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Christie: 2016 Decision "Sometime Next Year"; Republican Perdue Wins Georgia Senate Seat; GOP Takes Back Senate

Aired November 05, 2014 - 10:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


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CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.

Now that the midterms are behind us, all eyes are on 2016; among the list of possible White House contenders, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. In total, Christie traveled to some 36 states along the campaign trail this season. Some might say his hard work has paid off. The big question now, whether Christie plans to run for president following last night's GOP sweep. Here's what Christie said about that earlier on CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST: What is your timetable for when you're going to decide?

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: You know, some time next year. Some time next year. There's no rush in making this kind of decision. I think there's no reason to rush a decision as important as this.

You know, I've said it all along. There's three questions I'll ask myself. Is it right for me? Is it right for my family? Is it right for my country? And if I don't answer yes to all three, I won't run. And if I do answer yes to all three then I will.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN HOST: You care about your party. Everybody says that, that this was important to you to show that you could give a message in as many states as possible where governors would be helped by it. It worked. That's got to tell you something about your ability to message. You know that your party is pushing you towards getting more involved in this. How do you say no?

CHRISTIE: Well, I don't know that you do say no. But I haven't said yes and that's a big difference. And I'm flattered. I mean, yes how do you react to it? It's incredibly flattering, Chris, to have lots of people ask you to consider running for president of the United States and I'm incredibly flattered. But this morning what I feel is incredible pride in really great candidates across the country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Ok. So let's talk more about 2016 with CNN's chief national correspondent John King. Good morning, John. JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Carol, one curtain

closes, another opens -- right? Look, if you're Chris Christie and you're looking at this map, this is the House races last night. If you're Chris Christie or any Republican thinking about running for president you're looking at this map and you're saying "Oh, yes, let's do it. This is a country favorable to us." But I want remember to for Chris Christie and anybody thinking of running for president -- and this applies to Hillary Clinton, too Carol, not just the Republicans -- remember the whiplash we've been through in the last several years.

Here's what I mean. Remember, it was just six years ago President Obama trounced John McCain, wins a electoral college landslide -- right. So this is a Democratic right -- at the presidential level. That's 2008. Then in 2010, you switch to the House races, the rise of the Tea Party and we see wow, look at this, America is red, not blue. Then you have 2012 and a presidential election and, yes, the President gave back Indiana and North Carolina to the Republicans, but he still won a more competitive race, but still a big electoral college landslide.

And yet here we are in 2014, here are the Senate races, a lot of red last night. And here's the map I think that says it all. America is largely a center right country. A lot of liberals don't like that conversation but look at the results. If you live here you live in blue America. If you live on California coast or the West Coast you live in blue America. Most of New England is still blue America but look at the rest of the country.

If you're Chris Christie, great -- this looks favorable, right. The question is Carol, what will voters want in two years, number one. How does Chris Christie fit in a Republican field that could include Tea Party favorite Ted Cruz -- they don't agree on much; Rand Paul; maybe Jeb Bush?

And look at the exit polls last night. Yes, this is a great day for Republicans but the Republican brand did not get a big embrace. The voters repudiated the President and the Democrats. They did not hug and love the Republicans. So they will be looking now for governing performance from the Republicans and the voters don't like anybody.

That's a message to all Republicans, whether you work in D.C. or whether you're one of these governors. One other quick point, Christie is likely to have some friends as governors out there. John Kasich won big in Ohio; Scott Walker won big in Wisconsin. So Chris Christie might be one Republican governor running, former governor Rick Perry might be out there, Mike Pence from Indiana -- it's going to be a crowded Republican field because, again, on the morning after, Republicans look at this and they say "Let's go".

COSTELLO: John King, many thanks. I appreciate it.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, David Perdue keeps his Senate seat from Georgia red. In an exclusive interview -- we'll have an exclusive interview from David Perdue after this.

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ANA CABRERAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Ana Cabrera in Colorado where the Senate race here ended up being a decisive one for Republicans -- a victory for Republican Cory Gardner who defeated incumbent Democrat Mark Udall. Now Cory Gardner in his victory speech talked about a new way forward, a new direction in Washington. And that's the kind of message that really resonated with the voters here throughout the campaign.

