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Alec Baldwin Speaks Up; New Audio From Trump Lawyer, Eastman About January 6; Interview With Former Democrat Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid; Biden: House And Senate Majorities And My Presidency Will Be Determined By What Happens In The Next Week; Biden Supports Eliminating Filibuster For Voting Rights Bills; Trump Becomes X-Factor In Tight Virginia Governor's Race. Aired 5-6p ET

Aired October 30, 2021 - 17:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:00:22]

JIM ACOSTA, CNN HOST: You are live in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Jim Acosta in Washington.

We begin with breaking news this Saturday in the Alec Baldwin movie set shooting death. He just answered questions publicly for the first time since the gun he was handling fired a live round killing Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer for the movie "Rust".

CNN'S Natasha Chen is in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Natasha, you've just watched the video of Alec Baldwin's comments. Show us what he said.

NATASHA CHEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Jim. It was pretty tense. Baldwin stopped in Vermont to talk to paparazzi, taking a lot of time to answer their questions. The whole video was four minutes long and we want to show you the entire thing. Here's what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(CROSSTALK)

ALEC BALDWIN, ACTOR: Let's go. Let's go.

I will.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you want to know?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. Alec, what's the current state of what's going on with the case?

BALDWIN: I'm not allowed to make any comments because it's an ongoing investigation. I've been ordered by the sheriff's department in Santa Fe, I can't answer any questions about the investigation. I can't.

It's an active investigation in terms of number one -- she was my friend. She was my friend. The day I arrived in Santa Fe to start shooting, I took her to dinner with Joel, the director. We were a very, very -- excuse me -- we were a very, very, you know, well-oiled crew shooting a film together and then this horrible event happened.

Now, I've been told multiple times, don't make any comments about the ongoing investigation and I can't. I can't. I can't. That's it.

What other questions do you have other than that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You met with the -- I forget her name. You met with her family.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Halyna. Her name is Halyna.

BALDWIN: Yes. I met with her husband --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you're spending this much time waiting for us, you should know her name.

BALDWIN: You don't know her name.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Her name is Halyna.

BALDWIN: Halyna Hutchins. I met with her husband Matthew and her son.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How did that meeting go?

BALDWIN: I wouldn't know how to categorize it. They're mortified --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You guys -- you know what. No details.

BALDWIN: Do me a favor? I'm going to answer the question.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I appreciate that he was probably very upset.

BALDWIN: The guy is overwhelmed with grief. This is something that, you know, there are incidental accidents on film sets from time to time, but nothing like this.

This is a one in a trillion. It's a one in a trillion death and so he is in shock. He has a 9-year-old son.

We are, you know, in constant contact with him because we're very worried about his family and his kid. As I said, we're eagerly awaiting for the sheriff's department to tell us what their investigation has yielded.

What else do you want?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would you ever work on another film set that involves firearms of that nature?

BALDWIN: I couldn't answer that question. I have no sentiment. I do know that an ongoing effort to limit the use of firearms on film sets is something I'm extremely interested in -- but remember something I think is important. That is how many bullets have been fired in films and TV shows in the last 75 years? This is America. How many bullets have gone off in movies? Firearms on film sets. It's something I'm extremely interested in.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: But remember something that I think is important. That is how many dope bullets have been fired in films and TV shows in the last 75 years? This is America. How many bullets have gone off in movies and on tv shows for last 75 years.

(INAUDIBLE) -- so what has to happen now is we have to realize that when it does go wrong and it's this horrible catastrophic thing, some new measures have to take place. Rubber guns. Plastic guns. No live -- no real (INAUDIBLE) that's not for me to decide. It's urgent. It's urgent that you understand. I'm not an expert in this field.

So whatever other people decide is the best way to go in terms of protecting people's safety on film sets. I'm all in favor of I. I will walk with them in any way that I can.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you have any further projects. Any in the works at the moment or is everything on hold for you?

BALDWIN: No. No. That's irrelevant to what we're talking about.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's fair enough.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you think production will start up again on it.

