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Republicans Seize Senate Control; Obama to Hold News Conference; Politicians Setting Sights on 2016

Aired November 05, 2014 - 06:30   ET

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

SEN. STEVE ISRAEL (D), NEW YORK: I'm concerned because Ted Cruz has already said and Rand Paul has already said that, you know, they're going to force bills to the president's desk and dare him to sign them or veto them.

That's not what the middle class wants. Rather than staking out our polar opposite positions, we need to work on finding that middle ground. Friday is a good and important start to that process.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Well, from your mouth to Congress's ears, Congressman Steve Israel, thanks so much. Congratulations on your win.

ISRAEL: Thank you. Thank you.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: It is time to put politics behind them, said nobody honestly ever. You know the politics is going to continue, obviously, the question is how do they conduct the politics, how do they figure out how to do this, because one thing that they're all right about -- people are not happy.

CAMEROTA: And he spelled out some things that they should have some agreement on, immigration, college debt, tax reform, that's something that everybody says they want to work on.

CUOMO: College debt is something they can work on. The other two, I don't see how they see a simple path to compromise, it would be nice to see it happen.

And obviously this message is clear, because you made it clear. You gave the keys to the Republicans for the Senate for the first time in eight years. We're going to look at the exit polls and see who came out and who didn't and what the polls tell us about how Americans feel about the economy, which matters most and how much that may have had an impact on their actual vote.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAMEROTA: Wake up, because while you've been sleeping, the political landscape in America has taken a seismic shift.

Republicans grabbing control of Congress by picking up at least seven seats in the U.S. Senate. Races in Virginia and it looks like Alaska have yet to be made official. The Louisiana Senate race will remain undecided for a few weeks until a run-off there.

Chris?

CUOMO: All right. Voters, you know what you said, you said we're not happy. OK, that's what we're going to say in the mid-term elections, we're going to shift power and we want change.

How about what it means when it comes to 2016? Exit polls suggest voters don't see a lot of reason for optimism.

To spell it out, let's bring in Tom Foreman live from Washington, did I get it wrong, Tom, or do I get right?

TOM FOREMAN, CNN ANCHOR: No, you nailed it, Chris. I've been looking at the numbers from voters all night long.

And look at what jumps out at you here -- 42 percent strongly disapprove of how President Obama is handling his job. Forty-two percent, now this won't surprise you if you look at the graph. Well, 90 percent of that is Republicans. Of course these disapprove of how he's handling his job out there.

But look at this -- somewhat approve of the job, 24 percent somewhat approve. Look at that group, that's mostly Democrat. His own party is only somewhat approving right now.

That's a measure of the dissatisfaction out there and the frustration. How is that going to translate into the voting that comes up along the line here. If you look at nationwide, how people feel about Congress, look, they really dislike Congress. Strongly disapprove of what Congress is doing out there.

And that's pretty well-divided. Everybody feels the same way about that. When it comes to voting, what that's going to mean is that for Hillary Clinton, the Democrats, they seem really agreeing on the notion that the solution to this is get behind Hillary Clinton, 66 percent in Iowa, where Barack Obama got his start say we would like to see Hillary Clinton become our candidate. Nobody else really even close.

The same thing if you move on to New Hampshire, 64 percent for Hillary Clinton. South Carolina, 68 percent for Hillary Clinton. The Republicans, very different what they want to do with their new-found power and how they want to divide it.

Look at this -- Republicans are all over the map here in our exit polls. Christie 12 percent, Huckabee, 19 percent. Paul, 17 percent, that's in Iowa.

If you go to New Hampshire, again, all over the map. Again, if you go on to South Carolina, all over the map.

The one thing you may have noticed in all of this, Chris, Republicans for other, that's the big number out there. So we'll see how it translates. But the Democrats have their course charted to get out of this problem -- Chris. CUOMO: Strong, Tom, that 28 percent should loom large. Not to take

anything from the Republicans. But people are still looking for an answer. Thank you.

FOREMAN: Absolutely.

CAMEROTA: All right. So, we're going to have more on exit polling later in the show. The economy, this won't surprise you was a top issue. We'll take a closer look at what drove voters at the polls.

