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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees
DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz to Step Down After Convention; Getting to Know Clinton's Running Mate Tim Kaine; Swing States in Play; A Look Back at Clinton's Primary Campaign; 103-Year- Old Voter Sees History Made for Women. Aired 9-10p ET
Aired July 24, 2016 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[21:00:26] ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: And good evening from Philadelphia where things have been happening all day in a run up to tomorrow's Democratic convention and not just getting the hall ready.
Big things like the woman who was supposed to preside over the convention on her way out in connection with a leaked e-mail controversy. But the Sanders forces have said and the Clinton campaign blaming the Russians, with Donald Trump tweeting up the storm in the Democratic candidates given their first joint interview, oh, and on top of all that, delegates here getting ready to nominate Hillary Clinton or getting ready to make American history.
A lot to get to in this hour, we begin though with the e-mail controversy and the departure of Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the departure of her, though, just not yet, quite yet, Jeff Zeleny joining us.
So Wasserman Schultz is out kind of sort of but not until the convention's over, why?
JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Anderson, not until Friday technically. But, boy, I am told we're not going to see much of her at all. With the exception of a brief appearance tomorrow afternoon that it's still on. She still wants to appear on the stage here. We can hear some musicians behind me rehearsing.
But what happened today, Anderson, really was a series of behind close door meetings of Democrats trying to make the case to her that she should step aside. This uproar over those leaked e-mails that you've been talking about really was creating discord here and a big distraction as well.
I'm told by several Democrats here at Philadelphia and Washington that she was resistant to this. She wanted to weather this storm. She thought she could weather this storm. By in fact, by the end of the day, the end of the afternoon, it was clear that she did something she didn't want to do, step aside. But as you said kind of, she wants to appear tomorrow as sort of a state facing measure. But, Anderson, once she takes that stage, you have to wonder if she's going to be booed by some Sanders delegates who frankly don't like her.
COOPER: Yes. I mean, it seems amazing to me that she would be allowed to do that given all the e-mails that have leaked out and more to come. It was just yesterday that the new Democratic ticket was announced after all, Jeff. I mean, in some ways this controversy is certainly overshadowing the introduction of the vice presidential nominee.
ZELENY: No doubt. This was supposed to be a day where the big appearance yesterday of Tim Kaine and Hillary Clinton was supposed to still be echoing in these halls 'till resonating here with delegates. And there was very little conversation about Tim Kaine at all.
Yes, this is inside baseball. Yes, this is something that only the, you know, those really interested in this are talking about. But the reality is, Tim Kaine's supposed to be introducing himself and now this cloud is hanging over this convention as it opens itself first day tomorrow. And if she actually is booed and actually does appear tomorrow afternoon, we'll be talking about it tomorrow as well, again, not about Tim Kaine and Hillary Clinton.
COOPER: I talked to Donna Brazile who's going to take over the DNC on an intern basis through the elections. She says there are more potentially embarrassing e-mails out there.
ZELENY: And that is one of the things that worries the party and that was the spine of the discussion today, I'm told. That if you don't resign and step aside it today this will continue to go on, because there are most likely more e-mails out there.
This hacker who accessed these e-mails certainly has a big trove here. And who knows what else is out there. There's all types of wild speculation that it could be more embarrassing, more salacious more things specific to both the Sanders and Clinton campaigns. So we'll just have to wait and see if that is leaked. But it certainly looks like, without a doubt this is timed exactly for this convention here in Philadelphia. And it's the one sort of bit of uncertainty that no one was planning for, certainly not the Clinton campaign that has been rolling out this meticulous plan here. Now they have something new to contend with, Anderson.
COOPER: Yes, Jeff Zeleny. Jeff, thanks very much.
Let's bring in our panel. Joining us also is 2008 Clinton Campaign Manager, Patti Solis Doyle, SiriusXM radio host and anchor of CNN's "SMERCONISH", Michael Smerconish, Gloria Borger is back, so our Paul Begala and Jeffrey Lord. And joining us is Clinton Supporter Bakari Sellers.
Patti, let's start with you. Does it make any sense to you that Debbie Wasserman Schultz is still being allowed to speak tomorrow? PATTI SOLIS DOYLE, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: No. I mean, I think of
it's a big risk for her. She still has a re-election that she has to convent with the primary and the general. And I think if she gets booed at her own party, that's an add for her opponent.
COOPER: But just in terms of, you know, there was so much focus on the republican convention and how their response to the plagiarism in Melania Trump's speech dragged it out into a multi-day story, isn't that the same thing that the DNC is doing by allowing her to speak? It's going to be the dominant story tomorrow.
[21:05:04] DOYLE: Well, no, I disagree with that. I think actually that the DNC and Clinton campaign really handled this as well as they possibly could have.
COOPER: She's still speaking though.
DOYLE: Yes, but she's resigning, which is a big deal.
And look, this is a woman who was a supporter of Hillary Clinton's in 2008. She's a strong woman in politics, and I'm always in favor of that. She's an honorable public servant. But you know what? These e-mails actually gave evidence that she was not impartial. That she was absolutely biased, and so she had to go. And what they did today was they were negotiating a decent way for her to go. And this is what they came up with.
