>> next own newsmakers, it is gushing on the 2016 presidential campaign with the chairs of the republican and democratic new hampshire parties. after that, a forum on police and improving community relations. this week newsmakers, a conversation with the chairs of the democratic public authorities in new hampshire. we will begin by talking to jennifer born. she is joining us from her studio in new hampshire. matt, you are up first. matt: thank you for coming today. i wanted to ask you a little bit about the relevance of the primary. candidates are trying to get bumped in the national polls. so they can be of the national stage.

the polls in new hampshire are not rewarding the people right now who are -- you have been there the most. can you talk about the developments new hampshire this year? sure, thank you so much, thank you for having me. i think the relevance of the new ispshire primary actually highlighted because of the things that are different with this cycle this year round. whoink the idea of deciding is in and who is out based on national polls does a disservice to new hampshire and to the nation. to the democratic process that we are going through. it is important that these candidates are ranked taste on the voices of people who have actually met them. and that is what is so special about new hampshire. when the candidates are forced to be face to face with real people, mothers whose children

have drug addictions, fathers who worked two jobs. small businesses who are trying to expand and grow new jobs. these are the real people that have real challenges that americans face. it is important that we have that process to go face to face with these people. in essence, with national debates, isn't that diminishing be importance of the national primary? jennifer horn: i disagree. i think it is making the primary more important. we never want to be any position in the united states where our candidates are being chosen based on the ability to make a national flash right out of the gate. what that means is that the only people who can participate are those folks who have enough iney to run commercials 15-20 states at a time. and that has never been what our process is about.

that is not what our foundation as a country is. the whole idea behind new hampshire and the early stage and the carveout states, is that it gives everyone an even playing field. someone like carly fiorina, who doesn't have the big dollars and who isn't well known, she can come to new hampshire and talk overousands of voters visit after visit after visit. notice.can get that and don't forget that the media plays at a role in all of this, combined with what we do on the ground here in new hampshire. america is watching, they come into our backyards and our that is important what the media does. laura: what do you make of this year, where you have donald trump and ben carson, they are dominating this race.

these are the kinds of candidates who traditionally you think of in a new hampshire as being whittled away. i am wondering if you could talk about with the dynamic is in new hampshire and what you think is happening in the larger race? there is non: question that voters across the country, including here in new hampshire, are very frustrated and angry at a different as a dysfunctional washington. we see that on both sides. that in the insurgents of bernie sanders as much as on the republican side as well. of what has happened and accumulated over years of dysfunction in washington. but what i remind people of both -- people of all the time is that new hampshire is historically undecided. the person who is at the top of the polls right now is undecided. -- i love to tell the story

just a couple of weeks ago, i was at a party for a local candidates where he had a woman come up to me, she was very excited about all of the calls that she was making for a presidential candidate. that -- i asked what made her vote for them. and she said, i don't know that i am going to vote for them, i'm just excited to be moving forward and making the calls. there is a conventional wisdom, a sense that donald trump or ben carson would not be particularly electable in a general election and that the party is flirting with danger here. do you share those concerns? jennifer horn: what i have no doubt about is that the american people are going to reject hillary clinton as their next president.

she is a failed leader and she has failed the american people area did i have no doubt that when the time comes, they are going to choose a new, responsible path for our country. and that will be whoever the republican nominee is. matt: -- republican nominee is. is interesting, because whether people want to vote in the democratic or the republican primary, there is a sense that the democratic primary would not be that interesting. the democratic primary is still kind of interesting, bernie -- are you hearing anything or sensing anything about where the independent are?s who they may benefit? is jeb bush a benefactor? jennifer horn: you know, that is a great question.

