW JERSEY IS THE STATE'S 7th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, THE BATTLE OF THE TOMS, WHERE IT'S A REMATCH OF 2020 IN A DISTRICT THAT'S BECOME SIGNIFICANTLY MORE REPUBLICAN, FAVORING TOM CANE JR. >> CHARLES, YOU'VE SEEN A MIDTERM OR TWO.

WHAT'S TOPS ON YOUR MIND?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS ON MY MIND, BUT I FEEL THE DEMOCRATS ARE UP AGAINST A RED TIDE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THAT DOESN'T EXCUSE THEM FOR SORT OF MUDDLED MESSAGING THROUGHOUT THIS CAMPAIGN.

THEY'VE COUNTED HEAVILY ON A BACKLASH OVER THE DOBBS DECISION, WHICH OVERTURNED A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO ABORTION.

BUT STARING THEM IN THE FACE THROUGHOUT ALL OF THIS IS ECONOMIC CONCERNS, ECONOMIC ANXIETY, AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S BEEN A REAL CLEAR MESSAGE.

I THINK THEY DEPENDED TOO MUCH ON THE IRA, THE BILL -- I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER -- THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT OF 2022.

THAT HAS A LOT OF DOWN-THE-ROAD IMPACTS THAT HELP PEOPLE AND THEIR POCKETBOOKS, BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO FEND OFF A VERY SIMPLISTIC REPUBLICAN MANTRA, WHICH IS INFLATION, INFLATION, INFLATION.

YOU'RE THE PARTY IN POWER, AND WE ARE -- WE REPUBLICANS HAVE THE LUXURY OF SITTING IN AN ARMCHAIR AND SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO DO BETTER WITHOUT TELLING ANYBODY WHAT THAT IS.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO.

THEY'RE JUST SITTING BACK AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS.

BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A REAL DEMOCRATIC RECKONING REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME ON TUESDAY.

>> SO WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM VOTERS?

IS IT THE ECONOMY, STUPID, OR ARE DEMOCRATS RIGHT WHEN THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, THE VERY REPUBLIC IS AT STAKE?

>> OH, IT DEPENDS ON REALLY WHO YOU TALK TO.

YOU TALK TO DEMOCRATS.

THEY WILL BRING UP EXTREMISM AND PARTICULARLY WOMEN VOTERS WILL BRING UP ABORTION.

TO THEM, IT'S NOT JUST ABORTION.

IT'S REALLY YOU'VE STRIPPED AWAY -- YOU'VE RELEGATED ME TO SECOND-CLASS CITIZEN STATUS.

THAT'S REALLY THE BURN FOR A LOT OF WOMEN VOTERS.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THERE'S GOING TO BE ENOUGH OF THEM IN DISTRICTS LIKE THE 7th TO REALLY MAKE -- TO CARRY TOM ALLEN, THE INCUMBENT, OVER THE TOP.

>> KEN, ISSUES-WISE, IS IT ANY DIFFERENT DOWN IN SOUTH JERSEY WHERE YOU SPEND A LOT OF YOUR TIME?

>> CHARLIE HAS A POINT.

IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU TALK TO, PARTICULARLY IN THE VAN DREW DISTRICT.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS NOW AS EVIDENCED BY LAST YEAR'S GUBERNATORIAL RACE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF ECONOMICAL CONCERNS.

ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, THERE IS A CONCERN ABOUT EXTREMISM AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN -- IF REPUBLICANS TAKE CONTROL OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

I WOULD ARGUE THAT ECONOMIC CONCERNS ARE ON BOTH SIDES.

THE QUESTION IS WHERE IS THE DISAPPOINTMENT MOST?

A LOT OF DEMOCRATIC VOTERS, THEY'RE KIND OF DISAPPOINTED THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN DID NOT DELIVER ON EVERYTHING.

THERE IS A STUDENT DEBT FORGIVENESS THAT WASN'T AS BIG AS WHAT WAS DISCUSSED WHEN HE WAS CAMPAIGNING AND WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE THE FIRST TIME.

