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Trump's Women Problem; Hillary Clinton's Running Mate?; Oregon and Kentucky Vote. Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired May 17, 2016 - 15:00   ET

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


[15:00:01]

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: That's hysterical. Pizza. Throw pizza at the problem. I flew out of there Sunday. I didn't have too big of an issue, but, I mean, that looks like Six Flags. I can't imagine people filling those lines.

Rosa Flores, thank you so much at O'Hare in Chicago.

Top of the hour. You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Brooke Baldwin. Thank you for being with me.

Hillary Clinton, Hillary Clinton hoping to end her losing streak today as voters head back to the polls. Kentucky Democrats have 55 delegates to award, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, of course, vying for each and every one. Just a reminder here, this is a state that went for Bill Clinton Bill Clinton twice and favored Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama in 2008.

It's also voting day in Oregon. But we can't show you people voting there because Oregonians vote by mail. Yes, 61 Democratic delegates up for grabs there, 28 Republican delegates, but both states combined are not quite enough to push either party's front-runner quite over the top.

Let's go live now to Louisville in Kentucky to CNN's Brynn Gingras.

And, Brynn, as we mentioned, only Democrats are voting there today. You have been talking to voters. What are they telling you?

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, we're seeing somewhat of a mixed bag. We talked to people who have said they haven't even made up their decision until they actually walked in the front door.

Then we have a first-time voter who says he voted for Bernie Sanders, but as we give you a good look of the process happening here in Louisville, you could see there are people who are coming out. And this is a precinct that has a lot of activity, 2,600 registered voters, and so far, I got to tell you, we have seen about 100 every hour casting their ballots since polls opened at 6:00 this morning.

So, we will see certainly how that fares out for each candidate. We do know Hillary Clinton putting in a lot of work in Kentucky. Overall, though, secretary of state says about 20 percent expected for turnout today, so, again, we will see how that fares out in the election when the polls close tonight at 6:00 -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: I see you're wearing the right shade of blue for that part of Kentucky in Louisville. Brynn Gingras, thank you so much.

It may be primary day both in Kentucky and Oregon, but in the battleground states Ohio, Florida, Virginia, and Nevada, the general election, it is on. You need proof? Look no farther than the blistering new pro-Clinton super PAC ads now hitting the airwaves.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know, you could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her whenever. Does she have a good body? No. Does she have a fat ass? Absolutely.

You like girls that are 5'1''? They come up to you know where.

If Ivanka weren't my daughter, perhaps I would be dating her.

I view a person who is flat-chested as very hard to be a 10.

And you can tell them to go (EXPLETIVE DELETED) themselves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Joining me now, Alice Stewart, Ted Cruz's communication director, and Healy Baumgardner is back with us today, senior press representative for the Trump campaign.

Ladies, welcome.

Great to be here. Thanks, Brooke.

HEALY BAUMGARDNER, TRUMP CAMPAIGN SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE: Thanks for having us.

BALDWIN: Thank you.

So, Healy, we know Mr. Trump says, with this ad, he says he's being misquoted. But how do you misquote a recording?

BAUMGARDNER: Well, I think, look, this is an attempt by Hillary Clinton to create a diversion, if you will, away from herself. You know, she has a history of being abusive towards women, you know, specifically the ones that her husband's had extramarital affairs with.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Wow, wow. Hang on a second.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: That's where you're going to go in the first 20 seconds?

BAUMGARDNER: I -- I'm going to finish.

Yes, I think it's very hypocritical of her to talk about respect and all these, you know, wonderful things like she is out, you know, supporting women's issues and women's rights, when she can't even stand up for herself.

BALDWIN: It's -- just to be fair, it's a super PAC. It's not the Clinton campaign.

That said, Alice, your response watching this?

ALICE STEWART, FORMER COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, TED CRUZ CAMPAIGN: Well, I think, as you say, it's a super PAC.

And they have absolutely zero coordination with the campaigns. But, you know, it is concerning. It's an effective ad, given that it's using Donald Trump's own words.

But I do agree with Healy. I live in Arkansas. I have been there for nearly 20 years. I have covered the Clintons as a reporter and been in politics in that state. And Hillary Clinton is far from the standard-bearer for fighting for women's issues, because she's been an enabler for one of the -- a man who has spent a lifetime preying on women.

