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Erin Burnett Outfront

First Night Of Historic DNC Under Way. Aired 7-8p ET

Aired August 19, 2024 - 19:00   ET

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

ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: And we are live in Chicago at the Democratic National Convention underway, as you can hear behind me at the United Center, one of the largest arenas in the nation. Democratic Party taking advantage of its biggest stage, yet to show Vice President Kamala Harris to the nation, introducing her to voters in her new role at the top of the presidential ticket for the Democratic Party.

And we are coming to you from inside the convention hall for this special edition of OUTFRONT and a warm welcome to all of you joining us tonight. I'm Erin Burnett, along with my friend Wolf Blitzer.

And, Wolf, tonight represents -- you know, it's a crucial night and it's a turning point for Democrats, a radically reshaped campaign in just the past 30 days. And, of course, their number one goal now still to defeat Donald Trump and hold on to the White House.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: And get Kamala Harris elected president of the United States.

[19:00:01]

Erin, expect this evening to be capped by a very emotionally charged passing of the torch moments sources are telling us that Vice President Harris is set to make her first appearance at this convention and joined President Joe Biden after he delivers his big primetime speech.

Democrats celebrating Harris as their new standard-bearer and saluting President Biden's decades of service to our country in his game- changing decision to step aside.

Also giving high profile speeches tonight, First Lady Jill Biden, and former secretary of state, former First Lady Hillary Clinton will be speaking as well.

Erin?

BURNETT: All right. And as you hear the applause behind us, the arena here filling up with delegates, it's in session.

Let's check in with our John Berman, who's there on the floor.

And, John, we're listening again to the chair of the Democratic National Committee speaking here as the program is in progress. It's update on where you are, who you're talking to there. JOHN BERMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So I am in the Washington state

delegation, Erin, and Jamie Harrison is speaking right behind us. And he's talking about the youth vote and energy among young voters.

I'm here with some young voters from Washington state. Frankly, you can't miss them because they're the ones with the white blinking hats here.

So, Rohana (ph), what's going on with this?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely. So, each day this week, we are doing various themes of our state party and this today, we are doing Cowboy Carter.

As we can see with our sashes. So, our sashes say Cowboy Kamala and we have some amazing hats to go along with it.

BERMAN: So do you think Beyonce is going to show up this week? You mentioned Cowboy Carter.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, there's many rumors that she might be showing up on Thursday and we're all really excited, especially our state party chair, Shasti Conrad.

BERMAN: All right. So we're here for this convention. Obviously, the nominee is going to be Vice President Kamala Harris. Four weeks and two days ago, that wasn't the case. It was going to be President Biden.

How is he energy different right now, would you say?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely. I think that there is a new revitalized sense of hope and prosperity within our country and especially within young people, we're all so excited to be represent are electing someone that represents ourselves and half the population, especially since its a historic moment which is something we hear a lot.

And I think all of the young people here at this convention or so beyond grateful and excited to be here, and we just have a sense of progress being on the ballot. We are looking for progress.

BERMAN: How did you feel -- if I can ask -- how did you feel when President Biden was still the nominee? Different?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a bit different I would say. I think he's under tremendous amount of work with his last four years in office. But I think he made the right message. He's an honorable man. And he put himself over his country. Certainly no American has seen before.

And I feel like he gave new life, he rebirthed, he ignited guided the flame back, could have Democratic Party and in choosing Kamala Harris today, and many of us young people are super excited to see Kamala, the future, and we're super excited she's here coming soon.

BERMAN: All right Washington state, wearing the hats, people can't miss you one bit, thanks for being with us. I appreciate it -- Erin.

BURNETT: I mean, you know, you find that the fascinating people and that is what -- that is what it's about, Ashley, just the people that are here and even you're looking down, you see the various t-shirts, but the enthusiasm is palpable in on finding those young people are hoping beyond say comes just speaks to this room.

ASHLEY ALLISON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: It's the culture and I have always said, culture dictates politics and you have people wearing like what they probably will wear to Beyonce's next concert at the Democratic National Convention.

If you don't know that, that's a big deal, right? And she's not even like slated to come. So, I also think that, you know, just behind us, just finished, Peggy Flanagan, the lieutenant governor of Minnesota, my hero, Maxine Waters, taking the stage. I'm in this chair because as a little girl from Youngstown, Ohio, I watch Maxine Waters speaking of power and tell us how reclaiming my time. And let's listen to Maxine Waters.

