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New Day
Democrats Square Off in CNN Debate Tonight. Aired 6:30-7a ET
Aired October 13, 2015 - 06:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:31:15] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Here we are -- the destiny, the Wynn Hotel. This is where it's going to happen tonight. The big Democratic debate, the first time you get to see the big names, Hillary, Bernie, squaring off.
Now, they've been getting at tension. Do you see those other podiums? What about Martin O'Malley, big-time Governor of Maryland? What about Jim Webb, Virginia Senator, Secretary of Defense?
Let's discuss where they are, what could happen tonight. We'll look at the numbers and get analysis as well.
CNN senior political analyst and editorial director of "The National Journal", Mr. Brownstein, CNN national political reporter Maeve Reston, and CNN politics executive editor, Mr. Mark Preston.
OK. So are we hyping? No, because of what we saw with Carly Fiorina.
You can have built-ins with Hillary Clinton. She's got to hold the line.
Bernie Sanders, he's got to show that he's more than a one-trick pony.
But then you have these other three, Maeve, and these are big- time people. Two of them at least, Lincoln Chafee, he's an underdog, coming into it trying to get traction. The other two, on paper, no joke, and could have a moment tonight.
MAEVE RESTON, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL REPORTER: I think Carly Fiorina is not a good analogy, because she's one a kind certainly.
I think they are really going to have to try to create some drama, some fireworks, and they haven't shown that on the campaign trail at all so far. I mean, there is zero attraction as far as these guys are concerned.
So, I think it will be interesting to see also the way that Hillary Clinton deals with them. She would like to pretend that no one is else running besides Bernie. So, it will be fascinating to watch.
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: But, you know, Ron, Martin O'Malley was seen as the up and comer. I mean, he was seen as the new face of the Democratic Party. So, what do we need to look for from him tonight?
RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes. Look, I think he's in a different class than the other two. He's actually running a campaign. It's debatable whether Jim Webb and Lincoln Chafee are campaigning in a conventional sense.
He has put out -- Martin O'Malley has put out policy on issues things Democrats care about. He has a record as a governor of a blue state, with actual action on things that Democrats care about like guns and immigration.
He would seem to have a better chance. Although as many said, he's been, you know, struggling to really get any traction. Look, I think he's going to make a generational argument at some point. That's one thing that contrasts him with both Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton.
We saw the power of that 30 years ago with Gary Hart against Walter Mondale. I think he'll have a turn the page argument for Democrats. But again, it's hard to get room in this race when sanders has filled up the left space and for most of the mainstream party, Hillary Clinton is a logical choice until they're convinced --
RESTON: We'll see Martin O'Malley go after Hillary on some of the other recent shifts. You know, I mean, if you think about the policies that she announced going into the debate. It was like boom, boom, boom -- TPP, immigration, he's clearly going to talk about her flip-flops on trade. So, it will be interesting to see how she deals with that without looking defensive.
CUOMO: Not unlike the way Carly Fiorina went after Donald Trump when she finally got up on the stage with him.
(CROSSTALK)
RESTON: Carly --
CUOMO: You shot down my analogy.
RESTON: Carly is a political talent.
CUOMO: A big smile on your face. Not on my show!
Let me ask you this -- Martin O'Malley, one more step down the road to his analysis. Paradoxically, the professor goes to 1984 to make the argument that in this race, he may represent the future. That's not to be discounted.
BROWNSTEIN: Back to the future.
CUOMO: Thank you very much.
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICS EXECUTIVE EDITOR: I mean, look, I was with O'Malley for about three or four days in Iowa earlier this year. He actually gets a crowd. He actually has a constituency, unlike Chafee or Webb. He's actually very good on the stump. He's actually not been able to take off.
And, you know, of course, you know, the big black cloud over this casino behind us is the whole Joe Biden factor. Martin O'Malley was supposed to be the alternative to Hillary Clinton.
[06:35:02] He hasn't been able to take off. That's why everything is on the line.
CUOMO: Where's your money? Does Biden get in the race? We're in Vegas. I'm not saying tonight.
(CROSSTALK)
RESTON: I knew you want to get gambling analogy here
CUOMO: Talk about on the nose. That's where we are.
