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The Situation Room

Interview with Former BARDA Director Dr. Rick Bright; Biden, Trump Set for Final Debate; Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) Reacts to Kidnapping Plot; Both Campaigns Consulted with Fauci to Remove Plexiglass; Florida, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan and Arizona Front and Center with Just 12 Days Left. Aired 6-7p ET

Aired October 22, 2020 - 18:00   ET

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

[18:00:00]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States, and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM.

We are closing in on a crucial moment in the race for the White House, live coverage of the final debate between President Trump and Joe Biden now just -- our coverage will begin one hour from now.

Also tonight, we have new details about what to expect on the debate stage, including who gets the first question, as well as coronavirus safety protocols that are now being enforced by the commission.

Both candidates are certainly trying to chart a path to 270 electoral votes, with five key battleground states right at the center of the fight. We're talking about Florida, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Arizona.

And, as of this moment -- get this -- more than 46 million Americans have already voted.

We're tracking all of the worsening coronavirus pandemic developments in the United States as well. It has now killed more than 220,000 Americans, with at least 8.3 million confirmed cases. More than 1,100 Americans died just yesterday.

But there is, there is a glimmer-of-hope news tonight. The FDA just approved remdesivir to treat hospitalized COVID-19 patients. That's the drug -- the drug is the first therapeutic drug to receive approval to fight the virus here in the United States.

Let's begin our coverage this hour with CNN's chief White House correspondent, Jim Acosta.

He is inside the debate hall in Nashville.

Jim, the president has just tested negative for the coronavirus, just ahead of tonight's face off with Joe Biden.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf. We are inside this debate hall in Nashville, Tennessee, where the president did his walk-through just a couple hours ago.

And White House officials say President Trump did test negative for coronavirus on board Air Force One as he was en route to Nashville just hours before this final debate with Joe Biden. The president appears to be doing more complaining about this debate than he is preparing for one.

The president is also claiming he's created the greatest U.S. economy in history, but that's not the case, as the U.S. is still in the grips of a recession, the worst recession in decades.

Mr. Trump is blaming all of this on the coronavirus tonight, complaining the media only wants to talk about COVID-19, as the death toll from this pandemic keeps climbing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA (voice-over): Joined by the first lady, President Trump left for his final debate with Democrat Joe Biden sounding combative as ever, arguing in an interview with "60 Minutes" that he created the best economy in U.S. history, even as the nation is still reeling from the pandemic.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We created the greatest economy in the history of our country.

And the other side was coming in...

LESLEY STAHL, CBS NEWS ANCHOR: You know that -- you know that's not true.

TRUMP: It is totally true.

STAHL: No.

ACOSTA: Aides say the president hasn't done much preparation for his face-off with Biden, but Mr. Trump complained to Sinclair television about a new rule put in place to mute the microphones at times during the debate...

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Would you shut up, man?

ACOSTA: ... to avoid a repeat of the constant interruptions during their last encounter.

TRUMP: Well, that's not fair. Plus, they changed the topics, which isn't fair. Just happened.

ACOSTA: White House officials say the president may simply disregard some questions at the debate and attack Biden's record on China, even though that might resurrect a recent revelation in "The New York Times" that Mr. Trump has had a secret Chinese bank account.

ALYSSA FARAH, WHITE HOUSE DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS: I'd say he's going to answer those topics, but he's also going to, frankly, answer the questions he wants to. If we don't get to China, he is prepared to bring up China and Joe Biden's disastrous record on it.

ACOSTA: The president is also ranting about media coverage of the coronavirus, claiming it's yet another conspiracy against him.

TRUMP: All you hear is COVID, COVID, COVID, COVID, COVID, COVID, COVID, COVID, COVID, COVID, COVID. That's all they put on, because they want to scare the hell out of everyone.

ACOSTA: Former President Barack Obama, who is campaigning for Biden as he has been doing debate prep this week, said Mr. Trump is incapable of ending the pandemic.

