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Biden Has Selected a Running Mate, Will Reveal Today; Big Ten Conference Postpones All Fall Sports Including Football. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired August 11, 2020 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00]

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: If you are just joining us breaking news in the 2020 race. Joe Biden has made it official telling his top advisers that he has selected the woman he thinks will help him win the White House this November. And he's set to reveal her name as early as today.

We here at CNN of course are closely watching all the developments, making, you know, phone calls, trying to get to the bottom of who it is. Let's go straight to CNN senior Washington correspondent Jeff Zeleny and also CNN chief political correspondent Dana Bash.

OK, so, Jeff, first to you, let's just take a minute, let's take a breath, let's not, you know, speculate here. Let's just take a minute on the history here. We know it will be a woman, as he has said. Could be a woman of color. How significant is that?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, there are a lot of things we do know about the search and the key one is what you just mentioned, that Joe Biden pledged some five months ago to pick a woman. That is in and of itself historic.

Whoever his choice is will be the third woman to join a major party ticket as a running mate. Of course, Sarah Palin in the 2008 campaign with John McCain and Geraldine Ferraro, of course, with Walter Mondale. So, this person is immediately etched in history, and that has just an interesting dynamic on the presidency should Joe Biden win in November and certainly on the campaign in the short-term.

It is going to be, you know, certainly a different moment in time. And the reason that Joe Biden did that, he made that decision back in March, during his final debate here on CNN with Bernie Sanders. He wanted a bit of a headline there and he also said a few other things in the same moment. He said he is going to appoint an African American woman to the Supreme Court. He said the voices are long past due there. He also said he's going to have a diverse cabinet.

So, this is just the first of many choices he is indeed going to make. But we do know that the former Vice President has been having these conversations, one-on-one conversations as well as virtual conversations with every single one of the finalists.

And we are told by people close to the process that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer flew to see Joe Biden just about a week or so ago. Kamala Harris the Senator from California, of course, knew him well from running against him, and as well as former Obama national security adviser Susan Rice, those were the top contenders as well as other contenders in the mix. So, there were 11 women overall who were seriously vetted here. So, history no matter how you slice it -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: And also, Dana, unique because this is a man who has served as Vice President. He knows what goes into doing the job. He knows he had a wonderful relationship with his commander-in-chief, he knows he wants someone with whom he is comfortable, who is loyal and also who can govern alongside him, correct.

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Right, which are very important criteria. And I'll just add another one into that. Is that Joe Biden is not a young man. And he is very well aware of that. And he is also very well aware of the import of his decision because of that.

I mean, he is not suggesting that he's going to go anywhere. That he's obviously saying that he is very vital and up to the task. But he also understands reality. And so if you put all of those things into the mix, it gives you a really good sense of why this has been, according to sources I talked to and I know Jeff as well, a pretty difficult decision for Joe Biden to make. Because he understands how high the stakes are.

I mean, they're always high when you are the nominee or the presumptive nominee for your party's presidential nomination. You have to pick your running mate, somebody who you don't want to just campaign with but you could very well, you hope, be serving with in the White House. But this takes on a whole different level.

But I also think the fact that he was Vice President for eight years and he was a Vice President who had such a good relationship with the top dog is really crucial. I mean he said to me, I went and talked to him in May, right after Memorial Day, and one of the things that he was saying there is that you also have to remember that nothing got out. I mean that there was so many times where he had conversations with President Obama where he was the last one in the room and Obama knew that he could trust Joe Biden, and that nothing would get out and he would give him his real take on things.

BALDWIN: Jeff, do you want to quickly add to that?

ZELENY: I think what Dana is saying is so important. They had a great relationship at the end. At the beginning they barely knew each other. 12 years ago, at this very point they were just getting to know each other. So, they were both surprised by how quickly they forged this bond. So, this is the beginning of a relationship.

The former Vice President, he knows most of the women on that list but not necessarily all that well. So, this is the beginning of a bond. So, it's important I think to think back at the beginning of the Obama/Biden relationship. You know, they knew each other just a very little bit. They had been in the Senate a very short time. They ran against each other. Biden wasn't sure if Obama was up to it. Obama wasn't sure that Biden would necessarily be a good second fiddle, but he turned out to be.

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So that is I think how we have to think of this relationship starting out. What theirs was 12 years ago.

BALDWIN: It's such an important point. Yes. Because we're just having a conversation about how, you know, our friend David Axelrod refers to this as a shotgun marriage. But shotgun marriages can work out.

I'm going to thank both of you for now. We'll stay on this story, of course, and as soon as we get word, we'll pass it along.

We also have breaking news this afternoon on the future of college football. The Big Ten just announcing it is delaying the fall season. I'll talk to a college football player and a former NFL player on what they make of this crucial decision, next.

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BALDWIN: We're back with more on the breaking news. It is really rattling the sports world today. The Big Ten announcing that it is postponing all fall sports and of course, that includes football.