That Cory Gardner managed to stay disciplined in his messaging, he was able to deflect the attacks on polarizing social issues such as women's reproductive rights while also successfully tying the incumbent Democrat to Washington; Cory Gardner portraying himself as anti-Obama and anti-establishment.

Now, here's why his victory is such a big deal on a national level. Not only does his seat help to flip the power in the U.S. Senate, but it also tells Republicans that they can win in a state like Colorado where there is a growing population and growing diversity. So no doubt the GOP is going to be looking at Gardner's strategy and his success here as they look forward to the presidential election in 2016.

KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Kyung Lah at a Greg Orman campaign office. The surprising political story out of Kansas, the rise of the Independent -- the Independent giving the Republican incumbent for U.S. Senate a run for his money. But in the end, it was not to be; Senator Pat Roberts keeping his seat by a comfortable 8 percent margin.

In the race for governor, the Democrat also had a fighting chance but in the end he also could not unseat the Republican, Governor Sam Brownback keeping his job as the head of this state, Kansas, typically a Republican state decides to stay red.

COSTELLO: A Senate seat stays red in Georgia. Republican David Perdue will take over for retiring Senator Saxby Chambliss. Despite some predictions there would be a runoff with Democrat Michelle Nunn, Perdue easily crossed the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff vote.

CNN's Kyra Phillips caught up with Perdue after his victory speech.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID PERDUE (R), GEORGIA SENATOR-ELECT: We had people tell us a year ago if we got our message out that we could win this. So we just purposed to get out in the state and that's what we did. You know, we had some really talented quality people in our primary -- Republican primary. In the runoff I had Jack Kingston.

The only reason I think we're standing here tonight is that this message resonated across the state that we have to change the direction of our country.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And as you know Michelle Nunn was very critical saying he's the out-of-touch businessman, all he cares about is the money in his pocketbook. What does this say about how voters feel about you and what happened tonight; message to her and what she was saying.

PERDUE: Well, you know, she's a great candidate. She comes from a great family. She's done a wonderful job with her life and her work. I have nothing but, you know, kudos and I admire her professional work, they do great work over there.

I think -- you can't run from your heritage. My mother is 88, she's in the crowd here, she's a retired schoolteacher. My dad was a schoolteacher. And I think just growing up the way most people in Georgia grow up, people related to that in the state. So I ran some big companies, but nothing changed in my life and so I think people could relate to that when I talked to them about what I wanted to do in the Senate and what I saw as the crisis. The crisis that got me in here is the debt and the economy and how to get that going. So people really related to that.

PHILLIPS: You did well with white voters, but not African-Americans or women. Now that you are in this position, what are you going to do to change that? Change the demographics.

PERDUE: Well, you know, one reason why I think we got here as a Republican nominee is that we pulled a very diverse Republican party in the state of Georgia together. And it's those things, those principles that we were talking about -- economic opportunity, fiscal responsibility, limited government and individual liberty -- as long as I kept talking about that, people sort of -- they came to that story, that message.

And then we talked about the economy and the debt and the ideas about how to get people working again. That crosses a lot of lines and so, you know, as a senator I'm going to represent every single individual in the state.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: And Perdue did circle back and he did address the Democratic lob grenades about outsourcing during his business career. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PERDUE: This was one of those distractions that's from the other side -- they're good at it. They did in the Romney campaign. And I just think that it was a distraction away from the real crisis. The real crisis is the failed policies of this administration. You know, we have fewer people working as a percentage than any time since Jimmy Carter was president. That's what people wanted to talk about. You know, the fact that several million women fell into poverty in the last six years. People wanted to talk about that. And how to get America working again -- that's what I focused on.

PHILLIPS: This is your chance to set it straight. You didn't want to talk about outsourcing jobs. You were asked the question. You talked about outsourcing services, products -- just set the story straight now that you have taken this race.

PERDUE: Well, it's the same story I've been telling. I mean the story is about all the jobs that we created and helped companies survive to help individuals take care of their families. You know, we have bad government policies in this country that have devastated entire industries. I'm going to Washington to work in a Senate that doesn't have a lot of business people in there to basically represent how these policies damaged our competitiveness around the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Another Georgia race thought to be tight really wasn't. Republican Nathan Deal won reelection to governor over Democrat Jason Carter.