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Donald Trump isn't suddenly going to protect all of us. He can't even take the basic steps to protect himself.

ACOSTA: During his own "60 Minutes" interview, Biden answered a nagging question about whether he would seek to expand the Supreme Court, promising to create a commission to study the issue.

BIDEN: Bipartisan commission of scholars, constitutional scholars, Democrats, Republicans, liberal, conservative. And I will ask them to, over 180 days, come back to me with recommendations as to how to reform the court system, because it's getting out of whack, the way in which it's being handled, and it's not about court packing.

JOHN RATCLIFFE, U.S. DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: Foreign interference in our elections.

ACOSTA: Democrats are also raising questions about a warning from the director of national intelligence, who said Iran is trying to interfere in the election to damage the president's chances.

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): I think we have to be very careful about any statements coming out about the election from the intelligence community at this time.

[18:05:04]

ACOSTA: The top two lawmakers on the Senate Intelligence Committee released a statement cautioning to the American people and the media: "We reiterate the need to be skeptical of sensationalist last-minute claims about election infrastructure."

National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said the foreign interference efforts detected so far appear limited in scope.

ROBERT O'BRIEN, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: A very small number, two or three in different parts of the United States.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: And now that we are inside the debate hall, we can show you how the stage has been set. We understand that there will be Plexiglas dividers between the candidates separating the candidates, and that Biden and the president will stand about 12 feet apart. And the president, as we're told tonight, is set to receive the first

question. And, Wolf, we should note, at this moment, those Plexiglas dividers are not on the stage. You can see they appear to have been removed.

We're trying to find out whether or not there's anything to that. Perhaps they're just wiping off some smudges before these candidates take the stage -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Jim Acosta, reporting for us, we will get back to you. Thank you.

Now let's go to CNN's Arlette Saenz. She is also in Nashville. She is tracking the Biden campaign for us.

Arlette, Biden has been off the campaign trail now for the past few days while preparing for tonight's debate. How is he expected to handle a potential repeat of the last debate, with interruptions and personal attacks from the president?

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Well, Wolf, Joe Biden's advisers say that he is going to focus on the issues of importance to American voters, that being the COVID-19 pandemic and the economy.

Biden has spent the last three days off the campaign trail preparing for every possibility that President Trump can throw his way. Now, while Biden wants to keep the focus on the coronavirus and the economy, key issues that they believe will define this election, he is also fully prepared for the president to launch those personal attacks not just on him, but on his family.

You have seen Republicans and the president in recent days really try to push a little bit more of a narrative about his son Hunter Biden. Now, one thing, we don't expect that Biden is going to kind of turn the tables on the president and go after his own children, but, instead, he is going to speak to the issues that are of concern to American families.

Now, Biden, as he traveled here to Nashville, spoke to reporters a little bit about what he is expecting tonight.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: Hopefully, he's going to play by the rules. Hopefully, everybody's been tested. Hopefully, it's all worked out, just the way the rules are. I'm looking forward to this.

Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: Now, Biden's advisers have, also, prepared him for the possibility of interruptions. Even though the microphones will be muted for periods during this

debate, there is still the possibility that the president could try to interrupt or distract Biden while he's on stage.

That may not be relayed on television, but they have run through scenarios to ensure that the former vice president can focus on making his case with just 12 days to go until the election.

BLITZER: Very interesting. Arlette, stick around. We got more questions for you.

I want to bring in Abby Phillip right now and others.

Abby, first of all, what's at stake, from your perspective, for the candidates in this, the final debate, tonight?

ABBY PHILLIP, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: This is the last impression, Wolf. This is the last opportunity all these candidates are going to have to have millions of people tuning in to their closing argument.

And President Trump, I think, has a lot more work to do tonight than he -- than Joe Biden, in part because of how the first debate went. It's been about two weeks -- or, I'm sorry, even longer than two weeks, almost a month since the last debate. And the president, in that time, hasn't really done much to change voters' impressions of him in this final stretch.

