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Trump Floats Firing Fauci But Lacks Direct Power to Do So; Processing of Michigan Absentee Ballots Underway Now; Trump & Biden Fight for Votes in Wisconsin; Retailers Across U.S. Boarding Up Stores, Bracing for Unrest; Pence and Harris Have Duel Rallies in Pennsylvania. Aired 1:30-2p ET
Aired November 02, 2020 - 13:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[13:30:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CHANTING)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Don't tell anybody but let me wait until a little bit after the election.
(CHEERING)
TRUMP: I appreciate the advice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: I want to bring in our senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen to talk about this.
The crowd chanting "Fire Fauci." The president responding, "Let me wait until a little bit after the election."
Can the president fire Dr. Fauci?
DR. ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, first, I want to say what a coward, right? If President Trump really wanted to fire Fauci, he should have the guts -- and guts is my second choice of words -- he should have the guts to do it now.
The fact he is saying I won't do it now speaks volumes about him and about how popular and effective Dr. Fauci is.
So technically, Brianna, technically, our CNN reporting tells us that the president cannot fire Fauci. Could he pressure Dr. Fauci's boss, Dr. Francis Collins, could he pressure Dr. Collins to fire Dr. Fauci? That's possible.
But Dr. Collins said I won't do it. He has been asked and he won't do it. The two men are very close. They have worked together for many, many years. Now, could the president pressure secretary of Health and Human
Services, Alex. Azar, to orchestrate the firing of Fauci? Technically, maybe he could.
But it's important to remember that Alex Azar is an attorney. He's a professional with a long career behind him.
Would he want his epitaph to read, "Alex Azar, the idiot and coward that fired Dr. Fauci, smartest guy in the room?" I imagine not.
Now, to take it a step further --
KEILAR: In the middle of a pandemic.
COHEN: In the middle of a pandemic. Right.
And to take it a step further, could President Trump get rid of Azar, get rid of Collins, put in stooges who would fire Fauci? That's possible.
If it were any other president, Brianna, I would say, no way, there is no way that will happen. But with President Trump, when he gets into one of his little childish, baby like temper tantrums, he does weird things.
So, you know, I wouldn't put anything past him -- Brianna?
KEILAR: Let's hope the urge wears off. We'll see.
Elizabeth Cohen, thank you so much.
The president defending his supporters who surrounded a Biden campaign bus on the interstate, slowing it down to 20 miles per hour. Staffers on the bus called 911 as they were fearful. Now the FBI is investigating.
Plus, stores across the country are boarding up. They're bracing for possible unrest after the election. We're going to show you where this is happening.
And we'll hit three battleground states that may decide this election. Stand by.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:37:26]
KEILAR: The countdown to Election Day is on. All eyes are on the key battleground states.
CNN has a team of reporters on the ground tracking the candidates' final day of campaigning.
We begin in Michigan where absentee ballots are already being processed. OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Brianna, this is where absentee
ballots are being processed in the state of Michigan. It's part of a new law that went into effect this year, applying to cities with more than 25,000 people.
Remember, process doesn't quite mean counted. It means getting ballots ready to the point that, when the counting starts at 7:00 a.m. Election Day tomorrow, the process goes a little more smoothly.
At this TCF Center in Detroit, they have 1,800 workers assigned here working in 900-persons shifts.
And you can see over my shoulder the battle stations of sorts that they have set up.
They work as a self-contained assembly line where one person may open the first part of that envelope. The ballot is in a second envelope, a safety sleeve so to speak.
Then they work to match up the bar code, make sure the person hasn't already voted, things like that. That's what they're working on.
Again, so by the time you get to Election Day tomorrow, they can get through these ballots as quickly as possible.
People in Detroit, the officials tell us they hope to have at least 100,000 absentee ballots counted by 8:00 p.m. Election Day.
When you contextualize that within the state, the state secretary of state says they expect to see three million votes having been put through by the time we get to Election Day tomorrow starting at 7:00 a.m. here in Michigan -- Brianna?
RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Ryan Young in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I can tell you that President Trump has circled the state. He will be back here again today.
He was just here Friday. The first lady was here Saturday. Ivanka Trump was here Sunday. You can see the final push.
President Trump won this state by less than 1 percent in 2016 and already two million people in the state have voted in person.
The other part of the story is coronavirus. Just over my shoulder, as you look this direction, this is a line of people showing up. There's a surge of coronavirus cases.
As we talk to people waiting in line, they told us there were two things they were worried about, the economy and coronavirus.
With cases surging here, that's what people want to see more leadership on.
