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Coverage of New Hampshire Caucus; Carly Fiorina Won't Be On Stage; New Hampshire Voters Getting Racist Phone Calls From A Group Supporting Donald Trump; Senator Ted Cruz Hoping First Place Finish in Iowa Will Help Build Momentum; Hillary Clinton Trying to Pull off a Big Comeback in Final Days; Exclusive interview with Jeb Bush; 3-4p ET

Aired February 06, 2016 - 15:00   ET

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

[15:00:15] POPPY HARLOW, CNN HOST: Hi, everyone. 3:00 eastern. I'm Poppy Harlow in New York. Thank you so much for joining us.

The next crucial moment for Americans, you will cast real votes that matter, it's just three days away, making this weekend officially the home stretch to the New Hampshire primary. It is a state that may be smaller than others by population, only so many venues, so many handshake moments, but this is an electorate that is incredibly engaged and gets out en masse to vote. All the leading candidates are out today including Ben Carson, a man who hasn't stepped foot in that state until today.

Later tonight, the next Republican debate gets underway. Only these seven candidates invited by the host network. There is no so called undercard debate tonight.

On the democratic side, Hillary Clinton and senator Bernie Sanders. Well, there is almost no space between them if you look at the nationwide race, and if you believe the latest polls. But Sanders has a huge lead in New Hampshire, and both are hitting the state hard this weekend.

And look who made waves in the state yesterday. Meeting voters, talking up her son's campaign, that is the former first lady Barbara Bush. We will get to what she said about her son and about the front- runner Donald Trump in just a moment.

Our Manu Raju and Chris Moody are both in Manchester New Hampshire right now.

Hello to you, gentlemen. The snowstorm is over. The campaigns are in full swing. Let me begin with you, Chris.

No question, they show that Donald Trump is the clear leader among Republicans there, but if we learned anything from Iowa we learned polls certainly don't tell the whole story at all and New Hampshire is just such a unique state in so many ways. I know that Trump has said he is tweaking his ground game after losing in Iowa. What's different now? CHRIS MOODY, CNN POLITICS SENIOR DIGITAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think

for Donald Trump, losing the caucuses to Ted Cruz last week was a real eye-opener for him. He questioned whether or not he should have gone to the debate, which he skipped, and certainly we will see him there tonight at the debate here in New Hampshire.

He is not taking any chances here. He needs to do very well. We are looking at polls, yes, he is on top, but Marco Rubio is really nipping at his heels in the latest polls we have seen.

HARLOW: Absolutely.

And Manu to you, I mean, when you look at Jeb Bush, one of his biggest supporters through this has been a guy who dropped out of the race, but a well-respected senator Lindsey Graham and he has been a firm Jeb Bush guy, if you will. You just spoke with him. What did he say about the debate tonight, particularly about Marco Rubio versus Jeb Bush?

MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: Well, he also - he said that Jeb Bush really needs to come out of the New Hampshire primaries in a competitive position. Meaning he needs to do probably better than other governors that are running and as well needs to be really close to Marco Rubio. And I asked Lindsey Graham about Marco Rubio and the vulnerabilities in his view how Marco Rubio could be vulnerable in a general election, and he did not hold back. He talked about immigration, abortion, and also the fact that he believes that Marco Rubio has not had enough legislative accomplishments. Here is a little bit more about what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: The most tragic thing in the world is for a woman to be raped, a child, a pregnancy caused by rape. I'm very pro-life. I can't go there. I can't tell that woman, you got to carry that child. I'm very pro-life, that's a sensitive issue, but I think in a general election, that will be a hard sell.

RAJU: Because Marco Rubio poses no exceptions?

GRAHAM: Yes, he has no exceptions for rape or incest. I respect the passion there but most Americans are becoming more pro-life. And we are becoming more pro-life. Marco is a great first-time senator, but we spent three days trying to figure out his accomplishments. If you ask Jeb, tell me about your accomplishments, you need 30 minutes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RAJU: Really an interesting line of attack. You are starting to hear come more from the Jeb Bush camp and also Chris Christie waged earlier saying that Marco Rubio's opposition to exceptions for rape and incest, abortions, pregnancies caused by rape and incest, Marco Rubio is opposed to that, they are saying that this is not going to be something that with palatable in a general election. Chris Christie said something similar this week. Now, when we asked Marco Rubio about that, he said, look, I am firmly

pro-life. I oppose abortions and I choose life over a woman's right to choose. That's his decision. He believes that will work well with him. Also, in a primary election, but it's interesting to hear this being shifted to, becoming a general election argument. Because after all, here in New Hampshire voters care about electability, Poppy.

