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Clinton, Trump to Debate Monday; Historian Predicts a Trump Victory; Will Clinton Woo Millennials?; Anthony Bourdain Visits Hanoi. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired September 25, 2016 - 16:00   ET

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


[16:01:24] FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield, live from Hofstra University, site of tomorrow night's first presidential debate. Just 29 hours now until Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump take the debate stage in front of an electorate that is split.

A new ABC News/"Washington Post" poll shows Clinton and Trump neck and neck. Clinton with only a two-point lead among likely voters. Both candidates are off the campaign trail today but have separate meetings with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

We have full coverage -- team coverage right here at Hofstra and on the campaign trail. I want to start with CNN's Jeff Zeleny who is in Chappaqua, New York.

So, Jeff, how are preparations there going for Clinton?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, Secretary Clinton has been preparing for this debate really all weekend long. She just left a hotel near here not long ago, where she has been doing more practice sessions with her close team of advisers. And now she will be heading to Manhattan for that meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, like Donald Trump had this morning.

But really they're focused on these preparations. They're going through mock debate sessions really, trying to anticipate what Donald Trump is going to do. And more importantly, Fredricka, she is trying to find areas where she can call him out. She knows that she will have to sort of play the role of fact checker, at least she believe she will. So they're looking for specific instances where he may not sort of have a consistent line of message here. And she's looking for places to draw him out. And she has been in those practice sessions.

Last night, it went until almost midnight. So almost like a college exam, if you will here, Fredricka. Really going into the final hours here, of course, before that all-important debate tomorrow -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Yes, that all night cramming. All right, Jeff, stay with us. I want to go now to Sara Murray, who is camped outside Trump Tower in Manhattan.

So, Sara, what is Trump doing in these final hours? We know he met with Netanyahu there on home turf, so to speak. But now what? How does he prepare?

SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, of course, he had the Netanyahu meeting. And then soon after that, they began yet another debate prep session. We saw Rudy Giuliani earlier today going into Trump Tower. RNC chairman Reince Priebus is also supposed to be with Donald Trump, helping him prep. And look, they are focused on preparing Donald Trump. But not over-preparing him.

It's a very unconventional approach, not doing mock debates, not doing role playing but they believe that that is the kind of thing that works for Trump. That he learns by sparring back and forth with a number of aides in sort of a rapid fire session. Obviously very different from how candidates have prepared in the past. And we'll see if that pays off for him. Back to you.

WHITFIELD: I want to bring in CNN's Jim Acosta, Brianna Keilar and Phil Mattingly. All five of you really have a very unique perspective. You've been covering this unprecedented campaign since day one. And many would say that began kind of right after the last election. Some of you even covered Clinton back in 2008.

So, Brianna, you first. You've gotten to know her. you've been on the campaign trail with her a lot. What do you suppose her focus is? What does she want to present to this audience of upwards of 100 million people?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Overall, she wants to prove that she is the better choice. That she has the better temperament to be commander in chief. And she wants to prove that Donald Trump does not tell the truth and that he doesn't have the temperament to be president. That he's actually unfit to do so. So you can't really overstate what a -- how big of a night this is. How much is riding on this.

[16:05:04] And I think one of the big concerns for her is expectations because she has so much debate experience that perhaps she and Donald Trump are held to different standards of what a good performance is going to be. I think she's a little worried about that double standard. But she -- it's just so important. I mean, you think, Fredricka, of how many people are going to be watching. Millions and millions. And a third of voters say that this is going to be extremely consequential when it comes to how they cast their ballot in November.

WHITFIELD: The issue of the double standard. Robby Mook earlier, Jim, said, you know, Donald Trump should not be graded on a curve.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Right. Well, you know, he shouldn't be. But, you know, I think what Donald Trump faces in terms of a challenge for this debate is he has to pass the commander-in-chief test. We saw him go toe-to-toe with 16 other candidates during the primary debates. And it's interesting to hear some of the Clinton strategy being, well, we want to see if we can get under Donald Trump's skin.

