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Trump: We're Rounding the Turn on the Pandemic; Trump Rallies Voters in Battleground State of Pennsylvania; Obama to Campaign for Biden in Pennsylvania; Biden Steps Back from Campaigning to Prepare for Debate; More than 32 Million Americans Have Already Cast Votes; National Polls Show Biden Leading Trump; U.S. Infections and Hospitalizations on the Rise. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired October 21, 2020 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world. You are watching "CNN NEWSROOM" and I'm Rosemary Church.

Just ahead, Donald Trump rallies across battleground states promising a return to normal life as COVID cases climb steadily across the country. His opponent Joe Biden lays low prepping for the final debate and deploying one big name surrogate. It's all motivating record numbers of early voters.

And missing international travel? There might be an app for that. We will tell you how technology could overcome coronavirus travel barriers.

Good to have you with us. With less than two weeks until election day, U.S. President Donald Trump is trying to convince voters he has the COVID-19 pandemic under control. He took his message to Pennsylvania on Tuesday, a state critical to his re-election.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're rounding the turn on the pandemic. Epic job growth, safe vaccines that quickly end the pandemic. It's ending. Normal life, that's all we want. You know what we want? Normal life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: But the U.S. is far from normal. Daily coronavirus infections are soaring at levels not seen in months, but that's not the story the President wants to convey on the campaign trail. And it appears his supporters crowded next to each other on Tuesday, many without masks, may be comfortable with that message.

CNN's Kaitlan Collins was Erie, Pennsylvania as Mr. Trump rallied his supporters. She has more on that campaign stop.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: As the President was rallying his supporters in Pennsylvania on Tuesday night with two weeks to go before the election, he at one point seemed to recognize the dire position he's in when it comes to political polling. Because he said that if it had been before the pandemic, he likely wouldn't have been in Erie, Pennsylvania. But basically, told the crowd he had to show up given that his poll numbers right now are behind those of Joe Biden in Pennsylvania, a state that he carried in 2016.

That rally came just a few hours after the President had sat down with CBS's Lesley Stahl at the White House for an interview for 60 Minutes at which we are told the President abruptly ended the interview before it was scheduled to be done, after about 45 minutes because he grew frustrated with the line of questioning from Stahl.

And we're told he left the room and did not come back to do what was supposed to be a taped portion of the interview with the Vice President, Mike Pence. And of course, then you saw the President go on Twitter. He taunted Lesley Stahl for at one point during the briefing -- or during the interview not wearing a mask.

And then he threatened to release the interview before CBS News airs it next Sunday. Of course, whether or not he ultimately does still seem -- remains to be seen. But what you are seeing with these two weeks to go before the election is the President is making his closing message attacks on reporters like CBS News, attacks on other reporters as well, including the debate moderator for Thursday night for that final presidential debate, but also on Dr. Anthony Fauci, someone he has repeatedly gone after in recent days.

And this is not exactly the closing political message that aides had hoped he would have, given the fact that he is trailing Joe Biden in so many states, with so few days left to go.

Kaitlan Collins, CNN, traveling with the President in Pennsylvania.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Well, Tuesday marked the second day in a row Joe Biden took a break from the campaign trail to prepare for Thursday night's debate. But as CNN's Arlette Saenz reports, one big name will soon be helping Biden attract voters ahead of election day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: While Joe Biden prepares for that next debate against President Trump, he'll have some help out on the campaign trail from a long-time friend who happens to be the Democratic Party's biggest surrogate. President Obama is scheduled to campaign for Joe Biden in Philadelphia. His first in person campaign appearance for his former vice president. Obama will hold a drive-in style rally following those same coronavirus protocols and standards that the Biden campaign has in place for their events. Including social distance as this pandemic continues to play out.

[04:05:00] Now this will be just one of a few appearances Obama makes to vouch for his former vice president. The Biden campaign believes that the former president can help mobilize black men, Latinos and young voters to get out there and vote heading into election day.

Now while this will be a solo stop, there is a possibility that Biden and Obama could appear together on the campaign trail in the closing days before the election. But for now, though former President is lending his help to his former Vice President heading into November. Now for Biden's part, he is expected to spend most of the day focusing on his debate prep as he prepares again for that one-on-one matchup against the President. And advisor to Biden says the former's Expects the President to bully and deflect his way through the next debate. They expect that the attacks will not just focus on Biden but also his family. So those are things that the former Vice President will be preparing for in these coming days as he prepares to face off just one more time against the President.

