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18 Congressional Democrats Call On Joe Biden To End Reelection Bid; President Joe Biden Heads To Michigan As He Tries To Calm Fears About Candidacy; California Representative Mike Levin Becomes 19th Lawmaker To Call On President Joe Biden To Exit Race; Poll: 71 Percent Of Joe Biden Supporters Want A Different Candidate; Donald Trump's Pick For Vice President To Attend Fundraiser At Republican National Convention Next Week. Aired 2-2:30p ET

Aired July 12, 2024 - 14:00   ET

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

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[14:00:17]

JESSICA DEAN, CNN HOST: Riding with Biden or time to resign, more Democrats are calling on the president with the race but he's showing absolutely no signs of backing down as he heads to the crucial swing state of Michigan to campaign today.

Also, a massive data hack. AT&T admitting that call and text message records for tens of millions of customers were stolen in an illegal download. The latest on what the company is saying about the hack.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: And a remarkable rescue of a truck driver finding a toddler crawling in a ditch off a major highway. Why the boy's mother is now facing criminal charges including murder.

We're following these major developing stories and many more all coming in right here to CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

DEAN: President Biden headed back on the trail as calls for him to drop out of the race grow. This time he'll be in the key swing state of Michigan following a private meeting last night with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. CNN is learning Jefferies did not offer Biden his explicit endorsement in that meeting. We also know 18 congressional Democrats have now come out saying Biden should end his bid for re-election.

SANCHEZ: Meantime, the president is preparing for a series of crucial calls to convince his party that he's fit for another term in the White House. Sources tell CNN that he'll meet virtually with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus today, as well as members of the Asian Pacific American Caucus.

Tomorrow, he's holding calls with groups of congressional Democrats. Our coverage begins live in Detroit with CNN's Arlette Saenz. Because Arlette, Biden is pushing forward with his campaign and he said it today to Detroit to deliver a message.

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Boris, President Biden has said he is going to keep moving in this campaign. And today that will be moving here to the battleground state of Michigan.

Now, for the president's part, he is looking to convince Democratic voters and voters across the country that he is fit to serve a second term in office a while also trying to ease some of those concerns within the Democratic Party from top officials and donors as well.

Now, for the president's part, he really wants to try to turn the focus back to former President Donald Trump. Aides say that the president will really lean into trying to draw a policy contrast with Trump specifically bringing up that Project 2025 conservative blueprints that Democrats are quite eager to tie to the former president.

But the president also is facing significant pushback within his own party. His advisors had hoped that that press conference last night would really try to stop the bleeding of support that he has seen in recent days, there have been a few lawmakers who have joined the chorus of those calling for the president to step aside in the wake of that debate. But then there are also some within the party who are simply saying it is time for move -- to move on and accept President Biden's decision.

Now, Michigan, where the president will be in just a few hours is a key part of the Biden campaign's formula as they are planning how to win this election in November.

Just yesterday, top campaign officials argued that the president's most direct path to victory was through the so called blue wall states, states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. That is why President Biden has repeatedly traveled here over the course of the campaign.

Now, the president today will be joined by a number of elected officials from the state of Michigan, including the state's Lieutenant government -- Governor and at least three Democratic lawmakers from the house but one person in Michigan Congresswoman Scholten has called for President Biden to step aside, signaling some of the pressure that he could be facing in this state.

Now, it's also worth noting, Biden traveled to Michigan often in this campaign and also in 2020. And it was here where the president made a pledge back during that 2020 run, he will be visiting that same site where he made this pledge that he would be a bridge to the next generation of Democratic leaders. Take a listen to that moment from four years ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Look, I view myself as a bridge, not as anything else. There's an entire generation of leaders you saw stand behind me. They are the future of this country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: Now, President Biden was actually asked about that moment at that press conference last night and he said that what changed was the gravity of the situation that he inherited when he took office. And he believes that he needs to continue on in this race to finish the job.

But of course, there are some in the Democratic Party who are clamoring for change and clamoring for the president to step aside in this moment.

DEAN: All right, Arlette Saenz in Michigan, thanks so much for that reporting. Let's turn now to CNN Washington Correspondent Sunlen Serfaty.

And Sunlen, you're learning about another Congressman now asking for Biden to step aside, this, as we know about this private meeting between House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and President Biden from last night.

