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Candidates Make Last Pitch To Voters On Eve Of Iowa Caucuses; Republicans Expected To Acquit Trump Tomorrow; Tech Companies Met With FBI, DHS, Amid Preparations For Iowa; New Rules To Change How Iowa Caucuses Are Conducted; Coronavirus Cases Skyrocket To 14,000 Around The World; 49ers & Chiefs Set To Square Off In Super Bowl LIV. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired February 02, 2020 - 16:00   ET

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

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JANELLE TURNER, BIDEN SUPPORTER: I think he's got the experience and normalcy that we so desperately need right now.

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And Mayor Pete, why?

TERRI HALE, IOWA CAUCUSGOER: I did make up my mind as probably going to support a woman because it was time. I knew we had really phenomenal women who are going to be entering the race but then I saw Pete. It was about a year ago. And he kind of ruined all that for me. There's his optimism and that calm temperament. And you know I left the room that night realizing that's what I'm looking for in a leader. I am so tired of angry, finger-pointing, erratic overemotional behavior, immature behavior. You know, Trump is 73. Pete 38. Who is the adult in the room? It's Pete.

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FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: Hello, again everyone. Thank you so much for joining us. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN HOST: And I'm John Berman live from Des Moines, Iowa. This is CNN special coverage of the Iowa caucuses.

WHITFIELD: All right, John, tomorrow we get our first real results from voters in the 2020 presidential race. The Iowa caucus is just one day away and for Democrats this is the first true test to see who can gain momentum in an effort to secure their party's nomination and on this Super Bowl Sunday we're seeing an all-out blitz, candidates canvassing the Hawkeye State. Their last chance to speak to would-be caucusgoers. After months of town halls, rallies, handshaking, it all comes down to this.

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SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (D-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The future of this country is dependent upon what happens in November. And it all begins tomorrow night here in Iowa. SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: That's the key.

Get in this fight. Because this moment will lock in our winning again. This is the moment that we will be measured as a nation, and as a people. This is the moment.

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We choose unity over division, and we choose truth over lies. There's not a single thing we can't do when we do it together. We've never ever, ever, ever failed to be objective when we set our mind to do it together.

MAYOR PETE BUTTIGIEG (D-IN), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Are you ready for that sunrise when we put this presidency behind us? Are you ready to tell your friends? I believe you're going to make me the next president to the United States and if you do I will work all day every day to make you proud.

SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: So join us, caucus with us, we're going to do this and we're going to win.

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WHITFIELD: All right, how are voters in this critical potentially make-or-break state leaning? If you listen to them this race remains as close as ever.

We're covering every twist and turn on the campaign trail leading up to tomorrow's caucuses. CNN's Kyung Lah and M.J. Lee are both in Iowa right now.

Kyung, you first, you know, you're tracking Amy Klobuchar's campaign. What's her message to voters today?

KYUNG LAH, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, essentially that she can win. That she is uniquely positioned to win. She understands that she is the underdog here, but she is trying to pin home that message that because of where she comes from, that she's from the Midwest, that she wants to unify and talk to Republicans as well, disillusioned Republicans that she is the one.

And where we are right now really underscores that point, Fredricka. I'm in Mason City. This is in a county that voted for Barack Obama and then flipped to Donald Trump. Now we are awaiting here for the senator to speak shortly. She's actually being introduced by the governor of Minnesota. This is a county that is in the Minnesota medium market. And what the message here is that if she can win in counties like this, she can upscale this on a national level. That Republicans who want someone to vote for, that she is a person who could do it.

But also there's a little bit of strategy here. Why Mason City? This is where she opened her campaign here in Iowa. This is where she is also closing her campaign. This is the last rally before the caucuses tomorrow. What she hopes to do and her campaign hopes to do is counties like this that are smaller have an outsized delegate count. They have more power than some of the more populated areas.

They are hoping by stitching together some of these rural counties, some of these smaller counties, especially those 31 Obama to Trump counties that she can exceed expectations. So a little bit of tragedy that you see here but also her message, Fredricka, and she's been hitting these counties hard and making that closing message specifically with her location.

