Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
U.S. Not "Rounding The Curve" On Coronavirus; Writer And Editor, Matt Kaufman, Says Christians Should Dump Trump; Trump And Biden Campaigns In The Final Sprint With Just Seven Days To Go Until Election Day; CNN On The Ground In Five Swing States That Could Decide Election. Aired 2:30-3p ET
Aired October 27, 2020 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[14:30:00]
ALICE ROBERTS, HUSBAND DIED OF COVID-19: You know, it went by too fast. Everyone always said that, but it really did.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Or Minnesota State Senator Matt Klein, a Democrat, who is mourning his father-in-law who was skeptical of masks and social distancing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STATE SEN. MATT KLEIN (D-MN): I loved my father-in-law and I know he loved me. Like a lot of families these days, we had strong political differences.
But somehow, public health cannot be one of those political differences.
We've got to trust that we want to care for each other and do the right thing for each other.
We're not out to trick people. We're not out to impose a political agenda. We just want to get through this together. Be safe and healthy as a country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: The president says we're rounding a turn? We're rounding a turn all right. Going 90 without a seat belt, without brakes, and with a driver who refuses to keep his eyes on the road.
Next, a Christian's case against Donald Trump. A man who used to work for one of the most influential evangelical groups in the country is trying to convince his peers the president does not deserves a second term. He'll make that argument, live, in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:35:44]
KEILAR: The Trump and Biden campaigns are in the final sprint with just seven days to go until Election Day. Both campaigns spreading out across the country trying to make their case.
In 2016, President Trump won the evangelical vote. He won overwhelmingly.
Today, writer and editor, Matt Kaufman, is hoping to change some minds. Matt joins us now.
And I thank you for being with us to talk about this.
You used to work for the magazine publishes by "Focus on the Family," which is one of the most prominent evangelical groups in the country.
You have a piece in the "Bulwark" that is titled "Why Christians Should Dump Trump."
"I spent years working for a conservative Christian organization but I believe that supporting Trump damping the country and Christianity, too."
You say in this article that the president is bad for the cause of Christ. Explain what you mean.
MATT KAUFMAN, WRITER & EDITOR: Well, I think this, Brianna. I think his contact, his way of behaving, and many of the ways he uses his power are damaging not only just to the country in general, that's bad enough.
But if people see Christians, no matter how well we may behave in our own personal lives, if they see our behave are and link us to Trump, I think that shuts us down to not only what we have to say about public policy but, more importantly, what we have to say about our faith.
That is really what should be our greatest concern.
KEILAR: And you know, there are -- I mean, there are many evangelicals who voted for President Trump and are expected to vote for him again.
Even as they dismiss behavior in him that they certainly would not talk about doing themselves. Right?
KAUFMAN: Yes.
KEILAR: This is -- isn't something they would typically, they would disapprove of.
So can you explain that to us and also tell us, how -- I know you haven't made a ton of friends with some folks by writing this.
KAUFMAN: Well, I think the -- I think probably what happens to a lot of people is, it is a combination of they overlook some things in Trump. Either because they are trying to focus on some policy gains that they hope to make, or because they are concerned about what Democrats will do. They see dangers on the left.
I understand where they're coming from. Because they are -- I share many of those concerns.
But I think there's an ideological tunnel vision we have to watch out for, where we only see dangers on the left.
And there are dangers on the right. And there are dangers that do not fit on the left-right spectrum when you have a president so unstable and callous and cruel. We have to watch out for all of those.
Now, as to not making some friends, I -- I know there are some people who are going to be alienated by what I'm saying, some people who share a lot of the views that I have on issues.
I have heard from heard from some other people, I'm happy to say, who are much more supportive.
And that gives me some hope that these are concerns more widespread perhaps than you'd realize when you just see some of the people who are known as conservative Christian spokespeople in the media.
KEILAR: Matt, you talk a little about that in your piece. You write about finding company in your political views, that this is something that can come up in casual conversation.
You know, which I think is something that when it comes to evangelical Christians, something you're very familiar with when it comes to talking about the Bible, talking about religion.
Explain what you mean by that, "finding company in your political views."
