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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Republicans Ride the National Wave to Senate Control; Awaiting Results in Alaska, Louisiana; Progressive Ballot Initiatives Pass

Aired November 05, 2014 - 04:30   ET

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

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: And the breaking news this morning, Republicans taking control of the U.S. Senate, pulling off big victories, also extending their edge in the House of Representatives. And on top of it all, adding to their tally of governorships across the country.

This morning, we will show you the new makeup of Congress. How it will dramatically affect President Obama's last two years in office and so much more

EARLY START's special election coverage starts right now.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

BERMAN: Great to see you. I'm John Berman. It's 30 minutes past the hour.

And the major breaking news this morning: Republicans, they will be in charge of the United States Senate and the Republicans did it in a big way.

ROMANS: It was a night that many forecasts will be filled with close contests, instead, it was near to a blowout by Republicans who picked up more than the six seats they needed to control the Senate.

Now, races are still unsettled this morning in Alaska and Louisiana. But as things stand right now, Republicans will hold at least 52 seats in the Senate. Picking up seven over the current Congress, Democrats will hold 45.

I want to begin with the Republican pickups. West Virginia has its first female U.S. senator, Republican Shelley Moore Capito defeating Natalie Tennant. She'll take the seat of retiring Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller. Capito's victory marks 56 years since West Virginia has elected a Republican senator.

And in South Dakota, former Governor Mike Rounds easily defeated Rick Weiland and independent Larry Pressler to win the Senate vacated by retiring Democratic Tim Johnson.

Turning now to Montana, Republican Steve Daines easily defeating Democrat Amanda Curtis, to win the Senate seat surrendered by Max Baucus, who's been appointed U.S. ambassador to China. Democrats all but conceded this race after their original candidate John Welsh withdrew over revelations that he had plagiarized parts of his master's thesis.

Republicans picking up another seat in Arkansas. Republican Tom Cotton, defeating the Democratic incumbent Senator Mark Pryor. Pryor had tried to run away from President Obama whose approval rating among Arkansas voters was just 34 percent.

And in Iowa, a history-making night. Republican State Senator Joni Ernst picking up the seat being vacated by retiring Democrat Tom Harkin. Ernst is the state's first female senator in an easier-than- expected win over Democrat Bruce Braley, a big bruising big money battle, with candidates spending nearly $80 million between them on campaign ads.

BERMAN: She's going to be a big star when she gets to Washington.

And in Colorado, it was a surprisingly smooth win for the Republican Cory Gardner, unseating incumbent Democrat Mark Udall. This was supposed to be neck and neck. Udall is also the first Colorado Senate incumbent to be voted out of office in 36 years.

North Carolina, this was the state that put it over the top for Republicans, if you were watching our coverage last night. Thom Tillis defeated the income competent Democrat Kay Hagan and that was the race that gave Republicans control of the Senate.

Kansas, one of the most hotly contested Senate races in the country. In the end, Republican Senator Pat Roberts, he won reelection, defeating self-funded independent challenger Greg Orman.

Now, look at this -- look at Virginia. No one thought this race was going to be particularly close, but there, the Democratic Senator Mark Warner, he's claiming victory but the Republican challenger Ed Gillespie has not conceded the race there. And CNN does not have enough information now to project who will win there.

In New Hampshire, CNN has projected that Democrat Jeanne Shaheen will hold on to her seat for Republican challenger Scott Brown, from New Hampshire now, who used to be from Massachusetts. He's finally conceded after a delay.

And Mitch McConnell, he not only won the state race in the state of Kentucky but now he is the man who will become the Senate majority leader. No doubt something he's been planning for decades and decades -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right, John.

There are two more Senate race where is the outcome is still not known this morning. Let's start in Louisiana, neither Senator Mary Landrieu nor her opponents got over the 50 percent threshold required for the seat. That throws the race into primary in December 6.

And in Alaska where the polls didn't even close until midnight Eastern Time, they are still counting votes at this hour. Let's start in Anchorage. CNN's Drew Griffin is stand by live for us

this morning.

Drew, how is the counting going?

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's still going, even though the party is over -- hi, guys, and they're tearing down the set here at election headquarters but 97 percent of the vote in. Dan Sullivan, the Republican challenger is up 49 percent to 45 percent over Mark Begich, the Democrat incumbent senator.

It certainly looks like a Sullivan win, a Republican pickup. But, Christine, nobody is calling the race yet. Mark Begich just sent us a note saying they're waiting on the rural vote to make a statement on the race. They want to count 70 outstanding villages who haven't come in. They're telling me it's a mathematical possibility for Begich to win but here we are.

There we are, we're going to count it to the last drop, I guess to know who the senator is here in Alaska. So, all I can tell you is, 97 percent of the vote in, it looks really good for the Republicans, but we wait -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. It looks good for the Republicans, but you wait. Drew Griffin, thank you.

