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Connect the World
Trump Uses Son Barron As Example Of Easy Time With COVID-19; W.H.O. Official: Follow Restrictions Or Face "Path Of Severity"; Saudi Arabia Allows Umrah Pilgrimage To Resume; Trump, Biden Supporters Square Off In Pennsylvania; Millions Of Americans Cast Their Vote In 2020 Election; Benjamin Netanyahu Urges Knesset To Approve UAE Agreement. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired October 15, 2020 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is "Connect the World" with Becky Anderson.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: And this hour, how did it come to this? In just hours from now, Joe Biden and Donald Trump will not stand in front of one
another and articulate and defend their visions for America. Instead, they will take part in competing town halls far, far away from the other, locked
in their own political bubbles.
As the U.S. careens towards its date with destiny, the November 3rd election deciding who will lead America next, the sheer scale of the
pandemic seems more unstoppable than ever but still this message from the American President.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What happens if you get a big spike in cases in the United States and cases are raising what would you do?
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Right, we're not doing anymore lockdowns and we're doing fine. We're not doing any shutdowns. We
learned about the disease. Young people, 99.9 percent right? They're in great shape strong immune systems. The younger the better, it's hard to
believe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, fact is this virus does affect young people. I know young people who are affected. The numbers tell the tale. And they should scare
us all straight. Nearly 1,000 Americans died yesterday. The trends in COVID-19 deaths going the wrong way in almost half of U.S. states the new
case count too terrifying.
Almost 60,000 cases reported on Wednesday. That is the single most biggest reported day since August. And as the total number of U.S. cases inches
closer to 8 million, we are learning more about the first family's encounter with the disease.
First Lady Melania Trump disclosed in a White House blog post that her 14- year-old son Barron tested positive for COVID-19. President Trump says his son is fine and he used him as an example of why we really shouldn't worry.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Barron Trump, you know he had the Corona 19, the China virus. He had it for such a short period of time. I don't even think he knew he had it.
Because they're young and their immune systems are strong and they fight it off 9 9.9 percent. And Barron is beautiful and he's free, free. Get the
kids back to school. We have to get the kids back to school.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, top infectious disease Dr. Anthony Fauci whatever the reason counter point reminds us that, yes, lots of people are recovering
from the virus. But it is ridiculous to think that that means it is harmless.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When people say the president beat it, I'm not worried about it, what's your response?
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: That sort of like saying somebody was speeding in a car at 95
miles per hour and didn't get in an accident so I can go ahead and speed and not get in an accident. We are very, very pleased that the president
did so well when he was infected with Coronavirus. But there are also a lot of people who are his age and weight which did not do as well as the
president did.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Donald Trump's opponent, Joe Biden has put the president's Coronavirus response front and center in his appeal to voters. One of those
swing states is Wisconsin, which is also dealing with a serious resurgence in COVID-19. Adrienne Broaddus is there. Just explain to us, which states
in the U.S. are hardest hit and why?
ADRIENNE BROADDUS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wisconsin is one of the hot spots. Health officials point to what they call COVID fatigue. At the start of the
pandemic, people were staying at home; social distancing and a lot of folks were wearing their masks. But people have become relaxed.
The start of the pandemic, folks developed healthy habits. Here in Wisconsin, a first they hope they would never see. The state is reporting
more than 1,000 hospitalizations.
[11:05:00]
BROADDDUS: The COVID positivity rate, top 20 percent, ICUs are strained. Every region of the state has at least one hospital and some cases more
with current or imminent staff shortages. This morning, the United States is facing a dangerous Coronavirus wave.
New cases on the rise in at least 35 states over the past week and the country is averaging more than 50,000 new cases per day for the first time
in about two months recording nearly 60,000 new cases on Wednesday, the highest since August.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. JONATHAN REINER, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: For the short-term, we have to hunker down. We have to get through this season.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROADDUS: With holidays like Thanksgiving weeks away, Dr. Anthony Fauci encouraging Americans to rethink travel plans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. FAUCI: That is a risk. You may have to bite the bullet and sacrifice that social gathering unless you're pretty certain that the people that
you're dealing with are not infected.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROADDUS: As Iowa reached a positivity rate over 18 percent, President Trump held a rally in Des Moines with few masks in the crowd and no social
distancing. Trump is also scheduled to hold an event in Wisconsin Saturday as the state experiences a Coronavirus surge reporting more than 3100 new
infections Wednesday a circuit judge temporarily blocking Governor Tony Evers' efforts to restrict gatherings to 25 percent.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY EVERS, WISCONSIN GOVERNOR: Just because some folks out there want to see full bars and full hospitals doesn't mean we have to listen. The longer
it takes for folks to take this virus seriously the longer it will take to get our economies and our communities back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROADDUS: Fauci says holding large gatherings like the president's campaign rallies are dangerous.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. FAUCI: When people are close to each other and you don't have everyone virtually wearing a mask that is a risky situation that could very well
lead to the kind of spreader events that we have seen in similar settings.
