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Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Is Interviewed About Dems Gather To Enshrine Their Turn From Biden To Harris; Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), Is Interviewed About Harris Will Try To Capitalize On Momentum In Polls, Fundraising; Tens Of Thousands To Protest Biden Admin's Handling Of Gaza. Aired 11-11:30a ET

Aired August 19, 2024 - 11:00   ET

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

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[11:00:46]

JIM ACOSTA, CNN ANCHOR: Energizing the party and mobilizing the next generation. It's day one of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. And just hours from now, this building will be filled with delegates and political heavyweights rallying around Vice President Kamala Harris.

ABBY PHILLIP, CNN ANCHOR: Jim, the theme today is For The People, as the party will highlight the stark differences between how Democrats and former President Donald Trump view America. President Biden will deliver the keynote address tonight, where he is expected to call out his predecessor by name. Also speaking tonight Chicago Mayor, Brandon Johnson, Jill Biden, and former First Lady Hillary Clinton will be on that stage.

ACOSTA: All right, welcome to a very special edition of the CNN Newsroom from Chicago. I'm Jim Acosta.

PHILLIP: And I'm Abby Phillip. And we have a full team coverage here at the convention, as the Harris campaign looks to capitalize on their momentum in this moment in polling and in fundraising. Coming up this hour, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, also Michigan Senator Gary Peters, will be here on set with me live. And later in the program, very special guest, Lynda Carter A.K.A. Wonder Woman, will join me live find out why Wonder Woman herself is putting her power behind Kamala Harris.

But first joining me here is Congressman Brendan Boyle, a Pennsylvania Democrat. Congressman, thanks very much for joining us this morning. Really appreciate it. As you know, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a key battleground state. We saw the candidates crisscrossing Pennsylvania over the weekend. How -- how is your assessment of the race right now? Has Kamala Harris made up some -- some ground in Pennsylvania versus the President?

REP. BRENDAN BOYLE (D-PA): Yes, it's been a -- a pretty remarkable 29 days from that remarkable early afternoon on a Sunday when -- when President Biden shocked the -- the political world and did something that no other president had done in our lifetime. I think since then, you have seen a surge of enthusiasm. You can sense it here. It is palpable among the delegates and my colleagues in Congress.

Now, in terms of Pennsylvania, I've always said, whoever wins our state will be the next president. 2016 Donald Trump carried Pennsylvania by 0.5 or 1 percent and was elected president. Joe Biden won it by 1 percent in 2020. The election were held today, I think would be very close. I think Kamala Harris would win it. But again, I expect Pennsylvania will be a one point race.

ACOSTA: And I mean your expectation for tonight, President Biden is going to take the stage, sort of officially pass the torch, I suppose --

BOYLE: Yes.

ACOSTA: -- to his Vice President, as the leader of the Democratic Party. As you were saying a few moments ago, 29 days ago, the world was a very different place. Politically speaking, are you surprised as to how smoothly things are going so far for the Democratic Party in terms of passing that torch? And what does the President need to say tonight to -- to keep Democrats at home with Kamala Harris?

BOYLE: Yes, it was a famous line from the early 20th century, that I'm not a member of an organized political party. I'm a Democrat. I think that line --

ACOSTA: Will Rogers --

BOYLE: -- I think that -- and that's right, Will Rogers, whose statue, of course, is in the Capitol. I think that line has officially been retired.

ACOSTA: Yes.

BOYLE: If you look at the lack of organization on the Republican side and contrast it with the Democratic side, it -- it is truly remarkable. Everyone after a tumultuous, roughly three week period when the President was coming to terms with what course of action he would take, that was so emotional for people, so difficult, that once that was over, there was absolutely no desire on anyone's part for some protracted fight.

There's also one other element to this too, I sincerely believe, as do most of my Democratic colleagues, that we are in an existential fight for American democracy. So Donald Trump actually provides an assist here. He has a way of clarifying minds and unifying Democrats of all different stripes well.

