JIM: THIS WEEK ON "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT," WE ARE DAYS AWAY FROM PRIMARY DAY.

THREE REPORTERS WHO PROFITED DEBATES WITH THE CANDIDATES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

THE WITHDRAWAL OF ONE CANDIDATE HAS SOME ASKING SHOULD BE TIGHTENED.

>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> HI, I'’M JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR. FOR OVER 30 YEARS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS TO THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I AM A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.

JIM: JOINING US FOR A REPORTERS'’ ROUNDTABLE, IAN DONNIS.

STEPH MACHADO, AND PROVIDENCE JOURNAL STATEHOUSE REPORTER, PATRICK ANDERSON.

I AM JIM HUMMEL.

IF YOU ARE IN THE EAST BAY, THE VALLEY, OR BLACKSTONE, DON'’T BE SURPRISED IF YOU RUN INTO MORE THAN A DOZEN CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SEAT.

THE HONOR OF THEIR GROUND GAME MAY DECIDE THIS RACE AND WILL BE OUT IN FULL FORCE TRYING TO SECURE UNDECIDED VOTES.

WE DON'’T HAVE ACCURATE VOTING -- PULLING ON THIS.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

PATRICK: TO SEE IF THE MODERATE VOTE CONSOLIDATES AROUND A CANDIDATE.

USUALLY IN THESE ELECTIONS, AS ELECTION DAY NEARS, THE RACE TIGHTENS UP.

I THINK WHAT EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE WATCHING IS CENTER CONDO, GAVE ALMOST, SABINA MATOS.

DOES THE VOTE FOR THOSE CANDIDATES COALESCE AROUND ONE OF THEM AND ALLOW ONE OF THEM TO REVIEW TAKEOVER THAT MENTAL AND POTENTIALLY CHALLENGE WICKENBURG?

STEPH: EVEN THOUGH WE DID NOT HAVE PUBLIC POLLING, THE CONSUMPTION IS THAT BRADEN BERG -- IS IN THE LEAD.

HE HAS A CHUNK OF SUPPORT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'’T WANT TO VOTE FOR HIM.

SOME ARE STILL DECIDING IF THEY'’RE GOING TO VOTE FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE SAY I WANT TO VOTE FOR WHOEVER HAS THE BEST CHANCE.

THIS IS A WEEKEND WHERE WE ARE GOING TO SEE IF SOMEONE CAN HAVE A BIG BREAKOUT MOMENT.

JIM: AND THE CHANNELS ARE ALMOST OVER.

IAN: -- HAVE EXCELLENT IN RECOGNITION FROM BEING A PREVIOUSLY ELECTED OFFICIAL.

SABINA MATOS STARTED THAT WAY BUT SHE WAS DOG BY WEEKS OF UNFLATTERING COVERAGE.

THE TROUBLE FOR -- THE CHALLENGE FOR GABE IS THAT HE HAS NOT BEEN WELL KNOWN ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND TRYING TO GET THAT NAME RECOGNITION AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS IS A HEAVY LIFT.

HE COMMUNICATES WELL, I BELIEVE THE MOST POLISHED ONE IN THE RACE.

CANO COULD BENEFIT FROM A MORE DIVERSE --.

WE ARE 25 YEARS OUT FROM WHENEVER THEY FIRST LATINO COUNSELOR.

IT WILL BE CURIOUS TO SEE HOW AMO DOES.

JIM: WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SABINA MATOS AND THEN DURING THE GENERAL 12 DEBATE I THOUGHT SHE WAS ALMOST SITTING OFF TO THE SIDE AND ALMOST RELEGATED TO AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

DON'’T COUNT HER OUT BECAUSE OF ALL THE ENDORSEMENTS SHE HAS.

BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO GET TO THE POLLS.

STEPH: I WOULD NOT COUNTER OUT.

SHE HAS ADS ON THE TV ALL WEEKEND.

THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE SIGNATURE SCANDAL HURT HER, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT WAS THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER, NO ONE WAS PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS RACE.

YOU GO TO TURN ON THE EVENING NEWS AND THERE IS A SCANDAL, SABINA MATOS.

SHE IS COMMITTED TO THAT PHRASE.