One last thing. This isn't her -- this may be her last rally but she is making one more stop here in the state, stopping at Super Bowl before she flies back to Washington, D.C. because tomorrow she's going to have to be in D.C. and then come back here to Iowa to watch the results -- Fredricka.

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WHITFIELD: Great to hear those closing arguments tomorrow. All right. Thank you so much, Kyung.

All right, M.J., what's happening in your camp? You're traveling there with Senator Warren, her voice sounding a little strained, but still pretty energized.

M.J. LEE, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Senator Warren took the stage a little while ago here in Ames, Iowa. I think you can see her behind my left shoulder. And I'll tell you guys, spending time with her this weekend you can tell that the senator knows that this is it.

Her family has been traveling with her. She has brought the energy in a way that I think is unusual even for a senator known for her high energy. And she announced yesterday that she's going to be skipping her famous photo line because she doesn't have the time.

She wants to make sure that she is hitting as many cities as possible before tomorrow and one more reason that she has to make every minute count before tomorrow, her campaign just announced today that she will be traveling back to Washington, D.C. tonight so that she can participate in the Senate trial impeachment proceedings tomorrow and she will fly back tomorrow night to attend her own Iowa caucus night party.

So time is incredibly precious and, you know, just looking back on her campaign over the last year as you all know a big theme, something that we hear her talk a lot are the words big structural change. This is something that she has been leaning into a lot over the last couple of days and weeks.

And what this means is Senator Warren saying do not choose someone who stands for the small idea. Do not vote with your head. Vote with your heart. Choose the candidate that is exciting for you. We heard her talk about this a little bit in her earlier event. Take a listen.

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WARREN: We got a choice to make. Now, we can bend our knees, we can pull in, we can cower, we can be timid or we can fight back. Me, I'm fighting back. That's why I'm here. Fight back. Fighting back is an act of patriotism. (END VIDEO CLIP)

LEE: And guys, we've talked about this a lot but there are so many voters here in Iowa who still say they are undecided. Just another reminder that when these candidates are campaigning this weekend they are not only campaigning to try to become people's first choice but their second choice as well. Back to you guys.

WHITFIELD: All right, M.J. Lee, Kyung Lah, thank you both so much.

All right. So where do voters see this race going?

CNN's Jeff Zeleny is speaking with a lot of them in Des Moines, and what are they telling you?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, no question that voters are still making up their minds as M.J. and Kyung were just saying. We are talking to so many voters here who are really trying to weigh these final arguments. There's no question electability is at the center of everyone's thought process. But no consensus of what that is.

I am at a Pete Buttigieg rally. You can see behind me here. He's actually been taking questions for several minutes. And I ran into one voter earlier who said she is deciding today between Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar. She said her children are supporting Bernie Sanders but she's making her mind up today for a more moderate candidate.

But, Fredricka, we are also seeing across Iowa this weekend and today in particular a lot of voters from other states. This is a caucus tourism type of a moment. Take a listen to Sandy Cleland from Minnesota who drove south to see Pete Buttigieg.

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SANDY CLELAND, MINNESOTA VOTER: I mean, (INAUDIBLE) every choice, it's their choice. But I like them all because we have so many amazing candidates.

ZELENY: Why come to Iowa to see (INAUDIBLE)?

CLELAND: Because (INAUDIBLE) political. Yes. (INAUDIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: So you heard there from that Minnesota voter who clearly was here visiting Iowa to see all of these candidates. Amy Klobuchar, though, she said is still her top choice -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Jeff Zeleny, thank you so much. Competing with a lot of noise ruckus. Very excited crowd. Of course, you know, last day of big campaigning before caucusing begins tomorrow so no wonder folks are so excited.

All right. Our John Berman is there. So, John, you know, at least two, well, three of these candidates are having to straddle their jobs as both candidates and senators because they are heading back to Washington tomorrow after trying to exhaust as much as they can today in Iowa before caucusing begins for those closing arguments.

BERMAN: Fred, forgive me I can't actually hear the question you're asking.

WHITFIELD: Read my lips.

BERMAN: So if I don't answer it exactly it's not because I'm rude. It's just because right now you're basically doing mime to me.

[16:10:05]

But what I can tell you is that this is my sixth time to the Iowa caucus. Sixth cycle here. It's never been this warm, first of all. Nor have there ever been so many possible story lines coming out of the voting night. So let's talk about that.

