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Clinton Visits Polling Stations, Bloomberg Mulls Run; Clapper Warns of ISIS Threat this Year; Bush Highlights Accomplishment on Twitter. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired February 9, 2016 - 13:30   ET

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


[13:50:00] BRIAN FALLON, PRESS SECRETARY, HILLARY FOR AMERICA: -- we've made under President Obama, prevent the Republicans from trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Dodd-Frank financial reform, turn back his executive actions on immigration. She's the one who can hold the line on those important milestones we've achieved under President Obama and also take them further.

Just to take an example on the issue of immigration. She's said she wants to go further to protect more of those parents of dreamers, for instance, from deportation. And on issues of gun violence, she has a track record and is committed to the cause of try to enact common sense gun reforms that the Republicans have blocked President Obama from seeing through. I think those are some of the issues we'll be talking about as we look ahead into the March states where the electorates like I said are a little bit more diverse than the Iowa and New Hampshire electorates. And these are issues that will be top of mind, and they're issues that Hillary Clinton has a strong record on.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: And on the issue of guns and immigration, she and Michael Bloomberg, their positions are very, very similar, indeed. I guess the point is some of Bloomberg's friends were saying they're worried she might be vulnerable to a Republican in a general election. That's why he's seriously thinking about it. He's going make up his mind presumably the first week in March. We'll see what he decides.

Brian, thank very much for joining us.

FALLON: We'll be ready for those Republicans. They've been coming at her and haven't gotten her to back down yet, Wolf. It's not going to happen.

BLITZER: Brian Fallon, press secretary for Hillary Clinton's campaign.

FALLON: Thanks, Wolf.

BLITZER: Coming up, assessing the terror. The U.S. Intelligence community now calling the threat the greatest the U.S. has ever seen and expects a possible ISIS attack this year. We'll have more on this latest assessment -- and it's very dire -- coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

[11:31:00] BLITZER: We're following breaking news. A very, very sobering assessment from the head of the U.S. Intelligence community in the United States who says ISIS will almost certainly attempt direct attacks on the U.S. homeland and in Europe sometime this year.

Here's more of the warning from James Clapper, the director of National Intelligence.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES CLAPPER, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: There are now more violent extremist groups, members, and safe havens than at any time in history. The rate of foreign fighters traveling to the conflict zones in Syria and Iraq in the past few years is without precedent. At least 38,200 foreign fighters, including at least 6,900 from Western countries, have traveled to Syria from at least 120 countries since the beginning of the conflict in 2012.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Let's bring in our chief national security correspondent, Jim Sciutto, here with me.

This was a very, very sober, candid assessment of the threats. He says is clearly is the most terror threat to the United States right now.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: He did not pull any punches here. James Clapper, he's a direct guy. He's a straight talker, and he was blunt here with a sobering assessment. He says that ISIS is active in eight countries and counting, and that there are more terrorist safe havens in the world than ever before. So he's talking about the Yemens of the world, Libya, Syria, which give groups, particularly is, a place to operate. What's happening with ISIS is attracting other existing groups. Boko Haram, for instance, in the middle of Africa, they believe will pledge allegiance to ISIS soon. That expands their network and capability. He reiterated a warning that -- of course, of interest to our viewers -- that ISIS intends to attack on U.S. soil in the year 2016.

BLITZER: And he said something that will have significant political ramifications. He said ISIS is deliberately planting terrorists among refugees seeking to come to the United States and to go to Europe in order to plot terror attacks.

SCIUTTO: He was speaking mostly about planting refugees and this enormous flow of refugees into Europe. He made the point that they're very good at making safe passport so they could travel into countries ostensibly as someone who they are not. It is a risk that U.S. Law enforcement is also aware of here. You have two very long and relatively porous borders in Mexico and in Canada. So it's something they're concerned about being replicated here as they're seeing in greater numbers in Europe now. BLITZER: The director of the Defense Intelligence Agency was also

very sober, very candid, saying, forget about the notion that Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq, is going to be liberated any time this year by the Iraqi military or others. He was very blunt on that.

SCIUTTO: No question. And keep in mind, people were talking about there in 2015. As early as last spring, you had Iraqi leaders saying, well, this is an operation we'll attempt. And leaders saying we're not ready. You got through 2015. Now in 2016, there was hope, still hear it from Iraqi forces. The feel is that Iraqi forces aren't ready yet. Keep in mind, U.S. forces are going to be present in that assault, as well, possibly close to the front lines. This is a recommendation you've heard from the joint chiefs, et cetera, forward deployed advisers, risky not just for Iraqi forces but U.S. forces.

BLITZER: Mosul at one point had two million people. That's been for a years and a hugely, hugely embarrassing thing to the Iraqi government and their partners that ISIS still controls that city in Iraq.

SCIUTTO: No question, second largest city in Iraq. And the operation there, we saw how difficult the operation was to retake Ramadi. Pretty large town. Not a city by Mosul dimensions. Imagine the same, an order of magnitude bigger in terms of the challenge.