So with the change in power in the Senate there will likely be some growing pains as the Republican Party takes over. Joining me now, former Wyoming Senator Alan Simpson, a Republican who knows all too well -- he's been in the Senate for more than 20 years and he has witnessed a number of party changes through the years. Good morning, sir.

ALAN SIMPSON (R), FORMER WYOMING SENATOR (via telephone): How are you today? Can you hear me? I can hear you.

COSTELLO: I can hear you and thank you so much for being with me this morning. I appreciate it.

SIMPSON: You bet.

COSTELLO: Is this a good thing that Republicans now control both Houses of Congress?

SIMPSON: It's a good thing if they do it right and don't give each other the saliva test of purity and go through the exercises on social issues and then sit around and complain. Stay with the course and that's to govern. People are hungry for somebody to govern this country and the President unfortunately -- my old man was in the Senate and he was a governor and he said you're damned if you do and damned if you don't, then do.

And this is where the President failed. He would talk to us and say something eloquently and not do it. And it's over. The game is over. He's going to have to do and now you've got the Senate and those rules on the fill buster now come back to kick the Democrats in the fanny. It will be fun to watch. I can't wait.

COSTELLO: I bet. I know you're being facetious there, I can hear in your voice.

SIMPSON: No, I mean it. When you try to change the basic rules of the Senate just to get power -- and that's what Reid was doing -- Harry Reid is an old prize fighter. I know him. He loves to punch. And he did some things. He wouldn't allow amendments. He wouldn't allow this. McConnell has already said in his campaign I'm going to consider all amendments. We're going to process bills. We're going to process amendments. We're not going to cut people off. That's what people are waiting for. That's called legislating.

COSTELLO: You've also said in the past to that Republicans have to move on from harshly criticizing or dinging President Obama. What did you mean by that?

SIMPSON: I'm sorry, you cut out there.

COSTELLO: No worries. You've said in the past that Republicans have to move on from dinging President Obama. What did you mean by that?

SIMPSON: Yes, I do. Just give that up. He's gone. I mean, he will be gone in two years. If you want to do some dinging in the Senate, ding Reid. And that doesn't mean personally. You get in there and you govern. They're looking for people -- how can you defer every major issue: the Keystone Pipeline, immigration, foreign policy all deferred by the President.

And now people are saying you can't play that game anymore. There is no deferral. We have a congress, we have three branches of government and yours has been severely chopped up. Ours now is on the ascendancy and that's the legislative branch. And there you go. That's what you do. You move.

Forget doing anything to quote, "Get Obama." Just go in and govern and get the Senate and the house running together. Have conference committees together, do things together. Come out just say we're giving you a bill in the house, you're going to love it, pass it and get together and do that before it ever comes up. That's how you do the business.

COSTELLO: What should be the first order of business for Republicans?

SIMPSON: To sit down and pick their leadership and pick Boehner and pick Mac and do it and then trot up the Keystone Pipeline. The world's in turmoil. And what's it in the turmoil about? Well, you're trying to blow up, you're trying blow up all of the ISIS refineries.

Well, go ahead, but we have people who provide our oil that really don't love us and coddle us, so get that pipeline set up. It's been approved by every agency and it's not about the environment. If you don't do it in America, they'll do it somewhere else. It's about energy sufficiency. It's about our security. That would be number one.

Then deal with immigration. The Senate passed a bill. I don't know whether -- I know what it was and then the President said he was going to do all these things and he just ducked it all. So he irritated his base, he just -- the Senate and the house need to do their business, pull up every bill that people talked about in the last four or six years and meld it together and trot it out on the floor and get it because you have the power to do that.

COSTELLO: A final question. What should be done about Obamacare?

SIMPSON: Well, if anybody believes that any president whose signature legislation -- whether you like it or not -- is Obamacare so called, or health care, give up trying to repeal it. That's a lost cause. I always said out here if your horse drops dead, it's better to get off. And that's what that is. So go in and use your skill and amend it.

