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Erin Burnett Outfront
Trump Speaks For First Time Since Iowa Caucuses; Rubio Rides Momentum Into New Hampshire; Trump: I Had More Votes Than Rubio; Cruz Speaking in South Carolina; Clinton Wins Iowa, Sanders Refuses to Concede; Trump: "We Came Very Close to Winning". Aired 7-8p ET
Aired February 02, 2016 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[19:00:03] DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: So I won't be influenced by the lobbyists and, you know, et cetera, et cetera. But I don't know. I was talking to Scott about this before, I don't know that it's appreciated really by the voters. I'm the only one in -- on both sides that's self-funding. I'm putting up my own money. And I don't know that the voters appreciate it. When they go in to vote, I don't think they'll say, you know, I'm going to vote for Trump because, he's self-funding and he's not going to be influenced by lobbyists and special interests, et cetera.
I'm going to tell them. But I tell them and sometimes they like it, but I don't think it's something they vote for. Which is a shame. Because it's actually a very big thing. You understand that. It's a very big element. It's a very big element. If you can have somebody that can actually self-fund, and not be influenced by bad decisions, by people that are looking for themselves, or looking for the company or country they represent. That's a real positive. I just -- but I just don't know -- I just don't know whether or not the voters appreciate it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You talk about self-funding, but you've received --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the first time that you've run. What did you learn in Iowa that you're going to try and apply down the line?
TRUMP: I've learned that they're great people. I really -- I thought the people in Iowa were fantastic. I think they're just great people. And, you know, obviously I was second. I had the largest vote-getting in the history of a Republican primary except for one. And I brought many of those extra people in. And they also had, as you know, the largest turnout in the history of Republican primaries in terms of Iowa, by far. Not even close. I think it was like 50,000 or 60,000 more than they've ever had before. So, you know, I just, I learned that they are terrific people in Iowa.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you worry --
(INAUDIBLE QUESTION)
TRUMP: Yes, I will. I look forward to that, yes.
(INAUDIBLE QUESTION)
Who? Am I going after who? Who said that?
(INAUDIBLE)
Oh. I don't think so. I have a very good relationship with Marco. I like him. I don't see that necessarily. I mean --
(INAUDIBLE QUESTION)
Are you talking about in Iowa?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
TRUMP: Well, that could have been with the debate. I think it could have been the debate. I think some people were disappointed that I didn't go in the debate. If I had to do it again, I would have done the exact same thing. And the reason is, you know why? Because I raised $6 million for the vets in one hour. So if I took a second place instead of a first place and could give the vets $6 million, I'll do that all day long.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. Trump, do you worry that you banked too much --
TRUMP: What's that? Who?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you worry that you banked too much --
TRUMP: Excuse me? Behind.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Will you consider spending -- on the ground game --
TRUMP: On the what?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On ads?
TRUMP: Oh, on ads. Well, we'll going to be spending money. We'll going to be spending a lot of money. We'll be spending money on ads and we'll be spending money on the ground game. Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you worry that you banked too much on your own celebrity, in a crowd, in a place like Iowa and less on the ground game?
TRUMP: I can't help it. I mean, whether I'm celebrity. I mean, this is me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But too much focus on the celebrity and not enough focus on the ground game there?
TRUMP: Look, I think most people say I did a great job in Iowa. I came in second. I spent far less than anybody else. And had I known I was going to be liked as much as I am in Iowa, and people did like me, you will understand that. I would have maybe spent a little bit more and I would have been there a little bit more and maybe I would have won it. But, you know, I'm very happy with it. I have seven delegates right, you know, at the top. You look at other people, in all fairness, senators, governors there. You know, they're way down.
When I have 25 percent, or 26 percent, and they have one percent, hey, but you people don't mention them. The one thing is, you people don't mention them. You don't mention all of the other names. Now, you mentioned the person, Marco, good guy. But he came in third. And they make it sound like he had a victory but I didn't. But I came in second. And I was -- excuse me, I was -- I started off on 17th -- on 17th. When I first started, I had nothing. And then I inched my way up, went pretty rapidly actually. And now I'm leading everything. And I did OK in Iowa, pretty good in Iowa. Yes?
(INAUDIBLE QUESTION)
TRUMP: Well, I think we're going to have a great success here. I think it's a very much different kind of process. This isn't a caucuses process, this is much different. This is a normal voting process. Iowa is, you know, a much different kind of a thing. Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) -- and he said you spoke personally that one day he was your friend and the next day --
TRUMP: Well, he insulted me. I mean, he started with the insults, and, as you know. And he insulted Ben Carson by doing what he did to Ben Carson, that was a disgrace. And he insulted the people of Iowa by doing a voter violation form that nobody's even seen before, which was disgraceful. So, no, no, he's a man of himself.
(INAUDIBLE QUESTION)
[19:05:22] No, I'm going -- I have thousands of people going. No, but we don't have that in mind. I like Mike Huckabee. But no, I don't think he's going to be there. I did. I did. No, I like him. Well, he's left the race. I mean, so you know, I feel pretty good about that. He's a good man. Yes?
(INAUDIBLE QUESTION)
Well, we're adding some, and we're adding them pretty rapidly. Yes? Mark? Go ahead.