HARLOW: Yes. No question. But also, Manu, you are talking about a guy, Senator Lindsey Graham who did come out this weekend and say look, Jeb needs to do well in New Hampshire. If he doesn't, he's toast. Those - that word his, not mine. So we will be watching. It is critical.

[15:05:10] RAJU: And he walked that, too, Poppy. It was interesting. He was walking that back. But clearly, how Jeb supporters feel.

HARLOW: All right. Thank you Manu and Chris. Appreciate it.

I want to turn now to my colleague Jake Tapper in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Jake, you have a busy day. You just spoke to senator Sanders, right?

JAKE TAPPER, CNN CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: That's right. And I just talked to Bernie Sanders and we will be bring you some more of that interview in a little bit. But right now, let's bring in Margaret Hoover to talk about the Republican debate this evening.

Margaret, first of all, the woman not there, Carly Fiorina won't be on stage, making a strong case she should be. Should she be?

MARGARET HOOVER, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: (INAUDIBLE) which I actually embarrassed and sympathetic. She beat Christie and Kasich in Ohio where - in Iowa, where voters actually have made their opinion known. Forget about the polls. I mean, she actually did better than them there. They are going to be on the stage here. She has a lot of cash on hand. She is actually had pulling ahead of Ben Carson who is going to be on stage. Frankly, it was good for Republican to have her on the stage anyway. And she is a great foil. So, you know, I would prefer to see Carly on the stage as well.

By the way, I mean, there are seven candidates are on the stage, adding one more isn't going to create the cacophony that some of the earlier debates were.

TAPPER: Well, I have one of those was mine and it was 11 candidates.

HOOVER: But it was not yours.

TAPPER: Eight candidates sound nice and pleasant compared to 11. Who has the most to lose tonight in particular? Who has the most to gain or lose?

HOOVER: Marco Rubio is beginning to be - the Marco momentum is beginning -- the question is will he be able to consolidate this establishment lane? The case they are making is that he has a path of, a viable path to the nomination if he can get through New Hampshire well and this momentum is real. So I'm very curious how he survives the pile-on because we know he is going to be taking it from every direction. Probably not Trump, but we know that Cruz is pointing his weapon on him, that Christie, that Jeb and that Kasich. Kasich may not take on Marco but Marco got to come in from all angles. Can he survive it?

Cruz, if I'm Cruz, I'm looking to consolidate the libertarian contingent and the Rand Paul voters who are no longer - they looking for a home. And Cruz has made a serious sort of hitch to them. Can he consolidate them?

And then, you know, Kasich really has a lot of rise here. He has got all the endorsements from local newspapers with the exception of the one --

TAPPER: Yes.

HOOVER: But he has got a lot of elected members in New Hampshire assembly and Senate there. He actually has a better ground game than anyone on the ground here. The pitch he has to make is that there is a path to the nomination beyond New Hampshire if he gets a rise out of New Hampshire.

TAPPER: Well, let me ask you about the establishment lane. Do you think that Jeb, Kasich and Christie who have put so much in this state and done poorly in Iowa? They have to be top three or top four? Where do you put their expectation?

HOOVER: I think they have to be top three. Two or three in order to move on. It's hard to understand. It is -- look, Jeb has the resources and money to go on to South Carolina and he has an operation in South Carolina. And frankly, the Bush family, the Bush name place very well in South Carolina. So Jeb could, it he is three or four, can justify going on to South Carolina and make a play in Nevada.

TAPPER: But Christie (INAUDIBLE).

HOOVER: Hard for Christie and Kasich to make an argument to continue and move on.

TAPPER: All right, Margaret Hoover, thanks so much.

Don't miss tonight, we will have all the post-debate coverage here on CNN. Erin Burnett and the best political team in television, it all starts at 11:00 p.m. eastern only on CNN.

And we are going to have more from New Hampshire in just a moment. Let me send it back to Poppy Harlow in New York - Poppy.

HARLOW: All right. Jake, thank you so much. We will get back to you in just a moment.

Next, some New Hampshire voters are getting racist phone calls from a group that is supporting Donald Trump.

Our senior investigative correspondent Drew Griffin spoke with one of the men behind these calls. Look.

