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Trump's Speech Draws 2 Million More Than Clinton's; Florida Officials: Local Mosquitoes Infected 4 with Zika; Rio 2016: Olympians Warned "Keep Mouth Closed" in Open Water. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired July 29, 2016 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00] BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: But in the final night Clinton couldn't quite match Trump's total. I think that shows the interest right now is mostly on Trump. People want to hear Trump speak. They weren't quite as interested in the celebs, in the family members at Trump's convention, but they were more interested in the man himself.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: I also wonder, too, because the Democrats went last which perhaps gave them an advantage. We're sort of tuning in, and then boom, to Philadelphia.

STELTER: Yes, I think that did help throughout the week. It caused more interest in the Democratic Convention overall. And, clearly, the Democrats' message has gotten far and wide. It was advantageous to go second.

However, this is a victory for Trump and it's even sweeter given the fact that the Democrats were winning as is week went on. I just spoke with Jason Miller, Trump's communication director, who said -- he said that's the downside to running for Obama's third term, nobody watches repeats in the summer.

So, that's their snarky line about Clinton's ratings. Yes, I think the Clinton campaign's not going to be entirely disappointed about this, though. They reached 28 million viewers. They probably top out closer to 30 million. They'll still be a little bit behind Trump overall, but the campaign reached tens of millions of people who aren't always tuned in to this election season.

Remember, they were reaching millions of people that aren't paying attention to cable news day to day, and they were able to begin their general election effort in a very bright sunshiny way, what they believe is the clear contrast to Trump.

BALDWIN: Yes, I don't totally know if it was the celebrities in Philadelphia. I think it was just so many regular folks sort of stories that really resonated.

STELTER: Yes, exactly. That's what people were talking about the next day. These two, these man and woman, they are both A-list celebrities.

BALDWIN: Right. STELTER: You think about Donald Trump as being a celebrity, reality TV star. Hillary Clinton is also an A-list celebrity. That's one of the strange remarkable things about this election season.

BALDWIN: That's right.

STELTER: That we have two A-list celebrities up against each other.

BALDWIN: Passing Bradley Cooper on the stairwell wasn't bad. It wasn't bad.

(LAUGHTER)

STELTER: No? No?

BALDWIN: Brian Stelter, we'll see you this weekend. Thank you so much.

You know, Hillary Clinton herself, she admitted that when it comes to public service, the service part has come easier for her than the public part. It was evident that one of the goals of this year's convention was to show her softer side, more personal side, and reveal her true authentic self.

My next guest just got incredible candid photos here of some of those authentic moments behind the scenes that this photographer captured Clinton on her historic night as she watched her daughter tell the world what kind of mother she was as she thanked her staff, some of them who have certainly stuck by her side since she was first lady in the '90s and as she had that celebratory glass of champagne. Photographer Callie Shell joins me now.

Callie, so nice to have you on. It was so fun just flipping through the photos and reading through the article, you know, on CNN.com.

Can you just walk me through what you saw that really struck you?

CALLIE SHELL, FORMER WHITE HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER FOR AL GORE: OK. I'm going on no sleep.

BALDWIN: Listen, we all are. It is all good. It is all good.

SHELL: You know, the nerves before whether you're going to get it -- because I don't even know if I was going to get the access until about an hour before we got in.

BALDWIN: Wow.

SHELL: So I was a basket case. And then once you are in there, and you're -- know you are the only one who was allowed -- you know, given this access, and they were nice enough to let you there, I was a nervous wreck trying to make it worth it. You know?

Because she -- but one thing I noticed, she came right into the holding room. This is a photograph where she's watching the screen, she's listening to Chelsea. And I'm not sure I'm as great with the words, but it was like she was nervous but not -- I got like the campaign as making a speech where if you think about it, this is the most important speech she's going to make in this campaign. Even in some ways more important than an inauguration speech, because there's so much writing on it. It wasn't really campaign. It was all these women, these people.

I had been on the floor all week. They were all anticipating what she had to say. And I got the strong feeling that for her, it was like, I don't want to let anyone down. You know? This isn't really so much about a campaign speech. It was about a speech. That's the feeling I got.

BALDWIN: Sure. Sure. No, I love that photo. I know what you are talking about, of her sort of watching her daughter on the screen. And one would just love to crawl into her head and know what she was really thinking and feeling at that time.

And I'm also wondering, as we're looking at these different faces, I think I saw, you know, Katy Perry and Alicia Keys, probably John Podesta and some of her own folks, who was back there and -- I saw -- you see her husband. Who else?

SHELL: Well, when she arrived, everybody had to be out on the floor so she arrived by herself. And then she went out to the back area.

[15:35:01] And it was really cute because right before she walked out, Chelsea had made her speech and she was just standing there waiting because she had to walk back out.

