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WORLD RIGHT NOW WITH HALA GORANI
ISIS Fighting To Grab Kirkuk After Surprise Attack; Peshmerga Pushing Toward ISIS-Held City; Trump and Clinton Trade Barbs At Charity Dinner; Clinton Leads Trump In National And Many State Polls; Russian Warships Sail Down British Coast; France To Begin Evacuating "Jungle" Camp Monday; Reports AT&T Could Make Takeover Bid For Time Warner; Blitz Of Battleground States As Election Nears; Trump Calls Clinton "Such A Nasty Woman"; Long, Bitter Race Nearing The Finish Line; Theresa May Marks 100 Days As British Prime Minister. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired October 21, 2016 - 15:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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(HEADLINES)
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Hala Gorani. We are live at CNN London. A busy hour ahead on this Friday. Thanks for
being with us. This is THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.
With ISIS being defeated in the areas around Mosul, the terrorists are blasting open a new battleground in Iraq right now, take a look.
(VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: This is not Mosul, it is Kirkuk. Just a few hours ago, gunfire echoing through the city as Kurdish troops take on ISIS there. The
surprise attack began early this morning when the militants fanned out across the city.
Soon after getting there, this surveillance video caught some of them sneaking in. They seemed to be trying to throw Iraqi forces off of their
game. Attention away from Mosul, which is almost 200 kilometers away.
Let's get you on the ground in Iraq now where Nick Paton Walsh has been on the front lines and he joins us now live from Irbil. So we have this
attack on Kirkuk and we also have the U.N. saying that ISIS may be actively trying to use human shields in Mosul?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, still on that U.N. report first, 550 families they say, the U.N. have used as human
shields. That could be as many as 3,000 to 4,000 individuals. The U.N. often think there about eight people per family when they made those
counts.
One of the more troubling stories is that maybe 200 families or so were marched from their village four or five days ago by foot to Mosul itself,
the main city there.
Not obviously a large number if you consider the 1.2 million people entirely in that city, that the U.N. are deeply concerned about. But a
chilling sign of what the U.N. refer to as a disregard for human life that ISIS has been showing.
Now that is an evidenced in Kirkuk as well, a city far away from the front line, oil-rich, also held by the Iraqi-Kurdish Peshmerga. Those ISIS
militants, 30 of them sneaking in in the early hours, launching attacks against security headquarters.
The live pictures of those attacks, ongoing for hours, I think distracting many here in the Kurdish held areas of Iraq. It's sort of PR value of
those sought by ISIS very much delivered even though it was not necessary to throw out the offensive that we're seeing right now -- Hala.
GORANI: And you were -- you came very close to new technology that ISIS is using. I'm talking about drones that they load up with explosives. It was
a very close experience for you and the team, tell us about that.
WALSH: Startling, frankly, when you look at the sort of low tech nature of the war sometimes that they managed to rig our homemade drones and devices
to deliver explosives, but also observe the front line enemies that they are facing. We saw that ourselves very close at hand.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALSH (voice-over): Day four and perhaps the biggest push yet from the north into the plains around Mosul trying to dislodge the determined and
derange remnants of ISIS and the Peshmerga backed with staggering air power.
An absolute sight of American special forces. The Pentagon says they're advising not assaulting position in the front of the attack. The work is
slow.
Destructive, begging the question what becomes of the wreckage under new masters? Suddenly in the sky, a hail of bullets, they've spotted a drone.
[15:05:05]Trace around, dots around it, and finally take off its nose. ISIS used them to spot targets for artillery and even drop small bombs.
This one tumbles down. Its wreckage picked over. It's still unclear whose it is. Yet progress down the road to (inaudible) is agonizingly slow.
(on camera): A source of so much fighting this morning, but still full of ISIS. We've heard that Peshmerga have listened to those militants on their
radios this morning discussing how they should wait and only launch a counter attack once the Peshmerga are inside.
(voice-over): (Inaudible) Peshmerga are killed by a mine and others are injured in intense clashes when they flank the town and heading left across
barn farmland. ISIS still here haunting the dust pushed back moments earlier.
There is one unit pinned down on a hill. They say a drone is observing them and also dropping tiny bombs on them. Like grenades, we're warned.
Rocket after rocket lands.