(END VIDEO CLIP):
BROADDUS: Meanwhile, the virus sidelining the University of Florida Football Program after at least 21 players tested positive. And Alabama
Football Coach Nick Saban is now self-isolating at home after a positive COVID test.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICK SABAN, HEAD COACH, UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA FOOTBALL: This was routine, everyday. We test our players every day. I get tested every day. I felt
fine. I feel fine. I was very surprised meanwhile by this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROADDUS: Meanwhile, here in the U.S. and abroad, we focused a lot on the numbers. We talk about those numbers. But those numbers actually represent
families and their loved ones. Now, some positive news here, we'll end on a high note, Dr. Anthony Fauci saying on yesterday that a safe and effective
vaccine could become available by early next spring, April to be exact, of 2021. Almost a year after the pandemic started back to you.
ANDERSON: All right Adrienne Broaddus there. Thank you. Well, Europe fast lighting back into COVID chaos. The World Health Organization saying most
of the continent is now seeing increased activity. Here's what the W.H.O.'s Technical Lead for COVID-19 told CNN earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIA VAN KERKHOVE, W.H.O. TECHNICAL LEAD FOR COVID-19: We are certainly seeing a concerning situation across Europe where we are seeing a
resurgence, we are seeing an increase in transmission in large numbers of countries across the region. In fact, about 80 percent of countries across
the European regions are seeing a growth right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, 80 percent, that is a big number, isn't it? So what are they doing about it? Well, there are widening varying degrees of new
restrictions. In France more than 20 million people including residents in and around Paris will face a nightly curfew the President there, Emanuel
Macron, hoping to reduce daily case counts to a few thousand a day from the current number of more than 20,000.
Germany's Chancellor says they have exponential growth in her country and new restrictions will take effect in any area that exceeds government-set
case limits. Now the World Health Organization's Europe Director warning that it is essential to take these actions now or face much stricter
measures later on.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANS KLUGE, W.H.O. REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR EUROPE: These measures are meant to keep us all ahead of the curve and to flatten its course. They are there
to save lives from COVID without risking lives due to other diseases and due to economic despair. Any further escalation of measures would be the
result of failure in implying with the preceding ones.
[11:10:00]
KLUGE: It is therefore up to us to accept them while they are still relatively easy to follow instead of resuming the path of severity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: We learned last hour that the President of the European Commission is going to self-isolation over potential exposure to COVID-19.
Ursula von der Leyen having to leave the ongoing European Council Summit where some of the continent's most powerful leaders are gathering after a
member of her staff tested positive.
Well, governments across the continent facing a dilemma. Lockdown nationwide, try and get a lid on this, or restrict people's movements to
varying degrees and trying to contain the virus while still keeping the engines of these economies in gear at least first gear if not full
throttle.
Scott McLean is in Berlin for you today. Melissa Bell is in Bordeaux. And let me start with you in France. What's been the reaction to these new
rules, and how realistic are they in trying to get a lid on what are these, you know, enormous numbers now?
MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: I think, Becky, it's exactly as you just said. Governments are desperate to avoid a second lockdown just
because the cost of the first still has to be borne by the economy and the idea that an economy at a standstill will allow them to do that.
Emanuel Macron speaking to the nation yesterday said that all of those industries affected by these new curfews in France throughout those eight
cities plus the greater Paris region, so cafe, so cinemas, restaurants, anyone who is open right now and functioning beyond 9:00 pm, the government
is going to step in and pay the wages once again.
It is going to offer the very generous package it had offered back during the first wave. So that is going to cost a lot of money. It is going to be
a great strain to bear as it is. And going further than that, it is really difficult for governments to contemplate.
So they are looking at whether this will work. But look on Saturday it isn't just the curfews that come in Becky but also the sanitary state of
emergency and really that could lead to far more restrictions if they are not brought back under control.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT: If we stick to this curfew for six weeks, if we take collective responsibility for reducing our contacts, we
think that we'll be able to progressively reopen at that stage.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BELL: So there is some hope that the French President is trying to suggest that perhaps these curfews will help. But he was also very clear Becky that
this second wave threatens to be worse than the first because the health system is so overwhelmed, because it's been going on for so long and
because the entire country is now affected.
