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Clinton Campaign Responds to New FBI E-mail Probe; Clinton Campaign: Comey Letter Light on Facts; Biden Not Interested in Sec of State, Would Reach Out to Trump if Wins; Trump Welcomes News of FBI's New Clinton E-mail Probe; Clinton, Trump in Dead Heat in Florida; Clinton Also Facing Rising Obamacare Premiums; October Surprises Nothing New, Could Threaten Race Outcome; Many in N.C. Going to Polls Undecided in Early Voting. Aired 1-2p ET
Aired October 29, 2016 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:00:00] FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: This is the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.
And this breaking news we are following right now, the Clinton campaign fighting to regain footing after the bombshell FBI announcement that will review e-mails, possibly related to Hillary Clinton's private server. The campaign wrapping up a conference call with reporters moments ago.
CNN's Jeff Zeleny was on the call and is joining me now on the phone.
Jeff, what did the campaign have to say?
JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fredricka, campaign chairman, John Podesta, said, in no uncertain terms, Director Comey, the director of the FBI, must release more information. They renewed their call from yesterday, saying it's been 24 hours since he sent the letter to Capitol Hill and no more information. He accused him of being "light on facts and heavy on innuendo." That's a quote. It's raised more questions than it is going against the traditions of the Justice Department.
He also pointed out that the director was going against the wishes of the attorney general. Of course, that has been reported here on CNN that he was advised not to do this. He went ahead and did that.
In the campaign conference call, the Clinton campaign is aggressively working to get ahead of this story, to spin the story to say Democrats are fired up by this and there's no political fallout. The reality is, there is potentially political fallout. But there is potential political fallout. It's why they have the conference call. They're trying to rally Democrats around this by saying, look, this is another partisan issue.
Speaking of partisanship, last night, in Des Moines, Iowa, during a press conference, the secretary said the FBI director sent this only to Republicans. He sent the letter only to Republicans. I asked John Podesta about that today, because the letter actually was sent to Republicans and Democrats. This is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZELENY: Clarify the comments Secretary Clinton made last night. She said the letter was originally sent to Republicans. Do you think she misspoke or, because, as you know, the protocol to sending a letter to the Hill is send to chairmen, then a carbon copy to ranking members. Would you like to amend what she said or do you believe was she speaking correctly?
JOHN PODESTA, HILLARY CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN MANAGER: I think she had seen the front page of the letter, which was addressed to the eight members. And Chaffetz just -- I'm not sure how many nanoseconds in order to release it to the public and try to spin it. I think that's what she was reflecting.
But I think the letter itself, as it's been noted, was C.C'd to the ranking Democratic members. The Republicans members have been browbeating the director and the staff of the FBI into going further, reopening the investigation, et cetera.
I think, as I said, she took a look at the front page of the letter, it was addressed to them, I think that was her reference. As it was noted, it was C.C.'d and transmitted to ranking Democrats as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZELENY: The reason this is important is this, the Clinton campaign, as well as Democrats, are trying to portray this as a political witch hunt, if you will, partisan in its leaning. So representatives of the Clinton campaign and the candidate herself yesterday said the FBI director sent this letter to Congress only Republican chairmen. Republicans control the House and the Senate.
In the letter he sent, he did sent it to -- he addressed to all the chairmen of eight committees in both houses of Congress, all of who are Republicans, and C.C.'d on a separate page were Democrats. He did send it to both parties at once. And the Clinton campaign did not get a copy of the letter. She was operating off news accounts. It's important to clear up because this is something that has gone viral, crazy on social media, that the FBI director sent it only to Republicans when he sent it to both parties -- Fredricka?
WHITFIELD: Jeff, what is the -- what is next? What is it the Clinton camp wants? We heard John Podesta underscoring that the FBI, Director Comey, reveal more, all details. What can be requested next, beyond that?
