CLOSE UP. IOWA DEMOCRATIC CHAIR RITA HART ON STATE HOUSE ATTEMPTS TO OUTLAW A MAIL IN CAUCUS. WHAT THAT COULD DO TO HER PARTY’S CHANCES TO REMAIN FIRST IN THE NATION. AND HEAR FROM IOWA GOP CHAIRMAN JEFF KAUFMANN. WHY HE BELIEVES THE DEMOCRATS MAIL IN BALLOT PLAN COULD ACTUALLY KILL IOWA’S FIRST IN THE NATION STATUS FOR NOT JUST THE DEMOCRATS, BUT FOR THE REPUBLICANS. ALSO, THIS IS IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. THIS IS KCCI 8 NEWS CLOSE UP. GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO CLOSE UP. I’M CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER AMANDA RUCKER. AND I’M CHIEF INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER JAMES STRATTON. THANKS FOR JOINING US ON A SUNDAY MORNING. LAST MAY, THE IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO KEEP ITS FIRST IN THE NATION CAUCUS BY MAILING OUT PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE CARDS TO EVERY REGISTERED DEMOCRAT. BUT IOWA HOUSE REPUBLICANS INTRODUCED A BILL TO BAN MAIL IN CAUCUSING. THAT BILL WOULD ALSO REQUIRE IOWANS TO DECLARE THEIR PARTY SEVEN DAYS BEFORE THE CAUCUS. THE BILL COMES AS NEW HAMPSHIRE OFFICIALS WARN THEIR STATE WILL JUMP IOWA IF MAIL IN OR ABSENTEE BALLOTS ARE USED. NEW HAMPSHIRE VIEWS ANY MAIL IN USE AS A PRIMARY NOT A CAUCUS. I SAT DOWN WITH IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR RITA HART TO TALK ABOUT NEW HAMPSHIRE STANCE AND DEMOCRATS CAUCUS PLANS. SHE ALSO TELLS ME WHY SHE FEELS THERE’S STILL A CHANCE FOR IOWA DEMOCRATS TO STAY FIRST IN THE NATION. BACK IN FEBRUARY, THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE APPROVED A NEW PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATING CALENDAR, STARTING WITH SOUTH CAROLINA KNOCKING IOWA OUT OF ITS LONG HELD FIRST IN THE NATION SPOT. FLASH FORWARD NOW, THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE WANTS IOWA DEMOCRATS TO GO ON OR AFTER SUPER TUESDAY. BUT OUR LAW SAYS THAT IOWA HAS TO HOLD CAUCUSES FIRST IN THE NATION. WHAT ARE IOWA DEMOCRATS GOING TO DO? YEAH, IT’S GOING TO BE A PROCESS THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE DECIDED FOR A LITTLE BIT, EVEN THOUGH THEY TOOK THAT VOTE AND MADE THAT DECISION ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE OF THINGS. THE REALITY IS THAT THERE IS A COUPLE STATES THAT CAN’T MAKE THAT HAPPEN. AND SO THEY’VE BEEN APPROVED ON A PROVISIONAL BASIS. AS I’VE BEEN SAYING FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW, THIS IS A THIS IS A NOT A DONE DEAL WHERE WE’RE STILL WAITING AND WORKING THROUGH THIS. AND WE’LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. A LOT OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF IOWA SEE IT AS A DONE DEAL. IS IT BECAUSE OF GEORGIA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE THAT YOU VIEW IT AS NOT A DONE DEAL? CORRECT. YEAH. I MEAN, BOTH OF THOSE STATES HAVE HAVE SOME ISSUES TO WORK THROUGH. RIGHT. AND SO WE’RE GOING TO WORK AND THEY’VE THEY’VE BEEN GRANTED A AN EXTENSION. BUT WE’LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WHETHER THEY CAN THEY CAN MAKE THE