BUT, AGAIN, IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO IN SOUTH JERSEY.

>> YEAH.

WELL, LET ME ASK ALL OF YOU THIS, AND WE'LL START WITH YOU, DAN.

WHERE IS THERE THE BIGGEST POSSIBILITY FOR THERE TO BE A SURPRISE ON TUESDAY?

IS IT KIM V. HEALEY, CHERYL DE GROOT, MALINOWSKI/CANE, VAN DREW/ALEXANDER?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT IF REPUBLICANS ARE ABLE TO SUCCEED IN PLACES LIKE THE 5th AND THE 11th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE, TO SOME EXTENT, A SURPRISE AND DEFINITELY EVIDENCE OF A RED WAVE.

IN THOSE DISTRICTS, YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS WHO HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO RAISE A LOT OF MONEY REALLY VERSUS DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENTS WHO HAVE BUILT STRONG BRANDS AND HAVE STRONG FUND-RAISING CAPABILITIES.

SOMEONE LIKE JOSH GOTTHEIMER IS ONE OF THE TOP FUND-RAISERS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY WITHIN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

SPEAKING OF SOUTH JERSEY, I WOULD BE SHOCKED TO SEE IF THE 2nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IS CLOSE.

JEFF -- HAS BUILT UP IN THAT PART OF THE STATE AND IT'S BEEN TRENDING MORE REPUBLICAN EACH YEAR.

SO IF THAT RACE IS CLOSE AT ALL, WHICH I DON'T SEE, I WOULD DEFINITELY BE SURPRISED.

>> WHERE DO WE SEE AN UPSET, CHARLIE?

SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE DON'T SEE COMING?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ANXIETY IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OVER THE ANDY KIM/HEALEY RACE.

HEALEY HAS SPENT A TON OF MONEY, A BIG ASSIST FROM HIS MOTHER.

HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE IN ELECTED OFFICE, BUT HE'S MADE THIS COMPETITIVE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE GOTTHEIMER RACE, YOU KNOW, HE ENTERED THE HOME STRETCH WITH $14 MILLION CASH ON HAND.

HE GOT AN INFUSION OF INSURANCE MONEY, IF YOU WILL, FROM MIKE BLOOMBERG'S PAC THAT WAS ROUTED THROUGH NANCY PELOSI'S PAC.

EVEN THOUGH THAT DISTRICT WAS RECONFIGURED TO BE A LITTLE MORE DEMOCRATIC OR SIGNIFICANTLY MORE DEMOCRATIC DEPENDING ON THE NUMBERS -- I DON'T HAVE THAT AT MY FINGERTIPS -- BUT THEY'RE STILL ACTING AS IF THEY NEED AS MANY SANDBAGS TO KEEP THE TIDE OUT.

SO I THINK HE'LL -- I THINK HE'S PROBABLY POSITIONED TO WIN.

HIS OPPONENT, FRANK PELL ATA, HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESPOND IN ANY WAY.

BUT THE WEIRD THING ABOUT THESE KIND OF BACKLASH RACES, GOING BACK TO 1990, PEOPLE ARE SO ANGRY, THEY'LL SOMETIMES MAKE IRRATIONAL -- YOU KNOW, JUST PROTEST VOTES.

AND WHETHER THERE'S ENOUGH IN THAT DISTRICT, I DON'T -- I KIND OF DOUBT IT IN THE 5th.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE TIGHTER THAN MOST PEOPLE EXPECT.

>> KEN, CAN YOU PROGNOSTICATE HERE?

GIVE US A SHOCKER THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ON TUESDAY NIGHT?

>> IF -- GOING TO BE IN THE 3rd DISTRICT FOR REASONS STATED EARLIER.

ON PAPER, THE 3rd DISTRICT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD LEAN MORE TOWARDS ANDY KIM.

YOU DO HAVE A LITTLE SLIVER OF MONMOUTH COUNTY.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY FRIENDLY DEMOCRATIC TERRITORY.

