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Presidential Candidates Fight for N.Y.; Clinton's New York Subway Ride, Diner Visit; Security Concerns for Republican Convention in Cleveland; Fight Escalates Between Democratic Senators. Aired 2:30- 3p ET

Aired April 07, 2016 - 14:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:34:24] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. A lot of these candidates here ahead of the important New York primary, trying to embrace their inner New Yorker. Many of them have tied to this state. But it doesn't get more New York than hoping a train.

Today, Hillary Clinton took a ride on the 4 train in the Bronx, perhaps a not so subtle response to Senator Sanders' gaffe in an interview with the "New York Daily News." The paper asked if he took the train. To verify, they asked how you get on the subway today, and the Senator answered, "You get a token and you get in." Actually, that was many years ago. Sounds like perhaps he hasn't been on the train in a while.

Secretary Clinton, of course, she pounced on this today and said and did this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: We don't use a token on the subway, you're aware of that now?

HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: Yes, actually, I think we changed when I was Senator. I think it was my first term when we changed from tokens to metro cards.

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[14:35:19] BALDWIN: Secretary Clinton, before being secretary of state, served as the Senator for the state of New York for eight years. Senator Sanders, born and raised in Brooklyn.

In Manhattan, Trump Tower is a landmark. His name is all over the city as well. So who is more New York and, more importantly, who gets home state advantage?

Joining me today, "CNN Politics'" Dan Merica, the producer following the Hillary campaign today on the train car; and one of our favorites, Michael Daly, is back with us. He's a special correspondent for "The Daily Beast" and has lived in New York for much of his life. Good to see both of you.

(CROSSTALK)

First to you, sir, on the train, the former secretary of state, what the heck was that like?

DAN MERICA, CNN POLITICS PRODUCER: It was striking because this is a woman who flies private, usually in Secret Service motorcades, but this time, she boarded the train, took about four or five swipes to get on the subway.

BALDWIN: Which, by the way, not a big deal.

MERICA: I'm not a New Yorker. On the way here, it was one. I was pretty proud of that. But she boarded and she was followed by about 30 people probably, including aides and journalists and Secret Service agents. And the thing that shocked me was how nonplussed many of the New Yorkers were. A woman behind her didn't remove her headphones. Someone sitting next to her who kept his trucker hat on and just sat there. I think he was reading a magazine for most of the ride. Didn't really interact with Secretary Clinton until she interacted with them. And she's doing this in part because she's campaigning the New York way. She's wanting to show she knows it's a card, not a token. The whole scene was definitely quite odd for someone who's covered her for a long time. But also she seemed comfortable. She left the train and walked up 170th Street to a diner where she had an interview. While she walked, she shook people's hands and talked to people about the subway.

BALDWIN: All the while, cameras in tow. We know the game, we know how it goes.

MERICA: It was a scene, yes.

BALDWIN: It was a scene.

For you, sir, being in journalism for a bunch of years in New York, this is an unforgiving town when it comes to media. And if you look, we have this collage of different cover stories. I mean, this is not, you know, coming -- the primary in Wisconsin, this is a different ball game here.

MICHAEL DALY, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, THE DAILY BEAST: Well, it is a little different. You're talking mainly about the "Daily News," which still is kind of the heart of the city. It's taken a beating but it is really is the voice of the city and --

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: What is the voice of the city saying today?

DALY: That's -- but that is the media voice of the city. To my mind, the true voice of the city is those kids up in the Bronx who wrote the letter saying why they were walking out on Ted Cruz. I read that on the way up on the subway. I just read it today it's this beautiful dignified reason. Balanced kind of perfect letter they wrote. And that, to me, that's the city of New York and that's the Bronx Preparatory College Academy. Hillary should have gotten off the train and gone in there. Bernie should go there. Cruz should go there. Trump should definitely go there.

BALDWIN: What was the heart of the message? What struck you?

