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Ted Cruz Lays Groundwork For What Could Be The Last Stand Against Donald Trump; Hillary Clinton Fires Back At Donald Trump. Aired 3-4p ET

Aired April 30, 2016 - 15:00   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:00:16] PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Pamela Brown in for Poppy Harlow on this Saturday. Thank you so much for coming along with us for the show.

First up, Ted Cruz laying the groundwork for what could be the last stand against Donald Trump. At any moment now we expect him to take the stage at the GOP convention in California, a state that votes last, but has the biggest prize, 172 delegates. They are critical because Trump is so close to winning the nomination outright. He is now just 235 delegates shy of the magic number. Well, Cruz and his new running mate Carly Fiorina banking on Trump coming up just short so that they can take this race to a contested convention.

And now as we wait for Cruz to speak, the scene there is drastically different from just 24 hours ago when the anti-Trump protesters clashed with police in riot gear, forcing Trump to leave his car on a freeway and enter through a backdoor.

And today, Trump had some strong words for those protesters.

Let's bring in CNN's Jason Carroll who covered that violence yesterday. He joins us now from the convention.

So Jason, walk us through how Trump has responded to what has happened in the last 24 hours.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, just this morning, Donald Trump tweeting out about those demonstrators yesterday basically saying that protesters in California were thugs and criminals, many are professionals. They should be dealt with strongly by law enforcement.

Ted Cruz also weighing in on the issue yesterday in Indiana telling the reporters that the people who showed up here and demonstrated, many of them he called them left wing agitators. In terms of what we are seeing out here so far, no demonstrators showing up for Ted Cruz who is expected to take the stage in an hour from now, but one man who will be showing up for Ted Cruz is former governor Pete Wilson.

Pamela, we are finding out now that he is expected to introduce Ted Cruz, expected to speak for five minutes. He is now officially on the program. In terms of the endorsements, you already know he has received the endorsement of the Indiana governor. But when it comes to the endorsements Donald Trump spoke about that yesterday when he was at the state GOP convention. He said, yes, endorsements are important. They are nice to have, but are they essential, no. Donald Trump believes that he has got the will of the people behind his back, says he said that he does not need these types of endorsements. And remember, these endorsements are also establishment endorsements much like the people in the room. The reason that we are seeing the surge behind Donald Trump is mainly because a lot of people are saying this is because this is a man who is anti-establishment.

So once again Pete Wilson is expected to introduce Ted Cruz when he takes the stage in an hour from now. But when it comes to the endorsements, once again, Donald Trump is saying it is not important to his campaign going forward - Pamela.

BROWN: And you mentioned that Pete Wilson will be introducing Ted Cruz, and what does that mean for the Cruz camp and a little bit more about Pete Wilson, because he sparked some controversy when he was governor over immigration. Is that right?

CARROLL: Well, he had a very strong stance here in the state of California on the issue of illegal immigration, and he took a lot of heat for it. But having said that, Governor Wilson is seen as being more moderate. As you know, Ted Cruz has seen as being more conservative. So certainly, that is in some ways going to be bringing in more people into the fold, and most certainly, Ted Cruz needs all of the help he can get at this point in terms of the endorsements.

He is behind the polls here in California, behind in Indiana as well, but certainly, the Pete Wilson endorsement would be another feather in his cap.

BROWN: All right. Jason Carroll, thank you so much for bringing us the latest reporting there. And Ted Cruz may be in California today, but he is keeping an eye on Indiana. That state votes Tuesday, and Cruz needs 57 delegates more than before, even though admitting to Sean Hannity that Indiana may be to make it or break it moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TED CRUZ (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It is going the give me great comfort that this primary is going to be decided by the Midwestern commonsense of the Hoosier state.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: And joining me now is CNN political commentator, and the host of the "Ben Ferguson show," Ben Ferguson. He is supporting Ted Cruz. Also with us Trump supporter and political commentator for USA Radio Networks Scottie Nell Hughes.

Thank you both for coming on.

Ben, I'm going to start with you because we know that Trump has topped that 1,000 delegate mark, at this point is he unstoppable? BEN FERGUSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: No. I think he is

definitely can be stopped. And Indiana is going to be very important to that. And I think that is the reason why you saw the governor there come out to say he is going to be voting for Ted Cruz, because he realizes as a governor that we need someone who understands how to actually run the government day one. Not someone who is filled with the talking points.

