FOUNDATION, AND THE CHARLES A. FRUEAUFF FOUNDATION.

>> Bonnie:THIS WEEK ON "TO THE CONTRARY", NEW NUMBERS ON WHITE SUBURBAN WOMEN AND HOW THEY WILL VOTE IN THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

WE SPEAK WITH MERCEDES VIANA SCHLAPP FROM THE TRUMP REELECTION CAMPAIGN.

OUR PANELISTS WEIGH IN ON THE LATEST ON THE WOMEN'S VOTE 2020 .

>> Bonnie:HELLO.

I AM BONNIE ERBE.

WELCOME TO "TO THE CONTRARY".

WEEKLY DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

UP FIRST, I TALK WITH MERCEDES' VIANA SCHLAPP, A CONSERVATIVE WOMAN THOUGHT LEADER.

SHE IS NOW WITH THE TRUMP REELECTION CAMPAIGN.

BEFORE THAT, SHE WAS STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR AT THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE.

WAY BEFORE THAT, SHE WAS A REGULAR "TO THE CONTRARY" PANELIST.

IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> GREAT TO SEE YOU TOO!

I ALWAYS HAVE GREAT MEMORIES OF TRYING TO AND BEING ON A SHOW FOR SO MANY YEARS.

>> Bonnie:WE MISS YOU!

GLAD YOU HAVE GOTTEN TO A PLACE WHERE HE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE, WHICH IS NOW WITH THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.

BEFORE STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS AND THE WHITE HOUSE.

SO BIG GAP WITH WOMEN.

YOU ARE ON WITH WOMEN VOTERS, I SHOULD SAY, YOU ARE ON A BUS TOUR, OFF AND ON A BUS TOUR FOR WOMEN FOR THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.

HOW DO YOU CLOSE THAT GAP?

>> Mercedes: SURE.

BONNIE, YOU SHOULD COME WITH US.

IT'S A BIG PAY FOR LOSS.

WE GO TO ALL THE DIFFERENT BATTLEGROUND STATES.

I'VE BEEN TO ARIZONA, WISCONSIN, IOWA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, MAINE, PENNSYLVANIA, HEADED TO FLORIDA NEXT WEEK.

I THINK ONE OF THE COMMON THREADS I SEE THROUGHOUT IN THESE BATTLEGROUND STATES IS THE FACT THAT THESE FIELD OFFICES, THIS IS WHERE THE VOLUNTEERS WILL COME TOGETHER, WHERE THEY ARE MAKING CALLS, PLANNING TO KNOCK ON DOORS, MANY OF THEM ARE RUN BY WOMEN.

IT IS THESE WOMEN WHO ARE ON THE GROUND WHO ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S RECORD AND WHAT HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED TO BUILD A STRONG ECONOMY, TO COMBAT CORONAVIRUS, WHICH WE KNOW HAS BEEN, THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC HAS IMPACTED ALL OF OUR LIVES, ESPECIALLY WOMEN, AND AS WELL AS ENSURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO STAY STRONG THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

AND I THINK FOR THESE WOMEN, WHAT I HAVE FOUND ENCOURAGING AND INSPIRING IS THE FACT THAT IT IS A STORY THAT IS ON HOLD.

PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT THESE WOMEN FILLED WITH -- FIELD OFFICES FILLED WITH WOMEN, LED BY WOMEN, BASICALLY THE ONES THAT ARE LEADING THE EFFORTS ON HIS CAMPAIGN AND TRULY FOCUSED ON WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH AND WHY THEY ARE FOCUSED ON GETTING THE PRESIDENT REELECTED.

>> Bonnie:BUT THE POLLS SHOW, VERY RECENT POLLS SHOW MANY WHITE WOMEN, SUBURBAN WOMEN, SOME TRADITIONALLY REPUBLICAN WOMEN ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT HIS HANDLING OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, THAT THEY DO NOT SEE HIM AS, YOU KNOW, AT THE BEGINNING, DENIAL, JUST CAME OUT IN THE BOOK RECENTLY THAT HE SAID THAT HE KNEW HE WAS SPEWING MISINFORMATION.

YOU HAVE, YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF RESPONDING TO THAT AND TELLING WOMEN, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU TELLING THEM?

