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Legal View with Ashleigh Banfield

Economic Concerns Driving Voters To Polls; Idaho Shooting Suspect Jailed In D.C.; Odom Captured Throwing Items Over White House Fence; Police Say Odom Kept List Of Names Of U.S. and Israeli Officials; Nancy Reagan's Casket To Be Taken To Reagan Library; Former First Lady To Be Laid To Rest Friday. Aired 12:30-1p ET

Aired March 09, 2016 - 12:30   ET

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

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[12:34:14]: ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: As the candidates look ahead towards Super Tuesday part three, they are looking to focus on one of the biggest issues among voters, and that is the economy.

Based on exit polls in Mississippi, I can tell you this, at least 80 percent of GOP voters were very worried about the economy -- very worried. Among that percentage, a majority cast their ballots for the winner in that state, Donald Trump.

In Michigan, Senator Bernie Sanders won the vote among those who are concerned about the economy, and in the meantime reports are showing something odd, that we have a more optimistic side to that issue of the economy.

Take a look at the screen to see the real facts and numbers. Gas prices are the lowest point in six years, the DOW Jones was up 38 percent since 2011. And unemployment is at it's lowest point in eight years sitting comfortably at 4.9 percent.

[12:35:12] Joining us now to discuss is CNN Political Analyst and editor-in-chief of "The Daily Beast" John Avlon, and also with me, Larry Sabato, who is the director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.

All right. You guys, I know that a lot of this campaign has had headlines with dirty words and dirty private parts and Mitt Romney reading those tweets, in fact, by the way, those Mitt Romney tweets that were read hilarious. But the ones that read were actually other people sending Mitt Romney tweets with Donald Trump's attached to them. They weren't actually Donald Trump's.

But there are lot of serious issues that voters are worried, about the economy being number one.

So, John Avlon, if I can start with you, why is everyone so worried about the economy with the numbers I just showed?

JOHN AVLON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: It's a fascinating dynamic, because, you are right to point out the demagogues usually do well in economic downturns when people are anxious about the future and their economy. And, yet you've got candidates, particularly, Donald Trump running off economic and culture of resentment from the peculiar position of being a billionaire populous.

I think the only way to square the voter anger we're seeing in the primaries, with the objective economic data is twofold.

First, I think that partisan media has a role to play in this, because they have ginning up and been selling up anger and resentment and anxiety as a way of keeping their listeners close. And in partisan, part of partisan politics, that high proportion in media has a disproportion impact.

But more profoundly, I think, also is this recovery has been uneven. Not only regionally. But, that issue of inequality that Bernie Sanders has really step so much of his campaign on, that creates a resonant message for candidates like Trump and Sanders who were putting a populous message saying the system is rigged by big money. And that's one thing the candidates both share.

BANFIELD: So, Larry Sabato, let me ask you this and I don't want to get all technical with the Math here but the Math is important.

You know, back from the '60s until around 2006, the economy used to chug along increasing by about three percent. And now we're increasing by two percent. That's given a B grade. But a lot of people are saying, look, our population is aging, and our tax base and, you know, income tax base is getting smaller. We need to be satisfied with that. Unless you're going to open up the open the door to immigration and get a whole lot more people working in this country, you have to be satisfied with the two percent. And yet this seems to be the thing on the campaign trail that everyone is clanning their death knell over. So, does it make sense?

LARRY SABATO, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR POLITICS AT UNIV. OF VIRGINIA: It makes sense but i think it is more complicated than that. And, the second thing that John brought up is very, very important. The truth is that the middle-class population, and it may be aging but it's a large population, really hasn't seen wage gains since the end of the 1990s. Once you subtract the inflation we've had, wage gains are flat lined.

And, you know what the most disturbing piece of information that I've read in a long time has been, the middle class today buy and large thinks for the first time since polls were taken that their children will not be as prosperous, happy or success as they, the parents have been. That's very un-American. We're usually very optimistic.

And, remember, Ashleigh, this brings both parties together. You know, this is a very hyper polarized, hyper partisan age. But Democrats and Republicans, think alike on this. They are both worried about it.

BANFIELD: Yeah. I mean, we can scream from the rooftop that the stock market's is doing well. But, the truth of the matter is the middle class is taking home about the se amount they did 20 years ago. And I can tell you right now the price of a Coke is not the same as 20 years ago. John Avalon, and Larry Sabato, thank you both. Appreciate it. AVLON: Thank you.