ZELENY: Simply, they are asking him to put some meat on the bones here and say more about what he's talking about, what the e-mails in question are, basically the reason for the call in the first place. But the reality is we have all seen how long this investigation has taken in the first place. With 10 days remaining before Election Day, with thousands of e-mails out there, it is virtually impossible to think anything would be finished before Election Day or these e-mails could be sorted through before Election Day. The Clinton campaign is calling on the FBI director to explain himself. And the campaign manager said this, "He owes the public the full story or else he shouldn't have cracked open the door in the first place."
But, Fredricka, what is going to go public, the political spat back and forth. Most people we are talking to do not believe the FBI director will release anymore on the investigation because the investigation is under way. That's the controversy here, if he should have disclosed this at all since the investigation now is simply under way as opposed to the facts of the investigation being known.
[13:05:57] WHITFIELD: Jeff, let me bring in a few more voices here.
Julian Zelizer, historian and professor at Princeton University, is with us, as wells as Lynn Sweet, Washington bureau chief of "The Chicago-Sun Times."
Good that both of you could be with us.
Lynn, you first.
How unusual is this for the FBI director to consult with the A.G., the A.G. says don't do it, and the FBI director does it anyway in terms of sending a letter to the Hill.
LYNN SWEET, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, THE CHICAGO-SUN TIMES: Oh, this is all unprecedented, happening this close to the election. As Jeff said, this is -- the Clinton campaign is in a defensive crouch. I listened to that campaign call, too. When John Podesta says this is long in innuendo and short on facts, they want to make the argument to try and tap down the fallout and the damage that this is all overblown. But they can't do it unless there's more information, which is why -- what they are calling for, is to have Hillary -- and what the Hillary Clinton campaign wants is calling for the full story told. As Jeff pointed out, even the FBI says they don't know the full story because they don't have the sort of the e-mails, which could be duplicates. That's what Podesta and Robby Mook said. It might be things they have seen. This is handing the e-mail issue on a silver platter for Donald Trump to exploit in the closing days of the campaign.
WHITFIELD: Julian, Comey was once a registered Republican. How does this not look partisan?
JULIAN ZELIZER, HISTORIAN AND PROFESSOR, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY (voice- over): Well, it's taking place during the Obama administration's time in the White House. In that respect, it doesn't look partisan.
Second, the Democrats talked about Comey's previous findings and praised him for it and said we should look at it as validity that there's no more investigation to be done. They are in a bind because now the news from Comey isn't quite as good. It's a very difficult argument to focus on just him and allege there's a partisan motivation behind this.
WHITFIELD: So, Jeff, on that call, did John Podesta say anything about whether there's a feeling there is a conclusion to the e-mails within the coming days, prior to Election Day?
ZELENY: They are simply calling on him to release more information about what led him to refer this in the first place to Congress. I think John Podesta has certainly been around Washington long enough in administrations, really in all branches of government, to know there will be no conclusion to this by Election Day. This is about the politics of the matter here and framing this.
The reality here is the Clinton campaign has a problem that it now has to deal with in the closing days. They are trying to use it to rally their base. They pointed out that the Democrats and volunteers across the country are enthused and fired up by this. Lynn would agree, any reporter listening to that knows it was pure spin.
SWEET: Yeah.
ZELIZER: Democrats may be enthused by this. What they are worried about are the voters in the middle, who are not satisfied with Donald Trump and were going to hold their nose, in some respects, and go to the other side. Now they may be holding out. This weekend, in all early voting, the Clinton campaign is trying to get those voters on the fence to vote early before something more happens.
One other thing, Fred, coming up in the next week, we still have more e-mails potentially coming from WikiLeaks. The campaign also bracing for that in the final weeks here. This is not as close of a campaign that they know what is coming. That's always frightening if you are a campaign operative.
WHITFIELD: Then there's that.
So, Lynn, it's a big problem, clearly, for the Clinton camp. This is a big problem for Comey.
