Transcript:
The Inside Story: USA Votes 2024: The Democratic National Convention
Episode 158 – August 22, 2024
Show Open:
Unidentified Narrator:
This week on The INSIDE STORY:
It’s official…
Democrats nominate Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as their candidates for November’s presidential election.
Join us in Chicago, where we’ll take you to the convention floor.
Where Democrats’ lay out their vision for beating Donald Trump and his vice-presidential pick, JD Vance.
Now on The Inside Story… USA VOTES 2024… The Democratic National Convention.
The Inside Story:
KATHERINE GYPSON, VOA Congressional Correspondent:
Hello and welcome to The Inside Story, I’m Katherine Gypson at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.
The convention began Monday, with current President Biden passing the torch, and ended Thursday night with the Democratic party putting Kamala Harris on a path that could end with her becoming the country’s first Female President.
Here she is in her own words.
Kamala Harris, Democratic Presidential Nominee:
On behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in The greatest nation on Earth. I accept your nomination.
And with this election, and with this election, our nation, our nation, with this election has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past, A chance to chart a new way forward, not as members of any one party or faction, but as Americans.
I know there are people of various political views watching tonight, and I want you to know I promise to be a president for all Americans, you can always trust me to put country above party and self.
I will be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations, a president who leads and listens, who is realistic, practical, and has common sense and always fights for the American people. From the courthouse to The White House, that has been my life’s work.
KATHERINE GYPSON:
And now for our deep dive this week into the Democratic National Convention. With Vice President Harris and Minnesota Governor Walz now officially atop the ticket, the party is seeing a major swing in enthusiasm from when President Joe Biden was the Democratic nominee.
VOA’s White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara tells us how the convention began.
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: E24 DNC Monday Wrap TV
HEADLINE: At Democratic National Convention, Biden endorses Harris, burnishes his legacy
TEASER:
PUBLISHED: 08/20/2024 at 6:40 am
BYLINE: Patsy Widakuswara
ASSIGNING EDITOR:
DATELINE: Chicago
CONTRIBUTORS: Paris Huang, Rafael Saakov
VIDEOGRAPHER: Enming Liu, Artem Kohan
PRODUCER: Jason – London
SCRIPT EDITORS: Mia Bush, Decherd
VIDEO SOURCE (S): AP, AFP, Reuters, Skype
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO _x_
TRT: 3:50
VID APPROVED BY: Williams, Decherd
TYPE: TV
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO: ))
[[A month after announcing that he will not seek reelection, President Joe Biden addressed the Democratic National Convention Monday evening. He sought to burnish his legacy and pass the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s new presidential nominee. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara reports from the DNC in Chicago, Illinois.]]
((Biden walking on stage, hugging Ashley, Reuters Edit No: 7893))
((NARRATOR))
Introduced by his daughter Ashley, President Joe Biden received a hero’s welcome.
UPSOUND: “Thank you, Joe! Thank you, Joe! Thank you, Joe!”
((Various crowd and Biden))
((NARRATOR))
At the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, he fulfilled his promise to be a transitional leader…
((President Joe Biden))
“Are you ready to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz?”
((Various crowd and Biden))
((NARRATOR))
… and gave his full support to Kamala Harris, the party’s new presidential nominee for the November election.
((President Joe Biden))
“She’ll be a president our children can look up to. She’ll be a president respected by world leaders because she already is. She’ll be a president we can all be proud of, and she will be a historic president who puts her stamp on America’s future.”
((Various crowd and Biden))
((NARRATOR))
Biden was unchallenged at the Democratic primaries. Just a month ago, the roughly 4,000 delegates here were set to nominate him. But Monday, he balanced support for Harris and his achievements in office.
((President Joe Biden))
“COVID no longer controls our lives. We’ve gone from economic crisis to the strongest economy in the entire world. Record 60 million new jobs. Record small-business growth. Record-high stock market, record-high 401(k)s, wages up, inflation down, way down and continuing to go down.”