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: Poppy, it's the kind of support Donald Trump may not want, but these phone calls began Thursday night, and are already getting some backlash.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN (voice-over): They are robocalls, taped messages that flooded Iowa and this week began hitting the phones of New Hampshire voters. The message, in three voices, we are white supremacists, Donald Trump is our man.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The American national super PAC marks this call to support Donald Trump.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't need Muslims. We need smart, well- educated white people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am a farmer and white nationalist. Support Donald Trump. This call is not authorized by Donald Trump.

GRIFFIN: The American national super PAC is a confederation of white supremacist groups across the U.S. Jared Taylor, online editor of AmRen, the outlet of one of the white nationalist groups calmed American Renaissance is one of the voices on the calls.

JARED TAYLOR, ONLINE EDITOR, AMREN: Most white people would prefer to live in majority white neighborhoods and send their children to majority white schools. And deep in their bones they are deeply disturbed by an immigration policy that is making the United States majority non-white. And so when Donald Trump talks about sending out all of the illegals, building a wall, and a moratorium on Islamic immigration, that's very appealing to a lot of ordinary white people.

[15:10:15] GRIFFIN: Taylor who says he is a white advocate, not a supremacist thinks whites should live with whites, blacks with blacks and just about everybody else should get out.

TAYLOR: Why should we want more Muslims? Muslims have been a terrible problem for Europe and here. They want to pray five times a day, stop the assembly line. They want foot baths before they go to prayer. They want women-only swimming pool hours and some of them want to kill us. Why should anyone want more Muslims in the United States?

GRIFFIN: Many of the things that you are saying, people would interpret as vile and racist?

TAYLOR: They can call me all the names they like. But what I'm saying is natural, normal and healthy.

GRIFFIN: Do you think that Donald Trump wants your support?

TAYLOR: I don't know whether he wants it or not. I think he wants support from everyone. Whether or not he would agree with me is an entirely other matter. Remember, it is I who am supporting Donald Trump. Not Donald Trump who's supporting me.

GRIFFIN: Contacted by CNN, the Trump campaign did not speak specifically about Taylor, his group or the groups white nationalist ideas. Simply stating, Mr. Trump has disavowed all super PACs offering their support and continues to do so.

To be clear, the American national super PAC says it has nothing to do with the official Trump campaign, and has had no communication with Donald Trump. Its white nationalist members just like Trump and are willing to support him whether the candidate welcomes them or not.

Just to button this up.

TAYLOR: Yes.

GRIFFIN: All of those views that you hold, Donald Trump's your man?

TAYLOR: Well, he is the best man so far.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Poppy, you must ask yourself, what the real motive here is? One of the organizers say that so far the response has been mostly negative with people even calling back saying they would never vote for Trump after getting one of these calls. As we said, Donald Trump doesn't want these calls. Doesn't support these calls and hasn't asked for the support, but they continue on.

Back to you, Poppy.

HARLOW: What a report, Drew. Thank you so much for that.

And coming up next, my guest will be a key surrogate from the Trump campaign. I'm going to ask him, what does he think of these shocking robocalls? Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:15:44] HARLOW: All right. We just a saw Drew Griffin's piece about a white supremacist group making robocalls that named Donald Trump as the man that they want to be president. To be clear here, the behind those white supremacists calls says, they have no connection to Donald Trump. They even say they don't care if he supports the calls.

My next guest is a key Trump surrogate, a state treasure of Arizona, Jeff DeWit joins me now. Thank you for being with me.

JEFF DEWIT, DONALD TRUMP SURROGATE: Thank you, Poppy. Thanks for having me.

HARLOW: All right. I want to get on to a lot more including New Hampshire next, but I just want your reaction to these robocalls. I mean, we heard Drew Griffin's piece and we heard the man in charge of them say, I don't care if Trump wants these or not. This is what we believe. What do you think it does to the campaign? DEWIT: Well, the campaign clearly does not endorse that message,

whatsoever. And I'm sure everybody would like to see those calls stop. That's not representative of our country. We have a very diverse country, and Mr. Trump is supported, has huge support amongst minorities and quite frankly will do more for minorities in this country than any other president when you look at his stance from a job standpoint and everything else. So, no. I think those calls, honestly, are doing more harm than good, and I think we all wish they would stop.

HARLOW: Have you asked for them to stop?

