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CNN Live Event/Special

The Electoral College Is Casting Votes For President; Michigan Secretary Of State Jocelyn Benson (D) Discusses The State's Electoral College Votes For Biden-Harris & Threats Made To Electors; First Vaccines In U.S. Being Administered As Cases, Deaths Rise. Aired 2:30- 3p ET

Aired December 14, 2020 - 14:30   ET

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

[14:30:00]

JOHN KING, CNN HOST: President Trump somehow trying to suggest Joe Biden winning by 154,000 votes is widespread fraud.

What you are seeing, in Lansing, in all these other state capitals around the country, elected officials, people from both parties to coming together to do their jobs to confirm that, in the end, and by the end of the day, Joe Biden won the election when all of the electoral votes are counted by the end of the day.

Yes, seven million-plus a popular vote edge. But that's not what today is about. Today is about this, Wolf, 306 for Joe Biden, 232 for Donald Trump.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: You're absolutely right.

John, stand by. We're going to get back to you.

We're following two major historic moments here in the United States. We're following the Electoral College vote very, very significant, formally confirming what we all know, Joe Biden will be the next president of the United States.

And also we're following another historic moment, the start of vaccines, vaccinations here in the United States for COVID-19. We'll update you on that.

These are important moments in American history.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:35:03]

BLITZER: Welcome back to the CNN special event, the Electoral College votes.

Moments ago, the Electoral College in Minnesota just cast their 10 electoral votes.

Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Members, the results of the ballots show 10 votes for president for Joseph R. Biden and 10 votes for vice president for Kamala Harris.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: There you see what happened in Minnesota just moments ago.

Jake, let's get back to you.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: All right, Wolf, thanks so much.

You're looking at live pictures right now from the state of Michigan. That state is getting ready to make its electoral votes official.

Joining us now to discuss, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.

Michigan's electors are meeting right now to cast their votes.

So, Secretary of State Benson, it was a long road to get to where we are now. Tell us how you are feeling right now?

JOCELYN BENSON (D), MICHIGAN SECRETARY OF STATE: It's a great day for democracy. Every step of the way, along that long road, democracy has won the day. The voters have ruled the day. Their voice has been heard.

So today is that final reflection and affirmation of the will of the people here in Michigan and throughout the country. It's a celebration of the foundation of our republic and our democracy. And that makes this great.

TAPPER: As you know, this vote in Michigan is happening under some dangerous circumstances. Senate and House buildings in Michigan had to close down today because of security threats.

In Arizona, they had to basically do it secretly.

I guess, two questions for you. One, what can you tell us about these threats?

And two, it's not the first time that there have been threats in your state during this contentious season with the president of the United States lying and smearing officials in your state.

I'm wondering if that played a role.

BENSON: Certainty. I started my career investigating crimes, and threatening rhetoric, particularly from leaders, can lead to violent actions by followers. So we have seen a reflection of that here in our state really throughout this entire year in different ways.

But at the same time, we have stayed vigilant and protective of the will of the voters. I've done my job as the attorney general. The governor, the lieutenant governor have done theirs.

The people in Michigan can have faith that the process was fair and accurate. And we'll continue to protect their voices and votes, even in spite of what we have seen as almost an escalation of these threats in recent weeks.

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Secretary Benson, it's Dana Bash.

Just to pick up on that, you had to deal with armed protesters outside your home last week and electors are facing threats as well.

What is it like, from your perspective inside this process, as you and the people we're looking at on the screen are carrying out this important constitutional duty until the threat of violence?

BENSON: I think it's really just a question of where you focus your energy and attention, and working to make sure I and others focus our attention on the voters, on defending and protecting our democracy and the great pride that actually comes from that.

We've also gone through an election cycle where more people have voted that ever before. It's been secure. It's been fair and accurate.

And so you try to recognize those voices elsewhere that want to be heard and ensure that we're continuing to investigate any credible evidence of fraud when presented.

And we do our jobs and we stay focused on our jobs. We stay focused on the votes of the people of Michigan even in the amidst of what has been a very challenging time for us personally.

ABBY PHILLIP, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Secretary Benson, it's Abby Phillip here.