This decision comes as President Trump is pushing for athletes to return to the field while players themselves are split as to whether or not that is safe.

Matthew Brown is a linebacker for the University of Georgia and also with me former NFL player Benjamin Watson.

So, gentlemen, thank you both so much for jumping on with me. And Matthew, I just want to begin with. I know, you know, Georgia's S.E.C. so far you guys are good to go. What is your reaction to the Big Ten postponing its entire fall season. The commissioner said it became, quote/unquote, abundantly clear that it was too much of a health risk. What do you think of about that?

MATTHEW BROWN, LINEBACKER, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA: Personally, I think it's just kind of with so much uncertainty going around, it's just clear to -- it's nice to have somebody make some decision in regard to football. But, for coach Smart has been teaching us that we have to stay ready whenever the call comes. If it's time to play, we'll be ready to play. And if you stay prepared you won't have to prepare for the season and that's just our mission and our focus, that's what's going to be the case for the next few weeks, too.

BALDWIN: I see you're already in Athens, you're ready to roll if the call comes down to play. But how do you feel personally, Matthew? You know, just given all of the potential risks, are you willing to risk it to play? BROWN: Personally, there's a risk for everything. There's risk with

football, there's risk for driving a car. But with my faith, I'm supposed to live my life without fear, and with our medical staff, I'm sure that I have the confidence that they're going to take care of our team. And with coach Smart and the leadership group, we stay disciplined and follow the protocols. And I felt like that this is the best spot for us to be in in terms of not contracting the virus and following the guidelines.

So, I think it should be pretty interesting for us to see how everything goes. But as in terms of being fearful of the risks, no, sir, no, ma'am, it's college football. And it's a thrill to be here, and it's a value to be here and everybody wants to participate, see how the season goes.

BALDWIN: I want to come back to you on that in a second. But Benjamin, let's you and I talk. First, here's a clip of the President of the United States, you know, really pushing for college football to return this season. Here he was.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: These people are so powerful and so strong, and not lots of body fat -- although you could take a couple of offensive linemen perhaps and dispute that. But not a lot of body fat. Maybe none in some cases, you know. And they're very healthy people. You know, people don't realize, it's a tiny percentage of people that get sick. I think football is making a tragic mistake.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Benjamin, what do you think? Should these guys play in the fall?

BENJAMIN WATSON, FORMER NFL PLAYER: Well, the only thing I would dispute was the fact that offensive linemen are some of the best athletes on the field contrary to popular belief. But it's difficult. I think the question that the administrators, the presidents of the universities, the conferences, the Power Five conferences have to answer is, is it responsible to allow their student athletes to play?

Obviously, the Big Ten has made the decision that it's not. But I think it's different for different areas. Look, everybody experiences this virus differently and the tough thing is that you may be OK, but you may come home to someone who is not OK. You may be in contact with someone who is elderly. There may be a coach or a coach's family member that could be affected by this. And so, there are so many variables that it's very, very tough.

I mean in the NFL we had to deal with this as well. We had to go through an entire several weeks of trying to figure out of the best protocols, the best way to protect our players. The best way to have opt-outs. What was that going to look like from a testing protocol standard and so far, the NFL has been doing quite well, I would say, as far as managing the virus. But when it comes to college campuses, there are so many other

questions. We don't even know if students are going to be allowed back at campus in large numbers. And so, I'm not sure, but I do think that there has to be a process, there has to be protocols in place. The Big Ten obviously thinks that it's time to postpone. I don't think it's time to cancel but I do think it's time to push some of these things back until we figure out the best way to proceed.

BALDWIN: I'm so glad though you made the point about there are so many layers to this. Right. And so you could be perfectly healthy like Matthew, I'm sure you are in tip top shape, but we know what if you're exposed to someone who's sick and then you go and see your grandmother. I'm throwing that out as an example. And it is not like you all would be playing in a bubble.

You know, we know from Major League Baseball not playing in a bubble has been a problem. We know college football just can't play in a bubble. You know, for instance, what if an outbreak spreads to the rest of the student body or to faculty members, you know, shouldn't the students, Matthew, and student athletes come first?

BROWN: Yes, ma'am.

[15:45:00]

I agree with you on that. But at the same time, it's like we're student athletes and we're there to also get an education and play sports. So, but any case, some of our medical staff has just, they ensure just -- we test about every week or so. This morning actually, I was tested for my antibodies and I came back my -- my blood test came back saying I was antibody positive. Saying that --

BALDWIN: No kidding?

BROWN: Yes, ma'am, yes, ma'am, I came back across with the virus not too long ago. I had no idea. I was still working out with the gym. It might have been back at home or it might have been here in Athens. So they're taking great care of us and I'm so that glad that I'm fortunate that the resources I'm able to have access to, and I feel like that's going to be a big help as terms of moving forward whenever more and more students come onto the campus.

