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Supreme Court Nominee Fight; Wisconsin Undecideds; Mississippi Religious Freedom Bill; Mississippi Governor to Review Religious Freedom Bill; Villanova Wins Championship on Buzzer Beater. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired April 05, 2016 - 09:30   ET

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

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[09:32:23] CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.

An invitation and an explanation. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, the head of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has asked Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland to breakfast. But it isn't a love fest. Apparently it's only to explain why Judge Garland will not get a confirmation hearing any time soon. Now, we don't know when exactly that meeting will happen, but Garland is set to sit down with several other senators as well today.

Manu Raju is covering this for us this morning on Capitol Hill.

Good morning.

MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: Good morning, Carol.

Now, today is the first full day back for the Senate since a two week recess in which Democrats had hoped that Republicans would begin to defect after facing a lot of pressure back home. But actually we're seeing the opposition effect. Republicans are digging into their position, including Chuck Grassley, the judiciary chairman, who is up for re-election this year and Democrats are going after Grassley in increasingly personal terms.

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SEN. HARRY REID (D), NEVADA: And after they crippled the judiciary, Republican leader and Chairman Grassley want to hand it over to Donald Trump. That would be disastrous.

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RAJU: Now there are two senators who are meeting -- Republican senators who are meeting with Merrick Garland today. That is Susan Collins of Maine and John Bozeman of Arkansas. Now, Collins is one of two senators who initially had called for hearings, two out of 54 Republican senators, I should add. John Bozeman, on the other hand, has agreed to meet with him but does not actually want to advertise this meeting. In fact, John Bozeman under pressure in his own re- election race, has not invited press into his room. Collins has. It really just shows how much pressure sine if these folks are facing from the right flank of their party. Similarly, Jerry Moran of Kansas had been supportive of hearings, has backtracked on that after facing a lot of criticism in his right flank and may face a primary challenge as well. It just shows how much -- how unlikely it is that you'll see mass defections from Republicans in this election year.

Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, Manu Raju reporting live for us this morning. Thank you.

Many Wisconsin Democrats have made up their mind as they head to the polls to vote in today's primary in Wisconsin, but with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders running neck and neck, undecided voters could tip the balance either way. The Clinton campaign has already signaled it is prepared to lose, while Sanders sees Wisconsin as a path to the nomination. Among those undecided Democrats is Congressman Mark Pocan, whose district includes Madison, Wisconsin. He's also one of the state's ten super delegates.

Congressman, good morning.

REP. MARK POCAN (D), WISCONSIN: Good morning, Carol.

COSTLELO: Good morning. What would it take for you to make up your mind?

POCAN: Well, you know, it's really not so much I haven't made up my mind, is I'm allowing the people in my district to make up their own minds. I think this election cycle endorsements have meant a lot less than normal. It's been a very active Democrat primary in Wisconsin. We've had the candidates here a lot. And we're just going to see where Wisconsin falls today. We know the polls have shown Bernie Sanders with a slight lead over Hillary Clinton. But by tonight, we'll all know where Wisconsin's going to fall.

[09:35:22] COSTELLO: Although I will say Wisconsin has all the hallmarks of a Bernie Sanders win, right, large numbers of college age voters, a progressive electorate and it's one of the whiter populations in the country. So it appears that Wisconsin would fall into Bernie Sanders' lap.

POCAN: Well, looking at Minnesota and Michigan, where Bernie Sanders won both and we're bordering both of those state, clearly, you know, shows that we're some -- a state that is similar to other states that have supported Bernie Sanders. And I think the fact that Bernie's been here all the way through yesterday, I mean he has probably spent more time on the ground here.

But we have two really good, strong candidates. And, you know, unlike the last interview where, you know, which Republican is the least offensive is where people are at, we have people that we're really proud of and we'd be really proud to have as president. So I really like the situation we're in.

COSTELLO: There's some kind of odd things going on right now. For example, the Clinton campaign has been calling for Sanders to drop out because they say he can't possibly win. The math isn't in his favor. But now the Clinton camp has agreed to another debate. What do you think that means?

POCAN: Well, I mean, you know the primary is still moving on. I mean, you know, I think anyone can look at the math of what people need to get in the states that are remaining to try to get the nomination. But again, we're not going to have a convention like the Republicans. The Republicans in Wisconsin, almost to the person I've talked to, if they're backing Ted Cruz, it's not because they want Ted Cruz to be president it's they don't want Donald Trump to be president. They want a brokered convention. They want a none of the above sort of category. They want someone else to be the nominee because they realize they're in trouble. On the Democratic side --

COSTELLO: But -- but --

POCAN: We've got two strong candidates who probably agree on 85 to 90 percent of the things and I just think that puts us in a lot better position for November.