(INAUDIBLE QUESTION)
I think everybody, Mark. You never know. I mean, they're talking about some people that are down to two and three, and they could emerge. I don't think they will. But people in your world are saying they possibly could. So, I don't really see one or two, I see, you know, there could be a number. I'd love to finish first. You know, again, it would still not be horrible, because you're competing against a lot of very talented people that have been politicians all their lives. I've been a politician for six months. But I know, I would love to finish first. It wouldn't be horrible but, you know, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. I can think of worse things. But I'd like to finish first. I think we will finish first. I would like to finish first. OK?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Trump, you talk about self-funding your campaign.
TRUMP: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But you received --
TRUMP: Only, just so you understand, I'm totally self-funding my campaign other than small donations. Because people send in small donations for $10, $15, $20, $100.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sixty five million dollars for small donations, right?
TRUMP: No, that's merchandise sales. That's a lot of merchandise sales.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no, I believe, as far as the donations they received to your campaign that aren't from the loans you've made --
TRUMP: That is a small amount of money compared to what I put in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a third of what --
TRUMP: It's very hard when somebody sends in a check for $17.50, and $9, and $200, very hard to send that money back.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What does it say to you, those people who are sending you their hard-earned money when you say, I'm still funding my campaign --
TRUMP: I am. And I always make the preference. I always make a reference to that. And I do it every time. OK. Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What will Senator Brown do to your campaign in the state?
TRUMP: Well, he's somebody that I respect, and I've always liked. And he's very, very respected throughout the country, but he's very respected here. And everybody wanted his endorsement. And I'm very honored that he's giving it to me. And he's going to give it to me on the stage.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) For abortion rights, you know, for a ban on assault weapons, you're very much not for those things and you've been very vocal about that. Do you think that --
TRUMP: That happens with endorsements. No, that's pretty common with endorsements. Pretty common with endorsements --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of your supporters say (INAUDIBLE) --
(INAUDIBLE)
TRUMP: Yes. (INAUDIBLE)
TRUMP: Well, I probably had a tinge because a poll came out, you know, a few days before that said I was about five points up. So maybe there was a tinge. And again, it may have been the debate which would have set records if I did it. So I would have liked that. But the fact is, it could have been the debate, maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but I would have done it exactly the same way. Because I raised -- Scott, we raised, in one hour, I raised $6 million for the vets. And I would never, ever give that up to go between first and second in Iowa. Wouldn't be worth it. So thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On the state of the democratic race, and Secretary Clinton's e-mails --
TRUMP: I think her e-mail situation is very serious. I have a feeling she's being protected by the Democrats. Because it just looks to me to be more serious than anybody that I've seen, including General Petraeus. If you watch and study and read about various lawyers that really -- you know, that's what they do, they really feel that she's in grave danger. And what she's done is against the law. Not just against rules, it's against the law. I just don't know what's going to happen. Because I don't know whether or not the Democrats, Bob, are going to protect her.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Trump --
TRUMP: Is that OK?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the democratic race --
TRUMP: I never saw a race where they're flipping coins. I mean, they're flipping coins. What kind of a race is that? It's ridiculous. I thought it was terrible. I mean, you call it a tie. But to flip coins and say, OK, you're going to get this district, we're going to flip a coin.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is Senator Cruz running a dirty campaign?
TRUMP: I don't know, I can't tell you yet. I think he certainly was dirty, what he did to Ben Carson was terrible. I think what he did, the voter violation form I thought that was terrible, actually. I thought it was terrible. And you know, when they said that Ben Carson is out of the race, and come vote for him, I thought that was terrible. OK? Thank you, everybody. Thank you. Thank you. It's a long ways away. We'll see.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's the closing argument going to be like --
TRUMP: You watch.
[19:10:13] ERIN BURNETT, CNN ANCHOR: All right. That is Donald Trump there. Good evening. I'm Erin Burnett.
OUTFRONT tonight, the breaking news. Donald Trump announcing a major endorsement from the former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown, just a week away from the New Hampshire primary. It's also the first time Trump has spoken publicly since conceding to Ted Cruz last night in Iowa.
OUTFRONT tonight, David Gergen, he served as advisor to four presidents including Reagan and Clinton. Co-chair for the Ted Cruz campaign in New Hampshire, former Senator Bob Smith. And Trump supporter Jeffrey Lord, he served as political director for Ronald Reagan.
OK. Good to have all of you with us. I want to get straight to what Donald Trump just said. Obviously we have the significant endorsement, Senator. I know this is significant to you. But you now have him saying, admitting there, look, it could have been the debate. You've said it several times.
The debate could have been why he lost Iowa. But he would do it all over again because he raised $6 million for vets. He admitted the debate could have been why. And he said looking back now, he could have spent a little bit more money and spent a little bit more time in Iowa. So, you have Donald Trump there, Jack, making -- going back and being a little bit, I mean, maybe introspective as way too strong of a word, but admitting that he made some mistakes.
JEFFREY LORD, DONALD TRUMP'S SUPPORTER: Yes.
BOB SMITH, NEW HAMPSHIRE CO-CHAIR, TED CRUZ CAMPAIGN: I'm sorry, was that question to me, Erin?
BURNETT: So, Jeff, sorry. Go ahead, Jeff.
