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Harris Distances Herself From Biden's "Garbage" Comments; Harris In Swing States NC, PA And WI After Closing Pitch In D.C.; New CNN Polls: Harris And Trump Tied In Pennsylvania, Harris Leads In Michigan And Wisconsin. Aired 2-2:30p ET

Aired October 30, 2024 - 14:00   ET

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

[14:00:00]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: President Trump has promised to put him in charge of the CDC and other health agencies if Trump is reelected. The revelation has health officials alarmed. We're following these major developing stories and many more all coming in right here to CNN News Central.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: It's crunch time on the campaign trail as Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump hit the battlegrounds in this sprint to the finish line. Today, the candidates are in North Carolina. And later they both head to Wisconsin. Harris is also set to rally support in Must-Win, Pennsylvania, where new CNN polling shows a deadlocked race while in these other blue wall states, Michigan and Wisconsin, the numbers find Harris with a narrow edge just outside that margin of error.

KEILAR: But her campaign is now trying to distance itself after President Biden made some comments that seem to refer to Trump supporters as garbage. Here's how Harris responded earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (D) AND U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think that first of all, he clarified his comments. But let me be clear, I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for. You heard my speech last night and continuously throughout my career. I believe that the work that I do is about representing all the people, whether they support me or not.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Biden later clarified his remarks, saying that he was referring to a racist joke about Puerto Rico that was made at Trump's controversial rally at Madison Square Garden. Our correspondents are live on the trail following both campaigns for us. So let's begin with CNN's Steve Contorno who is in Rocky Mountain, North Carolina, where Trump just spoke. Steve, tell us what he said.

STEVE CONTORNO, CNN REPORTER: Yeah. Donald Trump wasted little time addressing those remarks from President Joe Biden, criticizing them and the way he has described Trump 's supporters. Take a listen what he just told this crowd.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (R) AND CURRENT U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Last night, Joe Biden finally said what he and Kamala really think of our supporters. He called them garbage. And they mean it, even though without question, my supporters are far higher quality than Crooked Joe or Lion Kamala. My response to Joe and Kamala is very simple. You can't lead America if you don't love Americans. Joe Biden's comments were the direct result of Kamala's and Tim Walz's.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CONTORNO: Now, I should point out that Trump went on to say quite a few offensive things about Vice President Harris, saying that she was a low IQ individual, that she had the plans of a simpleton. They called her and the people that she works with her, quote, "horrible people." So continuing to say pretty offensive things, even as he criticizes the way that he -- that Biden inarticulately called his supporters garbage.

The other thing that I've noticed in his remarks today is he's been really focusing on pushing this idea of why didn't she do the things that she is saying that she would do if she becomes president? And that really is his -- his people tell me, is the most pressing thing they want to get across to voters going into these final days, something that they had hoped to make a bigger part of the campaign in the debate that these two had, and in their advertising, and in the messaging that they have delivered. And instead, it's been lost in the shuffle with all the other controversies that have come up.

But today in North Carolina, he is really pushing that message. If she is the Vice President, why hasn't she gotten done the things that she said she was going to get done? We'll have to see what the Vice President's response is to that.

SANCHEZ: Then we'll keep monitoring Trump's remarks. Seems like he's still going and still getting applause from the crowd. Steve Contorno live for us in Rocky Mountain, North Carolina. Thank you so much.

Let's go up to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, now with CNN's Danny Freeman, where Harris is set to hold an event later this afternoon. Danny, what else are we hearing from the Vice President, specifically in regards to what President Biden said?

DANNY FREEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, listen, Boris, Brianna, the Harris campaign clearly understands that this was not a good comment. It did not come at a good time, and it's really not what the campaign wants to be talking about just six days before Election Day.

But you played it just a little bit earlier, Boris. You heard Vice President Harris already distancing herself from those comments, saying that she strongly disagrees with criticizing people based on who they're voting for. We're also getting some insight into the campaign's thought process with some reporting from CNN's MJ Lee. One campaign adviser telling her, frankly, we won't lose a single voter over it.