ACOSTA: And you heard over the week, we were playing this just a few moments ago with our Kristen Holmes. I mean, she was talking about how Donald Trump was not only attacking Kamala Harris, going after her laugh and -- and saying that he's better looking than she is, as incredible as that might sound, but even going after Kamala Harris's father, describing him as a Marxist. I mean, he is -- it almost sounds as though he is trying to goad her into some sort of personal back and forth --

[11:05:03]

BOYLE: Yes.

ACOSTA: -- with the former president.

BOYLE: Well, first, I'm not sure what kind of mirror Donald Trump owns, but I would like to buy such a apparently generous mirror if Mr. Trump has that sort of self-esteem in his view of his own looks. Be that as it may, the reality is Donald Trump is doing all of us on the Democratic side a favor. I don't think those sorts of personal attacks really work with voters. Most voters in my district, in Philadelphia, just want to know, what are you going to do for me? How are you going to make my life better? How are you going to bring down costs? How are you going to assure this strong economy for jobs continues to be a strong one? The more Donald Trump is getting into the petty nonsense and not answering those questions, the better it is for the Democratic side.

ACOSTA: And you said that you have to win Pennsylvania in order to win the presidency. Kamala Harris had the opportunity to select your governor, Josh Shapiro, as her running mate. She went with Governor Walz instead. Is that potentially going to make a difference in the state?

BOYLE: You know, I think it was a great pick with Tim Walz. I've served with -- I've served with Josh Shapiro in the State House of Pennsylvania. I served with Tim Walz in -- in the U.S. House. Either would have been a phenomenal pick. What Tim Walz brings to the ticket is exactly what you saw in Pennsylvania yesterday. His ability to authentically reach the kind of voters that you have a lot of in Pennsylvania, and that candidly on the Democratic side, we've been losing, the kind of folks who show up to Friday night football, the kind of people who Tim Walz grew up with and still lives with to this day. He is an authentic middle of America type person who can reach voters exactly where they are, and I think is a great asset to the ticket.

ACOSTA: And how concerned are you about these protests? I mean, we saw them already starting last night in Chicago against the war in Gaza. Does that have the potential to be a major disruption here in Chicago for this party?

BOYLE: Well, I -- I would sincerely doubt it. I mean, I know that people bring up 1968 --

ACOSTA: Yes.

BOYLE: -- I mean, that was a very different time. Security wise, we didn't even have Secret Service protection. It was Chicago police who provided the -- the protection. So I respect the right to protest. Many of them feel very strongly about what's going on in -- in the Middle East, as well as other issues. But I would sincerely doubt if they would in any way disrupt what will happen here in the hall over the next four days. ACOSTA: All right, Democratic Congressman Brendan Boyle, thanks very much for your time. We appreciate it.

BOYLE: Thank you.

ACOSTA: All right. Abby?

PHILLIP: And still ahead this hour, former President Trump, he's not laying low during the DNC week, he will instead hit the road in several critical swing states. I'm going to speak with a key senator in one of those battleground states that's next.

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[11:12:16]

ACOSTA: All right. Welcome back to a special edition of CNN Newsroom reporting live from the DNC in Chicago, joined by Abby Phillip. It's great to have you here. As the DNC takes center stage this week, the Trump campaign is doing its best to try to steal the spotlight. Donald Trump and J.D. Vance are kicking off a tour of five battleground states, starting in Pennsylvania today and heading to Michigan tomorrow.

PHILLIP: That blitz is following a New York Times/Siena College poll that shows Harris pulling ahead of Trump with likely voters in three of those blue wall states, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, though, we should note that all three are within the margin of error. That's critical to understand. This is still a margin of error race. But it is a market shift in where the race has been in just a series of weeks, it has turned on its head.

Joining me now is the Democratic Senator, Gary Peters, of Michigan. He is also the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee and the Democratic Senate Congressional or Democratic Senate Congressional Committee. Thank you so much, Senator, for being here. I mean, on that front, I mean, you're responsible for the Senate Majority --

SEN. GARY PETERS (D-MI), CHAIRMAN, HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE: That's right.