REP. MAXINE WATERS (D-CA): Hello, delegates!

Now, you know, I've seen a lot in my lifetime I was just 22 years old when Fannie Lou Hamer made her presence known at another Democratic convention. It was in 1964 in Atlantic City and she arrived with a group Black delegates from Mississippi.

(CHEERING)

WATERS: And she simply asked, she's simply asked that her delegates be seated in place of the state's all-white delegation.

She told the people in the room about the violence she suffered at the hands of white police because she, a Black woman, had demanded her right to vote.

When she finished, she asked the country a simple but profound question, is this America?

[19:05:11]

She didn't get the outcome she was hoping for in Atlantic City, but you can bet but when the official Mississippi delegation was seated at the convention four years later, Fannie Lou Hamer was sitting there with them. Now, here we are, here we are 60 years later at another Democratic Convention, with Kamala Harris, Kamala Harris as our party's nominee.

(CHEERING)

WATERS: Oh, so I know there is no better leader to marshal us into the future. Kamala has been a courtroom prosecutor, a district attorney, an attorney general, a United States senator, vice president of the United States.

And when the dust settles in November and Americans of all stripes have elected her their president, I know she'll be thinking about Fannie Lou who asked happen to know, is one of Kamala's heroes.

In that moment, all of us, all of us from New York to Pennsylvania, to Arizona, to California --

(CHEERING)

WATERS: -- we can ask ourselves, is this America? And we will be able to say loudly and proudly, you're damn right it is.

(MUSIC)

BURNETT: All right. Maxine Waters representative of the House first in 1990 first election, South Los Angeles for her district, rousing speech here in this room from Maxine Waters.

In just a moment, I wanted to ask my panel about something here, but first there's protesters outside. We've talked about tens of thousands of them. We talked about the importance of the Gaza-Israel war. Too many of those protesters, of what we're seeing outside, causing massive blockages actually in terms of getting into the arena where we are.

Ryan Young is outside with some of those protesters. We know the National Guard here in Illinois has been put on hold and alert as well.

Ryan, what are you seeing right now?

RYAN YOUNG, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've seen a large group of officers who had to meet protesters inside this park here. You can see some of the command staff that's still left behind here. But as the officers walk away, this is where the protesters and officers sort of came together. There are metal fencing that is just beyond the ridge of that parkway there.

What we know apparently some of the protesters tried to breach that area. They lifted up the metal gates and they were met by officers four people have been arrested, one other person has been detained. So then they brought in the riot gear officers to come in and clear out the park. You can see some of the protests because you were sort of left behind here at this point.

But we'll show you some of the video that we shot in the middle of this because it was chaotic at one point when you had about 300 officers, all marching out creating a circle in this area and they really wanted to make sure they cut this perimeter off and shut this park down. This is where the protesters want to return.

But we'll walk you this direction because I want to say something. You can see in the distance, that's the United Center. That is one of the gate lines that has been set up as a perimeter to make sure people can just go wherever they want to go. That's where some of the protesters tried to jump over it and they tried to breach it. That happened within the last hour or so.

Then after that, we've been asking folks to back out of this park because obviously it was a situation where officers were trying to arrest folks. Actually, the superintendent of police is just over here. He was talking to his officers earlier, actually doing the commands as this was all going down.

So, Erin, and of course, we're watching this situation. Once again, four people arrested and one detained.

BURNETT: All right. Ryan, thank you very much, just outside the United Arena where we are with all of those protesters. Such an important part of the story at the DNC, as we wait some of the key marquee speeches of the evening from some of the biggest names and some of the new rising stars, Democratic Party wants to profile here in this crucial convention, you are watching the DNC on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:13:48]

BURNETT: We are here at the DNC and preparing to hear from Jesse Jackson. I remember actually the first thing I remember from which convention, Democratic Convention in 1984, we're seeing Jesse Jackson watching with my parents.

Abby Phillip is writing a book about the Reverend Jesse Jackson, who ran for president twice in 1984, 1988.

We're about to see an important moment here, Abby, when he comes on this stage.

ABBY PHILLIP, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, that's right, Erin. I think it's going to be a very poignant moment for this convention hall, for the Democratic Party. Jesse Jackson ran for president two times in 1984 and 1988. And 1988, he was the runner up.

But for so many people here, so many people who are part of the Democratic Party today he is the reason that they are a part of politics. There was a video. The video is just is still playing behind me right now. It talks about how without Jesse Jackson, there may not have been a Barack Obama for a number of reasons.

