Do you see any of your candidates really struggling to separate themselves from the controversial nominee . Rob first, greta, thanks for having me. Michelle, it is always great to see you. Unprecedented is a good description when talking about the cycle. The chamber for 104 years has led the fight to defend the American Free enterprise system. I do not think there has been a cycle where that has been more important. We rely on a network of 1600 state and local chambers to help us localize the impacts of federal policy. So this cycle we involved , ourselves historically early who have of candidates the ability to win the political election but also have the courage to govern and get things done. But is really our goal in this cycle to be involved vigorously 2016 in the primaries. And as we find ourselves 30 days before the general election. Matea and so tell us about how much you have invested, and are you seeing candidates separating themselves from the nominee if that is hurting them in the races . Rob so far we spend about 20 million. It will continue to be aggressive and vigorous in the final months. I think it is notable the senate map is about half as big as it has been in the last couple of cycles and also the primaries. Than the been less last cycle and 2014 in particular. Voters this cycle are focused on the impact of federal policy. That is why i think so far and all the way through the primaries, not a single socalled establishment candidate has lost the election through the primaries. And now we find ourselves a short month before the election. Greta last question, one more time any down ballot impact of , donald trump . Rob so far i have not seen any. There is none measurably so in senate races and house races across the country. Now voters are beginning to fully Pay Attention. Now that we are past labor day, and we find ourselves short months before the elections. I think the primaries have measured carefully what the local candidates positions are that are important to getting back to it. A period of sustained Economic Growth versus the last two years where it has been 2 . Voters will Pay Attention for candidates who have the ability to win a political election and also the courage to govern and get things done for the country. Michelle why does the chamber of commerce 10 to focus your money and energy on the congress than on the president ial election . Rob for 100 years, the board of directors, the boss has been clear they we are going to have a united front as it relates to economic issues. Weve worked with each administration in different ways on different issues. But with this president , we have had a fundamental difference of opinion. We have had a fundamental difference of opinion with regard to health care. Obamacare has been an unmitigated failure by any measure. We have had a different opinion. Also on Energy Policy. Also on labor policy. The job is to assist the federal government on issues we do agree. So i think on infrastructure policy specifically the highway , bill, specifically Immigration Reform, the chamber stands strong, and we will continue to be focused on ensuring we attract the smartest people around the world to help us grow our economy. 95 of the World Consumers live somewhere else. That is why we stand with the president in congress and congress in support of ttp. Both president ial candidates are wrong on ttp. Matea that poses a really interesting quandary for the chamber. No matter who gets elected, you have a candidate or a future president who is going to disagree with you on trade policy. The chamber have actually been very vocal this cycle about mr. Trump. I believe mr. Donahue called his trade positions stupid and they his trade positions morally wrong and politically stupid and they tweeted some pungent critiques. They said it would lead to a weaker economy. What would you do working with a Trump Administration . Do you see that as a salvageable relationship . Rob both candidates, i agree with mr. Donahue 100 , it is morally wrong and politically stupid. 95 of the is consumers live somewhere else. We are living in a global economy. Hillary clinton herself as secretary supported ttp. And so, i think we are in the middle of a silly season. The reality is when you sit behind the desk in the oval office, you have an obligation to represent this country around the world, and trade is an american issue. Trade is not a partisan issue. Haverats and republicans agreements as it relates to the free trade agreement, the south korean free trade agreement, Newt Gingrich worked effectively with president clinton on nafta, president reagan and tip oneill. I believe that that will continue. The chamber will not walk away from our vigorous belief in the facts, and the facts is that donald trump is wrong secretary , clinton is fundamentally wrong. The u. S. Chamber has been around foryears, we will be around 104 more, and we look forward to helping the next administration , and helping them also understand the value of trade. Speaker ryan and leader mcconnell have been good advocates. Michelle that brings up a good question about the future of the republican candidacy. I know most of the candidates supporting this cycle are republicans. I know you have supported more democrats in the past. With