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Presidential Race; Combatting Opioid Addiction; Hero Teen Honored at ESPY Awards. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired July 14, 2016 - 08:30   ET

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

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[08:32:38] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEWT GINGRICH, FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER: He, clearly, I think, is down to two as he hinted in talking to Bret Baier. And Mike Pence is a great personal friend. We've worked together on many projects over the years. I think Trump has a tough call because he's got two really good but really different choices. And I think it would be interesting to see, you know, I'm certainly I'm one of the people that will be sitting by the phone waiting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Newt Gingrich talking about himself there as one of Donald Trump's very good choices. Will he get the rose?

More importantly, who's going to be president of this country? We have new polls coming up and we have, of course, the veepstakes going on, and we also have an issue that should resonate with you every bit as much as the election, which is what's going on in this country to combat drugs in the form of opioids that are overtaking regions of this country. We're going to discuss all of them with a man in the middle, Republican senator from Ohio, Rob Portman. Now, he has endorsed Donald Trump.

Senator, I want to talk to you about several things that matter this morning. Thank you for being on NEW DAY.

First, let's look at some of these polls coming out from your home state. Neck and neck we have here. Literally, 39/39. Changes very slightly if you include the libertarian in there. But you have 41/41. You know, it's knotted up in your state. Whom do you think is going to take your state? You almost have to say Trump. But why? Why will Trump take Ohio?

Sen. ROB PORTMAN (R), OHIO: No, look, I don't know. This is classic Ohio, isn't it? I mean it always comes down to this in Ohio. It did in the last four or five presidential elections. In fact, Ohio determined who was president in 2000 and 2004 and it was by very narrow margins. So we're the classic swing state. We're a purple state, not a blue state or a red state.

And it depends who addresses people's concerns. You know, I think what folks in Ohio are looking for is which candidate is going to talk about the issues they care about. It has to do with jobs and the economy, of course, particularly wages being flat and expenses being up. The middle class squeeze is very real in Ohio. And it has to do with issues like this issue we just mentioned a moment ago, which you and I have talked about before, which is this epidemic of prescription drug and heroin addiction and overdoses in Ohio. And then this terrorism issue, obviously, is on everybody's mind. I had a tele town hall this week where that issue was the top issue people cared about, national security and really personal security.

CUOMO: And he does well with people on that. It's a little bit of a mix. It's not a clear advantage for him. But in Ohio he's doing well on that issue as well. Do you think he can win Ohio without Governor Kasich?

[08:35:09] PORTMAN: Yes. You know, John Kasich is doing a terrific job as governor, by the way, and he's, you know, implementing a lot of the things we ought to be doing in Washington, including getting the deficit under control and economic growth and regulatory relief. But - but, yes, I think - I think, you know, John Kasich is an incredibly popular elected official now too and there was a poll out today showing him the most popular elected official in Ohio. So he's - he's - he's doing a good job and I think in a way that will help Donald Trump.

CUOMO: Are the Trump people sniffing around the Portman house at all for this veepstakes?

PORTMAN: No, no, no. I'm - I'm not interested. I took myself out early on, if I was ever in. I don't think I was. And, look, I'm focused on one thing, and that's Ohio, and I'm trying to focus on my race so that I can continue to represent people in the buckeye state.

CUOMO: Who you like?

PORTMAN: Well, I think the choices you talked about earlier are both people I've worked within in the House of Representatives and they know how to get stuff done. And that's, you know, that's my focus here is - vice presidential candidates don't help a whole lot in a presidential election, actually, when you look at the data. It doesn't matter that much. But what does matter is once you get elected, do you have somebody who can actually reach out across the aisle and get things done? And, obviously, Newt Gingrich showed that with welfare reform and tax relief and, you know, a balance budget, working well with Bill Clinton. Mike Pence has also shown that both here in Washington and in Indiana, that he can work across the aisle to get things done. And I think that's what's needed in our country right now. And so I think either of those choices would be good. And I assume he's going to surprise us with some other choices, too, before this is over, Chris.

CUOMO: Well, it's supposed to be over tomorrow. So, we'll see. It's certainly getting some - some free media attention.

PORTMAN: We'll see.

CUOMO: Let me ask you this. The opioid bill, OK, passes the Senate. Obama says he's in favor of it but it doesn't do enough, the president says. You care about this issue very intensely. It hits you at home, but you know it's a scourge across the country that many have been ignoring to their own disadvantage. What do you believe about this bill and what do you believe about the future?

PORTMAN: It's historic. I mean it's really the first time Congress has gone on record to say that addiction is a disease and ought to be treated as a disease. You know, if it were cancer, we wouldn't be allowing this to happen. So I think it's amazing.

And there are about 200 groups around the country, Chris, who represent people who are, you know, in the trenches on treatment and recovery and also education prevention. The law enforcement community who strongly supported the bill, they helped write the bill. The White House helped write the bill. It was totally a non-partisan process. We took three years to do it. And I'm just excited we're finally at this point.

