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Crunch Time For Candidates At South Carolina Primary Looms; Report: Bob Dole Down On Jeb Bush Prospects; Clinton Picks Up Key South Carolina Endorsement. Aired 2-2:30p ET

Aired February 19, 2016 - 14:00   ET

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

[14:00:00] WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: For international viewers, "AMANPOUR" is next. For viewers in North America, NEWSROOM with Poppy Harlow starts right now.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN GUEST ANCHOR: All right, top of the hour, 2:00 p.m. Eastern. I'm Poppy Harlow in today for my friend, Brooke Baldwin. Thank you for joining us.

Right now, it is crunch time for the presidential candidates. A mere 17 hours from right now, the polls will open in South Carolina for the first Republican primary in the south.

As for the Democrats, Nevada's caucuses are also just a day away. We will get to that race in a moment. But Hillary Clinton today nailing down a critical endorsement, big deal. We'll talk about that.

The Republicans, though, first, from 17 candidates to six. The race for the nomination has gotten much leaner and many say much meaner. Just how will that all play out in the polls at the polls tomorrow?

The GOP candidates are blanketing South Carolina, trying to sway voters into their camp. Let's go straight to Athena Jones in Spartanburg for us. You are with the Jeb Bush campaign.

Another big day for him because he's got his mother on the trail, former first lady, Barbara Bush. It was helpful to him. People loved seeing her in New Hampshire. I'm interested in seeing the reaction today.

And also the fact that you've got Senator Lindsay Graham from South Carolina, who is backing Bush, saying this is the state that will reset the race for Jeb Bush. The question is, Athena, will it really?

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is the question, Poppy. We'll have to find out tomorrow, but it's so interesting he says that because that's exactly what they were saying in north -- in New Hampshire.

On the night of the Iowa caucuses when Jeb Bush wasn't in Iowa, he was in Manchester, New Hampshire. He was making the argument to New Hampshire voters that you can help reset the race so that argument continues. Yes, you're right, he's having three stops today with his mother, very popular mother, the former first lady, Barbara Bush. The crowd here was very excited to see her. She spoke only for a few minutes, but everyone was hanging on her every word.

She talked about how Bush is one of her four favorite sons and about how he's honest and kind. But of course, as you know, Poppy, this is all about them doing well in this race.

In New Hampshire, the night of the primary, Jeb Bush said, you have given me a chance. You New Hampshire voters have given me a chance to move on to South Carolina where we will do very well. So they raised the bar for themselves.

Take a listen to Jeb Bush talking about what's wrong with the other candidates in this race.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Donald Trump has never shown any interest in anybody else other than himself and the two candidates that are gifted speakers, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, have shown nothing in their past that would suggest they can make a tough decision.

They're very good at their own ambitions for sure and they're talented beyond belief. It's possible they could do the job. I'm not suggesting otherwise. They're far better than Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders, don't get me wrong.

But is there anything in their past that says they have the metal to do this job, that they have the backbone, they won't cut and run?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: So there you heard Jeb Bush making an argument he has been making frankly all along. Some crowds are quite receptive to it. Others not as receptive and generally the voters are kind of wishy- washy on it too.

If you believe the polls. He's in fourth place according to the polls here and they'll ready like to do better than that. They would like to beat not just John Kasich but also Senator Rubio. We'll see if that happens -- Poppy.

HARLOW: Right. I think many would say this needs to be that reset moment that Lindsey Graham is talking about. We'll see if he can pull it out of a hat really there in South Carolina. Athena live for us, thank you so much.

Let's talk more about this, all of the Republican candidates, of them all, who needs South Carolina the most? Is it Jeb Bush? Is it John Kasich who we heard last night say to the voters in our town hall please, please, I need you to help me get on to these other states.

Here may be an answer, 1996 Republican presidential nominee, Bob Dole, said this to the "National Review" about the candidates that he has also chosen, Jeb Bush.

Quote, "I'm not seeing a lot of movement there. He's got Lindsey, that's Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina, helping him, and his brother came in to help him and he's still at about what, 10 percent, which is way behind the top three."