Arlette Saenz, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And as Arlette reported there, former President Barack Obama is about to hit the campaign trail for Joe Biden. Obama is also taking his message to social media. And here's his latest post on Twitter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We can come out of this moment stronger than before. Voting doesn't accomplish that on its own, but we can't accomplish that without voting. I know there's plenty out there to make people feel cynical and plenty of people are going to seize on that to convince you that your vote doesn't matter. It's not new. It's one of the oldest voter suppression tactics there is. What is new is a growing movement for justice, equality and progress on so many issues.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: All of the political drama is motivating voters. More than 32 million Americans have already cast ballots in this election shattered early voting records. CNN's Abby Phillip takes a look at who's casting these early votes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't procrastinate. Vote early.

ABBY PHILLIP, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just two weeks to go, and it appears that's the way many Americans are feeling about this 2020 election.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I really want to get it done and over with, and do it early, that way I know I've voted.

PHILLIP: So far more than 32 million ballots have been cast nationwide, whether by mail or in-person. On the first day of in- person voting in Wisconsin, voters braving hours long lines and rising COVID numbers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you don't come and do it, you don't have a right to complain. Come and voice your opinion, that's what America is about.

PHILLIP: Huge lines, snaking around entire buildings or down city blocks, becoming a familiar sight all over the country. Many voters even lining up before sunrise, rain or shine. Pending legal challenges in several states including some battleground states are far from over.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's one of the most important elections, obviously. There's so much riding on the line.

PHILLIP: In Pennsylvania, the Supreme Court ruling on Monday, the state can count mail-in ballots if they are sent in by election day and received within three days even if they do not have a legible postmark. Something the President is already attacking.

TRUMP: We got a ruling yesterday that was ridiculous, where they can count ballots after the election is over. What kind of a thing, so what does that mean we're going to wait --?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: John Roberts --

TRUMP: -- we're going to wait till after November 3rd, and start announcing states, that's crazy.

PHILLIP: Pennsylvania state law says the counting of absentee ballots cannot begin until election day, which combines with the court ruling allowing ballots to be received three days after election day, means, we may not know the results of the presidential race for several days after November 3rd.

JOSH SHAPIRO, PENNSYLVANIA ATTORNEY GENERAL: You won't have the precise numbers certainly for a few days, but I think you're going to have a sense of where things are going.

PHILLIP: Meanwhile, in North Carolina the state elections board are now extending the deadlines to accept mail-in ballots, postmarked by election day through November 12, more than a week after the election. But the legal battle is still ongoing. As of this morning in North Carolina, 1.9 million ballots have been cast. That represents 25 percent of the states registered voters.

And in Florida, voters are turning out in droves on the first day of early in-person voting. The state says more than 366,000 Floridians cast votes Monday. By this morning Florida was just shy of three million ballots cast overall. The same time, four years ago, Florida has just over 1.6 million total ballots cast.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you're not going to vote don't complain for the next four years. That's the way I look at it. PHILLIP: Abby Phillip, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Joining me now is CNN senior political analyst, David Gergen. He's also a formal presidential adviser to Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton. Thank you so much, sir, for talking with us.

DAVID GERGEN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Thank you. It's a privilege.

[04:10:00]

CHURCH: So, two weeks away from this critical election and early voting has started in battleground states like Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia and elsewhere. People lining up despite the pandemic, casting 32 million early votes. So far, showing historic turnout. What does that signal to you?

GERGEN: Well, on the surface, it signals that the Democrats are doing much better than expected. The early returns that we talk about that we're so feeling massively to the extent that we know the contents of the ballots, they seem to favor Democrats over Republicans.

Republicans apparently are holding their fire, will vote in greater numbers on election day two weeks from now. But I do think that in contrast the earlier news this year when it was the Republicans who are raising the registration numbers faster than the Democrats were, it was the Republicans who are saying that they could be charging out of the gate.

But now, the momentum is clearly over to the Democrats. They have an avalanche of money coming in. The polls were there where really steadily ahead. The latest "New York Times" poll, one of the most respective, has come out in the last 24 hours with Biden holding a 9- point lead. A little bit has been shaved off, but not very much.

And, very importantly, the new polling also shows that on these issues, Biden has more support on the issues than Trump does on the pandemic, and even the economy. For the President, that's not saying, he is a really good closure, as we all know. You can't count him out. There are a lot of votes out there that may be hidden, but at this moment, every indication is that Joe Biden is sitting on in a big lead, and conceivably could win a very, very big victory.

CHURCH: On Tuesday, President Trump abruptly ended an interview with Lesley Stahl on 60 Minutes --

GERGEN: Yes.

CHURCH: -- and skip a scheduled joint interview with Vice President Mike Pence. Ironically, the President later attacked Stahl for not wearing a mask. What did you make of all of that?