>> Mercedes: SO WE BREAK THROUGH THE MEAT -- LIBERAL MEDIA OUTLETS THAT ARE TELLING THEIR OPINIONS AND OBVIOUSLY ADVOCATING FOR THE OTHER SIDE, BECAUSE THERE ARE NO FANS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, AS YOU KNOW.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT WAS THE PRESIDENT BACK IN JANUARY WHERE HE BASICALLY SAID WE GOT TO RESTRICT TRAVEL TO CHINA.

THIS IS WHEN JOE BIDEN WAS SAYING THAT WAS IN A FAUX ACTION, WHEN THE DEMOCRATS WERE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE IMPEACHMENT HOAX.

SECONDLY, THE PRESIDENT IMMEDIATELY DECLARED COVID IS A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, TAKING THE NECESSARY STEPS NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THE STATES HAD FUNDING AND ALSO ENSURING THAT BUILDING THE STOCKPILE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAD THE RESOURCES FOR THESE DIFFERENT STATES.

SO THIS IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THE PRESIDENT RESPONDED, AS WE SAW DR. FAUCI TALK ABOUT THIS THIS PAST WEEK WHERE HE HIMSELF SAID THERE WAS NO DISCREPANCY.

WE WOULD GIVE THE ADVICE TO THE PRESIDENT, US, THE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE, AND HE WOULD GO OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND SHARE EXACTLY WHAT WE WOULD SAY.

AND SO, I THINK -- >> Bonnie:LET ME PRETEND FOR A WOMAN -- MOMENTUM A WOMAN MEETING YOU ON YOUR BUS TOUR.

I READ ABOUT BOB WOODWARD'S BOOK WAY BACK IN FEBRUARY THE PRESIDENT WAS DENYING IT WAS A PROBLEM.

>> Mercedes:NEVER DENIED IT, BONNIE.

NEVER DENIED IT.

>> Bonnie: NOW WE HAVE OVER ALMOST 200, CLIMBING TOWARDS 200,000 AMERICANS WHO HAVE DIED FROM THE VIRUS AND AT FIRST HE WAS SAYING DON'T WEAR A MASK, IT IS A HOAX.

>> Mercedes:NEVER CALLED IT A HOAX, BONNIE.

>> Bonnie:WAIT A MINUTE!

EVEN FOX NEWS, YOU CAN'S AND LIBERAL MEDIA, MERCY, BUT FOX NEWS WAS REPORTING SOME OF THE!

WHAT DO YOU TELL ME?

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO ME TO CONVINCE ME THAT THAT IS NOT HOW HE FEELS?

I HAVE SEEN HIM SAY, GO AND DON'T WEAR A MASK.

>> Mercedes:FIRST OF ALL, LET'S START BY SAYING THERE WAS PLENTY OF MEDIA OUTLETS THAT WITH THE INFORMATION OF SAYING DON'T WEAR A MASK, DOCTORS SAY WEAR A MASK.

A LOT WAS GOING ON IN THE BEGINNING, TRYING TO SORT THROUGH THE INFORMATION.

AND THE PRESIDENT TOOK THE ADVICE OF THE MEDICAL EXPERTS LIKE DR. FAUCI.

I CAN TELL YOU I HAVE FRIENDS OF WHY AND WHO, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY ARE NOT PARTICULARLY FOND OF THE PRESIDENT.

I CALLED THEM MY FOCUS GROUP, THE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH IN MIAMI.

THEY TRUST DR. FAUCI.

>> Bonnie:THEY ARE REPUBLICANS, RIGHT?

>> Mercedes:IT'S A MIX, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

THEY TRUST DR. FAUCI.

IF YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE DEMOCRATS AND YOU SAY, WELL, I TRUST DR. FAUCI MORE, WELL, DR. FAUCI JUST MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT HIS QUOTES WERE TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT IN THE WOODWARD BOOK, THAT ALSO ALL THE INFORMATION HE HAD SHARED WITH THE PRESIDENT, THE PRESIDENT THEN TOOK DIRECTLY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND THERE WAS THAT TRANSPARENT CONVERSATION HAPPENING.

IT WAS ALL OF THE PRESIDENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS A SENSE OF CALMNESS, THAT WE DO NOT CREATE THIS AWFUL PANIC.