this sort of fundamental split on train trade, we are seeing candidates like in pennsylvania and rob portman in ohio turn against their sort of protrade agreements, as ralph was during the Bush Administration and is now opposing ttp. So where does the party go from here . Rob a great question. So the first point is both of portman,ators, senator senator toomey, they have invested heavily in both of those elections and will continue to do that. They are both parenthetically up in their elections. The definition of being probusiness means Different Things in different places. We respect local economies and we know that there have been impacts on local economies in both of those states. Both of the senators are over 90 with the u. S. Chamber. You look at the Democratic Party first with respect to your question, they would not fundamentally walk away from the American Business community as it relates to economic policy. The chamber endorsed 39 democrats for senate and for house and invested millions of dollars probably in television and radio ads and direct mail and so forth. That number has dropped from 39 democrats down to five democrats in 2012, and five this cycle. This is the legacy of nancy pelosi. This is the failed legacy of former leader harry reid, and this is also the legacy of the administration as it relates to the Democratic Party, walking away at the federal level. There are democrats who do work constructively with local chambers and state chambers. The Democratic Party needs to come back to the table. You cant establish a governing Party Without both tables in the middle. Senator toomey, senator portman, both champions for the American Free enterprise system, both said at the press conference where i have been that they are , fundamentally supportive of trade. They need to understand more fully what are the rules, specifically inside of ttp. That is a position and statement from the u. S. Chamber of commerce as well. We appreciate putting records at the u. S. Chamber and as it relates to the issue as well. Michelle i you expecting to hear that if they change their positions, they will support tpp, and if not . Rob you have to pass the bill before you find out what is in it. I think what senator portman and senator toomey are saying is we have to find out what is in it before we pass it. That is the u. S. Chambers position. They are known as being bipartisan, being constructive, as well as having the ability to when it political election and have the courage to govern. We do believe the senate, the house, speaker ryan are prepared to move forward and discuss more fully what ttp looks like and go further and talk about what is the next trade agreement. I mean, countries around the world right now are cutting trade deals on different issues. Markets are being opened up to different products and services. We dont want the United States to be left behind. The u. S. Chamber has fought for free trade. We will continue to do that. Including and also beyond tpp. Matea isnt that also the position of secretary clinton . There is a difference between her stance on trade and Donald Trumps stance on trade. She said i want a different agreement and more protections he said clearly that he does not , believe in trade. Those are different positions. Rob here we are in the heart. Secretary clinton fundamentally was the key architect and supporter of ttp, and i think some of the language and rhetoric might be different, but subsequently, she has opposed the trade deal, a fundamentally different place than where she began. When the next president sits behind the desk and looks leader mcconnell in the eye and looks speaker ryan in the eye, after they are sworn in, the obligation of the president s represent this country and also to represent the Free Enterprise. Once the dust settles, we will have destruction discussion. Michelle leader mcconnell, senator mcconnell from kentucky, you think will be elected as the Senate Majority leader, how optimistic are you that republicans will keep the senate and how many losses to you think do you think are realistic . Rob i am fundamentally realistic. I have traveled to every state and stood with press compasses was the most talented group of candidates in a generation who support the American Free and i Free Enterprise system. The reason why leader mcconnell will come back in my estimation is because those candidates are talking about the local impacts of federal policy, and i believe the democratic strategy this cycle seems to be two words, hope and hide. Hope that somehow donald trump impacts their race to their benefit and then hide from the campaign trail. I think voters are going to demand those candidates have the courage to govern, and it is why democrats have pulled out of ohio. It is why immigrants are pulling out of florida with senator marco rubio. That is why todd young will be the senator from indiana by 28 points up. I am confident my friend todd young will be the indiana senator. The candidates who support Free Enterprise have been plainspoken, getting local economies to speak with courage on the issues that impact their state. If the election were held today, republicans will hold the majority, and then we look forward to 2018. 