COSTELLO: But couldn't you -- couldn't you -- couldn't you make the same -- let me interrupt you for just a second because I think you can make the same argument on the Democratic side. There are plenty of independents who don't much care for Hillary Clinton and there are some Democrats who don't much care for Hillary Clinton's policies. So they're going to vote for Bernie Sanders. Not necessarily because they love him, because they don't like Hillary Clinton. Could you make that same argument?

POCAN: Not really. I mean if -- there's a very, very, very small number of people like that, but literally Republican elected officials I'm reaching out to in Wisconsin going, hey, I read your endorsement of Ted Cruz. I think I found a line where you said something nice about him. They all admit, they just need a reboot. They don't like any of the final choices they have. But, you know, that's part of the rhetoric that Washington has created. You know, we've largely crated a Ted Cruz because of the hateful rhetoric and the inaction of Washington. And, you know, listening to what you just talked about on the Supreme Court, now the Republicans on the Senate want to bring that historic inaction and dysfunction to another branch of government. I mean I think the people are really tired of that and that's what makes me very hopeful for the November election.

COSTELLO: OK, so you're a super delegate. So what's life been like for you these days?

POCAN: We've had a lot of people reaching out to us and, you know, I think one of the things that I've tried to do, and I've talked to some other members of Congress in a similar spot as I am is, we're trying to keep our eye on the prize, which is November. You know, the next president's going to be appointing Supreme Court justices. They have the power to do executive orders. They're going to be appointing the agency heads and have a lot of oversight over rules that happen. And if Congress continues in the sort of dysfunction that it's had, that puts even more of an onus on the executive branch to do things. And what we want to make sure is that after our primaries, everyone

gets back together and is voting for that Democrat, because it's just too important. I mean if our end choices are either Donald Trump, Ted Cruz or a Paul Ryan or someone else through a brokered convention, I can tell you, I have no question either of our candidates is a far superior candidate. We just want to make sure that everyone's back in the right path and doing that in November so we can win and pick up those seven congressional seats we need to as well.

COSTELLO: All right, Congressman Mark Pocan, thanks for stopping by.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, another southern governor facing a controversial decision after Mississippi lawmakers approve a so-called religious freedom bill. Critics say if he signs it, the governor will be legalizing discrimination.

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[09:43:39] COSTELLO: An Alabama lawmaker is expected to announce today that he plans to start impeachment proceedings against Governor Robert Bentley. Governor Bentley is caught up in a scandal involving allegations of an affair with his former top aide Rebecca Mason. He apologized after audio recordings surfaced last week of him apparently making sexual remarks to Mason. Both Bentley and Mason have denied having a physical affair, though. Mason resigned last week. The governor says he will not resign.

Another southern governor has also been put on the spot for a very different reason. Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant has just a few days to decide whether to sign or veto the state's so-called religious freedom bill after it was passed by lawmakers on Friday. The bill would allow businesses to deny certain services to same-sex couples on religious grounds. Critics call the bill appalling, say it legalizes discrimination. Polo Sandoval has more on this, this morning.

Good morning.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Carol, good morning.

That's right, that attention and the focus now squarely on Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant. His office releasing the first statement that they've actually put out since this bill began the legislative process. That statement released just this morning. And it's very important, Carol, since it essentially breaks down the three different options that Governor Bryant has available to him. We want to put that up on the screen full so you can actually read it there for yourself. Again, this is from his office of communications.

[09:45:03] The governor now saying that he got the bill last night. He has five days to sign it, veto it or do nothing. If he does nothing, the bill becomes law at the end of those five days.

Like I said last week he will review it thoroughly before making a decision again. That from Clay Chandler, he's director of communications there for the Mississippi Governor's Office, and that is something that many people do not want to see happen. You see these pictures from yesterday where at least 300 people assembled in downtown Jackson. These people who do not want to see this become a law, as we have seen in at least one other state in the south and many of these opponents have the support of several high-profile businesses in Mississippi, Carol, including Nissan, which by the way employs at least 6,400 people in Mississippi.

Last week they came forward with their statement, hoping to put some pressure on lawmakers here. They're quoted as saying, quote, "Nissan is committed to providing our employees with an inclusive workplace environment that supports diversity. It is Nissan's policy to prohibit discrimination of any type. And we oppose any legislation that will allow discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals."

