US Midterms on the ground level - Bairbre Holmes Reports

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

The Hard Shoulder, with Ciara Kelly and Shane Colman, on Newstalk, with Ciara.

Shane Colman (0:09)

Our reporter, Bairbre Holmes, is coming to us live from the US, the latest in the high stakes midterm elections. Bairbre, where are you exactly today?

Bairbre Holmes (0:20)

So I'm in a beautiful little town called Bristol, which is in Bucks County, just north of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. And it's almost a sort of picture book, quintessentially American town. They sort of rows of clapboard houses with flags and Halloween decorations hanging off the front porches. And it's a beautiful, awesome day full of red and golden leaves on the trees on the ground.

But what makes this area different from your typical American town today is that it's in Pennsylvania's first congressional district. And this is one of those few key seats that the Democratic Party are trying to take to help them tip the balance of power in Washington. And the race in this district is absolutely neck and neck. The Republican candidate, Brian Fitzpatrick, he's the incumbent. He's a former FBI agent. He's already served five two year terms in this seat. He's held it since 2016

Before that, it was actually held by his brother and their second generation Irish Americans. His Democratic rival is a man called Bob Harvey. And he has been chasing him down in the polls over the last few weeks. It's been getting narrower and narrower. And now it's a complete toss up as to which two of those men will take the seat. Harvey also claims Irish heritage. Bristol is quite an Irish American town. I'm sat beside a large Celtic cross. And when I arrived here, I went to the nearest polling station, which happened to be in the Hibernian Club. So the town's Irish American institution. And there I met two of Bob Harvey's children. And they're Emma and Brendan. And I spoke to them about what it's been like for their family living the snail-biting race.

So it's your dad who's in this really tight race for Congress. How do you feel about this?

Emma (1:56)

I'm feeling pretty good. It helps knowing that he's not stressed. He just goes with the flow and is always super positive. So that makes me and my brother and his girlfriend and my husband feel a lot better.

Bairbre Holmes (2:08)

So how's campaigning for him being a family affair?

Emma (2:11)

Yeah, we all try and help out as best as we can, work in the polls, knocking doors, helping out, volunteering and putting up some signs. Yeah, we all love to help as much as we can.

Bairbre Holmes (2:25)

How has it been for your family over the last couple of weeks, gearing up for this crucial election?

Brendan (2:30)

Yeah, it's really been like a year and a half for us.

It's been great. I mean, very positive, overwhelming support for my dad. He's had his name out there as a county commissioner for the past six years, so people know him. He really enjoys going to events and meeting people all over this district in both Bucks and Montgomery County. It's been a tight race, and it's a race that's gotten national attention, but we're very optimistic and very thankful for everyone that's put in time and effort to help.

Bairbre Holmes (2:57)

This is one of the seats that could change Congress. How does that feel?

Brendan (3:02)

Well, ask me again in 12 hours.

It's important. We've known the importance of this election for some time. Brian Patrick's been in office since 2016 He staved off blue waves in the past, but we're optimistic that my dad has put in enough and we'll be able to flip this seat. But yeah, we're just kind of keeping our fingers crossed and we'll hope for the best.

Bairbre Holmes (3:24)

There's been some really vicious ads out there, this election campaign. We know there's been 11 billion, I think, spent nationally on political adverts. What's it been like for your family seeing your dad on TV and sort of nasty comments about him and his work?

Brendan (3:39)

Well, it stinks, but it's just an unfortunate part about American politics. You know, it dominates TV, you hear it on radio, you see it on social media. It's just a really unfortunate part of where we are as a country. But I think that's the importance of having good people running for office and running to be in these positions of power that we can kind of make that change and get back to where we used to be as a country, a lot more friendly and a lot more open to different ideas and communicating with each other as neighbors.