I THOUGHT -- SHE IS CONNECTED TO THAT PHRASE.

NO ONE ATTACKED HER AND THE DEBATE PRIOR TO THAT, EVERYONE ATTACKED HER.

EVERYONE LEFT HER ALONE DURING THE GENERAL 12 DEBATE.

THE CANDIDATES NO LONGER THINK SHE IS A THREAT.

IAN: THERE IS NOTHING WORSE THAN WHEN SOMEONE DOES THE THANK YOU.

THAT IS A PROBLEM -- DOESN'’T ATTACK YOU.

THAT IS A PROBLEM.

WE WILL NEVER KNOW IF SABINA COULD HAVE CONSOLIDATED THAT VOTE.

SOME QUESTION IF SHE EVER COULD HAVE, BUT WE WILL NEVER KNOW.

HER BIG HOPE IS THAT SUPPORT -- SUPPORT FROM THE EARLY VOTE MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN SOME VOTES IN THE BANK BEFORE THINGS TAILED OFF.

IT IS NOT LOOKING AS LIKELY.

JIM: THE PROVIDENCE NEWSPAPER GUILD FOR YEARS, I WENT TO THAT SHOW AND PLEASED TO SAY IT IS BETTER TO BE SKEWERED AND IGNORED.

IF YOU ARE A PLAYER, YOU GET SKEWERED.

IAN: ABSOLUTELY.

THE HARD PART FOR SABINA MATOS AND EXTENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE ISSUE IS IT HAS FILTERED DOWN TO PEOPLE WHO DON'’T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO THE NEWS.

THEY JUST KNOW THERE IS THIS NEGATIVE CONTROVERSY IN WHICH SHE HAD A CONNECTION.

SHE DOES HAVE A CERTAIN DEGREE OF INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT.

ONE INTERESTING THING IN THIS RACE IS HOW A LOT OF TOP ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM GOVERNOR MCKEE TO THE SPEAKER TO ELECTED OFFICIALS IN MASSACHUSETTS HAVE STAYED OUT OF ENDORSING.

WOULD THAT HAVE TWO TO THE SKILLS IN SABINA MATOS'’S FAVOR?

MAYBE.

WE SEE HOW THINGS HAVE GONE IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

JIM: EACH OF YOU HAS SET MODERATING.

YOU DID THE GLOBE ONE, YOU GUYS WERE TOGETHER.

GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS FROM THE FRONT ROW SEAT.

IT HAS BEEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS SINCE YOURS, BUT AS YOU WERE SITTING THERE, DID ANYTHING SURPRISE YOU?

WHAT WERE YOUR IMPRESSIONS?

STEPH: THERE WERE TOO MANY CANDIDATES.

WE HAD A 90 MINUTE DEBATE WHICH IS GOOD, BUT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO GET TO EVERY TOPIC WE WANTED TO GET TO.

CANDIDATES WHO RESPECTFULLY DON'’T HAVE A CHANCE AT WINNING, OF COURSE THEY ARE TO SHARE THEIR VIEWS AND THAT IS GREAT, BUT THAT IS MY IMPRESSION FROM ALL THE DEBATES.

IF WE HAD PUBLIC POLLING OR SOME DATA THAT COULD NEVER THE INVITE LIST, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE USEFUL.

IT IS A SMART FIELD OF CANDIDATES, A DIVERSE FIELD.

IT DEFINITELY STARTED TO GET FIERY, AT LEAST IN THE LAST FEW DEBATES.

I THINK THE DEBATES TO MAKE AN IMPRESSION ON VOTERS BECAUSE THEY GET TO SEE YOU IN THE FLESH.

JIM: THESE HAVE BEEN A PUBLIC SERVICE BECAUSE YOU GET TO SEE THE CANDIDATES DEBATE ABOUT ISSUES AND SOME CANDIDATES ENGAGE MORE IN SLOGANEERING OR A SPORT -- FOR A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE POLICY.

VOTERS HAD A CHANCE TO ASSESS THAT AND THAT IS A VALUE THERE.

PATRICK: WITH THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES, IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR ANYBODY TO FLIP THE SCRIPT.

IT WAS DIFFICULT TO HAVE THE SIGNATURE MOMENTS WHERE VOTERS REMEMBER A PHRASE, REMEMBER A PARTICULAR EXCHANGE.

