>> BUT THIS YEAR'S MIDTERM
ELECTIONS HAVE A PARTICULAR
FOCUS ON THE HISPANIC AND LATINO
VOTE IN WISCONSIN.
>> OUTREACH HAS BEEN SHOWN TO
MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
ESPECIALLY DURING A DARK
CAMPAIGN.
>> WE DECIDED TO START
MOBILIZING THE LATINX VOTE.
>> CHRISITNE NEUMANN-OTIZ IS
THE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER OF --
ADVOCATING FOR IMMIGRANTS AND
LOW-WAGE WORKERS.
AND ENDORSES CANDIDATES.
>> CANDIDATES THAT STAND WITH US
ON THE ISSUE OF IMMIGRANT AND
RACIAL JUSTICE, WORKERS RIGHTS,
AND EDUCATION RIGHTS.
>> FOR VOCES, THOSE CANDIDATES
HAVE BEEN DEMOCRATS AND
HISTORICALLY THEY HAVE FAVORED
THE PARTY.
>> THEY FAVOR THE DEMOCRATS.
AND IT'S BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT.
>> BEN MARQUEZ IS A POLITICAL
ADVISOR.
>> AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TO
HAVE A GOOD STRATEGY FOR
REACHING OUT TO LATINO VOTERS.
THEY HAVE TO MAKE CONTACT ON THE
GROUND.
>> FLORIDA SENATOR RICK SCOTT
CHAIRS THE COMMITTEE AND
LAUNCHED THE OPERACION VAMOS IN
NINE BATTLEGROUND STATES.
>> THEY DON'T HAVE TO GET ALL TO
WIN ELECTIONS, THEY HAVE TO GET
ENOUGH TO DENY THE DEMOCRATS AN
ELECTION.
>> CONSERVATIVES BELIEVE THEY
HAVE MORE TO OFFER BASED ON THE
TOP ISSUES FOR HISPANIC AND
LATINO VOTERS.
>> NUMBER ONE IS JOBS.
NUMBER TWO IS JOBS.
AND THAT'S NUMBER THREE AS WELL.
>> IT'S THEIR LIVELIHOOD.
IT'S THEIR FAITH.
IT'S THEIR KIDS.
AND IT'S THE SAFETY OF THEIR
COMMUNITIES IS WHAT THEY ARE
FOCUSED ON.
>> THE FIRST IS ON ISSUES.
AT THE DOORS IN SOUTH MILWAUKEE,
HELDER DOESN'T NEED TO PROMPT
ANY.
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> THE THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS
PART OF OUR HERE AND NOW 2022
ELECTION COVERAGE.
ONE WEEK CLOSER TO THE MID-TERM
ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGNS ARE
COURTING NEW VOTERS.
CLERKS ARE PREPARING FOR THE
ELECTION IN WAYS THEY NEVER KNEW
THEY'D HAVE TO.
AND CAMPAIGN MESSAGING HITS A
NEW LOW.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG TONIGHT
ON HERE AND NOW, A REPORT ON THE
APPEALS POLITICAL PARTIES ARE
MAKING TO LATINO VOTES.
WE CHECK IN ON THE THIRD
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
ELECTION INSPECTORS PREPARE FOR
ACTIVE SHOOTERS.
AND A LOOK AT FEAR MONGERING
MESSAGES AND ATTACK ADS.
IT'S HERE AND NOW FOR
OCTOBER 21.
>> FUNDING FOR HERE AND NOW IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THE RAZOR THIN MARGINS OF
WISCONSIN ELECTIONS MEANS
NEITHER POLITICAL PARTY CAN TAKE
ANY VOTER FOR GRANTED.
LEADING UP TO THE MIDTERMS,
DOCTORSDEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE
MAKING THEIR APPEALS TO HISPANIC
AND LATINO VOTERS WITH MORE THAN
SPEAKING A FEW LINES OF SPANISH
AT A RALLY, BUT WITH EXPENSE I
AND LABOR-INTENSIVE DOOR-TO-DOOR
CAMPAIGNS.
MARISA WOJCIK BRINGS US THE
STORY.
>> THE LATINX VOTE IS VERY
IMPORTANT AND IT'S BEEN VERY
CRITICAL IN WISCONSIN IN THE
LAST MJOR RACES IN 2018 AND
2020.
>> LIKE EVERY ELECTION SEASON,
CAMPAIGNS ARE GETTING OUT AND
TALKING TO VOTERS.
BUT THIS YEAR'S MIDTERM
ELECTIONS HAVE A PARTICULAR
FOCUS ON THE HISPANIC AND LATINO
VOTE IN WISCONSIN.
>> OUTREACH HAS BEEN SHOWN TO
MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
ESPECIALLY DOOR-TO-DOOR
CAMPAIGNS.