THINGS HAPPEN THAT WILL FINALIZE THIS CALENDAR. AND SO WE’LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE ARE WONDERING WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. WHAT DO YOU GAIN BY WAITING TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHAT TO DO? WELL, I THINK THERE’S PLENTY OF THINGS THAT WE’RE THAT WE’RE DOING IN THE MEANTIME. YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT REGARDLESS OF THE TIMING OF THE REST OF THE DATES THAT WE’RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD ON A PROCESS THAT WE’RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT. AND WE’RE ALSO WORKING ON A PROCESS THAT IS GOING TO THAT IS GOING TO OPEN THIS PROCESS UP TO MORE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE BY BECAUSE THEY HAVE THIRD SHIFT JOBS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE SMALL CHILDREN, BECAUSE THEY’RE ELDERLY OR ARE DISABLED. AND SO TO HAVE THIS MAIL IN PROCESS THAT IS MORE INCLUSIVE AND AND IS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE, WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND WE’RE MOVING FORWARD AND MAKING IT MAKING THE PLANS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, ON JUNE 3RD, LET’S SAY GEORGIA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE DON’T END UP IN THAT EARLY WINDOW. BUT THE DNC SAYS WE’RE NOT MAKING ANY EXCEPTIONS FOR IOWA. YOU STILL HAVE TO GO ON OR AFTER SUPER TUESDAY. IOWA DEMOCRATS HAVE EXPRESSED PREVIOUSLY THAT YOU PLAN TO FOLLOW STATE LAW AND GO FIRST. IS THAT STILL YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS? YEAH, AGAIN, I MEAN, WE’RE WE’RE WE’RE THAT’S I GUESS WHY IT’S GOOD TO TAKE THIS WAIT AND SEE APPROACH BECAUSE AS THINGS CAN CHANGE AND THAT’S WHY I KEEP SAYING IT’S NOT A DONE DEAL. IT’S A LONG HELD TRADITION THAT OF COURSE, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT. BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THAT WE’VE GOT TO TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME, GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS TOGETHER AND MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS BASED ON OUR REALITY. NOW, HAVE YOU TALKED TO IOWA REPUBLICANS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF KEEPING THE CAUCUSES ON THE SAME DAY? WHAT HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS LOOKED LIKE FOR YOU? WELL, I HAVEN’T HAD TOO MANY CONVERSATIONS, BUT REMEMBER THAT I’VE ONLY BEEN ON THIS JOB FOR A LITTLE OVER TWO MONTHS. AND THESE PLANS HAVE BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A YEAR. AND AND PEOPLE OTHER THAN I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR PROBABLY TWO YEARS TIME. SO I HAVEN’T HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS. BUT ABSOLUTELY, I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO WORK TOGETHER AND HAVE THOSE CAUCUSES ON THE SAME DATES. I THINK THAT’S VERY IMPORTANT AND IT’S ONE OF THOSE MOVING PIECES COULD POTENTIALLY BE IMPACTED BY THIS NEW BILL THAT HOUSE REPUBLICAN HAS MOVED OUT OF THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE. THAT BILL WOULD