And this is not a good issue for them. They need to find something else. And the fact that they're focusing on this issue just goes to show that the Hillary team is not ready to focus on her foreign policy record or what she plans to do for the economy. It's unfortunate for the voters who their number one priority is they want to know who's going to create jobs, help improve the economy and fight for our national security. And those are the issues they need to talk about.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Are you supporting Mr. Trump now, Alice?

STEWART: We have got six months until it's time to cast a vote, and I'm -- always been supportive of a conservative candidate.

And I want to see conservative views and values in who I plan to vote for. And I think, you know, more needs to be said and more needs to be done. I want to see someone who is going to fight for our Constitution, stand up for the rule of law.

[15:05:10]

BALDWIN: Is that Trump? Is that the presumptive Republican nominee?

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: Look, like -- as I said, I'm a conservative. I want someone who will be a -- fight for the conservative values and protect our Constitution.

And also an important issue for voters this cycle is who's going to appoint conservatives to the Supreme Court. That's an important issue in terms of what decision and who the best person for that job is. There's still a lot of time for someone to really flesh out and be consistent on exactly what they would do if they were to be the nominee and to be president.

BALDWIN: OK.

Healy, let's talk about the big news for team Trump today, hiring this powerhouse pollster, Tony Fabrizio, and how that could change things perhaps for him. We know, for months and months, he has said he doesn't need, he doesn't want that. But I guess he's had a change of heart.

I'm curious as to, A, why, and, B, if Mr. Fabrizio comes to Mr. Trump and says I'm seeing X as a problem, will Mr. Trump listen to that?

BAUMGARDNER: Mr. Trump will deliver a Mr. Trump deems fit to deliver.

That is who he is. He's authentic. He's out at these massive rallies with historical turnout, having conversations from his heart with the American voters, and having the discussions and winning those votes on merits.

I think that this hire is indicative of us gearing towards the general election and moving towards wanting to have more concrete data and information. That's in essence what it is.

BALDWIN: OK.

And we also know that Hillary Clinton, you know, she was out about in Kentucky on the trail. She said this:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Let's just imagine I'm on a debate stage with Donald Trump.

(LAUGHTER)

CLINTON: Now, personally, I am really looking forward to it.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: And so let's suppose here's the question. So what is your plan to create jobs? His answer is: I'm going to create them. They're going to be great.

(LAUGHTER)

CLINTON: I know how to do it. But I'm not telling you what it is I'm going to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So, Alice, the question to you, you know, she points out this criticism that even, you know, I have heard you echo, right, this lack of specifics.

As someone who is not quite supporting Donald Trump yet, would this be an effective strategy?

STEWART: I think both candidates deserve to present specifics on all their key issues to the voters.

And let me just say this on Tony Fabrizio. I worked with him on the Rick Scott campaign in Florida. Rick was a come-from-behind candidate who fought against all odds, and Tony Fabrizio pushed him to victory in Florida.

And if Donald Trump listens to Tony Fabrizio, who is a super strong, not only just a pollster, but an adviser to a campaign, I think that will do him very well.

And I think his advice to Rick Scott in the debates was very helpful and helped him do tremendously well in debates. Hopefully, Donald Trump will listen to him and hopefully he will take some advice to heart when it comes to bringing people into the fold that will help to flesh out his conservative views and values, if they're there, and also to prepare him for the road ahead.

But I will say this, that Hillary Clinton and her camp ain't seen nothing yet once they get Tony Fabrizio advising Donald Trump, because he is -- he certainly means business.

BALDWIN: I heard that from a Democrat who echoed exactly those same sentiments just a couple minutes ago.

And, Healy, let me just end with you. I was talking to Kayleigh McEnany, who is a huge, Donald Trump supporter, and sort of for the first time today with me this past hour, she acknowledged, listen, Mr. Trump does have a women -- a woman problem. And he really needs to denounce what he said specifically back in the '90s.

Would you agree with that?

BAUMGARDNER: I didn't hear the sound bite to respond specifically as to what she said.

BALDWIN: I'm paraphrasing.