CUOMO: So, with the Senate now a sea of red, President Obama has invited leaders of both parties to a post-election powwow on Friday. Who is going to be there? What's he going to say? What are they going to say to him? We'll take it on.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to NEW DAY. Our special coverage continues now.

Republicans on quite a roll in the midterm elections. The GOP now enjoying its largest majority in Congress since World War II, picking up seven seats in the Senate to take control from the Democrats.

The marijuana lobby also celebrating some big wins, in Oregon, Alaska and Washington, D.C., where voters approved legalizing marijuana recreationally. Medical marijuana, initiative in Florida was defeated.

Quickly, we want to update you on other big news from overseas: violence flaring once again at Jerusalem's Temple Mount. Police using stun grenades on dozens of Palestinian protesters, throwing rocks and fireworks at Israeli security forces. One Palestinian demonstrator was seriously wounded.

We've learned that a van ran over and into some people at a train stop in East Jerusalem in what police are labeling a terror attack. A police spokeswoman says the driver was shot and killed after attacking police with a metal bar.

CNN has learned the Obama administration may consider expanding the military mission in Syria to targeting more than just ISIS. The al Qaeda-affiliated al Nusra now in the crosshairs of the administration. A senior U.S. official says there's no active plans for air strikes against al Nusra targets, however nothing is off the table.

Those are your headlines right now. Back to our Election Day coverage.

CAMEROTA: All right Michaela, the 2014 mid-term elections, no doubt one of the roughest nights of President Obama's tenure. Just take a look at some of the Senate results.

In Iowa, polls suggested it was a neck-and-neck battle between Republican Joni Ernst and Democrat Bruce Braley. But it turned out an easy win for the GOP in a bruising and expensive campaign. In Colorado, the red wave continued with Republican Cory Gardner knock

being off incumbent Democrat Mark Udall. That's significant, because Colorado twice voted for President Obama.

Now, the White House insists these results are not a referendum on the president. But what are they?

Let's bring in senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta.

Jim, what does the White House say about these results?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's very interesting, Alisyn, because last night the White House was sounding very defiant. They say it was not a referendum about the president. It's all about the map and the math.

This morning, it's a slightly different tune. We should point out that the president is going to hold a news conference this afternoon. The press secretary Josh Earnest tweeting that in the last several minutes.

And I talked to a White House official in just the last several minutes who said the president did try to reach out to the new incoming Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, to congratulate him last night. They did not connect over the phone. But the president did leave a message, according to this official.

And -- you know, this White House official is saying, Alisyn, that they get it and when they say they, they mean the president as well. They understand that this was not a good night for the Democrats, that they do perhaps need to be thinking about a new path forward under a GOP Congress. And in fact, according to this official, the White House chief of staff, Dennis McDonough over the last several weeks, the White House heath been telling us about this. But quietly, McDonough has been reaching out to a variety of interests around Washington to start charting that path forward.

So, the White House was anticipating this somewhat. At the same time, though, this White House official believes and I think they still believe deep down, that this was about the math. That they were fighting on Mitt Romney's turf essentially, from back in 2012.

And according to this White House official, the president is still determined to take executive action on immigration and that there's no sign at this point of a big shake-up. So, I think a change in tone from what we were hearing last night. And we're going to hear more of that this afternoon, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: So, if they don't think they're going to be changing anything, then what does a new path forward mean?

ACOSTA: That is a very good question. You know there is sort of a struggle inside this White House, you heard Vice President Joe Biden tell our Gloria Borger that they do want a compromise. I was hearing from White House officials last night, Alisyn who are saying a better question is what does the GOP want to do to come to our side of the table.

Over here at the White House they still feel rather stunned by the fact that they could not get immigration reform out of the House. They still believe that House Speaker John Boehner is going to have trouble with his caucus, and they wonder whether Mitch McConnell is going to be experiencing the same thing over in the Senate.

So, it really is sort of uncharted waters for this president for the first time he's going to be dealing with a full Republican Congress. He hasn't been there before, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Interesting. All right. Jim Acosta, thanks so much.

Now, let's get to Christine Romans. She's looking at the exit polls.

What are you finding?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're finding that the economy was front of everyone's mind coming out of the polling places and talking to the statisticians with the clipboards.