[13:10:00] SWEET: Well, Comey is not running for president. Comey's fate is not what's at issue here. Whether or not he stays or goes in a new administration isn't what voters care about, if they even know who he is or thought about him for a minute.
This is more than -- this is a triple October, potentially November surprise that is going on. The only good news out of this is it might make the latest WikiLeaks stolen John Podesta e-mails, talking about fighting within the campaign, that could pale in comparison to the idea that the Republicans and Donald Trump will have the discipline to keep on this message, that the FBI has a probe of Hillary Clinton going on. Even though the debate now is the wording of the language, you know, the Congressman Chaffetz, from Utah, a state that is not Trump friendly, has already called for investigations of Hillary Clinton. Whether or not the term of reopening investigation is the correct term to use, I don't think is the point. The point is the e- mails are being looked at again.
WHITFIELD: And, Julian --
SWEET: So this is damaging. ZELIZER: I mean, for better or worse, politics is often about
headlines, especially at this point in the campaign. This is the headline. This is the story for the next few days. If the strategy is to just debate the details and try to dig deeper into the minutiae of what is being looked at, it won't benefit the Clintons. This is a final week. It was supposed to be about a landslide victory, a retake of Congress, but instead, we are back to this damaging story. I think they need to think of a way to reframe the entire news cycle.
WHITFIELD: All right, Julian, Jeff, Lynn, thanks to all of you. Stick around.
Much more of this short break.
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[13:14:56] WHITFIELD: Welcome back. We are following breaking news from the campaign trail. The Clinton campaign wrapping up a conference call moments ago blasting FBI Director James Comey and releasing e-mails related to Hillary Clinton's private server. Campaign chairman, John Podesta, on the call, saying Comey has not been forthcoming with the facts and his letter is light on facts and heavy on innuendo.
Sara Murray is live in Colorado where Trump is holding a rally next hour.
Sara, already Donald Trump is feeling invigorated, reinvigorated by the news. What has been the reaction of the crowd there, thus far?
SARA MURRAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Donald Trump has a spring in his step upon learning the news. We have already seen the way the crowds reacted to it. Donald Trump's crowds were fans of the "lock her up" chant. We are going to continue to see him hit that message today.
Now, I want you to listen to how he responded yesterday and it will give you a sense of how he's capitalizing on that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What happened, starting with the FBI, maybe the system will become a little less rigged. Beautiful.
(CHEERING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MURRAY: Now, of course, Trump has said the system is rigged. He's been critical of the FBI. He is re-evaluating the comments.
His campaign feels like now is their opportunity to go on offense. They feel they can use the next 10 days to hammer Hillary Clinton as corrupt, cast Donald Trump and they are trying to take that message to states like we are in today in Colorado. This is a state that felt very safe for Democrats and it looks like a steep climb for Donald Trump. He's still here trying to turn the poll numbers around.
Back to you.
WHITFIELD: Sara, we'll check back with you. Thank you so much.
Also ahead, why Vice President Joe Biden is ruling out being secretary of state.
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[13:20:41] WHITFIELD: Joe Biden is dismissing speculation he might be considered for secretary of state if Hillary Clinton wins. She will campaign in Daytona Beach, Florida, later today. In an interview with CNN's Michael Smerconish, the vice president explained why he thinks Trumps comments about women will help her win votes in Pennsylvania.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL SMERCONISH, CNN HOST, SMERCONISH: You don't want to be her secretary of state, I'm told.
(CROSSTALK)
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: No, look -- I will do anything she wants if she's elected president. I'm not looking to be in this administration. It's time for me to move on.
SMERCONISH: You are from Scranton. I'm from Hazelton.
(CROSSTALK)
SMERCONISH: We're both Pennsylvania stock.
BIDEN: That's right.
SMERCONISH: It's Trump country. It would be Biden country if you were in this. So you are not united in policy with Donald Trump, so what's the commonality, and why can't --
(CROSSTALK)
SMERCONISH: -- with those folks.