[14:05:10]

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: That's right, just got another drip from Capitol Hill. We now have another congressional Democrat Mike Levin of California who has called for President Biden to step aside. He said he was naturally concerned about Biden's approach to that debate and his performance in that debate. And he's heard in the two weeks since from his constituents, which is only in essence thrown the alarm for him, which led him to his statement today.

Now, those sentiments are certainly likely many of the top concerns that the House -- the top House Leader Hakeem Jeffries took in this private meeting to President Biden last night.

Now, we know that he has been hearing an earful from his caucus over the last two weeks, both privately and publicly Democrats concerned about what this effect this has on them potentially trying to really take the House, concerns about the next four years, concerns about potentially not winning the White House and likely, those are the things that Hakeem Jeffries sat down face-to-face with President Biden last night and discussed.

Now, CNN's Jeff Zeleny, one source telling him that important to note that in this meeting Hakeem Jeffries did intentionally did not offer an endorsement of Biden or publicly say that the decision is Biden's to make.

And Jeffries in his own words in a letter to House colleagues this morning, he called that discussion candid with Biden last night going on to say, "I expressed the full breadth of insight, heartfelt perspectives and conclusions about the path forward that the caucus has shared in our recent time together."

Now, notably, Jeffries has said that he plans to sit down and talk to House Democratic leaders at some point potentially soon. We are unclear on the timing of that. But that's certainly an important marker here. And it comes as the White House is increasing congressional outreach.

We know that Biden has a series of these smaller meetings with congressional Democrats, Congressional Hispanic Caucus in the last hour, he's also due to meet with the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and the Progressive Caucus. It certainly comes amid rising concern for Biden and his ability to stay on the ticket.

SANCHEZ: And we'll see how the president responds to that feedback. Sunlen Serfaty, thanks so much for the reporting.

We've repeatedly heard President Biden say that the pressure on him to drop out is being driven by elites and not necessarily voters. The answer though appears to be a bit more complicated. There's a new poll finding that seven in 10, 71 percent of Biden's supporters would replace both Biden and Trump on the ballot if they were given the chance.

Many Democrats have indicated that if President Biden were to step aside, Vice President Kamala Harris would then top the ticket.

DEAN: But when you break that poll down by race, Black Biden supporters are the least likely to say that they want to see the president replaced.

And CNN's Rene Marsh has been talking to voters in several states, including the critical state of Georgia. Rene, what are they telling you?

RENE MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, as you said, this conversation is very nuanced and layered, but I will say that the conversation is dramatically different than what we're hearing in Washington, D.C. I spent time in Georgia and I had not found anyone during my time there who said that they want to see Biden replace on the top of the ticket.

Look, granted that, I mean, anecdotal, you did put out a poll that said that 58 percent of Black voters actually want Trump and Biden both to be replaced.

But I am saying from what I'm seeing on the ground, I'm just not finding those people.

DEAN: Fascinating.

MARSH: So, I want you to take a listen to, we spent some time in a -- in a couple of restaurants there in Georgia. And here's a sampling of what I was told. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am voting for democracy and as of right now, a convicted felon is not it. It's not it. Biden's our guy. That's what I'm writing with.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm a solid no. Yes, I don't want him to step aside. There's no other choice at this time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARSH: So, that's it. I mean, and they're giving a number of reasons. You know, they're saying two things.

Number one, they're saying it's way too late. You know, we're four months out from November, and this is a conversation that we're having, it's too risky.

The second question, the second point that they're making is, what's the plan? So, if you want to replace the ticket, who do you have? And they're just not comfortable with the choices.

SANCHEZ: Why do they think it's too risky?

MARSH: I think they're looking at who would you put in that -- in that position? And that was something that one of the voters in that restaurant asked me, she said with a smile on her face. Well, who are the options?

And she asked it in a -- in a way in which he was suggesting not just who are the options, but who are the options that could actually win and be Trump because that is their bottom line. They're less focused on the person, they're more focused on, they do not want to go back to a Trump presidency.

[14:10:17]

SANCHEZ: So, there's some skepticism about the potential for Vice President Harris to win? Help us understand that.

MARSH: Yes. So that too I found very interesting during my time in Georgia. I found that there were two groups of people. There were some who said that they just hadn't seen enough of Vice President Harris to understand what they would be getting with a Harris presidency.