((Biden and Trump June debate))
((NARRATOR))
It started with the debate against Republican nominee former President Trump in late June. Biden, who is 81, had such dismal performance that people questioned his mental acuity.
((Trump getting shot))
UPSOUND OF SHOTS
((NARRATOR))
Then, an assassination attempt on Trump that rallied Republicans and pushed him further ahead in the polls.
((Biden stepping out of car then giving thumbs up, AP 4506822))
((NARRATOR))
For weeks, Biden insisted he would remain in the race,
((GFX))
((NARRATOR))
even as party leaders privately asked him to step aside.
((Radio: Thomas Schwartz, presidential historian at Vanderbilt University, via Skype))
((https://app.frame.io/player/0a6830eb-933c-4203-8100-bddb7da9f1ea TC 2:46))
((Thomas Schwartz, Vanderbilt University))
“Joe Biden is a one-term president who was forced off the ticket by the leaders of the Democratic Party. Despite having won the nomination in the primaries, he’s now asked to make an enthusiastic endorsement of his vice president, Kamala Harris. It doesn’t take a Sigmund Freud to realize that he might be very conflicted about this.”
((Patsy stand up on the floor https://app.frame.io/player/9a25f752-7a8e-46b1-b924-1efc0114f1b7 TC 0:14)) ((Non stand-up version: various Biden))
((NARRATOR))
((Patsy Widakuswara, VOA News))
“If he’s conflicted, then Biden is not showing it at all, expressing strong support for Kamala Harris, and basking in the love and gratitude of his party. We spoke to some convention delegates here on the floor.”
((https://app.frame.io/player/ca163fac-efde-4d0a-b1e6-a58339bd5baf TC 0:17 == PLEASE CROP PARIS OUT OF THE SHOT))
((Julie Locke, Georgia Delegate))
“It was a beautiful speech. It was, it was a great speech, a culmination of years and years of service.”
((Jim Costa, California Delegate))
((https://app.frame.io/player/79d4d2be-3c7f-4406-8215-53e4e8365692 ))
“His legacy is strong and positive, and tonight, he told the American public why he loves them, and what he did for 50 years to serve our nation, and it’s an incredible record.”
((Various Trump rally, Reuters Edit No: 5884))
((NARRATOR))
This despite Trump trying to sow division among Democrats.
((Reuters Edit No: 5884))
((Donald Trump, Republican Presidential Nominee))
“They forced him (Joe Biden) out. It was a coup. We had a coup. That was the first coup in the history of our country.”
((Various crowd and Biden))
((NARRATOR))
Biden repeated Democrats’ theme of Harris, a former prosecutor, going against Trump, who has been found guilty in court.
((President Joe Biden))
“And crime will keep falling down when we put a prosecutor in the Oval Office instead of a convicted felon.”
((Biden and Harris hugging, surrounded by fam))
((NARRATOR))
Biden ended his speech with an embrace from Harris, cementing his role among Democrats as the leader who could possibly save the country again from Trump, this time by passing the torch.
((AFP V045_36EH3GL))
((Kamala Harris, Democratic Presidential Nominee))
“Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation and for all you will continue to do. We are forever grateful to you.”
((Biden and Harris and fam))
((NARRATOR))
((Patsy Widakuswara, VOA News, Chicago))
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: E24 0821 DNC WRAP
HEADLINE: Former president Obama rallies Democrats for Harris in Chicago
TEASER: Harris’s husband calls her a ‘joyful warrior’
PUBLISHED: 08/21/2024 at 2:17 am
BYLINE: Katherine Gypson
ASSIGNING EDITOR:
DATELINE: Chicago
CONTRIBUTORS:
VIDEOGRAPHER:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Stearns, Jepsen, Mia Bush
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Pool feed, VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO _x_
TRT: 3:07
VID APPROVED BY: wpm
TYPE: TV
EDITOR NOTES:
((INTRO:))
[[Former President Barack Obama addressed Democrats in his home city of Chicago Tuesday, saying Vice President Kamala Harris is the right choice to take on Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election this November. VOA’s congressional correspondent Katherine Gypson has more from the second night of the Democratic National Convention.]]
