trump thumped. let's play "hardball." i'm chris matthews. it's midnight in washington on a huge night for resistance. democrats in virginia and new jersey won massive victories and sent a clear and unmistakable message nationally, a rejection of president trump. in virginia ralph northam bounded ahead of late polls defeating republican ed gillespie who had run a trumpian campaign focused on crime, illegal immigration and confederate monuments. democrats won all statewide offices. trump backed gillespie, even putting out a robocall for him. but tonight he sent a dear john letter all the way from seoul. not even the 7,000 miles between

virginia and south korea was enough distance for him. he tweeted "ed gillespie worked hard but did not embrace me or what i stand for. tonight it's the democrats who got a big morale boost while trump and his party have plenty to worry about a year ahead of the 2018 congressional elections. i'm joined right now by republican strategist john brabender and john connelly of virginia. gentlemen, settle this out. it seems to me, if you logistic at all the numbers, congressman, a walloping victory for the governor, the gubernatorial candidate, and possibly taking over the entire assembly from the republicans. >> it was a comprehensive democratic win in virginia. no getting around it. and if the democrats take back the house of representatives, i think it has real implications next year for the house of representatives because it mirrors exactly what we had to do. hillary clinton won 17 seats held by republicans. we're winning most of those seats about the. in the house of representatives, she won 23 seats. we need 24.

>> john, it just seems to me, john brabender that when you win a vote against something, you only have a few little levers and you use every one. it looks like they used every one. governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and the individual delegate races in that state, 100 of them. and in 17, as the congressman points out that are decisive where hillary had won, and they were republican. it looks like they switched parties. >> i would argue it's a little bit different. >> well, go ahead. >> because first of all, i think it was good night for the democrats. i'm not arguing that. but if you look at it, gillespie lost by about nine points. the lieutenant governor and the attorney general only lost by about 5, 5 to 6 points which is what trump lost last year. that's number one. number two is the loss was not just donald trump. the loss was also mcconnell and ryan and the lack of republicans getting anything done. there was no -- nothing there there. there was nothing to run on. so i think the republicans are going to have to look inside and

say this is not just donald trump. this is not his agenda failing. this is his agenda not being properly explained and properly and effectively passed. and i think you'll hear a lot of republicans put as much blame on mcconnell and ryan as they do trump tomorrow. >> really? really? >> i really do. >> i respectfully disagree. first of all, democrats only win virginia statewide by single digits. ralph northam tonight significantly outperformed that. he won by nine points. nobody called that. secondly, there is no getting around the fact that trump is toxic in a swing state like virginia. the reason for the magnitude of this loss is donald trump. democrats ran a good campaign. but donald trump helped every day of the week. >> yeah, but gillespie was not donald trump. in fact, he almost lost the primary that nobody thought he was even going to be competitive by somebody who was running as the trump person. >> my friend john brabender. tomorrow morning's newspapers all across the unto can. >> absolutely. >> trump was thumped. >> because he is an easy target. people want to say that. >> anyway, it wasn't about him?

>> i think it was about trump largely. it was a real referendum on this presidency. and it came up very short. >> all he talks about is trump anymore. >> the majority of the people in the exit polls said donald trump was not even a factor in how they voted. >> well, i'll take you to my visit where ralph northam won 70% of the vote. no democrat has ever done that. and i can tell you, those voters voted that way because of donald trump. >> for democrats in virginia, the message was bigger than just a commonwealth. let's watch. >> today virginia sent a very important message. we are the united states of america. not the divided states of america. and we sent an even more important or equally important message. the democratic party is back, my friends! >> tonight we are sending a message to the world that virginia will be the match that sparks the wildfire of

progressive change all across this country and all across this world. >> virginia has told us to end the divisiveness that we will not condone hatred and bigotry. and to end the politics that have torn this country apart. >> what's interesting, john brabender and congressman is that the issues we're all watching, besides trump was this issue of the confederate statutes. three out of five people in virginia, and that includes all races obviously and genders and everything, was for keeping the statues the way they are. they don't want any changes. they don't want anything taken down. yet that was the position of gillespie, the republican, the position of the democratic candidate, northam was get them all down. thousand how he started. >> what that says to me, the voters, that's where i am on this issue. but did not vote on this issue. >> i think that's right. it does not a dispositive issue. but i do want to go back to gillespie and trump. gillespie didn't know who trump