And so, for that reason, they did not want to see her replace Joe Biden at the top of the ticket. But then I saw -- I met with others who said, they actually believe that she would be a great president, but they still did not believe that she should replace Biden at the top of the ticket and here's why. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARSH: You said, the America that we're in that you feel as if you have to vote for a frail white man versus a competent Black woman?

ALANA MORRIS, GEORGIA VOTER: Absolutely. There's a whole bunch of folks in the middle. And I don't believe that they're going to vote for her. And even if you go back to Hillary Clinton as a nominee, America has shown us that it is not ready for a female leader.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: So interesting.

MARSH: So, that woman, she actually supports Kamala Harris for president, but she wouldn't want to see her at the top of the ticket because she doesn't think that she would be able to win. She doesn't think America would elect her. One thing I want to note, when I asked all of these voters, let's take

away the question of do you think that Kamala Harris should replace Biden at the top of the ticket? What if it did happen? What would you do? And they all said that they would vote for a Kamala Harris. So, we do want to point that out.

DEAN: Yes, it is. It's so important to go to the swing states where these conversations are happening and actually hear what people are having to say. So, thank you so much for bringing that to us. Thanks, Rene.

And joining us now to discuss is former Democratic Senator of California Barbara Boxer. And former Biden White House senior policy adviser Ashley Allison. Good to see both of you.

Senator Boxer, let's start first with you. Let's play a clip. This is from Jim Clyburn from NBC this morning. Let's listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CRAIG MELVIN, NBC NEWS HOST: Should the conversation about the president getting out of this race? Should that conversation continue?

REP. JAMES CLYBURN (D-SC): No, it shouldn't. Let Joe Biden continue to make his own decisions about his future. He's earned that right. And I am going to give him that much respect.

If he decides to change his mind later on, then we will respond to that. We have until the 19th of August to open our convention.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: Now, of course, Clyburn really did make a huge difference in putting his finger on the scale for Biden in 2020 in South Carolina.

Senator, do you think his words are enough here to quell concerns and keep Biden on the 2024 ticket? I know you support keeping him on the ticket. Do you think that Clyburn is signaling that as well?

BARBARA BOXER, FORMER DEMOCRATIC SENATOR OF CALIFORNIA: No question about it. Look, I have never seen such a piling on to push a candidate out of the race. It's a media frenzy. And I say it's backfiring.

Two weeks of nonstop almost bullying this man. And he showed us in those last two weeks, is he, you know, like Harrison Ford in "Air Force One" know. But he's never been smoothly, he has never been slick. But he is showing us he can take it. And that's what in a president, newsflash, he's old. Further. Newsflash, he has a stutter. But you can trust him. And the other guy is dangerous.

Last point. Right now, the press is breathlessly awaiting the decision of who the V.P. candidate will be with Trump. Guess what? He can't have the last guy Pence because Pence isn't supporting him because Pence almost got killed because of Trump. Nobody seems to make news about that. So, I think at this point, Joe Biden is clear. He is in it with Kamala

Harris. It's our ticket. The polls are showing even some cases he's ahead of Trump, which is remarkable.

SANCHEZ: Ashley, I want to get some analysis from you on the reporting that we just heard from Rene Marsh on the number of Black voters who would rather stick with it Biden than replace him with Vice President Harris. That reporting based obviously on conversations that she had, it sort of reflects a sentiment that I think the president was very astute to tap into, right?

[14:15:05]

I think one of the first places he went when there was doubts about him being at the top of the ticket was the leadership in the Congressional Black Caucus and that's for a reason.

But I want to go back to the poll that she pointed out because it was almost 60 percent of Black voters, despite being the demographic that least wants to replace both candidates have given the chance, it's still nearly 60 percent. What does that tell you? How do you read the data in comparison to the anecdotal evidence?

ASHLEY ALLISON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, a couple of points. One, Black people are not a monolith. So, there may be some Black folks who do want Joe Biden to step down. But Black folks are smart voters.

And so, what we are saying is that, if it is Joe Biden, which at this point, it is, and Donald Trump, we will support Joe Biden, because we understand the threat that Donald Trump is to Black Americans, we understand that when COVID was hitting Black Americans were disproportionately impacted because of Donald Trump's leadership.

Now, to the report about whether or not should be Kamala Harris or Joe Biden, you know, of course, America would want a Black woman to step in with four months to go and run a historically short presidential race. That's what some of us called the okey-doke.

