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Coverage of the Upcoming Democratic Presidential Debate in Las Vegas. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired October 13, 2015 - 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 CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: I would never say that. But you do have to do that with candidates. So I had 11 candidates who were all most of them eager to debate on issues, on leadership, on personality and it then very exciting and intense debate already. So I just wanted more of that.

The candidates on the Democratic stage are different. They haven't been as keen on going after each other. So it's going to take a different approach. And I think you're going to see that tonight. Maybe the moderators will challenge them more on their records instead of trying to get them to challenge each other because it doesn't seem there's going to be that much fruit there. But again, far be it for me to say how they should do it, but it's very different. I had, in some ways, an easier job.

JUAN CARLOS LOPEZ, CNN EN ESPANOL ANCHOR: And Dana and I will be supporting Anderson. And he is going to be moderating and it's interesting where he takes it and how he fit in to the whole process. And if we are able to get to answer and people are satisfied with what they say.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: Can't wait.

Juan Carlos Lopez, thank you so much. And Jake Tapper, thank you my friend.

TAPPER: Thanks, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Coming up here on CNN, does Bernie Sanders have a problem connecting with African-American voters in particular? How his campaign hopes to use tonight's debate to expand his reach? How will he do that?

Plus, it could be a subject that comes up in tonight's debate as well. Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel speaking out about the recent crime wave and city blasting police.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL, CHICAGO: Officers themselves are telling me about how the news over the last 15 months have impacted their instincts. Do they stop or they keep driving? Is when I --?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: More on that coming up.

I'm Brooke Baldwin. We're live in Las Vegas. More special live coverage here on CNN after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:36:23] BALDWIN: Just half bottom of the hour. You are watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin. We are back here live in Las Vegas.

And ahead of tonight's big debate, the Democrats hoping to succeed President Obama. They are finally about to face-off for the very first time on the debate stage in the building behind me here live on CNN this evening. And with the stage set for these five candidates, tonight will be the big showdown here. And really it's anyone's bet who will walk away the winner.

But as they try to sway voters and in some cases really introduce themselves to Americans this evening, there are a few rules they will need to follow.

Here is CNN's Tom Foreman laying it all out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Five candidates are expected to be on stage with the debate begins. And they will be arrayed according to their strength in the polls right now. So Hillary Clinton with the biggest numbers will be in the middle. The others spread out on either side.

Their strength in the polls will also determine their order in terms of opening and closing statements. Candidates cannot bring anything like a phone or a tablet or notes or a prop on to stage of any sort. They will each have a pad of paper and a pen and they will have some water in case they need it.

What are they going to face? It will be an all CNN panel this time around. The moderator will be our own Anderson Cooper, Dana Bash and Juan Carlos Lopez will also be on stage with him. Don Lemon will be watching Facebook and Instagram fielding questions there and presenting those to the candidates.

They will each have one minute to answer a direct question of any sort. And if they are brought up in somebody else's answer or accused of something, they will have 30 seconds for a rebuttal. However, they will also get a warning from a light to tell them when they are running out of time.

And if Anderson feels like they should be able to gone on further for clarity or some other reasons, he can let them do so. And you can bet that these candidates are going into fringes in particular will want every second they can get to try to make an impression, rise in the polls and be closer to the middle next time around.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Tom Foreman, thank you.

You know, speaking of one very important constituency, African- Americans voters make up a huge part of the Democratic base. So tonight, I know a lot of people will be watching to see if and how the candidates really connect with that group, tackle issues like the state of policing in the United States, of course, in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement that we have been witnessing. That moment has been especially vocal about the recent police killings of unarmed black men in places including Baltimore and Ferguson.

But in Chicago, the well-known Democratic mayor there, former White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, he is blaming protests over those killings for an uptick in violence in his city. The "Chicago Tribune" is reporting September was the deadliest month there in 13 years with 60 homicides.

Mayor Emanuel says officers tell him they are second guessing themselves, too worried they could get into trouble.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EMANUEL: Officers themselves are telling me about how the news over o the last 15 months have impacted their instincts. Do they stop or do they keep driving? Is when had I stop here, is it going to be my career on the line?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: I have with me CNN political commentator Van Jones.

Good to see you again. Let me be clear before I even ask you about that that. We know that the Chicago police union disputing that claim. They say absolutely not true. Police are definitely not second guessing themselves. But both of you worked in the Obama administration. I'm just wondering, what do you make of his comments?

VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, I think it's really unfortunate that he would say that. First of all, as we know, there's been a big problem with crime in Chicago for a long time. There's also been a big problem about police department. There was a lawsuit about a decade or so ago successfully brought because there are police officers were actually torturing people using car batteries on their genitals. I mean, bad stuff has gone down with struggle of police department. So you know, that broken trust -- that trust was broken a long time ago.

