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Biden Maintains Lead As Pennsylvania Continues Counting Votes; Biden Speaks To World Leaders Following Election Win; Pompeo Refuses To Acknowledge Biden Won Election; EU Agrees To Buy Up To 300 Million Doses Of Pfizer Vaccine. Aired 12:30-1p ET

Aired November 11, 2020 - 12:30   ET

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

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[12:30:25]

JOHN KING, CNN HOST: This is the map that makes Joe Biden President- elect of the United States. If you're with us over the weekend, it is the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. They put Joe Biden over the top. They continue to count votes there, it continues to be one of the sources of controversy, or at least in President Trump's view, is he alleges fraud, fraud and more fraud despite the fact that there's no evidence of such a thing.

Joe Biden right now, 47,603 votes ahead. One of the questions has been Pennsylvania accepted ballots that were came after Election Day. Postmarked by Election Day showed up after Election Day because of the mail. President says they shouldn't be counted. The state now says there are 10,000 of them. If they're legally cast, most of us would think they should be counted. But, let's just take the President side for a minute.

So what? Joe Biden's 47,603 votes ahead. If you think these are all votes for Biden, they shouldn't be counted. Mr. President, OK. Well, these people want their votes counted, but it would not make a difference. A lot of what you're hearing just simply would not make a difference. Now, we continue to get results here, including from Erie County. I want to show you some results that came in this morning. And here's what officials are doing. They're counting mail-in ballots.

In Erie County, Vice President Biden now President-elect Biden got 653 votes. President Trump in this new vote count had 682 votes. So, the President of the United States makes up 29 votes, 29 votes in Erie County. Again, when you're 47,000 ahead, 29 votes, every vote counts. That doesn't make a big difference in the math. One of the reasons it doesn't is because they're also counting votes down here.

In Philadelphia, and this came in this morning as well, OK? New votes in Philadelphia, right? Joe Biden, 2,189, the President, 185. A net plus 29 in Erie County for the President, a net 2,004 plus four Joe Biden in Philadelphia. The President's team says Philadelphia rife with fraud.

My colleague, John Berman this morning, put the question to somebody who does the work.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN BERMAN, CNN HOST: What evidence of any widespread fraud have you seen in the count in Philadelphia?

COMMISSIONER AL SCHMIDT (R), PHILADELPHIA: I have not. I realized a lot of people are happy about this election and a lot of people are not happy about this election. One thing I can't comprehend is how hungry people are to consume lies and to consume information that is not true.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Let's bring in the Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman. Governor Fetterman, good to see you. Appreciate your time. So, you've been using your own social media account, because you're seeing from Texas and from elsewhere, pro-Trump people alleging that all these crazy nefarious things are happening in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Again, let me just ask you straight up, have you seen any evidence at all of any widespread fraud in the Commonwealth?

GOV. JOHN FETTERMAN (D), PENNSYLVANIA: Well, the fraud that we know is that occurred in Pennsylvania in this cycle is a registered Republican in Luzerne County, tried to vote for Trump with his dead mother's ballot. Other than that, no, we have not witnessed any voter fraud here in Pennsylvania.

KING: So we live at this interesting moment. Interesting being a polite term, where it's clear and convincing that Joe Biden won the election, the President of United states refuses to acknowledge the results. And he says he's going to sue in Pennsylvania. 47,000 votes, I've never seen a lead like that reversed. He says he's going to sue in Michigan, it's almost 150,000 votes there. Again, I've been doing this for 35 years, never seen anything like that.

I do want you to listen, though, to your one of the voices of reason here is one of your senators. I know you disagree with Pat Toomey, quite a bit, a Republican Senator, but listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. PAT TOOMEY (R), PENNSYLVANIA: We're on a path, it looks likely that Joe Biden is going to be the next president of the United States. It's not 100 percent certain, but it is quite likely. And so, I think a transition process ought to begin. If it turns out that the unlikely scenario actually comes about and it turns out President Trump is determined to have won this election after all, then the transition, of course, becomes moot and it expires and it evaporates.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Has it surprise you that there are not more voices that's a reasonable proposition? President can exercise his rights to ask for recounts or sue if he wants to. But in the meantime, start cooperating with the President-elect so that he can take office 10 weeks from now in the middle of a pandemic and take over as commander-in-chief with the normal cooperation he would -- he should receive.

FETTERMAN: Yes. I mean, look, bottom line, if ifs and buts were candy and nuts, the President would be on deck to have a better Thanksgiving that he's going to have. You know, math doesn't care about his feelings. He doesn't care about anyone's feelings.

[12:35:00]

The math in Pennsylvania is damning for the President. Like what's, you know, like, you know, these contestant late ballots 10,000, like, oh, no, we're, you know, we're going to take that to the Supreme Court. Like take them to the Supreme Court. You know what? Spot the President all 10,000 for all I care, because the Vice President is going to be up 50,000, 60,000 votes when all the counting is done, if not more.