>> WE DECIDED TO START
MOBILIZING THE LATINX VOTE.
>> CNN CNN IS THE CHRISTINE
NUEMAN ORTIZ IS THE DIRECTOR OF
VOCES DE LA FRONTERA AND THE ARM
OF THEIR ORGANIZATION ENDORSES
CANDIDATES.
>> CANDIDATES THAT STAND WITH US
ON IMMIGRANT AND RACIAL JUSTICE,
WORKERS RIGHTS, AND EDUCATION
RIGHTS.
>> FOR VOCES, THOSE CANDIDATES
HAVE BEEN DEMOCRATS.
AND HISTORICALLY HISPANIC AND
LATINO VOTERS HAVE FAVORED THIS
PARTY.
>> THEY VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRATS
AND IT'S BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT.
>> BEN MARQUEZ IS A POLITICAL
SCIENCE PROFESSOR.
SPECIALIZING IN CHICANO AND
LATINO STUDIES.
>> THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TO HAVE A
GOOD STRATEGY FOR REACHING OUT
TO LATINO VOTES.
THEY HAVE TO MAKE CONTACT ON THE
GROUND.
THEY HAVE TO CONVINCE THEM THAT
THE ELECTION IS IMPORTANT, THAT
THEIR VOTE MATTERS, AND THAT
THEY SHOULD GO TO ALL OF THIS
TROUBLE TO GET OUT AND VOTE FOR
A PARTY THAT OFTENTIMES IT
DOESN'T DELIVER.
>> WHEN DEMOCRATS DON'T DELIVER,
SUPPORT FOR THEM ISN'T
GUARANTEED.
>> IN 2020, WE ACTUALLY HAD TO
DROP OFF OF LATINO PARTICIPATION
COMPARED TO 2016.
PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO JUST
REJECT TRUMP, LA LATINOS LIKE OTHER
VOTERS, WANT TO KNOW, WHAT DO
YOU OFFER?
WHAT IS THE CHANGE THAT YOU
OFFER?
>> ENTER REPUBLICANS.
>> HISPANIC VOTERS HAVE BEEN,
BASICALLY, BEEN TAKEN GRANTED BY
DEMOCRATS.
>> FLORIDA SENATOR RICK SCOTT
CHAIRS THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN
SENATOR CORRAL COMMITTEE.
AND LAUNCHED THE OPERACION VAMOS
CAMPAIGN IN BATTLEGROUND STATES.
>> THEY HAVE TO GET ENOUGH TO
DENY THE DEMOCRATS AN ELECTION.
>> CONSERVATIVES BELIEVE THEY
HAVE MORE TO OFFER BASED ON THE
TOP ISSUES FOR HISPANIC AND
LATINO VOTERS.
>> NUMBER ONE IS JOBS.
NUMBER TWO IS JOBS.
AND THAT'S NUMBER THREE AS WELL.
>> IT'S THEIR LIVELIHOOD, IT'S
THEIR FAITH, IT'S THEIR KIDS,
AND IT'S THE SAFETY OF THEIR
COMMUNITIES WHAT THEY ARE
FOCUSED ON.
>> REPUBLICANS HAVE A FEW
STRATEGIES IN THEIR CAMPAIGN.
THE FIRST IS ON ISSUES.
AT THE DOORS IN SOUTH MILWAUKEE,
HELDER TOSTE DOESN'T NEED TO
PROMPT ANYONE ABOUT CANDIDATES,
ELECTIONS, OR EVEN THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY, HE SIMPLY
ASKS, WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IN
THEIR LIVES?
[ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER
THAN ENGLISH ]
>> THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF ACCIDENTS
HERE ON THIS ROAD.
CARS DRIVE FAST LIKE IT WAS A
FREEWAY AND, TRULY, IT'S
DANGEROUS.
THEY COME OUT TO PLAY AND
SUDDENLY THE BALL GOES.
AND A CAR IS GOING BY AND IT'S
VERY SERIOUS, VERY DANGEROUS.
[ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER
THAN ENGLISH ]
>> I HAVE A SON WHO IS HYPER
ACTIVE IN A SPECIAL CLASS AND
THEY GOT RID OF ALL OF THIS HELP
IN THE CLASS IN THE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
>> ASSAULTS, SHOOTINGS,
ROBBERIES, IT HAS INCREASED A
LOT.
MORE THAN ANYTHING, IT'S SAFETY
BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU ARE SEEING
WHAT IS HAPPENING AND YOU START
TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN.
>> THE SECOND STRATEGY POINTS A
FINGER AT THE PARTY CURRENTLY IN
POWER.
>> DO YOU THINK THE PRESIDENT
HAS DONE HIS JOB?
GOOD JOB?
OR BAD JOB?
>> A BAD JOB.