BAUMGARDNER: OK. What is she referring to what he said in the '90s specifically?

BALDWIN: Well, you know, specifically, what was in that "New York Times" piece dating back to the woman had put on a bikini, who, granted, she said that she had a positive experience with Mr. Trump.

Let's talk -- I don't want to get into the nitty-gritty with the Howard Stern interviews, but those kinds of things, what Mr. Trump has reportedly said about his own daughter when she was a teenager. Those sorts of things, she was acknowledging, are his Achilles' heel, and he needs to distance himself. BAUMGARDNER: I think that, you know, the "New York Times" piece was a

total hit piece. I mean, it is what it is. That's been widely reported.

You know, I'm flabbergasted by it, to be quite honest. These are people who have surfaced who are making far-reaching allegations. And the fact of the matter is, Mr. Trump is a champion for women. He's hired more women in his organizations at a time when it wasn't popular, including back in the '90s. So I think that record speaks for itself.

[15:10:00]

BALDWIN: Healy Baumgardner, Alice Stewart, thank you both very much.

STEWART: Thank you, Brooke.

BAUMGARDNER: Thank you.

BALDWIN: You got it.

Just a reminder, special coverage of the Kentucky and Oregon primaries begins in less than an hour right here on CNN.

Coming up next: Chairs fly. Tempers flare between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders supporters at one state's convention, and now death threats against the woman in charge, what she says as Democrats fear this could upend the convention in July.

Plus, as Clinton and Trump consider possible running mates here, assuming they win their nominations, could Clinton stun by choosing a Republican?

Carl Bernstein joins me live coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Welcome back.

Remember how we talked so much about the risk of chaos and violence ahead at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland? Well, today is the day we're talking about the Democrat who are the ones worried. And it's not just talk.

Members of the Nevada Democratic Party filed a formal complaint to the Democratic National Committee about how they fear violence will erupt at the national convention for them in Philadelphia. This is specifically a response to what happened at the Nevada State Democratic Convention.

[15:15:05]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She did not vote for quorum. She just closed out and walked out. This meeting is not over. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's pandemonium.

The election was officially stolen, officially stolen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Sanders supporters screaming, flipped chairs, rushed the stage, upset by the dominance of Hillary Clinton's delegates, according to state party officials.

The state Democratic chairwoman has received death threats. You will hear much more from her in just a second. I just talked to her. And this just in, Bernie Sanders has condemned the violence. This is according to fellow senator, the Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid.

But now audio has surfaced of a senior Sanders official, the national delegates director, egging on supporters a week before the convention. Here she is.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

JOAN KATO, SANDERS CAMPAIGN: You should not leave. I'm going to repeat that. Unless you're told by somebody from the campaign, i.e., probably me or David, that you can leave, you should not leave.

I don't care if the chair is up there herself or whoever the chair is and whoever becomes the chair. You should not leave.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BALDWIN: All right.

We me now, CNN political director David Chalian and CNN political analyst Gloria Borger.

Welcome to both of you.

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Thank you.

GLORIA BORGER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Great to be here.

BALDWIN: Happy primary day.

And I have just been handed a piece of paper. And just full transparency, I haven't read one word of this, but apparently Bernie Sanders, the Sanders campaign has just issued a statement in Nevada. And I'm told essentially the campaign is telling the Nevada Dems be inclusive.

But having talked to this chairwoman in Nevada, she said she's absolutely worried that what happened in her state could happen in other cities and most definitely Philadelphia.

Yes?

CHALIAN: Yes. BALDWIN: This is what we're hearing?

CHALIAN: Yes, listen, I think Bernie Sanders has a real responsibility here. I do. I know that his supporters may not like to hear that, but I think this is on him now to actually step in here and...

BALDWIN: Say something.

CHALIAN: Because what we're seeing here are really raw emotions.

We got a hint of this back in 2008 with some of the Hillary Clinton supporters who would not let go of that, even though it was apparent she was not going to be the nominee. And this is hard stuff, but we shouldn't be terribly surprised.

I mean, part of what -- we have talked a lot this cycle, Brooke, about similarities between Trump and Sanders.

BALDWIN: Yes, yes.

CHALIAN: Obviously, there are a lot of differences.