BALDWIN: No, I doubt it.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why Vermont, Alec.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's because --

BALDWIN: No, no. That's a push -- that's fine. Yes, that's fine.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That will be all, ok.

BALDWIN: So just do me a favor if you don't mind? My kids are in the car crying.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because you guys are following and they know.

BALDWIN: And all I want to do -- as a courtesy to you, I came to talk. I'm not allowed to comment on the investigation. I talk to the cops every day.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They know where you are?

BALDWIN: I'm cooperating with them. My point is that I'm just asking we sat down as a courtesy now to talk to you. Now please would you just stop following us. Just leave us alone.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just go home.

BALDWIN: We gave you everything we can possibly give you, ok.

[17:04:55]

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Go home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you. Thank you. Condolences. Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHEN: The woman that you see there standing close to Baldwin with her own cell phone out recording that is his wife. And you can tell there that they seem to have stopped to talk to cameras because they were continuously followed throughout the weekend since this happened and so it obviously did seem very tense.

But at the same time, rather courteous. And he did spend the time to answer what questions he could. And you could tell he was very careful not to talk about the investigation, but did mention that he would be supportive of more stringent measures perhaps to reign in the type of weapons that are used on film sets, Jim.

ACOSTA: And Natasha, what is the latest on the investigation? Has anything developed today that would give us some sense as to what led to just this awful situation?

I mean you could hear the pain in Alec Baldwin's voice there. It sounds like he's frustrated by, you know, the media attention that he's getting no matter where he goes, which is understandable.

But people are asking for answers in all of this. Any further developments today to report on?

CHEN: Not since yesterday, Jim. But you did notice Baldwin did mention that he's talking to the cops every day. That matches what the sheriff's office has told us here.

A source telling our colleague Josh Campbell that investigators have been talking to Baldwin. He has answered the phone. Willingly answered questions when they have had follow up questions.

At the same time, yesterday morning we heard from the armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed (ph) for the first time in a statement through her lawyers. The statement said that she has no idea how the live round got on to the set and that safety is her top priority.

And in response to that, the sheriff here told CNN last night that he would like to have a follow up interview with Gutierrez-Reed to clarify some of what she said in that statement, specifically talking more about how live rounds could have possibly gotten on set and to ask about what kinds of safety protocols she was practicing day-to- day. They also would like to do a follow up interview with the assistant director. They are still trying to coordinate those follow up and they also did seize a number of weapons onset. That was part of a search warrant.

It's not clear though among the things they gathered whether live rounds were among the ammunition there Jim.

ACOSTA: All right. Natasha Chen, such an awful situation out there in New Mexico. Thanks for staying on top of it. We appreciate it.

Coming up, we now know what's in the White House documents former President Trump is trying to prevent the January 6 committee from seeing those details, are next.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

[17:07:46]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ACOSTA: A new court filing lifts the veil on the kinds of documents former President Trump doesn't want Congress to see. An official from the National Archives outlined the records as part of a response to Trump's lawsuit, trying to keep the information from the House Committee investigating the January 6th attack on the Capitol.

The hundreds of pages Trump is trying to keep secret include files from some of his top administration officials. There they are: Stephen Miller, Kayleigh McEnany and then White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.

Among Meadows' records are three handwritten notes specifically about the events of January 6th.

CNN Crime and Justice reporter Katelyn Polantz, joins me now. Katelyn, what other documents does the former president want to keep concealed? It sounds like, you know, this is just a whole trove of information that the committee is trying to get their hands on.

KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE REPORTER: Yes. Well Jim, this really does look like it could potentially be the holy grail of the officials around Trump, what they were doing, what they were saying, what they were note-taking on January 6th.

What we know right now is that we haven't seen these documents themselves. All we've seen is this list from the national archives and the list is itemized enough to say by the page count, there's more than 700 pages of records here that Donald Trump doesn't want out there.

