ELECTION CYCLE IN JUST FOUR DAYS: SUPER TUESDAY, WHEN

DELEGATES FROM 14 STATES INCLUDING MASSACHUSETTS WILL BE

AWARDED TO CANDIDATES. THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BALLOT IN

MASSACHUSETTS WILL INCLUDE FORMER GOVERNOR BILL WELD, WHO

IS CHALLENGING PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FOR THE PARTY'S

NOMINATION. AND EIGHT NAMES WILL BE ON THE

DEMOCRATIC BALLOT. TONIGHT, WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK

AT THE TWO CANDIDATES PUSHING HARD TO WIN HERE, MASSACHUSETTS

SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN AND VERMONT SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS.

FOR THE PAST WEEK, A UMASS LOWELL POLL HAD THE TWO NECK AND

NECK IN THIS STATE AMONG LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS.

NOW, A POLL FROM WBUR AND MASS INC HAS SANDERS AHEAD OF WARREN

25% TO 17%. MANY OF THE CANDIDATES HAVE

CRISSCROSSED THE COUNTRY MAKING THE CASE FOR WHY THEY ARE THE

BEST PICK FOR THE OVAL OFFICE. >>> AHEAD OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE

PRIMARY EARLIER THIS MONTH EASTHAMPTON MAYOR NICOLE

LACHAPELLE WAS AMONG MANY PEOPLE IN THIS REGION WHO HEADED TO THE

GRANITE STATE. SHE WAS THERE TO KNOCK ON DOORS

AND TRY TO GARNER SUPPORT FOR SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN'S 2020

PRESIDENTIAL BID. I ASKED LACHAPELLE EARLIER TODAY

WHY SHE'S SUPPORTING WARREN. >> ELIZABETH GETS THINGS DONE.

PLAIN AND SIMPLE. I MET HER FIRST IN 2012 WHEN SHE

WAS RUNNING FOR SENATE. I REMEMBER VERY CLEARLY, WHAT

SHE SAW NEEDED TO HAPPEN IN THE SENATE ESPECIALLY AROUND

HEALTHCARE. WE ARE LESS THAN A DECADE INTO

HER BEING A SENATOR AND SHE'S HAD SEVERAL PROGRESSIVE WINS,

BUT ALSO HAS WORKED ACROSS THE AISLE.

MOST RECENTLY ON THE BILL TO MAKE HEARING AIDS AVAILABLE OVER

THE COUNTER. I SEE THE LAST 10 YEARS REALLY

MAKES THE FOUNDATION FOR A GREAT PRESIDENT.

AND I'M THRILLED THAT SHE DECIDED TO RUN.

HER PLANS HAVE SUBSTANCE. IT'S BIG, STRUCTURAL CHANGE AND

NOT THEORETICAL AND THAT HAS CHARACTERIZED ELIZABETH'S ENTIRE

CAREER, AND I THINK BACK IN HER WORK AT THE CONSUMER PROTECTION

BUREAU, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE A $12 BILLION RETURN TO CONSUMERS

AND WORK ON BANKRUPTCY. >> YOU MENTIONED CHANGE.

CHANGE THIS WEEK FROM THE BOSTON GLOBE EDITORIAL BOARD WHICH CAME

OUT IN SUPPORT OF ELIZABETH WARREN AS I'M SURE YOU'RE

FAMILIAR. >> YES.

>> IT WASSING AND TO LOOK BACK BECAUSE IN 2018 THE GLOBE DID

NOT SUPPORT EVEN THE IDEA OF SENATOR WARREN RUNNING FOR

PRESIDENT. >> RIGHT.

>> THEN AHEAD OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, THE GLOBE KIND OF WENT AGAINST

TRADITION, DIDN'T ADVANCE -- DIDN'T EDITORIALIZE IN FAVOR OF

A SPECIFIC CANDIDATE AND THEY SAID THIS IN PART.

QUOTE, WARSEN UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO ACCOMPLISH SERIOUS

REFORM WITHOUT SACRIFICING WHAT'S WORKING IN OUR ECONOMY

AND THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM. SHE WOULD GET UNDER THE HOOD TO

FIX THE ENGINE, NOT DRIVE OFF A CLIFF, BUT ALSO, NOT JUST KICK

THE TIRES. WHAT DO YOU ENVISION IN

ELIZABETH WARREN PRESIDENCY LOOKING LIKE?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S JUST SO ATTRACTIVE ABOUT

ELIZABETH'S CAMPAIGN AND WHAT I BELIEVE SHE'LL DO IN THE OVAL

OFFICE IS THAT SHE HAS -- ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHEN YOU LOOK AT

HEALTHCARE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT

UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE. BUT SHE HAS A PLAN TO GET IT

DONE. THE WEALTH TAX, YOU KNOW, 2

CENTS, YOU KNOW OFF OF BILLIONAIRE'S MONEY AFTER THEIR

FIRST $50 MILLION. I MEAN, THAT'S JUST AMAZING.