IT WAS ONE TO THE NEXT AND TO THE NEXT.

YOU ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE EQUAL TIME AND GIVE EVERYONE A CHANCE TO ANSWER.

IT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR AS MUCH OF THE ZINGERS OR SIGNATURE MOMENTS YOU MIGHT REMEMBER.

JIM: I HAVE MODERATED DEBATES AND LIKE IT HERE I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE HAVING A GOOD DISCUSSION.

NOT SO MUCH ON THIS SHOW, BUT MODERATING TO SAY IF YOU HAVE A GOOD POINT, KEEP IT GOING.

BUT TO MAKE SURE YOU MAKE UP ON THE OTHER SIDE.

WITH THAT NUMBER OF CANDIDATES, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE.

STEPH: WHAT WAS INTERESTING WAS HOW EVERYONE HANDLED IT.

YOU GUYS SPLIT THE CANDIDATES IN TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS WHICH ALLOWED YOU TO HAVE -- EACH CANDIDATE TO HAVE MORE TIME.

ALL OF THE FRONT RUNNERS WERE NOT ON THE SAME STAGE IN THE SAME DEBATE.

THE DOWNSIDE TO HAVING EVERYONE ON THE STAGE IS THAT BY THE TIME YES ALL 10 OR 12 CANDIDATES THE QUESTION -- JIM: YOU FORGETS THE QUESTION.

-- YOU FORGET THE QUESTION.

STEPH: 15 MINUTES HAS GONE BY.

IT WAS NOT A PERFECT ANSWER.

IAN: IT IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE ELECTION CYCLE WHETHER NEWS ORGANIZATIONS START TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN RAISING THEIR CRITERIA TO MAKE THE STAGE AND PARING BACK THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES THERE OR WHETHER THEY STAY WITH THE WHERE INCLUSIVE MOLD GOING ON THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

JIM: IT HAS BEEN AN ATYPICAL ELECTION.

IT IS AN OFF YEAR, IT IS CD1.

THEY KNOW THEY CAN WIN WITH 8000 TO 10,000 VOTES.

WHY NOT STAY IN IT?

IAN: THERE IS NO RISK IN RUNNING, NO ONE WAY TODO A DEBATE CORRECTLY.

THE HOPE IS THAT THE VOTERS GET ENOUGH FROM HOW THEY RESPOND TO REPORTERS TO UNDERSTAND WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT.

STEPH: A REGULAR ELECTION YEAR, MORE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE DROPPED OUT MAYBE BEFORE THE FILING DEADLINE.

IF THEY'’RE DECIDING, GOING TO RUN FOR THIS OPEN RATIONAL SEAT OR TRY TO KEEP MY STATE SENATE SEAT, THEY WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY.

THIS YEAR WAS A FREEBIE, ANYBODY CAN RUN.

THE LACK OF PUBLIC POLLING CONTRIBUTED TO THE LARGE FIELD THAT IS STILL IN THE RACE ON PRIMARY DAY.

WITH PUBLIC POLLS, PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE DROPPED OUT.

IAN: OUR FRIEND HAS DRAWN CONNECTIONS BETWEEN -- AND THE FOURTH DISTRICT AND HOW THERE WAS A LARGE FIELD INITIALLY THERE AND SOME CANDIDATES DROPPED OUT IN THE FIELD CONSOLIDATED.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT HAPPEN HERE AND I THINK IT IS BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU SAID.

IT IS A SPECIAL ELECTION.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OFFICIALS THAT DON'’T RISK LOSING THEIR SEATS.

I DON'’T SEE ANY DOWNSIDE OF STAYING IN AND THE ONLY CANDIDATE WHO HAS DROPPED OUT WAS ESSENTIALLY FORCED TO BUY A SCANDAL.

PATRICK: AND THE PARTY LEADERS HAVE KEPT A LIGHT TOUCH.

IN SOME AREAS YOU WOULD SEE THE STATE PARTY OR THE POWER PLAYERS USE THEIR INFLUENCE, EITHER CARROTS OR STICKS TO GET TO THE FIELD TO SHRINK A LITTLE BIT AND CONSOLIDATE.

