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CNN Poll: Buttigieg Emerges As Iowa Frontrunner; Former NSC Aide: Sondland Said He Was Acting On Trump's Orders; Kaepernick Abruptly Moves NFL Workout Site; Trump Undergoes Quick Exam And Labs At Walter Reed; Dem Louisiana Governor In Nail-Biter Reelection Bid; Why Right-Wing Media Wants You To Think Hearings Are Boring. Aired 8- 9p ET

Aired November 16, 2019 - 20:00   ET

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

[20:00:00]

ANA CABRERA, CNN HOST: Hello. On this Saturday evening, you are live in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Ana Cabrera in New York and topping this hour with breaking news in the 2020 race. A critical clue about how voters are feeling just 79 days out now from Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses.

In just a moment, we will reveal the results of the CNN/Des Moines Register poll. But first, the importants. In the last four presidential elections when no Democratic incumbent was running, the winner of the Iowa Democratic caucuses went on to become the nominee.

Keep in mind, earlier polling this week showed Pete Buttigieg slightly ahead of Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders in Iowa. So, is the Buttigieg bounce the real deal? For that, we go live to CNN's Senior Washington Correspondent Jeff Zeleny with our brand-new CNN polling.

Jeff, what are the results?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well, good evening. And there is a new Democratic front-runner in Iowa tonight. His name is Pete Buttigieg.

For the first time, the South Bend, Indiana Mayor is coming in as a clear front-runner ahead of Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders. Those three candidates, as you can see there on screen, are locked in a tight race for second place.

This is significant for several reasons. This is the first time he's been pulling away from the field. Of course, this comes after he's been investing so much money and time and effort in the State of Iowa. He's been advertising since the beginning of September. He's opened more than 20 offices. He has more than a hundred staffers on the ground.

So this is the result of his work in Iowa. Of course, this is coming at a time when he has - he has already introduced himself, but this is an extraordinary move from when he was first jumping into the race earlier this year. So take a look at how this race has changed just since September. This

is significant as well. He has climbed some 16 points since September.

You can see Elizabeth Warren has fallen just a little bit there. Joe Biden as well. Bernie Sanders has climbed a bit, as has Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar. But it is Pete Buttigieg who has climbed significantly over the last three-month period here, Ana.

So this is setting up a fascinating race in the next 80 days of this Iowa campaign. And Pete Buttigieg is really drawing his support from across the spectrum, from young voters, from older voters, from rural voters, from urban voters.

Bernie Sanders is still getting the most support from the youngest voters, but Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg now are essentially neck-and- neck among older voters here. So that is something we are keeping an eye on here, just how Pete Buttigieg has introduced himself to Iowa voters really across the board. He is pretty popular.

CABRERA: And for those who are counting down, now 79 days away from the caucuses there, what do we know about the percentage of Iowa voters who have made up their mind?

ZELENY: Well, that is an interesting thing as well because, of course, voters are certainly paying much more attention to this race now. But take a look at these numbers here in terms of how many voters have made up their minds versus how many have not. 30 percent or one-third of voters have said they have made up their minds. 62 percent, two- thirds almost, say they could still change their mind.

This is very significant, as a new debate is coming up next week and, of course, one in the month of December and January as well here. So it is very fluid. This is why the second choice is so important in Iowa.

Take a look at these second-choice voters. Elizabeth Warren, 20 percent of likely caucus goers. She is their second choice. Pete Buttigieg, 14 percent; Joe Biden, 13; and Bernie Sanders, 13 percent as well. So second choice always so important here, because if your first choice has not become viable and does not have enough support, you often go to your second choice.

But when you add up, first choice, second choice, and who you are actively considering, take a look at these numbers. Pete Buttigieg, 68 percent; Elizabeth Warren, 66 percent; Joe Biden, 58 percent, on down the list. But it is a reason for hope for some of these other candidates who have fallen out of the top tier, particularly Senator Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar as well that they are still being actively considered by many voters.

So this is a moment in this race where it is certainly fluid. But when you add up all of those, the first choice, second choice, and actively considering, that explains why Pete Buttigieg is on top at this point.