And while a lot of people argue, at this stage, it's not about converting new people, it's about turnout, the president has to make sure he doesn't depress his own potential voters by turning in a very similar performance as the first debate.

Meanwhile, I think Joe Biden needs to get pretty specific. He's going to focus on the coronavirus. But one of the pieces of feedback that I think some voters had for him after the debate, the first debate, was, what specifically would you do differently?

I think voters need more meat on those bones, especially if it's going to be the bulk of his argument for the presidency.

BLITZER: Governor Kasich, what do you expect? Do you expect any significant change in strategy from the president, tonight?

JOHN KASICH, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, Wolf, he can't double down on what he did last time.

It just turned off too many people, including a lot of those suburban voters who are really critical for him.

I do think he will try to really rattle Biden, and probably bring up Biden's family and those kinds of things.

In terms of Joe Biden, I have heard what Abby said in terms of specifics and all that. And there's -- I think that that's somewhat right. But what I really think Joe Biden needs to do is, he needs to project

strength, you know, that he's in charge, he will do a good job if he's president of the United States, he's not going to let anybody bully him, that he's capable. And I think he did a good job being able to pass the test as to whether he could handle this the last time. But he needs to reemphasize it.

[18:10:05]

And he needs to be pleasant. You know, he's got a way about him that is likability, which he has used effectively. You know, he's not Hillary Clinton, where he can be attacked. And I think don't lose composure, don't try to interrupt, and just do your, because he is ahead right now in all these battleground states.

And so that's what I think you will see. He's not going to -- but I think, probably, Donald Trump will probably try to throw some -- maybe some Hail Mary passes, but probably not with the same degree of aggressiveness in the last -- I just don't think that's possible.

BLITZER: Yes. Well, we will soon find out.

Arlette, the White House, as you know, is hinting that, regardless what the questions are, the president may simply pivot to the attacks he wants to make. How do you expect the former vice president to handle that?

SAENZ: Well, that's one of the challenges that Joe Biden faces tonight, not getting bogged down in the direction that President Trump is looking to take this debate.

You know, Biden is a meticulous debate preparer. So they have gone through a lot of these scenarios of different directions that the president could take as they face off on that stage tonight.

And one tactic that you saw Joe Biden employ in the last debate that he is likely to do again tonight is that when he would stare directly into the camera, speaking to the American people. That was a tactic that his campaign said was very intentional in that first debate.

And they really felt that that was -- those were moments where Biden was able to succinctly get his message across with emphasis. And that's something that he likely will turn to tonight, especially as the president tries to take this debate in many different directions.

BLITZER: Abby, the president, as we all know, has a long history of attacking women, particularly women of color, specifically journalists out there, and, of course, some politicians.

How do you think he will respond to questions from the moderator, Kristen Welker?

PHILLIP: Well, the president has already signaled that he is going to go after Kristen Welker as if she is a candidate on that stage, which she is not, and accuse her of bias. And as someone who's worked with her and knows her and knows that she's covered this president fairly for many years, she's not biased. And the president is going to have to figure out how to do that without seeming like he's trying to find a scapegoat.

Look, this is the third female reporter in just about a week that the president has decided to attack. He attacked Savannah Guthrie of NBC at the town hall. He attacked Lesley Stahl after that CBS interview.

And now he will try to attack Kristen Welker. I think people will see through that. It's a real risk for the president to continue illustrating a pattern that is extremely damaging to him with women and with women who care about how he behaves towards people of color.

BLITZER: Yes. He tweeted, earlier in the day

Governor Kasich, let me get your response.

"Look at the bias, hatred, and rudeness on behalf of '60 Minutes' and CBS. Tonight's anchor, Kristen Welker, is far worse."

What do you make of that?

KASICH: Well, it's ridiculous.