((NARRATOR))
((Obama walking on stage in ))
A hometown welcome at the Democratic National Convention for former President Barack Obama.
((Nat sound of crowd chanting “Yes she can” at 10:22 pm))
((Barack Obama, Former President))
((Barack Obama at 10:13))
“America is ready for a new chapter. America is ready for a better story. We are ready for a President Kamala Harris.”
((NARRATOR))
Obama drew a direct comparison between Harris and her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump.
((Barack Obama, Former President))
((Barack Obama at 10:16))
“Kamala Harris won’t be focused on her problems. She’ll be focused on yours. As president, she won’t just cater to her own supporters and punish those who refuse to kiss the ring or bend the knee. She’ll work on behalf of every American — that’s who Kamala is.”
((NARRATOR))
((Michelle Obama walking onstage))
Obama was introduced by his wife, Michelle, who said Harris’ shortened campaign season should encourage Democrats to work even harder to elect her.
((Michelle Obama, Former First Lady))
“We cannot indulge our anxieties about whether this country will elect someone like Kamala, instead of doing everything we can to get someone like Kamala elected.”
((NARRATOR))
Although Democrats already formalized their nomination process earlier this month, a ceremonial roll call of states….
((Nat sound of Alabama delegates nominating “The first black woman.”))
((NARRATOR))
…showed the enthusiasm of Democrats for their new nominee.
((Nat sound of New Hampshire delegates nominating “The first South Asian president.))
((NARRATOR))
Harris thanked delegates remotely from her rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
((Nat sound of Harris thanking delegates.))
((NARRATOR))
Democrats also heard from Harris’ husband, who called his wife a joyful warrior.
((Doug Emhoff, Second Gentleman))
((Emoff SOT))
“She’ll lead from the belief that wherever we come from, whatever we look like, we’re strongest when we fight for what we believe in, not just against what we fear.”
((NARRATOR))
The second night of the convention also featured former members of the Trump administration and Republican officials who have endorsed Harris.
((Radio version: John Giles is the Republican mayor of Mesa, Arizona))
((John Giles, Republican Mayor))
((Giles SOT))
“Trump made a lot of lofty promises: unlimited economic growth, American manufacturing reborn, a secure border. Turns out Donald Trump was all talk.”
((NARRATOR))
((GYPSON ON CAMERA STANDUP))
On Wednesday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will address delegates here in Chicago, formally accepting the party’s nomination as vice president.
((Katherine Gypson, VOA News, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago))
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: E24 0822 DNC Wrap
HEADLINE: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz accepts Democratic Party VP nomination
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: 08/22/2024 at 3:55 am
BYLINE: Kane Farabaugh
CONTRIBUTOR:
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Stearns
DATELINE: Chicago
VIDEOGRAPHER: AP, Feed Video
PRODUCER: Godman
SCRIPT EDITORS: Stearns, Jepsen, Mia Bush
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, wires
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 3”40
VID APPROVED BY: Decherd
TYPE:
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[Minnesota Governor Tim Walz accepted his party’s nomination as vice president during the third day of the Democratic National Convention. VOA Midwest Correspondent Kane Farabaugh has more from Chicago.]]
((NARRATOR)) ((Wide video of convention United Center, video of crowds))
Opening the third day of Democrats’ national convention in Chicago, U.S. Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey outlined the night’s theme.
((Sen. Cory Booker, New Jersey)) ((about 5:15PM CST))
“Welcome to night three, and tonight is about freedom.”
((NARRATOR)) ((show video here from around 6PM CST – 7PM CST showing video of the speakers including Bexar County sheriff Javier Salizar))
While some of the programming provided speakers opportunities to address topics including reproductive rights, environmental issues and border security, much of the messaging focused on what Democrats say is the choice in the November election.
((Former President Bill Clinton)) ((8:28PM CST))
“Kamala Harris for the people … and the other guy who’s proved even more than the first go around, that he’s about me, myself and I.”