Joining me now is Ron Brownstein, senior editor for the Atlantic, Astead Herman, national reporter for the "New York Times," and Robert Leonard, news director for a local Iowa radio station and a "New York times" contributor.

And Robert, I want to start with you because you're the local guy here. And as I said, so many possible storylines and that's because this thing is really bunched up at the top. And we don't know how it's going to turn out.

ROBERT LEONARD, NEWS DIRECTOR, KNIA/KRLS: Yes, and anybody that says they know how it's going to turn out is mistaken. It could go any one of a number of directions. We appear to have four people at the top. And we'll see how it sorts out. There's a lot of energy for Pete Buttigieg. There's a lot of energy for Elizabeth Warren, for Bernie Sanders, and we'll see about Joe Biden. I just don't see a lot of --

BERMAN: Not as much energy for Joe Biden but the voters who are showing up are the voters who do tend to caucus at least more regularly. That might be an advantage to him. Or there's not might be enough of them.

Astead, in terms of what the campaigns are saying or admitting to or spinning behind-the-scenes, today it seems to be this. The Bernie Sanders campaign is feeling confident. They are raising expectations I think intentionally saying we're going in with a head of steam. The Biden campaign very intentionally lowering expectations, holding on the record briefings with reporters telling them, we don't have to win, we can finish deep, not just second but even third or fourth and be OK here. What are your hearing?

ASTEAD HERNDON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: I think that's exactly right. For those two candidates specifically, we see an exact opposite strategy. Joe Biden's campaign since the beginning of this race has kind of tried to downplay those early states, Iowa and New Hampshire.

And even though some polling says that there is a sense of goodwill for him here, among certain pockets of the state, the campaign is lowering expectations, saying that they think that their support kind of starts in the later states, the more diverse states, and that they don't actually see themselves as having a top Iowa finish.

These are the exact opposite strategy from Bernie Sanders. Their campaign has said if there's high turnout you can close it down, we win. They're kind of setting themselves up to say anything other than first might be a disappointment which is either high-risk, high-reward type of situation.

BERMAN: Yes.

HERNDON: I think for Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren they are looking at each other. That is an interesting point. They are both pitching themselves as the unity candidate, the one who sits in between the Biden and the Sanders wing, but the question will, which one of those finishes above one another. They're both saying that even though they kind of having an ideological divide they see their coalitions as coming from kind of similar places.

But for them to say that, for them to pitch that ahead of New Hampshire, to have that college educated liberal vote, they have to finish above one another here in this state.

BERMAN: I will also say it's harder for them to play the expectations game because it's so clear that they need to win or practically win each of them in order to come out of here with the win at their tail.

Ron Brownstein, what are the stakes here because this does seem to be a choice between two different visions, a sharp division within the Democratic Party.

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, first of all, the last four Iowa winners have won the nomination. Right? And I don't think -- on the Democratic side. I don't think that's a coincidence. I think it's a function of all of the increased media attention that goes to this contest now, makes becoming the first winner even more valuable than it used to be. So there is that -- there is that reality.

Now it may be different this time because in the past those Iowa winners also went on to run very well with African-American voters and it's possible, Gore in 2000, Kerry in '04, Obama '08, Clinton '16, it's possible that we could have an Iowa winner who are still struggling with black voters.

The other point that's really fascinating that really kind of underscores the muddle, the ambivalence that so many Democrats feel. You know, there's only been one Iowa caucus ever, Democratic caucus, where four candidates reached double digits. 2004 was the only time.

There's never been one where five candidates reached double digits. And it's entirely possible we will see four and we could even see five, which I think is reflective of the fact that no one has fully consolidated a coalition that spans the party.

BERMAN: And Astead, one of the things that you're starting to see from the Biden campaign and also national Democrats, is they are facing the very real possibility, well, what happens if Bernie Sanders does win big in Iowa? Goes back to his neighboring state of New Hampshire, wins there. Nevada he came very close in 2016, he could win there. It's not impossible. Some might even say it's perhaps likely that Bernie Sanders wins the first three contests. What then?