DALY: They were saying we've decided to, fourth period, we'll be walking out. This is not disrespect to you or to the school or to our guests. That we've considered the possible consequences and we're willing to accept them but we are passionate students and we feel compelled to act upon our idea ideals. And these are kids going to school in the Bronx. These are not kids, you know, in some fancy academy some place.

BALDWIN: I got you.

DALY: I think if all the candidates went to a little remedial class there, Trump could lead to be truthful. Same, Hillary could get a little more forth right. Bernie could learn to do his homework. Cruz could be a little more tolerant. A couple days there would be perfect.

BALDWIN: Memo to all candidates from Mr. Daly here.

In terms of, you know, this is politics at play. I can't wait to see how many visit delis and pizza eating and rides on the subway. This isn't new. When you look at past, you know, campaigns, Bill Clinton, Mayor de Blasio, Bloomberg, we know they don't take the train. Is this effective?

MERICA: It's supposed to be humanizing. It's why these candidates do a number of stops they do at diners, shops. They want to be shown they're doing what everyone does on a daily basis.

Now, does Hillary Clinton ride the train every day to and from work every day?

(CROSSTALK)

MERICA: No, she doesn't. It's been a year and a half, two years. It's a long time. There are people on that train who probably ride the same route every single day. The goal is to get video of her doing something New Yorkers do every day and make it seem like she's one of them.

[14:40:18] BALDWIN: Something else a lot of New Yorkers do, go to the deli. One person you forgot to mention, John Kasich.

DALY: Sorry.

(LAUGHTER)

He's like so out of town.

(LAUGHTER) I'm sorry.

BALDWIN: Roll it.

Here's John Kasich at the deli.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(CHEERING)

JOHN KASICH, (R), OHIO GOVERNOR & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I can't seem to get through because the press is getting in the way.

Hey, what about the Jets? What do you think?

And what about A-Rod?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A-Rod's going to do well.

KASICH: I'd like to be Jeter for one day.

One day.

Well, maybe two days.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm a senior.

KASICH: What are you going to be doing?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to work in news.

KASICH: Where?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: News.

KASICH: News?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah.

(LAUGHTER)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kind of want to get Pink Floyd back together.

(CROSSTALK)

KASICH: You know what I heard, though, I heard if they get back together again, Trump is going to pay for every "Brick in the Wall."

(LAUGHTER)

Do you get it? Did you get it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course.

KASICH: OK, it's like Johnny Football, right? How'd it work out for him? I can't even -- this is insane.

(SINGING)

KASICH: Never use a fork.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the Bronx, we get pushed, we push back.

KASICH: No pushing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, guys, it's rude.

Grandma's recipe.

KASICH: Beautiful.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's what we are in the Bronx. We're not changing for anybody. We need help in New York though.

KASICH: What do you need?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need help in the United States.

KASICH: I think you need a right fielder.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not 100, 200 years.

(CROSSTALK)

KASICH: How come you're not eating?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I eat all day long.

KASICH: Have about a little cheese on the top of this? Mamma Mia.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mamma Mia. (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE).

KASICH: They put me in a car and then they drive me and then they shout get out. I don't have any idea where we go half the time. But of course, I'm thrilled to be in -- are you kidding me? This is like -- this is like being so alive, being in New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Tim Carter, you're my hero. Excellent edit job.

I love the whole "Brick in the Wall" bit. That was well done.

MERICA: He seemed comfortable.

BALDWIN: What did you think?

DALY: I think he can skip the remedial class.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: He does not need to.

(CROSSTALK)

DALY: The one thing I do think people should remember, there's a difference between the state of New York and the city of New York. If Trump had held that rally up in the Bronx, he would have gotten the same reception Cruz got. You notice he held it out in Long Island in Trump country. If you try that in certain part of Brooklyn, the Bronx, forget it.

BALDWIN: Should get some of those kids on the show.

(CROSSTALK)

DALY: I would get those kids, absolutely.

(CROSSTALK)

(LAUGHTER)

DALY: Get rid of all these busted out newspaper guys like me. That is the future. It is the White House.