((NARRATOR)) ((use video here of Clinton speaking and crowd reactions))
Former President Bill Clinton was one of the most anticipated speakers of the evening. Clinton, who has attended every convention for Democrats since 1972, drew from his own experience in the White House to explain why he believes Vice President Kamala Harris is the best choice for president.
((Former President Bill Clinton)) ((About 8:30PM CST))
“Kamala Harris will work to solve our problems, seize our opportunities, ease our fears and make sure every single American, however they vote, has a chance to chase their dreams.”
((NARRATOR)) ((use video here of introduction to and Walz walking on to stage around 10:21 PM CST ))
((NARRATOR))
But the key moment for Democrats was hearing from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who accepted his party’s nomination as vice president.
((Tim Walz, Vice Presidential Nominee)) ((10:23PM CST))
“It’s the honor of my life to accept your nomination for vice president of the United States.”
((NARRATOR)) ((Video of Walz and crowd reactions))
For many in the crowd, and those watching the convention around the country, Walz’s speech was a sort of introduction.
((Tim Walz, Vice Presidential Nominee)) ((10:24PM CST))
“I grew up in Butte, Nebraska, a town of 400 people. I had 24 kids in my high school class, and none of them went to Yale. But I’ll tell you what, growing up in a small town like that, you’ll learn how to take care of each other.”
((NARRATOR)) ((Video of Walz’s football teams on stage before speech around 10:15PM CST, then the produced video of him of pictures in uniform, video teaching, pics of football teams, pics and videos of him in Congress talking to farmers, shooting a rifle etc. this is all around 10:17-10:21PM CST))
Walz, a military veteran, former teacher and American high school football and basketball coach, highlighted how these parts of his personal biography prepared him for a life in politics.
((Tim Walz, Vice Presidential Nominee)) ((10:26PM CST))
“It was those players and my students who inspired me to run for Congress. They saw in me what I had hoped to instill in them, a commitment to the common good, an understanding that we’re all in this together, and the belief that a single person can make a real difference for their neighbors.”
((NARRATOR))
As the final speaker, Walz punctuated the “freedom” theme of the night.
((Tim Walz, Vice Presidential Nominee)) ((10:30PM CST))
“But when we Democrats talk about freedom, we mean the freedom to make a better life for yourself and the people that you love. Freedom to make your own health care decisions and, yeah, your kids’ freedom to go to school. without worrying about being shot dead in the hall.”
((NATURAL SOUND OF CLAPPING))
((Kane Farabaugh, VOA News)) ((On Camera))
Democrats wrap up this convention on Thursday evening with the marquee moment: the acceptance speech of the party’s nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris.
((Kane Farabaugh, VOA News, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago))
KATHERINE GYPSONL
“It’s the economy, stupid.” That’s the famous saying coined by former Democratic strategist Jim Carville as a messaging plan for Bill Clinton’s campaign workers. Clinton went on to beat incumbent George H. W. Bush for the White House in 1992.
Today, the economy remains an outsized elephant in the room for any political campaign.
Harris and Trump both recently laid out their visions for the economy. Promising to rein-in inflation and slash federal taxes on tipped income. Both ideas are popular with voters, but experts say they’re not so easy to implement.
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: E24 0817 Harris Trump Economy
HEADLINE: Harris, Trump, duel on inflation, taxes
TEASER: U.S. presidential candidates present economic visions to voters
PUBLISHED: 08/16/2024 at 4p
BYLINE: Patsy Widakuswara
ASSIGNING EDITOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Baragona, DJ (ok), Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE (S): AP, AFP, Reuters, Zoom
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO _x_
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TV
EDITOR NOTES: There is a web.))
((INTRO: ))
[[U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump laid out their economic visions for the country this week, promising to rein in inflation and slash federal taxes on workers’ tips. While both ideas are popular with voters ahead of the November presidential election, experts say they are not so easy to implement. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara has this report.]]