BLITZER: And the assessment is they still have a lot of money. This is the richest terror organization ever, according to U.S. Intelligence, from the oil, from the gold, from the money they've stolen from banks. Simply --

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: Yeah. They have a lot of cash still at hand despite setbacks recently. A sober assessment from the head of U.S. Intelligence.

Jim Sciutto, thank you very much.

As I say, the political ramifications could be very significant in this campaign here in the United States.

[11:40:05] Coming up, we'll get back to the battle for New Hampshire, now underway. People are voting. The candidates have been on the campaign trail all morning. They're trying to get last-minute votes.

After the break, we'll talk about what the Jeb Bush campaign is feeling as voters head to the polls. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: A few hours away from the polls closing in New Hampshire. Live pictures from Hudson, New Hampshire. Over there, people ling up to vote. The former Florida governor, Jeb Bush, and Governors John Kasich and Chris Christie have been showcasing their work experience on the campaign trail.

Earlier today, Jeb Bush released a video on Twitter highlighting some of his accomplishments as the Florida governor. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEB BUSH, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER FLORIDA GOVERNOR: I know how to do this because during the time that I was governor, we turned the systems upside down that weren't working. 1.3 million new jobs were created. We cut taxes every year.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[13:45:06] BLITZER: Let's talk about that and more with our correspondent, Athena Jones. She's in New Hampshire for us.

How is the Bush camp feeling today? This is really important how well he does.

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It certainly is, Wolf. They say they feel good. Governor Bush was out stomping at a couple of precincts today. I think you saw video of him in Bedford, New Hampshire, earlier this morning. He said he's feeling good. That's exactly what he told me last night after his last pitch to New Hampshire voters over in Portsmouth.

Bush campaign officials say there were a bunch of people packing headquarters at 5:00 a.m. this morning, fueling up on Dunkin' Donuts, ready to get the vote out. They say they have the biggest ground game of any other Republican in this race. In this state, they've knocked on 100,000 doors. Bush has made more than 100 stops in the state. They're hoping that the last late deciders will break for them and that the people who already were Bush supporters are going to get to the polls today.

BLITZER: We thought that really -- saw bitter exchanges yesterday between Jeb Bush and Donald Trump. So how that playing out there just from the conversations you've had with Republican voters in New Hampshire?

JONES: It's interesting because if you go to Bush events, especially the last several days, we're seeing a lot more enthusiasm, energy, and a more confident governor Bush. A lot of the voters at these events have been responding well when he brings up taking it to Trump. When he touts the fact that in his view he's the only -- one of the Republican candidates who's really tried to challenge Trump, whether it's on imminent domain at the debate or even just on how he talks about people, how he talks about women and Latinos and Muslims, immigrants and the disabled in general.

So he's been touting the fact that he's taking it to Trump. I've got to tell you, we talk to Bush campaign officials. They are talking about two themes. One, they believe Bush has the momentum coming out of the strong debate performance on Saturday night. Then on the other side, they're saying, look, there's been a lot of talk about the fact that tonight is going whittle the GOP field. They're telling the argument that it's not going to win on the field. That the space between second, third, fourth, and fifth might actually end up being very tight. And that the same people who you're seeing compete in New Hampshire are going to all move to South Carolina. They're making two themes there, I'm sure they probably think that some of the donors, Bush donors are listening to the argument and agree with this argument. That this race is not going to be quite as decisive as people may have thought heading in right after Iowa -- Wolf?

BLITZER: One of the rods is -- the advantages that Bush has over Kasich or Christie, his campaign and the super PAC that supports them, they have a lot more money, right?

JONES: That's exactly one of the arguments that they're making repeatedly to me. I've talked to several Bush campaign officials who make the argument that when it comes to Kasich or Christie, even if they are able to finish ahead of Bush, that doesn't necessarily help them in the next stop in South Carolina. They are pointing repeatedly to their dwindling finances, and sure they could raise money off of a strong finish here, but they believe that Bush is the best situated certainly among the governors to compete well and strongly in South Carolina. So that's another issue being raised. Interesting to see the arguments. On one side, Bush has momentum. We're cautiously optimistic he'll finish strong. On the other side, just in case he doesn't, he's still going to be best positioned certainly when it comes to the governors moving to the next state -- Wolf?

BLITZER: Athena Jones reporting. Thank you.

Just ahead, the power of the Independent voters in New Hampshire. We'll take a closer look at the impact of the Independent voter, what's at stake for the candidates. Our political panel standing by to weigh in.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:53:13] BLITZER: All right, just moments ago, we heard Ted Cruz at a diner talking about Donald Trump. Let's play the clip.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What's your reaction to what Donald Trump said at his rally last night?

SEN. TED CRUZ, (R), TEXAS & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Listen, nothing Donald says surprises anyone. He didn't like that he lost in Iowa. And his response often is to simply yell and insult and engage in profanity. My approach is not to respond in kind. From the beginning of the campaign when he and others have chosen to insult, chosen to go to the gutter, chosen to go to the mud, I don't respond in kind. I'm going to stay focused on the issues. I'm going to stay focused on the --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: There's Ted Cruz. You heard what he said.

