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Donald Trump Has Caucus In New Hampshire; Hillary Clinton Versus Other Democratic Candidates On Foreign Policy; Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired October 12, 2015 - 14:30   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[14:30:00] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to get paid the same as a man, and I think you understand that. So if you become president, will a woman make the same as a man and do I get to choose what I do with my body?

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You're going to make the same if you do as good. You're going to make the same if you do as good and I happen to be pro-life. OK, I'm pro-life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: All Right. Let's go to Sara Murray who was there at that event in New Hampshire.

And I mean, listen. This wasn't a normal Republican home-field advantage for Donald Trump. As we mentioned this is a bipartisan event. This young woman speaking up. What do we know about this young women and tell me more about that exchange, Sara.

SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Well, I think you're absolutely right. This is not Donald Trump showing up at a rally with thousands of adoring fans who want to tell him how great he is. This is a room of New Hampshire voters, many of them undecided and many of them today is skeptical about Donald Trump's message. I think we saw that from that woman who asked Trump the question today. And I actually think that Donald Trump handled the question particularly when it comes to women reproductive rights in a way many Republicans wish candidates would handle this answer. He just said I'm pro-life, look, that's it. He didn't get into some of the details where candidates in the past have gotten themselves into a lot of trouble. And so I think if you're a strategist looking at the way Trump answered that question, you're are actually really pleased. And he sort of came out. He still, you know, offered jabs at President Obama, but for the most part, he came on to the stage in front of a room of voters with their doubts and he took their questions, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Let me follow up then on this. And listen. We see this happen at different campaign events. But I understand when Donald Trump walked out today, he walked out to Aerosmith's "Dream On." And is it Steven Tyler who said please stop, Mr. Trump, using my song? What's the back story? MURRAY: Yes, Steven Tyler, not super pleased to see Donald Trump

walking out there. Donald Trump did it again today walking out to "Dream On." Before he took the stage we asked him about and he basically said it's resolved. When I pressed him for details about what that meant, he was not responsive. But the campaign has made it clear that they do have the right to be able to use this music. So as far as the Trump campaign is concerned, I think they just plan to keep on using it, Brooke.

BALDWIN: That's interesting. The last time I saw Donald Trump in person it was backstage at an Aerosmith show in Newark last fall. Go figure.

Sara Murray, thank you so much.

MURRAY: There you go. Thank you.

BALDWIN: Coming up next, the parts of the debate you don't exactly see on live television. What actually happens during commercial break? Who approaches the moderator, a veteran moderator? One of my favorites here at CNN joins me live on the secrets, lifting the veil.

Also, breaking on the eve of this debate, Russia says it foiled a planned ISIS terrorist attack on Moscow. Hear where each Democrat stands on that when it comes to the war.

I'm Brooke Baldwin and this is CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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[14:37:39] ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST, AC 360: That the level of intensity on that stage always is -- I don't know if it comes through on the television when you're watching at home, but there's really nothing like it.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST, THE SITUATION ROOM: You also have a producer in your ear telling you to move on, do something else. So it gets a little complicated. It gets a little intense.

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: We're in there and looking at them in person. It's a whole different experience. The candidates try so hard to catch your eye.

COOPER: They are constantly looking at you and trying to signal to you that they want in.

BASH: Make you feel bad for not going to them.

COOPER: Sometimes they can get in, but sometimes you have to move along.

BASH: The other thing that people don't get to see is what happens in the commercial breaks, which I thought was really cool. For the most part, the candidates will go and also check with their aids. But they are also were a few moments that I witnessed with the candidates and their spouses and families kind of getting a gut check.

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I remember most from a national perspective is what Newt Gingrich tried to take my head off.

NEWT GINGRICH (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I'm appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that.

KING: After the Newt thing going to first break, he came up to me and said you're doing a great job. And I said that's funny, you just called me reprehensible on national television. And he said that's just the game. He patted me on the back and after the debate, he goes, this is John. Didn't John do a great job?