And in the times, Erin, that I've talked to him over the last several years, one of the things that he's told me that really stuck with me is that he believes if that his candidacy was about lifting the ceiling on Black possibility, lifting the ceiling on Black possibility, but I might amend that to say lifting the ceiling on American possibility.

[19:15:04]

Because before Jesse Jackson, he came the closest to the presidency until Barack Obama. So, it's a really powerful moment. He's 82-years- old. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2017. So, he is ailing at the advanced age he is in.

And so, for so many people, including Minyon Moore who's the co-chair of this convention, who is an acolyte of his, this is an opportunity for them to honor him, and let's hear the round of applause as this room --

(APPLAUSE)

BURNETT: A moving moment, Ashley.

ALLISON: Yeah.

BURNETT: You can see tears. Listen now to the cheers in the room.

Abby, as you're watching this, and obviously, you mentioned his health. He is not actually speaking.

PHILLIP: Yeah.

BURNETT: But a moment for him. And, of course, reminiscent. I'm thinking back to those moments when he spoke so rousingly at these conventions.

What is this moment? What does it mean in this room? And we did see so many tears.

PHILLIP: Yeah. You saw the looks on the faces of so many people. You know, Erin, in those years that he spoke on this convention stage delivering what a lot of people still tell me are two of the best convention speeches really ever delivered at a major party convention, millions of families watched from home, seeing for the very first time, a Black man in that position.

And on the stage with him tonight was his son, Yousef, his other son, Jonathan Jackson, who's a congressman from here in the state of Illinois and Al Sharpton who was a protege of his, someone who modeled himself, who saw Jesse Jackson as almost like a farce other figure.

So there are moments I think when people around him wonder whether he has gotten his due. I think tonight was an important moment given his failing health to give him a moment on a stage when the nominee of the Democratic Party now is a Black woman, another thing that's so many of these people never thought they would see happen in their lifetimes.

BURNETT: No, just the emotion in the room.

ALLISON: Yeah.

BURNETT: Ashley, to see him come out and just to, you know, watch -- watch that cross his face, obviously with his health, the possibility that maybe said something, obviously he didn't, but it was his presence that stood for so much.

ALLISON: It was his presence.

Sometimes you don't need words, you just need to give a champion a salute. And I'm overwhelmed right now because I got to work for the first Black president, because of Jesse Jackson. I was little, but I remember seeing Jesse Jackson signs of my parents -- yard signs of my parents' garage because -- keep hope alive. That's a moment we are in right now, you know? And I don't want to make it political, but this is a political convention.

And in this room, you can feel the possibility of America. You can feel everybody belong, everybody can move for it. We don't have to be one against the other. And it feels like that's the moment we're in right now. And I just want everybody could have been in here right now because it really is something special.

And for it to happen on tonight when the president is handling been torch, Jesse come and hand the torch to Kamala tonight as well. So -- thank you, Mr. Jackson.

[19:20:02]

Thank you, Reverend Jackson, for your service.

JAMIE GANGEL, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: Okay.

ALLISON: Sorry. Keep it together, girl. Keep it together.

DAVID URBAN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Okay, it's good, good.

GANGEL: Confession, I covered the 1984 Jesse Jackson campaign. We're on the road for 13 months and I consider his family, friends. I've known Jonathan Jackson, now congressman, since he was in high school, was when I first met them.

That campaign went to towns and cities and churches that no politician ever went to. We once said politicians visited churches, Jesse Jackson live in them. And to your point, there is a whole generation of not just elected officials, but people who worked behind the scenes because of Reverend Jackson.

BURNETT: Yeah, let's go to John Berman, who is on the floor and you were there John watching and witnessing that moment. And I know now you're joined by the governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker.

BERMAN: Yeah, I am here with Governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois. And are they say, you know, if you build it, they will come.

Governor, I think a lot of people think that you are responsible for helping build this convention. What does it feel like now that it's getting underway?

GOV. J.B. PRITZKER (D), ILLINOIS: Well, we fought hard to win the convention for Chicago and now you can see that not only have we put together a beautiful convention hall, but it's about 73 degrees outside and sunny and it will be all week. So, we're excited to have all of you here.

BERMAN: Well done booking the weather, Governor.

There was just a tribute to Reverend Jackson, Chicago, you know, one of the many places the claims him as their own. What was that like for you to witness?