BALDWIN: I've got to ask you about that and I'm so glad you're OK. I too am antibody positive, but I was very aware when I had COVID back in April and Benjamin was sweet enough to text me and send his love. But I guess my question back to you and then we'll end it is, you know, fortunately you're OK, but what if you had, you know, been sick and had been around others. The other point of this could have been that you could have infected other people. It is a contact sport. You can understand the concern, right?

BROWN: Yes, ma'am. Most definitely. And crazy thing about it is that, is just it's just a matter of being disciplined and sticking to the CDC guidelines and what Mr. Ron and Coach Smart have steadily enforced wearing our mask and just being smart whenever we're out in public. He of course knows we're in college, he of course knows we're still young and going out but that's just where -- it's the maturity and the composure comes into know that you must wash your hands anywhere you go. Remember to wear your face mask and those are just rules that we are commonly doing inside of the facility. And so, yes, it's just unfortunate enough to know that my family and my mom and my little brother and my dad, all of their tests came back negative. So, I'm glad I wasn't able to ---

BALDWIN: OK. Good, good, good. I'm glad. Stay well, Matthew and Benjamin. I thank you both so much. I need to peel off and do a little bit of breaking news. But guys I really, really appreciate it. Stay healthy.

We have been reporting on this breaking news, former Vice President Joe Biden officially selected his running mate. Let's go to CNN chief political correspondent Dana Bash. Dana, do we have news?

BASH: We have news about what the former Vice President is doing when it comes to those he did not choose. And that is he's making calls. And informing the people he did not pick as his running mate, that that is the case. This is reporting from myself, from Jeff Zeleny and Dan Merica.

And the other thing that we were told in terms of names, is that one of those on the list, Congresswoman Karen Bass, is the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, was called by the former Vice President himself to say that she is not the pick. She is not the running mate.

As I said, others were called as well. So, it seems as though it's really probably a matter of minutes at this point, Brooke, that we know who the former Vice President did actually pick. But he's going down the line and making the calls telling those who didn't get it.

BALDWIN: OK. Dana, thank you. We're going to take a quick, quick break, we'll talk more about Joe Biden and who could potentially be his running mate, a woman, might it be a woman of color? We wait to find out. We'll be right back.

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BALDWIN: All right. Jeff Zeleny and Dana Bash, let me bring the two of you back in as we're getting bits and pieces of news on this Joe Biden VP pick. And so, Dana, let me just begin with you again. You and Jeff are reporting out some information as far as what's happening behind the scenes, phone calls that Joe Biden is making to some of the women who he has not selected?

BASH: That's right. We have spoken to several people in that camp, those who were in the running who have gotten phone calls informing them that the Vice President has made a decision and that they are not the pick.

One of whom is Karen Bass, as I mentioned to you before the break, the Congresswoman from California, somebody who is the chairwoman of the Congressional black caucus who was very high on the list of somebody that the former Vice President trusts enormously and that is the majority whip Jim Clyburn. He threw her hat in the ring, and she has been -- had been vetted, had been talked to. But she is somebody who is not going to be the running mate.

And, again, others have been told as well. And we are definitely waiting with bated breath because we believe it's going to be done -- was planned to be done really minutes before the Biden campaign announces who is the running mate -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: So other potentials. Senator Tammy Duckworth, Governor Gretchen Whitworth, Susan Rice former national security advisor with Obama, and Senator Kamala Harris.

Jeff, you've been making phone calls. Tell us what else you know, what else is happening right now.

ZELENY: As Dana said, there are these conversations going out. I am told that the former Vice President is making some of them but not all of them. The campaign and campaign representatives are also reaching out to some.

This was a large list. I mean the campaign confirmed for us as many as 11 people were getting extensive vetting. And what that means is going through financial records, personal histories, medical histories. So, all of that was going on as the former Vice President really was looking for his Biden, if you will. That's kind of what this whole thing has been about, Biden finding his Biden. So, we do know that those calls are actually likely still going out. And that does, as Dana says, point to a rather imminent announcement.

But again, the Biden campaign controls the timing. And they are just fine with all of this discussion and drumming up a little bit of interest in this of course. And what they're ultimately trying to do, they are going to make this announcement or try to make this announcement through social media to try and you know, sort of fire up their own supporters here.

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So that is what we are waiting for. But we do know, again as we said before, this is going to be a historic pick, but likely not one that is based on politics. We heard the former Vice President say that he is essentially a bridge to the next generation. He was looking for someone, is looking for someone to be a governing partner, not necessarily someone who agrees with him on everything, but someone who he can sort of turn to for help governing.

And it was pretty remarkable, many of the people on the list were products of Washington. So, you know, there's definitely a lot of sense it will be someone with Washington experience. But we also have eyes on Gretchen Whitmer, the Michigan governor. She, of course, was leading the way on coronavirus. And that is such a central issue here. So, we are keeping our eye on all of those -- Brooke. BALDWIN: The waiting game continues. Let me hit a quick commercial break. And I know the conversation will pick right back up on who did Joe Biden pick to be his running mate.

I'm Brooke Baldwin. Quick break, back in a moment.

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