Let's bring in Doug Hattaway, a Democratic strategist, former Gore campaign national spokesman, former senior adviser to Hillary Clinton's 2008 campaign. Also joining us, Scottie Nell Hughes, the chief political correspondent for USA Radio Network, a Trump supporter; and S.E. Cupp, our CNN political commentator.

Let's get your reaction, Scottie, to what we just heard, Ted Cruz talking about Donald Trump.

SCOTTIE NELL HUGHES, CNN CONTRIBUTOR & CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, USA RADIO NETWORK: Your typical passive aggressive answer of I'm not going to really spend but I am going to respond. That's kind of how Ted Cruz has continued to dose entire campaign. When you actually listen to what he says, Wolf, he digs right back at Donald Trump. At this point, the whole idea he's a sore loser for idea is not really the line I'd be playing considering New Hampshire is just a few hours away from counting those votes and you don't want to make that victory lap any more loud than it might be if Donald Trump is the winner.

BLITZER: S.E., it's gotten bitter out there between several of these candidates. I guess in recent days the acrimony between Cruz and Trump has been restrained but I suspect leading up to South Carolina, it's going to be more intense. What do you think?

[13:55:08] S.E. CUPP, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yeah, the stakes coming out of New Hampshire are high for both of those candidates. Cruz on the one hand needs to prove to voters that he's not just Cruz country Iowa, that he can play in other places. And Trump needs to prove he can get a "W" on the board. That's his brand, his brand is winning. If he doesn't -- he didn't win in Iowa. If he doesn't have a very strong win in New Hampshire, not just eking out a victory, I think, you know, going into South Carolina, where it's much more moderate territory for both Democrats and Republicans, Trump's going to have a tough case to make that he's a national candidate so there's a lot on the line tonight for all of these candidates really.

BLITZER: I want to get back, Doug, quickly, to the breaking news this hour. The top U.S. Intelligence officials testifying up on Capitol Hill, saying it's likely there will be ISIS attempted terror attacks on the United States this year, and it's a certainty, they say, that ISIS is trying to plant terrorists among refugees coming to the United States or going to Europe. That's going to have political ramifications in the race for the White House. What's your assessment?

DOUG HATTAWAY, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST & FORMER SENIOR ADVISER, HILLARY CLINTON'S CAMPAIGN 2008: I agree, I think it will, and are looking for candidates with strong steady hand on national security, Hillary Clinton's head and shoulders above the rest. I think she knows the most about these issues. Has had her -- been at the table, working on them and protecting the country as secretary of state. Will definitely bring those foreign policy issues and national security issues to the forefront of a lot of voter's minds. You've heard a lot of bluster on the other side but I don't think you've got anybody else with a serious sort of stud steady hand and experience in that area.

BLITZER: S.E., you know Donald Trump and maybe some of the other Republican candidates. They're going to jump all over this and say look, you just heard from James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, say ISIS is putting terrorists among the refugees seeking asylum of refuge here in the United States, they're going to play that up.

CUPP: Yes, two things, this is terrible news for Bernie Sanders who's already had a rough go of it on foreign policy. It's great news for Hillary Clinton, bad news for the country. Yes, this sort of affirms the Donald Trump/Ben Carson anti-refugee talk that we'll heard over the past few months, and I think for a lot of voter, when Trump says we're not going to let any refugees in, we're going to ban all Muslims from coming in, while even though those are terrible policy proposals and terrible ideas, I think a lot of voters are going to hear that and think, OK, finally someone's going to do something about this unstoppable wave of terrorism, where for the past, you know, seven, eight years, Democrats have dropped the ball on this, didn't see it coming.

BLITZER: As we know, Hillary Clinton won just by a tiny razor thin margin in the Iowa Democratic caucuses. All the polls show Bernie Sanders is way ahead in New Hampshire right now. What happened to Hillary Clinton, why isn't she doing better, because the anticipation six months ago is she would cruise to this, especially in the face of an opposition force like Bernie Sanders?

HATTAWAY: I don't know that folks who follow Democrat politics closely would expect anybody to cruise. We've got a diverse party with lots of opinions and people are very adamant about making their opinions known. And particularly in these early states, you don't earn people's votes easy. I certainly know those working with her haven't taken these early states for granted. The way the system's set up, it can go on for a while as you gather those delegates that you need. So I don't know about those -- I think the expectation's been overblown. She's a good candidate when she gets into a real fight like this for the hearts minds of the electorate and think you'll see her continue to improve and be a stronger and stronger candidate as it goes.

BLITZER: Very quickly, S.E., are you surprised how tough of a ride she's had so far?

CUPP: I think she's surprised and I think you're starting to see how angry she is that certain constituents, young people, women, for example, are not just falling lock step behind her and they're going to Bernie Sanders. She's taken to some pretty desperate tactics, calling him sexist and having Bill Clinton do the same. I think she's surprised she's not doing any better than she is.

BLITZER: All right. Guys, obviously an exciting day here in the United States.

That's it for me. Thanks very much for watching. I'll be back in "The Situation Room," 5:00 p.m. eastern, for our special coverage of the New Hampshire primary.

The news continues right now.