PRESTON: You know what? I think that he would like to run for president. I'm still skeptical that he will actually pull the trigger.
CUOMO: What's that, a hedge?
BROWNSTEIN: Yes.
PRESTON: No.
CUOMO: Yes or no? Right now, today.
PRESTON: I don't know the New York-Boston fight right now.
(LAUGHTER)
PRESTON: Look, I don't think he does. You know what, if he was going to do it, he should have been in by tonight. He should have been on the debate stage. Quite frankly, if he makes the announcement in the next 72 hours, I just think it's disingenuous of the Democratic Party.
RESTON: Disagree.
CUOMO: Reston spares no one.
RESTON: I mean, Biden is all anyone is really talking about from a drama perspective at this moment. This is the best decision he could have made by not getting in by now. I think that his people who want him to run have played this just right. You know, leaking like the little pieces of the meetings that he's having with DNC folks.
CUOMO: You think he's in?
RESTON: I'm not saying she's in.
CUOMO: See.
BROWNSTEIN: Look, I think Biden is the -- what we were talking about before. This is fundamentally about Hillary Clinton. Obviously, it's a personal decision. Do you want to risk after two failed races, he's now very respected, beloved in the Democratic Party. Does he want to end his career on what is still in Vegas a big roll of the dice?
CUOMO: So you're saying he's out?
BROWNSTEIN: I think more -- if she can show any stability, I think it's hard for him to come in.
CAMEROTA: Maeve, let's talk about the other big name, elephant in the room, Donald Trump. He has said tonight is going to stink. However, he will be live tweeting during it.
RESTON: He will be.
CAMEROTA: Does his name come up?
(CROSSTALK)
CAMEROTA: Do they talk about him tonight?
RESTON: Absolutely. I mean, we've seen Hillary Clinton go after him in a really aggressive way recently. I will say I've been hearing in Nevada for the last week, and I was at his rally on Wednesday last week, I think it was Wednesday. And everyone is expecting it to just be tourists that showed up.
It was all local. And when I talked to them, they were serious about supporting him. They could tell you about caucusing. So, we'll see, he's got a lot going on. He's definitely going to have a lot of fun on Twitter tonight.
BROWNSTEIN: One last point about tonight. One thing that's often revealing about these debates is what they don't argue about. What you're going to see is a generational change in the Democratic Party. If you think about things like immigration, climate, gun control, gay marriage with the possible exception of Jim Webb, you're going to see a consensus on that stage that was unimaginable when Bill Clinton ran for president.
The party has really evolved on these cultural issues. They used to be on the defensive worried about losing white collar whites. Now they're on the offensive, believing they can hold together this new coalition of the millennial generation, minorities, socially liberal whites. It's going to be a big change. The dog that doesn't bark sometimes can tell you the most. And you'll see that tonight, I think.
CAMEROTA: That's great insight.
PRESTON: And you know what? If you look at everybody on stage tonight, they all seem that they're representing perhaps what will be the traditional Democratic constituency. Jim Webb doesn't. He doesn't. So, he wants to talk to the white voters that have left the Democratic Party. He's really going to be the biggest wild card tonight because he knows what he's going to say.
BROWNSTEIN: Yes, former Republican secretary of the navy.
CAMEROTA: There you go. All right. We'll be watching. Mark, Ron, Maeve, thanks for watching.
Be sure to tune in for the first Democratic debate. There's the stage is set. It will be at 8:30 Eastern, right here on CNN.
Also, tomorrow morning, we'll have all of the post-debate analysis on a special early edition of NEW DAY.
CUOMO: What?
CAMEROTA: Yes, Chris. I will be calling, giving you the wakeup call for our 5:30 a.m. start Eastern Time. That's 2:30 here by the way.
CUOMO: This is cutting into time to pay for my kid's college.
(LAUGHTER)
CAMEROTA: Let's go back to Michaela in New York.
MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Don't play. There will be no need for a wakeup call. You'll go all night. This is going to be genius. Can't wait.
CUOMO: All you're going to hear is hit, hit, hit.
PEREIRA: Exactly, we'll be watching the cues.
All right. So, we know Hillary Clinton is center stage tonight for the first Democratic debate. Bernie Sanders, three other challengers are hoping to cut into that lead she has.