ET US REMEMBER THAT IT WAS THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION WHO LIED, WHO BASICALLY ALIGNED THEMSELVES WITH THE CHINESE, GAVE US MISINFORMATION WHEN IT CAME TO HOW DEADLY THIS PANDEMIC WAS.

WHAT DID PRESIDENT TRUMP DO?

HE LITERALLY PULLED THE TAXPAYER FUNDING FROM THE WHO.

GUESS WHAT JOE BIDEN WANTS TO DO.

HE WANTS TO REWARD THEM BY GIVING BACK TAXPAYER FUNDING TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT WE KNOW GIVE US THAT INFORMATION FROM DAY ONE.

IT'S VERY CLEAR THE PRESIDENT TOOK ACTIONS EARLY ON: TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS, DECLARING PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, BASICALLY MOTIVATING GETTING ON THE WHOLE GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO ENSURE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES WE NEED TO GET INTO THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ENSURE THAT IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE 2 MILLION PEOPLE DYING, THAT WE CAN FIND A WAY TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FATALITIES WHILE AT THE SAME TIME KNOWING THAT HE FOCUSED SINCE FEBRUARY -- >> Bonnie:OKAY.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE LIMITED TIME, SO I WANT TO MOVE ON TO TWO OTHER TOPICS: ONE IS RACE RELATIONS IN AMERICA.

THAT IS THE SECOND, WITH A RECENT POLL SHOWING, PARTICULARLY WHITE SUBURBAN WOMEN MOST CONCERNED FIRST ABOUT HIS HANDLING OF THE COVID VIRUS AND WHY SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIED.

SECONDLY, CONCERNED ABOUT RACE RELATIONS BEING IN ABOUT THE WORST STATE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN IN SINCE THE 1960s WITH, YOU KNOW, POLICE SHOOTING, FIRE HOSES AT DEMONSTRATORS, ETC.. NOW WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO HAS SAID THAT THE ALL RIGHT INCLUDES SOME NICE, SOME GOOD PEOPLE.

HE JUST -- [CROSS TALK] >> Bonnie:WAIT!

HE SPOKE AT A QUINAN RALLY.

>> Mercedes:HE DID NOT SPEAK AT THAT.

WHERE ARE YOU GETTING A PATENT FOR KEY -- YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU, BONNIE.

THE INFORMATION YOU'RE PROVIDING IS INACCURATE.

IF YOU GO BACK TO THE PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS ON CHARLOTTESVILLE, HE CONDEMNED THE WHITE SUPREMACISTS.

HE CONDEMNED THE FAR RIGHT MILITIA GROUPS.

HE NEVER SAID THEY WERE FINE PEOPLE.

THAT'S A TALKING POINT FROM THE LEFT, WHAT JOE BIDEN -- > Bonnie:I SAW HIM SAYING -- [CROSS TALK] >> Bonnie:LET ME FINISH, LET ME FINISH.

HE DID SAY THEY ARE GOOD PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES.

>> Mercedes: NO, BUT HE DID NOT SAY THE WHITE SUPREMACISTS.

HE CONDEMNED THE WHITE SUPREMACISTS.

HE MADE THAT CLEAR.

WE HAVE BEEN LITIGATING THIS, LITIGATED THIS TWO YEARS AGO AND JOE BIDEN HAS DECIDED TO RESURRECT IT AND AGAIN LIED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ON THE ISSUE.

>> Bonnie:IN THE LAST THING I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT IS A COUPLE YEARS AGO, YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND, MATT, A WONDERFUL COUPLE, I WENT TO SAY, AND THAT'S MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH YOU IS YOU'RE SWEET, KIND, HELPFUL, WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR SOMEBODY YOU LIKE, AND PLEASE SAY HELLO TO HIM FOR ME.

BUT THE NEW YORK TIMES CALLED YOU THE "IT" CONSERVATIVE COUPLE, AND HE WAS OF COURSE BEFORE JOINING WITH THE TRUMP FORCES, HE WAS HEAD OF THE AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION.