Kamala Harris is standing behind Joe Biden, because she believes that he can do the job. And so, Joe Biden last night went to the test. Folks said, show me you can have a command of the issue. He got up to answer questions for 59 minutes. And so, we need to turn the page.

Now, I'm not saying people who are concerned are wrong to be concerned. We all watched the debate. It was not a good performance by any stretch of the imagination.

But what I am saying is that in three days, we are going to have MAGA Republicans go to a very Black city of Milwaukee and talk about Project 2025. Talk about how they want to dismantle the Department of Education, talk about how they want to get rid of political appointees for right-wing extremists that could potentially never be replaced, talk about how they want to replace more Supreme Court justices onto the court to get rid of things like DEI and affirmative action, and abortion rights. So, Black Americans are saying wake up Dems, we don't have a lot of

time, we need to protect our democracy, we need to protect our community. And right now Joe Biden is the person at the top of the ticket that's going to get the job done.

So, if you're going to make a choice, make it quick because we need to organize our community and show up and show out in November because we cannot have another four years of Donald Trump.

DEAN: And Ashley, I hear you on unity and that Democrat -- there are a lot of Democrats like yourself and others and the Senator that are saying unify, let's move forward. So many lawmakers we have on want to talk about Donald Trump, they want to talk about Project 2025.

And yet, it is members of the Democratic Party. It is -- it is -- it is Congress people and I understand it's a small number, but we also see Hakeem Jeffries go to the White House last night and have this meeting and yet there's no overwhelming endorsement, he's our guy. This is enough. Like we're moving forward.

At what point do you think that has to come from some of this democratic leadership on the Hill, if you all are to unify and move forward?

ALLISON: A S A P. Look, I heard -- I really appreciate Congressman Clyburn in saying that we have until August 19th. But we need to reach voters, we know that voters don't -- aren't -- might not be paying attention to the election right now and need to learn about how we can actually protect our democracy, we have to know who we're going to be telling them is going to protect a democracy.

Right now, we're having that conversation about Joe Biden. If for some reason the Democratic leadership is going to change, we need to change it immediately. We should not wait until August 19th, that feels like -- that to me honestly feels like poor leadership.

And that a year ago, if we were having this conversation, I was on air a year ago, and I said if you want to run for president and the Democratic Party, we are not like the Republican. We should have an open primary if you want to challenge Joe Biden. That is democracy.

I actually believe that makes our party stronger. And I'm OK with the courage to have these tough conversations. But at some point, a conversation has to come to a close or you just start rambling. And insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

So, like, let's make a decision. Let's decide where we're going to go. Let's talk to our voters and really paint a contrast if there was Joe Biden or Donald Trump, but the reality is Donald Trump is the enemy. The RNC is going to paint a picture for where they want American America to go. And it doesn't protect Black people. It doesn't protect brown people. It doesn't protect women. It doesn't protect young people. And we need to know who was on our top of the ticket. And right now, that's Joe Biden. DEAN: All right, we have to leave it there. Unfortunately, we are out of time, much more to discuss here. I'm sure we'll see you both back very soon.

Former Senator Barbara Boxer and Ashley Allison, thank you.

ALLISON: Thank you.

[14:20:05]

DEAN: Ahead this hour on CNN NEWS CENTRAL, leaked invitations lists Donald Trump's V.P. pick as a speaker at next week's Republican convention, but with days to go, the president's still deciding. He says he's still deciding between four people, we're going to tell you.

SANCHEZ: And AT&T says nearly all of its cell customer's data has been breached in a massive hack that could have national security implications. We're going to discuss what information was stolen and why yours may be among it even if you don't actually have a cell phone with AT&T.

Plus, Alec Baldwin's manslaughter trial has been halted. The jury sent home for the day amid new allegations. What we're learning the defense is now arguing.

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[14:25:12]

SANCHEZ: He's obviously well known for the line, you're fired. But former President Donald Trump has a major hiring decision ahead of him just days to make it to. The Republican National Convention is only three days away. And that's where he's promising to make a big reveal.

DEAN: And Trump's running mate already has assignments. Invitations show that whoever it ends up being is set to appear at two major donor events next week.

CNN's Alayna Treene is following the Trump campaign.