BAN ANY TYPE OF MAIL IN CAUCUS PROCESS. THAT COMING AFTER LAST MAY. IOWA DEMOCRATS PITCHED A VERY DIFFERENT CAUCUS PROCESS WHERE PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE CARDS WOULD BE MAILED OUT. PEOPLE COULD MAIL THEM BACK, THEY COULD DROP THEM OFF. WHAT IMPACT WOULD THAT LEGISLATION HAVE? I WAS VERY SURPRISED WHEN THAT LEGISLATION WAS DROPPED AND THAT DOES THAT THE POSSIBILITY THAT THAT LEGISLATION COULD GET PASSED WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON US. SO SO I’M DISAPPOINTED THAT WE DIDN’T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THAT THEY DIDN’T GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THEM AND AND DO WHAT’S BEST AGAIN, FOR IOWA. AS FAR AS NEW HAMPSHIRE’S CONCERNED, YOU KNOW, I’M VERY CONVINCED THAT NEW HAMPSHIRE IS GOING TO DO WHAT’S BEST FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE. I DON’T EXPECT TO TO LET WHAT ANOTHER STATE HAS TO SAY INFLUENCE WHAT’S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING HERE IN IOWA. WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE TO PEOPLE WHO SAY AND NEW HAMPSHIRE WHO SAYS THIS ISN’T ABOUT WHAT WE WANT OR DON’T WANT TO DO, BUT IN OUR CONSTITUTION, IF THERE IS A CAUCUS THAT LOOKS LIKE A PRIMARY, WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO JUMP IOWA. AND THEIR PERSPECTIVE BEING THAT A CAUCUS IS AN IN-PERSON DISCUSSION. AND THAT’S WHAT SEPARATES IT FROM A PRIMARY. WELL, LET’S BE CLEAR. WE ARE HAVING A CAUCUS. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET TOGETHER AND WE’RE GOING TO KEEP THE SPIRIT OF THAT CAUCUS ALIVE. AND REALLY, WHAT WE’RE DOING IS NO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE WHAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN DOING FOR FOR A LONG TIME. RIGHT. IS JUST ADDING THIS EXTRA ELEMENT OF BEING ABLE IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND THE CAUCUS IN PERSON, THAT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. THIS IS JUST A WAY FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE ARE DOING THE THINGS THAT WE’VE BEEN CRITICIZED FOR. RIGHT. THAT IT’S NOT INCLUSIVE ENOUGH. SO WE’RE TAKING THAT VERY SERIOUSLY. AND I THINK IT’S A IT’S A IT’S A REALLY POSITIVE THING TO CHANGE THIS PROCESS IN THIS WAY. STILL TO COME ON CLOSE UP, I ASKED HER HOW THE DEMOCRATS MAIL IN CAUCUS PLAN WOULD WORK AND ON THE FUTURE OF HER PARTY, SHE LAYS OUT HER GAME PLAN TO WIN OVER IOWANS AFTER A TOUGH ELECTION CYCLE FOR DEMOCRATS AND WHY WOULD GOP CHAIR JEFF KAUFMANN SAYS THE DEMOCRATS PLAN WOULD PUT THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS IN JEOPARDY. WELCOME BACK TO CLOSE-UP. WE HEARD FROM CHAIRPERSON HART ABOUT THE BATTLE BREWING BETWEEN IOWA DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS AND NEW HAMPSHIRE OVER THEIR MAIL IN CAUCUS PLAN. I ASKED HER HOW THAT MAIL IN PROCESS WILL WORK AND HOW LONG IOWA DEMOCRATS CAN WAIT BEFORE ANNOUNCING THEIR CAUCUS PLANS. WILL THERE BE STILL AN IN-PERSON COMPONENT OF OF PEOPLE GETTING TOGETHER? SO HOW DO YOU. WILL IT BE THAT EVERYONE IS MAILED OUT A PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE CARD AND THEY COME AND DROP IT OFF IN PERSON? OR IS THERE STILL GOING TO BE AN IN-PERSON DISCUSSION WHERE PEOPLE WHO CAN’T ATTEND HAVE THE OPTION OF MAILING IT? SO THERE WILL DEFINITELY BE A CAUCUS, RIGHT? THERE WILL DEFINITELY PEOPLE GATHERING TO HAVE THESE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS. NOW, THE DETAILS ON THE PRESIDENTIAL SELECTION SELECTION CARD, THAT’S WHAT’S IN PROCESS YET. AND AND THAT’S WHY WE’RE ASKING BECAUSE IN LIGHT OF ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THIS LEGISLATION, WHY WE’RE ASKING FOR A BIT MORE TIME TO SORT OUT THE DETAILS. THE DETAILS WOULD BE HOW MUCH MAIL IN, WHETHER IT’S IN ALL MAIL IN OR WHETHER IT’S A MAIL IN OPTION AND THE DATES AND AND AND JUST THE PROCESS IN GENERAL, RIGHT. YEAH. THE OTHER QUESTION, TOO, IS, WITH ALL OF THIS IN FLUX. USUALLY IT TAKES A YEAR TO PLAN AND BE ABLE TO GET ALL OF THE PIECES READY, ESPECIALLY WITH HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY AFTER 2020. NOT KNOWING NECESSARILY OR HAVING A HARD KNOWLEDGE OF WHEN THE CAUCUS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND WHAT IT’S GOING TO LOOK LIKE UNTIL JUNE. HOW DOES THAT IMPACT HAVING ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE EFFORT AND THE STRUCTURE READY IN TIME? SO IT’S CERTAINLY NOT IDEAL AND THAT’S UNFORTUNATE, BUT WE’VE TAKEN ALL THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND WE’RE MOVING FORWARD. WE’RE ACTUALLY WORKING WITH WITH A VENDOR TO PROVIDE TO PROVIDE THIS THIS MAIL IN OPPORTUNITY SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE ON THIS. YOU KNOW, OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE GOING TO WORK VERY HARD IN LOTS OF OTHER WAYS. WE DON’T WANT TO PUT TOO MUCH ON THEM. AND YES, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT’S ACCESSIBLE, THAT IT’S ACCURATE, AND THAT IT’S TRANSPARENT. NOW, YOU ASKED IN A LETTER THE DNC FOR AN EXTENSION UNTIL JUNE 3RD, HAVE YOU HEARD BACK FROM THEM? NO, I HAVEN’T HEARD ANYTHING YET. SO WE’LL SEE. AND I KNOW IN THAT LETTER YOU ALSO MENTIONED THAT THAT DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUM STANCES, IOWA DEMOCRATS MAY BE ASKING FOR MORE TIME. COULD WE DO YOU FORESEE THAT WE MAY NOT KNOW THE DELEGATE SELECTION PLAN UNTIL AFTER JUNE 3RD? WELL, LET’S HOPE NOT. RIGHT. LET’S HOPE THAT WE CAN COME TO SOME RESOLUTIONS HERE THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND AND, YOU KNOW, PUT THIS TO REST SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. NOW, CHANGING GEARS HERE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU BEING THE RECENTLY ELECTED NEW CHAIR OF THE IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY. HOW DOES THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY START WINNING ELECTIONS IN IOWA AGAIN? WHAT’S YOUR GAME PLAN? YEAH, THAT’S A BIG QUESTION. RIGHT. AND IT’S ONE I THINK ALL OF US THINK ABOUT BECAUSE WE DID HAVE A TOUGH NOVEMBER. WE HAVE HAD A TOUGH WE’RE JUST COMING OFF A VERY TOUGH CYCLE. AND I THINK IT IS TIME TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AND I THINK