HERNDON: For the establishment Democrats that's their nightmare scenario. For Bernie Sanders to kind of run those first three states. And they see Iowa as maybe their best shot to knock that down. And New Hampshire obviously near his home media market, he's strong. He runs well with Latino voters particularly important in Nevada. And so Iowa, where they had placed those high expectations might be the best bet.

They tried to play up even the controversy this weekend where Bernie Sanders surrogate encouraged the crowd to boo Hillary Clinton and then later apologized.

[16:15:06]

That's the language that you see from other candidates talking about unity. It's a subtle shot, a subtle nod to the Sanders campaign saying hey, every candidate at 20 percent does not have enough votes to win the nomination. It's going to be the candidate and the campaign that can grow that coalition.

They are saying that Bernie might have the most committed group of supporters, the group of supporters that are most passionate and the highest floor but they are the campaigns that can grow above that and grow. What Bernie is also trying to do was change the electorate, which is another big question we'll see on Monday.

BROWNSTEIN: The Biden campaign is making a very explicit choice here. I mean, they have chosen not to challenge Sanders very much as he has ascended. And I think the view inside the Biden campaign is precisely for the reasons that you're saying that if they can't win they would rather Sanders win here than either Buttigieg or Warren because they believe their ceiling is higher, and that Sanders to them has not yet proven he can go beyond his coalition in '16 which ultimately was too narrow to win.

Now it could be a case of beware of what you wish for, because even if that is true, the turbo charge he will get to his fundraising from winning Iowa which is already swamping other Democrats could be quite intimidating.

BERMAN: Robert, you've mentioned -- I've heard you say right before we came on air that the whole electability discussion drives you crazy, or you hear it so much that I think perhaps you're tired of hearing it. But listening to the candidates and I've been out a little -- yesterday I was able to go to a few events, it does seem to be what they're focused on. They are very focused on being I am the best candidate to beat Donald Trump.

LEONARD: Well, yes. And what happened was the media sort of pushed this electability issue. Before Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders jumped into the electoral pool, Democrats thought there was a wonderful, diverse group of people and across Iowa. When Biden got in among Democrats that I talked to, there was a collective groan. We were looking to the future, Biden was the past. And when Bernie got in, it was -- the Bernie bros loved it, but nobody else did.

There was that whole future sort of cast aside and there are still regret for that. And Bernie Sanders is running a scorched earth campaign. He started in 2016. And it continues.

BERMAN: Can I say -- I want to follow up on that because when you get the Sanders people and ask them, like, oh, no, we're not. That's not us. Bernie Sanders never goes negative. But there is a sense among the other campaigns that there are people within Sanders world who play for keeps. Let's put it that way.

LEONARD: Well, yes, in 2016 it was sort of systematic across the state where they would say, and I heard this multiple times, every single Republican candidate including Donald Trump would be a better president than Hillary Clinton. And that's building up considerable resentment amongst centrists at the Biden event and (INAUDIBLE). A very nice event a couple of weeks ago, 300 people. The first -- there were Bernie people at the bottom of the stairs trolling Obama people, or not Obama, I'm sorry, Biden people that were coming down.

And it's just, like how do you think you're going to win? They got national media attention for that but that's not helping. You'll get text, you'll get phone calls. People will scold you if you just say that you're not on Bernie's camp.

HERNDON: I mean, it's a decentralized campaign certainly. And it's one that has driven so much by kind of different ideas, young people that you can have a kind of sense where people from the outside who may not represent fully the campaign are kind of making that argument. I think the Sanders campaign would say that Bernie has tried to encourage people to vote for the Democratic nominee. He has pledged people to vote for the Democratic nominee.

Whether his supporters trust him, whether that happens is a separate question. But even as Hillary Clinton and others have castigated Bernie Sanders over the last couple of weeks, you heard the candidate himself, I think to be fair, say we want to step away from that, we want to look forward.

BERMAN: Ron, the wrapping. I got 20 seconds left. I am curious about turnout. There are some people saying it could be higher than 2008 record turnout.

BROWNSTEIN: Yes. I would be surprised if it's above 2008. Just given the level of -- the fact is maybe the biggest message out of Iowa I think could be that these candidates are kind of compartmentalizing the party at this point and none of them yet has a broad enough appeal to really pull away from the others.