PHILLIP: -- or the would be Senate Majority. What your -- what are your most vulnerable members need to hear from Vice President Harris this week when she takes that stage?

PETERS: Well, I -- I think all she has to do is just talk about who she is and let the American public see what she's about and her vision for the future. There's no question. There -- there's a hunger out there for a fresh face on the ballot, someone to -- to vote for who's young and energetic and cares about the -- the future. And I know she's going to do that. You know, I've had the privilege of serving with Kamala. We were seat mates in the Senate. We sat next to each other when we came in. And I got to know her sense of humor, but also her passion for public service, and that's going to help everybody up and down the ballot. PHILLIP: Is she going to have to distance herself from President Biden and -- and how he is viewed on some key issues, like the economy, like immigration?

PETERS: Well, I think she just has to be who she is. So, you know, as you look through that, she's got to be authentic. Authenticity matters a great deal in election. People want to know what she cares about, what she's passionate about, and that's what we're going to see at the convention.

PHILLIP: So talk to me about the map, we were just showing some of those key battlegrounds. Some -- a lot of them are national battlegrounds or some Senate battlegrounds that are not on that map as well. Mon -- Montana is one of them. Talk to me about where you see the biggest change since there's been a switch at the top of the Democratic ticket. Where -- where are you seeing the most benefits from this fresh face at the top?

PETERS: Well, you know, it -- it's interesting, because even prior to the changes, all of our Senate candidates were running ahead of their Republican candidates, even with the polling wasn't that a good at the top of the ticket, you know, it's because of candidate quality. When folks go into the -- to vote, when it comes for the -- the Senate, they look at each individual, and we have very strong Democratic incumbents and candidates ver -- versus flawed Republicans and oftentimes highly flawed Republican candidates.

[11:15:14]

So their polling was always good, but it has gotten better, particularly in those key battleground states that are battlegrounds, not just for the Senate, but also in the presidential race. You showed a -- a -- a graphic up there for Michigan --

PHILLIP: Yes.

PETERS: -- and -- and Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, those numbers have gotten better, and we've seen our Senate candidates numbers get better as well.

PHILLIP: So as Senator Schumer says Democrats will maybe expand their majority. Where is the expansion going to happen if it happens at all?

PETERS: Yes. I think it's very -- very real to -- to do that in the two states where we believe we have that shot are Florida and Texas. We've got very strong Democratic candidates there against flawed Republican incumbents.

PHILLIP: Right.

PETERS: And if you look at the enthusiasm, you're seeing it in Texas, you're seeing it in Florida. Florida, we also have an abortion rights I mean on -- on the ballot. It's actually a constitutional amendment, which will have a big impact on turnout as well. So those states are definitely pick up. PHILLIP: Both of those would be huge deals if they were to happen. I want to ask you, from the state of Michigan, where there's a very large Arab population, where this issue of the war with Israel and Gaza is a big deal. The protesters are going to be here in Chicago. Has enough been done to address their concerns?

PETERS: Well, you know, I think Vice President Harris has really moved in a great direction to make sure that she's hearing those concerns, addressing those concerns. Clearly, we know the -- the conflict involves a terrorist organization of Hamas and Israel is fighting a -- a battle to defend their citizens. But innocent civilians are being caught in the crossfire, and Vice President Harris has certainly made, I think, some very strong moves to understand exactly the angst that people feel at that community.

PHILLIP: But they want some policy demands. And I -- I imagine, you know, you're -- you've been in the Senate for a long time, she's still the Vice President to a President that has a foreign policy. Is she really in a position to change her policy position on this issue? I mean what do you want the protesters to understand about what she can and cannot do in this moment?

PETERS: Well -- well, first off, let -- let's hope we get to a ceasefire, and -- and that's what's happening right now. You know that's in the news. We're close. If that comes to pass, that would be wonderful. But bottom line, she is her own person. And she will have her own views. She's going to have things that are going to drive her policy positions going forward.

PHILLIP: Yes.

PETERS: And that's why we're here at the convention to hear exactly where she wants to take the country when she's elected as our next president.

