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Legal View with Ashleigh Banfield

Super Tuesday Primaries. Aired 12:30-1p ET

Aired March 01, 2016 - 12:30   ET

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

[12:30:04] ASLEIGH BANFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: You can guarantee, Donald Trump will do the same when it comes time to vote in New York.

Let's listen live in Columbus, Ohio, where they vote in two weeks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: So this all began on June 16th, standing in New York City at Trump tower, and standing with my wife, who did a beautiful job last night on Anderson Cooper, I have to tell you. She did a great job. And standing there, we're going to build a wall, don't worry about it. Oh, we'll build it. That wall is getting taller with every interview these Ex-Mexican presidents do. Getting taller, taller. It's getting up there, I'll tell you what. Did you ever see such anger? The Ex-Mexican president. I like my plane better than that, right?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BANFIELD: Well, I again, Donald Trump, there is a lot of anger in this campaign. Some of it from Donald Trump himself, and some of it coming from Marco Rubio, his challenger, who decided for some unknown reason, at some unknown hour last week that he was go for it, and get right of the mud and start flinging those insults right back Donald Trump and man o man, isn't that so many in these campaign ever since.

He's got 11 opportunities today however to actually something different. That's to score, really score. Some first primary season victories. If he can't, in an already uphill climb, it could get steeper if not impossible to surmount.

Larry Gonzales: is a representative who chose not to support his home state senator, in favor, instead of the senator from Florida.

Larry, thank you so much for being with me.

LARRY GONZALES, SUPPORTER OF SEN. MARCO RUBIO: Absolutely, thank you for having me.

BANFIELD: First and foremost, what if he is wrong? What if he made a decision to go no holds barred and use that language he is using and use the insults he is using, what if it doesn't work?

GONZALES: Well, you know, it's interesting. The whole tone of this campaign is not exactly kind of my style of politics, if you will. But i think the 2016 cycle is very different from anything I've seen before. The tone and the demeanor and how people are behaving is different now.

So I don't know. I mean, we'll watch going forward and we'll kind of see what the reactions are, but. Al I'll say.

BANFIELD: Way out there.

GONZALES: Until today, it's unlike something we've seen before. That's for certain.

BANFIELD: So, you're right. And there is no better proof of that than seeing my colleague, Jeannie Mose who is known for these phenomenal who comedic stories on CNN, none of which involve the hard news of the day, I need to tell you this, little piece of her story from last night. And then I'm going ask you about it on the our side. Have a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Little Marco, that's what he is. He's Little Marco.

MARCO RUBIO, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He's always calling me "Little Marco".

TRUMP: Little Marco Rubio.

RUBIO: Have you seen his hands? They're like this.

TRUMP: Little mouth on him, bing, bing, bing. Bing, bing, bing, bing.

RUBIO: And you know what they say about men with small hands? You scan you can't trust them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BANFIELD: So, 'Larry, Gonzales you're absolutely right, I never seen anything like this.

GONZALES: That's right.

BANFIELD: But it makes me wonder, beyond -- the, did I just hear that, what do you do after this campaign is over? Can you go back to being a Florida senator? Can you go back to standard politics as usual, or are you done?

GONZALES: No. You go back to who you are. And what you believe rather quickly. I think the American people have picked on something we've known for a long time in this business, is that there is a performance kind of level to this, something that I think you've seen more candidates now more than ever play up to a camera.

But at the end of the day, you are an elected official and you are held accountable by the people who voted for you land you go back to work. You absolute go back to future role as senator, or for me, state representative and you go back and you build the coalitions and pass the legislation that needs to be passed for the benefit of your country and the state.

BANFIELD: Representative Gonzalez, let me ask you this. The technicalities of how this works today is that there are several states that have a minimum threshold that you have to make, and I believe, If I'm not mistaken, in the state year end right Texas has 1 to 20 percent. Meaning if you do not garner 20 percent of those voters, you go home with an empty Easter basket and the other guys can divvy up what's left over, for if one guy, is that guy, he takes it all. Do you think Marco Rubio can actually make in roads in Texas and say, some other Super Tuesday states by broaching that 20 percent and in some cases higher threshold.