The bottom line is, is that there is no truth to any of this. And at some point, we all have to collectively accept that yelling voter fraud, when there is no evidence, whatsoever of it, is yelling fire in a crowded theater, and it is harming the Democratic franchise of our country and the peaceful transition of power. And we cannot accept that.

KING: We cannot and we should not and we're all tired, and we're all exhausted. And yet -- so we're looking for humor at a time like this. And I just want to put up your tweet in response to the Lieutenant Governor of Texas because, frankly, you know, I know this is a serious subject and I'm not trying to downplay it, but this is hilarious.

"Hey, Governor Patrick, it's your counterpart in Pennsylvania. I'd like to collect your handsome reward for reporting voter fraud. I've got a dude in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania." You go on to talk about the case you just talked about, just to the Cowboys blow.

FETTERMAN: Yes.

KING: So, I like it, you're a competitive guy and that might actually hold up to a fact check. Go ahead. Why did you do that?

FETTERMAN: Yes. Well, let's look first to establish, the Cowboys do, in fact, blow. But, two, like I want my reward. You know, he wanted voter fraud and for one fellow lieutenant governor to another it's like, you know, I -- he can pay me and sheets, gift cards that would be fine. And the bottom line is like, you know, my dude wants voter fraud, I delivered in Pennsylvania because that is the one loan case of voter fraud documented right now as of this airing.

And, you know, again, this needs to stop, it's absurd. And the fact that they're trying to call a bounty, you know, like if he's serious about voter fraud, I guess what we've uncovered some in Pennsylvania, you know, what's my reward, you know? And like I said, the Steelers are, by the way eight, no, I just wanted too.

KING: The Commonwealth is a big and beautiful state and sheets gift cards would work out just great. If you have to drive from corner to corner as you do sometime, they would be helpful. Lieutenant Governor, as always appreciate your time, and your insights.

Still ahead for us, American's closest allies now acknowledging Joe Biden's victory even if the President of the United States and his top diplomat will not.

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[12:41:57]

KING: President-elect Joe Biden moving ahead with his transition even as President Trump refuses to concede the election. That includes for President-elect working on international relations. Mr. Biden speaking with several key allies just yesterday, including Germany's Angela Merkel, France's Emmanuel Macron. He said this about the tone of those conversations.

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JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT: I know from my discussions with foreign leaders thus far that they are hopeful that United States Democratic institutions are viewed once again as being strong and endure.

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KING: Susan Glasser joins us now, she's a CNN Global Affairs Analyst and writer for The New Yorker. Susan, great to have you on this day. That was Joe Biden describing his conversations. I want you to listen here to Boris Johnson, who was on the other end of the phone for one of those conversations. Listen to his view.

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BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I had and have a good relationship with the previous president. (INAUDIBLE) I do not resolve from that is it the duty of all British prime ministers to have a good relationship with the White House. But I'm delighted to find the many areas in which the Biden, incoming Biden-Harris administration is able to make common cause with us. In particular, it was extremely exciting to talk to President-elect Biden about what he wants to do with the COP26 summit next year.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: COP26, of course, climate change, one of the many issues on which European leaders and other leaders around the world are, frankly, Susan, just simply gratified that they can get back to having conversations about facts and science.

SUSAN GLASSER, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Well, that's right, John, it is remarkable. Isn't it that here we are within a week after the election and the President-elect of the United States has had more conversations with foreign leaders than with Republican members of the Senate, congratulating him. You know, it tells you about our divisions, but also how relieved America's allies are, many of them to have a President in the White House again soon, who doesn't view them as adversaries.

KING: And I want to learn more from Chancellor Merkel because I've enjoyed over the years. Chancellor Merkel is excellent at working her shade in in subtle ways when she says things and here's what she said after a phone call. Her spokesman said, "The Chancellor expressed the wish for close and trust-based cooperation". It's the last part there because she simply did not trust, did not get along with President Trump whether the issue was NATO, relations with Russia, climate change, I could go on, but I just love the little bit of shade there, trust-based cooperation.

GLASSER: Well, you know, there's no one that Donald Trump has attached more during his time in office than Angela Merkel. He seemed, at times, even to have an obsession with her. It's been one of the sort of more striking aspects of his view of the world. He sees Germany, he constantly refers to Germany as ripping the United States off. He's had almost what the Chancellor's advisors on a (INAUDIBLE) magazine piece on this a couple years ago, the Chancellor's advisers told me that they thought of Trump as even obsessed with her. So, she, in particular, I think will welcome the return of Vice President Joe Biden to national office here in the U.S.

KING: Yes, we know the President, the current President has issues with strong and powerful women. Hey, wait, that's just a known fact.