BECAUSE HE HASN'T ACCOMPLISHED
WHAT HE PROMISED.
>> THEY NEED RESULTS MORE THAN
THEY NEED PARTY LOYALTY.
>> AND FINALLY, PERHAPS MOST
ESSENTIAL, YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP.
>> YOU'VE LIVED HERE FOR 20
YEARS, HAS A POLITICAL PARTY
EVER CALLED YOU OR CONTACTED
YOU?
>> NOTHING.
>> AND WHERE DO YOU THINK THAT
COMES FROM?
>> WELL, TRULY BECAUSE WE ARE
MEXICANS.
THEY DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO US.
>> HISPANIC VOTERS ARE WAY MORE
INCLINED TO VOTE REPUBLICAN, AS
LONG AS REPUBLICANS REACH OUT
AND TALK TO THEM.
THEY ARE FED UP WITH THE PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM AROUND THE COUNTRY
RIGHT NOW.
THEY WANT A BETTER ECONOMIC
MARKET.
THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE
INFLATION.
THEY WANT TO LIVE IN SAFE
COMMUNITIES.
IF WE TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES,
THEN WE ARE GOING TO WIN
ELECTIONS.
>> ONE ISSUE THAT MAY SEEM
COUNTER INTUITIVE FOR HISPANIC
AND LATINOS TO SUPPORT
REPUBLICANS ON IS IMMIGRATION.
MARIA SAYS IMMIGRATION IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR HER AND
WHY SHE IS A DEMOCRAT.
[ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER
THAN ENGLISH ]
>> IT IS SOMETHING THAT HURTS.
BECAUSE WE CAME THE SAME WAY.
WE GOT LUCKY.
BUT WE ARE THE SAME.
>> MARQUEZ SAYS THIS IS TIED TO
THE IMMIGRANT IDENTITY HAS BEEN
SHOWN TO FADE OVER TIME.
>> WITH EACH SUCCEEDING
GENERATION OF LATINOS LIVING IN
THE UNITED STATES, THE FURTHER
AWAY THEY GET FROM THAT, AND SO
THE LATINOS HAD VOTED, YOU KNOW,
VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP AND HIS
ANTI-IMMIGRATION POLICY, SAW
WHAT BORDER ENFORCEMENT WAS, AND
HEARD ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW
IMMIGRANTS ARE BEING TREATED,
BUT THEY LOOK AT AND THAT AND
SAY, WELL, THAT IS NOT ME.
>> EVEN MARIA SAYS ONE OF HER
CHILDREN IS REPUBLICAN.
>> MOST OF MINE IS DEMOCRATS.
I KNOW OLDEST IS NOT.
>> THAT IS NOT TO SAY THE
DEMOCRATS DON'T HOLD THE
ADVANTAGE.
>> TWO OUT OF THREE LATINO
VOTERS SEE THE VALUE IN A LARGE
SOCIAL WELFARE STATE, CIVIL
RIGHTS PROTECTION, AND THEY ARE
WILLING TO PAY FOR THESE THINGS.
>> THE HISPANIC AND LATINO
POPULATION HAS BEEN ONE OF THE
FASTEST GROWING IN THE UNITED
STATES.
MAKING THIS SHIFTING VOTING
BLOCK ALL THE MORE CRUCIAL.
>> FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS IN
WISCONSIN, LATINOS HAVE BEEN THE
LARGEST SEGMENT OF GROWTH.
>> ABOUT HALF, IF NOT MORE NOW,
OF ALL WISCONSIN DARE ROADWAY DAIRY WORKERS
ARE LATINOS.
THEY ARE FILLING THE VOID.
>> IN A STATE LIKE WISCONSIN
WHERE ELECTIONS ARE FAMOUSLY
CLOSE, CAMPAIGNS ARE TRYING TO
REACH EVERY COMMUNITY, EVERY
VOTER, OR EVERY PERSON WHO KNOWS
A VOTER.
>> THERE IS A GENERATION OF
CHILDREN OF UNDOCUMENTED PARENTS
WHO ARE TURNING 18 EVERY YEAR
THAT IS SIGNIFICANT.
11,000 IN 2020 TURNED 18,
ELIGIBLE TO VOTE FOR THE FIRST
TIME, THOSE PARENTS ARE
UNDOCUMENTED.
IN A STATE WHERE THE MARGIN IS
18,000 TO 23,000.
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S
DECISIVE.
BUT IF THEY FEEL THAT THE
DEMOCRATS ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH,
THEN THEY FEEL LIKE DROPPING
OUT.
>> IN ESSENCE, TURNOUT MATTERS.
>> BUT WE HAVE TO SHOW UP.
CANDIDATES HAVE TO SHOW UP AND
WE HAVE TO TALK TO VOTERS.
ALL VOTERS.