25 democrats and eight republicans. There are a handful of them is in the senate, some of whom will be up for reelection who work with the American Free enterprise system and with the chamber on things like Energy Policy. I commend senator donnelly as an example. My friend joe manchin who, as it relates to Energy Policy and revelatory policy, the senators who have a relationship with the chamber and also the Free Enterprise system, and we encourage the Democratic Party to come back to table as it relates to issues related to jobs and the economy. Matea and so, would the chamber consider putting money behind those democrats in their election effort . Rob four endorsement, 70 . They spent millions of dollars in those candidates. Our special endorsement is 70 . When we go from endorsing 39 endorsing five democrats, that is another example in a symptom from a party that has fundamentally walked away from the chamber. So it is not how they could have voted, would have voted or should have voted, it is if those candidates are prepared to vote 70 with the chamber, they will find no greater friend. Michelle you talked about big races like ohio. What about wisconsin . Rob i was there last week and i think this state has changed more in the past 10 years ago on behalf of economic issues. Give tremendous credit to my friend kurt bauer, ceo of wmc, the chamber of wisconsin. This is a man, an organization that has fundamentally changed the balance of their supreme court. In soup in 2006 when the wave was running the other way these , were voters who changed the attorney general and elected someone who wanted to restrain liability, and we know that Governor Scott being elected in a platform of fundamentally defending the American Free enterprise from environmental extremists. This race is between four or five points. Senator feingold have been in office for 25 years, i believe, and this is an opportunity for a stark contrast. We have advertised on behalf of senator johnson. I believe there is a stark contrast in that race, and we we will see what happens in the final 30 days. Michelle will you continue to put money in the race . Rob stay tuned. Matea can we talk about North Carolina . You invested a lot last cycle the great success. But they are looking much tougher than they were at the beginning of the year. I was talking to stephen law of american crossroads, and they are concerned he has not been able to craft enough of an identity for himself to distinguish himself in the year where republicans are facing a tough challenge. What is your assessment of the state of play in North Carolina . Rob it is interesting that initially senator tester, senator reid, senator schumer, the strategy was to go to blue and purple states, gain the majority. Now it has gone from purple states to red states and in places like north elena, for North Carolina, for an example. As you mentioned, the senator, our close friend, sustained 65 million negative advertising the , most expensive United States senate race in the history of our country. We are back in North Carolina again. I give credit to the Obama Campaign in 2008 and 2012. There are some incredibly smart operatives on the ground. They have done a great job. Also with regards to the data set they built, they have sustained that, so i respect that, and i think they have done a good job. Deborah ross is far left and outside the mainstream, and im fairly confident senator burr who has a 95 rating will also be reelected. Matea that brings us to missouri, another state that has turned incredibly competitive in the chamber has not invested any money in yet. There we are also seeing a who hasic candidate supported gun rights and other sorts of economic measures. What is your out look on missouri . Reflective. Kaner is when he was in the state legislature, he was a singlepayer. Im fundamentally confident the senator will be back. The ceo and i traveled the state. We had a four city tour across this. We have been active in missouri and will continue to be in the final months to ensure that the senator is in fact reelected. Michelle one thing i am curious about in the assessment of primary challenges or the lack of primary challenges in the long run, a lot of people were bracing for more civil war in that. Why do you thing in the year of trump that we did not see more insurgent antiestablishment primary challengers succeeding at the congressional level . Rob i think it is a great challenge, and it really does challenge conventional wisdom. Donald trump a year ago was beginning to gain traction, and ted cruz senator cruz was , beginning also to gain traction. There were a lot of prognostications that that projected top of the ticket would also bleed into the down ballot races. The first example of that was march 1 in the state of alabama where it you added up the share of the vote were donald trump and ted cruz and dr. Carson, you were almost at 70 of the primary vote at the president ial year. In that same electorate our good , friend senator shelby was reelected with 65 . Congressman from alabama, the 11th largest port in the country reelected with 67 . ,next door in alabama to our , friend was reelected with 69 . So what it says is voters are paying attention to the local impacts of federal policy. They do want a firewall. They want protection from