GERGEN: Well, you know, I didn't make much of it. There have been so many erratic moves by this president, especially since he was diagnosed with COVID. It's almost he's little -- I do not know whether he is under the influence, if he is taking drugs or not taking any drugs, it is hard to tell. But I can tell you that his judgment has been salty. He is not good at the policy issue any way, but he has been very good as a state master, you know, and capturing the public's attention. And then this time around, whatever he tries, it doesn't seem to work.

It's almost as if people are really, you know, a really great TV series often end after four or five, six seasons that people become bored, you know, it's repetitive. And they start looking for something else -- well, yes, I think that Trump may have run out of spark here, and people are looking for something fresher, and they would prefer to be healed by Biden than sort of going on another joyride with Trump for four years.

CHURCH: Right. And the former special ops commander, William McRaven who oversaw the Osama Bin Laden raid --

GERGEN: Yes.

CHURCH: -- says he voted for Joe Biden. The retired U.S. four-star admiral says, the world no longer looks up to America because of the actions of Donald Trump.

GERGEN: Yes.

CHURCH: There's also an ad put together by officials who worked under formal Republican President George W. Bush, endorsing Biden, and very influential GOP Senators are also --

GERGEN: Yes.

CHURCH: -- distancing themselves from Trump. I mean, this is almost unheard of, isn't it?

GERGEN: It is.

CHURCH: What is the significance of all of this?

GERGEN: It means the dam is breaking. A lot of people have been very unhappy and frustrated with the President but have kept their own counsel, tried not to get in the way and hope he would turn around with (INAUDIBLE) voting in there. There's just really no one who believes that he is going to be -- turn out to be a new Donald Trump for the next 14 days. He is what he is. And he is going to ride it out. And it looks like he is going to ride it down to defeat.

But, again, be careful about this. The Republicans might have a couple of tricks up their sleeves. They may be able to bring up the numbers. Right now, though, Joe Biden is winning because frankly, he's running a much better campaign.

CHURCH: David Gergen, always a pleasure to get your analysis.

GERGEN: Thanks, Rosemary. Good to talk to you again.

CHURCH: You too.

And be sure to tune in to CNN for the final presidential debate. Our coverage begins 7 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, that's 12 a.m. in London and 7 a.m. in Hong Kong on Friday.

And still to come, fear loneliness, depression, not what the holidays are supposed to be about but they're all possible responses to the idea that COVID-19 could curtail Thanksgiving. How to brace for the season, that's next.

[04:15:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Daily coronavirus infections in the U.S. are soaring to levels not seen in months. More than half of U.S. states are seeing a week- on-week rise. Hospitalizations are also way up as Erica Hill reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERICA HILL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The dreaded second wave now washing over the U.S.

GOV. JB PRITZKER, (D) ILLINOIS: Nearly every region in the state has seen an increase in COVID-related hospitalizations over the last week.

HILL: Illinois among the 42 states reporting a rising hospitalizations, 14 hitting new peaks. It's not just hospitals setting new records. Nationwide the virus is surging.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These numbers are grim. They are going the wrong direction.

HILL: Undergrads at the University of Michigan now under a stay at home order for the next two weeks. County health officials say students account for more than 60 percent of new cases in the area. Michigan is among the 31 states seeing a rise in new cases over the past week. Just one, Hawaii, seeing a decline.

DR. PAUL OFFIT, DIRECTOR, CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA VACCINE EDUCATION CENTER: Over the next five or six months, I think up through February or M for this country arch of next year, we are heading into the worst part of this pandemic for this country.

HILL: New case numbers are typically lower on Mondays. This week the U.S. added more than 58,000 topping a Monday record set three months ago.

[04:20:00]

MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, DIR. UNIV. OF MINNESOTA CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICY: For the first time in many areas, we've seeing over half the cases having no recognized risk exposure, meaning they didn't know somebody that was infected. So, it shows you how prevalent or how common this virus transmission is in our communities.

HILL: That silence spreading fueling new concern and advice about the holidays.

DR. LEANA WEN, EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIAN: It's unnatural for us to think all those people that we love and trust, could also be carrying the virus. But this is a silent killer.

HILL: The head of the national institutes of health, the latest expert to announce his own family won't be gathering.

DR. FRANCIS COLLINS, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH: For the first time in 27 years there won't be any family Thanksgiving. It is just not safe to take that kind of chance.

HILL: But staying safe over the next several months can be lonely.

DR. PETER HOTEZ, DEAN OF TROPICAL MEDICINE, BAYER COLLEGE OF MEDICINE: It's just going to be a huge impact on mental health. You're going to get sad. You're going to get scared. You're going to get depressed. Nor this is a normal response to a very stressful situation.