SMITH: That's right. OK.
LORD: Yes, I think he's looking at it. You know, as anybody does. You go through something like this and you want to see if you did something wrong, what you could change, et cetera. I mean, I personally think perhaps he was not in Iowa often enough in the beginning when he should have been. Yes. Some of these people have been in Iowa, have been practically pitching camp in Iowa for over a year. So, perhaps that was the fault. But you know, look, he came in second, and a very close second at that. It's only separated from Ted Cruz by a couple points.
This was a guy when he announced that, first of all, people never thought he was going to run in the first place, then he announces they thought he wouldn't file his papers. I mean, you know the whole story here. Here he is, the businessman, he's never run for office in his life, and he comes in second in Iowa, which is sort of an unlikely place for him to be. So, I think he did very well. And now it's, you know, it's on to New Hampshire.
BURNETT: And it's on to New Hampshire. And of course, the polls there show him with a very, very strong lead. But, you know, he's looking at those now a little bit differently, saying look, that last- minute poll that gave him a big lead in Iowa, may have ended up hurting him. And here's what else he had to say about Iowa.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I think that we did very well. I didn't expect to do so well. I guess what did happen is one poll came out that we were four or five points ahead. And that maybe built up a false expectation for some people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: So, David, you know, this is a man who always read through his polls at the top of every speech. But, you know, he's right, those polls at the end that gave him the lead, that gave him a pretty solid lead outside the margin of error. So, perhaps people, did have some people think, oh, don't worry, I don't know, we don't need to vote. But the final polling in Iowa showed him winning. In New Hampshire right now, polls show him with a very, very big lead. Do you buy it?
DAVID GERGEN, FORMER PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER: Do I buy the current --
BURNETT: Yes. Do you buy the current polling?
GERGEN: I think the biggest question right now is whether the air goes out of his balloon, whether you see the crowds starts to drop off and whether he can actually pull off New Hampshire or not. If he does pull off New Hampshire, and I think his more reflective mood I think will help him in New Hampshire.
BURNETT: He is more reflective even right there --
GERGEN: I think he needs to show a different side of himself. And he's get cut back on the bombast, cut back on the narcissism, and show them that he's a bigger personality than they think, that he can take a punch and come back. And then if he wins New Hampshire, then I think Iowa becomes a lot less important. Because he's back on the road again. So, there's a great deal now hinging on what happens in New Hampshire.
BURNETT: Yes.
GERGEN: Yes. He's got -- I think he needs to win New Hampshire in order to get that aura of a winner back. He lost some of that aura.
BURNETT: And that aura of course is so important to him. As he said losing to me is going to be coming in number two and he was talking about Iowa. Right. That aura of being a winner. Senator Smith, Cruz pulled off, you know, a few weeks ago he was the presumptive front- runner in Iowa. So, if he'd lost, he would have looked like a loser. Then all these polls came out, it looked like he was behind. So, he pulled out this win. And it's a very big win for Ted Cruz. When you look at New Hampshire, this is a state where, you know, he hasn't run as strongly in the polling. Do you think he has the momentum now to pull out a win?
SMITH: Oh, absolutely. If you look at Iowa, 51,000 votes-plus, more than any other candidate in the history of the Iowa caucuses, that's a tremendous win. It's how he got that win, Erin, that's the story, which pertains to New Hampshire. He had a tremendous ground game. Grass roots people. All kinds of data. So that we're able to identify our voters and get them out to vote. And that's what it's about here in New Hampshire. And, you know, there are a lot of candidates in this race, as Mr. Trump said. Good candidates. Good people. But we're running here as a conservative. This man is a consistent, conservative, when he gets there, he does exactly what he said he would do.
And that's what we want here in New Hampshire. And I might add, anyone who is familiar with the politics here in New Hampshire know full well that conservatives win here. Mel Thompson, the former governor, Bob Smith, two Senate terms and three house terms, Gordon Humphrey. I mean, there are plenty of examples of very conservative people who win here when you stand on principle. You can win.
[19:15:30] BURNETT: All right. You know, Scott Brown, you know, at one point, was a major hero of the Tea Party. Obviously, you just heard a question there of Donald Trump cite his much more liberal views on something like an assault weapons ban which turned off some Tea Party supporters. But nonetheless, he was a hero of that. Rode that wave, and nationally known name endorsing Donald Trump tonight. Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FMR. SEN. SCOTT BROWN (R), MASSACHUSETTS: I'm here to endorse Donald Trump. And you're going to obviously ask why. For me, it's been a very long process, as you know, we had our no bs backyard barbecues, we had ten of the candidates over to the house, grab a beer and a hot dog and actually come and meet, listen, learn, understand where they stand, and what they're going to offer this country. And in New Hampshire in particular. And one common theme came about throughout the whole process. I'm saying to myself, what is the biggest problem right now in Washington?
Well, it's clearly the dysfunction in Washington, the fact that they don't talk, they don't work together. Very rarely does anything get done. And the one person who has the independence and can be the change agent to actually get Washington working again, it was very clear to me that that was Donald Trump.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Jeff Lord, will an endorsement like that actually moving the needle for him at all in New Hampshire at this point?
SMITH: No, honestly I don't believe so at all --
LORD: Sure. I mean --
BURNETT: Go ahead, Jeff.