And I think he also understands something else in Indiana. Donald Trump is saying he is going to be bringing American jobs back. But with the reality is with his own businesses, every time he has a chance to bring a job to America, he does the complete opposite. He, in fact, he exports the jobs and imports workers from other countries whether it be the resorts, whether be his clothing, whether be any project that he is involved in. And in Indiana, the voters there, they care about manufacturing. If you look at the track record of Donald Trump, it is very clear, he has a huge weakness on claiming that he is going to be bringing American jobs back, when in reality, he does everything he can to support foreign workers and export jobs including his own clothing that he sells.

[15:05:38] BROWN: But if Trump sweeps Indiana, and Cruz loses, what will that mean for Cruz? Is that the end of it for him? As he said, it is really make or break?

FERGUSON: Well, I think Ted Cruz is a realist here. The number that you have to look at is 1,237 and it is not over until someone gets to that number. And so, he is go going to fight as hard as he possibly can. Other governors that are gathering around him are doing the same thing. They understand it is not over until the magic number is reached. And so, I would say until that number is reached by Donald Trump, this this contest is going to be very intense and very, you know, heated, and that is the way it is going to be until he actually or somebody gets to that number. And if nobody does, we are going into the brokered convention.

BROWN: Which is exactly what Cruz and Fiorina are helping for.

Scottie, probably that California protests yesterday, Trump made a joke about how difficult it was to get inside that building. Let's take a listen on what he says.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: That was not the easiest entrance I have made. And my wife called and said helicopters following you and we did. Then we went under a fence and though up fence and, boy, I felt like I was crossing the border actually.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: So Scottie, you know, some people are saying this was an opportunity for Trump to be more of the unifier. Is he stoking the flame flames with comments like that?

SCOTTIE NELL HUGHES, NATIONAL POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, USA RADIO NETWORKS: Well, first of all, it is like he was playing forger (ph) in order to get to his own speech yesterday and him and the entire group were able to make it across thankfully.

So let's look at exactly what was going on outside the protests right there. There were protests that were destroying public taxpayer property. They are challenging law enforcement. They were destroying law enforcement vehicles by jumping up on them, and they are assaulting folks who just wanted to go in and potentially hear a candidate they were going to vote for for president.

That right there, while you have a right to peaceably assemble, what we saw tight there was an organized group of people that were very angry and were very violent against anything that Mr. Trump was going to say. And I doubt, many of them actually knew why there was agree or why they were spewing hate. They talk about talking points. I imagine that is probably why they were there.

And so, that unfortunately, is what the scenes does. And you are going to see that just only resonated with folks at why Mr. Trump's message that we have a problem in this country. While there might have been some real issues right now with what is going on with the Hispanic community, and some of the issues they might have with Mr. Trump. That right there, demonstration is not exactly the best way to get your point across the not only Mr. Trump, but to the rest of America about any problems or grievances that you might have.

BROWN: So, Scottie, that is fair enough that perhaps this was not the right way to respond, but people seem concerned that this is the kind of reaction that Trump prompts. In fact, Ted Cruz we heard saying Trump is divisive. And then you see acts like this playing out at places where he is supposed to attend. How concerning is that this could just be the way that it is moving forward?

HUGHES: Well, that is just what those people. And unfortunately, what those organizations want. They wanted to create that. If you really want to have a message of unity, it has going to have to come from actions and words that speak of unity. You know, Ben pointed out about Governor Pence yesterday going in to try the give his endorsement of Senator Cruz that was just as lackluster as basically a rusted penny because that was really an endorsement in my opinion.

FERGUSON: And did you just said that we need to unite and then you immediately start ripping on the governor of Indiana, and start ripping on Ted Cruz. How can you sit there and say that --?

HUGHES: Ben, Ben --

FERGUSON: That is what you are saying.

HUGHES: Ben, this is my chance.

FERGUSON: OK.

HUGHES: And when you listen to actually what Governor Pence said, he went in there and he said, you know what, I am going to vote for Senator Ted Cruz. However, I am going to support whoever our nominee is, he also gave very encouraging words about Mr. Trump's immigration policy, and what he has done for jobs in Indiana and across the country which is exactly opposite of what Ben just pointed out. It is that type of the language right now that I think will cause unify, and bring in independents and across that whipping record numbers of people that are crossing over from Democrats, registering to vote as Republicans, and those numbers are turning out for Mr. Trump as a reason.

(CROSSTALK)

BROWN: It is true, Ben though, it is true that according to the exit polls in the last round of primary that Trump seems to be expanding his base. How concerning is that for the Cruz camp?

FERGUSON: I'm not concerned. I do think that many Democrats are realizing that Donald Trump is not truly conservative. And that is why you keep hearing surrogates say on TV that look at all the Democrats we are getting. Well, it is not hard for Donald Trump to get Democrats because he has been a Democrat most of his life.

The other thing about the rhetoric here is let's be real clear. Donald Trump loves this fight. He loves the intensity. He loves to talk trash. He loves to get the crowd fired up, and to go after anybody that stands in his way. But at some point, you have to act with at least, I am not even saying the word presidential, because I think he even agrees that is not the word you should use when looking at his actions as a candidate, but at least act as a little bit civilized and realize that if you want to bring people together, remember, that Donald Trump is the weakest Republican candidate we have in modern history of primary. More people have voted against him than and have voted for him. And he has not been able to wrap up this nomination. He said that Mitt Romney was a loser. He said John McCain was a loser. Well, they won big long before right now on the calendar. That should remind people just how weak of candidate Donald Trump is. And part of it is because is so divisive.

[15:11:03] BROWN: And it is - I mean, and Scottie, I mean, his unfavorable ratings are high particularly --

FERGUSON: Through the roof!

BROWN: What is going to do to try to turn that around when he makes the comments directed at Hillary Clinton about, you know, using a woman's card.

HUGHES: Well, Senator Ted Cruz's are not far behind. But I don't think it is not necessarily something that you can pin on the front runner of the Republican Party. I think it is something that you have to pin on the Republican Party, because it I it is an issue they have had all along.

Listen. You look in 2012, Mitt Romney lost miserably with the Hispanic party. He lost 44 percent with women. I mean, this is something a problem the Republican Party has and not necessarily their frontrunner candidate. If anything, Mr. Trump's policies are going to hope will be able to expand the base of the people that are coming into it.

And let me just correct Ben on one point. The reason why Mr. Trump has not been able to saw up this nomination is because you have two conservatives that have split the conservative base, that silent the majority, is split right now. If it would have been any other establishment candidate versus Mr. Trump, it would have this absolutely sawn up in our nomination. But the only reason why Senator Cruz is even in second place was because he worked so long right along with Mr. Trump has able to rising in the polls. Once they started to go against each other, Senator Cruz has been taken down.

FERGUSON: That maybe the weakest argument I have heard about someone's weakness in the poll. Donald Trump shouldn't beat --.

BROWN: Ben, got to go. But thank you for giving that last word. And Ben, you didn't give up, did you?

Appreciate it to both of you.

And by the way, a programming note for you, Ted Cruz is Jake Tapper's guest on "STATE OF THE UNION" who also have an exclusive interview with Hillary Clinton. Look for that tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. eastern right here on CNN.

And coming up, we have some new details on the death of Prince. The 911 calls made from his home in the years before he died. Plus the famous faces expected at the memorial service tonight.

And John Kasich gets into a heated exchange with a voter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you feel --

GOV. JOHN KASICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, I am not going to be going for --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People are born gay.

KASICH: I won't get into the analysis of this or that --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it is not analysis. Are people born gay?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: And again, Ted Cruz is expected to address the GOP convention in California. Of course, we will bring that to you live when it happens. Stay with us. We will be right back.

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[15:16:28] BROWN: Well, the legal wrangling over Prince's estate and the investigation into his passing remain under the microscope. The mega star's siblings completed their first meeting over their brother's multimillion dollar fortune. Meantime, the first public musical tribute to Prince happens tonight at Los Angeles. But the new information has surfaced about emergency calls made to Prince's home as far back as 2013.

CNN's Sara Sidner joins me now from right outside of Prince's Paisley Park compound.

So Sara, did these calls involve Prince or perhaps someone else from his staff? Do we know?

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We know that four calls over the past three years, and that one of them for sure involved Prince, because it is the call that let the world know that he had died in his elevator. But the other three were still unclear exactly why medical services were called to Paisley Park.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SIDNER (voice-over): Prince's fiercely guarded private life and struggles slowly coming to light after his death. The sheriff's office has now released incident call reports involving all calls in the last five years from Prince's Paisley Park estate to local law enforcement. There were 47 calls in all, some for suspicious activity, others for harassing phone calls, but four for medical issues including the day Prince died.

But there is no indication yet whether the three other medical incidents involved Prince, himself. What a law enforcement source is telling CNN, when Prince was found dead at the elevator at Paisley Park, prescription opioid medication was found in his possession. The medication commonly to treat severe pain was also found inside of Prince's home, the source said.

And then there is this. Investigators telling us that they have been unable to find any evidence that prince had a valid prescription for that medication.

We now know that Prince may have been struggling with the severe pain, and using the prescription painkillers six days before he was found dead. When his pilot called air traffic control to make an unscheduled landing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is the nature of the emergency?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unresponsive passengers?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was a male or female passenger?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Male passenger.

SIDNER: Prince was unconscious. He was rushed to the hospital in Moline, Illinois, where investigator say Prince was treated for potential overdose, a pain medication. His publicist at the time said he was suffering from the flu. But now, the drug enforcement administration has been called in to help investigate Prince's death.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SIDNER: And the DEA involvement may give some idea of where this investigation is going, because they usually come in to a situation like this when it is believed that there was some kind of illegal activity involving drugs, this could be about the drugs found either on Prince's body or at his home -- Pamela.

BROWN: So a lot more to be learned in this investigation.

Sara Sidner, thank you very much for that.

And coming up right here in the NEWSROOM, the transgender bathroom battle now front and center in Indiana as Caitlyn Jenner takes Donald Trump up on his offer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAITLYN JENNER, REALITY STAR: Last week, Donald Trump said that I could take a pee anywhere in the Trump facilities. So I am going to take to pee in the ladies' room.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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[15:23:19] BROWN: Ohio governor and presidential hopeful John Kasich getting into a testy exchange about his stance on discrimination and marriage equality. During a town hall in California, he was asked repeatedly by a San Francisco resident whether or not he thought that people were born gay. And here is what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KASICH: Well, sir, I believe in traditional marriage. I just went to a gay wedding, buddy of mine just went and got marry. My wife and I went to the wedding, and it is great. It was fine. But I won't go for some confrontation to that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But do you believing that people are born gay?

KASICH: I won't get into the analysis of this or that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is not an analysis. Are people born gay?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Our nest question.

KASICH: You know, sir, probably. I mean I don't know how it all works, OK. I mean, look, if are they? In all probably they are. OK.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do they deserve regular rights like -?-

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: And Kasich went on to say that he does not believe in discrimination, but he thinks there is a balance between discrimination and people's religious liberties.

And meantime, the debate over transgender bathroom access has reality star Caitlyn Jenner making a statement that could impact the Republican race for India.

Here is Miguel Marquez.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JENNER: Oh, my god, a trans-woman in New York. I had to take a pee. Anyway, my God. Trump international motel. I love this.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Call it the politics of Cait, the conservative Republican transgender star injecting herself into the national debate over controversial proposals banning transgender people from using public facilities based on how they identified.

SEN. TED CRUZ (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If Donald Trump dresses up as Hillary Clinton, he still can't use the little girl's room.

[15:25:05] MARQUEZ: In deeply religious Indiana, the issue is front and center.

CRUZ: If you value religious liberty, the right of everyone of us to live according to our faith and according to our conscience to seek out worshipping God almighty without government getting in the way.

MARQUEZ: Religious voters here are crucial to Cruz, and 72 percent of the adult Indianans identify as Christian, 31 percent of them as evangelical. It is a full-on battle for their support in his effort to stop Trump.

CRUZ: It doesn't make sense to allow grown adult men, strangers, to be alone in a bathroom with little girls. And anyone who says differently is political correctness on steroids.

MARQUEZ: Trump on the today show said that Caitlyn Jenner could use any bathroom she wanted in the Trump tower. Jenner who had expressed support, but not an endorsement of Cruz took the billionaire up on his offer.

JENNER: Donald Trump said that I could take a pee anywhere in the Trump facilities. So, I am going to the take a pee in the ladies' room.

MARQUEZ: Trump says his remarks only meant that transgendered people using public facility is a state not federal issue. Cruz not letting up running this campaign ad across Indiana. Evangelicals here already on the defensive after the failure of a controversial religion freedom bill made national highlights. But is it too little too late for Cruz.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: My mother gave me this bible.

MARQUEZ: Trump's support among the evangelicals is surprisingly high throughout the primaries, even besting Cruz among the deeply religious voters in a majority of the states.

TRUMP: I want to thank the evangelicals.

MARQUEZ: The politics of Cait.

JENNER: That way? Thank you.

MARQUEZ: Now playing in the Hoosier state.

JENNER: And not anymore. God, OK. Thank you, Donald. I really appreciate it. And by the way, Ted, nobody got molested.

MARQUEZ: Gender politics meets religion meets the Republican presidential hopefuls.

The transgender bathroom controversy is now part of Senator Cruz stump speech as he is barnstorming across Indiana. It is a states with 57 delegates at stake. It is not winner take all as the senator will need all or as many as he can get of those 57 delegates in the Hoosier state if he hopes to stop Donald Trump.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: All right. Thanks to Miguel Marquez.

And coming up on this Saturday in what could be a general election preview, Hillary Clinton takes aim at Donald Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I have a lot of experience dealing with men who sometimes get off of the reservation in the way they behave and how they speak.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:31:17] BROWN: Hillary Clinton firing back at Donald Trump in an exclusive interview with CNN. Trump who calls Clinton crooked Hillary says she is corrupt and accuses her of playing the quote "woman card." Here is what she told our Jake Tapper in response. J*+, a Donald Trump supporter and national political commentator for

USA Radio Networks.

Thank you both for coming on, ladies.

And Maria, I'm going to start with you because you hear what Clinton said. She said I don't care - I couldn't care less about what Trump says to me. However, Trump has been very successful at attacking rivals. As we have seen with this, you know, for example low energy Jeb and little Marco, they also brushed off the attacks similar to how Clinton is, should she take a different tact now?

MARIA CARDONA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, I think first of all the difference is that Donald Trump has never had an opponent like Hillary Clinton. And no, she is not taking it for granted if that is what you are asking. I think the way that she is answering this is by giving, I think a pretty compelling non-answer which is that she could care less what he talks about her personally. What she is g going to be focus on is what he says about other women, is what he says about other demographics in this country, what he says about other people in the country who are trying to make it. And when she is the candidate who is talking about breaking down barriers, and he is the candidate who is talking about putting up walls, I think that is a difference and a contrast that Hillary Clinton is going to win time and time again and especially when he is focusing his attacks on 53 percent of the voters in the country which are women, and when he is focusing his attacks on demeaning them for their success which is exactly what he is doing when he says that Hillary is pulling the woman card.

BROWN: And you heard Hillary's response there, Scottie. What is your reaction to it basically saying he went off the reservation, he is being a bully here?

HUGHES: Well, I think it is interesting, because he is getting a lot of pushback or she is getting a lot of the pushback for staying off the reservation is that offended many American-Indians right now saying that was kind of slang term and kind of dig at them. It is amazing what happens in the politically correct world that she has created, actually confect to bite you. I am not that sensitive and I don't think she should really be held accountable for that.

But using this gender card right now is simply just to make sure that we get rid of all the emotion that we get involve and we involve things like sexism. And it is actually time looking at these candidates and policies and what they have accomplished or not accomplished in their past both in public and private. The same things that Bernie Sanders has been going against Hillary Clinton with her ties to private business and her accessing money from big banks and Wall Street are the same thing are going to come out from Mr. Trump. And what he is going to bring out against her, he is just making sure that once his time that he is clear with all of riffraff he has having to deal with the candidates with his own party right now, we can actually have a race as Maria pointed, he hasn't has a candidate yet Ms. Clinton, when he has actually has one-on-one with her that we make sure that it is a race without emotions and really just about policies of the individual candidate, not being sitting here muddied the waters of being able to be hide behind the shield of being a woman or any sort of stereotype.

BROWN: But Scottie, I want to show you a CNN poll that was performed before this comment about the woman card. Take a look here and find 73 percent of the women have an unfavorable view of Donald Trump. So how does Trump plan to close this gender gap, and get female voters on board when he makes comments that many women find offensive such as the woman card comment.

[15:35:20] HUGHES: Well, absolutely. No. I think there is definitely an issue there. But I think it is also something that we have to point out that Senator Clinton has a major issue with women as well right now. And her record has not been so stellar for women. When you look at her own (INAUDIBLE) when she was a senator, she paid the women drop to 72 cents to every dollar to what she paid the men, and looking at the promotion of the men within her own organizations where Mr. Trump has a track record of promoting women within his own private or organization, and business and putting the first female project manager of Trump tower in New York City when no one back them was putting all those large construction project managers. And while his own family and his own daughter. So actions speak louder in words. And when you look at the track record of both for each other, you can see that one actually promotes gender equality and actually promote women better than the other, and it is not Ms. Clinton.

BROWN: Well, let me ask you this, Maria. Do you think that Trump actually helps Clinton bring in more women voters? Does she need the help?

CARDONA: Yes, absolutely, he will do that. And the problem with Trump is that his words have spoken louder than any actions he has taken, and that has been the problem for the Republican party which is why they are desperate to not have him become the nominee, because they know that he will be such a degrading symbol of what this Republican Party has become.

And, you know, let's remember that Mitt Romney lost women by 11 percent in 2012 to Barack Obama, and he lost the election. Right now, the numbers that Donald Trump is seeing in terms of the gender gap are almost 30 point to the poll that you just showed, Pam. And when he continues to talk about the women card, when he continues to demean the most qualified candidate in the race who just happens to be a woman, then what I think that he is doing, first of all, I think it is a politically stupid strategy, but what he is doing is that he is going to mobilize and going to make women come out for Hillary Clinton. And what he is going to find is that, you know, come November, he is going to be having such an incredible, see is going to see such an incredible dose of electoral estrogen come at him that he is going to feel the need to go buy some lipstick after the election.

BROWN: So what was the strategy here, Scottie? Was it a stupid strategy?

HUGHES: No, not at all. You have to look at the Republican voters and what motivates them. You had this week Ted Cruz put Carly Fiorina on the ticket with only add -- what does she bring to the ticket besides being a female? She doesn't bringing the delegate counts with only one. If Ted Cruz really wanted to help the delegates he would have brought on Marco Rubio at 171. And it is not resonating with the Republicans. They are not going so just because you are a female, I am going to vote for you. Most importantly it is not with Republican women.

The message of the economy and strengthening our borders and the national security, those messages not only resonate with the men, but are resonating very well with the women, Republican women. And right now the reason why the Republicans lost in 2012 was that they did not motivate their conservatives and their base to get out to vote. And they are not going to do it based on the gender. They are going to do it with the same message that resonates whether you are a male or female, and those are the things that Mr. Trump's popularity is based on.

BROWN: All right. Scottie Nell Hughes and Maria Cardona, thank you very much. Appreciate it.

CARDONA: Thank you, Pam.

HUGHES: Thank you.

BROWN: And coming up, CNN goes behind the bars of one of America's most notorious and oldest prisons.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How long you been in here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm on my 40th year.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sentenced to life and you are on the 40th year. Wow.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That is the same thing I say every morning I get up, wow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: W. Kamau Bell show us what it is like inside of San Quentin prison up next.

But first, one-third of all children in the United States grow up without a steady father figure. And the African-American community, it is nearly half, Sheldon Smith was one of them. But today, he is a role model helping young dads like himself in his hometown of Chicago. And that is what makes him this week's CNN hero.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHELDON SMITH, CNN HERO: I grew up broken. I was hurt. But I was able to overcome all of these things. What I want for these young men is for them to be involve and engaged in their children's life, to give their children what I missed as a boy which was a great father, someone who would be there for me, and give me the advice that I need to be a successful young man today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: And you can watch Sheldon's full story right now at CNNheroes.com. And while you are there, nominate someone you think should be CNN's 2016 hero.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:43:45] BROWN: Well listen, annual rite of passage where Hollywood's a A-list comics. And tonight, actor and comedian and talk show host Larry Wilmore will get his term. He has been tapped to host President Obama's last White House correspondents' dinner. And it is Obama's final hoorah with the people who have covered him for eight years. Wilmore recently sat down with CNN's John Berman to talk about what he will say tonight and the historic meaning behind it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN BERMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is going to be interesting to see, you know, an African-American comedian hopefully making fun of the, you know, the first black president in his last correspondents' dinner, that will be a thing.

LARRY WILMORE, COMEDIAN: Yes, it will be fun. So maybe I will do a little pass, you know, throw in a few racial commentary jokes in there.

BERMAN: You never touched the issue of race, though.

WILMORE: Never. I don't like talking about race. I rarely joke about it, only when I am forced to.

BERMAN: Every night.

WILMORE: Unfortunately, I am forced to do it all of the time.

It is a conundrum, because how often do you have a chance to sit next to someone like the first lady and maybe have a nice conversation. But in my mind, there will panic about what I'm about to do. So I will seem like a jerk to her, and saying, why this is he talking that much, and I am thinking of what to do. No, but I love the to sit next to you, and that is the toughest part of the evening.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: And you can watch the White House correspondents' dinner right here live on CNN. We will have complete coverage beginning at 7:00 p.m. eastern.

And coming up this Saturday, we are going to go live to San Quentin with Kamau Bell.

And now today's fit nation, today, the tallest skyscrapers are stunning marvels of architecture, but for others, every big building is just another opportunity to race.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[15:45:26] DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): Tower running, it is a growing sport where people race up staircases of the world's tallest buildings.

LISA ZEGEL: You have to train to the point of pain because you're going to feel a lot of pain in a race.

GUPTA: Lisa Zegel ran her first race 15 years ago days after September 11th.

ZEGEL: We felt that it was important to show that we weren't afraid. I can only think of the people going down the stairs and the horror of it but when we got to the top it was just like no other feeling I've ever experienced.

GUPTA: She was hooked. Now at age 57 she's ranked seventh in the United States and 21st in the world.

ZEGEL: The empire state building is the ultimate race. You get up into the stairs and you try not to look at the floors. It's just a feeling of accomplishment. Just self-affirmation.

I would like to keep doing this into my 80s, 90s, I just want to all over the world and keep doing this.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:50:09] BROWN: Well, America's prison population numbers in the millions. And to most people on the outside, they are just that numbers. But this week on the new CNN series, "UNITED SHADES OF AMERICA," W. Kamau Bell meets the real people inside one of America's most notorious prison, San Quintin.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

W. KAMAU BELL, CNN HOST, UNITED SHADES OF AMERICA: My name is Kamau.

DUCK, INMATE: Duck.

BELL: Duck. So tell me what would you say is the biggest surprise - would you think that surprise you on the outside about being in San Quintin?

DUCK: Me and myself is not the characters that produce.

BELL: Yes.

DUCK: And I see it produces positive people now.

BELL: Yes. Yes.

DUCK: Some people come in couldn't rewrite spill. Now you walk around with geniuses now.

BELL: Because you don't have cell phone. You need somebody to be walking around (INAUDIBLE).

DUCK: Yes, no doubt.

BELL: (INAUDIBLE).

DUCK: They make us think they were still part of some sort humanity. Because other than that we just be number only yard.

BELL: Yes, number only yard.

DUCK: Numbers on the yard.

BELL: What's your sentence?

DUCK: I got seven to life. BELL: How long you been in here?

DUCK: I'm on my 40th year right now.

BELL: Seven to life, and you are on your 40th year.

DUCK: 40th year.

BELL: Wow.

DUCK: Same thing I say every morning I get up, wow.

BELL: You have seven to life, you take seven lives. That's not --.

DUCK: Yes. You can think that it was - you have been gone a long time.

BELL: I thought - I was hoping you are going to say, you know, six- and-a-half.

DUCK: No.

BELL: It sounds unfair. It sounds like if you were able to live here (INAUDIBLE).

DUCK: Right. It calls you rehabilitation.

BELL: Yes.

DUCK: So if you have been rehabilitated, then you get to spot like this then there should be some reward that able to gain.

BELL: Yes.

DUCK: But it don't seem to be that way.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: And w. Kamau Bell joins me now from right outside that prison.

So San Quintin, Kamau, is one of California's most infamous lock up. In fact, there has some famous inmates over the years including Charles Manson, the night stalker Richard Ramirez, country singer Merle Haggard and convicted murderer Scott Peterson who is currently sitting on prison's death row. You just met with other inmates there at Sam Quinten, what surprised you about meeting in them particularly someone who has been there for 40 years like that man who had just on.

