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The Lead with Jake Tapper

Red and Blue Mirages to Appear in Early Election Night Results; Coronavirus Cases Surge in Every Battleground State; Trump holds Wisconsin Rally as Governor Urges People to Stay Home; Georgia Senator Backs Out of Debate to Campaign with Trump; U.S. Coronavirus Cases Surpass 9 Million. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired October 30, 2020 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00]

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Because they haven't counted all these Democratic leaning ballots.

HILARY ROSEN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: You know, I think Democrats are feeling pretty confident about Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and so I just don't see us panicking if Trump takes an early lead because of a lack of mail-in votes being counted.

You know, I think Pennsylvania could end up coming down to the wire, I have a hard time believing this election is going to come down to Pennsylvania, but if it does, we're not going to know the winner for several days.

You know, if we have a blue mirage in, you know, Texas and Florida and North Carolina, that's going to feel like an oasis. Those are states we actually don't need to win. It'd be great to win them and there's a lot and important Congressional races in those states for Democrats, but I think that no one is going to take anything for granted if we come out early in those states.

I think Democrats are sort of being super practical this election night. We all have PTSD.

TAPPER: Yes.

MARY KATHARINE HAM, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: That is the one thing, I think everybody is emotionally spooked on both sides by what happened in 2016. So Republicans are like, we'll show you, we'll surprise you again, and Democrats are like, we're leaving nothing on the table. So and it does have this strange feeling where people look at data points but their gut is telling them, remember what happened last time.

TAPPER: Yes, nobody knows anything, as William Goldman once said about Hollywood. I mean, it's all just who knows, it's in the hands of the voters now. MK, coronavirus is surging in every battleground state and every state

almost. And yet Trump's closing argument essentially is that the pandemic is nearly over, they're turning a corner. Now he's however changing his messaging saying that masks are not controversial.

I guess the biggest question I have for you is how do you think these rallies are playing with the undecided voters in places like North Carolina? Obviously, his base loves them but what about people who don't know what they think -- what they don't know who to vote for?

HAM: Yes, I think, look, rallies outside not as big a problem as inside, which had been in the past, we made a shift on that and masks. I'm not sure that the numbers on coronavirus which are indeed surging, are catching up with people's real life experience pre-election. I wonder how much it will play in that way?

And there is a way to thread the needle on this, unfortunately, in our very tribal society, we're not able to do that. But a smart pitch, for instance, to, I don't know, suburban moms who are starting grassroots groups by the thousands asking schools to open up in a way that will help them go back to work. You can talk about how to do that safely and how to push on that notion.

I think one of the strongest parts of Trump's debate performances was saying, look, I think this guy wants to keep us locked down and I'm not sure that is the solution. And a lot of people feel that way and are concerned about the prices of continuing locking down or locking down in a more strict manner if there is a surge as it looks like there is continuing to be.

So I think the way you can thread the needle, not sure it's going to happen.

TAPPER: And Hilary, Biden message is he wants to shut down the virus, not the economy, but you heard what MK said, there are a lot of frustrated people who think that schools should have students come back wearing masks, obviously, with guidelines and precautions, but that the remote education can't last forever.

ROSEN: You know, if Mary Katherine were advising Donald Trump, he might be better off right now, but instead what the President is doing is turning voters off. I've seen research this week where people know that there is this second wave happening, and they actually -- these rallies, I think, are backfiring on him because they see the President increasingly being unsafe.

And then he goes to these rallies, and instead of talking about how hard it is for families to have to send their kids to virtual school or businesses that aren't reopened, instead of actually feeling people's pain, he's accusing doctors of profiting off of COVID. He's accusing nurses. The very people who are saving lives he is out there attacking day after day. I mean his closing message makes no sense.

And I think, you know, you see in Joe Biden kind of the opposite, which is steady Eddie Joe. Like he's saying, look, we need to get back to work, we need to be focused, we're going to beat the virus, we're not going to beat the economy. Like he's been incredibly consistent and Trump is just not making anyone feel better.

TAPPER: All right, Hilary Rosen, Mary Katharine Ham, thanks to both of you. Really appreciate it.

Hoping for a win in Wisconsin, both Presidential candidates in that state today. Why it's such a crucial stop on the road to victory. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:35:00]

TAPPER: In the 2020 LEAD, in these final four days before the election day, the focus is on the Rust Belt for both the Trump and Biden campaigns. Joe Biden making his closing pitch in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota today. President Trump is in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

CNN's Jeremy Diamond is in Green Bay, Wisconsin right now where President Trump is headed, and CNN's Miguel Marquez is in Michigan where Joe Biden has a big weekend on deck.

[15:40:00]

Let's start in Green Bay, Jeremy, while the Wisconsin governor is urging people to stay home to help get cases under control, President Trump obviously doing the exact opposite, holding a huge rally in that state.

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right, Jake. You know, there are a few places in the country where you can see the coronavirus pandemic and the path to 270 electoral college votes collide as much as right here in the state of Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has said that this is an urgent situation here in this state. And if you look at the numbers in terms of the total case numbers, hospitalizations in the state, 220,000 total cases in already here in the state of Wisconsin. Much of that brought on by a surge over the last couple of months.