And they are from top advisers around the president. Their White House visitor logs. Call records to Trump and to Mike Pence. 30 pages of Trump's daily schedule. There's also handwritten memos. There's binders that press secretary Kayleigh McEnany had been keeping about talking points on those days. That's a lot of material. And Donald Trump is trying to keep secret. He is trying to keep it secret by going to court and he's suing both the House and the National Archives and there is really a -- what could be a very historic hearing coming up this week where Trump's going to argue that stuff he as a former president should be able to keep it secret and the House and Archives are going to be arguing that they absolutely believe that there's an extraordinary need for the country to have access to this. For the house to look at it as part of their January 6th investigation.

ACOSTA: This is going to be resolved in the courts, it seams. Just heading in that direction.

Let's talk about John Eastman, he's the attorney who advised Donald Trump at the time in the months after the 2020 election. Our KFile unit, Andrew Kaczynski and his team, they uncovered some fresh sound, I guess. Maybe not so fresh sound, but fresh to us because we haven't seen it or considered it since those days leading up to January 6th, but it's very important stuff.

POLANTZ: Yes. What we know so far, previously, before this KFile report yesterday was that Eastman had been downplaying some of the advice that he was giving both to the president and to Mike Pence about how Pence should stop the Electoral College certification and Eastman previously was saying those are weak arguments that he was making. Pence really shouldn't maybe do those things.

But then four days before January 6th, he talks to Steve Bannon on a radio show. The KFile found that sound. Here's what that conversation was between Steve Bannon and John Eastman.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVE BANNON, FORMER TRUMP ADVISOR: Are we to assume that this is going to be a climactic battle that's going to take place this week about the very question of the constitutionality of the electoral count act of 1877?

[17:14:57]

JOHN EASTMAN, FORMER TRUMP LAWYER: I think a lot of that depends on the courage and the spine of the individuals involved.

BANNON: When you just said the courage and the spine, are you talking on the other side of the football? Would you be -- would you be -- that would be a nice way to say, a guy named Mike, Vice President Mike Pence?

EASTMAN: Yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

POLANTZ: And Jim, this really does make Eastman a key person for the House. Everything we know about him, he is someone that the House has indicated they do want to talk to.

WHITFIELD: All right. Katelyn Polantz, thank you so much. Very important developments in the January 6th investigation.

And joining me now to talk about this is John Dean, the former White House counsel for President Nixon. He is a CNN contributor and co- author of the book, "Authoritarian nightmare: Trump and his followers".

John, is it obvious why Trump doesn't want these documents getting out? I mean it sounds as though there's a whole lot of very important information in there that the public has a right to know about.

JOHN DEAN, CNN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR: It will certainly help in establishing what degree of culpability Donald Trump might have. That's obviously why he doesn't want things linked up. He doesn't want schedules. He doesn't want phone records.

Not to mention notes that might have been made contemporaneous with conversations he had with aides. The problem is I don't think he has a very strong argument for any of that under the existing executive privilege precedent.

So it's a reach for him to include that and think he's going to succeed in court. What he's doing is slowing the process down right now.

ACOSTA: And John, because you were involved in Watergate during the Nixon administration, what does that experience tell you about whether or not Donald Trump will be successful ultimately in blocking some of this material from coming out?

DEAN: I don't think he will succeed in the long run. Watergate established the precedent that when criminal investigative bodies, certainly a grand jury and probably an investigative body such as the Congress, looking at misbehavior and non-presidential behavior, there's really very little for a president to stand on to take that privilege and make it work.

So the courts will balance and find out. Maybe they'll say some documents should be included in executive privilege, others not. It's a balancing process, but I think he's going to lose on it. It's just a stall.

ACOSTA: Yes. And he's done that so many times before. That's right out of his playbook on so many things. But when you hear there are three handwritten notes from Mark Meadows about January 6th, that's at least what we understand to be the case with these documents, that is fascinating.

DEAN: And they're probably also contemporaneous e-mails that will be just as telling. E-mails have become the greatest treasure-trove for lawyers and discovery since known in mankind. They have won and lost more cases based on what's found in e-mails than any single thing in the modern era.