ANDERSON: That's the position in France. Melissa, thank you. Scott, similar question to you Angela Merkel says these restrictions are necessary to curb
the spread of the virus and that she feels, "Uneasy" about what's going on? Are these restrictions going to help?
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. The Chancellor said yesterday that the decisions that Germany makes over the coming days and weeks will
ultimately to determine how this country comes out of the pandemic? But the reality Becky is that the second wave of infections at least on paper has
now eclipsed the first wave here in Germany.
Yesterday the Chancellor met with the premiers of Germany's 16 federal states, to try to present the more unified response to this resurgence of
the virus to replace the current patchwork of different restrictions that vary state to state.
The meeting stretched well into the evening. But when it was finished, the Chancellor announced that bars and restaurants in virus hot spots right
now, including most large cities in this country, will have to close restaurants and bars early.
There will also be restrictions on public gatherings or I should say social gatherings both in public and in private spaces. The Chancellor also called
out one demographic group in particular, young people. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANGELA MERKEL, GERMAN CHANCELLOR: We must call especially on young people to do without a few parties now in order to have a good life tomorrow or
the day after. And a lot is riding on this. We saw the unruly effects on our economy that the spring had and we're a high performing country but our
resources are not unlimited. So we must be careful with our resources.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCLEAN: Becky, I also want to draw your attention to a tourism ad actually, a pretty striking one on that right now is circulating on Berlin public
transportation. It shows a woman with a fabric mask on her face but one thing is a miss.
She's flipping the bird the caption on that ad actually says, up yours to those who don't wear a mask. We obey the Coronavirus rules. As you know
well, Becky, Germans they are rules followers. People here don't jaywalk.
[11:15:00]
MCLEAN: Not necessarily because they will get in trouble from the police but because of that societal judgment that they'll attract especially if
there are kids around, you don't want to set a bad example. So most are following the rules but there is a minority that is not.
So the creators of that ad really wanted to get some attention, to shock people into paying attention and ultimately trying to shame those people
not following the rules into actually doing so. Becky?
ANDERSON: Yes, fascinating. That's the sorry in Germany. You've heard the story in France. We are connecting your world in England. Thank you, guys.
The Northwest part of the country is seeing the highest infection rate.
We are waiting to find out whether Manchester could soon see restrictions increase to what is known as very high or tier 3 after the UK's Health
Secretary warned action is needed fast. And I quote him, we went there and we found, well, mixed feelings. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a joke. It's actually a joke. I can see the potential in keeping people safe is causing problems at certain times. It
has already been done. It's crazy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Different cities are getting it at different times. If you do a lockdown hopefully we might be able to get rid of it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nobody has got any excuses.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And then you are not going from one city to another like folks are right now.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are first year students so it is kind affecting our social lives, meeting friends. It's not the best.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it should be a national lockdown. If everyone is doing it makes it easier. Whereas if some cities are picked on,
especially the north, why is it fair? I know some areas are higher. But I think if everyone does it and it will help it slow down quicker.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Some thoughts from Manchester. Russia reporting more Coronavirus deaths and cases than ever before in the past 24 hours, 286 people there
died from the virus nearly 14,000 were infected total cases in Russia, 1.3 million.
Just a day ago we heard President Putin announce a second vaccine had been registered. Russian Health Official says this one, which is called Epivac
Corona works very differently from the first vaccine which is Sputnik V. But neither has been tested for safety or efficacy with large scale
clinical trials.
And the international community has been reacting with heavy skepticism and indeed some criticism. On the other hand, a dominating voice in western
infectious disease, America's Dr. Anthony Fauci told CBS that researchers should know by November or December whether some of these vaccine trials
have a safe candidate. And he cautions initial quantities will only be a few million doses.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. FAUCI: That will likely be within the first quarter of 2021 by let's said April of 2021. But that would be predicated on the fact that all of
the vaccines that are in clinical trials have proven to be safe and effective.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That's Anthony Fauci there. Still ahead, crowds returning to Islam's holy site for the "Umrah Pilgrimage" but what will that mean for
the potential spread of this virus? The Nation's Deputy Health Minister will talk to me about that after this.
And we are only 19 days out from the U.S. Presidential Election, with millions of Americans already voting more on that after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:20:00]
ANDERSON: You're watching "Connect the World." A large amount of pilgrims will be heading to the Islamic holy sites in Saudi Arabia this weekend
that's after the nation partly lifted its restrictions on the "Umrah Pilgrimage" which is conducted at the same site so as the Hajj.
This will be the second weekend that pilgrims are allowed to go there but despite numerous health measures in place. It is still an open question
whether the pilgrimage could spread the Coronavirus?
Well, Saudi Arabia appears to be keeping a lid on the outbreak at this point, reporting about 500 new cases on Wednesday according to Johns
Hopkins University. The nation had more than 340,000 infections since the pandemic began. Earlier I interviewed the Saudi Deputy Health Minister Dr.
Mohammed Abdulaali and he told me new infections can stay low despite the pilgrimage. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. MOHAMMED ABDULAALI, SAUDI ARABIA'S DEPUTY HEALTH MINISTER: Because of COVID-19, very important restriction, very important terms and conditions
to perform very innovative ways to perform Umrah safely. And we know that we passed this - a few days successfully and also during Hajj season it was
very successful performing the Hajj without any restriction or any registry of any COVID-19 condition.
ANDERSON: What are the rules at present?
DR. ABDULAALI: Ministry of Health and the other agencies are ensuring that pilgrims are going to be selected or visitors those who are going for Umrah
are selected with criteria so those with risk, in a risk group are not going to be on the priority list.
Second, the control over number and flow of people entering the Haram to perform Umrah, the distances between people there are going to be also
health leaders who will participate and accompany each group, not to mention that facial masks will be there throughout the performance.
ANDERSON: What is the hospital capacity in Mecca and Medina to accommodate any breakouts should they happen?
DR. ABDULAALI: The Kingdom, the capacity of regular beds, isolation beds or intensive care beds increased this including in all of cities. Just to give
an example, the intensive care units, which are the most challenging ones, increased almost to the amount of 50 percent increment of availability of
ICU beds. And we have never experienced any touch to the maximum or saturation level at any of our cities or regions in the Kingdom since the
beginning of this pandemic till now.
ANDERSON: Your cases at present are significantly lower after having one of the highest incidents in the region. But you do have some 336,000 cases and
almost 5,000 total deaths. So how would you rate the Kingdom's way of coping with this? And how did you manage to finally control the outbreak?
DR. ABDULAALI: There are more than 213 centers receiving those who are having any symptoms. And there are 21 drive-troughs and many other plates
that receive people symptomatic, asymptomatic regardless of their situation regardless of any nationalities or residency condition.
They can come and free of charge - and also free of charge if diagnosed to be positive will be treated. There are three national centers looking at
all of these results and doing simulations and doing predictions. So we are not only reacting to this situation but also proactively reacting to it.
ANDERSON: We have sadly learned that no country should become complacent. We are seeing a second wave blighting Europe and other places around the
world.
[11:25:00]
ANDERSON: What are your plans should a second wave hit Saudi Arabia?
DR. ABDULAALI: We deeply analyze all the available data to ensure that we know what's going to be in front of us. We passed the first 70 to 80 days
of the pandemic with restrictions, early interventions, very - interventions to ensure that we are suppressing the curve.
And we return back to our life but with new normal. And in new normal is pretty important. We opened multiple activities but we have more than 100
protocols to ensure that people are - social with appropriate new behaviors or new norms.
ANDERSON: The race for a vaccine is on of course. What is the Kingdom's plan for the acquisition of a vaccine and indeed the distribution of a
vaccine within Saudi Arabia?
DR. ABDULAALI: We are part of the Act A, the access to COVID-19 tools accelerator. We are part of the founding countries of this accelerator. The
Kingdom participated with $500 million to support the international efforts. There are many important agencies, GAVI, the World Bank, the
Global Fund, with the W.H.O. are participating. And definitely we will ensure that our community will get the vaccine once it's approved to be
active and safe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Saudi Arabia's Deputy Health Minister speaking to me just earlier this week. Well, let's get you up to speed on some of the other
stories that are on our radar right now. And Iran reporting its highest daily death toll since the Coronavirus pandemic began.
It says 279 people died from the virus on Wednesday. The nation also saw more than 4,800 new cases also a new high. Iran is the worst affected
nation in the Middle East with more than half a million Coronavirus cases.
Jordan seeing unprecedented levels of COVID-19 it set a new record of more than 2,400 cases Wednesday, 32 deaths I'm afraid. The country imposed
weekend lockdowns now until further notice.
Well, Turkey has officially started to include asymptomatic COVID-19 cases in its count for the World Health Organization. That follows criticism that
only reporting symptomatic cases hides the real scale of infections there. Turkey has been reporting around 1,500 new daily infections.