BANFIELD: A pastor in Idaho was shot multiple times. It made headlines specifically because it was outside of a church, just after he had given a speech in favor of Ted Cruz.

And then it gets more complicated. The man suspected of pulling the trigger has been arrested but where he was found that is making headlines and what he was doing that has the secret service involved.

Also, we will take you live to the funeral home in Santa Monica, California, where Nancy Reagan's family has been gathering to pay respects in private. This begins three days of the country paying their respects to the former first lady. We're going to have a chance to reflect on Nancy Reagan's influence on America, on her husband.____ too, that's coming ahead.

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[12:44:19] BANFIELD: I want to take a breath from election politics for something strange and serious. At turn of events that has a lot of people wondering what the connection between the West and East is.

There's a man who's locked up in Washington, D.C. after being arrested for throwing things over the fence on to White House property. Computer flash drives and other things tossed over the fence, that may not make national headlines but for this.

Turns out he is the same person suspected of nearly killing a pastor in Idaho back on Sunday, allegedly shooting him seven times. This is Kyle Andrew Odom, 30 years old. What's the connection between what happened in Idaho and the White House? I want to get to Athena Jones who's live at the White House right now. So, tell us how it interconnects?

[12:45:11] ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPDENT: Well, the connection between Odom and the White House is unclear. It is something they're going to be looking into. But Ashleigh this is a bizarre story, and a serious story as you mentioned. It's got to be alarming to the Secret Service and the law enforcement on every level that this man was able to get on a plane and fly to the White House.

A couple of facts by the Washington, a couple of the updates for you, we've learned that Odom is expected to appear in court this afternoon in D.C. Superior Court. So we'll be watching for that are and reporting on any details coming out of that.

And also just a couple of hours ago, we saw at least two dozen Secret Service agents and officers out combing the north lawn behind me.

Now this incident happened on the south lawn last night. But we're told that they were doing their due diligence because this is something that took place after dark.

This all started last night around 8:30 when Kyle Andrew Odom, 30 years old began throwing those flash drives and some other materials, later found not to be hazardous over the south fence.

Now Secret Service agents arrested him and we learned that this is the man as you said, suspected of shooting a pastor in Idaho on Sunday then getting on that on that plane, flying from Boise to Washington, even though there was an arrest warrant out for attempted first-degree murder for him.

Now the pastor, Timothy "Tim" Reddington was shot several times but we're told he is expected to survive. And I should mention, this is interesting, that same pastor had delivered the invocation at a rally on Saturday for Texas Senator Cruz.

In a Facebook post, Odom -- that's been attributed to him, Odom wrote in part "Things are not what they appear to be. The world is ruled by an ancient civilization from Mars. Pastor Tim was one of them and he was the reason my life was ruined. I'll be sharing my story with as many people as possible. I don't have time right now. They are chasing me."

So very bizarre story. Ashleigh.

BANFIELD: Very strange. Athens Jones, thank you.

I should add that there was a manifest of it has been discovered listing senators, representative, members of the Israeli government apparently on an alleged hit list.

We'll continue to watch that story. Athena reporting from the White House for us.

I want to take you back out west to a live look at part of that funeral home in Santa Monica, California where any moment now we're expecting Nancy Reagan's casket to actually begin its journey from the funeral home to Simi Valley, California, where she will lie in repose and be open for visitors but then also eventually be buried beside her beloved husband Ronald Reagan at the Reagan National Library in Simi Valley.

But again, this the live view in Santa Monica where her family has gathered for a private service before again the journey for Nancy Reagan. The final journey begins and ends at the Reagan National Library.

Back in a moment.

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[12:52:01] BANFIELD: I have live pictures for you right now taking you to the West Coast, Santa Monica, California. We are expecting, at any moment that the casket containing Nancy Reagan is going to be moving from this location, just a funeral home in Santa Monica to the presidential library, to the Reagan library in Simi Valley.

You're seeing people emerge from the funeral home right now. There was a private service. Some of the Reagan children had arrived earlier today. It had been scheduled for about 12:00 and the thought was is that approximately this time Nancy Reagan's casket would be driven to the final resting location.

She will be in repose actually at the library before she is honored and then buried next to her husband, Ronald Reagan at the library location.

So we're awaiting that at this moment.

And by the way, Hillary Rodham Clinton has announced that she will be attending the funeral on Friday. The public will have a chance to go to that library today from 4:00 until 10:00 p.m. local time for the public visitation.

About 2:30 local time will be an opportunity today again local time for more of the VIPs to have a chance to pay their respects to Nancy Reagan.