[14:05:01]

Another former administration official saying, quote, "the Biden gap yesterday is just so infuriating. Nobody wants him out there." So we will wait and see to see how much we see a former, you know, President Biden on the campaign trail in these final days based on some of those sentiments.

Meanwhile, Harris on the campaign trail today still is reaching a bipartisan ticket. That's the message of the campaign wants to get out there. Early in Raleigh, she was talking about the fact that she believes her ticket is a unity over country ticket. And we can expect that message continue into Harrisburg. Take a listen to what she said just moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: And it is time for a new chapter where we stop with the pointing fingers at each other. And instead, let us lock arms with one another, knowing we have so much more in common than what separates us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FREEMAN: So again, Boris, Brianna, that's the tone that here at the Harris campaign really trying to push as their closing message in these final days of the campaign. And I'll just note one thing about where we are right now. We're in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. As we noted, Dauphin County specifically. this is a blue county. It's going to be important for the Harris campaign to run up the score here if they hope to win Pennsylvania.

But interestingly enough, there are a lot of red counties around here that have been trending more Democratic in the in the past few years. So again, this area is one really to watch come election night, Boris and Brianna, because this area of central Pennsylvania really could be pivotable -- pivotal, I should say, to who wins the Commonwealth. Boris, Brianna?

KEILAR: All right. Danny, thank you so much for that report from Harrisburg. And for Vice President Harris, it may come down to that so-called blue wall, not just Pennsylvania, but Wisconsin and Michigan as well. And these three states could help her get to that 270 electoral votes. And three states that historically do vote for the same candidate.

SANCHEZ: Yeah, it's a very similar sort of group of voters. And today, new CNN polling shows the Vice President with a narrow lead in two of those states, up five and six points in Michigan and Wisconsin, respectively. Still a deadlock with Trump in Pennsylvania.

CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten joins us now from New York with the new polling. Harry, I notice you're not at the board again. But he's got his yellow board and that's what matters. Are you seeing any trend lines in these key states, Harry? HARRY ENTEN, CNN SENIOR DATA REPORTER: Not really, no. And I'll also

just note, I've even upgraded it so now I can say other things on there as well. Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania. Look, if we look at the polling that we have out now, you compare it to the polling that we had out back in August in those same states, there's no movement. It's the exact same picture.

You know, you mentioned Pennsylvania being a tie, Michigan plus five. It was plus five back in August. How about Wisconsin? Plus six back then, plus six now. So there's nothing going on. This has been the same race basically now for months on end. And as -- you know, I told our colleague Brian Stelter, I've really kind of run out of ways to say that this race is too close to call. But that doesn't mean I'm going to stop trying, guys.

KEILAR: Okay, now take it to the map, the electoral map.

ENTEN: Yeah. So let's take it to the map, because we show you those polls in those states and you go, well, what the heck does that actually mean? So why don't we do this? What we're going to do is we're going to take the polling averages in the states in which we didn't have new polls today.

And we're going to give Michigan and Wisconsin over to Kamala Harris. And we're going to keep Pennsylvania in yellow as a toss-up. This is how important Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania is. Because if Pennsylvania is a toss-up, well, that means that no candidate gets up to 270 electoral votes.

And that's why we've been concentrating on it so much. At this particular hour, there's, simply put, no way to know who's ahead in Pennsylvania. And because we have no way of knowing who's ahead in Pennsylvania, we have no idea which candidate is actually favored to get over that 270 electoral vote mark. And therefore, this race remains too close to call.

SANCHEZ: Harry, what does history say about how important these blue wall states are for Harris?

ENTEN: I mean, look, let's -- you know I like jumping into that time machine, as Brianna likes to say. And look, if we get in the DeLorean and we go back, when was the last time a Democrat won the presidency without Michigan? You have to go all the way back to Jerry Ford back in 1976. He, of course, was the Republican nominee for president. He was from Michigan.

No wonder Jimmy Carter didn't carry it. How about Wisconsin? You got to go all the way back since 1960 for the last time a Democrat won the presidency without carrying Wisconsin.

And Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, you have to go all the way back to Harry S. Truman, the first time my father ever voted in a presidential election, 1948, to find a time that a Democrat won without carrying the state of Pennsylvania.