whatever is going to happen at the top of the ticket. What they want is certain to first, so that is why voters have paid attention. They have turned out in historic numbers, and the number of primaries that have been can competitive have been competitive counterintuitively, have been very small. Matea you in the chamber have invested michelle you in the chamber have invested quite a bit to support the establishment republicans, but you have not made any investment yet in house races and the general election. Now republicans are unlikely to lose that 30 seat majority, but why have you decided to stay out of house races thus far . Rob i think a lot of the house races break earlier than senate races. Our early strategy was to get into the tenant side first. We are in an off year to shape the environment. It is the best way to shape groups on the centerright who have defected against senator portman and his record, i think it passed off with an all of their money. What we found is the chambers brand to recognize 93 of likely voters with the chamber of commerce there is a reason why they call it the chamber of commerce. We are not personal lawyers. We wrap our arms around candidates early and primaries on the house side specifically and also on the senate side, and as we find ourselves in the final months we continue the , investment where the races are most competitive. Matea which one are you paying close attention to . Ab bob old in illinois 10 is fierce champion. Martha mcsally in arizona to, also a critical race. Representing her constituency, she has done a great job. Six is alsoolorado another example. And you look at the next generation of leadership in this country, and that is my friend carlos crivello down in florida. This is a man who fundamentalist supports education reform, fundamentally supports trade, is a particular advocate for reform and also barbara comstock, out in the virginia suburbs, someone who has the ability to win a political election and the courage to govern. These people will help determine not just the majority but with the u. S. Chamber is equally interested in. It is the composition of that majority too. You mentioned a few more. There will find a moment in time a couple of years ago where there would be a deal struck to bring some changes in the law with bipartisan agreement, which has fallen apart. In the current climate, especially with the rule of immigrants so polarizing how , optimistic are you that in the coming year or two, there would actually be an agreement around Immigration Reform . Rob i am optimistic that we will have a solution as it relates to Immigration Reform. At the press conference i start by saying, raise your hand if you think americas immigration system is working. Not one person in all 50 states has ever raised their hand. I would argue there is more agreement than otherwise perhaps would be obvious. The first is we need to retain the talent of the smartest people that we bring here. I mean america is a magnet. ,imagine if the inverse was true. I think there is also bipartisan agreement as it relates to securing the border. That has to be done first and we in order to get certainty and conference to the american people, and then we have to roll up our sleeves and figure out how to we deal with this . How do we deal with the Health Care Sector as the baby boomers continue to age and what do we do with the pathway to citizenship . I would argue on a piecemeal basis, there is opportunity in the next congress, in the next two years to get substantive things done on Immigration Reform, and mike private conversation with members of both Political Parties on the senate side and also on the house side, there is agreement of that. We know the big things that get done in this country that last are done in a bipartisan basis. So we are bullish. Americas job creators are inherently optimistic important we believe the immigration system will be fixed in the country. We believe that momentum will continue to be gained in this next congress. Matea what if President Trump is elected . Rob we are going to continue to turn up the heat and continue to be focused. There are bipartisan majorities in the senate and the house of that believe that ought to be done. We will ensure that the Immigration Reform is completed. Tohelle how are you working up the chances that ttp will be passed in the lameduck or next year . Rob a great question. Our International Team of the chamber covers the world. There are american chambers of 116 commerce and 116 across his this world. The u. S. Chamber is working closely with the federation. We have targeted swing districts. We have advertised aggressively on the the of epa and ttp so the voters have the facts. Once we get beyond the silly season of the 30 Second Television ad, and the lameduck, there will be an opportunity, more fully to invest in details with regard to Data Warehousing and pharmaceutical issues that relate to that particular ways that inflation particular legislation. We have been vigorous. I would also give tremendous credit to the federation. The thing has changed much in the past years with regard to policy and then with regard to politics is the degree to which state and local chambers and ceos and their boards of directors have moved more