>> IF THEY MAKE AN END ROAD TO
THE LATINO POPULATION, THEY'VE
GOT A WINNING FORMULA.
>> REPORTING FOR HERE AND NOW
I'M MARISA WOJCIK.
>> IN THE SWING THIRD
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN
WESTERN WISCONSIN, THERE HAVE
BEEN NO CANDIDATE DEBATES IN THE
TRUMP ENDORSED CANDIDATE MOSTLY
DOESN'T DO INTERVIEWS WITH THE
SO-CALLED "MAINSTREAM MEDIA" AND
A FEW POLLS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN
SHOW HIM IN THE LEAD OVER
DEMOCRAT BRAD PFAFF.
IS THAT RACE A DONE DEAL?
WE TURN TO ANTHONY CHERGOSKY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO IS IT A DONE-DEAL IN FAVOR
OF DERRICK VAN ORDEN?
OR COULD THERE BE A SURPRISE IN
THIS SWINGY DISTRICT?
>> THERE COULD BE SURPRISES IN
WESTERN WISCONSIN.
BUT I THINK IT IS MOSTLY A DONE
DEAL.
YOU LOOK AT THE INVESTMENT THAT
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS MAKING,
AND THERE IS NOT MUCH INVESTMENT
TO SPEAK OF WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
THE MONEY TALKS.
YOU LOOK AT HOW THE PARTIES ARE
ALLOCATING THEIR RESOURCES.
AND THAT TELLS YOU A LOT ABOUT
HOW THE PARTIES VIEW THIS
PARTICULAR RACE HERE IN WESTERN
WISCONSIN.
>> SO WHAT DO BRAD PFAFF
SUPPORTERS THINK OF THAT?
>> I THINK THEY ARE VERY UPSET.
I HAVE TALKED WITH MANY OF THEM.
THEY THINK THE PARTY HAS
ABANDONED BRAD PFAFF.
THEY THINK BRAD PFAFF IS BEING
LEFT TO FEND FOR HIMSELF.
CERTAINLY DEMOCRATS HERE HAVE A
VERY NEGATIVE VIEW OF DERRICK
VAN ORDEN THE REPUBLICAN.
BUT WITHOUT THE RESOURCES TO
MAKE THAT CASE, THEY ARE GOING
TO HAVE SOME PROBLEMS.
AS YOU NOTED, FRED RYKA, THERE
ARE NO DEBATES, THERE ARE VERY
FEW CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS.
THIS IS A RACE THAT IS RELYING
ON THE 30-SECOND IS TELEVISION
ADVERTISEMENTS.
SO THEY NEED THE MONEY TO FUND
THOSE ADVERTISEMENTS.
THAT IS HOW THEY ARE PRESENTING
THEMSELVES TO THE VOTERS.
>> WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE
IDEA THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO
DEBATES, THE TOWN HALLS THAT
THEY WANTED TO PUT ON DIDN'T
HAPPEN.
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT
KIND OF A CAMPAIGN?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD
NOTE IT'S THE END OF A VERY LONG
TRADITION THAT WE'VE HAD IN
WESTERN WISCONSIN.
I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE THAT HAVE
BEEN AROUND POLITICS AND
LACROSSE IN A VERY LONG TIME.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY CAN
EVER REMEMBER THERE BEING NO
DEBATE IN THIS PARTICULAR
CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.
IT'S A MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT.
IT'S A SITUATION WHERE THE
CANDIDATES ARE JUST RELYING ON
THAT PAID MEDIA.
AND THAT MAKES ME EXTREMELY
WORRIED, FREDERICA.
IT MAKES ME WORRIED ABOUT THE
LEVEL OF INFORMATION THE VOTERS
WILL HAVE AS THEY CAST THEIR
VOTE.
VOTERS RELYING ON PAID MEDIA,
PAID ADVERTISEMENTS, AS A
POLITICAL SCIENTIST, THAT MAKE
ME NERVOUS.
I WOULD MUCH RATHER THERE BE
DEBATES, UNSCRIPTED SITUATIONS
WHERE YOU CAN REALLY GET TO KNOW
THE CANDIDATES IN-DEPTH.
THE VOTERS ARE JUST NOT GOING TO
HAVE THAT TYPE OF EXPERIENCE,
THAT TYPE OF OPPORTUNITY IN THIS
CAMPAIGN.
>> ON THE GROUND THERE, WHAT
ISSUES DOES THIS RACE TURN ON
THAT COULD BRING PEOPLE OUT TO
THE POLLS?
>> ONE OF THE STRIKING ASPECTS
OF THIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN THE
LACK OF DISCUSSION OF THE
ISSUES.
FOR BRAD PFAFF, THE DISCUSSION
HAS BEEN ABOUT DERRICK VAN
ORDEN'S PRESENCE IN WASHINGTON,
D.C. ON JANUARY 6th.