CABRERA: And what does this poll reveal about what's most important to voters when picking a candidate? ZELENY: There is no question at all electability is the most important

thing that voters are saying that they want. And Pete Buttigieg is falling directly into what voters say they want. Not too progressive, not too moderate. He leads the way in terms of what voters are looking for.

Sixty three percent say his political views are about right. Joe Biden right after that, 55 percent. Elizabeth Warren, 48 percent. And Bernie Sanders, 37 percent. But as for Elizabeth Warren, 38 percent of Iowa caucus-goers say she's too liberal and 53 percent of Bernie Sanders' supporters say he's too liberal, of Iowa caucus goers. So that is one of the reasons that Pete Buttigieg is front and center here because his views are just about what people are looking for.

[20:05:00]

Look at electability, though. Overall, this is something that is pretty interesting. Joe Biden is leading the way here with 52 percent of likely caucus-goers believe he can beat President Trump. But look at the rest of this. Only 46 percent of likely caucus-goers say Pete Buttigieg can beat the President, as with Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.

So when you take all of this together, what are voters looking for? Someone who believes in every policy position or who has a stronger chance to win? Again and again, we're seeing this on a 63 percent. So they're looking for someone with the strongest chance to win and only 32 percent who share that exact position here.

So, as we sit here tonight, some 80 days before the Iowa caucus, this is where the race stands. We should say this is not predictive in any way. These are snapshots in time of where the race is right now. But by all accounts, Pete Buttigieg is leading in Iowa. He is also the most favorable. Seventy two percent of Iowa caucus-goers say they view him in a favorable light. Ana.

CABRERA: Wow! Very interesting. Jeff Zeleny, thank you for breaking it all down for us.

ZELENY: Sure.

CABRERA: And just moments ago, Mayor Pete Buttigieg reacted to our new CNN poll. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So what do you think? What's your reaction?

MAYOR PETE BUTTIGIEG (D-IN) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, that's extremely encouraging. We have--

(LAUGHTER)

BUTTIGIEG: Obviously. We have felt a lot of momentum on the ground, especially with the work that we've been doing, not just in terms of my visits to the state but over a hundred organizers there building relationships, getting our message out.

And even now, we know that we're not as well known as some of my competitors. So it's very encouraging, and at the same time, there is a long way to go. And there are a lot of states in this process. So I recognize the work that we've got to do, both to consolidate our gains and to make sure that I am earning every vote as we head into the caucuses and the primary.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do you think was the turning point? What is leading to that bounce through your - in your assessment?

BUTTIGIEG: Starting with Labor Day, I felt a level of energy at the Steak Fry that told us that we had a chance to really connect. I think the debates had served us well. Our speech at the dinner recently was another chance just to lay out what I think so many Iowans and so many Americans are looking for. And that is leadership that can deliver big, bold answers to our problems and do it in a way that unifies, not polarizes, the American people.

I think that that is the right answer for the country, and I think more and more voters are agreeing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On the other hand, the other side of the coin is - the other side of the Democratic Party is running--

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: OK. Let's check in now with the Biden camp and CNN's Arlette Saenz on the road with Biden in Las Vegas. He is down five points since September in this latest CNN poll in Iowa. It's not the first poll either to show Pete Buttigieg leading in that state.

What is the reaction from the Biden camp, Arlette?

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Well, Ana, we haven't heard from the Joe Biden campaign just yet on this, but for months now, they have been saying that both Iowa and New Hampshire are not must-wins for their campaign.

What they're continuously pointing to is that they have a diverse group of supporters, pointing to states like here in Nevada, also South Carolina. So they're looking at things kind of in the longer run. But there are certainly some challenges for Biden in this poll. As you know, he slipped 5 percent since September. Elizabeth Warren has also slipped a bit since our last poll there.

But one thing that the Biden campaign is likely to really hone in on from this poll is the electability factor. You heard Jeff talk about that 52 percent of likely caucus-goers believe that Joe Biden has the best chance or a good chance of beating President Trump.

