00:00:00:15 Let me point out, i also warned about fannie mae and freddie mac and warned about corporate greed and excess and ceo pay and all that. A lot of us saw this train wreck coming. (0:15) /

Senator Barack Obama Campain Commercial "A Stronger Economy" Script of "A Stronger Economy" BARACK OBAMA: For eight years, we've been told that the way to a stronger economy was to give huge tax breaks to corporations and the wealthiest. Cut oversight on Wall Street. And somehow all Americans would benefit. Well, now we know the truth. Instead of prosperity trickling down, pain has trickled up. We need to change direction. Now. I'm Barack Obama, and here's what I'll do as president:  End the Wall Street free-for-all with common-sense safeguards that put homeowners and struggling families first -- not corporate greed and CEO bonuses.  Jump-start our economy with a middle-class tax cut, paid for by closing special-interest loopholes.  And get serious about energy independence. A 10-year mission to create millions of good-paying jobs by investing in made-in-America energy and infrastructure. You can read my whole plan to rebuild our economy on our Web site, BarackObama.com. It's time to get our economy back on track and put the middle class first again. And that's why I approve this message. 9/26/08

Woman asks Obama about corporate greed and big business and taxes, Obama answers (audio cuts in and out occasionally, shots skip occasionally throughout)

17:43:37:00 Edwards Media Avail in Nashua/Nashua, NH (location of record linked to Raw record says Portsmouth!)
/nChris Youd
/n01/04/08
/n05262805
/nJohn Edwards
/n(D) Presidential Candidate 
/n
/nEDWARDS/CELEBRITY TRT18 OC...TUESDAY 
/n17:48:59 we're up against 2 celebrity candidates, who between them have raised over 200 million dollars, but heres the good news the people of new hampshire have got a little bit of an independent streak, dont they and they like to shake things up a little bit, and we're not gonna have an auction, we're gonn ahav an election on tuesday17:49:17
/n
/nEDWARDS/ CORP GREED TRT 12 OC...ALL AMERICANS
/n17:52:42 the effect that corporate greed is having on the middle class and on jobs in america and on working people. thats not just happening to democrats, its happening to independents, its happening to republicans. this is something that affects all americans 17:52:54 
/n
/nEDWARDS/GLITZ TRT 11 OC... STOP US
/n17:53:42 if we rise up, speak up, join together, lock arm in arm in this movement, money will not stop us glamor and glitz will not stop us 17:53:53
/n
/n-----------rough----------
/n17:45:47 i want to thank you for knocking on doors, this grass roots movement takew back for american peopel 
/n17:46:15 is that the status quo is
/nyesterday, that change is tomorrow and tomorrow begins today right
/nits gonna take a fight ...someone who a fight i've been engaged in
/n17:46:57 nothing will change if we trade corpo repub for corp dems 17:47:03
/n17:47:21 they want something in return
/n17:47:29 i'm very proud i've never taken a dime from lobbyist or special interest pac
/n17:47:51 what we cannot do is nominate candidate
/n17:48:03 need someone like me to bring about change
/n17:48:17 we need someone who has never taken their money
/n17:48:39 had you not been on teh ground iniowa , impossible to know more than 2 candidate, ahaist 2 celebrity candidates. peolel of nh want to election on tuesday17:49:17
/n17:49:39 this cause, this movement is about retoring democracy, corp greed
/n17:50:04 guy named james lowe lived 50 yrs not able to speak
/n17:50:21 how long are we gonna let drug companies run america
/n17:50:48 story of 17yr old girl liver transplant
/n17:51:15 spcific example what we have to do
/n17:51:26 they have their hands in everything
/n17:51:36 insurance and drug companies prevent us from getting healkthcare
/n17:51:57 this battle is about ...all of you ....part of this movement , if we stand up
/n17:52:20 if youre willing to stand up to fight, not cause of big money. make govt work for them 
/n'17:52:46 the effect corporate grreed, effect alll of us. gonna have to work, up against millions of dollars
/n17:53:25 there nothing w cant do together ,
/n17:53:44 if we rise up, speak up, money willnot stop us ...glamor and glitz, look children in eye better life than we had17:54:17
/n
/nMEDIA AVAIL
/n17:57:30 there were 3 candidates, th ey outspent 5-6-to 1 ...tuesday 17:57:57
/n17:58:20 i feel strongly ...never taken money ....
/n17:58:40 i'm the underdog, got 2 well known 200 milion ...i used to walk into courtrooms won over and over ...like that 17:59:14
/n17:59:24 ending greed crucial, 
/n
/nIn MIRA and MediaSource, no log either place
/nEdwards Live in Portsmouth/Portsmouth, NH
/nChris Youd
/n01/04/08
/n05262821
/nEDWARDS/RED SOX TRT 20 OC....DO THAT 
/n18:29:23 the voters of new hampshire, the people of new england know something about what its like to be the underdog and to run against a team from new york with all the money in the world because the red sox have proven over and over that they can do that 18:29:43
/n
/nEDWARDS/GRASSROOTS TRT 19 OC....YOUR HANDS
/n18:38:12 i'm not the power candiate, i'm not the establishment candidate, and i'm not the money candidat. i am not. my campaign is a grass roots movement to change this country. and to restore this democracy to exactly the place that the .founding fathers put it, which is back in your hands 18:38:31
/n
/nEDWARDS/ELIZABETH TRT 23 OC....SHE'S HEALTHY (shot pulls back from his daughter in crowd/his back is to cam, hes responding to a woman in the back) 
/n18:59:18 we monitor her health closely, but all the information we get is extrremely positive and good, she looks good, she feels good, i'm a little biased about how she looks, i think she looks great, to answer your question, you tell anybody that youre on phone with, that whoever's circulating those rumors, theyre false, and elizabeth is doing great, feels great, she's healthy 18:59:42
/n
/n------rough----------
/n18:28:34 a;lso saw something nh understand
/n18:28:46 if willing to speak truth can 
/n18:28:58 we went into iowa aghaist 200 million dollar candidates, we took on power and we won
/n18:29:27 people of nh know what its like to run against a red soxyankees *
/n
/n18:30:11 we have 4 days to prove them wrong, what we showed iniowa , whewn you give voice to those not being heard it resonates
/n18:30:51 take on well financed, exactly what looking for ...gonna spend 
/n18:31:11 on tuesday you're gonna rise up, instead stand with candidate fight power change thats what elex is about18:31:36
/n18:32:58 james lowe got voice back you get yours
/n18:33:14 17 year old liver transplant story 
/n18:34:05 low voice, 
/n18:34:12 ita about us, not gonna allow hushed voice, all these people who need to be heard, may lose 30 million jobs?
/n18:35:03 i watched my granparents go in the mill for years, mother 5th garde education.
/n18:35:27 watched father in mills spo could have better life
/n18:35:48 what we have resp to do
/n18:35:55 the torrch has been passed, cant stand by and let moral and just 18:36:27
/n18:36:42 no bid billion dollar contracts in iraq, if gonna have america. if thats the tuth
/n18:37:08 theyere mnot going to quiet, have iron fist grip . do we really believe if we trade corporate republicans for dems is anything gonna change
/n18:37:51 working for same company, nothing will change
/n18:38:12 i'm not th power, not establishment, not money, its grass roots ...foundfing ftathers, back in your hands 18:38:31
/n18:39:03 i dontthink you can take their money and be tough on them
/n18:39:18 i think we have a fight...to carry torch,i look at this america and this is what i see
/n18:39:48 exxon mobil, profits
/n18:40:01 the top 1% in america took twice, wealthy getting wealthier. nothing will change until we break that grip
/n18:40:41 what theyre doing to middle class, it will be heard if we do it together
/n18:41:16 i wish i ould do this myself but i cant, 
/n18:41:36 tonight 47 million of our people go to bed if child gets sick hav to beg for health care
/n18:42:09 went to shelter said do you ahve to turn people away., momsa? kids ? where to they go to cars , in america
/n18:42:46 last year 35 million hungry 
/n18:42:57 200,000 veterans go to sleep under bridges, on grates
/n18:43:20 are we gonna give voice to all middle clas families struggling to pay bills we're better than this
/n18:43:53 key is to be heard,
/n18:43:59 gonna be blitzed with ads, with money glamor media love it
/n18:44:26 what i would say to all of you, know better politician say something bc suppopsed say it 
/n18:45:13 if someone says from heart and soul, will fiht for you, and we are going to do this together
/n18:46:01 i know hat its like to be the underdog, i like it i embrace it
/n18:46:17 walk proudly in footsteps of garndparents, speak up rise up, enough is enough
/n18:46:46 on turesday voice heard loud and clear, whenm wave is finished be able to look in the eye, made certain left better than we found it
/n18:47:30 take questions
/nq from independent speak for unborn
/n18:48:57 i have belief that the role f govt to tell women what to do (applause)
/n18:49:29 nobody made me god, have repect for different view, acknowledge an respect
/n18:50:04 i dont think role of pres or govt, its between you and faith ...govt shoul d tell women what to do 
/nq energy independence
/n18:51:41 i do think global warming huge moral crisis, no greater responsibility
/n18:52:04 below cap make polluters pay, take money invrest in green
/n18:52:28 this is a great opportunity to create jobs, put them where jobs wrere lost
/n18:52:57 unlike clinton and obama, i am opposed to building nuclear power plants
/n18:53:32 they are in different positions, clinton is agnostic about it, i'm just against it
/n18:53:58 i think we need a president who asks to sacrifice... patriotic besides war
/n18:55:04 q on china guy who practices falun gong 
/n18:56:09 i was in china year ago and they had execute family 
/n18:56:31 i tried to raise thew issue aboiut human rights abuses 
/n18:57:37 i would take steps to restore cred on rights ../..that means vlose guantanamo no more spying by potus
/n18:58:09 no rendition ...no trorture permissible
/n18:59:18 we monitor her, she looks good, anybody youre on phone with rumors false, she's healthy 18:59:41
/n19:01:27 i dont have to guess about how independent voters are, last thing they want is media telling what to do...you dont want an auction you want an election 19:02:00 
/n19:04:19 people forget organized labor helped create middle class
/n19:04:55 we've got to empower teh collective bargaining process...no onwe can cross picket line and take someones job 19:05:16
/n
/n19:06:16 our southern border is a mess, dont want to build fence. doesnt make sense
/n19:06:45 need to crack down on employers 
/n19:07:24 rem,ember thwey said nafta would create jobs
/n19:07:40 america needs to show leadership
/n19:08:07 create an environment so (10:39) /

Senator Barack Obama Campain Commercial "A Stronger Economy" Script of "A Stronger Economy" BARACK OBAMA: For eight years, we've been told that the way to a stronger economy was to give huge tax breaks to corporations and the wealthiest. Cut oversight on Wall Street. And somehow all Americans would benefit. Well, now we know the truth. Instead of prosperity trickling down, pain has trickled up. We need to change direction. Now. I'm Barack Obama, and here's what I'll do as president:  End the Wall Street free-for-all with common-sense safeguards that put homeowners and struggling families first -- not corporate greed and CEO bonuses.  Jump-start our economy with a middle-class tax cut, paid for by closing special-interest loopholes.  And get serious about energy independence. A 10-year mission to create millions of good-paying jobs by investing in made-in-America energy and infrastructure. You can read my whole plan to rebuild our economy on our Web site, BarackObama.com. It's time to get our economy back on track and put the middle class first again. And that's why I approve this message. 9/26/08