Remember, that's coming from Bob Dole who is backing Bush. The "National Review" goes on to say, Dole's remarks are an indication that even Bush's strongest supporters are beginning to give up hope.

Let's discuss it all. I have with me, Pastor Darrell Scott of Cleveland, a Donald Trump supporter, CNN political commentator, Matt Lewis, who is a senior contributor for the "Daily Caller" and has predicted correctly in Iowa and New Hampshire, and also "Washington Post" political columnist, Dana Milbank.

Thank you all for being here. Dana, let me begin with you. Some fascinating pieces you've out lately, especially one you wrote in the past week or so about Jeb Bush. You talked about his stronger than expected showing in New Hampshire. The title of your piece, Jeb Bush is still not dead. Do you feel like that today?

[14:05:05]DANA MILBANK, POLITICAL COLUMNIST, "WASHINGTON POST": Well, he's still not dead, Poppy, but you know, the question is, when you try to make a forecast in a race as crazy as this. Think of it, the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination is in a fight with the pope right now. So it is completely perilous to make any sort of a prediction.

Yes, Jeb Bush came out of New Hampshire with a pulse. It looked like Marco Rubio had weakened and this was going to be a chance for Bush to get back in the game. If we believe the polls right now, he hasn't quite pulled that off and Rubio has rebounded to some extent.

I think it's hard to tell, Kasich, Rubio, Bush, but it is clear that there's not going to be more than three tickets out of South Carolina right now. There's no way to spin a fourth place finish in South Carolina into some reason to tell the voters, yes, I'm really the viable alternative.

HARLOW: But you do have to think of the war chest in terms of the money that Jeb Bush still has. So that is certainly important. All right, Matt, to you. Obviously, as Dana just said, the fight between Donald Trump and the pope, if you can call it a fight.

I mean, Trump really walked back a lot of that last night I thought in the town hall. Here's what he said just a few hours ago today about the sort of spat, if you will, with the pope.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Yesterday, the pope was great. He made a beautiful statement this morning. They had him convinced that illegal immigration is like a wonderful thing. Not wonderful for us. It's wonderful for Mexico. It's not wonderful for -- and just so you know, understand, I have a very good relationship with Mexico. I have a phenomenal relationship with Hispanics.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: All right so from an electability standpoint, Matt, you have a lot of analysts saying this whole pope episode is not going to matter much in South Carolina. A very small portion of the electorate is actually Catholic. What about in the general, Matt?

MATT LEWIS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, look, I think any time you want to take on Pope Francis who's incredibly popular and obviously devout Catholics will not take kindly to that. I think there could be consequences.

Donald Trump has been so good. He has this shtick down pat, you know, he comes out, he says something controversial, something provocative, and then he dominates the news cycle for 24 hours, you know.

We're not talking about Nikki Haley endorsing Marco Rubio. We're talking about Donald Trump and the pope. So mission accomplished for Donald Trump.

And then the next day, he sort of walks it back, becomes a little more conciliatory, a little more, you know, shucks, did I really mean that kind of thing, and then we move on to the next controversy.

So he's just a master at this. As you noted it doesn't hurt him in South Carolina at all.

HARLOW: It is pretty remarkable how he is seemingly able to move on so quickly from statements that I think at the outset, Pastor, to you, are so shocking.

You know, he stood in the -- he said I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue in New York City and shoot someone and my supporters are so loyal, they wouldn't walk away from me.

As a pastor, what is your -- and a Trump supporter, what are your thoughts on this back and forth about the pope?

PASTOR DARRELL SCOTT, DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTER: First of all, the pope needs to stay in his lane and stay out of American politics, first of all. Second of all, the pope initiated this. Everyone seems to insinuate that Donald Trump was the initiator in this.

Trump was the recipient of the pope's attacks. The pope needs to stay out of American politics. He has enough issues with the Catholic Church that he needs to be minding than to be getting involved with American politics.

Look, he's probably one of the most liberal popes in recent memory, and so he chooses an American political party, between the two parties, he chooses one to target for criticism. Out of that one party, the conservative party, the party he should have been backing, the conservative party, is the one he choose to criticize.

And then out of the six candidates, he chooses the one candidate who is the most outspoken about preserving Christian liberty and defending Christianity not only in America but around the world.