ACOSTA: To think that this could come down to e-mails. Those damn e- mails, as Bernie Sanders once said. Turning to John Eastman, you know, I have to ask you, John, as an

attorney, this is extraordinary stuff. He told CNN at the time that he just failed to specify that that option of throwing out the election to the House was the weaker option. And we can put this up on screen. Saying, "That's right, because it was a radio show. I didn't go into a whole legal treaties about the weights and the demerits. I said these are the things, these are a couple of things that had been suggested."

It's kind of remarkable because he has spent a lot of time in the public eye trying to down play and diminish the importance of this memo. But he's right there on audio with Steve Bannon really putting more pressure on Mike Pence and talking about why it was critical to have pressure put on Mike Pence to go out there and try to overturn those election results.

DEAN: I think somebody has told him that what he's -- it appears what he's engaged in is a seditious conspiracy. And that's a very serious crime. That's a serious 20-year felony.

So I think that's why he's clearly walking this stuff back and trying to recast it. Whether he'll be successful or not, I don't know. Whether he'll ever be criminally investigated on these issues, we don't know yet.

That's just, this is all going on behind closed doors in the U.S. Attorney's office. We don't know what they're doing. We don't know what their grand juries are doing. We don't know of any high profile witnesses that have been in there. So it hasn't gone up to that level yet. But it certainly is still early.

ACOSTA: And don't you think it's important to see some of these high profile subjects of this investigation grilled on national television the way they were during Watergate? The way they were during Iran contra.

[17:19:56]

ACOSTA: You know, we don't do that anymore. We don't grill these guys on TV. Shouldn't they be grilled?

DEAN: It's very educational for the public, I'll tell you that.

First, the ratings were high for Watergate -- the Watergate inquiry. For example, my week of testimony, I was in front of 85 million Americans. Others, similar numbers. So this educates the public and I think it does perform a very important function.

Today, they tend to take depositions, have counsel do it. And it doesn't serve the same educational process.

ACOSTA: Right. And it made Oliver North a superstar during Iran contra. I think you might have hit on something there, John. You emphasize how the ratings might be huge. Donald Trump may go along with all this.

But all right, John Dean, thanks so much for those insights as always. We appreciate it.

DEAN: Thanks, Jim.

ACOSTA: All right. Coming up, President Biden is abroad, but storm clouds are gathering up on Capitol Hill. Literally and figuratively with Biden's legislative agenda hanging in the balance. Will fellow Democrats be his undoing?

A man who knows that building well because he's led Democrats in the Senate, former senate majority leader Harry Reid joins me live, next.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

[17:21:07]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ACOSTA: After months of deal-making, bickering and hand-wringing, we now have a date, maybe, for a vote on President Biden's two big spending bills. House Democrats hope to vote on both the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill and the larger $1.75 trillion economic and climate plan on Tuesday. As for that larger bill, the specifics are taking shape. You can look at them on screen.

Things like universal pre-k, climate provision, the cap on childcare expenses will be in it, but some of the more popular Democratic policies like paid leave, free community college and expanded Medicare, that did not make the cut.

I'm joined now by former Democratic Senator -- former senate majority leader from the United States and he's from Nevada, of course, Harry Reid. Senator Reid, great to see you as always. Thanks so much for being on with us.

You're no stranger to these -- great to see you, sir -- you're no stranger to these kinds of negotiations. Are you surprised where things stand right now or is this part of a normal sausage making process as it's called?

REID: I'm very happy with the proceeding. We think that we've gotten off the numbers, stop talking about numbers. Start talking about what this legislation will do to people -- and I think that last 24 hours have been really very, very good because the American people want to know what, they're not as concerned about what amount of money is involved. What it's going to do for the Americans.

I think we have a really a good line as what's going for the American people.

ACOSTA: And just two senators, as you know, I'm sure you've been following this, Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema. You know, Senator Manchin. Kyrsten Sinema is new on the scene.

They're part of the reason, obviously the big reason, why many of these items got cut. Do you think that that situation could have been managed or handled any differently or is it just a function of the fact that you have 50 Democratic votes in the Senate and they have tremendous influence over the process?

