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Final Face-Off Tonight Between Clinton And Sanders Before Tuesday's New York Primary; Video Of Girls Kidnapped By Boko Haram Released. Aired 3:30-4p ET
Aired April 14, 2016 - 15:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[15:33:19] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. It is just half past the hour here on this Thursday. We are sitting along the east river in Brooklyn hours ahead of the big democratic debate.
They have scuffled over who is more qualified to be president. But tonight, they're trying to prove who is more New York. The final face-off for Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders before Tuesday's New York primary. Secretary Clinton stepping into the debate ring with more delegates, more popular votes and more states under her belt. But Senator Sanders has something she does not, a streak winning eight of the nine past contests. Translation this is math versus momentum.
But what are the key things we should be watching for on the debate stage? Here in Brooklyn this evening, I turn to this guy, David Chalian, CNN political director, my guru of all things political, with all of the answers and more.
Mr. Chalian, item number one what are you watching for?
DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, you just hit it with the streak. This is Sanders's moment. That's item number one. He is on this winning streak. And think about it in sports. He is now gotten the ball down the field. He now needs to convert to a touchdown, right? So he has this string of victories. He has a great crowd last night in Manhattan. Now he has to seize this moment and actually do something on the debate stage that up-ends the trajectory of the race in New York.
BALDWIN: What would that be?
CHALIAN: Well, either he has to sort of choose to open up a new avenue of attack that he thinks will be successful to take her down a peg or two. But that may be what it needs to be. Because he can't just keep doing what he's doing because it's only getting him to this place. She is big in the poll. She is leading the polls here in New York. He need to take this moment in time for him and convert it so it can extend because now the math starts going favorably towards her.
BALDWIN: OK. That's the Sanders moment. What's item number two?
[15:35:02] CHALIAN: Clinton's tone and temperature. That's sort of something to look at as well. I'm very curious to know, does she feel at all threatened by that winning streak he is on? Her campaign is constantly pointing to the math. She's got the delegate lead. He is not going to overtake her. And so they have this calm sense about we are going to be the nominee. Well, does she come in with that tonight or is she rattled in anyway? Because we have seen her on the trail in New York say things like, well, it doesn't sound like he may have done his homework in certain areas, places at New York Daily News Tribune.
Well, Brooke, does she kind of bring that talk from t trail face-to- face with him tonight? Or do we see her try to lower the temperature a little bit and set her sights a little bit towards November. That's one thing I'm watching for when it comes to Clinton.
BALDWIN: OK, Clinton tone. What is the third and final thing you're watching for?
CHALIAN: Look at where we are.
BALDWIN: New York.
CHALIAN: The New York state of mind. The issues in New York that have been playing out in this New York campaign are some of the biggest issues that have been playing out in the Democratic primary overall. Wall Street, it is right across the river.
BALDWIN: Yes.
CHALIAN: Criminal justice reform, has been a big debate here in New York and totally been a big debate inside the Democratic primary. Environmental issues like fracking, energy issues like that. Guns has been an issue. These have been some of the real major issues that Sanders and Clinton have been sort of squaring off on all season. And they have come to fruition in New York because this is a place that has been dealing with all those issues in the news. So now in a place where all those major issues are front and center and they are going to have to confront each one tonight.
BALDWIN: It's the Chalian cheat sheet. My executive producer Eric Hall (ph) has officially said that. The Chalian cheat sheet ahead of the big debate here tonight in Brooklyn.
Thank you very much as always.
CHALIAN: Thank you, Brooke.
BALDWIN: Coming up next, could this crazy unprecedented -- fill in your adjective, election year be the right moment for a third party candidate? The likely nominee from the libertarian party Gary Johnson joins me live. We will talk to the former New Mexico governor if he thinks the election process is indeed rigged and why he is suing the presidential debate commission.