Earlier today, the Republican House speaker in your state, Lee Chatfield, released a statement that said that he would not try to retroactively change the state's electors for Trump as the president and some of his allies wanted him to because he, quote, "can't fathom risking our norms, traditions and institutions."

I'm wondering, does that give you confidence that with today's vote by electors, that is process is truly over?

BENSON: Well, I did reach out to the speaker and thank him for his words and actions today and upholding the will of the voters and the democratic process.

I'm hopeful we'll continue to be able to move forward. And I'm certainly looking ahead to what we can do together, across the aisle, to improve our elections and ensure that everyone has that rightly placed faith in our democracy here in Michigan and throughout the country.

I think it will require us to work together. I'm willing to do that. And hopefully, our lawmakers will do that as well so we can continue to confirm our democracy and its protections to the American people.

And get past this moment that we're in of deep division and come out of it stronger, hopefully, with a clear sense of how we can improve our democracy and move forward.

[14:40:03]

And solve any of the other problems that face our state and our country in the weeks ahead.

BASH: It's nice to hear you talk about a hopeful moment given the year that 2020 has been. We're talking about threats of violence.

You obviously also had to deal with an election during a global pandemic.

But do you feel that, once this is all past us, there will be a sense of normalcy? There will be normal partisan differences, not the kind of denial of facts and reality that we're seeing now?

BENSON: Well, I hope that's the case. It certainly should be the case.

Even along the way even through the process, prior to the election and after, the truth has been the same. Our elections are secure. The results of the election have been affirmed. The count is accurate.

The security of the elections has been affirmed both by the attorney general of the United States and many others around the state and the country.

So that truth, those facts remain. I hope to work from that same set of facts to solve problems moving forward.

And let's face it. We've got to. That's the work the American people, the Michigan voters elected all of us to do.

So I'm hopeful, and I'm determined to move forward in that way.

Yet, we also have to recognize the deep divisions that have occurred in the last weeks and months. And know that as well so that people can feel affirmed that we'll move forward together as one.

TAPPER: Secretary of State Benson, thank you so much for joining us. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and all of the people carrying out constitutional duties, who shouldn't have to be facing threats of violence. It's rather disgusting that it's happening.

But we appreciate your courage and your professionalism.

Wolf?

BLITZER: All right. Thanks very much.

Moments ago, in Charleston, West Virginia, electors there, they cast their votes for the president of the United States and the vice president of the United States. West Virginia's five electoral votes went for President Trump.

Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This goes the Electoral College ballot for West Virginia, December 14, 2020.

This is: I, Paul Harling (ph), an elector for the state of West Virginia, do hereby cast my vote for Donald J. Trump for president of the United States and Michael R. Pence for vice president of the United States. He then signed.

And I will now sign as secretary of state for each of those --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: And in Colorado right now, voters in that state chose President-Elect Joe Biden. And now electors -- and they also chose Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris.

Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Colorado casts its nine electoral votes for Joseph Biden and Kamala Harris to be president and vice president for the United States of America.

(APPLAUSE)

(CHEERING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: That's nine electoral votes in Colorado.

The District of Columbia, Washington, D.C., has three electoral votes. Washington, D.C., of course, voted overwhelmingly for the president- elect, Joe Biden.

Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You have witnessed, ladies and gentlemen, the electors have the three electoral votes for the District of Columbia for Joseph R. Biden for president of the United States and three electoral votes from the District of Columbia for Kamala Harris for vice president of the United States.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Electors just met in Boise, Idaho. President Trump won that state and its four electoral votes.

Let's listen in.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The first ballot is for Donald J. Trump as president. The second ballot is for Donald J. Trump as president. The third ballot is for Donald J. Trump as president. And the fourth ballot is for Donald J. Trump as president.

(CHEERING)

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Idaho and its four electoral votes going for President Trump.

We're following everything that's going on in the Electoral College.

But we're also following another major, major historic moment, the new coronavirus vaccine.

Jake, back to you.

TAPPER: That's right, Wolf.

We are expecting soon a press conference from Health and Human Services secretary, Alex Azar, and the surgeon general of the United States, Jerome Adams.

Here they are speaking right now. They're speaking alongside faculty and administrators at G.W. University hospital and G.W. Medical faculty as part of the ceremonial COVID vaccination kickoff event.

Let's bring in our chief medical correspondent, Sanjay Gupta, if we can.