I mean, look, the guy has got to expand his base. I mean, he -- yes, he may be firing up his own people, and they're going to those rallies. And they're doing "YMCA" and all this other stuff. But there's not enough of them.

So, I agree completely with Abby when she says this idea that he can just go ahead and attack these women is going is going to somehow pay off for him. It's a turnoff.

BLITZER: Yes.

KASICH: And it's also mean.

And it's very interesting that Billy Graham's granddaughter came out and said we can't support somebody that has this kind of behavior. It's really, really amazing that she did that, a counter to some of the evangelicals. Very interesting.

BLITZER: Yes. I know Kristen Welker. She is, first of all, very, very nice. But she is an excellent journalist. Lesley Stahl is as well. So is Savannah Guthrie.

It's really sad to see the president of the United States lash out against these journalists. They are excellent journalists, indeed.

Everyone, stick around. There is more we need to report on. There's more breaking news we're following.

The FDA has just approved remdesivir to treat hospitalized coronavirus patients. It's the first approval for a drug to treat COVID-19 here in the United States. And the news comes as the pandemic is clearly worsening here in the

U.S., with more than 1,000 deaths just yesterday.

We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:18:54]

BLITZER: CNN's live coverage of the final debate between President Trump and Joe Biden is just under an hour away. Stand by. We're going to have much more on that in just a moment.

But we are also following new developments in the coronavirus pandemic.

CNN's Brian Todd is on the story for us.

Brian, we are getting word the FDA has just issued its first approval for a coronavirus treatment here in the United States. What can you tell us?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf.

The antiviral drug remdesivir has just been approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, that word coming from Gilead Sciences. It's the first drug in the U.S. to be approved for the use of therapeutic treatment for patients with COVID.

A study in the U.S. found that the drug could shorten recovery time for some patients by about a third, but a World Health Organization study does dispute that.

Now, this comes as more states are reporting even more cases.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GOV. TONY EVERS (D-WI): One thousand, six hundred and eighty-one Wisconsinites have lost the battle against this virus.

TODD (voice-over): Coming off his state's highest single-day coronavirus death count, Wisconsin's governor says he's saddened to announce that this facility is taking in its first patients, a field hospital for overflow patients at a state fair park near Milwaukee.

[18:20:10]

EVERS: Make no mistake about this. This is an urgent crisis.

TODD: The surge in cases in Wisconsin is overwhelming health officials in the state's second most populous county.

JANEL HEINRICH, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH, MADISON AND DANE COUNTIES, WISCONSIN: Right now, we cannot keep up. With the sustained rise in cases, we cannot quickly contact trace cases and let the people they came in contact with know that they should quarantine. We are struggling with the constant and unending rise in cases, just as everyone else in the state is.

TODD: Wisconsin is one of 31 states where the reporting of new daily coronavirus cases is still going up.

Only one state, Hawaii, has cases on the decline. Hospitalizations are on the rise, with around 40,000 reported across the U.S. on Wednesday. And deaths are climbing. Yesterday, with more than 1,100, America reported its highest number of deaths in one day in more than a month.

DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: We're gathering inside and doing more to promote these numbers, and it's only October. It really worries me to think about where we are going to be in December and January in this country.

TODD: This comes as an ally of President Trump's, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, issued a sobering admission.

In an op-ed in "The Wall Street Journal," Christie, who spent a week in the ICU after contracting COVID, wrote that he let his guard down when he helped the president with debate prep and attended the Amy Coney Barrett nomination ceremony at the White House, without wearing a mask either time.

Quote: "Wear it or you may regret it, as I did."

Meantime, a team of disaster preparedness experts at Columbia university is skewering President Trump in a new report, which says the administration's uneven response to the pandemic has led to between 130,000 and 210,000 deaths which could have been prevented.