Over the hill, there is fiercer fighting and still the rockets come in. Exposed, tragic, through land turned arid in the fight.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALSH: Now the U.S. military have just released the identity of one of their soldiers killed in the last 24 to 48 hours. He has been named as a
Chief Petty Officer Jason C. Finan, age 34, Anaheim, California, part of the EOD team. That's basically an anti-mining squad.
Not quite clear whether he was part of this Mosul operation at all, but we have seen ourselves, the U.S. Special Forces in armor often with the very
first convoys of armored Peshmerga going into ISIS held territory.
The White House says they are in harm's way. It is clear this will take a long time and be bloody -- Hala.
GORANI: All right, thanks very much, Nick Paton Walsh in Irbil there. Part of our team covering this important Mosul operation.
To U.S. politics now, drain the swamp. That is one of the line Donald Trump is pushing hard in the final stretch of the election. He claims
Hillary Clinton is only one of many, many corrupt politicians in Washington.
Listen to what he is calling the president and the first lady, Michelle Obama, two of Clinton's strongest surrogates.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We have a bunch of babies running our country, folks, a bunch or losers. They're losers. They're
babies. We have a president all he wants to do is campaign. His wife, all she wants to do is campaign, and I see how much his wife likes Hillary.
But wasn't she the one that originally started the statement if you can't take care of your home, right? You can't take care of the White House or
the country. Where is that? I don't hear that?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, the fiery stump speech comes on the hills of a very different but equally intense event on Thursday night. Both candidates
took to the mic at an annual charity dinner in the United States, but what they said was anything but charitable. Brianna Keilar has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TRUMP: Hillary is so corrupt she got kicked off the Watergate Commission.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were supposed to play nice.
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's amazing I'm up here after Donald. I didn't think he would be OK with a peaceful transition of
power.
KEILAR: Casting aside the traditional good humored joking, both candidates with brutal take downs of each other.
TRUMP: This is the first time ever that Hillary is sitting down and speaking to major corporate leaders and not getting paid for it.
CLINTON: People look at the Statue of Liberty and they see a proud symbol of our history. Donald looks at the Statue of Liberty and sees a four.
Maybe a five if she loses the torch and tablet and changes her hair.
KEILAR: Trump starting his speech strong.
TRUMP: The media is even more bias this year than ever before. Michelle Obama gives a speech and everyone loves it, it's fantastic. My wife,
Melania, gives the exact same speech -- and people get on her case.
KEILAR: But losing the room after changing his tone.
[15:10:07]TRUMP: Hillary accidentally bumped into and she very civilly said "pardon me." And I very politely replied, let me talk to you about
that after I get into office.
KEILAR: Trump even booed at times for crossing the line.
TRUMP: Hillary believes that it's vital to deceive the people by having one public policy and a totally different policy in private. That's OK, I
don't know who they are angry at, Hillary, you or I. Here she is in public tonight pretending not to hate Catholics.
KEILAR: Clinton landing her own sharp barbs right back at Trump.
CLINTON: After listening to your speech, I will also enjoy listening to Mike Pence deny that you ever gave it. Donald really is as healthy as a
horse, you know the one Vladimir Putin rides around on.
KEILAR: And poking fun at herself.
CLINTON: This is such a special event that I took a break from my rigorous nap schedule to be here.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: All right, some of the jokes were quite funny. Now this charity event is a tradition that's designed to show case the softer side of
politics.
Let's talk about how the night felt and how it fell short of that particular mission statement. CNN senior political reporter, Stephen
Collinson joins me now live from Washington.
So Stephen, one of the things I notice and perhaps other analysts would agree is that Hillary Clinton really seemed a lot more relaxed. She
delivered those jokes in a way that was effective. Obviously they were written for her, but she seems like she is kind of feeling a little more
perhaps comfortable?
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR ENTERPRISE REPORTER: Yes, I think that's right, Hala. After all, the last debate is behind her. She talked
in that speech how she had to sort of suffer through three debates opposite Donald Trump and what a tough assignment that was.
I think the Clinton campaign is feeling very good. We have 18 days left until the end of the campaign and it seems that, you know, the way the
polls are, barring some huge outside occurrence, it looks likely that she is going to win the election.
So I think that's the reason she is more relaxed. I think you saw Donald Trump, he was not really in his element in that dinner. You know, it was
not really a Republican crowd to start with.