Sanjay, what an exciting day. Obviously, we're still in the thick of the pandemic. People can't let their guard down in terms of social distancing and mask wearing and the like.

But really, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. No, it very much it feels that way.

I think it's sort of these contrasting sort of images. You've got the real, I think, honest hope of the vaccine that is becoming increasingly clear.

[14:45:05]

And we're seeing people get the vaccine. We've seen health care workers in these places who have been working so hard for so many months to get the vaccine. Soon it will be rolled out. It's already being rolled out in some

places to long-term care facilities.

But you also have the numbers that people have been seeing on the right side of the screen for the last several months, which will continue go to go up, Jake. Almost no matter what, at this point, they will continue to go up.

The vaccine will make a big difference. But it takes some time for that to make a difference.

It's interesting, Jake, as we've been talking about this for so many months, but masks are almost more surgical. They're simpler, but almost more surgical in terms of the impact they could have right away.

So I hope that is a message that doesn't get lost. Not to take away from the excitement of this day and the first people getting vaccination.

But hopefully, as people see that hope, they redouble their efforts so we can get over the finish line.

TAPPER: Important for people to remember, as far as we can tell about this virus, what we've been told is that it inoculates you from getting sick with COVID-19.

But it does not prevent you from having and being able to infect others if you do have COVID-19.

So it's not -- even if you get a shot, until there's some sort of maximum level reached in the United States, 65 percent, 70 percent in the United States vaccinated, it's not safe for everyone else for you to not wear a mask, even if you've been vaccinated.

GUPTA: That's right. If you think about it, even after you get the vaccine, is it possible you can still carry the virus and even transmit it? The answer is yes.

Now, if you talk to infectious disease doctors -- and I spoke to Dr. Fauci about this - they don't know if it prevents the infection yet.

What they studied as part of this trial, they wanted to prove, as part of this emergency use authorization, that it can prevent people from getting sick. Which it does.

That doesn't necessarily mean, Jake, that as they get more and more data, start to study more people, do surveillance testing, even antibody testing, that there becomes evidence that, even if it doesn't prevent infection, it lowers the amount of virus you're carrying so low that you're not transmitting as well?

We don't know. That very well could be the case.

But you're absolutely right, Jake. For the time being, you have to think of this as vaccine that can help prevent you from getting ill, which is critically important.

But if you also want to keep from transmitting the virus to others for a period of time, we still have to wear a mask, vaccine or not.

PHILLIP: Sanjay, we're seeing a lot of these ceremonial injections, which is amazing to watch.

Do you think there's any value to seeing elected officials, whether it's the President-Elect Joe Biden or President Trump himself getting this vaccine sooner rather than later?

Is that something that should be front-loaded, so to speak, in the interest of showing Americans that the vaccine is safe, you ought to take it, because the highest levels of our government are taking it, too?

GUPTA: Yes, I do, Abby. This has been an ethical discussion that's come up even part of some of these advisory committee meetings. And I've been talking ethicists about this. I think there's value.

There's a couple of things I would say.

In some ways, President Trump getting the vaccine could be actually beneficial, because there's a lot of people -- there's been a lot of vaccine hesitancy among people who have also followed President Trump, interestingly.

But also black Americans. If you look at overall vaccine acceptance rates across the board, it's close to 60 percent. But it's lower for black Americans, closer to 53 percent.

If you see health care workers, people who have cast a scientific eye toward this, have evaluated the vaccine on its merits, are making the decision for themselves and their families, I think that goes a long way.

Even going back to 2009, they did a lot of surveys at that point during that pandemic and found that people trusted their own health care worker, their doctor and nurse, more than anyone else in the equation.

So making sure they are getting vaccinated, they show that they're getting vaccinated and they transmit that information to their patients is perhaps one of the most important things.

BASH: And, Sanjay, it's nice to see you smile when you think about the science we're watching right now as opposed to the bitter medicine you've had to deliver to us for so many months.

But let's look forward. Because what we're seeing today is the beginning, obviously.

How do you feel about the plans because it is going to be a state-run situation?

Do you feel confident that states across the country have what they need and have the plans in place so that the population that needs this will get it?

[14:50:05]

GUPTA: You know, that's a really good question, Dana.