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[15:41:49] BALDWIN: Did you realize there are more than five people running for president of the United States. And among those who do not have an "r" or a "d" next to their name is libertarian Gary Johnson. The former New Mexico governor. Ran in 2012. Won more than a million votes. And last month's poll, in a national Monmouth University poll he got 11 percent of the vote in a hypothetical matchup with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Now, Governor Johnson says he wants in on the general election debates this fall. He has a lot more to say I'm sure. Governor Johnson joins me now.
Governor, nice to have you on. Welcome.
GARY JOHNSON, LIBERTARIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Brooke, great to be on with you. Yes, there's no way a third party gets elected president of the United States if they're not in the president debates. And of course that hasn't happened since Ross Perot. You mentioned earlier --
BALDWIN: Let me get to that because I know, you know, you filed suit. But out of the gate, let me just ask you this. I know exactly who you are and I know a number of people do as well. But I want to give you just 60 seconds to tell Americans who are thinking, hang on a second. Who is this Governor Johnson and he want to be president, 60 seconds, tell Americans who you are and why you want to be president.
JOHNSON: Well, I have been an entrepreneur my entire life. I'm also an athlete. I've never run for political office prior to becoming elected governor in New Mexico as a Republican in a state that's 2-1 Democrat. Really made a name for myself being fiscally conservative. I may have vetoed more legislation than the other 49 governors in the country combined. But coupled with being fiscally conservative is the notion of being socially liberal. The fact that you and I should be allowed to live our lives as we see fit as long as those decisions don't adversely affect others.
So in 1999, I was the highest elected official in the country to call for the legalization of marijuana. The fact that the drug war rages on. The fact that 20 million Americans but for our drug laws would otherwise be tax paying law abiding citizens and, you know what, there is a very real Islamic terrorist threat but let's stop with our military interventions. They have unintended consequences that are making things worse, not better.
BALDWIN: All right. So thank you. This is an essence of who you are. My next question then is, we talk a lot about this political system, especially the primary process. Do you agree with Donald Trump when he says the system is rigged?
Well, the system is rigged. I've never had an issue with being at 15 percent in the polls to be in the presidential debate. My issue, book, is not even being in the polls who determine who is in the debates. The Monmouth poll came out, had me at 11 percent. I think it's legitimate to have included my name because libertarian party's going to be on the ballot in all 50 states. I am the presumptive nominee. So nobody else is going to be able to lay claim to that.
I think that Hillary and Trump are the two most polarizing figures in American politics today when 50 percent of Americans say they're independent. You know what, I think the majority of people in this country are libertarian, they just don't know it and speaking with a broad brush stroke, fiscally responsible, socially liberal, the definition of a classic liberal. That's where most of us lie, I think.
[15:45:21] BALDWIN: I hear you on, you know, these two on the opposite end and one center of the spectrum with Trump and Hillary Clinton. My question then would be what about the supporters? What about Trump supporters? What do you think of them?
JOHNSON: Well, I have been there. I have been in New Hampshire. I have been in Iowa. And what I've recognized is that 30 percent of the Republican vote believes that the scourge of the earth is Mexican immigration.
Brooke, I was the voice out there saying immigration's really a good thing that this is really a political boogie man, it doesn't exist. Mexicans are really hard working. They're taking jobs that Americans don't want. It's not an issue of wages unless it's an issue of language and they're the first ones that recognize that. So let's make it as easy as possible for somebody who wants to come across the border and work to be able to get a work visa, not a green card, not citizenship. But this notion of building a wall across the border, that's is ridiculous, that's crazy.
BALDWIN: OK. Governor Johnson, of all the candidates running for president, who would you say you're most in line with?
JOHNSON: Well, so I want to make a pitch to everybody watching now. Get online. Take the political quiz I side with.com. Really you answer a number of questions pretty easy. You don't need enough to register. But then you get paired up with the presidential candidate most in line with your views. BALDWIN: Have you taken this quiz?