The bottom line is this, we have been talking throughout this campaign that Kamala Harris's best path to the White House is through the Great Lake battleground states, through that great big blue wall.

[14:10:10]

At this particular point, that still seems to be the case. And at this particular hour, she's one state short. If Donald Trump can go into Pennsylvania, steal that from Harris, then chances are, he is going to be heading back to the White House. And I think I did pretty well with my yellow board here because this is all you really do need to know.

SANCHEZ: That was fantastic. And it really put things into perspective. I should note, Harry, in a fact check that somewhere will make Jake Tapper smile. Pennsylvania is a commonwealth.

ENTEN: It's a commonwealth. It's a commonwealth.

SANCHEZ: It's a Commonwealth.

ENTEN: It's a Commonwealth.

SANCHEZ: Commonwealth, Commonwealth, Commonwealth.

ENTEN: You know what, I wish I could. But, you know, why did some of these commonwealths have to be so difficult? Can't they just be like the other states?

SANCHEZ: They're special, Harry. They're special.

ENTEN: They're special. Just like you two are.

KEILAR: Thanks.

SANCHEZ: Just like you, buddy. Harry Enten --

ENTEN: Thanks, buddy.

SANCHEZ: Thank you so much, man.

ENTEN: Bye.

SANCHEZ: We want to discuss the implications of this polling and more with Pollster and Communications Strategist Frank Luntz.

Frank, thank you so much for being with us and for bearing through that silliness with Harry Enten. Why do you think Harris is up in Michigan and Wisconsin but still in this deadlocked race in Pennsylvania? I wonder what you're hearing from focus groups that might explain that?

FRANK LUNTZ, POLLSTER AND COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST: Well, I'm not convinced that she's up in those states or where things are in Pennsylvania because in the end, there are voter blocs that are still shifting. The one that I focus on most for Pennsylvania is organized labor union members because they do vote, they do participate.

They're particularly eager to vote this time. And if you're a government worker or a teacher's union member, you are voting for Harris overwhelmingly. But the people who work with their hands, the Teamsters and the trades, Donald Trump is drawing an unusual percentage among these people and it not only makes him viable in some of these states, it could be the difference.

The other group I'm watching are Latinos, but we've seen a wide variety of polling there. In some cases, Harris is up by 10 points. In other polls, I've seen it up by 22. That group matters in Arizona, matters in Nevada, as well as in the industrial states.

So you have to look at this by group. For Harris, nothing matters more than 18 to 29-year-old women. If she can make them a higher percentage of the total vote than they normally make up, that's her road to victory. For Donald Trump, it's key to him to ensure that his own vote turns out in record numbers, because 2020 is not enough for him. He's got to do something that he hasn't done since 2016, which is that everyone who says they support him actually go out and vote.

And one last thing, the early vote right now suggests that the Republicans are doing better now than they have in either of the last two elections. I'm not convinced of whether that is cannibalizing the eventual vote on Election Day, but I tell you that it's got Democrats worried as hell, because something clearly is happening out there.

KEILAR: Yeah, they're seeing it in North Carolina. I was just talking to someone there, and there is some worry for sure. These polls that we're looking at here and we're talking about Frank, notably, they were done before President Biden made his comments, seemingly describing Trump supporters as, quote, "garbage."

The Harris campaign is trying to downplay the effect of those comments. Of course they are. But I wonder if you think that those comments are going to move voters.

LUNTZ: It's going to be huge because this is not some comedian saying something stupid and offensive at a rally where he should have been basically disinvited. This is the President of the United States endorsing his Vice President saying something.

And I know that there's different interpretations about what he said. It's still inappropriate. He still shouldn't be doing it. And I've watched Trump already seize this. The basket of deplorables was significant, was meaningful in 2016. In 2024, I can promise you that this is going to drive Trump turnout. He's doing it already, I can see -- I'm sure there's going to be ads on as soon as tonight about this. This may be a turning point for those final 3%, and that's all it is who still need to be persuaded.