GONZALES: Absolutely. I think you're going to see a tremendous turnout for Senator Rubio today. The last week has been unprecedented in kind of the rally and support. Their videos from the rallies, all across the country, have been remarkable to watch. It's truly amazing what has happened the last few days. Marco Rubio has done a very good job of closing strong, and many of the states where they've already had elections and I anticipate today will go the exact same way for the Senator.

[12:35:12] BANFIELD: And I'm just looking over my list. I think misspoke. I think 20 is the highest threshold. Everything else is somewhat lower or not one at all but that's just today. There are some thresholds that are higher in other state.

Representative Gonzalez, thank you so much for being with us. It's nice to see you in Austin. The shot looks beautiful behind you.

GONZALES: Great. Thank you very much.

BANFIELD: Good, thank you very much

BANFIELD : Take care.

I want to take you some live pictures to the voters who are in Chattanooga, Tennessee. They're also in your right hand screen, Ashburn, Virginia. Because after all this is not just Tuesday. It is Super Tuesday. And there are about a dozen states voters, just like these folks are casting their ballots. The Polls aren't even closed, but Hillary Clinton is already looking ahead to the general election, to November. She is already plotting a specific strategy against Donald Trump. And guess what? It's pretty simple. One, two, and three. Want to know what they are? You're going to hear, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:40:28] Happy Super Tuesday, everyone. It is so super, we have three times the fun for you on the screen. On the left-hand side, you have to squint really tight to see the guy in the middle of that media scram, but in the light blue shirt is Ted Cruz having emerged from a polling place in Houston, Texas, that's his state, 155 delegates at state.

Below him, Donald Trump is speaking in Columbus, Ohio. It is not a Super Tuesday state. They don't vote for another two weeks. And it's go t a rousing audience there. He was introduced by Chris Christie. And on the right-hand side in the big box, Arlington, Virginia. John Kasich holding a town hall at the George Mason University Law school. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KASICH (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: BWe we'll begin to drive the market into how health care works, which will have a downward pressure on health care in America and keep us from the problem of rationing, which is where we're headed. And by the way, how is your deductible these days? It continues to go up and that's not something we can continue to have. We have to have a system in place that can put by down ard pressure in healthcare caused by rewarding quality at lower prices, OK. That's about as market as you can get, all right. I want to go way in the back. I want to go to a woman now. Go right here.

TATIANA KOPRICH: Hi, my, my name is Tatiana Koprich and I'm of Ukrainian decent. And lot of Ukranians in the United States and abroad all over the world, Ukraine all over the world, we're watching the election carefully, because we're worried about the victory of Donald Trump and, he becoming the best buddies with Vladimir Putin. What is your position on that? What would you do if you become the president? Dealing with Russia.

KASICH: Bargain, I tell .In the first 100 days, would he would he provide the arms to Ukraine so they can defend themselves, OK. You know I said that, right?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BANFIELD: John Kasich getting the tough questions about foreign policy, and while that's fascinating, it does rank low on what a lot of voters are saying there one issues in the election. Whether Republican or Democratic, by a resounding yes, you're saying the economy is number one in your books. So, it's buying margin of like 2 to 1 from most of the other issues as well.

Right now, millions of voters heading straight to the polls, about a dozen states for Democrats, and Republicans, including Georgia, Tennessee. They're both Republican strong holds in the south. And will be counted on to stay red in November.

George Howell is in Marrieta, Georgia right now. If you're Republican, you're looking at 76 delegates in Georgia, if you're a Democrat 117 that's a lot, no matter how you slice it, a lot of delegates.