Carol, this is something that's obviously a significant factor here for the governor as he considers this legislation. Something that again a lot of people do not want to see get signed into law but as you mentioned there are supporters of this bill who say that it protects people from government interference, Carol.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Polo Sandoval, reporting live for us this morning. Thank you.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, one county in Wisconsin has been 100 percent accurate in picking the next president for the past 52 years. And what voters have to say about the candidates this time around.

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[09:51:09] COSTELLO: Today's Wisconsin primary could be a crucial turning point for candidates in both political parties. 86 delegates at stake for the Democrats, 42 for the Republicans.

Take a look at this live picture. This is Donald Trump in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He said he could pull off a surprise win here. You see him there. Pretty exciting. OK.

Let's talk about a county in northwestern Wisconsin, one that has a surprisingly strong track record of picking presidents. Here's what some of those voters told CNN.

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DAYLE QUIGLEY, WISCONSIN VOTER: When I heard that we had predicted the outcome since 1964, I was actually amazed because I would not necessarily call us a microcosm of the United States

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I support Bernie Sanders.

BILL ANALA, SUPPORTS TED CRUZ: Probably Cruz.

SHIRL LABARRE, SUPPORTS DONALD TRUMP: I'm going to vote for Donald Trump.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I probably will vote for Kasich.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I will vote for Hillary.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Trump has a very good chance to become president.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do I think of the Republican side. I've heard it referred to as a clown car more than once. I did not come up with that expression. I support Bernie Sanders. I think he genuinely cares about people succeeding in this country.

ANALA: You know, they're so busy attacking each other that they're not saying what's going on -- what they're going to do about anything that goes on. I think it's the case of the least evil is my way of looking at it because none of them in my opinion are worth a damn.

JEFF HOMUTH, SUPPORTS TED CRUZ: I was kind of thinking Trump, but I'm not so sure I like all the conflict and negativism that's coming out of things and volatile, I guess, would be a good word for it.

LABARRE: You have to stand up for what you want in a president. I want a businessman. I own a business. My husband and I own a business, and I want someone who understands what our needs are. It doesn't mean that I support every single thing that Donald Trump has said, but I don't support every single thing that most politicians have said.

QUIGLEY: The only two that aren't really owned are probably Trump and Bernie Sanders, and Trump scares me.

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COSTELLO: All right. We'll check back in with Sawyer County after today's voting and see who they picked this time.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, one of the most thrilling finishes in tournament history. Andy Scholes has been up all night long in Houston. Good morning.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. Well, if there's ever a game to get only one hour of sleep for is this was it. Villanova and North Carolina playing a game for the ages. We'll show you how it all went down when NEWSROOM continues.

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[09:58:09] COSTELLO: No surprise here. Classes are canceled today at Villanova after a night of celebrating one of the most thrilling finishes in the history of the NCAA tourney.

Andy Scholes was there. Aren't you exhausted?

SCHOLES: Oh, I am beyond exhausted, Carol, but I'll tell you what. You know, I've been to a lot of sporting events. I've been to a lot of basketball games. I've never seen a finish as exciting as we got to see last night. It was just incredible at the end of that game. The emotions. Let's take a look at how it all went on. You know, Michael Jordan was

on hand cheering on his Tar Heels in this game. They were down three with under 10 seconds to go when senior Marcus Page hit an incredible job to tie the game. But there were four seconds left on the clock and Villanova would get the ball off the court and Kris Jenkins would hit the game winner at the buzzer. First three-pointer to win a game ever in the championship game.

It's going go down as one of the best shots we've seen in the history of college basketball. Villanova stuns North Carolina, 77-74. Their first championship since 1985. And I caught up with the hero of the game moments after that legendary shot.

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SCHOLES: Tell me about what was going through your head when that ball came out of your hands?

KRIS JENKINS, VILLANOVA FORWARD: You know, every time I catch to shoot, I'm fortunate enough to get a shot off. I think they're all going in. So when Ryan Arcidiacano found me on that side, that side was no different, I went two steps and let it go.

SCHOLES: What are you thinking right now? Do you believe what just happened?

JENKINS: I want to be Charles Barkley. All of those guys up there picked against us. So I just want to say hello.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: As was the scene on campus of Villanova when Jenkins hit that shot. Everyone went into a frenzy, jumping up and down, throwing their drinks in the air.

And, Carol, that party will continue later today. They're going welcome the team back to campus at 5:00 p.m. for a nice celebration. And I'll tell you what, Carol. You know, Kris Jenkins has such a great story. We've been talking about all week. He was actually playing against his adopted brother in this game, Nate Britt, who plays for the Tar Heels.