I think that there are - there is the need for more partnerships, for more cooperation, but you can't blame someone who is hurt for hollering. You have an African-American community that's been hurting for a long time. People are starting holler. These younger people, especially, starting to holler. You don't blame somebody who is hurt for hollering. You have to figure out where they are hollering about, how do you make it better?

[15:40:38] BALDWIN: On the how do you make it better, we know that the Black Lives Matter movement, we have been covering this for quite a-while now with some of these stories, they have been in the news. Some of the police brutality, some of the police - the killings. And Bernie Sanders is someone, I mean, this is a man who marched, you know, during and with the civil rights movement decades ago. Yet he really is not catching on with the African-American constituency. Recently gave an interview to, you know, "Ebony" magazine, the oldest and most prominent, you know, black publication in this country. Why do you think that is not happening?

JONES: Well, it is a couple things. First of all, Bernie Sanders has an unbelievable record on civil rights votes. I think he has a perfect civil rights voting record. But he doesn't have the relationships with the black community. So he's right on the issues, he just doesn't know anybody. Also don't forget, when you talk about Black Lives Matter, you're talking about people who were born in 1997.

BALDWIN: Right.

JONES: 1996.

BALDWIN: I was asking someone in my show recently about the million man march. And I think she was six.

JONES: Yes, exactly. So you talk about people who their whole lives essentially Obama has been president. So having a black president is no big deal to them and yet they see the Trayvon Martin, they see these things that are going on. So they don't even give Obama a pass, let alone somebody like Sanders to talk about (INAUDIBLE).

So I think he has a lot of room to grow. He has to. This party has a large number of African-Americans in it and we vote. On that, young African-Americans outvote on a percentage basis their white young counterparts. It's amazing to have somebody with that kind of record. He doesn't have the relationships yet, and so he's going to have to make up for that. And I think tonight you're going to see him try to build that bridge.

BALDWIN: You know it - I should say I don't know what the questions will be tonight. But you have to imagine that there will be a question about, you know, the Black Lives Matter movement and how important it is. You know, Hillary Clinton just recently addressed some of these activists.

JONES: Isn't it amazing that you have these young people that have a hash tag.

(CROSSTALK)

JONES: And all they have is a hashtag. They don't have an office. They already have a hashtag and they are willing to get out there. And I tell you what, as much as people may hate it, this is democracy. This is people saying don't take me for granted. Talk to me about my issues.

BALDWIN: But they want specifics.

JONES: And they want specifics. BALDWIN: Will they get them tonight?

JONES: I sure hope they do because whether you are talking about the body cameras and the policing issues or more importantly, the broader criminal justice issues, Republicans and Democrats agree now. You're putting too many people in jail for too long for petty offenses. There's common ground here, but these young people have forced the issue. And I think people should be proud of them.

BALDWIN: Van Jones, thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you.

Next here on CNN, ahead of this big debate, Mr. Las Vegas himself, he has performed for president. He has sold out so many crowds here on the Las Vegas strip. He's also no stranger to politics. The one and only, Wayne Newton waiting in the wings, live here on CNN in a couple minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

[15:48:08] BALDWIN: You know him. He is Wayne Newton. This is from January of 2001 singing at President Bush's inauguration then.

And listen. I couldn't come to Vegas without spending a little time with Mr. Vegas himself, Wayne Newton, joining me here live onset. Thanks for having us in your town.

WAYNE NEWTON, MR. LAS VEGAS: Brooke, we are thrilled to have you here. And boy, you add some real pizzazz.

BALDWIN: Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.

So talking politics, I mean, obviously, we are here because of the big Democratic debate in the Wynn behind us. You are not loving on the Democrats as much as you are. The man who owns that hotel across the street, is that what I am hearing correctly?

NEWTON: Well, probably so. The truth of the matter I think it is important to understand both sides.

BALDWIN: How do you mean?

NEWTON: Well, that's why I'm here. And I'm coming to the debate tonight. Because I want to hear what they have to say and I know what they have to say because I've watched that too.

BALDWIN: You've known him for white quite a-while.

NEWTON: He is a dear friend, Mr. --.

BALDWIN: How many years back do you go?

NEWTON: Probably 15, 16 years. I was about 12 years old at the time.

BALDWIN: Now, I've talked to people who have known Mr. Trump as well and especially even his most recent biographer and they have said he told them long ago, I'm running for president and they didn't necessarily believe him. Did he ever say that to you?

NEWTON: He did say that to me and I took it with the same kind of grain of salt. I thought why would he want to do that, number one? I mean, the heat you take when you're a public figure, period, is pretty substantial.

BALDWIN: You would know.

NEWTON: And then to throw your hat in the ring for the highest office in the United States and maybe in the world is really going something. But I admire him tremendously. He is a terribly bright man. So I am -- I'm thrilled he's in the race.

[15:50:07] BALDWIN: If you, Wayne Newton, were on the stage tonight and you got to ask any of those five candidates one question, what would it be?