To Louisiana now where the race won't be known for weeks, neither incumbent Democrat Mary Landrieu or Bill Cassidy got the 50 percent of the vote need to win outright. That race will be decided in a two- candidate runoff election.

CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is live in New Orleans. We knew there would probably have to be a runoff, we thought maybe it would hold the balance of the Senate in question. But, no, it's very clear that Republicans have the Senate, isn't it?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's very clear. But this is one of those races that's going to take 32 days, Christine, to actually sort it all out. So we're waiting as well. I had a chance to talk to Senator Landrieu earlier in the day, she felt relaxed that she would get that 50 plus 1, she did not. And quickly her campaign pivoted to being very aggressive going after Bill Cassidy. They said from the very beginning they were prosecuted for the runoff and that was very clear because she immediately challenged him to six debates before the runoff.

Also released a new slogan as well as as new website, saying where was bill, essentially going after his record, his Louisiana record. And she also made a point very aggressively that she said this is not a race she's going to allow to be about the president.

This is exactly what he's been doing for weeks, and that is comparing her to President Obama. That seems to be a winning formula. He also boasted that 60 percent of Louisiana voters voted for change. And so, she is going to have a very big challenge ahead. And Christine, really, the calculus here, the political calculus, is

how much -- how many of those voters that went for the Tea Party candidate, Maness, 14 percent, how many of those she's able to capture.

Her staffers say this is not her first rodeo. She's done this before. She's won in runoffs at least two other times. The third time didn't require a runoff. This is her fourth go around so they're aggressive in trying to make this happen, 32 days away, Christine.

ROMANS: Her supporters say she is a survivor, but she's got a lot of work to do in the months, the 32 days ahead. Suzanne, thank you. Suzanne Malveaux in New Orleans.

John?

BERMAN: All right. Let's talk about that now -- the House of Representatives, the Republicans were able to strengthen their hand. A few races do remain undecided this morning. But at the moment, Republicans will have at least 241 seats in the House. That is when the new Congress sits in January. That's a minimum of seven more than the 234 they had hold at the moment. Democrats will have at least 174.

This will undoubtedly strengthen the hand of John Boehner as he deals with the president, perhaps as he deals with his own party. The question does remain, what will it do to the issue of gridlock in Washington?

I want to talk more about that. Let's bring in our team of analysts here, John Avlon, editor-in-chief of "The Daily Beast". Republican political strategist Margaret Hoover, Errol Louis, political at New York 1 News, and Sally Kohn, progressive columnist for "The Daily Beast".

Sally, I want to start with you, because I know this hasn't been the easiest of nights for you. CNN has reported --

SALLY KOHN, THE DAILY BEAST: I've had worse, you know?

BERMAN: President Obama coming out to talk this morning after the election defeat for his party. He needs to say what?

KOHN: I think he needs to say it's not a shellacking, it's a speed bump, that look, we know this was going to happen, it was a tough map for Democrats. When you look at who voted, when you look at how elections are going to go down the road in the future, there's still opportunity for Democrats and there's more peril for Republicans coming out of the election.

They now have the challenge. They have to lead. They have to do with women, with young voters, and voters with color. If not, it's a speed bump.

BERMAN: Errol, let's keep on that theme here. Based on what happened overnight as we head into the day, Republicans have changed what? ERROL LOUIS, NY1: I think Republicans have changed sort of the

terrain of power in Washington. I expect the president, frankly, to say there's frustration out there. I share the frustration. I understand that people are upset.

And I do expect him to somewhere along the line to point out that we've got record highs in the stock market. Unemployment under 6 percent. You know, gas under $3 a gallon, and that we're going in the right direction but we have to get there faster. I think he has every right to sort of claim some credit for even an anemic recovery, since it wasn't clear there was going to be a recovery.

Now, what has changed as far as Republicans, will they choose to interpret it the same way. Let's push in -- let's make the good things better. Let's make the bad things go away. Or is it going to be a power struggle for 2016 and beyond.

BERMAN: John?

JOHN AVLON, THE DAILY BEAST: Look, I mean, the president should not, due respect to Sally, simply address Democrats tomorrow. He's got to say, look, we've got two more years in this term. I'm frustrated with gridlock in Washington, I'd take the Republicans at their word, we're going to work together, we don't always agree. But I think together, we can make this country even better.

If he takes that tone and means it, and there's follow-through by both sides then we could see some things get done. That's -- so, I'm going to be hopeful.

BERMAN: Margaret?

MARGARET HOOVER, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: I don't know if any of you happen to remember in 2006 when President Bush said the next day, when he came out and acknowledged massive defeats, but what Bush said was gracious. He acknowledged what the country had spoken. He said he was going to try to work hard with the new Congress.