PHILLIP: President Biden will also take the stage tonight.

PETERS: Yes.

PHILLIP: That's -- that's going to be a big moment for him, probably a very emotional moment for him and many of the people like you who have known him for a long time. What do you want to hear from him?

PETERS: Well, it will be emotional, because he's been an amazing -- an amazing leader. The -- the one thing that I am particularly really pleased he has been probably the most pro-union president we have had. You're going to have a lot of union folks tonight. You're going to have a lot of union folks take the stage. And I don't believe you can have a strong and vibrant middle class if you don't have a strong union movement. And certainly Joe Biden has been a champion. So there are going to be a lot of folks here tonight cheering and -- and really giving him the accolades that he deserves for his outstanding service through not just his presidency, but his 50 years in public service.

PHILLIP: All right. Senator Gary Peters, great to have you on the show. Thank you for coming in. PETERS: Great to be with you.

PHILLIP: All right.

[11:18:24]

ACOSTA: All right. Thanks to both of you. And still ahead here in the CNN Newsroom, when President Biden was still running for reelection, protesters against the war in Gaza were a major obstacle for his campaign. So how should Kamala Harris unite the party with these demonstrations, very much going to be taking place here in Chicago? We'll talk about that, next.

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ACOSTA: All right, as the Democrats work to showcase party unity inside the convention hall, not everyone is on board with Kamala Harris outside on the streets of Chicago. We've been showing this to you. Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters are descending on the city to show their discontent with the Biden administration's handling of the Israel-Hamas war. It's a familiar challenge for the Vice President, who has become pretty well versed in handling the hecklers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm here because we believe in democracy. Everyone's voice matters, but I am speaking now. You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I'm speaking.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIP: Inside the convention hall, though, another small crack in Democratic unity with 36 uncommitted delegates on that floor, they represent hundreds of -- hundreds of thousands of American voters and Democrats as well. We're now learning the three Democratic senators who are running for reelection in competitive states will not attend this convention. You see them there on your screen.

Let's discuss this all and more with CNN political commentators, Kate Bedingfield and Scott Jennings. Kate, I was just talking to Gary Peters a second ago and asked him about what -- what he thinks that the protesters need to understand about what Harris cannon cannot do, and the very first thing he said was that we need to get to a ceasefire deal.

There is a little bit of choreography about this particular moment where maybe they're on the cusp of a ceasefire deal. Maybe she can't say a whole lot more about this issue at risk of jeopardizing that. But you've got thousands of protesters on the streets wanting to hear more.

[11:25:06]

KATE BEDINGFIELD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, that's often true in foreign affairs and national security. There are things going on that you can't necessarily talk about publicly. But I actually -- I think on this, she's been quite public about where she hopes to get to. She's been very vocal that she wants to see a ceasefire now, that she wants to see hostages released. She has spent a lot of time making very clear that that's what she -- President Biden and the administration are pushing for.

I think, look, the Democratic Party is a big party. It's a big tent. People are going to speak up and be heard. That's all right. I think you've heard her handle it both with strength, as I would argue, the -- the clip that you showed before we started talking demonstrates. But also you've seen her really be clear that she ultimately shares their goal.

And at the end of the day, if you're somebody who's protesting the DNC because you're frustrated about where things stand in Gaza and Israel, Donald Trump as president, who has said that we need to go into Gaza and finish the job, is not a viable option for you. And so I would really say to these protesters, look at what Kamala Harris is trying to do to get to a ceasefire, and listen to what she has to say, because she has been very, very vocal about this.

SCOTT JENNINGS, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: When -- when you say, shares their goal, whose goal exactly? Because some of these people on the street, I can assure you, do not have goals that you want inside --

BEDINGFIELD: Some do. I agree with that.

JENNINGS: -- Democratic Party.

BEDINGFIELD: I agree with that. Some do.

JENNINGS: In fact, I would say, honestly, most of them do.