And she was so -- my opinion, Chelsea -- it was pitch black dark but you could hear her say something to her mom about, "I'm so proud of you." It was obvious that Mrs. Clinton was so proud of Chelsea.

These are subtle things, because then we go out there and when we came back later, one thing that I felt was really amazing, there is a photograph of President Bill Clinton sitting -- just sitting on a bench, and he was so cute, because he was just -- it was like his dream had come true.

I think people think he wants to be back in the White House. No. He was so proud of his daughter and his wife. It was kind of like this thing.

You know, I photograph them a lot. One thing I always got an impression of, their biggest accomplishment they felt was Chelsea Clinton. I think anybody that watches the way they interact with her.

So, that hit me. And I have to say, being on that stage with that many balloons dropping --

BALDWIN: That just kept coming and coming.

SHELL: -- and coming. And they were just -- she came off the stage, and she said, "So, do you think there are any balloons left in the city of Philadelphia?" Something like that. I'm not sure those exact words. But I think she even was like -- these are great. So, the point that I pushed to get access to this -- because I think

it is very hard and one of the biggest speeches she's going to ever make -- is I want to show that human side. I find that Mrs. Clinton, when I photographed her in the past, is a very warm person. She's the first person to ask you how you are, she asked me last night how my 14-year-old son was doing.

You know, how you remember something like that, a speech that's this big.

BALDWIN: Let me ask you though. In all the years you've known her, right? How -- what's the most obvious way to you how she has changed?

SHELL: How she's -- I don't think she's changed. I think people don't know how -- I don't know. In my opinion, you can't really tell how a person is when you only see pictures of them at podiums and talking on stage. Because I think that people -- some people can be the same in front of 2,000 people, but most people are different one- on-one.

So I think my goal in the years that I've done journalism is to try to convince campaigns and staff to let me in so that I can show the personal side. Because I think people like Hillary Clinton, Al Gore that I photographed, they have a lot of pride in the office. So when they get up in front of people, they're much more formal.

But when you're backstage with Mrs. Clinton, she is the first to ask people how their kids are. She's the first to sit down -- she remembers everything that they've told her.

BALDWIN: These photos are amazing, Callie. To think you only got the green light like right before.

SHELL: Yes. Well, you know, you've got to give them -- I always say to people, if you need me to back off, if you need me to go away, do. But I -- sometimes people say you should switch these to black and white or do this. But I want to see that half people's lives aren't underground in dark rooms, working really hard.

I mean, she went right down there after that speech and wanted to thank every staff person.

BALDWIN: Let me thank you, Callie. I know you have gotten no sleep and I appreciate you for sharing some times and stories with me.

SHELL: Thank you for supporting the work.

BALDWIN: Yes, thank you so much. I appreciate it. Callie Shell, read her piece, CNN.com. Check out her photos.

Thank you, Callie, so much. Have a wonderful weekend.

SHELL: Thank you, Brooke.

BALDWIN: You got. Coming up here, health officials in South Florida confirming fears over Zika. We now know four people have been infected with the virus by local mosquitoes. We'll talk to our chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta ahead.

Also, the Summer Olympic Games. One week away. Rio de Janeiro, are they ready? Is there time to make sure everything's done? We'll take you live to Brazil, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:43:56] BALDWIN: We'll get you back to politics in a second.

But just some troubling developments today about the Zika virus. Florida officials now confirming that for the first time in the U.S., it's likely been transmitted from infected mosquitoes to a number of people in the Miami area.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. RICK SCOTT (R), FLORIDA: One of these four cases involves a man, the other three cases involve men. They are all active Zika cases and have not exhibited symptoms to be admitted to the hospital. Testing of mosquitoes in this area has been happening in this area where -- the small area for about two weeks. While no mosquito traps have tested positive for the Zika virus, the Department of Health is aggressively testing people in the affected area to ensure there are no other cases of this virus.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So, officials believe all four people were infected. This is within a very small area north of downtown Miami. While most people with Zika never show symptoms, it can cause serious birth defects.

[15:45:00] So, joining me now, CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who is there in Salvador, in Brazil, which we get into this, but could be sort of ground zero for Zika.

But, Sanjay, two quick questions on Florida. A, how significant is this, and, B, how do they contain it?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's significant in many ways. Obviously, these are the first now known cases where Zika has been locally transmitted.

I want to tell you real quick what that means is that, you know, there have been cases of Zika infection in the United States. You've known that. You and I have talked about that. There's even been cases where it has been sexually transmitted within the United States.

But what this now means is that mosquitoes likely bit somebody who had the Zika virus in their body, they got that Zika virus into the mosquito, then that mosquito went and transferred it to somebody else. That's what local transmission means in this case, and we suspected for some time this would likely happen because these same mosquitoes also carry other infections that they've been following.