BALDWIN: Final thought, go ahead.

MERICA: A Clinton aide did say about food, we joked about will we get hot dogs or pizza.

BALDWIN: Be well fed.

MERICA: The jokes she knows not to eat pizza in New York with a knife and fork. She knows to pick that slice up. I'm told she won't make that mistake.

BALDWIN: Too soon.

Dan Merica, Michael Daly, thank you so much. Thank you.

Next, Cleveland police ordering 10,000 pairs of plastic handcuffs ahead of the national convention there this summer, part of the strategy also to tone down the optics of a massive police presence. Why? We'll explore that. We'll talk to someone in Cleveland next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:47:37] BALDWIN: Cleveland, Ohio, will be the center of the political universe in just a couple months. Mid-July, it's set to host the Republican National Convention. And it's looking more and more likely it will be a contested one. About 50,000 people are expected to gather at the Quicken Loans Arena over the course of four days as the Republicans ultimately choose their presidential nominee. Security's a major focus.

Andrew Tobias is a reporter for. Cleveland.com, who has been covering preparations ahead of the convention.

Andrew, welcome to you.

Let's begin with -- I know you were reporting recently about these 10,000 plastic handcuffs that have been ordered ahead of the big date in July. What more are police doing there to prepare?

ANDREW TOBIAS, REPORTER, CLEVELAND.COM: A big part of it is they're making these purchases, like you mentioned, the handcuffs, a thing that got a lot of attention. Also last month, they put in initial steps to buy 2,000 sets of riot gear. People saw that and kind of freaked out. So I do think a lot of these types of purchases are normal for a political convention. Also, besides the more exciting stuff, there's more banal things like hay for horses and ponchos so they don't get wet. They're talking about things like bicycles, you know. A big part of it is buying the equipment they'll need to handle a much larger security event than Cleveland would be responsible for.

BALDWIN: I'm glad you made the point because I know some of this is extraordinarily typical ahead of any sort of convention but I am wondering, as I've been reading around, are police at all concerned, when you talk about riot gear, the optics of all of this ahead of the convention or at a convention?

TOBIAS: Yeah, I mean, I know yesterday we had a public hearing. Our deputy police chief, he's overseeing the stuff, he said they're try to avoid a militarized-style appearance. A lot of the activists here, I think they're kind of alarmed when they saw the riot gear getting purchased. Obviously there's the talk about there potentially being -- I'd call it more hype I guess at this point, although we never know. The discussion of their being riots, I know the reason this event's being sold to this community is there's an opportunity to have the city look good, it will be fun, interesting and exciting. It's not good for anyone if the image is it's going to be "Escape from New York," there's going to be barbed wire, there's going to be people getting chased by police and stuff. So, yeah, the city is interested in making sure the image put forward of Cleveland is a positive one.

BALDWIN: Have Cleveland police sought out the advice of other cities who have held conventions in years past?

[14:50:05] TOBIAS: Yes, I know they've recently traveled to Washington, D.C. Last week, the nuclear summit was there, with all the different international leaders. I know that they're consulting with the Washington, D.C., who handle this stuff on a regular basis. Also cities like Tampa, Florida; St. Paul, Minnesota. Just any of the cities that have hosted political conventions, the Cleveland police have reached out to them.

BALDWIN: Hotels, they sold out yet?

TOBIAS: Yes, it's been a while since I've checked on it. But maybe a couple months ago, there's a story where I think it was a Super 8 in the suburbs here that was going for $200 a night.

BALDWIN: My goodness.

TOBIAS: I'm glad I live here. I'm going to be able to make it to the convention. But if you're trying to get a hotel room at this point, good luck.

BALDWIN: Andrew Tobias, we'll talk again, I'm sure. All eyes on Cleveland ahead of the big date in July.

Thank you, sir, so much.

Next, the fight escalates between the Democratic candidates just one week before the debate here on CNN in Brooklyn. Senator Sanders doubling down on his claim that Hillary Clinton just isn't qualified to be president of the United States. Hear how she's responding to that, as she's riding the subway in New York today.