((NARRATOR))
If there’s one issue that unites American voters, both Democrats and Republicans, it’s this.
((James Russell, Virginia Voter))
“I just see prices keep increasing by 25 cents, and 50 cents. And nothing’s really easy anymore on your pocket.”
((NARRATOR))
Ahead of the November election, the two rivals, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, are focusing on inflation.
((Kamala Harris, Democratic Presidential Nominee))
“When I am elected president, I will make it a top priority to bring down costs and increase economic security for all Americans.”
((Donald Trump, Republican Presidential Nominee))
“Does anyone here feel richer under Kamala Harris and Crooked Joe than you were during the Trump administration? Is anything less expensive under Kamala Harris and Crooked Joe?”
((NARRATOR))
Calling for a federal ban on corporate price-gouging, Harris specifically called out the meat-processing industry.
((Various oil and gas industry, AFP V000_1QT76C))
((NARRATOR))
While Trump said he would fight rising prices by boosting oil and gas production.
((Radio: Andrew Lautz, Associate Director for the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Economic Policy Program, via Zoom))
((Andrew Lautz, Bipartisan Policy Center)) ((Zoom))
“It is highly unlikely that any single policy introduced by a president could have a significant enough impact to bring inflation down from its current level to the Federal Reserve’s long-term target for the economy, which is 2%.”
((NARRATOR))
Last month, U.S. year-over-year inflation dipped under 3 percent for the first time since March 2021, although Americans are still feeling the pain. Retail sales figures are upbeat,
((NARRATOR))
unemployment is low,
((NARRATOR))
and most economists no longer warn of recession.
((NARRATOR))
Still, the overall health of the economy remains a key concern for voters, and a point of attack on the campaign trail.
((Donald Trump, Republican Presidential Nominee))
“We’re not going to let this incompetent socialist lunatic keep breaking our economy for four more years. It’ll destroy our country.”
((Kamala Harris, Democratic Presidential Nominee))
“Compare my plan with what Donald Trump intends to do. He plans to give billionaires massive tax cuts year after year, and he plans to cut corporate taxes by over a trillion dollars.”
((NARRATOR))
Both candidates have also promised to slash federal taxes on tips received by workers in the service and hospitality industry.
((NARRATOR))
Critics say that proposal won’t help fast food servers or other low-income workers who don’t get tips, and that it’s costly and vulnerable to abuse.
((Radio: Steven Rosenthal, senior fellow at the Tax Policy Center, via Zoom))
((Steven Rosenthal, Tax Policy Center)) ((Zoom))
“How can we be sure that it’s deserving working people, as opposed to opening the door to a whole bunch of other people who might treat their bonuses and performance fees like tips and exempt themselves?”
((NARRATOR))
Trump previously led President Joe Biden in voter polls on economic issues.
((NARRATOR))
Now at least one poll shows voters trust the candidates almost equally, with 42% supporting Harris and 41% Trump.
Patsy Widakuswara, VOA News, Washington.
KATHERINE GYPSON:
Most states are solidly blue or red… Democrat or Republican. But some are known as “swing states” that could go to either party.
These are the battlegrounds where elections are ultimately lost or won.
VOA’s Midwestern Correspondent Kane Farabaugh examines what’s motivating voters in the swing state of Wisconsin as the campaigns heat up.
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: E24 0815 WISCONSIN SWING STATE
HEADLINE: Economy a key issue for voters in Wisconsin
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: August 14, 2024, 4p
BYLINE: Kane Farabaugh
CONTRIBUTOR:
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Scott Stearns
DATELINE: Madison, Wisconsin
VIDEOGRAPHER: Kane Farabaugh
PRODUCER: Kane Farabaugh
SCRIPT EDITORS: Baragona, MAS, sverma approved
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Reuters, AP
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __
TRT: 2:56
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVR
EDITOR NOTES:
((INTRO))
Wisconsin is one of three states in the Midwest both Republicans and Democrats view as critical to their presidential campaigns. VOA’s Midwest Correspondent Kane Farabaugh looks at what’s motivating voters as campaigning in the state ramps up.