PRITZKER: Well, he's our civil rights leader. I mean, here in Chicago, certainly, because this is where he came from, he's somebody that all of us who care deeply about making advancements in civil rights look to. And even as he's gotten older, we still rely upon him. He sees a legend, but he's also someone who stand for something. And it's the fight, the struggle, and so many people who have stood on his shoulders to get ahead.

So we're just -- I mean, to be able to celebrate him for a few moments on stage as a reminder to all of us that we have while long way to go, but we've also come along way.

BERMAN: Governor, they're telling me in my ear and I know you haven't been briefed on what's going on outside the convention, neither have I. But what are your concerns for security? Here as the protests do continue?

PRITZKER: Well, we have a good plan in place. In fact, there was a breach at one of the fences, but it was brief that breach and the police actually stepped in, did a great job to the superintendent of police came and backed up his own men and frankly, that's the way it's going to be. You know, it's going to be -- obviously, we've got people who are concerned about the war in the Middle East. They're expressing themselves. We're going to protect the right to express themselves, but we're not going to stand for any mayhem.

BERMAN: So, President Biden delivering the keynote, not you've obviously worked in so many different ways in so many different campaigns. That's good.

It's going to be different tonight. It's going to be the likes of things we've never seen before. What are your feelings going into it?

PRITZKER: Well, we get to celebrate a man who has worn the empathy on his sleeve for 50 years in public office, someone who's really fought to make advancements. That matter to American families.

And I think the hardest thing in the world for him had to be deciding to step back and have Kamala Harris be our leader and our candidate but the sacrifices that he's made to do that are just in a long line of sacrifices. He's made for the American people.

So tonight we get to celebrate him. I'm really excited about that because I care deeply about him.

BERMAN: Governor Pritzker, I know you've got a lot of things to do tonight. Thanks so much for being with us.

PRITZKER: Good to see you, John. Thank you.

BERMAN: Erin?

BURNETT: All right. John there with governor of Illinois.

And straight ahead, an interview with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. He is gearing up for his convention speech this week as well. He's here in the convention center and we're getting closer to some of the crucial moments on this opening night, including President Biden speech himself, and an expected appearance by Vice President Harris. They will be, we believe, together back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:28:03]

BURNETT: It is the opening night of the DNC, the Democratic national convention here in Chicago. Tonight's program building toward a headliner speech for President Biden in an expected appearance from the party's new standard bearer, Vice President Kamala Harris, expected to be here together to appear together.

Jeff Zeleny has more on Harris's appearance tonight.

Jeff, what are you learning?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Erin, we're learning that Vice President Harris does not plan to be at this convention every night this week, but she insisted on being here tonight. She is viewing this as one more act of loyalty as the vice president for President Joe Biden, who of course will be in this convention hall delivering his valedictory address.

I'm told that time has been written into the program for there to be thunderous applause for him. Of course, she will be joining into that.

But, Erin, for my position on the podium here, just looking out onto the scene, this is Kamala Harris's convention. From the shirts people are wearing, to the signs that are being displayed, that this is all about celebrating and elevating her in the words of one senior adviser.

Now the goal of this convention, of course, is to keep the momentum alive and that she has been riding for the last month or so. But yesterday when she was campaigning in Pennsylvania, making her way here to Chicago, she said that she is still the underdog in this race. I am told by a senior adviser that was it intentional description. She does not want Democrats to be so sort of caught up in this exuberance that they think it has an easy race.

She knows it's a difficult race ahead. So, yes, tonight is about celebrating Kamala Harris praising Joe Biden. Shell be on hand here tonight and we'll likely see them together -- Erin.

BURNETT: All right. Jeff, thank you very much.

And I want to bring in a former Democratic presidential candidate, the current transportation secretary, Pete Buttigieg, joining me as a member of the party, not as a member of President Biden's cabinet.

And obviously, the enthusiasm, you feel it, it's palpable in the room. I know you share it. What are you -- what -- all right.

All right.

[19:30:00]

We're going to listen for a moment if you don't mind because are about to nominate Tim Walz as the vice presidential, obviously, nominee.

So let's just listen into that.

MINYON MOORE, DNC COMMITTEE CHAIR: When Kamala Harris set out to find her vice president, just one month ago, she was looking for someone who believes in our democracy, who works hard for the American people, and has an endless supply of hope for our future. She found that in Vice President Tim Walz.

Come on, give it up for vice -- give it up.

