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New Day

Obama Reflects on His Presidency in a New Memoir; Georgia Orders Hand Recount of Presidential Election Results; Several Key Battleground States in the U.S. Continue to Count Votes. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired November 12, 2020 - 07:30   ET

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

[07:30:00]

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: So, this morning, we're getting a first look at President Barack Obama's new memoir. The book deals with how his historic election in 2008 led to Republican obstructionism and ultimately Donald Trump. It's called "A Promised Land" and it comes out next week. But CNN's Jeff Zeleny joins us now because he got his hands on a copy and has a preview. So, Jeff, is this juicy stuff?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Alisyn, good morning. It certainly is the first time we've heard from former President Barack Obama about the consequences of his election, and how he believes it led to a reaction in the country that ultimately led to President Donald Trump and Sarah Palin. He talks about her a lot as well.

Let's look at a few of these excerpts we're looking at this morning. He talks directly about race when he says this. He said, "it was as if my very presence in the White House had triggered a deep-seated panic, a sense that the natural order had been disrupted, which is exactly what Donald Trump understood when he started peddling assertions that I had not been born in the United States, and was thus an illegitimate president.

For millions of Americans spooked by a black man in the White House, he promised an elixir for their racial anxiety." So, again, the former president speaking directly about all of that to birtherism, the talk we heard so much about that led to the rise, of course, of Donald Trump.

CAMEROTA: What does he say in there about Joe Biden and Joe Biden's -- I don't know, chances as well as his own pick of him as VP?

[07:35:00]

ZELENY: Alisyn, he does talk about his former vice president, his friend, his running mate. And he talks specifically about this. He said, "I like the fact that Joe would be more than ready to serve as president if something happened to me. And that it might reassure those who still worried I was too young. What mattered most, though, was that my gut told me that Joe was decent, honest, and loyal. I believe that he cared about ordinary people, and that when things got tough, I could trust him. I wouldn't be disappointed."

And throughout the book, he also talks extensively about the decision- making and you know, how he saw Joe Biden face-to-face during all of these moments. And they didn't obviously always agree, either. So some interesting moments on that as well.

CAMEROTA: I mean, he couldn't have known when he was writing this just how chaotic this transition --

ZELENY: Right --

CAMEROTA: Would be, that we find ourselves in, but did he touch on the transition?

ZELENY: He did, indeed. He talked about his transition to power, specifically. And you're right, it is so prescient, given the moments that we're living in right now. He says this, take a listen. "Whether because of his respect for the institution" -- he's talking about George W. Bush here, "lessons from his father, bad memories of his own transition or just basic decency, President Bush would end up doing all he could to make the 11 weeks between my election and his departure go smoothly. I promised myself that when the time came, I would treat my successor the same way."

So Alisyn, this is so interesting. He talks about the first time that they met in the Oval Office, about how President Bush was so welcoming to him, about how Mrs. Bush was welcoming to Michelle Obama, and how the two daughters, Jenna and Barbara Bush were welcoming to Malia and Sasha, showing them around the fun parts of the White House. So, extraordinary, given the week that we're living through right now.

CAMEROTA: Right, I mean, that's so -- that is so important to think about, as we --

ZELENY: Right --

CAMEROTA: Live in this moment. Just the tone that the Bush family set, even though, you know, they probably weren't happy with the outcome, they set --

ZELENY: Right --

CAMEROTA: That sort of gracious tone. OK, how about -- is there anything juicier there? Anything about Michelle, anything about his marriage?

ZELENY: He does talk about his marriage, not surprisingly, of course. We've already heard from Mrs. Obama in her book, "Becoming". But, this is the first time we have heard from the former president that I can recall, and I've been covering him really for about 15 years or so, since before he ran for office. This is what he says about Michelle Obama.