COOPER: There's a lot said you never see on television. You never see candidates' loved ones coming up to you during the commercial break telling you you're not giving their candidate enough time. You know, the wife or child of a candidate, and that happens. Blitzer hadn't warned me about that sort of thing. Once you have done it and gone through it, you want to do it again.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Joining me now, one of my favorites here at CNN, debate moderator, the king, if I may, Wolf Blitzer. Let's play a fun moment from debates past, shall we?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Is it OK for Muslim Americans to get more intensive pat downs or security when they go through airports than Christian Americans or Jewish Americans?

HERMAN CAIN (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No, Blitz, that's oversimplifying it. I happen to believe if you allow our intelligence agencies to do their job, they can come up with an approach. I'm sorry, blitz, I meant Wolf, OK? Since we're on a blitz debate, I apologize, Wolf.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[14:40:12] BALDWIN: Blitz, I was just trying to read your thought bubble. You were just so cool, calm and collected and just smile and rolled along.

BLITZER: It was fine.

BALDWIN: How many debates have you moderated?

BLITZER: A lot. I did a lot of debates in 2008. I did a bunch of debates in 2012. I'm looking forward to doing some debates down the road. So it will be good.

BALDWIN: What's happening right now? We're 29 hours away from tomorrow night. What's happening behind the scenes right now with Anderson and Dana and all of our brains from Washington? BLITZER: First of all, not just today. It's been for a few weeks.

They have been going through all the candidates, all their records on all the key national security issues and domestic issues, the economic issues, jobs, all the important stuff. They have been trying to study as much as they possibly can. Where these candidates agree, where they disagree.

The goal, of course, is to make sure that the voter out there who watches a debate like this who may still be undecided has a better appreciation of who these candidates are. That's what we try to do as moderators. And it's not just Anderson who is going to be moderating tomorrow night. It's the whole team. He has a lot of researchers and producers. They have gone through and they spent an enormous amount of time with him, as was the case with Jake during the Republican debate, going through all the most important issues and making sure that the moderator is prepared.

BALDWIN: And you're dealing with, I know sometimes, you know, people in your ears saying to this person or ask this and then you are watching the lights flashing, which means they have no more time. What do you think is better, the lights or buzzer?

BLITZER: I think the lights are better. And you know what? You know, let's say they have 60 seconds or 90 seconds or whatever, you don't want to necessarily hold it to, you know, a buzzer or something like that. Sometimes it takes another 10, 15 seconds to finish a thought. That's fine.

BALDWIN: This is so different. Tomorrow night, five podiums on the stage. Hillary Clinton right in the middle as she's polling the best versus, you know, the 11 in the Reagan library in Simi Valley. How do you think -- that was a lot of attacking. You think this will be much more on substance and specifics?

BLITZER: I think there will be some attacking. I think some of these other candidates were lesser now are looking to getting a little break. And one of the opportunities they have to go after Hillary Clinton, maybe to a certain degree Bernie Sanders. So Martin O'Malley, let's see what he does. He sees this -- I'm sure and his campaign staff see this as the moment if there's going to be a breakout moment for him, he has to do something tomorrow night. He's a former governor of Maryland. He is very smart guy, former mayor of Baltimore. We'll see what he can do, what Jim Webb can do, Lincoln Chafee because they are all smart.

There's only five. Five is a lot less than 11, which was at the first Republican debate. I moderated debates when there has been eight, nine, ten, and when there has been two left, I did one of the last Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama debates (INAUDIBLE) in Los Angeles back in 2008. And just, Hillary Clinton was left of Barack was left and they went at it, you know, back and forth. But it was a good serious substance of debate.

BALDWIN: People at home watching can also be involved for those folk who is are on Facebook, right? I mean, we are doing this. We are here with Facebook. Don Lemon will be here helping with that. Can you explain what that role tomorrow night?