COOPER: Michael Smerconish, does it make any sense to you? I mean again, if you're going to rip a band-aid off, you don't put it on and then rip it back off tomorrow.
MICHAEL SMERCONISH, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: My hunch is that it was part of a negotiated settlement for her to be eased out the door.
COOPER: I just don't understand. Why is the Hillary Clinton and the President of United Stated negotiating with this person? Who cares? I mean no, I'm not a politician, but who cares who the head of the DNC is and whether they get to speak or not?
SMERCONISH: I'm sure they wanted her to go relatively quietly into that night and this was probably the best the way that they could facilitate this. It reminds as you just referenced, the way in which we began in Cleveland with Melania speaking.
I think this, too, shall pass, but maybe not so quickly depending on that which is released over the next couple of days. And Anderson, what most interests me because this is all great drama, but what most interests me is the alleged Russian angle. Because either this is evidence of a foreign power seeking the influence, the outcome of an American election, which is troublesome, or it's some of the greatest spin that I've ever seen in the presidential campaign. Paul was smiling as I say that.
GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: I don't think they've put it out there without knowing something.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well that's true.
BORGER: This is something, there was a meeting of...
COOPER: You don't think political people would put something out there without it actually being 100 percent true?
BORGER: Put it out there and -- well ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really?
BORGER: OK, I understand that.
(CROSSTALK)
BORGER: Because what I think is that on this kind of an issue, where you're really accusing a foreign government of hacking into the Democratic National Committee, I think you better have your facts straight. And there were meetings of intelligence officials, DOD, Department of Defense, National Security Council about this potential Russian hack.
Now, you may have taken it a step too far because I think if you believe it to be true you ought to be able to present the evidence about it. But I also -- so yes, I believe it is serious. But to your point, Anderson, he was trying to change the subject.
COOPER: God knows a campaign manager has never been known to say something that's not true. The WikiLeaks by the way their response is, "Clinton campaign pushing lame conspiracy smear that we are Russian agents, last time we Mossad. Get it right."
BORGER: But I don't think that their agents. I think ...
(CROSSTALK)
BAKARI SELLERS, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: The question, right. Bit I think, let's be clear, I think that there are some operational deficiencies in the Democratic Party. And the Russian operatives are -- and I think there was a -- I'm pretty certain there was a forensic team that went in and delved into it and found that there were two groups. They were tied to Russian defense officials who went in and hacked the DNC, we know that to be true.
But with all that being said, WikiLeaks didn't write the e-mails. So we have to deal with that first. So we have to be ...
COOPER: Right and the e-mails themselves show, that's what the DNC ...
(CROSSTALK)
SELLERS: It doesn't excuse that. So what you have to do is have to go in, and you have to hold people accountable. People have to be fired, and that's what happened. But you also can not discount this in a general election because I think that there are some natural ties and I think that's what (Robby) was saying earlier. There are some natural ties that show that the Russian government's trying to influence the election.
JEFFREY LORD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Let me just point out. Donald Trump does not use e-mail, and it's for reasons exactly like this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But he uses Twitter.
LORD: Well he uses Twitter, but he does not -- well which it's all out there in public.
SELLER: Let get a hold of those D.M.s. That's what we need.
LORD: He does not use e-mail. You know what happens is he'll -- they'll photo-step something, scan it. He'll write a note.
COOPER: I guess, I still don't understand again. I don't -- I've interviewed Debbie Wasserman Schultz once or twice. We had a contentious interview once. I don't really know the person but why are people negotiating with her? I don't understand.
SMERCONISH: She is worthy of respect and honor by...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She deserves it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I agree.
SMERCONISH: That's number one...
COOPER: By the way if I was fired from CNN, I don't think I would be allowed back on the air to do like do a couple more shows.
SELLER: That's actually different.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I pay my cable bill to...
PAUL BEGALA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: You know, but it's a -- there's the emotional reason. She's due some respect for the work she's done. But then there's a practical reason. Technically, she could force a vote. She works for the Democratic National Committee. She didn't actually work for the president of the United States. She's not the secretary of the interior. She works for a political party whose committee actually technically hires her. She could force a floor vote. She's not going to do it.
COOPER: I'm just -- yes.
(CROSSTALK)
[21:10:00] SELLERS: I mean, this is coming up. I think if she's going to speak tomorrow. I mean, let's at least hear what she has to say. Is it going to be a spectacle tomorrow or are all eyes going to be on the speech is going to be, you know, five to seven minutes, probably as soon as they gavel in, you know at 4:00 in the middle of happy hour for most Americans. I mean is that going to be the case? Yes.
But I know...
COOPER: I think that 4:00 hour has now become prime time.
SELLERS: I know Debbie.
(CROSSTALK)
DOYLE: Not my happy hour, either.