Take a listen. He said, "whether it was my around-the-clock absorption with work or the way politics exposed our family to scrutiny and attacks, or the tendency of even friends and family members to treat her role as secondary in importance. Lying next to Michelle in the dark, I'd think about those days when everything between us felt lighter, when her smile was more constant and our love less encumbered, and my heart would suddenly tighten at the thought that those days might not return."

So, he does talk about his marriage and the toll that being in the White House had taken on his marriage and his family life. So, that perhaps is one of the most interesting parts of the book here, just, you know, specifically going into those deep personal terms. But Alisyn, overall as you said, 768 pages, and this is just volume 1. We know he is a big writer, so he has not gotten to the end of the story. But this is a long time coming, he missed several deadlines, but it's coming out officially next week, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Wow, that's longer than Bruce Springsteen's, you know, just saying.

ZELENY: Indeed.

CAMEROTA: Memoir.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: And this is better music and not as overrated as Bruce Springsteen's music.

CAMEROTA: Wow, when you go anti-Jersey, you just go all in --

BERMAN: Just saying, everyone knows this.

CAMEROTA: I think their marriage has recovered from those days of stress.

BERMAN: That was some pretty introspective stuff.

CAMEROTA: It's really interesting --

BERMAN: And to know that your wife is going to read that, you know, it's -- there's a lot there.

CAMEROTA: All right, why are so many Republicans backing up President Trump's baseless voter fraud claims? The real answer may shock you in a must-see reality check, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:40:00]

BERMAN: So, moments ago, you heard independent Senator Angus King say that Republican silence in the face of President Trump obstructing the transition is putting America at risk. So why are they doing it? John Avlon here with a reality check.

JOHN AVLON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: It's not a surprise that President Trump would refuse to concede defeat. But it is a surprise that so many Republicans are enabling his autocratic impulses after the election. Look, to date, only four GOP senators have recognized Joe Biden's

victory while 49 are essentially backing Trump's evidence-free accusations about voter fraud. Or to put it another way, more world leaders have congratulated President-elect Biden than Senate Republicans. But even as they put party over country, Republicans have their rationalizations.

Quote, "what is the downside for humoring him a little bit, for this little bit of time?" One senior Republican official told "The Washington Post". No one seriously thinks the results will change. Now, this approach argues that coddling Trump while he trashes the U.S. electoral system will help him get over his loss, explains Trump's former national security adviser, John Bolton. This is absurd. We shouldn't have to explain to a self-proclaimed law and order candidate that this isn't a negotiation, it's an election. He lost.

And as we've been told many times by Trump fans, facts don't care about your feelings. But some argue that coddling Trump's delusions of victory will help Republicans secure his support in January's pivotal Georgia Senate runoffs. There's no question Trump can motivate his base, but he's deeply unpopular in suburban battlegrounds, and he did worse than many down-ballot Republicans nationwide. Regardless, the electoral college will confirm the presidential results on December 14th. Three weeks before the Georgia runoff.

So, another explanation for why Republicans are so silent about Trump's outbursts, like his recent purge of Pentagon top brass, is that the Senate is packed with presidential hopefuls who want Trump's blessings or support from his base.

[07:45:00]

Take Ted Cruz as an example. Now, back in 2016, after Cruz beat him in the Iowa caucus, Trump cried about, you guessed it, voter fraud, tweeting that a new election should take place or Cruz's results nullified. Now, Cruz labeled this "Trumper tantrum" at the time. But now, he's backing Trump's baseless claims.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX): I believe President Trump still has a path to victory.