JEFFREY SACHS, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY: The president never took this seriously, from the first day, lied repeatedly, to the public, acted as if something as straightforward as wearing a face mask was some act of betrayal, and never communicated honestly or with the information being provided by our wonderful, knowledgeable public health community in this country.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD: Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University also accuses the president of -- quote -- "beating down" the Centers for Disease Control, having what he calls political hacks oversee the CDC and preventing the professionals at the agency from speaking freely.

The president, of course, has always defended his handling of the pandemic, saying recently that, with the treatments his administration has advanced, they have actually been able to reduce, in his mind, the fatality rate since April.

And he said recently that the country is -- quote -- "turning a corner" -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Ryan Todd reporting for us, thank you very much.

I want to bring in a top vaccine expert who resigned from the federal government back on October 6, several months after filing a whistle- blower complaint accusing the Trump administration of mishandling the coronavirus pandemic from the very start.

Rick Bright is joining us right now.

Director Bright, thank you so much for joining us. Thanks for all your critically important work over the years as well.

As you know, this new study from the World Health Organization that came out earlier this month found remdesivir did not help patients survive coronavirus. But the Trump administration is now pointing to its approval to treat hospitalized patients as potentially great news.

Are you encouraged by this development? Specifically, where do you stand on remdesivir as an approved treatment in hospitals for coronavirus patients?

DR. RICK BRIGHT, FORMER DIRECTOR, BIOMEDICAL ADVANCED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY: Well, Wolf, thanks for having me on.

I mean, the FDA clearly has reviewed all of the data that they have available to them from the company to review the efficacy and safety of that drug, for the approval of that drug now for hospitalized patients.

It's important to note that even the data that we saw in the United States from that drug show that the benefit was modest. It wasn't a home run. It wasn't a remarkable improvement in terms of mortality or even the lengthening or shortening the length of the hospital stay.

But it did show marginal benefit. And that is all the data probably the FDA has. So, it's not too surprising that another, perhaps even larger, well-controlled study from the WHO would refute that database that we have on remdesivir, again, probably showing that this marginal benefit probably becomes even more marginal depending on the population of people that uses that drugs or gets that drug.

So, when you have rather weak data, it can still be beneficial in some people, but some studies are also going to show that it's probably not too beneficial at all.

BLITZER: Well, let's hope it is.

You have said, Director, that President Trump's failure to tell the truth about this virus has allowed more Americans to die.

[18:25:02]

There is a new report from a team of disaster preparedness experts at Columbia University that certainly supports your assertion. They are suggesting that between 130,000 to 210,000 deaths could have been prevented here in the U.S. if the Trump administration had responded sufficiently.

What do you say to that?

BRIGHT: I think they're spot on, Wolf. It's really important to know that we have not had leadership through

this pandemic from day one. There has been no plan, and there is still no national plan on how we will end this pandemic.

The only plan and strategy that I have seen from President Trump...

BLITZER: I think we have just lost our connection with Director Bright. We will see if we can fix that. But we will get back to him. He's got some important things to say.

In the meantime, let's take a quick break.

Just ahead, we will have much more on tonight's crucial final debate between President Trump and Joe Biden. I'll discuss that and more with the Democratic governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer. She is standing by live. We have lots to talk about.

We will when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:30:00]

BLITZER: We are closing in on tonight's crucial, final debate between President Trump and Joe Biden. In a sudden last-minute development, the debate commission is now removing plexiglass barriers that were supposed to separate the two candidates on the stage. We haven't been given any explanation for that decision. But we'll get one, at some point.

In the meantime, let's continue the discussion with the Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer. Governor, thank you so much for joining us. I know you have a lot going on, and I want to discuss tonight's debate with you. But, first, as you well know better than anyone, 14 people in your state have now been charged in a plot to kidnap you. How are you and your family doing in the wake of this truly scary, awful threat?

GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER (D-MI): Well, I mean, challenging doesn't quite describe it. But we are fine. And the Michigan State police keep us safe, and we've never had an ounce of worry about our personal safety.