SELLERS: And to is mine. But to quote, James Carville, he said something that was amazing today. James said that sometimes in politics, you have to know how to take your sword out and how to fall on it. And today Debbie fell on that sword. And tomorrow I think she's due to respect to at least hear what she has to say.
(CROSSTALK)
BEGALA: Well, the problem with that though is the response, will be the story. She'll say wonderful words, a good Democrat, she's a fine person. The response will become the story, and we don't need that. It's like a country song. How can I miss you ...
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: Normally, you know, when someone falls on their sword they don't then get up and get on the stage with a giant sword sticking out of them.
SELLERS: Well it's there, OK, so its there. Let's see the theater.
COOPER: They wander off.
SELLERS: Are you not entertained, Anderson, are you entertained?
COOPER: No I'm set from a-- as a reporter, you know, from my standpoint, I see it as an interesting story.
(CROSSTALK)
BORGER: Bernie Sanders said though that she shouldn't need to know. Bernie Sanders has not said that she shouldn't speak. Bernie Sanders has kind of backed away, because he doesn't want to say "I told you so". OK, he's backing off. He's taking the high road. And he is not actually telling his people she shouldn't speak, go out there and boo her. He has no control over his people. I will give you that Paul. But...
SELLERS: He's meeting with them tomorrow as well. I mean his meeting with all those delegates, but Bernie also speaks after Debbie Wassermann Schultz. So that wont be the story, that's not going to be Debbie Wassermann Schultz. And it won't be Ted Cruz.
COOPER: We'll see. We'll see what the story...
(CROSSTALK) COOPER: Maybe more e-mails will be released tomorrow. Who knows what the story will be. Plenty more to talk about including those who play a delegates, from planning more Democratic voters have mainly that in picking Tim Kaine as a running mate and Hillary Clinton is playing too safe for their liking. That's next.
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[21:15:06] COOPER: We've been talking tonight about Hillary Clinton's choice of Tim Kaine as her running mate. Criticism especially from some Sanders supporters that she's not only playing it safe but also in a political sense snubbing them, more on that shortly.
First as Senator Kaine introduce himself to the American public tonight on "60 Minutes". And now we answer the ultimate question for any running mate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PELLEY: Senator, are you ready to be president of the United States?
SEN. TIM KAINE (D-VA), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think I'm ready to lead. I'm ready, first, to be a supportive vice president so that the presidency of Hillary Clinton is a fantastic one. But, if something were to put that in my path, as much as any human being would be ready, I'd be ready. And you've got to approach it with humility. But, you know, missionaries, civil rights lawyer, local official, state official, federal official like I've climbed and I haven't missed a rung on the ladder, and if it were to come that way, I could do it.
PELLEY: Senator, in a sense, we're introducing you to 49 states, what hardship has formed your character?
KAINE: In my public life, I've had some suffering. I was elected city councilman in 1994 in Richmond, the second highest homicide rate in the United States. And I just went to too many crime scenes, I went to police funerals. And there's a hopelessness about some of that and I got to be governor in the worse day of my life, and it will always be the worst day of my life was the murder of these 32 beautiful young kids and these professors at Virginia Tech.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: That was Senator Kaine with Secretary Clinton tonight on 60 minutes. And can you argue whether or not he's the safe pick and I'm sure the panel will. However, the real question for most voters is more basic than that, namely just who is Tim Kaine, answering that once again here's our Jeff Zeleny.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: My friend, Senator Tim Kaine.
ZELENY: Her smile said it all as she introduced her new partner in Miami. Hillary Clinton deciding to go with the steady hand over star power in selecting a running mate.
CLINTON: The leader who cares more about making a difference than making headlines.
ZELENY: Virginia Senator Tim Kaine is making his way to the Democratic convention, stopping for Sunday morning mass in Richmond. As he left St. Elizabeth Catholic Church he spoke to reporters.
KAINE: We needed some prayers today, and we got some prayers, and we got some support, and it really feels good.
ZELENY: After his whirlwind announcement Florida, Kaine was welcomed home by a crowd of supporters in the critical battleground state of Virginia.
KAINE: I just -- I'm so grateful that Hillary Clinton for asking me to join her on this amazing journey. And what a great public servant and a great woman, and she's going to be a fantastic president.
ZELENY: And Kaine's role above all is turning her candidacy into a presidency.
KAINE: Hillary Clinton is the direct opposite of Donald Trump.
ZELENY: He's her validator.
KAINE: She doesn't insult people. She listens to them. What a novel concept, right? She doesn't trash our allies. She respects them. And she'll always have our backs. That is something I am rock solid sure of.
ZELENY: And her defender.
KAINE: They don't come any tougher or any more compassionate than Hillary Clinton.
ZELENY: In English and Spanish.
(FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
ZELENY: He learned Spanish during a stint at a Jesuit missionary in Honduras. A time he said that shapes his life.
KAINE: I taught teenagers the basics of carpentry and welding, and they helped me learn Spanish. My time in Honduras changed my life in so many ways.
ZELENY: It's a key part of winning over a diverse coalition of voters, essential to the Clinton campaign's plans for beating Donald Trump.