Alayna, I feel like everyone asked you this off camera too. But we'll ask you now for all the audience to see. Has he made a decision yet? Is he close to making a decision yet?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN REPORTER: It's the most frustrating answer. I know I keep giving it but it's the truth, which is I spoke to several Donald Trump's advisors this morning. Trump even himself said this a little bit ago on a radio show. He is still making up his mind.

When you ask anyone who's close to Donald Trump, again, whether it's on his campaign or the people who he is very close to and his allies. They say they really do not know. He continues to change his mind, day to day even on who he wants it to be.

And so, it makes it very difficult because I know we're all trying to plan the timing of this. When is it going to come? I will tell you from my conversations, they very much like it needs to be made this announcement by Monday afternoon before Donald Trump is officially nominated at the convention.

And as you just shared with those invitations, the V.P. pick has a lot of events. He's going to be having his own night on Wednesday. And so, there's a lot coming. So, Donald Trump is kind of getting down to the wire.

I do want you to take a listen to what Donald Trump himself said about this though just moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's like a highly sophisticated version of "The Apprentice."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

TRUMP: OK. If you think about it, and they're great people, and they really are. I get to know them very well. I'd say four people. I think, you know, four or five people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, it's still open, though, sir? You're telling us that it's not necessarily a done deal in your mind, is that right? You're still thinking who?

TRUMP: I have -- no, I'm going into great detail. But more ultimately, it's more of an instinct, you develop an instinct.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TREENE: And that is the most Donald Trump answer you have heard. Also, I mean, saying the quiet part out loud with that it's basically like "The Apprentice." He sees it as all of these men and his picks are auditioning.

And so, he did go on. I'll note though, to mention four key names. He said Senator Tim Scott, Senator Marco Rubio, Senator J. D. Vance, and North Dakota Doug -- Governor Doug Burgum. All people we have, of course, been sharing that are on the top of his list.

SANCHEZ: Yes, that in the parlance of T.V. programming is known as a tease. He wants people to watch next week, and this is one of the things that he's dangling out there to get us to tune in.

I'm curious about how this conversation about Joe Biden, at the top of the Democratic ticket might inform his decision for V.P.?

TREENE: Well, there's a few things one, it's definitely impacting the timing. Part of the reason this is being pushed so close to the convention, is because Donald Trump and his campaign have wanted Joe Biden and the criticism surrounding him and Democrats themselves, questioning whether he's fit to serve for another four years. They want that to be the story. You've kind of seen Donald Trump be uncharacteristically quiet over the last two weeks since the debate. But at the same time, I am told that it is impacting his decision, of

course, what happens with Joe Biden, if he ultimately steps aside, that will factor in into who he thinks is best to serve beside him.

And so, all of that is weighing very heavily I'm told on Donald Trump's mind but also that of his team.

DEAN: It's interesting. We will know soon. Alayna Treene, thanks so much.

And let's go now to CNN Senior Data Reporter Harry Enten. And Harry, President Trump said on that radio interview that he believes, historically a V.P. pick does not help a ticket can actually hurt it. Do you think that he's right? Does the data show that?

HARRY ENTEN, CNN SENIOR DATA REPORTER: I don't think anyone cares who his V.P. pick is, besides us in the media. I love playing the parlor game. It's one of my fun things. I love politics.

But the fact is, if you ask voters what's extremely important to their vote, get this, guess how many percentage say it's extremely important in their 2024 vote, 15 percent. Compare that to preserving democracy 51 percent, 45 percent who say the economy.

The fact is people vote for the top of the ticket, they don't vote for the bottom of the ticket. Very few Americans care, but it is, you know, a nice little game of "The Apprentice." And you know, I thought that was a pretty entertaining show myself.

SANCHEZ: In earnest moments, what about when the V.P. candidates debate, does that alter the race in any discernible way?

ENTEN: Yes, that's really besides the convention speech, right? It's sort of the main way that people will see the V.P. candidates.

But let's look historically, right? In V.P. debate since 1984, the party that won the vice presidential debate, did the top of the ticket actually gain in the post-debate polls? Well, they did five times. But guess what, five times they actually fell in the post-debate post. It doesn't matter who wins or loses the vice presidential debate.

You know, you could go back, for example, in 2020, right, it wasn't -- I don't think anyone really remembers what exactly happened in that particular debate between Mike Pence and Kamala Harris.