(CHEERING)

MOORE: An August 6, the Democratic Party officially nominated Governor Walz as a vice presidential candidate, while Governor Walz's nomination has already been certified, we couldn't miss the opportunity to celebrate this future vice president's integrity, commitment, decency, and service to our nation.

The chair will entertain a motion to ceremonially confirm Governor Walz's selection as the Democratic Party's vice presidential nominee.

We have a motion. Is there a second?

CROWD: Yes!

MOORE: We have a second. We will now have a voice vote on the motion to ceremonially confirm our vice presidential nominee.

All in favor of the motion, please proudly say aye.

CROWD: Aye!

MOORE: All oppose? The ayes had it.

I'm thrilled --

(CHEERING)

MOORE: I'm thrilled to proudly reaffirm Tim Walz as a Democratic nominee for vice president.

(CHEERING)

BURNETT: All right. Let's go to the Minnesota delegation right now.

Kaitlan Collins is there. Obviously, that is the epicenter of the Tim Walz fever and fervor we hear in this room, Kaitlan.

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF CORRRESPONDENT: Yeah, Erin. And you can hear the "USA" chants breaking out around me. They put out signage at every convention right now. It is "USA" signs that they've just recently passed out.

I'm standing here with Ken Martin, who is the vice chair of the DNC and also the chair of the Democratic Party in Minnesota, where they've just so were very proudly nominating Governor Walz.

What does it mean to you to have Governor Walz on the ticket?

KEN MARTIN, DNC VICE CHAIR: Oh, we're just so excited. You can see all the energy here at the Minnesota crew. We are just pumped. Our governor is amazing as everyone's starting to see a little bit. They didn't know who the heck he was a few weeks ago, now, everyone is in love with him across the country. We're so glad he's on the ticket. So --

COLLINS: And as Senator Amy Klobuchar said, in Minnesota, you bounce a baby on your knee and tell them they're going to be vice president someday?

MARTIN: Well, absolutely. Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Vice President Walter Mondale. And in 78 days, Vice President Tim Walz, we couldn't be more excited.

COLLINS: And, Martin, we'll let you go celebrate. Thank you so much for your time.

Erin?

BURNETT: All right. Kaitlan, thank you very much.

And here with Pete Buttigieg, Mayor Pete, Transportation Secretary, obviously, you're here at personally.

You just saw this in the room. How does it feel for you?

PETE BUTTIGIEG, TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY: It's really exciting. I mean, there's -- the extraordinary energy here and definitely excited to see the party coming together around Tim Walz and Kamala Harris. I'm a Midwesterner. So obviously I'm a little bit biased about what someone like Tim Walz brings to the ticket.

But I also think its worth noting that, you know, so many campaigns and so many parties spend millions on political consultants and ads to try to make their candidates seem like the kind of guy who would be a football coach or a teacher or would serve 24 years in the military.

He is all of those things what you see is what you get.

He's the genuine article and he's bringing a lot to this.

BURNETT: All right.

You're going to be speaking on Wednesday, obviously. Tonight, we're going to be we're going to hear from President Biden. We'll hear from Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton. You're speaking on Wednesday.

Are you finished? Have you decided, you know, what your core message is going to be?

BUTTIGIEG: The truth is, I'm still working on it, but I'm excited and honored to have that opportunity to speak about what our politics will be like or could be like, how much better it will be when and if America chooses Kamala Harris and Tim Walz versus a rerun of the Donald Trump show.

BURNETT: Now, we just saw some protesters outside. There are a lot of them, right? In a lot of multiple issues, but obviously the Israel- Gaza war is first and foremost among them.

And their uncommitted delegates here, they've spoken, said we represent 700,000 people. One of them told our Donie O'Sullivan, we're looking for a ceasefire and arms embargo and to stop sending weapons.

Is that something that Democratic Party that Kamala Harris will ever get behind in order to get those votes?

BUTTIGIEG: Well, I think she's behind peace. She's one of the first people to have spoken out in the administration about a ceasefire. It has to be the kind of ceasefire that comes with the hostages coming home and she has spoken to the complexity of this issue.

[19:35:01]

But importantly, also been very focused on outreach to those who are taking to the streets because of the passion they feel about what has always been one of the most ferociously difficult and complex issues in the world.

And you compare that to what we're seeing from the Trump-Vance ticket. Remember Donald Trump is interested in using the military to shut down protesters on American soil. You're not going to see that here. You're going to see respect for anybody who is peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights.