BIDEN: I think she's going to end up -- I think we are going to win Scranton, or she's going to win. The reason is, look, people are upset and angry. They hate the dysfunction of Washington. Trump comes along and talks about how he is going to change all that. He's this new breath of fresh air. Then people started to see who he is. They started to see -- look, in Scranton and Hazelton, if anybody in your household or neighborhood talked about, I'm famous, I can grab a woman anywhere I want when I want it, they would get the living stuffing knocked out of them. Those people are figuring out they have basic, decent values. I think that's going to trump -- no pun intended -- their concern about Hillary.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: In that interview, Biden expressed concern about how voters react to the outcome of the presidential election after CNN's Michael Smerconish said his listeners worry about violence on November 9th, the day after Election Day. He's vowing to do whatever he can to keep the peace and help with the presidency.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: Michael, I would be lying if I told you I wasn't, too. That's why I'm going to stay, to the extent I can be any help, I'm going to stay involved as much as I can. This is the time after the 9th, after the election is over, no matter who wins, reach out, try to put this country back --
(CROSSTALK)
SMERCONISH: Including him, by the way?
BIDEN: Including him.
SMERCONISH: You'll extend a hand?
BIDEN: If he wins, I'll extend a hand. He would be president of the United States of America. Period. I pray that doesn't happen. I want that -- I want Hillary to be president. But whoever is president is president of the United States of America.
SMERCONISH: Thank you, Mr. Vice president.
BIDEN: Thank you.
SMERCONISH: Appreciate your time. Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Now, Donald Trump just coming off the blitz through Florida. While he was there, he didn't mention Marco Rubio, who is up for re-election. Is Trump doing enough for the down-ballot races? We'll talk with the chair of the Republican party of Florida, next.
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[13:27:00] WHITFIELD: Amid news about the new FBI e-mail review, Hillary Clinton is headed to Florida today for a scheduled event. We are now learning FBI director, James Comey, overstepped his superiors to make the announcement the FBI is reviewing new e-mails found on at least one computer of Clinton aide, Huma Abedin. Law enforcement officials say Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Deputy General Sally Yates objected to the decision to notify Congress of the review. The Clinton campaign is calling on the FBI to release full and complete facts about the review.
Donald Trump is seizing on the news to blast his rival on the campaign trail. We are awaiting Trump to take to the stage in Golden, Colorado. The news is already making headlines in Florida. Here is a look at the front pages of "The Florida Times" and "The Orlando Sentinel." Take a look there.
I'm joined by Florida Republican state representative, Blaise Ingoglia. He's also the chairman of the Republican party of Florida.
Good to see you.
STATE REP. BLAISE INGOGLIA, (R), FLORIDA & CHAIRMAN, FLORIDA REPUBLICAN PARTY: Good to see you.
WHITFIELD: Hillary Clinton in Florida today. Trump just wrapping up a swing through that state there. How do Republicans get out the vote to win this major battleground, especially when it is being up staged by the latest headlines?
INGOGLIA: Well, the first thing I would say is that we need to continue doing what we are doing right now and we are winning the ground war right now as much as the Democrats don't want to admit it, we are. That's why Hillary Clinton is in Florida today. We have -- we are up in ballots and up in places where it counts, like the I-4 corridor. We have more Republicans that have come out than Democrats in the Orlando and Tampa markets. The place that is are Democrat strongholds, Miami-Dade and Broward County, she's not turning out voters. They are unenthusiastic of a Hillary Clinton presidency. If you go to their websites, there's no wait. There is n| enthusiasm for Hillary Clinton and the Republican Party in Florida, the Trump campaign and RNC, we are beating them at their game, the ground game. That's going to continue.
WHITFIELD: Has this latest FBI review influenced the strategy of trying to get out the vote there in Florida, trying to cement that support for Donald Trump?