REID: We have no margin for error -- 50/50. I think that Joe Manchin want to put his (INAUDIBLE) on this legislation. He's done that. I think he's not ruined the legislation. He hasn't hurt it. You know, it will move forward regardless of what he's done. I think that he will be one of the yes votes for it.

ACOSTA: And what about Senator Sinema? What's been your observation of how she has handled all of this? She's been controversial at times. Not really talking to reporters and so on. Not offering a lot of specifics about what she thinks about the legislation. That has frustrated some of her Democratic colleagues.

REID: Yesterday, she had a number of conversations with Biden folks and (INAUDIBLE) we've gotten -- been good conversations. I think that she doesn't want to stand in the way of this legislation, historic legislation -- history of the country. And that she'll be just fine.

ACOSTA: And a year ago, Congress passed bipartisan legislation guaranteeing federal workers 12 weeks of paid family leave. Is there any reason for Democrats to not do a standalone bill for just paid family leave? It is enormously popular out there. Dare Republicans to vote against something that they gave themselves just last year? Why not?

REID: I think that's an alternative tat we should look at. It is the most popular thing. The most popular thing we talked about today -- paid family leave. And I think the Republicans would be foolish to vote against it. And so I think we should give them the opportunity to vote for it.

ACOSTA: Right. And the United States, one of the only countries in the world, one of a handful of countries without that kind of policy in place. President Biden knows the stakes of all of this. You know him all too well. He said this to his caucus on Thursday. Quote, "I don't think it's hyperbole to say that the House and Senate majorities in my presidency will be determined by what happens in the next week.

Do you think that's overstating things? You've seen, you know, this play out before. I mean, this is not overstating it. This is very consequential to Joe Biden's future.

[17:30:00]

REID: Joe Biden, with the Democratic Senate, Democratic House, is going to do good things for the country.

I think that he's on top of this. He's met with the caucuses. Both caucuses. And I think they're going to wrap their arms around him. When we get something done, it's going to be amazingly good.

ACOSTA: When you watch this process play out, especially the way it's been sort of logjammed there with Sinema and Manchin.

On the subject of the filibuster, something that's tied to your legacy, it sounds like the president has thrown his support behind a filibuster carve out for voting rights.

What are your thoughts on that? Do you wish, when you were Senate majority leader, you had just gotten rid of the filibuster all together? Was that something that could have gone by the wayside years ago?

REID: Filibuster is not something that's part of the Constitution. It's not part of the Constitution. I think that we made changes in it when I was the leader.

Filibuster is something from the past. As Barack Obama said it at a funeral, it's part of the legacy of the southern slave-holding states. I think we need to move on.

Nothing anything that we can deal with fairly. And we have got to get rid of it. The filibuster is something that is no longer needed. I'm not sure it was ever needed, but it's not needed now.

(CROSSTALK)

ACOSTA: And if you were advising the president on the filibuster when it comes to voting rights, what would you say to him?

How important are the stakes in terms of eliminating the filibuster and making sure voting rights are protected in this country? If that is not done, if that doesn't happen, what might the stakes be?

REID: I think it's essential -- I think it's essential that it's done and the other Republicans do vote against it.

ACOSTA: All right. Former Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, thanks so much for your time. We appreciate it as always. Good talking to you, sir.

REID: Thank you.

ACOSTA: All right, take care.

Coming up, with just days left in the Virginia governor's race, the top candidates are pulling out all the stops. Including continually mentioning the former president's name. It's been all about Trump, it seems, until now. We'll explain.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:37:11]

ACOSTA: Now to the governor's race being watched nationwide.

In Virginia, Democrats might have expected a guaranteed win for former Governor Terry McAuliffe. Instead, it's a neck and neck fight with less than 72 hours before the polls open.

McAuliffe might be abandoning something he may have thought was an easy sell for voters after weeks of evoking Donald Trump's name, trying to link him to Republican challenger, Glenn Youngkin.

Listen to what McAuliffe said at the end of this comment to CNN this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TERRY MCAULIFFE, (D), VIRGINIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: You know, it's just killing Trump that he's not here, obviously. He's in the race. Obviously, he's endorsed Youngkin seven different times.