The economy, the number one issue, nothing else even comes close here. The economy 45 percent the biggest issue and pretty divided. Republicans slightly more likely than Democrats to say the economy was their top issue.

I want to show this though -- what do people think about the economy? Not so good or poor, 70 percent of people polled on their way out of voting said it was not so good or poor. Look at that, Republicans much more likely to vote Republican. If you thought it was not so good or poor.

Quickly, last thing I want to show you here is it getting better? If you thought it was getting better, you are much more likely to vote Democrat. If you thought it was getting worse, you are much more likely to vote Republicans, guys.

Interesting, stocks at record highs, corporate profits, record highs, jobless rate, 5.9 percent, people don't feel it.

CAMEROTA: That is interesting. All right, Christine, thank you.

CUOMO: All right. You may not like to hear it, but there's an obvious question raised by all of this -- what does it mean for 2016? Are the Republicans in better position? Did the Democrats hurt themselves? The panel takes it on, when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAMEROTA: Welcome back.

Republicans are celebrating this morning, a new majority in the Senate and a bigger majority in the House. Gubernatorial races also going for the GOP, swiping several seats from Democratic incumbents, including the Democratic strongholds in Massachusetts and in Maryland where there's only been one Republican governor since the 1970s. But will those GOP gains backfire on them as both parties and voters

start to look to 2016? How could that work?

Let's bring in our panel, Karen Finney. She's former communications for the Democratic National Committee. Also with us, CNN political commentator Michael Smerconish, and CNN political commentator Greg Anthony.

Great to have all of you with us.

Michael, let me start with you. We're looking forward already at 6:52, to 2016, who is sitting pretty for 2016 now?

MICHAEL SMERCONISH, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: You know, I think that the nomination process is going to play itself out in the aftermath of the mid-term and it will influence the nomination process.

But it's an apples-and-oranges comparison -- when you look at the electorate that will come out in two years, as compared to those who came out yesterday. In two years, there will be more people of color, there will be younger Americans casting ballots, more women casting ballots.

But in terms of how it influences the process, I have my eye on Jeb Bush. Because you heard Ted Cruz say to Wolf Blitzer last night on CNN, that he's anxious to assert a clamp-down on illegal immigration. That's going to put him at odds with what Jeb Bush has in mind for the future of the Republican Party.

So, the agenda that they come forward with now in that Republican- controlled Senate might abut some of the other candidates, including Jeb Bush. And that's one example of the way in which it will influence the process.

CAMEROTA: Karen, he has his eye on Jeb Bush. Which Republicans do you think are now in the strongest position to move ahead to 2016?

KAREN FINNEY, FORMER DNC COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: You know, John Kasich is someone who could create a few meetings with some donors and sort of talk about his win last night. Certainly Scott walker. If he would have lost last night, that would have been I think a symbolic victory for Democrats.

CAMEROTA: So, you're talking about Ohio and Wisconsin.

FINNEY: Yes, sure.

CAMEROTA: Obviously, if you're sitting pretty in those states you're setting yourself up well for 2016.

FINNEY: Absolutely. Very important states. So, I think both of them have a new argument. And even Chris Christie as head of the Republican Governors Association, they did very well last night. He also, a nice argument to make to donors about why maybe he's somebody they should be taking a look at.

CAMEROTA: Greg Anthony, what do you think about the 2016 chances?

GREG ANTHONY, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I think both the panelists are correct in their subjects. I think both will present a strong challenge.

How about a guy from a smaller state, Brian Sandoval? Who's a Latino, a Republican, out of Nevada, just won re-election in a landslide, and I think he can resonate with the changing demographic we're starting to see evolve throughout America.

So I actually think that the GOP is in a really good position right now, because the fact that all of these people are going to have an opportunity and there are many more that we haven't even mentioned, that kind of levels the playing feel and it doesn't allow anybody to be completely knocked down.

Whereas if you look at it from a Democratic standpoint, everyone knows Hillary Clinton is the odds on favorite. That makes her the target of not only everybody on the right, but everybody also who is moderate on the left.

So, that creates a real challenge for her moving forward, especially now that she has a record to run on as being the former secretary of state.