And this has been happening at a rate of about 4,000 cases per day. Now if you look at this in terms of per capita numbers, over the last week this state has seen the third most number of cases per capita of any state in the country. It is really remarkable, Jake, and yet what we are seeing from the President is him continuing to campaign right here in the state of Wisconsin which he won narrowly by fewer than 23,000 votes last time around.

He's campaigning here without abandon. This is the President's fourth rally that he has held in this state in less than two weeks. And as you can see behind me, Jake, you have once again a familiar scene. Thousands of people closely packed together, very few of them actually wearing masks.

And what you are also hearing is the President himself continuing to downplay the pandemic. Just last night in Florida the President was talking about the fact that you're going to get better if you get the coronavirus. But, Jake, we know that is not the case for so many people who get this virus.

TAPPER: And Jeremy, obviously Biden, who's going to be in Wisconsin in a few hours, he won't have anything looking like this rally. Of course, what he'll be doing will be approved by health officials as opposed to the potential super-spreader event going on behind you.

DIAMOND: That's right, the Biden campaign has pledged to follow the health guidelines in all the cities and states that they have been visiting. And so while you'll see Joe Biden campaigning in Milwaukee at Milwaukee Airport, we expect that audience to be just about a dozen people there masked, socially distanced to listen to the Vice President.

And you're not only going to see a different image, Jake, you're also going to hear a very different message from former Vice President Joe Biden who has been talking about how he plans to shut down this virus, not downplaying the coronavirus pandemic but acknowledging the reality of this very dangerous and worrying surge of cases that we are seeing around the country -- Jake.

TAPPER: All right, Jeremy Diamond thank you so much. In the final weekend of this race, Joe Biden will be joined by his best known surrogate, his former boss, former President Barack Obama in battleground Michigan, a state that Obama won twice and President Trump won by just .2 percent in 2016, roughly 11,000 votes.

Let's go now to CNN's Miguel Marquez. Miguel, Biden not only leading in polls in Michigan but also in campaign cash. And that has the Trump campaign making some last-minute moves?

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Trump and his campaign are piling in and piling on in Michigan. Ivanka Trump was diverted to Detroit for a last-minute fundraiser. She is in Detroit ahead of her father who is up in Oakland County just north of the city in the suburbs in just a short while -- actually, he's just finished up.

And but there's been tons of surrogates. Eric Trump, Tiffany Trump's been here, Betsy DeVos, the Vice President was here earlier. This is the President's second trip to Michigan this week. Vice President Biden and Barak Obama, his former boss will be in town tomorrow. They will be in Flint and in Detroit doing sort of those car, those rallies that they do, where they sort of a drive-in rally in both places. So we have a better sense of how they are going to be treating it.

It is amazing to see how both campaigns are working so incredibly hard to convince people here who are dropping off votes right now in Detroit and have been in enormous numbers across Michigan to vote for them through election day -- Jake.

TAPPER: Miguel, yesterday Michigan reported its highest number of coronavirus new cases in a day. How is that affecting campaign events today and tomorrow? MARQUEZ: So a week ago, there were about 1,800 coronavirus cases

reported in Michigan. Yesterday there were 3,800 cases reported. The percent of positivity was at about 7 percent. It's jumped up to 9 percent. There is real concern in this state that it is out of the gates, and that virus is now raging again.

It's much like Jeremy was talking about in Wisconsin. We were at the Trump rally this morning. Thousands of people piling in, very few wearing masks, not really taking it seriously. That is them taking it from the lead from the President himself. And you can see it on the ground and it is worrisome, because many of those people may get it and many of them may be seriously sick from it, if not killed by it.

When you look at Joe Biden's events, they are much more socially distanced. You know, those rallies, they may not be as satisfying to his supporters and people who want to come out to see him, but it is certainly the safer route to go.

[15:45:03]

He'll be doing one in Flint, one in Detroit, clearly with President Obama with him. That will attract a lot of attention. The President clearly has really enjoyed taking it to his successor President Trump, his other two appearances -- Jake.

TAPPER: All right, Miguel Marquez, thank you so much. After one contentious face off with his Democratic contender, Republican Senator David Perdue has just pulled out of his final Senate debate. Why the Republican Party is worried about what happens in Georgia on Tuesday. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:50:00]

TAPPER: In our 2020 LEAD today, Republicans are worried about the traditionally red state of Georgia with two Republican Senate seats up for grabs. Democrats believe they have a very good chance of turning it blue for Biden and maybe even one of the Senate seats. And in a last-minute twist, Republican Senator David Perdue has pulled out of a final debate to attend a rally with President Trump on Sunday.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a problem many Republicans did not foresee. Two GOP-held Senate seats in Georgia at risk of flipping to the Democrats.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You all say 2 for 2.

CROWD: 2 for 2.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 2 for 2.

RAJU: Republican Senator David Perdue struggling to fend off Democrat Jon Ossoff, a candidate less than half his age. (on camera): You're 33 years old. So why are you qualified to be a

Senator?

JON OSSOFF (D) SENATORIAL CANDIDATE, GEORGIA: When people look at Washington, the last thing they say is that there's too many young people in positions of power.

