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Republican Presidential Candidates Campaign in New Hampshire; Interview with Clinton Campaign Spokesman Brian Fallon; Interview with Ted Cruz Foreign Policy Adviser Victoria Coates. Aired 2-2:30:15p ET

Aired February 06, 2016 - 14:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:00:35] FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello again and thanks so much for joining me. Welcome back. I'm Fredricka Whitfield with CNN special live coverage from Manchester, New Hampshire.

In just three days now New Hampshire voters cast their ballots in the first primary of the 2016 presidential race. Today the candidates are fanned out across New Hampshire rallying their supporters, counting down to Tuesday's critical vote. This hour Hillary Clinton is holding a rally in Concord, New Hampshire, just a few minutes up the road here. Live pictures right now with New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and former secretary of state Madeleine Albright there with her. It is one of three events that Clinton has planned for today.

The Republicans will be back in the spotlight tonight. They will square off in their final debate before New Hampshire voters decide their fate on Tuesday. And just a short time ago, I spoke with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who made his last-minute pitch on why voters should choose him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's choosing time. You know, we had a lot of time to introduce ourselves to the voters and make sure they knew who we were and what we stood for, but now it's about choosing. And when it's about choosing you've got to make the distinction, the differences between you and your opponents.

And so for me it's about governing in a blue state with a Democratic legislature, making tough decisions, making those decisions every day successfully. And that's a big difference between someone who's been a governor and a United States senator. The best governors our party's had in the last century, Teddy Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan, were both governors. This is no accident, no mistake, and we'll be making that distinction again tonight on the stage.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, so there you have Governor Chris Christie with a preview of his message to voters tonight at that debate, seven GOP candidates will be on stage. Let's bring in Mark Preston who is CNN's executive political editor to discuss tonight's debate. So, Mark, it could be do or die, make or break in this live free or

die state. People here want to hear about issues, but you just heard from Governor Christie. When I spoke with him he said, you know what, it's choosing time. So if it means trying to highlight what he believes to be the negative of his opponents, that's what you have to do to distinguish yourself from the crowd.

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICS EXECUTIVE EDITOR: No doubt. Certainly in a field, a very crowded field, of governors, as he points out, about why a governor would be a better choice. Not only is he running against Donald Trump and Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, he's running against Jeb Bush and John Kasich, right, two governors.

Chris Christie tonight has to do a couple things, and all of these gentlemen have to do a couple of things. One, they have to show that they're a fighter and they can take on Hillary Clinton if she is the nominee and they can take on the Democratic Party machine.

Number two, they do have to express themselves in a way that the voters can understand and think as pragmatic and can get things done. That's something here in New Hampshire that they're going to be looking for. And, three, they do have to go on the attack to one another, but they can't go over the line.

WHITFIELD: And at the same time, New Hampshire is a very unique place, because people here will make their decision and then two days later, or in 30 minutes before dropping that ballot in the box, change their mind. And that is the beauty of this state when you talk to voters here who say, you know what, anything can go, and it's very difficult for anyone to predict the outcome here. Are the candidates mindful of that?

PRESTON: No doubt, because if you do at exit polling from previous elections, people, there's a good chunk of the voters who don't make up their minds to the last few days or to the last day, to your point. In a race that's so close, that's why we see the candidates out there campaigning, stumping, and trying to get as many votes as they can. Tonight is critical in many ways because they'll be able to reach a wide variety of voters all across the state. And for the likes of Chris Christie and John Kasich and Jeb Bush, they're also going after these undeclared voters. And 44 percent of voters here in New Hampshire are neither Republican nor Democrat. Guess what? Those are the same voters that Hillary Clinton is going for as well.

WHITFIELD: It doesn't mean they're apathetic. That's what's unique here. It doesn't mean they're apathetic there, disengaged, uninvolved. It means they like to keep that information to themselves, personal. They don't want to commit or even be on record as having any allegiance to a party or following or philosophy.

[14:05:00] PRESTON: It might even be a pure form of being a voter, because they might vote Republican be this election and they may vote Democrat the next election, which is very, very interesting. You don't see that all across the country but you certainly see it here.

WHITFIELD: So what do we expect to see, quickly, from these candidates tonight as they duke it out onstage or try to distinguish themselves, quickly, if there is, you know, a particular -- one approach that all of them need to adopt before going head-to-head tonight.

PRESTON: Listen, they have to come out of the pack and they have to prove that they can get above the chatter, the loudness of Donald Trump. There's no doubt about that. They have to be willing to take on Donald Trump but not go over the edge. And quite frankly, they have to be willing to take out Marco Rubio. Everyone brought onstage has to be willing to take him out. And if there's anyone who is getting a lot of fire directed at him tonight, it's that Florida senator. It's not going to be Donald Trump as much. It's going to be Marco Rubio.