AND ALSO BRAD PFAFF'SMENT
SUPPORT FOR ROE VERSE WADE.
GOING BACK TO THE SITUATION.
DERRICK VAN ORDEN CAST BRAD
PFAFF AS A CAREER POLITICIAN.
SOMEONE WHO HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN
GOVERNMENT AND HE CONTRAST
HIMSELF WITH BRAD PFAFF BY
TALKING ABOUT HOW HE IS A
POLITICAL OUTSIDER.
SO WE HAVEN'T HAD MUCH
DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUES AT ALL.
IT'S MOSTLY ABOUT TRYING TO
CREATE A PERSONA THROUGH THOSE
HIGHLY POLISHED, HIGHLY PRODUCED
TELEVISION COMMERCIALS.
>> DOES IT SEEM AS THOUGH THE
JANUARY 6th TIE WITH DERRICK
VAN ORDEN IS REALLY RESINATING
AT ALL WITH VOTERS?
BECAUSE ONE RECENT HEADLINE
SAID, VOTERS SHRUG OFF GOP
CANDIDATES JANUARY 6th TIE.
>> I THINK DEMOCRATS HERE ARE
FRUSTRATED THEY DON'T HAVE THE
RESOURCES TO MAKE THAT CASE
AGAINST DERRICK VAN ORDEN.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME EFFORT BY
DEMOCRATS HERE TO EMPHASIZE HOW
DERRICK VAN ORDEN WAS IN
WASHINGTON, D.C. ON
JANUARY 6th.
DEMOCRATS HAVE TRIED TO RAISE
QUESTIONS AND RAISE CONCERNS
ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY DERRICK VAN
ORDEN WAS DOING IN D.C. ON THAT
DAY.
BUT IN A CAMPAIGN THAT RELIES SO
MUCH ON PAID ADVERTISEMENTS, IN
A CAMPAIGN WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE
UNSCRIPTED MOMENTS, INTERVIEWS,
TOWN HALLS, DEBATES, YOU'VE GOT
TO RELY ON THAT PAID
ADVERTISEMENT AND RIGHT NOW THE
DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE THE
RESOURCES TO RUN A SUSTAINED
CAMPAIGN FOCUSING ON
JANUARY 6th AS THEY GO AGAINST
DERRICK VAN ORDEN.
>> SO YOU'VE MADE AN INTERESTING
POINT THAT THIRD WAS KIND OF THE
LAST HOPE FOR DEMOCRATS OUTSIDE
OF THEIR STRONGHOLD IN MADISON
AND MILWAUKEE.
WHAT KIND OF AN EXAMPLE IS THIS
OF A STATE DIVIDED BETWEEN URBAN
AND RURAL?
>> THIS IS GOING TO BE A
FANTASTIC EXAMPLE OF THE URBAN
RURAL DIVIDE IF THIS DISTRICT
DOES GO REPUBLICAN IN NOVEMBER.
BECAUSE THEN WHAT WILL WE HAVE?
IF THIS DISTRICT GOES RED, WE
WILL HAVE A 6-2 SPLIT IN THE
HOUSE DELEGATION FOR WISCONSIN.
WE'LL HAVE SIX REPUBLICANS, TWO
DEMOCRATS.
WE'LL HAVE BOTH DEMOCRATS
REPRESENTING THE MAJOR URBAN
AREAS WHENAREAS.
A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW THE
STATE IS SO DIVIDED BETWEEN
URBAN AND RURAL.
FREDERICA, I THINK THAT IS WHERE
WE MAY BE HEADING THIS NOVEMBER.
>> ANTHONY CHERGOSKY, THANKS
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOR MORE OF OUR COVERAGE ON
THE RACE IN THE THIRD
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG
AND CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
>> WITH GUIDANCE FROM ELECTION
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS,
POLL WORKERS ACROSS THE STATE
HAVE BEEN TRAINING FOR POTENTIAL
DISRUPTIONS, EVEN VIOLENCE, ON
ELECTION DAY.
IN ONE SMALL CITY IN SOUTH
CENTRAL WISCONSIN, THE ELECTION
CLERK THERE HOSTED TRAININGS
ABOUT WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF
GUN VIOLENCE WHILE TRYING TO
BALANCE BETWEEN CREATING
AWARENESS AND SCARING THE
DAYLIGHTS OUT OF POLL WORKERS.
>> LET THEM KNOW IT'S AN ACTIVE
THREAT, ACTIVE SHOOTER.
>> THIS IS ACTIVE SHOOTER
TRAINING FOR A ROOM FULL OF
ELECTION INSPECTORS IN THE SMALL
CITY OF STOTEN.
>> STAY AWAY FROM THE DOORWAYS
AND WINDOWS.
