President Trump's role in the midterms

I'll sort of reiterate while we are together today. It is, of course, the November midterm election. November 3rd is here. Polls opened earlier this morning. They'll close tonight. We have live coverage for you planned throughout the day. We'll get you right up until our five o'clock newscast. We have teams here in the Bay Area. That's where I'm located. We also have teams in Southern California. That's part of the reason we're able to pop in on that live polling place there in Beverly Hills. We also have some expert insight from people you likely know if you've been watching our newscast in Fox Local San Francisco for a while. For a good time, we'll go ahead and bring in a familiar face and voice. Once again, good morning to Tom Del Beccaro. You're the former head of the California Republican Party. Let's look a little bit more broadly here. When we watch what's happening on this national election day, what are you most interested in? Well, obviously, the House of Representatives, which has flipped numerous times in the last 20, 30 years when it was Democrat only for 38 years, there are narrow majorities there. So only three times in the last 100 years has the president's party not lost offices. So there's a lot of people looking at that. The question is, do Republicans hold on? Do they lose? Do they lose by a lot or do they hold on? By a thin razor. And of course, the Senate. I think the Republicans will hold the Senate, but the House represents a much more difficult task for them. We've heard terms like blue wave. I've heard some people predicting a blue tsunami. What are you expecting in that respect? Well, you know, I've been studying polling for decades now. I don't buy into the major media polls. In 2016, New York Times said 91% chance Hillary would win. And, of course, that didn't come to pass. Although, interestingly, a couple days ago, or maybe it was yesterday, the New York Times said the late breaking in the last month, the Republicans hold a 9% advantage. So I don't think it'll be a big way, in part because we've gerrymandered ourselves so very much in all of these states that not that many seats really swing. So, look, I do expect the Democrats make gains. It's sort of the natural course of events. How do you think President Trump has performed with his endorsements of his favorite candidates, sort of his image nationwide? I know we've reported that his, gosh, it's not favorability rating. What am I thinking? His approval rating, you know, is not as high as it once was. Well, I think he's been very effective in the last month, although I don't think Republicans controlled the narrative for the year. I think the Democrats rather define the issues more than the Republicans did. And he frames the debate. often wins it. So the Republicans did a good job in the last month. The Democrats did a good job in the last year with respect to defining the issues. And that may lend itself, you know, I've written about this at Fox and other places. This issue of who controls the narrative will likely result, you know, the economy grew very well in the last quarter, but I don't think I think voters see it that way and I think that will Make the decision for many people. I asked you earlier in this hour if you thought Steve Hilton would win for governor. And you said, I think he has won already in one way. So even if he doesn't come out the victor tonight, which polls say he very likely won't. Talk to me about the issues that you think he put on the table that essentially Democrats had to respond to. There are issues that remain in California that are of concern. California has the highest gas price taxes in the nation, the highest gas prices. That's why putting a tax on mileage would be so detrimental, because it is the poor and the middle class that pay the most when it comes to driving. He's put that on the table. The homelessness remains. Crime remains. Affordability remains. California is the most expensive state in the country other than Hawaii. Hawaii is remote, so you can understand why it would happen. These things need to be worked on and not just more taxes added. So I want to thank Steve for bringing those issues to bear. And he went places where most Republicans don't. I met Steve three or four years ago. We talked about... Him running, and that was my first thing, one of the first things I said to him. Just go to the places people aren't used to seeing a Republican if you're going to run, and I think he's done that. Well, it sounds like Hilton's strongest performance has come from a place that you might expect him to do well. A conservative inland areas, the Central Valley, that sort of thing. His challenger, Javier Becerra, having strong support among not just Democrats, but independent voters, coastal and suburban metro areas, a lot of backing among women and Latino voters. So as we watch the governor's race, we're going to have to let you go here. You've already had a you've had a long day. You've got many more hours of election coverage to come. Can I ask you real quick before we let you go? Do you think soon to be former California Governor Gavin Newsom runs for president? I'm sorry, that cut out. Who do I think will be come out leading the Republicans for president next time around? No, sorry. No, I asked if you think soon to be former California Governor Gavin Newsom will run for the White House. He's going to declare in December. You think so? Is that a close enough answer? Okay. All right. All right. Are you here for it? Do you think there's someone else you'd rather see the Democrats put forward? I don't specialize in saying what the Democrats should do, but I will say there's going to be a heck of a lot of them doing it, and there's going to be a lively debate. Okay. All right. What do you think on the Republican side? Who would you like to see your party put forward? Marco Rubio. Okay. Even though he's tried and failed in the past? He's come a long way in the years. I think he has demonstrated sort of a calmness in a very difficult area. And he's closer to me on the economic issues. So he's rising in the polls. Uh, and I just like him, uh, personally, so we'll see. Okay, we will. I'm sure we'll get to talk many, many times before now and two years from now. Tom Delvecchio, it's so nice to be able to connect with you. 20 plus years will keep this going. I appreciate your time and your insight on this Fox Local Election Day.