Remember, almost all of those other Republican opponents tried to match insult for insult with Donald Trump, and he would just sort of swat them away, one by one, during these debates. So I would be careful about that if I were Hillary Clinton.

I think I agree with what Brianna is saying. And I also want to add that, you know, for Donald Trump, you know, if he can get through this debate without any major errors, without any big whoppers, without any moments where he acts in a sexist way towards Hillary Clinton, he's going to come out of this debate looking pretty good. I think a lot of the pressure is on Hillary Clinton at this point. She has seen her lead just erode over the last several weeks. That I think puts a lot of pressure on Hillary Clinton because if Donald Trump gets through this debate with a pretty good performance and starts moving up of those polls, this could be hard to stop for Hillary Clinton.

WHITFIELD: And, Phil, you know, is more pressure on Hillary Clinton, the more experienced debater, as, you know, Brianna was saying, back to her high school years?

PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You mentioned the grading on a curve. And this kind of infuriates the Clinton team when we talk to them about this, that, yes, she's more experienced but she shouldn't be held to a different standard than the person who's sitting right next to her on the debate stage.

I think when you talk to people on both sides, one thing that concerns Republicans who are familiar with the structure and one thing that kind of Democrats are pointing to as a possible kind of big point for Hillary Clinton in her favor, 90 minutes, just two candidates, not 16 across the stage.

You can't hide when there is 90 minutes and just two candidates. Do you remember back to the Republican primary? There were a lot of times when Donald Trump would kind of recede and you'd almost forget he was actually there as other candidates fought it out. That can't happen in this type of scenario. So while Hillary Clinton is undoubtedly the favorite when it comes to handling a debate on this type of stage, I think the Clinton team looks at the possibility or looks at the reality that Donald Trump can't just kind of recede at any point and will have a difficult time just swatting things away and moving on.

Hillary Clinton, her job will be to kind of drive down into those policies, just try and draw him out. And that's where they think they can win.

WHITFIELD: And we talk about this dead heat. The new ABC News- "Washington Post" poll showing that they are in this virtual tie.

You know, Jeff, I have -- I have to ask you, you know, is there a feeling from the Clinton campaign that there is more to lose, more is at stake for her because of this presumed, you know -- you know, imbalance of measuring their performance?

ZELENY: I think more could be at stake here for her. Without a doubt that the election here has high consequences for her. The debate has high consequences. But the reality here is she's going against history a little bit. This is a change in environment in this election. So the Clinton campaign realizes that they, you know, have that sort of burden, as well here to, you know, acknowledge that everything is not OK.

The economy certainly has improved but not as much as some people would like. We see protests in the streets. So there is a changed dynamic. She has to show that she is that change. And there -- it will be a history making moment without question. There's never been a woman candidate on stage as a major presidential nominee. So that dynamic will simply be different here. But I think we're going to look for moments here. It's a 90-minute debate. But this debate will be won or lost on individual moments that these candidates are having.

And I am told by Clinton advisers, she is not going to try and fact check Donald Trump all night long. She's going to try and call him out on some particular things of resonance here. That's why they've been practicing so much here. She's the kind of candidate, the kind of student, if you will, who loves to come prepared. She's a lawyer. She likes all her facts at hand here.

But I'm told tomorrow she will not be practicing as much simply really trying to, you know, internalize Donald Trump again. Really we can't overstate the importance of this tomorrow evening here. So I guess the stakes are higher for her. But Donald Trump, as Jim was saying, has to show that he is presidential timber, that he can be a commander-in-chief. She's passed that test. He hasn't necessarily.

[16:10:02] WHITFIELD: And real quick, Sara, we've been talking a lot about performance. But as it pertains to particular issues, what has been the focus or what is likely to be the focus for Donald Trump tomorrow night?