CAMEROTA: Michael, are banner keeps saying, will this backfire on the GOP in 2016? I think what we mean is that if there's no progress if there's still gridlock over the next two years, then Democrats can hold that up and say see? Republicans, had control of Congress and they weren't able to accomplish anything.

SMERCONISH: Absolutely. It depends, wait in which they now wield power in the Senate. They've teed up, they've earned I guess I should say a wonderful opportunity to rebrand themselves from the party of no.

But what are they going to do with that? And, Alyson, here's one thing to keep your eye on. How many times will there be a vote in the U.S. Senate to appeal Obama care? I get it if there's going to be one perfunctory vote in January, you have someone like Joni Ernst who promised her constituency. But are they going to run it up 10 times, 20 times, 40 times in the Senate? That will be a suggestion that it's theatrics and not intended to put forth an agenda that the president would never sign.

CAMEROTA: Yes. So, Karen, never underestimate the party in power to screw it up.

FINNEY: Absolutely. I mean, this is an important point. Because both parties, their overall sort of feeling that people have about them, very negative. The Republicans do have an opportunity to improve their brand.

One of the things I think Hillary Clinton brings into this is, she is a Democrat, but she's also seen by Democrats as maybe this could be the next hope. That is no disrespect to President Obama. But I think for Democrats

who are licking their wounds today, they might be thinking ahead to like okay, may we can win the presidential.

CAMEROTA: It sounds right.

Michael, Greg, Karen, thanks so much for all of your input. Great to have you guys with this morning.

SMERCONISH: Thank you.

ANTHONY: Thank you.

CUOMO: A lot of different ways we have to look at the elections last night. The implications, today, tomorrow, 2016 as you keep saying. So let's get right to it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CROWD: USA, USA, USA!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Time to put all the division behind us and come together.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The responsibility falls on Republicans for us to stand up and lead.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I will work with anyone in the Senate, Democrat, Republican, independent.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Losing is not fun. This was a tough election.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This journey, the fight for you, it was worth it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is not the end of anything, this is the beginning.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: Good morning, as you wake up to a special edition of NEW DAY, it is Wednesday, November 5th, three minutes before 7:00 in the East. I'm Chris Cuomo.

CAMEROTA: And I'm Alisyn Camerota -- with Michaela Pereira and John Berman.

And angry voters have made their point loud and clear. And the result is a stunning shift in the balance of power in Washington. Before tonight, Democrats enjoyed a 55-45 Senate advantage. Well, this morning, the party is in shambles. Republicans picking up at least seven seats to seize control of the chamber.

I don't know if that quantifies, shambles, but it's been a shift of power. It's not just Washington. Voters also delivering a clear message to governors across the country. Here's what America looked like yesterday. And here is what it looks

like today. The GOP flipping four seats, including traditionally blue strongholds Maryland and Massachusetts. Democrats picked up just one governorship, that was in Pennsylvania.

CUOMO: We also had a Republicans picking up seats in the House as well. Now we are everywhere here at CNN, that you need to be, all of the states that shaped up this Republican onslaught.

First, let's take a look at the results from all the big Senate contests with, the headlines we kept touting. Let's bring it off --

CAMEROTA: Well, some races are not even decided yet, including Alaska. It hasn't officially been announced. But we're told with the votes counted so far, Republican Challenger Dan Sullivan holds the lead over incumbent Mark Begich, uncounted votes could change the results. It's not clear by how much.

And a nail-biter too close to call this morning in Virginia, Democratic Senator Mark Warner is claiming victory. But Republican challenger Ed Gillespie has not conceded the Senate race, which could be headed for a recount.

And a run-off will be needed to settle Louisiana's Senate race, neither Democratic incumbent marry Landrieu, nor Republican challenger Bill Cassidy got the magic 50 percent needed to win outright and their run-off will be held next month.

CUOMO: Big story there, third-party strength, Rob Maness got 14 percent of the vote. That was big.

History-making night in Iowa, a well -- CNN projects Republican Joni Ernst Republican becoming the first female senator in the state. By the way, easier-than-expected win over Democrat Bruce Braley following a bruising campaign. In Kansas, all the talk about who will Orman side with, we don't have to worry about it, CNN projects Republican Senator Pat Roberts manages to keep his seat.