LORD: Yes. Well, you know, I listened to Senator Smith, whom I met back in the Reagan days and have enormous respect for. And I'm sure he's going to disagree, but I just think that when you are involved, I mean, he was the Scott Brown was the nominee for the United States Senate the last time around, surely he's got some folks in New Hampshire that like him. So, yes, I would think. But the more important thing is, I think that like President Reagan, who brought in conservatives and eventually moderates together in the party, Donald Trump is been able here, when you've got Sarah Palin on the one hand and you've got Scott Brown on the other and you're both for Donald Trump, and I think that says something about his ability to bring people together.
BURNETT: All right. Well, thanks very much to all three of you. We're going to take a brief break. Our breaking news coverage continues. And Marco Rubio -- it was Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, and Ted Cruz all of them broke that voting record. All three of them. More votes than had ever been cast before for any other individuals in Iowa. Is it now a three-horse race? And Hillary Clinton narrowly edging out Bernie Sanders in Iowa. What's the one thing she's missing? She'll tell CNN, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:21:40] BURNETT: And another big winner in Iowa, Marco Rubio. The presidential candidate now trying to do well in New Hampshire. He had a strong, unexpectedly strong third-place finish and tying on delegates. Headlines across the country, still glowing. You might actually think Rubio was the winner. But moments ago, Donald Trump obviously said he saw things a little differently.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Now, you mentioned the person, Marco, good guy. But he came in third. And they make it sound like he had a victory but I didn't. But I came in second.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Can Rubio stop Donald Trump and Ted Cruz? Dana Bash is OUTFRONT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The third-place winner in Iowa declaring victory.
MARCO RUBIO (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We spent our energy in Iowa growing --
BASH: Marco Rubio's brunt finish is garnering nearly as much buzz as a frontrunner as he looks towards the granite state primary next week.
RUBIO: We had a great time in Iowa and a great turnout and now we are ready to do it here in New Hampshire.
BASH: Rubio's New Hampshire goal is to edge out Chris Christie, John Kasich and Jeb Bush here. To consolidate fractured support and dollars from mainstream Republicans around him. Other candidates pouring everything into New Hampshire are not pleased. GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R-NJ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: When Senator
Rubio gets here, when the boy in the bubble gets here, I hope you guys ask him some questions. Because it's time for him to start answering questions. He wants to say this race is over?
BASH: Rubio's strong Iowa showing appears to have helped Cruz with his big victory, because Rubio's siphoned votes from Donald Trump who came in second. We asked Cruz about that stage in Iowa just moments after he declared victory.
(on camera): Have you already sent Marco Rubio a bouquet of flowers for taking Donald Trump's vote away? I mean, that was a help to you, right?
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, listen, I recognize that folks may want to talk about the third-place finisher, that's fine. You can talk about that. I'm focused on our victory tonight. I'm focused on our victory tonight. And the fact that courageous conservatives across Iowa, all across the country, generated the most votes ever given to any Republican victor in a Republican primary.
BASH (voice-over): Cruz is focused on Rubio, slamming him today for working with Democrats on immigration.
CRUZ: It was Marco in the FOX hole with Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer shooting at us.
BASH: But beyond New Hampshire, Rubio sources say they hope to cement his status in South Carolina. Where he just got a big boost from the state's popular Republican Senator Tim Scott.
SEN. TIM SCOTT (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: I'm putting my confidence and my trust in Marco Rubio, because I believe that he takes us to that better future.
BASH: No matter what, Rubio will still have to contend with Donald Trump, ahead in most New Hampshire polls by double digits. But that was before the man was so successful at selling himself as a winner failed to take that title in Iowa.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: And Erin, we heard Donald Trump sort of mocking the idea that Marco Rubio should consider himself as any kind of victor in Iowa, because he did finished third, but those are the rules of politics. And we saw it here tonight. You see there, just beginning to break down the stage behind me, but not that long ago, this was a packed room. Over 700 people, they had to close the doors because the fire marshal said nobody else could come in. You definitely had the feeling of momentum here. A lot of voters who we talked to said that they watched the results last night. They came here to get their own look at him. They were considering other candidates like John Kasich, but thought, maybe Marco Rubio could be our guy. If he can keep those crowds coming and close the deal, that is exactly what the whole idea of momentum is all about -- Erin. BURNETT: All right. Dana, thank you.
And OUTFRONT now, the former editorial page editor of New Hampshire's Union Leader Drew Cline, he's endorsed Marco Rubio, and our political commentator and the host of "The Ben Ferguson Show," Ben Ferguson.
Ben, look, you know, Ted Cruz, I know you've got to be thrilled here. A lot of your predictions turned out right.
BEN FERGUSON, HOST, "THE BEN FERGUSON SHOW": Yes.
BURNETT: Ted Cruz coming out on top. But Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, every one of them got more votes than any other single Republican has in caucus history in Iowa. So, they all broke the record. Just, you know, yes, there was an order one, two and three but they all broke the record. So, do you think New Hampshire is really becoming a much more important state for Ted Cruz? Something that he has to win?