Sara Murray, you able to hear me?

MURRAY: Oh, sorry. Yes, I couldn't hear you for a second.

WHITFIELD: Go ahead.

MURRAY: I think that Donald Trump is looking at the same polling that we all are looking at, which shows the issues with his temperament. They feel like he can be really strong on issues of national security. He can be really strong on issues of trade. Those are issues he can prosecute against Hillary Clinton.

But I do think you're going to see a more presidential Trump. That doesn't mean he's not going to go on the attack. If he feels like he is under attack by Hillary Clinton, he is certainly going to hit back. And I think the challenge for Donald Trump and his advisers right now is figuring out how to do that in a way where he doesn't come across as a bully, but where he does come across projecting this kind of strength that has been so beneficial for him along the campaign trail.

So beneficial for increasing his polling numbers. But make no mistake about it. He does have an issue when it comes to female voters. And they are very aware of that. And that's going to all be a factor when you look at the tone and the temperament of Donald Trump on that debate stage.

WHITFIELD: All right, Sara Murray, Jeff Zeleny, Jim Acosta, Brianna Keilar, Phil Mattingly, thanks to all of you. Appreciate it.

MATTINGLY: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. And of course you can see the first presidential debate right here on CNN tomorrow night at 9:00 Eastern Time with our coverage kicking off at 4:00 Eastern Time.

He has accurately predicted every presidential outcome for the past 30 years. Coming up, professor and historian Allen Lichtman explains why he thinks Donald Trump is headed for a win.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Welcome back. I'm Fredricka Whitfield at Hofstra University. So polls show a very close race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump as they head into tomorrow night's debate here.

[16:15:06] The election is less than 44 days away. Who will become our next leader? A man who has correctly predicted the outcome of every presidential election since 1984 says he is pretty sure it's Donald Trump who will win.

The man making that bold prediction joins me now. Allan Lichtman, a presidential historian and a distinguished professor of history at American University.

Good to see you, Professor.

ALLAN LICHTMAN, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: Always.

WHITFIELD: So you are not necessarily using polling to make this prediction, but instead, something you call historical keys to the White House to make this prediction. A series of true and false. Explain.

LICHTMAN: Very simple. I develop the keys in 1981 based on an analysis of every election, retrospectively, from 1860 to 1980. And the theory behind the keys is that presidential elections are essentially referenda on the performance of the party holding the White House. So my 13 true-false questions probe the strength and performance of that party. And an answer of true always favors the reelection of a White House party, right now the Democrats.

If six or more of the keys, however, is false, you are going to predict the party in power is going to lose. And right now the incumbent Democrats are down six keys. So based on history, not the polls, not the pundits or anything like that, you would predict a Donald Trump victory.

However, you have in Donald Trump a precedent-shattering candidate, who could change 150 years of American history. We've never seen a candidate like Donald Trump, who said numerous things that would have driven any other candidate out of the race, who has no record of public service. Only a record of enriching himself at the expense of others.

He is a candidate who breaks decades of precedent in not releasing his tax returns. He's invited a foreign power, Russia, to meddle in our elections. He's talked about starting a war by blowing Iranian ships out of the water if they come too close to ours. So all of these things may well shatter the verdict of history, and Donald Trump could snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory. But history favors his election.

WHITFIELD: Wow. So, Professor, give me an example of how the party holding the White House, the Democratic Party right now, President Obama holding the White House right now, how that performance is being measured when you say it's not based on polls. So his more than 44 percent approval rating number has nothing to do with it?

LICHTMAN: Nothing. Here are the six keys that are down, and a possible seventh actually. The party mandate based on midterm elections is kind of a referendum on the party in power. Democrats got paced in in 2014. It's an open seat. Barack Obama can't run again. That's the second key down.

