? josh: this sunday, congressman frank guinta won his primary faces off against democrat carol shea-porter. which way will voters go this year, and was the top of get benefit or hurt either? or will voters embrace the independent option with shawn o'connor and how he would be a different voice in washington. he is also our guest. i am josh mcelveen. many wrote off conversation frank guinta last year, but he said voters did not care about that. turns out he was right. he won the primary against rich ashooh. he is my first guest peek at to see you.

be back in emp we finished legislative work in washington. i have been making sure to talk to as many people in the state as i can. josh: whether it is donald trump or bernie sanders, it there is an appetite for something different. in the first cd, now it is you and shea-porter. rep. guinta: carol shea-porter has been running for 10 years, i am only in my second term. people senior as the outsider trying to shake up washington. i have been able to do things against my own party but have been able to work with the other side of the aisle in getting six pieces of legislation, working with ann kuster to make sure the heroin and opioid issue is dealt with. the reception i get is good. we are delivering for new hampshire. josh: you are a member of our

frustrated, if not discussed it, with. how do you make the case what you are doing is different than the status quo? rep. guinta: results. i voted against the budget because of the $50 billion in additional spending. i was able to get a repeal of the cadillac tax, one of the linchpins of the affordable care act. i was able to convince the president that was about idea. getting $192 million a year for each of thet can lead and get things done without increasing the deficit or long-term debt. that is the kind of result i think people in new hampshire wants. josh: did you have discussions with the president? rep. guinta: i have talked with the president, with the white house. this was a clear focus of ours from a bipartisan perspective to it is why i asked ann kuster to be my cochair. i wanted to bring people together.

people in the bipartisan task force spearheaded through the house of representatives, the carol legislation. all past bipartisanly. we made some minor changes, got it to the president's desk. and we started funding in september. josh: let's talk about a topical issue. we are taping this writer. hurricane matthew continues to turn o t katrina and situations where the auto government's -- federal government's response was not as fast as it should have been. do you look at this and think the necessary change has been made for emergencies? rep. guinta: when i was mayor, when we had the 100 years storm mother's day. it was the weekend my wife and i moved into our home. the next day, i left for three

the worst storm we had had in 100 years. i think we are better prepared as a city, state, country for these kinds of natural disasters. the rule we need to play is immediately identify them as a disaster. provide not just human resources but financial resources. make sure that we keep people safe. after the storm, rebuilt. it is important to do that. i think we can see. josh: is theme of funded to the grieving need to be? rep. guinta: they are -- josh: is fema funded to the degree they need to be? rep. guinta: yes. josh: top of the ticket. donald trump you and you support him. kelly ayotte got into a little bit of a problem when during the debate, she thought he would he

too fine a line when it comes to the top of the ticket? rep. guinta: i understand most people do not feel either candidates at the top of the ticket are perfect. i think they've -- i think they both should be themselves p.r. respect hillary clinton's service. i disagree with her policy. i have said is she becomes president, i will work with her. i feeling is new hampshire of voters are frustrated. will provide better economic growth for the country. i think donald trump exemplifies, 30 his experience, a far better appreciation and understanding of what middle-class americans are going through. similar to what i went through as mayor. josh: how does he understand? rep. guinta: i think he relates better to middle-class america than hillary clinton. i have talked with him.

what america is going through. you can be successful and still appreciate what other americans are going through. i think that is the key reason he decided to run. josh: do you think he is a role model, and does the president have to be a role model? rep. guinta: you like to have a president be a role model. i understand many americans do not think either meet the standard. i hope he continues like any president, whether hillary clinton or barack always improve who they are, to be respectful of americans and the world, and to lead in a way that makes us proud. i hope you continues to of all, to strengthen those leadership skills. should he become president of the united states, these are things i would continue to share. josh: during his first debate, you said it is about time we have a president who knows about money. $22 trillion in debt is the

reversing. the debt and deficit is something that continues to balloon. we are reaching the tipping point. $24 trillion. where does it begin, the search to reverse it? rep. guinta: this is why i voted against the budget and against the omnibus. as a result, typically, you are ostracized by your leadership. in washington, it was opposite. my leadership asked with my budget and business experience. get on the committee and help them with the problem. i have been back on the committee for a couple of months. i already a compost $60 billion in cuts. a balanced budget amendment. a summary to retool one of the acts, so we can get to one of the most important issues -- tax reform.