WHITFIELD: Because he's made such headway in Iowa. Thanks so much, Mark Preston. Appreciate it.

PRESTON: Thanks, Fred.

WHITFIELD: As we said, Hillary Clinton is stumping right now, and she has some heavy hitters that are there alongside her. You see actually now they're right behind her. You see New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and former secretary of state Madeleine Albright there. Let's listen in.

CLINTON: -- to them, especially young Americans. Is it going to really be possible to go as far as your hard work and talent will take you? Or will you be pushed down and pushed back? I think about it a lot, because, as my husband said, you know, we probably have more yesterdays than tomorrows. But looking out at this crowd, I see a lot of people with many more tomorrows than yesterdays, and --

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: I want to give you the best possible tomorrow. And what I --

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: -- what I know is this, we have to knock down the barriers that are erected by greed, special interests, powerful forces. We have to take them on. I know a lot about that. They've been after me for decades.

(LAUGHTER)

CLINTON: And you know what? I'm still standing. And --

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: But I want you to understand, there are more kinds of inequality than just those that are furthered by greedy financial interests. We still have to deal with racism, sexism, discrimination against the LGBT community, against people with disabilities.

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: We have to continue to defend a woman's right to make her health care decisions. That is not about Wall Street. That is about ideology and trying to send women back.

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: We have to be very clear in our own minds about what these barriers are that must be knocked down. And that's what I've been talking about in this campaign. I have no doubt in my mind that I have the best experience and the best ideas to take on the abuses from the financial sector, to stand up to Wall Street. Why would they be running $6 million of ads against me right now if they didn't know the same thing? And --

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: But that's not enough. We have other work to do. You know, we have to deal with getting the economy to produce more good jobs. I know what we have to stop. I want you to know what I want to start. More jobs, and infrastructure, manufacturing, clean energy --

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: -- more small businesses. Raising the minimum wage and guaranteeing equal pay for women's work. That's all part of it.

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: I know we've got work to do in health care. Before it was called Obamacare it was called Hillarycare, because I went after the same goal, universal coverage. We didn't make it that time thanks to the absolute blockade of resistance from the drug companies and the insurance companies. But once we were knocked down, you know, you can either rail against the system, which is satisfying. Venting is good. I'm a big believer in venting.

(LAUGHTER)

CLINTON: You can get discouraged and say, OK, they beat us. Nothing we can do. Or you can do what I did. I said, all right. They knocked us down. We're getting back up. What can we achieve? And what we achieved working with both Democrats and Republicans was the Children's Health Insurance Program that ensures 8 million children.

(APPLAUSE)

[14:10:00] WHITFIELD: You're living to Democrat Hillary Clinton there stumping for more support here in New Hampshire from Concord there. And she made some very pressing remarks, talking about trying to give the best possible for tomorrow.

Joining me right now to talk more about the Clinton campaign is Brian Fallon. He is Hillary Clinton's press secretary. Brian, good to see you. BRIAN FALLON, NATIONAL PRESS SECRETARY, HILLARY FOR AMERICA: Thanks

for having me.

WHITFIELD: You saw in the background, there, you see New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and former secretary of state Madeleine Albright. Why does Hillary Clinton feel that this will help leverage her with New Hampshire voters?

FALLON: Well, we're facing an uphill climb in New Hampshire. We know that. We've been down pretty consistently.

WHITFIELD: Even after winning in 2008?

FALLON: Well, you know, we had a good win as well the other night in Iowa. But Senator Sanders is a proximate neighbor of New Hampshire. He's a longtime member of Congress from that state. And there was a story in the "New York Times" a couple days ago that talked about how, especially on the western portion of the stays where the Burlington media market bleeds into New Hampshire, he's a known quantity. So he's had a pretty consistent lead here.

But we're going to work our heart out over the next four or five days. And in particular, especially with Secretary Albright joining her on the trail today, I think it will heighten an issue that we think will loom large in the minds of New Hampshire voters, which is who is really ready to assume the job of commander in chief? I think you saw in the debate the other night that Senator Sanders really flubbed the foreign policy section of that debate, and that really speaks to his readiness to assume that part of the job. We feel very confident that voters are looking for someone who can do all parts of the job, not just be a single issue candidate talking about the economy. Obviously those issues are very important, but you need to be able to do all parts of the job. Hillary Clinton is that candidate.

WHITFIELD: And you talk about over the next four, five, three days away from the New Hampshire primary that you and Hillary Clinton and her camp will be working hard to engage with the voters here. However, she's leaving for Flint, Michigan, tomorrow, to talk about that poison water crisis.

FALLON: Yes. Right.