was in northern virginia. but he ran an ad campaign, a television ad campaign that absolutely invoked the worst of the trump campaign last year. >> it's incredible as a southerner? no. >> and now he is -- >> didn't work. >> i'm not saying the kat licks of virginia. but here is a catholic guy that grew up in new jersey. and he is running down there waving the flag of stonewall jackson. the other guy northam had a southern accent. >> and a native. a native and a doctor. running against a new jersey lobbyist. i don't think it was a credible candidacy from day one. >> what do you think? new jersey lobbyist? >> here is the deal. i guarantee you that was never in their game plan. i guarantee they had polling numbers about three weeks ago that said we're losing this race. we have to figure out something to change the topic. and they sort of rolled the dice and decided that those were going to be the issues. >> what would have happened if they brought trump in the campaign with them? >> i don't think the results would have been any better. but i do think they were trying to spark some of those trump voters without having the

negativity that they would have had in a place like northern virginia by bringing trump in here. and so i think they got greedy, tried to do that with an issue. but i'll guarantee you that strategically, they had to make a shift to try the do that. that would be my guess. >> i think it's very tough for this fellow gles satisfy. i've known him a long time. it's very tough for gillespie to represent a controversial president. churchill, my hero once said never, ever represent the government in a byelection. anybody that's got any prohibition with the person running the country, any problem they lay on you. the only one taking all the hell that has trump's name on it. >> and historically, that's how virginia performance. we have our election the year after the presidential election. and almost always, terry mcauliffe being an exception, we vote for the other party candidate. it's a corrective. >> is virginia changing it up? a transgendered person was elected as delegate this week. >> virginia's much more of a middle atlantic state now than it is a southern state.

it's like new jersey or any place else. so i think it is becoming a harder state for republicans. we saw that in the last two presidential races. yes, we're going to compete in virginia. and we really -- >> women together, a growing minority or a strong minority population and a growing highly educated population with more and more college. we saw that showing up in the numbers. more college grads voting this year than last year. and that's tough. >> but ralph did well. for a democratic candidate among white men, he did well with noncollege educated voters. >> carried white women. >> so he actually -- >> he talks like south africans when it comes to politics. you're not laughing. >> anyway, we do -- it is what it is. >> did you win or lose tonight? >> we did lose tonight. here is how i look at it. we still got a supreme court justice that we got passed. and that's like six or seven governors. >> okay, this year? >> well, it was -- >> back before tonight. you are baghdad bob tonight. to say you guys won. >> i didn't say we won.

>> john brabender, thank you for coming on and being the guy in the barrel tonight. and congressman gerry connolly. you predicted the whole thing. and i don't really like being outpredicted you. did it. i'm joined on the phone by one of the rising stars across the country, congresswoman cheri bustos of illinois. you are one of the rising stars. does this make you feel more aloft, this victory in virginia as a democrat? >> you know, i'm very optimistic about something that we're seeing tonight. but, guys, i also want to say we've got a lot of work to do. and november of 2018 is still a year off. i don't want the lose sight of the fact that we've got to keep focused on what people back in districts like mine in rural illinois are talking about. and that is it's still jobs, the economy, and as we saw in the exit polls tonight in virginia, a lot of this is about health

care as well. people are very, very concerned about what's happening with health care that donald trump and paul ryan are sicking on people. >> congressman connelly here, what happened was in virginia you had until tonight, a conservative legislature that said no expansion of medicaid up to a higher percentage of poverty level. in fact, above the poverty level. and patiently that's one of the pressures, right? congressman connelly? >> it was the number one issue tonight. and by the way we saw a referendum on this issue in maine. and it passed with 60%. so health care is going to be a big issue. >> what is it in illinois? what is the particular aggravating point on health care? it is the threat to obamacare, congresswoman? what is it? >> chris, you and i talked about how i go back home and i do the supermarket saturday, just walk the aisles and see what's on everyday people's minds. and health care has been domina dominant, starting with donald trump's election. the biggest concern i hear is people who have seen family