I think it's going to feel bumpy for people. I think, in part, because you have these moments in time and people immediately think, well, I should be able to get this tomorrow. That's the society in which we're used to living.

So you're going to hear that it's not available for you yet. In fact, it may be months. And it's going to feel like a long time, especially after a day like today where you see people getting shots.

Also, you know, because it is state-run, states are going to have their own triage programs. One state can be very different than even a neighboring state.

You may qualify near the front of the line in one state but not in another state. And, you know, that may feel a little disjointed as well.

Also given the fact that we're manufacturing and distributing almost as quickly as they manufacture, you may have these periods of time where the surge demand can't be met.

You know, they may not have manufactured as quickly or there may have been a quality control that was missed and it may slow things down.

All that is to say is that the distribution and logistical challenges, that we've been reporting on for some time, we're going to see the potential pitfalls of that.

I don't think it makes the vaccine any less safe or any less effective, obviously, but it may just feel like a slower rollout than I think a lot of people would like.

TAPPER: All right, Sanjay, we'll bring you back and talk to you in a couple minutes.

GUPTA: Thank you.

TAPPER: Thank you so much.

Wolf, back to you.

BLITZER: All right. Thank you very much.

Michigan, a key, key battleground state, 16 Electoral College votes. They just decided what they're going to do. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. GOV. GARLAND GILCHRIST (D-MI): Sergeant-at-Arms Lavora Barnes, has the tally been completed? LAVORA BARNES, MICHIGAN HOUSE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Yes, Lieutenant

Governor. The electors have unanimously cast 16 votes for Joseph R. Biden.

(APPLAUSE)

(CHEERING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: There you have it, formal, the official announcement. Michigan, a key battleground state, going for Biden and Kamala Harris.

John King, we can't overstress how important these three ballot-run states were, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.

KING: And, Wolf, so you just saw Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin went earlier in the day.

It's been a while since I've gotten to do this, but that was the reason.

That was the reason on day one when Joe Biden announced for the Democratic nomination at a time when there was a great deal of skepticism.

Was he the right man for the party at this moment to go up against Donald Trump? What did he say? "I can win Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin." I can flip them back from this, the blue wall that Donald Trump put up in 2016 when Joe Biden said he could do it.

And you just had the affirmation with the Electoral College state in the Michigan that, in fact, mission accomplished for Joe Biden. Again, 16 in Michigan.

Now, we're going through this ritual. It's an affirmation. There's no doubt for the outcome today. Joe Biden is the president-elect. It will be more official by the end of the day as these electors vote.

In the 5:00 hour, California will get him over the top. The 16 out of Michigan affirmation.

And, Wolf, just a quick reminder, when you come out, in Michigan, it was not close.

BLITZER: All right, John, Stand by.

We're going to take a quick break.

Take a look at this. We have live pictures coming in from the George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. COVID-19 vaccines now being administered. A lot of Americans will start getting the vaccine.

Watch this. This is a significant moment right now. Let's let it breathe for a second. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right, Barbara, nice, deep breath. One, two, three, a little poke. And all done.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did it hurt, Barbara?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not at all.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right!

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: First one.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Very, very nice.

This is going to be happening not only in the George Washington University Hospital but all around the United States.

It all starts today. It's going to continue for months. A very, very significant moment. We'll watch this.

We'll watch what's happening in the Electoral College.

[14:54:09]

Much more of our special coverage right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer in the CNN Election Center.

History is unfolding and we're bringing you the democratic process live as the Electoral College votes for the next president of the United States.

Today, electors at each state are awarding their votes for Joe Biden or Donald Trump. It's one more step to seal the presidency for President-Elect Biden.

Electors from seven states cast their ballots in moments. We're talking Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, Alaska, Missouri, Nebraska, and Texas.

President-Elect Biden is inching closer and closer to that key 270 electoral vote threshold. He has 199 electoral votes right now. Donald Trump has 167.

We're watching all of this unfold.

Let's check in with Jake Tapper.

Jake?

TAPPER: What we have is two major events happening right now, the Electoral College voting. And the historic vaccinations happening throughout the United State.

[15:00:06]

CNN's Sara Murray is at G.W. Hospital where Alex Azar and the surgeon general are watching some hospital workers get vaccinated.