MYSELF AS A VOTER AND AS A DEMOCRAT WHO IS NOT HAPPY WITH THE KINDS OF LEGISLATION THAT WE’RE SEEING HERE AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT ARE REALLY IMPACTING IOWA, THAT WE’RE VERY INTERESTED IN GETTING THAT TURNED AROUND. WE WE’RE FOCUSED IN ON MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE IN A GOOD PLACE SO THAT WE HAVE A BETTER NEXT ELECTION CYCLE. IN ADDITION, I’M WORKING WITH FOLKS ON ON HOW TO EMPOWER OUR COUNTY PARTIES. I THINK THAT’S REALLY CRUCIAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE’RE LOOKING AT HOW MUCH BETTER WE HAVE TO DO IN THESE RURAL COUNTIES IN IOWA AND THE FACT THAT WE WE’VE BEEN LOSING THEM AT, YOU KNOW, TOO HIGH A LEVEL THAT WE’VE THAT WE’VE GOT TO APPEAL TO RURAL VOTERS AND FIGURE OUT WHY WE WHY WE LOST SOME RURAL VOTERS AND START WINNING THEM BACK. AND I THINK THAT’S ONE REASON WHY PEOPLE ARE VERY ENCOURAGED OF ME TO RUN FOR THIS OFFICE, BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE THAT HAVING A PERSON WHO IS A AN ACTIVE FARMER WHO LIVES IN A RURAL DISTRICT WHO, YOU KNOW, I LIVE ON ON A FARM THAT’S FOUR AND A HALF MILES FROM THE CLOSEST TOWN. I LIVE IN A COUNTY THAT VOTED FOR BARACK OBAMA TWICE AND THEN FLIPPED AND VOTED FOR FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP. YOU KNOW, I, I LIVE WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO BE REACHING OUT TO. AND SO THAT’S ONE REASON WHY PEOPLE WE’RE WE’RE ENCOURAGING OF ME TO TAKE THIS THIS SEAT. AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT EVERYBODY RECOGNIZE IS THAT IN ORDER TO GET THIS TURNED AROUND, THAT WE’VE GOT TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND GO TO WORK AND WE’VE GOT TO DO SOME THINGS. WE WE HAVE LET SLIDE IN THE PAST AND THEY LOOK AT MY BACKGROUND AND THEY THINK, WELL, HERE’S SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS HOW TO WORK AND AND I CAN HELP LEAD THE WAY. AND I COMPARE IT TO WHAT WE USED TO DO ON THE FARM WHEN I GREW UP ON THAT DAIRY FARM WITH EIGHT BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND AND WE HAD TO FACE A TASK THAT WE DIDN’T AS KIDS DIDN’T UNDERSTAND WHY IT WAS SO IMPORTANT. BUT DAD WOULD PUT US OUT THERE AND SAY, YOU GOT TO PICK UP THESE ROCKS IN THIS FIELD, RIGHT? BECAUSE IN NORTHERN IOWA, THERE’S LOTS OR ROCKS IN THE FIELD AND AND AND THE EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS HOT AND SWEATY AND HARD WORK AND SEEMED POINTLESS TO US, DAD KNEW THAT EVERY ROCK THAT WE PICKED UP WAS A ROCK THAT WAS NOT GOING TO HURT A PIECE OF MACHINERY, THAT WAS NOT GOING TO STOP THE COMBINE. AND SO WE DIDN’T REALLY LOOK AT IT THAT WAY. BUT EVERY WALK WE PICKED UP MADE A DIFFERENCE TO THAT FARM AND TO THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE. THAT’S WHY THAT’S THE WAY I’VE BEEN COMPARING THAT TO OUR JOB AS DEMOCRATS, THAT WE EACH HAVE TO FIGHT, HAVE TO BE PARTICIPATE IN. WE GOT TO GET GET IN. WE’VE GOT TO FIND THE ROCK THAT WE CAN HANDLE. LEAVE THE SMALLER ROCKS FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO COULD BETTER HANDLE THE SMALLER ROCKS, LEAVE THE BIGGER ROCKS FOR FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE MORE MUSCLE POWER THAN WE HAVE, BUT PICK OUR SIZE OF ROCK AND DO OUR PART TO TURN THIS THING AROUND AND TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN IOWA POLITICS. STILL TO COME AND CLOSE UP LIKE IOWA, REPUBLICANS FEAR DEMOCRATS MAIL IN CAUCUS PLANS COULD COST THEIR PARTY ITS FIRST IN THE NATION STATUS. WELCOME BACK TO CLOSE UP. IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR RITA HART SAYS STATE DEMOCRATS WILL STILL CAUCUS IN PERSON. ARGUING A MAIL IN OPTION DOES NOT COUNT AS A PRIMARY. BUT THE IOWA REPUBLICAN PARTY ISN’T SURE. THAT’S HOW NEW HAMPSHIRE SEES IT. GOP CHAIR JEFF KAUFMANN SAYS IF IOWA DEMOCRATS GO THROUGH WITH THEIR PLANS, IT COULD MEAN THE END OF IOWA’S FIRST IN THE NATION STATUS FOR BOTH PARTIES. YOU’VE BEEN OUTSPOKEN. YOU’VE BEEN ON THIS SHOW TALKING ABOUT THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATS DECISION TO MOVE IOWA OUT OF FIRST PLACE. NOW, YOU’RE OUTSPOKEN AGAINST THE IOWA DEMOCRATS PLAN TO MAKE THEM MORE ACCESSIBLE. ALL THAT MAIL MAILING OPTION THAT WE’VE HEARD THEM TALK ABOUT, WHICH COULD THEORETICALLY BRING THEM BACK TO THE FIRST IN THE NATION STATUS, WHICH I ISSUE IS WHAT YOU WANT. WHY BE OUTSPOKEN AGAINST THEIR PLAN? WELL, BECAUSE REALISTICALLY, NOT EVEN THEORETICALLY, IF THEY DO THAT, WE BOTH WILL LOSE FIRST IN THE NATION AND THEY KNOW IT. THEY’VE KNOWN THAT FOR YEARS. WE TALKED ABOUT IT. NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS TALKED TO THEM ABOUT IT FOR THE LAST DECADE, ACTUALLY FOR THE LAST HALF CENTURY. NEW HAMPSHIRE AND IOWA HAVE HAD AN UNSPOKEN AGREEMENT THAT WE ARE THE FIRST CAUCUS. THEY ARE THE FIRST PRIMARY. HAVE I WAS EVEN ON ON STATEWIDE TELEVISION LAST MONTH SAYING WE CANNOT TURN THIS INTO A PRIMARY? OR ELSE NEW HAMPSHIRE IS GOING TO JUMP US. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, TO TRY TO PACIFY THE DNC, WHICH I GET WHY THEY HAD TO DO IT, TO TRY TO GET GET BACK IN THE ORDER AGAIN. IT DID NOT WORK. AND WE BOTH KNOW THEY’RE NOT GOING TO LET THEM BACK IN BECAUSE THIS WAS NEVER A DECISION ON WHAT KIND OF A CAUCUS THAT THE DEMOCRATS WERE GOING TO RUN. AND SO NOW WHAT THEY’RE DOING IS THEY’RE TURNING THIS INTO A PRIMARY. YOU MIGHT SAY, WELL, THEY’RE CALLING IT A NEWLY FASHIONED CAUCUS. WE KNOW BETTER THAN THAT. AND HERE’S THE ONLY INTERPRETATION THAT MATTERS. NEW HAMPSHIRE, THE NEW HAMPSHIRE SECRETARY OF STATE, UNDOUBTEDLY HAVE ABSOLUTELY, AS HE HAS PROMISED TO DO. AND THE DEMOCRAT STATE DEMOCRATS KNOW WHAT? FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, IF WE DO A MAIL IN OPTION, WHICH IS ALL THIS IS, THIS IS A MAIL IN PRIMARY THAT THEY ARE PUTTING FORTH. NEW HAMPSHIRE WILL JUMP US. AND HERE’S THE REASON WHY I’M SO ANGRY ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE IT PULLS US IN TO NOW ALL THE SUDDEN THE ENTIRE STATE IS AFFECTED BY SOMETHING THAT RENA HART AND THE PREVIOUS FIVE DEMOCRATIC CHAIRS THAT I HAVE SERVED WITH KNOWS THE UNDERDOG. AND THAT IS THIS WILL CAUSE THEM TO JUMP OVER US. THEY CANNOT DO A PRIMARY. WE CANNOT WE MUST DO A WE MUST DO A CAUCUS OR THEY’RE