Also, the head of General Electric going off on Sanders and his Socialist criticism of big business. Hear why the Vermont Senator may not have done all of his homework on G.E.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:55:45] BALDWIN: Hour two. You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Thank you so much for being with me.

Let's begin with the explosive turn in the race for the Democratic nomination for president. Today, Hillary Clinton, she hopped the subway in New York, there, but it's Bernie Sanders who's now accused of taking the low blow, saying Hillary Clinton, former Senator from New York, former secretary of state, is unqualified to be president of the United States. It's an assertion he stood by today, albeit, with regret that this sort of rhetoric Republicans adopted long ago is now tainting the Democratic contest.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS, (I), VERMONT & DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Are you qualified to be president of the United States when you're raising millions of dollars from wall street, an entity whose greed, recklessness and illegal behavior helped destroy our economy? So, look, let me be clear, this is not the type of politics I want to get into. I know it's what the media loves. It's not the type of politics I want to get in. But let me also be very clear, if Secretary Clinton thinks I just came from the small state of Vermont and we're not used to this, we'll get used to this fast. I'm not going to get beaten up. I'm not going get lied about. We will fight back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Secretary Clinton, this morning, hearing all of this, she has laughed off the Senator's criticism, adding she will continue to point out contrasts between herself and Bernie Sanders.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: I understand Bernie Sanders thinks you're not qualified?

(LAUGHTER) CLINTON: Well, it's kind of a silly thing to say, but I'm going to trust the voters of New York who know me and have voted for me three times, twice for Senate, once in the presidential primary. Look, I didn't -- I don't know why he's saying that. But I will take Bernie Sanders over Donald Trump or Ted Cruz any time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Let's bring in Wolf Blitzer, host of "The Situation Room." He will be the moderator at the big Brooklyn CNN debate next week between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

Nice to see you, as always.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR & CNN HOST, THE SITUATION ROOM: Nice to see you, always.

BALDWIN: Question, as far as this doubling down now from Sanders saying she is unqualified, are you surprised?

BLITZER: I'm pretty surprised. On Republican side, they're calling each other, you know, Lying ted and things like that.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: The Democrats have been civil, at least until now. But for him to suggest she's not qualified to be president of the United States after she served as a U.S. Senator from New York State for eight years, after she served as secretary of state for four years, she was first lady of the United States. She's obviously -- by all standard definitions, she's qualified. He's clearly angry. She's frustrated as well. Lost seven of the last eight contests. So it's a tense moment in this Democratic race for the White House.

BALDWIN: As you know, the Clinton camp points out the math, not necessarily the momentum. They're obviously hoping for a win next weekend. As far as this debate you're moderating, with Hillary Clinton, her camp has said this is a new low on the Bernie Sanders side. How does she tow the line, be firm, but not alienate the Bernie Sanders supporters, who obviously she wants --

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: She needs them. That's a really tough, tough mission. She's got to walk that delicate tight rope.

BALDWIN: How?

BLITZER: She's got to fight to win. That means going after him on specific issues. At the same time, if she does get the nomination, she doesn't want to overly frustrate those young people, all those Bernie Sanders supporters out there who would be critically important if she were to face one of the Republican candidates, so it's a tough mission. Usually, what happens -- and I've covered a lot of these races tough going in. Eventually, there's a candidate who emerges and then they all make nice and they have a convention and they do all the music and that kind of stuff and then they work together, the party, the Democratic Party, the Republican Party. They make sure that everybody's on the same page. It's not always easy. There are bitter feelings. But I guess what her sense is -- and I've spoken to some of her campaign advisers -- they believe -- let's say it's Donald Trump, is the Republican nominee. They don't think she's going to have a lot of trouble getting Bernie Sanders supporters to vote for her as opposed to Trump or Ted Cruz for that matter. They think eventually they'll come in. This is the moment for them to, you know, exchange their differences, if you will, but to do it in a relatively civil way. Because you don't want to get overly --