YOU TOLD THE NEW YORK TIMES MOST OF HER FRIENDS WERE NOT TALKING TO YOU ANYMORE, MEANING, I PRESUME, YOUR REPUBLICAN FRIENDS WERE UPSET BECAUSE THEY ARE A LOT OF TRUE CONSERVATIVES WHO THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP IS NOT ONE OF THEM AT ALL.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

THEIR FIRST ISSUE, FIRST OF ALL, IS THE DEBT AND DEFICIT.

WHAT YOU SAY REPUBLICAN WOMEN WHO MAY BE JUMPING IN VOTING FOR JOE BIDEN THIS TIME BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE DEFICIT?

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM?

>> Mercedes: WELL, I WILL SAY, FIRST OF ALL, FORTUNATELY, SINCE YOU SEEN FROM 2016 THROUGH 2020, THE PRESIDENT NOW HAS A RECORD TO RUN ON.

YOU ASKED CONSERVATIVES AND ASKED REPUBLICANS, AND THAT'S WHY THE PRESIDENT HAS THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF SUPPORT FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND FROM THOSE WHO ARE REPUBLICAN.

IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD, THE HIGHEST WE'VE SEEN FROM ALMOST ANY REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT.

HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO REALLY CLOSE THAT GAP, BRING REPUBLICANS BACK TO THE FULL THAT WERE QUESTIONING WHETHER HE WOULD BE A REPUBLICAN IN NATURE WHEN IT COMES TO HIS ISSUES.

FOR US, WHEN IT COMES TO TAX CUTS, PUTTING MONEY BACK IN THE POCKETS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS, REALLY FIGHTING FOR AMERICAN JOBS, BRINGING THEM BACK FROM CHINA, BEING TOUGH ON CHINA, HE HAS BEEN A WHEN ON THE ISSUES.

SCHOOL CHOICE, CHAMPION ON SCHOOL CHOICE.

FOR OUR ISSUES, WE FEEL HE HAS MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS.

THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT JOE BIDEN AND YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A $4 TRILLION TAX BURDEN ON FAMILIES, AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT EACH OF THESE VERY MASSIVE EXPENSIVE PROGRAMS, IT WILL OF COURSE INCREASE THE DEBT AND THE DEFICIT.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO TACKLE FOR A LONG TIME -- >> Bonnie:A MAY GET BACK.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WHICH NOW WE HAVE 30+ MILLION PEOPLE OUT OF WORK IN AMERICA, THAT DOES NOT SPEAK TO A GREAT ECONOMY.

WALL STREET IS IN FINE FORM BECAUSE THEY LOOK AHEAD TO TAX CUTS AND FUTURE PROFITS.UT THE AVERAGE AMERICAN IS IN PRETTY BAD SHAPE RIGHT NOW.

WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT HIS PERFORMANCE ON THE ECONOMY AND THE DEFICIT AND WHERE THEY INTERTWINE?

>> Mercedes:LOOK, THIS PRESIDENT WAS ABLE TO BUILD A FUNDAMENTALLY STRONG ECONOMY FOR BLACKS, LATINOS, WOMEN, VETERANS, TALKING ABOUT HISTORIC EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS BEFORE THE ARTIFICIAL INTERRUPTION OF COVID, WHICH HAS IMPACTED ALL OF OUR LIVES.

BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE PRESIDENT'S POLICIES WHERE HE UNDERSTANDS LOW TAX, TAXES, RENEGOTIATING TOUGH TREE DEALS TO BRING JOBS BACK, GETTING RID OF JOB KILLING REGULATIONS, ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN IN THE INGREDIENTS IN THE FORMULA TO BUILD A STRONG ECONOMY WHICH WE DID IN THE FIRST PLACE.

YOU LOOK AT THE AUGUST JOBS REPORT, TALKING ABOUT 1.4 MILLION JOBS CREATED.

THAT'S HISTORIC!

>> Bonnie:IS 40 MILLION LOST!

THAT'S WHY WALL STREET -- >> Mercedes:ABLE TO BE RECUPERATED OVER 40 PERCENT OF THE JOBS LOST, COMPARED TO THE JOE BIDEN.

IT WAS 2.5, THAT WAS 2.5 MORE TIMES JOBS THAN WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP THAN IT TOOK TWO YEARS FOR JOE BIDEN.

