Depending on how the election turns out next week, the story by Dean Reynolds on Monday's World News on ABC will be proven eerily prescient about the impending GOP setbacks or an illustration of a news media too eager presume disgust toward Washington, DC amongst Republicans. Anchor Charles Gibson set up the story by noting how Republican congressional incumbents “are fighting to hold three seats” in Indiana “against strong Democratic challengers” and that from LaPorte, Reynolds “reports that Republican voters are quite disillusioned." Reynolds featured a bunch of local Republicans who expressed how they are “frustrated," “confused," “concerned” and have “disgust." Reynolds recalled how "President Bush won Indiana's second congressional district by 13 points two years ago, but today:" Susan Resteau, Republican candidate for sheriff asserted: "A lot of people are just fed up with everything in general." Reynolds pointed to Iraq and the leading culprit, but added: “Worse for the GOP is that when Iraq isn't topic number one, corruption in the Republican Congress is."
Reynolds acknowledged: "It all sounds practically like a commercial for the Democrats -- until you talk to a Democrat.” Reynolds then allowed a local Democrat to complain: "They haven't, in a single voice, articulated what they would do differently."
The MRC's Brad Wilmouth corrected the transcript against the video to provide this transcript of the October 30 story on ABC's World News with Charles Gibson:
Charles Gibson: "Well, the greatest concern for the President and Republicans is losing control of the House of Representatives. And that will happen if Democrats have a net gain of 15 seats election night. One of the earliest indicators in one of the states Martha mentioned will be Indiana. The polls close there early, and Republican incumbents are fighting to hold three seats there against strong Democratic challengers. ABC's Dean Reynolds reports tonight from LaPorte, Indiana, and reports that Republican voters are quite disillusioned."
Dean Reynolds: "The voters' vocabulary in this Republican stronghold should give any incumbent pause."
Lee Brady, Republican voter: "Frustrated."
Unidentified woman: "Confused."
Linda Knoll, Republican voter: "Concerned."
Mayor Lee Morris (R-LaPorte): "Disgust."
Don Baugher, Democratic voter: "Floundering."
Reynolds: "President Bush won Indiana's second congressional district by 13 points two years ago, but today:"
Susan Resteau, Republican candidate for sheriff: "A lot of people are just fed up with everything in general."
Reynolds: "Susan Resteau is a Republican running for sheriff in a neighboring county, and the problem is no mystery to her."
Resteau: "Definitely the war."
Lee Brady, Republican voter: "We don't really have an exit strategy."
Reynolds: "Lee Morris is LaPorte's Republican mayor."
Mayor Lee Morris (R-LaPorte): "We haven't articulated well enough what the real strategy is."
Reynolds: "Realtor and lifelong Republican Linda Knoll says Iraq is drowning out good news on the economy."
Linda Knoll, Republican voter: "I think we're bombarded with the negatives."
Reynolds: "Worse for the GOP is that when Iraq isn't topic number one, corruption in the Republican Congress is."
Knoll: "I think we need to get more morals in there, all the way around."
Reynolds: "Pastor Jim Gippert of the Vineyard Church said his mostly Republican congregants, people who call themselves Christian conservatives, are disappointed."
Pastor Jim Gippert: "It's a discouragement for them, and so I don't know that we'll see the kind of turnout that you would vote for."
Reynolds: "It all sounds practically like a commercial for the Democrats -- until you talk to a Democrat. Are you happy with the Democratic response?"
Don Baugher, Democratic voter: "I don't know what it is."
Reynolds: "Attorney Don Baugher is a Democrat, and an impatient one."
Baugher: "They haven't, in a single voice, articulated what they would do differently."
Reynolds: "A bipartisan lack of answers, and an avalanche of attack ads. No wonder so many people were out on a wet and cold Friday night here to watch a high school football game. It's one contest they can cheer about. Dean Reynolds, ABC News, LaPorte, Indiana."