There are serious allegations of violations of law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AVLON: Now, to be clear, the evidence or serious violations of law is about as thin as Trump's accusation that Ted Cruz's dad helped kill JFK. But the most convincing explanation for this political hostage drama we're all living through is simply that Republicans are still afraid of Donald Trump. They're afraid of his tweets, they're afraid of his base. And so they're afraid to acknowledge the reality of this election in public. Listen to what Democratic Senator Chris Coons says about the calls he gets from GOP colleagues.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHRIS COONS (D-DE): Yes, I mean, they call me to say, you know, congratulations, please convey my well wishes to the president-elect. But I can't say that publicly yet.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AVLON: This is pathetic. Donald Trump cannot simultaneously have super human political strength and still need to be coddled like a petulant child. He's just a lame-duck president who lost a free and fair election by more than 5.2 million popular votes. And so, Republicans should stop making excuses that enable his desperate delusions. Because it makes our democracy look even more divided and dysfunctional than it really is. And that's your reality check.

BERMAN: You know, there might be an answer. I don't know if you remember this, the idea of having super human powers and still needing to be coddled. There was a Saturday morning cartoon called the "Mighty Heroes", and there was a super hero called Diaper Man.

(LAUGHTER)

There was! You guys can go look it up, but this is a deep cut for him --

AVLON: I like this --

BERMAN: There was Diaper Man, Strong Man, Rope Man. But there is someone who has super human powers who does in fact wear a diaper. That may or may not be related. Thank you, John, that was terrific. A statewide recount has been ordered in Georgia. They will begin this huge process soon, so where do things stand?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:50:00]

CAMEROTA: President-elect Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election is growing as election officials continue to count thousands of outstanding ballots. In the popular vote, Biden now leads President Trump by 5.2 million votes at this point.

CNN has yet to project winners in three states, though at this point, they will not affect the outcome of the election. In Arizona, Biden's lead is now less than 12,000 votes, and there are still about 40,000 votes to be counted there. In Georgia, Biden leads by 14,000 votes, as you can see this morning. And a statewide recount has just been ordered there.

President Trump is leading by roughly 70,000 votes in North Carolina, and today is the last day for mail-in ballots to arrive and be counted if they were post-marked by election day. Strangely, President Trump does not object to the continued counting in that state.

Joining us now is Richard Barron, he is the director of elections in Fulton County, Georgia, also with us Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs. Great to have both of you, all eyes on both of you this morning and what's happening in your states. OK, let's start with Georgia, OK? So Director Barron, Georgia will now be doing a full hand recount of millions of ballots. How long will that take?

RICHARD BARRON, DIRECTOR OF REGISTRATION & ELECTIONS, FULTON COUNTY, GEORGIA: Well, we're going to learn the procedures this morning in a training at 9:00, and from what I understand, we're going to be doing it in persons of two, that was just -- I was just told that recently. So will we have to crunch the numbers this afternoon? I imagine it's going to take several days to do that, we just have to figure out how many hours per day we're going to -- we're going to work.

CAMEROTA: I mean, it sounds like it's going to take more than several days. A hand recount of millions of ballots? I mean, what -- do you think that you'll be able to -- don't you have to -- doesn't the state have to certify by November 30th?

BARRON: The state has to certify by November 20th, so we don't have much time. We're going to probably have to get going Saturday morning, we have to certify in our own county first, which we do tomorrow, and then we're going to have to transfer all of those ballots and we're getting people recruited to work the long hours we're going to have to put in.

CAMEROTA: So, I mean, could this take weeks?

BARRON: Well, it can't. I mean, we've got -- we're going to have less than a week to complete this, and that -- so that means we need to figure out how many ballots can be counted per hour, per team. Right now, I'm in the dark on the procedures, but we have to get it done no matter -- no matter how little time we have.

CAMEROTA: I can hear the daunting undertaking in your voice this morning.

BARRON: Yes, it's not an ideal situation, but I mean, we're being compelled to do it, so we're going to have to execute it and do it as quickly and efficiently as possible.

CAMEROTA: Do you think that it can change, the outcome?

BARRON: No, I expect the numbers will change because when you have humans counting ballots in that volume, you're going to -- it's -- their human eyes are going to see things differently than scanners do, and I think fatigue sets in, mistakes will happen. So over time, we will -- I think we're going to see the numbers change. I don't expect the margin to change, but I think the numbers are going to change.