Gary Johnson has been a thorn in the side of the Democrats with his appeal. That's a third key down. The administration has not achieved a major policy change this term, like Obamacare. It's not achieved a major success in foreign policy like it did last term with getting rid of Osama bin Laden. And Hillary Clinton is not a historically charismatic candidate like Franklin Roosevelt.

Plus, you also have lurking the aftereffects of this contest between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Having turned that, the facts at least at this point indeterminate. That's why a generic Republican candidate is favored to win. But that's why for the first time in 30 years, I put an asterisk on my prediction, and said, you know, Donald Trump is so out of the ordinary, maybe historical patterns won't hold. It's the toughest test of the keys in over 30 years of predictions.

WHITFIELD: All right. American University professor Allan Lichtman, always good to see you. Thanks so much. We'll see if your 30-year prediction record holds or if this is the year where things change.

LICHTMAN: I started when I was 9, by the way.

WHITFIELD: Appreciate it. All right. Thanks so much.

All right. Still ahead, in just over 24 hours, the presidential candidates are tearing off the gloves. Up next, the mind games both camps are playing ahead of this debate.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:23:43] WHITFIELD: All right. Welcome back. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Live pictures inside at the debate hall here at Hofstra University. Tomorrow night's debate could be the most watched ever. Analysts say between 80 and 100 million people could be watching.

I want to bring in CNN's senior media correspondent and host of "RELIABLE SOURCES" Brian Stelter. All right, so, Brian, this is the big pregame. You actually talked to one of the press secretaries for Hillary Clinton, correct, and he is saying what about his concerns about her performance or how her performance would be rated?

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: They are really working the refs here. The refs being the media. Of course we are talking about pregame expectations. And then after the so-called game, everyone is going to be judging Clinton and Trump and their performances.

The message from the Clinton campaign is very clear. They want the bar to be set at the same level for both these candidates. They're concerned that commentators and journalists are going to set the bar too low for Trump and too high for Clinton. So here's something Brian Fallon told me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIAN FALLON, PRESS SECRETARY, HILLARY FOR AMERICA: This is somebody who PolitiFact last year anointed the "Liar of the Year" and said that 70 percent of the claims that they judge were lies from Donald Trump. And so our point is, if you're going to have Donald Trump on that debate stage for 90 minutes, and if you have a moderator that takes a hands-off approach and says that they are not going to fact-check the candidates, that they are going to sit there and close their ears to Donald Trump's lies, it will extent an unfair bias to Donald Trump. It will be the equivalent of giving him more time to speak.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[16:25:14] STELTER: That's the view from Camp Clinton. They said go ahead and fact-check Clinton as well, but do it equally to both candidates. Make sure both candidates are held accountable.

WHITFIELD: Is there a feeling however that in her preparedness, she is prepared to fact check herself her opponent?

STELTER: That's going to be very interesting to watch. Every minute or every second that Clinton spends rebutting Donald Trump, saying what he just said is a lie, it takes away from her opportunity to make her own case about why she should be president. What struck me in that interview this morning and in other interviews by Clinton officials recently is how much time they spend talking about Trump. They're so focused on their opponent. And Clinton is really going to shy as she talks about herself tomorrow night.

WHITFIELD: All right. Brian Stelter, thank you so much. I appreciate it.

STELTER: Thanks.

WHITFIELD: And of course, you don't want to miss the debate right here tomorrow night, 9:00 Eastern Time. And our coverage beginning at 4:00 Eastern Time. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: Hello, again, I'm Fredricka Whitfield, and we are live from Hofstra University, where the first presidential debate will take place in just over 24 hours from now.

With so much on the line tomorrow night, both campaigns have started playing sort of mind games with their opponent. First, the Clinton camp revealed billionaire and outspoken Donald Trump critic Mark Cuban would be sitting in the front row for the debate. Trump then tweeted this response, saying, quote, "If dopey Mark Cuban of failed benefactor fame wants to sit in the front row, perhaps I'll put Gennifer Flowers right alongside of him, end quote. And you'll remember Flowers had an affair with Bill Clinton decades ago. But the Trump campaign says she will not be there.