You have Bernie Sanders who's an atheist. You have Hillary Clinton who supports same-sex marriage and abortion. The pope doesn't say anything about their supposed anti-Christian platform.

HARLOW: Let me jump in and follow. To be fair, this was because he was asked the question specifically from a reporter about Donald Trump that was his response.

I want to play this for all three you. I want your reaction because this is from a woman at the CNN town hall last night. Just very concerned about Trump's temperament if he becomes president.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How are you going to govern and get buy-in from people that you may totally disagree with without getting angry and without refusing to look for common ground?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Pastor, to you, as a Trump supporter, does the temperament concern you at all?

SCOTT: No, it doesn't. There's a script in the bible that says be angry but sin not. There's something called righteous indignation.

[14:10:00]I mean, the man is a passionate man. You want a leader that displays passion. You don't want a robot. You certainly don't want low energy Jeb Bush and so you need somebody that displays passion.

But being a negotiator, being a businessman, passion is one thing. But I don't believe his passion clouds his judgment in any way, form, or fashion.

HARLOW: It's interesting you say that because Dana Milbank to you, if we look at the electorate right now in this presidential election or if you look at the American people's response to the pope when he was here.

I was in Philadelphia seeing the reaction to him a few months ago. One thing that a lot of folks have said to me they do have in common is authenticity. They are who they are. Your take, Dana?

MILBANK: Well, that is true to some extent and, I mean, you can see, this -- Donald Trump can, as pointed out a moment ago, said he could fire a shot down Fifth Avenue and he wouldn't lose supporters.

We're talking 30 percent of the Republican electorate right now. Matt is correct, that's not going to hurt him one little bit. A fight with the pope not going to hurt him one little bit in the South Carolina primary.

But when you look at that other 70 percent of Republicans who haven't gone for Trump yet, let alone the rest of the electorate, the man has gone after women, now he's having a fight with the leading Catholic in the world.

He's gone after disabled, after Muslims, after immigrants, after Latinos, African-Americans. At some point, it's going to be very hard.

Forget about how he's going to govern. How do you reassemble some sort of coalition that can get you across the finish line if Republicans solidify behind Trump?

HARLOW: That's an interesting point. I mean, Matt, that argument has been made by some saying look, the numbers just don't add up here, in terms of, you know, the delegates ultimately that Trump would need to move on to a general.

But look, Matt, you're the one who correctly predicted Cruz would win Iowa, correctly predicted Kasich would have a strong showing in New Hampshire. I want your call on South Carolina tomorrow.

LEWIS: Well, the problem is, you can win with 30 percent as long as there's six or seven Republicans running.

HARLOW: Right.

LEWIS: Republicans need to coalesce around a trump alternative. Until that happens, Donald Trump I think is going to win South Carolina. The real question of course is second place and this is the more gutsy call, the more gutsy prediction is second place prediction.

I think Marco Rubio. I think that Nikki Haley endorsement was a game changer for him. I think that was the coup de grace that did end Jeb Bush and will push Rubio over the finish line, but it's going to be close.

HARLOW: He's got Gowdy and Tim Scott too. It's amazing after that debate performance that he says cost him a lot in New Hampshire. Rubio's you're call. We'll be watching. Thank you so much, Matt Lewis, Pastor Darrell Scott, Dana Milbank. Have a great weekend, guys. Dana, stay with me. You're up with me next.

And a reminder, all day tomorrow, CNN brings you full coverage of the Nevada Democratic caucuses and the South Carolina Republican primary. It is quite a day of politics. You'll see it all right here.

We have reporters at all the polling locations, campaign events across both states, as well as the best analysis, best political team in television, right here, tomorrow, all day on CNN.

Next, we'll turn to the Democrats, Hillary Clinton being tested in what is shaping up to be a very, very close neck and neck race in Nevada. The former secretary of state just picked up a very key endorsement as well.

It's an endorsement that eluded her in 2008. Congressman Jim Clyburn, the highest ranking African-American in Congress, how influential is he really when it comes to bringing in those votes? We'll discuss.