INGOGLIA: Well I think the bigger issue is, how is it going to affect her campaign. Again, there's no enthusiasm for --
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: You are leading the Republican Party. How do you use that to influence voters so they do vote Republican on the White House ticket?
[13:30:00] INGOGLIA: The message for the Republicans and the Trump campaign is very simple. We have a candidate on the Democrat side, who is not only under FBI investigation once, but now twice. What we are seeing -- that goes into the narrative since day one, that Hillary Clinton cannot be trusted.
Now this plays into that narrative. What we have here, we know Florida is going to be traditionally close. We are winning right now. There is a very small margin of undecided voters. This is where that e-mail scandal, yet again, is going to have an effect on them.
Look, we are up right now in votes, total votes, but included in that are Democrats who already voted. They are not voting for Hillary Clinton. Democrats in north Florida and the panhandle, who counties that typically turn out upwards of 70 percent for the Republican nominees. Hillary Clinton is in trouble in the state of Florida.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Do you wish Donald Trump were doing more for the down-ballot races as it pertains to Florida?
INGOGLIA: He is. He is doing plenty for the down-ballot races. Marco Rubio is doing plenty to help Donald Trump. In Florida, we adopt a whole-ticket approach. People at the bottom of the ticket help the top of the ticket. People at the top of the ticket help the bottom of the ticket. There are places in Florida where Mitt Romney won by 12 points and Donald Trump is up 20 points. A lot of Republicans elected in Florida are going to be pulled across the finish line because of Donald Trump, and the same for Marco Rubio.
WHITFIELD: It was Marco Rubio but he evaded the question about whether Donald Trump is the one to keep safety in this country. Instead, it was Rubio who turned more to the military as opposed to the hypothetical of Donald Trump as the president.
INGOGLIA: Well, Marco Rubio needs to do what he needs to do to win his race, and that means working hard. Marco Rubio said he is voting for Donald Trump because he knows the importance of the federal government that is corrupt and Hillary Clinton is just more of the same.
WHITFIELD: All right, Blaise Ingoglia, thank you so much. I appreciate your time.
INGOGLIA: My pleasure.
WHITFIELD: Besides the FBI investigation, Hillary Clinton has another challenge on her hands, overcoming rising Obamacare premiums.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And we are going to build on the Affordable Care Act. Before there was something called Obamacare, there was something called Hillarycare.
(CHEERING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:36:09] WHITFIELD: Obamacare has become a major talking point on the campaign trail after a government report revealed premiums will skyrocket for some customers in 2017.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Real change begins with immediately repealing and replacing the disaster known as Obamacare. And Hillary wants to double up and triple up. What a disgusting situation. It was no good. It was no good the day it was conceived. Job-killing Obamacare is just one more way the system is rigged. The system is rigged, folks. CLINTON (voice-over): We are going to get co-pays and premiums and
deductibles down. We're going to tackle prescription drug costs. We can do that without ripping away the insurance people now have. That's the plan of my opponent, take everything away, give it back to insurance companies. If you think costs have gone up with the recent weeks, it will just skyrocket up, because insurance companies will be in charge again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Premiums for Obamacare health insurance policies on federal and state health exchanges are set to climb an average of 22 percent next year. And that could be on the minds of voters in some key swing states.
CNN's Jessica Schneider has more from the battleground of North Carolina.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Pop into the sports bar in Raleigh, and you will find Obamacare is a hot topic, more so than the World Series.
DAVE MATTIS, NORTH CAROLINA VOTER: Actually, I'm looking for work. I Googled companies that is will hire part-time senior people --
(CROSSTALK)
SCHNEIDER (on camera): Is this what you wanted to do, though, in your retirement?
MATTIS: Oh, no. I mean --
SCHNEIDER: 63-year-old Dave Mattis will retire November 9th, the day after the election. With premiums for income and age bracket, up to $900 a month, he doesn't know how he'll afford health care. He's voting for Trump hoping it will reign in costs.