<p><b>--</b><b>FULL TRANSCRIPT</b>--</p>\n<p>Tonight, during CNN’s Presidential Debate, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump took questions from CNN anchors Dana Bash and Jake Tapper live from CNN’s Studios in Atlanta, Georgia.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Please see the full final rushed transcript below.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>MANDATORY CREDIT: CNN</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>CNN LIVE DIGITAL STORY HIGHLIGHTS</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Asked about age, Biden says Trump is "a lot less competent"</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Asked about voter concerns regarding his age, President Joe Biden mentioned his opponent is only a few years younger than him, “but a lot less competent.”</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>“First of all,” Biden said, “I spent half my career being criticized for being the youngest person in politics … and now I’m the oldest.”</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>“This guy’s three years younger and a lot less competent,” Biden said.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>He urged voters to “just look at the record, what I’ve done.”</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Asked the same question, Trump challenged Biden to a cognitive test. The pair then argued about their golf skills.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Trump on Biden: "He is the worst president in the history of our country"</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>When asked what he would do to make childcare more affordable, Trump continued his attacks on Biden, arguing that, “This shouldn’t be a debate … He is the worst president in the history of our country.” </p>\n<p></p>\n<p>“??If he wins this election, our country doesn’t have a chance — not even a chance of coming out of this rut. We probably won’t have a country left anymore,” he continued. </p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Biden responded by noting a survey of historians that said Trump was the worst president in history, and claimed Trump did “virtually nothing for childcare” during his presidency. </p>\n<p></p>\n<p>“We should significantly increase the childcare tax credit. We should significantly increase the availability of single parents to be able to go back to work. And we should encourage businesses to have childcare facilities,” Biden added.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Trump says he saved America's steel industry with tariffs. US Steel is a shell of its former self</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Former President Donald Trump claimed that his administration saved America’s steel industry with tariffs on foreign steel.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>America’s steel industry has been in decline for a century. Chinese steel, in particular, is significantly cheaper and therefore more popular than steel made in America. Trump’s tariffs did little to change the fortunes of the steel industry in America.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>That’s evidenced by US Steel, which decades ago was the world’s biggest company. Last year, it announced it planned to sell itself to Nippon Steel, a Japanese rival, in a $14 billion deal.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Biden came out publicly against that proposed deal, citing antitrust and foreign competition concerns.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Biden says defeating Trump will keep Social Security solvent</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>President Joe Biden vowed to keep Social Security solvent, saying that forcing wealthy Americans to “pay their fair share” is one way to ensure that happens.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But he added that the biggest thing that would keep Social Security solvent is defeating former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>“He wants to get rid of Social Security,” Biden said. “He thinks there is plenty to cut in Social Security.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>In response, Trump blamed Biden for “destroying” Social Security and said the current president “doesn’t know what he’s doing.” He claimed that “millions of people” are immigrating into the US and are taking services such as Social Security and Medicaid away from other Americans.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Biden gets personal as he slams Trump's criminal conviction</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>President Joe Biden launched a fiery set of criticisms against former President Donald Trump’s legal troubles, comparing his predecessor’s morals to an “alley cat” as he called him a “convicted felon.”</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>“The crimes that you are still charged with – and think of all the civil penalties you have. How many billions of dollars do you owe in civil penalties for molesting a woman in public? For doing a whole range of things? Of having sex with a porn star on the night – while your wife was pregnant?” Biden asked. </p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Trump was found guilty last month on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush-money payment to an adult-film star in 2016. And last year, a jury found that Trump sexually abused E. Jean Carroll in a luxury department store dressing room in the spring of 1996 and awarded her $5 million for battery and defamation.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Biden turned to Trump, and continued, “You have the morals of an alley cat.” </p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Trump denied having sex with a porn star. </p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Trump attacks Biden: "He caused the inflation"</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>“He caused the inflation,” former President Donald Trump claimed, attacking President Joe Biden in a conversation about whether Biden’s economy is working for Black Americans.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Trump also claimed that “there was no inflation” during his administration.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>The causes of America’s inflation crisis are numerous. The pandemic led to massive supply chain disruptions that sent prices surging. Russia’s war with Ukraine exacerbated those costs and sent energy prices through the roof. And the Federal Reserve failed to understand the seriousness of the inflation crisis, keeping rates low for an extended period of time.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>On top of that, stimulus checks distributed during both the Trump administration and the Biden administration helped boost inflation. </p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Inflation in America peaked in June 2022, with consumer prices surging 9.1% over the previous year. It’s now down to a still-high but much healthier 3.3%. But that’s significantly higher than the 1.4% inflation rate when Biden took office.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>America’s inflation had been a non-issue for decades before Biden took office and was routinely below the Fed’s target 2% inflation rate during the Trump administration. But inflation was initially pushed to practically zero — artificially — during the pandemic lockdown. Reopening the economy contributed to inflation’s rebound.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Trump says Putin's terms to end war in Ukraine war are "not acceptable"</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Former President Donald Trump on Thursday said the terms Russian President Vladimir Putin has put forward to end Russia’s war in Ukraine are “not acceptable.”</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Putin has said Russia would only end its war in Ukraine if Kyiv surrenders the entirety of four regions claimed by Moscow and abandons its bid to join NATO.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>After initially dodging the question posed by CNN’s Dana Bash at the presidential debate in Atlanta, Trump was pressed by Bash a second time: “Are Putin’s terms acceptable to you?”</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>“No, they’re not acceptable,” Trump said.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Trump again claimed he would end the war in Ukraine if reelected, as he regularly does on the campaign trail, and again did not provide any specifics about how he would end the war, which is now in its third year.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Biden touts proposed ceasefire deal for Gaza</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>When asked what he would do to get Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza, Biden touted a plan that included trading the hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a continued “ceasefire with additional conditions.”</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>“The only one who wants the war to continue is Hamas,” Biden said. “We’re still pushing hard to get them to accept.”</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Trump denies responsibility for the January 6 attack on US Capitol</p>\n<p>“On January 6, we had a great border. Nobody coming through,” he said. “We were energy independent. On January 6, we had the lowest taxes ever, we had the lowest regulations ever.”</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>"My son was not a loser, was not a sucker. You're the sucker, you're the loser," Biden tells Trump</p>\n<p>“First of all, that was a made-up quote, ‘suckers and losers.’ They made it up. It was in a third-rate magazine that’s failing, like many of these magazines,” Trump said. “To think that I would, in front of generals and others, say ‘suckers and losers.’”</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Biden on Trump's Roe v. Wade claims: "Simply not true"</p>\n<p>“That is simply not true,” Biden responded. “Roe v. Wade does not provide for that — that’s not the circumstance. Only if a woman’s life is in danger, or she’s going to die. That’s the only circumstance where that can happen.”</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Trump says he will not block abortion medication as president</p>\n<p>“I put three great Supreme Court justices on the court and they happened to vote in favor of killing Roe v. Wade, and moving it back to the states,” he said. “Now the states are working it out.”</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>FULL RUSH TRANSCRIPT</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN RUSH AND PREFEED TRANSCRIPTS IS A BEST POSSIBLE TEXTUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE APPLICABLE CONTENT. WHILE EFFORTS ARE MADE TO PROVIDE AN ACCURATE TRANSCRIPTION, THERE MAY BE MATERIAL ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INACCURACIES IN THE REPORTING OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE RUSH AND PREFEED TRANSCRIPTS FILES DUE TO AUDIO IMPAIRMENTS.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: We're live from Georgia, a key battleground state in the race for the White House. In just moments, the current U.S. president will debate the former U.S. president as their parties' presumptive nominees, a first in American history.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world to our studios in Atlanta.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>This is the CNN presidential debate.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>DANA BASH, CNN HOST: This debate is being produced by CNN and it's coming to you live on CNN, CNN International, CNN.com, CNN Max, and CNN Espanol.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>This is a pivotal moment between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in their rematch for the nation's highest office. Each will make his case to the American people with just over four months until Election Day.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Good evening. I'm Dana Bash, anchor of CNN's "INSIDE POLITICS" and co-anchor of "STATE OF THE UNION".</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: I'm Jake Tapper, anchor of CNN's "THE LEAD" and co-anchor of "STATE OF THE UNION".</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Dana and I will co-moderate this evening. Our job he is to facilitate a debate between the two candidates tonight.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Before we introduce them, we wanted to share the rules of the debate with the audience at home.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Former President Trump will be on the left side of the screen. President Biden will be appearing on the right. A coin toss determined their positions. Each candidate will have two minutes to answer the question, and one minute each for responses and rebuttals. An additional minute for follow-up clarification or response is at the moderator's discretion.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: When it's time for our candidate to speak, his microphone will be turned on and his opponent's microphone will be turned off. Should a candidate interrupt when his microphone is muted, he will be difficult to understand for viewers at home.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>At the end of the debate, each candidate will get two minutes for closing statements. There is no studio audience tonight.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Pre-written notes, props, or contact with campaign staff are not permitted during the debate. By accepting our invitation to debate, both candidates and their campaigns agreed to accept these rules.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Now, please welcome the 46th of the United States, Joe Biden.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Folks, how are you? Good to be here. Thank you.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: And please welcome the 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(MUSIC)</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Gentlemen, thanks so much for being here.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Let's begin the debate. And let's start with the issue that voters consistently say is their top concern, the economy.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>President Biden, inflation has slowed, but prices remain high. Since you took office, the price of essentials has increased. For example, a basket of groceries that cost $100, then, now costs more than $120. And typical home prices have jumped more than 30 percent.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>What do you say to voters who feel they are worse off under your presidency than they were under President Trump?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: We've got to take a look at what I was left when I became president, what Mr. Trump left me.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We had an economy that was in freefall. The pandemic was so badly handled. Many people were dying. All he said was it's not that serious, just inject a little bleach in your arm. You'll be all right.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>The economy collapsed. There were no jobs. The unemployment rate rose to 15 percent. It was terrible.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And so, what we had to do is try to put things back together again. And that's exactly what we began to do. We created 15,000 new jobs. We brought out in a position where we have 800,000 new manufacturing jobs.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But there's more to be done. There's more to be done. Working-class people are still in trouble.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>I come from Scranton, Pennsylvania. I come of household where the kitchen table -- if things weren't able to be met during the month, was a problem. Price of eggs, the price of gas, the price of housing, the price of a whole range of things.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>That's why I'm working so hard to make sure I deal with those problems, and we're going to make sure that we have reduced the price of housing. We're going to make sure we build 2 million new units. We're going to make sure we cap rents, so corporate greed can't take over.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>The combination of what I was left with and corporate greed are the reason why we're in this problem right now.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>In addition to that, we're in a situation where if you had to take a look at all that was done at his administration, he didn't do much at all. By the time he left, there's -- things were in chaos, literally chaos.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And so we put things back together. We created, as I said, those jobs. We made sure we had a situation where we now -- we brought down the price of prescription drugs, which is a major issue for many people, to $15 for -- for an insulin shot, as opposed to $400. No senior has to pay more than $200 for any drug, all the drugs they can include (ph) beginning next year.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And the situation is making -- and we're going to make that available to everybody, to all Americans. So we're working to bring down the price of -- around the kitchen table. And that's what we're going to get done.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Thank you.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>President Trump?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (R) AND CURRENT U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (R): We had the greatest economy in the history of our country. We have never done so well. Every -- everybody was amazed by it. Other countries were copying us.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We got hit with COVID. And when we did, we spent the money necessary so we wouldn't end up in a Great Depression, the likes of which we had in 1929. By the time we finished -- so we did a great job. We got a lot of credit for the economy, a lot of credit for the military, and no wars and so many other things. Everything was rocking good.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But the thing we never got the credit for, and we should have, is getting us out of that COVID mess. He created mandates -- that was a disaster for our country.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But other than that, we had -- we had given them back a -- a country where the stock market actually was higher than pre-COVID. And nobody thought that was even possible. The only jobs he created are for illegal immigrants and bounce-back jobs, they're bounced back from the COVID.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>He has not done a good job. He has done a poor job. And inflation's killing our country. It is absolutely killing us.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Thank you.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>President Biden?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: Well, look, the greatest economy in the world, he's the only one who thinks that, I think. I don't know anybody else who thinks it was great -- he had the greatest economy in the world.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And, you know, the fact of the matter is that we found ourselves in a situation where his economy, he rewarded the wealthy. He had the largest tax cut in American history, $2 trillion. He raised the deficit larger than any president has in any one term. He's the only president other than Herbert Hoover who has lost more jobs than he had when he began, since Herbert Hoover. The idea that he did something that was significant.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And the military, you know, when he was president, they were still killing people in Afghanistan. And he didn't do anything about that. When he was president, we were still finding ourselves in a position where you had a notion that we were this safe country. The truth is, I'm the only president this century that doesn't have any this -- this decade, that doesn't have any troops dying anywhere in the world, like he did.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: President Trump, I want to follow up, if I can, you want --</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(CROSSTALK)</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Am I allowed to respond to him?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Well, I'm going to ask you a follow-up. You can do whatever you want with the minute that we give you. I want to follow up. You want to impose a 10 percent tariff on all goods coming into the U.S. How will you ensure that that doesn't drive prices even higher?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: It's not going to drive them higher. It's just going to cause countries that have been ripping us off for years, like China -- and many others, in all fairness to China -- it's going to just force them to pay us a lot of money, reduce our deficit tremendously, and give us a lot of power for other things.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But he -- he made a statement. The only thing he was right about is I gave you the largest tax cut in history. I also gave you the largest regulation cut in history. And that's why we had all the jobs. And the jobs went down and then they bounced back and he's taking credit for bounce-back jobs. You can't do that.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>He also said he inherited 9 percent inflation. No, he inherited almost no inflation, and it stayed that way for 14 months. And then it blew up under his leadership because they spent money like a bunch of people that didn't know what they were doing. And they don't know what they were doing. It was the worst -- probably the worst administration in history. There's never been.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And as far as Afghanistan is concerned, I was getting out of Afghanistan, but we were getting out with dignity, with strength, with power. He got out, it was the most embarrassing day in the history of our country's life.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: President Trump, over the last eight years, under both of your administrations, the national debt soared to record highs. And according to a new non-partisan analysis, President Trump, your administration approved $8.4 trillion in new debt.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>While so far, President Biden, you've approved $4.3 trillion in new debt.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>So former President Trump, many of the tax cuts that you signed into law are set to expire next year. You want to extend them and go even further, you say. With the U.S. facing trillion-dollar deficits and record debt, why should top earners and corporations pay even less in taxes than they do now?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Because the tax cuts spurred the greatest economy that we've ever seen just prior to COVID, and even after COVID. It was so strong that we were able to get through COVID much better than just about any other country. But we spurred -- that tax spurred. Now, when we cut the taxes, as example, the corporate tax was cut down to 21 percent from 39 percent, plus beyond that, we took in more revenue with much less tax and companies were bringing back trillions of dollars back into our country.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>The country was going like never before. And we were ready to start paying down debt. We were ready to start using the liquid gold right under our feet, the oil and gas right under our feet. We were going to have something that nobody else has had. We got hit with COVID. We did a lot to fix it. I gave him an unbelievable situation with all of the therapeutics and all of the things that we came up with, we -- we gave him something great.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Remember, more people died under his administration, even though we had largely fixed it. More people died under his administration than our administration, and we were right in the middle of it.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Something which a lot of people don't like to talk about, but he had far more people dying in his administration.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>He did the mandate, which is a disaster, mandating it. The vaccine went out. He did a mandate on the vaccine, which is the thing that people most objected to about the vaccine. And he did a very poor job, just a very poor job.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And I will tell you, not only poor there, but throughout the entire world, we're no longer respected as a country. They don't respect our leadership. They don't respect the United States anymore.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We're like a Third World nation between weaponization of his election, trying to go after his political opponent. All of the things he's done. We've become like a Third World nation, and it's a shame.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>The damage he's done to our country -- and I'd love to ask him, and will, why he allowed millions of people to come in here from prisons, jails, and mental institutions to come into our country and destroy our country.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: President Trump, we will get to immigration later in this block. President Biden, I want to give you an opportunity to respond to this question about the national debt.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: He had the largest national debt of any president in a four-your period, number one. Number two, he -- that $2 trillion tax cut benefited the very wealthy. I -- what I'm going to do is fix the tax system.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>For example, we have a thousand trillionaires in America -- I mean, billionaires in America. And what's happening? They're in a situation where they, in fact, pay 8.2 percent in taxes. If they just paid 24 percent or 25 percent, either one of those numbers, they'd raised $500 million -- billion dollars, I should say, in a 10-year period.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We'd be able to right wipe out his debt. We'd be able to help make sure that all those things we need to do -- childcare, elder care, making sure that we continue to strengthen our healthcare system, making sure that we're able to make every single solitary person eligible for what I've been able to do with the -- with -- with -- with the COVID. Excuse me, with dealing with everything we have to do with -- look, if -- we finally beat Medicare.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Thank you, President Biden. President Trump?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Well, he's right. He did beat Medicare. He beat it to death. And he's destroying Medicare because all of these people are coming in, they're putting them on Medicare. They're putting them on Social Security. They're going to destroy Social Security.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>This man is going to single-handedly destroy Social Security. These millions and millions of people coming in, they're trying to put them on Social Security. He will wipe out Social Security. He will wipe out Medicare. So he was right in the way he finished that sentence. And it's a shame.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>What's happened to our country in the last four years is not to be believed. Foreign countries, I'm friends with a lot of people. They cannot believe what happened to the United States of America. We're no longer respected. They don't like us.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We give them everything they want, and they think we're stupid. They think we're very stupid people.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>What we're doing for other countries, and they do nothing for us. What this man has done is absolutely criminal.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Thank you, President Trump.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Dana?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: This is the first presidential election since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. This morning, the court ruled on yet another abortion case, temporarily allowing emergency abortions to continue in Idaho, despite that state's restrictive ban.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Former President Trump, you take credit for the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which returned the issue of abortion to the states.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Correct.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: However, the federal government still plays a role in whether or not women have access to abortion pills. They're used in about two-thirds of all abortions.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>As president, would you block abortion medication?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: First of all, the Supreme Court just approved the abortion pill. And I agree with their decision to have done that, and I will not block it.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And if you look at this whole question that you're asking, a complex, but not really complex.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Fifty-one years ago, you had Roe v. Wade, and everybody wanted to get it back to the states, everybody, without exception, Democrats, Republicans, liberals, conservatives. Everybody wanted it back. Religious leaders.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And what I did is I put three great Supreme Court justices on the court, and they happened to vote in favor of killing Roe v. Wade and moving it back to the states. This is something that everybody wanted.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Now, 10 years ago or so, they started talking about how many weeks and how many of this are getting into other things, but every legal scholar, throughout the world, the most respected, wanted it brought back to the states. I did that.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Now the states are working it out. If you look at Ohio, it was a decision that was -- it was -- it was an end result that was a little bit more liberal than you would have thought. Kansas, I would say the same thing. Texas is different. Florida is different.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But they're all making their own decisions right now. And right now, the states control it. That's the vote of the people.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Like Ronald Reagan, I believe in the exceptions, I am a person that believes. And frankly, I think it's important to believe in the exceptions. Some people, you have to follow your heart, some people don't believe in that.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But I believe in the exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother. I think it's very important. Some people don't. Follow your heart.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But you have to get elected also and -- because that has to do with other things. You've got to get elected.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>The problem they have is they're radical because they will take the life of a child in the eighth month, the ninth month, and even after birth -- after birth.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>If you look at the former governor of Virginia, he was willing to do this. He said, we'll put the baby aside and we'll determine what we do with the baby. Meaning, we'll kill the baby.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>What happened is we brought it back to the states and the country is now coming together on this issue. It's been a great thing.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: Thank you.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>President Biden?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: It's been a terrible thing, what you've done.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>The fact is that the vast majority of constitutional scholars supported Roe when it was decided, supported Roe. And that was -- that's -- this idea that they were all against it is just ridiculous.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And this is the guy who says the states should be able to have it. We're (ph) in a state where in six weeks, you don't even know whether you're pregnant or not, but you cannot see the doctor or have your -- and have him decide on what your circumstances are, whether you need help.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>The idea that states are able to do this is a little like saying, we're going to turn civil rights back to the states. Let each state have a different rule.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Look, there's so many young women who have been -- including a young woman who just was murdered and he -- he went to the funeral. The idea that she was murdered by a -- by --by an immigrant coming in, and they talk about that. But here's the deal, there's a lot of young women who are being raped by their -- by their in-laws, by their -- by their spouses, brothers and sisters, by -- just -- it's just -- it's just ridiculous. And they can do nothing about it.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And they tried to arrest them when they cross state lines.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: Thank you.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: There have been many young women murdered by the same people he allows to come across our border. We have a border that's the most dangerous place anywhere in the world -- considered the most dangerous place anywhere in the world. And he opened it up, and these killers are coming into our country. And they are raping and killing women, and it's a terrible thing.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>As far as the abortion is concerned, it is now back with the states. The states are voting. In many cases, they -- it's frankly a very liberal decision. In many cases, it's the opposite.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But they're voting. And it's bringing it back to the vote of the people, which is what everybody wanted, including the founders, if they knew about this issue, which frankly they didn't. But they would have -- everybody want it brought back.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Ronald Reagan wanted it brought back. He wasn't able to get it.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Everybody wanted it brought back and many presidents had tried to get it back. I was the one to do it.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And again, this gives it the vote of the people. And that's where they wanted it. Every legal scholar wanted it that way.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: Staying on the topic of abortion, President Biden. Seven states --</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: (OFF-MIKE)</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: I'll let you do that. This is the same topic.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Seven states have no legal restrictions on how far into a pregnancy a woman can obtain an abortion. Do you support any legal limits on how late a woman should be able to terminate a pregnancy?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: I supported Roe v. Wade, which had three trimesters. First time is between a woman and a doctor. Second time is between the doctor and an extreme situation. And a third time is between the doctor -- I mean, it'd be between the woman and the state.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>The idea that the politicians -- that the founders wanted the politicians to be the ones making decisions about women's health is ridiculous. That's the last -- no politician should be making that decision.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>A doctor should be making those decisions. That's how it should be run. That's what you're going to do.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And if I'm elected, I'm going to restore Roe v. Wade.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: So that means he can take the life of the baby in the ninth month and even after birth, because some states -- Democrat-run -- take it after birth. Again, the governor -- former governor of Virginia: put the baby down, then we decide what to do with it.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>So he's in -- he's willing to, as we say, rip the baby out of the womb in the ninth month and kill the baby.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Nobody wants that to happen. Democrat --</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: (OFF-MIKE) No.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: -- or Republican, nobody wants it to happen.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: (OFF-MIKE) You're lying.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>That is simply not true. That Roe v. Wade does not provide for that. That's not the circumstance. Only when the woman's life is in danger, if she's going to die -- that's the only circumstance in which that can happen.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But we are not for late term abortion, period -- period, period.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Under Roe v. Wade, you have late term abortion. You can do whatever you want, depending on the state. You can do whatever you want. We don't think that's a good thing. We think it's a radical thing.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We think the Democrats are the radicals, not the Republicans.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: For 51 years, that was the law. Fifty-one years, Constitutional Scholarship said it was the right way to go. Fifty-one years, and it was taken away because this guy put very conservative members on the Supreme Court. He takes credit for taking it away.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>What's he going to do? What's he going to do, in fact, if -- if the MAGA Republicans -- he gets elected and the MAGA Republicans control of the Congress and they pass a universal ban on abortion, period, across the board, at six weeks, or seven, or eight or ten weeks, something very, very conservative. Is he going to sign that bill?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>I'll veto it. He'll sign it.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: Thank you.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: (OFF-MIKE)</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Let's turn now to the issue of immigration and border security. President Biden, a record number of migrants have illegally crossed the southern border on your watch, overwhelming border states and overburdening cities such as New York and Chicago, and in some cases causing real safety and security concerns.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Given that, why should voters trust you to solve this crisis?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: Because we worked very hard to get a bipartisan agreement that not only changed all of that, but it made sure that we are in a situation where you had no circumstance where they could come across the border with the number of border police there are now. We significantly increased the number of asylum officers. Significantly -- by the way, the Border Patrol men endorsed me, endorsed my position.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>In addition to that, we found ourselves in a situation where, when he was president, he was taking -- separating babies from their mothers, putting them in cages, making sure the families were separated. That's not the right way to go.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>What I've done -- since I've changed the law, what's happened? I've changed it in a way that now you're in a situation where there are 40 percent fewer people coming across the border illegally. That's better than when he left office.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And I'm going to continue to move until we get the total ban on the -- the total initiative relative to what we're going to do with more Border Patrol and more asylum officers.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: President Trump?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don't think he knows what he said either.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Look, we had the safest border in the history of our country. The border -- all he had to do was leave it. All he had to do was leave it. He decided to open up our border, open up our country to people that are from prisons, people that are from mental institutions, insane asylum, terrorists.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We have the largest number of terrorists coming into our country right now. All terrorists all over the world, not just in South America, all over the world. They come from the Middle East, everywhere, all over the world. They're pouring in. And this guy just left it open.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And he didn't need legislation. Because I didn't have legislation, I said close the border. We had the safest border in history. In that final couple of months of my presidency, we had, according to Border Patrol, who is great -- and, by the way, who endorsed me for president. But I won't say that. But they endorsed me for president. Brandon, just speak to him.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But look, we had the safest border in history. Now we have the worst border in history. There's never been anything like it. And people are dying all over the place, including the people that are coming up in caravans.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Thank you, President Trump. President Biden?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: The only terrorist who has done anything crossing the border is one who came along and killed three under his administration, killed -- an al-Qaida person in his administration, killed three American soldiers -- killed three American soldiers. That's the only terrorist that's there.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>I'm not saying no terrorist ever got through. But the idea they're emptying their prisons, we're welcoming these people, that's simply not true. There's no data to support what he said. Once again, he's exaggerating. He's lying.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: President Trump, staying on the topic of immigration, you've said that you're going to carry out, quote, "the largest domestic deportation operation in American history," unquote.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Does that mean that you will deport every undocumented immigrant in America, including those who have jobs, including those whose spouses are citizens, and including those who have lived here for decades? And if so, how will you do it?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Just one second. He said we killed three people. The people we killed are al-Baghdadi and Soleimani, the two greatest terrorists -- biggest terrorists anywhere in the world, and it had a huge impact on everything, not just border, on everything.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>He's the one that killed people with the bad water, including hundreds of thousands of people dying and also killing our citizens when they come in. We -- we are living right now in a rat's nest. They're killing our people in New York, in California, in every state in the union because we don't have borders anymore. Every state is now a border.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And because of his ridiculous, insane and very stupid policies, people are coming in and they're killing our citizens at a level that we've never seen. We call it migrant crime. I call it Biden migrant crime. They're killing our citizens at a level that we've never seen before. And you're reading it, like these three incredible young girls over the last few days.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>One of them, I just spoke to the mother, and they just had the funeral for this girl, 12 years old. This is horrible, what's taken place. What's taken place in our country -- we're literally an uncivilized country now. He doesn't want it to be. He just doesn't know.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>He opened the borders, nobody's ever seen anything like. And we have to get a lot of these people out and we have to get them out fast, because they're going to destroy our country.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Just take a look at where they're living. They're living in luxury hotels in New York City and other places. Our veterans are on the street. They're dying, because he doesn't care about our veterans. He doesn't care. He doesn't like the military, at all. And he doesn't care about our veterans.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Nobody had been worse. I had the highest approval rating for veterans, taking care of the V.A. He has the worst. He's gotten rid of all the things that I approved -- Choice, that I got through Congress. All of the different things I approved, they abandoned.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We had, by far, the highest, and now it's down in less than half because he's done -- all these great things that we did -- and I think he did it just because I approved it, which is crazy. But he has killed so many people at our border by allowing --</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Thank you, President Trump.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: -- all of these people to come in.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: President Biden --</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: And it's a very sad day in America.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: President Biden, you have the mic.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: Every single thing he said is a lie, every single one. For example, veterans are a hell of a lot better off since I passed the PACT Act. One million of them now have insurance, and their families have it. And their families have it, because what happened, whether was Agent Orange or burn pits, they're all being covered now. And he -- his group opposed that.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We're also in a situation where we have great respect for veterans. My -- my son spent a year in Iraq, living next to one of those burn pits, came back with stage four glioblastoma. I was recently in -- in -- in France for D-Day, and I spoke to all -- about those heroes that died. I went to the World War II cemetery -- World War I cemetery he refused to go to. He was standing with his four-star general, and he told him -- he said, "I don't want to go in there because they're a bunch of losers and suckers."</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>My son was not a loser. He was not a sucker. You're the sucker. You're the loser.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: President Trump?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: First of all, that was a made-up quote, "suckers and losers." They made it up. It was in a third-rate magazine that's failing, like many of these magazines. He made that up. He put it in commercials. We've notified 'em.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We had 19 people that said I didn't say it. And think of this, who would say -- I'm at a cemetery, or I'm talking about our veterans -- because nobody's taken better care -- I'm so glad this came up, and he brought it up. There's nobody that's taken better care of our soldiers than I have.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>To think that I would, in front of generals and others, say suckers and losers -- we have 19 people that said it was never said by me. It was made up by him, just like Russia, Russia, Russia was made up, just like the 51 intelligence agents are made up, just like the new thing with the 16 economists are talking.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>It's the same thing. Fifty-one intelligence agents said that the laptop was Russia disinformation. It wasn't. That came from his son, Hunter. It wasn't Russia disinformation. He made up the suckers and losers, so he should apologize to me right now.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: You had a four-star general stand at your side, who was on your staff, who said you said it, period. That's number one.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And, number two, the idea -- the idea that I have to apologize to you for anything along the lines. We've done more for veterans than any president has in American history -- American history. And they now -- and their family. The only sacred obligation we have as a country is to care for our veterans when they come home, and their families, and equip them when they go to war.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>That's what we're doing. That's what the V.A. is doing now. They're doing more for veterans than ever before in our history.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: All right. Thank you so much.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: Let's move to the topic of foreign policy. I want to begin with Russia's war against Ukraine, which is now in its third year.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Former President Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin says he'll only end this war if Russia keeps the Ukrainian territory it has already claimed and Ukraine abandons its bid to join NATO.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Are Putin's terms acceptable to you?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: First of all, our veterans and our soldiers can't stand this guy. They can't stand him. They think he's the worst commander in chief, if that's what you call him, that we've ever had. They can't stand him. So let's get that straight. And they like me more than just about any of them. And that's based on every single bit of information.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>As far as Russia and Ukraine, if we had a real president, a president that knew -- that was respected by Putin, he would have never -- he would have never invaded Ukraine. A lot of people are dead right now, much more than people know.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>You know, they talk about numbers. You can double those numbers, maybe triple those numbers. He did nothing to stop it. In fact, I think he encouraged Russia from going in.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>I'll tell you what happened. He was so bad with Afghanistan; it was such a horrible embarrassment, most embarrassing moment in the history of our country, that when Putin watched that and he saw the incompetence that he should -- he should have fired those generals like I fired the one that you mentioned. And so he's got no love lost. But he should have fired those generals.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>No general got fired for the most embarrassing moment in the history of our country, Afghanistan, where we left billions of dollars of equipment behind; we lost 13 beautiful soldiers and 38 soldiers were obliterated. And by the way, we left people behind too. We left American citizens behind.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>When Putin saw that, he said, you know what, I think we're going to go in and maybe take my -- this was his dream. I talked to him about it, his dream. The difference is he never would have invaded Ukraine. Never. Just like Israel would have never been invaded in a million years by Hamas. You know why? Because Iran was broke with me. I wouldn't let anybody do business with them. They ran out of money. They were broke. They had no money for Hamas. They had no money for anything. No money for terror.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>That's why you had no terror at all during my administration. This place, the whole world is blowing up under him.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: President Biden.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: I've never heard so much malarkey in my whole life. Look, the fact of the matter is that we're in a situation where -- let's take the last point first, Iran attacked American troops, killed, caused brain damage for a number of these troops, and he did nothing about it. Recently, when he was president, they attacked. He said, they're just having headaches. That's all it is. We didn't do a thing when the attack took place. Number one.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Number two, we got over 100,000 Americans and others out of Afghanistan during that airlift. Number three, we found ourselves in a situation where, if you take a look at what Trump did in Ukraine, he's -- this guy told Ukraine -- told Trump, do whatever you want and do whatever you want. And that's exactly what Trump did to Putin, encouraged him, do whatever you want. And he went in.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And listen to what he said when he went in, he was going to take Kyiv in five days, remember? Because it's part of the old Soviet Union. That's what he wanted to re-establish Kyiv. And he in fact, didn't do it at all. He didn't -- wasn't able to get it done. And they've lost over -- they've lost thousands and thousands of troops, 500,000 troops.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: Thank you. President Trump --</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: I never said that.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: -- come back to you for one minute. I just want to go back to my original question, which is, are Putin's terms acceptable to you, keeping the territory in Ukraine?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: No, they're not acceptable. No, they're not acceptable. But look, this is a war that never should have started. If we had a leader in this war, he led everybody along. He's given $200 billion now or more to Ukraine. He's given $200 billion. That's a lot of money. I don't think there's ever been anything like it. Every time that Zelenskyy comes to this country, he walks away with $60 billion dollars, he's the greatest salesman ever.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And I'm not knocking him, I'm not knocking anything. I'm only saying, the money that we're spending on this war, and we shouldn't be spending, it should have never happened. I will have that war settled between Putin and Zelenskyy as president-elect before I take office on January 20th. I'll have that war settled.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>People being killed so needlessly, so stupidly, and I will get it settled and I'll get it settled fast before I take office.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: President Biden, you have a minute.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: The fact is that Putin is a war criminal. He's killed thousands and thousands of people. And he has made one thing clear, he wants to re-establish what was part of the Soviet Empire, not just a piece, he wants all of Ukraine. That's what he wants. And then do you think he'll stop there? Do you think he'll stop when he -- if he takes Ukraine? What do you think happens to Poland? What do you think of Belarus? What do you think happens to those NATO countries?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And so, if you want a war, you ought to find out what he's going to do. Because if, in fact, he does what he says and walks away -- by the way, all that money we give Ukraine and from weapons we make here in the United States, we give them the weapons, not the money at this point. And our NATO allies have produced as much funding for Ukraine as we have. That's why it's -- that's why we're strong.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: Thank you. Moving on to the Middle East. In October, Hamas attacked Israel, killing more than a thousand people and taking hundreds of hostages. Among those held and thought to still be alive are five Americans. Israel's response has killed thousands of Palestinians and created a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>President Biden, you've put forward a proposal to resolve this conflict. But so far, Hamas has not released the remaining hostages and Israel is continuing its military offensive in Gaza. So, what additional leverage will you use to get Hamas and Israel to end the war? You have two minutes.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: Number one, everyone from the United Nations Security Council straight through to the G7 to the Israelis and Netanyahu himself have endorsed the plan I put forward, endorsed the plan I put forward, which has three stages to it.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>The first stage is to treat the hostages for a ceasefire. Second phase is a ceasefire with additional conditions. The third phase is know the end of the war. The only one who wants the war to continue is Hamas, number one. They're the only ones standing down (ph).</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We're still pushing hard from -- to get them to accept. In the meantime, what's happened in Israel? We're finally -- the only thing I've denied Israel was 2,000-pound bombs. They don't work very well in populated areas. They kill a lot of innocent people. We are providing Israel with all the weapons they need and when they need them. And by the way, I'm the guy that organized the world against Iran when they had a full-blown kind of ballistic missile attack on Israel. No one was hurt. No one Israeli was accidentally killed. And it stopped. We saved Israel. We are the biggest producer of support for Israel than anyone in the world. And so, that's -- they are two different things.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Hamas cannot be allowed to be continued. We continue to send our experts and our intelligence people to how they can get Hamas like we did Bin Laden. You don't have to do it. And by the way, they've been greatly weakened, Hamas, greatly weakened, and they should be. They should be eliminated. But, you got to be careful for what you use these certain weapons among population centers.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Just going back to Ukraine for one second. We have an ocean separating us. The European nations together have spent $100 billion or maybe more than that, less than us. Why doesn't he call them so you got to put up your money like I did with NATO? I got them to put up hundreds of billions of dollars. The Secretary General of NATO said Trump did the most incredible job I've ever seen. You wouldn't -- they wouldn't have any -- they were going out of business. We were spending -- almost 100 percent of the money was paid by us. He didn't do that. He is getting all -- you got to ask these people to put up the money. We're over $100 billion more spent, and it has a bigger impact on them, because of location, because we have an ocean in between.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>You got to ask him, as far as Israel and Hamas, Israel is the one that wants to go. He said the only one who wants to keep going is Hamas. Actually, Israel is the one, and you should them go and let them finish the job. He doesn't want to do it. He has become like a Palestinian. But, they don't like him because he is a very bad Palestinian. He is a weak one.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: President Biden, you have a minute.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: I've never heard so much foolishness. This a guy who wants to get out of NATO. You're going to stay in NATO or you're going to pull out of NATO? The idea that we have -- our strength lies in our alliances as well. It may be a big ocean, but we're ever able to avoid a war in Europe, a major war in Europe? What happens if in fact you have Putin continue to go into NATO? We have an Article Five agreement, attack on one is attack on all. You want to start the nuclear war he keeps talking about. Go ahead. Let Putin go in and control Ukraine and then move on to Poland and other places. See what happens then.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>He has no idea what the hell he is talking about. And by the way, I got 50 other nations around the world to support Ukraine, including Japan and South Korea, because they understand that this was this -- this kind of dislocation has a serious threat to the whole world peace. No major war in Europe has ever been able to be contained just to Europe.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: President Trump, just a follow-up, would you support the creation of an independent Palestinian state in order to achieve peace in the region?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: I'd have to see. But, before we do that, the problem we have is that we spend all the money. So, they kill us on trade. I made great trade deals with the European nations, because if you add them up, they're about the same size economically. Their economy is about the same size as the United States. And they were with (ph) no cars. No. They don't want anything that we have. But, we're supposed to take their cars, their food, their everything, their agriculture. I changed that.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But, the big thing I changed is they don't want to pay. And the only reason that he can play games with NATO is because I got them to put up hundreds of billions of dollars. I said, and he is right about this, I said, no, I'm not going to support NATO if you don't pay. They asked me that question. Would you guard us against Russia at a very secret meeting of the 28 states at that time, nations at that time? And they said, no, if you don't pay, I won't do that. And you know what happened? Billions and billions of dollars came flowing in the next day and the next months. But now, we're in the same position. We're paying everybody's bills.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: Thank you.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Let's turn to the issue of democracy. Former President Trump, I want to ask you about January 6, 2021. After you rallied your supporters that day, some of them stormed the Capitol to stop the constitutionally mandated counting of electoral votes. As President, you swore an oath to quote, "preserve, protect and defend", unquote, the Constitution. What do you say to voters who believe that you violated that oath through your actions and inaction on January 6 and worry that you'll do it again?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Well, I don't think too many believe that. And let me tell you about January 6. On January 6, we had a great border, nobody coming through, very few. On January 6, we were energy independent. On January 6, we had the lowest taxes ever.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We had the lowest regulations ever. On January 6th, we were respected all over the world. All over the world, we were respected. And then he comes in and we're now laughed at. We're like a bunch of stupid people that -- what happened to the United States's reputation under this man's leadership is horrible, including weaponization, which I'm sure at some point you'll be talking about where he goes after his political opponent because he can't beat them fair and square.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: You have 80 seconds left. My question was, what do you say to those voters who believe that you violated your constitutional oath through your actions, inaction on January 6th, 2021, and worried that you'll do it again?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Well, I didn't say that to anybody. I said peacefully and patriotically. And Nancy Pelosi, if you just watched the news from two days ago, on tape to her daughter, who's a documentary filmmaker, they say, what she's saying, oh, no, it's my responsibility, I was responsible for this. Because I offered them 10,000 soldiers or National Guard. And she turned them down. And the mayor of -- in writing, by the way, the mayor, in writing turned it down, the mayor of D.C., they turned it down. I offered 10,000 because I could see -- I had virtually nothing to do.