WHITFIELD: Does she feel like it is of great risk to do that? Leave the battleground right now, head into another battle of Flint, Michigan, just a few days away from the New Hampshire primary? Is there a feeling or worry that New Hampshire voters will think, wait a minute, are you taking this for granted? Or do you feel that it's not important to be here? What is it?

FALLON: Not at all. We don't have that concern. We're going to be here even tomorrow. We'll be doing public appearances in New Hampshire. She's going to be here in the morning. She'll be here back again at night. She's going to depart for a few hours and make this trip to Flint, but she'll still be here making public appearances, campaigning in the state every day between now and Tuesday. She did, however, think it's important to travel to Flint. She's been

talking about the issue of the contaminated water there for several weeks now. She was actually successful increasing public pressure on Governor Snyder to accept federal aid and support to that region. Right now what we're seeing is that in the Senate there is a deadlock over a proposal that the two Michigan senators, Senator Stabenow and Peters, have put forward to try to deliver $600 million in aid to Flint. She wants to go and highlight the need to deliver that aid and break this logjam in Washington.

And I think in many respect this is a microcosm of what she's about and what kind of president she will be, that she is highlighting an issue that largely stayed off the radar far too long, and she's focused on achieving real results, first in getting the governor to relent and accept that federal assistance from President Obama's administration, and now hopefully in trying to get this $600 million over the finish line in Congress.

WHITFIELD: All right, Brian Fallon, thank you so much. Good to see you.

FALLON: Thanks for having me.

WHITFIELD: Best of luck. Take care.

FALLON: Stay warm.

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much.

Tomorrow morning we have a very special commercial-free edition of CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION." Jake Tapper will be live in New Hampshire, and he's going to talk to Hillary Clinton, perhaps before she takes off for Flint, Michigan, Donald Trump, John Kasich, Chris Christie, and Bernie Sanders, that's at 9:00 a.m. eastern right here on CNN. We'll be right back from Manchester after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:17:46] WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back. I'm Fredricka Whitfield in Manchester, New Hampshire. Thanks for being with me today.

Ted Cruz surprised some by pulling out a comfortable victory in the Iowa caucuses. And now a week later he is here in New Hampshire, battling Donald Trump, Marco Rubio again, this time for delegates in New Hampshire. With me now, is Victoria Coates as she is Ted Cruz's policy advisor. Good to see you. How are you holding up?

VICTORIA COATES, TED CRUZ FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER: Excellent. Very nice to be here.

WHITFIELD: Very good. Is Ted Cruz feeling the heat or is he feeling the momentum?

COATES: I think he's feeling both. It's a very exciting time in the primary obviously. We were thrilled with Iowa. It was a historic victory. More people came out to vote than ever before. And as a historian of democracy, this is a wonderful moment to participate.

COATES: How does Ted Cruz feel, particularly the foreign policy advisor? How does he counter a Hillary Clinton who right now crisscrossing the state of New Hampshire, right now holding an event in Concord just up the street, you know, with the likes of the former secretary of state, Madeleine Albright, in her corner, and as the former secretary of state herself, Hillary Clinton, how does Ted Cruz convey to New Hampshire voters or even the country that he's got the chops to go up against her if he were to win the nomination?

COATES: That's a comparison --

WHITFIELD: And if she were to win the nomination?

COATES: Indeed. These are all questions at this point. But that's a comparison he's very eager to discuss because if you look at Secretary Albright's record, her tenure culminated with the deal with North Korea, which is certainly in the news this week and not in a good way. And for Secretary Clinton, she describes Libya as one of her signature achievements, and that certainly is turning into a jihadist paradise. And that was something initiated under her watch. So I think Senator Cruz is very, very eager to have that conversation and debate and put forth a new vision how we can secure America in the 21st century.

WHITFIELD: He's been able to count on the evangelical vote, though, whether it be in Iowa, and is counting on it as we move forward. New Hampshire not necessarily known for that. So what is his strategy to convey the message to assure people that he is their guy?

[14:20:00] COATES: It's interesting. He's taken a very simple strategy of being who he is. He is a member of the evangelical community. His father's a pastor. This is something that is a part of who he is. And so he's been very frank about it on the trail. But he also knows the issue, the second Amendment issues, the national security issues, the fiscal issues that are extremely important to people of New Hampshire. So that's been his message.

WHITFIELD: This evening, seven, he's among the seven on that stage for this final debate before the New Hampshire primaries. Sometimes you can't look forward unless you look a little back. So in Iowa during the final debate, there was no Donald Trump. Yet it was Ted Cruz who put him back in the room by hurling the insults and saying, OK, he's there. Now this evening, how does Ted Cruz poise himself for a potential head-on collision with Donald Trump?