AND WHAT IT FUNDS, IT PUTS $800 BILLION BACK INTO OUR PUBLIC

EDUCATION SYSTEM AND SHE KNOWS THE ECONOMICS BEHIND IT.

SHE SURROUNDS HERSELF WITH THE VERY BEST STAFF AND EXPERTS AND

SHE WILL GET IT DONE AND SHE DID GET IT DONE.

AS WE'VE SEEN IN THE SENATE AND AS WE SAW WHEN SHE WAS WORKING

DOWN IN D.C., ON CONSUMER PROTECTION.

I HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE. I MEAN, SHE WILL.

SHE DOESN'T THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE TAX ON BILLIONAIRES, THAT'S ONE OF THE

THINGS THAT SHE'S BEEN CRITICIZED FOR, SORT OF GOING

AFTER PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THAT UPPER ECHELON INCOME BRACKET, DO

DOYOU THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE E OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WOULD

CONTINUE TO ATTACK HER ON IF SHE GETS THE NOMINATION?

>> MAYBE FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE ON THE EXTREME

CONSERVATIVE. I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY

OTHER WAY REALLY TO PRODUCE THE CHANGE AND INCREASE THE QUALITY

OF LIFE OF EVERY AMERICAN CITIZEN AND RESIDENT, BUT ALSO,

YOU KNOW, GETTING, YOU KNOW -- REALLY USING TODAY'S PROFITS

LIKE HER MARIJUANA PLAN TO GO BACK AND CORRECT, YOU KNOW, 25

YEARS OF THE WAR ON DRUGS AND OVERPOLICING NEIGHBORHOODS WHICH

ARE CLEARLY IN ECONOMIC DISTRESS.

YOU KNOW, HER PLANS ARE VERY CLEAR OF HOW IT WILL GET DONE.

>> YOU MENTIONED MARIJUANA. EASTHAMPTON IS ONE OF THE FEW

COMMUNITIES THAT HAS A DISPENSARY UP AND RUNNING RIGHT

NOW. SENATOR WARREN'S PLAN LOOKS AT

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MASSACHUSETTS TRIED TO ROLL OUT,

LOOKING AT SOCIAL EQUITY AND RACIAL JUSTICE WITHIN THE

MARIJUANA INDUSTRY. MASSACHUSETTS, IT'S NO SECRET,

HAS TRIPPED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT.

IT'S BEEN PROBLEMATIC. WOULD THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT,

ARE THERE THINGS THAT YOU'VE NOTICED AS THE MAYOR OF

EASTHAMPTON THAT YOU THINK COULD HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED AND FEED THAT

UP THE CHAIN TO SEE IF MAYBE THOSE CHANGES COULD COME IN AT

THE FEDERAL LEVEL? >> SURE.

OUR GOING INTO THE OPENING OF OUR FIRST RETAIL CANVAS

DISPENSARY, WE WERE VERY FOCUSED ON HEIGHTENED CRIME, NEEDED

SECURITY, HOW CASH AND PRODUCT WOULD GET IN AND OUT OF OUR

COMMUNITY. HOW IT WOULD AFFECT SCHOOLS, THE

SYSTEM. WHAT WE FOUND OUT LOOKING BACK

WAS REALLY HOW TO TRULY OPEN AND LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD IN THE

INDUSTRY AND EASTHAMPTON IN PARTICULAR WOULD HAVE HAD A MORE

COMPETITIVE MARKET FOR CANNABIS. WE ONLY STILL HAVE ONE CANNABIS

DISPENSARY OPEN. WE'VE GOT A REAL CONCENTRATION

IN CAPITAL IN THAT INDUSTRY ON THE VERY TOP AND THEY'RE NOT

LOCAL, FOLKS. WHEN I LOOK AT ELIZABETH'S PLAN,

YOU KNOW, SHE'S NOT JUST LOOKING TO FLIP A SWITCH AND MAKE

MARIJUANA FEDERALLY LEGAL. SHE'S LOOKING TO OPEN A DOOR AND

ALLOW STATES MORE FLEXIBILITY TO CREATE PLANS AND ACCESS TO

MARIJUANA AND THE INDUSTRY THAT IS EQUITABLE AND MORE FAIR

WITHOUT FEDERAL INTERFERENCE AND, YOU KNOW, IF MASSACHUSETTS

COULD GET A MULLIGAN, THE CONTROL OF CAPITA AND SOCIAL

INEQUITY IN THE BUSINESS IS ONE THING I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO

SEE, AND I THINK ELIZABETH'S PLAN IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO DO

THAT IN MASSACHUSETTS. >> POLLS HAVE SHOWN LEADING UP

TO SUPER TUESDAY ON TUESDAY THAT SENATOR WARREN AND SENATOR

BERNIE SANDERS WERE EITHER NECK AND NECK.