KAINE: So let's go make history and elect Hillary Clinton the 45th president of the United States.
ZELENY: Some Liberal Democrats were less than pleased with Kaine.
NORMAN SOLOMAN, BERNIE SANDERS DELEGATE: The selection of Kaine will make defeating Donald Trump that much more difficult.
ZELENY: But Senator Bernie Sanders did not rush to criticize him.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I), VERMONT: Trust me, on his worst, worst, worst, worst day, Tim Kaine is 100 times better than Donald Trump will ever be.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Jeff as you mentioned, some Democrats believe Kaine isn't liberal enough. How do you think he's going to be received at the convention?
ZELENY: Well, there's no doubt that some Democrats believe that. Perhaps Bernie Sanders' wing of the party or the Elizabeth Warren wing of the party but the reality is, if you look at Tim Kaine's record, he is an old-fashioned liberal, a social justice kind of liberal here.
So I think by and large the Democrats I've talked to, you know, from delegations across the country really are supportive of him and thought he did well yesterday. And frankly, they know that much about him. But Bernie Sanders there, basically giving him the validation, saying look, it's better than Donald Trump. I think he'll be well received here.
[21:20:00] But there are still pockets of liberals who have questions on his trade record and other things, and I have no doubt that we'll hear some of that. These party conventions are the time to air some grievances before they finally come together. Anderson.
COOPER: Jeff Zeleny. Jeff thanks very much.
Back with the panel, you know, I think that's last Sunday, Gloria and Mike. We were looking at the 60 minutes interview that Donald Trump did with Governor Pence and analyzing a lot of how they interacted and sort of whether they were comfortable with each other. What do you make of how Senator Clinton and Tim Kaine were?
BORGER: I think they were hugely comfortable with each other. They've known each other first of all longer than Pence and Trump have known each other. And I think that he defends her in a way that makes her so happy. I mean, you see her beaming behind him.
Remember during the Pence announcement, Trump was sort of went off stage when Pence spoke. He didn't stand back there on the camera. And I think he's kind of the happy warrior, a very much a values candidate. And, you know, people talk about, you know, career politicians. There is something called public service, also.
And to me, when you look at his record and what he's done starting from being a missionary in Honduras but, you know, in every rung of the ladder, he has been a public servant whether, you know, he worked for 17 years defending civil rights cases. So I think -- and the speaking of Spanish, this helps Hillary, but I think he's a really good balance for her. COOPER: Bakari, what do you think? Because you were pretty -- before Tim Kaine was named, you were saying -- you thought there should be a person of color on the ticket.
SELLERS: Undoubtedly. And I was one of the more critical voices as the selection process went through. But I -- and I was a wholehearted, full-fledged supporter of Thomas Perez. I think Thomas Perez is a great individual, would be an asset on the ticket.
With that being said though, that does this -- does not discount the fact that Tim Kaine is someone who has been a civil rights or is just, adequately, a social justice advocate for not just African-Americans going back to when he filed a lawsuit against nationwide for housing discrimination, but also immigrants.
And one of the most amazing things about him is we sometimes attempt to patronize and say, oh my god, Tim Kaine is speaking Spanish. But that's not it. Time Kaine is actually -- he was the only United States senator or the first United States senator in the history of the United States senate to go to the world (ph) and speak a complete speech in Spanish on immigration supporting the Gang of Eight Bill, so yes.
And I also had a low bar for his speaking ability which probably I should not have, you know, being a mayor, being on city council, being a United States senator. You had to be able to give a speech somewhere. But he knocked it out the park. The only thing he did was set the bar really high for Wednesday.
COOPER: Paul and Patti, I mean, you both know with Secretary Clinton, obviously very, very well. Does she seem different to you? She seemed more comfortable in interviews I've done with her. She, you know, is obviously on guard. Did she seem more comfortable, do you happy with him?
DOYLE: I have to say, I'm pretty good at reading her body language. And without a question, she likes this guy. She just genuinely likes this guy. But the other thing I think is she's relieved, like she finally has a partner, you know, somebody who take the load off a little bit.
Like, you know, you answer that question or why don't you go up and campaign in Florida while I go to Virginia. I think she's excited to actually have a partner in this endeavor.
MALE: I think...
COOPER: Michael.
SMERCONISH: I want to say, I think that the resume is a pretty impeccable resume. I know that Donald Trump will have a lot to say about the gifts that he accepted, lawful though they were.
COOPER: Right.
SMERCONISH: But they'll be problematic because it plays into the Trump narrative of this system being rigged. But following what Patti said, I think he was selected not just because of the resume, he's likeable.
To watch him deliver those remarks over the weekends as he was rolled out, this is a guy who meets the beer test. And she has problems. She has deficiencies in that regard. And I think that's one of the reasons he's on the ticket.
BEGALA: Well, in this notion of complimenting each other is really important. I mean, Hillary's been very famous for a very long time. She's not somebody who's worried about someone over shattering her. In fact, she wants some help, right, somebody who's get her back.