you need to have balanced the jets. i think we can get there in a fairly short amount of time. then pay down the debt. if we do not get serious about this, our kids and grandkids will feel pain like no american has felt before, from a fiscal perspective. we have that obligation to address that. my opponents, who are similar in their own ideology, proud of the fact that th they will not share that view. they will continue to have federal spending, continued to grow the size of the federal government. i do not think that is what new hampshire wants. josh: i want to move to carol shea-porter in particular. perhaps they will try to make this a character debate against you, pointing to the fcc thing. how will you counter that? rep. guinta: carol has been doing that for years. i think people in new hampshire

that reflected that. i will continue to focus on public policy issues. i understand shawn o'connor and carol shea-porter will attack me. i also understand carol shea-porter will probably attack shawn. she has a problem dealing with someone in her primary who is now on the general election ballot. they have very similar views. she has her hands full. i will continue to work on the by this president. my opponents cannot say they have had that kind of achievement. josh: well, congratulations on the primary. best of luck moving forward. we will be right back with carol shea-porter. it's a great view from the top. just ask chris sununu. chris inherited a famous name

and cut employees' hours to avoid giving them health insurance. so it's no surprise chris opposes the minimum wage because he never had to work for anything. chris sununu has no business being governor. this advertisement has been paid for by put new hampshire first and has not been authorized by any candidate. vo: small businesses line main streets all over new hampshire - providing the products, services and jobs families depend on. that's why, as governor,

help our local economy grow. but kelly ayotte helps big corporations. she voted with out-of-state corporates interests like the koch brothers - 90% of the time. billionaires and big corporations get tax breaks and she takes the campaign cash. kelly ayotte: taking care of billionaires, hurting new hampshire families. senate majority pac is responsible for the content of this advertising. josh: to address why she is the right choice to go back to congress. trying to make the argument that she is the best to go back to congress. you are fighting a cold, so you said not to shake. how is it going? ms. shea-porter: we have been busy all over the district. we are hearing people want a democrat in the seat. they want me to win.

people have shown they are frustrated with the status quo. this is matchup number four against frank guinta. not a lot of change in recent years. had you make the case that "i should go back down"? ms. shea-porter: he did not get anything done -- i date. a one i was there, we kept the economy from falling into depression. brought it back. we invested in people, brough wage. the things people care about, we were actually getting done. people know that if you look at that period of time, it was the most productive congress since roosevelt. then republicans took the majority, and it has been difficult since. josh: do you think the country is safer now than in 2008 when barack obama first took office? ms. shea-porter: this is a dangerous time around the world.

to you i spent six years on the armed services committee. i know how committed men and women are in this country. not just democrats, but republicans. this has to be a nonpartisan issue. our national security is that important. we have work to do. but every single year, we have invested more and are really working hard to make sure that we catch terrorists, that we work with other countries, do what needs to be done. josh: terrorists. the president has said he wants to close guantanamo bay, says it sends the wrong message. some democrats disagree. where do you stand? ms. shea-porter: we had problems under the bush administration. we all know about that. no sense going back there. but i have confidence the military could do these trials. it has been way too long. what happened there was a really

gitmo early on. ms. shea-porter: yes. it was a bad chapter. but i believe the military lawyers are typical of doing this. but this has dragged on too long to we have to take care of this. josh: does gitmo go away under your call? ores of the best of a number of options that are not great. ms. shea-porter: they really are not. our primary concern has to be country. and people everywhere from terrorists. josh: so you keep it open? ms. shea-porter: i think what we need to do is finish those trials. i do not think it can stay open forever, but they need to finish those trials. and i think the military has the capability of doing that. but because it went wrong for so long, i think a lot of people are deeply concerned about that. there were a lot of things that should not have happened. josh: where do you fall where it

party. ms. shea-porter: again, first and foremost, we have to protect our security. that is our responsibility to the people of this country. he have to be extremely careful in the vetting process. but we have always been a land for refugees. people have fled to our shores. we have been proud of that. what we see happening in syria and other places, no one can doubt almost every terrible violence. i believe we can properly vet. it is a difficult process they go through. i think we need to continue to do very intensive vetting. we have to be 100% certain. but we saw that little 5-year-old trying to wipe the blood off his hands, sitting in his ambulance. i believe his brother died. we know these families are fleeing awful violence. we have to be compassionate as