((NARRATOR))
When VOA met Wisconsin restaurant owner Gonzalo Perez in 2017, he expected a big boost in business.
((Gonzalo Perez, Restaurant Owner)) ((chyron, 2017))
“It’s my lottery ticket.”
((NARRATOR))
That’s because Taiwanese company Foxconn planned to build a massive flat screen manufacturing facility not far away, employing as many as 13,000 workers Perez thought might frequent his restaurant. But Perez’s dreams, and FoxConn’s plans, didn’t meet reality. Today, FoxConn’s scaled-back southern Wisconsin facility employs fewer than 1,000 people.
((Gonzalo Perez, Restaurant Owner))
“The promise never was done.”
((NARRATOR))
Instead of a busy restaurant filled with customers, Perez is dealing with empty tables, staff shortages, and rising costs due to inflation.
((Gonzalo Perez, Restaurant Owner))
“The economy is really bad for us.”
((Bob Wittke, Wisconsin State Representative))
13:03:52 “I think that the real key when people go to vote in many cases is, how do I deal with rising costs?”
((NARRATOR))
Bob Wittke is a Republican representative in Wisconsin’s state assembly whose current district is near both Perez’s restaurant and the FoxConn facility. While the economy is a top issue for voters, he hears even more frustration with what they see as a lack of bipartisan cooperation among lawmakers.
((Bob Wittke, Wisconsin State Representative))
“That we don’t work together. I hear from both parties. We’re not getting anything done.”
((NARRATOR))
Nick Ramos is the executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, which he says is a bipartisan organization dedicated to “good government” in Wisconsin. The organization recently participated in a successful effort to change state legislative district maps in Wisconsin. Voters he talks to express concern about the future of U.S. democracy.
((Nick Ramos, Wisconsin Democracy Campaign))
“My hope is that no matter who ends up taking the Oval Office, it will be somebody that actually engages the people, and actually wants to try and do everything to not only safeguard Democracy but find ways to make it better.”
((Kane Farabaugh, VOA Midwest Correspondent))
“Wisconsin is a state as divided as any in the country, but what both Democrats and Republicans here can agree on is that succeeding in the presidential election in this state in November depends on how well they can get their voters to turn out.”
((Kamala Harris, Democratic Presidential Nominee))
“So Wisconsin, today I ask you, are you ready to get to work?”
((NARRATOR))
Recent polling in Wisconsin indicates Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris has a narrow lead over Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump.
((Donald Trump, Republican Presidential Nominee))
“A vote for Trump is a vote to save Wisconsin and is a vote to save your country.”
((NARRATOR))
Restaurant owner Gonzalo Perez hasn’t attended political events and hasn’t met either candidate.
((Gonzalo Perez, Restaurant Owner))
“Lifestyle never changes, it doesn’t matter who gets in. I go to keep working 7 days a week, same schedule, I pay taxes regular(ly), I don’t see (any) benefit.”
((NARRATOR))
Perez says one thing above all will determine how he’ll make his decision.
((Gonzalo Perez, Restaurant Owner))
“Sometimes I vote for whoever is going to be a change.”
((NARRATOR))
Kane Farabaugh, VOA News, Madison, Wisconsin.
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: E24 0818 US Pennsylvania Swing County
HEADLINE: County in US state of Pennsylvania has uncanny ability to choose presidents
TEASER:
PUBLISHED: 08/17/2024 at 11:10 a.m.
BYLINE: Steve Herman
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Northampton County, Pennsylvania
VIDEOGRAPHER:
VIDEO EDITOR:
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Stearns
SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, DJ (ok), Mia Bush
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 3:17
VID APPROVED BY: SB
TYPE: TVR
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[ The voters of Northampton County in the critical swing state of Pennsylvania have chosen the victor of all but three U.S. presidential elections since 1920. VOA’s chief national correspondent Steve Herman looks at how things are shaping up for Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump in this bellwether county. ]]
((NARRATOR))
((NAT SOT- Blacksmith hammering))
Northampton County, Pennsylvania, has often found itself at the core of the United States’ industrial revolutions — and its political evolutions.