MATTIS: I want all the people considering voting for Hillary to imagine themselves unemployed and go online and figure out what health care is going to cost them.
SCHNEIDER (on camera): You think it's unsustainable?
MATTIS: It is unsustainable.
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): In North Carolina, after two insurance carriers dropped out of the exchange, premiums are going up on average 24 percent. It's created backlash and despair.
BRIAN SMITH, NORTH CAROLINA VOTER: Based on my experience, it hasn't been affordable at all.
SCHNEIDER: 41-year-old Brian Smith runs a home security company and buys health insurance through the exchange. With rising premiums and a high deductable, he shells out $14,000 a year. He, like most others we spoke with, isn't eligible for government subsidies.
Smith is ex-military, middle class, and feels he's bearing too much of burden. He's an Independent, but he, too, is turning to Trump.
SMITH: People getting the subsidies and paying $50 a month for better health care than I have, they are probably loving Obamacare. It has to swing back over. It has to work for everybody.
SCHNEIDER: Wray Harrison pays $1250 a month for himself, his wife and their 15-year-old son. The cost is crippling. But as a Hillary Clinton supporter, he sees the positives.
WRAY HARRISON, NORTH CAROLINA VOTER: There are college students or young people that can now get insurance or people with pre-existing conditions that can get insurance, so that's all really good stuff.
SCHNEIDER (on camera): But you are paying for it?
HARRISON: I'm paying for it. It is hard on my family.
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): Julie and Tony Smith opened their mail to discover the news they feared.
JULIE SMITH, NORTH CAROLINA VOTER: Yours is going up to $480?
SCHNEIDER: Julie, still undecided between Clinton and Trump, but she says, regardless of who wins, health care needs a reboot.
JULIE SMITH: My premium went up from $400 to $500.
SCHNEIDER: What are you thinking when you read this?
JULIE SMITH: How is this possible?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[13:40:06] WHITFIELD: That was Jessica Schneider reporting from North Carolina.
So, a lot of questions and concerns from voters.
Joining us to discuss, let's bring back Lynn Sweet and Julian Zelizer.
Good to see you again.
Julian, how much pressure is on Hillary Clinton to say, if elected, this is how I would revise Obamacare because she has said publicly she's committed to making it work
JULIAN ZELIZER, HISTORIAN AND PROFESSOR, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY: She has to do that. Part of her message is much of the program is working. We have fewer uninsured people than we have had historically. And private costs have slowed down. She has to respond and promise she will work on fixing the premium issue for people in exchanges. She is the candidate who will continue with Obama's legacy. Part of the promise is to fix the parts that aren't working. WHITFIELD: Lynn, how potentially influential is this in the race?
LYNN SWEET, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, THE CHICAGO-SUN TIMES: It depends on if you are in a swing state and the number of undecided voters who actually are on Obamacare. I know that might sound picky to you, but this close to election with early voting, you probably can figure that out if you have a good field organization and door knockers. So, it's not clear to me, actually, how influential this is going to be when you do the macro and micro work her campaign is doing. At large, it's a good talking point and is an issue that Donald Trump has been using. But he also showed the other day when he was at one of his resorts flanked by workers, talking about Obamacare, he said look at my workers, they have extraordinary increases. He didn't know what he was talking about. All of them recovered, turned out nicely by the private insurance, his own company provides and, you know, helps pay a large part for his customers. All that is to say, yes, in politics, it's a complex thing. Trump is using it as a big closer for him. The reality may be different because everybody's situation when it comes to insurance is different.
WHITFIELD: Let's talk about the battleground states you mentioned.
Lynn, we heard from folks in North Carolina, but another battleground state of Arizona, it will see a higher than average price hike on Obamacare policies, 116 percent increase. The latest polling in Arizona showing Trump and Clinton in a virtual dead heat, Trump 46 percent to Clinton's 45 percent, so the poll was taken before the premium hike was announced.