>> THEY LOOK ON AFTER ARRANGING
THE TRAINING IN PREPARATION FOR
ELECTION DAY.
>> YOU SEEM ALMOST EMOTIONAL
ABOUT THIS.
WHY?
>> THEY ARE MY RESPONSIBILITY.
THIS IS JUST A TOUGH TIME RIGHT
NOW, TOO, BECAUSE ALL THE CLERKS
ARE UNDER SO MUCH STRESS RIGHT
NOW AND WORKING UP TO
NOVEMBER 8th.
>> STRESS BORN OF RAPIDLY
CHANGING VOTING PROCEDURES AND
TODAY'S POLITICAL I HAVE
INDUSTRIAL.
>> WE NEED A LANDSLIDE SO BIG
THE RADICAL LEFT CAN NOT RIG IT
OR STEAL IT.
>> WHERE A ROOM FULL OF POLL
WORKERS COULD BE SITTING DUCKS.
IS IT TARGETED?
COULD IT BE?
WE HATE TO THINK THAT WAY, BUT I
FEEL THAT THE ENVIRONMENT IS
DICTATING THAT.
WE REALLY NEED TO BE AWARE.
AND BE PREPARED.
>> AND THIS BLOOD IS GOING TO
SOAK INTO THIS GAUZE AND IT WILL
START TO CLOT UP.
>> AWARENESS AND PREPARATION
THAT ALSO INCLUDES TEACHING
THESE ELECTION INSPECTORS HOW TO
PACK GUNSHOT WOUNDS TO STOP
BLEEDING.
>> WHEN YOU GO TO THE POLLING
LOCATIONS, TAKE A GLANCE AROUND
AND SEE, IS THERE A NEARBY ROOM
WHERE I CAN BARRICADE MYSELF
INTO THAT ROOM?
>> TRAINEES LEARN TO HAVE THEIR
HEAD IN THE GAME AT ALL TIMES.
FROM CONSIDERATION OF
BARRICADING AGAINST ASSAILANTS,
TO HIDING.
>> AGAIN, WHEN YOU ARE HIDING,
DON'T HIDE ALL TOGETHER.
YOU WANT TO BE SPREAD OUT
AMONGST THE ROOM AS FAR AWAY
FROM EACH OTHER AS YOU CAN.
BECAUSE IF YOU ALL GO INTO ONE
SPOT, IT MAKES IT ONE REALLY BIG
EASY TARGET.
>> OFFICER ALSO DESCRIBE HOW THE
ELECTION INSPECTORS CAN SUBDUE
SHOOTERS IF THEY ARE UP TO IT.
>> THIS IS A POINT WHERE YOU
BELIEVE THIS PERSON IS
POTENTIALLY GOING TO KILL YOU OR
KILL SOMEONE ELSE.
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?
>> FOR VETERAN POLL WORKERS
WHOSE MASTERY LIES IN VOTING
RULES AND REGULATIONS, LEARNING
ACTIVE SHOOTER RESPONSE SEEMS A
SAD REALITY OF THE CURRENT
POLITICAL CLIMATE.
>> I THINK IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT
OUR CURRENT POLITICAL SITUATION.
I WISH IT WASN'T THIS WAY.
IT IS.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THE TRAINING
AND HOPEFULLY WE WON'T NEED IT.
>> INSPECTORS WE SPOKE WITH ARE
KEENLY CONCERNED ABOUT UNSETTLED
RULES AROUND ELECTION OBSERVERS
AND SHIFTING RULES ON ABSENTEE
BALLOT CURING.
MEANWHILE, U.S. ATTORNEYS IN
WISCONSIN ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK
THAT THEIR OFFICES WILL HANDLE
COMPLAINTS ON ELECTION DAY
INCLUDING THREATS OF VIOLENCE,
FRAUD, AND VOTING RIGHTS
CONCERNS.
THE FBI WILL ALSO HAVE SPECIAL
AGENTS ON HAND.
ALSO TONIGHT, WHAT ISSUES ARE
YOUNG PEOPLE SAYING ARE
IMPORTANT TO THEM?
AHEAD OF THE
MIDTERM ELECTIONS?
WE SPANNED OUT ACROSS THE STATE
TO INTERVIEW STUDENTS INCLUDING
THOSE FROM TWO PBS NEWS HOUR
REPORTING LABS HIGH SCHOOLS.
HERE'S A SAMPLING OF WHAT THEY
TOLD US 37.
>> THE MAIN ISSUES THAT MATTER
TO ME ARE ABORTION RIGHTS, LGBTQ
RIGHTS, AND PROBABLY GUN
CONTROL.
>> I MEAN, I THINK THERE ARE A
LOT OF BIG ISSUES RIGHT NOW.