Also, he's the South Carolina president who pressed Donald Trump in the CNN town hall. You heard this back and forth last night. It was about calling George W. Bush a liar. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I was watching the debate and you made the statement, I had to apologize to my children for the words that came out of my mouth, when you said what you said.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Was he satisfied with Trump's response last night? That pastor will join me live straight ahead.

Also, you're looking at live pictures of Justice Antonin Scalia lying in repose at the Supreme Court where he is welcoming visitors paying their respects. We'll discuss the man, his legacy, and his son's final goodbye. Stay with us.

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[14:18:43]

HARLOW: All right, out west, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, are entering the final stretch before tomorrow's crucial Nevada caucuses. The nail biter in the state respects what is a tight race nationwide.

Clinton today picking what could amount to a huge, huge boost. Her campaign just got the endorsement of one of the most influential black politicians in the country, certainly in South Carolina.

It is Democratic primary there being held just one week, Congressman James Clyburn, the highest ranking African-American in Congress, gave his support to Clinton.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPRESENTATIVE JAMES CLYBURN (D), SOUTH CAROLINA: I learned a long time ago that Hillary Clinton is a fighter. That's what we need in our next president. The change we seek for this great country will not come easily. We need a real fighter and I believe Hillary Clinton is that fighter.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Let's talk about it. CNN senior Washington correspondent, is with us. He is traveling with the Bernie Sanders campaign in Nevada. Let's just get reaction first from the Sanders camp. This is key and Sanders really needs the minority vote. JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: There's no doubt about it, Poppy. I mean, the Sanders campaign would have been happy to have this endorsement, but they were not expecting it.

[14:20:05]Jim Clyburn is an esteemed member of Congress, which also puts him in the establishment camp and Bernie Sanders is running against the establishment so, you know, the advisers on the Sanders campaign say look, they certainly respect the congressman, but they believe endorsements aren't what's driving this election.

And they may be right, I mean, I remember so well in 2008 where James Clyburn declined to get into this race at all. It created such internal fight in the Clinton campaign. Bill Clinton called the morning after the South Carolina primary, screaming at James Clyburn.

He writes about it in his book that came out a couple years ago and said, you know, he accused him of tipping the scales for Barack Obama. He said of course he didn't. Kind of funny eight years later he's endorsing Hillary Clinton.

It's a key endorsement. No doubt about it. Had the Clinton campaign not gotten it, it would have been an issue for them. Endorsements in this day and age are worth what they're worth.

I don't think it's going to affect this race tomorrow at all. It's questionable if it's going to affect the South Carolina primary.

HARLOW: That's really interesting because -- so how things have changed then in eight years. I get what you're saying in terms of the establishment and how this looks like another establishment endorsement. It was just a few days ago we were talking about how big the Nikki Haley endorsement is for Marco Rubio.

ZELENY: Sure, we always think endorsements are big going into the race. But coming out, you know, it's not -- endorsements don't drive votes. They validate sort of what's already happening.

Again, everybody would like to have them, they're good to have. But young voters in particular, the people going with the Sanders campaign don't necessarily look to establishment leaders as their guide on these things.

HARLOW: Sure.

ZELENY: The Sanders campaign is hoping if they do well here in Nevada that that will cause some black voters in South Carolina, particularly younger voters, to give him a look, a chance. We'll find out if that happens or not.

No doubt about it, the Clinton campaign is so far ahead in South Carolina. That's not the case in Nevada, Poppy, it is so, so close here. Anything could happen tomorrow.

HARLOW: Absolutely. We just learned earlier today the Clark County black caucus just did back Sanders there in Nevada. We'll see what kind of difference that might make or not. Jeff Zeleny, thanks so much. Appreciate it.

Tomorrow's Nevada caucuses could set the stage for a bruising battle that runs all the way to the convention. We know this say long drawn- out process.

Let's talk about it with the Democratic side now. With our panel back with me, "Washington Post" columnist, Dana Milbank and CNN political commentator, Donna Brazile. Thank you both for being here.

Donna, I want to jump in and talk about what Jeff Zeleny said, how furious the Clintons were in '08 when Clyburn opted not to endorse anyone, Bill Clinton screaming admittedly the next morning, this is what tipped the scales, this is why Obama won the state back then.