Julian, you know, might it be very different if you are an Arizona voter looking at this forecast?
ZELIZER: It could. Look, a week ago, I would have said this issue wouldn't matter, frankly. The polls were in such a positive direction for Clinton. What we are seeing with the e-mail can reverse that. Then it makes the other issues points of vulnerability. A race like Arizona where they could have it, this becomes an issue, even if technically the argument is not correct. Symbolically, it can be powerful for the Republicans in the days to show Clinton wants to continue with Obama's legacy. This part of the legacy isn't working. So, the Democrats need to push back and talk about the rest of the program and how they will fix this.
WHITFIELD: Lynn, Clinton will be in Arizona later on in the week. How much does she have to really, you know, impress upon voters about the whole Obamacare increase?
SWEET: I want to underscore everything Julian said. The politics of this are different than the reality. She has to explain how she could get this done in a way that doesn't make things more confusing for people, because maybe people do think they are on Obamacare when they are not, or somehow the increases hurt them. It is a challenge in political communication to make the argument that fixing it can work.
It also is a challenge for Donald Trump to have people think he could repeal it and replace it in any real time that can make a difference. By the way, everyone, your health insurance is never going to be free.
But that is a very, very difficult issue to talk about because it is -- it is, in politics, when you explain a lot, it's hard to win.
WHITFIELD: Lynn Sweet, Julian Zelizer, thank you so much. See you soon.
ZELIZER: Thank you.
SWEET: Thank you.
[13:44:41]WHITFIELD: It is called the October surprise and it has the power to shake up even the most-solid presidential campaign. Why the latest revelations for Trump and Clinton are part of a long political tradition.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Live pictures right now. Very soon, Donald Trump, at his rally in Golden Colorado, scheduled to begin at the top of the hour. He's expected to have more to say on the Clinton e-mails, the latest October surprise in a campaign that's seen a few surprises on both sides.
As Tom Foreman explains, these kinds of campaign changing events are nothing new in American politics.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT): It's been a while since we have had so many unexpected news events so late in an election cycle, but we certainly have had surprises before.
(on camera): A raging storm on the east coast, a sex scandal in D.C., and a nuclear test in China, each has been an October surprise, a big news event in the autumn of a presidential election that threatens to change the outcome.
Late 2008 saw one.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR, A.C. 360: $1.8 trillion. That is how much investors, including any of you with stocks in a retirement plan, lost today.
FOREMAN: As the stock markets dive and the recession roars, Republican John McCain insists --
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R), ARIZONA & FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The fundamentals of our economy are strong.
FOREMAN: And his once-tight race with Barack Obama becomes a Democratic blowout.
Four years later, fall reveals an audio tape of Republican Mitt Romney characterizing half the voters as dependent on government hand outs. [13:50:00] MITT ROMNEY, (R), FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR & FORMER
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what.
FOREMAN: The president lost to re-election.
The term "October surprise" gained popularity 44 years ago this week. In 1972, Richard Nixon's national security adviser, Henry Kissinger, had late news about the unpopular Vietnam War.
HENRY KISSINGER, FORMER NIXON NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: We believe that peace is at hand.
FOREMAN: He is wrong. The war goes on, but so does Nixon's presidency.
And we have had October surprises ever since.
In 1980, many think Jimmy Carter will be boosted over Ronald Reagan by the release of the American hostages in Iran. The surprise, it does not happen until after Reagan has won.
1992, Reagan's successor, George H.W. Bush, is just days away from the vote when a top Reagan team member is indicted over the Iran-Contra affair. Democrat Bill Clinton takes the White House.
2000, Clinton's vice-president, Al Gore, is battling George W. Bush. Republican strategists are certain Bush can move ahead. Then news emerges Bush was arrested 24 years earlier for drunk driving.
(on camera): In the popular vote, the race ends up a tie, but Bush ultimately wins.
The backwash of that October surprise? A Halloween trick-or-treat, depending on how you look at it.
Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: At any moment, we expect Donald Trump will be weighing in on the latest October surprise, the FBI's announcement it is reviewing new e-mails potentially related to Clinton's personal server. Donald Trump, in Colorado soon.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[13:55:40] VIOLA DAVIS, ACTRESS: Growing up in Central Falls was a mixture of the most idyllic, joyful experience mixed with the kind of horrific traumatizing experience. My mom has an 8th grade education. She is smart. She is just not educated.
She was a part of a group of working poor women who fought for kids who are underserved.
That's what I learned from her. You don't have to have the profile of what it may look like to be an activist but what you have is a heart to serve.
I grew up poor. So there is a human face on it for me. I understand the needs of the people.
One, two, three.
I'm serving with Direct Relief, a humanitarian program. They provide to places of disasters and impoverished communities throughout the world.
Today, they are offering a free health clinic and health screening.
What any are providing is something that a lot of communities will never see. Hopefully, it will be kind of a beacon of hope.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Nearly 13 million voters across 37 states have already cast early ballots. Some polling places in North Carolina have seen long lines of voters like you see right here.
Just as CNN's Jessica Schneider shows us, many of them are going to the poles undecided.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am really having an issue this year. I don't want to vote for Hillary either.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am kind of stumped right now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am not sure which side I want to go with.
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): It is a must-win state for Donald Trump, and with just days to go, it is still a toss-up for some here in Apex, North Carolina.
Al Casaletto showed up to vote early at the town center still undecided.
(on camera): You are walking in to vote. Have you made up your mind?
AL CASALETTO, NORTH CAROLINA VOTER: No, I have not.
SCHNEIDER: What's keep you from making a decision?
CASALETTO: It's a tough decision this year. There are so many different aspects of the election this year.
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): He prides himself on being Independent. This year's vote left him unsure of his decision until the very end.
SCHNEIDER (on camera): You are going to wait in line and get that ballot. When are you going to make your decision?
CASALETTO: When I have the ballot in front of me. I'll say this is my decision. I'm going to live with it and that's where I stand right now.
SCHNEIDER: He thinks he is one of many conflicted voters, and he might be right.
KITTY SWENNIES, NORTH CAROLINA VOTER: You want to make the right choice for my children and what's going on in the world. It is so hard with what's available to us.
SHANNON MARTIN, NORTH CAROLINA VOTER: Go!
SCHNEIDER: Shannon Martin usually votes Republican but he is wrestling with his decision.
MARTIN: If there was a third party that I knew was going to make a difference to throw it where neither candidate would get 270 electoral votes, then I would probably lean more towards that way.
SCHNEIDER (on camera): You want neither candidate to get 270 electoral votes.
MARTIN: I would rather that.
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): Bev McKernie has always voted Republican. This year, she's not so sure.
BEV MCKERNIE, NORTH CAROLINA VOTER: I am conflicted. I don't know what I am going to do until I get there.
(LAUGHTER)
SCHNEIDER (on camera): You will just close your eyes and vote.
(voice-over): Her 26-year-old daughter is equally torn.
(on camera): Have you made up your mind yet for your vote?
SHANNON MCKERNIE, NORTH CAROLINA VOTER: No, I haven't. I think I will lean towards Hillary, because I don't like what's been in the news about Donald Trump and what he has been saying.
SCHNEIDER: You hope for divine intervention?
SHANNON MCKERNIE: Yeah.
(LAUGHTER)
SCHNEIDER: Many looking for divine intervention to help with their decision. But most agree it is their civic duty, and they plan to get out and vote.
Jessica Schneider, CNN, Apex, North Carolina.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: The next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
[13:54:39] WHITFIELD: Hello, again. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Thanks for being with me.
I want to take you straight out to Colorado where Donald Trump is leading a rally there, in Golden, Colorado. Let's listen in.
(CHEERING)
TRUMP: Thank you.