Once again, this is the battleground state that everyone seems to be focusing on in the last few minutes. Tomorrow, they'll start counting those in-person votes at 7:00 a.m. -- Brianna? KEILAR: Thank you so much for those reports, Omar and Ryan.
[13:40:03]
Early voting across the country exceed 95 million ballots cast. And that is a record. Turnout tomorrow will be closely watched as many Americans have said they plan to vote on Election Day. And President Trump is counting on that.
Kristen Holmes, our CNN national correspondent, explains why Trump needs a huge in-person turnout.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Brianna, every election cycle, we end up saying some version of the same thing, which is this is going to come down to turnout.
This year is a little different. Because we've already seen so much turnout. We have seen record numbers of people casting ballots early, sending in absentee and mail-in ballots, largely due to the pandemic, and changing strictions done by state to allow for safety and all of that.
What we learned is that not all turnout is the same. What I mean by that is that, since beginning of the pandemic, it has been clear that Biden supporters are more likely to support voting by mail or voting early, whereas Trump supporters are more likely to vote in person on Election Day.
So what does that mean? If you look at the numbers coming in, record numbers, and you're the Trump campaign, in some of the states, you're going to really, really think that you need to turnout in.
For example, think about Pennsylvania. They have had a record number of absentee ballots sent in this year, about 2.4 million at this point.
If 70 percent of that has been from registered Democrats and only 20 percent from registered Republicans, Donald Trump, in a state like Pennsylvania, a critical swing state, would likely need a huge in- person day of turnout to match that huge number of absentee ballots.
The Trump campaign, in a state like Pennsylvania, officials tell me, they believe they can do it. But it is a lot riskier when you come to a point where this is all you can do, only turnout.
This other thing to point out, this does not mean all early ballots are the same.
In states like Florida or Arizona, they have a robust system. Roughly, 75 percent of people in Arizona voted by mail in the last election cycle. That's not going to look the same.
But if looking at other critical states, like Michigan, Pennsylvania, even Georgia and Texas, traditionally red states, we have seen enormous early turnout, enormous amount of mail-in and absentee ballots.
Those are states that will become critical on Election Day. And states that Trump is really going to need to use that ground game to turnout voters -- Brianna?
KEILAR: All right, Kristen, thank you.
What happens if the president prematurely declares victory tomorrow night? He is already hinting at lawsuits. I'll speak with an election law expert about what he fears the most.
Plus, a nation on edge on the eve of Election Day. We're going live to businesses that are making preparations for possible post-election violence.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:47:25]
KEILAR: Businesses across the country are on alert. They are preparing for possible violence after the election.
In major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and here in Washington, D.C., stores are boarding up their windows.
There's even a fence going up around the White House, according to a source.
One security company tells CNN they're grappling with a, quote, "three-headed monster," coronavirus, the election, and civil unrest surrounding social justice issues.
I want to bring in CNN's Stephanie Elam, covering this from Los Angeles for us.
What are you hearing from retailers there, Steph?
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is just the fear, Brianna, and it is widespread. You can see Staples across the street is boarded up.
You've got big box stores boarded up like that.
But you've also got the small mom and pops, like this liquor store. He is boarded up. Taken it down during the social justice protests that have been happening.
But he put them back up through the election because he doesn't know what's going to happen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELAM (voice-over): As if a hurricane is coming, businesses across the country are boarding up. The perceived threat is far from normal for a modern American election.
After a season of charged political rhetoric -- TRUMP: Biden remains silent in his basement.
JOE BIDEN, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: You're the worst president
(CROSSTALK)
BIDEN: -- America has ever had.
(EXPLOSION)
ELAM: -- and months of protests, including looting in some places, it is the uncertainty of how people will react to results of the presidential election that has business owners on edge yet again in 2020.
NANA BUSI, PARTNER, CASPI'S JEWELRY: I think it is just precautionary.
ELAM: Caspi's Jewelry has been in this Los Angeles location since 1948. They're closing up shop until sometime after the election.
(on camera): Do you ever remember a time when you were concerned about an election result?
BUSI: Never in my life. This is such a surprise. This is incredible chaos everywhere.
ELAM (voice-over): Chaos that Beverly Hills wants to avoid.
Ritzy Rodeo Drive is completely blocked off until at least Thursday.
LT. MAX SUBIN, BEVERLY HILLS POLICE: We're not mandating businesses to board up. We're highly recommending you harden the target.
ELAM: In Portland and Chicago, the police departments have cancelled officers' time off for Election Day.
MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT (D-CHICAGO-IL): The city has been in close communication with our business community.
ELAM: Plywood covers store front doors and windows in Raleigh, North Carolina.