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is, Ashleigh. And when you consider the count, Texas is very important, but Georgia just as important. You have such a high delegate count. And it really comes down to what happens right here at polling stations like this. The rules prevent us from taking you inside in this particular county in many of these counties here in Georgia but it is important to say that we understand that some 700 people have voted so far. This particular polling center has 3,000 registered voters that will be coming out to make their decision in this election. Here is the other thing. Georgia, the polls show Donald Trump is

ahead, and they also show that Hillary Clinton is ahead. This county tends to sway conservative, so we're hearing a lot of support for Donald Trump so far.

BANFIELD: All right, our George Howell live in Marietta, Georgia. Thank you for that. We're going to go around all the Super Tuesday states to all day long to show you pollings like some candidates are doing. I'll try to assure some of those last minutes votes.

In the meantime, I want to bring in my CNN political commentators Margaret Hoover, CNN political analyst John Avlon to talk a little bit about something called the three-prong strategy. I'm just learning about this for the first time. I see it on the front page of the New York Times. And I think Hillary Clinton's people are busy.

They're looking to November and strategizing against something they did not basically think that they had to do. Try to beat Donald Trump. Let me just -- before I ask you two, that they place us throughout those three strategies so the viewers can get a clear view. Insiders in the campaign inside the New York Times.

It's the number one, portray him as a heartless businessman. Number two, broadcast all of ht degrading comments that he's made against women. And number three, highlight brash, explosive temper, and add to that, this is the guy that carries the codes and sends 21 year olds to war. People have been doing that already John Avlon.

JOHN AVLON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Yeah. I mean, look, first of all, out of those three prongs, the first two are really replays of things that are core in the Democratic playbook. You know, the heartless businessman was the Romney playbook. The second trash is the war on women playbook. The third is what you need to Trump. Which is that this guy, they will argue, is unhinged.

[12:45:11] That He is -- not only brash, but bigoted and explosive and dangerous with his finger on button or making any decisions about the nation. Look, the Clinton camp on some level can't believe how lucky they've gotten. And that Clinton's have always benefited from enemies that overreached. On a deeper level, they would be fools to think this is in the bag. It's clearly Donald Trump is a skilled marketer, and to take that for granted would be a big mistake.

MARGARET HOOVER, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I'll take a little bit of different position here. The war on women, Republicans hate it, but it works. That's why they do it. Portraying him as a heartless businessman may not be fair, just like Mitt Romney but it works. That's why they'll do it. You'll get -- the residents with ___ with two of these arguments and then hey not hard to two if he got angry easily.

AVLON: Yeah.

HOOVER: So, here's the problem to Republican ...

BANFIELD: Don't his supporters like him because he is brash, he's volatile, he says what is on his mind even if it's essential. ?

HOOVER: No, no, what they like is he is giving voice to anger, discontent and frankly, the failure of the Republican party to answer the interest and the policy concerns of a large majority of our voters. The difference is, the Republican primary electorate as you know, Ashleigh, as you know John, is different from the general election electorate. You can't run that play on the republican primary side, but you can are run it in a general. Republicans needs to win more than 60 million voters. That's what we want in 2008, that's what they want in 2012, 61 million in 2012. The party knows, not only do you have to get the 60 million, you have to grow the tenth you got beg. .

BANFIELD So, growing the tenth is a great point because I'm just seeing the statistic, that there are nearly 20,000 Massachusetts voters that have quit the Democratic party and have joined either the independents of or the Republicans since the beginning of the year, this I according to according to the Massachusetts secretary of state. Out of that 20,000, guys possible 16,300 declares themselves as as independent. 3500 had declared themselves as Republicans. You can't ignore that there's probably Trump effect there.

AVLON: There is probably Trump Protect that it was what's important, to appreciate it and Massachusetts is one of the, I believe, nine states where registered independents outnumber Democrats to Republicans., So we have a liberal Massachusetts. It's scary top of the mind that necessarily fit the mold.

But remember, registered independent has been growing, not only over the last year, but over the past decades. Trump hasn't been able to tap into that, for those folks in the wake of the tea party. Republican party wasn't conservative enough for me. So there a larger dynamic, and Trump can benefit but not particularly in the primary but can can you sell anger and try to build a broader coalition in the general. That goes against everything we've learned.