More than 1,000 prisoners are being released and sent home by Yemen's warring parties. The swap over seen by the international community of the
Red Cross is the largest prisoner exchange of the conflict to date. This was the scene at Sanaa Airport as some Houthis prisoners arrived home
earlier today.
Coming up after this break, swing states are always an important part of the U.S. Presidential Election but especially in 2021. We will get you to
one of the key states to hear from voters there up next. Then later, we will speak to a Former Governor of one of those all-important swing states.
CNN Senior Commentator these days, John Kasich, from Ohio.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: Tonight we were supposed to be watching America's second presidential debate but we can't it ain't happening. It has been said U.S.
President Donald Trump and the Democratic Nominee Joe Biden will host dueling town halls on competing networks in different places but at the
exact same time. You can't watch them together, you will have to pick.
The original debate was cancelled we all remember after Mr. Trump refused to participate in what was a new virtual formats. He wouldn't waste his
time on it. But millions of Americans the presidential debates will dueling town halls won't sway their votes.
Millions have already voted turning in their ballots early to make sure that their vote gets counted. Something Former President Barack Obama says
shouldn't be such an issue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: If you have one major party perhaps the only major party that I know have in any advanced democracy in the
world who explicitly says we're trying to keep fellow citizens from voting and we're trying to make it as part on them as possible.
Even the far right in Europe doesn't say that. I think that we should welcome the argument that making it easier for people to vote and
eliminating the last vestiges of Jim Crow and poll taxes and all that stuff is not a partisan issue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, voting swing states will be key in this election, especially in Pennsylvania, for example. President Trump's narrow 2016
victory there helped propel him to office and the state is once again center stage in this 2020 race.
Joe Biden has made his campaign headquarters in Philadelphia. And Donald Trump is relying on his base support from the last election. CNN's Dana
Bash has more.
DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: A line forms outside well before opening waiting to enter the Trump House.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're ready for the next group to come in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: A Mecca of sorts for president's supporters in Southwest Pennsylvania where Trump's record turnout four years ago helped deliver his surprise
Pennsylvania victory and the White House. Leslie Rossi created the Trump House in 2016 where she pushed disaffected Democrats and never before voter
to choose Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We gave people a chance to come to, to believe they could win.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now Trump supporters show up daily for swag and yard signs and help registering to vote.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT HARRER, TRUMP SUPPORTER: We need Trump in there again. I'm 65. I think it's time to register.
BASH: Have you not voted ever?
HARRER: No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Rural Westmoreland County seeing a surge in Republican registrations. They help with that here too.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RITA BLAIR, FORMER DDEMOCRAT: I changed my registration from Democrat to Republican.
BASH: Why?
BLAIR: From what I have seen in last past couple of years, I'm ashamed to say I was a Democrat.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a great honor to have you here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: But Joe Biden isn't giving up here campaigning in Westmoreland County this month. Hillary Clinton didn't come here in the general election.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JILL BIDEN, JOE BIDEN'S WIFE: It's not an area Democrats come and campaign very often.
BASH: But you're here why?
J.BIDEN: I'm here because like I said I - we are not taking any vote for granted.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Gina Cerilli is County Commissioner of Westmoreland P.A. Ten years ago she was Miss. Pennsylvania in Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant. Now she
is an elected Democrat working to blunt Trump's advantage here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GINA CERILLI, WESTMORELAND COUNTY COMMISSIONER: In 2016, Donald Trump was a fresh face. He was new to politics. Everyone was excited. He made big
promises. Bring back jobs.
[11:35:00]
CERILLI: But frankly Donald Trump broke those promises.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: In small town Pennsylvania, signs matter. Trumps are everywhere, big and bold. But Bidens are out there too.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CERILLI: When you see signs like this, it makes the Republicans and the Democrats that voted for Trump in 2016 realize I'm not alone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: A big Biden challenge, his supporters are being COVID careful.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Never did we think we would be meeting by Zoom.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Phyllis Friend Head of Democratic Women of Westmoreland County organizes from home. She is clear-eyed about the Democrats' goal here in
Trump country.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PHYLLIS FRIEND, HEAD OF DEMOCRATIC WOMAN OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY: We can't win Pennsylvania for them, but we can add to the total numbers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: As for Republicans, they never stopped traditional ways of getting out the vote. Knocking on doors, walking in neighborhoods in masks, and
using a GOP data-driven app to find and persuade voters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRITTNEY ROBINSON, RNC STATE DIRECTOR FOR PENNSYLVANIA: Depending on who that voter is we were able to tailor that message at the door and on phone
to how we think we need to target that voter and turn them out?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Given the president's struggles in the suburbs, boosting the vote here is critical for Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: How important is it for him to get the numbers even higher than four years ago?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I do think that we need to increase our voter turnout here for the president to offset some of what may be happening in the
southeastern part of Pennsylvania.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Back at the Trump House Leslie Rossi shows us the log of visits from thousands of Trump supporters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: What do you think this year?