members live through cancer or heart attack and the preexisting conditions and what the heck is going to happen to them. and with what paul ryan is doing, with what donald trump is doing on the cost of health care, we're going to continue to see this go up unless they decide to work with democrats and address the rising costs of health care, address the rising costs of prescription drugs. and we can do that if they're willing to work with us. >> when you walk through the supermarkets, we talked about this, do you walk counterclockwise or clockwise? i think it's better to walk counterclockwise. they go around the right and then around. i'm just kidding. anyway -- >> chris, ever since you advised me to do that, i'm going counterclockwise, with your advice. thank you. >> it's something i learned when i was 20 years old. u.s. congressman, you are a rising star. it's so great to have you on, cheri bustos of illinois. coming up, the big issues that powered democrats to victory

tonight. plus health care being the number one. and the majority of voters in virginia say they want to keep the confederate monuments, but they're not voting on that issue, as john brabender pointed out. it's been a big night for democrats, as donald trump would say, but he wouldn't say this night a huge night. and our coverage of 2017 will continue here on the specialness of victory. by the way, a first big night of victory since president trump was elected president first time. this is "hardball." back after this.

welcome back to this special edition of "hardball" after midnight. what pushed democrat ralph northam from over the top in virginia? well, a closer look at the exit polls tells us more about the issues that animated, actually moved the voters in virginia today. for more i'm joined by our expert steve kornacki. what made it happen? >> here is the exit poll asking what issues motive you'd. you see those.

the national issues intersect. you're talking about health care. obviously big story this year with republican bush to repeal obamacare also been an ongoing story in virginia, terry mcauliffe trying to expand medicaid. you see almost 40% saying that was their issue. overwhelming the 40% who said this were democrats, were people voting for ralph northam. then you have got gun policy most recently in the news with the tragedy in texas the other day. this was about split. about half the people saying guns were their issue or voting for gillespie. about half of them were voting for northam. so different motivations there. >> sure. >> taxes. sort of a bread and butter republican issue there and then you have immigration. obviously this is the one that gillespie was really playing up. these were republican voters you were looking at here. gillespie voters. and you mention this too. this is a very interesting result i think. gillespie ran on the issue of heritage he called it. the confederate monuments saying they should not be torn down. this question was asked, confederate monuments on government property. what should be done with them?

you're seeing only 38% said remove them while 60% were with gillespie on that. they said leave them in place. gillespie was trying to build a winning coalition out of that 57%. just didn't materialize. that may be the biggest issue here wasn't in the exit poll. it might just have been donald trump himself. >> i wonder about the statues. it is reasonable to assume that if you have 21% turnout among african americans in this election, which is a good turnout in terms of proportionality, that only what, about 18% of white voters were for getting rid of the statues. the whites generally for keeping them historically. they wanted to keep the history, despite its moral mix, to put it lightly. >> you have to say while gillespie really ran aggressively on the issue, northam didn't really take the opposite position. he said you know what? municipalities, localities, you decide. it wasn't like he was doing the

culture war stuff from the other side. >> complete get him out of the way. you're right. he said leave it up to the locals. i don't think that's the right issue for democrats. i know they have to do it. but i think they better put that on the back burner for a while. anyway, thank you, steve. >> sure. >> that's where it belongs. as steve mentioned, the removal of confederate monuments became a hot button issue in the virginia race. here is why it got hot, the deadly protests in charlottesville. the old right were pushing it. for more i'm joined by the mayor of richmond, virginia. and the director for the center for politics at virginia university. mayor, like it or not, this issue made virginia. it sort of became the iconic issue. everybody else can identify with health care and guidance and immigration, but no other state has the history that virginia has in terms of fighting the civil war. >> this is true. and we have a special, unique and rich history here in the commonwealth of virginia,

particularly in my city of richmond. at the polls there are issues that matter a whole lot more than bronze and granite. the living matter more that means health care, public education and obviously combatting gun violence. that's a whole lot more than bronze and granite. >> yeah, i think that's true. larry, i guess we're not completely moving over to the middle east where they fight over every statue, every piece of ground because it all has historic and different meaning for the communities. i'm not sure it's reached that point now where we're actually going to war over the statstatu. your thoughts? >> i think there was a backlash to what happened in charlottesville and what later happened in richmond. and the mayor handled that very well. but long story short, i think both parties are just going to back off from this to the extent that i can, they will leave to it localities. that's probably the way to handle it. some localities probably want to have referendum, for example. that may be a way to deal with