BURNETT: You mentioned Donald Trump and he told "Reuters" today that if he wins, he'll tap Elon Musk specifically for cabinet or an advisory role, if Elon Musk will do, what do you think of that idea I mean, you know, I think that what we really need to do is have a serious conversation about the future of climate policy.

Look, I'm not surprised that Elon Musk as many very, very wealthy people do, is going Republican this year, but I do think there's an irony in it. Remember, he and many others became wealthy because of the Internet. The Internet was created by a federal research program that is the exact kind of program that the anti-research, anti- science, anti-government agenda of Project 2025 would eliminate.

So I think there is some irony here, but the rest is just politics.

BURNETT: So you mentioned Governor Walz, who has just gotten the formal voice, voice vote of that celebration in this room and his military service. So, for President Trump has defended his comments. Last week about the civilian presidential Medal of Freedom and he said it's much better than the Congressional Medal of Honor, which of course is the highest decoration that you can receive in the military.

You're a veteran, who served in the Naval Reserves. What's your response to that when you heard that? BUTTIGIEG: It's just one more reminder of why he is unfit to be

commander-in-chief. Look, I get that he just doesn't understand sacrifice. He doesn't understand the sacrifice of others. He doesn't understand what it means to put others first, which in the most heroic and courageous fashion is what those winners so the Congressional Medal of Honor do.

But, you know, so keeping with Donald Trump's entire career, remember, he used his status as a teenage multimillionaire to purchase a doctor's note to avoid going into service and let some working class kid take his place as Vietnam and decades later, he still very much the same guy. The contrast could not be clearer.

BURNETT: And tonight in this moment when we expect to see Vice President Kamala Harris come onto the stage after Joe Biden gives his ceremonial passing of the torch, do you expect to feel emotion in that moment yourself?

BUTTIGIEG: I think so. Yeah. I mean, you know, it was an emotional moment for me when I decided to support Joe Biden, ended my campaign and came on board knowing that these the right to bring our party together.

BURNETT: I remember that moment. You talked about Beau and how he reminded you so much --

BUTTIEG: Yeah. I mean, I was so touched by that and then have had the honor of being part of this incredible journey. And I think you're going to feel a lot of love and a lot of appreciation in this hall really for two things, one for President Biden doing something that its almost without precedent in history for the most powerful person in the world to lay aside power for no other reason than the clearing away for a new generation was the right thing to do.

But also just appreciation for glue results that America has had under the watch of the Biden-Harris administration. The fact that we have the kind of job growth that we haven't had in my lifetime, the fact that in the industrial Midwest where I grew up, where they told us that we were done forever making things, that we now have investments in factories, and manufacturing jobs like we haven't seen since the Kennedy administration. The fact that that crime is down so many things that have been achieved.

So I think both the selfless political decision for lay aside power and what he has done for this country earned him a huge amount of appreciation from this room full of Democrats.

BURNETT: All right. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Thank you so much for being with us, Mayor Pete.

BUTTIGIEG: Thank you.

BURNETT: And, of course, transportation secretary as well.

And coming up speeches by Hillary Clinton, President Biden, other top Democrats, all of this now underway on this Democratic National Convention, first night.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:43:05]

BLITZER: Welcome back to the opening night of this Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The party turning the page on the Biden era tonight, as the president takes the stage to give a keynote speech in support of his vice president, Kamala Harris.

I want to go to Kaitlan Collins. She's got a special guest on the House floor.

Kaitlan, are you there?

We're going to get to Kaitlan in a moment. She's got a special guest, Governor Shapiro.

In and the mean -- in the meantime, lets listen in, Congressman Garcia -- Robert Garcia from California, is about to speak. Let's listen in briefly to him.

REP. ROBERT GARCIA (D-CA): Thank you. We all -- we all remember -- we all remember the world in 2020, where are we were and for some of us, who we lost.

Now, I was in my second term as mayor of Long Beach, California.

(CHEERING)

GARCIA: And my mom was the health-care worker.

Like many of you, I watched in terror and horror as the COVID pandemic consumed our lives.

As mayor, I fought from her hospital beds for more tests and to make masks more accessible. What we needed at that moment was national leadership. But instead, we got Donald Trump.

While schools closed and dead bodies filled morgues. Donald Trump downplayed the virus. He told us to inject bleach into our bodies. He peddled conspiracy theories across the country.

[19:45:00]

We lost hundreds of thousands of Americans and our economy collapsed. Now, that summer of 2020, my mom and my stepfather both died of the COVID pandemic. And I miss them every single day.