NOW, SENATOR SANDERS APPEARS TO HAVE CLICKED AHEAD IN THE POLLS

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST DATA. SENATOR SANDERS DECIDED TO COME

TO MASSACHUSETTS, HE'LL BE IN BOSTON TOMORROW, HE'S IN WESTERN

MASSACHUSETTS TONIGHT. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE FACT

THAT HE'S MAKING SUCH A STRONG SHOWING IN MASSACHUSETTS?

>> WELL, I THINK ONE, ELIZABETH IS HERE ALL OVER THE STATE ALL

THE TIME. SO SANDERS JUST LOOKING AT THE

POLLS IS, YOU KNOW, WANTING TO COME TO MASSACHUSETTS, THE

NEIGHBORING STATES. AS FAR AS THE POLLS ARE

CONCERNED, I MEAN, LESS THAN 3% OF THE TOTAL DELEGATES NEEDED TO

BE THE NOMINEE HAVE BEEN DECIDED.

I FIND IT INTERESTING IN THE PRESS THAT THEY WILL PAIR UP ONE

CANDIDATE AGAINST ANOTHER, BUT REALLY I THINK NOT TAKE IN THE

FULL CONSIDERATION OF THIS PRIMARY, WHO KNOWS WHAT'S GOING

TO HAPPEN? THERE'S SO MANY CANDIDATES WITH

SO MANY IDEAS THAT ARE VERY CREDIBLE.

I HAVE RESPECT FOR ALL OF THEM. YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENCE, WHAT

PUTS ME OVER THE LINE WITH ELIZABETH, THOUGH, IS SHE KNOWS

ON DAY 1 HOW SHE'S GOING TO GET IT DONE.

>> ONE OF THE WAYS IN THE DEBATE THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA THAT

SENATOR WARREN CHOSE TO DIFFERENTIATE HERSELF WAS POINT

OUT SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HERSELF AND SENATOR

SANDERS AND TO HER POINT SHE RAISED SEVERAL TIMES SHE FELT

LIKE SHE HAD A STRONGER PLAN TO YOUR POINT TO GET THINGS DONE.

SHE RAISED MEDICARE FOR ALL, WHICH SHE AND SENATOR SANDERS

BOTH CHAMPIONED, BUT IF SENATOR WARREN WERE ELECTED PRESIDENT,

SHE WOULD HAVE TO FACE THE REALITY THAT SENATOR McCONNELL

HAS CALLED THIS MEDICARE FOR NONE, ONLY OVER MY DEAD BODY

WILL THIS GET DONE SORT OF APPROACH.

HOW WILL SHE NAVIGATE THAT STAUNCH OPPOSITION IN THE

SENATE? >> I THINK SHE WOULD TAKE -- I

DON'T THINK, I KNOW SHE WOULD TAKE A TRANSITIONAL APPROACH.

MEDICARE FOR ALL IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS JUST GOING TO

HAPPEN. IT'S NOT A FLIP OF A SWITCH.

WE DON'T WANT -- I DON'T WANT THE PEOPLE IN EASTHAMPTON TO ALL

OF A SUDDEN LOSE THE BENEFITS THEY HAVE WHILE WE FIGURE OUT A

NEW SYSTEM. >> MASSACHUSETTS CAN CURRENTLYS

THE MOST NUMBER OF ENROLLEES IN ITS STATE SYSTEM.

>> ABSOLUTELY AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT TRANSITION IS

SMOOTH AND WE ALSO DON'T WANT TO GET KICKBACK FROM THE STATES

LIKE WE SAW UNDER THE ACA, WHICH WAS NOT WRITTEN AND PASSED AS A

PERFECT PIECE OF LEGISLATION, BUT ELIZABETH WILL TAKE THE

STRONGEST PIECES OF THAT RIGHT NOW, KEEP IT IN PLACE, USE

EXECUTIVE ORDER POWER TO PROTECT PEOPLE WITH PRE-EXISTING

CONDITIONS AND SHE ALSO HAS A PLAN ON THE WEBSITE THAT TALKS

ABOUT TRANSITION TO MEDICARE FOR ALL, AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY

IMPORTANT. YOU SAW OUT IN NEVADA THE

CULINARY UNION DIDN'T ENDORSE AND A PART OF THE REASON WAS IS

THAT MEDICARE FOR ALL LESS BENEFITS THAN THEIR OWN UNION'S

BENEFITS AND THEY WEREN'T SEEING A PLAN FROM A PERSON THAT THEY

HAD ENDORSED BEFORE OF HOW THEY STILL WERE GOING TO BE OKAY AND

ELIZABETH'S PLAN REALLY OUTLINES THE TRANSITION STEPS IN HOW WE

CAN GET TO MEDICARE FOR ALL, A HIGH-QUALITY MEDICAL PLAN FOR

EVERYONE IN THE COUNTRY, VERY -- IT'S NOT OVERNIGHT.

NOTHING IS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BILLIONS, TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS.