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How Are Trump and Clinton Campaigns Faring in Shadows of High Unfavorability?; Iraqi Town of Qayara Freed from ISIS Control; Judge from Brock Turner Case No Longer Hearing Criminal Cases; Comedian Leslie Jones' Website Hacked, FBI Investigating; Ryan Lochte Called Back to Rio to Face Charges of Filing a False Police Report. Aired 10:30-11:00a

Aired August 26, 2016 - 10:30   ET

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


[10:30:50]

ERICA HILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT, HOST: ... Give us a sense. How many people are we talking about here? What's the real, potential impact?

BETSY MCCAUGHEY, FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK: Well I'm predicting that among those undercover voters, it's a sizeable part of the African-American community. Because Donald Trump is offering them a lifeline. Economic growth, school choice, safer neighborhoods. These are things that are very important to the African-American people, as well as to everyone else in this country.

And that's one reason why what happened this week with Hillary Clinton's speech is nothing new. Because all during the campaign, she has been stoking the fires of racial resentment, telling African- American audiences that they are the victims of systemic racism. Making bogus claims, such as the cops are more likely to shoot a black perpetrator than a white perpetrator. Or that black convicted felons serve longer prison terms than white convicted felons.

These have all been debunked. These are false claims, but she keeps making them all across the country. Whereas Donald Trump is saying "take a chance on me, I'm not going to stoke the flames of racial resentment. I want to be the president for all Americans."

HILL: Betsy, though, back to the question, there are these people who we're seeing -- and look, this happens all the time when we talk about online polling. It's not just potential Donald Trump supporters, we do hear that people tend to be more honest when they're not talking to an actual person. That said ...

MCCAUGHEY: That makes it proof (ph) ...

HILL: ... Do you have a firm, do you have a firm number, though? Does the campaign have a firm number, a sense, of really how many people are out there who fall into this category that Kellyanne was talking about?

MCCAUGHEY: Well that's impossible to say. But I will say this, with 70-some days of the campaign left, and three presidential debates, this election season is just beginning. 70-something days is an eternity in politics.

HILL: I think we could all agree with that. That this year, especially, in 2016 it might feel that way. Hilary, when you, when you look at this, when you hear comments like Kellyanne's talking about, these undercover voters, how much of a concern is this for the Clinton campaign? And how, if they're not, or if they are, how is the preparation going behind the scenes to deal with that?

HILARY ROSEN, HILLARY CLINTON SUPPORTER: Erica, can we just stop for a moment and note how embarrassing it is that the campaign manager of a presidential candidate has to say, "well we know that people are too ashamed to say up front that they're going to vote for our guy, so we think they're going to secretly vote for our guy?" I mean, that's horrifying. That -- the fact that they don't have a candidate that they -- that people are proud enough of to vote for and say so publicly. So let's start there ...

MCCAUGHEY: I think that the real issue here is that they've been brow-beaten by political correctness.

ROSEN: I let you talk -- so let's start there and then go to where Donald Trump is seeking additional votes. He is pursuing votes in a -- in places he hasn't been -- hasn't been before. But he is going to white audiences and making the plea for votes from people of color. He's not going into communities of color. He's consistently declined invitations from places like the NAACP, or the Urban Institute, or mayors of big cities with significant people of color populations.

Those leaders themselves are talking about what they need from a presidential candidate. And Hillary Clinton will call Donald Trump out on this. She has spent a lifetime working with communities of color on issues that matter. And so people will judge a record more than they're going to judge campaign rhetoric ...

MCCAUGHEY: I think they will look at those things (ph)

HILL: So Hilary, do you not believe that there are those undercover voters? Do you believe they exist or are they not really there?

ROSEN: Look, I think that there are undercover voters who just don't like to respond to political polls. But I don't think there's this secret trove of Trump voters that pollsters have not discovered. Having said that, polls today aren't meaning that much. You know I think that the Clinton campaign and the Trump campaign have to campaign as though this race is a 50/50 race. It is going to be close up to the last minute. I have said so consistently all year.

HILL: I do want to get to this one part though. There is something really interesting in this Quinnipiac poll and that's where we look at the negatives. So 64 percent of likely Trump voters say they are backing Donald Trump mainly because they're anti-Clinton. Only 25 percent of them say they're voting for him because they like Trump.

And the news is not much better for Hillary Clinton. When we put up those numbers, only 32 percent, not even a third, say that they're voting for her because they are pro-Hillary Clinton. So both of your candidates have some work to do in terms of winning over voters because they actually like the person that they're voting for.

How damaging is this negative rhetoric on both sides? Betsy, I'll start with you and then Hilary can finish ...

MCCAUGHEY: Well let me point out that the biggest part of the unlikeability problem with Hillary Clinton -- and I'll point to the recent NBC poll, August 16th -- is that only 16 percent of likely voters believe that she's trustworthy and honest. And that number is probably even smaller now with the latest news that she used the State Department as a cash machine to enrich the Clinton Foundation.

That report from the Associated Press, hardly a biased organization. So ...