Contrast that with Trump who, if the constitution allowed it, he would've chosen a hand mirror. He's the only -- (inaudible) Teddy Roosevelt, he wants to be the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral.
He hated Mike Pence being on stage, even though he chose him. So, I think that that sort of that alchemy, that chemistry between the two of them. It also doubles down on what Hillary is. And that is a grown-up. She's serious. This is a solid man for a serious job.
LORD: I would say that she is cautious. I think she is an instinctively cautious person. I think this has been her flaw. I think it was her flaw eight years ago when she ran and that she doesn't like to get too far out there. So, there was not going to be an Elizabeth Warren on this ticket with her. There was not going to be somebody of that nature, which is exactly as I think our Van Jones described the menace with a tie.
COOPER: Is cautiousness a good quality in a president?
[21:25:00] SELLERS: Do you want cautious or do you want reckless? I mean, it's the option.
LORD: It is not -- it is not -- I mean, you know, I can remember all the times, Ronald Reagan said, "Well, you can't go out and say that. He went out and said it." Yeah, I mean, it was a good thing.
DOYLE: I think Trump picked a governing partner also, you know. I mean, Hillary Clinton picked a governing partner. Donald Trump did not go with his gut and he picked a governing partner to give him credit on that. I mean, they were both looking for that sort of thing.
MALE: But there are two things. I mean, on this campaign trail, I think you have to look at this as teams. Because Hillary Clinton, she doesn't necessarily need an attack dog. She doesn't necessarily needs somebody who's going to be a great orator because she has Elizabeth Warren.
She has Bernie Sanders. She has my favorite Obama which is Michelle Obama. And she also has her husband, Barack Obama. So, those things are important. But even more importantly, I think we can all agree. I mean, this Tim Kaine story is pretty cool because it shows in politics, like decent people do rise.
Like Tim Kaine's -- I'm a friend of Lindsey Graham. And Lindsey Graham had good things to say about Tim Kaine. Jeff Flake had good things to say about Tim Kaine. So, I think we can all even say that, sometimes good guys win.
MALE: Things about Donald Trump.
BEGALA: And it's not -- it's not just (inaudible) points. It's deliberative. But it's also brave, taking on tough fights. I saw Hillary Clinton, we all did, take on the entire health care industry 20 years ago and lose.
And she's got the scars to show for it. Tim Kaine in Virginia, the home of the NRA, took them on after that Virginia Tech shooting. And you saw his eyes tear up in that interview when he talked about it.
He's from a tobacco producing state, yet stood up to the tobacco industry. He's from a coal-producing state, yet he stand up to coal for global warming. He's a very deliberative guy. But he's not afraid of anybody.
DOYLE: I think Hillary Clinton also knows what happens in the White House when things don't go so well between the president and vice president when it goes a little off track, right, Paul? And I think she wanted to make sure that she got somebody that she could trust, would have her back. And that's -- she knows how important that is from ...
(Off-Mic)
COOPER: There's suppose to be at the Trump campaign is going after him saying he's ethically challenged, the gifts.
(CROSSTALK)
SMERCONISH: $160,000 worth of gifts, but they were lawful, Virginia as we all know ...
BEGALA: But that's not going to matter, right?
SMERCONISH: Understood. But they had a very lax reporting system. And there have been other problems with other elected officials. Supreme Court just reversed the case involving the former governor. But it plays right in to Trump's hands and so far as he will say this is part and parcel of a rigged system. And then, how about Debbie Wasserman Schultz in this issue, he's got of fodder for this week.
COOPER: We got tot take a quick break. Just ahead, the make or break swing states that are going to be crucial in November. Which ones are must win for Clinton and Trump and which can they afford to actually lose. John King breaks it down for us, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[21:31:21] COOPER: Well, the Democratic convention begins tomorrow right here in Philadelphia. Both parties choosing crucial swing states obviously as the backdrops for their gatherings. On Friday, Hillary Clinton and running mate Senator Tim Kaine from the swing state of Virginia will begin bus core Pennsylvania in Ohio. Senator Clinton introduced Kaine in a rally in Florida. Another critical swing state.
Polls have tightened though in a number of these key battle grounds where a win or loss could cost either nominee the White House. John King tonight breaks it down by the number.
So John, Ohio Governor John Kasich quote today saying "Trump can't win his state," state of Ohio consider must-win for Republicans. But team Trump says it has momentum in Ohio and other swing states. So who's right?
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, Governor Kasich knows his state very well, maybe he has a ouigi board or crystal ball and he can see ahead in November. But I would tell you at the month, team Trump is right. These are some swing state polls real clear politics average in swing state conducted before the Republican convention and even then, a tie in Florida, Clinton lead in Virginia, pretty much a tie in Ohio. John Kasich says Trump can win but he was in place before the convention.
Pennsylvania, a little Clinton lead. Nevada tied. Colorado, Clinton lead. But Anderson, since we talked last hour, I am told in most of these states, these ones right here, in Florida, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Nevada, I've seen some polling conducted in the Senate campaigns out there that also has the presidential question and Donald Trump has moved since these polls were conducted in all of these states.