THEY HAVE KEPT THEIR DISTANCE FROM THIS ONE ROUTE -- THIS ONE.

JIM: AMO HAD TO LEAVE HIS JOB AND -- HAD TO LEAVE HIS JOB.

STEPH: FOR SURE.

JIM: THE DEMOCRATS HAVE CITE ALL OF THE AIR OUT OF THE ROOM BUT THERE ARE TWO REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

YOU GUYS HAD THEM HERE.

WHAT BAFFLES ME IS THAT ESPECIALLY WITH GARY LEONARD, HE IS THE ENDORSED CANDIDATE, HE EXCLUDED REPORTERS FROM HIS OPENING, THE ONE TIME TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

HE DID NOT ANSWER YOUR SURVEY, A CHANCE TO BE ON THE FRONT PAGE.

WHAT YOU MAKE OF THAT?

PATRICK: I DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING THROUGH THEIR HEAD.

JIM: BECAUSE THEY WANT TALK TO YOU.

PATRICK: THERE IS A TREND ON THE GOP OF NOT DIRECTING AS MUCH WITH THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA, WHETHER THAT IS MISTRUST OR A STRATEGIC THING COMING OUT OF WASHINGTON THAT IT IS MORE ADVANTAGEOUS TO YOUR MESSAGE JUST TO OUTLETS FRIENDLY TO YOU OR JUST TARGETED TO YOUR VOTERS.

THIS IS JULIE GOP PRIMARY SO WE ARE TALKING THIS IS STILL A GOP PRIMARY -- THIS IS STILL A GOP PRIMARY SO WE ARE TALKING A SMALL SLICE OF THE ELECTORATE.

THAT IS WHAT YOU SAW WITH ALLAN FUNG.

EVERYBODY KNEW HIM AND THE MEDIA HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM AND YET DURING THOSE CAMPAIGNS HE WAS FAIRLY DIFFICULT TO TRACK DOWN.

HE FAMOUSLY HAD HIS ANNOUNCEMENT CEREMONY AND KIND OF ESCAPE FROM IT WITHOUT TAKING QUESTIONS.

EVEN THE LAST TIME OUT WAS LOW-PROFILE UNTIL THE GENERAL.

AT THE GENERAL, THINGS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT BUT THAT SEEMS TO BE THE TREND ON THE GOP SIDE.

JIM: I WAS SURPRISED LEONARD DID NOT ANSWER THAT QUESTION -- IAN: I WAS SURPRISED THAT LEONARD DID NOT ANSWER THE QUESTION.

HE SEEMED PERSONABLE WHEN WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HIM HERE.

HE IS A FIRST-TIME CANDIDATE.

I THINK THIS CAMPAIGN IS TRYING TO SCALE HIM UP IN TERMS OF INTERACTING WITH THE MEDIA.

THERE HAS BEEN A TREND AMONG REPUBLICANS TO STEER CLEAR OF TRADITIONAL OBJECTIVE MEDIA.

HE IS THE FAVORITE IN THIS RACE.

THERE WOULD BE A CLEAR CONTRAST BETWEEN HIM AND SOMEONE LIKE REGUNBERG OR SABINA MATOS.

JIM: I FELT RUNNING A STRONG PRIMARY SET YOU UP FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION.

TALK TO REPORTERS, DO YOUR DEBATES.

IT IS NOT LIKE YOU CAN TURN THE SPIGOT ON AFTER PRIMARY DAY.

IF THESE CANDIDATES ARE NOT USED TO DEALING WITH THE MEDIA, IT IS NOT ON-THE-JOB TRAINING.

STEPH: NO ONE IS BRING ATTENTION TO THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BECAUSE IT IS SO HEAVILY FAVORED TOWARD THE DEMOCRATS.

THAT SORT OF BENEFITS THE CANDIDATES BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT BEING CLOSE TO SCRUTINIZED.

THEY HAVE NOT HAD TO TAKE A LOT OF REPORTER QUESTIONS OUTSIDE THE EXCELLENT INTERVIEWS ALAN AND IAN DID.

WHOEVER IS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE IS GOING TO GET MORE SCRUTINY.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE MORE INTERVIEWS, MORE REPORTER QUESTIONS AND MORE COVERAGE ON IF THEY REFUSE TO SPEAK TO REPORTERS OR SHOW UP TO DEBATES.