RAJU (voice-over): Ossoff has accused Perdue of ignoring the coronavirus crisis and seeking to profit from it.

OSSOFF: It's not just that you're a crook, Senator, it's that you're attacking the health of the people that you represent.

[15:55:00]

RAJU: Perdue spending big on TV ads, defending himself over stock trades he said were made without his knowledge.

SEN. DAVID PERDUE (R-GA): I was completely cleared by the Bipartisan Senate Ethics Committee, DOJ and S.E.C. The truth matters.

RAJU: As polls show a tight race, Perdue stoked controversy by mocking the name of Joe Biden's running mate Senator Kamala Harris at a Trump rally.

PERDUE: Kama-lor, kama-lakim, kamala, bala, bala. I don't know.

RAJU (on camera): A little bit of racism there.

OSSOFF: Unquestionably.

RAJU (voice-over): Perdue abruptly pulled out of this Sunday's debate choosing instead to attend President Trump's rally. It's consistent with Perdue's efforts to avoid the media. His campaign would not disclose his plans this week but CNN learned he was in central Georgia. His supporters tried to block our camera.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This guy's trying to block us.

RAJU (on camera): And prevent any questions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, He's not going to do an interview, I'll tell you.

RAJU (voice-over): As he made his way on the bus, CNN approached him.

(on camera): We tried to reach out to your campaign but your campaign wouldn't tell us where you were doing, what you were doing. I'm wondering why that was.

PERDUE: Are you asking me a question?

RAJU: Yes. I'm asking you, your other opponent --

PERDUE: That's a campaign question.

RAJU (voice-over): Perdue said his race is closer due to an influx of new voters.

(on camera): I just talked to John Ossoff. He was very critical about you. He also called your comments about Kamala Harris, he said they were racist. What's your response to that?

PERDUE: Well, that's about all he can talk about. Because he sure can't talk about his agenda. Thanks Guys.

RAJU: Do you regret what you said about mispronouncing her name?

(voice-over): Tuesday's winner must receive more than 50 percent of the vote. If not, the top two will compete in a January runoff. That is almost certain in a pointed GOP Senator Kelly Loeffler's race to hold Georgia's other Senate seat. But the GOP is bitterly divided after Congressman Doug Collins jumped into that race.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He is one of the most liberal Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives.

REP. DOUG COLLINS (R-GA): I'll tell you what it is, you're pretending to be somebody you're not and --

RAJU: As Collins and Loeffler both fight to get into the runoff, they are targeting their base and not swing voters campaigning as Trump loyalists.

(on camera): Is there any issue in which you disagree with the President on?

SEN. KELLY LOEFFLER (R-GA): No, look, the President, like myself, he's a political outsider.

MANU (voice-over): Claiming to be unaware of Trump's boast to "Access Hollywood" about sexually assaulting women.

LOEFFLER: I'm not familiar with that.

RAJU (on camera): Yes, "Access Hollywood" tape, he's referring to the "Access" recording --

LOEFFLER: Yes, no, look, this President is fighting for America.

RAJU (voice-over): Collins also defended Trump including on the pandemic.

(on camera): No, you're not quibbling with his response at all in any way to the crisis?

COLLINS: I don't quibble. And I don't go back and forth with him on his (INAUDIBLE).

RAJU (voice-over): Their fight has left their top Democratic foe, Raphael Warnock, largely unscathed.

RAPHAEL WARNOCK, DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CANDIDATE, GEORGIA: I think that's a bizarre thing for anybody running for the Senate to say that I'm 100 percent with any President.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RAJU: Now, Jake, also today in Georgia, Republican Congressman Drew Ferguson announced testing positive for COVID-19. Now he and the Governor Brian Kemp were at a Republican rally earlier this week. Many supporters maskless. And the governor has announced that he would isolate despite testing negative.

And Jake, I can tell you in going to Republican events in Georgia, most of these supporters are maskless like they were seeing at Trump rallies including at that Loeffler event. Which was indoors more than 50 people were there, which is defiance of state rules but they were maskless and they're carrying on their events just like the President has -- Jake.

TAPPER: All right, Manu Raju, thanks so much, appreciate it.

Almost nothing, that's what the President's son said about the number of COVID deaths in the U.S. He said it on a day when more than 900 Americans lost their lives to the virus. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TAPPER: Welcome to the second hour of THE LEAD. I'm Jake Tapper. Any minute President Trump will hold his second of three rallies today in the final four days until election day in the United States.

The spread of coronavirus is also simultaneously reaching the worst levels ever in the U.S. Moments ago, the U.S. just crossed 9 million confirmed cases of coronavirus. 9 million. It took 14 days to reach this milestone. The shortest amount of time the U.S. has ever saddled a million cases.

Plus, there are more than 229,000 deaths in the U.S. 229,000. Both of these are the highest rates in the world of coronavirus infection and coronavirus deaths according to official numbers.

And yet President Trump and his allies want to pretend that this pandemic is going away and that it is not a huge crisis throughout the country. Just last night, President Trump's son Donald Jr. shared a cruel and frankly disgusting claim.