So, some of that's to be expected. He just had his convention. There's a bit of a Republican bounce. But make no mistake about it, as Hillary Clinton begins her convention, Donald Trump is more than competitive. He's very competitive.
COOPER: So let's talk about the electoral votes needed for victory. At the moment, who has the easiest path to 270?
KING: No doubt Secretary Clinton does, even though this is a very competitive race. The Democrats have won the last two presidential elections. They have an infrastructure in place to help President Obama. At the moment, in our CNN electoral calculation, we give Secretary Clinton 236. The dark blue are solid Democrat, the light blue lean Democrat, Donald Trump 191. Again, dark red solid Republican, lighter red, lean Republican.
So she's at 236. You just talked about Tim Kaine, right? He's from Virginia. They announced in Florida. If Hillary Clinton, if nothing else change in this map and Hillary Clinton won Virginia and won Florida, game over.
So it's much easier. Easy for everybody but she has the easier path, Anderson, because she has more options. She's got a lead in the electoral college right now, even if she couldn't win one of those. There are other options. Pennsylvania's usually a blue state. Iowa's a swing state. Nevada has a Latino population. So Hillary Clinton has a bigger menu, if you will, to peak states to get 270.
COOPER: So what's Trump's best path?
KING: So let's go back to this map. When we switch this back and come back to our battle ground map. Now, Trump's best path is to win Florida. This is the Latino vote there. The Democrats are going to go heavy there. 29 electoral votes. If Democrats can take that away from Donald Trump, this path gets really complicated. But if Trump can win Florida, if Trump can win North Carolina which will be a tough battle ground state that Mitt Romney won it in 2012, Obama win it 2008. Trump can do those two. Republican has to win Ohio. So Trump has to prove John Kasich wrong. Then look where Donald Trump is. This is 253 to 236.
Now you look at this map what comes next. Trump thinks its Pennsylvania. Trump picks Pennsylvania. You have Jeffrey Lord with you. Now George W. Bush tries with this one, Anderson. If Trump can get that make that one red, if he can get that plus Florida, North Carolina and Ohio, then Donald Trump is the next president of United States if nothing else changes. That is not an easy lift.
If he can't get Florida, though, if for some reason the Democrats -- if the Democrats (inaudible) Florida, then Trump's math very hard because that's what Secretary Clinton 265 and then Trump would have not only Jeffrey Lord's state of Pennsylvania. He would have to somehow swing Michigan even that would leave him short. So then you're looking as he get Wisconsin or combination of Iowa and New Hampshire or Nevada or take Tim Kaine's state of Virginia, Trump's math is very much more -- more much limited menu, if you will. Fewer states on his menu but it's doable, Anderson, without a doubt.
[21:35:05] COOPER: All right, John King, appreciate you breaking it down in the city where the cornerstone documents of the country were adopted history will be made again this week. Before it, just ahead Hillary Clinton's path becoming the first female presidential nominee, including the speed bumps she's hit along the way.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: As you know, tomorrow the Democratic convention begins here in the city where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. constitution were debated and adopted over the next four days in Philadelphia. History will be made again, Hillary Clinton becoming the first female presidential nominee. Her path to this moment has been a mixed momentum and some speed bumps of course. Tom Foreman looks back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: That is why I am running for president of the United States.
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There was never really any doubt that Clinton would run, that the Democratic establishment would back her or that she had learned lessons about connecting with voters. CLINTON: Because it's your time, and I hope you'll join me on this
journey.
FOREMAN: In many ways, her journey to this race started eight years ago.
CLINTON: Although we weren't able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it's got about 18 million cracks in it.
FOREMAN: Her primary loss to Barack Obama in 2008 disappointed those who thought she'd be the first female nominee for a major, but Clinton backed Obama became Secretary of state and piled up credentials she has touted in this campaign.
[21:40:12] CLINTON: I am ready on day one to ...
FOREMAN: But experience also brought vulnerabilities. She was hammered by Republicans over her handling of the Benghazi attacks in which four Americans died while she was secretary of state. The response in a congressional hearing was turned into a punch line.
CLINTON: What difference at this point does it make?
FOREMAN: Some voters called her pledge to support women hypocritical, considering her long silence on her husband's behavior.
CLINTON: You are very rude, and I'm not ever going to call on you.
FOREMAN: Despite it all, Clinton's campaign was a juggernaut, raising tens of millions of dollars, staying relentlessly on message and never flinching even as Bernie Sanders launching unexpectedly robust challenge, hitting her over highly-paid speeches she made to bankers.
SANDERS: One of us has given speeches on Wall Street for hundreds of thousands of dollars. I think we should release it and let the American people see what that transcript was.
FOREMAN: Then came something bigger.
ED HENRY, FOX NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Did you wipe the server?
CLIHTON: What? Like, with a cloth or something?
FOREMAN: She laughed off revelations she used a private e-mail server to conduct state department business, insisting she had done nothing wrong. But after investigating, FBI Director James Comey shredded her defense. While he would not press charges ...