Back with me on campus here at Hofstra, CNN's Jim Acosta, Brianna Keilar and Phil Mattingly. And Jeff Zeleny is following the Clinton camp. He is in Chappaqua, New York.

[16:30:01] And Sara Murray is outside of Trump Tower. All right, let's begin there with you, Sarah, by the Trump Tower. The camp there felt that they needed to now make it clear, despite the tweet that Flowers, in fact, will not be there. Why?

SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Well, I think the Trump campaign feels like they got their jab in, and now it's trying to move - time to move the old knot and not take it too far. Kellyanne Conway claimed Mr. Jake Tapper earlier today. Take a look to what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KELLYANNE CONWAY, REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN MANAGER: Basically, Mr. Trump would say, look if Mark Cuban is going to send out these texts, say the humbling at Hofstra, and this is his big downfall, then Mr. Trump was putting them on notice that we can certainly invite guests that make it into the head of Hillary Clinton. But we have not invited her formally and we don't expect her to be there as a guest of the Trump's campaign.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MURRAY: Now, Kellyanne went on to say that she doesn't expect that Bill Clinton's infidelities to attack in discretions, to avoid to come up during the debate. And I talked to a number of people who are close to the campaign, who think it was sort of a hilarious head fake, to try to get under Hillary Clinton's skin in the final day before the two meet on stage.

But it forces a risk in taking it too far. And there is certainly a risk if he tries to appeal to women voters, as he tries to appeal to suburban voters, if he looks like he is trying to pin her husband's infidelity, her husband's past on discretion on Hillary Clinton. It might be the kind of thing that doesn't particularly play well with voters. So, I think there is time to walk a fine line in trying to get under Clinton's skin, but just not push the issue too far, Fred.

WHITFIELD: And so, Jeff, there in Chappaqua, is this now Trump about to face on the whole Gennifer Flowers invitation? Is that the result of now pressure coming from the Clinton camp, their response at least from that tweet?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: I'm not sure if it is pressure from the Clinton camp or not, but it certainly, you can say, the Clinton camp started this, by advertising the fact that Mark Cuban, who has been trawling Trump for weeks, if not months, would be sitting in the front row. It was intended to provoke some type of a response from Donald Trump.

But when the Gennifer Flowers name came up last night, the Clinton campaign certainly is ready for that line of argument. But they weren't necessarily ready to have her sitting in the front row. This is what her campaign manager Robby Mook told Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBBY MOOK, CAMPAIGN MANAGER HILLARY FOR AMERICA: And I think the fact that Donald Trump is spending the hours before this debate on this sort of thing is indicative of the kind of leader he would be and the kind of president he would be. And so I think it's a warning sign before the debate has even started.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: Well, that was before the Trump campaign said, look, she is not coming. The Clinton campaign was trying to lay a little bit of a trap for Donald Trump. They believe any talk of Gennifer Flowers would actually be good for Hillary Clinton. Women, of course, are the most pivotal voters in this election. College educated women and non- college educated women, some of those moderates who don't, maybe like Trump, but don't necessarily like Hillary Clinton who are up for grabs.

They believe that any, you know, big discussion of Gennifer Flowers would actually help her. And they are trying to say Donald Trump is not focused on issues here. But, Fred, this is really some of the mind games going on, some of the games shift back and forth. The reality is voters here are going to seize upon moments in the debate that come from the candidates themselves, not from who is sitting in the front row, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Let's broaden out this conversation a little bit. So, Jim, Donald Trump and his camp has been saying they want their candidate to look presidential, sending out a tweet like that, not so much.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Not so much.

WHITFIELD: However, what is the expectation as to how to look presidential for Donald Trump on a debate stage?