And also, caucus-goers in that state, nearly two-thirds of them, that is their priority. Picking a candidate who can go on to defeat the President. So the Biden campaign over and over again has stressed electability as one of their main arguments. And that's something that's going to continue on. Ana. CABRERA: Arlette, one of the challenges for Biden in this polling

seems to be his enthusiasm. What are you seeing there?

SAENZ: Yes. That's really a possible weakness for him in this poll. If you look at his supporters, 27 percent of his supporters said that they were mildly or not enthusiastic about Joe Biden. A quarter of them said that they were very strongly enthusiastic.

So that's something that the Biden campaign is certainly going to have to work on as they are trying to earn more support in this first-of- the-nation caucus state. If they hope to head on to Nevada and South Carolina, they do want to try to have strong showings in that first state. Ana.

CABRERA: OK. Arlette Saenz there in Los Angeles, thank you.

Let's bring in our CNN Senior Political Commentator and Former Michigan Governor, Jennifer Granholm, who also has helped to prep Biden for debates in the past. Also here is Former Vermont Governor, Presidential candidate, and DNC Chairman, Howard Dean.

Great to have both of you with us. Thank you so much.

Governor Granholm, let me ask you first. This is only one state, but it's vital for the Democrats. Your reaction to this new poll?

JENNIFER GRANHOLM, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes. I think it's an amazing statement for all candidates regardless of your political party about what will happen if you organize on the ground.

[20:10:00]

Pete Buttigieg has put a huge amount, as you heard Jeff say, of people, of offices, of money on the ground in Iowa, and it is paying off for him.

The question for him going forward, of course, is going to be, can he keep up that level of intensity on the ground in other states? Nobody can, right? It's just a - it's a huge effort on the first state to hope that that trickles beyond the first state, but I think it's a huge statement about how important that organization is on the ground in Iowa.

CABRERA: Governor Dean, you've got a three-way tie essentially for second place in Iowa right now, with Warren, Biden, and Sanders all again in a virtual tie for second place. Which of those three should be most concerned tonight?

HOWARD DEAN, (D) FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, FORMER VERMONT GOVERNOR & FORMER DNC CHAIRMAN: They should all be concerned. Amy (ph) is right. I mean, Governor Granholm is right. This is a really interesting poll. I don't put a lot of stock in these polls, but this is the first one in Iowa that I think has really shown what's going on.

And let me say we're a long way away. On December 3rd-- CABRERA: Why do you think this one really shows what's going on?

DEAN: Because it's very analytical. What I don't know is the sample size. And that would have been very useful to know. But it's extremely analytical. You dug deep into why it is that people do vote for these candidates. I saw this coming on Labor Day with - along with Buttigieg, as I saw his organization get better and better. He is a very attractive candidate.

Let me just give the caveat. On December 3, 2003, I was leading. And a month-and-a-half later, I was in third. So - which is where I finished in Iowa. So this is great. But we've got a long, long way to go here. But this - there really are four front-runners.

The interesting thing about this is also reflected in the New Hampshire poll I saw last week where all four of these were essentially in a tie. So we now have a four-way race. I also agree with Jeff Zeleny that there are a couple more. I still expect that somebody could come out of the woodwork, and it would not be shocking to have some of the people that are not on the debate stage come out of the woodwork. We're not done here.

And the last thing I want to say is, I - I was Chairman when Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton ran against each other. I was absolutely neutral, the referee. They both thought I was in the tank for the other. But when Barack--

(LAUGHTER)

DEAN: Since I had run in Iowa, and I knew what it took. When Barack Obama won Iowa, I knew not only could he win the Presidency, I knew he could be a good President because the organizational heft that it takes to do that is extraordinary.

CABRERA: And so let me ask this one more quick follow-up question on this Iowa polling before we move on to some of the other topics I want to ask you about tonight.

But Governor Granholm, you both have talked about the importance of people on the ground and really having an organized campaign in the state specifically. I'm just curious why somebody like Kamala Harris, who has now gone all in on Iowa - remember it was several weeks ago where she said I'm basically moving to Iowa, and yet she's not having the same kind of response as Pete Buttigieg has seen.