NEWTON: The question I would ask is, how do they justify the death tax? I don't understand how we can work our entire life, pay our taxes, and then when we die, the government feels like they're entitled to 40 percent, 50 percent of what should be left to those that we love and have worked so hard for.

BALDWIN: You have been in this business a long time. I mean not too long.

NEWTON: One or two weeks.

BALDWIN: You know, one or two weeks. So you know a thing about, you know, really owning a stage and showmanship and connecting with people who are watching. And I know that you campaigned for both Bush 41 and 43.

NEWTON: I did.

BALDWIN: And so, Jeb Bush has not connected quite as much with the constituents when you look at how he's been polling, and I'm just wondering, why do you think that is?

NEWTON: Well, Brooke, it's really interesting because if you remember the same thing was applied to 40 when he ran. People said, well, he's just not connecting with the people. I then had the pleasure of, in campaigning for 43, of President Bush Sr. Joined us on that campaign. HE was not running. He was out of office, and he was amazing. I mean, when the pressure was off of being president, and he could go out and be who he was, the people absolutely went crazy for him. And I believe the same thing is true of pretty much the entire Bush family, because 43 was accused of the same thing, if you'll remember.

BALDWIN: President Bush has been to your home. President Reagan has been to your home. This is huge. I mean, listen, folks. If you're a Wayne Newton fan, as of a week ago, you can actually take a tour of your home, the Arabian horses, the monkeys, the cranes, the plane, the cars. NEWTON: The cars and the gifts that have been fortunate enough, like

Mr. Benny's violin, Elvis Presley's guitar, on and on and on and on.

BALDWIN: Can you give me a quick story of one of those presidents rolling by your house.

NEWTON: When President Reagan came, he was going to be there long enough that they set up the red phone to the Kremlin in my office.

BALDWIN: No kidding?

NEWTON: And I can't tell you how many times I passed that office and had the desire --

BALDWIN: To pick it up.

NEWTON: -- to just pick it up and see who's on the other end. Now, I probably would have been in big trouble, and I didn't do it, but I was tempted.

BALDWIN: Well, I have to deliver a quick messages from Wolf Blitzer. He's such a fan. And he, you know, wishes you would sing (INAUDIBLE). So maybe you all can have a duel --.

NEWTON: Well, the truth of the matter is, that he was in central park singing (INAUDIBLE) last night because he tweeted me.

BALDWIN: Central Park.

NEWTON: Hey, you're good.

BALDWIN: There we go.

Wayne Newton, thank you so much for stopping by. I really, really appreciate it. Nice to meet you, Wayne Newton. You can hop by his house any time right around Las Vegas.

Coming up next, we will hear from the people who matter the most. Let's talk to the voters themselves here. I'm caught up with them right here in Las Vegas along the strip to get their take on some of the candidates, both Democrats and Republicans.

I'm Brooke Baldwin. Stay with me. You're watching CNN special live coverage.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[15:57:59] BALDWIN: How about we put Elvis on CNN.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Las Vegas means freedom. Freedom to do what whatever you want to do and great weather and a great place.

BALDWIN: Kind of hot, actually.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's very hot. I've been hot since 1955.

BALDWIN: What do you think of the crop of candidates for the 2016 election?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I think they're like a bunch of blue rats and red rats in a box chasing each other. And they have really got to think outside the box. You know, they keep thinking about each other and fighting against each other, but really who we're going to choose is someone that has a bright future for the country.

BALDWIN: Democrats running for president, can you put a number down?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think I saw five names.

BALDWIN: Ding, ding, ding, ding! Have you heard of Bernie Sanders?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

BALDWIN: Jim Webb?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

BALDWIN: Lincoln Chaffee? Donald Trump?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

BALDWIN: Democrat were to be president, who would be your pick?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I like Bernie Sanders. I like Bernie Sanders.

BALDWIN: Tell me why.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think he come s across as real. And he does a good job explaining his positions and doing a good job.

BALDWIN: Do you like Hillary Clinton?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hillary Clinton, she's -- too much about emails and not about the American public and our future.

BALDWIN: Her husband is Bill.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Clinton, Hillary?

BALDWIN: Yes. If you were to gamble on the election who do you like so far to be our next president of the news.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would go with Hillary.

BALDWIN: Hillary?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

BALDWIN: Tell me why.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just because I feel like I know more about her just based off of her being president before and then the presidential election prior to.

BALDWIN: OK. We all Hillary people here or somewhere else?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are all Hillary.

BALDWIN: Do you know there's a debate here tomorrow night?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: All right. Thanks, everyone, including Elvis, for hanging out with me here in Vegas.

I'm Brooke Baldwin. It's been fun. Do not move a muscle because tonight is the big night, of course, the big debate, 8:30 eastern here on CNN. My colleague, Jake Tapper is up next.

"The LEAD" starts right now.