DEWIT: I don't know what the official -- what's been done on that end on it. You know, it's a new development. But I am pretty sure we are asking for it to stop right now. It's not helpful. You know, Mr. Trump is somebody that can bring everyone together. And what those calls are, are a divisive message, and it's nothing that our country needs. And so, this is a time we need to all come together and get behind the right positive message, which is that our country needs to look at ways to get back on top, and to bring back jobs and to bring back the middle class, and honestly, messages like that aren't going to do that.

HARLOW: All right. Let's talk about New Hampshire. Your candidate, Donald Trump rescheduled his town hall. He was supposed to be yesterday, bad weather, he said, the snow. So Jeb Bush comes out and he tweets this. He tweets my 90-year-old mother made it out to campaign. She met Destiny, age five, along with this photo. And there's obviously a photo showing Barbara Bush shaking a little girl's hand.

So here is what Mr. Trump tweeted back. Wow, Jeb Bush whose campaign is a total disaster had to bring in mommy to take a slap at me.

Look, this is a twitter war tactic we have seen from a lot of the candidates including Donald Trump, but is this a risky move going after a candidate's mother who happens to be the former first lady?

DEWIT: I don't think he was going after her. She is very popular. She's a great woman. And I don't think anybody would ever have a bad thing to say about Barbara Bush. Quite frankly, I think if we all learned something by that picture, it's that we learned that Barbara Bush is by far the strongest of, and toughest of all the Bushes. So I think if she were on the ballot she would be doing better than Jeb quite frankly. But she is a great woman and a great American and so I think it's a great picture.

HARLOW: I don't think there's any interest in getting on this ballot and this race, but all right.

Let's talk about this, because something really stood out to me. We went back and we looked back at Trump's book "the art of the deal," right. He cites it a lot. And let me read you part of it, OK. He said, this is one of the steps.

The final key to the way I promote is bravado. I play to people's fantasies. I call it truthful hyperbole. It is an innocent form of exaggeration and a very effective way of promotion.

Looking at that in the context of this campaign, if we see Donald Trump lose New Hampshire, if he goes to South Carolina, if he doesn't win South Carolina, would you and your team advise Trump to change strategies here? To say, look, they may work in business. It's not getting you first place in these primaries?

DEWIT: Keep in mind that book was referencing real estate deals of which he has been one of the most successful real estate investors of all-time. And it was written somewhat early in this career where he was envisioning doing bigger and bigger things. He's done that.

HARLOW: But don't you think he follows that? Don't you think he does that now as a politician?

[15:20:04] DEWIT: No. If you look -- he has the most specific platform of any candidate. You can go to DonaldJTrump.com. You can read everything about his platform. And honestly, nobody is putting down more specifics what they're doing to bring our country back to the top than he is. And I encourage everyone to look at that. And I think you will hear that tonight in the debate. I don't think anybody out there, and if you really listen to the substance of what's going to be promoted by any candidate, nobody, nobody, will top what Donald Trump can do for America, and the plans and steps that he lays out to get us there.

HARLOW: Jeff DeWit, we will be watching tonight. Big debate ahead of the New Hampshire primary. Appreciate your time with us. Thank you.

DEWIT: Thank you very much.

HARLOW: Next, a one-on-one exclusive interview with Jeb Bush. Can he survive beyond New Hampshire?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Every election is different, but all of them have one thing in common. They are not over after the first primary.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: You will see our Jamie Gangel's very candid interview with Jeb Bush right here, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:25:00] HARLOW: All right. Jeb Bush may be struggling in the polls but the Republican hopeful says he is not out. He is hitting the campaign trail in New Hampshire all week ahead of Tuesday's primary. The former Florida governor sat down for a one-on-one very candid interview with our special correspondent Jamie Gangel. He has offended new attack ads against Marco Rubio.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JAMIE GANGEL, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: You have a new ad coming out going after Marco on his accomplishments. It's very tough. Because --

BUSH: Well, he doesn't have a record of accomplishment. He is a gifted politician. He can give a great speech. Got a lot of charisma, but when you are running for the president of the United States, I think having a proven record would be helpful and I do, and it's a nice contrast to not just Marco Rubio but other candidates as well.

GANGEL: Are you saying Rubio has no accomplishments? Zero, zilch?

BUSH: He passed a law that did become law. He sponsored a bill that became law. One bill in now, in the sixth year. And as a speaker of the house, he managed a staff of about 40 people. That's different than running a, you know, a state government where you had 130,000 people that I reduced by 11 percent. Taking on powerful interests like the career civil service system, and the teachers union and the trial bar.