GRANHOLM: Yes. Yes, of course. I mean, it's all - people get to test out the wheels on these candidates, and they've obviously decided that Pete Buttigieg, for the moment - as Governor Dean says, for the moment, Pete Buttigieg is high on the list.

You remember, the last Des Moines Register poll, it was Elizabeth Warren that was on top. And the one before that, it was Joe Biden. So there is a lot of testing of the wheels. And I agree that there may still be a late entrant. I mean, you saw and you just were talking about Governor Patrick getting in late. Iowans like to break late. But I will say this, too. What's interesting about this is that if you

- if it did pan out, say, Pete Buttigieg won in Iowa and Elizabeth Warren won in her next-door-neighbor state, New Hampshire, then you'd have Joe Biden likely to win in South Carolina and perhaps Nevada or maybe Bernie in Nevada.

But then you've got a four-way. It's all hell breaks loose because then it leads right into super-Tuesday where you've got 15 states. I mean, it's a - it's going to be a super-exciting February and March. That's - that is for sure.

CABRERA: Former President Obama is now giving some campaign advice. He's not naming names, but he is warning candidates not to go too far to the left. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, 44TH U.S. PRESIDENT: This is still a country that is less revolutionary than it is interested in improvement. They like seeing things improved, but the average doesn't think that we have to completely tear down the system and remake it, and I think it's important for us not to lose sight of that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Governor Dean, is that a message to Medicare-for-all supporters like Warren, Sanders, et cetera?

DEAN: It probably is, but I'm very happy to let the voters sort this one out.

[20:15:00]

There are certainly people who agree with President Obama and there are also people who really want real change. And that's not just confined to Elizabeth and Bernie supporters.

So my attitude towards this is let the voters sort this out. We'll pick somebody and then we'll all get behind them. That's the most important thing is to get behind whoever the voters choose as the nominee.

CABRERA: On that note, Governor Granholm, President Obama also warned donors, you don't have the luxury of pouting if your candidate isn't nominated. Is there reason to think a large number of Democrats would stay home if their top choice doesn't get the nod despite President Trump on popularity among Democrats?

GRANHOLM: Yes. To Governor Dean's point, unity is critical. People cannot retreat to their corners if their candidate does not win. Otherwise they will be aiding and abetting the re-election of Donald Trump. Be very clear about that. So, definitely Democrats have to unify even if the candidate that you end up with is not the perfect one in terms of your policies, et cetera.

I do think, though, I would differ a little bit with Governor Dean on this. I mean, obviously, you do want to let the voters decide. The voters will decide. But I do think that it is - it's reflective of this Medicare-for-all debate that Elizabeth Warren put out a transition plan yesterday, which will allow people to buy in to a public option before moving into full Medicare-for-all.

So I think there's some realization of that. And what you looked at in that Iowa poll, with Pete Buttigieg, people are saying that they like the more moderate position. So bottom line is, for young people who are all-in for Bernie, for moderates who are all-in for Biden or Buttigieg, whatever happens in the end, you better jump onboard or else the alternative is so much worse.

CABRERA: Governor Dean, I also want to ask about the newest candidate, Former Governor Deval Patrick.

Trevor Noah of "The Daily Show" doesn't seem too excited about what is now a field of 18. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TREVOR NOAH, HOST, THE DAILY SHOW, COMEDY CENTRAL: Democrats what the - are you doing?

(LAUGHTER)

NOAH: You don't have to keep replenishing the stock when the candidates drop out.

(LAUGHTER)

NOAH: This is an election, not sustainable fishing. There's too many people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Governor, is he right?

DEAN: No. Look, I think Deval Patrick is one of the most wonderful public servants I know and have met in my career. I don't know what he is thinking, but he somehow has to raise $25 million in the next 79 days and hire a hundred organizers and open 20 offices if he's going to be competitive. I don't think Michael Bloomberg can do that with $53 billion. And I don't think Deval has $53 billion.

So I don't quite get this. But I don't think we ought to restrict the field based on when you feel like declaring. Patrick has served two very good terms as Governor of an important state, and I think he is more than qualified, and he'll decide for himself when he doesn't want to continue or maybe he'll get lucky.