((NAT SOT- Traffic))
Its city of Easton was one of the three places where the Declaration of Independence was first read to the public.
Bethlehem, once synonymous with industrial might,
((NAT SOT- Music))
…is now a tourist destination, with such events as Musikfest, which drew more than 1 million attendees this year. [[source: https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/musikfest-2024-bethlehem-breaks-records-pennsylvania/]]
((NARRATOR))
It’s a much more uplifting tune for the city and its voters following the blues of two decades ago, when former industrial titan Bethlehem Steel was dissolved and sold.
((Radio: Samuel Chen is a Republican strategist with The Liddell Group.))
((Samuel Chen, Republican Strategist))
“China’s in the steel business now, and they want to know, what are these candidates going to do to bring those jobs back or to rebuild America?” [[:08]]
((NARRATOR))
Northampton County has the uncanny ability to select the winners of presidential elections, having chosen all but three since 1920.
((radio: Christopher Borick is a political science professor at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania))
((Christopher Borick, Muhlenberg College))
“What really makes it, I think, magical, in its ability to predict what happens in the state and nationally is its mix.”
((NARRATOR))
In that mix — farmers, suburbanites, new residents from New York and Philadelphia, and a growing Hispanic population.
((Samuel Chen, Republican Strategist))
“The hard-core Republicans and the hard-core Democrats, they’re so even in their numbers — the Democrats have a little bit of an edge there — that small percentage of people who are willing to swing are going to decide that election time and time and time again.”
((Steve Herman, VOA News))
And that is why this is known as Swing County, USA – where there’s still a significant percentage of voters who split their ballots between parties and prioritize issues over personalities.
((Rachel Lowell, Northampton County voter))
“Being the president is a job. And so we care more about, ‘Is the job going to get done?’”
((NARRATOR))
That’s Rachel Lowell, a new mother, concerned about women’s rights and environmental policies.
Mick O’Hearn sees the majority of the county supporting the Democrats for a second consecutive presidential election.
((Mick O’Hearn, Northampton County voter))
“From talking to people who I know voted for Trump in the last election, they’re not going to vote for him this time around because they’re saying that they’re kind of tired of it.”
((NARRATOR))
Democratic Party nominee Kamala Harris is not going to get Wayne Jones’ vote because, he says, former President Donald Trump is tougher on stopping illegal migration.
((Wayne Jones, Northampton County voter))
“If I had to choose right now, Trump hands down. I mean, letting all these people cross the border?”
((NARRATOR))
The county’s voters take seriously their pivotal role in picking presidents, but that blessing can be a curse, according to Professor Borick.
((Christopher Borick, Muhlenberg College))
“I live in Northampton County – the mailings I get or when I turn on the TV, the amount of ads is omnipresent. // It’s beautiful to be wanted, but sometimes the attention can be overwhelming.”
((NARRATOR))
With Northampton County on a red-hot streak as the nation’s political bellwether,
((NAT SOT- Blacksmith hammering))
…the Trump and Harris campaigns will keep hammering away here until Election Day.
((NAT SOT- Music))
Steve Herman, VOA News, Northampton County, Pennsylvania))
KATHERINE GYPSON:
Before we leave you this week, we wanted to take a moment to remember John Lansing. Lansing served as chief executive of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, of which VOA is a part.
Current CEO Amanda Bennet called Lansing “a relentless advocate for press freedom, journalist safety, and connecting people around the world in support of freedom and democracy.”
Lansing died last week at his lakeside home in Wisconsin. He was 67.
That’s all for now. Thanks for watching.
For the latest news you can log on to VOA news dot com. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at VOA News.
To get all the latest political news, follow me on X at XXX. Catch up on past episodes at our free streaming service, VOA Plus.
I’m Katherine Gypson. We will see you next week, for The Inside Story.
####