it. as a statewide issue, i have to tell you, the democrats were very worried that this was going to end up hurting ralph northam. they were very concerned that this would stimulate another racial issue. and already had gillespie harping on ms 13 and immigration and crime and lots -- and football players take agony, all this kind of stuff. but what was really interesting, chris, this boiled down not to those issues that steve just mentioned, though he is correct. that's what was asked on the exit poll. it boiled down to trump and trumpism. this was -- it's not a referendum on trump. but it was public backlash to trump. and some kind of repudiation i think of trumpism. that is what this election ended up being about. >> mayor, i don't know this as well. you run for office you. get elected, mayor. i have a sense, i said it earlier tonight, that voters only have a crude tool when they go in the voting booth. they can't write a letter or

write an effort. they have to vote. it's basically binary. it is yes or no? this time they voted no. what is it about your community, your voters that -- be honest here. what is it they most dislike about donald trump? >> i think they hate the divisive and bigoted sort of rhetoric that's coming out of his mouth. >> yeah. >> you heard some of the -- the way he -- i think it all began when you look back at what he said about african americans during the presidential campaign. like what do we have to lose? well, now we saw what we had to lose, and we came out in full force. in my city alone, 70,000 voters came out and voted this time around. we won 81%, ralph northam did. the last time when terry mcauliffe was on the ballot, 58,000 came out to vote. you see the difference there not only african americans, but young white voters as well came out and said you know what? in a resounding way said this is the kind of politics we don't want in our commonwealth and

beyond. >> tell me what it means that the millennials did what you said. that it wasn't an ethnic thing or race thing among millennials, and you larry jump in on this too, that young people really did vote against trump, trumpism. mayor first. >> yeah, i would say this. when i look at my city, my city is young. between 20 and 29 years old. 23% of our population is made up of those individuals. we want a progressive style of politics, a politics that is inclusive and welcoming. what you hear out of washington, d.c. and what you heard from ed gillespie was maybe he did not embrace donald trump, but he ran on the trump playbook of fearmongering. talked about ms 13. talk about statues. he may not have embraced trump. but guess what? he ran with the trump playbook circumstances this going to convince the republican candidates in 2018 that they can win as trump, mimicking his issues? >> chris, it ought to if they are in either purple or competitive territory or blue

territory. how could a republican get elected by being associated either with trump personally or with his issues? now, look, if you're from a deeply red state, if you're running north dakota, you could run under trump. >> alabama looks purple right now. >> it could be. >> they're even in the polls. >> it's pretty extreme. that's why. >> one thing i'll add is we may take back the house of delegates here tonight as well. i look at it right now. looks like a 50-50 seat. if i were a house republican in congress, i would be scared. also, i would add this as well. we have a great four years of terry mcauliffe's leadership. terry mcauliffe and ralph northam were tied at the hip. ed gillespie made that case and you see what won out. >> are you voting mcauliffe for president? >> hinge would make an excellent president if he chose to do that. we'll see what happen. >> will you be with him if he runs? >> i'm going to be the mayor of

richmond. that's where i'm going to be. >> mayors can endorse presidents. i love doing this. i caught you, mayor. you don't want the say if you're for terry or not. he'll call you tomorrow. >> if terry mcauliffe runs for president, he has my endorsement without a doubt. >> well act, man who makes decisions on a dime. thank you, mayor of richmond. a great man. larry, what do you think of the united states coming next year? is in a lode star for 2018 politics? >> well, it's going to help democrats raise money. >> oh, yeah. >> it's going to help democrats recruit candidates. chris, what this legislative vote in virginia showed is democrats have to recruit candidates to run everywhere. you never know where you might win. incredibly, northam's coattails picked democrats from just 34 of 100 seats in the house of delegates to a 50-50 split. and they're going to be recounts. they might go over 50. the key there was having lots of candidates who could catch on to

a wave. there could be a wave next year. we don't know yet. it's too early. >> larry, you taught something very important they was watching tonight. in races like next year, you may run in a seat that has never gone democrat and you may win. in 1964, 1974, there are all kinds of years where the people who -- teachers just announced, i think i'll run for it. i'll run it the last day. tom foley ran it the last day. howard up in maryland, new jersey was, he ran the last day. he got elected. it's a year to take, put your name on the ballot. get it on the ballot. thank you, mayor. >> exactly. >> thank you, larry sabato, knows his politics. up next, president trump is in south korea right now, but his mind is on virginia and the governor's race he lost. and tonight he blasted ed gillespie, supposedly his guy before the voting saying the republican lost because he failed to embrace, that's his word, the trump agenda. and maybe the trump manner. you're watching a special edition of "hardball."