BLITZER: There's going to be questions. People have questions. This is an opportunity with CNN and Facebook making it available to people all over the country. You have a question for any of these five, go ahead and post that question, video your question. Don is going to be there. He is going through together with our team which questions are going to be ask of these five candidates. So be an opportunity for voters out there to get a question to one of these five Democratic presidential candidates.

BALDWIN: Wolf Blitzer, the king. Do you like that?

BLITZER: No. Man of the people.

BALDWIN: I adore you.

Wolf, thank you so much. Make sure you tune in for this gentleman, SITUATION ROOM, at 5:00 eastern here on CNN. I appreciate it, my friend, very much.

Next here, you can bet the questions about what the U.S. should do in Syria specifically will play a huge role tomorrow night here at the debate. How will these candidates field those tough foreign policy questions? And will they go after Hillary Clinton, the former U.S. secretary of state? We will watch for that.

Also ahead, tomorrow night's debate will be making -- marking a big first. You'll be able to watch in virtual reality. What? Yes, we'll explain how, coming up.

You're watching CNN's special live coverage live from Vegas.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:48:51] BALDWIN: Live here in Las Vegas. I'm Brooke Baldwin. You're watching CNN here ahead of tomorrow night's big and first Democratic presidential debate. But I want to get to this here, breaking news out of Russia.

Police in Moscow say they have foiled a terror plot planned by militants trained in ISIS camps in Syria. This is according to Russian authorities. Moscow was the target. Police raided a Moscow apartment and say they discovered a large homemade bomb. Russian official says several suspects have been arrested.

And when you listen to our CNN Democratic debate here in Vegas tomorrow night, I want you to consider this. The next president of the United States will, of course, have to continue fighting ISIS, handle the situation in Syria and deal with Russia's Vladimir Putin.

So let me bring in CNN political commentator Peter Beinart to help us hone in on what to listen for tomorrow night. So great to see you, sir.

PETER BEINART, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Great to be here.

BALDWIN: Here in Las Vegas.

Let me just begin with when, you know, when we talk about foreign policy and national security, obviously, a lots of people think, alright, Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state. But I think it is worthy pointing out Jim Webb, former senator from Virginia, he was once a Navy secretary under Reagan. He was assistant secretary of defense. (INAUDIBLE) armed services committee for six years. How might he really challenge Hillary Clinton tomorrow night on that stage with his knowledge?

[14:50:08] BEINART: So Jim Webb is the most interesting candidate that no one ever talks about.

BALDWIN: There we go. Let's talk about him.

BEINART: And he is interesting. He's a former marine, a former Republican, a former novelist. Someone who knows a lot about foreign policy. Doesn't look like he's going to challenge Hillary Clinton a lot for the nomination, but he could soften her up tomorrow night in ways that could be problematic.

BALDWIN: How do you mean?

BEINART: He, like Bernie Sanders, opposed the Iraq war. And he can speak with more authority on that subject with Sanders because he is more of a foreign policy expert. If he and Sanders tag team against Hillary on the Iraq subject, remember how many problems that caused her in 2008 against Iraq. Democrats are no more fund of the Iraq war now than they were back then. That could be a problem.

BALDWIN: This is something we have just been seeing from Bernie Sanders over the last 24 hours. And so, bringing up the memo he wrote in 2002 over the Iraq war.

What about Iran? Because we know we have been watching, of course, the Iran nuclear deal and how Hillary Clinton supported that. We see what happened yesterday, the news with regard to "the Washington Post" reporter Jason Rezian (ph) and how he's been convicted now and how, you know, those hostages weren't used in this Iran deal. How will Hillary Clinton respond to that as, you know, formerly part of the administration?

BEINART: I don't think she's going to be pressured that much from the other Democrats on stage because they also support the Iran deal. But she's going to have to have an eye towards how she's going to have to answer the Republicans eventually. The Republican nominee will going to against the deal. We not have this conviction of the "Washington Post" reporter. Also news today that the Iranians have tested a ballistic missile. Something with some people say is a violation of the deal. She has tried to position herself as a supporter of the deal, but tough on Iran. That's going to be the balance she has to walk. It is going to be an issue more in the general in the primary I think.

