Transcripts For WPVI Nightline 20141105 : vimarsana.com

This is a special edition of nightline, your voice, your vote. Good evening, im dan harris. We come on the air with breaking news tonight. Republicans riding a wave of voter anger and taking control of the u. S. Senate. This is a major blow to president obama, who was not on the ballot tonight, but did not help his party, given that he has an Approval Rating of only 44 . Exit polls tonight reflecting an electorate that is unhappy and scared. 71 are worried about another terrorist attack. It added up to a very, very bad night for democrats and one that will have a big impact on the 2016 president ial race. You knew this was going to be a tough night for democrats when this scene played out in kentucky. Senator Mitch Mcconnell, the leader of the senate republicans, declaring victory early in the evening and by a wide margin over his Young Democratic opponent, Alison Lundergan grimes. This journey, the fight for you, it was worth it. Tomorrow, the papers will say i won this race. [ cheers and applause ] but the truth is the truth is, tonight, we begin another one. One thats far more important than mine. And thats the race to turn this country around. Reporter this race embodies the big stakes of this night. Republicans have now won all of the crucial seats they need to take control of the u. S. Senate, making Mitch Mcconnell the new Senate Majority leader. Some of the big republican wins include colorado, iowa, montana, arkansas and west virginia, historic win. For the first time in the history of west virginia, we are sending a woman to the United States senate. Reporter republicans are riding a wave of discontent. Voters expressing extreme anger with politics as usual. To me, it doesnt matter anymore. I mean, theyre not they say this and then they get in there, they do something else. Reporter 65 say the country is heading seriously on the wrong track. A pervasive pessimism that prompted many Democratic Candidates to distance themselves from president obama, whose Approval Rating has dipped to 44 . And it certainly didnt help when obama went out on the stump and publicly said this. Im not on the ballot this fall, but make no mistake, these policies are on the ballot. Every single one of them. Reporter that sound byte quickly ended up in republican ads across america. There are 36 governorships up for grabs. Here, the democrats have had some good news. Democrats prevailing in hardfought battles in pennsylvania and new hampshire, for example. But whatever side of the aisle youre on, victory does not come cheap. These 2014 midterms are the most expensive ever. A whopping 3. 6 billion and counting. Congressman yoder made his by skinny dipping on the job. Cannon ball reporter most of it spent on political ads that ranged from terrifying. Terrorists committing mass murder. Ebola inside the u. S. Both republican reporter to silly wont let them see that im a phony radio disc jockey to down right bizarre. I grew up castrating hogs. Reporter joni ernst rode that catch phrase all the way to victory. And we are going to make them squeal. Rrl one of Many Republican victories tonight. Lets bring in abcs chief anchor George Stephanopoulos. George, what does this mean for president obamas final two years in office . Well, that is the big question can he get anything done now . Thats the big question. You have big republican majorities in the house. Majority of 54, 55 seats in the senate. Potentially by the time all the votes are counted in all of the close states. So, the Republican Congress is going to be able to pass pretty much what they want to pass. Of course, the president still has the veto pen, but both sides are going to have to make choices. Its what weve been talking about all night long. Will they also pay heeld to the message coming from the electorate that they are sickle of a broken washington, sick of a dysfunctional federal government and congress. And they want to see both parties get something done. Well get the first clues from president obama tomorrow when he holds his press conference in the afternoon. Tells us what we thinks of the results and gives his first indications of how hes going to work with the congress. What are the consequences for the president ial race in 2016 . Its a very different map. This could be a very different electoral from what you will see in 2016. Traditionally, midterm elector rats are older, more republican. Some of the young voters, the minority voters that turned out for the president stayed home. Its going to put a challenge for hillary clinton, kind of unopposed. On the democratic side right now, a huge lead. But shes going to have to figure out what message she takes in this election and how shes going to handle president obama in the final twoyearo y. It sets the stage for a number of republican candidates right now. Scott walker, big win in wisconsin tonight. Hes going to be immediately looked at as a candidate. Also, you know, governor Chris Christie had a big night helping so