i just called lieutenant governor ralph northam to congratulate him on becoming governor-elect. ralph northam. as said throughout the course of this campaign, governor-elect northam is a good man and i appreciate his service to our country and our commonwealth. and i wish him nothing but the

best success as our 73rd governor. obviously, wish it had gone the other way, but i thank those who voted and cast votes even for obviously those who won today. >> doing that is a lot harder than you think. welcome back to "hardball" that is virginian candidate for governor ed gillespie who got walloped tonight, conceding the race to ralph northam. he didn't mention you noticed in whole speech donald trump. but as i mentioned the president tweeted earlier ed gillespie worked hard but did not embrace me or what i stand for. don't forget, republicans won four house seats. and with the economy doing record numbers, we will continue to win even bigger than before. that's trump doing his usual. it's an about a-face. earlier the president tweeted gillespie will totally turn around the high crime and poor economic performance of virginia. ms 13 and crime will be gone. vote today asap. that was before the votes came in. this a pattern of course for the president. he tweeted against alabama senator luther strange after he

lost his primary runoff to roy moore. he dumped on him afterwards and dumped him and deleted his previous tweets in support of strange. somehow he raced them. i'm joined by politics editor at the root and msnbc political contributor. jason, this unfortunate human nature here to scamper away from defeat when you did become partner with the guy politically. >> well, you know, not only partnering with yourself. this isn't just like leaving the prom date that you weren't happy with, right? >> don't talk that is worse than i can imagine. >> exactly. and here is the thing. the tweets just earlier in the day and you're saying this guy is wonderful. and now you're saying that he is not can you feel wonderful. the other problem is this, every other republican out there, they're seeing this now. they're seeing this guy is not going to have my back. >> i do. i didn't believe it until i saw what's happening on the state legislative level. that's where this is really worrisome for republicans. because if you see a state

legislature flip in an offyear election, and if that level of enthusiasm continue, that's where you have got some real problems. >> that's how the republicans build up their strength over the last 20 years. >> exactly. >> let me ask you about the decision by mr. gillespie. these decisions are not accidental or casual. you go out there to give a very difficult moment. it is very difficult to give a concession speech. and to do it without crying, without any kind of emotion. i don't want to show it. you want to show strength. and as he was composing his thoughts and emotions and his words, i'm not going to mention the s.o.b. i mean, he said i'm not going to say i want to thank the president for all his help. he didn't do that. >> and i don't think he ever really wanted to. pence came down there. gillespie was never really going to embrace donald trump. and i think, look. >> why? because he is an establishment figure? >> he is an establishment figure. >> and trump would have caused more trouble. >> how about trump? 7,000 miles away, and it wasn't

far enough a way. he felt that he had to dump on this guy. anywhere, here is a little sadism for all of us. new jersey republican kim guadagno was running on the opposite of coattails of governor christie who is down in the low teens in terms of respect and popularity. let's watch the best she could make of it tonight. >> about ten minutes from now, maybe even five minutes ago, i called phil murphy and congratulated him on a fabulous race. stop, stop. it was a great race. we left no stone unturned. we left no stone unturned. and we would not have done anything differently. i want to congratulate him on the win, and you will do right now. give him a congratulations on the win. this is not the end. this is the beginning of a good fight. well will keep up that fight. >> i'm sorry. i know she is a woman, but i love the phrase jersey girls. i think she's got the attitude,

the spunk. i love it. i'm sorry. a little bit of joan river there's. that was great. >> i thought she was fantastic. >> she toughed it out. >> look, you see the people walking around like they're already beginning to sweep up. she was going to do this. she was going to be brave and say look, i'm sure you've done this too. >> i've been in there when the trash is all over the floor. >> exactly, exactly. but she kept to it. she didn't give up. >> she must have known, jason, from day one she wasn't going to -- republicans don't get elected that easily in new jersey. no. >> and then to have to go -- what are the opposite of coattails? i was trying to think mill stone. mill stone around her neck. she had that big, and i don't just mean big governor on her shoulders. >> yes. >> and the bridge, they even threw the bridge at her. and she had nothing to do with those cones out there. >> we have too many puns. it's a governor-sized mill stone on her neck, a bridge too far. she was not going to be able to do this. >> that was a good movie too. great book.

