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Interview with Hillary Clinton; Dr. Thomas Frieden Discusses Zika Virus; One-Way Bus Ride into ISIS Headquarters in Raqqa. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired January 29, 2016 - 13:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:31:50] WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: It's the final push in Iowa just three days out for the caucuses. Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, they're in the midst of a whirlwind day in the so-called Hawkeye State. Sanders with four separate stops on the schedule while Clinton -- Sanders, I should say, while Clinton has three, including a rally with her husband and their daughter, Chelsea.

Right now, the Democratic front runners are locked in a very tight race in Iowa. An NBC/"Wall Street Journal" poll, a Maris poll shows Hillary Clinton with just a three-point lead over Bernie Sanders. That's certainly within the margin of error. That was almost unthinkable a month ago when Hillary Clinton held a 22-point lead in Iowa.

Also happening right now, the first one of those many campaign events in Iowa we're following. Hillary Clinton, by the way, holding a rally at Grand View University in Des Moines. She just got a little emotional by a story of a mother in the audience who told of her daughter's issues with health care. She at one point had tears apparently running down her face.

Hillary Clinton faces an even bigger battle in New Hampshire where right now Bernie Sanders holds a nearly 20-point lead in the polls. Hillary Clinton has been stepping up her calls for Bernie Sanders to sign on to another debate after that February 9th primary. The Sanders camp saying, first, they want Hillary Clinton on board with three additional debates in the spring.

I had a chance to speak to the former secretary of state last night. We spoke about all of this, and I asked her whether she would agree to Bernie Sanders' request.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: Well, first, I told you, back in September, I had been willing to do more debates. I like debating, and I think it was important that my supporters, leaders in New Hampshire, said they wanted a debate. They offered a time. I agreed. And I am prepared to do that, and certainly with respect to future debates, we can start talking about scheduling those, but I look forward to debating the issues. I think the voters of New Hampshire and the country want us to keep debating the issues. I hope that we'll all three be here next week in New Hampshire to talk about what our real plans are to deal with the economy and health care and rising prescription drug costs and so much else that people will talk to me about.

BLITZER: So you are willing to commit to three specific dates for additional debates after New Hampshire?

CLINTON: Oh, I have said, look, I am -- we have another one shortly after New Hampshire, as I remember on the calendar. I have said we should start looking for dates and working to get those scheduled. I am perfectly fine with that. But first things first. We have to agree that we're going to debate in New Hampshire both the governor and I have agreed and we're waiting for the Senator to decide to join us.

BLITZER: I just want to be precise. After the Democratic National Committee sanctions debates, you are now ready to commit to three more debates. Is that right?

CLINTON: Well, I have been very public in saying I would like the DNC to work with all of the campaigns because that's what it did when it set up this schedule, and obviously we want to be supportive, but I am urging publicly that we do this debate next week in New Hampshire, and then I have said I am more than happy for us to start scheduling additional debates as we go through the spring and April and May and try to get those on the calendar.

[13:35:22] BLITZER: OK. Let's move on, talk a little bit about Susan Sarandon, who supports Bernie Sanders. I want you to listen to what she told Bernie Sanders supporters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUSAN SARANDON, ACTOR: I think it's very patronizing to think that women vote for any woman that gets up there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Are you confident that women voters out there are going to turn out for you in the way you need them?

CLINTON: I am thrilled to have so much support from leading women in our country, from elected women, from women activists, from organizations like Planned Parenthood, fighting for women's rights. I'm running to be president because I think I have the best combination of experience qualifications, plans, and ability to get the job done. I do think it's an asset to be running to be the first woman president, and I want everyone, women and men, in all parts of our country, to join me in making sure we build on the progress we've made and not let the Republicans rip away the White House and set us back.

BLITZER: Bernie Sanders is also criticizing you for attending a fundraiser in Philadelphia at an investment firm last night while he was holding a rally speaking to caucus goers in Iowa. Does that make you look bad? CLINTON: Oh, I don't think so. I was in Iowa yesterday, all week.