BERMAN: All right, Ron Brownstein, Astead Herndon, Robert Leonard, thanks very much for being with us. Great discussion here in Des Moines on the eve of the caucuses. Still ahead tech giants like Facebook and Google, Google meeting with

the federal government ahead of the Iowa caucuses. Can they prevent a repeat of the 2016 election interference issues?

You're watching CNN special coverage.

[16:20:00]

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WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back. Closing arguments in President Trump's impeachment trial begins tomorrow morning. It's widely believed the president will be acquitted on the charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Today a few Republican senators are criticizing the president's actions towards Ukraine and explaining their decision to vote to acquit him anyway.

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JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: If it's not something you would have done, why wouldn't you have done it? Because it was wrong? Because it was inappropriate?

SEN. JONI ERNST (R-IA): I think generally speaking going after corruption would be the right thing to do. He did it --

TAPPER: No, but going after the Bidens.

ERNST: He did it maybe in the wrong manner.

TAPPER: In the wrong manner.

ERNST: But I think he could have done it through different channels. Now this is the argument that he should have probably gone to the DOJ. He should have worked through those entities but he chose to go a different route.

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WHITFIELD: All right, with me now, Lis Wiehl, a former federal prosecutor.

Lis, good to see you. All right.

LIS WIEHL, FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: Good to see you.

WHITFIELD: So do these explanations from Republican senators excusing the president's behavior towards Ukraine is wrong? You know, inappropriate, OK, I wouldn't do it that way, but at the same time, you know, he's not deserving of, you know, being removed from office. I mean does that explanation or justification work?

[16:25:01]

WIEHL: Fred, they have just hired the impeachment bar so high. I mean, as you know, I worked as a lawyer on the impeachment of President Clinton for the Democrats, and there I was concerned that the impeachment bar was so lowered because they were impeaching -- the Republicans were impeaching the president for lying about sex. I mean, did he lie? Absolutely. And that was proven. But the impeachment bar was lowered for misconduct about lying about something that was personal.

Here now the impeachment bar has been higher, so the Republicans are saying yes, there was misconduct. Yes, there were misdeeds. But that misconduct, that bribery, even if you will, of a foreign government to aid in getting the president re-elected and trying to get dirt about a political opponent, dirt that doesn't even exist, using a -- you know, our money, our money, our people's money to do that.

Even if that is proven does not rise to high crimes or misdemeanors. Think about that in a historical context, and even 20 years in historical context with Clinton. That rises that impeachment bar so high. What then is impeachable as has been said before already?

WHITFIELD: So it may not be over, maybe. You know, because today House manager --

WIEHL: It may not be.

WHITFIELD: Yes, Adam Schiff, you know, he wouldn't say if the House still plans to subpoena former National Security adviser John Bolton, for example, you know, after the Senate refused to hear from witnesses. But you know, does the House have an obligation to subpoena Bolton particularly after the "New York Times," you know, reported that by way of his manuscript he says that the president, you know, was directly involved in this Ukraine stuff, you know as far back as May of last year? So many say that this relevant information.

WIEHL: Yes, I mean --

WHITFIELD: But do you see that, you know, the House still has an obligation to subpoena him?

WIEHL: I think they can go ahead and try to do that. I mean I think that the House can do it. It will make no difference at this point. No practical difference because the real difference it would have made would be evidentiary difference now for the senators to have heard it in the impeachment trial. And that's obviously not going to happen.

This has been a trial now with no evidence. I mean no new evidence that Bolton would have provided. So as going forward, sure, I mean they should subpoena him. But it's really going to have no practical effect. What will happen is innuendo, rumors, drip, drip, drip, that kind of thing but no real practical, no significance going forward. I don't see it.

WHITFIELD: All right. Lis Wiehl, we'll leave it there. Thank you so much.

WIEHL: You got it.

WHITFIELD: All right. Straight ahead, in just over 24 hours, caucusgoers in Iowa make their pick. But could some new rules shake things up?

The chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party joining us live.

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[16:32:35]

BERMAN: We are now just a little more than 24 hours away from the Iowa caucuses and preventing election interference it's a top concern throughout this election season. So much so that we're told technology companies met with federal agencies back in December to discuss election security efforts. Joining me now with more on this is CNN's Donie O'Sullivan. Donie, what can you tell us about this meeting?