And he doesn't get the sort of self-deprecating humor that I think he need to pull that kind of speech off. You know, the politician that gives that
kind of speech has to show that he's in a joke and is willing to sort of take a few shots himself.
I don't think Donald Trump really showed that and I think that was one of the reasons why it didn't seem like he really judged the room very well.
GORANI: And the attack on Hillary Clinton that involves saying that she hates Catholics did not play well at all. But there is two weeks left
here, the three debates are done. Hillary Clinton is enjoying a pretty substantial lead nationally at this point. So what next?
COLLINSON: You know, it's going to be very interesting how Donald Trump plays this. Does he still believe that he can win this election? If you
look at the latest CNN electoral map, which sort of looks at how the election would play out according to the polls, if it happened today, he
has very little chance of winning this election.
Hillary Clinton has more than enough electoral votes to win the White House. Is Donald Trump going down in a blaze of fire? Will he take the
Republican Party with him? Will we see them start to move away from Donald Trump?
I think we're seeing some of that already. There are signs that, you know, Republican Party leaders are now sort of saying things like we need a check
and balance on Hillary Clinton in the White House. That's why we need to elect Republican senators in some of these swing states.
I think we're really moving into an end game. And as I said, I think the Clinton campaign believes that they're in a very good position but it will
be a nervous couple of weeks. You don't know what might happen if there is going to be some big outside event that could change this.
GORANI: I have noticed that a lot of Trump supporters have been using the word Brexit more than ever before. Our viewers are very familiar with that
word. That is because it was the surprise win for the populous vote in the referendum in the U.K. in June. I mean, could they be right?
COLLINSON: Well, Donald Trump was clearly adopted the position that he has to get a massive turnout of white voters that have not shown up in the
polls. That would be a parallel to Brexit, but I think a lot of the reason that Trump supporters are coming on TV and saying maybe we will get some
kind of Brexit scenario is more out of hope than the thought that it may happen.
You know, Brexit was an in or out referendum. It was a simple question. The Electoral College means that we've got 50-state elections. Donald
Trump probably needs 10 Brexits in swing states if that scenario is going to play out.
[15:15:07]So it's much less likely to happen in a U.S. election than it did in the British referendum earlier this year.
GORANI: Yes, it is a very different electoral system for sure. Stephen Collinson, as usual, thanks very much for being with us on THE WORLD RIGHT
NOW.
A lot more to come this evening as Russian warships make a provocative journey down the British coast. We'll tell you how the Royal Navy reacted.
And we'll have more on Moscow's muscle flexing. Stay with us.
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GORANI: Well, now to another setback in the effort to help sick, wounded, and starving civilians in the Syrian city of Aleppo. The U.N. has canceled
plans for evacuations from the rebel-held east saying it just simply cannot get security assurances.
The world body, its top humanitarian rights official is calling the siege and bombardment of city, quote, "Crimes of historic proportions."
Not many people would disagree with him. Reports say Russia has extended its pause in the bombing of Aleppo. The cessation was to allow people to
leave through so-called humanitarian corridors. But you see those crossings are empty because people do not believe that they are safe.
Russia extends this pause in Aleppo. It is sending warships down the British coast. Analyst think the ships are likely on their way to the
Mediterranean eventually Syria perhaps.
When the ships set sale, Moscow said the voyage was to, quote, "Ensure naval presence in important areas of the world and ocean, but a defense
expert calls it a shows of force than capabilities and the U.K. Defense Ministry says it is closely monitoring the vessels.
Russia does, of course, has the right to operate in international waters. Let's get some perspective on all of this. Jill Dorothy joins us via
Skype. She is in Seattle, Washington. She is a global fellow for the Woodrow Wilson Center and used to be our Moscow bureau chief.
Jill, first of all, they've done this with planes. They are doing it now with vessels. There were also instances with submarines off of the
Scandinavian countries. What is Russia's end game here?
JILL DOUGHERTY, GLOBAL FELLOW, WOODROW WILSON CENTER: I would say it is basically an advertisement where you could say there are two purposes.
One, it is believe that they are trying to -- they will be carrying fighter bombers for Syria so that's one, but they could have done that in a much
simpler way.
I mean, they could have just flown them there. So why are they making a big show? They're making the big show -- sorry. They are making the big
show because they want to send a message that Russia is there, as a military presence.