BELL: I mean, the thing that surprise me was like, I mean, he was great. The guy's name is Duck and we talked to him. And I would like the guy to live in my neighborhood. I mean, I just felt like he was a fountain of wisdom. He was very, you know, I know he went to prison for a crime, but he has been in there for 40 years. And, you know, he is not infamous like Scott Peterson is. So it is like whatever he did, he feels sorry for, he has done restitution, and he just feel like when can we let this man out of prison? I mean, I was surprise though how much I really fell in love with those guys.

BROWN: Really? Interesting. And you discovered, while you were there, this kind of prison world order during your visit. Tell us about that? What's that mean exactly?

BELL: I mean, they, you know, prison - a lot of things we learn about prison from the movies and TV is basically true like the prison is broken up along racial lines, you know. There is different areas where you should and shouldn't go into. But then because San Quintin is a prison, they say the guys at San Quinten have aged out of prison. You have to graduate to get to San Quinten. You have to go start at level five and move all the way up to level two where San Quinten is. They are like these guys are not trying to cause me trouble. They are just trying to serve their time, and rehabilitate themselves, and learn new skills.

BROWN: And speaking of rehabilitation, I have done some reporting on the transition for prisoners going back into the real world, some of them that I spoken to have complained that the prison system just doesn't do enough to support them and provide them the tools to make it in the real world to find jobs, et cetera. What did you find there in terms of rehabilitation?

BELL: Well, that's the thing with San Quinten. It is like all the men I talked to, they talked about how this was the prison everybody in the state of California wants to get to because they have more rehab programs than any other prisons. They say the most prisons that rehab program are AA and Jesus which to my mind are about the same thing. But here there is like a coding program because we are right near Silicon Valley. So, there is people in Silicon Valley come in and teach them in how to code, but it's just still, will they get out to be able to use these skills. And when they get out, they have to check that box which says I'm a felon, which as, you know, that stops a lot of people from getting hired.

BROWN: Right. And you set the screening on this episode tonight at the prison. How do you think it is going to be received?

BELL: You know, I hope they receive it in the spirit it was meant. It is really, I mean, it is worth to say a love letter to the guys I met. Like I was really shocked. I mean, it's sad to say we have to humanize people, but this is an effort to show them as the fully functional, fully spectacular things I felt they were. I know they all did bad things. They all admitted to it. But the thing is it was a long time ago, for most of them, and they have really worked hard to turn into different people. So I just want to really show them as humans, what I'm talking on TV in the news. We see prisoners as big scary animals, like (INAUDIBLE) animals. And I really wanted to make them reverse version of that.

BROWN: Yes, it is interesting. You said earlier that you really fell in love with them.

Kamau, before I let you go, you are a comedian, you don't shy away from politics. I have to ask. This is Obama's last White House correspondents' dinner tonight. Any advice for the president?

[15:55:11] BELL: I think he should -- I love Larry Wilmore. I think he should fire Larry Wilmore and just do the whole thing. I think he should host his own correspondent dinner. I think he should roast everybody. I think he should go out and drop the microphone like Chris rock. I love Larry Wilmore, but he doesn't need him this time around.

BROWN: I don't think Larry is going to like that answer, Kamau, but interesting.

BELL: I know. I love you, Larry. I'm not mad at you. I'm not mad at you. I'm just saying I would like to see Obama to do the whole thing himself.

BROWN: All right, Kamau Bell, W. Kamau Bell, thank you very much for that.

And don't forget W. Kamau Bell takes you inside San Quentin on "UNITES SHADES OF AMERICA" tomorrow night at 10:00 here on CNN.

And coming up in the next hour, meet the man who went from carrying Trump's golf clubs to running the most high profile twitter account in all of presidential politics.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He never attacked anybody.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, come on, dad. He never attacked anyone in the sense of where he started.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[15:59:52] BROWN: Welcome to the CNN news room. I'm Pamela Brown in for Poppy Harlow.

Well, Indiana or bust, that may as well be Cruz's mantra this weekend but any in this primary is Tuesday, and now the Donald Trump breached 1,000 delegates, Cruz needs a win more than ever before. But first, since making a stop in California.