of the ticket. obviously, donald trump is a figure that has been divisive in his own party. hillary clinton has not had the huge coattails some democratic ballot -- democratic candidates down ballot would like. governor maggie hassan has struggled with that a little. do you think people are being too fine with the answers about the top of theke trustworthy? ms. shea-porter: i think republicans have a problem with donald trump. just yesterday, former republican members of congress say it is not about the party, it is about the country. you cannot vote for donald trump. the senior republican security leader saying you cannot vote for donald trump. we are seeing that party and our party saying you cannot vote for donald trump. i think frank into -- frank guinta, who has fully endorsed him, needs to look carefully

leaders, who we all respect, are saying. that donald trump does not have the temperament and is not fit, not to mention how he has attacked almost every single group. we are seeing almost every republican newspaper saying "not donald trump." we are seeing papers who have not endorsed a democrat in 100 years or longer say "not donald trump." josh: but hillary clinton surrounding her. ms. shea-porter: i would not have endorsed her if i did not think she was trustworthy and ready for the job. all of those who are endorsing her would not have endorsed are either, it if they -- endorsed her either, if they think she should be in -- if she is not ready to be president of the united states. these are republican leaders in national security saying they trust hillary and not donald trump.

cannot be donald trump. josh: asking about the debt and deficit, we have talked about $20 trillion in debt. last cycle, it was $17 trillion. the tipping point is $24 trillion. how do we reserve those -- how do we reverse those numbers? ms. shea-porter: we need to listen to people like warren buffett, who has been incredibly successful in his life. he keeps saying we need to change the tax code. he said it is not more than he pays on his income. we need to tell the truth. we have to reform the tax code. and what is happening because of all the lobbyists, these multinational corporations employ and others, what we are seeing is that middle-class continuously whacked.

washington is protecting special interests. there are things that seem so sensible and we cannot get them done. for example, negotiating the price of perception drugs for medicare, which we know which change -- save millions over a 10 year period. we cannot get it done. why? big pharma and other special interests. we have too much debt here. i have been talking about that since 2006. 2006 -- i looked at my campaign literature -- i am still talking about it. talking about the middle class, talking about taking care of people. having them feel like they can have a piece of the american dream. that they can educate their children without they or their children drowning in debt to you that they get a fair wage. that they get a retirement that will allow them to take care of themselves. josh: how do you make the case to voters over the next few

of people know that frank guinta got in trouble with the federal election commission, a 6-0 decision. what he did and said i was lying. i think that makes a difference. that he was lying not just to me but about me, but that he lied to the people of new hampshire. i do not think i have to say anything more. that is what his republican opponent said about him. kelly ayotte said he should step down. other republican leaders in union said that as well. i am just talking about what i would do and what i am standing for. i am standing for affordable education. protecting a woman's right to get access to planned parenthood. to support the economy, etc. josh: well, i hope you feel

candidate shawn o'connor. i'm maggie hassan, and i approve this message. nothing matters more than our security. that's why i hired more state troopers... and strengthened plans for school safety. support aggressive action to destroy isis... and put our security before my party-- opposing president obama's plan to close guantanamo. narrator: all while kelly ayotte supports reckless and dangerous donald trump. and ayotte skipped nearly half her homeland security committee hearings

b. i think my strongest asset, maybe by far, is my temperament. i'd like to punch him in the face, i'll tell you. i would bomb the [bleep] out of 'em. i could stand in the middle of 5th avenue and shoot somebody and i wouldn't lose any voters, okay? and you can tell them to go [bleep] themselves. get him out of here! get him out of here! get the hell out of here! priorities usa action is responsible for the content of this advertising. josh: welcome back to the republican incumbent and democratic challenger. now the independent, shawn o'connor. he had in a democrat but decided to be an independent. how is the campaign going? you are working hard as an