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>They asked me to go make a speech. I could see what was happening. Everybody was saying they're going to be there on January 6th. They're going to be there. And I said, you know what, that's a lot of people coming, you could feel it. You could feel it too. And you could feel it. And I said, they ought to have some National Guard or whatever. And I offered it to her. And she now admits that she turned it down. And it was the same day. She was -- I don't know, you can't be very happy with her daughter because it made her into a liar. She said, I take full responsibility for January 6th.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: President Biden?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: Look, he encouraged those folks to go up on Capitol Hill, number one. I sat in that dining room off the Oval Office -- he sat there for three hours, three hours watching, begging, being begged by his vice president and a number of his colleagues and Republicans as well to do something, to call for a stop, to end it. Instead, he talked -- they've talked about these people being patriots and -- and great patrons of America.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>In fact, he says he'll not forgive them for what they've done. They've been convicted. He says he wants to commute their sentences and say that, no, he went to every single court in the nation, I don't know how many cases, scores of cases, including the Supreme Court. And they said they said -- they said, no, no, this guy, this guy is responsible for doing what is being -- was done. He didn't do a damn thing. And these people should be in jail. And they should be the ones who are being held accountable. And he wants to let them all out.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And now he says if he loses again, such a whiner that he is, that there could be a bloodbath.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Thank you, President Biden.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>President Trump?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: What they've done to some people that are so innocent, you ought to be ashamed of yourself, what you have done, how you've destroyed the lives of so many people. When they ripped down Portland, when they ripped down many other cities, you go to Minnesota, Minneapolis, what they've done there with the fires all over the city, if I didn't bring in the National Guard, that city would have been destroyed.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>When you look at all of the -- they took over big chunks of Seattle. I was all set to bring in the National Guard. They heard that. They saw them coming and they left immediately. What he said about this whole subject is so off. Peacefully patriotic.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>One other thing, the “unselect committee,” which is basically two horrible Republicans that are all gone now, out of office, and Democrats, all Democrats, they destroyed and deleted all of the information they found because they found out we were right. We were right. And they deleted and destroyed all of the information. They should go to jail for that.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>If a Republican did that, they'd go to jail.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Thank you, President Trump.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>President Biden, I want to give you a minute.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: The only person on this stage that is a convicted felon is the man I'm looking at right now. And the fact of the matter is he is -- what he's telling you is simply not true. The fact is that there was no effort on his part to stop what was going on up on Capitol Hill. And all those people, every one of those who were convicted deserves to be convicted. The idea that they didn't kill somebody, just went in and broke down doors, broke the windows, occupied offices, turned over desks, turned them over, statues, the idea that those people are patriots? Come on.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>When I asked him about first of two debates we had -- debates we had the first time around, I said, will you denounce the Proud Boys. He said, no, I'll tell them stand by. The idea he's refusing -- will you denounce these guys? Will you denounce the people we're talking about now? You denounce the people who attacked that Capitol? What are you going to do?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: I'm going to give you a -- a minute, President Trump, for a follow-up question I have. After a jury convicted you of 34 felonies last month, you said if re-elected, you would, quote, “have every right to go after,” unquote, your political opponents. You just talked about members of the Select Committee on January 6th going to jail.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Your main political opponent is standing on stage with you tonight.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Can you clarify exactly what it means about you feeling you have every right to go after your political opponents?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Well, I said my retribution is going to be success. We're going to make this country successful again because right now it's a failing nation.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>My retribution is going to be success. But when he talks about a convicted felon, his son is a convicted felon at a very high level. His son is convicted. Going to be convicted probably numerous other times.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>He should have been convicted before, but his Justice Department let the statute of limitations lapse on the most important things. But he could be a convicted felon as soon as he gets out of office.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Joe could be a convicted felon with all of the things that he's done. He's done horrible things.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>All of the death caused at the border, telling the Ukrainian people that, we're going to want a billion dollars or you change the prosecutor. Otherwise, you're not getting a billion dollars.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>If I ever said that, that's quid pro quo. That -- we're not going to do anything. We're not going to give you a billion dollars unless you change your prosecutor having to do with his son.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>This man is a criminal. This man -- you're lucky. You're lucky. I did nothing wrong. We'd have a system that was rigged and disgusting. I did nothing wrong.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Thank you, President Trump.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>President Biden, you have said, I'm coming right to you, sir. You -- well, you want to respond? Go ahead. I'll give you a minute to respond.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: The idea that I did anything wrong relative to what you're talking about is outrageous. It's simply a lie, number one.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Number two, the idea that you have a right to seek retribution against any American, just because you're a president, is wrong, is simply wrong. No president's ever spoken like that before. No president in our history has spoken like that before.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Number three, the crimes that you are still charged with. And think of all the civil penalties you have. How many billions of dollars do you owe in civil penalties for molesting a woman in public, for doing a whole range of things, of having sex with a porn star on the night -- and while your wife was pregnant?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>I mean, what are you talking about? You have the morals of an alley cat.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Give you a minute, sir.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: I didn't have sex with a porn star, number one.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Number two, that was a case that was started and moved. They moved a high-ranking official, a DOJ, into the Manhattan D.A.'s office to start that case. That case is going to be appealed in one.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We had a very terrible judge, horrible judge, Democrat. The prosecutor were all high-ranking Democrats appointed people and the -- both the civil and a criminal.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>He basically went after his political opponent because he thought it was going to damage me. But when the public found out about these cases, because they understand it better than he does, he has no idea what these cases are, but when he -- they -- when they found out about these cases, you know what they did? My poll numbers went up way up. You know that because you're reporting it. And we took in more money in the last two weeks than we've ever taken in the history of any campaign.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>I don't think any campaign has ever taken hundreds of millions of dollars came pouring in because the public knows it's a scam and it's a guy that's after his political opponent because he can't win fair and square.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Thank you, President Trump.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>President Biden, you have said, quote, Donald Trump and his MAGA Republicans are determined to destroy American democracy.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Do you believe that the tens of millions of Americans who are likely to vote for President Trump will be voting against American democracy?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: The more they know about what he's done, yes. The more they know about what he's done.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And there's a lot more coming. He's got a lot of cases around the road coming around. He's got -- he's got a whole range of issues he has to face. I don't know what the juries will do, but I do know -- I do know he has a real problem.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And so the fact that -- could you ever think you're hearing any president say that, I'm going to seek retribution? Do you ever hear any president say that, I thought it would write some good ideas?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>What got me involved to run in the first place after my son had died, I decided -- in Iraq -- because of Iraq. I said, I wasn't going to run again, until I saw what happened in Charlottesville, Virginia. People coming out of the woods carrying swastikas on torches and singing the same anti-Semitic bile they sang back in Germany.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And what did -- and the young woman got killed, they spoke to the mother. And she -- they asked him, they said, what -- well, what do you think of those people? The people who wanted to get killed, the ones who tried to stop it, and the ones who said, I think they're fine people on both sides.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>What American president would ever say, Nazis coming out of fields, carrying torches, singing the same anti-Semitic bile, carrying swastikas, were fine people.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>This is a guy who says Hitler's done some good things. I'd like to know what they are. The good things Hitler's done, that's what he said. This guy has no sense of American democracy.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: President Trump.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Jake, both of you know that story has been totally wiped out because when you see the sentence, it said 100 percent exoneration on there. So he just keeps it going.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>He says he ran because of Charlottesville. He didn't run because of Charlottesville. He ran because it was his last chance at -- he's not equipped to be president. You know it and I know it.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>It's ridiculous. We have a debate. We're trying to justify his presidency.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>His presidency, his -- without question, the worst president, the worst presidency in the history of our country. We shouldn't be having a debate about it. There's nothing to debate.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>He made up the Charlottesville story and you'll see it's debunked all over the place. Every anchor has -- every reasonable actor has debunked it.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And just the other day it came out where it was fully debunked. It's a nonsense story. He knows that.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And he didn't run because of Charlottesville. He used that as an excuse to run.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: President Biden?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: And debunk. It happened. All you have to do is listen to what was said at the time.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And the idea that somehow that's the only reason I ran. I ran because I was worried a guy like this guy can get elected.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>If he thought they were good people coming out of that all -- that for us, carrying those -- those woods, carrying those torches, then he didn't deserve to be president, didn't deserve to be president at all.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And the idea that he's talking about all of this being fabricated, we saw it with our own eyes. We saw what happened on January 6. We saw the people breaking to the windows. We saw people occupying there.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>His own vice president -- look, there's a reason why 40 of his 44 top cabinet officers refused endorsing this time. His vice president hasn't endorsed him this time.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>So, why? Why? They know him well. They serve with them. Why are they not endorsing him?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Thank you, President Biden.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We're going to be right back with more from the CNN presidential debate.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(COMMERCIAL BREAK)</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: Welcome back to the CNN Presidential Debate live from Georgia.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Let's talk about persistent challenges you both faced in your first terms, and you'd certainly face again in a second term. President Biden, while black unemployment dropped to a record low under your presidency, black families still earn far less than white families.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Black mothers are still three times more likely to die for pregnancy related causes. And black Americans are imprisoned at five times the rate of white Americans. What do you say to black voters who are disappointed that you haven't made more progress?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: They acknowledge he made a lot of progress, number one. The facts of the matter is more small black businesses that have been started in any time in history. Number two, the wages of black -- black unemployment is the lowest level of spend in a long, long time. Number three, we find them -- they're trying to provide housing for black Americans and dealing with segregation that exists among these corporate -- these corporate operations that collude to keep people out of their houses.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And in addition to that, we find that the impact of, on the -- the choice that black families have to make relative to childcare is incredibly difficult. When we did the first major piece of legislation in the past, I was able to reduce black childcare costs. I cut them in half, in half. We've got to make sure we provide for childcare costs. We've got to make sure -- because when you provide that childcare protections, you increase economic growth because more people can be in the -- in the job market.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>So there's more to be done, considerably more to be done, but we've done a great deal so far and I'm not letting up and they know it.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: You have 49 seconds left. What do you say to black voters who are disappointed with the progress so far?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: I say, I don't blame them for being disappointed. Inflation is still hurting them badly. For example, I provided for the idea that any black family, first time home buyer should get a $10,000 tax credit to be able to buy their first home so they can get started.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>I made sure that we're in a situation where all those black families and those black individuals who provided had to take out student loans that were ballooning, that if they were engaged in nursing and anything having to do with volunteerism, if they paid their bills for 10 years on their student debt, all the rest was forgiven after 10 years. Millions have benefited from that and we're going to do a whole lot more for black families.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: Thank you. President Trump?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: And he caused the inflation. He's blaming inflation. And he's right, it's been very bad. He caused the inflation and it's killing black families and Hispanic families and just about everybody. It's killing people. They can't buy groceries anymore. They can't.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>You look at the cost of food where it's doubled and tripled and quadrupled. They can't live. They're not living anymore. He caused this inflation.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>I gave him a country with no, essentially no inflation. It was perfect. It was so good. All he had to do is leave it alone. He destroyed it with his green news scam and all of the other -- all this money that's being thrown out the window.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>He caused inflation. As sure as you're sitting there, the fact is that his big kill on the black people is the millions of people that he's allowed to come in through the border. They're taking black jobs now and it could be 18. It could be 19 and even 20 million people. They're taking black jobs and they're taking Hispanic jobs and you haven't seen it yet, but you're going to see something that's going to be the worst in our history.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: Thank you. President Biden?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: There was no inflation when I became president. You know why? The economy was flat on its back. 15% unemployment, he decimated the economy, absolutely decimated the economy. That's why there was no inflation at the time.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>There were no jobs. We provided thousands of millions of jobs for individuals who were involved communities, including minority communities. We made sure that they have health insurance. We have covered with the ACA has increased. I made sure that they're $8,000 per person in the family to get written off in health care, but this guy wants to eliminate that. They tried 50 times. He wants to get rid of the ACA again, and they're going to try again if they win.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We find ourselves in a position where the idea that we're not doing any -- I put more -- we put more police on the street than any administration has. He wants to cut the cops. We're providing for equity, equity, and making sure people have a shot to make it. There is a lot going on. But, on inflation, he caused it by his tremendous amount of seasons in the way he handled the pandemic.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: Thank you. Another persistent challenge is the climate crisis. 2023 was the hottest year in recorded history, and communities across the country are confronting the devastating effects of extreme heat, intensifying wildfires, stronger hurricanes, and rising sea levels.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Former President Trump, you've vowed to end your opponent's climate initiatives. But, will you take any action as President to slow the climate crisis?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Well, let me just go back to what he said about the police, how close the police are to him. Almost every police group in the nation from every state is supporting Donald J. Trump, almost every police group. And what he has done to the black population is horrible, including the fact that for 10 years he called them super predators. We can't, in the 1990s (ph), we can't forget that. Super predators was his name. And he called it to them for 10, and they've taken great offense at it, and now they see it happening.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But, when they see what I did for criminal justice reform and for the historically black colleges and universities, where I funded them and got them all funded, and the opportunity zones with Tim. As you know, Tim Scott was -- incredibly did a great job, a great Senator from South Carolina. He came to me with the idea and it was a great idea. It's one of the most successful economic development acts ever in the country, opportunity zones. And the biggest beneficiary are blacks. And that's why we have the best numbers with them. And maybe ever, if they're saying ever, I read this morning, wherever, the best numbers, he has lost much of the black population because he has done a horrible job for black people. He has also done a horrible job for Hispanics.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But, why do you see these millions of people pouring into our country and they're going to take the jobs? And it's already started. And you haven't seen anything yet. It's a disaster.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: 38 seconds left, President Trump. Will you take any action as President to slow the climate crisis?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: So, I want absolutely immaculate clean water and I want absolutely clean air, and we had it. We had H2O. We had the best numbers ever. And we did -- we were using all forms of energy, all forms, everything. And yet, during my four years, I had the best environmental numbers ever. And my top environmental people gave me that statistic just before I walked on the stage, actually.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: I don't know where the hell he has been. The idea that, Dana, he said is true. I've passed the most extensive, it was the extensive climate change legislation in history, in history. We find ourselves -- and by the way, black colleges, I came up with $50 billion for HBCUs, historic black universities and colleges, because they don't have the kind of contributors that they have to build these laboratories and the like. Any black student is capable in college in doing any white student can do. They just have the money. But now, they'll be able to get those jobs in high tech.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We're in a situation where the idea that he kind of is claiming to have done something that had the cleanest water, the cleanest water? He had not done a damn thing with the environment. He -- out of the Paris Peace Accord -- Climate Accord, I immediately joined it, because if we reach for 1.5 degrees Celsius at any one point, well, there is no way back. The only existential threat to humanity is climate change. And he didn't do a damn thing about it. He wants to undo all that I've done.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: The Paris Accord was going to cost us a trillion dollars, and China nothing, and Russia nothing, and India nothing. It was a rip off of the United States. And I ended it because I didn't want to waste that money because they treat us horribly. We were the only ones who was costing us money. Nobody else was paying into it. And it was a disaster.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But, everything that he said just now, I'll give you an example. I heard him say before insulin, I'm the one that got the insulin down for the seniors. I took care of the seniors. What he is doing is destroying all of our medical programs because the migrants coming in. They want everybody. And look, I have the biggest heart on the stage. I guarantee you that. And I want to take care of people. But, we're destroying our country. They're taking over our schools, our hospitals, and they're going to be taking over Social Security. He is destroying Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: Where does that come from? The idea is that we, in fact -- we were the only ones of consequence or not. We're not members of the Paris Accord. How can we do anything we're not able to, the United States can't get this under control? One of the largest polluters in the world. Number one, we're making significant progress. By 2035, we will have cut pollution in half. </p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We have -- we have made significant progress. And we're continuing to make progress.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We set up a Climate Corps for thousands of young people will learn how to deal with climate, just like the Peace Corps. And we're going to -- we're moving in directions that are going to significantly change the elements of the cause of pollution.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But the idea that he claims that he has the biggest heart up here and he's really concerned about -- about pollution and about climate, I've not seen any indication of that.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And, by the way, with regard to prescription drugs, one company agreed that they would reduce the price to $35, which I was calling for -- one, voluntarily. I made sure every company in the world, every pharmaceutical company, cannot have to pay.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: Thank you.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: And, by the way...</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: So every day millions of Americans struggle just to make ends meet. For many older Americans, Social Security provides a critical lifeline.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>President Biden, if nothing is done to Social Security, seniors will see their benefits cut in just over 10 years. Will you name tonight one specific step that you're willing to take to keep Social Security solvent?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: Yes, make the very wealthy begin to pay their fair share. Right now, everybody making under $170,000 pays 6 percent of their income, of their paycheck, every single time they get a paycheck, from the time of the first one they get when they're 18 years old.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>The idea that they're going to -- I'm not -- I've been proposing that everybody, they pay -- millionaires pay 1 percent -- 1 percent. So no one after -- I would not raise the cost of Social Security for anybody under $400,000. After that, I begin to make the wealthy begin to pay their fair share, by increasing from 1 percent beyond, to be able to guarantee the program for life.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: So you still have 82 seconds left. Are there any other measures that you think that would be able to help keep Social Security solvent, or is just -- is that one enough?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: Well, that one enough will keep it solvent. But the biggest thing I'll do, if we defeat this man, because he wants to get rid of Social Security; he thinks that there's plenty to cut in Social Security. He's wanting to cut Social Security and Medicare, both times. And that's with -- and if you look at the program put forward by the House Republican Caucus that he, I believe, supports, is in fact wanting to cut it as well.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>The idea that we don't need to protect our seniors is ridiculous. We put -- and, by the way, the American public has greater health care coverage today than ever before. And under the ACA, as I said, you're in a circumstance where 400,000 people -- I mean, 40 million people -- would not have insurance because they have a pre-existing condition. The only thing that allows them to have that insurance is the fact that they in fact are part of the ACA.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And, by the way, the other thing is we're in a situation where I talk about education for black communities. I've raised the number, the amount of money for Pell grants by other $8,000 for anybody making under $70,000 a year, are going to be able to get $15,000 towards their tuition.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>It's just -- he -- he just doesn't know what he's talking about.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Thank you, President Biden.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>President Trump?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: So I've dealt with politicians all my life. I've been on this side of the equation for the last eight years. I've never seen anybody lie like this guy. He lies -- I've never seen it. He could look you in the face. So -- and about so many other things, too.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And we mentioned the laptop, We mentioned "Russia, Russia, Russia," "Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine." And everything he does is a lie. It's misinformation and disinformation. The "losers and suckers" story that he made up is a total lie on the military. It's a disgrace.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But Social Security, he's destroying it. Because millions of people are pouring into our country, and they're putting them on to Social Security; they're putting them on to Medicare, Medicaid. They're putting them in our hospitals. They're taking the place of our citizens.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>They're -- what they're doing to the V.A., to our veterans, is unbelievable. Our veterans are living in the street and these people are living in luxury hotels. He doesn't know what he's doing. And it -- it's really coming back. I've never seen such anger in our country before.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: President Biden?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: The idea that veterans are not being taken care of, I told you before -- and, by the way, when I said "suckers and losers," he said -- he acknowledged after it that he fired that general. That general got fired because he's the one that acknowledged that that's what he said. He was the one standing with Trump when he said it, number one.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Number two, the idea that we're going to be in a situation where all these millions and millions, the way he talks about it, illegal aliens are coming into the country and taking away our jobs, there's a reason why we have the fastest-growing economy in the world, a reason why we have the most successful economy in the world. We're doing better than any other nation in the world.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And, by the way, those 15 Nobel laureates, economists, they all said that if Trump is re-elected, we're likely to have a recession, and inflation is going to increasingly go up.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And by the way, worst president in history. 159 presidential scholars voted him the worst president in the history of the United States of America.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: President Biden, thank you so much. Let's turn to the cost of childcare, which many American families struggle to afford.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>President Trump, both you and President Biden have tried to address this issue, but the average cost of childcare in this country has risen to more than $11,000 a year per child. For many families, the cost of childcare for two children is more than their rent. In your second term, what would you do to make childcare more affordable?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Just to go back. The general got fired because he was no good. And if he said that, that's why he made it up. But we have 19 people that said I didn't say it, and they're very highly respected, much more so than him.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>The other thing is, he doesn't fire people. He never fired people. I've never seen him fire anybody. I did fire a lot. I fired Comey because he was no good. I fired a lot of the top people at the FBI, drained the swamp. They were no good. Not easy to fire people. You'd pay a price for it, but they were no good. I inherited these people. I didn't put him there. I didn't put Comey there. He was no good. I fired him.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>This guy hasn't fired anybody. He never fires. He should have fired every military man that was involved with that Afghan -- the Afghanistan horror show. The most embarrassing moment in the history of our country. He didn't fire?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Did you fire anybody? Did you fire anybody that's on the border, that's allowed us to have the worst border in the history of the world? Did anybody get fired for allowing 18 million people, many from prisons, many from mental institutions? Did you fire anybody that allowed our country to be destroyed? Joe, our country is being destroyed as you and I sit up here and waste a lot of time on this debate. This shouldn't be a debate.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>He is the worst president. He just said it about me because I said it. But look, he's the worst president in the history of our country. He's destroyed our country. Now, all of a sudden, he's trying to get a little tough on the border. He come out -- came out with a nothing deal, and it reduced it a little bit. A little bit, like this much. It's insignificant.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>He wants open borders. He wants our country to either be destroyed or he wants to pick up those people as voters. And I don't think -- we just can't let it happen. If he wins this election, our country doesn't have a chance. Not even a chance of coming out of this rut. We probably won't have a country left anymore. That's how bad it is. He is the worst in history by far.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Thank you, President Trump. President Biden?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: We are the most admired country in the world. We're the United States of America. There's nothing beyond our capacity. We have the finest military in the history of the world. The finest in the history of the world. No one thinks we're weak. No one wants to screw around with us. Nobody. Number one.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Number two, the idea that we're talking about worst presidents. I wasn't joking. Look it up. Go online. 159 or 58, don't hold me the exact number, presidential historians. They've had meetings and they voted who's the worst president in American history. One through best to worst. They said he was the worst in all of American history. That's a fact. That's not conjecture. He can argue the wrong, but that's what they voted.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>The idea that he is knowing (ph) -- doing anything to deal with child care. He did very -- virtually nothing to child care. We should significantly increase the child care tax credit. We should significantly increase the availability of women and men for child or single parents to be able to go back to work, and we should encourage businesses to hold -- to have child care facilities.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Thank you, President Biden. President Trump, the question was about what would you do to make child care more affordable? If you want to take your minute.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Just you understand, we have polling. We have other things that do -- they rate him the worst because what he's done is so bad. And they rate me -- yes, I'll show you. I will show you. And they rate me one of the best. OK.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And if I'm given another four years, I will be the best. I think I'll be the best. Nobody's ever created an economy like us. Nobody ever cut taxes like us. He's the only one I know. He wants to raise your taxes by four times. He wants to raise everybody's taxes by four times. He wants the Trump tax cuts to expire so everybody, including the two of you are going to pay four to five times. Nobody ever heard of this before.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>All my life I'd grow up and I'd see politicians talking about cutting taxes. When we cut taxes, as I said, we did more business. Apple and all these companies, they were bringing money back into our country. The worst president in history by far, and everybody knows it.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: President Biden?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: Look, the fact of the matter is that he's dead wrong about it. He's increased the tariff -- he's increased -- he will increase the taxes on middle class people. I said I'd never raise a tax on anybody making less than $400,000. I didn't.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But this tariff -- these 10 percent tariffs, everything coming into the country, you know what the economists say? That's going to cost the average American $2,500 a year and more, because they're going to have to pay the difference in food and all the things that are very important.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Number two, he's in a situation where he talks about how he has not raised -- he somehow helped the middle class. The middle class has been devastated by you. Now you want a new tax cut of $5 trillion over the next ten years, which is going to fundamentally bankrupt the country. You had the largest deficit of any president in American history, number one.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Number two, you have not, in fact, made any contact, any progress with China. We are the lowest trade deficit with China since 2010.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Thank you, President Biden. Thank you, President Biden.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Let's discuss an epidemic impacting millions of Americans that both of you have made a top priority in your first term, the opioid crisis. And for both of you, the number of overdose deaths in this country has gone up. Under your term, it went up. Under your term, it has gone up.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Former President Trump, despite the efforts that both of you have made, more than 100,000 Americans are dying from overdoses every year, primarily from fentanyl and other opioids. What will you do to help Americans right now in the throes of addiction, who are struggling to get the treatment they need?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: To finish up, we now have the largest deficit in the history of our country under this guy, we have the largest deficit with China. He gets paid by China. He's a Manchurian Candidate. He gets money from China. So I think he's afraid to deal with him or something.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But do you notice? He never took out my tariffs because we bring in so much money with the tariffs that I imposed on China. He never took them away. He can't because it's too much money. It's tremendous. And we saved our steel industries. And there was more to come, but he hasn't done that.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But he hasn't cut the tariffs because he can't, because it's too much money. But he's got the largest deficit in the history of our country and he's got the worst situation with China. China is going to own us if you keep allowing them to do what they're doing to us as a country. They are killing us as a country, Joe, and you can't let that happen. You're destroying our country.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: So, President Trump, you have 67 seconds left. The question was, what are you going to do to help Americans in the throes of addiction right now who are struggling to get the treatment they need?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Jake, we're doing very well at addiction until the COVID came along. We had the two-and-a-half, almost three years of like nobody's ever had before, any country in every way. And then we had to get tough. And it was -- the drugs pouring across the border, we're -- it started to increase.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We got great equipment. We bought the certain dog. That's the most incredible thing that you've ever seen, the way they can spot it. We did a lot. And we had -- we were getting very low numbers. Very, very low numbers.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Then he came along. The numbers -- have you seen the numbers now? It's not only the 18 million people that I believe is even low, because the gotaways, they don't even talk about gotaways. But the numbers of -- the amount of drugs and human trafficking in women coming across our border, the worst thing I've ever seen at numbers -- nobody's ever seen under him because the border is so bad. But the number of drugs coming across our border now is the largest we've ever had by far.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: President Trump, thank you. President Biden?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: Fentanyl and the byproducts of fentanyl went down for a while. And I wanted to make sure we use the machinery that can detect fentanyl, these big machines that roll over everything that comes across the border, and it costs a lot of money. That was part of this deal we put together, this bipartisan deal.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>More fentanyl machines, were able to detect drugs, more numbers of agents, more numbers of all the people at the border. And when we had that deal done, he went -- he called his Republican colleagues said don't do it. It's going to hurt me politically.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>He never argued. It's not a good bill. It's a really good bill. We need those machines. We need those machines. And we're coming down very hard in every country in Asia in terms of precursors for fentanyl. And Mexico is working with us to make sure they don't have the technology to be able to put it together. That's what we have to do. We need those machines.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Thank you, President Biden. President Trump, and again, the question is about Americans in the throes of addiction right now struggling to get the treatment they need.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Because this does pertain to it. He ended remain in Mexico, he ended catch and release. I made the catch and release in Mexico, not catch and release here. We had so many things that we had done, hard negotiations with Mexico, and I got it all for nothing.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>It's just like when you have a hostage, we always pay $6 billion for a -- every time we sees hostage. Now we have a hostage. A Wall Street Journal reporter, I think a good guy, and he's over there because Putin is laughing at this guy, probably asking for billions of dollars for the reporter.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>I will have him out very quickly, as soon as I take office, before I take office. I said by literally as soon as I win the election, I will have that reporter out. He should have had him out a long time ago. But Putin is probably asking for billions and billions of dollars because this guy pays it every time.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We had two cases where we paid $6 billion for five people. I got 58 people out and I paid essentially nothing.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Thank you, President Trump.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Dana.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: Let's turn to concerns that voters have about each of you.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>President Biden, you would be 86 at the end of your second term. How do you address concerns about your capability to handle the toughest job in the world well into your 80s?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: Well, first of all, I spent half my career being -- being criticized being the youngest person in politics. I was the second-youngest person ever elected to the United States Senate. And now I'm the oldest. This guy's three years younger and a lot less competent. I think that just look at the record. Look what I've done. Look how I've turned around the horrible situation he left me.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>As I said, 50 million new jobs, 800,000 manufacturing jobs, more investment in America, over millions -- billions of dollars in private investment and -- and enterprises that we are growing. We've -- by the way, we brought an awful a lot of people -- the whole idea of computer chips. We used to have 40 percent of the market. We invented those chips. And we lost it because he was sending people to cheap -- to find the cheapest jobs overseas and to bring home a product.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>So I went -- I went to South Korea. I convinced Samsung to invest billions of dollars here in the United States. And then guess what? Those fabs, they call them, to -- to build these chips, those fabs pay over $100,000. You don't need a college degree for them. And there's billions, about $40 billion already being invested and being built right now in the United States, creating significant jobs for Americans all over -- from all over the world.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: President Biden, you have 40 seconds left. Would you like to add anything?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: Yeah, I would. The idea that somehow we are this failing country, I never heard a president talk like this before. We -- we're the envy of the world. Name me a single major country president who wouldn't trade places with the United States of America. For all our problems and all our opportunities, we're the most progressive country in the world and getting things done. We're the strongest country in the world. We're country in the world who keeps our word and everybody trusts us, all of our allies.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And our -- those who he cuddles up to, from Kim Jong-un who he sends love letters to, or Putin, et cetera, they don't want to screw around with us.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: Thank you.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Former President Trump, to follow up, you would be 82 at the end of your second term. What do you say to voters who have concerns about your capabilities to serve?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Well, I took two tests, cognitive tests. I aced them, both of them, as you know. We made it public. He took none. I'd like to see him take one, just one, a real easy one. Like go through the first five questions, he couldn't do it. But I took two cognitive tests. I took physical exams every year. And, you know, we knock on wood, wherever we may have wood, that I'm in very good health. I just won two club championships, not even senior, to regular club championships. To do that, you have to be quite smart and you have to be able to hit the ball along way. And I do it. He doesn't do it. He can't hit a ball 50 yards. He challenged me to a golf match. He can hit a ball 50 years.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>I think I'm a very good shape. I feel that I'm in as good a shape as I was 25, 30 years ago. Actually, I'm probably a little bit lighter. But I'm in as good a shape as I was years ago. I feel very good. I feel the same.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But I took -- I was willing to take a cognitive test. And you know what, if I didn't do well -- I aced them. Dr. Ronny Jackson, who's great guy, when he was White House doctor. And then I took another one, a similar one, and both -- one of them said they'd never seen anybody ace them.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: Thank you.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>President Biden?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: You're going to see he's six-foot-five and only 225 pounds -- or 235 pounds.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: (inaudible).</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: Well, you said six-four, 200.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: (inaudible).</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: Well, anyway, that's -- anyway, just take a look at what he says he is and take a look at what he is.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Look, I'd be happy to have a driving contest with him. I got my handicap, which, when I was vice president, down to a 6.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And by the way, I told you before I'm happy to play golf if you carry your own bag. Think you can do it?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: That's the biggest lie that he's a 6 handicap, of all.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: I was 8 handicap.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Yeah.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: Eight, but I have -- you know how many...</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: I've seen your swing, I know your swing.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(CROSSTALK)</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: President Trump, we're going to...</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(CROSSTALK)</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Let's not act like children.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: You are a child.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: To you, a specific concern that voters have about you. Will you pledge tonight that once all legal challenges have been exhausted that you will accept the results of this election regardless of who wins and you will say right now that political violence in any form is unacceptable?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Well, I shouldn't have to say that, but, of course, I believe that. It's totally unacceptable.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And if you would see my statements that I made on Twitter at the time, and also my statement that I made in the Rose Garden, you would say it’s one of the strongest statements you’ve ever seen.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>In addition to the speech I made, in front of, I believe, the largest crowd I’ve ever spoken to, and I will tell you, nobody ever talks about that. They talk about a relatively small number of people that went to the Capitol. And in many cases were ushered in by the police.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And as Nancy Pelosi said, it was her responsibility, not mine. She said that loud and clear.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But the answer is, if the election is fair free, and I want that more than anybody.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And I’ll tell you something -- I wish he was a great president because I wouldn’t be here right now. I’d be at one of my many places enjoying myself. I wouldn’t be under indictment because I wouldn’t have been his political appoint -- you know, opponent. Because he indicted me because I was his opponent.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>I wish he was a great president. I would rather have that.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>I wouldn’t be here. I don’t mind being here, but the only reason I’m here is he’s so bad as a president that I’m going to make America great again. We’re going to make America great again.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We’re a failing nation right now. We’re a seriously failing nation. And we’re a failing nation because of him.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>His policies are so bad. His military policies are insane. They’re insane.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>These are wars that will never end with him. He will drive us into World War Three and we’re closer to World War Three than anybody can imagine. We are very, very close to World War Three, and he’s driving us there.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And Kim Jong Un, and President Xi of China -- Kim Jong Un of North Korea, all of these -- Putin -- they don’t respect them. They don’t fear him. They have nothing going with this gentleman and he’s going to drive us into World War Three.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: If you want a World War Three, let him follow (ph) and win, and let Putin say, do what you want to NATO -- just do what you want.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>There’s a thing called Article Five, an attack on one is attack on all, a required response.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>The idea -- the idea -- I can’t think of a single major leader in the world who wouldn’t trade place with what job I’ve done and what they’ve done because we are a powerful nation, we have wonderful piece (ph), because of the people, not me, because of the American people. They’re capable of anything and they step up when they’re needed.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And right now, we’re needed. We’re needed to protect the world because our own safety is at stake.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And again, you want to have war, just let Putin go ahead and take Kyiv, make sure they move on, see what happens in Poland, Hungary, and other places along that border. Then you have a war.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: President Trump, as I come back to you for a follow-up. The question was, will you accept the results of this election regardless of who wins?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Just to finish what he said, if I might, Russia -- they took a lot of land from Bush. They took a lot of land from Obama and Biden. They took no land, nothing from Trump, nothing.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>He knew not to do it. He’s not going to play games with me. He knew that. I got along with him very well, but he knew not to play games.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>He took nothing from me, but now, he’s going to take the whole thing from this man right here.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>That’s a war that should have never started. It would’ve never started ever with me. And he’s going to take Ukraine and, you know, you asked me a question before, would you do this with -- he’s got us in such a bad position right now with Ukraine and Russia because Ukraine’s not winning that war.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>He said, I will never settle until such time -- they’re running out of people, they’re running out of soldiers, they’ve lost so many people. It’s so sad.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>They’ve lost so many people and they’ve lost those gorgeous cities with the golden domes that are 1,000-years-old, all because of him and stupid decisions.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Russia would’ve never attacked if I were president.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: President Trump, the question was, will you accept the results of the election regardless of who wins? Yes or no, please?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: If it’s a fair and legal and good election -- absolutely. I would have much rather accepted these but the fraud and everything else was ridiculous that if you want, we’ll have a news conference on it in a week or we’ll have another one of these on -- in a week.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But I will absolutely -- there’s nothing I’d rather do. It would be much easier for me to do that than I’m running again. I wasn’t really going to run until I saw the horrible job he did. He’s destroying our country.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>I would be very happy to be someplace else, in a nice location someplace. And again, no indictments, no political opponent’s stuff, because it’s the only way he thinks he can win.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But unfortunately, it’s driven up by numbers and driven it up to a very high level, because the people understand it.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: Let’s see what your numbers are when this election is over.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: We’ll see.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: Let’s see. You’re a whiner. When you lost the first time, you continued to appeal and appeal to courts all across the country.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Not one single court in America said any of your claims had any merit, state or local, none.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But you continue to provoke this lie about somehow there’s all this misrepresentation, all the stealing. There’s no evidence of that at all.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And I tell you what? I doubt whether you’ll accept it because you’re such a whiner. The idea if you lose again, you’re accepting anything, you can’t stand the loss. Something snapped in you when you lost the last time.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: We’ll be right back with more from the CNN presidential debate live from Georgia.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(COMMERCIAL BREAK)</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: It is now time for the candidates to deliver their closing statements.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>As predetermined by a coin toss, we’re going to begin with you, President Biden. You have two minutes.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BIDEN: We’ve made significant progress from the debacle that was left by President Trump in his -- in his last term.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We find ourselves in a situation where, number one, we have to make sure that we have a fair tax system. I ask anyone out there in the audience, or anyone out watching this debate, do you think the tax system is fair?</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>The fact is that I said, nobody even making under $400,000 had a single penny increasing their taxes and it will not. And if I’m reelected, that’ll be the case again.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But this guy is -- has increased your taxes because of the deficit. Number one, he’s increased inflation because of the debacle he left after -- when he handled the pandemic. And he finds himself in a position where he now wants to tax you more by putting a 10 percent tariff on everything comes into the United States America.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>What I did, when, for example, he wants to get away with -- and get rid of the ability of Medicare to -- for the ability to -- for the -- us to be able to negotiate drug prices with big pharma companies.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Well, guess what? We got it -- we got it down to 15 -- excuse me, $35 for insulin instead of $400. No more than $2,000 for every senior no matter what they -- how much prescription they need.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>You know what that did? That reduced the federal deficit (ph) -- debt by $160 billion over 10 years because the government doesn’t have to pay the exorbitant prices.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>I’m going to make that available to every senior, all -- or go longer. It’s happening now, and everybody in America. He wants to get rid of that.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We have -- I’m going to make sure we have childcare. We’re going to significantly increase the credit people have for childcare. I’m going to make sure we do something about what we’re doing on lead pipes and all the things that are causing health problems for people across the country.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We’re going to continue to fight to bring down inflation and give people a break.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TAPPER: Thank you, President Biden.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>President Trump, you now have two minutes for your closing statement.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TRUMP: Like so many politicians, this man is just a complainer. He said we want to do this. We want to do that. We want to get rid of this tax, that tax, but he doesn’t do anything. He doesn’t do.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>All he does is make our country unsafe by allowing millions and millions of people to pour in. Our military doesn’t respect him. We look like fools in Afghanistan.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>We didn’t stop -- Israel, it was such a horrible thing that would have never happened. It should have never happened.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Iran was broke. Anybody that did business with Iran, including China, they couldn’t do business with the United States. They all passed.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Iran was broke. They had no money for Hamas or Hezbollah, for terror, no money whatsoever.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Again, Ukraine should have never happened.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>He talks about all this stuff, but he didn’t do it. For three-and-a-half years, we’re living in hell. We have the Palestinians and we have everybody else rioting all over the place.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>You talk about Charlottesville. This is 100 times Charlottesville, 1,000 times.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>The whole country is exploding because of you, because they don’t respect you. And they have to respect their president and they don’t respect you throughout the world.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>What we did was incredible. We re -- rebuilt the military. We got the largest tax cut in history, the largest regulation cut in history.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>The reason he’s got jobs is because I cut the regulations that gave jobs, but he’s putting a lot of those regulations back on.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>All of the things that we’ve done, nobody’s ever -- never seen anything like -- even from a medical standpoint. Right to Try, where we can try Space Age materials instead of going to Asia or going to Europe and trying to get when you’re terminally ill.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Now, you can go and you can get something. You signed a document. They’ve been trying to get it for 42 years.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>But you know what we did for the military was incredible. Choice for our soldiers, where our soldiers, instead of waiting for three months to see a doctor, can go out and get themselves fixed up and readied up, and take care of themselves and they’re living. And that’s why I had the highest approval rating of the history of the V.A.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>So, all of these things -- we’re in a failing nation, but it’s not going to be failing anymore. We’re going to make it great again.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>BASH: Thank you, former President Trump, President Biden.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Stay with us because we have full analysis of this debate. Anderson Cooper and Erin Burnett starts now on CNN.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>END</p>\n<p><b>-----END-----CNN.SCRIPT-----</b></p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>--KEYWORD TAGS--</b></p>\n<p>TRUMP BIDEN DEBATE CNN PRESIDENTIAL </p>\n<p></p>