DONIE O'SULLIVAN, CNN REPORTER: So, this meeting happened back in December, meeting between federal agencies; FBI, DHS, and some of the major social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Google, even smaller platforms like Reddit.

These are meetings that were not happening four years ago in 2016 when we know now that Russia was targeting the U.S. electorate. But what's particularly interesting I think here in Iowa speaking to democratic officials here they're not really trusting Facebook and Google told take this issue seriously enough.

The Democratic Party has set up its own counter disinformation unit that has built some of its own technology to monitor, to see if there's going to be misinformation whether it's around caucus locations tomorrow or whether it's about how to caucus. And I think more importantly about voting machines later on in the cycle.

BERMAN: I think that skepticism is warranted given that Facebook is letting people run ads that are lies, right?

O'SULLIVAN: Absolutely. So, I spoke to a democratic official who is working on this counter disinformation team. The person actually didn't want to be the named because of, you know, they could ultimately the subject of harassment.

You know, part of their job is actually bringing trolls and body counts to the attention of Facebook and Twitter which then shuts them down. But they said, you know, we're doing all this great work. We're trying to be proactive in spotting this misinformation.

They said two things. One, the president is still allowed to lie on ads in Facebook and target Americans specifically. And also that, you know, you can counter all the bots [ph] and trolls as you want if the president puts out on Twitter a lie then it all goes out the window.

BERMAN: Let's do the glass-half-full version of it though. What are they doing to try to clean things up?

O'SULLIVAN: So, what the social media platforms are doing, again, is something that they just did not have in place four years ago.

So, tomorrow, in a room in Silicon Valley, Facebook will have staff in an election war room. I think they're now calling it election operations center where, you know, they're going to be talking to local state officials here in Iowa, federal agencies, and also the campaigns.

If they see something strange that's going on, if they see misinformation and bots [ph] attacking their candidates that they can bring it to the attention of Facebook. Twitter and Google are also doing similar things. But you know, there is a massive spotlight on these platforms after what happened in 2016.

[16:35:09]

BERMAN: Donie, it's been always great to speak to you. You're reporting on this has been terrific.

All right, joining me now is Troy Price, the Chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party. Troy, great to see you.

TROY PRICE, IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN: Yes. It's good to see you.

BERMAN: Congratulations and everything you've achieved. You're 24 hours away from being able to sleep for probably the first time in a few weeks.

PRICE: Yes, that's right. It feels good to be here. I never thought I'd see this day.

BERMAN: So, there is something wildly different about the Iowa caucuses this year that I think is frying the brains of most political reporters. I'm not sure that most people around the country fully understand it, so I'm going to try to explain it very, very quickly.

Normally, when we declare winners out of the Iowa caucuses, it's based on something called the state delegate equivalent --

PRICE: That's right.

BERMAN: -- the equivalent of how many delegates they're going to get out of caucus night.

PRICE: Yes.

BERMAN: This time around, for the first time ever, we're going to know which candidate the most people voted for at their first opportunity. So, my question to you is, who wins Iowa? I mean, the person with the most votes or the person with the most delegates?

PRICE: The person with the most delegates. At the end of the day, this is a contest for delegates to Milwaukee. It's about who's going to get that 1,991 delegates out of or on that first ballot in Milwaukee.

And so, state delegate equivalent has always been the measure that best determines our national delegates. It's going to help determine our national delegates this year. And so, that's really the best number. But these other two numbers, as part of our effort to make sure that we are increasing transparency in the process, you know. Folks will be able to see how folks move around on caucus night, which candidates are starting to build consensus within the party.

And so, it's going to provide more information, a better snapshot of how folks are moving around. But at the end of the day, this is still a contest for delegates. We don't declare a winner at the Iowa Democratic Party.

BERMAN: Right.

PRICE: We just report results. But the number that's going to be the most instructive for how our delegates are going to vote in Milwaukee is going to remain state delegate equivalent.

BERMAN: And can you explain to voters how it could very well be voters in the rest of the country because I think people in Iowa will get it, that someone does get the most votes on the first ballot or even with second choice as the most popular vote as it were but not end up with the most delegates. Part of it has to do with a lot of these rural smaller counties, yes, (INAUDIBLE).