But part of what they have both argued is that the system is completely rigged. That may be true and it may need reform, but it invites people to start following that call. When you call for a revolution, don't be so surprised when one shows up.

BALDWIN: Some of these threats -- I was just talking to the chairwoman -- and I want to toss to some sound from her -- she says she's getting threatened every one to two seconds. Here she was.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTA LANGE, CHAIR, NEVADA DEMOCRATIC PARTY: I get threats every one to two seconds on my phone, on my e-mail, on Twitter, on Facebook, on...

BALDWIN: Wow.

LANGE: It is endless. In fact, it's gotten worse as time goes on. And, you know, it's awful.

They have attacked my work. My job here as a state party chair is volunteer. They have attacked the place where I'm employed. There's no end to the threats and the vile comments that have been made.

BALDWIN: Do you believe Senator Sanders has no involvement, had no awareness of the chaos that ensued in Nevada?

LANGE: What I can say and what I know is that they had high-level campaign people that were trying to incite their people going into the convention.

I have not received an apology. I -- you know, I have not received anything from the Sanders campaign. I haven't seen anything that said that this should stop. And it is going to continue unless, you know, people are made to feel like this isn't OK.

I'm very concerned. I mean, some of the text messages and e-mails I have received have told me that it's going to go into Philadelphia.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So, since I talked to the chairwoman just last hour, apparently, the Senate minority leader, Harry Reid, has now spoken to Senator Sanders.

Sanders, within this campaigning statement: "If the Democratic Party is to be successful in November, it is imperative that all state parties treat our campaign supporters with fairness and the respect that they have earned."

No apologies, let's be clear.

BORGER: No.

BALDWIN: Do you think that that's proper here?

BORGER: Well, no apology, but I think, again, to what David is saying, I think he does have a responsibility to say that this is a democracy and this is not the way we're supposed to behave when you're at a state party campaign.

BALDWIN: Why do you think he hasn't yet?

BORGER: Well, I think he's still trying to win. And I think Sanders is -- doesn't want to diminish the passion that his supporters have for him.

He doesn't want to disappoint them. He wants to keep them going to vote in places like we're going to be covering tonight, for example.

BALDWIN: Yes.

BORGER: And so he doesn't want to, you know, extinguish the flame. Right?

BALDWIN: Right.

BORGER: On the other hand, this is unacceptable. And at a certain point, he is going to have to talk about it. And, certainly, Harry Reid probably wanted him to do that.

[15:20:03]

BALDWIN: Right. Right.

Let me move off that. We all know Anderson talked to John Kasich, which was a great interview, the first time he's talked since he dropped out of the race.

To me, what I'm fascinated by, not the fact that he's saying thanks, but no thanks on V.P., or thanks but no thanks on a third party. He's talking about the ladies in his life and how they feel about Donald Trump.

BORGER: Yes.

BALDWIN: Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: So, just for the record, you're undecided about whether or not you would endorse Donald Trump for president?

GOV. JOHN KASICH (R), OHIO: Yes, I am. Right. I'm undecided.

COOPER: Are you undecided about whether you would actually vote for him?

KASICH: Well, you know, at the end of the day, endorsing is going to mean a lot. And, frankly, my wife and my daughters have watched this.

And if I were to turn around today and endorse him, they would be like, "Why, dad?" And that matters to me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So that is Governor Kasich's perspective.

We now have heard Jeb Bush has talked to a Dutch news agency, and he referenced specifically the Cinco de Mayo Trump tweet where he is saying, "I love Hispanics" and he's eating out of his taco bowl. This is what Jeb Bush told this Dutch news outlet, that taco bowl tweet was insensitive and compared it to eating a watermelon and saying, "I love American-Africans."

And he also is saying, you know, if we Republicans lose in November, we're the ones to blame.

BORGER: Yes. I thought that was a pretty good line, actually, on Jeb's part.

And I think that, you know, Jeb Bush's candidacy was about being inclusive. And I think he -- it's not secret to anybody that he believes Donald Trump is not. He believes he is a divider, as he said a million and one times during the campaign. So, it doesn't surprise me that Jeb said that, that he reacted to the picture that way, that he is not endorsing Donald Trump.

BALDWIN: Each of Trump's critics have a different reason not to endorse him.