KAUFMAN: Well, I think -- this can come up very much without having a political conversation. You're just -- you may even be trying to avoid a political conversation.
But something comes up, something Trump has just said or done, something notably outrageous or crazy or whatever.
And you just can't help but run, or sigh, or let your voice make clear how disturbed you are by it. And other people pick right up on that.
And very quickly you realize, there's a lot more people who think this way who are -- who share this revulsion at Trump and desire to set a higher standard than is generally recognized.
[14:40:05]
KEILAR: Matt, thank you so much for the conversation. I really appreciate it. Matt Kaufman.
KAUFMAN: Thank you. KEILAR: Next, one of the president's closest allies locked in a dead
heat in South Carolina. Senator Lindsey Graham is getting vastly outspent by his Democratic challenger. And now he is begging for money. We will roll the tape.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: One week until Election Day, and while all eyes are on the president's race, there are a number of competitive Senate races that, in normal times, would not be, Kansas, Georgia, Texas.
And South Carolina, where Jaime Harrison is doing something usually unthinkable in the Palmetto State. He's a Democrat giving incumbent Republican Senator Lindsey Graham a run for his life.
Graham is chairman of the Judiciary Committee and he is fresh off the controversial confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett just 38 days since Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death. It's a political win for him.
[14:45:04]
But moments after that confirmation vote last night, he went on his favorite TV channel to beg for money, which has become a bit of a ritual for Senator Graham up against a Democrat who is shattering fundraising records.
Let's roll the tape.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): I'm getting out-raised 3-1, outspent 4-1. If you want to help me fight back, go to LindseyGraham.com. Five or 10 bucks from half of your audience would fill in the gap that I'm facing.
I'm being killed financially. This money is because they hate my guts.
Get over to our Web site. It's LindseyGraham.com. Five or 10 bucks goes a long way.
(CROSSTALK)
GRAHAM: I'm overwhelmed. LindseyGraham.com. Help me.
I'm being outraised 2-1. If you want to help me, LindseyGraham.com. Five or 10 bucks goes a long way.
LindseyGraham.com. The loading me up because I'm chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
Go to LindseyGraham.com to help me.
LindseyGraham.com. If you want to help me, help me by going to my Web site.
So help me @LindseyGraham.com. They're trying to silence us all by swamping us with money.
LindseyGraham.com. Help me.
Let me just say this. The Internet is on fire tonight. They are raising money like crazy to take back the Senate and beat President Trump. Help me. Help everybody I just named. LindseyGraham.com.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: Remember, Senator Graham used to be one of Donald Trump's fiercest Republican critics.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GRAHAM: He's a race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot.
You know how you make America great again? Tell Donald Trump to go to hell.
Mr. Trump, thank you for being the best commander-in-chief since Ronald Reagan.
Everybody in this room has one thing in common. We all have your back.
I want you to use my words against me. If there's a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term, you can say, Lindsey Graham said let's let the next president, whoever it might be, make that nomination.
I made a decision that it would be wrong to deny Judge Barrett a chance to be confirmed on the floor of the United States Senate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: It's like whiplash.
Graham has come a long way since an angry Trump doxed him, making his cell phone number public back in 2015.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I wrote the number down. I don't know if it's the right number. Let's try it, 202 --
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: Senator Graham sure has come a long way since he criticized Trump for attacking his best friend John McCain's military service and time at a prisoner of war, saying that Trump had, quote, "a lack of respect for those who have served, a disqualifying characteristic to be president."
Now Lindsey Graham is an ally of the president's. His reaction to Trump's abhorrent treatment of McCain, even in death, lukewarm. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GRAHAM: It bothers me greatly when the president says things about John McCain. It pisses me off to no end. And I let the president know it.
The way he's handled the passing of John is just -- was disturbing.
I am not going to give up on the idea of working with this president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: Working with him and golfing with him.
Graham and Trump are often seen on the course together. Graham has tweeted about how great Trump's golf club is. And he's talked up the president's game.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FOX HOST: I saw you played golf with the president over the weekend.
GRAHAM: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FOX HOST: Who won?
GRAHAM: I've never seen him play this well. I mean, he's got more on his shoulders.