But I do think in this moment, it's really important that we have leaders who denounce this kind of radical, violent planning and the rhetoric that feeds it. I think it's critical that we have leaders that can bring this county together and fight COVID and get us back on track. And that's what I am looking forward to in tonight's debate. I believe Joe Biden will show America that he has got the temperament and the character and the empathy to lead our nation out of these really tough times.

BLITZER: You know, what is really, really sad and very awful, I must say, the president has publicly called you a dictator. He previously tweeted that he wanted your state liberated. Liberate Michigan, he tweeted. Do you believe these very serious threats against you, that you faced, 14 people have now been arrested, do you believe they were a result at least in part of the president's very divisive, angry rhetoric toward you?

WHITMER: Well, listen, Wolf. I can tell you that, since April, every time that the president identifies me or my state, we see an increase in terms of the threats, in terms of the online hate that is sent my way, in terms of death threats against me and my family. This is a moment where we, as a nation, have seen the character of two people that are vying to be our leader.

The things that we have seen, over the course of the last eight months, whether it is directed at me or directed at Dr. Fauci or some of the incredible, public health experts across this country, who have taken so much heat because of this kind of rhetoric that you just described, it is wrong. It's dangerous. It's unacceptable.

And people of goodwill on both sides of the aisle need to come together and -- and demand better from our government and hold one another accountable and set a higher standard in this nation.

BLITZER: Yes. What's so sad is that Dr. Fauci needs to walk around, now, he and his family, protected by federal law enforcement security agents at a time when, for decades, he's been saving American lives. And now, he needs that kind of protection.

As you well know, you're a supporter of the former vice president. We're about to watch this debate. The final square off before this election is over in, what, 12 days. You're supporting Biden. He's heading in tonight's debate with a lead in your critical battleground state of Michigan. Let me put some of the numbers from the most recent polling up there.

What does the former vice president need to do tonight to make sure it stays that way right now in this poll of polls as we have at CNN? Biden is at 51 percent. Trump is at 43percent.

WHITMER: So, first, I'll just acknowledge, I think the race is always tighter than what the polls lead us to believe. And I think Joe Biden and Kamala Harris believe that as well. And that's why they're spending so much time in states all across the country. But certainly, they're spending a lot of time here in Michigan.

I think Joe Biden needs to be Joe Biden. He is a deeply decent human being who cares about his fellow Americans, who will bring us together in a way that we've been so split apart. I worry about after this election.

Of course, Joe Biden's plan around COVID and reengaging our economy is critical. But he is also a unique person, who I think can bring us together as a country because the rhetoric that has been feeding so much hate over the last four years will have long-term consequences.

[18:35:09]

And I know that Joe Biden gets it. And when he shows up and he is himself, people love him. People believe in him. They trust him and they know that he is the kind of leader we need right now. BLITZER: The Biden campaign says it fully anticipated that the president will personally attack Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, tonight, going after the family. How would you like to see the former vice president respond to those attacks?

WHITMER: Like a dad, you know? I am a mom. If someone attacked my child, I -- you know, I would have a strong reaction, but it would be out of love. And I think that people see that when Joe Biden talks about his family. He is a family man. He is a true American leader who sees the humanity in others. He doesn't think he's better than anyone else. He respects people and wants the best for everyone.

And I think that when President Trump attacks him for his son, I think it will backfire because parents everywhere see the genuine concern of a parent. And anyone who has a loved one who's had addiction issues, which is the vast majority of us, including me, knows that it is support and it is love that helps keep families together and supports our dear ones.

BLITZER: Yes. So we're going to see how far this unfolds in the next few hours.

Unlike in the previous debate, Governor, as you know, the candidates' microphones will be muted during portions of tonight's event in order to not let them interrupt each other during their two-minute opening statements on new subjects. Do you hope this will lead to a more productive debate? What are you bracing for?

WHITMER: I hope so. That first debate was just horrendous, the way that the president overtalked and it was hard to understand what the candidates were saying because of the president's continuous talking. And so I am glad that they will be muting mics.