JAMES COMEY, FBI DIRECTOR: There is evidence that they were extremely careless.
FOREMAN: Still Clinton has managed to outrun Sanders, and for the most part, dodge the controversies, and now she is finally poised to make history, as the woman at the head of a major political party where no other has stood before. Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: And we are back with the panel. You know, so much of what we heard during the Republicans convention which unified them the most probably was Hillary Clinton. And I'm wondering how much you think we're going to hear about Donald Trump during this convention?
SMERCONISH: I suspect you will particularly in the first two nights of the convention. It seems that the pattern is that you bring the heavy lumber the first two nights, go with the negativity and make sure that you done finish on a very positive note.
That which what we have heard is obviously true in terms of her ascendantsy. But I'd be reminisce I didn't say that I think the real stunning story of the Democratic race is Bernie Sanders, despite the fact that he came up short. If you said to I think any of us a year ago, this is the challenge that he would be able to mouth, nobody will be ...
COOPER: So does Bernie Sanders tomorrow night focus on Donald Trump?
SMERCONISH: I think you guys big time ...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah.
SMERCONISH: And he tries to -- I mean he's the one perfectly suited individual who can sound the feelings in that hall over this e-mail situation and the WikiLeaks drop.
LORD: The problem is she's not well liked. I mean that's -- I keep thinking back when we were on the air in July of last summer. And there was a Quinnipiac poll or something where they'd asked word associations to all the different candidates. And number one verb (ph) was liar, and number two was dishonest.
I mean if that's what, you know, that sort of sentiment that's out there, that is, you think of tricky dick and all this kind of stuff. That is a hard thing to deal with.
SELLERS: I think that both candidates have very high unfavorabilities (ph). I think only one candidate is an e extensional threat to the United States of America, and that's Donald Trump.
But with that being said, I think -- I caution my Democratic colleagues as you're dropping your speeches right now and finishing up, I think that Donald Trump painted a picture of an America that I don't know last week. And I look forward to democrats actually this week talking not about what America was or what it is, but what it can be. And I hope, and I'm sure that Bernie Sanders is going to hammer Donald Trump and hit on his lack of preparedness. I'm sure Elizabeth Warren's going to the same. But I hope that they add that element of inspiration. I mean I'm fortunate enough to get an opportunity to speak, and I'm not wasting any moment, not one line on Donald Trump because I just think that there's enough out there that we can teach the country, at least preach to the country where we think it should go.
BEGALA: There is -- I think Michael is right, though, a progression which I think here exact like tomorrow. Senator sanders, you know, he has a huge following in this party. And those people aren't going to just turn on a dime. And so you can build a bridge though. And the path is, you know, take a journey with Bernie, and that journey begins with I hate Trump and it ends with I love Hillary.
By the end of it, I think Bakara makes a good point. Thursday night, if all she does is get 12-point plans that is insufficient, she has to open up heart. It's the thing she hates most in this business. And Donald Trump blew his chance to do that. How about (inaudible) to the great job.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Great. Phenomenal.
BEGALA: But him himself, he gave the worst speech by anybody name Trump because he didn't open his heart or maybe he did and his heart is just dark an scary place. It's hard for Hillary to do this and that will be the challenge for her and it is very important, it is not simply trash Trump, it is not simply that 12-point plans.
[21:45:09] It is, you know, Patti and I know her for years and years. And if she can show the world that Hillary, she can go a long way towards winning this race.
DOYLE: I also that there's a huge gap between the people who know her, who spent time with her, who have worked with her, and their perception of her, and then the perception of the public of her.
And I think what you're going to hear throughout this convention is from people who've known her, who've worked with her, who've been helped by her in some way, who had a beer with her. And they're going to testify to her likability and her trustworthiness. And they're going to tell you, you know what? I know her, and I trust her.
BORGER: Can I make a small point here?
DOYLE: Yeah.
BORGER: And maybe it's a good thing we haven't talked about it, but we're going to nominate the country, the democrats are going to nominate a woman ...
DOYLE: Right.
BORGER: ... for the first time.
SELLERS: In the history.
BORGER: In the history of this country. And we haven't talked about it a lot, because I think we've sort of gone past that. You know, when I talked to millennial woman, they're like, of course we're going to have a woman president. They don't even consider that a strange notion, but it is a historic moment. I think it will be an emotional moment for her in particular. And maybe, to your point, Paul, that will get her to open up a little bit about her life and who she is.
BEGALA: I think it will affect us. I was for Hillary in the primaries in a way. When I was Barack Obama stand there, if Democratic party which has historically had been the party of slavery, segregation and lynching nominating -- really is moving. When Nancy Pelosi the guest speaker, one of the toughest Republican women I know called me up, she said I was weeping. Just because something I've (ph) seen in history ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I tend that to wonder ...
DOYLE: And need to be introduced by her daughter ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.
DOYLE: ... which is going to be so important to her, and so impactful to her. I think you're going to see a lot of emotion.