So when Donald Trump and his MAGA extremists, like Marjorie Taylor Greene downplayed the horror of the pandemic, it should make us all furious.

Now, I will never forget when called Kamala Harris called me after my parents died. She told me about her own story, about losing her own mother and that she was praying for me at that very moment. Now, we all know that later that year, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

were elected president and vice president.

(CHEERING)

GARCIA: And what a difference they made together. They got people vaccinated. They got the virus under control. They safely reopened our schools, and they passed the American rescue plan.

(CHEERING)

GARCIA: A historic -- a historic economic package that helps small businesses and created jobs all across the country.

Thank you. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

Now, I -- I am a proud immigrant who came to the United States as a young child. We grew up poor, English was our second language and we often like many immigrant families, struggled to get by.

But my mom, she moved here to the United States because she believed in the American Dream.

I'll never forget the day that I became a United States citizen. I raised my right hand and I pledge an oath to protect and to love this country. It was the proudest day of my life. My mom -- my mom taught me to love this country. She taught me that real American patriotism is not about screaming and yelling America first. Real American patriotism is loving your country so much that you want to help the people in your country. That is American patriotism.

And we all know that Kamala Harris understands and knows this as well. Kamala Harris is ready to lead this country.

(CHEERING)

GARCIA: We can all remember 2020 we can all remember the horrors of Donald Trump. But let's remember most importantly, tonight. And every single day this week, that we are not going back.

Thank you.

(CHEERING)

BLITZER: All right. Democratic Congressman Robert Garcia of California, very emotional.

You know, Chris, over the last several minutes, this convention has become really outspoken and going after Donald Trump. We heard speaker after speaker blasting.

CHRIS WALLACE, CNN HOST, THE CHRIS WALLACE SHOW: Yeah, it's very interesting. I guess if this is the contrast part of the evening, because we hadn't heard a lot about Donald Trump for the first hours. And particularly on the issue of COVID, and they actually ran a video, a series of clips of Donald Trump, someone say his greatest non-hits from 2021, when he was downplaying COVID, and talking about injecting bleach into you to try to solve it.

And you know, it's an interesting question. I think COVID is not a sure fire winner for Democrats because there's this kind of revisionist history now that the country was shut down too long and that the Biden, when he came in in 2021, continued to shut down businesses and continued to shut down schools my own feeling is it's a revisionist history because, you know, we know a lot more about COVID now than we did back pre-vaccine in 2020 and 2021.

[19:50:01]

But there are two sides to this argument, and I think Republicans are happy to engage on the issue the handling of COVID.

BLITZER: Kasie, standby. We're going to take a quick -- very quick break right now, resume our special coverage of this Democratic National Convention right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BURNETT: Back here at the Democratic National Committee convention, first night. Let's go to Phil Mattingly down on the floor. Actually nope, let's go to Kaitlan Collins down on the floor -- Kaitlan.

COLLINS: Hi, Erin. Yes, I'm here with the Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. We are standing right by Pennsylvania delegation.

I know your lieutenant governor is about to speak, but just tell me what you want to hear from President Biden when he gets on that stage tonight?

GOV. JOSH SHAPIRO (D), PENNSYLVANIA: Look, I think President Biden should take a victory lap. The extraordinary work he's done over decades in this country, the extraordinary patriotism that he showed. He deserves our recognition, our appreciation and also want to see him pass the torch to the next generation, and we're really excited to see that happen. And stand up for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

COLLINS: Will we expect to see you on the campaign trail with Vice President Harris and Governor Walz?

SHAPIRO: Hell, yeah. I'll look forward to campaigning with them in Pennsylvania anywhere else where I can be helpful and look forward to continuing to push their message and prosecute the case against Donald Trump.

COLLINS: How does she win Pennsylvania?

SHAPIRO: By doing exactly what she's doing, getting people fired up and motivated. She's rebuilt the coalition and smartly showing up in communities that are oftentimes ignored and forgotten. She and Tim were in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.

You know where Beaver County is.

COLLINS: Yeah. SHAPIRO: In the southwestern corner, an area that for too long people have overlooked by showing up there and talking about cost, talking about the issues on peoples minds, she's doing exactly what she needs to do. And I'm proud to support them.

COLLINS: I have to ask you about Donald Trumps claims that antisemitism is what played a role and you not ultimately being selected as the vice president. What's your response to that?

SHAPIRO: Donald Trump has absolutely no credibility to speak on that issue. He is a person who's acted bigoted. He is a person who spreads hate, and he is a person who routinely divides people in this country.