[07:55:00]

CAMEROTA: OK, let's move on for a second to Arizona. So, secretary, thank you for your patience. Any talk of a hand -- or any recount? Any talk of a recount there in Arizona?

KATIE HOBBS, ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE: Well, no, there's not. There's simply no provision in state statute that allows for a recount that for a margin that falls outside of the trigger of 200 votes. And we're certainly not going to hit that in this election. So, no, there's no contemplation of a recount here.

CAMEROTA: OK, but President Trump does continue to gain ground in Arizona, just last night, he picked up 1,200, I think, more votes, there in Maricopa County. So, is there still a chance that President Trump could turn it around?

HOBBS: Certainly. We're just sitting at just under 25,000 ballots left to count, and I think the number crunchers say that he would need 65 percent of the remaining votes outstanding to gain ground to catch up to Biden's lead, and that certainly could happen. I think it's not likely to happen.

CAMEROTA: When will the counting there be done?

HOBBS: So, Maricopa County has the -- Maricopa and Pima County have the largest outstanding number of ballots. Maricopa has said that they anticipate being completed by today, I think Pima County is in the same situation.

CAMEROTA: And you guys are the ones who have to certify by November 30th, yes?

HOBBS: Yes, the county is certified by the 23rd of November, and then we, the state certifies on the 30th.

CAMEROTA: And that -- you believe that will happen?

HOBBS: Absolutely, 100 percent.

CAMEROTA: A Republican state senator in Arizona, Karen Fann, has sent you a letter requesting, I guess, more transparency. I will read a portion of it, "I believe it is imperative that you make available all data and the logic and accuracy tests to independent expert evaluation. Assuming the allegations of fraud are without merit, an independent analysis would help restore credibility and hopefully end the current controversy over fairness in the election process in Arizona." Is there a controversy, and what can you do that would be more transparent? What's your response to all that?

HOBBS: Well, my response is that our office has been completely transparent, and there are many places along the way in the process that we have provided information to the public about how the election process works and everything that our office does, as well as the counties to ensure the accuracy and fairness and security of the election. So, no, there is no current controversy.

Our office is happy to provide any of the information that she refers to in the process. In fact, right now, you can go to our website and find the results of the -- o the counties' hand-count audits that have been completed after this election. Those are available right now, and anyone who wants to can examine that information. But there simply is no need for our office and we're not planning to instigate a broad investigation that she's referring to. CAMEROTA: Well, yes, I mean, putting it on the website for anybody to

see and examine themselves, that sounds pretty transparent. Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, thank you very much, Director Richard Barron, I know you have your work cut out for you. Thank you both for all of the energy and time that you are putting into getting this right. We really appreciate it.

HOBBS: Thank you.

BARRON: Thank you very much.

CAMEROTA: And NEW DAY continues right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: President Trump continues his campaign of sowing distrust in America's electoral system.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Refusing to admit defeat even as his advisors privately acknowledge he cannot reverse the election results.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Biden's top attorneys are dismissing those lawsuits and accusations of fraud as political theater.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: COVID-19 is tightening its grip on the United States.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's been a little dip here and there, but now we're basically going into exponential growth.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: America setting records no country wants to set.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Infections on the rise in 45 states.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am really frightened by the spike that we're seeing in cases right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Welcome to our viewers in the United States and all around the world, this is NEW DAY. And this morning, President-elect Joe Biden is building his administration. He has named Ron Klain to be his White House Chief of Staff.

Klain is a long time Biden insider who headed up the Obama administration's Ebola response, he is vastly respected by both Republicans and Democrats in Washington. And obviously his experience battling Ebola of such an importance now with the coronavirus pandemic just exploding. More than 144,000 new cases reported. That's a record, 65,000 hospitalizations, that's a record.

And there was just a giant increase overnight, 4,000 new hospitalizations. This morning, Dr. Sanjay Gupta called this a humanitarian disaster.