LOSLIE ROSSI, THE TRUMP HOUSE OWNER AND CREATOR: Oh, my numbers have tripled, tripled. Four years ago my work was really hard here. I had to
convince the voters to vote for the candidate. I had to convince them President Trump was the best choice for them. This time I don't have to do
any of that. They're all in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Where they're enough or all in it could determine whether Trump wins Pennsylvania and a second term. Dana Bash CNN, Westmoreland County,
Pennsylvania.
ANDERSON: I want to bring in one of our Senior Political Commentators and Former Governor of Ohio John Kasich at this point. The 2020 campaign, John,
has entered its final stretch. 14 million Americans have already voted and in a new Wall Street Journal/NBC Poll Biden are ahead by 11 points in the
national survey, 53-42. Closing the gap won't be easy for Donald Trump.
But he does have his supporters. And we have just heard from some of them there in Pennsylvania. Can he drive this home this time?
JOHN KASICH, CNN SENIOR COMMENTATOR: Well, first of all, let's talk about the national polls. I don't pay much attention to them because they're
distorted. You take a look at the people in California and New York, they are disproportionately for Biden.
So I don't pay much attention. I look at the state-by-state polls, and it's still fairly close. I think Biden absolutely has the edge now. But we know
this year is - anything can happen. And it usually does. But right now the problem that Donald Trump is having is with independent men, with seniors,
and of courses his big problem with suburban women.
So I mean it's an uphill battle for Donald Trump. Nothing's impossible. I don't think there are all these secret Trump voters out there, by the way.
There might be a few, but I think like there was before. And it is hard to demonize Joe Biden it was pretty easy for them to demonize Hillary Clinton.
Those kinds of attacks are not sticking on Biden. So it is definitely uphill but could Trump pull it out? I don't have a crystal ball but
unlikely.
ANDERSON: Yes. All right, Wisconsin of course played a central role in Donald Trump's victory in 2016. Four years later, the state remains a key
battleground. But one where Donald Trump is trailing in the most recent polls and now political exhaustion it seems is weighing on its voters.
The Chair of one of the state's Democratic Parties, one of the counties had this to say, John. I was really fascinated by this. "Most people don't want
the ugliness of the political world to be front and center in their news every day and in their conversations and in their drive to work. He said a
lot of people are just fed up with the constant barrage of whatever the scandal of the day is".
It's clear fatigue has played a factor here with this. Do you think it plays a factor in this year's election?
KASICH: I do. I think it is like going to a dance club, OK, and you dance and they play the music and you dance faster and faster and faster. At some
point you say stop the music. I just want to sit down.
And I think that the chaos is getting to people. More and more people are turning off the news because they have heard enough, seen enough, actually
don't know what to believe. But I think the chaos does not work in Trump's favor. And I think people want to get back to some sort of normalcy.
[11:40:00]
KASICH: So I do think that is a factor and all of this business about - all of those business about do you wear a mask and not wear a mask, what are
redoing, this is not a serious problem, it is really disrupting the seniors in our country. That works again against President Trump.
ANDERSON: How important are these early voters? We are just looking at video here from Atlanta, Georgia, for example.
KASICH: Well, they are very, very, very important. In fact, what we know with what people are saying now, and I'm always a little skeptical
projections. But this one is pretty decent and that is it is almost a 2-1 advantage for the Democrats right now in early voting.
Now, that means Election Day is going to be pretty significant as well. The question is I read something this morning that maybe early voting will
actually outnumber Election Day voting. We'll have to see. But right now that early voting is definitely favoring Biden.
So with all of these things I'm saying, you know, the question is, well, then why is it - why isn't Biden just a slam dunk? Because America is so
close you are not - you know it's hard to get any kind of a landslide. It is just very difficult because Americans are so closely divided.
So these numbers in some of these states are pretty close. When they're close with a few weeks to go, anything can happen. I have been in many
campaigns myself and what you see three weeks out is not necessarily what happens on Election Day.