LORD: I sometimes wonder if she's not the Democratic version of Mitt Romney. I mean I can only tell you, four years ago, there were so many Republicans who said you got to vote for him because otherwise, Obama will be reelected, and yet, there were a lot of Republicans who just refused to show up and vote for Mitt Romney. And I'm wondering if we're going to have some version of the same situation with Democrats saying you got to do it or you'll elect Trump and there's not enough enthusiasm. They're to get people out.
SMERCONISH: Can I say anecdotally in follow up on what Gloria commented n the enthusiasm issue. I remember what is was like to take telephone calls from African-Americans in 2008, who were clamoring for the opportunity to shatter that ceiling and to elect Barack Obama, and I haven't heard that in the cycle from women particularly millennial women about -- they'll talk all about Donald Trump and what about what they don't want in terms of the Republican but they don't single out her gender as something that's driving them to the polls.
BORGER: It's interesting. On the campaign trail, I would interview young women all the time. I would make a point of doing it. And millennial women would just assume ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.
BORGER: ... that a woman would become president.
SELLERS: Can I throw something out here real quick, something we haven't talked about that hasn't got and lot of play. I think one of the more important speeches we're going to hear this week, because it's not going to be a policy speech, it's not going to be really wonky is from Bill Clinton, because Bill Clinton is going to come out here this week and he's going to talk about his wife in a way that we probably have never heard him speak before. So I think that Bill Clinton is actually going to be the lynch pin to humanizing Hillary Clinton a lot this week. COOPER: All right. I want to thank everybody on the panel. Just ahead to Gloria's earlier point, wherever you stand this week, it's going to be historic, no one knows that better than a 103-year-old voter who's excited to do something she never thought would happen to her lifetime cast a ballot for a woman for president. Her amazing story, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[21:52:30] COOPER: Well no matter where you (inaudible) a political spectrum and during what has been an incredibly device of campaign season you got to love the voter we're about to introduce you to. She's a 103 years old. Women were not even allowed to votes when she was born. Now this week a woman will accept the nomination probation for the party and this all happens in one voter's lifetime. . 360 Gary Tuchman has her story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: When it comes to politics and pretty much everything else actually, it's fair to say Ruline Steininger has just about seen it all.
RULINE STEININGER, 103 YEAR OLD VOTER: I'm a 103, April 14th, 1913.
TUCHMAN: That's right, 103. The Iowa resident was born in year before the start of world war one. And a passion she has had for nearly all of those 103 years is politics. She was seven years old when women won the right to vote. And she says she has never missed the voting in a presidential election starting in 1936.
STEININGER: I voted for Roosevelt, first then.
TUCHMAN: Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt defeated Republican outlands in that year. Her parents we're loyal Republicans.
And how did your parents feel about that?
STEININGER: I didn't tell them.
TUCHMAN: What would've happen if you tell them?
STEININGER: Well, I don't know. I didn't take a chance on it.
TUCHMAN: And Ruline has voted for a democrat every presidential election since. So you're going to be voting on Hillary Clinton?
STEININGER: Am I? Are you silly? I don't know why everyone isn't for her.
TUCHMAN: For most of her life, when she was a little girl to the midst of her career as school teacher, Ruline says she thought this about the presidency.
STEININGER: I couldn't imagine a woman, I mean it's always been a man and I just assume that might always be. TUCHMAN: But with Hillary Clinton, she now believes American history is about to change and this past February on the night of the Iowa caucuses.
UNKNOWN FEMALE: May I ask how old you are?
STEININGER: I'm 102.
TUCHMAN: Ruline accompanied by a sudden daughter-in-law cast the first of votes for Hillary Clinton.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have 98 for Hillary Clinton, 67 for Bernie Sanders, 6 undecided.
STEININGER: Where's my photograph and I need them to ...
TUCHMAN: And she read us a letter she wrote to Hillary Clinton.
STENINGER: In my first century of life, I have seen many incredible things, two world depressions, a cure for polio, a man on the moon, the end of smallpox, an attack on American soil and a black president.
In my second century, I look forward to seeing a woman president.
[21:55:13] TUCHMAN: Clinton sent Ruline a letter back expressing her gratitude and said she hope to meet her at the rally. But as you can see in this picture they did.
I think if she becomes president you can ask her for whatever you want.
STEININGER: I'm not asking for her anything, just being president is enough.
TUCHMAN: Ruline has two children and three grandchildren, and the 96 year old sister who we heard her talking about.
STEININGER: She won't vote for Hillary because of Hillary's e-mail problem and that's a minor thing.
TUCHMAN: Ruline wishes her sister thought like she did, because she believes one of the most remarkable moments of her live is on the purge of taking place.
How excited are you about casting a ballot in November for her?
STEININGER: Well I'm really excited about that, and of course I've got a big job ahead of me.
TUCHMAN: What's that?
STEININGER: I got to live. After that, OK, I can die if I want to but I'm going to live until she's elected.
TUCHMAN: Gary Tuchman, CNN, Pleasant Hill, Iowa.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: What a remarkable life. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: That's it for me. Thanks for watching. "CNN TONIGHT" with Don Lemon starts now.