And I'll offer you guys something. We're going to be talking to them over the next couple of days. If you want to do something on Monday, the day before, focusing on these last persuadables, I will tell you that Trump offends them and they don't like him as a person. But Harris scares them because they don't know where she stands and they feel that she hasn't been clear on some of the key issues, most notably immigration. Trump has got his weaknesses, Harris has her weaknesses, and they seem

to be canceling each other out, which is why Harry is correct, this election is too close to call.

[14:15:09]

SANCHEZ: So, Frank, there is an aspect to this new CNN polling I wanted to get your thoughts on. It continues to show a gender gap. Harris obviously doing better with women. Trump polling higher with men in two of the blue wall states. You had actually spoken to some men who previously voted for Democrats, but now, they tell you they plan to vote for Trump. What is that about?

LUNTZ: It's about feeling ignored, forgotten, even betrayed. It's a feeling that Harris has been very public about reaching out to women. And no one can argue with that. Look at her ads. Look at the issues that she's speaking about. They're issues that are meant to draw female voters to the polls are meant to influence those last undecided persuadables.

The men are more interested in prices. The men are more interested in immigration. Women prioritize healthcare and they prioritize women's rights, women's health. And even in the ads, you see who she's focused on.

So if it's okay for her to do that and surround yourself with women that up to now have been left out of the political process, then isn't it okay for Trump to surround himself with men who feel like they are being left out right now? In the end, Trump has been very unsuccessful in reaching out to working women.

But this election may actually be determined by men in their 40s and 50s who were Democratic voters in 2016 and 2020 and simply feel like the Democratic Party has left them.

In the end, it's not that Trump has pulled them in, it's that Harris has pushed them away.

KEILAR: Frank Luntz, great to talk to you. Thank you so much for your perspective.

LUNTZ: It's a privilege. Thank you.

KEILAR: And ahead this hour on CNN News Central, House Speaker Mike Johnson vows no Obamacare if Trump is elected. With millions of Americans relying on the popular Obamacare for insurance, is that really a winning message? And the FBI has a warning about election scams, what you need to be looking out for.

SANCHEZ: Plus, vaccine denier, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says Trump promised to put him in charge of the CDC and other health agencies. That has current health officials alarmed to say the least. That story and more coming up on CNN News Central.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:22:20]

SANCHEZ: President Biden is facing backlash from Republicans after he made comments that refer to Donald Trump supporters as garbage, something that the White House has refuted. In fact, we just heard from White House Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre about this moments ago. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KARINE JEAN-PIERRE, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: So he was regarding to the comedian and I quote, "I refer to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump's supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage, which is the only word I can think of to describe it. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable.

That's all I meant to say. The comments, the comments at the rally don't reflect who we are as a nation." And to your question -- your other question that you asked, no, he does not view Trump supporters or anybody who supports Trump as garbage. That is not what he views.

The president has said this for more than three years now. He has said multiple times that he is a president for all. It doesn't matter if you live in a red state. It doesn't matter if you live in a blue state. He has said this himself. I have said it on his behalf. He believes that he's a president for all.

(EN VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Let's discuss the presidential campaign along with the House Race in New York's 19th district with the Congressman who represents that district, Republican Marcus Molinaro joins us now. Congressman, thank you so much for being with us.

We just heard Donald Trump responding to these comments from President Biden attacking Biden and Harris, suggesting that you can't lead America if you don't love Americans. I just wanted to give you an opportunity to share your thoughts on what you think of this whole back and forth.

MARCUS MOLINARO, CONGRESSMAN FROM 19TH DISTRICT: Well, I think first, President Biden's comments were both offensive and unfortunate at the same time. You know, the people that I represent, you know, they're kind of tired of this rhetoric that forces one half of America to feel like they're less worthy the other half of America.

And with all due respect, you know, we watch the footage of the rally at Madison Square Garden. And one of your competitors, MSNBC, actually had Nazi rally footage, you know, playing over good Americans, New Yorkers, supporting their candidate. I'm the second most bipartisan member of Congress. You don't get to that standard without working across the aisle. And I will tell you that the people I represent, they want us to work to get the job done for both.

And without question, you can't be -- you can't represent people if you think half of the people you represent are garbage. I certainly don't. That's why, by the way, I take issue even with my own opponent, who's a Washington, D.C., a lawyer who just doesn't come out in the community to actually listen to voters and hear their anger and their frustration. And by the way, to some degree, betrayal from those who treat them as second class citizens.