I mean, let's face it, it's tough to get stuff done in this town, even if it makes sense. This one clearly made sense. And - and it took us a while. We had to go through the House, the Senate, and different bills and put them together, but it will make a difference in the lives of the people I represent and I think that's what's important. Funding is critical, of course, and it increases the amount that Congress is authorized to spend on this by a substantial amount, $181 million a year, which is a big - big spending increase. I'd like to see even more and I think we can do that.

CUOMO: What will it do and what still needs to be done?

PORTMAN: Well, it takes a comprehensive approach. So it funds additional prevention and education, but also more treatment and longer term recovery. The first bill I'm told ever in Congress that really focuses on the recovery side of this. And as one recovering addict told me recently, you know, it was easier to get clean, it was harder to stay clean. And this is about a longer term recovery focus.

And then it helps in terms of getting these prescription drugs sort of off the street. It stops some of the overprescribing prescription drug monitoring programs. It helps to encourage people to get rid of their drugs if they have them. These are narcotic, addictive prescription drugs, usually painkillers. And it also helps law enforcement. So it's a - it's a comprehensive approach. It gives them better training on Narcan, also called Naloxone, which is that miracle drug to deal with overdoses. And so it's - it's broad. It doesn't say there's one angle. There's every angle you have to come at this on.

And I think if we do that, we can begin to turn the tide. It's - it's, unfortunately, growing right now. The problem is growing. More people are becoming addicted. More people are overdosing. More people are putting the drugs ahead of their family and their job. And, unfortunately, crime is increasing, so it's - it's timely to get this out there and to help save lives and, you know, help allow people to achieve their purpose in life.

CUOMO: As I told you the last time, I share your importance with this. And people on the frontlines keep saying the same thing to me, this is potentially worse than crack.

PORTMAN: Yes.

CUOMO: So, senator, as I said before, you let us know how to help on this issue by getting information out. We will do so. Senator Portman, appreciate it.

PORTMAN: Appreciate it. You're already doing it thanks to what you're doing. It - by doing that, you're going to help save lives and I appreciate your interest in it, Chris. Take care.

CUOMO: Yours as well. Thank you, senator.

Poppy.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, so, so important to talk about and do something about.

[08:39:47] All right, coming up, you're not going to want to miss this interview. You know that face, this kid, an amazing individual, Zaevion Dobson, saved three girls from gunfire. He didn't live to tell about it, and now his mother is taking on the fight against guns and making a plea for others to do the same. She will join me live on NEW DAY, next.

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CUOMO: Time now for the five things to know for your new day.

Number one, Donald Trump set to announce his VP pick in about 24 hours. Who's it going to be? Indiana Governor Mike Pence? Some say he's the frontrunner. Newt Gingrich? He says he's a finalist too.

Hillary Clinton is set to meet with Senate Democrats this afternoon behind closed doors. It's her first meeting with Senate lawmakers since Bernie Sanders endorsed her earlier this week.

Phoenix police searching for a serial killer who investigators believe committed at least seven murders since March. The so-called "monster of Maryvale" strikes at night. Most of his victims shot with a semi- automatic handgun.

U.S. officials trying to confirm if it took out a top ISIS leader again. ISIS already confirmed the terror known as Omar the Chechen was killed in Iraq. The U.S.-led coalition thought it had killed him four months ago in Syria.

Britain's new prime minister, Theresa May, naming Boris Johnson the country's foreign secretary. A big job. Johnson, London's former mayor, led the Brexit campaign.

[08:45:07] For more on the five things to know, go to newdaycnn.com for the latest.

Poppy. HARLOW: All right, Chris, an emotional moment on national television

last night. You may have seen this, a mother stepping into the spotlight, honoring her son's incredibly heroic actions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZENOBIA DOBSON, MOTHER OF SLAIN HS FOOTBALL PAYER: I'm here to fight back. We, as a country, need to take a stand to consider the effects of gun violence on families throughout America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: You will hear more from her powerful speech at the ESPYs last night, straight ahead.

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HARLOW: Welcome back to NEW DAY.

Zaevion Dobson, a Tennessee teenager who lost his life shielding his friends from random gunfire, he was honored last night at the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles. He got the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. His mother, Zenobia Dobson, accepted the awards, along with Zaevion's brothers, and she gave an incredibly powerful speech calling for an end to gun violence.

[08:50:04] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZENOBIA DOBSON, MOTHER OF FALLEN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER: And I'm here to urge all of you to join the movement tonight to save innocent lives. We need to rewrite laws to make it harder for the people to get guns. All the athletes in this room, you have a lot of power. People look up to you. I know Zaevion did. And I urge you to think tonight about why he died, and what you can do tomorrow to prevent the next innocent young man or woman from being lost as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Zenobia Dobson joins me now.