FERGUSON: No, I don't. And I think the fact that people are now putting this pressure on him is unrealistic. I think he's going to do just fine there. But you have a night where he won enough place where he said he was going to win. And the voters trusted him. You now have him moving forward. And the bottom-line is, at 6:00 yesterday, we were talking about Trump running the table. And that did not happen. He almost came in third place. Yes, you have Rubio who did well. I was expecting him to do well. But let's not overstate, he was in third place.
Ted Cruz is in first place. He won, and he won by multiple digit lead here. That is a big night for him. And now you've got Rubio, has got one big issue, and that is this, he's got to go toe-to-toe with Donald Trump and he is now the official establishment candidate. He's taken that badge from Jeb Bush. The question is, are voters going to like him now with him being the new establishment guy. He's going to have to overcome that.
[19:26:43] BURNETT: So, you just heard, Drew though, you heard Dana saying 700 people were in that room, they're coming to check out Marco Rubio because of how well he did. That she feels the momentum. How well do you think he could do in New Hampshire? Because again, the polls, and those last-minute polls in Iowa did not show the Marco Rubio surge that actually turned out to be the case. Right? So, part of the reason he's the hero today in so many articles is because he's significantly outperformed. Can he do it in New Hampshire? Drew, can you hear me?
DREW CLINE, FORMER EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR, NEW HAMPSHIRE UNION LEADER: Oh, I'm so sorry, yes, I can hear you. I thought you were still talking to Ben. I apologize. Yes, Marco Rubio can certainly do it in New Hampshire. And you would think that -- you've got to think about with going from Iowa to New Hampshire, you've got the whole trajectory issue. I mean, Donald Trump is on a downward trajectory. Marco Rubio is on an upward trajectory. I'm here with you guys because the campaign wanted me to be here and called and ask, hey, you know, we want you to be here. I was going to be at Exeter. I really wanted to be at that rally to see those 700 people. That's one of the great venues in New Hampshire. And as Dana said, that momentum seems to be there for Rubio. And I've been picking up on that for a few weeks. And, you know, it doesn't seem to be there for some of the other candidates. So, I would take issue with what Ben said a few minutes ago about Marco being the establishment candidate. In New Hampshire, I don't think that's true.
BURNETT: All right.
(CROSSTALK)
You know, I'm going to interrupt you briefly just because Ted Cruz is now talking about last night. We took a little bit of Donald Trump. Let's just dip in here on Ted for a moment.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
CRUZ: That the next president of the United States is not going to be chosen by the lobbyists and the Washington establishment and the big money. Instead, the next president of the United States is going to be chosen by the most powerful force in all of politics, we, the people, the grassroots.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
And South Carolina is going to play such a pivotal role in the next three weeks. South Carolina's role historically has been choosing presidents. And South Carolina this year is going to ensure that the next Republican nominee, and the next president of the United States, is a true and proven conservative.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
Let me tell you, I'm so proud with the team of leaders we have here in South Carolina. I'm so proud with Gary and Wendy and Mike and Kevin. Kevin, thank you for your support tonight. And I'm so proud with Charlie Condou's (ph) great leadership in our state and great friendship. And I'm so honored to have the support of Congressman Jeff Duncan.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
[19:30:00] ERIN BURNETT, CNN ANCHOR: All right. So, that's Ted Cruz talking in South Carolina.
Now, Ben, I want to ask you about, why is he in South Carolina? If he's making a real play in New Hampshire, I mean, he's doing rallies over the next few days, but he's in South Carolina right now.
BEN FERGUSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Because he's looking at the long game here. He always knew that South Carolina was a place I think he thought he could do very well.
In New Hampshire, it's a place where I think he is looking at this realistic. Any candidate goes there wants to win it. But I also think he realizes if he comes in the top three, he's in a very good situation going into South Carolina.
He also got the monkey off his back by actually winning Iowa. And then you go in to SEC, and the SEC is where he has a ground game.
He also -- in South Carolina, he has a ground game there. People have underestimated one thing consistently about Ted Cruz. Ted Cruz has people on the ground who are working for him in these states. They're not just flying in and having a big rally like Donald Trump has done. He actually has the people on the ground in South Carolina and moving forward. And he's using them to his advantage in a real way.
BURNETT: All right. Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
And next, Hillary Clinton declared the winner of the Iowa caucuses in the closest Democratic race in the state's history. So, what's her ground game now?
And it's being called the theory vote. How angry voters, angry voters, tipped the scale for Cruz?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:35:18] BURNETT: It's official. Hillary Clinton wins Iowa. It was the tightest Democratic race in the history of the caucuses. So, this is why I have to read this. We're not rounding here, because when you round, well, you know what happens, OK -- 49.9 percent for Clinton versus 49.6 percent for Sanders.
Now, it's on to New Hampshire where Sanders holds a 23-point lead, according to the latest CNN/WMUR poll. Jeff Zeleny is OUTFRONT with the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am so thrilled that I'm coming to New Hampshire after winning Iowa!
JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hillary Clinton officially declared the winner today by the Iowa Democratic Party.
But Bernie Sanders is pointing to a victory of a different kind -- an improbable rise with the wind of a growing movement at his back.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We took on the most powerful political organization in this country. Last night, we came back from a 50-point deficit in the polls.
ZELENY: It was as close as close could get -- 0.3 percent, 49.9 percent to 49.6 percent.