It has a presence in Europe and now going down into the Mediterranean. So I would say it is an advertisement of their strength around the world.
[15:20:07]GORANI: OK, but I mean, we know they have a military capability. It is very obvious that they're involved militarily in Syria. So it's just
difficult to understand why this provocation -- should we call it a provocation?
DOUGHERTY: I don't think it's necessarily a provocation, but look at the timing, it's happening right at the time that you have this humanitarian
pause going on. And I think you have to look at the next step because it appears that the humanitarian pause is not working.
And so what comes after that? Well, it is mostly the west believing it is a more major attack by Russia on Aleppo to essentially clean it out. So I
think this is a show of force saying look, this is what we can do.
We have the fighter jets being moved in there and watch out. I don't know whether that will be very effective. I think when you get to the
opposition forces, and certainly to the al-Nusra forces, they are just continuing what they have been doing.
GORANI: All right, well, we will see how that develops and what happens in Aleppo. Thanks very much, Jill Dougherty, in Seattle.
Now over to Europe, days are numbered for the Calais migrant camp known as "The Jungle." On Monday, the French Interior Ministry will begin
evacuating and processing people who have been living there.
They will have two options, either seek asylum in France or fly back to their home country. Paris is dealing with its own population of migrants
living on the streets. French authorities have a plan, they say, to solve that problem as well. CNN Paris correspondent, Melissa Bell, has that
story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For many, it is a dream. The splendors of Paris attracts tens of millions of tourists each
year, more than any other city in the world. But away from the monuments on the other side of the tracks, its streets have become a waking
nightmare.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is hard to live here with different kind of shouts, fighting like shouting from a train side like siren. So it's hard to live
here. It's hard to be at peace in here.
BELL: One thousand migrants from Afghanistan, Sudan, and Eretria now call this street the (inaudible) home, literally, and living rough was not what
they'd expected.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They treat us like nothing, like -- not like a human being. Nobody likes to sleep in the street. When we was in our country,
we never sleep in the street.
BELL: All of the migrants here speak of the wars they fled. The long road they've traveled and despite the squalor here the dreams that still drive
them. None wanted to show their faces.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to settle down and have a job and a good life as the people of France are having. This is my dream and I came here to
achieve that dream. We say what would do I with a paradise if I cross the hell? Meaning if through hell is the way to the paradise, I'm not
interested in that paradise.
BELL (on camera): And what you're living here is hell?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's much like hell.
BELL (voice-over): The answer say prison authorities, lies here in this bubble, 1,000 places are being created to take in the migrants when they
first arrive.
DOMINIQUE VERSINI, PARIS DEPUTY MAYOR: The honor of France depends on the way we welcome refugees. It needs to be in a dignified manner in a
dignified place, and that's what the mayor wants.
BELL (on camera): The finishing touches are now being put on this camp and just in time. Soon the winter will set in and the mayor of Paris
determined that this camp should open its doors as soon as possible. So that by the end of the year, there are no more migrants on the streets of
the French capital. Melissa Bell, CNN, Paris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Now to potentially big news for the world of media. There are reports that AT&T is in advanced talks to take over Time Warner, the parent
company of this network, CNN.
Let's get the latest with CNN Money's Paul La Monica. He joins me from New York. OK, when we say advance talks, basically, is it possible that by
Monday or Tuesday, AT&T could own Time Warner?
PAUL R. LA MONICA, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: Not own, that would be very hasty, but they could at a minimum announce a deal. That is the chatter
that is going around. AT&T denied comment about this story and these reports.
We have not heard back from Time Warner as of yet on this, but there is a lot of speculation. Time Warner has been the subject the takeover rumors
before, most recently with Fox and that deal did not happen.
But people seem to think that AT&T might make more sense now that they own Direct TV, which has the lucrative Sunday NFL ticket package. They might
want even more content.
[15:25:07]GORANI: All right, so we've called Time Warner. We've put a phone call in to the top floors and we didn't get a comment on it --
LA MONICA: We have not gotten anything yet.
GORANI: But why is this a good fit? I mean, AT&T is -- they have obviously the cable business. They have the phone business. Why is this -
- why do they think it is a good fit to acquire Time Warner?