(CROSSTALK)
GRAHAM: I'm hoping, OK, he's a little distracted. He beat me like a drum. I mean, it was amazing. He shot 74.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FOX HOST: What?
GRAHAM: I know.
(CROSSTALK)
GRAHAM: I'm not joking. If I could beat him I would.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: A 74? Two over par. It made golfing enthusiasts, who are aware of what a notorious golf cheat President Trump is, ready to safely wager they'd eat their nine iron if that score was accurate.
The thing is Graham's situation is not unique. This is where many Republicans find themselves, walking the line between President Trump and what they traditionally stood for. The loyalty that the president demands may cost Graham his job.
It certainly cost his dignity as he begs for money or television, making his final pitch to voters sound more like an infomercial for the ShamWow than an argument for a fourth term.
Ahead, President Trump is set to speak any moment now in Lansing, Michigan. We're going to bring that to you live when it happens.
[14:49:28]
Plus, CNN is on the ground in five key swing states. We're going to have a look what early voting looks like in the places that may decide this election.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: Seven days left now until November 3rd and President Trump and Joe Biden and their surrogates are courting voters in key swing states.
CNN is on the ground tracking early voting.
And we begin with political correspondent, Sara Murray, in Pennsylvania.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Sara Murray in Pennsylvania.
Here in the state of Pennsylvania, it's the last day to apply for a mail-in ballot. In Pennsylvania it's the first time anyone can vote by mail for any reason whatsoever.
More than three million people have already requested a mail-in ballot in the state.
And election officials are trying to encourage them to turn those ballots in as soon as possible and not necessarily wait until Election Day.
They're also saying it could be a long election night. It could take them a few days to count these ballots.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: I'm Drew Griffin in Tallahassee, Florida, a drizzly Tallahassee where the big, big headline in this state is how many voters have already voted.
And 6.4 million Floridians as of this morning have already registered their vote. That is approaching nearly half of all the registered voters in the state.
[14:55:08]
And the voting continues for an entire week. The polling here, you can just walk in and vote, no problem.
The secretary of state says she really wants people to drop their mail-in ballots in the mail today to make sure they get counted by Election Day.
But based on the fact that all these voters have voted, we could have a very early decision here in Florida come Tuesday night.
BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT: I'm Bill Weir in Madison, Wisconsin, where they're reeling from the Supreme Court decision that all absentee ballots must be received -- not postmarked -- received by Election Day.
Thus, there are about 324,041 ballots still outstanding in this key swing state that have to be mailed today.
The post office encouraging 27 states with similar deadlines to get those ballots in the mail.
Meantime, after the disaster they had in April for a general election for judges here, they're trying to make things go as smoothly as possible.
Volunteers even meeting folks at their car to help them avoid exposure to COVID, which is setting new records around the state.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Miguel Marquez in Michigan, where officials expect around five million votes to be cast in this election. And most of them, about two-thirds, will be in before Election Day.
Michigan will be hard fought. Remember, Donald Trump won this state by 10,704 votes back in 2016. All the candidates and many of their surrogates will be here this week.
One big concern here across the state are guns, guns at the polls. The secretary of state ruling that they could not be brought into polling places. That's been challenged in court.
We expect to have that court ruling before Election Day as to whether or not people can bring open-carry or concealed weapons into polling places.
KYUNG LAH, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Kyung Lah in Phoenix, Arizona.
Today is the day that Arizona election officials say you need to put your ballot in the mail to ensure that it's going to be counted.
After today, they recommend that you do this. Drive up to an early voting site, deliver it in person, or drop it into a drop box. That ensures that it will be counted.
Here in Maricopa County, 1.1 million ballots have already been counted and signature verified.
Arizona's secretary of state calls the record levels of early voting, quote, "historic."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: Thank you to all of my colleagues for those reports.
We are just one week away from election night in America. From the first votes to the critical count, CNN is the best place to be for an in-depth look at what is happening in your state and all across the country. Our live special coverage will start next Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. Eastern.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:00:05]
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Welcome to THE LEAD. I'm Jake Tapper.
And we begin today with the 2020 LEAD.