That is exactly the tone that this president should strike. But you know what? He could actually have another piece of legislation. There's two years left. And the Republican Senate is eager to demonstrate they're not just going to be obstructionists.

So, can they get something together? They wanted to pass entitlement reform. We had Bowles-Simpson. Maybe there's an opening for something both of them --

(CROSSTALK)

BERMAN: Let me pose an issue that's very important to Democratic voters, immigration. The president promised Latino expanded voters there will be immigration reform. He has delayed and delayed and delayed it.

He lost the victory among those voters. Do you expect him, Sally, to sign executive action? KOHN: You know, look, I expect him, first, in the spirit in which

John is talking, to go back to Congress and say this is something that we can work together.

Let's remember the Senate passed bipartisan legislation reform. John Boehner wouldn't even bring it up for a vote, even though there were the votes to pass it.

(CROSSTALK)

KOHN: There were a votes to pass it.

And on issue after issue, that has been the tone the president has taken. He has put conciliatory, often conservative ideas on the table. It's time -- I think he'll continue that and it's time for Republicans to show they can grow up.

BERMAN: We will hear from the president today. We will hear from Republican leaders, no doubt, today, and, of course, CNN will be covering all of that.

Christine?

ROMANS: Thanks, John.

You know, the GOP also sweeping most of the competitive contests for governor across the country. Now, we're still holding off projecting races in a few races. But as of now, Republican candidates taking over the governor's office in four states. While the Democrats' only pickup is in Pennsylvania.

In Illinois, a shocking upset in what has been a reliable blue state. Illinois Republican Bruce Rauner defeating incumbent Governor Pat Quinn, a big upset there.

Another stunning upset in heavily Democratic Maryland. Republican businessman Larry Hogan winning the governor's race. He defeated Democrat Anthony Brown, the state's lieutenant governor.

And another deep blow for Democrats in Massachusetts, Republican Charlie Baker winning the governor's race over Democrat Martha Coakley. It comes after eight years of rule in Massachusetts under Governor Deval Patrick.

There's a new Republican governor in Arkansas, former homeland security official Asa Hutchinson. He defeated Democrat Mike Ross, given the GOP control of the state's top office after eight years in the hands of Democrats.

And also, the GOP taking tight races where Democrats were given decent odds to win. Florida voters reelecting Republican Rick Scott to a second term as governor, delivering a stinging set back to Democrat Charlie Crist. Scott dumped $13 million of his own money into his own campaign in its final days. He becomes just the second GOP governor in Florida history to win re-election. In Wisconsin, Republican Scott Walker easily won reelection to a second term in double digits over Democrat Martha Burke. That victory keeps Walker in the mix for a possible presidential run in 2016. Walker angered many voters, had to have a recall vote, remember, after 2012, after he ended collective rights for the state's public employees.

Republicans hold on to the state house in Georgia. Voters gave incumbent governor Nathan Deal four more years. He defeated the Democratic challenger Jason Carter, who is the grandson of former President Jimmy Carter.

In Arizona, Republicans maintain control. Doug Ducey defeating Democrat Fred Duval in the governor's race. He's going to replace Jan Brewer. She decided to retire rather than challenge the state's term limit law.

Democrats only have one pickup, what they're calling this morning. It's businessman Tom Wolf. He's the new governor of Pennsylvania. He's the Democrat defeating Republican incumbent Tom Corbett, in his bid for re-election.

Another race so close we have not yet projected a winner later this hour in Colorado, a state that has been trending blue in recent years, Democrat John Hickenlooper locked in a dead head with Republican Bob Beauprez -- John.

BERMAN: We continue with the breaking news. A big night for Republicans in Congress. But what does it mean for 2016? That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: All right. While most of you were sleeping, Republicans swept to power in the Senate, made big gains in the House. The big question is, was President Obama the toxic factor that helped take down the Democrats?

Tom Foreman breaking it all down in the magic wall live from Washington -- Tom.

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, John, take a look at this, because if you take nothing else away from this election, take this away.

This was the map in 2008 when Barack Obama was at the height of his popularity, swept to power. Look at the blue intermingled with red out here. Big happy nation, everyone working together.

By 2010, watch the blue start fading. By 2012, even more. And here we are now.

Look at that difference again. 2008 -- now. That is a gigantic change out there. There are so many places that did buy into the idea of this Democratic revolution of Barack Obama changing everything. All of a sudden seem to have really given up on it. And you ask the question, is it about Barack Obama? Well, let's take

a look at what we saw in our exit polls throughout. Yes, you know, here's the thing -- nationwide of all the people who voted, 55 percent of those people disapproved of Barack Obama. So, they went in the Republican direction.