AP-APTN-0930 Americas L Prime News -Final Sunday, 2 October 2011 Americas L Prime News US Protest 2 02:39 No Access N America REPLAY 700 arrested after protest against corporate greed on Brooklyn Bridge US Obama 01:30 AP Clients Only REPLAY Obama says US commander in chief must support gay troops Kenya Kidnap 00:33 No Access Kenya REPLAY Tourism minister gives details of French woman's abduction Bulgaria Protest 02:26 AP Clients Only REPLAY Nationalist groups stage anti-Roma rally; activists stage Roma pride event Kosovo Bridge 02:30 AP Clients Only REPLAY Serbs enlarge barrier blocking main bridge China Crash 01:31 No Access China REPLAY 4:3 Rescue workers pull bus passengers from ravine after crash Indonesia Crash 02:30 No Access Indonesia REPLAY 4:3 Bodies recovered from plane wreckage Philippines Animals 01:38 AP Clients Only REPLAY Pet owners bring animals to be blessed to mark feast of Saint Francis Australia Bikinis 02:20 See Script REPLAY More than 350 women set world record for bikini parade B-u-l-l-e-t-i-n begins at 0930 GMT. (Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) AP-NY-10-02-11 0556EDT

EDWARDS Dubuque, IA - John Edwards attends a Town Hall at Loras College Fox, tape Tape 1 Edwards holds a town hall meeting at Loras College, Alumni Center Ballroom NY1/X75 Slugged: 1445 EDWARDS IA X75.04 15:33:10 They came from big corporate America that's where they came from.the profits of big companies just keep going up and up and up 15:33:41 Elizabeth spoke about this.I want to add with what she said.it was in south Carolina my father had to borrow 50 dollars to get me and my mother out of the hospital 15:34:17 leaving the house because my parents were working. She's leave her house with her apron on, she'd leave the house go to the mill, work her shift and come back 15:34:44 and making his way over to the mill to work his shift.he's usually work the night shift 15:35:04 the question is why did they do it? Why did your parents do it? Because you would have a better life and the reason I keep talking about corporate power, corporate greed is they are robbing your children of their future 15:35:47 just like the jobs gone from the Maytag plant in Newton IA. This is not rocket science.it is so easy to understand this. Why are the trade companies for NAFTA 15:36:27 you think they're worried about Americans 15:36:46 you think about what happened in 1993.we ran the government theoretically.they killed it. Then NAFTA came along 15:37:20 if we don't take the power away from these people.the people that you grew up with 15:37:42 the easiest thing in the world to say is we can be nice about this.and negotiate with them and they will voluntarily give their power away.it will never happen 15:38:22 we have very good people running for the democratic nomination.I like senator obama and I respect him on that 15:38:52 I think you have to bring these people to the table and negotiate with them.I think we have an epic fight in front of us.the same things going to happen the next year, the following year 15:39:35 we got a fight on our hands and we're going to win that fight 15:39:50 we need a president who says to the American people corporate greed is not going to work 15:40:08 I met this fellow a few months.could have been fixed with a simple operation 15:40:30 something finally came along and helped him.the problem was this they fixed it when he was 50 years old 15:40:54 how long are going to let drug companies run this country.now its time to have your voice heard in this democracy 15:41:20 I believe we need a person that doesn't just think about it and talk about it but do it 15:41:51 I came home bleeding one day.you never start a fire.you never walk away from the fire and that is exactly what we're faced with 15:42:22 this is not about me now I spent twenty years.I think sometimes people think oh we won all these cases. 15:42:50 it was usually me and a child and a family.we won over and over and over and then I've done exactly in public life 15:43:30 the men and women who worked in that mill my mother and my dad that's who I'm fighting for 15:43:55 Bruce mentioned this a few minutes ago.if we're not willing to fight for, stand up and show some backbone.we have no soul.what do we exist for. It is the reason we exist as a party 15:44:26 and I've listened to these reports coming out. 15:44:56 last year 35 million Americans.think about it that way.every single person in California 15:45:26 all while we glorify the profits of big corporations.this has to stop. It's wrong, it's immoral. It's time to step up and stop this 15:45:54 you have so much ability to change this thing if you stand up and say this isn't ok this isn't going to happen anymore 15:46:15 when we stand up for 200,000 veterans who are living homeless America stands up 15:46:34 it's about America rising again. We can do this together. We need you. I cannot do this myself.I need you in this with

EDWARDS Dubuque, IA - John Edwards attends a Town Hall at Loras College Fox, tape Tape 1 Edwards holds a town hall meeting at Loras College, Alumni Center Ballroom NY1/X75 Slugged: 1445 EDWARDS IA X75.04 15:33:10 They came from big corporate America that's where they came from.the profits of big companies just keep going up and up and up 15:33:41 Elizabeth spoke about this.I want to add with what she said.it was in south Carolina my father had to borrow 50 dollars to get me and my mother out of the hospital 15:34:17 leaving the house because my parents were working. She's leave her house with her apron on, she'd leave the house go to the mill, work her shift and come back 15:34:44 and making his way over to the mill to work his shift.he's usually work the night shift 15:35:04 the question is why did they do it? Why did your parents do it? Because you would have a better life and the reason I keep talking about corporate power, corporate greed is they are robbing your children of their future 15:35:47 just like the jobs gone from the Maytag plant in Newton IA. This is not rocket science.it is so easy to understand this. Why are the trade companies for NAFTA 15:36:27 you think they're worried about Americans 15:36:46 you think about what happened in 1993.we ran the government theoretically.they killed it. Then NAFTA came along 15:37:20 if we don't take the power away from these people.the people that you grew up with 15:37:42 the easiest thing in the world to say is we can be nice about this.and negotiate with them and they will voluntarily give their power away.it will never happen 15:38:22 we have very good people running for the democratic nomination.I like senator obama and I respect him on that 15:38:52 I think you have to bring these people to the table and negotiate with them.I think we have an epic fight in front of us.the same things going to happen the next year, the following year 15:39:35 we got a fight on our hands and we're going to win that fight 15:39:50 we need a president who says to the American people corporate greed is not going to work 15:40:08 I met this fellow a few months.could have been fixed with a simple operation 15:40:30 something finally came along and helped him.the problem was this they fixed it when he was 50 years old 15:40:54 how long are going to let drug companies run this country.now its time to have your voice heard in this democracy 15:41:20 I believe we need a person that doesn't just think about it and talk about it but do it 15:41:51 I came home bleeding one day.you never start a fire.you never walk away from the fire and that is exactly what we're faced with 15:42:22 this is not about me now I spent twenty years.I think sometimes people think oh we won all these cases. 15:42:50 it was usually me and a child and a family.we won over and over and over and then I've done exactly in public life 15:43:30 the men and women who worked in that mill my mother and my dad that's who I'm fighting for 15:43:55 Bruce mentioned this a few minutes ago.if we're not willing to fight for, stand up and show some backbone.we have no soul.what do we exist for. It is the reason we exist as a party 15:44:26 and I've listened to these reports coming out. 15:44:56 last year 35 million Americans.think about it that way.every single person in California 15:45:26 all while we glorify the profits of big corporations.this has to stop. It's wrong, it's immoral. It's time to step up and stop this 15:45:54 you have so much ability to change this thing if you stand up and say this isn't ok this isn't going to happen anymore 15:46:15 when we stand up for 200,000 veterans who are living homeless America stands up 15:46:34 it's about America rising again. We can do this together. We need you. I cannot do this myself.I need you in this with