FOR JOE BIDEN AND THEIR ECONOMY, IT WAS THE WEAKEST, SLOWEST RECOVERY WE SAW SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO TO JUMPSTART THIS ECONOMY AGAIN, GET THROUGH COVID, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY VERY DIFFICULT, WORKING WITH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TO PASS THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM THAT HAS BENEFITED OVER 51 MILLION JOBS, THAT IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE WE NEED THOSE SAFEGUARDS -- >> Bonnie:THERE IS STILL NOT 1/3 PHASE, STILL NOT 1/3 PHASE.

>> Mercedes:AT EXACTLY.

DEMOCRATS OF THE COME TO THE TABLESPOON DEMOCRATS SAY IT'S BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS' SUPPORT IN THE BILL IS NOT ENOUGH TO HELP AMERICANS IN NEED.

>> Mercedes:NO, BECAUSE -- YOU KNOW THIS, SCHUMER AND PELOSI WENT TO BAIL AT THE STATES AND CITIES, AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

THEY OF THE COME TO MIDDLE GROUND.

WE HAVE BEEN IN WASHINGTON FOR A LONG TIME AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO GET TO THE POINT THEY CAN NEGOTIATE A DEAL.

HOPEFULLY THEY CAN PUT POLITICS ASIDE AND GET THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE DONE AGAIN, PROVIDE MORE RISK-FREE LOANS THAT I NOW.

I HAVE VISITED THESE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SURVIVE BECAUSE OF THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM.

YOU HAVE SEEN THAT IT IS BENEFITED A LOT OF WOMEN SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, A LOT OF MINORITY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

I FEEL STRONGLY THAT WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS.

I MEAN, AS A COUNTRY.

BUT THE PRESIDENT, WHO UNDERSTANDS HOW TO BUILD A STRONG ECONOMY, IS A PRESIDENT.

WE CANNOT AFFORD A SECOND SHUT DOWN LIKE JOE BIDEN IS SAYING OF THIS ECONOMY.

WE CANNOT AFFORD MORE TAX INCREASES ON MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES.

HE DOES NOT EVEN UNDERSTAND HOW TO HANDLE CHINA, WHICH HAS BEEN A GLOBAL THREAT.

WE KNOW -- >> Bonnie:LAST QUESTION, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO RUN, EVEN THOUGH WE WANT YOU TO STAY.

>> Mercedes:IT'S SO MUCH FUN!

>> Bonnie: ARE YOUR FRIENDS TALKING TO YOU AGAIN?

>> Mercedes:BONNIE, YOU ARE TALKING TO ME.

I THINK I'M IN GOOD SHAPE.

YES, I THINK WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED IN THIS PROCESS IS THAT, AS WE KNOW, THERE WILL BE REPUBLICANS, SOME OF THEM, THAT WILL NEVER LIKE DONALD TRUMP.

OULD BE FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY MIGHT NOT LIKE HIM.

I'VE WORKED WITH THEM AND SEE HOW HE'S EMPOWERED WOMEN ADVISORS IN THE WHITE HOUSE, I'VE BEEN ON THE ONE IN THE OVAL OFFICE IN ROOM AND THERE IS BEEN A BUNCH OF GUYS IN THE WITH THE PRESIDENT HAS LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, MERCEDES, WOULD YOU THINK ABOUT THIS ISSUE?

I KNOW MY VOICE HAS BEEN HEARD.

I KNOW MANY OF THE WOMEN WHO WORK THERE EVERY DAY, MANY OF THEM, SOME SINGLE AND SOME MARRIED, SOME WITH KIDS, THEY ARE TO SERVE THIS COUNTRY.

WHETHER YOU ARE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, BONNIE, WE ALL -- >> Bonnie:YOU SAY YOU ARE THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM.

SAME MEETING, SAME LEVEL ADVISORS.

THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, THERE WOULD'VE BEEN LOTS, AND YOU ARE LATINA.

YOUR PARENTS ARE FROM CUBA.

THERE WOULD'VE BEEN LOTS OF WOMEN AND LOTS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THAT ROOM.

HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM.

>> Mercedes:I WOULD SAY I WAS IN A LOT OF MEETINGS IN THE OVAL OFFICE.

THERE WERE PLENTY OF WOMEN IN THE ROOM.