And what happened in specific states as well, if you go pass Congress, Congress is 78 percent. But if you look at what happened with President Obama, North Carolina, 56 percent disapprove. New Hampshire, 56 percent disapprove. Iowa, where Barack Obama began his great trip to the presidency, with all that enthusiasm, voted for him twice, two elections, 60 percent now disapprove of him there.

If you go on to Colorado, same thing, two times they voted for Barack Obama, 56 percent disapprove. There's no question for many voters out there, this was a vote against Barack Obama and against the whole idea of this big Democratic juggernaut making things better.

What we've heard so many times was voters saying, John, we tried. We've tried. We wanted to believe.

Protest vote, you can call it that if you wish, nonetheless, there's undeniably a link between this change in the landscape and what people feel about this president.

BERMAN: And it explains why he wasn't out campaigning in many of these states.

Tom Foreman in Washington, thanks so much.

Christine?

ROMANS: John, also in the ballot, some really interesting initiatives. It was a huge win for Republicans but progressive issues also winning big. Among them, an increase in the minimum wage, more liberal marijuana laws, gaining wide voter approval.

Let me start with those -- minimum wage. This was -- in Illinois, this was an advisory referendum, 60 percent of Illinois voters voted to raise the minimum wage. In Arkansas, that number was 65 percent. Look, these are solidly red states here where you have a majority of folks approving of the minimum wage increase across the board here.

I want to talk about marijuana issues here. In Washington, this is a legalization on the ballot there, 70 percent in Washington, D.C., in Florida, though, narrowly rejecting, 42 percent said no. Oregon and Alaska still waiting for the numbers to come in, but looking good for those.

On gun rights in Washington state, there was a really interesting gun measure. Two of them on the ballot, this initiative would have tightened rights for gun owners. And that was rejected, 55 percent, due process require for gun removal and no background checks. That was an interesting one here.

But on the flip side, another measure, background checks, gun shows and online, 60 percent of what voted for those background checks. So, that suggests some tighter restrictions for gun owners in Washington state.

I want to return to our CNN political analysts for some commentary on this. Your thoughts on these ballot measures -- pretty interesting this was called the repudiation of President Barack Obama, yet some of these issues that are progressive and Democratic-backed initials made it.

John?

AVLON: Yes, you're seeing absolutely, some of the underlying social trends are moving in Democratic direction, there's no question about it, from guns to minimum wage, to marijuana laws.

In some ways, Republican representatives are a check on those changes. That's always been attention (ph) that's been historically true.

One point about the marijuana laws in Washington, D.C., if members of Congress or D.C. residents, they can now buy and smoke pot, so maybe they'll (INAUDIBLE)

That's how they're going to get together.

ROMANS: Legally. Legally.

Sally?

KOHN: I mean, look, as I put it out before, I lot of these races, Republicans ran in opposition to where they previously had been on the social issues. So, in Colorado, Cory Gardner was a strong supporter of the so-called fetal personhood anti-pregnant women measure, and then turned around. He changed his opinion on that and he ran away from that position.

AVLON: Ran away.

KOHN: In Alaska, Dan Sullivan was against raising the minimum wage, the proposal was so overwhelmingly popular, he decided to come away from that. Listen, Republicans, join us.

(CROSSTALK)

ROMANS: The minimum wage here is interesting. Seventy-one percent of Americans, Errol, support raising the minimum wage.

LOUIS: That's right. And in a lot of these states, you've got people really, really suffering and you can't just walk away from them.

In fact, I mean, look, this is what Bill Clinton used to do. This is what Obama used to do. You can take issues from your rival party and make them your own. That's how politics work.

ROMANS: Final thoughts, Margaret.

HOOVER: Look, you're exactly right on minimum wage. Republicans are just going to have to have policies that can counter Democratic points that are doing very well. If we don't, you end up endorsing minimum wage.

AVLON: Mitch McConnell campaigned against that, he's dead set about raising the minimum wage.

(CROSSTALK)

ROMANS: But the federal action in Washington, the states are going to do it. What is the federal action in Washington going to be in the next two years? And what is the risk for Republicans if they don't do something that appeals to the American middle class?

KOHN: They got nothing.

AVLON: They're going to fall back on laboratories of democracies, let the states decide. They're going to say, we're going to grow the economy. That will be the solution. I don't think it's sufficient for presidential election.

HOOVER: But to suggest that Congress is not going to get anything done -- look, I think they understand the table is being set for 2016. They know that they have to show that they're not going to be an obstructionist party for last two years of the president's term.

ROMANS: All right. We got to leave it there. Thanks you guys. Fascinating analysis this morning.

John?

BERMAN: Great to have them you with us all morning.

We continue to following the breaking news -- a big night for Republicans. A big important day for President Obama. How will he respond?

"NEW DAY" takes the con and breaks it all down, right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)