HILL: They both have very high unfavorables. But we're tight on time. So what I'd really like to know from both of you -- and Betsy if you can finish this and then Hilary will wrap it up -- is how do you deal with the fact that the majority -- we're looking at these numbers -- and only a quarter in your case Betsy -- of people who say they are likely voting for Trump are doing it because they're actually voting for Trump, the candidate. As opposed to voting against Hillary Clinton ...

MCCAUGHEY: Well I'm sure he'll take their vote for whatever reason they have. A vote is a vote. But the fact is that Americans are going to realize they would much prefer 4 percent economic growth to the current 1.2 percent economic growth. They want more take-home pay.

HILL: Hilary, you get a really quick last word.

ROSEN: Look, I think that this has been an ugly political season. I think that Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton had a primary based on the issues. Donald Trump had a primary based on insults. I think we'd much rather a campaign about conversations about issues. And hopefully we're going to get to that at some point. Hopefully the debates will bring more of that to voters who are rightly disgusted by the entire process.

HILL: Hilary Rosen, Betsy McCaughey, I appreciate you both being with us this morning ...

MCCAUGHEY: Thank you .

HILL: ... thank you. Still to come, courage under fire. The brave American volunteers who are providing medical care of the front lines as Iraqi forces wage war against ISIS. That's next.

[10:36:34]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:40:54]

HILL: As we continue to talk about the war against ISIS, I want to take you now live to Iraq where our Arwa Damon is standing by. And Arwa, as I understand it, you've made your way to a town that was just liberated from ISIS within the past 24 hours.

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Erica. We are standing in what was the main road going through the town of Qayara. This was the market and that black smoke you still see billowing there, that is because the oil fields are still on fire. And ISIS had done that to try to impair the visibility of coalition aircraft and drones.

And we can, in fact, still hear the coalition aircraft overhead. The people who you see here, Erica, these are people that have been living under ISIS for the last 2 years. We've been talking to them, talking about what it was like. If you look at the kids, some of them are wearing shorter pants, some of them have their pant legs pulled up.

They weren't allowed to do this under ISIS. ISIS was banning cigarettes, ISIS was forcing women to wear all black. ISIS was not allowing these people to leave their homes. We've actually just spoke to this gentleman right here who's holding his baby, Ayube (ph). He's only two years old. ISIS did not let him leave his house. And he was telling us that right in front of the house, there was an ISIS fighter who was shooting at the advancing Iraqi security forces.

There was a trade of mortar fire, a mortar hit his house. And he was telling us about how he couldn't see anything. All he was able to do was just grab his little boy and try to run out the back door. But that was also terrifying because in the house right behind him was, he said, another ISIS fighter who was wearing a suicide belt.

And we do believe that inside that vehicle is a man who they were telling us about earlier. A man who they suspect of having fought with ISIS. The troops you see here, this is Iraq's counter-terrorism unit. They were the ones that moved in onto the town, they were the front line in this offensive. As they have been in most of the offensives in the past, trying to move through and clear these towns of ISIS fighters.

And right now they are in the process of seemingly speaking to the gentleman about something. He is blindfolded. Based on what they were telling us earlier, they are still going around trying to detain these various different ISIS fighters. People who they believe collaborated with them. A lot of the intelligence that they are getting is actually from citizens and residents, themselves.

Now you see a lot of, you see a lot of the people gathering around here. The children have been coming out throughout all of this. But it's such a scene of such desolation at this stage, inside this one town on this one road that went through it. That used to be the scene of such vibrancy and such life.

Now, Qayara was very strategic for ISIS because of the oil. According to one of the Iraqi commanders here, ISIS used to move around 100 oil tankers of crude a day from here. And people have died in this battle to recapture Qayara. People died because of ISIS' rule. One little girl was talking to one of the Iraqi soldiers about how her father was strung from one of the lampposts on this road for three days because they suspected that he was collaborating with the coalition. Others have lost loved ones in the clashes that took place because

they say ISIS used them as human shields. And Erica, those who we talked to said the town's being rebuilt. This town can be restored (ph). What the people here will never get back is the lives of all of those that have been lost in this ongoing battle as this country, Iraq, tries to move forward and push ISIS out.

Of course these are troops that are going to be attempting to advance towards Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, as they do try to liberate that. But it has been very tough going. And as you can see here, nothing in this country is ever easy, Erica.

HILL: That is an understatement, Arwa Damon joining us from al- Qayara, Iraq, a town that was just liberated in the last 24 hours, from ISIS. Great reporting there, as always, Arwa, thank you. And stay with us, we'll be right back.

[10:45:47]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: It's a case that drew nationwide outrage. Now the California judge who imposed a lenient sentence in a rape case has been reassigned. You may recall in June, Judge Aaron Persky sentenced Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner to just six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman behind a dumpster. Turner was facing up to 14 years in prison.

CNN's Dan Simon is following the story and joins us live this morning. So as I understand it, Dan, the judge actually asked for the change.