ACOSTA: Well, you know I think that tweet that he put out about Gennifer Flowers, I can understand why Kellyanne Conway was trying to diffuse this on a Sunday morning talk show, this morning on "State of the Union," because as Jeff said, this goes right to the heart of Donald Trump's problem, putting together an electoral map that would deliver him the presidency.

Women voters are turned off by him, pretty substantially. When you look at the poll numbers and to bring up the mistress of Bill Clinton is not exactly something that is going to appeal to women voters. I remember being out on the campaign trail when Donald Trump called Hillary Clinton an enabler. And you could just see the jaws dropping in the crowd of Donald Trump supporters.

So I think this underlines the big risk for Donald Trump tomorrow night. And that is does he have one of those over the top, OMG moments that just sort of starts to create this, sort of, you know, this destabilizing effect within his campaign? That is what he cannot risk. And that is why I think he really has to get through tomorrow night, try to look presidential, sound presidential and resist those OMG moments. But we're talking about Donald Trump. So, you know, I would put only a 50/50 chance on that.

WHITFIELD: So, Brianna, you know Hillary Clinton has prided herself on being able to stay the course, whether the road was bumpy or not. I mean, look at her, entire 40-year public life. You know, she is had to manage a lot. Why is this any different?

[16:35:10] BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Why is this debate any different? From what she is done her whole life?

WHITFIELD: Right.

KEILAR: I think it boils down to this, right. This is almost like -- we just had the Olympics, right? It is like training your whole life for something. And I think this the moment that is going to be incredibly consequential for her in this election. And it's going to be incredibly consequential for her in her lifetime. Certainly what she is achieved and what she would say that she would want to achieve to -- for the country.

But I have to revisit the Mark Cuban thing, because I find this fascinating. I think part of the reason that Clinton campaign invited him, you know I was in Pittsburg when he headlines in an event for her there is. He is from Syria. And what she used him for was a counterpoint to Donald Trump. You know, he is a billionaire, he is on television, he has got the whole entertainer thing going on, but then she'll highlight the good things he is done, like profit sharing.

Then she tries to say, look, this is someone who believes in workers, and Donald Trump doesn't. But I think it sort of spiraled into this other thing, right? Where you're actually seeing -- I think they also want to debate Donald Trump maybe at the debate, unnerve him a little bit. But Mark Cuban has already sort of served his role here. You see from his tweet. Because I don't think Republicans when they saw the tweet I think they were freaking out. I sort of agree with that, Republican --

WHITFIELD: Might have been taking the bait, just to kind a ruffle his feathers. Is that part of the mind games, Phil? PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I don't think there is any

question about it. If you are the Clinton campaign, this couldn't have worked out any better, in the sense that this is exactly the type of response they wanted to draw, they wanted to draw out. What has been their kind of dominant message over the course of the last six to eight weeks that if you put Donald Trump in the oval office with the nuclear codes and foreign relations that he can be basically brought to rage by a single tweet? He can be baited by anything.

That is exactly what happened over the course of the last 24 hours. So I think, while the Clinton folks may not admit it publicly right now, this on some level was exactly what they were trying to do when they invited Mark Cuban and decided to put him in the front row. So, mission accomplish, there is Jim says, he probably doesn't have to come anymore.

(CROSSTALK)

KEILAR: He has served his role.

WHITFIELD: Oh my goodness, all right, thank you so much, Brianna Jim, Phil and Jeff and Sarah, the whole gang. We'll see a lot more of you. Thank you so much.

First, of course, you can see this first presidential debate right here on CNN tomorrow night, 9:00 Eastern time with our coverage kicking off at 4:00 Eastern. And we will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:41:33] WHITFIELD: All right. Welcome back. Two very famous people are going to end up on the stage tomorrow, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. But it's Hillary Clinton who has been in public service for now 40 years, but she and her campaign acknowledge that so many voters, particularly Millenials, don't know enough about her and her dedication to women and children, well before she became first lady. Clinton's new ad, well, it takes you way back.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: One of the areas that I've been particularly interested in is the area of children.