SOME OCCASION I MAY HAVE BEEN THE ONLY WOMAN IF THERE WAS TWO OR THREE OF US IN THE ROOM.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE BEING A LITTLE SPECIFIC THERE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT WE KNOW IS HE HAS ELEVATED SUCH A LARGE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN SENIOR POSITIONS AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND WE HAVE A STRONG -- HAD A STRONG VOICE AND ENSURING WE ARE ABLE TO BE INVOLVED IN VERY COMPLICATED DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES, WHETHER IT BE ON HOW DO WE BE TOUGH AGAINST CHINA AND HOW DO WE RENEGOTIATE THESE TRADE DEALS?

OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE SEEN THE IMPACT OF USMCA, WHAT THAT MEANT FOR MEXICO AND CANADA WHERE YOU HAVE THE MEXICAN PRESIDENT, AND PRAISE THE PRESIDENT FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE.

YOU HAVE SEEN THE PEACE AGREEMENT, HISTORIC PEACE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND UAE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PRESIDENTS COULD NOT ACCOMPLISH FOR DECADES.

YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THE PRESIDENT MOVE THE EMBASSY TO JERUSALEM, DESPITE WHAT CRITICS WOULD SAY.

THAT IS A MAN OF HIS WORD.

HE BASICALLY LAID OUT AN AGENDA AND LITTLE BY LITTLE WE HAVE SEEN WHAT HE'S BEEN ABLE TO IMPLEMENT IN TERMS OF ENSURING THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BUILD A STRONG ECONOMY, THAT WOMEN ARE ABLE TO BENEFIT, AND WE CAN COME TOGETHER AS A NATION TO COMBAT CORONAVIRUS, GET A VACCINE, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ALSO GET THE THERAPEUTICS NEEDED TO COMBAT THIS AWFUL SITUATION THAT WE ARE ALL GOING THROUGH.

>> Bonnie: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MERCY.

ENJOY SPENDING TIME WITH YOU.

>> Mercedes: LIKEWISE.

>> Bonnie: PLEASE COME BACK.

>> Mercedes:ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Bonnie:TAKE CARE.

GOODBYE.

TURNING IN OUR FORMER DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN DONNA EDWARDS OF MARYLAND.

HELLO, DONNA AND RINA SHAH AURORA, HEAD OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN PROVIDED IN.

LADIES, AS YOU JUST SAW, MERCY SCHLAPP, FORMER PANELIST ON "TO THE CONTRARY", NOW A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN, SAYS THAT WHITE WOMEN WILL -- AND WOMEN GENERALLY WILL GO BACK INTO THE TRUMP CAMP BECAUSE HE HAS A STRONGER OUTLOOK ON SECURITY AND ISSUES THAT CONCERN THEM.

DONNA, LET'S START WITH YOU.

YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> Donna:I THINK THAT WHETHER YOU ARE LOOKING AT BATTLEGROUND STATE POLLING OR NATIONALLY, NATIONAL POLLING, IT SIMPLY DOES NOT REFLECT THAT.

I MEAN, WHERE TRUMP HAS LOST THE MOST, FRANKLY, IS AMONG WHITE WOMEN, PARTICULARLY COLLEGE-EDUCATED WHITE WOMEN AND MANY LIVING IN SUBURBS.

AND I THINK IT'S PRECISELY BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT FEELING SECURE.

THEY ARE NOT FEELING SECURE IN THEIR FAMILIES WITH THE WAY THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN CONDUCTED.

NOT FEELING SECURE IN COMMUNITIES BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE PRESIDENT IS DEALING OR NOT DEALING WITH RACE RELATIONS.

THEY ARE REALLY GOOD REASONS THAT WHITE WOMEN ARE REALLY FLEEING FROM DONALD TRUMP.

I DO NOT THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, 40+ DAYS IS GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO REGAIN THE ADVANTAGE.

>> Bonnie: RINA, YOU DEAL ALL THE TIME WITH REPUBLICAN WOMEN, PROBABLY FORMER TRUMP SUPPORTERS IN THE FIRST ELECTION IN 2016.

WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?

WHY ARE YOU -- HAVE YOU ORGANIZED THIS GROUP OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN WERE BY THEN?