COATES: Well, I think there may be multiple collisions. This might be a multiple car pileup. Everyone is in the game today, but Senator Cruz is an extremely disciplined debater. Obviously it's a great strength of his, and he is very effective I think in conveying his message and not participating in personal attacks that really seem to really, only, I think, satisfy perhaps those who watch this as a sport.

WHITFIELD: All right, Victoria Coates, good luck on Tuesday.

COATES: Thanks, Fredricka. Appreciate it. WHITFIELD: Nice to see you in person. Appreciate it.

All right, so straight ahead, we're talking more of what the New Hampshire voter wants. They want face time with presidential candidates. Guess what? They get it right here at that place, the Barley House. I'll take you there, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:25:39] WHITFIELD: Welcome back to Manchester, New Hampshire. New Hampshire may be small, population 1.3 million, but there is a lot at stake. Traditionally voter turnout is high, roughly 30 percent. And with 23 total delegates for Republicans and 32 on the Democratic side, including eight super delegates who can back any candidate that it wants, this helps explain why presidential candidates can't afford to take this state for granted.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Goodbye, everybody. See you.

WHITFIELD: In the final push across the granite state, candidates are energizing big crowds and getting personal. New Hampshire voters are tough, traditionally setting the bar high, expecting face time and demanding candidates understand what they need.

JENNIFER HORN, CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE REPUBLICAN PARTY: I don't think they want to hear a different message. They want sincerity and consistency. But they do also expect these candidates who are running for the highest office in the land to understand their concerns locally as well.

WHITFIELD: Do you think the candidates are put to a test in a different way here?

RAY BUCKLEY, CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE DEMOCRATIC PARTY: Oh, absolutely, and really significantly, because as president of the state chair association I get to go to all the state party events where oftentimes presidential candidates come, and it's like Madonna is showing up or Lady Gaga or some rock star that they are just so amazed that this person's in the same room with them. And the people in New Hampshire are like, yes, whatever. So what is your position on nuclear disarmament? What is your position on health care?

WHITFIELD: The leaders of the state's Democratic and Republican parties agree on something else -- voters don't toe the party line.

This is a red state, though?

BUCKLEY: Purple state, Fredricka, purple state.

WHITFIELD: So anyone goes? Is that your feeling?

BUCKLEY: We have 43 percent of the electorate of independents. Plus those unregistered can register that morning and vote. HORN: New Hampshire is notoriously independent in their decision

making thinking. And I say all the time, whether they're a registered Republican or Democrat or an independent, they consider themselves to be independent.

WHITFIELD: And any candidate wanting to be chosen must first register at the state capital.

All right, Mr. House Speaker, Shawn Jasper. Any presidential candidate has to begin right here at the state house before they are name ends up on a ballot for primary.

SHAWN JASPER, NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE SPEAKER: Absolutely. Yes. And only $1,000 to get on the ballot.

WHITFIELD: What makes New Hampshire in your view unique in the presidential race?

JASPER: I think we're unique because we are a small state geographically. We have a great diversity of ideas and thoughts within our population.

WHITFIELD: After filing here, candidates are steps away from another Concord tradition -- the Barley House.

So Brian, this is your spot at the Barley House, and it's become a fixture on the campaign trail?

BRIAN SHEA, OWNER, THE BARLEY HOUSE: Yes, it has. We've pretty much had most candidates come in here. Not everyone.

WHITFIELD: Restaurant owner Brian Shea says there's still plenty of time before the general election.

You've got pictures of everyone who has been through here, especially within the past 15 years.

SHEA: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Michele Bachmann, you've got Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton.

SHEA: There's Newt Gingrich. And funny story with Newt Gingrich. He was in here, and a reporter asked him, you know, are you seriously running for president? And he said, of course I am. I'm at the Barley House. So that kind of confirmed it for us. And so it was kind of cool.

WHITFIELD: Many here agree it's pretty cool, rolling out the welcome mat for all the candidates and anyone else excited about the first primary state and the race to the White House.

SHEA: When people say, oh, New Hampshire. Why New Hampshire? It's like, there's no walls. Come on in. You know? You get to do everything. We don't check I.D.s when you go into a town hall meeting. You can be a Democrat, be a Republican, be from California, you can be from Florida.

WHITFIELD: Every candidate maximizing every minute in the final hours to win New Hampshire.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And they do, indeed, come. There's such a thing as a political tourist here in New Hampshire. They're used to folks coming from all over the country because of the access people can get with presidential candidates. Very interesting stuff.

Thanks so much for being with me today. I'm back here again live from Manchester. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. There is so much more in the Newsroom coming up at the top of the hour, but first a CNN "Bleacher Report" special in San Francisco.

[14:30:00] "Super Bowl 50, Kickoff by the Bay" starts right now with Chris Cuomo and Dan Marino.