I was trying to think what should they use, an air horn? But muting is better because it will give the person who is talking the ability to be heard.

That's what American people want and that's what we deserve. We should know what the candidates are responding, not watch one person try to dominate another and be a bully on stage.

So, I do think that this will be good thing. I'll be looking forward to this debate and I'm glad we're here. I just want them to be safe. And I've got the same questions you have about what is happening with those partitions coming down.

BLITZER: Yes. At least 70 million, 80 million, maybe 90 million Americans are going to be watching this debate. So there is really a lot at stake and we will see why they decided to bring down the plexiglass.

All right, Governor, good luck to you. Stay safe out there. We'll stay in close touch with you. I appreciate it very much.

WHITMER: Thank you, Wolf. BLITZER: Just ahead, there is more breaking news we are following. The federal government is fighting back against election interference by Iranian entities with brand new sanctions. We have new information just coming into The Situation Room.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:40:00]

BLITZER: As we await the start of the final presidential debate, we are learning new information right now about pandemic precautions up on the stage. Let's go back to our Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta. He is inside the auditorium there.

Jim, so what are you hearing, what are you hearing from your sources?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, as we were telling you earlier this hour, the plexiglass dividers that we were expecting to be on stage for this debate tonight were removed. There were, in fact, two dividers between where President Trump and Vice President Biden would be standing.

But we understand that both campaigns consulted with Dr. Anthony Fauci, yes, Dr. Anthony Fauci, about whether or not it was necessary to have the dividers there. Dr. Fauci said, no, because both candidates tested negative for the virus, that those dividers were not going to be necessary tonight.

And this is a fairly late-breaking development, Wolf. I am told by a source who is involved in the situation that these conversations took place this afternoon. And so it just goes to show you things can change minute by minute as these debates get closer, Wolf.

BLITZER: I take it there's going to be a limited socially distanced audience there. Can you set the scene a little bit for us, Jim?

ACOSTA: That's right, a limited audience here, as we have seen at other debates involved in this campaign. And one thing we should point out, Wolf, and I am wearing one of these wristbands as well, everybody who is going to be coming into the debate hall, they were tested for the coronavirus.

There are lines coming into this debate hall, where you have to stand and be tested for your temperature to make sure you're not running a fever before coming inside this debate hall. So, lots of precautions besides just these dividers that were removed to make sure that people are staying safe.

But it is fascinating to see Dr. Anthony Fauci. He's been involved in so much throughout this entire pandemic, even when it comes to a presidential debate, the experts, the campaigns consult with Dr. Anthony Fauci even on something like a presidential debate, Wolf.

BLITZER: And all the guests that were invited by the president and the former vice president for that matter, they have to be inside wearing masks, all the time, is that right? [18:45:02]

ACOSTA: That is our understanding, Wolf. And, of course, this was an issue during the last debate. There were some people who were not wearing masks, while others were. We understand that is going to be a requirement this evening.

I can tell you, right now, I'm not wearing a mask when I'm doing a live shot. But as soon as my live shot is over, I put my mask back on.

But you can see, as we're seeing, some of the crew people who are down close to the stage, they're wearing their masks. And so, it is expected everybody's going to be on board with this, later on this evening. But, of course, we're going to have to wait to find out to see exactly how it plays out.

As we know, Wolf, not every -- not every candidate and certainly not both sides of this campaign are fully onboard with wearing masks. And so, you might see some people inside the Trump campaign, Trump advisers, friends of the president, and so on, who may not be wearing masks. That is something we will be looking out for, obviously, as the night develops.

But so far, you know, that has been mentioned to us and stressed to us, urged to us, over and over again by debate officials. People who are onsite at Belmont University in Nashville, they want everybody to stay safe, wear a mask, socially distance.

We see evidence of that, everywhere you go. Everywhere you go, there are markers on sidewalks saying please, stay six feet apart. There are plexiglass, dividers in the dining hall where people are dining this evening before this debate gets started.