CABRERA: Governor Granholm, Biden gave an impassioned response to the start of the open impeachment hearings this week. Take a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I didn't do a damn thing wrong. I did my job. I did what the rest of the world wanted me to do. And my son didn't do a damn thing wrong.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: We saw the Former Vice President clearly angry there. Should he have gotten angry sooner?

GRANHOLM: I'm angry. I'm angry on his behalf. It's ridiculous that President Trump is using this lie, this proven lie, to get Ukraine to interfere in our elections. It is outrageous. I'm glad he's mad. I hope he gets more angry. I hope everybody gets angry on his behalf because - and we're going to see, as these impeachment hearings play out, how righteous he is in being angry about it.

CABRERA: Governors, thank you both for being here. Great to have the discussion. It's a pleasure to have you join us. Thank you.

DEAN: Thank you.

GRANHOLM: Thanks.

CABRERA: Coming up, damning new transcripts released in the impeachment inquiry today. What they could mean ahead of some high stakes hearings on Capitol Hill next week?

[20:20:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CABRERA: It's our breaking news here on CNN. More transcripts, more people with more testimony about what they saw and heard, as President Trump dealt with the President of Ukraine earlier this year. House impeachment investigators today released the transcripts of closed- door testimony given by these two witnesses. That's Tim Morrison on the left, a former National Security Council official, and Jennifer Williams on the right, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence.

CNN's Lauren Fox is on Capitol Hill right now. Lauren, fill us in.

LAUREN FOX, CNN CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER: We're getting new details tonight, Ana, from the deposition transcript released from Tim Morrison. He's a top NSC official who testified that he came to understand that the EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland was getting direction from President Trump when he was pushing the Ukrainians to announce investigations into the President's political rivals.

He said that he came to understand that Gordon Sondland and President Trump spoke approximately five times between July 25th when Trump had that phone call with President Zelensky and on September 11th. That, of course, is the date that that nearly $400 million in U.S. military aid to Ukraine was finally released. He said in one of those conversations, he spoke with Sondland on September 7th right after Sondland had talked to President Trump.

Here is what Morrison testified. Quote, "Sondland told me he had just gotten off the phone with the President. He told me, as it relates to Ambassador Taylor's statement, there was no quid pro quo, but President Zelensky must announce the opening of the investigations, and he should want to."

Morrison also testifying about new details we're learning tonight about the transcript of that July 25th phone call that we know is at the center of this impeachment inquiry. He said that he talked to the NSC's top lawyer, John Eisenberg, who told him that that transcript had been placed in the secure server by mistake.

Here's what Morrison testified. Quote, "John Eisenberg related that he did not ask for it to be put in there, but that the Executive Secretariat Staff misunderstood his recommendation for how to restrict access." And next week, Americans will have an opportunity to hear from Tim Morrison directly and from the EU Ambassador, Gordon Sondland. Ana?

CABRERA: All right. Lauren Fox, thank you for that.

[20:25:00]

Breaking news. Stunning new developments in the Colin Kaepernick saga, the embattled quarterback out of the NFL for more than three years, attacked by President Trump for his decision to kneel during the national anthem finally gets his chance to work out for NFL teams today. And then, minutes before the most anticipated job interview in years, everything changed. A live report next in the CNN Newsroom.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CABRERA: More on our breaking news involving Colin Kaepernick, the 32- year-old free agent quarterback practiced in front of representatives from NFL teams today in Atlanta after being off the field for nearly three years. But the workout was abruptly moved to a high school football stadium south of the city at almost the last minute. The location was switched, we're told, so media could be present and so the process could be more transparent according to the quarterback.

CNN's Andy Scholes has been following Kaepernick all day for us. Andy, Kaepernick spoke to reporters.

[20:30:00]

What did he say?

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Well, Ana, he gave a pretty strong statement after this workout was over.

And, you know, it wasn't the way this day was supposed to go, the way it was planned. But Colin Kaepernick did get the opportunity to get out on the field and hopefully take that next step in towards -- in terms of getting back into the NFL.

He worked out on the field for about an hour, he did some stretching. Then he threw some short passes to receivers, some long passes. Did some rolling out. Looked pretty sharp. Only threw about six to seven incompletions the entire day.

Then once he was done working out, Kaepernick went south of the end zone and greeted and signed autographs for the more than 200 people that had gathered and were cheering him on, as he was out there working out on the field.

Now, as you said, Kaepernick didn't take questions from us media members after his workout but he did give a strong statement. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN KAEPERNICK, AMERICAN FOOTBALL QUARTERBACK: I've been ready for three years. I've been denied for three years. We all know why I came out here and show today in front of everybody. We have nothing to hide. So we're waiting for the 32 owners, 32 teams, Roger Goodell, all of them to stop running. Stop running from the truth. Stop running from the people.

We're out here, we're ready to play. We're ready to go anywhere. My agent, Jeff Nailey, is ready to talk to any team. Interview with any team at any time. I've been ready. I'm staying ready. And I'll continue to be ready.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Now, this was a wild day. I mean, it's unprecedented workout by the NFL. It was supposed to take place at the Atlanta Falcons facility which is north of Atlanta, it was held by the NFL, closed to the media. And we were all there standing outside waiting for this to start, waiting for people to come in. We watched the scouts enter the facility.

And then about 45 minutes before it was about to start, we got the announcement that Colin Kaepernick's representatives had canceled the NFL workout and were moving it 60 miles away to a high school stadium south of the city.

And one of the reasons they did that was because, as you mentioned, they wanted the media to be present for the workout for transparency purposes. They also had concerns about the liability waiver the NFL was asking Colin Kaepernick to sign. It had some employment-related issue language in there that Colin Kaepernick's representatives were not happy about.

And I spoke with Kaepernick's agent, Jeff Nailey, after the workout and asked him what went wrong there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFF NAILEY, COLIN KAEPERNICK'S AGENT: Colin works out yesterday here at the university. They asked for an injury waiver as well. So Colin and the four receivers that were here, they all signed it. No problem. We allowed them to sign it. We sent that form to the NFL league office and they denied it. The one that they sent over was five or six pages and his lawyers had problems with it.

SCHOLES: What was the biggest problem with it? NAILEY: I'll let the lawyers talk about that. But there were -- they wanted him to waive his right to certain claims and issues. And again, the purpose for a waiver like that is to protect them if he gets hurt or these receivers get hurt, and that's not what that waiver was.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Now, the NFL did respond although it's in the lengthy statement, saying they were disappointed that Kaepernick decided to cancel the workout with them and that they also said in that lengthy statement that they sent Kaepernick a standard waiver, Ana.

Now, when I was at the Falcons' facility I saw about 20 NFL scouts enter to watch the workout the NFL was going to put on. Only eight of those scouts made it south of the city to the workout that Colin Kaepernick had at the high school stadium. Will one those teams end up signing Kaepernick? We'll have to wait and see.

But one thing is for sure, Ana, there's still plenty of mistrust between Kaepernick and the NFL.

CABRERA: No doubt. Andy Scholes, it'll be interesting to see what's next. Thank you.

Coming up, what we're learning about an unexpected visit. The president made to the doctor's office today.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:35:53]

CABRERA: We're learning more about President Trump's trip to the doctor's office today. Reporters covering the White House were asked to keep quiet about the president's visit to Walter Reed Medical Center until he arrived there.

And tonight, we're learning this trip was not on his schedule as of yesterday.

CNN's Jeremy Diamond is at the White House. Jeremy, usually when the president has even the most routine medical attention, we know about it well in advance. What is the White House saying about this?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Ana. Well, the White House is saying that the president went to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center today to undergo the first parts of his annual physical exam.

Now, it is a bit early for him to be doing this. His last physical exam was about nine months ago.

But White House press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, said in the statements earlier today when the president arrived at Walter Reed that the president anticipating a very busy 2020. The president is taking advantage of a free weekend here in Washington D.C. to begin portions of his routine annual physical exam at the White House.

But, Ana, it's the White House's handling of this trip that is raising questions. Even internally at the White House, we're told that the president's visit to Walter Reed was not on his internal schedule as of this morning.