thank you. >> cornelius ryan wrote "a bridge too far." thank you. it was great to have you. up next, a bigot night for democrats and progressives. this is going to have an after glow for week news what happened today in virginia. and what does it mean for 2018? it means a lot of people are going to run for office next year as democrats who wouldn't have run otherwise because they think they can win now. the democrats stand a real shot of win a senate race in arizona. you're watching a special night of "hardball." big night for the d's.

accused of obstructing justice to theat the fbinuclear war, and of violating the constitution by taking money from foreign governments and threatening to shut down news organizations that report the truth. if that isn't a case for impeaching and removing a dangerous president, then what has our government become? i'm tom steyer, and like you, i'm a citizen who knows it's up to us to do something. it's why i'm funding this effort to raise our voices together and demand that elected officials

take a stand on impeachment. a republican congress once impeached a president for far less. yet today people in congress and his own administration know that this president is a clear and present danger who's mentally unstable and armed with nuclear weapons. and they do nothing. join us and tell your member of congress that they have a moral responsibility to stop doing what's political and start doing what's right. our country depends on it. ♪ wipeout >> virginia, we have witnessed yet another democratic sweep today. >> well, it was a wipeout for republicans in the hands of ralph northam and the democrats tonight. wipeout indeed.

but did ed gillespie, well, he wasn't the only loser in tonight's democratic wave in virginia. just days ago former trump chief strategist steve bannon told "the new york times" that gillespie closed an enthusiasm gap by rallying around the trump agenda. do you think? anyway, the big lesson is that in gillespie's case, trumpism minus trump can show the way forward. well, not really. well, tonight voters in virginia rejected trumpism at top of the ticket and all the way down the ballot. they may have cost the republicans the entire state legislature. openly transgender candidate danica roem won a seat against 13-incumbent who called himself the chief homophobe. let's bring in "hardball" round table. national reporter for "the new york times." steve mcmahon is a democratic strategist and a republican strategist. down the line here, i think this is big. i think it's going to change the morale across the country of democrats who haven't won a battle since last november. and they lost that one. >> and the choices couldn't have

been any more clearer. you had someone who was calling himself the chief homophobe and a transgendered woman saying i'm going to usher in a completely different phase. >> she is 34 and he is 74 by the way. >> exactly. this was not just kind of a nuance. this is a clear choice. you want confederate to dominate this conversation or progressive ideals to dominate the conversation. i think what's important is you see the numbers of people who say they really do want the statues up. but they don't care. the number one issue is health care. and in that regard, they're trusting democrats to do that. >> good. i like to put that issue aside for a while and let it calm down a little bit. a little debev nine neglect on the side for. i don't like the pictures of the huge cranes. this is trouble. steve, it seems to me enyou l k lock -- when you look at the numbers. >> it was an opportunity for voters to go out and really take a stand.

and ed gillespie, it was kind of an unusual campaign. because it was like the invasion of the body snatchers. ed gillespie, the caricature of ed gillespie that ran was not "the ed show" that all of us have known in the house. >> he is a regular washingtonian. >> a chamber of commerce establishment republican who beat trumpism in the primary, and then became trumpism in the general election. and it came back to bite him. everybody up on capitol hill worried right now. >> we got to do it. we're not south africa. but sometimes we talk politics, we sound like it. i think it's amazing. if you take 21% electorate which was african american this time, just assume, roughly, 20 the 21 voted against trump. and you take the white electorate which is the southern in the southern accent. northam is not some crazy left winger. he is pretty much a centrist, a medical doctor. i think the republicans would have had a run of ridiculous percentage among white voters to win with 20% automatically against him.

john? how do you win an election like that if you're a republican? >> which they didn't. they didn't. if you look at the turnout, northam did a lot better. >> white women voted for northam. >> a lot better than anyone would have thought. and the suburbs was catastrophic for the republicans. we got wiped mount the suburbs. gillespie got wiped thought the suburbs. i think if you're barbara comstock or one of the many republicans who make the majority who come from suburbs around the country you have to think how the heck am i going to get myself re-elected. and they have to start thinking than right now. they have to start getting things done in congress. >> you think people around the big cities, the better off suburbs like delaware, around philly, or fitzpatrick or meehan, you thank you they're getting a little shaky in their boots right now? they're on the leaning list. >> i don't think they really liked trump to begin with. i think a lot of them voted against trump. and now the worry is not only voting against trump, but they voted against republicans who are trying to align themselves with trump. >> throw in the fact they're