We intend to be sure that everybody in this room and every child in this state is somebody. No matter where they're born, no matter, to which they are born. I want to make sure that every child has a chance to live up to his or her God-given potential.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And here we are, less than eight weeks away before the general election. And both candidates are still compelled to help define who they are. Are they being held to the same standard, or are they're distinct differences based on sex?

With me now, author Ellen Fitzpatrick, also an editor of several books on women's struggle for equal rights. Her latest book is "The highest glass ceiling," women's quest for the American presidency. Welcome Ms. Fitzpatrick, how are you?

ELLEN FITZPATRICK, AUTHOR THE HIGHEST GLASS CEILING: I'm well. How are you?

WHITFIELD: Great. So this is already a historic race, with you know, the first woman nominee of a major party, but is it your view that, Clinton is having to work harder, or show more evidence that she is pursuing this highest office of the land to promote policy and direction for the American people? $

FITZPATRICK: Well, whether she is had to do it or not, she certainly has done so. She is had a remarkable career and brings really a set of experiences to her candidacy that are unlike any that any man or woman before her ever brought to a race for the presidency in part, because she was first lady and had those eight years in the White House, when her husband was president. Went on to her career in the senate, and then ran -- came very close to winning in 2008, the Democratic nomination, then served as Secretary of State and now a candidate again, so it's unique, yes.

WHITFIELD: So in your view, how much of an impact might an ad like that have, one that takes you back to her college years?

FITZPATRICK: I think that will resonate with women of her generation, and that is a generation that already, I think, is quite sympathetic, if the polls can be believed, to her as a candidate. So I'm not sure, you know -- it may remind younger women that she has a long record on these issues that may be of importance to them, as well, but it will mostly remind, I think, viewers, as if they need to be reminded, that she has been a long-time person on the political scene, and has a great deal of experience.

WHITFIELD: So Shirley Chisholm was the first modern American woman to seek the office for, you know a major political party. Others had followed Carly Fiorina and now, of course Hillary Clinton. So, what on your view the parallels you see in, women seeking this office, to women seeking promotion, perhaps, in their workplaces in terms of whether the obstacles are similar for men seeking the same kind of positions?

[16:45:20] FITZPATRICK: Well, it's a hard slog, obviously, the race for the presidency. And it is unlike trying to advance in other realms of life. It is extremely difficult and obviously, there are very few people who are successful and many who have tried. There have been over 200 women over the course of American history that have actually set their sights on the presidency and appeared on a ballot or were nominated even by a third party so, in that sense however I think the sense that no woman has ever succeeded in reaching this milestone resonates for those who are aware of the longer history of inequality for women in the workplace. And in that sense, there is parallelism. However, you know, greatly different the jobs at stake may be.

WHITFIELD: tomorrow night's debate, do you see that these two candidates, their performance will be gauged equally?

FITZPATRICK: Well, I think they'll be gauged. We know that. Equally, I'm not sure. The expectations, I think, are probably fairly low for Mr. Trump. And in some sense, presidential debates are a television show. He is extremely adept as a television performer.

Secretary Clinton, perhaps, a little less so in that respect, but 90 minutes is a very long time. And it will be interesting -- there has to be some substance as well so I suspect they will be judged differently, but they'll each be held to whatever standards the pundits and analysts will choose to apply to them.

WHITFIELD: All right, a 90-minute debate and no commercial breaks. Ellen Fitzpatrick, thank you so much for your time. Appreciate it.

FITZPATRICK: My pleasure. Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Coming up at the top of the hour, Green Party candidate Jill Stein joins Poppy Harlow in the Newsroom, that conversation at 5:00 pm Eastern time only on CNN.