Interesting the word choice today, my head and my heart are in the same place. My heart, talking about passion, passion that some would say has been missing from the Clinton campaign, Donna.

DONNA BRAZILE, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, first of all, it's a big endorsement. I understand what Jeb just said in terms of some endorsements are considered paper endorsements, you know, as validating a candidate, but Jim Clyburn is not your ordinary politician, a member of the establishment.

He is an incredible lawmaker, but more importantly he has kept his ties to the community very close to his heart. This is a man who goes home all weekend and he's in the beauty parlors, the barber shops, in the churches, the labor halls.

This is an endorsement that I think carries a significant amount of weight in a state where you need to organize and get people out to vote. Clyburn is the highest ranking African-American to hold public office right now in terms of the United States House of Representatives.

He also has friends not just in South Carolina but throughout the south that will also be important on Super Tuesday. I know the Sanders campaign is reaching out to African-Americans of every generation.

And it's important to continue to do that outreach because as you know not everybody is going to endorse Hillary Clinton, but she will receive her share and Senator Sanders will also receive his as well.

HARLOW: Dana, what do you think in terms of this? I mean, do you agree with Donna? Do you agree with Jeff Zeleny, who said endorsements aren't what they were even eight years ago when you look at a James Clyburn, such a high-ranking African-American in Congress and in South Carolina? What does he mean nationally in a general?

MILBANK: Well, in general, endorsements don't mean what they used to, but I think the Clyburn thing is particularly important and people have been whispering about this ever since the New Hampshire primary ended.

I think what it does do, you know, we'll have Hillary Clinton coming out of Nevada tomorrow. Either she will have lost or will have only narrowly won. Those seem to be the two possibilities. Either way, it's very likely that we in the media will be spinning that as another setback for the Clinton campaign.

[14:25:05]I think what the Clyburn thing today does is give her some staying power there in South Carolina. So that perceived weakness in Nevada won't carry over there. Clyburn is very popular at home there.

And presumably, he'll be out there stumping for Hillary Clinton. This is not just a paper endorsement. He can actually rally people and bring people to the polls for her. This will cement the advantage for the foreseeable future that she has with African-Americans.

HARLOW: Donna, I have to ask you about these comments that Bernie Sanders made in that BET interview yesterday, right? He talked about how we visibly have been seeing Secretary Clinton hugging President Obama, if you will, in terms of how closely aligned she is with him, how much she is standing up for and really running on his record.

And he basically accused her of pandering to African-Americans to get their vote. He said, quote, "And we know what that's about, that's trying to win the support of the African-American community where the president is enormously popular." What do you think, Donna?

BRAZILE: First of all, this is not her first time standing next to Barack Obama and cheering him on. Remember, all you have to do and maybe senator Sanders -- and this is not a criticism. I understand he wasn't at the Democratic convention. Maybe he was at the Democratic convention.

But after that bruising fight, I remember Secretary Clinton, then Senator Clinton, standing next to a guy who beat her, a guy who beat her, who ran against her, and she was gracious and she stood behind him and she supported him and she got out there and she raised money.

And I do believe that has a lot of political capital that she can now carry with her as she campaigns. Not just in the black community. I have to say this.

Barack Obama is not only popular with blacks, but he's popular with a lot of whites, Hispanics, Asians, gays and lesbians, Baptists, Catholics.

I think we need to get rid of this notion that it's somehow pandering when you embrace Barack Obama. You're embracing a champion who has done so much for our country and that's why she's standing behind him.

I think Senator Sanders is also trying to say on many issues they agree. So some, as a senator, he disagrees.

HARLOW: All right, Dana Milbank, thank you. Donna Brazile, thank you both. Exciting day tomorrow between Nevada and South Carolina. You'll see it right here, no question. Thank you, both.

Next, an historic moment as Justice Antonin Scalia lies in repose today at the Supreme Court. President Obama expected to visit, pay his respects in just a few moments. We'll bring that to you live of course as soon as it happens.

Also, Donald Trump did not mince words when challenged over calling President George W. Bush a liar. The man who asked that question at CNN's town hall last night will join me live. Keep it right here. I'm Poppy Harlow. You're watching CNN.

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