BALDWIN: What about also on Syria? We have a foreshadowing perhaps from former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley on how he's hit her specifically on her stance on Syria. This is what Governor O'Malley has said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTIN O'MALLEY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Secretary Clinton is always quick for the military intervention. I believe that a no-fly zone right now is not advisable. And this is why. No-fly zone sound attractive, but no-fly zone also have to be enforced. And given the fact that the Russian air force is in the air space over Syria, this could lead to an escalation of cold war proportions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: What do you make of what he said there and then how would she respond?

BEINART: What's interesting here is that O'Malley along with Sanders is closer to where Barack Obama is than Hillary Clinton is.

BALDWIN: Who once upon a time said let's arm those Syrian rebels.

BEINART: Right. Hillary Clinton is more hawkish talkish than Barack Obama. No question about it.

In a general election, that could be beneficial. But in a Democratic primary, it's potentially a weakness. Sanders haven't exploited. I think he doesn't feel as comfortable talking about foreign policy. The danger of her tomorrow night is O'Malley, Webb and Sanders all go after her and expose her still as she was in 2008, the more hawkish than where most Democratic base voters are.

BALDWIN: Quickly on Afghanistan, do you expect that to come up?

BEINART: I certainly hope it does. We have a big policy decision in Afghanistan. Like on Iraq, Obama wanted to withdrawal all U.S. troops by the time he leaves. Now, the military is pushing back saying we should leave another 10,000. The Taliban are on the march. That should come up as well.

BALDWIN: Peter Beinart, thank you so much. We'll be watching here. The big debate tomorrow night starting at 8:30 eastern on CNN.

Coming up next, America's first presidential debate in virtual reality. See how this new technology works.

Plus as Hillary Clinton gets ready to square off with Bernie Sanders for the first time, she just got very good news. We'll share that with you.

You're watching CNN's special coverage live from Las Vegas.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:58:08] BALDWIN: Here at CNN, live in Las Vegas here but especially for tomorrow night, we're giving our viewers a chance to experience the first presidential democratic debate in a way that really has actually never been done before. We will be live streaming this debate in virtual reality. So essentially, it will feel like you're right there sitting, you know, front row in the Wynn hotel watching these candidates on stage in Vegas. This is the first major live media event of its kind.

CNN politics senior digital correspondent Chris Moody is here to explain with these things. Explain, sir.

CHRIS MOODY, CNN POLITICS SENIOR DIGITAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, I will be honest. I was very skeptical about this until I tried it. This is not your dad 1990s virtual reality. This is a 3-D experience from the front row of the debate hall. You can look up, down, left, right, look at Anderson Cooper, look or any of the candidates you want and experience the debate as though you are there. And this is honestly only the beginning. You can only imagine if we can tell news stories on the streets of Havana, being able to feel like you're there. It is in 3-D, HD sound, fully immersed.

BALDWIN: So, what do you have to have? Because what you have right here, this is what, a Samsung phone?

MOODY: This is a Samsung phone and right now, and this will expand in the future, I'm sure, but a Samsung googles. These retail for about $100. And it is a truly spectacular experience. I was really shocked. You know, there's a lot of talk in the past presidential elections when Nixon debated Kennedy and how people who experienced it on television versus radio had a totally different take on how (INAUDIBLE). I think something like this is going to have a similar experience with people that are watching through this versus TV may have a different outcome of the debate.

BALDWIN: So if you're sitting at home and you have some of these glasses on, you can whereas on TV you're watching the shots we're calling for. If you have the glasses on, you can look over at Bernie Sanders, you can look over at Hillary Clinton, Jim Webb, and Anderson.

MOODY: You control the shots. We don't. But we offer every single one.

BALDWIN: How do we do that?

MOODY: If you look right, you will see a candidate be sitting on the right, you look left because we have multiple cameras looking up, down, left, right and center.