>> Rina Shah:WELL, IT'S PRECISELY TO THE POINT THAT DONNA BROUGHT UP, THAT THERE IS THIS BLOCK OF WOMEN WHICH I HAVE BEEN INTO, QUITE HONESTLY.

I LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA SUBURBS WITH THE SIDEWALK.

I CHOSE THAT BECAUSE I COULD STROLL A STROLLER DOWN THAT SIDEWALK.

THAT IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

I HAVE TWO VERY YOUNG CHILDREN.

ON GOING THROUGH A LOT OF WHAT I THINK YOUNG MOMS EVERYWHERE ARE EXPERIENCING, IS THAT UNCERTAINTY.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE EVERYTHING IN LIGHT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND REALLY LACK OF LEADERSHIP?

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S EVERY LEVEL THAT THE PRESIDENT LET THE STATES DO THEIR OWN THING.

LOOK, YOU KNOW ME.

I'M UP FOR LIMITED GOVERNMENT, I HAVE MY ENTIRE LIFE.

IS THE ONE MOMENT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD'VE GIVEN A UNIFIED RESPONSE AND DEALT WITH THE PANDEMIC ON OUR SHORES AND A BETTER WAY.

BY STARTING OFF CALLING IT A HOAX, I THINK THE PRESIDENT, AS REPUBLICAN, WOULD'VE ADMITTED TO A TREMENDOUS MISSTEP.

WRONG WAY TO DO IT OUT OF THE GATE.

BEYOND THAT, WE ARE AT NEARLY 200,000 HELLO AMERICANS DEAD, AND THIS IS A VERY SILENT KILLER.

I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT SAY THAT MY DEMOGRAPHIC OF WOMEN, WE DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT LEADERSHIP IN WASHINGTON HAS FAILED US FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

BUT THE REPUBLICAN WOMEN I SPEAK TO WHO ARE NOT LIKE ME, WHO VOTED FOR TRUMP IN 2016, CONSIDERING DOING SO AGAIN THIS FALL, IT IS A VERY BIG TASK THAT I HAVE TAKEN ON TO TRY TO GET TO THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THESE WOMEN AND SAY TO THEM THAT JOE BIDEN IS NOT WHAT THE MEDIA HAS PORTRAYED HIM TO BE.

EVEN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA HAS NOT GIVEN HIM A FAIR SHAKE.

HE WAS MY FAVORITE CANDIDATE COMING OUT OF THE GATE LAST FALL.

I THINK, LOOK, WE HAVE TO TALK TO PEOPLE.

WE HAVE TO TALK TO OUR NEIGHBORS ABOUT WHAT'S AT STAKE HERE.

THAT IS THE ECONOMIC FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN AND OF OURSELVES AND THEN THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> Bonnie: AND, DONNA, YOU TALKED ABOUT BATTLEGROUND STATES.

TALK ABOUT THE POLLING NUMBERS THERE.

THEY ARE TIGHTENING, RIGHT?

>> Donna Edwards: IS TO BE EXPECTED.

I RUN FOR OFFICE BEFORE.

AS YOU GET CLOSER TO ELECTION DAY, PEOPLE GET MORE GROUNDED IN TERMS OF WHERE THEY WANT TO CAST THEIR VOTES.

SO, YES, THE BATTLEGROUND STATES ARE NARROWING.

>> Bonnie:WHICH ONES ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN?

>> Donna Edwards: I THINK IT'S THE SAME ONES, FRANKLY, THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.

YOU HAVE MICHIGAN, PENNSYLVANIA, WISCONSIN, ARIZONA, FLORIDA.

I THINK THOSE, IN THOSE STATES, THE POLLS ARE TIGHTENING.

BUT WHAT YOU SEE THERE IS THAT CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS WENT MORE SOLIDLY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP IN 2016 ARE ACTUALLY SHOWING MORE STRENGTH, PARTICULARLY AMONG WOMEN, COLLEGE-EDUCATED WHITE WOMEN, BUT EVEN AMONG WHITE MEN, JOE BIDEN IS TO BE CLOSING THAT GAP, WHO'S OBVIOUSLY NOT WINNING THEM.