CLINTON: I've won and I've lost there. It's a lot better to win.
ZELENY: But you win a presidential nomination by scooping up the most delegates. Not states. On that score in Iowa, Clinton won 23, Sanders 21. Sanders didn't formally concede. His campaign manager, Jeff Weaver,
says he wants to know the truth on the ground. As Sanders flew to New Hampshire overnight, he pledged to fight until the convention. He's counting on a big fund-raising hall that aides could rival the $20 million he raised online in January alone. But for now, it's a fight for next week's New Hampshire primary.
(CHANTING)
ZELENY: In an interview today with Wolf, Clinton dismissed any talk of voting irregularities.
CLINTON: From everything we have learned and know, I won, and I'm very proud of that.
ZELENY: One group didn't win, voters under 30. They chose Sanders by a crushing 70 points.
CLINTON: I'm going to have some work to do to reach out to young voters, maybe first time voters.
ZELENY: But those first-time voters are a key part of Sanders' growing movement.
SANDERS: We began the political revolution, not just in Iowa, not just in New Hampshire, but all over this country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZELENY: Now, all that talk of a political revolution is unsettling for some Democrats. Of course, Bernie Sanders is a Democratic socialist, a longtime independent from neighboring Vermont. One of the reasons he's doing so well here in New Hampshire.
But Hillary Clinton is reminding people that this is a Democratic primary. And Democrats are worried about the strength of Senator Sanders. That's one of the reasons that the chairman of the Clinton campaign, John Podesta, met with members of Congress today, Democratic members of Congress, to try and ease any concerns about the direction and length of this campaign -- Erin.
BURNETT: All right. Jeff Zeleny, thank you very much, from New Hampshire tonight.
And OUTFRONT now, David Brock, founder of Correct the Record, a pro- Hillary Clinton super PAC, and Jonathan Tasini, a Bernie Sanders supporter and author of "The Essential Bernie Sanders", lest you wonder if he really is a supporter.
OK, let me start with you, Jonathan. You heard Hillary Clinton. To the best of her knowledge, no voting irregularities. She won, that's it. She's celebrating. She said it multiple times.
Did she? Did she win it?
JONATHAN TASINI, AUTHOR, "THE ESSENTIAL BERNIE SANDERS": I think what Jeff Weaver said, the campaign manager for the Sanders campaign, earlier son CNN, in fact, is that we just want to make sure all the votes are counted, that everything is done correctly. I think Democrats in particular, remember in 2000, when votes were not counted correctly. And there was no allegation on the part of Jeff Weaver anything was done wrong.
I think David and I were talking before -- you know, one of the thing that happens in Iowa is that a lot of these people are volunteers. The people who are precinct captain and so on.
BURNETT: Right. So, you want to make sure it's counted right. So, you're not conceding until it's counted, right?
TASINI: That's the campaign's position. At the same time, I think when Bernie landed and talked to Chris Cuomo this morning, you may remember that he said, look, if it's one delegate here and one delegate here, it's a close race. It was essentially a tie.
I think we're moving on to New Hampshire. It will be a strong campaign now.
BURNETT: Different margins there. Would you agree, essentially a tie? I mean, most Americans look at 49.9 percent and 49.6 percent, that's a tie.
DAVID BROCK, FOUNDER, CORRECT THE RECORD, A PRO-CLINTON SUPER PAC: Senator Clinton won this last night. When the dust settles and we look back on it, say a month from now, she not only won Iowa last night, but she won the Democratic nomination last night, once this stuff settles. And here's why, you look at the entrance polls. What did the voters decide in Iowa? They decided that they trusted Hillary with their future, with their kids' future on health care, on the economy, on terrorism, and who is going to stop President Cruz or President Trump or President Rubio from taking office.
TASINI: The amazing thing from --
BURNETT: She's speaking live right now as we're talking. Go ahead.
[19:40:01] TASINI: The voters were actually saying that they trusted Bernie Sanders more on honesty, and who cares more about them, by crushing margins. I think that will play out here in New Hampshire, and all over the country.
I think we need to remember, and I know why David wants to pretend like the nomination has been settled, is that if you look back at May and June when Bernie was at 2 percent, 3 percent, trailing, and people asked, you bar to be left over. Would he raise enough money? Then he raised $74 million, and then he raised $20 million just in January.
He essentially did and I think everybody in the country says this was a tie. Now we're moving to New Hampshire. Nevada now was in play. Once it was considered I think a Clinton state. Nevada has now shifted dramatically.
And I think all that's going to happen when you come into Super Tuesday is Bernie is going to have enough money to compete. He's going to be very competitive of all the states that unfold in March and April.
One thing I do agree with I think Bernie said that, or Jeff Zeleny said that, in his piece, this is going all the way to the convention.
BURNETT: All right. Which is obviously you don't like to hear that.
But let's talk about just flipping a coin. When people talk about tie, win, whatever happened last night, Sanders' campaign is fund- raising today of that something that happened last night. This coin flipping last night, Bernie Sanders' fund-raiser said how close was the Iowa caucus? They had to flip a coin, that's how close it was.
TASINI: Six.
BURNETT: In six.