As it does in Denver, where the city is activating its Emergency Operations Center, the first time for an Election Day.
MURPHY ROBINSON, DIRECTOR, DENVER PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT: One- hundred percent heightened awareness.
[13:50:02]
ELAM: The nation's capital is doing the same.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We know, of course, that Frist Amendment activities have the potential to disrupt business operations.
ELAM: The closer to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the more palpable the concerns.
ANGELA ALLRED, MANAGER, IMPERIAL WINE & SPIRITS: I think that people want to get closer to the White House to be able to express their concerns and their feelings.
ELAM: And in New York City, officials are preparing for protests.
MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO (D-NEW YORK CITY) (voice-over): If anything turns violent, we're going to move to stop that immediately.
ELAM: The Big Apple should be gearing up for the now reimagined Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade due to COVID-19. The windows of Macy's flagship show, usually a draw unto itself. Instead, the store is all boarded up.
In the time of coronavirus --
WILL COOK, PRESIDENT, HOWARD LORTON FURNITURE AND DESIGN: We're really hoping that everybody doesn't protest violently.
ELAM: A different kind of protection during an unprecedented election.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ELAM: It's hard to believe that we are talking about an American presidential election and this is how people are preparing.
Now some places, because of what we have seen, they have just stay boarded up and just painted them and have kept them up.
But overall, if you think about the fact that we're in the fourth quarter, Brianna, this is when retailers make a lot of their money, those holiday sales.
The last thing they want to do, especially after being closed so long this year, is to have their doors closed again right now. But many are just going to do it and keep them closed until they can feel things are safe.
KEILAR: Tell us about Tiffany's, the luxury jeweler. They're taking some precautions.
ELAM: In some key cities. They're not saying which ones, but they're deciding now that they're going to board up their windows in some of these cities where they think there could be unrest. They're going to protect those businesses.
And a lot of them, not just Tiffany's but a lot of retailers have been doing that. That's why you're seeing Beverly Hills shutting down and other retailers following suit.
Even where I am right now, I saw more businesses boarded up than when I was out yesterday. So more and more companies taking this action today.
KEILAR: We're seeing that here in Washington, D.C., as well. Stephanie Elam, thank you for the report from Los Angeles.
On election eve, both President Trump and Joe Biden are focusing on Pennsylvania where they are set to give dueling rallies in the next hour. We're going to bring those to you live, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:56:59]
KEILAR: All right, as you can see, Pennsylvania is where it is at today. In this election, dueling rallies happening between Vice President Mike Pence and Kamala Harris, who would like to take his job.
Mike Pence in Erie, Pennsylvania. Let's listen in to him first.
MIKE PENCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He actually spent a little bit of time in Indiana playing football at a place called Notre Dame.
(CHEERING)
PENCE: But he came home, ran an incredibly successful business. But 10 years ago, when I was still serving in the Congress, he stepped forward with those broad shoulders, those clear, conservative principles.
And I'm going to tell you what, he has become one of the most consistent, strong, and earlier allies of President Donald Trump and our agenda in the Congress of the United States.
Would you join me in thanking Congressman Mike Kelly for all he does for the cause and the country?
(CHEERING)
(APPLAUSE)
PENCE: Come on, let's hear it for Mike Kelly, everybody.
(CHANTING)
PENCE: So do I. So does he.
Thank you all for being here.
Congressman, thank you for being here. Thank for you always being there for President Donald Trump and the agenda that's made America great again.
Would you --
(CHEERING)
PENCE: I just appreciate you so much. And I know the enthusiasm here today is because you all know all that we have accomplished over the last four years.
I mean, four years ago, we inherited a military that was hollowed out by devastating budget cuts, an economy that was struggling to break out of the slowest recovery since the Great Depression.
Terrorism was on the rise around the world. And we're still. Our more cherished values were consistently under assault out of Washington, D.C.
But in three short years, we rebuilt our military. We revived our economy. We secured our border, supported law enforcement, and stood for life, liberty, and the Constitution of the United States of America.
(CHEERING)
KAMALA HARRIS, DEMOCRATIC VICE-PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Joe says, you want to talk to me about the economy and ask me how the economy is doing? Then, I ask you, how are working people doing?
(CHEERING)
HARRIS: How are working families doing?
Joe understands that when they pass that tax bill benefiting the top 1 percent and the biggest corporations of America, causing us to deal with a $2 trillion deficit, that wasn't about working people.
And if we get down what we need to get done, Pennsylvania, in the next 24 hours, Joe and I about to get rid of that tax bill.
(CHEERING)
[13:59:08]
HARRIS: And invest that money in working families.