JIM: THE DON CROSSAN SITUATION, HE DROPPED OUT AFTER IT IS EXPOSE -- AFTER AN EXPOSE OVER POTENTIAL INAPPROPRIATE CONTACT WITH A STUDENT.

YOU HAVE HEARD SOME SECTORS THINK THIS IS WHY WE SHOULD NOT HAVE 20 DAYS OF EARLY VOTING.

MY OPINION IS IT IS BUYER BEWARE.

IF YOU WANT TO VOTE EARLY, THESE THINGS HAPPEN.

MOST OF THE EARLY VOTING TAKES PLACE WITHIN FIVE DAYS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THOSE CALLS FOR WE NEEDED TO TWEAK EARLY VOTING BECAUSE OF DON CROSSAN?

-- DON CARLSEN?

IAN: I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE SHARE YOUR ASSESSMENT THAT IF YOU VOTE A MONTH OUT, SOMETHING COULD HAPPEN.

I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE TAKE THE CAVEAT, BUYER BEWARE.

I DID NOT FILL OUT THEN MCALLEN'’S -- DAN'’S QUIZ ON THE POTENTIAL PLACEMENT OF THE CANDIDATES UNTIL THURSDAY.

PATRICK: I DON'’T SEE ANY CHANGES COMING TO THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE DON CARLSEN SITUATION.

I THINK VOTERS ARE HAPPY WITH HOW THINGS HAVE TURNED OUT.

IT HAS NOT BENEFITED PRIMARY CHALLENGERS AND CHALLENGES TO THE ESTABLISHMENT.

A LOT OF THE GOP ARE ARGUING THAT EARLY VOTING, WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN RESISTED BY THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT, HAS BENEFITED THEM AND BENEFITED INCUMBENTS BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THE INSTITUTIONAL MACHINE TO OPERATE MAIL BALLOTS.

I HAVE NOT SENSED ANY APPETITE FROM THEM TO CHANGE THINGS.

STEPH: I CANNT IMAGINE REDUCING VOTER ACCESS IS GOING TO BE A PRIORITY FOR ANY OF THE STATE'’S LEADERS.

IT IS INTERESTING.

I THINK THE VOTER HAS TO DECIDE IF THEY ARE WILLING TO TAKE THAT RISK.

I HAD A VOTER TELL THEY GOT A MEAL BALLOT BUT SHE'’S NOT GOING TO FILL IT OUT UNTIL ELECTION DAY AND CAN DROP IT IN A BOX SO SHE DOESN'’T HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE.

BUT SHE WANTS TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FINAL DEBATES.

I DON'’T THINK WE ARE GOING TO STOP HAVING DEBATES THE LAST WEEK OF THE ELECTION OR NEWS AND CHANGES THE LAST WEEK OF THE ELECTION.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO MOVE THAT TO 20 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION SO VOTERS HAVE TO DECIDE IF THEY ARE SO GUNG HO ABOUT THIS PERSON THAT NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE THEIR MIND.

SOME VOTERS ARE LIKE THAT BUT OTHERS WILL WAIT AND SEE.

JIM: IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW MANY VOTES DON CROSSAN GETS.

WHO WOULD THAT HAVE GONE TO?

IAN: HE IS STILL GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A CANDIDATE WHO SEEMED GOOD ON PAPER.

HE HAS IN THE INTERESTING BACKGROUND, HE HAS A LOT OF CREDENTIALS.

HE HAS BEEN A LAWYER, A BUSINESSMAN.

WHEN PUSH CAME TO SHOVE, THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT LED HIM TO GET OUT OF THE RACE.

JIM: WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE CRANSTON STREET ARMORY, WHAT TO DO WITH IT.

IT HAS PROVIDED A LOT OF MATERIAL ON THIS SHOW.

NOW WE FOUND OUT THAT KATHY GRAY GOT SOME INTERNAL DOCUMENTS THAT SAYS MAYOR SMILEY SAID WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE IT ON BUT WE NEED A LITTLE BIT OF THIS, $45 MILLION OVER THREE YEARS.