GANGEL: Why do you think he is getting traction and you're not?

BUSH: We are getting traction in New Hampshire. We are.

GANGEL: You say he's a gifted politician.

BUSH: Yes.

GANGEL: What does that mean?

BUSH: It means he can give a great speech. He can connect well with people. He's charismatic and I admire that. I'm not saying that as a negative, but he's not a leader. A leader has to make a tough decision. A leader can't cut and run. A leader ruts to the fire to put it out.

GANGEL: Going into New Hampshire, there is a lot of pressure on you. How well do you have to here?

BUSH: I don't feel pressure. First of all I feel blessed to be candidate for the president of the greatest country in the face of the earth. So I don't feel pressure.

GANGEL: You don't feel any pressure?

BUSH: No. Not at all. I'm in it for the long haul. There is a native that is build up to create a little bit of excitement about the race. The process part of this is always slightly exaggerated.

GANGEL: Your supporter senator Lindsey Graham said if Jeb doesn't do well in New Hampshire he is quote "toast."

BUSH: He said if I get beat bad by Marco Rubio I'm toast. There's a big difference. Every election is different, but all of them have one thing in common. They are not over after the first primary. They are never over after the first primary. Not a single delegate has actually done selected to go to the national convention yet. Imagine what the Clinton hit machine is going to do to the party nominee? You better a record. You have like better have been scrutinized.

I've given up 34 of my tax returns, my entire adult life basically out there for people to see. I given up all my emails during my time as governor, the public emails. I'm totally comfortable in my own skin. And if the Clinton hit machine comes after me, I will fight back because I have a proven record and she doesn't.

GANGEL: What about the Bernie Sanders machine?

BUSH: Yes. He is a self-avowed socialist. It is pretty interesting. You know, he has already proposed $19 trillion of new spending over ten years and tax increases as far as the eye can see and free things. You know? Free college, free this, free that. I don't think it's going to sell in the general election but it seems to resonate in the primary.

GANGEL: The email controversy for Hillary Clinton keeps going on. Marco Rubio has said it disqualifies her from being commander in- chief. Do you think it disqualifies her?

BUSH: It might. It might, depends on what the FBI does with its investigation. What it submits to the department of justice. It certainly calls into question her integrity and her trustworthiness. She has lied. She lied to the family member of lost love ones in Benghazi. She shed point-blanc to them that a videographer was to blame for this and that she was going to do everything he could to prosecute that person when in fact under oath, she admitted and send emails to her daughter and to the prime minister of Egypt that this was a jihadist attack. She lied. And I think we need to have a president who can be trusted. Who word is their bond.

GANGEL: This week President Obama went to visit a mosque, reached out to Muslim Americans. Marco Rubio denounced it. Donald Trump criticized it. You supported it.

BUSH: He gave a great speech. He probably should have done it earlier. But he did it. When he does something right, I think you got to give him credit forth. Here is where he has got it wrong. We have a caliphate the size of Indiana with up to 40,000 battle tested jihadists that have hi-jack a peaceful religion and want to destroy western civilization. If he was interested in making sure that the Muslim faith is protected, then we need to destroy ISIS and that's where he failed us.

GANGEL: When Trump criticizes him for going to the mosque, if Rubio criticized him and other language that has been going on in the Republican -- from some of the Republican candidates, that there is a dangerous fear mongering?

[15:30:07] BUSH: Our diversity is our strength. It's not our weakness. And when we have a common purpose with all of this 34 flavors of life, I mean, we are the Baskin-Robbins of the world. When we have a shared purpose, nothing can stop the United States, but when we have politicians that break us up in our desperate parts, it's dangerous. And I'm not going to play that game.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: Next, more of Jamie Gangel's interview with Jeb Bush. Also, why he is bringing the woman he calls his secret weapon on the campaign trail in New Hampshire.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:33:43] HARLOW: 90-year-old former first lady Barbara Bush is stepping into the ring defending her son Jeb Bush against attacks by GOP rivals Donald Trump. Trump responding in a tweet saying quote "Wow, Jeb Bush whose campaign is a total disaster had to bring in mommy to take a slap at me. Not nice."

More now from CNN special correspondent Jamie Gangel's interview with Jeb Bush.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GANGEL: Chris Christie has been going, as I like to say, full New Jersey on Marco Rubio. There was a report that your campaigns have joined forces to attack Rubio.