BEDINGFIELD: And some have said, some do, and some have said incredibly, anti-Semitic things, which she has called out. Some have defaced property, which you remember she, I think, the day after the property was defaced at Union Station, she put out a really forceful statement about it, absolutely. But broadly speaking, a cohort of people who want to see a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, she shares that goal.

PHILLIP: I mean, this is largely an inside the Democratic Party conversation, Jim --

ACOSTA: Yes.

PHILLIP: -- that's happening right now because on the other side of it, the conversation that -- that Trump appears to want to have is not about any of this.

ACOSTA: Yes.

PHILLIP: It's not about Israel and Gaza. It's not really even about the economy. And Harris, she responded to that in some comments to reporters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Frankly, over the last several years, there's been this kind of perversion that has taken place, I think, which is to suggest -- which is to suggest, that the measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you beat down when what we know is the real and true measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you lift up.

Anybody who is about beating down other people is a coward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: Yes.

PHILLIP: Trump is handing her this contrast on a silver platter, it seems.

JENNINGS: Well, I mean, are -- are you saying that there are people that the Democratic Party doesn't want to beat down? I mean, Joe Biden's been one of the orneriest presidents we ever had. I mean, this is not an uplifting guy.

PHILLIP: Wait. Scott, come on.

JENNINGS: And so, I mean --

BEDINGFIELD: So you're -- you're saying that Donald Trump's rhetoric is comparable to Joe Biden's rhetoric? Give me a break. That doesn't pass the smell test. Not even close. Come on.

JENNINGS: Joe -- Joe Biden has been one of the orneriest, angriest presidents we've ever. I get it too --

ACOSTA: Jim -- Scott I mean when -- when -- when Trump is calling Kamala Harris a communist. You don't actually believe -- does anybody believe that?

JENNINGS: I mean, I don't think she's a registered communist. I think her policies could be -- I think her policies could be mixed up for countries that have tried it and doesn't turn out very well.

ACOSTA: Yes.

JENNINGS: Look at you, just like "The Washington Post" said the other day, if you don't want to be called a communist, maybe don't install their economic platform.

BEDINGFIELD: This is so interesting -- but this is so interesting because this kind of goes to the point you were raising about Trump giving him this argument on silver platter, like Scott, you're super smart guy. I've heard you make some great, really compel -- I've heard you make some really compelling argument. I've heard you make some really compelling arguments. This one doesn't do it. And so to watch, kind of watch the Republican Party follow behind Donald Trump who is, you know, throwing these kind of like ugly attacks that don't really resonate with people, because they sort of go all right, you -- I'm open to an argument.

PHILLIP: I have to -- I have to say, Scott, I mean, honestly, I mean, this is, you will be hard pressed to tell voters who lived through four years of Donald Trump that the -- they don't like Joe Biden for a lot of reasons, but I don't think there are a lot of voters who think that he is angrier than Donald Trump. Angrier?

JENNINGS: He's pretty ornery guy. I mean, she worked for him. But she's pretty ornery guy. And I'm sorry. I mean you all -- you all may think he's some benevolent grandfather, but that's not the way a lot of people see it.

ACOSTA: He has not been a happy camper as of late. I -- I do want to ask you about --

BEDINGFIELD: And -- and yet, here he is --

ACOSTA: And here he is.

BEDINGFIELD: -- speaking at the Convention and passing off the baton.

ACOSTA: Here's the question I have, and -- and that is, does Kamala Harris tonight, when this handoff sort of unofficially takes place, or officially take, does she become the leader of the Democratic Party?

BEDINGFIELD: Yes, I think she does. She does. For I, you know, Joe Biden, absolutely, of course, remains President of the United States for the next five months, will continue to represent America on the world stage and make decisions here at home. But who will become the political leader of the Democratic Party? Yes. This is a moment to hand that mantle off to Kamala Harris. I think that's what you're going to see Joe Biden do tonight.

[11:29:53]

I think that is a very selfless thing to do, given it is not -- it is not often that you see somebody in elected politics say, you know what, I don't think I'm the solution here. How rare is that? So I think that -- that, yes. So I think tonight that, yes, Kamala Harris will become the leader of the --