HILL: Channeling that stress into exercise, meditation or virtual gatherings can help and there's some encouraging news. A new study finds ventilation, including opening windows, spacing, desk shields and hand washing greatly reduce the spread in classrooms hopefully allowing more scenes like this.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good morning how are you.

HILL: A bright spot amid an uncertain future.

(on camera): One thing most health experts agree on, the next few weeks will be likely very difficult especially as temperatures drop. Colorado state epidemiologist says they're actually in the fall wave. Her biggest concern hospitals. She says one in every four hospital beds is now being used by a COVID-19 patient.

In New York, Erica Hill, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: So, let's talk about this with Dr. Jorge Rodriguez. He joins me from Los Angeles. Thank you doctor for talking with us.

JORGE RODRIGUEZ, INTERNAL MEDICINE AND VIRAL SPECIALIST: My pleasure.

CHURCH: So, this country has lost nearly 221,000 people and 42 states report an increased in hospitalizations over the past two weeks. Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb says the U.S. is one week away from a rapid acceleration in COVID cases. What needs to be done?

RODRIGUEZ: What need to be done is that we really need to start adhering too and believing what has been said now for almost nine months, which is that this virus is here. It's here to stay for a long time and we need to practice the holy trinity, which is masks, separation by at least six feet from other people and handwashing. There is no room for error right now. There really isn't. CHURCH: Yes, exactly. And the mayor of Miami Beach is accusing Florida's Governor of pursuing a herd immunity strategy. The very same approach advocated by Dr. Scott Atlas who now advises President Trump. How concerned are you that the Trump administration and governors who support the president are following this strategy and explain the consequences of an approach like that?

RODRIGUEZ: Well, I am very concerned, and I have been all along. There are people that are playing politics with our lives. I am a Miami hometown boy. So, this one really strikes home from very closely. DeSantis has obviously been riding whatever -- I mean, President Trump wants him to do. They have put politics before lives.

And the danger is that once this ball starts rolling down the hill, it's going to gain momentum. And if you look at the graphs, it really is about to explode in a couple of weeks. And listen, we are one big country and what happens in Florida will eventually as it is happening now will happen in Iowa and Nebraska. We are not separate.

CHURCH: Yes, and the problem is of course, they are opening things up.

RODRIGUEZ: Of course.

CHURCH: So, this makes the situation worst. And a recent study shows if we open windows for in-person learning at schools and kids wear masks and face shields while sitting about eight feet apart. Then there is a chance schools could offer safer in-person learning experience. Do you agree with that? Is that a workable model, depending, of course, on what each school is able to do? Some schools can't accommodate eight feet between each student.

RODRIGUEZ: Yes, you know, it's very difficult. These question about children and learning is a very difficult thing. Obviously, for complete growth, should be with their peers. What I think would work is to establish these norms and to have a rotating system.

We need to be fluid. We need to have some kids coming in. Maybe one third of classes on Monday, another third on Tuesday and the rest can be done virtually, and you know, the other third on Wednesday. We need to be inventive. But it can work. We just need to again, follow separation, shields and washing our hands.

CHURCH: Yes, and of course it depends how many kids. I mean, the kids at my kid's high school, there are 2,400 of them. It would be impossible for all of them to be accommodated in a situation like that. So, each school has to be taken one at a time and work this out.

[04:25:00]

So, what do you say to American families who want to get together for Thanksgiving later next month? And to other families across the globe planning to dine or party together.

RODRIGUEZ: I say, and this may sound a little corny, but I say that this year we need to isolate and perhaps not see each other so that next year when we do get together, nobody is missing. So, I say that we really need to buckle down and be very cautious. There are other ways of communicating. We don't have to gather in large groups this year.

As a matter of fact, one of the most dangerous things that we do is gather with family and friends who we think just because they are family and friends, they're safe. You can still love your family. We don't always have to see them. So, let's think of the future as opposed to right now, the present and this holiday season.

CHURCH: Some very wise advice there, Dr. Jorge Rodriguez. Thank you so much for joining us.

RODRIGUEZ: Thank you, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Well, turning the state of Michigan blue again. One woman is making it her mission to get voters to the polls to avoid another narrow win by Donald Trump. Back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: With less than two weeks to go until election day in the United States, the presidential candidates are taking a very different approach to the campaign. Democrat Joe Biden spent Tuesday preparing for Thursday's final debate. Biden's running mate, Kamala Harris, attended a socially distanced fundraiser on zoom attended by various "Avengers" film stars.

President Donald Trump meantime surrounded himself with supporters at a crowded rally in Erie, Pennsylvania. He's been spending the final days on the campaign attacking Biden and even going after Dr. Anthony Fauci for trying to convey scientific facts against COVID-19.