'This Week' Transcript: Reince Priebus and Debbie Wasserman Schultz

ByABC News
November 2, 2014, 9:04 AM
ABC News Contributor and Democratic Strategist Donna Brazile, ABC News Political Analyst Matthew Dowd, ABC News Contributor and The Weekly Standard Editor Bill Kristol, ABC News' Cokie Roberts, and ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl on 'This Week'
ABC News Contributor and Democratic Strategist Donna Brazile, ABC News Political Analyst Matthew Dowd, ABC News Contributor and The Weekly Standard Editor Bill Kristol, ABC News' Cokie Roberts, and ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl on 'This Week'
ABC News

November 2, 2014 — -- Below is the rush transcript of "This Week" on November 2, 2014. It may contain errors.

ANNOUNCER: Starting right now, a special edition of ABC's THIS WEEK -- Your Voice, Your Vote 2014.

Two days to go. The critical issues at stake -- control of Congress up for grabs this morning. Breaking details, brand new polls.

Who has the edge?

How President Obama's last two years are on the line.

Why the road to 2016 starts right now.

We're covering every angle. The very latest from America's best political news team, from ABC News, a special edition of THIS WEEK, Your Voice, Your Vote 2014.

Here now, chief anchor, George Stephanopoulos.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, HOST: Good morning and welcome.

The midterm is just two days away, so much at stake control of Congress, governors seats and state legislatures all across the country. And Americans voting this year in a sour mood about the state of our country and the quality of our leaders.

Starting right at the top, President Obama not on the ballot Tuesday. He's barely even seen on the campaign trail, but his record defining the debate. His ratings are dismal.

Our brand new ABC News/"Washington Post" Poll out this morning shows that only 44 percent of Americans view him favorably right now. That's the lowest mark of his career. More than half the country thinks he's not a strong leader or competent manager. And those feelings are weighing down Democrats.

This morning, we're going to hear from the party chairs. Reporters in key states and our powerhouse roundtable.

ABC's chief White House correspondent, Jonathan Karl, starts us off.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN KARL, ABC NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For President Obama last night, a first...

(VIDEO CLIP)

KARL: He campaigned with an actual Democratic candidate for Senate.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Vote for Gary. This election is too important to stay home.

KARL: It's the one and only time a Senate candidate will appear with the president during this entire campaign. And this Democrat, Gary Peters of Michigan, isn't even in a competitive race.

And yet, President Obama has played a starring role in this campaign, just not quite the way the White House had hoped.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CAMPAIGN AD)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Obama Senator, not yours.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KARL: In state after state, Republicans have tried hard to make this race about Barack Obama.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CAMPAIGN AD)

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Pryor -- O-B-A-M-A.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KARL: And the president recently played right into the Republican playbook.

OBAMA: Now, I'm not on the ballot this fall, but make no mistake, these policies are on the ballot, every single one of them.

KARL: But Democratic candidates in tough races have been running hard -- away from the president. Alison Grimes, who is challenging Mitch McConnell in Kentucky, made a splash not only by refusing to say whether she ever voted for President Obama...

ALISON GRIMES (D-KY), SENATE CANDIDATE: I respect the sanctity of the ballot box.

KARL: But also by running her own ads slamming the president.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CAMPAIGN AD)

GRIMES: I'm not Barack Obama.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KARL: Mary Landrieu in Louisiana did the same thing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CAMPAIGN AD)

SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D), LOUISIANA: The administration's policies are simply wrong.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KARL (on camera): You don't agree that the president has been considered politically toxic to many of those Democrats running and...