And the brand new season of "Parts Unknown" is back tonight at 9:00. Right here on CNN. Host Anthony Bourdain takes us to one of his favorite places, Hanoi, Vietnam, where he sits down with a U.S Commander-in-Chief.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're going to have to...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will walk you through it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are going to have to walk me through this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are about to eat blue chop.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is about as typical and equally a Hanoi dish as there is.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This beautiful little pork patties, real pork belly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Inaudible) is served in a broth of vinegar, sugar and the (inaudible) black mon or Vietnamese fermented fish sauce.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chilies to taste.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean if you have an important state function after, you may not want to go with that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm going with this thing. You know we're going to do what is appropriate.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Vinegar.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hack off noodles, drop them in your bowl.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: that was not too elegant, but I'm managing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And dip and stir and get ready for the awesomeness.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm ready. Now, is it appropriate to just pop one of this whole suckers in your mouth, or do you think you should be a little more...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, slurping is totally acceptable in this part of the world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It takes some skills by the way to handle these sticky, cold noodles. But whatever your opinion of demand, the president has those skills.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've got to say. This is killer. This is outstanding.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So good to hear.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's really good.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Anthony Bourdain's full conversation with President Obama tonight at 9:00 pm only on CNN. And we are back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:53:10] WHITFIELD: Tooth decay is the single most common childhood disease, and it's on the rise. This week, CNN hero has a mobile clinic that brings dental services to children in need in Appalachia, one of the epicenters of this national epidemic. Meet Dr. Edwin Smith.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EDWIN SMITH, MOBILE CLINIC DENTIST: People get out of the chair, look in the mirror and cry. People who before wouldn't even let you see their teeth, and now they have big, wide smiles. It's one of the most rewarding things.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: For the full story, go to CNNhereos.com.

History could be made tomorrow night at the first presidential debate ahead of the general election, all of it being held right here at Hofstra University. But not just on the stage that history would be made. Experts believe the first Clinton versus Trump matchup could reach 100 million viewers, crushing the current presidential debate record and putting it in super bowl territory. Each candidate knows it's not just what you say, but how you look saying it. An important lesson learned at the first televised debate, which is the subject of this week's cartoonian by Jake Tapper.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: Goodbye Mayberry, hello Camelot. In 1960, CBS bump to the beloved Andy Griffith show to make room for TV's very first broadcast of a presidential debate.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Democratic candidate Senator John F. Kennedy.

JOHN F. KENNEDY, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE: And freedom in the next generation, HOKA or the communist going to be successful. That is the greatest.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Vice President Richard M. Nixon.

RICHARD NIXON, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I subscribe completely to the spirit of Senator Kennedy as express tonight.

TAPPER: Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon argued over the Soviet Union and civil rights, but the debate is perhaps best remembered not for what was said but how the candidates looked. Legendary producer Don Hewitt recalls talking to the candidates back stage.

[16:55:08] DON HEWITT, AMERICAN TELEVISION NEWS PRODUCER: I said do you want any makeup? Now, Kennedy, who had been campaigning at an open convertible, looking tan and fit, this guy was a matinee idol and said I don't wear any. I said to Nixon, do you want some makeup? He heard Kennedy said, no. He said no and he came out and I looked at him on camera and he looked like death wore him over.

TAPPER: And how they look, impacted voters. Here's how Bob Dole remembers it.

BOB DOLE, AMERICAN POLITICIAN: I was listening to a radio. I thought Nixon was doing a great job. Then I saw the TV clips the next morning and the guy, you know he was sick. He didn't look well. Kennedy was young, articulate and wiped him out.

TAPPER: Most historians now say that debate forever changed politics, and not everyone thought that was a good thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. So, again, we're just one day away from the first presidential debate, and you can watch it right here on CNN tomorrow night 9:00 Eastern time. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Thank you so much for joining me this weekend here at Hofstra University. Our coverage, live from Hofstra, continues next here with Poppy Harlow.

Hi everyone, top of the hour. I'm Poppy Harlow live this afternoon from the campus of Hofstra University. Ahead could be the most watch presidential debate in history. 100 million people expected to tune in.