And furthermore, the visit was also not on the public schedule, which it typically has been the two previous years the White House has announced when the president was going to get his physical, put it on the daily public schedule that's released the night before every one of the president's working days.

Grisham has, however, sought to dispel any notions that this was related to anything other than a routine medical visit. She said in a statement after the president returned from Walter Reed that the president remains healthy and energetic without complaints as demonstrated by his repeated, vigorous rallying performances in front of thousands of Americans several times a week.

And Stephanie Grisham also told me that the White House does not intend to release the records of the president's physical exam until after he has completed the entire exam. Of course, in the previous years, the White House has disclosed a summary of the president's health, and so we should expect that once he completes the entire exam.

CABRERA: OK. Jeremy Diamond at the White House, thank you.

[20:40:58]

Feeling blue in a deep red state? Why the results of tonight's governor's race in Louisiana are being watched as a referendum on Trump and the impeachment inquiry, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CABRERA: Welcome back. The polls are about to close, maybe in 15 minutes or so in Louisiana as this tight run-off race plays out for governor there. Will incumbent Democrat, John Bel Edwards, hang on to his job or will Republican Eddie Rispone edge him out?

President Trump has been campaigning hard for Rispone, traveling to Louisiana twice in just the last couple of weeks.

CNN's Dianne Gallagher joins us from Baton Rouge.

Dianne, Republicans just lost a close governor's race in Kentucky. How important is this election for the president?

DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the president certainly seems to be placing a lot of importance on it. He's been tweeting about it today leading up to this as well and he's visited Louisiana not once, not twice but three times trying to push the Republican candidate over the finish line here.

Now, polling has indicated this is an exceptionally tight race. The incumbent Democrat, John Bel Edwards, does seem to have a tiny bit of a lead, but it's really going to come down to the wire here tonight.

[20:45:00]

And when I spoke to voters, even though the president and Republicans across the country have been attempting to nationalize the race here in Louisiana, most of them, those who wanted to vote for Eddie Rispone and those who wanted to vote for John Bel Edwards said that for them, the president didn't really factor too much into their decision.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I voted for Eddie Rispone just because, you know, I personally have some thoughts about John Bel Edwards as a person. Even though I'm a registered Democrat.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I voted for Mr. Edwards. I'm a Democrat. Number one. Number two is on the Republican administration previously, that is Mr. Jindal he left a $2 billion deficit. Mr. Edwards has a $300 million surplus.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GALLAGHER: And that's the thing, Ana. A lot of people spoke to me about very specific feelings they had about the candidates as people and also what John Bel Edwards had done as a Democrat in a really ruby red state.

So they view it as his race to lose but the president has a lot of power here in Louisiana. So we're going to see if he's going to be able to use that to go ahead and lift Rispone above him at this point.

CABRERA: Dianne, you say election officials report heavy, early voting, and a good turn out tonight.

GALLAGHER: Yes.

CABRERA: So who might that benefit?

GALLAGHER: So the early voting usually, and it appears to be here would benefit John Bel Edwards, the incumbent Democrat. But the voting today and seeing people come out to these different precincts, that's where the president may factor in most. Trying to bring that enthusiasm of his voters to the polls which is why they think it's going to be so close.

CABRERA: OK. We know you'll be covering it for us and we can all stay updated at home on cnn.com.

Dianne Gallagher, thank you very much.

Coming up, five decades after Watergate, a revealing look at the many sides of Richard Nixon courtesy declassified White House tapes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:50:38] CABRERA: Forty-six years after Richard Nixon faced impeachment, does his media strategy live on? Here's a preview of the HBO documentary film "Nixon by Nixon: In His Own Words," which airs tonight at 9:00 here on CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD NIXON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You must keep up the attack on the media. You've got to keep destroying their credibility. There's not a good one in the whole goddamn three networks not one. Reasoner's bad. The whole damn bunch, chancellors bad.

CHARLES OLSON, AMERICAN POET: Yes, yes.

NIXON: Cronkite's bad. Rather's bad.

OLSON: Oh, Jesus.

NIXON: It's awful.

OLSON: Sevareid. Daniel Schorr is --

NIXON: Oh, terrible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Sound familiar? Tim Naftali is here with us. He's a CNN presidential historian and former director of the Nixon presidential library.