EDWARDS Dubuque, IA - John Edwards attends a Town Hall at Loras College Fox, tape Tape 1 Edwards holds a town hall meeting at Loras College, Alumni Center Ballroom NY1/X75 Slugged: 1445 EDWARDS IA X75.04 15:33:10 They came from big corporate America that's where they came from.the profits of big companies just keep going up and up and up 15:33:41 Elizabeth spoke about this.I want to add with what she said.it was in south Carolina my father had to borrow 50 dollars to get me and my mother out of the hospital 15:34:17 leaving the house because my parents were working. She's leave her house with her apron on, she'd leave the house go to the mill, work her shift and come back 15:34:44 and making his way over to the mill to work his shift.he's usually work the night shift 15:35:04 the question is why did they do it? Why did your parents do it? Because you would have a better life and the reason I keep talking about corporate power, corporate greed is they are robbing your children of their future 15:35:47 just like the jobs gone from the Maytag plant in Newton IA. This is not rocket science.it is so easy to understand this. Why are the trade companies for NAFTA 15:36:27 you think they're worried about Americans 15:36:46 you think about what happened in 1993.we ran the government theoretically.they killed it. Then NAFTA came along 15:37:20 if we don't take the power away from these people.the people that you grew up with 15:37:42 the easiest thing in the world to say is we can be nice about this.and negotiate with them and they will voluntarily give their power away.it will never happen 15:38:22 we have very good people running for the democratic nomination.I like senator obama and I respect him on that 15:38:52 I think you have to bring these people to the table and negotiate with them.I think we have an epic fight in front of us.the same things going to happen the next year, the following year 15:39:35 we got a fight on our hands and we're going to win that fight 15:39:50 we need a president who says to the American people corporate greed is not going to work 15:40:08 I met this fellow a few months.could have been fixed with a simple operation 15:40:30 something finally came along and helped him.the problem was this they fixed it when he was 50 years old 15:40:54 how long are going to let drug companies run this country.now its time to have your voice heard in this democracy 15:41:20 I believe we need a person that doesn't just think about it and talk about it but do it 15:41:51 I came home bleeding one day.you never start a fire.you never walk away from the fire and that is exactly what we're faced with 15:42:22 this is not about me now I spent twenty years.I think sometimes people think oh we won all these cases. 15:42:50 it was usually me and a child and a family.we won over and over and over and then I've done exactly in public life 15:43:30 the men and women who worked in that mill my mother and my dad that's who I'm fighting for 15:43:55 Bruce mentioned this a few minutes ago.if we're not willing to fight for, stand up and show some backbone.we have no soul.what do we exist for. It is the reason we exist as a party 15:44:26 and I've listened to these reports coming out. 15:44:56 last year 35 million Americans.think about it that way.every single person in California 15:45:26 all while we glorify the profits of big corporations.this has to stop. It's wrong, it's immoral. It's time to step up and stop this 15:45:54 you have so much ability to change this thing if you stand up and say this isn't ok this isn't going to happen anymore 15:46:15 when we stand up for 200,000 veterans who are living homeless America stands up 15:46:34 it's about America rising again. We can do this together. We need you. I cannot do this myself.I need you in this with

EDWARDS Dubuque, IA - John Edwards attends a Town Hall at Loras College Fox, tape Tape 1 Edwards holds a town hall meeting at Loras College, Alumni Center Ballroom NY1/X75 Slugged: 1445 EDWARDS IA X75.04 15:33:10 They came from big corporate America that's where they came from.the profits of big companies just keep going up and up and up 15:33:41 Elizabeth spoke about this.I want to add with what she said.it was in south Carolina my father had to borrow 50 dollars to get me and my mother out of the hospital 15:34:17 leaving the house because my parents were working. She's leave her house with her apron on, she'd leave the house go to the mill, work her shift and come back 15:34:44 and making his way over to the mill to work his shift.he's usually work the night shift 15:35:04 the question is why did they do it? Why did your parents do it? Because you would have a better life and the reason I keep talking about corporate power, corporate greed is they are robbing your children of their future 15:35:47 just like the jobs gone from the Maytag plant in Newton IA. This is not rocket science.it is so easy to understand this. Why are the trade companies for NAFTA 15:36:27 you think they're worried about Americans 15:36:46 you think about what happened in 1993.we ran the government theoretically.they killed it. Then NAFTA came along 15:37:20 if we don't take the power away from these people.the people that you grew up with 15:37:42 the easiest thing in the world to say is we can be nice about this.and negotiate with them and they will voluntarily give their power away.it will never happen 15:38:22 we have very good people running for the democratic nomination.I like senator obama and I respect him on that 15:38:52 I think you have to bring these people to the table and negotiate with them.I think we have an epic fight in front of us.the same things going to happen the next year, the following year 15:39:35 we got a fight on our hands and we're going to win that fight 15:39:50 we need a president who says to the American people corporate greed is not going to work 15:40:08 I met this fellow a few months.could have been fixed with a simple operation 15:40:30 something finally came along and helped him.the problem was this they fixed it when he was 50 years old 15:40:54 how long are going to let drug companies run this country.now its time to have your voice heard in this democracy 15:41:20 I believe we need a person that doesn't just think about it and talk about it but do it 15:41:51 I came home bleeding one day.you never start a fire.you never walk away from the fire and that is exactly what we're faced with 15:42:22 this is not about me now I spent twenty years.I think sometimes people think oh we won all these cases. 15:42:50 it was usually me and a child and a family.we won over and over and over and then I've done exactly in public life 15:43:30 the men and women who worked in that mill my mother and my dad that's who I'm fighting for 15:43:55 Bruce mentioned this a few minutes ago.if we're not willing to fight for, stand up and show some backbone.we have no soul.what do we exist for. It is the reason we exist as a party 15:44:26 and I've listened to these reports coming out. 15:44:56 last year 35 million Americans.think about it that way.every single person in California 15:45:26 all while we glorify the profits of big corporations.this has to stop. It's wrong, it's immoral. It's time to step up and stop this 15:45:54 you have so much ability to change this thing if you stand up and say this isn't ok this isn't going to happen anymore 15:46:15 when we stand up for 200,000 veterans who are living homeless America stands up 15:46:34 it's about America rising again. We can do this together. We need you. I cannot do this myself.I need you in this with

EDWARDS Dubuque, IA - John Edwards attends a Town Hall at Loras College Fox, tape Tape 1 Edwards holds a town hall meeting at Loras College, Alumni Center Ballroom NY1/X75 Slugged: 1445 EDWARDS IA X75.04 15:33:10 They came from big corporate America that's where they came from.the profits of big companies just keep going up and up and up 15:33:41 Elizabeth spoke about this.I want to add with what she said.it was in south Carolina my father had to borrow 50 dollars to get me and my mother out of the hospital 15:34:17 leaving the house because my parents were working. She's leave her house with her apron on, she'd leave the house go to the mill, work her shift and come back 15:34:44 and making his way over to the mill to work his shift.he's usually work the night shift 15:35:04 the question is why did they do it? Why did your parents do it? Because you would have a better life and the reason I keep talking about corporate power, corporate greed is they are robbing your children of their future 15:35:47 just like the jobs gone from the Maytag plant in Newton IA. This is not rocket science.it is so easy to understand this. Why are the trade companies for NAFTA 15:36:27 you think they're worried about Americans 15:36:46 you think about what happened in 1993.we ran the government theoretically.they killed it. Then NAFTA came along 15:37:20 if we don't take the power away from these people.the people that you grew up with 15:37:42 the easiest thing in the world to say is we can be nice about this.and negotiate with them and they will voluntarily give their power away.it will never happen 15:38:22 we have very good people running for the democratic nomination.I like senator obama and I respect him on that 15:38:52 I think you have to bring these people to the table and negotiate with them.I think we have an epic fight in front of us.the same things going to happen the next year, the following year 15:39:35 we got a fight on our hands and we're going to win that fight 15:39:50 we need a president who says to the American people corporate greed is not going to work 15:40:08 I met this fellow a few months.could have been fixed with a simple operation 15:40:30 something finally came along and helped him.the problem was this they fixed it when he was 50 years old 15:40:54 how long are going to let drug companies run this country.now its time to have your voice heard in this democracy 15:41:20 I believe we need a person that doesn't just think about it and talk about it but do it 15:41:51 I came home bleeding one day.you never start a fire.you never walk away from the fire and that is exactly what we're faced with 15:42:22 this is not about me now I spent twenty years.I think sometimes people think oh we won all these cases. 15:42:50 it was usually me and a child and a family.we won over and over and over and then I've done exactly in public life 15:43:30 the men and women who worked in that mill my mother and my dad that's who I'm fighting for 15:43:55 Bruce mentioned this a few minutes ago.if we're not willing to fight for, stand up and show some backbone.we have no soul.what do we exist for. It is the reason we exist as a party 15:44:26 and I've listened to these reports coming out. 15:44:56 last year 35 million Americans.think about it that way.every single person in California 15:45:26 all while we glorify the profits of big corporations.this has to stop. It's wrong, it's immoral. It's time to step up and stop this 15:45:54 you have so much ability to change this thing if you stand up and say this isn't ok this isn't going to happen anymore 15:46:15 when we stand up for 200,000 veterans who are living homeless America stands up 15:46:34 it's about America rising again. We can do this together. We need you. I cannot do this myself.I need you in this with

[VOTE 2008: CBS REFEED OF FIRST 20MIN OF JOHN EDWARDS AT COUNTDOWN TO CAUCUS IN DUBUQUE, IOWA] [DUBUQUE, IA USA] CBS FEED: REFEED OF FIRST 20MIN OF JOHN EDWARDS AT COUNTDOWN TO CAUCUS IN DUBUQUE, IA Tape 2 16:46:01 You know very well what's happening in the middle class. You understand it as well as I do. 16:46:13 I'm very proud of this book.please take it to the caucus with you. But it's really important to understand these ideas mean nothing if you don't have a president who will fight. 16:46:33 We've been talking about universal healthcare for decades. We watched the extraordinary destruction of jobs. Think about what happened in 1993. this is what happened.. 16:47:22 Whether it is trade, tax policy, healthcare, environment.I'm going to stand up and fight for you, and I'm going to stand up against this corporate greed. Community service 16:48:25 If we want to change this country, all of us will have to take action.a few years ago, Elizabeth and I started an after-school center for kids. We brought in volunteers.helping kids learn technology. 16:49:19 Anything we can do to promote that.the one thing I haven't proposed myself is mandatory public service. I haven't gone that far, but I will do everything in my power.makes us part of. 16:50:29 You just described my whole problem. If people just hear me, that's all that has to happen. 16:50:41 Sen. Obama is a great guy. We have a different approach to bringing about change. 16:50:56 To work with the Congress, I think both those things.I do believe however. END OF REFEED

NAME: US OB DOM 3 20100128I TAPE: EF10/0087 IN_TIME: 11:08:57:17 DURATION: 00:07:44:08 SOURCES: POOL DATELINE: Washington DC - 27 January 2010 RESTRICTIONS: SHOTLIST: 1. US President Barack Obama entering the House chamber and shaking hands with members of Congress 2. First Lady Michelle Obama applauding 3. Obama shaking hands and speaking with US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner 4. Cutaway of wife of Vice President Joe Biden, Jill Biden (blue dress) applauding 5. Obama shakes hands with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 6. Wide of House floor 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, US President: "One year ago, I took office amid two wars, an economy rocked by severe recession, a financial system on the verge of collapse, and a government deeply in debt. Experts from across the political spectrum warned that if we did not act, we might face a second depression. So we acted - immediately and aggressively. And one year later, the worst of the storm has passed, but the devastation remains." 8. Wide of House floor 9. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, US President: "So we face big and difficult challenges. And what the American people hope - what they deserve - is for all of us, Democrats and Republicans, to work through our differences; to overcome the numbing weight of our politics." 10. Crowd applauding 11. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, US President: "Despite our hardships, our union is strong. We do not give up. We do not quit. We do not allow fear or division to break our spirit. In this new decade, it''s time the American people get a government that matches their decency; that embodies their strength." 12. Wide of House floor 13. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, US President: "I do not accept second place for the United States of America." 14. Michelle Obama and Jill Biden seen applauding with others in balcony 15. Wide of lawmakers applauding 16. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, US President: "Here''s what I ask of Congress, though: do not walk away from reform. Not now. Not when we are so close. Let us find a way to come together and finish the job for the American people. Let''s get it done, let''s get it done." 17. Wide of house floor 18. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, US President: "But I realise that for every success story, there are other stories, of men and women who wake up with the anguish of not knowing where their next pay cheque will come from; who send out resumes week after week and hear nothing in response. That is why jobs must be our number one focus in 2010, and that is why I am calling for a new jobs bill tonight." 19. Audience applauding 20. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, US President: "People are out of work. They are hurting. They need our help. And I want a jobs bill on my desk without delay." 25. Low shot of audience 26. SOUNDBITE: (English) Barack Obama, US President: "I take my share of the blame for not explaining it more clearly to the American people. And I know that with all the lobbying and horse-trading, this process left most Americans wondering what''s in it for me? But I also know this problem is not going away. By the time I''m finished speaking tonight, more Americans will have lost their health insurance. Millions will lose it this year. Our deficit will grow. Premiums will go up. Patients will be denied the care they need. Small business owners will continue to drop coverage altogether. I will not walk away from these Americans, and neither should the people in this chamber." 27. Obama at podium with lawmakers applauding 28. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, US President: "And by the way, I want to acknowledge our first lady, Michelle Obama, who this year is creating a national movement to tackle the epidemic of childhood obesity and make our kids healthier. Thank you honey." 29. Close shot, Michelle Obama, First Lady 30. Obama applauding 31. Michelle Obama waving 32. Obama applauding 33. audience applauding 34. Michelle Obama gesturing to audience to sit down 35. Various wide shots, chamber 36. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, US President: "If there''s one thing that has unified Democrats and Republicans, it''s that we all hated the bank bailout. I hated it. You hated it. It was about as popular as a root canal." 37. Audience applauding 38. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, US President: "This recession has also compounded the burdens that America''s families have been dealing with for decades - the burden of working harder and longer for less; of being unable to save enough to retire or help kids with college. So I know the anxieties that are out there right now." 39. Pan of audience 40. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, US President: "We have to recognise that we face more than a deficit of dollars right now. We face a deficit of trust - deep and corrosive doubts about how Washington works that have been growing for years. To close that credibility gap we must take action on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, to end the outsized influence of lobbyists, to do our work openly and to give our people the government they deserve." 41. Audience applauding 42. SOUNDBITE: (English) Barack Obama, US President: "I campaigned on the promise of change - change we can believe in, the slogan went. And right now, I know there are many Americans who aren''t sure if they still believe we can change - or that I can deliver it. But remember this - I never suggested that change would be easy, or that I can do it alone. Democracy in a nation of three hundred million people can be noisy and messy and complicated. And when you try to do big things and make big changes, it stirs passions and controversy. That''s just how it is." 43. Wide of audience 44. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, US President: "We have finished a difficult year. We have come through a difficult decade. But a new year has come. A new decade stretches before us. We don''t quit. I don''t quit. Let''s seize this moment - to start anew, to carry the dream forward, and to strengthen our union once more. Thank you. God Bless You. And God Bless the United States of America." 45. Various of Obama shaking hands and leaving podium STORYLINE: Declaring "I don''t quit," President Barack Obama fought to recharge his embattled presidency on Wednesday with a State of the Union vow to get jobless millions back to work and to stand on the side of Americans angry at Wall Street greed and Washington bickering. Defiant despite stinging setbacks, he said he would fight on for ambitious overhauls of health care, energy and education. Obama looked to change the conversation from how his presidency is stalling - over the messy health care debate, a limping economy and the missteps that led to Christmas Day''s barely averted terrorist disaster - to how he is seizing the reins. He spoke to a nation gloomy over double-digit unemployment and federal deficits soaring to a record 1.4 (t) trillion US dollars, and to fellow Democrats dispirited about the fallen standing of a president they hoped would carry them through this fall''s midterm elections. With State of the Union messages traditionally delivered at the end of January, Obama had one of the presidency''s biggest platforms just a week after Republicans scored an upset takeover of a Senate seat in Massachusetts, prompting hand-wringing over his leadership. With the turnover erasing Democrats'' Senate super-majority needed to pass most legislation, it also put a cloud over health care and the rest of Obama''s agenda. A chief demand was for lawmakers to press forward with his prized health care overhaul, which is in severe danger in Congress. "Do not walk away from reform," he implored. "Not now. Not when we are so close." The president devoted about two-thirds of his speech to the economic worries foremost on Americans'' minds. Declaring that "I know the anxieties" of Americans'' struggling to pay the bills while big banks get bailouts and bonuses, Obama prodded Congress to enact a second stimulus package "without delay," specifying it should contain a range of measures to help small businesses and funding for infrastructure projects. In the midst of addressing financial and health insurance issues, Obama made a point of commending his wife, First Lady Michelle Obama, for her work in tackling child heath issues. "I want to acknowledge our first lady, Michelle Obama, who this year is creating a national movement to tackle the epidemic of childhood obesity and make kids healthier", Obama said. Michelle Obama acknowledged the ensuing applause and standing ovation before gesturing to the audience to be seated. Fine tuning a plan first announced in October, Obama said he will initiate a 30 (b) billion US dollar program to provide money to community banks at low rates, provided they agree to increase lending to small businesses. The money would come from balances left in the 700 (b) billion US dollar Wall Street rescue fund, a program he claimed was "about as popular as a root canal" and that Obama made of point of saying "I hated." Positioning himself as a fighter for the regular guy and a different kind of leader, he urged Congress to require lobbyists to disclose all contacts with lawmakers or members of his administration and to blunt the impact of last week''s Supreme Court decision allowing corporations greater flexibility in supporting or opposing candidates. "We face a deficit of trust," Obama said. The president devoted about two-thirds of his speech to the economic worries foremost on Americans'' minds, emphasising his ideas, some new but mostly old and explained anew, for restoring job growth, taming budget deficits and changing a polarised Washington. These concerns are at the roots of voter emotions that once drove supporters to Obama but now are turning on him as he governs. "We do not allow fear or division to break our spirit," said Obama. "In this new decade, it''s time the American people get a government that matches their decency; that embodies their strength."

NAME: US IOWA CAUC 4 20080104I TAPE: EF08/0022 IN_TIME: 10:17:10:17 DURATION: 00:05:00:10 SOURCES: AP TELEVISION/ABC DATELINE: Des Moines, 3 Jan 2008 RESTRICTIONS: Part No Access NAmerica/Internet SHOTLIST AP Television Valley High School, West Des Moines, Iowa - 3 January 2008 1. Wide of people gathering at a high school for the Democratic caucus 2. Pan of Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic President hopeful Barack Obama, arriving and is greeted 3. Obama posing with man AP Television Valley High School, West Des Moines, Iowa - 3 January 2008 4. Wide of hall, zoom into Precinct Captain, Greg Nicholson calling everyone to attention, UPSOUND: "Ladies and gentlemen, sports fans of all ages welcome to the main event." 5. Wide of Democrats gathered waiting for the vote to start AP Television Valley High School, West Des Moines, Iowa - 3 January 2008 6. Various as Nicholson points out where the various candidate groups are gathered, AUDIO: cheers AP Television Valley High School, West Des Moines, Iowa - 3 January 2008 7. Wide of Obama supporters 8. Mid of Obama supporters cheering 9. Hillary Clinton supporters chanting 10. Wide of people moving to the group of their chosen Democratic presidential candidate, AUDIO: cheers 11. Mid of official reading out vote results, UPSOUND: "The final tally, with the number of delegates, will be 3 for Obama, 2 for Clinton, 2 for Edwards and 1 for Richardson." ABC - No Access North America/Internet Des Moines, Iowa - 3 January, 2008 9. Democrats registering for caucus at Plymouth Congregational Church 10. Wide of people holding up their hands during voting 11. Wide of man counting people 12. Pan of people applauding 13. Tilt from Obama banner to Obama supporter 14. Clinton supporter holding banner 16. Wide of results screen at Polk centre showing Democratic candidates ABC - No Access No Access NAmerica/Internet Des Moines, Iowa - 3 January, 2008 17. Wide of Hillary Clinton arriving on stage, zoom in AUDIO: cheers 18. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hillary Rodham Clinton, Democratic presidential hopeful: "Thank you, thank you...thank you so so much. Thank you, thanks everybody. Well we are going to take this enthusiasm and right to New Hampshire tonight. This is a great night for Democrats. We have seen an unprecedented turnout here in Iowa and that is good news, because today we are sending a clear message that we are going to have change and that change will be a democratic president in the Whitehouse in 2009." 19. Democratic presidential hopeful, John Edwards arriving on stage 20. SOUNDBITE: (English) John Edwards, Democratic presidential hopeful: "The one thing that is clear from the results in Iowa tonight, is that the status quo lost and change won. And now we move on. We move on from Iowa to New Hampshire and the other states to determine who is best suited to bring about the changes this country so desperately needed. Because what we have seen here in Iowa, is we've seen two candidates who thought their money would make them inevitable, but what the Iowa caucus goers have shown is that if you are willing to have a little backbone, to have a little courage, to speak for the middle class, to speak for those who have no voice, if you are willing to stand up to corporate greed that message and the American people are unstoppable no matter how much money is spent." 21. Edwards with family on stage STORYLINE Senator Barack Obama, bidding to become the first black president of the United States, won the Iowa caucuses on Thursday night, defeating Hillary Rodham Clinton in the crucial opening test in the race for the 2008 Democratic nomination. Obama, 46 and a first-term US senator from Illinois, eased past a high-powered field that included Clinton, a senator and the wife of former President Bill Clinton. He also beat former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina, the party's 2004 vice presidential nominee. Hillary Clinton, unbowed by a third-place finish, hailed a "great night for Democrats" and said the strong turnout pointed for sure to the election of a Democratic president in November. The former first lady, who had once held a commanding lead in polls here, congratulated caucus winner Senator Barack Obama and the second-place finisher, former Senator John Edwards. She promised cheering supporters she would take "this enthusiasm and go right to New Hampshire tonight" which holds its primary on January 8. Speaking to supporters after the results Edwards said that "the one thing that is clear from the results in Iowa tonight, is that the status quo lost and change won." Obama, who campaigned as an apostle of change in Washington, was gaining 36 percent support among Democrats. Edwards, who ran promising to battle the special interests in the capital, and Clinton, who stressed her experience, both were drawing around 30 percent. Obama now has fresh momentum going into Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, where he and Clinton have been locked in a tight race. In the Republican race, Mike Huckabee, a Baptist preacher turned politician, rode a wave of support from evangelical Christians to victory. Huckabee handily defeated Mitt Romney despite being outspent by tens of millions of dollars. Just months ago, Huckabee was virtually unknown outside Arkansas, where he had served as governor. He was winning 34 percent support, compared to 25 percent for Romney. Fred Thompson, an actor and former senator, and Senator John McCain battled for third place. The defeats are major setbacks for Clinton and Romney, both of whom had long been front-runners in Iowa. The Iowa and New Hampshire contests launch an intense, five-week period that will culminate in more than two dozen contests on February 5. With President George W. Bush, a Republican, constitutionally barred from seeking re-election, both parties had wide-open, costly campaigns. While most states hold primary elections, Iowa's caucuses are a series of simultaneous evening meetings held in nearly 1,800 precincts across the frigid northwestern state. Obama and Clinton each sought to make history, he the most viable black presidential candidate in history, she a former first lady bidding to become the first female president. Edwards battled them to a standstill, fighting to improve on the second-place finish in the 2004 caucuses that was good enough to land him the vice presidential slot on the Democratic ticket. Their rivals, Senators Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Joseph Biden of Delaware; Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico; and Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, got little to show for their efforts, and it seemed possible the field would grow smaller before New Hampshire votes on Tuesday. The caucuses determine which candidates Iowa delegates will support at presidential nominating conventions. Those conventions are in August and September, although nominees probably will be determined well before then. Although Iowa, with a small population, has relatively few delegates at the conventions, its caucuses often have served as springboards for the winning candidates, establishing them as front-runners and providing a wave of media coverage and leading to fresh campaign contributions. That was the reason the crowded field of presidential hopefuls devoted weeks of campaigning, built muscular campaign organisations and spent millions of dollars on television advertising in the state.