HOWEVER, YOU STILL HAVE SOME MERCER COUNTY TOWNS.

IN FACT, THE TOWN WHERE I LIVE, HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, THERE IS A LONGTIME REPUBLICAN ENCLAVE, IF YOU WILL, IN MERCER COUNTY THAT HAS JUST STARTED TO BECOME PROBABLY MORE -- ONE OF THE THINGS, I SHOULD SAY, IS SAVING BOB HEALEY, KEEPING HIM IN THE GAME IS THE FACT HE HAS BEEN HONEST ABOUT JANUARY 6th.

HE WAS HONEST ABOUT THE 2020 ELECTION.

HE IS, I WOULD SAY, IF HE NEEDS TO KICK AGAINST PARTY LEADERS, JUST LIKE ANDY KIM AND NANCY PELOSI, BUT THAT'S YOUR UPSET.

I WOULD SAY THE 2nd DISTRICT WOULD BE AN UPSET, BUT JEFF VAN DREW, HE LED -- BY HIS PARTY FLIP, AND THAT WAVE HAS CONTINUED THROUGH AT LEAST LAST YEAR.

>> THE STOCK PULLOUT SUGGESTING AN ENTHUSIASM GAP.

GOP VOTERS SAY THEY'RE HOT TO GET OUT THERE AND VOTE.

DEMS, SO-SO.

70% OF REPUBLICANS RESPONDING SAY THEY'RE READY TO GO.

DEMOCRATS, NOT SO MUCH.

INDEPENDENTS EVEN NOT SO MUCH.

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT, DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE UNTIL ELECTION NIGHT.

BUT IF YOU SEE -- IF YOU SEE FOUR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS WITHIN THE STATE CURRENTLY HELD BY DEMOCRATS TURN REPUBLICAN, I THINK THAT WILL BE EVIDENCE OF STRONG REPUBLICAN ENTHUSIASM WITHIN THE STATE.

>> YEAH.

CHARLIE, THESE FLYERS THAT HAVE CIRCULATED STOKING RACIAL DIVISIONS IN THE 7th DISTRICT AND ELSE WHERE, NANCY PELOSI'S HUSBAND BEING ATTACKED, DEMS GOING CRAZY OVER THIS, CALLING THE REPUBLICANS OPPONENTS TO CONDEMN.

IT YOU READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS THIS WEEK.

>> YES.

THERE HAS BEEN VERY LITTLE PUSHBACK.

THE PUSHBACK OR CONDEMNATION FROM THE REPUBLICANS HAS BEEN ABOUT THE VIOLENCE, AND THERE'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, WE WISH PAUL PELOSI AND NANCY PELOSI WELL.

WE PRAY FOR A SWIFT RECOVERY.

BUT THERE'S BEEN NO CONDEMNATION OF THE SOURCE OF THE VIOLENCE, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, FRANKLY BREWING IN THE FRINGES, AND NO LONGER REALLY IN THE FRINGES OF THEIR OWN PARTY.

IT REALLY ILLUSTRATES TO ME THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS EITHER GOING TO JUST TOTALLY BE OVERWHELMED, CONTROLLED OVER TIME BY THE TRUMP-INCITED EXTREMISM, OR THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STAND UP AND PUSH BACK.

THIS SEEMED TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY IN WHICH THEY COULD HAVE DONE THAT, BUT BECAUSE THERE'S A PORTION OF THEIR BASE THAT IS STILL SO ENTHRALLED WITH TRUMP AND EXTREMISM, THEY REFUSE TO DO SO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IT'S TIME FOR OUR "ONLY IN JERSEY" SEGMENT.

DAN, WHY DON'T YOU START US OFF?

>> YES.

MY ONLY IN JERSEY LITTLE CLIP IS A STORY THAT THE NEW JERSEY MONITOR REPORTED EARLIER THIS WEEK WHERE A PRINCETON-BASED RESEARCHER IS TRYING TO RECEIVE EVIDENCE FROM THE LINDBERGH CASE THROUGH AN OPEN PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST, AND IS SUING THE STATE FOR IT.