fully into politics. That is the game changer, and is a significant part of the reason why all candidates were successful through the primary season. Greta a lot to watch, robbing from, thank you for being this with this weeks newsmaker. We are back with our reporters. Mateja gold of the washington post, michelle of the i want ton journal, take a look at the strategy in 2016. What was their goal . What did they say they would do from the beginning . Matea i think it is so fascinating. The challenge that they face was not the one they thought it would be going in. They tried to head off a series of strong primary challenges that rocked previous cycles and what the Republican Party was trying to deal with insurgents not counting incumbents. That ended up sort of being the dog that did not bark. It was something they ended up having much more success at fending off, and some of the challenges were not as strong as many anticipated. One thing no one anticipated that really hit home for the chamber directly in their strategy is the fierce antitrade sentiment that donald trump has touched on right now and has really inflamed with all of his rhetoric about americas role in the world. And that goes to the heart of the chambers strategy. They are dealing with a future president who is not supportive of tpp, which is one of their central policy goals. They are also dealing with a Republican Party which is deeply split over trade, which has long been the bedrock of the party. Michelle many of the candidates that the chamber is supporting, like we mentioned rob portman in ohio for u. S. For preventative, pat toomey in pennsylvania, have all, out very strongly against these trade agreements transpacific partnership. Senate thee chamber would really like to see past in the next year. It is hard to see how the chamber both supports these people in their formally protrade positions, going into next year and how the senators go back from, you know campaigning on antitrade , positions to supporting things like the transfer to sick transpacific partnership. Greta has the chamber started to try to change the story and the angle on it . Are they attempting to try to rebut what people are saying about trade . Michelle yeah, i think what we heard earlier today was awkward. A little awkward. Around thatanced question where he pointed to the fact that the Senate Candidates are indeed very effectively localizing their races, talking about issues that donald trump cannot really touch. Rob portman is talking a lot about the heroin crisis in ohio and same thing with kelly ayotte in new hampshire. He tries to say that trade, and you know their views on the issues,y our local whereas we know they really are. Matea one of the things that was most difficult for him to finesse, and this goes to part of the challenge, is explaining why the chamber is comfortable with rob to me rob portman and pat toomey saying they need more details about ttp, essentially the same position that hillary is and has if she wants a written trade agreement, but she is still protrade. That is very different from Donald Trumps stance, and it is hard for the chamber to make an argument that the two president ial candidates are in the same space on that issue. Michelle he is obviously bullish about the chances for republicans to keep the senate. On the ground though what is it , looking like . What are your predictions . Michelle to us, it is looking like earlier in the cycle democrats like they have a great , looked like they had a really great map. Nine republicans up for reelection in states president obama has won. Now it is looking like the landslide the democrats were hoping for is not really materializing for them. Part of that is that groups like the chambers credit, they started adding in ohio, 2015, long before the election start ed heating up. In the case of ohio, they really help solidify rob portmans lead against the democrat Ted Strickland to the point where democrats have pulled out about 11 million of advertising. They are just basically leaving their candidate behind. The thing is, the map has shifted a little bit and blindsided people like the chamber of commerce to these redder states like North Carolina, missouri, indiana, where they were expecting the challenges. They were just expecting the republicans to coast through, and they dont have as much money as they would like. If i were to guess, we are seeing between five and three or six states lost by republicans. I think it is a narrower map than any person anticipated, and Many Republican strategists feel confident because they are fighting on red terrain, largely. But as michelle put it, there are challenges they did not anticipate and missouri and , North Carolina are really worrying republicans right now. Greta thank you very much for being on newsmakers. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2016] the second president ial debate is tonight in st. Louis missouri. Watch live coverage for a preview of the debate, and at 8 30, predebate briefing for the audience. Yourcoverage at 9 00 with reaction following. The second president ial debate, watch live on cspan or ondemand using your desktop, phone, or tablet using cspan. Org. You can listen with the free cspan radio app on the plate store google