But I think Trump's trying to play, whichever happens -- Trump's always going to claim credit for himself no matter whatever happens.

Trump is very unpopular here in the state. Everybody knows it. It's probably why Youngkin doesn't want him.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Would it help your campaign? Would it have helped your campaign? I know you told me before the primary that you would have paid for his jet fuel to get him here. But would it have helped your campaign?

MCAULIFFE: I would have loved for him to come, but this isn't about Trump.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: CNN's Arlette Saenz is in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Arlette, is McAuliffe moving away from talking about Trump? If he is shifting strategy here, it's kind of late in the process, right?

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Jim. For months, McAuliffe and Democrats have been invoking Trump's name, making him a central figure against Glenn Youngkin.

Today, on the campaign trail, you've only heard Terry McAuliffe mention Donald Trump a few times.

He did so once at this event here in Portsmouth when he was talking about election integrity. He also did it again a short while ago while he was talking to reporters, saying that Glenn young Youngkin engages in Trump-like rhetoric.

But this comes as really Democrats are facing this question of what campaigning will be like in that post-Trump era, and whether focusing on the former president will be a benefit heading into their elections.

Now this all comes as the race here in Virginia is incredibly, incredibly tight. There was a "Washington Post" poll released yesterday, which follows most polls in the race in recent weeks, that shows the race neck and neck between McAuliffe and Youngkin.

One thing Terry McAuliffe is heading into Tuesday without is a Democratic win when it comes to those two bills that lawmakers were trying to pass up on Capitol Hill. Today, at this event, House majority whip, Jim Clyburn, said there

will be a vote on Tuesday and that they will be passed.

But I asked Terry McAuliffe whether he was frustrated that that vote is not coming before Election Day. And he essentially told me it is what it is.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: So we heard Congressman Clyburn talk about in there those votes on Tuesday relating to infrastructure in the larger package.

How frustrated are you that the House is not holding those votes until Election Day when people are heading to the polls?

[17:40:03]

MCAULIFFE: Well, it is what it is. I mean, people here in Virginia want to hear about my education plan, job creation, what I'm going to do in health care. I don't get asked about it.

I'd like to see them do it as soon as possible because it is $7 billion of roads here in Virginia. But as long as they get it done by the time I'm inaugurated, I'm happy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: Now after this event in Portsmouth, Terry McAuliffe is heading to two more events today. Glenn Youngkin has also been campaigning across the state.

Both candidates really trying to drive up that early vote. Today is the final day of early voting here in Virginia and already more than one million Virginians have already cast their ballots early.

An extraordinary number on both sides are hoping their voters are going to turn out and give them that little boost on Election Day.

ACOSTA: All right, Arlette Saenz, thanks so much for that report.

Here with me now to talk about all of this is CNN political commentator and Republican strategist, Alice Stewart, and CNN political commentator and Democratic strategist, Maria Cardona.

Maria, you used to work with Terry McAuliffe. Let me ask you about, you know, he's someone who used to run the Democratic party. He's very tight with the Clintons. He's been doing this a long time.

He's been talking about Donald Trump for weeks now. To say at the end this race it's not about Donald Trump and trying to shift strategies and talk about what he'll do as governor, isn't it a little late for that?

MARIA CARDONA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I don't think he's trying to shift strategy. He said in that quote, "I would love for Trump to come." He's been goading Trump on coming.

Guess what? He's coming on Monday. Yay, I'm sure Glenn Youngkin is so excited about that.

But --

ACOSTA: A tele-town hall.

CARDONA: Right. A tele-town hall. But he will be visible. I don't think Youngkin's thrilled about that.

But I think what Terry's trying to do is he understands very well that, at the end of the day, what voters are going to decide on is what he is going to be offering them.

That's why his closing ad is all about what he did for Virginia the four years as the governor. He was a very good governor. He left really, really popular.

But he also understands that history is not on our side. This -- I take issue with one of things you said at the beginning.

We never assumed this is going to be easy peasy because history's not on our side. Terry, he went against history. But it doesn't necessarily mean he's going to be able to do it again.