PRICE: Yes, that's right. I mean, it's, you know, the way the Iowa process works is basically a range [ph] choice process with two choices. And so, if you get to that 15% threshold, that's the viability threshold in most of our precincts, your support is going to be locked for the evening. You're good to go.

But then, for folks who don't hit that threshold, they're able to move around still and be added into a viable group or create an uncommitted group or make someone viable.

And so, I mean, there is that possibility out there. But the reason why the D&C said we needed to release that first number, we made the decision also to include that second number. So, it's going to be -- folks are going to be able to see how folks are moving around on caucus night.

BERMAN: The high watermark for Democratic turnout in causes was 240,000 and that was in 2008 with Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards, who people don't remember, ran a very organized campaign.

PRICE: That's right.

BERMAN: You have three candidates running on all cylinders there. What's your prediction, turnout, north of 240,000 or south?

PRICE: I honest -- you know, honestly, it's always hard to predict caucus turn out. But from our side, we have been preparing all along for record turnout, higher than 240,000.

So, that's been -- means that we've been working through, making sure we have the biggest rooms possible, making sure we have enough materials out in all the caucus locations. You know, we're ready. We're ready. We've been working on this now in one way or another for four years, in earnest for the last 15 months. We are ready and tomorrow night is going to be great.

BERMAN: All right. We've been talking about it for the last three hours we've been on the air. And it's something that's talked about very openly now which is why should Iowa continue to be the first in the nation caucus for Democrats given that Iowa doesn't necessarily represent or have the demographic makeup that the Democratic Party now does, which is to say, African-Americans make up a huge part of the Democratic Party and it doesn't make up a big part of the Democratic Party here in Iowa?

PRICE: You know, the very nature of our caucus process means that candidates have to go deeper. They can't just come in to Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, do big rallies, put a bunch of money on TV and in digital ads and call it a day.

You have to come in here. You have to build organization. You have to build support in all the different communities across the state. So, that's in urban areas and rural areas. That's what the African- American community, the Latino community, the Asian-American community, disability community, and so many others.

You have to build a message that is able to speak to all those communities at the same time. And you have to build an organization that can prop up support, build support, build organization within all those communities at the same time.

It's why when people come out of here, people who do well in Iowa, they typically do well later on in the process. It's not because they got the most state delegate equivalent on caucus night. It's because they figured out a way that can speak to a broad diverse coalition of communities within the Democratic Party that then makes them stronger in primary states, makes them stronger for the rest of the primary, and makes them stronger for the general election.

[16:40:11]

BERMAN: The D&C chair of Iowa, Troy Price, great to have you here. Congratulations on making it this far.

PRICE: Thank you.

BERMAN: Good luck tomorrow.

PRICE: Thank you.

BERMAN: And enjoy that sleep on Tuesday.

PRICE: I will. I will.

BERMAN: All right. Next, new developments in the coronavirus outbreak. Strict travel restrictions will begin in a matter of just hours this as the outbreak skyrockets to 14,000 cases and has now killed more than 300 people.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: In just a few minutes from now, strict new air travel restrictions take effect blocking any foreign national who recently visited China from entering the U.S. The restrictions go into effect as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases grew from 12,000 to 14,000 just since yesterday.

Three hundred and five people have died. And so far, only one of those deaths has occurred outside mainland China. As CNN's David Culver explains from Beijing, Chinese authorities are desperately scrambling to contain the outbreak.

DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: State media here in China announced a completion of a hospital built in less than a week demonstrating the massive efforts undertaken by the central government as it works to contain the deadly coronavirus.

The hospital was built at the epicenter of the outbreak, the city of Wuhan. It is slated to open up on Monday. It's expected to hold about 1,000 infected patients.

State media reports that China's military medical personnel will staff that facility and a second hospital is rapidly under way. It's expected to open in just a few days. And it's going to hold some 1,600 patients.

Chinese media focused in heavily on the quick and admittedly impressive construction project. But as we've reported, there are dire medical supply needs not being met specifically on the frontlines from the doctors and nurses who tell us they feel as though they're going into battle without armor.