And in fact, the House Speaker, Paul Ryan, is expected to stop by the Reagan Library to pay his respects to Nancy Reagan.

But we're expecting anytime between now and the top of the hour when that motorcade will take her body. We are told it's somewhere upwards of eight vehicles. And there is coverage of this, as well as the library funeral which will be held on Friday.

So, I think we're just now watching as the casket emerges. I want to give you a chance to still listen in and watch quietly.

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[12:55:01] BANFIELD: And as Nancy Reagan's casket is loaded into that hearse to make its way again. This is the final journey for Nancy Reagan heading from the funeral home where a private service was just held with her children, we're told, were in attendance, on her way to lie in repose at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley.

Interesting to note, as well, that Michelle Obama, current First Lady and Hillary Clinton, former First Lady will also be on hand on Friday to honor Nancy Reagan, former First Lady.

And by all accounts, one of America's most famous first ladies. Douglas Brinkley perhaps know this that he's one of the country's foremost presidential historians and he's someone who was given President Reagan's personal diaries by none other than Nancy Reagan.

Douglas, I'm going to continue to watch this picture. If you can just help me sort of put in to context the meaning of the next three days as we head toward Friday's funeral services.

VOICE OF DOUGLAS BRINKLEY, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: Well, Nancy Reagan planned her own funeral and she was very cognizant of the fact that the public needed to participate.

It's what you're watching right now as the casket moves to the Reagan Library. It's something that she wanted. She wanted the public people that loved Ronald Reagan and herself to be able to have a public viewing. Come Friday, it will be a funeral for a thousand people and a lot of

the former first ladies will be there and some of the children of former presidents like Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon will be there.

But the big point she made is she wanted to be buried within inches of her husband. So when the casket is put in the ground she will almost be touching President Reagan, Ronald Reagan's casket. And that was, what was most important to her.

BANFIELD: Just one of the most endearing love stories in American history quite frankly. The stories that she told herself, the love letters that told the story between them.

I was wondering if you could help me think through the legacy of Ronald Reagan and how she has helped to form it in the years since he died.

BRINKLEY: Oh it's been -- I've never seen anything like it. Once Ronald Reagan got Alzheimer's, Nancy Reagan went in to overdrive, first helping, have daily taking care of her husband but also making sure that his image wasn't tarnished in history, creating the legacy of Ronald Reagan that is celebrated around the country and today. And she did it with the finesse and the exact amount of respect today with the National Airport of course is named after Ronald Reagan.

We have Reagan Building in the D.C. and for federal employees. And the Reagan Library is the most visited in the country. This is all Nancy Reagan and she did work to help people at Eureka College where Ronald Reagan went to school. Help in the Illinois sites of the boyhood of -- and she's been on a mission really to make sure that Americans embraced her husband as the great man she felt that he was.

And key to that, in her mind, was the fact that he, as Margaret Thatcher once said, Ronald Reagan won the cold war without firing a single shot. Meaning, he said tear down the wall and the wall came down and then the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

And she thought that alone would make him one of the really substantive images of presidents in American history.

BANFIELD: How much of that comment you just said that to make him the great man that he was? How much of the great man that he was, was actually because of her, was due to her, because of her involvement in his life personally and professionally?

BRINKLEY: I think that's the key question Ashleigh. And I don't think there would have been a Ronald Reagan without Nancy Reagan.

I say that because I've studied President Reagan in such depth. And he was the kind of person that really -- the great thing about him is he loved everybody, will talk to everybody, the gardener, the taxi cab driver, the construction worker one to one and he just loved humanity.

Nancy Reagan was little more cynical. She realized people have personal agendas. So she watched for fiery darts being thrown at her husband or somebody who might be as James Baker said, you know, paddling their own canoe.

And, you know, that's how you -- how do you measure what that is, somebody who every day, Ronald Reagan could say, "Nancy what do you think?" And she would give her unvarnished opinion.

BANFIELD: Almost the good cop, bad cop but in such instant ...

BRINKLEY: It truly was. Actually, was good cop, bad cop. That's what their relationship are largely was.

BANFIELD: Hey Doug, stick around if you would please your context is so rich given how much knowledge and how much personal trust she placed in you.

But we're going to continue to watch these pictures as you watch the hearse containing Nancy Reagan's body is going to be among the motorcade heading from Santa Monica, from the funeral home to the Reagan Library.

[13:00:08] That's all for me. Wolf is going to take over the coverage now.