And we know that the Trump base is very strong, when you go out there. Very, very focused on trying to get Youngkin elected.

And that's the message that Terry, throughout this campaign, has been trying to communicate as well. Because Glenn Youngkin has been pretending to be a milk-toast moderate but he is focused on Trump extremist policies.

ACOSTA: Yes.

But, Alice, Youngkin has tried to walk a fine line in all of this. He's been sort of a Trump in sheep's clothing to some extent from time to time.

He's talked about election integrity, tried to walk up to that line of questioning election results, and so on.

And you have this tele-town hall that's happening on Monday where Trump is going to be calling in to Virginia to drum up support for Glenn Youngkin.

Youngkin is almost responding like, new phone, who this. He doesn't want him there.

ALICE STEWART, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Look, I don't know what it is with Terry McAuliffe and the Democrats, they just can't quit Trump.

He is no longer the president. He is not running for governor. And he certainly is not the focus of the Glenn Youngkin campaign.

McAuliffe continues to talk about it time after time after time. If he wants to stop now, it's a little too late.

I was at the Youngkin rally this morning at 7:30 in Alexandria. It was a packed house. And it was very full of enthusiastic Republican supporters.

And they're talking about jobs, pocketbook issues, public safety, as well as education. And that's what the people in the crowd wanted to hear and that's what he talked about.

What is encouraging with these high number of early voters is not the fact that we have strong Republicans and Democrats coming out.

The Youngkin campaign's internals show that two to one of the Independent swing voters are going for him.

What that says is that they are looking at the policies that Youngkin stands for.

And when he says -- he says on the campaign trial, this is not a campaign as much this is a movement against the liberal policies. Liberal policies that McAuliffe --

(CROSSTALK)

ACOSTA: Let me ask you this. Let me ask you this, though, Alice.

If Youngkin wins, and he can go into Virginia, a place like Virginia, which has sort of been a Democratic stronghold in recent years, does that mean that the Republican Party doesn't need Donald Trump anymore?

STEWART: It means that Virginia voters on the Republican side are those who support him, want to focus on policy and not personality. And that is the wave of the future for a successful Republican Party.

And that says, when you focus on the issues that people are concerned with, that's important.

[17:44:57]

And what's going to happen with Terry McAuliffe, he's going to be the canary in the coal mine.

Going into Tuesday, when he doesn't come out on top, this sends a message to Democrats that danger is ahead if you try to ride on the coattails of the Democrats and it turns out they are a complete anchor dragging a ticket down.

CARDONA: And when he does come out on top, when he is inaugurated as governor, he'll be able to talk about what he is offering Virginians, what he did four years ago, and how he wants to go.

It's really important what he's been saying up until now, whatever other Democrats have been saying up until now.

Glenn Youngkin, it's fine that he's talking about, as my friend says, the economy and jobs and education. Before the primary, he was more than playing footsy with Trump's

extreme radical racist base. He would go to election integrity rallies.

The only proposal that he offered details on was his Commission on Election Integrity. Before he became the nominee, he refused to say that Joe Biden had been elected president fair and square.

ACOSTA: But did Terry McAuliffe miss an opportunity to define Glenn Youngkin on his own terms instead of just tying him to Trump?

The other night, when they were handing out copy of Tony Morrison's book, "Beloved," I thought that was an effective moment for the McAuliffe campaign because they were talking about where Youngkin was on the issues.

(CROSSTALK)

ACOSTA: And do you think he missed an opportunity? Maybe there's too much about Donald Trump.

CARDONA: Well, I think that's what it might seem like to us because that's what everyone covers.

But the folks that I've been talking to that have gone to these rallies, the McAuliffe rallies, they hear him talk about how he wants to invest $2 billion in education, while Glenn Youngkin wants to defund public schools.

He talks about how he wants to continue to grow small businesses, Latino businesses, which flourished under the last time McAuliffe was governor. He wants to continue to do that.

He wants to offer $15 an hour minimum wage, which to working-class families is huge. Glenn Youngkin will not do that.