a part of that goes back to the original question that you asked me about the value of the primary. the fact that independence do participate in the primary. that is something that new hampshire offers because it gives a broader sense of how a general election audience may perceive these candidates area did you know, i cannot call it cannot call it now. but what i am hearing on the ground is that there is very little inspiration coming out of the left and went we are seeing is great turnout from independence at a number of our republican events. town halls for all of the different candidates. a greaterere is energy and more inspiration and a greater wealth of new ideas for how to turn the country isund, whether it economically, with national security or just the inspiration of feeling good again about how great our nation is. theink the interest is on

side of the republicans party right now. when this race began, jeb bush was considered a front-runner. he has really struggled. new hampshire was a place that he was expected to do well. are you surprised? are you surprised by how he is struggling in your state? sayifer horn: what i would is that this has been an unusual cycle. the hillary clinton coronation should have gone off without a hit -- without a hitch. we see that bernie sanders has thrown something in that. and we have 15 candidates. there has never been a time when i was alive that we had such an exciting primary. between thettle abundance of qualified

candidates. you look at the history in new hampshire's primary and all you have to do is go back to john mccain to see that there is always a pass. even for the candidates who are struggling, they can come back. if you look at where we are, we are three months out from the primary. there is plenty of time in politics and especially in new hampshire. 24ngs could turn around in hours. wholl of these ideas about should drop out and who will drop out, it is all on the floor on the floor. i have been to town halls with jeb bush. and people at the town halls. their head and they believe what he says. but i have seen this with dr. carson and carly fiorina. carly fiorina can get a crowd going like nobody else. so it is still anybody's game.

i know that you as a media like to look at the polls and see if you can pick a winner three months out but we are just not there yet. you, inwant to ask talking with a former party chair, he was concerned when he looked at the republican side. he has been impressed with the hillary clinton and bernie sanders have put out and he is nervous that the republicans are not matched up as well. can you talk a little bit about what you see on the ground, not iny in the primary but also the general election? i think that both parties are up for grabs. jennifer horn: i have to strongly disagree. it is easy.

when hillary clinton and bernie sanders are splitting their ground game between two candidates and we are splitting hours between 15, that sure, the individual campaigns might not have as big a staff as hillary clinton, but the ground game in new hampshire is very strong and unusually engaged. and you have to look beyond the campaign. the party is the entity right now that is fully focused on the general election. are are the ones who building the ground games and bringing in the staff. they are bringing in the resources into the effort. they have the technology, the data, the digital. everything that we are doing to build our game is bigger then it has ever been before. and quite a lot that goes to our chairman. he has broken records in the with theng and also

brightest people in technology by bringing them onto the team. i am very confident that this is what we need to win. you said this is not a good time to be looking at the polls because they change. the media is guilty of that. but this is a time when candidates get scrutiny. there have been complaints by scrutiny -- complaints by candidates about the scrutiny. think it know how you is fair? about the vetting that they have gone through? or is it over the line? say thathorn: i would there is no crying in politics. you have to be ready and able to answer difficult questions. that is part of the game and you don't get to complain about it. now that is not the same as being subject to snarky and , incompetent questions

from debate moderators that we have seen in this situation. but that is part of the process. you don't get to complain about that. the job does belong in the hands of the media and in the hands of the voters. i think americans are watching closely. they are wondering right now about the story that hillary clinton keeps telling about trying to join the marines when she was 27 years old. will that get as much blessing as ben carson trying to remember his childhood memories? it will be interesting to see if those types of people give the same vetting. but for the most part, you don't get to complain that people are trying to get to know you better. in just about every town hall that i've been to, people have mentioned the heroin

epidemic in new hampshire. is anyone talking in a policy way about that? it seems like that comes up in new hampshire and awful lot. because horn: it does it is a serious issue that has reached epidemic proportions. it is not just taking our children's lives, it is something that impacts all of our candidates have impacted us -- have talked about in different ways. chris christie has been very powerful in addressing that. and they are talking about things like addiction treatment and changing the way that we deal with things in court. and what can we do with policy intervene and prevent this from happening when it comes to drugs in our society. so i have been very impressed with the success and the test of thought and the empathy and compassion that our candidates