THAT IS PROBABLY NOT A SURPRISE.

THE STATE PROBABLY WANTS TO GET RID OF IT IF HE IS WILLING TO TAKE IT ON.

STEPH: SMILEY HAS BEEN SAYING THIS FOR WEEKS IF NOT MONTHS.

WE WILL TAKE THE ARMORY BUT YOU HAVE TO CUT THIS INTO A CHECK BECAUSE THAT BUILDING -- AND HE KNOWS BECAUSE HE WAS DOH DIRECTOR -- HE KNOWS IT IS EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN.

IT HAS BEEN NEGLECTED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND THE STATE IS NOT DOING ANYTHING.

THEY CANCELED THE CONTRACT WITH THE COMPANY THAT WAS GOING TO HELP DEVELOP IT.

THE CITY IS EXTREMELY MOTIVATED TO REDEVELOP THE ARMORY BECAUSE IT IS A HUGE ASSET.

I THINK THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE OVER OWNERSHIP, BUT NOT WITHOUT MONEY.

PROVIDENCE DOES NOT HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO SPARE TO REDEVELOP AN OLD BUILDING.

PATRICK: STEPH WOULD KNOW CITY HALL BETTER THAN ME BUT I BELIEVE CITY HALL IS GOING TO BUY THE ARMORY.

JIM: YOU WANT TO SEE THE INK DRIED.

STEPH: MONEY IS FLOATING THE OTHER WAY.

PATRICK: TAKE CONTROL AND HAVE IT BE A LIABILITY ON THEIR BOOKS.

REMEMBER WHEN JORGE WAS GOING TO TAKE OVER THE BOOK POINT BRIDGE?

JIM: WHERE HAS THAT GONE?

PATRICK: I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH DESIGN THINGS ON THE ARMORY I DON'’T KNOW HOW LONG.

I DON'’T THINK ANYTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I DON'’T THINK ANYONE WANTS TO TOUCH IT.

I WILL BE HAPPY WHEN I AM PROVEN WRONG AND SOMEBODY TAKES THE INITIATIVE AND DO SOMETHING WITH IT -- AND DOES SOMETHING WITH IT.

RIGHT NOW THEY ARE PARALYZED TO DO ANYTHING.

JIM: LET'’S MAKE SURE WHEN IT HAPPENS THAT PATRICK GETS THE INVITATION AND WHOEVER SIGNS THE CONTRACT GIVES HIM THE PEN.

THE ARMORY BEING A CITY RESPONSIBILITY RATHER THAN ESTATE ONE MAKES SENSE.

THE OBVIOUS ISSUE IS HOW PROVIDENCE HAS BEEN HARD UP FOR MONEY.

THAT WAS THE OBVIOUS QUESTION.

ONE THING TO WATCH IS HOW OF THE $45 MILLION ASK, $20 MILLION WOULD BE FROM THE HOUSING PRIORITY FUND.

IT IS NOT HARD TO IMAGINE THAT THE SPEAKER MIGHT FROWN UPON THAT GIVEN HOW HOUSING HAS BEEN A KEY PART OF HIS AGENDA.

WHILE WE ARE ALSO PATHETIC TO THE IDEA OF REVITALIZING THE ARMORY, HOUSING MONEY WOULD SEEMINGLY NOT TO ALIGNED WITH THAT.

PATRICK: WASN'’T ONE OF THE OTHER PARTS FOR THE AFTERSCHOOL STUFF?

LET'’S TURN THE ARMORY INTO MY PET PROJECT OF AFTERSCHOOL STUFF?

STEPH: I DON'’T KNOW IF IT IS FEASIBLE TO PUT HOUSING IN ARMORY.

PATRICK: IT ISN'’T.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: WHAT ABOUT THE ALLURING 365?

PATRICK: APPARENTLY IT IS GOING IN THE ARMORY.

JIM: WE GET THE PRESS RELEASES.

I STILL WONDER, HE SAYS THERE ARE METRICS ON THAT BUT I WONDER.

WHEN THE MONEY RUNS OUT, THEN WHAT HAPPENS?

STEPH: THERE IS NO REASON NOT TO SIGN ON BECAUSE YOU GET SOME MONEY.