IF THAT REQUEST IS SUCCESSFUL, THEN I DEFINITELY HAVE A LOT OF THINGS I PLAN TO OVER SUE.

>> CHARLIE, YOU GOT ONE FOR SNUS.

>> I'M PICKING UP FROM AN NJ.COM STORY ABOUT A SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE OUT IN HUNTERTON COUNTY WHO AS PART OF HIS HALLOWEEN COSTUME HAD A T-SHIRT THAT SAID "WHERE IS NANCY?"

WHEN CONFRONTED ABOUT WHO HE WAS TALKING ABOUT, HE PRETENDED -- HE SAID, "I DON'T KNOW WHO NANCY IS."

CLEARLY IF THIS GUY GETS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, I HOPE THE OTHER MEMBERS DON'T ALLOW HIM TO OVERSEE CURRENT EVENT CURRICULA.

>> ALL RIGHT.

KENNY, WHAT HAVE YOU GOT?

>> I ACTUALLY HAVE A PERSONAL ANECDOTE.

FROM THE MARYLAND SUBURBS OF THE WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA, SO KEEP THAT IN MIND.

THE AWESOME MRS. BURNS, WHO IS A BIG GIANTS FAN.

LET'S JUST SAY DIVISION RIVALS.

I REMIND HER THAT HER TEAM IS IN NEW YORK.

SHE DOES NOT CARE.

THE GIANTS ARE A JERSEY TEAM AS SHE REMINDS ME FOR FIVE MINUTES AS WE GO BACK AND FORTH.

I DON'T THINK IT'S THE MOST JERSEY THING PERSONALLY.

IF INJYOU'RE A GIANTS FAN AND Y LIVE IN NEW JERSEY, YOU DON'T CARE IF NEW YORK IS ON THE HELMET.

>> MINE COMES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TONE DEAFNESS.

JERSEY CITY CAMPUS, COUNCILMAN AMY DEJEES.

SHE'S THE ONE WHO STRUCK A GUY WITH HER SUV AND FLED THE SCENE BACK IN JULY.

THIS HALLOWEEN, SHE HOSTED A TRICK OR TRUNK EVENT WHERE SHE EVIDENTLY HANDED OUT TREATS TO KIDS PRESUMABLY FROM THE BACK OF THE VERY SAME SUV.

ACROSS TOWN, SHE INSPIRED THIS THREE-DIMENSIONAL REENACTMENT OF THE INCIDENT BECAUSE ONLY IN JERSEY DO THE SHAMEFUL SIMPLY REFUSE TO BE SHAMED.

>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

>> AND THAT IS ROUNDTABLE FOR TODAY.

DAN, CHARLIE, KENNY, GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS.

THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

OUR THANKS ALSO TO PETER HASKELL.

BE SURE TO JOIN US ON TUESDAY.

THAT'S ELECTION NIGHT WHEN WE KICK OFF THE NEWS TEAM'S COVERAGE WITH A SPECIAL HOUR-LONG EDITION OF "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE" LIVE AT 8:00 P.M. WITH SPECIAL GUESTS, LIVE REPORTS FROM CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS, ANALYSIS FROM OUR JOURNALISTS, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE.

THAT'S TUESDAY AT 8:00 P.M. ON NJPBS AND ALL OF OUR STREAMING PLATFORMS.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

FROM ALL THE CREW HERE AT GATEWAY CENTER IN DOWNTOWN NEWARK, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU TUESDAY NIGHT.

>> Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY -- NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.COM.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

ROWAN UNIVERSITY, EDUCATING NEW JERSEY LEADERS, PARTNERING WITH NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES, TRANSFORMING NEW JERSEY'S FUTURE.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE, THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION.

REPORTING TO EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES OF THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.

AND BY POLITICO'S NEW JERSEY PLAYBOOK, A TOPICAL NEWSLETTER ON GARDEN STATE POLITICS, ONLINE AT POLITICO.COM.

♪