So, what exactly do they need to do and what should they avoid doing in order to make an impact on voters? We're going to take a look at all of that, ahead on NEW DAY.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:43:23] PEREIRA: Forty-three minutes past the hour. Here are some headlines for you.
Democratic White House hopefuls are preparing to take the stage in Las Vegas tonight for the first debate right here on CNN. All eyes certainly will be on Hillary Clinton as the front-runner as she tries to build some more momentum.
Bernie Sanders, meanwhile, looking to continue his surge as well.
Many Democrats still waiting to see if Joe Biden will enter the race. Vice president is said to be still weighing his options.
That debate begins tonight 8:30 Eastern right here on CNN.
This morning, we are expecting a report explaining what exactly happened in the Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 disaster. The Dutch safety board is expected to say a Russian surface-to-air missile brought down MH-17 over Ukraine, killing all 298 souls aboard. The board is not expected to place to blame. But according to a Dutch paper, it does reportedly reject Russia's claim that Ukrainian troops fired that missile.
Developing this morning, two mortar rounds struck near the Russian embassy in the Syrian capital of Damascus. It happened as hundreds of pro government supporters rallied outside in support of Russian air strikes. There are reports of injuries. Russian's foreign minister described the shelling as a terrorist attack. He said those responsible were trying to intimidate those that are fighting ISIS.
All right. So we are obviously going to head back to our Democratic debate that CNN is prepping for tonight in Las Vegas.
What does each candidate need to do and what should they avoid doing to earn your votes?
Errol Louis is here, keeping me company in New York. He's a CNN political commentator and political anchor at New York 1.
[06:45:03] Good morning to you.
We'll have a little bit of fun with the magic wall. We have all of our candidates lined up here, Errol.
ERROL LOUIS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENATOR: OK, it's magic.
PEREIRA: We'll see what they need to do and what they need to avoid doing.
Let us start with Lincoln Chafee. He is former senator and governor of Rhode Island. He is very, very low in the poll numbers. What does he need to do tonight to make a mark?
LOUIS: Well, he's got to get beyond what has been his calling card up until now which is to say I'm going to make Hillary Clinton regret that she voted to go into Iraq.
Well, this was a long time ago, a decade ago. This is something where Lincoln Chafee can proudly say he was against the war in Iraq from the beginning but Hillary Clinton wasn't. But she's acknowledged that it was a mistake. The nation has acknowledged that it's a mistake. ISIS doesn't exist at the time. The nation has moved on. Chafee needs to show that he can move on also.
PEREIRA: What does he have to make sure he needs to avoid? This guy was a Republican for a while.
LOUIS: Well, for a while -- for most of his political career, as a senator and governor. So, for him now to jump into the most partisan part of this campaign, which is trying to figure out what Democrats stand for and so forth, he's not necessarily the most credible voice on that. And don't think that his opponent point s are not going to let him forget that.
PEREIRA: One of his opponents, Jim Webb, he is also struggling in the polls. Veteran and purple heart recipient, secretary of the navy under Reagan.
What does he need to do to make a mark in the polls?
LOUIS: He's just got to get started. I mean, Michaela, I was reading something from "Mother Jones", left-leaning publication. But they have somebody sort of trying to find his campaign literally and it's a hilarious article but in a way it's troubling. Unreturned phone calls, no sign of activity. Very, very small staff in Iowa and New Hampshire.
If he really wants to get started, tonight will be the night to do it, to explain why he's running and why we should be thinking about him as president.
PEREIRA: If not, do you think we see time limited for this guy? Or --
LOUIS: Right. You have to wonder. If you get blown out in the first two states, it's very, very hard to get back into the race for president.
PEREIRA: And you say he has to make sure he does not look rusty or unprepared.
LOUIS: That's right. I mean, he's been so low key. And one of the things that happens is the give and take. You know, Martin O'Malley has been out there. Bernie Sanders is filling stadiums. Hillary Clinton has been doing national television.
The exchanges, you really get sharp. You get crisp in response to a lot of questions once you hear them over and over again. Jim Webb hasn't had that. We we'll see if he looks rusty tonight.