NAME: US CAMPAIGN 20071230I TAPE: EF08/0004 IN_TIME: 10:11:06:03 DURATION: 00:02:59:02 SOURCES: ABC DATELINE: Iowa - 30 Dec 2007 RESTRICTIONS: No Access NAmerica/Internet SHOTLIST Knoxville, Iowa 1. US Senator and Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama being introduced to crowd at Knoxville Middle School 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, US Senator and Democratic presidential hopeful: "We can't wait to provide good jobs and good wages, and a pension that people can count on. We cannot wait to fix our broken schools. We cannot wait to overhaul climate change. And we cannot wait to bring this war in Iraq to a close. We cannot wait." Columbus Junction, Iowa 3. Anne Romney introduces her husband at "Strong America" bus stop at Columbus Junction Civic Center 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitt Romney, Republican presidential hopeful: "I want to add a hundred thousand troops to the military. I want them to have better equipment and I know that's going to cost some money. And I want our veterans to have better care when they come home. So my campaign is about strengthening America, in our military to keep us safe, in our economy to keep us prosperous, and in our homes to make sure our kids get the values they need to overcome the new generation of challenges we face." 5. Wide shot of audience clapping, shaking hands with Romney Vinton, Iowa 6. SOUNDBITE(English) Hillary Clinton, US Senator and Democratic presidential hopeful: "We need a new beginning in America. We need a new beginning. If we could re-start the 21st century, I think we'd all vote to do it. But since we can't, we need to start January 20th, 2009. 7. Wide shot of Clinton shaking hands and greeting crowds after speech at Corinthian Baptist Church in Des Moines, IA Carroll, Iowa 8. Wide shot of audience at Carroll High School clapping for Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards during Countdown to Caucus event 9. SOUNDBITE (English) John Edwards, Democratic presidential hopeful: "I believe that on a cold January night, in the heartland of America, right here in Iowa, this Thursday night, you're gonna stand up. You're gonna say 'enough is enough. We are rising up. We're going to take this democracy back. We've had enough. We are not going to have the promise of America stolen from our children. We are not going to let this corporate greed continue in this country we love so much.' And you're going to stand up and speak up and rise up and you're going to start a tidal wave of change." STORYLINE With the Iowa caucuses drawing near, US presidential contenders have been delivering their closing messages to voters across the state. Much is at stake - Iowa kicks off the election process Thursday with Democratic and Republican caucuses that could propel two candidates to the nomination. As six candidates took their closing messages to morning talk shows, Democrat Barack Obama acknowledged that the criticism directed at him might be taking a toll. Headed into the final days of the closest caucuses in a lifetime, public and private polls suggested that Obama, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards were locked in a three-way tie for the lead. The Democratic winner will be hard to stop, especially if it's a well-funded Clinton or Obama. On the Republican side, Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee - an ordained Baptist minister - called rival Mitt Romney a dishonest politician who could not be trusted with the presidency, turning up the heat in a close-and-getting-closer Republican race in Iowa. A new poll of the Republican race in Iowa suggested that Huckabee's surprise surge in Iowa may have stalled - his lead over Romney evaporated. Romney is fighting on two fronts, hoping to defeat Huckabee in Iowa and McCain in New Hampshire to vault himself to the nomination, and is grappling with the perception by some that he is too calculating. A Mason-Dixon poll put Romney at 27 percent and Huckabee at 23 percent in Iowa, both trailed by McCain, Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani and Ron Paul. The polls had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points. The Iowa precinct caucuses are the crucial first contest in the political parties' state-by-state process of selecting presidential nominees. Candidates who do well in the caucuses, and in the New Hampshire primary five days later, can gain momentum, establishing themselves as front-runners. Those who do poorly often decide to drop out of the race. The caucuses - simultaneous meetings held at 1,784 locations statewide - begin the process of selecting delegates to the party national presidential nominating conventions in August and September. But the nominees could be apparent well before then, based on the number of delegates amassed in the primaries and caucuses.

TVU 5 BERNIE SANDERS BERKELEY CA PRESS CONFERENCE ABC UNI 060316 C16 20:16:25 REPUBLICANS BLAMING OBAMA FOR BAD JOB REPORT Q: [republicans blaming Obama Bloomberg, jobs report] 20:16:36 Well, Republicans blame Obama if it is too hot, if it's too cold, but may be the Republicans might want to go back to the last months of the bush administration when we were losing 800,000 jobs a month. Alright. When we were running up the largest deficit in the history of this country 1.4 trillion, and when the world's financial system as a result of the illegal behaviour and greed on wall street was on the verge of collapse. Maybe some of my republican colleagues might want to go back to 2000-- to when bush was living office in 2008, but clearly, these reports as the secretary just indicated, this is not good, this are bad reports, these are bad labor reports, and what that tells me is that we need to put americans back to work in a very significant way. 20:17:40 And that tells me that we have to among many other things rebuild our infrastructure a trillion dollar investment over 5 years creates 13 million jobs. It also tells me that longer term we have to rethink our trade policies. Because we have lost million of decent paying jobs over the last 30 years as corporations shut down profitable manufacturing facilities in the United States to move to low wage countries so, obviously this jobs report is bad news for american workers, more and more workers are giving up looking for work, real unemployment is probably double the quote unquote official 4.7%. So we have got to understand that there is a lot of unemployment in this country, a lot of underemployment. With people working part time when they want to work full time. 20:18:40 And that we need a major jobs program and one of the best ways to do that is to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure. Q: [inaudible] BS: Excuse me, excuse me. Yes, right here David, What's your question? I am REPRESENT INTEREST OF WORKING FAMILIES 8:19:15 That wasn't what I-- you see that's the point. You have made this into, excuse me , excuse me, you have made this a political question. Right now I am talking about is how we rebuild the american economy, now you are asking me as I understand, how we get this into the democratic platform, [inaudible] BS: well, right now, what the point of this press conference is to say democratic national convention or no democratic national convention, what congress needs to do is to stand up for working families and the middle class. And we have an agenda to do that , and we need to raise the minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour, we need to make significant reforms to our disastrous trade policies. We need to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure, think about this paid family and medical leave, I used to say the united states was the only major country on earth is not only major countries, poor countries all over the world understand that when women have babies they have the right to stay home with those babies. We are one of the few countries, that's what we have to do. And what we have to do is join the rest of the industrialized world and guarantee healthcare to all people as a right. 20:20:32 I am a United States senator from vermont and I hope to be president of the United states and I am going to do every damn thing that I can to make sure that congress starts representing the interest of working families rather than wealthy campaign contributors. ON TRUMP BANKRUPTCIES / CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS Q: [inaudible] 20:20:55 BS: Well donald trump has also created 4 bankruptcies. Because I have a record as a united States senator, I have been a former congressman of standing up for working families, I don't think to be honest with you that among economist, even some conservative economists, that there is a lot of debate about what has to happen. The real challenge is that we have right now a congress, especially a republican led congress which is much more interested in protecting the interest of their wealthy campaign contributors than the needs of the american people I think that every idea that I have laid out here and I have laid out in this campaign, has majority support. 20:21:40 Not only from democrats but from progressives, but from republicans as well This is pretty commonsensical idea, the people who do not support it are the people who make huge campaign contributions, the people on wall street, the people who are the CEOs of large multinational corporation, and I am sorry that they don't support it but if I am elected president what they are going to learn is that our government is gonna represent all of the people and not just wealthy and powerful special interest. ON OBAMA REMAINING MONTHS Q: [inaudible] 20:22:15 Well I think,you know, he has begun and his work on overtime is something that we have worked with him on it, and I think that's a great step forward. I think a lot of the initiatives that we need are going to need congressional action and what I would urge the president to do in the remaining months of his tenure is to get out to the people and rally the american people around a progressive agenda. Raising the minimum wage is a no brainer. Vast majority of the american people believe we should do that. Rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure. Paid family and medical leave. President just the other day spoke out on the need to to expand and extend social security, a step in the right direction, I would like to see him do more of that. 20:23:05 The way we bring change in this country is when millions of people stand up and demand that change. That is what this campaign is about. ON TUITION 20:27:05 Q: [Model about tuition, out of state students solution] 20:27:20 I don't, I mean I think you know, and secretary Rice teaches here, he knows more about it than I do, but all over the country including the university of vermont, schools are scrambling and they are figuring out ways to bring in revenue. I look at it from a different point of view and that's what this campaign is about, is looking at things from a different approach. I understand that the chancellor here has a problem. But, the way I look at it is different, the way I look at it is to say that we are the richest country in the history of the world, we have seen a massive expanse in income and wealth inequality, we have seen a rapid rise in millionaires and billionaires, and we have seen a situation where large multinational corporations in a given year pay not a nickel in federal taxes. 20:28:08 Because they stash their money in the Cayman Island. And what I believe and again this is an idea that the vast majority of the american people agree with, nothing radical about it, we believe in a competitive global economy, we will not succeed unless we have the best educated workforce in the world, so our job is to encourage not only young people, but workers to get the education that they need and the way you do that is by having tuition free public colleges and universities. And that is an idea that is supported by people all across the spectrum who understand how important education is to our country and we pay for that, we pay for it through a tax on wall street speculation. That's what we do, you know, where the conventional wisdom is about is wall street greed and illegal behavior destroyed the economy, of course we are going to bail them out. Why would we not bail them out. But young people who desperately need a good education, of course they should leave school 50 or 70 thousand dollars in debt, why would we help them? They're not wealthy campaign contributors. 20:29:20 That's the kind of thinking we have got to break through. The needs of young people in this country and the future of our economy is as important as Wall street. 20:29:40 VIOLENT TRUMP PROTEST Q: [inaudible] 20:29:55 BS: My thoughts are very clear.... 20:29:58 FEED FREEZE 20:30:07 .. not telling anybody you were Bernie sanders supporter. Cause those are not the supporters that I want. I understand how reprehensible and disgraceful Donald Trump's positions are, how ignorant they are, how much he is appealing, and I can understand the anger, I surely can. Cause I feel it. The bigotry that is coming from his mouth, the insults to the Mexican community, and the latino community, and the muslim community, and women, and African Americans, and veterans, I understand the anger, but we are not going to defeat trump, you know, by throwing eggs or getting involved in violence of any kind. 20:30:45 We defeat trump when we stand together as one people. And fight for a progressive agenda, educate, organize, bring out large numbers of people, and as I have said many times, in every national poll that I have seen, Bernie sanders is not only ahead of donald trump but in some cases ahead of him by a whole lot. I think here in California, I don't know what it is 17 points or a lot more than that. So we will defeat trump, but the way to defeat him is not by violence of any kind, not by personal harassment, it's by educating, by organizing and bringing people out to vote. Okay, yes sir. Last question. yeah.

TVU 2 BERNIE SANDERS EVENT SAN JUAN PR ABC UNI 051616 C16 INTRODUCTION AND DEBT 10:55:12 >> [ chant ] Bernie! Bernie! Bernie! SANDERS>> Thank you. Alright. Let me begin by thanking Jose Nicolas Medina Fuentes for that wonderful presentation. [ speaking in Spanish ] Es un placer estar con ustedes. Disculpenme pero mi espanol no es muy bueno y estaré hablando con ustedes el dia de hoy en inglés. 10:55:50 Let me begin by telling you that I am more than aware that there is a humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico today and that the US congress and the administration must address this crisis as soon as possible. The people of Puerto Rico are experiencing enormous economic pain as a result of a depression that has now lasted more than a decade. Since 2006, Puerto Rico has lost 20% of its jobs. About 60% of Puerto Rico's adult population are either unemployed or have given up looking for work. Over the last 5 years alone, more than 150 public schools have been shut down and the childhood poverty rate has gone up to 57%. 10:57:02 At a time when the rich get richer, Puerto Rico now has more income inequality than any state in the United States. In the midst of this massive human crisis, it is morally unacceptable that billionaire hedge fund managers have been calling for even more austerity in Puerto Rico. Austerity will not solve this crisis. And as we all know from throughout the world, austerity will cause more suffering for working people and make the rich richer. We must vigorously oppose all efforts at austerity. 10:58:03 It is unacceptable to me that vulture funds on Wall Street are demanding that Puerto Rico fire teachers, close schools, cut pensions, and abolish the minimum wage so that they can reap huge profits off the suffering and the misery of the children and the people of Puerto Rico. We cannot allow that to happen. We will not allow that to happen. [ cheers and applause ] I think all of us understand, and your government understands, that Puerto Rico's $70 billion debt is unsustainable and it is unpayable. 10:59:01 And the reason that it is unsustainable has everything to do with the greed, the greed of Wall Street vulture funds. And I just wanna say, having dealt with Wall Street for many, many years, their greed, their recklessness, their illegal behavior, has caused enormous problems all over the United States, in Puerto Rico, all over this world. Which is why, among other things, I am fighting to break up the large banks on Wall Street. [ cheers and applause ] The United States, Puerto Rico, the world needs a financial system which is designed to increase jobs, to grow the economy, not to live as an island unto itself only concerned about their own profits. 11:00:08 These vulture funds are getting interest rates of 34% on tax exempt bonds that they purchased for $0.29 on the dollar. That is obscene. [ applause ] It has been estimated that as much as half of Puerto Rico's debt is now owned by these vulture funds. We have got to make it clear to these billionaire hedge fund managers that they cannot have it all. Children in Puerto Rico will not go hungry, will not lose education, will not lose health care to make billionaires even wealthier. 11:01:06 And what must be made abundantly clear is that these hedge funds take a massive haircut. They are not gonna get it all. The people in Puerto Rico should not be forced to suffer even more so that a handful of wealthy investors, who have done so much damage all over this world can make even more money. [ speaking spanish ] El futuro de Puerto Rico no debe ser secuestrado injustamente con fondos masivos. And please forgive my pronunciation. [ laughter ] Puerto Rico's debt must be restructured. Puerto Rico must be given the time it needs to grow its economy, to create jobs, to reduce the poverty rate, and expand its tax base so that it could pay back its debt in a way that is fair and is just. 11:02:19 The economic situation in Puerto Rico will not improve by eliminating more public schools, by slashing pensions, by laying off workers, and allowing corporations to pay workers starvation wages by abolishing the minimum wage and relaxing labor law. Goldman Sachs, CitiGroup, and UBS racked up hundreds of millions of dollars in fees to manage Puerto Rico's bond sales. These Wall Street banks have profited off of the suffering of the people in this island. And together, we will end that process. 11:05:11 Today, I am calling on the fed to use its emergency authority under section 13.3 of the Federal Reserve Act to pave the way for an orderly restructuring of Puerto Rico's public debt. Under current law, the Federal Reserve has the authority, quote, in unusual and exigent circumstances to lend to individuals, partnerships, and corporations outside the banking system that are, quote, unable to secure adequate credit accommodations from other banking institutions, end of quote. 11:05:56 Washington rescato a Wall Street de su bancarota, el pueblo de Puerto Rico es mas importante que ellos. Debemos actuar ya. 11:06:35 Moreover, in my view, we need an independent audit of Puerto Rico's debt. If this audit determines and concludes that any of Puerto Rico's debt was incurred in violation of its constitution, it must be immediately set aside. INFRASTRUCTURE / CLEAN ENERGY / COLONIAL TREATMENT 11:09:33 This legislation would help address Puerto Rico's crumbling roads and bridges, improve its ports, upgrade its drinking water and wastewater plants, and fortify flood control projects. It would improve public transportation within cities like San Juan, Bayamon, and Carolina, and other major cities and towns. It would modernize Puerto Rico's antiquated electric grid to end rolling blackouts and make it easier to integrate new solar and wind installations. 11:10:15 And, very importantly, it would expand high speed internet and affordable broadband services throughout the island. And as best as I can understand, when we talk about the need to climate change and in my view, climate change is a global crisis that has got to be dealt with throughout this world. When we look at that crisis, it makes no sense to me that 99% of Puerto Rico's energy comes from fossil fuels. Puerto Rico is blessed with abundant solar and wind resources and has great potential to expand biomass and geothermal energy. 11:11:13 We must give Puerto Rico the tools it needs to aggressively move towards a clean energy economy instead of being depended on importing dirty fossil fuel that is bad for the environment, bad for the Puerto Rican economy, and bad for the planet. In my view, it is time for the people of Puerto Rico to be allowed to take charge of their political future and for the United States of America to redefine its legal relationship with the people of this island. 11:12:06 The people of Puerto Rico should not and cannot provide colonial-like treatment of its citizens. The people of the United States cannot continue a colonial-type relationship with the people of Puerto Rico. [ standing cheers and applause ] It is, it is unacceptable to me for the United States government to treat Puerto Rico like a colony during a time when its people are facing the worst fiscal and economic crises in its history. OSCAR LOPEZ RIVERA 11:14:37 Probably all of you are concerned about Oscar Lopez Rivera. [ cheers and applause ] Lopez Rivera is one of the longest serving political prisoners in history. He has been in prison now for more than 34 years, longer than Nelson Mandela was in prison in South Africa. He is currently incarcerated at the federal correctional institution in Terre Haute, Indiana in solitary confinement. This man is 73 years old, and his health, as I understand it, is deteriorating rapidly. We are talking here about a Vietnam War veteran who was awarded a bronze star and a respected community activist. 11:15:32 A petition asking President Obama to immediately release Oscar Rivera Lopez from prison is, as I understand it, widely supported in Puerto Rico. And that petition is supported by the AFL CIO, by Coretta Scott King, the widow of Martin Luther King, Jr, by President Jimmy Carter, by ten Nobel Prize Laureates, by the United Methodist church, the Episcopal church, Puerto Rico, the Catholic Archbishop of San Juan, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and a number of political leaders and social activists in Latin America and in the caribbean. I say to President Obama, let him out. [ standing cheers and applause ] 11:22:50 If elected president of the United States, you will have an ally in the Oval Office. Thank you very much. THEY HAVE ANOTHER THING COMING 11:24:15 If the vulture capitalists on Wall Street think they're gonna squeeze Puerto Rico, they have another thing coming. It ain't gonna happen. LAST LINE 11:36:17 I understand that Puerto Rico today faces major, major challenges. But I believe if we respect each other, if the people of Puerto Rico are given the respect and dignity and the help that they need, there is nothing that together we cannot accomplish. Thank you very much.

NAME: US IOWA MORN 2 20080103I TAPE: EF08/0020 IN_TIME: 10:09:02:04 DURATION: 00:03:05:17 SOURCES: AP TELEVISION/ABC DATELINE: Iowa - 3 Jan 2008 RESTRICTIONS: Pt No Access North America/Internet SHOTLIST AP Television Des Moines 1. Wide of the Iowa state Capitol in Des Moines AP Television Des Moines 2. Two talk radio show hosts in studios of "WHO Newsradio 1040" 3. Close-up of "WHO" microphone flag/log 4. UPSOUND: (English) Jan Mickelson, WHO Radio Talk Show host: "either just getting on a plane or just off one" (referring to McCain) 5. UPSOUND: (English) John McCain, Republican presidential candidate: " Hey champ" UPSOUND: (English) Jan Mickelson, WHO Radio Talk Show host: "Hey, good morning sir" UPSOUND: (English) John McCain, Republican presidential candidate: Hey, I'm sorry, we're on the road up here near (inaudible) Rapids and the reception is a little spotty, I apologise." UPSOUND: (English) Jan Mickelson, WHO Radio Talk Show host: That's ok, thank you for hoping on board sir." UPSOUND: (English) John McCain, Republican presidential candidate: "It's a pleasure." 6. Close-up of audio meter 7. Close-up of computer screen ABC - No Access North America/Internet Des Moines 8. Wide of democratic presidential candidate John Edwards walking into rally 9. SOUNDBITE: (English) John Edwards, Democratic presidential candidate: "Two campaigns believe that their money would make them inevitable. But tonight, our caucus-goers are gonna prove that our campaign to stand up for the middle class and to stop corporate greed in America is unstoppable." ABC - No Access North America/Internet Burlington, Iowa 10. Wide of republican presidential candidate Huckabee on stage 11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mike Huckabee, Republican presidential candidate: "The reason we're in trouble today is because we've gotten that all messed up and now people get elected and they think they are the ruling class and that we're the servant class and we're to serve them and it's gotta be the other way around. That has to change." 12. Wide of Huckabee on stage 13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mike Huckabee, Republican presidential candidate: "And they find out that caucus goers here in Iowa can't be bought, that they can't even be rented. That they'll make up their own minds and they'll make it up for what they stand for." AP Television Des Moines 14. Close-up of man delivering newspapers 15. Woman arranging newspapers in shop, close-up of of Des Moines Register with headline reading: "Now, You Decide" 16. Close-up of USA Today newspaper with headline reading: "Iowa's day to speak" 17. Des Moines resident, Charlie Johnson picking up cup of coffee 18. SOUNDBITE: (English) Charlie Johnson, Des Moines resident: "Uh no, I don't think so. I'm just tired of all the government involvement in our everyday lives and uh, tired of politics and politicians altogether so um, Ron Paul is my guy." 19. Man sorting newspapers in shop 20. SOUNDBITE: (English) Joan Griep, Des Moines resident: "It could, to be honest. When I got home from work last night I had four messages and I had two calls last night and I'm probably one of those one's that is kind of anxious to get that over with but it could, yes, it could." 21. Wide of parked television satellite truck STORYLINE: Presidential hopefuls headed cautiously into the first key race of the 2008 United States election season on Thursday, the outcome uncertain in a contest that depends on convincing supporters to turn out and vote. Iowans, courted for months by presidential candidates barnstorming their towns, swamping their airwaves and, in the later rounds, bickering with each other, finally get the chance to have their say in the presidential race in a caucus ritual rooted in a centuries-old tradition of political activism. Local radio shows hosted a myriad of candidates and those speaking on their behalf on Thursday morning. Republican presidential hopeful, John McCain finally got through to WHO Newsradio 1040 while travelling through a remote area of the state. The caucuses, simultaneous meetings held at nearly 1,800 locations statewide, begin the process of selecting delegates to the parties' national presidential nominating conventions in August and September. Iowa is the vital first contest in the race to determine which candidates will head the Democratic and Republican tickets in the November presidential election. A win, or at least a better-than-expected showing, means a surge in media coverage, more campaign contributions and a big boost in momentum for upcoming primaries. A poor showing in Iowa, and in next week's primary in New Hampshire, might force some candidates to drop out of the race. In the Republican race, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney goes into the caucuses fighting for a win against Mike Huckabee, a man who stood at two percent in the polls in Iowa less than six months ago and was a blip elsewhere too until his campaign took off. "They find out that caucus goers here in Iowa can't be bought, that they can't even be rented. That they'll make up their own minds and they'll make it up for what they stand for," said Huckabee at a rally on Thursday. Polls indicate an improbably tight three-way race for the Democrats, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Obama and John Edwards all knotted together, a crowd-pleasing nail-biter reflected in swollen crowds at Democratic venues and expectations of a hectic caucus night. Edwards, who finished second in Iowa in 2004 on his way to a spot on the national Democratic ticket also roused the crowds at a supporters rally on Thursday. "Two campaigns believe that their money would make them inevitable. But tonight, our caucus-goers are gonna prove that our campaign to stand up for the middle class and to stop corporate greed in America is unstoppable," said Edwards. On Wednesday Edwards capped a 36-hour campaign marathon with rocker John Mellencamp leaving his voice hoarse. Campaigners were ready with snow shovels if needed, and used the phone and the online social networking site Facebook to encourage voters. Local resident Joan Griep, asked if last minute campaigning would help change her mind, said; "It could, to be honest. When I got home from work last night I had four messages and I had two calls last night and I'm probably one of those one's that is kind of anxious to get that over with but it could, yes, it could." Others were less sure. "I'm just tired of all the government involvement in our everyday lives and uh, tired of politics and politicians altogether," added Charlie Johnson, another Des Monies resident. Surveys suggested a quarter of likely caucus-goers were still undecided in the final days. Altogether, 120-thousand to 150-thousand people were expected to come to the Democratic caucuses and 80-thousand to 90-thousand to the Republican meetings. Caucuses are held in each of the state's nearly 1,800 precincts and draw anywhere from a few people each in rural areas to hundreds in suburbia. Caucuses begin at 7 pm local time (0100 GMT) on Friday. Republican results could be in by mid-evening (0200GMT), while Democratic results might be later.