Listen, when folks marched in Charlottesville and quite literally said with tiki torches in their hand, Jews will not replace us. What did Donald Trump say? He said, there are good people on both sides.

[19:50:00]

There were not good people on both sides.

I want to be crystal clear about something: antisemitism played absolutely no role in the dialogue I had with the vice president.

It is true that there is antisemitism in our country. It is true that there is some antisemitism within our party, but we need to stand up and speak out against hate in all forms antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism any form of hatred and bigotry has no place.

And what I want to see from leaders is what Kamala Harris is doing, and what I try and do every day, speaking and acting with moral clarity, something that Donald Trump is bankrupt on.

He has no moral clarity, and he has absolutely no business opining on this issue, given his track record.

COLLINS: Governor Josh Shapiro, thank you for your time.

SHAPIRO: Thank you, Kaitlan.

COLLINS: Erin?

BURNETT: All right, Kaitlan, thank you very much.

And now let's go to Phil Mattingly also down on the floor.

And, Phil, what are you seeing right now?

PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CHIEF DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENT: Erin, I'm actually in York, Pennsylvania. I've been traveling with the former president. And what's fascinating in this moment. You know, we were in on the floor in Milwaukee kind of watching that whole process. Just how much has changed in the 30 days.

And when you talk to Trump advisors, they make very clear on some level, as one told me, the forward president was a little bit nostalgic for what the race actually looked like a month ago. And that adviser said understandably, so.

I asked if the expectation was that he would be watching the president's speech tonight, his former opponent and while they've been coy, the campaign is really focused this week on a very significant swing state run through critical states, counter-programming, at least trying to counter program the Democratic National Convention.

One advisor said, of course, he's probably going to watch. Why? Well, that nostalgia is certainly in play. You see it on social media. The former president constantly posting on Truth Social about the former -- about President Biden, about what he calls a coup just a couple of hours ago.

You see it when he talks, consistently talking about his former opponent. As one official put it today, Erin, they thought they were going to win rather easily just a month ago. Its understandable that it would still be focused in on some level fixated on the current president, while his campaign clearly right now is moving sharply to focus on Vice President Harris, their attacks throughout the swing states that he'll be bidding visiting, and J.D. Vance will be visiting over the next couple of days.

What's interesting here, just a couple of hours ago, during his event, it was a small event. It was really supposed to be policy-focused on the economy and on energy. But the former president said something that was interesting, he said on his way to Pennsylvania, he saw the report House Republicans put out saying that they'd found impeachable offenses against President Biden, something the former President has constantly talked about over the course of the last several months. Well, they found no explicit wrongdoing by then Vice President Biden, no direct quid pro quos.

The former president made clear on a speech that was almost entirely about the economy and energy, he wanted a significant portion also to summarize the findings of that House Republican report. Clearly, the current president who will be speaking tonight, that the former president is expected to watch, very much still on his mind -- Erin.

BURNETT: No, absolutely. And I can see you're in Pennsylvania.

All right. Phil Mattingly, thanks so much.

And our coverage right now of the first night of the Democratic National Convention continues right now.

(MUSIC)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: And good evening from Chicago, as we continue CNN's live coverage of the Democratic National Convention on this opening night inside this arena, the party is just getting started, formally launching the new Harris-Walz ticket and building toward the first convention appearance by Vice President Harris and a speech tonight by President Joe Biden.

We are following all of it from our CNN skybox and with their teams on in new near the convention floor. I'm Anderson Cooper along with Jake Tapper.

And, Jake, though the biggest features of an eye and perhaps a few surprises all ahead.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: That's right, Anderson. The Democrats have several goals for this evening. The first night of their convention.

First to begin defining Vice President Kamala Harris in the minds of voters, also to showcase party unity and enthusiasm for her candidates and then lastly, of course, to pay tribute to President Biden. The president is getting a prominent primetime slot addressing his party mere month after he ended his reelection bid. He was, of course, supposed to be in his mind addressing the crowd on Thursday night, not Monday night, but still.

We are told that President Biden will make a forceful case for electing his vice president, Kamala Harris, and also for protecting democracy. The democracy that he continues to argue is threatened by Donald Trump is best exemplified by the activities of January 6, 2021. And then sources tell us the president and the vice president are expected to appear together, a proverbial passing of the torch, as Vice President Harris takes center stage at this convention in the Democratic Party and president Biden walks off the stage.