GOING TO AFFECT US AS WELL. THAT’S NOT FAIR. AND THEY KNOW IT. YOU SAT ON THIS SHOW, TWO MONTHS AGO, TOLD ME THE FIRST IOWA AND THE FIRST FEW STATES ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THINGS. I ASSUME IT’S LIKE THIS ON THE DEMOCRAT SIDE OF THINGS AS WELL. THAT THERE’S A MOTTO ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL. THAT WAS YOUR EXACT QUOTE. DOES THAT STILL HOLD TRUE HERE OR IS THERE A BREAK IN THE ALLIANCE BETWEEN YOU AND THE OTHER STATES? OH, NO, NOT AT ALL. IT’S THE DEMOCRATS THAT ARE THAT ARE RISKING TO BREAK THE ALLIANCE. ARE ALLIANCE WAS BASED ON ALL OF US NOT CHANGING THE RULES THAT ARE A HALF CENTURY OLD. AND THAT IS WE ARE THE FIRST CAUCUS. NEW HAMPSHIRE IS THE FIRST PRIMARY. WHAT’S WHAT’S PROBLEMATIC HERE IS THE DEMOCRATS ARE BREAKING THE ALLIANCE. AND EVEN THOUGH THE REPUBLICANS AREN’T BREAKING THE ALLIANCE, AS I SAID THAT I NEVER WOULD AND NEVER WOULD. THEY’RE GOING TO PULL US INTO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BREAK AN ALLIANCE LIKE THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, I FEEL FOR THE IOWA DEMOCRATS, I CAN’T HELP IT THAT THEIR PRESIDENT THROWN UNDER THE BUS. I CAN’T HELP IT THAT THEY’RE EXTREME LEFT WING, INCLUDING JOHNSON COUNTY, WHO, BY THE WAY, HAS TWO RESOLUTION AGAINST CAUCUSES. I CAN’T HELP IT THAT THEY’VE GOT A SICKNESS, A LEFT WING CREW IN THEIR PARTY THAT DOESN’T WANT TO CAUCUS. I CAN’T HELP ALL THAT. ALL I CAN HELP IS EVERYBODY’S CARDS WERE ON THE TABLE FOR THE LAST HALF CENTURY. WE HAVE A CAUCUS. NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS A PRIMARY. THE DEMOCRATS CANNOT CHANGE THIS FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER. WHO IS IN THE WRONG HERE IN YOUR EYES? THE IOWA DEMOCRATS OR THE STATE? NEW HAMPSHIRE IN THIS CASE OR ANY OTHER, YOU KNOW, TWO, THREE, FOUR OR FIVE STATE THAT WANTS TO BE FIRST BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTS THAT ONE PRIZE TO BE THE FIRST IN THE NATION THAT WE HAVE HELD FOR DECADES UPON DECADES. SO WHO’S IN THE WRONG, THE IOWA DEMOCRATS OR THE STATES THAT POTENTIALLY WANT TO BREAK THAT ALLIANCE? WELL, WHAT CAUSED THIS WHOLE THING TO BEGIN WITH WAS JOE BIDEN. HE AND THE DNC. AND THEN NOW THAT THEY’VE BEEN HANDED THIS, I CAN’T HELP BUT THAT THEIR NATIONAL PARTY THROWN UNDER THE BUS. BUT NOW THAT THE NATIONAL PARTY HAS HANDLED THIS, IT’S THE DEMOCRATS THAT KNOW THE IOWA DEMOCRATS NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY DO NOT CHANGE TO A PRIMARY. A NEW HAMPSHIRE IS DOING WHAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS. I’M SAYING WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE’VE DONE FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS, BECAUSE HERE’S THE THING THAT PUT THE TWO OF US TOGETHER. MORE PEOPLE WRITE THE NEW YORK CITY SUBWAY, THE LIVING ART TO SAVE. IF WE START, IF WE START CHANGING THE RULES LIKE THE IOWA DEMOCRATS ARE SUGGESTING THEY DO, WE’RE BOTH GOING TO LOSE NEW HAMPSHIRE AND IOWA AND THE ENTIRE STATE’S GOING TO LOSE. AND ONCE WE LOSE THIS, WE’LL NEVER GET IT BACK. I CAN’T LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN. QUICKLY, WHO’S