I'm back in Iowa right now. I'll be in Iowa through the caucus.

I went to Philadelphia for two things. Some of my supporters, including my good friend, Jon Bon Jovi, had a fundraiser for me, and I had a longstanding meeting scheduled to meet with 50 African-American faith leaders from across our nation, and it was a wonderful conversation. We ranged widely over everything from the terrible water crisis in Flint to what we need to do for criminal justice reform, how we guarantee economic opportunity and good jobs with rising incomes, equal rights, and equal pay for women. It was just an absolutely stimulating and inspirational meeting. And here I am back in Newton, ready to go talk to hundreds of citizens who are still either making up their minds or learning more about what to do when they go caucus for me next Monday.

BLITZER: As you know, Donald Trump has planned a so-called special event to benefit veterans tonight at the same time the Republican presidential candidates are holding their debate. Is that appropriate? Do you think you should boycott that debate?

CLINTON: You know, I am certainly not going to get in to the machinations of the Republican primary process, other than to say I deeply regret the tone, rhetoric you are hearing, not only from Mr. Trump, but a number of the other candidates. The kinds of insulting remarks they're making about groups of people in our country, their strong opposition to the Affordable Care Act, hoping to defund Planned Parenthood, coming back to trickle-down economics. You know, it's really a quite disturbing spectacle that we have going on. So whether or not they are together when they debate and reinforce these positions, which I think would be so harmful to our country is something that, you know, they have to decide among themselves, but I'm going to continue to point out the stakes in this election because ultimately it will come down to one Democratic nominee and one Republican who are fighting for the future of America and I strongly disagree with the direction that the Republicans intend to take our country. And that's why I'm fighting so hard to be that Democratic nominee to be able to make the case that we want to build on the progress we've made, and where he sure don't want the Republicans ripping it all apart.

BLITZER: Madam Secretary, on national security, while I have you, the Pentagon now acknowledging that some U.S. troops already are inside Libya, and they're also signaling that the U.S. could get much more involved in Libya soon. Would you support significantly increasing the number of U.S. troops inside Libya, which, for all practical purposes today, is a failed state with ISIS in control of big chunks there?

[13:39:51] CLINTON: Well, I haven't been briefed on the specifics of what the Defense Department is considering. There are certainly operations that special forces are conducting in a number of places throughout the Middle East in support of local forces and local government authorities and also to try to help defeat ISIS and its affiliates. I can't comment specifically, Wolf. There has been a great effort recently led by the United Nations to try to get the two factions in Libya to cooperate. And, yes, there is one part of Libya that has been claimed by is, and there's a great deal of concern among Libyans and Europeans as well as Americans and others in the Middle East about that, so I will -- I will hold my judgment about exactly what is being carried out until I have more information about it.

BLITZER: One final question, Madam Secretary, before I let you go, you said it would be a great idea to appoint -- to nominate President Obama to the U.S. Supreme Court. Have you given more thought to that possibility?

(LAUGHTER)

CLINTON: Well, I have no idea if he'd ever be interested but it was a fascinating idea. If I'm so fortunate enough to be president and get the opportunity to fill a Supreme Court vacancy, which I hope I do, then I would certainly talk to him about it. I think he has other plans for his future but, hey, it would be worth the effort. We know he is a brilliant writer and he taught constitutional law, so I think it's worth a try.

BLITZER: Madam Secretary, thanks so much for joining us.

CLINTON: Good to talk to you again, Wolf. Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And Monday night, the first real votes are cast in this presidential contest. We're going to have all day coverage leading up to the Iowa caucuses and then all night coverage of the results right here on CNN.

Up next, the spread of a devastating virus. President Obama wants swift action to stop the outbreak. I'll speak with the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and I'll ask what's being done about all of this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:41:20] BLITZER: Brazil's president now admitting that the country is losing the battle against mosquitoes that are carrying a potentially devastating virus, the Zika Virus. Now cases have spread to the United States and to Europe as well.