have been able to express on a situation that is personal in new hampshire. when will we know the conference date for the new hampshire i marry? prettyr horn: i am confident that we do know the date already. i don't see any blocks to that. but the secretary will let us know when the time is right. he will tell us. >> thank you very much were being with us. jennifer horn: we respect him because of that. >> thank you for being with us on newsmakers this week. jennifer horn: it has been a pleasure. >> newsmakers continues this conversation with raymond buckley. he is joining us now from manchester. thank you for being with us. have mattr studio, we and laura. laura, you are up first. laura: i wonder if you can give

us your assessment of what is happening in the democratic primary right now. it is not surprising that a lot of people in new hampshire are -- but are you surprised that bernie sanders is doing well in new hampshire? raymond buckley: it is exciting to see a lot of independence becoming involved in the campaign. actually think that there should be more people voting in the democratic primary on february 9 versus on the republican side. is hillary's candidacy, bernie sanders candidacy or martin o'malley as well. matt: you are saying that independents are more likely to vote in the democratic primary. who do you think that will benefit? could that benefit hillary clinton in a way? who does it benefit in terms of the candidates? 42% of the new:

hampshire electro party cap wake up that morning and decide which ballots they are going to take. democratic or republican. battle, not just among the democrats but among the republicans as well. it has made a big difference in past elections. the 2000e look back to primary, where the independence were voting for john mccain and that ended up being a last-minute vote. i'm hoping that the independents will participate in the democratic primary. the 2008 primary, that gave us a great push in the election. which candidate benefits most from independent participation? raymond buckley: i think they are independent for a reason. they don't like to make up their minds early and stick with that.

they could change their minds. so i don't think anyone knows where they are exactly going to fall. with secretaryll clinton or senator sanders or with governor o'malley. right now, the polling would suggest that bernie sanders is receiving more support from independents but that could change. what are you seeing on the ground, in terms of the candidates? what has impressed you and what do think needs more strength? it is exciting: for us. we win in new hampshire because party, it is among the strongest in the nation. martin o'malley has more field

operators out there than most of the other candidates. some of the republican candidates have headquarters here in new hampshire. secretary clinton and senator sanders have almost a dozen headquarters opened up along the state. governor o'malley has quite a few as well. it will be terrific for us in the general election. handicapur republican -- your republican counterpart was handicapping your race. what you like to do the same? i have neverey: once predicted the republican presidential candidate correctly. i simply don't understand the mindset of new hampshire republicans. let's hear your prediction and then we will know who is not going to win. [laughter] raymond buckley: if the polling is correct, it would be donald

trump. i know he will not win new hampshire. george h w bush lost when he ran for president. george w. bush lost the first time he ran and jeb bush is looking like a disaster. i am sure governor bush will be happy to hear that given what you said about your track record. [laughter] of the challenges for bernie sanders is that he has not been a democrat for decades. there was some question about whether he would qualify for the ballot. you have come to his defense, saying you would fight it in court to make sure that he appeared on the ballot. that i'm wondering, beyond that technical matter, do you think that is an issue for the democrats in the state -- that he would have someone who has been throwing bricks at the party for many years?

reality,uckley: in bernie sanders has been a very strong supporter of the new hampshire democratic party over years. democraticnded local dinners and state party events. he has campaigned for several days in 2014. simply he is no stranger to the people of new hampshire. it was a quick and easy call for me to make sure that the new hampshire state party was very clear that they would be supportive of him being on the ballot. the democratic national committee is also supportive and they do recognize him. the vermont democratic party, the ohio democratic party, he is a huge democrat. and i think that will withstand any sort of challenge that he may get. matt: can you talk a little bit about the senate rate -- senate

race that you will have of their. we know that -- is up for reelection. what is your sense on that? what are the issues that the democrats are going to try to pursue against the incumbent senator, who has been popular. raymond buckley: well, one only -- tuesday at the just that kelly ayotte is going to be a one term senator. with watering down wall street and stands up against planned parenthood. she is against minimum wage and marriage equality. the list of issues that she is in direct contrast goes directly in contrast with the people of new hampshire. and we absolutely believe that

the new governor has to be able to bring her bipartisan mayor of being an effective governor into victory in november. there is nothing to lead us to believe that we are not going to win in 2016. speaking of the governor, talking about the presidential race, she has endorsed hillary clinton as have pretty much all of the establishment. you are neutral as the party chair, but a lot have partnered with her. does that matter in 2015? this establishment and endorsement, that kind of thing? does that make a difference really or is it just something that candidates like to talk about? raymond buckley: i think that candidates would prefer to have elected officials on their side rather than not.