I WOULD SAY THE THREE THAT
MATTER TO ME THE MOST ARE THE
ECONOMY, FOREIGN POLICY, AND
PRIVACY.
>> THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IS
DEFINITELY GLOBAL WARMING.
BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER
WHAT -- IF WE CAN VOTE OR WHO WE
ARE IF THE PLANET IS DEAD.
>> THE BIG ISSUE THAT IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO ME IS WOMEN'S
RIGHTS AND ESPECIALLY OVER A
BODY, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME LIKE
THIS WHEN OUR BODIES ARE BEING
CONTROLLED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
>> THE ISSUES HAS TO DO WITH THE
COMMUNITY I'M A PART OF.
ISSUES THAT SURROUND IMMIGRANTS
AND PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LGBTQ
ISSUES.
>> SOME ISSUES THAT ARE
IMPORTANT TO ME ARE CLIMATE
CHANGE, OUR CHANGING ENVIRONMENT
AND THE WORLD AROUND US.
I BELIEVE ABORTION SHOULD BE A
RIGHT AND BE PROTECTED FOR EVERY
WOMAN REGARDLESS OF THE
SITUATION.
>> I THINK A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO
CHOOSE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
GUN CONTROL.
TAXES.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA.
LEGALIZATION OR
DECRIMINALIZATION OF DRUGS.
BUT THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR ME
IS VOTING RIGHTS.
JUST IN GENERAL ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
>> THANKS TO THE PBS WISCONSIN
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FOR HELPING
GATHER THOSE YOUTH VOICES.
NOW TURNING TO THE U.S. SENATE
RACE.
>> MANDELA BARNES DANGEROUSLY
LIBERAL ON CRIME.
>> MANDELA BARNES HE STANDS WITH
THEM.
NOT US.
>> MANDELA BARNES NOT JUST A
DEMOCRAT, A DANGEROUS DEMOCRAT.
>> SO DIFFERENT AND DANGEROUS.
WE JUST SAW THE WORDS AND IMAGES
IN CAMPAIGN ADS FOR REPUBLICAN
SENATOR RON JOHNSON THAT ARE
USED TO DESCRIBE HIS DEMOCRATIC
CHALLENGER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
MANDELA BARNES.
MANY OBSERVERS SAY THIS KIND OF
MESSAGING GOES WAY BEYOND BEING
RACIALLY TINGED.
JOHNSON'S CAMPAIGN SAYS IT'S
NOTHING OF THE SORTS.
THAT RON JOHNSON IS TALKING TO
VOTERS ABOUT THE ISSUES
IMPORTANT TO THEM INCLUDING OUT
OF CONTROL CRIME.
HERE TO UNPACK THE DIVISION AND
HOW WISCONSIN VOTERS MAY RESPOND
TO THIS IS JOHN EASON.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE
KIND OF MESSAGING THAT WE ARE
SEEING NOW IN THE WISCONSIN U.S.
SENATE RACE?
>> I THINK IT'S REMINISCENT OF
ADS WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST.
FROM WILLIE HORTON TO THE GOLD
WATER CAMPAIGN WITH THE LONG
BLACK SHADOW HAND REALLY
REACHING OUT AND SPEAKING ABOUT
CRIME.
AND EQUATING BLACKNESS WITH
CRIME.
>> DO YOU THINK IT GOES BEYOND
THOSE KINDS OF OLDER MESSAGES?
>> I THINK IT'S IRONICALLY RIGHT
ON BRAND.
BUT I THINK GIVEN HOW HYPER
POLARIZED WE ARE TODAY, THERE IS
NO REAL TOWN SQUARE IN AMERICA
THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO HAVE
REAL CHECKS AND BALANCES, THAT
THIS IS JUST RIGHT ON BRAND.
I DON'T THINK IT'S ANY WORSE.
>> I MEAN THE MESSAGES ARE
CONNECTED TO, ON THE ONE HAND
CRIME RATES, AND ON THE OTHER
HAND, MASS INCARCERATION AND
POLICING REFORM.
BUT YOU HAVE SAID, WHEN YOU HAVE
GENERAL MISINFORMATION AND YOU
THROW RACISM INTO THE MIX,
THAT'S A PRETTY POWERFUL ELIXIR.
HOW SO?
>> RACISM -- THIS COUNTRY HAS A
LONG HISTORY OF THIS.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO TRY TO DENY
OR MINIMIZE HOW MUCH RACE OR
RACISM, SPECIFICALLY, MATTERS.
BUT BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SO MUCH,
YOU KNOW, FROM PEOPLE LEAVING
SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, WHOLE
CONTINGENCY SWATHS OF PEOPLE
BEING SILOED WITHIN SOCIAL MEDIA
PLATFORMS, AND OUR NEWS IS VERY
SEGMENTED.