PEREIRA: Did you mention Martin O'Malley? He's next up on our big board here. Of course, we know him as a two-term governor of Maryland and mayor of Baltimore. The most notable second-tier candidate.
But, again, his polling numbers, 2 percent in the latest CNN/ORC poll?
LOUIS: That's right. This is an important case of be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.
Martin O'Malley has been the loudest critic saying six debates is not enough. We need to have more. This is a coronation for Clinton. We need to have more and more debates.
Well, the lights are going to go on tonight, the red light does on. What have you got Martin O'Malley? You've got this debate now. If he doesn't make a splash, really make an impression, establish himself as the alternative that he wanted to be, the space that Bernie Sanders has occupied, then all of that sort of talk about we need more debates, maybe not, Martin O'Malley.
PEREIRA: It's interesting. You mentioned Bernie Sanders. A lot of people saying there will be a showdown between the Vermont senator and Hillary Clinton. What does he need to make sure he does tonight?
LOUIS: Well, he's got to make sure people understand what he's talking about is an actual program that could happen. When he talks about a $15 national minimum wage, people can look at him and say, look, you've been in Congress for over a decade, how are you supposed to make this happen, where Barack Obama didn't get any progress at all on minimum wage, where the different labor ideas that he's talking about, card check and so forth, how are you going to make this happen?
He's got to show that, there's some way he's going to actually run the government, not just present a lot of ideas.
PEREIRA: And he's also got to broaden his base, too, right? You say he can't dwell too much on socialist policies.
LOUIS: Oh, yes. Oh, yes.
PEREIRA: All right. Last but not least, the sole female on the stage, Hillary Clinton. She'll be at the center of the podium. One of the most seasoned, a skilled debater. She's been prepping for months for tonight.
LOUIS: That's right. And you can't say it enough. I mean, when you are explaining you're losing in politics. If she's going around explaining the whole tangled mess with the e-mail servers, if she wants to re-litigate Benghazi one more time, either from questions or debate panel, that's precious time lost.
She's got to get away from that and sending people back to her website. She's put a lot of stakes on a lot of different issues. She's got to let people know she's a candidate of substance.
PEREIRA: And you got to show some warmth, got to show the real side of Hillary, can't appeared testy under attack.
LOUIS: Well, that's right. There's sort of a fine line between sort of being the defensive and being peevish and being aggressive. Her husband is really good at getting that, sort of with the smiles that cut you apart. Hillary Clinton not so much. She's going to come under heavy attacks. She's going to make sure she doesn't look like a victim and also look like she's not getting rattled by all of the attention she gets.
PEREIRA: Errol Louis, fantastic stuff. Thanks so much for joining us.
LOUIS: Very good.
PEREIRA: Let's head back to Las Vegas where things are heating up ahead of tonight's debate.
Alisyn?
[06:50:00] CAMEROTA: They sure are, Michaela. Stick around for this next piece, because ahead of tonight's debate, we hit the streets or the Strip as it's called, to find out what people in Vegas are expecting tonight.
And as you might expect, we got some interesting responses.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAMEROTA: Have you ever heard of Hillary Clinton?
Do you know who's in the debate?
Who are you looking for?
Lincoln Chafee?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Were they at the party last night?
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CAMEROTA: Welcome back to NEW DAY or "new night" as it were. It hasn't exactly dawned yet.
CUOMO: I like "same day."
CAMEROTA: I like that too. That will be tomorrow.
So, we got in yesterday afternoon and we immediately hit the Strip to talk to real voters about what they are hoping comes out of tonight's debate.
[06:55:01] And more importantly, do they know who will be in tonight's debate? Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CAMEROTA: Do you know any of the other candidates who will be at the debate?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For the Democrats?
CAMEROTA: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are more than Hillary, Bernie? That's about it.
CAMEROTA: Yes.
There's three more.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, O'Malley.
CAMEROTA: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's see here. What's that other guy's -- Webb, I believe.
CAMEROTA: Jim Webb.
Have you ever heard of Hillary Clinton?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, oh, yes.
CAMEROTA: Bernie Sanders?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
CAMEROTA: Jim Webb?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
CAMEROTA: Martin O'Malley?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
CAMEROTA: Lincoln Chafee?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
CAMEROTA: Do you know who's in the debate?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Of course. Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton. Who's the other person?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No idea.