HOOVER: Your wife disagree.

And you, and you also can't tell me that Donald Trump is going to win Massachusetts in a general election. No, that's a blue state. No, that is a blue state. Donald Trump doesn't win. You go ask Rob Portman, running for reelection as senator Ohio, or Kelly Ayotte who is running ro re election as senator in New Hampshire. Blue states, whether Donald Trump at the top of the ticket going to help them, absolutely not they say. This guy is going to lose big time if he is our nominee.

BANFIELD: I have to wrap it there. I would like to have you on everyday. I would love to eat at dinner table. At six often. And I will ...

AVLON: Any time. Tomorrow night.

BANFIELD: Thanks guys, Margaret Hoover, John Avlon as always, I appreciate it.

We're going to keep monitoring the polling stations or you as well. Live pictures all around the country for you on this Super Tuesday breaking news to you every -- it see. It seems about four minutes. Up next, while we take a quick break, less than four minutes, big chunk of the nation focused on electing the next president. The current president, who is in the White House, is having some very high level meetings, like the highest. To try to figure out who the next highest judge is going to be in this land. Supreme court justice seat is open. But the people who could make it very difficult are talking with the president today.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:52:52] On this Super Tuesday, GOP voters, especially thinking about Supreme court Justice Antonin Scalia replacement. In just a short time ago, President Obama met with top Republican leaders about that very topic and about a potential nominee. But it appears that both sides are sticking with their talking points.

Athena Jones, joins me now live from the White House and from all accounts, this meeting lasted less than an hour. I don't know if it was supposed to go longer. I don't know how long they talked about basketball or the topic at hand. Any insight from what was said afterwards?

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Ashleigh, you're right. It wasn't a very long meeting, but I don't think this is surprising to either side here. You did hear (inaudible) heard Harry Reid talk about how it didn't last very long. They spent time talking about basketball. They didn't discuss any names of potential candidates that the president may be looking at, eventual picks. He also delivered the message, at least the message that Republicans have been delivering, which is that they still do not want to meet with any nominee. They still want do what he says has never been done, which is not meet with a nominee, not hold hearing or vote.

Take a listen to what Senator Harry Reid had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. HARRY REID, (D) MINORITY LEADER: All we want them to do is fill their constitutional duty, and do their job. At this stage, they have a decided not do that. They think that they're going to wait and see what President Trump will do, I guess, as far as a nomination.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: So clearly, some frustration coming out of that meeting there. We'll hear from the Republicans we believe when they talk to colleagues to reporters on Capitol Hill a little while from now. But the bottom line, that White House and Democrats are saying look, the Senate needs to do its job. The president's going to do his job fulfill his constitutional duty to nominate.

The senate needs to give their advice and consent. And so, we're seeing both sides digging in, and the other point being made, since 1875, every single nominee has gotten a hearing or vote if they weren't withdrawn by the president. We expect to hear more of that, Ashleigh.

[12:55:07] BANFIELD: All right, Athena Jones, thank you for that. I do appreciate it, live at the White House, we're going to continue to wathc what happens there. And, then of course, CNN is busy all day long, following all of the SuperTuesday states. We've got Live shots positions all throughout the polling stations, especially the Big Kahuna, when I say I'm spotting you, there at Texas, a 155 Republican delegates.

That's a lie and so the Democrats is 250. So, clearly a big state and a big day. And my colleagues, Wolf Blitzer is going to pick up the coverage after this quick break. We'll see you later tonight, through out the day and, I'll be back tomorrow. Take care.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:00:27] WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Hello, it's 9:00 a.m. in Juneau, Alaska. And at noon in Minneapolis Minnesota 3 PM here ever Washington. Rubbery in you're you're watching from around the world, thanks for joing us. We start with super tuesday underway. Voters in 12 states here in the United states get their say in the 2016 presidential race. Many Republicans --