NOBODYTHE QUESTION IS HE IS TYING LEARN 365 TO INCREASE SCORES.

YOU THINK WHAT WOULD INCREASE SCORES WOULD BE SOMETHING IN THE CLASSROOM AS OPPOSED TO AFTER.

AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES HAVE OTHER GREAT BENEFITS IN TERMS OF SOCIAL EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

WE WILL SEE.

WE WILL SEE IF THE GOAL IS REACHED.

JIM: VIA LEARN 360 -- THE LEARN 365 GOVERNOR MCKEE CAME OUT WITH IS ENHANCED EXTRACURRICULAR TO MAKE UP WITH WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE PANDEMIC.

DAN MCCOWAN HAS BEEN VERY CRITICAL OF IT BUT AS LONG AS THE MONEY IS THERE, COMMUNITIES WILL PROBABLY SIGN ON.

PATRICK: THE QUESTION IS IS THAT THE BIGGEST IMPACT?

IS THAT GOING TO HAVE A STRUCTURAL IMPACT TO LEARNING IN THE STATE?

JIM: WHAT IS HAPPENING FROM 9:00 TO 3:00 VERSUS 3:00 TO 6:00?

PATRICK: RIGHT.

IT IS NOT CENTRALIZED IN AN OFFICIAL PROGRAM.

STEPH KNOWS MORE ABOUT THE EDUCATION SIDE BUT IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE IT HAS THE SCALE TO REALLY DO A HUGE AMOUNT FOR THE BOTTOM LINE IN EDUCATION.

IAN: THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS.

THE IDEA OF MORE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM -- AFTERSCHOOL TIME, CLASSROOM TIME, THOSE ARE GOOD IDEAS BUT THE PROOF WILL BE UNEASY PUTTING.

PUDDING.

JIM: DO YOU THINK THE CRANSTON STREET ARMORY WILL NEVER GET PUT DOWN?

PATRICK: THAT IS HARD TO IMAGINE RIGHT NOW.

-- TALKED ABOUT KNOCKING DOWN THE SUPERMEN BUILDING AND HERE WE ARE YEARS LATER WAITING FOR THE REVITALIZATION.

WE DO LIKE OUR HISTORIC STRUCTURES IN PROVIDENCE EVEN WHEN THEY BECOME WHITE ELEPHANTS.

JIM: POSSIBLE OR NOT?

PATRICK: THE POLITICS WOULD BE TOXIC.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD REVOLT.

IT IS EASIER TO PAY SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

JUST PUSH IT DOWN THE ROAD AND LET THE NEXT GOVERNOR DEAL WITH IT INTO THE NEXT DECADE.

STEPH: 100% AGREE.

JIM: I LOVE THAT, CAN-KICKER.

ARE YOU GOING TO TRADEMARK THAT?

LET'’S TO OUTRAGES AND OR KUDOS.

PATRICK: I AM GOING TO GO WITH A KUDO.

I WANT TO GIVE THE CD1 CANDIDATES A KUDO BECAUSE WE SKEWERED THEM A LITTLE BIT, WE GAVE THEM GRIEF FOR THEIR NUMBER.

THESE WERE NOT A LOT OF WRITING NAMES AND THERE WAS A LOT OF CRITICISM FOR WHY SO MANY PEOPLE ARE RUNNING, WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

THEY ARE RUINING OUR SUMMER.

[LAUGHTER] AFTER GOING THROUGH THE CAMPAIGN, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME GOOD DISCUSSIONS.

THE DEBATES WERE GOOD.

THERE WERE SOME EXCHANGES.

AS IT WENT ALONG AND THEY FIGURED OUT WHAT THEY WERE DOING, THEY BECAME MORE CANDID.

MAYBE NOT IN ALL CASES, IN SOME CASES.

IT WAS A DECENT CAMPAIGN IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS.

I WANT TO GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT BECAUSE IT IS NOT EASY TO DO.

JIM: THE KIDS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL HAVE TO SAY WHAT DID YOU DO OVER YOUR SUMMER VACATION.

PATRICK WOULD BE LIKE AFTER THE CD1 RACE I HAD TO DO THE CD2 RACE.