Go in to the tax system. It's a tremendously costly exercise and it's going to get more and more -- it's on automatic pilot. Erskine Bowles and I figured the health care system is on automatic pilot. It doesn't matter where it's going so get in there and adjust it. Make the changes, make it work and you can do that. You have the horses now.

He's not going to -- if he does try to repeal something that's a sensible adjustment to the biggest thing that's going to suck all the air out of America then, you know, put it on his back.

COSTELLO: Senator Alan Simpson, thank you so much for being with me this morning. And I must say we miss you.

SIMPSON: It's a pleasure. You bet.

COSTELLO: It was a pleasure for me, too, thank you so much. Still to come in the NEWSROOM, Mitch McConnell now in line to be Senate majority leader after a big win in Kentucky. We'll talk to voters there next.

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COSTELLO: Mitch McConnell won big and President Obama reached out to the Senator after his reelection but he had to leave a message. McConnell is a busy man on his way to a new post. He will probably lead the Senate. Check out this new "Time" magazine cover. This is a riff on the old Obama poster. See? Change is now Republican Mitch McConnell. Actually, a lot of people are riffing on that old poster because take look at the "Daily News". This just says -- I'll take out that banner. "Nope." you'll see a lot of that in the days and weeks to come.

Let's head to Kentucky and check in with CNN's Joe Johns. He's been talking to some of the Senator's constituents in Lexington, Kentucky. What are they saying, Joe?

JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, this (inaudible) Cafe. It is in Lexington, Kentucky. We came here to talk to people about what they're thinking and saying after reelecting Mitch McConnell to another term. He, of course, stands to become the next majority leader.

Important also to say that Lexington, Kentucky is the home of Alison Lundergan Grimes who happens to be the person who runs against McConnell in that election. She was just here in this cafe yesterday. Reactions from people we talked to sort of track with the polling -- a lot of people telling CNN here today that the thing that put McConnell over the top was his experience and political skill in Washington. Listen.

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JOHNS: Why do you think people voted the way they did in Kentucky?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because he's been senator for 30 years and he's like I can do a lot more for the community, Lexington, Kentucky and --

JOHNS: And a new person could not.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right.

JOHNS: So are you glad to see it over one way or the other, though?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I am.

JOHNS: Why is that?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because I've had enough. A year is too long for all this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is election time and advertising always does get on your nerves, of course. That's what they do. You know, it just gets a little touchy sometimes. They kind of go a little too far but, you know, it's politics.

JOHNS: Why do you think the state went for McConnell? I know he's been around a long time. Was it just his seniority? Was it what he does for the state? Was he a known commodity? Why do you think he won?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, he has been there 30 years so, you know, Alison, she's a newcomer and I think name recognition. Everybody knows Mitch -- he's been there a long time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: Now, the advertising in this election was very intense -- a lot of outside money here. You might imagine many people are very glad to get all that stuff off their TV screens and off the radio. But we talked to one woman here who is actually an advertising executive for some radio stations in the area. She has no complaints. Her company raked in a lot of cash, Carol. Back to you.

COSTELLO: I bet it did. Do you get a sense from voters, Joe, that they expect a change? That they expect Mitch McConnell who will be Senate majority leader to reach out and work with the President and vice versa? Do they think that will actually happen?

JOHNS: You know, it's interesting. One of the people I talked to not here at the cafe but at another location in the Lexington area said, you know, it doesn't really matter to her which party actually gets control of the Congress, which party does anything. Her point was you need to fix it. I don't care which party; who does it, Republican, Democrat, Independent, they need to get together. And I think that's a big sentiment we're hearing from people here. They just want something to happen in D.C. that hasn't happened for a while.

COSTELLO: You mean that Congress actually passes a bill and it's signed by the President and it becomes law? Something like that? JOHNS: Say that again, I'm sorry? Having a hard time hearing you.

COSTELLO: Exactly. We'll see if that happens, Joe Johns, live from Lexington Kentucky, thanks so much.

JOHNS: Ok.

COSTELLO: And thank you for joining me today. I'm Carol Costello.

"@THIS HOUR WITH BERMAN AND MICHAELA" after a break.

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