[12:45:05]

The Secretary of State is about to hit the road as secretaries of state do. He's going to France, Turkey, Georgia, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia in the days ahead, in the days ahead, Susan, after saying this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is the State Department currently preparing to engage with the Biden transition team? And if not, at what point does it delay hamper a smooth transition or pose a risk to national security?

MIKE POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE: There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration. Right, we're ready. The world is watching what's taking place.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: He not only said that, which is ludicrous, he laughed about it. It's not funny.

GLASSER: No, it wasn't funny. But here's the thing, John, to a certain extent, the joke is on Mike Pompeo. Every single one of the countries that you mentioned that he's traveling to, their leaders have put out a statement, made a phone call recognize Joe Biden as the President- elect of the United States. So, I imagine there might be some awkward conversations on this trip.

You know, Pompeo has been perhaps the most undiplomatic of America's secretaries of state ever. And, you know, one striking aspect like with that comment yesterday has been his consistent playing to an audience of one in the White House rather than being focused on America and his place in the world. He's often tended to look solely to his boss for approval. I think that's the reason that a former ambassador who worked with him told me that he was like a heat-seeking missile to the President's posterior.

KING: Heat-seeking, wow. OK. I'm going to quote -- I'm going to write that down and quote that one in the future.

Susan Glasser, grateful for your insights, and I think you're right. Audience of one but also perhaps maybe Secretary Pompeo thinks Iowa, Trump voters or something like that. That might be more about 20, 24th and about America's place in the world. Susan Glasser, grateful for your time.

Still ahead for us, researchers just found a new test that might be even better than antibody tests at detecting past coronavirus infections.

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[12:51:46]

KING: A new study shows there might be a better test to detect past coronavirus infections. Instead of looking for antibodies against the virus, this test looks for a different kind of immune cell called a T cell. Joining us now to explain, our CNN Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen. Elizabeth?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: John, I think many people have wondered, hey, when I was sick back in January, February, March, April, was that COVID? I couldn't get a test, so I don't know if it was COVID. Or even maybe more recently, people have wondered, did I have COVID or not because I never got tested. So they go out and get these antibody tests, which is supposed to tell you if you had a past infection. The problem is they're not fool proof, sometimes they will -- it will look like you did not have COVID, when in fact you did.

So this is a new kind of test called the T cell test. It looks for T cells rather than antibodies. T cells are just another cell that's used by your body. It's another immune cell. So this detects T cells instead of antibodies. One unpublished study shows that the T cell test was more effective and then the antibody test at catching people who have been infected with COVID in the past. The test could be commercially available after Thanksgiving.

But there is one big caveat here. Even if you test positive on this, and it says, yes, you looks like you had COVID in the past, it doesn't mean you're protected against future COVID infections. We don't know if that's the case yet. We are hoping to learn in the future if past infection means protection -- I'm sorry -- past infection means protection now. John?

KING: One of the many things we're still trying to figure out. Elizabeth Cohen, grateful for the reporting and insights there.

Still ahead for us, the global view of the European Union now signing a coronavirus vaccine deal with Pfizer.

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[12:57:58]

KING: Spain announcing it will not require travelers coming from high- risk countries to show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test. That test has to be done no more than 72 hours before arrival in Spain. Our correspondents around the world tracking other big headlines.

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FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Fred Pleitgen in Berlin. As the European Union has signed a deal with vaccine makers BioNTech and Pfizer to acquire 200 million doses of their vaccine candidate if and when that vaccine candidate is approved by regulators here in Europe. Now the deal also allows for the acquisition of additional 100 million doses and BioNTech says that deliveries could start as early as the end of this year.

The U.S., by the way, already has a deal with BioNTech and Pfizer for 100 million doses with an option of buying an additional 500 million. And BioNTech and Pfizer announced on Monday that late stage trials have shown an efficacy of their vaccine candidate of more than 90 percent.

SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN BRAZIL BUREAU CHIEF: I'm Shasta Darlington in Sao Paulo. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, yet again made controversial comments about the COVID-19 pandemic. In his speech on Tuesday, he said when it comes to the coronavirus, Brazil needs to stop being a country of sissies but he used a homophobic slur. He complained that everything now is about the pandemic. He said he was sorry for the victims who've died, but added, quote, we will all die one day, end quote.

Bolsonaro himself contracted the coronavirus in July, but he has repeatedly downplayed its threat, insisting that unemployment and hunger from lockdowns could do more damage than the virus itself. The number of daily cases has declined in the last couple of months. But Brazil is still the second highest country with number of deaths worldwide more than 162,000 and it has the third highest number of cases, nearly 5.7 million.

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KING: Thanks for sharing your time with us today. Hope to see you back here this time tomorrow. Don't go anywhere, though, busy day.

Brianna Keilar picks up our coverage right now. Have a good day.