BUSH: No. Not true. I have seen what Chris is saying about Marco, and he has got a slightly different version of the same approach that I'm taking, because he has got a proven record as a governor as well. I think governors understand you have got to make tough decisions.

GANGEL: One of the things that he said on policy about Marco Rubio was he pointed out Marco Rubio's position on abortion. Which is no exceptions.

BUSH: Yes.

GANGEL: And he said, he thinks it's too extreme. You believe in exceptions?

BUSH: I do. I believe that the life of the mother and rape and incest should be the exceptions. And I think that's the consensus view, you know, look, I'm pro-life. I acted as a pro-life governor. I expanded adoptions. We funded crisis pregnancy centers. I do believe that respecting life is a value that goes way beyond politics, but politically it's a tough sell.

[15:35:19] GANGEL: Talk to me a little bit about your family. You brought out your secret weapon, your mother is campaigning for you. A lot of Bush family are campaigning for you. Your brother has a new ad out supporting you. The sense was, look at the signs around you, no last name, Jeb exclamation point, no Bush.

BUSH: 1994, 1998, 2002, I ran three time, this is the exact same sign I used.

GANGEL: You are not running away from your last name?

BUSH: I wasn't running away in 1994, 1998 or 2002. Not at all. People know I'm Jeb Bush. I love the fact my mom is campaigning here in New Hampshire and I'm proud of my brother's service and the fact he would actively campaign for me.

GANGEL: You said from the beginning you had to earn it yourself.

BUSH: Yes.

GANGEL: On the other hand, your parents, your brother, are very popular with Republican voters.

BUSH: Yes.

GANGEL: Did you maybe wait too long to bring them out?

BUSH: No, I don't think so. The intention was always to do this when people start to focus on the race. I have always felt that, that their high expectations on me, and no one has higher expectations on me than me. So I feel really good about where we are. And I'm proud of my family's involvement. And if it make a difference it will be a positive, it won't be a negative for sure.

GANGEL: Did you ever imagine Donald Trump would be out here leading?

BUSH: It's a sign of the time we are in with deep disaffection, with the anger that people feel that they are latching on to a reality TV star. My challenge is disconnect them from him, because he is not going to solve their problems. He is not going to lift people up. The country's not going to get better by insulting other countries or insulting people or profanities or shouting profanities in a big microphone, or tweeting as president of the United States.

You have got to roll up your sleeves and build consensus. You have got to do the things that make the democracy work. And there's nothing in Donald Trump's background that would suggest he could do that.

GANGEL: Give me one word to describe him?

BUSH: Self-centered. That's about as polite as I can get.

GANGEL: You called him a jerk last time?

BUSH: Yes, I called him a jerk because he insulted, made fun of people with disabilities. And I have spent a lot of time in public life defending the rights of disabled, empowering them with education choices they never would have had, opening up job possibilities for them and I found it more than offensive that he would make fun of people with disabilities, or call John McCain a loser because he got caught, was a POW. To pray on people angst the way he does and disparages people along the way assures that he will never be president. But it creates a more divisive America, when we need to move in the exact opposite direction. So, yes, he's a jerk when he does those things. GANGEL: Ted Cruz a word to describe him.

BUSH: Well, he's smart, and a great debater, but nothing in this background would suggest that he has the skills of bringing people together to forge consensus, to solve problems.

GANGEL: Marco Rubio?

BUSH: Gifted charismatic. Nothing in his life would suggest that he could make a decision. Now, when I say that, by the way, Jamie, that doesn't mean that they can't, but Barack Obama couldn't, and there was nothing in his background to suggest it, and my point is simply this. We can't afford to take that risk. If we're fighting for the renewal of our country, I think you want someone that has a proven record, detailed plans and a steady hand.

GANGEL: You got emotional last night when your mom was at the town hall. Your dad can't be here because of his Parkinson's.

BUSH: Whenever I think about my dad I guess emotional.

GANGEL: Because --

BUSH: Well, he's frail, and for a guy that you just -- you have always thought was like superman, to see him in the condition physically that he's in, it's hard.

GANGEL: What's your strategy for the next couple of days?

BUSH: We're going to campaign hard. All-in. Have a good debate tomorrow night, and finish strong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: Jamie Gangel, thank you so much for that fascinating interview.

Coming up at 5:00 eastern, CNN speaks to the former first lady Barbara Bush out on the campaign trail for her son.