ANDERSON: Yes. And this is a man who absolutely knows. John, viewers at home tonight will be forced to choose which town hall to tune into, whether
they tune in at all of course is another question but the president's or Joe Biden's? Which do you believe will get more traction? And, by the way,
which will you be tuning into?
KASICH: Well, you're going to have Trump supporters watch the Trump town hall and you're going to have Biden supporters watch the Biden town hall.
And for those six people who are undecided, they will probably be watching reruns of "Apollo 13".
And what am I going to be watching? I have a lot of TV I have to do today. So I probably won't be watching much of it. And I have got my daughters. My
one daughter has come from Chicago from college. My other daughter from Ohio State will be around.
And tonight, you know, I'm pretty busy. I'll be back on CNN later tonight. So I don't know what I'll see. But probably more with family than I will
these town halls.
ANDERSON: And good for you. I'm sure you'll be absolutely delighted that the kids are back. We wish them the best. Have some fun with them. Former
President Barack Obama has been speaking out about reforms needed for America regardless of who wins this election. Just have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: I think a very important question after the election, even if it goes well with Joe Biden, is whether you start seeing the Republican Party
restore some sense of norms that we can't breach because he's breached all of them. And they have not said to him this is too far.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: John, has American politics lost its decency?
KASICH: Yes. I think that it has. I think name-calling now insults are sort of OK. I've watched some of these commercials on television myself and
thought holy cow, is that what it takes to win? May be it's not worth it.
I think in regard to the Republican Party, the party has lost its ideas. We're not addressing the issue of climate change. We don't have a plan on
health care. We don't know what we're going to do about the debt problem.
Parties should be parties of ideas not, you know, insults and division and rhetoric. You've got to have your ideas. And the question after this
election, if the Republicans lose, is what are they going to look like?
Are we going to become a party of ideas or are we going to be just against things. Against things don't work. So the Democrats, they've got to be very
worried that they are going to start drifting far left. What I hear from people, Becky, is they don't mind Joe Biden but they are fearful he is not
strong enough to hold off the far left, so we become more socialist.
And the Democrats ought to be careful that they don't trend far left. Now, if the Republicans don't have ideas and the Democrats starts trending far
left, guess what may be another party coming, a third party is possible.
ANDERSON: Well that is interesting. And we've lived through these moments when we thought that there was room for a third party and of course they
sort of waste away. I'm feeling a deja vu. We were discussing, not you and I particularly.
[11:45:00]
ANDERSON: But we as sort of commentators and reporters discussing the demise of the Republican Party in what we thought would be the wake of a
Hillary Clinton win in 2016 around the same time and say what will happen to this Republican Party post this Clinton win four year ago?
And of course that wasn't the case. And we continue to have the same discussions now. Final question to you the U.S. still waiting on its
stimulus funds worth trillions, I spoke to the Head of the IMF last night who says authority is not inevitable to ease pandemic impact on public
finance. This is quite a long sound bite but do please have a listen to what Kristalina Georgieva have to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KRISTALINA GEORGIEVA, MANAGING DIRECTOR, IMF: What we got to learn very quickly in this pandemic is a very simple straightforward lesson. Countries
with strong fundamentals, prudent fiscal policies and good buffers do better. They could with stand the shock, they're more resilient.
So the very first thing is during good times, do the right thing. But we are now where we are. We are under the pressure of this pandemic and it is
very strange for many people that the Head of the IMF tells governments, please spend, support your doctors, support the vulnerable parts of your
economy.
Keep the receipts. There has to be accountability for what you spend. But please spend. Why? Because if we stop with the economy putting for weeks in
a standstill and then for many more weeks in an unstable place, then we could have catastrophic impact on the world being of people with massive
bankruptcies and massive unemployment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Right, that is the Head of the IMF. I was in discussion with her and Melinda Gates by the way of the Gates Foundation about what happens in
this sort of post pandemic recovery? We're not there of course yet.
U.S. unemployment weekly jobless claims hit nearly 900,000; today far more than the number that was expected. Is the U.S. prepared, John? Does it have
the political will to spend its way out of economic trouble? And to be quite frankly, it seems to me that, that politicians on both sides of the
divide are putting politics before the people at this point. Do you agree?
KASICH: Yes, I do agree with that. And there is so much pain out there. I just got an email from a young woman who works at a hotel in New York
permanently laid off. No job, doesn't know where to go. I mean, it's everywhere.
There are so many people that are facing these hard times and there are other people who are not facing those hard times. We have no right to
ignore the real challenges and problems of the people being left out there in basically in the ditch.