Joining us now is Dr. Thomas Frieden, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, joining us from Atlanta.

Doctor Frieden, thanks very much for joining us.

As you know, President Obama, everyone, has expressed a lot of concern about this outbreak. There are now 32 cases right here in the United States. Are all of those from cases involving people who traveled to these affected areas in the Americas?

DR. THOMAS FRIEDEN, DIRECTOR, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL & PREVENTION: So far, all of the confirmed cases have been among people who have traveled. If we step back for a minute, it's new, it's scary. There are a lot of unknowns. But we have to put it into perspective. This is the same kind of virus that is spread by the mosquito that spreads the dengue virus and others. What that means is we're undoubtedly going to see lots of cases in areas that have a lot of those mosquitoes and don't have air conditioning, have crowding, places like Brazil. In addition, we'll undoubtedly see travelers coming back with it.

What's new is Zika its apparent connection with a very serious fetal malformation called Microcephaly. It's a terrible tragedy for the family. The real concern here is for pregnant women in areas where Zika is spreading and people who are thinking of traveling to those areas who are pregnant.

BLITZER: So pregnant women should not travel, correct me if I'm wrong, to Central America or South America, anywhere south of the United States right now? Is that right?

FRIEDEN: There are some countries that are not yet affected and several which because of their climates are not too likely to be affected. Anywhere you have seen dengue, you may see Zika. On our website, you can find the latest list of countries and territories affected.

BLITZER: As you know, there's going to be Summer Olympic Games coming up in Brazil. Should pregnant women avoid going to those Summer- Winter Olympic Games?

FRIEDEN: They're still fairly far away. Let's see how it goes the next few months.

At CDC, we've been working on issues like Zika for many years. We have some laboratory tests that are now available that can confirm it in acute phase, and we were able to document that several of the infants who were affected did have the Zika Virus present. But we're accelerating now 24/7 the kind of thing that usually takes months or years to develop to try to get that done, and days to weeks. To get new diagnostic tests out, to strengthen mosquito control activities, and we've got a team in Brazil today doing a study on the rare complication of the syndrome. That's a weakness or paralysis that can happen after many different infections and may be happening in a very small proportion of people after the Zika Virus infection. Again, that's only in areas where it's spreading, such as Central and South America and the Caribbean, parts of those areas.

BLITZER: Those mosquitoes that spread the Zika Virus, do you expect those mosquitoes to show up in the United States?

FRIEDEN: To get Zika to spread, you need two things. First, you need a particular mosquito. Second, you need the conditions people live in that are conducive to the spread of that virus. What we've seen with other similar diseases like Zika are there parts of the southern U.S., Florida, Texas, and elsewhere, which do have those mosquitoes, but because people use air conditioning, less crowding, we haven't seen large outbreaks. There can be single cases or small clusters, what we call sporadic cases. For that reason, we're working with those areas to improve the tracking of human cases, mosquito control activities. And there's more that can be done. Places like Puerto Rico that have lots of these mosquitoes and where there may be the spread of dengue and other viruses are going to have a larger problem than places like Florida and Texas, which with dengue and others, they've had five, 10, 15, cases in recent year, nothing like the hundreds of thousands we've seen in South America.

[13:50:39] BLITZER: The biggest fear is for pregnant women right now, they should stay away from those areas where these mosquitoes are flourishing.

Dr. Thomas Frieden, thank you for joining us.

FRIEDEN: Thank you.

BLITZER: Coming up, we'll take you aboard a bus to ISIS central. Passengers say they boarded knowing they may never come back. We have exclusive details. Stay with us.

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[13:55:09] BLITZER: The Netherlands says it will extend its role in the fight against ISIS with targeted air strikes in eastern Syria. Dutch officials stress the importance of interrupting ISIS supply lines. A key stop on those supply lines is ISIS -- the Syrian city ISIS calls its capital.