Coming up next, we will return to the granite and to my friend Jake Tapper, where Tuesday's primary is ticking closer and closer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:43:26] HARLOW: All eyes today on New Hampshire. The site of the nation's first presidential primary just three days away. Our Jake Tapper is there.

Busy man, Jake. You interviewed Sanders and you have five big names on your show tomorrow morning.

TAPPER: That's right. We have got five big names. Clinton, Sanders, Kasich, Christie and Trump. In fact, our beloved bosses at CNN are so excited about the show, and so willing to let the candidates speak. We are not even going to have commercials. It's going to be a commercial-free episode tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. and noon eastern. So please, tune in and watch.

But let's talk about what's going on here. Senator Ted Cruz is hoping very much his first-place finish in Iowa will help him build momentum here in New Hampshire ahead of Tuesday's all-important primary.

Polls right now have him trailing Donald Trump and Marco Rubio. I don't know how reliable any of the polling is as of right now in New Hampshire. It's so in flux. Here with me to talk about this all is a Cruz surrogate and supporter Steve Lonegan, a former mayor in New Jersey.

Steve, so I wanted to ask you a few questions. One of them, what do you expect to happen here for Ted Cruz Tuesday? Are you expecting a victory? He hasn't been leading in the polls here.

STEVE LONEGAN, TED CRUZ SUPPORTER: Well, I wouldn't be surprised by a victory, because Ted has this habit of outperforming all expectations every step of the way and he is going do it again on Tuesday. But a victory for Ted is coming out of here in a strong third place, just like a victory for Marco Rubio in Iowa. It is amazing how third place can be a victory, but it can be in this race.

The real issue is the race appears to be between Donald Trump and Marco Rubio. If that's the case, whoever loses that race is out of the race after New Hampshire.

[15:45:08] TAPPER: OK. I'm not sure they're going to take your advice, but --

LONEGAN: I think if Donald Trump loses in New Hampshire, it will be time for him to go home.

TAPPER: You know, one thing I've always wanted to ask you and just heard Jeb Bush in the interview with Jamie Gangel, talking about how one of the reasons why he doesn't want Trump to be the nominee is because Trump made fun of that reporter with the disability. A lot of people might not know it, you're legally blind. You are somebody that has a disability. What did you make of it all?

LONEGAN: It showed utter lack of judgment. And that's been consistent through his whole campaign. No judgment whatsoever. And I think a lack of feelings, with how people feelings are about. I mean, look what he did last night in South Carolina where dropped the f- bomb. If you know South Carolina, these evangelical Christians, that is extremely offensive. It's like he could care less. So it is spontaneously poor judgment decisions that people find colorful that in the president can be very, very dangerous.

TAPPER: Did it bother you personally as all, as somebody --?

LONEGAN: Look. I've been dealing with it all my life. Plus, I have been in politics for 20 years. So everybody is tough to the stuff.

TAPPER: New Jersey politics, no less.

LONEGAN: And I have heard this before. I had people make fun of me because of this and that's just you got to deal with it. But it's not like that with other people, especially kids, especially kids with disabilities and their parents. For the man who is going to be president, not only to come out and say something like that is insulting to everyone, and then again, you just see poor judgment after poor judgment after poor judgment.

TAPPER: Let me ask you about this day. You just mention the evangelicals. Iowa is a state Taylor made for Ted Cruz. A lot of people who are very conservatives, a lot of people who are conservative Christians, evangelicals. New Hampshire is very, very different. Many more moderates, independents, not as strong and sizable a conservative religious community. But you still think he can thrive here. Is he counting on some are the libertarian Republicans to come his way?

LONEGAN: He has been in count on libertarians, on those who are conservatives, not necessarily religious. Those who believe in the second amendment, those who are pro-life and particularly, those who want to elect someone with character, who is a constitutional, consistent constitutional conservative and that shown leadership in the Senate. And Ted fills every one of those bills.

TAPPER: Interesting quote from Ted Cruz today comparing himself with Bernie Sanders, are saying that voters are quote "They say God, Ted, you sound exactly like Bernie, saying it is all big money and lobbyists and corruption." Well, you know what, that's right it is. Washington is corrupt. So that is an area where Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders have some overlap?

LONEGAN: And all of these candidate will say there's corruption in Washington and the government is too big especially in a Republican primary. They are all going to wind the government is too big but who is willing to do something about it? And that's Senator Ted Cruz. And Donald Trump has underlined that fact when he said that they hate him in Washington, D.C. because he will stand up to the Washington cartel.

