Fox News "Hannity" - Transcript: Republican Senate Candidates Sound Off Ahead of the Midterms

Interview

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HANNITY: A vote for Bredesen would be a vote against due process, a vote against truth and honesty, a vote against presumption of innocence.

Coming up, we're going to have a preview of three close Senate races with candidates from Michigan, Missouri, and Indiana tonight.

And let's not forget about where I am. Now, we are in the state of Florida, two very important races. Governor Rick Scott currently busy here leading recovery efforts in the panhandle after Hurricane Michael. Time and time again, Governor Rick Scott has successfully guided Florida through all of these natural disasters, all while molding his state into one of the most competitive business climates in the country.

He is running for Senate against a Chuck Schumer reliable vote by the name of Bill Nelson, who frankly, has been a in Washington wait too long. This is now the 76-year-old's 18th year on Capitol Hill. Time for Florida to send him home.

And in the Florida race for governor, the choice is simple, obvious, and clear. You can vote for a Republican, Ron DeSantis, who is going to keep Florida on the cutting edge of innovation and economic success, a former Navy JAG officer and congressmen, or a socialist mayor, who by the way, is under investigation named Andrew Gillum, who wants to raise business taxes by 40 percent.

Let me warn Florida, Gillum will be a disaster for the state of Florida. Forty percent, you will not have any business, and businesses will be fleeing Florida. So, let me be clear about your choices as it relates to this election.

If you care about due process, if you care about the rule of law, Constitution, if you care about a booming economy, your paycheck, your safety, your security, and securing our borders, you better get your ass to the polls, there's a lot at stake in 18 days.

And as Rush Limbaugh told us yesterday right here on this program, this is a fight for the foundations of our country and principles we hold near and dear. There is a lot at stake.

Joining us now, Michigan Senate candidate John James, Missouri Senate candidate Josh Hawley, Indiana Senate candidate Mike Braun.

Mike, we'll start with you and Indiana. You are facing the added burden of a libertarian that is drawing -- if they draw 2 percent of the vote, it is not against Joe Donnelly, it will be against you. So, I would say to the people of Indiana, any vote for this third party candidate is basically a vote for Donnelly.

MIKE BRAUN, R-SENATE CANDIDATE FOR INDIANA: I think the way that is going to work as we get closer to election time, a lot of people are going to see that vote might not count. And I think it's so clear between me and the Senator Donnelly, he has been in line with Chuck Schumer from day one, he's got a record that is easy to talk about, all the things that you described in other races, hold true here.

He takes his marching orders from Chuck, and really when you vote for someone like Donnelly, you are voting for Schumer. And the libertarian vote, I think, shares some of the principles of what we stand for, I think those will come home to roost because they want their vote to count.

HANNITY: John James, watching you, the first time I interviewed you, you were way behind. But you have been able to close the race as people get to know you. I don't say this often because when I first interviewed you on my radio show, I even said to you, wow, this is the future of the Republican Party. Your background, your business, a state like Michigan that finally is beginning to see some economic revitalization under the policies of the president.

And if you are there, how could you help him?

JOHN JAMES, R-SENATE CANDIDATE FOR MICHIGAN: That's right, we can't let that slip. Not at all, not for a second. When you're w talking about the mob over the past few weeks, the past few years, it is absolutely essential that we wake up and recognize exactly what the Marxist progressives are trying to get us to do.

Right now, conservative speech is considered violence. And liberal violence is considered speech. It is an attack on what we hold dear and fundamental. And that message is getting out.

Understand that we're not fighting for left or right, we are fighting for red, white, and blue. And taking that message forward is something that is really meaningful here. We just had a rally, we had RSVPs for 6,000 people, 4,000 folks showed up, Donald Trump, Jr., Kid Rock, Ted Nugent, and 4,000 lovers of freedom in the state of Michigan right here who believe in taking our step forward, who believe in taking our nation forward.

And I'm excited to bring my combat experience and my business experience to bear on the floor of the U.S. Senate. If you want to learn more, please go to JohnJamesforsenate.com. Debbie Stabenow is well-funded, and we close the polls from double digits to single digits. And just today, we reported that in one poll, we are tied, in another poll that I'm leading.

But we need your help and we your support to protect our constitutional republic.

HANNITY: Well, we can and think of what we could do to a once great city like Detroit and revitalize it with your background, your expertise and experience.

Josh, let me bring you in, in Missouri.

Your opponent, Claire McCaskill, she is one of the most reliable Schumer votes in Washington. She is caught on tape, and her staff, admitting they are purposefully lying to the people of Missouri. And now she somehow is mad that she is exposed. Oh, we need a special investigation.

No, if you talk on camera, you are caught on camera saying things that directly conflict with what you tell the people in your state, she got exposed. That's her problem. That's not anybody else's problem.

JOSH HAWLEY, R-SENATE CANDIDATE FOR MISSOURI: Yes, if I were here, I'd be concerned about the fact that she is caught saying one thing in public and another thing in private. I mean, she's caught talking about how she wants to take away the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens that we already know.

And we just had a debate last night, Sean, she said that she is opposed to the wall, she has voting against border security. She is opposed to pro- Constitution judges, voted against Justice Kavanaugh, and as opposed to middle-class tax cuts.

So, there is the choice right there. Somebody who is a party line liberal, or somebody who will vote with Missouri.

HANNITY: Yes. Well, these are three important races. That is a very winnable seat. I wish you all the luck, all three of you.

HAWLEY: Thank you.

JAMES: Thanks.

HANNITY: These three states, Michigan, Missouri, Indiana, all winnable. Thank you all for being with us.

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