but it does go election by election. we will see if it makes a difference on february 9. all of the candidates are running terrific campaigns and they all have a great long time candidate endorsing them. can you talk about the nationalization of the primary and how new hampshire counters that, in any sort of way? if you look at the republican side but on the democratic side as well, they have taken national headlines and national interviews. what is the counter for new hampshire to continue to stay relevant? it isd buckley: well, something that we stay on top of. ,e communicate once a week because we monitor what is going on. it is a struggle. part of that has been the 24-hour news cycle.

and the significance of the online media now. pastctivities that in the routine, now they go from living room to living room. will continue to struggle and essay on top of it. candidates are going from living room to living room. those people do make a difference. if it comes to the largest national celebrity on either side, then what is the point? the point is that we want to make sure that whoever is elected has talk to real people and had real conversations. when i talk to candidates i sayng about running,

that you are a governor or a senator or whatever, but you don't come to new hampshire acting a certain way. act like you are running a school board in your local town. because that is how people in new hampshire expect you to act. they will ask you tough questions. it will look you in the rif they want to meet you and talk to you. every president has gone through this process. matt: have you had to nudge any of the candidates to come? or are you satisfied with the amount of time that they are putting in and what they are doing with the campaign? raymond buckley: you know, we only have three candidates. easier to dealle with but they are here. they are here at least once a week, if not more. so i'm satisfied with the amount of time that they are spending here in new hampshire. i expect in other states as well. about just a question

hillary clinton's vulnerabilities. she is in a strong position right now in the race but polling shows that in the broader public, there are concerns about whether she is honest and trustworthy. at this very much seems to be an outsider year. you see that happening in both the democratic and republican primaries. i'm wondering if she doesn't face the challenge, as an ultimate insider when people are hungry for something different? raymond buckley: well, i certainly think that if she is the democratic nominee for president, she will be able to operate and envision the american public in a way that with -- that will withstand those conditions. she has a remarkable record. nominee, out of philadelphia in july, we do believe she will be successful.

she is certainly going to be successful in new hampshire. matt: what do you think we will be surprised by? this whole thing has been surprising all along. what are you looking for in the next two months? what are we not talking about right now that we will be surprised by as voters begin to make their decision? raymond buckley: i think i mentioned it earlier. i think there will be more able voting in the democratic primary ban the republican. a lot of attention is being placed on the 16-17-18 republicans running. it is hard to go to dunkin' donuts in new hampshire without being asked to you are voting for president. people are catching on here. i think our three candidates have the interest of the voters. i think the turnout is going to be the story. i think there will be a lot of surprises with how people are whosed on the candidates

aren't even going to get a couple hundred people to a for them as republicans. what you think will happen in the general election later in the year? in 2012, wheny: president obama was not being challenged, there was a margin oft participation in the republican primary. we were still able to have a phenomenal year. we think we will have a great year in presidential cycles. so we are looking good. we want to have a phenomenal year. that when make sure -- goes to washington, we have two senators who can make a difference. that is it for our time.

thank you very much for being with us on newsmakers. raymond buckley: thank you. next, a discussion on race and criminal justice. after that, a forum on police and improving community relations. then, a look at the terror group known as isis. today, our road to the white house coverage continues with the democratic presidential debate. we will hear from martin o'malley, hillary clinton and bernie sanders. beta mate is cosponsored by cbs , the des moines register and twitter. you can see it at 4:00 on c-span. >> two things are very diffe