CAMEROTA: Who are you looking for?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bernie.
CAMEROTA: Do you know who else is going to be in the debate?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Isn't it going to be Hillary and -- I don't know if Trump is going to be there because I try not to pay attention to him.
CAMEROTA: Just the Democrats.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
CAMEROTA: There are three other guys running for president on the Democratic side.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No clue.
CAMEROTA: Do you know who will be in the debate?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know Hillary's running. And Joe Biden is running.
CAMEROTA: Not yet.
Deciding.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, he's running.
CAMEROTA: You heard it here first.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's going to run.
CAMEROTA: You seem to be in the know. That's cool.
OK. So, Hillary, possibly Joe Biden. Anybody else you can name?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
CAMEROTA: Have you ever heard of Bernie Sanders?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
CAMEROTA: Jim Webb?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
CAMEROTA: Lincoln Chafee?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Were they at the party last night?
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They weren't there? No, no.
CAMEROTA: I don't know, maybe they were there. Do you recognize this handsome man?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Definitely did not take shots with him.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. No.
CAMEROTA: Martin O'Malley.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CAMEROTA: OK. I believe it points out some of the candidates have their work cut out for them, Michaela, in terms of introducing themselves to voters.
PEREIRA: That one young lady believes that Joe Biden is going to run. So, there you go.
CAMEROTA: She said it definitively.
CUOMO: Here's the good news. Voter information, low. However, the opportunity for a breakthrough tonight, big.
PEREIRA: Absolutely.
CUOMO: That's what often happens. You haven't really heard of the other people. There's firepower up there. Secretary of navy, no pun intended, Jim Webb. He was a U.S. senator.
These are big positions. This is a governor up there. So, it will be interesting to see who they know after tonight.
CAMEROTA: A challenge and opportunity.
PEREIRA: It reminds you how big the country is. It's a big nation. They have to get out there to everybody. They have their work cut out for them.
CAMEROTA: I mean, look, the good news is everyone did know there was a debate tonight and everybody that we talked to did plan to watch it. So people are engaged and open to becoming more engaged.
CUOMO: A little stilted, perhaps, if that you were doing the interviews near a 70-foot screen that says #demdebate.
CAMEROTA: Right over their head. That helped.
CUOMO: I don't know how much.
CAMEROTA: Subliminal.
(LAUGHTER)
CUOMO: Well, the debate is news, no question about it. There is much news to tell you about this morning. Let's get right to it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CUOMO: Tonight is the Democratic debate.
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I will fight as hard as I can to earn every vote.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm in this race. We're running to win.
CAMEROTA: Who are you interested in checking?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hillary.
CAMEROTA: Who are you looking for?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bernie.
MARTIN O'MALLEY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: These debates are making great moments for every campaign.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: The Republican front-runner, he's been taking swings across the aisle.
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'd love to run against her, because she's so flawed.
I don't want to run against Bernie. He's too easy.
I'm not rooting for anybody.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What happens in Vegas could change the course of the Democratic race.
ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Alisyn Camerota and Michaela Pereira.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CAMEROTA: Good morning, everyone. Welcome back to your NEW DAY. Michaela is in New York for us. Chris and I are here in Las Vegas. We're gearing up for tonight's CNN debate.
This time it's the Democrats taking the stage. This is the first face-off for the Democrats, with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, their rivalry will take center stage and there are the podiums set.
CUOMO: Now, sure you've got Hillary and Bernie. Those are the big names. But, oddly, biggest presence felt in the room tonight may not physically be there. The intrigue surrounding Vice President Joe Biden. Is he going to get in the race or not?
Yes, you've seen the fun CNN has been having with the chair, the podium, if you want to come. No one is expecting that although it would be a nice twist, that's for sure. But it's certainly one of the factors in this, but there's a lot to cover about this tonight.
We have special coverage beginning with senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta, he's inside the debate hall.
They still have the podium in there for, Jim?
JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It's in here somewhere. I think I'll use it for myself if that's all right for these live shots this morning, Chris and Alisyn. Good morning.