internal poll. that showed 55% -- a poll of -- a poll of 6600 people. we have showed our viability. everywhere i go, i am hearing the same thing. people are tired of these career politicians. they are ready for an alternative who will put new hampshire first. josh: how do you win? you could split the vote with the democrats, leading frank guinta win. mr. o'connor: i think -- in our poll, what it showed was i take votes equally away from both frank guinta and carol shea-porter. without me in the race, they are deadlocked at 40%. with me in, they both dropped to

needed to win in a three-way race. i am already in the double digits. we feel very confident. my name id is already about 50%. we expect after the tv run we are doing now and the digital campaign that that will go up to 60% or 75%. we are getting a tremendous response at my speaking engagements. people are ready for change. josh: what you bring to the table? mr. o'connor: what i choice between two options. frank guinta and carol shea-porter are career politicians. carol shea-porter has made over $100 million in congressional salary. she ought a home in the gated community and a yacht club. it is insane. frank guinta has made almost a hundred thousand dollars in congress. he used that to pay in

i will work for the minimum wage and give back the remaining and donate it to new hampshire charities, chosen by the people of new hampshire. and i do not take a dime or penny for him special interests, party committees, super pack support. both of them have taken tens of millions from their party committees and super pacs. that is dirty money. your bow hold it to someone other than the people of new hampshire. they want a will always put new hampshire first. josh: what are your priorities? mr. o'connor: first, we need to clean up washington. we cannot get anything done until we clean up washington. i have a robust congressional reform plan. i propose every member of congress should make the average american salary, between $30,000 and $40,000 per year. their offices and travel and

i also would eliminate super pac , etc. josh: how do you do that? mr. o'connor: we can fight for a constitutional amendment, which i would fight vigorously for. and public pressure. if people see me be successful, they will realize there is public outrage. once we have done that, it is about bringing money back to new hampshire. we are in an opioid crisis. we for every dollar we send to washington, we only get $.72 back. states with more effective representation get $1.10, $1.20 back. i want to make sure every person addicted in new hampshire get a 90 day consultation. 30 days is not enough.

appropriations in new hampshire. those are my priorities. we have to clean up the system. i am not a hold them anybody but the voters of new hampshire. and i think we can focus on priorities that manager granite stater's. josh: you mentioned national defense. mr. o'connor: i worked at the u.s. embassy in ecuador. i had a secret security clearance. i have in international politics. i am well versed in these issues. it is important we work diplomatically to try to solve this. we have spent too much american money with too much american lives lost overseas and rebuilding those countries instead of her building america. i will always keep america safe. that needs to be the number one priority of any member of congress. we need to use intelligence,

terrorist cells, weather outside or within the next -- within the united states. i hope to work in the foreign affairs committee. i recognize our safety is priority number one. josh: i wish we had more time, but we will catch up with you on the campaign trail. rest of luck to you. that will wrap up this addition of -- this edition of "closeup ." go red sox [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] and i'm not perfect either. but when partisan politicians shut down the government, i led the fight to reopen it. i've worked to find solutions to new hampshire's heroin epidemic. and i've crossed the aisle to protect new hampshire's clean air and clean water. i've been called a problem solver by independent groups, and ranked as one of the most bipartisan senators. i'm kelly ayotte - and i approve this message, because whether i'm working with

colin van ostern: i know from my own life the difference a college education can make. narrator: colin van ostern. the son of a single mom, he went to college on student loans, became a stonyfield business manager responsible for a hundred million dollars in revenue. then, a top executive at southern new hampshire university's college for america. colin van ostern: most of our students graduate debt free. cutting student debt should be our goal for all state colleges to create good jobs, and keep our young families here. in new hampshire, maggie hassan cut taxes for small businesses, protected education... created jobs. in washington, what's kelly ayotte done? voted to cut college grants, cut medicare. but kelly ayotte voted to protect tax breaks for millionaires and big oil. that's what the koch brothers and big corporate interests wanted. they're spending millions supporting ayotte.

>> today on "matter of fact" -- are you tired of debating? >> i will finish my sentence if i can. >> a nation weighing our future. >> isn't this a discussion? >> 30 days to go in a blistering campaign. >> i would like to know when they start telling the truth, both candidates. soledad: laboratory for solving the nation's most in trench problems? i am soledad o'brien and you are watching "matter of fact." sunday night's second presidential debate offers another chance for the candidates to address the most important challenges facing communities, policing in america. that topic took center stage in the national debate during the vice presidential candidate.