SANCHEZ: I do want to ask you, Congressman, about your race with Josh Riley. But first I want to clarify something and I should let you know, I'm not going to speak for what any other network does so I'm not going to respond to that portion of your response.

But I do wonder if you hold the same standard that you describe for former President Trump because he has used all sorts of language to talk about Democrats calling them human scum. Previous members of his administration have talked about the way that he's spoken about fallen service members.

And even if you don't believe them, you can just listen to what he said publicly about John McCain calling him a loser. He's described immigrants as being genetically defective, having bad genes that make them commit crimes. He's insulted cities like Baltimore and Detroit and Milwaukee. He's called some disgusting rodent infested. I could go down that list. I'm wondering if you hold the same standard for his rhetoric.

MOLINARO: I call balls and strikes. And I said, even after the rally in Madison Square Garden, I didn't find the shock comedian funny. I found his jokes offensive. And I think the people that I represent want us to cut through all of it and in the closing message that we're all trying to obviously present to the people we represent. And for me, it's very important.

Every American is worthy of a government that respects them. Now, I represent a part of the state of New York that knows what it's like to be overlooked, have policies forced on them by Washington and Albany without any concern for their wellbeing.

And by the way, yes, specifically to my race, have a candidate who simply parachuted into a district, spent $25 million, you know, fabricating his own background and lying about mine. It's offensive to people who see their tax dollars being funneled to those who've come into this country illegally stealing from --

SANCHEZ: Congressman, I'll get to your race. I promise you I will. But you haven't specifically answered about President Trump, former President Trump and the language that he uses. Do you condemn it? Do you condemn it?

MOLINARO: Boris, I call balls and strikes. The language is inappropriate. I don't refer to the people I represent that way. I don't think that anybody ought to. And again, what President Biden said yesterday, by the way, is only a week after the Vice President of the United States on the front stoop of her residence, the one that we pay for as taxpayers, you know, referred to the former President as a fascist.

And again, it wasn't your media outlet, your channel, your station. But still, to refer to good Americans and New Yorkers as participating in a Nazi rally as elected officials did from New York City, it's just all inappropriate.

And why -- by the way, for me, yeah, I don't think it's right. And we ought to cut through it. We ought to be weaving together people in order to solve the problems of facing communities and the nation we serve. It's how I became the most bipartisan member of the New York State delegation. It's what I committed to.

SANCHEZ: The accusation of being a fascist had come from some folks in former President Trump's administration. I do want to point out that your congressional race, as you've noted, is a very tough one. You're seeking a second term, one of the most competitive districts in the country, one that Trump won in 2016. Joe Biden won it in 2020. When you look at the presidential race, how do you think it might impact your race? Because at the end of the day, this is about turnout, right?

MOLINARO: Well, it is. But again, as I said, I represent a part of the state that has seen policies admittedly crafted by Democrats in the state Capitol that make us less affordable and less safe. I have an opponent who spent the last 20 years arguing the legal case to dismantle border security, embracing the very policies that have made us less safe and less affordable. And yeah, so residents that I represent start to begin to feel like they're second class citizens.

Only a couple months ago, the Governor of New York siphoned $5 billion of New Yorkers tax money from schools, special education, athletics services for veterans to house individuals who've entered this country illegally in the city of New York because they embrace a sanctuary city policy.

It's the same sort of underpinning that we're, you know, that you've heard all along. People feel like their government doesn't respect them. And for me, whether you're Republican or Democrat, my job is to try to get this government to work for you. And for me, I work with anybody who wants to solve problems, to face the people I represent.

SANCHEZ: Some folks who feel that their government forces rules upon them and they've made this clear through past elections and through current polling are women, and specifically on the issue of abortion. Now, you have said that you would not support a national abortion ban. Your opponent, Josh Riley, says that folks shouldn't trust you on that issue. I wonder, if Vice President Harris wins, would you go along with her proposal to codify the protections of Roe vs. Wade into law?

MOLINARO: I want to be sure first that the laws in the state of New York are not diminished at all. And that, I think, is the first priority.