It's an analogy that China's Premier used this weekend as he called for factories to ramp up their production of medical equipment like in manufacturers of masks and protective suits to military contractors producing for the arsenal in this battle against the coronavirus epidemic.

China's Premier also warned that there may be challenges for people to get basic necessities calling for supply lines to stay open. On Chinese social media, we have seen multiple posts that appear to show people blocking off access to their towns in an attempt to protect their community from exposure to the virus. But it's one that also might keep basic necessities from getting to residents. David Culver, CNN, Beijing.

WHIFIELD: And still ahead, the big game just hours away. The 49ers take on the Kansas City Chiefs. It's Super Bowl LIV and our Coy Wire is there live. Coy.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we are here for the grand finale of the NFL's 100th season. Ticket prices, Fred, they are soaring so high. We'll tell you how high and what to watch in today's big game coming up after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [16:50:1:55]

WHITFIELD: OK. The countdown is on. Less than two hours away from NFL Super Bowl Sunday kick-off. The San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs set to face off in the big dance tonight. CNN's Coy Wire joining me now from South Florida. OK. So, what are you excited about, Coy?

WIRE: I got the tough assignment this weekend didn't I, Fred?

WHITFIELD: Yes, you did.

WIRE: Good to see you. The excitement here in Miami is real. The cheapest ticket right now to get in that stadium behind me, over $7,000.

The 49ers have not won a Super Bowl in 25 years. The Chiefs, they haven't even been to one in half a century. But those Chiefs are led by the reigning league MVP Patrick Mahomes. He's the dude with the cool hair, the uplifting personality. He has these incredible throws, sidearm throws, no look passes. You name it, he can do it.

And did you know, he's just the seventh African-American quarterback to start in a Super Bowl. And at 24, Fred, he can also make some history today becoming the youngest player ever to win league MVP and a Super Bowl ring.

Now, those San Francisco 49ers, they're led by youngster as well, Kyle Shanahan. He has a heck of a story. He was the team's ball boy, the 49ers ball boy 25 years ago when they last won a Super Bowl. His dad, Mike Shanahan, was the team's offensive coordinator. They won that Super Bowl on this very field. So, you can imagine how sweet it would be for him to win one as a coach. Here he is talking a bit about that journey.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KYLE SHANAHAN, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS HEAD COACH: I know when it's all said and done and my dad and I have had a great relationship. We've been through a lot of stuff together. And it means a lot to me just how his career went. And I'm glad that I can have some success and make him proud in that way. But that's, I mean, if we get the opportunity to win a Super Bowl, I mean, that's -- I'm going to be thinking about the 49ers at that time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: The Shanahans, Fred, are the first father-son head coaching duo to ever lead their teams to a Super Bowl. So, that's pretty cool stuff.

WHITFIELD: I love that.

WIRE: Also cool for these players. I think people don't realize how rare it is for a player to make it into the Super Bowl. The average career is about three and a half years. Only ten players on both of these teams combined have ever played in a Super. I played nine years in the league and never sniffed the opportunity. So, the excitement is real here in Miami.

WHITFIELD: I love it. I love those stories. And you know, and I love the idea of these, you know, family legacies. Really, both teams sharing. You've got these sports, you know, legacies in the family. So, that's very cool stuff. All right. It's hard to choose. I'm sure you've decided though who you're rooting for.

WIRE: It is Fred.

WHITFIELD: Yes, you know who you're rooting for.

WIRE: Go Chiefs!

WHITFIELD: OK, that's what I thought. All right. Thanks a lot. Me too. Thanks, Coy.

WIRE: All right.

WHITFIELD: All right. It may be Super Bowl Sunday but it is also, guess what, "Groundhog Day".

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, Punxsutawney Phil.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Punxsutawney Phil. Guess what, good news is Phil did not see his shadow this morning. And as the legend goes that means an early spring for everyone.

[16:55:08]

The Pennsylvania Groundhog and his relatives before him have been predicting spring weather for 134 years. It looks like he's ready to take a little nap now. We'll see if this year's forecast comes true.

Thanks so much for joining me today and John Berman who's been with us from Des Moines. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Up next, a make-or-break moment for the democratic presidential candidates. How will the Iowa caucuses impact the race? And what are voters saying? Our special live team coverage continues in a moment.