[VOTE 2008: JOHN EDWARDS TAPPER INTERVIEW] [IA USA] JOHN EDWARDS TAPPER INTERVIEW JT: so closing arguments, this is not unfamiliar territory for a trial lawyer i would think 16 40 52 je: no i've been through this before in 2004-- it's time to close JT: and your fundamental message--one sentance 16:41:04 we have to stop the corporate greed that's killing the middle class in america 16 41 05 jt: and how do you think people are taking it 16:41:13 i think they're taking it to heart, i think they believe it i believe actually taht it's not just a dem message that independents, republicans, i think it goes all teh way across party lines 16 41 19 jt: i've notice and you have too that sen obama has been mentioning you on the campaign trail--obvi you guys might be competing for some of the same voters -- what do you think it's going to come down to between the two fo you 16:41:36 i think what's happening is he's seeing what i'm seeing which is a surge in energy and momentum in my campaign it's palpapble and a real change that's happened over the last couple of weeks and i think that's what's driving this and i think the diff between us is i believe yuko hve to fight the entrenched interests to bring aobut the change that we need. you gotta have somebody that's willing to stand up and fight insurance comps, drug comps, oil comps-- something i've been dcoing for 54 year and that i can do and people know i can do it 16 42 05 jt:when you were in the senate, did you do it? je: yeah, oh yeah for example, number one 16:42:12 i never took a dime from wash lobbyists or special interest pacs, i didn't do it by myself but i sen mccain and sen kennedy the three of us led on teh patient's bill of right which went right at the health care industry jt: but it didn't pass je: it did pass--it passed the us senate and george bush killed it that's why when i'm pres it'll become law 16 42 34 jt: my grandmotehr was one of your constituents in burlington, nc--what did you do for her? 16:42:45 what did i do for her? i did a lot for her i dealt with the problems nc faced everything from agriculture to business when we got hit by the flood in nc i worked tirelessly and endlessly to get help to the flood victimsand the hurricane victims that were hurt in nc i did a great deal of work for our militiary we have huge military bases in nc taht are integral to the economy of nc--ft bragg camp lajeune, hope af base i did a great deal of work to help rural areas--the smaller towns and communities which the area around burlington would be especiaslly where mills were lost and jobs were lost which certainly happened around burlington 16 43 28 jt: what did you do to fight corporate america in the senate that helped her specifically--i know you did the patient's bill of rights but it didnt' become law 16:43:38 what i did is i consistently stood up for--when i rean for the senate--let's go through the whole thing--when i ran for hte senate the basis for my campaign was to be the people's senator and i talked specifically in my campaign to stand against to drug companies, insurance companies, etc i did that over and over and over i did that on the the people's bill of rights which was--remember we were in teh minority most of the time when i was in the seante so a lot of the times it was voting against majoritythat was driven by a lot of those inetrests but i consistently stood up for the things that she would care about 16 44 14 jt: the chief campaign strategist for sen obama yesterday was asked to comment on whether bhutto's assassination would hurt obama and help clinton as the more establishment candidate he said, quote, "she was a strong supporter of the war in iraq which i would submit is one of hte reasons why we have diverted from afghanistan, pakistan, and al qaeda who may still have been players in this event" the implication seemingto be taht voting for the war in iraq helpedi n some way--led in some way to the assassination of benazair bhutto--what do you think of that comment on bhutto: 16:44:52 that's ridiculous it's a ridiculous stretch. in times of int'l crisis which this clear is what america needs to be doing and serious pres candidates need to be doing is providing an atmosphere of strength and calm we need to be a calming influence not stoking the fire. and certainly not talking about the politics of this 16 45 11 jt: how did you come to be talking on the phone with musharraf yesterday 16:45:18 i met him af ew years ago wheni was in islamabad--talked to him at some length about hte problems pakistan was faced with what role america could play constructively in those problems and we -talked specifically about problems with education system. among other things and yesterday morning i called the ambassador the pakistani ambassador spoke to him about what had happened and said to him in taht conversation i know pres musharraf got a lot happening but htere are some things i'd like to talk to him about if you'd have him call me and a couple hours later he called me jt: and what did you tell him? 16:45:50 i told him several things one is urged him to continue demcoratization process how imp taht was to the stability of his country and the way the rest of the world viewed pakistan 16:46:02 second to allow int'l investigators--independent int'l investigators into pakistan to determine the facts around her assassination bc it's the only way--that kind of transparent process--is the only way there would be any credability attached to that determination and we also talked for a short time about the umpcoming election 16 46 25 jt: bill richardson today renewed his call to have a pres musharraf step down he said he thought he shouldn't be president and that democrats such as you had misplaced faith in him--what do you think of that? 16:46:38 i disagree-- first of all i havent' misplaced faith in musharraf he has lots of problems as we all know and he has to--we have to keep the pressure on him-but i also think that a serious pres canddiate in a moment of crisis like this needs to show a calm and aresolve stablilizing and not thinking about the politics of it jt: sometimes big int'l events intrude on a presidential campaign in 2004 osama bin laden released a video tape right before the election--do you think that hurt your chances? 16:47:17 i don't know--thre were so many dynamics in place in 2004 that it would be a pure guess for me to say jt: how would you be a different dem candidate than john kerry? 16:47:28 i think kerry woudl have been a great president--he's a good main, he would have made a fine president jt: was he a good candidate? 16:47:34 kerry was very good candidate he was running in a difficult environment. there were some things going on beyond his control there's never been a campagin--including the ones that i've been participating in where everybody did everything perfectly and when it doesn't turn out the way you want it, it's easy to go back and criticize. i have a very high opinion of john kerry--both as a candidate and as a man 16 47 56 jt: this is a flyer that's being distributed by asfme against sen obama that makes it look like it's from you je: i havent' seen it but i've hard about it jt: this is by a unionthat supports hillary clinton--do you worry at all that and they've set up a website and they're going to be running tv ads i understand with the same basic idea criticizing obama making it look like you're the one doing the criticism--it's kind of crafty when you think about it. 16 48 28 je: it's kind of deceiving when you think about it jt: yeah-- although they are quoting you--you said that obama's plan would leave as many as 15 million americans without coverage 16:48:38 i have said that and i believe it's ture jt: should there not be a place for 3rd party groups to do that sort of thing? 16:48:46 well in the system we have now it's legal so they can do it i myslef would like to see 527s baned, outlawed so that we don't see this type of thing again but what bothers me more about this than the fact that they're doing it--if they were talking about clinton in a positive way they're a union, a good strong union, and then if promoting their candidate--sen cliniton in this case-- there's nothing wrong with taht but criticizing obama and using me as a vehicle for the criticism without saying that they are supporting sen clinton and not me i think is misleading jt: do you think she at all bears any responsibility or is it the same with you and the 527s are... 16:49:29 i don't know the facts behind this if it is in fact a 527 operating under 527 law, legal authority, then they can't coordinate but i don't know if it's a true or not jt: but if it's asfme operating as asfme then you think she should tell them to stop? 16:49:44 i think we have a responsibility to say to people if you don't beleive in 527s and i don't know what sen clinton has said about 527s--i don't believe in 527s and i think and i have said what i can say publically which is that i'd like to see them outlawed can i just add one other thing to that? 16:50:07 the problem is looking at these things in isolation instead of over the long term i mentioned earlier in our intvw i've never taken any money from a wash lobbyist, never taken any money from a pac and i've been a strong proponent for doing what we need to do to clean up the money in politics. and i think all those things go together--it's not jsut 527s in isolation it's what are you willing to do stand against corporate power and the corporate money influence in washington and what are you willing to do about special interest pacs and lobbyists and i've taken a step out and i've been nowin pbulic life for 10 eyars-- a little less than 10 years-- and all my entire public career iv'e done that 16:50:44 JT You talk about how the corruption and power of corporate america and washington has been around for decades. That its gotten worse under president bush you say. But its been around for decades. You are saying it was around and not enough was done during president clinton's -- bill clintons - presidency. ED - during republican and democratic administrations. Yes. JT -- what should bill clinton have done? ED -- here's the problem. The problem was not bill clinton. Bill clinton was a fine president. The problem is that we have a system that doesn't work. They have entirely too much influence. They influence everything that's happened. I've mentioned this earlier. We have been trying to get universal health care for decades. Not just when hilary clinton was the first lady. We've been trying to do it for 40 or 50 years now. And these entrenched interests have consistantly blocked it. And until we have a president who can take these people on and beat them, then we are not going to see the significant change that needs to occur in this country. We need to -- to answer your question, we need to publically finance campaigns. We need to stop the revolving door from government into lobbying and back . We need ethics reform. But the most important thing is to have a president who has some backbone and fight and will stand up to these people. 16:51:48 JT -- If you were a caucus goer obviously you would vote for yourself, but as you know in the iowa caucuses who somebody's second choice might be important. Who would your second choice be? 51:59 ED -- I am not touching that one. That's a good try though. JT -- You like how I made it about iowa. ED -- that was very skillful. 52:09 JT -- IF somebody comes in third here -- the democrat who comes in third here, should that democrat step out because this is a very intense three way race. ED-- I think there is no way to say that in advance. There's just too many factors. I mean it depends on how close it is. Theres no way to say that in advance. 52:26 JT --If it came down to ultimately Barack Obama vs Hillary Clinton, do you think one of them obviuosly you are not endorsing either one of them, but do you think one of them -- ED-- is this any different than your other question? JT-- The other one I included all the other presidential candidates. This one is just about obama vs clinton. In the other one you could have said kucinich. You worked out a deal with him in '04. Do you think obama vs clinton -- you must have an opinion which one of them could effect change more. Obviously you think you are the one who can do it the best. 52:55 ED -- I think I am the one who can bring about the change and I am going to let them duke it out amongst themselves. 53:00 JT -- Do you have an opinion? You don't have to tell me what it is. 53:05 ED -- well its obvious that one of them believes that change is necessary and the system doesn't work and the other defends the system. So I am in the camp of believing the system doesn't work but I also believe very strongly that you can't just negotiate your way through change you actually have to fight for it. 53:20 JT -- when senator clinton says she can have all of the troops out within a year as she has recently started to say -- out of iraq-- is she being straight with the american people. Is that really what she is proposing? ED -- I don't know. I don't know the answer to that. Its different than what I've heard her say in the past and the voters will have to judge whether she means it. JT -- Have you been to iraq? ED -- I have not. Why not? Can't get in. We've actually tried and tried vigorously to get into iraq -- and still trying. Not finished trying and I intend to go to iraq as the democratic nominee. I've been all around it. 16:53:57 JT -- I was there last year. Obviously there is more protection for you then for me. ED-- you think so? I think likely. I think not. Its very very difficult to get in unless you are member of a public body. As a US senator I'd have no trouble getting in. But its very difficult to get in right now. 16:54:17 JT -- I don't hear you talking as much about iraq on the stump these days as you have in the past. Why not? ED -- Because I think for a lot -- first I think there are differences. I would get all the troops out of iraq the first year. All of the combat troops out of iraq. End combat missions. No permanent military bases. That's a very strong position ive taken from the very outset. But I think for a lot of caucus goers and early primary voters they don't see huge differences between the candidates on iraq. I think the differences are important but in a limited amount of time you have to focus on the things people are focused on as voters. 16:54:50 JT you have said that everything that makes america america is being threatened. Yes. What do you mean. I mean the promise of this country. Giving our children a better life than we had which is at the heart of the promise of america is being threatened by corporate greed. And its infiltrated every part of what we need to do. Health care, the environment trade tax policy even the war and unless we have a president that is willing to change that we wont see big change in this country. 16:55:20 JT -- are you following the republican race at all? A little not very closely. Is there anything that you see there that has been interesting to you. Its been a very interesting race on both sides and I am sure that you are consumed with the democratic race. ED -- only that at least from a distance it appears that huckabees' sort of running away with iowa. So that race is a little less interesting I guess than it has been in the past. And beyond that I don't see much. 16:55:47 JT -- is hillary clinton electable. I don't know. You said in NH -- a voter said -- that he didn't think that clinton was and he said, it sounded like you agreed with that voter. 16:55:57 ED-- well I don't know that she's electable. If you look at all the public polling the most recent poll I saw a week or so ago showed that I was the one democrat that beat every republican in a general election match up so I am convinced because I won in a red state, I grew up in small town rural america that I can compete in places that other democrats have trouble competing. And so I know that I am the strongest general election candidate. Whether she can win or not I think is an unknown. 16:56:23 JT arguably you are more liberal than clinton and obama. Why would you be more electable just because you are culturally from the south? 56:34 ED-- No . Because the way I grew up, the things that I fought for my entire life, because I grew up in small town rural america -- which I think gives you are a naturally connection to those voters in those parts of the country, and those are the places that the democrats have the hardest time competing. And I would ad to that and I don't think -- you guys like to skip past it but I think its really important -- this message of stopping corporate greed and making the country work for everybody is one that goes across party lines. I don't think that its an accident that I am the democrat that beats all the republicans. 16:57:08 JT - you said that anybody who thinks you can negotiate with the insurance companies is living in never never land. Yes. So do you think that barak obama is living in never never land because he has . If he believes that yes. But it's a little hard for me to tell sometimes based on the way he talks, but have heard him say he would give the stake holders a seat at the table and I assume he means oil companies, insurance companies, drug companies and I just don't think you are ever going to see serious change if you do that. You have to be willing to fight for it. 16:57:35 your campaign is taking on a much more sunny demenour in the past few weeks. I'm a sunny guy. You are now. You are now. You were a little bit more aggressive earlier in the campaign. In the last month as you've built up to the closing arguments you've mellowed the rhetoric. That's intentional? ED-- the language hasn't mellowed. My fight is not with other candidates or with other politicians. My battle is with the entrenched interests that are keeping america from being what its capable of being. And on that front I am as aggressive and strong and passionate and speaking from inside as I can ever be and you can see it out here. 16:58:28 He said that it bothered him that you continued with your campaign eventhough elizabeth is sick and fighting cancer. Do you encounter a lot of that? And how is she doing? ED-- She and all three of my children just landed in iowa. I just talked to her literally two minutes before we started this interview. I was worried about them and wanted to be sure they got in in this weather. She's doing great. She's out doing her own townhalls today in iowa. She feels completely healthy symptom free. All the test results are extremely encouraging. I think her health is in a good place. And do you encounter a lot of people who say they think you shouldn't be campaiging? 16:59:07 Almost never. And I think the reason is they either see elizabeth with me or they know she is in the state at the same time and just to cut to the chase and get to the point you are trying to ask about, I told elizabeth when she was first rediagnosed in march that I would do anything. That I loved her. Been married to her for 30 years. I would do anything for her. And she is completely committed to this cause. This is the cause of our lives.

[VOTE 2008: JOHN EDWARDS TAPPER INTERVIEW] [IA USA] JOHN EDWARDS TAPPER INTERVIEW JT: so closing arguments, this is not unfamiliar territory for a trial lawyer i would think 16 40 52 je: no i've been through this before in 2004-- it's time to close JT: and your fundamental message--one sentance 16:41:04 we have to stop the corporate greed that's killing the middle class in america 16 41 05 jt: and how do you think people are taking it 16:41:13 i think they're taking it to heart, i think they believe it i believe actually taht it's not just a dem message that independents, republicans, i think it goes all teh way across party lines 16 41 19 jt: i've notice and you have too that sen obama has been mentioning you on the campaign trail--obvi you guys might be competing for some of the same voters -- what do you think it's going to come down to between the two fo you 16:41:36 i think what's happening is he's seeing what i'm seeing which is a surge in energy and momentum in my campaign it's palpapble and a real change that's happened over the last couple of weeks and i think that's what's driving this and i think the diff between us is i believe yuko hve to fight the entrenched interests to bring aobut the change that we need. you gotta have somebody that's willing to stand up and fight insurance comps, drug comps, oil comps-- something i've been dcoing for 54 year and that i can do and people know i can do it 16 42 05 jt:when you were in the senate, did you do it? je: yeah, oh yeah for example, number one 16:42:12 i never took a dime from wash lobbyists or special interest pacs, i didn't do it by myself but i sen mccain and sen kennedy the three of us led on teh patient's bill of right which went right at the health care industry jt: but it didn't pass je: it did pass--it passed the us senate and george bush killed it that's why when i'm pres it'll become law 16 42 34 jt: my grandmotehr was one of your constituents in burlington, nc--what did you do for her? 16:42:45 what did i do for her? i did a lot for her i dealt with the problems nc faced everything from agriculture to business when we got hit by the flood in nc i worked tirelessly and endlessly to get help to the flood victimsand the hurricane victims that were hurt in nc i did a great deal of work for our militiary we have huge military bases in nc taht are integral to the economy of nc--ft bragg camp lajeune, hope af base i did a great deal of work to help rural areas--the smaller towns and communities which the area around burlington would be especiaslly where mills were lost and jobs were lost which certainly happened around burlington 16 43 28 jt: what did you do to fight corporate america in the senate that helped her specifically--i know you did the patient's bill of rights but it didnt' become law 16:43:38 what i did is i consistently stood up for--when i rean for the senate--let's go through the whole thing--when i ran for hte senate the basis for my campaign was to be the people's senator and i talked specifically in my campaign to stand against to drug companies, insurance companies, etc i did that over and over and over i did that on the the people's bill of rights which was--remember we were in teh minority most of the time when i was in the seante so a lot of the times it was voting against majoritythat was driven by a lot of those inetrests but i consistently stood up for the things that she would care about 16 44 14 jt: the chief campaign strategist for sen obama yesterday was asked to comment on whether bhutto's assassination would hurt obama and help clinton as the more establishment candidate he said, quote, "she was a strong supporter of the war in iraq which i would submit is one of hte reasons why we have diverted from afghanistan, pakistan, and al qaeda who may still have been players in this event" the implication seemingto be taht voting for the war in iraq helpedi n some way--led in some way to the assassination of benazair bhutto--what do you think of that comment on bhutto: 16:44:52 that's ridiculous it's a ridiculous stretch. in times of int'l crisis which this clear is what america needs to be doing and serious pres candidates need to be doing is providing an atmosphere of strength and calm we need to be a calming influence not stoking the fire. and certainly not talking about the politics of this 16 45 11 jt: how did you come to be talking on the phone with musharraf yesterday 16:45:18 i met him af ew years ago wheni was in islamabad--talked to him at some length about hte problems pakistan was faced with what role america could play constructively in those problems and we -talked specifically about problems with education system. among other things and yesterday morning i called the ambassador the pakistani ambassador spoke to him about what had happened and said to him in taht conversation i know pres musharraf got a lot happening but htere are some things i'd like to talk to him about if you'd have him call me and a couple hours later he called me jt: and what did you tell him? 16:45:50 i told him several things one is urged him to continue demcoratization process how imp taht was to the stability of his country and the way the rest of the world viewed pakistan 16:46:02 second to allow int'l investigators--independent int'l investigators into pakistan to determine the facts around her assassination bc it's the only way--that kind of transparent process--is the only way there would be any credability attached to that determination and we also talked for a short time about the umpcoming election 16 46 25 jt: bill richardson today renewed his call to have a pres musharraf step down he said he thought he shouldn't be president and that democrats such as you had misplaced faith in him--what do you think of that? 16:46:38 i disagree-- first of all i havent' misplaced faith in musharraf he has lots of problems as we all know and he has to--we have to keep the pressure on him-but i also think that a serious pres canddiate in a moment of crisis like this needs to show a calm and aresolve stablilizing and not thinking about the politics of it jt: sometimes big int'l events intrude on a presidential campaign in 2004 osama bin laden released a video tape right before the election--do you think that hurt your chances? 16:47:17 i don't know--thre were so many dynamics in place in 2004 that it would be a pure guess for me to say jt: how would you be a different dem candidate than john kerry? 16:47:28 i think kerry woudl have been a great president--he's a good main, he would have made a fine president jt: was he a good candidate? 16:47:34 kerry was very good candidate he was running in a difficult environment. there were some things going on beyond his control there's never been a campagin--including the ones that i've been participating in where everybody did everything perfectly and when it doesn't turn out the way you want it, it's easy to go back and criticize. i have a very high opinion of john kerry--both as a candidate and as a man 16 47 56 jt: this is a flyer that's being distributed by asfme against sen obama that makes it look like it's from you je: i havent' seen it but i've hard about it jt: this is by a unionthat supports hillary clinton--do you worry at all that and they've set up a website and they're going to be running tv ads i understand with the same basic idea criticizing obama making it look like you're the one doing the criticism--it's kind of crafty when you think about it. 16 48 28 je: it's kind of deceiving when you think about it jt: yeah-- although they are quoting you--you said that obama's plan would leave as many as 15 million americans without coverage 16:48:38 i have said that and i believe it's ture jt: should there not be a place for 3rd party groups to do that sort of thing? 16:48:46 well in the system we have now it's legal so they can do it i myslef would like to see 527s baned, outlawed so that we don't see this type of thing again but what bothers me more about this than the fact that they're doing it--if they were talking about clinton in a positive way they're a union, a good strong union, and then if promoting their candidate--sen cliniton in this case-- there's nothing wrong with taht but criticizing obama and using me as a vehicle for the criticism without saying that they are supporting sen clinton and not me i think is misleading jt: do you think she at all bears any responsibility or is it the same with you and the 527s are... 16:49:29 i don't know the facts behind this if it is in fact a 527 operating under 527 law, legal authority, then they can't coordinate but i don't know if it's a true or not jt: but if it's asfme operating as asfme then you think she should tell them to stop? 16:49:44 i think we have a responsibility to say to people if you don't beleive in 527s and i don't know what sen clinton has said about 527s--i don't believe in 527s and i think and i have said what i can say publically which is that i'd like to see them outlawed can i just add one other thing to that? 16:50:07 the problem is looking at these things in isolation instead of over the long term i mentioned earlier in our intvw i've never taken any money from a wash lobbyist, never taken any money from a pac and i've been a strong proponent for doing what we need to do to clean up the money in politics. and i think all those things go together--it's not jsut 527s in isolation it's what are you willing to do stand against corporate power and the corporate money influence in washington and what are you willing to do about special interest pacs and lobbyists and i've taken a step out and i've been nowin pbulic life for 10 eyars-- a little less than 10 years-- and all my entire public career iv'e done that 16:50:44 JT You talk about how the corruption and power of corporate america and washington has been around for decades. That its gotten worse under president bush you say. But its been around for decades. You are saying it was around and not enough was done during president clinton's -- bill clintons - presidency. ED - during republican and democratic administrations. Yes. JT -- what should bill clinton have done? ED -- here's the problem. The problem was not bill clinton. Bill clinton was a fine president. The problem is that we have a system that doesn't work. They have entirely too much influence. They influence everything that's happened. I've mentioned this earlier. We have been trying to get universal health care for decades. Not just when hilary clinton was the first lady. We've been trying to do it for 40 or 50 years now. And these entrenched interests have consistantly blocked it. And until we have a president who can take these people on and beat them, then we are not going to see the significant change that needs to occur in this country. We need to -- to answer your question, we need to publically finance campaigns. We need to stop the revolving door from government into lobbying and back . We need ethics reform. But the most important thing is to have a president who has some backbone and fight and will stand up to these people. 16:51:48 JT -- If you were a caucus goer obviously you would vote for yourself, but as you know in the iowa caucuses who somebody's second choice might be important. Who would your second choice be? 51:59 ED -- I am not touching that one. That's a good try though. JT -- You like how I made it about iowa. ED -- that was very skillful. 52:09 JT -- IF somebody comes in third here -- the democrat who comes in third here, should that democrat step out because this is a very intense three way race. ED-- I think there is no way to say that in advance. There's just too many factors. I mean it depends on how close it is. Theres no way to say that in advance. 52:26 JT --If it came down to ultimately Barack Obama vs Hillary Clinton, do you think one of them obviuosly you are not endorsing either one of them, but do you think one of them -- ED-- is this any different than your other question? JT-- The other one I included all the other presidential candidates. This one is just about obama vs clinton. In the other one you could have said kucinich. You worked out a deal with him in '04. Do you think obama vs clinton -- you must have an opinion which one of them could effect change more. Obviously you think you are the one who can do it the best. 52:55 ED -- I think I am the one who can bring about the change and I am going to let them duke it out amongst themselves. 53:00 JT -- Do you have an opinion? You don't have to tell me what it is. 53:05 ED -- well its obvious that one of them believes that change is necessary and the system doesn't work and the other defends the system. So I am in the camp of believing the system doesn't work but I also believe very strongly that you can't just negotiate your way through change you actually have to fight for it. 53:20 JT -- when senator clinton says she can have all of the troops out within a year as she has recently started to say -- out of iraq-- is she being straight with the american people. Is that really what she is proposing? ED -- I don't know. I don't know the answer to that. Its different than what I've heard her say in the past and the voters will have to judge whether she means it. JT -- Have you been to iraq? ED -- I have not. Why not? Can't get in. We've actually tried and tried vigorously to get into iraq -- and still trying. Not finished trying and I intend to go to iraq as the democratic nominee. I've been all around it. 16:53:57 JT -- I was there last year. Obviously there is more protection for you then for me. ED-- you think so? I think likely. I think not. Its very very difficult to get in unless you are member of a public body. As a US senator I'd have no trouble getting in. But its very difficult to get in right now. 16:54:17 JT -- I don't hear you talking as much about iraq on the stump these days as you have in the past. Why not? ED -- Because I think for a lot -- first I think there are differences. I would get all the troops out of iraq the first year. All of the combat troops out of iraq. End combat missions. No permanent military bases. That's a very strong position ive taken from the very outset. But I think for a lot of caucus goers and early primary voters they don't see huge differences between the candidates on iraq. I think the differences are important but in a limited amount of time you have to focus on the things people are focused on as voters. 16:54:50 JT you have said that everything that makes america america is being threatened. Yes. What do you mean. I mean the promise of this country. Giving our children a better life than we had which is at the heart of the promise of america is being threatened by corporate greed. And its infiltrated every part of what we need to do. Health care, the environment trade tax policy even the war and unless we have a president that is willing to change that we wont see big change in this country. 16:55:20 JT -- are you following the republican race at all? A little not very closely. Is there anything that you see there that has been interesting to you. Its been a very interesting race on both sides and I am sure that you are consumed with the democratic race. ED -- only that at least from a distance it appears that huckabees' sort of running away with iowa. So that race is a little less interesting I guess than it has been in the past. And beyond that I don't see much. 16:55:47 JT -- is hillary clinton electable. I don't know. You said in NH -- a voter said -- that he didn't think that clinton was and he said, it sounded like you agreed with that voter. 16:55:57 ED-- well I don't know that she's electable. If you look at all the public polling the most recent poll I saw a week or so ago showed that I was the one democrat that beat every republican in a general election match up so I am convinced because I won in a red state, I grew up in small town rural america that I can compete in places that other democrats have trouble competing. And so I know that I am the strongest general election candidate. Whether she can win or not I think is an unknown. 16:56:23 JT arguably you are more liberal than clinton and obama. Why would you be more electable just because you are culturally from the south? 56:34 ED-- No . Because the way I grew up, the things that I fought for my entire life, because I grew up in small town rural america -- which I think gives you are a naturally connection to those voters in those parts of the country, and those are the places that the democrats have the hardest time competing. And I would ad to that and I don't think -- you guys like to skip past it but I think its really important -- this message of stopping corporate greed and making the country work for everybody is one that goes across party lines. I don't think that its an accident that I am the democrat that beats all the republicans. 16:57:08 JT - you said that anybody who thinks you can negotiate with the insurance companies is living in never never land. Yes. So do you think that barak obama is living in never never land because he has . If he believes that yes. But it's a little hard for me to tell sometimes based on the way he talks, but have heard him say he would give the stake holders a seat at the table and I assume he means oil companies, insurance companies, drug companies and I just don't think you are ever going to see serious change if you do that. You have to be willing to fight for it. 16:57:35 your campaign is taking on a much more sunny demenour in the past few weeks. I'm a sunny guy. You are now. You are now. You were a little bit more aggressive earlier in the campaign. In the last month as you've built up to the closing arguments you've mellowed the rhetoric. That's intentional? ED-- the language hasn't mellowed. My fight is not with other candidates or with other politicians. My battle is with the entrenched interests that are keeping america from being what its capable of being. And on that front I am as aggressive and strong and passionate and speaking from inside as I can ever be and you can see it out here. 16:58:28 He said that it bothered him that you continued with your campaign eventhough elizabeth is sick and fighting cancer. Do you encounter a lot of that? And how is she doing? ED-- She and all three of my children just landed in iowa. I just talked to her literally two minutes before we started this interview. I was worried about them and wanted to be sure they got in in this weather. She's doing great. She's out doing her own townhalls today in iowa. She feels completely healthy symptom free. All the test results are extremely encouraging. I think her health is in a good place. And do you encounter a lot of people who say they think you shouldn't be campaiging? 16:59:07 Almost never. And I think the reason is they either see elizabeth with me or they know she is in the state at the same time and just to cut to the chase and get to the point you are trying to ask about, I told elizabeth when she was first rediagnosed in march that I would do anything. That I loved her. Been married to her for 30 years. I would do anything for her. And she is completely committed to this cause. This is the cause of our lives.