WHEN YOU ADD RACISM INTO THAT,
YOU ADD -- YOU EVEN FURTHER
DIMINISH THE BENEFIT OF DOUBT
AND YOU FURTHER DEHUMANIZE
PEOPLE.
>> DO YOU FEEL LIKE THIS TESTING
OF BLACK MEN OF DANGEROUS IS
NORMALIZED IN THE MAJORITY WHITE
WISCONSIN?
>> I THINK IT HAS BEEN
NORMALIZED AND NOT JUST A
MAJORITY WHITE WISCONSIN, BUT
THIS IS NORMALIZED ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
>> SO JOHNSON'S ADS HAVE
COINCIDED WITH HIS RISE IN THE
POLLS.
OVERTAKING BARNES.
ONE PUN DENT TOLD US, WELL, IT
WORKS.
THIS KIND OF ATTACK AD.
WHAT DOES THAT SAY, THOUGH,
ABOUT TODAY'S, KIND OF, SCORCHED
EARTH POLITICS?
>> IT'S NOT SO MUCH IT'S JUST
ABOUT CRIME, IT'S THE FEAR OF
CRIME.
AND THE FEAR OF CRIME WHICH IS
LINKED TO BLACK PEOPLE, WE'VE
SEEN THIS FOREVER, BUT IT SAYS A
LOT ABOUT OUR POLITICS IN TERMS
OF HOW WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE
FORWARD.
RIGHT?
SO I'M HOPEFUL STILL BECAUSE WE
HAVE SO MANY NEW VOTERS WHO MAY
NOT BE CAPTURED IN THESE POLLS.
WE HAVE SO MANY YOUNG VOTERS WHO
ARE GOING TO PRIMARILY VOTE
DEMOCRATIC, THAT THERE MAY BE
SOME HOPE FOR CHANGING THE TONE
AND TENURE OF OUR POLITICS.
>> YOU FEEL AS THOUGH THESE KIND
OF MESSAGES ARE KIND OF DIRECTED
AT THE OLDER ELECTORATE?
>> THEY DEFINITELY ARE.
I THINK THIS IS SPEAKING TO
PEOPLE WHOSE MINDS ARE ALREADY
MADE UP.
I DON'T THINK THEY WILL SWAY
MANY NEW OR YOUNGER VOTERS WHO,
ESPECIALLY -- EVEN IN RURAL
COMMUNITIES.
I THINK BECAUSE OF HOW WELL
WISCONSIN'S EDUCATION SYSTEM IS
COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE
COUNTRY, I'M JUST WAY MORE
HOPEFUL.
BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE DON'T HAVE
MUCH ROOM.
RIGHT?
TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE DON'T HAVE A BASE TO REALLY
PUSH FORWARD AND PUSH PAST WHERE
WE'VE BEEN.
NOT JUST IN WISCONSIN, BUT
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
>> BUT STILL HOW DIVISIVE IS
THIS IN A STATE ALREADY KEENLY
DIVIDED BY RACE AND POLITICAL
LINES?
>> I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY
DIVISIVE.
I THINK -- BUT THE PEOPLE WHO IT
IS FUELING, THE ADS THAT THE
MARKETS THEY ARE TARGETING, I
THINK EVERYONE'S MIND IS KIND OF
MADE UP ALREADY.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO
SWAY PEOPLE ONE WAY OR THE
OTHER.
I DON'T THINK SOMEONE IS GOING
TO SEE THIS AND SAY THIS IS NEW
INFORMATION OR I HAVE A BRAND
NEW VIEW ON MANDELA BARNES.
>> PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE THEIR
MINDS' MADE UP ALREADY, BUT HOW
HURTFUL IS IT?
>> THIS IS PART OF WHY I'M
HOPEFUL.
YOUNGER VOTERS, IN PARTICULAR,
I'VE SEEN NOT ONLY IN MY
CLASSROOMS BUT IN MENTORING
GRADUATE STUDENTS AS WELL,
YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE
HOPEFUL, YOU WILL SEE THIS IN
THE COMING DAYS AT THANKSGIVING
DINNERS WHEN THEY ARE PUSHING
BACK AGAINST THEIR, YOU KNOW,
THE EXCUSE WE GET TO LET THE OLD
DRUNK UNCLE GO OFF AND RANT
ABOUT WHATEVER HE WANTED.
YOU SEE MORE FRICTION IN
FAMILIES NOW AT HOLIDAYS BECAUSE
YOUNGER PEOPLE AREN'T PUTTING UP
WITH THIS ANYMORE.
>> ALL RIGHT JOHN, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG
AND CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
NEXT WEEK AHEAD OF HERE AND NOW,
WATCH FOR SPECIAL ELECTION
COVERAGE STARTING AT 7:00.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR HERE AND NOW IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.