IN THE WRONG THAT THE STATES THAT WANT TO JUMP OR THE IOWA DEMOCRATS OR BY THE IOWA DEMOCRAT ARE THE IOWA DEMOCRATS ARE WRONG TO HAVE A PRIMARY. THE DEMOCRATS SAY THE REASON LEGISLATION THAT WE’VE TALKED ABOUT ON OUR AIR FILED BY YOUR SON WOULD UNRAVEL THEIR PLANS AND THEY STILL PLAN TO DO WHAT’S BEST FOR IOWA. MOVE ALONG WITH THE MORE INCLUSIVE PROCESS. I THINK I KNOW WHAT YOUR RESPONSE IS, BUT CAN YOU QUICKLY GIVE ME YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT? THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY’RE MAKING IT EASIER FOR DEMOCRATS TO TO PICK A PRESIDENT OR WINNOW DOWN THE RACE WHAT WE’VE DONE SO WELL. WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT? WELL, IN A PERFECT WORLD, WHERE YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO WORK WITH OTHER STATES, POSSIBLY SO. AND IF YOU WEREN’T AFFECTING US, SO BE IT. WHAT THAT LEGISLATION IS DOING IS ENSURING THAT WE’RE MAKING FIRST THE CAUCUS AND I DON’T CARE. RITA HART SAY IT UNTIL SHE’S BLUE IN THE FACE. BUT WHAT’S BEST FOR IOWA IS TO MAKE SURE WE’RE FIRST IN THE NATION AND SHE KNOWS THAT THIS IS THIS IS MAKING UP REASONS AFTER THE FACT. ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT 2024 ON THE GOP SIDE OF THINGS? ARE YOU LOOK LOOKING AHEAD ALREADY TO 2028 ABOUT POTENTIALLY LOSING IT. I’M WORRIED ABOUT I’M WORRIED ABOUT 2024. THE DEMOCRATS ACTIONS AFFECTING US WHEN WE’RE DOING EVERYTHING THE RIGHT WAY IN 2028. IF WE DON’T HAVE JOE BIDEN AS PRESIDENT, I THINK WE CAN GET IT ALL BACK. SEE, THAT’S WHAT THAT’S WHAT’S THAT’S WHAT’S WRONG HEADED ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS AND THE IOWA DEMOCRATS DECISION. IF THEY DIDN’T GO FIRST THIS TIME AND DIDN’T BREAK UP THIS ALLIANCE, THEY WOULD EVEN HAVE A BETTER CHANCE IN 2028. YOU’RE A BOISTEROUS GUY. I KNOW THAT. I’VE INTERVIEWED YOU MANY TIMES, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT I’M SIMPLIFYING THIS IN THIS NEXT QUESTION, MAYBE MORE THAN I SHOULD, BUT WHY NOT JUST TALK TO RITA HART AND THE IOWA DEMOCRATS AND SORT OF REKINDLE THAT CONVERSATION? OH, MY GOODNESS. I HAVE TALKED TO THEM BEHIND THE SCENES. IS NOTHING SHORT OF 20 TIMES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THIS IS NO SURPRISE WHATSOEVER. THAT’S WHAT’S FRUSTRATING TO ME. I’M NOT GOING TO GIVE AWAY CONFIDENCES OF PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS. WE THEY KNOW EXACTLY HOW I FEEL. I WAS ON IOWA PRESS AND BROUGHT UP THIS VERY ISSUE. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT. THEY KNOW THAT RITA HART KNOWS THAT. AND JUST WALK UP PUBLIC COMMENTS OF THE LAST FIVE DEMOCRATIC CHAIRS. I’VE I’VE I’VE SERVED WITH. THEY HAVE ALWAYS TOLD TOLD. I’VE SAID THAT I HAVE DEALT WITH THEM FAIRLY AND OBJECTIVELY. I DID MORE FOR THEM TO BACK THEM UP AFTER THE 2020 DEBACLE THAN MOST OF THE DEMOCRATS DID. FOR RITA HART TO SUGGEST ANY OTHER WAY IS MAKING UP FOR HER OWN SHORTCOMINGS IN DECISION MAKING AND THIS IS WRONG HEADED AND THIS COULD COST US FIRST IN THE NATION. RESPONSE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR KCCI 8 NEW