So, now you have Donald Trump and Marco Rubio weighing in on it, and whatever your political affiliation out there watching might be, you probably agree with what they had to say about the coin flipping. Here they are.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPORTER: The Democratic race was a tight race.
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I never saw a race where they're flipping coins. I mean, they're flipping coins. What kind of a race is that? It's ridiculous.
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You vote for me, because if I'm our nominee, we'll beat Hillary Clinton. And it won't be by a flip of a coin, I'll promise you that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: I'm sure you disagree with him. But he went to say they flipped a coin because they tied, and that's how they decide. I mean, this does seem a bit ridiculous.
BROCK: I understand it was a very close race. But, look, just to disagree with one thing that John had said. You know, a movement like this, and hats off to Senator Sanders, he had a great turnout last night. A movement like this needs wins to keep the momentum going.
I don't see after New Hampshire, where Senator Sanders is winning. He's the electorate in Nevada, in South Carolina, not hospitable to him. In South Carolina particularly, President Obama is very popular. He's running on a platform to dismantle President Obama's legacy. Voters trust Hillary.
(CROSSTALK)
BURNETT: But health care, he would continue to give universal health. That is not fair. (CROSSTALK)
BROCK: Clinton's plans are tougher and better.
TASINI: To your point, that's not fair. Bernie Sanders --
(CROSSTALK)
TASINI: Bernie Sanders said repeatedly he commends the president for passing Affordable Care Act and what he wants to build on it. And when they sent poor Chelsea Clinton out to argue this, her statement --
(CROSSTALK)
TASINI: Her statement was labeled mostly false. That's what the Clinton campaign has been doing, falsifying this argument against --
BROCK: That's not right.
(CROSSTALK)
BURNETT: OK, OK, let David come back now.
BROCK: If what I'm saying isn't right, why did Senator Sanders endorse a book that's coming out this week that attacks frontally President Obama on a range of issues and trashes his legacy? Why endorse it? Why endorse it?
TASINI: Let's go back, let's stick with health care.
(CROSSTALK)
TASINI: No, because health care is what is important to the American people. The Clinton campaign has falsely claimed --
BURNETT: Does he regret that endorsement? He is taking a lot of heat for it.
TASINI: I don't know about the endorsement. The health care thing is really crucial. Essentially the Clinton campaign has been lying.
BROCK: No, they have not.
TASINI: Repeatedly.
BROCK: He wants to start over.
TASINI: That's not true, David. You don't know anything about health care, you say.
Thousands of dollars would be saved by the average American if we had enacted single payer Medicare for all. Now, one would say why does every single country -- why does every single country --
(CROSSTALK) BURNETT: That he would raise the taxes.
BROCK: After even he said he would raise taxes on the middle class.
TASINI: Why does every single country in the industrialized world has single payer Medicare for all? For one reason, it's the most economically smart plan.
BROCK: We're not every other country.
TASINI: And legislators are not bought off like the Clinton campaign. Hillary Clinton has accepted more money than anybody from the insurance companies. There's a reason she's not for single-payer --
BROCK: That's not right. That's absolutely false.
TASINI: No, it's true.
BROCK: They don't buy a thing. All they got was a tougher, more realistic, pragmatic workable plan for Secretary Clinton.
TASINI: First of all --
(CROSSTALK)
TASINI: Twenty-nine million people still not covered --
BROCK: We don't --
TASINI: We need everybody to be covered at a lower cost.
BROCK: And she's going to get us there.
(CROSSTALK)
BURNETT: All right. Thank you.
BROCK: We don't really need the left echoing the right --
(CROSSTALK)
[19:45:00] BURNETT: All right.
(CROSSTALK)
BURNETT: Thank you both. Thank you both.
Tomorrow night is our big town hall. The candidates will have a chance to discuss this tomorrow night. At 9:00 Eastern right here. No one can hear you. Thank you both.
Tomorrow night at 9:00, I'll be seeing both of you. I do always enjoy it. It was wonderful having you together here on set.
OK. Next, a big night for Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders. What the two very different candidates have in common. Last night, you can't get up and run off on each other, hold on.
Donald Trump said he loved Iowa and congratulated Ted Cruz. Was that the same guy who said this?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: When you get the numbers up for Iowa, please? This is ridiculous. I mean, what is my competition?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BURNETT: A deep divide emerging among Democrats tonight. Hillary Clinton claiming victory, barely edging out Bernie Sanders.
You saw that in the deep divide in the conversation we just had. Entrance polls in the Iowa caucuses reveal, though, this also, a striking generational gap, 84 percent of young voters went for Sanders. That's not the only divide threatening both campaigns tonight.
[19:50:00] OUTFRONT now, senior political analyst David Gergen and our political director, David Chalian.
That is a stunning thing when you look at that. We knew the young voters would go for we knew young voters were going to go for Sanders, but 84 percent.
DAVID GERGEN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: On a night when there was encouraging news for Hillary Clinton, one thing she has to keep on eye on, what's going on among the young. That's such an essential part of the Democratic coalition that President Obama put together, the young, minorities and women, that's what swept him into office. And if she starts losing the young, special especially the young women, that's what's so interesting.
She's running as a woman, first woman president. And that matters a lot to people over 45 on these polls. But doesn't matter so much to people under 45, especially people under 30. This is a new generation that seems to have different values and we're going to be discussing this.