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He did ask for it, Erica. And if he thought this was going to quell or silence his critics, we already know the answer to that. The woman leading the recall effort, Stanford Professor Michele Dauber says it is full steam ahead.

You know this is a judge who has been under intense scrutiny ever since sentencing Brock Turner to just six months in jail after he sexually assaulted a woman outside of a fraternity party. This is a judge who clearly saw that he had become a distraction so he asked to be transferred.

He will no longer hear criminal cases, instead, he will hear civil cases. A source familiar with the judge's thinking says he didn't want cases that come before him to receive unnecessary or unwarranted, national attention. Obviously you have a lot of disagreement in terms of what should happen to the judge, Erica.

But I think there is universal agreement that this case has brought good attention in terms of the seriousness of rape on college campuses. And what the appropriate sentences should be. We should tell you that Brock Turner will get out of jail a week from today after serving just three months of his sentence. Erica?

HILL: Three months. Dan Simon for us this morning, Dan thank you. Still to come, first there was Oscar buzz, now it's a firestorm of criticism. The saga that's gripping Hollywood, next.

[10:51:15]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:55:24]

HILL: His new film had Oscar buzz, but now Nate Parker's "Birth of a Nation" won't play tonight at the American Film Institute. The Q&A that was supposed to follow that screening also axed. And it's all because of some comments recently made by Parker when he was talking about his acquittal in a past rape case.

Joining me now, Jean Casarez who has more on Parker's past. And this came as a surprise to a lot of people. And has completely derailed this film.

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. And a lot of people are in his corner and they're saying, "why now? It doesn't make sense." The film doesn't have its premier nationally until October. But all of the focus right now -- and believe me, there is a lot of it -- it's on the background of the star, Nate Parker.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CASAREZ (voice-over): From the moment Nate Parker's film, "Birth of a Nation" premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival, the picture has been met with critical acclaim. The historical account starring Parker as Nat Turner who led a slavery revolt in 1831, won big honors at this year's film festival.

Fox Searchlight then invested a record $17.5 million for distribution rights. "Birth of a Nation" was on its way to blockbuster success. That is until this. Parker, the writer, director, and star of this film -- rated R in part, because of violence -- was formally accused of a violent act himself, in 1999. Rape. Sexually assaulting a young woman that he knew while a student at Penn State University.

Parker was arrested and charged with multiple offenses. His roommate at the time, John Celestin, now co-author on "Birth of a Nation," was also charged with sexually assaulting the young woman at the same time.

According to legal documents, Parker harassed the accuser during the time before trial. Parker was found not guilty on all charges. In 2012, the woman who accused Parker and Celestin committed suicide.

The future of the movie is now in question. With showing being cancelled or modified before the national premier October 7th. Parker himself has taken to Facebook trying to explain what happened 17 years ago.

"Over the last several days, a part of my past, my arrest, trial, and acquittal on charges of sexual assault, has become a focal point for media coverage, social media speculation, and industry conversation. I understand why so many are concerned and rightfully have questions. While I maintain my innocence that the encounter was unambiguously consensual, there are things more important than the law. There is morality. No one who calls himself a man of faith should even be in that situation."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CASAREZ: And once again, Nate Parker was acquitted of those charges. CNN has reached out to his representatives, they have not contacted us back. But one more thing, Toronto International Film Festival, they are going to screen the film, but they have cancelled a live interview, a Q&A with him after the, after the shooting.

HILL: Which is fascinating that they -- it's actually not surprising, of course on one hand, that they don't want -- especially Fox Searchlight, I imagine -- does not want him to have to take questions on this after that film. Interesting that it's still being screened. The backlash is fascinating, though. And how much of it has come. And this happened in 1999. Proof though that these things don't go away.

CASAREZ: But he's acquitted.

HILL: Right.

CASAREZ: He's acquitted of the charges. But the polarization is amazing. And people that you would think would be in his corner ...

HILL: Yeah.

CASAREZ: ... are saying, "I will not view the film." I mean, social media is just ablaze with this.

HILL: Interesting too, his statement too where he says, "even though I was acquitted, this is about morality." Interesting that that's coming from him.

CASAREZ: It's very honest.

HILL: Yeah. We'll continue to watch how it plays out. Jean, nice to see you ...

CASAREZ: Thank you.

HILL: ... thank you. Federal law enforcement has been called to investigate an alleged hack on comedian Leslie Jones' website. The SNL star's website was taken offline earlier this week after racist images, as well as Jones' personal information were posted. Jones you may recall has been the target of several racist attacks in recent weeks. Even taking herself off of Twitter for some time because of hateful messages.

Ryan Lochte is being called back to Brazil, and the Rio police say they're not playing games. They olympic swimmer being charged with filing a false police report after he claimed he and three other swimmers were robbed at gunpoint. Now Lochte can choose to send an attorney and does not need to appear in court. If convicted, Lochte could face six months in jail.

Thanks so much for being with us today, I'm Erica Hill in for Carol Costello. AT THIS HOUR with Berman and Bolduan starts now.

[11:00:00]