voting against property tax deductions in their tax bill and they have high property taxes in the suburban areas, and they always like any normal person would, at least i can write it off my federal income tax. not now. >> they're going to find a way to get a deal on that, make it more acceptable to folks. >> you utake a way the property tax deduction to a guy, a woman who owns aous. >> they're going to get a property tax deduction. what they're not going to get is the state and local taxes. that's where it's going to be the rub. >> no. they're not going to get a property tax deduction. >> that's not going to be sufficient for the people who enjoy it. look, i think what's interesting tonight, you look at the suburbs of washington where ed gillespie ran and did quite well when he ran against mark warner. he got 20 points less in the vote this -- in this election than he did when he ran against warner. and that was truly in prince william. it was true in loudoun county. it was true in fairfax county. the ed gillespie that ran last time was the sort of

establishment republican. >> you're a republican running for election in any sort of reasonable state. not far right, reasonable state. are you going to have donald trump's face on your literature? >> probably not. mainly because -- not only because i think this trumpism obviously lost tonight. but i think there is this idea that republicans have always been kind of not in donald trump's corner. they have never been -- >> he beat them. that's how they won. he didn't join them. he beat them. >> he did. but there is this issue where republicans for a long time, even before he didn't want to run at donald trump. and now they're feeling this pressure to be donald trump because of the fact that he had this surprising win. i think now republicans are like we can go back to our corners and not be donald trump. >> will he let them? will he let them go on their own? >> the problem is you're going to have national, rao it? you're going to have national no matter what happens. i think donna brazile, i know we're not going to talk about her. >> if we talk about donna brazile, that's all we talk about. she is too big in news this

week. >> we've entered the stage where things are national in general. >> question. the democrats are divided now. there is the bernie people still hanging on. i think donna didn't help that in what she said the other day. i'm not sure what she wanted to do. but the republicans may now have a real split it seems to me. i'll go to john on this. the republicans, are you going to have the trump and the un-trump republicans next year? >> first of all, it all depends on how the economy is doing. and trump gets above 37%. if it gets up to 40, 42%, i think they will not run with trump. i think they're going the try to localize the elections. >> approval rating. his approval rating can't be at 37%. if it is, it's a real problem for republicans. he has to get up to 42, 44%. below that the republicans are in trouble. >> but that's where he was in virginia though, 42. >> that's why we lost virginia. >> no, but it wasn't good enough. >> the generic ballot right now for democrats is 11 points. leonardo-point advantage. that's the highest it's been in ten years. donald trump is juan-man wrecking machine. and i think republicans up on

the hill tonight are beginning to figure that out. and they've got tax reform coming up. >> are they going to pass tax reform or not? >> i'm not sure they get that much by giving breaks to big corporations. >> what do they get if they don't pass that? >> the round table is sticking with us next. another victory, new jersey voters overwhelmingly elected phil murphy for governor and buried the legacy of chris christie scarily deep. you're watching a special edition of "hardball."

this is not an election about me no matter what. if kim wins, it's not an affirmation of my eight years. and if phil murphy wins, it's not a rejection of my eight years. >> can you sum up your eight years of office in one word? >> fun. >> that was governor chris christie. not a great morning for him. today's other marquee race was the one to replace him in new jersey. and replace they were ready to do. phil murphy beat republican kim guadagno by a double-digit margin. i think a lot of double-digits. christie is leaving office with an approval rating of 14%. that's 14%. the lowest some people said today in the history of any state in the united states in all the years of the republic. and christie was known for his

colorful and confrontational style of politics. we got an example of that fresh today leaving his polling place, he was confronted by a constituent. of course, this is jersey, who wanted him to merge two local municipalities. now that's a reason to really go at it. let's watch. >> the easiest thing in the world is to stand where you stand and stand on the sidelines and critique. well, you're not. you're the one here doing the critiquing. so you know what? you want -- you live in the township you want to merge, run for the township committee, run for the township committee and be the voice to do it. i know. because that's too hard. it's easier to sit here. it's easier to sit here and complain. easier to sit here and complain. but you know what? that's the joy of public system. it's serving folks. it's serving folks, yeah, it's serving -- it's serving folks like you that is really such a unique joy. it really is. >> i think he loved it.