Do they seem to care more about their rights, rightfully theirs, their entitlements, rather than they do about whether they have a woman in the White House or not?
BURNETT: This is a fascinating thing. And David Chalian, you see the age divide and you also deep divide in the Democratic Party on the qualities they see in Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. And that surprised you.
DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: It really did. When I looked at the numbers, wow, of course it's so close. The Democratic caucusgoers split in what they were looking for from their candidate. So, on Hillary Clinton's side, my God, if you were a Democrat looking
for somebody who had the right experience or somebody you think can win in November, she demolished Bernie Sanders on those traits. Look at that there, look at huge numbers -- 77 percent, 88 percent.
If you're looking for somebody who cares about somebody like me, somebody who you think is honest and trustworthy, those were Bernie Sanders people. So, the party was completely divided about what it was looking for from the candidate last night. That's why it was so close.
BURNETT: You look at it in terms of the Republican side of things, David Chalian, interest polls 91 percent of people dissatisfied or angry with the government. Donald Trump talked a lot about that. But it was actually not his supporters that are the angriest. That was fascinating.
CHALIAN: Well, right. I mean, Ted Cruz actually edged him out with these angry voters 32 percent to 30 percent, which is not too far apart from each other obviously, Erin, but what it did show is that Trump and Cruz were splitting these voters. It wasn't just a Trump base of support. Cruz tapped into that anger in a very provocative way and that helped fuel him in victory.
BURNETT: But 91 percent, David Gergen, angry overall. What does that mean if you are not Trump or Cruz, if you are one of these candidates saying I'm for hope, I'm for a positive vote?
GERGEN: It means Republican voters this year are the angriest of the angry. There are many people in the country, independents and Democrats alike, a lot of that anger being directed over to Bernie Sanders. That's helping him, fueling his campaign.
What was striking last night, at the end of the night is at the end of the day, we have two fractured parties. Moderate, you know, wing in each party, and extreme wing of the party. The people who won last night, Ted Cruz, extreme wing. The moral winner last night on the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders.
BURNETT: Interesting how you put it. The moral winner was Bernie Sanders, fascinating way of putting it and captures it all, right? She, of course, won, but there was a huge moral victory for Bernie Sanders as well.
Thanks to both of you.
And next, the candidate who hates losing saying he's honored to finishing second. What happened to the Donald Trump we all thought we knew?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:57:01] BURNETT: Donald Trump speaking right now. Live at the podium. Moments ago, of course, he admitted skipping the last debate in Iowa may have cost him the win.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Well, that could have been, with the debate. I think it could have been the debate. I think some people were disappointed I didn't go to the debate. If I had to do again, I would have done the exact same thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: He said he would have done the exact same thing because he raised $6 million for veterans. His speech tonight a stark contrast from a billionaire we've come to know as much brasher.
Kyung Lah is OUTFRONT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TRUMP: We finished second, I want to tell you something, I'm just honored. I'm really honored.
KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A very humble sounding Donald Trump.
TRUMP: Iowa, we love you, we thank you. You're special.
LAH: This is the same candidate who just weeks ago said this.
TRUMP: How stupid are the people of Iowa? I don't like being second. Second is terrible to me.
LAH: "Second place is nice," tweets today's post-Iowa Donald. After 15 hours of Twitter silence, a kinder, gentler Donald emerged.
CHRISTIAN FERRY, FORMER LINDSEY GRAHAM CAMPAIGN MANAGER: I think I've stopped being surprised about anything related to Donald Trump this cycle.
LAH: This is not the Donald Trump Christian Ferry knows. Ferry was Lindsey Graham's presidential campaign manager. After Graham insulted the billionaire, Trump read the senator's cell phone number at a rally.
TRUMP: 202 --
LAH: Graham responded with a humorous video. What else could a candidate do in the summer of Trump?
Trump railed on everyone, from Mexican immigrants --
TRUMP: When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime, they're rapists.
LAH: -- to Muslims after the San Bernardino terror attacks --
TRUMP: A total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.
LAH: Trump criticized women from Carly Fiorina to FOX anchor Megyn Kelly.
TRUMP: You can see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her wherever.
LAH: Even former Vietnam War POW, John McCain, was fair game.
TRUMP: He's a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren't captured.
LAH: The Trump of last night may indicate an evolving candidate.
TRUMP: I want to congratulate and I want to congratulate all the incredible candidates.
LAH: But that may already be fading a bit. Less than 24 hours, he was right back at attacking Cruz, tweeting, "Anybody who watched all of Ted Cruz's far too long rambling overly flamboyant speech last night say that was his Howard Dean moment."
FERRY: I think Donald Trump is a different candidate today than he was six months ago. But I think at the core, he is still Donald Trump, he's still completely unpredictable, and we have no idea what might show up tomorrow and maybe that is what his voters are looking for. It seems to be working very well for him.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LAH: Now, Ferry believes that Trump 2.0 may indicate a couple of things, that he is maturing as a candidate, but Erin, that he may also be in it for the long haul -- Erin.
BURNETT: All right. Kyung, thank you very much. It is fascinating it all.
Thank you for joining us. We'll see you tomorrow night.
"AC360" starts now.