STEPH: MY COLLEAGUE HAD A GREAT STORY ABOUT THE JOHNSTON SUNRISE AND HOW THE MAYOR PULLED THE LEGAL NOTICES FROM THE SUNRISE AND SENT THEM OVER TO THE JOURNAL.

THE PUBLISHER IS CLAIMING IT IS BECAUSE THE MAYOR IS UNHAPPY WITH THE COVERAGE OF HIS ADMINISTRATION AND THE MAYOR ADMITS HE IS UNHAPPY WITH THE COVERAGE.

I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO GO READ IT BECAUSE IT WAS A GOOD FIRST AMENDMENT STORY AND WE HAVE SO FEW COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS LEFT.

THE JOHNSTON SUNRISE HAS ONE REPORTER.

IT IS IMPORTANT PEOPLE SUPPORT LOCAL NEWSPAPERS.

JIM: THIS GOES FOR MAYOR SENIOR TO JUNIOR, THE QUOTE WAS WHY WOULD WE SUPPORT A GUY WORKING AGAINST US?

THAT IS HOW THEY VIEW THE REPORTER.

IF IT IS WHAT THEY PERCEIVE AS A NEGATIVE STORY -- STEPH: AND THAT IS A MISUNDERSTANDING OF JOURNALISM.

JIM: HE SAID WE WANT TO PROTECT THE TAXPAYERS.

THEY ARE PAYING MORE TO THE JOURNAL.

IAN: I HAD THE SAME OUTRAGE AS STIFF, AMAZING JOB BY AMANDA -- AS STEPH, AMAZING JOB BY AMANDA.

THE LOSS HAS BEEN COVERAGE IN A LINE COMMUNITIES.

YEARS AGO THE JOURNAL HAD BUREAUS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, THE ECONOMICS OF JOURNALISM HAS CHANGED.

MOST OF US ARE CONCENTRATED IN THE PROVIDENCE AREA, RESIDENTS OF JOHNSTON AND WARWICK ARE LUCKY TO HAVE "WHICH PUBLICIST THE JOHNSTON SUNRISE AND HE WILL WAKE AGAIN -- THE WARWICK BEACON.

I LIVE IN EAST PROVIDENCE AND IT IS NOT EASY TO GET IN-DEPTH COVERAGE OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.

IF YOU ARE SAYING THAT ABOUT EAST PROVIDENCE, WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR EXETER OR RICHMOND OR OTHER COMMUNITIES FARTHER FROM PROVIDENCE?

JIM: WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK.

WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THAT AFFECTS DEMOCRACY.

YOU KNOW HOW IT IS WHEN USUAL UP WITH A CAMERA WHEN YOU WERE AT CHANNEL 12.

WHEN YOU SHOWED UP, DIDN'’T DIVIDE CHANGE?

STEPH: IT WOULD CHANGE.

WE WOULD PARACHUTE IN FOR STORIES WITH STATEWIDE APPEAL BECAUSE WE WERE A STATEWIDE STATION.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE STATEWIDE REPORTERS COVERING THE LITTLE ISSUE THAT ONLY AFFECTS THE TOWN BUT THE TIME PEOPLE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT IT.

PATRICK: CITY COUNCIL, TOWN COUNCIL, THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

THAT IS THE FIRST STUFF THAT IS GONE.

THAT IS THE STUFF WE ARE NOT GETTING AS MUCH COVERAGE OF.

I STILL THINK WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF COVERAGE AT THE STATEWIDE LEVEL.

THOSE LOCAL MEETINGS ARE THE BIG THING.

JIM: THANK YOU, SORRY WE ROBBED YOU OF YOUR SUMMER.

GREAT COVERAGE FROM ALL OF YOU AND THANK YOU FOR COMING ON.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO PRIMARY RESULTS.

WE WILL HAVE A FULL RECAP NEXT WEEK.

IF YOU DON'’T CATCH US, YOU CAN FIND OUR SHOWS ARCHIVED AT RIPBS.ORG/LIVELY.

WE HOPE YOU GET OUT TO VOTE ON PRIMARY DAY AND WE WILL HAVE A FULL BREAKDOWN NEXT WEEK AS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" CONTINUES.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

♪ [CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] >> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> HI, I'’M JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR. FOR OVER 30 YEARS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS TO THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I AM A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.