[VOTE 2008: JOHN EDWARDS TAPPER INTERVIEW] [IA USA] JOHN EDWARDS TAPPER INTERVIEW JT: so closing arguments, this is not unfamiliar territory for a trial lawyer i would think 16 40 52 je: no i've been through this before in 2004-- it's time to close JT: and your fundamental message--one sentance 16:41:04 we have to stop the corporate greed that's killing the middle class in america 16 41 05 jt: and how do you think people are taking it 16:41:13 i think they're taking it to heart, i think they believe it i believe actually taht it's not just a dem message that independents, republicans, i think it goes all teh way across party lines 16 41 19 jt: i've notice and you have too that sen obama has been mentioning you on the campaign trail--obvi you guys might be competing for some of the same voters -- what do you think it's going to come down to between the two fo you 16:41:36 i think what's happening is he's seeing what i'm seeing which is a surge in energy and momentum in my campaign it's palpapble and a real change that's happened over the last couple of weeks and i think that's what's driving this and i think the diff between us is i believe yuko hve to fight the entrenched interests to bring aobut the change that we need. you gotta have somebody that's willing to stand up and fight insurance comps, drug comps, oil comps-- something i've been dcoing for 54 year and that i can do and people know i can do it 16 42 05 jt:when you were in the senate, did you do it? je: yeah, oh yeah for example, number one 16:42:12 i never took a dime from wash lobbyists or special interest pacs, i didn't do it by myself but i sen mccain and sen kennedy the three of us led on teh patient's bill of right which went right at the health care industry jt: but it didn't pass je: it did pass--it passed the us senate and george bush killed it that's why when i'm pres it'll become law 16 42 34 jt: my grandmotehr was one of your constituents in burlington, nc--what did you do for her? 16:42:45 what did i do for her? i did a lot for her i dealt with the problems nc faced everything from agriculture to business when we got hit by the flood in nc i worked tirelessly and endlessly to get help to the flood victimsand the hurricane victims that were hurt in nc i did a great deal of work for our militiary we have huge military bases in nc taht are integral to the economy of nc--ft bragg camp lajeune, hope af base i did a great deal of work to help rural areas--the smaller towns and communities which the area around burlington would be especiaslly where mills were lost and jobs were lost which certainly happened around burlington 16 43 28 jt: what did you do to fight corporate america in the senate that helped her specifically--i know you did the patient's bill of rights but it didnt' become law 16:43:38 what i did is i consistently stood up for--when i rean for the senate--let's go through the whole thing--when i ran for hte senate the basis for my campaign was to be the people's senator and i talked specifically in my campaign to stand against to drug companies, insurance companies, etc i did that over and over and over i did that on the the people's bill of rights which was--remember we were in teh minority most of the time when i was in the seante so a lot of the times it was voting against majoritythat was driven by a lot of those inetrests but i consistently stood up for the things that she would care about 16 44 14 jt: the chief campaign strategist for sen obama yesterday was asked to comment on whether bhutto's assassination would hurt obama and help clinton as the more establishment candidate he said, quote, "she was a strong supporter of the war in iraq which i would submit is one of hte reasons why we have diverted from afghanistan, pakistan, and al qaeda who may still have been players in this event" the implication seemingto be taht voting for the war in iraq helpedi n some way--led in some way to the assassination of benazair bhutto--what do you think of that comment on bhutto: 16:44:52 that's ridiculous it's a ridiculous stretch. in times of int'l crisis which this clear is what america needs to be doing and serious pres candidates need to be doing is providing an atmosphere of strength and calm we need to be a calming influence not stoking the fire. and certainly not talking about the politics of this 16 45 11 jt: how did you come to be talking on the phone with musharraf yesterday 16:45:18 i met him af ew years ago wheni was in islamabad--talked to him at some length about hte problems pakistan was faced with what role america could play constructively in those problems and we -talked specifically about problems with education system. among other things and yesterday morning i called the ambassador the pakistani ambassador spoke to him about what had happened and said to him in taht conversation i know pres musharraf got a lot happening but htere are some things i'd like to talk to him about if you'd have him call me and a couple hours later he called me jt: and what did you tell him? 16:45:50 i told him several things one is urged him to continue demcoratization process how imp taht was to the stability of his country and the way the rest of the world viewed pakistan 16:46:02 second to allow int'l investigators--independent int'l investigators into pakistan to determine the facts around her assassination bc it's the only way--that kind of transparent process--is the only way there would be any credability attached to that determination and we also talked for a short time about the umpcoming election 16 46 25 jt: bill richardson today renewed his call to have a pres musharraf step down he said he thought he shouldn't be president and that democrats such as you had misplaced faith in him--what do you think of that? 16:46:38 i disagree-- first of all i havent' misplaced faith in musharraf he has lots of problems as we all know and he has to--we have to keep the pressure on him-but i also think that a serious pres canddiate in a moment of crisis like this needs to show a calm and aresolve stablilizing and not thinking about the politics of it jt: sometimes big int'l events intrude on a presidential campaign in 2004 osama bin laden released a video tape right before the election--do you think that hurt your chances? 16:47:17 i don't know--thre were so many dynamics in place in 2004 that it would be a pure guess for me to say jt: how would you be a different dem candidate than john kerry? 16:47:28 i think kerry woudl have been a great president--he's a good main, he would have made a fine president jt: was he a good candidate? 16:47:34 kerry was very good candidate he was running in a difficult environment. there were some things going on beyond his control there's never been a campagin--including the ones that i've been participating in where everybody did everything perfectly and when it doesn't turn out the way you want it, it's easy to go back and criticize. i have a very high opinion of john kerry--both as a candidate and as a man 16 47 56 jt: this is a flyer that's being distributed by asfme against sen obama that makes it look like it's from you je: i havent' seen it but i've hard about it jt: this is by a unionthat supports hillary clinton--do you worry at all that and they've set up a website and they're going to be running tv ads i understand with the same basic idea criticizing obama making it look like you're the one doing the criticism--it's kind of crafty when you think about it. 16 48 28 je: it's kind of deceiving when you think about it jt: yeah-- although they are quoting you--you said that obama's plan would leave as many as 15 million americans without coverage 16:48:38 i have said that and i believe it's ture jt: should there not be a place for 3rd party groups to do that sort of thing? 16:48:46 well in the system we have now it's legal so they can do it i myslef would like to see 527s baned, outlawed so that we don't see this type of thing again but what bothers me more about this than the fact that they're doing it--if they were talking about clinton in a positive way they're a union, a good strong union, and then if promoting their candidate--sen cliniton in this case-- there's nothing wrong with taht but criticizing obama and using me as a vehicle for the criticism without saying that they are supporting sen clinton and not me i think is misleading jt: do you think she at all bears any responsibility or is it the same with you and the 527s are... 16:49:29 i don't know the facts behind this if it is in fact a 527 operating under 527 law, legal authority, then they can't coordinate but i don't know if it's a true or not jt: but if it's asfme operating as asfme then you think she should tell them to stop? 16:49:44 i think we have a responsibility to say to people if you don't beleive in 527s and i don't know what sen clinton has said about 527s--i don't believe in 527s and i think and i have said what i can say publically which is that i'd like to see them outlawed can i just add one other thing to that? 16:50:07 the problem is looking at these things in isolation instead of over the long term i mentioned earlier in our intvw i've never taken any money from a wash lobbyist, never taken any money from a pac and i've been a strong proponent for doing what we need to do to clean up the money in politics. and i think all those things go together--it's not jsut 527s in isolation it's what are you willing to do stand against corporate power and the corporate money influence in washington and what are you willing to do about special interest pacs and lobbyists and i've taken a step out and i've been nowin pbulic life for 10 eyars-- a little less than 10 years-- and all my entire public career iv'e done that 16:50:44 JT You talk about how the corruption and power of corporate america and washington has been around for decades. That its gotten worse under president bush you say. But its been around for decades. You are saying it was around and not enough was done during president clinton's -- bill clintons - presidency. ED - during republican and democratic administrations. Yes. JT -- what should bill clinton have done? ED -- here's the problem. The problem was not bill clinton. Bill clinton was a fine president. The problem is that we have a system that doesn't work. They have entirely too much influence. They influence everything that's happened. I've mentioned this earlier. We have been trying to get universal health care for decades. Not just when hilary clinton was the first lady. We've been trying to do it for 40 or 50 years now. And these entrenched interests have consistantly blocked it. And until we have a president who can take these people on and beat them, then we are not going to see the significant change that needs to occur in this country. We need to -- to answer your question, we need to publically finance campaigns. We need to stop the revolving door from government into lobbying and back . We need ethics reform. But the most important thing is to have a president who has some backbone and fight and will stand up to these people. 16:51:48 JT -- If you were a caucus goer obviously you would vote for yourself, but as you know in the iowa caucuses who somebody's second choice might be important. Who would your second choice be? 51:59 ED -- I am not touching that one. That's a good try though. JT -- You like how I made it about iowa. ED -- that was very skillful. 52:09 JT -- IF somebody comes in third here -- the democrat who comes in third here, should that democrat step out because this is a very intense three way race. ED-- I think there is no way to say that in advance. There's just too many factors. I mean it depends on how close it is. Theres no way to say that in advance. 52:26 JT --If it came down to ultimately Barack Obama vs Hillary Clinton, do you think one of them obviuosly you are not endorsing either one of them, but do you think one of them -- ED-- is this any different than your other question? JT-- The other one I included all the other presidential candidates. This one is just about obama vs clinton. In the other one you could have said kucinich. You worked out a deal with him in '04. Do you think obama vs clinton -- you must have an opinion which one of them could effect change more. Obviously you think you are the one who can do it the best. 52:55 ED -- I think I am the one who can bring about the change and I am going to let them duke it out amongst themselves. 53:00 JT -- Do you have an opinion? You don't have to tell me what it is. 53:05 ED -- well its obvious that one of them believes that change is necessary and the system doesn't work and the other defends the system. So I am in the camp of believing the system doesn't work but I also believe very strongly that you can't just negotiate your way through change you actually have to fight for it. 53:20 JT -- when senator clinton says she can have all of the troops out within a year as she has recently started to say -- out of iraq-- is she being straight with the american people. Is that really what she is proposing? ED -- I don't know. I don't know the answer to that. Its different than what I've heard her say in the past and the voters will have to judge whether she means it. JT -- Have you been to iraq? ED -- I have not. Why not? Can't get in. We've actually tried and tried vigorously to get into iraq -- and still trying. Not finished trying and I intend to go to iraq as the democratic nominee. I've been all around it. 16:53:57 JT -- I was there last year. Obviously there is more protection for you then for me. ED-- you think so? I think likely. I think not. Its very very difficult to get in unless you are member of a public body. As a US senator I'd have no trouble getting in. But its very difficult to get in right now. 16:54:17 JT -- I don't hear you talking as much about iraq on the stump these days as you have in the past. Why not? ED -- Because I think for a lot -- first I think there are differences. I would get all the troops out of iraq the first year. All of the combat troops out of iraq. End combat missions. No permanent military bases. That's a very strong position ive taken from the very outset. But I think for a lot of caucus goers and early primary voters they don't see huge differences between the candidates on iraq. I think the differences are important but in a limited amount of time you have to focus on the things people are focused on as voters. 16:54:50 JT you have said that everything that makes america america is being threatened. Yes. What do you mean. I mean the promise of this country. Giving our children a better life than we had which is at the heart of the promise of america is being threatened by corporate greed. And its infiltrated every part of what we need to do. Health care, the environment trade tax policy even the war and unless we have a president that is willing to change that we wont see big change in this country. 16:55:20 JT -- are you following the republican race at all? A little not very closely. Is there anything that you see there that has been interesting to you. Its been a very interesting race on both sides and I am sure that you are consumed with the democratic race. ED -- only that at least from a distance it appears that huckabees' sort of running away with iowa. So that race is a little less interesting I guess than it has been in the past. And beyond that I don't see much. 16:55:47 JT -- is hillary clinton electable. I don't know. You said in NH -- a voter said -- that he didn't think that clinton was and he said, it sounded like you agreed with that voter. 16:55:57 ED-- well I don't know that she's electable. If you look at all the public polling the most recent poll I saw a week or so ago showed that I was the one democrat that beat every republican in a general election match up so I am convinced because I won in a red state, I grew up in small town rural america that I can compete in places that other democrats have trouble competing. And so I know that I am the strongest general election candidate. Whether she can win or not I think is an unknown. 16:56:23 JT arguably you are more liberal than clinton and obama. Why would you be more electable just because you are culturally from the south? 56:34 ED-- No . Because the way I grew up, the things that I fought for my entire life, because I grew up in small town rural america -- which I think gives you are a naturally connection to those voters in those parts of the country, and those are the places that the democrats have the hardest time competing. And I would ad to that and I don't think -- you guys like to skip past it but I think its really important -- this message of stopping corporate greed and making the country work for everybody is one that goes across party lines. I don't think that its an accident that I am the democrat that beats all the republicans. 16:57:08 JT - you said that anybody who thinks you can negotiate with the insurance companies is living in never never land. Yes. So do you think that barak obama is living in never never land because he has . If he believes that yes. But it's a little hard for me to tell sometimes based on the way he talks, but have heard him say he would give the stake holders a seat at the table and I assume he means oil companies, insurance companies, drug companies and I just don't think you are ever going to see serious change if you do that. You have to be willing to fight for it. 16:57:35 your campaign is taking on a much more sunny demenour in the past few weeks. I'm a sunny guy. You are now. You are now. You were a little bit more aggressive earlier in the campaign. In the last month as you've built up to the closing arguments you've mellowed the rhetoric. That's intentional? ED-- the language hasn't mellowed. My fight is not with other candidates or with other politicians. My battle is with the entrenched interests that are keeping america from being what its capable of being. And on that front I am as aggressive and strong and passionate and speaking from inside as I can ever be and you can see it out here. 16:58:28 He said that it bothered him that you continued with your campaign eventhough elizabeth is sick and fighting cancer. Do you encounter a lot of that? And how is she doing? ED-- She and all three of my children just landed in iowa. I just talked to her literally two minutes before we started this interview. I was worried about them and wanted to be sure they got in in this weather. She's doing great. She's out doing her own townhalls today in iowa. She feels completely healthy symptom free. All the test results are extremely encouraging. I think her health is in a good place. And do you encounter a lot of people who say they think you shouldn't be campaiging? 16:59:07 Almost never. And I think the reason is they either see elizabeth with me or they know she is in the state at the same time and just to cut to the chase and get to the point you are trying to ask about, I told elizabeth when she was first rediagnosed in march that I would do anything. That I loved her. Been married to her for 30 years. I would do anything for her. And she is completely committed to this cause. This is the cause of our lives.

[EDWARDS EVENT AT RADISSON HOTEL] [NASHUA, NH USA] FTG FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FORMER SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC) AT EVENT AT THE RADISSON HOTEL IN NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE 01:00:47 Edwards pollers/volunteers around sitting around table. 01:01:24 Two female volunteers talking about Edwards' second place finish in Iowa. 01:01:59 Volunteers looking over phone lists 01:02:25 wideshot of Edwards volunteers around the room. 01:02:44 Intro speaker/close-up of Elizabeth Edwards Elizabeth Edwards 01:03:07 Thank you all for being here. what happened in Iowa, whats going to happen in NH, were taking back the gov. 01:03:37 this is a grass root movement. 01:03:59 John's like Seabiscuit. Wasn't supposed to be able to make it. it s a two person race. 01:04:24 because the power of the people, the people's voice is behind this campaign. 01:04:44 it doesn't happen without you. 01:04:52 (ENTER john Edwards) 01:05:04 Applause 01:05:09 intro to Edwards' children 01:05:24 were very proud to be here with all of you. i want to say a personal thank you, working so hard. 01:05:44 this is a grass roots campaign. this campaign is going to take back democracy for the American people. 01:06:03 the status quo is yesterday./thats what all of us are committed to. 01:06:21 its going to take a fight. all of those who stand in front of America. 01:06:41 ive been very proud of the fights that ive been in . 01:06:55 i just saw recently the drug companies give 70% of their money to republicans. 50% to democrats. 01:07:22 i've never taken a dime from a Washington lobbyists. and if were going to be tough on these people/willing to take them on. 01:08:04 a nominee who is going to standup to these interest. 01:08:18 applause 01:08:27 what happened in Iowa/ it would have been impossible to know that there were more than two canidates.two candidates that have raised over 2 dollars. 01:09:14 i will be here working my rear end off. Elizabeth and i will do anything we can possibly do. 01:09:41 corporate greed that is standing in Front of America. 01:09:58 how long are we going to let drug companies run this country? 01:10:29 17yr old girl needed a liver transplant. Elizabeth talked to her mom awhile ago./ it was too late, she died. its a horrible thing. its a specific example. 01:11:17 they have their hands in everything. 01:11:28 drug companies are preventing us from universal health care. 01:11:48 this battle is to make sure your voice is heard. 01:12:00 you are part of this movement. if we're willing to fight, and we reach out to the voters of NH and they hear what we are fighting for. 01:12:28 trying to make this government work for them. 01:12:45 NO Audio 01:13:22 we can make certain all the hard work of our parents, grandparents. lock arm in arm. glamour and glitz will not stop us. 01:13:54 we'll be able to look our children in the eye. 01:14:08 they have a better life than we had 01:14:24 bless you! thank you! 01:14:36 shaking hands with volunteers 01:14:51 taking pictures with supports 01:15:11 supporter asks about campaign finance reform 01:15:31 outside with Edwards 01:15:38 we are very happy to be back in NH. they are going to decide if we are going to have corporate rep for corp. democrats. 01:16:06 i finished ahead of Clinton, behind obama. 01:16:22 its a message that resinates. 01:16:39 lobbying firm, half are demo half are rep. 01:16:54 you cannot take these people's money and stand up for the American people. 01:17:11 im the underdog. there no question about that. 200 million dollars behind them. 01:17:32 we won over and over. im going to be here, im going to fighting. 01:17:53 the independent vote is going to be important. 01:18:05 message will resinate with independents. 01:18:21 end of feed.

[EDWARDS EVENT AT RADISSON HOTEL] [NASHUA, NH USA] FTG FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FORMER SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC) AT EVENT AT THE RADISSON HOTEL IN NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE 16:07:28 Edwards pollers/volunteers around sitting around table. 16:08:05 Two female volunteers talking about Edwards' second place finish in Iowa. 16:08:40 Volunteers looking over phone lists 16:09:06 wideshot of Edwards volunteers around the room. 16:09:25 Intro speaker/close-up of Elizabeth Edwards Elizabeth Edwards 16:09:48 Thank you all for being here. what happened in Iowa, whats going to happen in NH, were taking back the gov. 16:10:18 this is a grass root movement. 16:10:40 John's like Seabiscuit. Wasnt supposed to be able to make it. it s a two person race. 16:11:05 becasue the power of the people, the people's voice is behind this campaign. 16:11:25 it doensnt happen without you. 16:11:33 (ENTER john edwards) 16:11:45 Applause 16:11:50 intro to Edwards' children 16:12:05 were very proud to be here with all of you. i want to say a personal thank you, working so hard. 16:12:25 this is a grass roots campaign. this campaign is going to take back democracy for the american people. 16:12:44 the status quo is yesterday./thats what all of us are committed to. 16:13:02 its going to take a fight. all of those who stand infront of america. 16:13:22 ive been very proud of the fights that ive been in . 16:13:36 i just saw recently the drug companies give 70% of their money to republicans. 50% to democrats. 16:14:03 i've never taken a dime from a washington lobbiests. and if were going to be tough on these people/willing to take them on. 16:14:45 a nominee who is going to standup to these interest. 16:14:59 aplause 16:15:08 what happened in Iowa/ it would have been impossible to know that there were more than two canidates.two candiates that have raised over 2 dollars. 16:15:55 i will be here working my rear end off. elizabeth and i will do anything we can possibly do. 16:16:22 corporate greed that is standing infront of america. 16:16:39 how long are we going to let drug companies run this country? 16:17:10 17yr old girl needed a liver transplant. elizabeth talked to her mom awhile ago./ it was too late, she died. its a horrible thing. its a specific example. 16:17:58 they have their hands in everything. 16:18:09 drug companies are preventing us from universal health care. 16:18:29 this battle is to make sure your voice is heard. 16:18:41 you are part of this movement. if we're willing to fight, and we reach out to the voters of NH and they hear what we are fighting for. 16:19:09 trying to make this government work for them. 16:19:26 NO Audio 16:20:03 we can make certain all the hard work of our parents, grandparents. lock arm in arm. glammor and glitz will not stop us. 16:20:35 we'll be able to look our children in the eye. 16:20:49 they have a better life than we had 16:21:05 bless you! thank you! 16:21:17 shaking hands with volunteers 16:21:32 taking pictures with supports 16:21:52 supporter asks about campaign finance reform 16:22:12 outside with Edwards 16:22:19 we are very happy to be back in NH. they are going to decide if we are going to have corporate rep for corp. democrats. 16:22:47 i finshed ahead of clinton, behind obama. 16:23:03 its a message that resinates. 16:23:20 lobbying firm, half are demo half are rep. 16:23:35 you cannot take these people's money and stand up for the american people. 16:23:52 im the underdog. there no question about that. 200 million dollars behind them. 16:24:13 we won over and over. im going to be here, im going to fighting. 16:24:34 the independant vote is going to be important. 16:24:46 message will resinate with independents. 16:25:02 end of feed.