JOHNSON: Brooke, the next person that I agree with most outside of myself is Bernie Sanders. And so that really -- first off, there's the shock, what, Bernie? Well, then there's the realization of, oh, I get it. The fact that Bernie attracts social liberals. The fact that let's stop bombing. Let's -- marriage equality, legalizing marijuana.
Look, he's a social liberal. So am I. We part ways when it comes to economic policy. I do believe there's going to be some really negative consequence to the fact that we continue to borrow and spend more money than what we take in.
BALDWIN: I'm sure that will come up tonight here at the debate between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. I see your ear piece back in. One more question for you, you can still hear me?
JOHNSON: I can hear you, thank you.
BALDWIN: OK. Final question, I want you to finish my sentence. If Donald Trump becomes the next president of the United States?
JOHNSON: Then I am going to wake up from that nightmare and realize that it was a nightmare. Not going to happen.
BALDWIN: OK. Gary Johnson, running to be the next president of the United States and the libertarian party ticket.
Good luck, sir is thank you so much.
JOHNSON: Brooke, thank you. Bye.
BALDWIN: Coming up next, CNN obtained a proof of life video showing some of the more than 200 girls kidnapped by the terrorist group Boko Haram two years ago. Please do not miss this incredibly compelling report.
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[15:52:31] BALDWIN: Nearly two years ago, Boko Haram kidnapped 276 Nigerian school girls stolen out of their beds, their fates unknown, until now. Video obtained by CNN shows that at least some of the school girls kidnapped in northern Nigeria were alive as recently as December.
Senior International correspondent, Nima Elbagir, producer Stephanie (INAUDIBLE) and photojournalist Sebastian Canobes have this heart- breaking report.
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NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Lined up against a yellow wall, 15 girls, only their faces showing. An off camera voice asks each girl, what's your name. Is that the name your parents recognize? Where were you taken from, the voice asks. A school and the date they say is the 25th of December, 2015.
This video was obtained by CNN from a person close to the negotiations to get these girls released. For the parents, it's finally a glimmer of hope these girls are still alive.
Two years ago, we met Mary (INAUDIBLE), on our visit after the abduction of their daughters and more than 200 other girls. We asked them if they recognize any of the girls in the video. They lean closer. Another girl is identified. One by one, they name all 15 girls. But one mother realizes her daughter isn't there.
The off camera voice asking the questions is familiar to CNN as that of Boko Haram spokesman (INAUDIBLE). A source close to negotiations between Boko Haram and the Nigerian government said the video was provided by the terror group as an asked for show of good faith. Nigeria's information minister told CNN they have received the video but are still reviewing it.
LA MOHAMMED, NIGERIAN INFORMATION MINISTER: You study the video and find out the questions that are asked are very controlled environment. We are a bit concerned too that after two years in captivity the girls in the video were under no stress whatsoever, there has been little or no transformation to their physical appearance.
[15:55:07] ELBAGIR: Is your government negotiating with Boko Haram for the release of these girls? MOHAMMED: There are ongoing talks. We cannot ignore leads, but of
course many of these investigation investigations cannot be disclosed openly because it could also endanger the negotiations.
ELBAGIR: We took the video to a classmate of the girls. She had been at home with family the day the other girls were kidnapped. For her safety, we're not showing her face and not using her name. She told us there's no doubt these are some of her kidnapped classmates.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): These two were prefects. Watching the video, I'm reminded how we used to play together, to our chores, do our homework.
ELBAGIR: She says seeing her friends again will likely give her nightmares.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Sometimes still if I hear news about them I have bad dreams and wake up crying.
ELBAGIR: The video ends with a girl addressing the camera with a message to the Nigerian government. We are all well, she says, pointedly. Perhaps suggesting girls not seen in this video. She then delivers what sounds like a scripted play, urging the Nigerian government to fulfill unspecified promises.
For the mothers of these girls rapidly becoming women far from home, the video is overwhelming. They say they just want someone to bring their daughters home.
Nima Elbagir, CNN, Nigeria.
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