Many Republican governors stay in office as chairman of the republican governors association. And you still have people waiting to see what jeb bush wants to do, ted cruz. Wide open republican field right now. And what theyre seeing is still a an electorate that is angry, unhappy about the economy. But also, an electorate that doesnt think all that much yet of the republican brand. Well see how they do, what all those candidates do to rebrand the party. Abc news chief anchor George Stephanopoulos leading our coverage all night long. George, thank you. And well be right back with more on this breaking news and well be right back with more on this breaking news tonight. Try the improved formula of boost® original nutritional drink. Each delicious serving provides. 10 grams of protein to help maintain muscle, and 26 essential vitamins and Minerals Including calcium and vitamin d to support bone health. Plus, boost contains 3 grams of fiber which helps support digestive health. Try boost original nutritional drink today. Which helps support digestive health. If yand youre talking toevere rheumyour rheumatologiste me, about a biologic. This is humira. This is humira helping to relieve my pain and protect my joints from further damage. This is humira giving me new perspective. Doctors have been prescribing humira for ten years. Humira works for many adults. It targets and helps to block a specific source of inflammation that contributes to ra symptoms. Humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. Serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers, including lymphoma, have happened, as have blood, liver, and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. Before treatment, get tested for tb. Tell your doctor if youve been to areas where certain fungal infections are common, and if youve had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have flulike symptoms or sores. Dont start humira if you have an infection. Talk to your doctor and visit humira. Com this is humira at work ia cause to support the pover 65 Million People who may need the trusted protection of depend underwear. Show them theyre not alone. And show off a pair of depend. Get a free sample at underwareness. Com who would have thought masterthree cheese lasagna would go with chocolate cake and ceviche . The same guy who thought that small caps and bond funds would go with a merging markets. Its a masterpiece. Thanks. Clearly you are type e. You made it phil. Welcome home. Now whats our strategy with the fondue . Diversifying your portfolio . E trade gives you the tools and resources to get it right. Are you type e . This special edition of nightline, your voice, your vote, continues. And we are back now live with our coverage of a momentous day in american politics. Republicans taking control of the u. S. Senate in a Midterm Election rout. Lets bring in our roundtable of expe experts. Matt dowd, lets start with you. How bad a night was this for democrats . It was really bad. I think it was. When you look at the Election Results in 2010 and this year, this was a wave, a republican wave that hit and hit the democrats and the president hard. And every race that was broke at the end, broke in the republicans favor. And i think this president , when you add up the numbers, will have suffered, for a twoterm president , the worst midterm losses of any president in the last 50 years. Nicolle wallace, can this president work with this congress and this senate over the next two years . Is there any hope of anything getting achieved . Well see. What happens, usually, after an election like this is, both sides overread what the voeders were trying to say. I think that one of the overwhelming messages that democrats and republicans were sending tonight is theyre tired of the grid lock. It was an antidemocratic sentiment and anti against this white house, but it was also, ill think, a statement about dissatisfaction with washington. I think this is a great opportunity for republicans to show we have a proactive agenda. We are waiting for results in virginia, where ed gillespie is the republican candidate there and ed was one of the few candidates who had an alternative to obamacare. I hope that republicans will come out and try to govern. Donna brazile, is there any Silver Lining you can find in tonights result . Well, in washington, d. C. , where i live it was a tough night for democrats. It was a difficult map. History was not on our side. We get to fight in two more years. Bill crystal, is there any republican who emerges from this night as a stronger candidate in the 2016 race for the white house . I think most of the likely candidates could rationalize this night as confirming that they are the right person for the job. The governor of ohio wins a big reelection victory. Hes pretty moderate. He went along with obamacare. Scott walker, though, who has fought pretty fiercely won for the third time in four years in wisconsin. Ted cruz can say, i shut down the government, that doesnt seem to have