LA MONICA: When you look at the way the media and technology and telecom landscape, look right now, they are all really blending. It's this kind of
crazy, insane, sort of Venn diagram, if you will. And just look at AT&T's competition. Verizon already owns AOL. They are trying to buy Yahoo!
whether or not that deal goes through remains to be seen.
And of course, Comcast, a huge cable company in the United States, they own NBC Universal. They bought Dreamworks Animation as well. So I don't think
it is that out of the question for AT&T even though many people still associate them with their phones, it's (inaudible) after all, why they'd be
interested in a content company like Time Warner.
GORANI: All right, and we did see the share price very briefly jump up quite a bit on reports yesterday and then again today.
LA MONICA: Yes, exactly, the stock is certainly acting as if Wall Street believes that these rumors are true and that something is going to happen.
Of course, that's no guarantee of a deal, but just saying what the stocks do.
GORANI: That's right, almost $90 a share. Thanks very much, Paul La Monica in New York.
Here in London, dozens of people being treated for breathing problems after what authorities are calling a chemical incident at London City Airport.
It is a smaller airport here in the capital, another two people were taken to hospitals.
London's Fire Brigade says the airport is now safe, though, but it was evacuated and closed for a couple hours. People on planes were asked to
leave the plane, get on the tarmac, and wait it out. The cause of all of this is still being investigated.
A lot more to come this evening, much more on the race for the White House. We'll hear from supporters of both candidates as Donald Trump and Hillary
Clinton nears the finish line.
Plus, it has been 100 days since Theresa May took over as British prime minister. She is celebrating it, or should we say marking it, we don't
know, but it is all happening with a difficult meeting with E.U. leaders. Stay with us.
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GORANI: Our top stories, ISIS is fighting for control of Kirkuk in Iraq after a launch to surprise attack on the oil rich city early Friday. This
is away from Mosul. We are talking about a second front. The fighting is dragging on into the night and the assault is seen as a diversion as Iraqi
forces close in on Mosul.
Also in this hour in Aleppo, Syria, medical evacuations planned by the United Nations are not going ahead because of security fears and that is
despite a Russian led pause in the fighting lasting into a second day. It is already too late for many.
In an interview with Swiss television made available just moments ago, Syria's president, Bashar al-Assad was asked about one of the most iconic
images to have emerged from Aleppo. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This young boy has become the symbol of the war. His name is Omran, 5 years old, covered in blood, scared, traumatized. Is
there anything you would like to say to Omran and his family?
BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SYRIAN PRESIDENT: First, I want you to go back after my interview to go to the interest and see the same child, with the same
picture of the child and his sister, rescued by the White Helmets, which is a safe (inaudible) of al-Nusra in Aleppo. They were rescued twice, each
one in different incidents, and just as part of the publicity of the White Helmets. None of these incidents were true.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: All right, denying once again the fact that this boy is even a victim. Here in London, a 19-year-old man is under arrest after a, quote,
"suspicious item" was found in an underground train station. Police carried out a controlled explosion on the item at North Greenwich Station,
which is close to the O2 Entertainment venue in the Canary Warf District. Following the incident, police plan an increased presence around transport
hubs in London.
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are making a full on blitz of battleground states in the final 18 days before the election. Clinton is focusing all
of her efforts today in Ohio. She is due at a rally there next hour, but she also has three powerful surrogates out on the trail in other states
including her husband, former President Bill Clinton.
Donald Trump meantime started his day in North Carolina and will end up in Pennsylvania holding a total of three rallies. He talked about his busy
schedule saying he doesn't want to have any regrets.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We are going to do this for another 19 days, right up until the actual vote of November 8th, and then I
don't know what kind of shape I'm in, but I'll be happy and at least I will have known win, lose, or draw, and I'm almost sure if the people come out,
we're going to win, but I will be happy with myself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: All right, Donald Trump there, it's been quite a week in the presidential race. Last night, the candidates gave guests at a charity
dinner an evening to remember for better or worse. And at the debate, Trump managed to change the headlines from his treatment of women but
stepped right into another firestorm.
Let's bring Michael Smerconish, host of "SMERCONISH" here on CNN on Saturdays. So it takes a lot to get the headlines to move away from Trump
and his issues with women, and how he describes women, and many women that have come forward accusing him of sexual assault.
Because this week, of course, memorably he said during the debate that he would keep everyone in suspense as to whether or not he would accept the
final election results. What is that doing to his campaign?