Though ravaged by war, it's still unbelievable it's a place that can be reached by bus from neighboring Lebanon, but as our Nick Paton Walsh reports, it's a long journey and many passengers travel in fear of the final destination.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Central Beirut bus station, and this is what travelers call, and they are not really exaggerating, a one-way ticket to death, the bus to Raqqa, the Syrian city ISIS call their capitol.

They have sold nine tickets for the 24-hour trip through the regime- held Damascus and onwards, yet nobody wants to show their face, apart from that man, the manager, because he's not actually going. He explains the rules.

UNIDENTIFIED BUS MANAGER (through translation): A woman that's not dressed right will be sent to Islamic training. She of course, needs a male relative to escort her. Men need their beards long in their natural state with mustaches trimmed. Trousers should not be tight, and a certain height over shoes. But ISIS realizes when people travel they can't always look like that, so it's OK.

PATON WALSH: Most who fill the seats seem sure somehow ISIS will let them in, yet won't say why.

(on camera): It is remarkable that a bus still goes from Beirut to Raqqa, but this is what it looks like on the return journey. Absolutely empty. Those getting onboard do not expect to come back. (voice-over): Tonight's cargo is on its final journey, a man who died

of a heart attack, we're told, headed to his hometown for a family funeral. Sadness of this loss here, but also nervous last cigarettes. Not because the trip ahead where fighter jets often fly low, buzzing the coach, but because smoking and music are banned under ISIS' medieval rules. Nicotiny fingers will later be soaked in perfume, racy music and pictures deleted from phones.

Snipers, air strikes on the way. They are matter of fact in this world.

UNIDENTIFIED BUS MANAGER (through translation): The plane might strike some distance from above. It's normal. Nobody can really pin down where the sniper fire is coming from. That's when the passengers get afraid.

PATON WALSH: Tonight, a hurdle arises. They don't have the paperwork to take the body out of Lebanon. We learned that the bus did leave 24 hours later. One man telling us Raqqa used to be his heaven, but ISIS, the war, poverty, and even the trash have now made it hell.

Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Beirut.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Nick Payton Walsh is joining us live from Beirut.

What a story, Nick. Why do these people get on that bus? Why do they want to go to Raqqa?

PATON WALSH: You do get a feeling that you may not be hearing the entirety of what they know or how they know ISIS. They may have relatives there who arrange for their safe arrival. It takes a lot of guts, frankly, a lot of failed logic to get on that bus and not know when you get to the other end in Raqqa you're going to get a safe arrival.

Most of the stories we heard suggest it's pretty much impossible to leave Raqqa. We know ISIS exercise a strict series of permissions to leave that city. It's besieged under heavy coalition air strikes.

We have an exception. One from a guy in the crowd who said if you have an urgent medical condition, you have 15 days to leave Raqqa. Stay out any longer and ISIS will confiscate your property. We met one woman who claimed she'd been allowed to leave Raqqa, go to the gulf and is now going back. Apart from that very strict policy.

And also fascinating insight, Wolf. We see in the U.S. and outside how ISIS is sort of a 10-foot tall monster is able to inflict terror attacks around the world. Here, they're quite clearly part of society. They let people, normal people come in and out it seems. And the part of what used to be Syria's normal infrastructure -- Wolf?

BLITZER: Quickly, are some of these people ISIS sympathizers or supporters? PATON WALSH: You kind of get the feeling as I said they probably know

ISIS better than they're letting on to you we at the same time too there was fear. They didn't want to be filmed. You have to remember ISIS came to be able to control areas because of locals sympathizing with them and there must have been locals too there that simply want a normal life -- Wolf?

BLITZER: Nick Paton Walsh, reporting for us with the story from Beirut. Nick, thank you.

I'll be 5:00 p.m. eastern in "The Situation Room."

In the meantime, the news continues next on CNN.