worked out to badly. Marco rubio can say, no, im more forward looking moderate is the right way to go. Chris christie did a good job raising money for republican governors. Youll see them all over the next couple of weeks, couple of months explaining how these Election Results suggest that maybe theyre the right person for the job in 2016. David plouffe, will your former boss, president obama, recalibrate in any way and should he . Well, i think i agree with nicolle, i think it was ant antiincumbent. Clearly frustration with the democratic party. You have to acknowledge those results and i think you have to youre going to have to really reach out here and try to find ways not for the political purposes here, but youve only got two years left. So, you want to keep making progress on the economy, on fiscal issues, immigration, education. You have to find every possible i think this is i think it would be good for the president to find some areas of compromise. I think it would be good for the republican party. So, you know, this may be a place where everyones interests align. I think there will be at least be a few months here where there is potential deal space. Matt dowd, a couple of seconds left. Is compromise in the next couple of years, are the odds of that about the same as my finding a unicorn in central park . I dont know if you are looking for a unicorn always. Good luck with that. I think there is room for this. And i think the biggest thing for me that came out of this is the same number of republicans and democrats showed up, but what decided this election was independent voters. Where they split is where the republicans won. And if i were the president and the republicans, i would look there and say, what can we do together to figure out a way to appeal to them . Matt dowd, nicolle wallace, ghoon brazil, bill crystal, david plouffe. So greet have your analysis on this big night in american politics and we here at nightline will be right back with more of our live coverage of these Midterm Elections. Keep it here. This special edition of nightline, your voice, your vote, is brought to you by geico. And ah, so you can see like right here i can just. You know, check my policy here, add a car, ah speak to customer service, check on a claim. You know, all with the ah, tap of my geico app. Oh, thats so cool. Well, i would disagree with you but, ah, that would make me a liar. No dude, youre on the jumbotron whoa. Ah. Yeah, pretty much walked into that one. Geico anywhere anytime. Just a tap away on the geico app. If youre suffering from constipation or irregularity, powders may take days to work. For gentle overnight relief, try dulcolax laxative tablets. Ducolax provides gentle overnight relief, unlike miralax that can take up to 3 days. Dulcolax, for relief you can count on. Dulcolax, for relief you can count on. Creeping up on you. Fight back with relief so smooth. Its fast. Tums smoothies starts dissolving the instant it touches your tongue. And neutralizes stomach acid at the source. Tum, tum tum tum. Smoothies only from tums. With the card most accepted in the philadelphia region, you have the compassion and security of blue cross. Giving you the power to do more. Independence blue cross. Live fearless. siren wails pop music playing when youre ready ready, ready, ready come and get it get it, get it when youre ready, come and get it na na na na na na na na na na na when youre ready, come and get it na na na na. Female announcer its a great big world and it can all be yours. Here and only here. Come and get it. And finally tonight here, a recap of our top story. The republicans taking control of the u. S. Senate in race after race. Tonight, the republicans beat the democrats in states that were both blue and red including many states that president obama won in his race to the white house. And to put a capper on the whole thing tonight, take a look at this. A symbolic image. After a sweeping republican victory. New yorks iconic empire state building, all lit up in red. We want to thank you for watching this special edition of nightline tonight. Were going to have much more on the breaking political news throughout the night and a full wrap up on Good Morning America first thing in the morning. Thanks again for watching, and good night. Right this second. Theres a lot on the line. Playing out live all across our country. And it all leads to this who gets power, who controls congress and what will this president s last two years be like, tonight, the voice of americans will be heard. And abc news is listening. This is your voice, your vote. Anchored by George Stephanopoulos. With diane sawyer, david muir and martha raddatz, jonathan karl, dan harris. Yahoo s katie couric and abc news best political news team. Now reporting live from abc news Election Night headquarters in times square, George Stephanopoulos. Good evening, and welcome to Election Night 2014. Millions of you have taken charge today telling us what you think about the state of our country, the quality of r