Those are the things that are going to make a difference.

STEWART: Real quickly, on education, he talks a big game about education. But the thing that killed him in this campaign is him saying that parents should not be involved in their kids' education.

CARDONA: That's not what he said.

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: -- to silence parents.

(CROSSTALK)

CARDONA: That is not what he said.

STEWART: That has been one of his biggest --

(CROSSTALK)

CARDONA: That is not what he said.

This is really important. That is not what he said. He said that parents should not make the decisions as to what is being taught in schools.

And I've got to tell you, Glenn Youngkin's ad, I completely agree. That whacko woman that wants to ban books, and Glenn Youngkin, I guess agreed with her, I would want her nowhere near the decision making as to what my children are going to be learning in school.

ACOSTA: Yes. All right, ladies, thanks so much.

(CROSSTALK)

ACOSTA: A spirit of debate. I just decided to get out of the way there, you know, which is unlike me.

But anyway, Maria, Alice, thanks so much.

CARDONA: Thanks so much.

ACOSTA: We'll see what happens on Tuesday.

This Tuesday, it is election night in America. The stakes are high in the race for governor in both Virgina and New Jersey. Plus, who will be victorious in the fight to lead New York City? Special live coverage starts Tuesday at 6:00 p.m., right here on CNN.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:52:32]

ACOSTA: Here at CNN, we're proud to salute our "CNN Heroes," everyday people who have committed to making the world a better and safer place.

These are the top-10 CNN Heroes of 2021.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: I'm Anderson Cooper.

This year, we celebrate a milestone, the 50th anniversary of "CNN Heroes." For a decade and a half, we've had the honor of introducing you to extraordinary, everyday people who are changing the world.

And at a time when we need kindness and courage more than ever, we're thrilled to announce this year's top-10 "CNN Heroes."

(voice-over): From Philadelphia, pediatric surgeon, Dr. Ala Stanford, saw COVID-19 ravaging communities of color so she built trust and brought testing and vaccinations to more than 75,000 people.

From San Francisco, David Flink is building understanding and confidence using his journey with ADHD and Dyslexia to help kids with learning differences across America thrive.

In New York City, Hector Guadeloupe uses fitness training to help formerly incarcerated men and women, like himself, get family sustaining jobs and build careers.

From Colombia, Jennifer Colpas brings eco-friendly energy, safe water and sanitation to struggling Colombians living in remote areas.

Lynda Doughty, of Pittsburgh, Maine, monitors 25,000 miles of coastline providing lifesaving support and medical care to thousands of marine animals.

From Bali, Indonesia, exchanging plastic waste for rice. Restaurant owner, Made Janur Yasa, has sent tons of plastic for recycling and provided food to thousands of families during the pandemic.

And in Simi Valley, California, Michele Neff Hernandez has turned her profound grief into sustaining support for the widowed.

Dr. Patricia Gordon walked away from her Beverly Hills private practice to save women from around the world dying of preventable and treatable cervical cancer.

On L.A.'s Skid Row, Shirley Raines brings dignity and respect to thousands of homeless people every week, rain or shine.

And in Nigeria, Zannah Mustapha educates orphan children from both sides of a violent extremist conflict, providing support to more than 2,000 boys and girls a year.

(on camera): Congratulations to the top-10 "CNN Heroes" of 2021.

[17:55:00]

Now it's time for you to choose who inspires you the most. Who should be named "CNN Hero of the Year" and receive $100,000 to continue their great work?

Go to CNNheroes.com right now to vote. And be sure to watch the 15th Annual "CNN Heroes All-Star Tribute" as we announce the "Hero of the Year" and celebrate all of this year's honorees, live, Sunday, December 12th.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: And you can help decide who will become "CNN Hero of the Year." Go to CNNheroes.com, and you can vote 10 times a day every day for the heroes that inspire you the most.

That's the news. Reporting from Washington, I'm Jim Acosta. Thanks so much for watching. I'll see you back here tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. Eastern.

Pamela Brown takes over the CNN NEWSROOM, live, after a quick break.

Have a good night, everybody. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)