And you brought a lot of that house to tears last night with your words, calling on them for action and to do more. Your son is in good company with legends like Muhammad Ali, Billie Jean King getting this award. Take me into that moment for you as a mother.

ZENOBIA DOBSON, MOTHER OF FALLEN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER: Wow, just joy in my heart to think about it all and to think about Zaevion. Just joy to my heart.

HARLOW: What would - what would he say? I have no doubt Zaevion was looking down on you and your other sons last night. What would he be saying?

DOBSON: Zaevion, he was a fighter, so he would say, mom, just fight for me. Do the right thing. You always told me to do the right thing. Do the right thing for me. Just get your voice out there and let your voice be heard. And make sure justice be served for me.

HARLOW: Something that you told the audience last night that people didn't know, even though your son's story has become very well known, is that his 12-year-old cousin -

DOBSON: Yes.

HARLOW: Was shot and killed by random gunfire in a drive-by shooting just months after he was.

DOBSON: Yes.

HARLOW: How can that be the state of America right now? Is that a question you ask yourself?

DOBSON: Yes. It is not right. Our children, they fall victim all the time. They get caught up in the middle of the moment of just other people's mess, and they fall victim.

HARLOW: So President Obama has spoken about Zaevion before. Let's play our viewers a little bit about what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And he was shot in the head. And the girls were spared. He gave his life to save theirs. An act of heroism a lot bigger than anything we should ever expect from a 15-year-old.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: And then he tweeted out, "we can build a future worthy of his promise." You called on all of the athletes, the powerful men and women in the room last night, to do something. Tell us what it is you want them to do.

DOBSON: Give back to the community. Go into the core of everything and it's a strong need for men and women to be role models in a community because some kids don't have parents that just stand up and take them places and do things for them. It's a strong need in a community to just get in there and give our kids a hand, in school, in recreation centers and all that kind of stuff.

HARLOW: So it really goes on - goes far beyond some of the gun control fight for you? It's about a lot more than that.

DOBSON: Yes, it's a lot of things that go on that could lead up to this. But you have to go to the core of everything.

HARLOW: Four very famous basketball players stood up there last night, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, and they made a plea as well to America. What were your thoughts as you watched them last night?

DOBSON: It was powerful. I was glad to see four men get up there and talk about what really needs to be done. They have children of their own. So I'm sure they're in their lives. And there's some more children that, you know, don't have role models. They don't have the same things as, you know, some other kids do. And it's time to just go inside the community and see what the need is for our children.

HARLOW: The one word that describes your son, what is it?

DOBSON: Bold.

HARLOW: Bold.

DOBSON: Strong.

HARLOW: We remember - we remember Zaevion. He is a hero. And our thoughts are with you. Thank you so much for being with us this morning. I'm glad he got this award.

DOBSON: Thank you.

HARLOW: All the best.

DOBSON: All right.

HARLOW: "The Good Stuff" is next.

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[08:58:36] CUOMO: You ready for a little "Good Stuff"?

HARLOW: I could use some "Good Stuff."

CUOMO: It is relevant and poignant. A group of police officers from Homestead, Pennsylvania, were waiting for their meal in a local diner when a couple walked if and refused to sit anywhere near them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OFFICER CHUCK THOMAS, HOMESTEAD POLICE DEPARTMENT: You don't have to worry about it. We - we won't hurt you. And he looked at me hard again and said he's not sitting here and walked away.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: That's officer Chuck Thomas and he wanted to turn this situation into a message of hope. So, get this, he paid for the entire meal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THOMAS: Essentially that was the whole goal of it was to let him know that we're not here to hurt you if you're not - I mean we're not here for that. We're here for you. We work for the public. And we're just - we just want to, I mean, better the relationship between the community and the police.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: What do you think?

HARLOW: It's incredible. And what he wrote there is, I left a tip, too. You know, it's all good. I mean, that is an embodiment of what we've been talking about. And those small things add up.

CUOMO: That's right. There's tension. There are problems. What do you do about it? He decided to turn a negative into a positive.

HARLOW: And, by the way, we can't just look to just Washington to do it. It's about these things and the - every single community, being bigger than the fight.

CUOMO: Absolutely. In fact, we can probably look to Washington last. This is a local and state issue.

HARLOW: True, unfortunately.

CUOMO: It's about all of us first.

HARLOW: Yes.

CUOMO: All right, a lot of news this morning. Let's get to Ana Cabrera. She's in for Carol Costello and she has it for you.

[09:00:05] Good morning, Ana.

ANA CABRERA, CNN ANCHOR: Guys, that "Good Stuff" never gets old. Keep it coming. Keep it coming. We need more positive stories.

HARLOW: Yes.

CABRERA: Thanks.

HARLOW: Have a great show.

CABRERA: NEWSROOM starts now.