anyway, here is some more of christie's colorful moments over the past eight years. let's watch. >> did i stay on topic? are you stupid? on topic. on topic. next yes. thank you. thank you all very much and i'm sorry for the idiot over there. >> it's people who raise their voices and yell and scream like you that are dividing this country. we're here to bring this country together, not to divide it. >> what's her name? >> what's her name, guy, real quick? because the governor is talking. gail. talk to gail. >> first off, it's none of your business. i don't ask you where you send your kids to school. don't bother me about where i send mine. >> unbeknownst to everybody, i was actually the guy out there. i was in overalls and a hat. i was the guy working the cones out there. you really are not serious with that question? >> if what you want to do is put on a show and giggle every time i talk, i have no interest in answering your question. >> you know, tom, you must be the thinnest skinned guy in america. >> she wants to get on a plane

and come here to new jersey and ask if she wants to examine me and review my medical history, vial a conversation with her hab about that. until that thame r time she should shut up. >> you want to have the conversation later, i'm happy to visit. until that time, sit down and shut up! >> we're back with the roundtable. me and steve. he has his comeuppance today. new jersey rejected him. they put in a replacement for him there is no one like him. the cam courageously ran in his footsteps and tried to succeed him. got nowhere. and now we're playing this sorry hall of shame here against him. your thoughts. >> he went from someone who people were talking about running for president and possibly president to this person who now has so many other gates behind his name. there is bridgegate there is beachgate there is yellgate. there are so many things. i think that chris christie while he says that this election wasn't about him, this election was about him and people just

don't want a governor who acts like that and governors like he did. >> steve, you and i have had similar backgrounds. a certain philly guy likes that. it shows he had some attitude. and if somebody was pushed him into a corner about where his kids went to school, he had a right to defend himself. but then he went on a tear. >> it's like he jumped the shark. a certain amount of attitude and authenticity is a good thing in a politician. tip o'neill had it. ted kennedy had it. >> frank sinatra had it. >> a lot of the people we worked for had it. but you can see chris christie got to a 14% approval rating by earning it, every single day. and when you become a bully, it's not an attractive thing. there is a very fine line. >> it's one thing to defend yourself. another to trample on people. your thoughts? >> he could have been a contender. i think that chris christie was the trump before trump. he was very authentic guy. he was a battler. he was able to take on the media.

his problem was bridgegate. and that started a long terrible path down. >> here he goes. >> it took away the authentic y authenticity. >> during the 2016 presidential campaign, not a million years ago, last year, christie focused much of his contempt on marco rubio. let's watch. >> when senator rubio gets here, the boy in the bubble gets here, i hope you guys ask him some questions. let's get the boy in the bubble out of the bubble. let's see if he'll answer some of your question. >> of course he is jumping on him after that ridiculous performance by a guy who got a little brain frozen and repeated the same neo con line. it was a neo coop line six times in a row in the same debate. >> yet. >> let's watch that it was the unbelievable moment, a republican debate in february after ruk owe repebio repeated line over and over. let's put rubio in the barrel now. bad night for republicans. >> let's dispel with the fiction that barack obama doesn't know

what he is doing. let's dispel what barack obama doesn't know what he is doing. he knows exactly what he is doing. >> the memorized 25-second speech, that is exactly what the advisers gave him. >> the bottom line, this notion that barack obama doesn't know what he is doing -- >> there it is. there it is. the memorized 25 second speech there it is, everybody. >> i think for years we're going to try to figure out the psychology of why he repeated himself. i don't even get it. >> i think some of it was that he was obviously -- i watched that speech. i'm thinking that he was nervous that he clearly was kind of out of his game that he was trying to be authentic. and it was -- he was failing miserably. >> we got to go. it's like a broken doll on the floor. it keeps repeating itself on the tape. yamiche che alcindor, john mcmahon, we'll be right back.

that does it for the special edition of "hardball." join me again tomorrow night at 7:00 eastern. "the last word" with lawrence o'donnell starts right now. good evening, the rachel. the next speech we're going to have on this network will be democrat ralph northam of virginia, the winner of the g governor's race. i want to get your reaction to what you just witnessed in the president's speech in north korea. a speech that had the usual kind of trumpian surprises that, as you're listening to the speech, you can't quite believe it's happening. but then you go, oh, yeah, this is donald trump. of course h