I don't know that they're getting something done about election, but they will pass something, they have to pass something to help the people who are
really up against the wall with their children, their spouse. So I think something will happen. I'm not sure it will happen before the election. But
doing something is absolutely in my opinion, it is inevitable.
ANDERSON: Pretty disgraceful if nothing happens to be quite frank. And John I know you're going to be--
KASICH: --because they're not thinking - Becky, they're not thinking about the pain that their neighbor is experiencing. That is the problem with
politics today. It is become too much about my party and your party and we begin to forget the people who are the ones that are caught in the middle
and there is real pain, real pain for people out there right now and it needs to be relieved.
ANDERSON: John, you always make sense. Thank you so much. I know you're going to be on Jimmy Kimmel tonight. But don't forget you're here as well
for "Connect the World" for us.
KASICH: I will.
ANDERSON: Thank you.
KASICH: But I'll be on Don Lemon too. So it should be fun.
ANDERSON: Oh, my goodness. You were here first. That is the most important spot. Say hello to Jimmy and say hello to Don and come back to us soon.
Thank you, sir.
KASICH: OK, thank you.
ANDERSON: Next up, he may have signed it but now Benjamin Netanyahu is urging the Knesset to approve his deal with the UAE, we'll have a live
report about those discussions on normalization up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:50:00]
ANDERSON: I'll get you an update on a story that we broke for you here on "Connect the World" and it is being changing so much right here in this
region of the Middle East. The latest, Israel's Knesset has begun discussing the approval of the normalization agreement that would formally
and fully normalize relations with the United Arab Emirates where I am and Israel.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu started the talks by saying and let me quote him here; they say peace is made with enemies. No peace is
made with those who have stopped being your enemy. Peace is made with those who want peace and not people who are committed to your destruction.
Oren Liebermann joins me now from Jerusalem. This was an incredibly bold move back then some months ago, a huge development when it happened. Just
help us understand the latest details as it were in Israel, any opposition?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There is some opposition. But this will pass with an over whelming majority. Vote in the Knesset still hasn't
happened yet. The discussion around the agreement is going for seven hours and counting that's because nearly every member of the Knesset from every
party wants their four minutes and in many cases going over four minutes for their input on this.
But it is expected to pass again with an over whelming majority. There is an opposition from the joint list of Arab parties they will vote against
this, that won't stop it from being passed because the numbers are too small.
But one member of joint that essentially opposes it because it is bad for Israelis, bad for Palestinians and bad for the region and that it is part
of the deal of the century. Becky regardless of that opposition it will be passed in the Knesset it will then go back to the government and the
cabinet for ratification.
ANDERSON: That is Oren Liebermann speaking with us. Hundreds of Israelis drove to Jerusalem in a protest convoy Oren against Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu demanding further investigation into his indictments, lest we forget. What is the latest on his trial?
LIEBERMANN: At this point we're waiting for the heart of the trial to start. The part where the panel of judges will listen to witnesses and
listen to testimony but it seems like that may be delayed because of a delay in the process to get to this point all of the preliminary hearings
and all of that.
How much, that remains to be seen. And it hasn't delayed yet. That is scheduled to start as of January first or the first week of January I
should say. There was protest were protesters carried mock submarines up toward Jerusalem. We've seen these sorts of protests before.
And the reason their protesting is related to what's called case 3,000, otherwise known as the submarines affair, questions about Israel's purchase
of submarines and the approval of advanced submarines going to Egypt.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasn't charged in that case but some close to him were. The key issue here is that the high court is now hearing
an appeal about whether the men, a government commission of inquiry into the submarines affair, that, if it happens, if it is approved by the high
court to, could be very damaging for Netanyahu.
ANDERSON: Oren Lieberman is in the house, thank you sir. You're watching "Connect the World" live from Abu Dhabi. Up next, Queen Elizabeth II making
her first appearance since Britain's lockdown original lockdown that is so we'll show you where she was and what she was doing up next?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:55:00]
ANDERSON: Right, we are at the back end of this show. But just before we go, I want to show you these images of Queen Elizabeth II who has been
largely out of the public eyes since the pandemic took hold in the UK in March. But she is just been spotted in her first major public engagement
since that time.
She is there alongside Prince William, her grandson. Neither wearing masks as you could see. They visited a military research facility. The lab known
for identifying the nerve agent used to attack the Russian ex spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter back in 2018.
The Queen told us toward the start of this pandemic, we will meet again and we will view, it is not just after the pandemic but tomorrow. In fact, same
time, same place and a new world to connect all of the same. We will continue to connect you. Stay well. Look after yourselves. Good night.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