That what the whole campaign is about. We finally have a conservative candidate that we can send to Washington, D.C. for the first time in 28 years.

TAPPER: And you run against Chris Christie in the primary. You lost him. You are not a big fan of his?

LONEGAN: No. I like Chris and I will campaign very hard for him if he win the primary. He has done some great things as governor of New Jersey, but doesn't have the track record on economic policy. Here is another thing that I think are critical to this election and the future of the country. And again, it goes back not to that he is not the best candidate but that the Ted Cruz record on supporting the constitution of the United States and his background to doing this consistently is more important than ever before.

TAPPER: All right Mayor Lonegan, thanks so much. Appreciate your time.

LONEGAN: Jake, thanks for having me.

TAPPER: It is really nice to have you here.

It is crunch time, of course, here. Can Donald Trump and's Bernie Sanders win big and is this make or break for John Kasich and Chris Christie? And what of Hillary Clinton? I'm live in New Hampshire tomorrow with all five candidates for a very special edition of "STATE OF THE UNION" completely commercial-free tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. and noon eastern only here on CNN.

Coming can up next, Hillary Clinton is trying to pull off a big comeback in the final days here in New Hampshire. We'll take you to her live town hall event. That's right after this quick break.

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[15:52:36] HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: With all of you this afternoon. I am --

TAPPER: You are looking live pictures right now, Hillary Clinton in her second of three campaign events in the granite state. First in the nation primary state New Hampshire. Right now this is a student town hall at New England College in Henniker I believe.

With three days before the country's first presidential primary Clinton hopes to boost her appeal among young people, millennials, who have disproportionately aligned pretty solidly behind senator Bernie Sanders from neighboring Vermont.

Our Athena Jones is traveling with the Clinton team today.

Athena, it seems like Clinton has changed her pitch a little trying to bring in young voters. What is she telling these people?

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi Jake. You are right. She is speaking directly to the young people, the young people who as you said are overwhelmingly supporting her opponent, Senator Sanders. She said earlier this week at the CNN town hall that even if they are supporting Sanders right now she hopes to be able to persuade some of them. And last night and earlier today she praised young people for their energy, their enthusiasm, the intensity and urgency they are bringing to the race.

But she also, in a way, is reprising this line we have been hearing from her a lot which is that I'm a progressive who likes to make progress, who likes to get things done. She says part of her pitch to young people is that it's good to have this idealism, this good to have great ideas on paper and a vision for the country and to address some of Sanders' appeal. It is important to have these good ideas on paper but it's also important to be able to translate them into action.

And so, that is the appeal she has been making. Certainly last night in a big speech she switched up her stump speech added new lines to praise these young voters, hoping to at least cut into that huge lead that senator Sanders has in people of this age. So we expect her to make a similar pitch here at this college -- Jake.

TAPPER: Well, Athena, obviously, the Clinton team well behind in polls, however much you believe those, to senator Sanders. They are not setting expectations high, they are expecting that Sanders will win and they are looking more at future states, South Carolina, Nevada, elsewhere. What does she hope to accomplish between now and primary day, Tuesday?

JONES: Well, you are right. The Clinton campaign has been downplaying her chances here, talking about the fact that senator Sanders is from a neighboring state and that no person from a neighboring state is lots that wasn't an incumbent in a primary here. But the hope is that they can always cut into that lead. She wants to campaign her. She wants to look ahead to a national campaign. And so, she is trying to win over everyone she can to at least try to cut into that gap a little bit.

As you know, Jake, she has been the underdog in this state before. Back in 2008 she was counted out by a lot of people after that stunning loss to then senator Barack Obama, in Iowa and to John Edwards. But she came back to win here. We even heard her saying speaking in some of the same language she used back in 2008, saying to the voters in New Hampshire you lifted me up, you gave me back my voice, that's what she said in a speech last night. Those are echoes of her victory speech in 2008.

So even though her campaign is playing down her chances, she is still hard at work here with a jam packed schedule trying to get as many votes as she can -- Jake.

TAPPER: All right. Athena Jones, thanks so much.

Straight head, live to the site of tonight's Republican presidential debate.

Stay with us. We will be back after this quick break.

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[16:00:02] HARLOW: Top of the hour. I'm Poppy Harlow in New York.

TAPPER: And I'm Jake Tapper in Manchester, New Hampshire.

HARLOW: Jake has been very, very busy talking to just about every single candidate ahead of this Tuesday's primary.