Tim, ultimately with Nixon, the facts went out. His efforts to stifle the media didn't work. But it's a different media environment today. I wonder what that might mean for this historic moment with a different president facing impeachment.

TIMOTHY NAFTALI, CNN PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: Well, that's one different, Ana. The other difference is that, so far, we don't think that President Trump has tapes.

One of the things that undermined Richard Nixon's credibility even with his own supporters were the transcripts of his conversations, the amorality of the way in which he conducted business in the White House.

So not only did he have a problem with his own media strategy because he didn't have a network in his back pocket, but he also had a problem because of his own words. And one of the strengths of the program tonight is that you get to hear his words.

They're not mediated. They're not curated. There's no one in between the words in you and you can just hear them. And it's those words that undermine Nixon's credibility so many years ago.

CABRERA: And the tapes, obviously, were such crucial evidence. And yet, listen to former Nixon White House counsel, John Dean. Here's what he said after the first public hearing on Wednesday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN DEAN, FORMER NIXON WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL: What struck me today in listening to these two witnesses is they already have more than they had against Richard Nixon to impeach him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: More than they had against Richard Nixon, do you agree?

NAFTALI: I'm not sure what period in the investigations John is referring to. There was an enormous amount of information that the House judiciary committee compiled. It was material from the set of Watergate hearings from the Watergate special prosecution force and materials that the House Judiciary Committee collected on its own.

There really was a mountain of information, and it wasn't just about one episode. It was about all kinds of abuse of power and obstruction of justice.

So I would think that at the moment that the House Judiciary Committee and the committees that Speaker Pelosi has asked to participate in the inquiry don't quite have the same material that they did in 1973/'74.

What they do have though is some very striking information and it gets at the core of the issue of abuse of power and possibly bribery.

CABRERA: If the exact same circumstances of Watergate happened today though, the tapes are released, a refutable proof of wrongdoing by the president. Would a single Republican vote to impeach?

NAFTALI: Ana, pardon my idealism. But I spent some time getting to understand the information that the Republicans and conservative Democrats had when they decided to vote against Nixon. I read their diaries.

And what I saw was at a certain point there was so much information and it was so directly implicating the president that these patriots said that they were constitutional officers. They were not members of any party anymore.

So I'm hoping that the -- that our political DNA has not so changed since the 1970s, that if Republicans were faced with the same kind of damning information regarding President Trump's conduct that they too would choose to act as the founders expected them to as constitutionalists and not as members of a party.

CABRERA: Tim, listen to what was playing on conservative media outlets after just day one of the public hearings this past week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA INGRAHAM, HOST, FOX NEWS CHANNEL: Day one of this impeachment farce --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was such a disaster.

[20:55:01]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A triple fall disaster for the Democrats.

INGRAHAM: A complete and utter disaster for Adam Schiff.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But it was a Schiff show.

RUSH LIMBAUGH, CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Bunch of professional nerds.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two homeless guys.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They looked like people who sat by themselves at recess.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was kind of boring to watch on television.

LIMBAUGH: Flat out boring television.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is stupid.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Republicans had a great day all the way around.

This circus, the sham, the charade, honestly, for the sake of the country, should be shut down immediately.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Tim, we only have about a minute left in the show, so quick answer, if you will.

What did Watergate teach us about the American public's capacity to sit up and pay attention when it really mattered?

NAFTALI: It taught us two things. It taught us, one, that elected members of Congress can make hard decisions and tough votes. And the American public is interested in learning the truth.

I still believe that if the information is presented to them clearly, and if the information is as damning as it was in the Watergate period that many Americans will begin to think that the president has committed impeachable offenses.

I still believe we are capable of that. I see no reason to doubt my optimism.

CABRERA: All right. Timothy Naftali, great place to end this evening. Thank you very much for joining us.

NAFTALI: Thank you, Ana.

And that does it for us tonight. Thank you for being there with us. I'm Ana Cabrera. Stay right there. The HBO documentary, "Nixon by Nixon: In His Own Words" is next here on CNN. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)