CHALIAN: Yes.

And, listen, I think Jeb Bush and John Kasich are in different camps here. Jeb Bush has flatly said he's not going to vote for Donald Trump this year. He is never -- he is not opening up some path to get there.

BALDWIN: Yes.

CHALIAN: He is -- that is not his candidate and he is done.

John Kasich, I think, with Anderson, although was musing aloud there in an emotionally true moment for him about his wife and his daughters, no doubt, seemed to leave open a path to get there. And I think John Kasich will feel a little bit more pressure, quite frankly, because he is the governor of a major battleground state.

BALDWIN: Ohio, anyone?

CHALIAN: And I think he's going to feel a little bit more pressure to help deliver for Trump.

BORGER: He's trying to get to yes, but what he was saying in talking about is his wife and daughters is, they would think I was a hypocrite.

That is exactly what I think he was saying without saying it.

(CROSSTALK)

BORGER: And I think -- and I think no parent wants to be a hypocrite to their children.

And so, you know, I think it's going to be difficult for him to get to yes, although, as the governor of Ohio, what does he do? Sit out the election? I mean, that's sort of a really tough place for him to be.

(CROSSTALK)

CHALIAN: Remember that town hall he did with his wife and his daughters, that CNN town hall?

BORGER: Yes. Yes.

CHALIAN: We saw that relationship on display.

(CROSSTALK)

BORGER: Totally.

BALDWIN: Totally.

(CROSSTALK)

CHALIAN: That's not just lip service.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: ... revealing moments.

BORGER: Right.

BALDWIN: Absolutely

BORGER: Exactly.

And they were all in, in this campaign.

BALDWIN: Yes, they were. Yes. Yes.

BORGER: Yes.

BALDWIN: Gloria and David, thank you very much.

CHALIAN: Thanks.

BALDWIN: We will see you all into the wee hours.

Next, with V.P. buzz heating up, we will take a look at the short list of candidates to help or hurt the two front-runners. And what are the chances Hillary Clinton goes bold and chooses -- wait for it -- a Republican? We will talk to Carl Bernstein next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:27:55]

BALDWIN: Today's voting day, but let's also be clear. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton both have yet to lock up their party's presidential nominations.

Speculation of course is growing over who he and she may potentially choose as running mates. In an exclusive interview with Anderson Cooper, former Republican candidate and current Governor of Ohio John Kasich dismissed talk of joining the Trump ticket, but perhaps left the door open on endorsing him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Is that something you would consider? I mean, during the campaign, you said, absolutely not. No way.

KASICH: No, I have not changed my mind on that. Look, I have said all along, I have the second best job in America.

COOPER: So if Donald Trump called you today and said, "Look, you've got to do this. You've got to do this for the country"?

KASICH: No, I'm not inclined to do that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So, that is Governor Kasich.

There's some chatter within political circles that Hillary Clinton could stun anyone and ask Kasich or perhaps another Republican to join her ticket.

There's also growing push for Hillary Clinton to select a woman, with perhaps Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren as a popular option.

Let's walk through the possible scenarios with CNN political commentator Carl Bernstein.

And, so, Carl Bernstein, this notion of having a Clinton-Kasich ticket, is that just crazy talk?

CARL BERNSTEIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Forget about it.

BALDWIN: Forget about it.

BERNSTEIN: Let's not even go there.

But I have been talking to people in private, as you know, about the notion of, if she were to find a Republican who could take it and be acceptable to the party, I think there's a game-changer that she could do...

BALDWIN: You do?

BERNSTEIN: ... if she could get the person. Bob Gates.

I think that if Bob Gates, with whom she's worked closely and has great admiration for her, and she for him, if Gates could be convinced to take it, he's been the secretary of defense. He's been the head of the CIA. He's not a conventional politician. He's not a politician. I think it's game over.

It's the one thing she could do to change everything in this race. She's in trouble. It's possible that Trump is going to self-destruct, but the odds of this happening, 100 to 1, 50 to 1.

But do I think that she could go all out and win the election, as long as she can keep the server business behind her, with Gates? Yes.

BALDWIN: What about -- so, that's a -- that's one idea. I hadn't heard that one.