But it's now it's the first time. You know, like you've heard from the governor, they've been making sure, could this person have traveled or come in contact with somebody who traveled? The answers are no which means that Zika is now officially in the United States, Brooke.

BALDWIN: So that's what's happening here. You're in Brazil. What are you finding in Salvador?

GUPTA: You know, Salvador and this area of northeast Brazil was the first place that we started to notice not only the Zika infections but this connection to microcephaly. I tell you, they had no idea this was coming. You are talking about Florida? In many ways, we've known that was going to happen in Florida. But here, this was a big surprise.

So, how do they first start to figure this out? How do they care for these children who have microcephaly and what does it mean going forward for obviously people here in this part of Brazil, but really for anywhere around the world, including the United States, if children are born with that microcephaly as a result of that Zika infections, what lessons have been learned here?

That's what we're on the ground trying to do. But you can see behind me. That is Salvador. It's the third largest city in Brazil, it is also one of the poorest cities in Brazil. There seems to be a connection between poverty and how bad these infections are. It could be that there's other infections could be involved, could be the nutritional status, we don't know. But that's part of the reason we are on ground to investigate, Brooke.

BALDWIN: I mean, we've seen pictures, we've had crews in Brazil -- final question, Sanjay -- where you see these children with microcephaly. I'll never be able to unsee these children and can you just explain? If people don't know what that is or means for these babies, what is that?

GUPTA: Well, you know, microcephaly, the term micro, small, and cephaly is head, so these are children who have small heads. But it's not just small heads. It is small brains inside those heads as well, and many other neurological sort of problems.

It's interesting. There are all sorts of reasons that children can have microcephaly, and even from some other infections. But with Zika in particular, this is new. I mean, this is happening real time, Brooke. They're trying to figure out exactly what the lives are going to be like for these children, how are they in their first year of life, how are they going to be in the years after.

It is interesting. They're starting to find that there may be some children, despite the fact that they have this microcephaly, this small head. They may be doing much better than you would otherwise anticipate. Again, this is science unfolding, Brooke, in front of our eyes in this place just here behind me. But this is what they are starting to learn.

BALDWIN: All right. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, be safe there. Thank you for going down and getting the story. We'll talk again. Thank you, my friend.

Straight ahead, though, as we're talking Brazil, let's talk Olympics. The 2016 Olympic Games this summer begin in Rio in one week. There are multiple concerns. But one, how about the one you are looking at, how about the filthy water that can cause major health issues? What are the athletes saying?

We'll take you live to Rio -- next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:53:09] BALDWIN: With just a week to go, the final countdown is on top the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The pomp and circumstance starting to build up to the opening ceremonies. The summer games are still plagued with controversy a week to go.

Correspondent Rosa Flores is live in Rio.

Rosa, let me hone in on something I read. Correct me. Swimmers, because of the sewage -- these are folks going for the gold, swimming their heart out to close their mouths in open water. Yes?

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. That's what locals will tell you, Brooke. You and I know that you want to follow the tips from locals.

That's what scientists are also saying. But here's the skinny. So when Rio was awarded the Olympic Games, they said, look, we're going to clean up the water in the bay.

We've got to be clear this is the bay, not the beach you see behind me, which is Copacabana, where a lot of tourists visit. They said they were going to clean up the water in the bay. Here we are seven days before the games, and sewage still runs downhill through the lakes and streams and rivers and into the water.

So again, follow the advice from locals, Brooke. I would say those athletes would be smart to keep their mouths closed while they're competing.

BALDWIN: Such a beautiful place. I just can't believe all the issues they've had and a week to go. Rosa Flores, we'll look for you and your coverage. Thank you very much, my friend.

Finally here, quick reminder, Donald Trump set to take the stage in Colorado springs for that big rally. This is his first event since Hillary Clinton's big speech last night at the DNC. We'll take you there to Colorado live.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:58:59] BALDWIN: Before I let you go on this Friday afternoon, I want to talk about Sandy Hook. So many of us were there covering the story none of us will ever, ever, ever forget. Four years after that gunman shot and killed 20 first graders and six staff members, a new Sandy Hook Elementary School has just been unveiled. The scene of the 2012 rampage completely demolished, and this is what

stands in its place. It is a state of the art school designed to prevent, heaven forbid, another mass shooting. Impact resistant windows, constant video monitoring, and an elevated ground floor, making it harder to actually see inside classrooms from the outside.

We are told it will open its doors officially when school gets back on August 29th. Almost all the kids will be new to Sandy Hook. This will be undoubtedly an emotion day for the parents of 70 of the children who were students there at the time of the massacre.

I'm Brooke Baldwin. Thank you for being with me.

"THE LEAD WITH JAKE TAPPER" starts now.