BY ANYTHING THAT HE SHAPES OFF OF THEM IS A PLUS SIGN IN THE BIDEN: WANT TO GO BACK TO THE POINT THAT RENA WAS RAISING, WHICH IS THAT JOE BIDEN ACTUALLY OFFERS A VISION FOR THE FUTURE.

IT'S NOT DARK AND DREARY AND CHAOTIC.

AND I THINK THAT FOR WOMEN, ALL WOMEN, THAT IS A GOOD SIGN.

WOMEN WANT THAT STABILITY.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS FOR THE FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND I THINK THAT WHAT YOU SEE IN THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN IS A REFLECTION OF THAT.

WHILE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN SCRAMBLING AROUND, YOU KNOW, REALLY CREATING HIS OWN CHAOS, JOE BIDEN EVERY SINGLE WEEK IS PUTTING OUT A PLAN AND VISION FOR WOMEN, FOR THE ECONOMY, AROUND CLIMATE, AROUND THINGS, EDUCATION, THINGS WOMEN CARE ABOUT FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY.

>> Bonnie:RINA, WHAT ABOUT REPUBLICAN WOMEN OF COLOR, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO TRY TO GET THEM TO VOTE FOR BIDEN?

>> Rina Shah:WELL, I WILL SAY THIS, BONNIE: IN MY MANY YEARS OF WORKING ON REPUBLICAN POLITICS FOR CAPITOL HILL AND OFF THE HILL FOR NINE YEARS AS A CONSULTANT, I CANNOT SPEAK TO REPUBLICAN WOMEN AS GROUPS, SUBGROUPS.

IT NEVER HAPPENED, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THEY OPERATE.

THEY DON'T IDENTIFY SOLELY AS BLACK WOMEN PRO-TRUMP.

THIS IS A RELATIVELY NEW THING, I THINK, THIS WHOLE TARGETING, VERY OPENLY AND DIRECTLY.

IT WAS ALWAYS THE INTENTION OF THE RNC, LET ME PUT IT THAT WAY, BUT THE BLOCK THAT VOTED FOR TRUMP, THE CAPITALIZED IT.

THOSE PEOPLE ARE MORE PROUD THAN EVER.

I'M SAYING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REALLY ROUTINELY LIE.

IF I GO AND SPEAK TO THE BLACK WOMEN ABOUT THE ECONOMY, THEY ARE LOST TO ME, TO BE HONEST, BECAUSE THEY HAVE CONVINCED THEMSELVES THAT THIS PRESIDENT CREATED THE POLICIES THAT WAS WHY THE ECONOMY WAS FLOURISHING PRIOR TO COVID-19.

THEY DON'T SEE THAT AS OBAMA ERA POLICIES THAT SUCCESSFULLY WORKED OVERTIME AND GIVEN THIS ECONOMY TO TRUMP.

ONE THING I WANT TO MENTION, BONNIE, THEY CAME OUT YESTERDAY, THE HILL, MEDIA OUTLET, HEADED EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH VICE PRESIDENT PENCE IN WHICH HE ADMITTED THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN IS, FOCUSING ON FLORIDA, MINNESOTA, AND ARIZONA.

I FIND IT INTERESTING.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PUSH WOMEN IN THOSE STATES.

I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT THESE WOMEN ARE EASILY GASLIGHT.

I DON'T THINK THEY ARE THE TYPE THAT CAN TAKE ANY MORE OF THE RIGHT WING LIES, TO BE FRANK.

THAT IS WHAT IS AT PLAY.

DAILY GAS LIGHTING BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

WE ARE SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT JOE BIDEN ACTUALLY STANDS FOR WOMEN.

HE IS SOMEBODY WHO HAS HAD SO MUCH TO DO WITH THINGS THAT IMPACT THE LIVES OF AMERICAN WOMEN: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT, THAT'S COMING UP SOON, THE ANNIVERSARY.

THESE ARE THE REASONS WHY JOE BIDEN GIVES ME HOPE, AND I THINK IT WILL TAKE US OUT OF THE TIME WHERE TRUMP HAS HAD US PANICKING ABOUT THE WRONG THINGS.

>> Bonnie: WELL, I TRUST YOU BOTH AND I APPRECIATE YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS PROGRAM.

THAT IS IT FOR THIS EDITION OF TRYING TO.

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