So, I mean, this is a pandemic debate, no question about it. And perhaps, the biggest evidence of that is that Dr. Anthony Fauci has been involved in the planning of tonight's debate as well, Wolf.

BLITZER: Yes, who would have thought?

All right. Jim Acosta on the scene for us. Put the mask on now.

ACOSTA: Yes.

BLITZER: We'll be in touch with you throughout the night, of course.

Just ahead, we are going to take a closer look at the key battleground states and the battle to win enough Electoral College votes to claim victory.

Plus, as we count down to this, the final presidential debate. What President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden need to do, tonight, to win over those undecided voters.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [18:51:33]

BLITZER: As we await the start of CNN's special coverage of the final presidential debate, just minutes from now, let's look at a path to the 270 Electoral College votes President Trump and Joe Biden need to claim victory.

Our political director David Chalian is back with us. David, take us inside this race right now.

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: When you watch this debate tonight, this is election night 2016. Listen carefully to Donald Trump tonight. He needs to re-create some of this success across the Upper Midwest, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin. This is election night 2016, Wolf. You remember it well.

This is where the 2020 race stands now. That red is light blue, because in our current Electoral College outlook, it's leaning Biden. This is critical for Donald Trump and here's why, Wolf. You see that Joe Biden, all the states in his corner, he's at 290. Only needs 270 obviously.

Look what's left on the map for Donald Trump. I'm going to give him Florida and Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Iowa. I'm going to give him this congressional district up here in Maine, OK? And take a look, he's still 22 short. He can't get to 270 without taking two of those three upper Midwest states, if everything else were to fall the way it is here.

It's not just Pennsylvania that will get him here. He needs two of those three upper Midwest states to get to 270. Watch for tonight how he makes an appeal to those voters in that critical region of the country, Wolf.

BLITZER: I'm anxious to hear, David, what you're expecting to see in this critical final debate tonight.

CHALIAN: Well, the thing I'm most curious to see what kind of Donald Trump, which President Trump shows up. Is it the Donald Trump from the first debate who wants to create chaos and interruption, or is it a Donald Trump who understands this map, and understands how much he needs to reverse his fortune right now, and make an appeal to some of the voters that he had with him last time around in that critical Upper Midwest region of the country, independents, suburbanites?

He needs to win some people back. And will he show up in a way tonight that does that, or is he going to continue to turn them off and just do his grievance politics for the base?

BLITZER: I'm not sure there's a whole lot of undecided voters out there, David. But there certainly are people who might not necessarily vote. Turnout is going to be so critical, right?

CHALIAN: Without a doubt. It always is, Wolf, of course, and what we're seeing in this early vote is that turnout so far is sky high. We're seeing more people cast their ballots early than ever before. I mean, we're nearing a third of the electorate perhaps has already cast their ballot. It is sky high, record breaking numbers.

So I expect that to continue all the way through the next 12 days of this race as people cast their votes between now and, of course, on Election Day.

BLITZER: Yes, it certainly is going to be critical.

David Chalian, thank you very, very much.

We're going to have more news just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:59:10]

BLITZER: Finally, our nightly tribute to some of the lives cut short by the coronavirus.

Pat Carini of Georgia was 87 years old. A loving mother, a grandmother with a wonderful sense of humor. She was a huge pet lover, once adopting a neglected poodle in need of a home. Her daughter says she was the emotional center of the family who gave her daughters the courage to be themselves.

Andrew McClintock of South Carolina was 82. A beloved father, a U.S. Army veteran, and owner of a trucking company. Andrew was a hard worker, he enjoyed telling jokes and was deeply compassionate. His daughter, Andrea, says she misses her dad but that she knows he's still with her spiritually.

May they rest in peace, and may their memories be a blessing.

Thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM. I'll be back one hour from now.

CNN's special coverage of the final presidential debate between President Trump and former Vice President Biden begins right now.