MICHAEL SMERCONISH, HOST, CNN'S "SMERCONISH": Hala, I think he had been having a very strong debate, probably the strongest of the three
presidential debates thus far until that question was asked. It was not a question was not unexpected. That would be the sort of thing you would
anticipate he would be asked because of some of his comments.
And yet his response was to say, as you just offered, that he would leave everyone in suspense. There was enormous blow back in the United States
from editorial pages on both the left and the right. And I can understand how he would think that's a winning strategy, but it is in line with the
unconventional nature of the campaign that he has run.
I would just add one thing, Donald Trump just said in that clip that there are 19 days left until Election Day. While that is true, already four
million Americans have voted and by the time we get to Election Day, a full 40 percent of the country is expected to have already cast a ballot. So
truly we're in the midst of Election Day right now and for the next 19 days.
GORANI: And that is very interesting. By the way, he also said nasty woman when Hillary Clinton was giving one of her final answers as well.
That they did play well at all with some conservative voters.
[15:35:04]You mentioned that many voters have already cast their ballots. This happens in states all around America, but now we are seeing some of
these states that are usually firmly Republican, red on the map, turn pink, one of them is Georgia, Texas and Arizona as well. What is going on there?
Is it the changing demographics that's creating this situation?
SMERCONISH: So, interestingly we know where people have made requests for early ballots, and in some circumstances there is actual early voting. We
don't know for whom anyone has voted, but we can tell how many Republicans have shown up to vote, how many Democrats have shown up to vote and how
many have requested ballots from each parties.
So you can see the trends and the trend lines at this point are more supportive of Hillary Clinton seemingly than they are of Donald Trump. All
of the action is in a handful of battleground states and it's because of this system that we have in the U.S where we elect by the so-called
Electoral College and not by the popular vote.
But to your point, some states that have been religiously in the Republican camp for the last several cycles all of a sudden seemed competitive. I
mean, the idea that Georgia would be in play or the idea that Texas, although, I think Donald Trump will win it.
But the people have even raised the prospect that a vote rich state like Texas could be competitive do really speak to the changing demographics of
the country, the increased diversity of the United States and there in lies the problem for the Republican Party because if they don't grow the tent,
they won't be able to win the White House.
GORANI: And they're not growing it with Donald Trump.
SMERCONISH: Say it again?
GORANI: They're not growing that tent or expanding that tent with Donald Trump.
SMERCONISH: But Hala, the entire campaign from Donald Trump has been one of energizing the people who are already in his column. I would argue that
there has been zero outreach by him in his convention, in any of the --
GORANI: But why not? I mean, it's a very simple challenge. I mean, it's a difficult one to achieve, but it's a very clear cut problem he has.
SMERCONISH: I can only imagine that they've looked at the internals of the polls, they have seen some of the demographic groups that they would like
to reach are just off limits because the antipathy toward Trump is so strong that they have written off those groups and instead they've said
here's where we need to concentrate our effort by driving every last vote that we have from those groups that are loyal to us.
GORANI: Michael Smerconish, thanks very much, always a pleasure. "SMERCONISH" is right here on CNN Saturdays at 9 a.m. Eastern Time, 2 p.m.
in London, tune in.
We want to hear from supporters of both candidates now, CNN political commentator, Bill Press is backing Hillary Clinton and CNN political
commentator, Kayleigh McEnany supports Donald Trump.
So I will start first with you, Bill. Let's look at some of the latest polling from Ohio. Now, I know you believe that Hillary Clinton is a
better candidate, but she is having a lot of trouble in a very important swing state like Ohio.
The latest poll coming out from Suffolk University, 45 percent for Hillary Clinton, 45 percent for Donald Trump in a four-way race. Why is she still
having so much trouble?
BILL PRESS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Wait, she is tied in Ohio, which is traditionally a Republican state. No Republican has won the White House
without having won the state of Ohio. But as Michael pointed out, if you look at the Electoral College today, the count with CNN is 307 for Hillary
to 179 with Donald Trump.
If you look at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, one of the most respected in the country, it's 352 for Hillary and 173 for Donald
Trump with only 13 undecided. So I think the only question, Hala, left is whether Hillary gets 350 electoral votes or 400.
She doesn't need Ohio. Donald Trump needs Ohio. He is just tied to Hillary Clinton. I think this race for the White House may in fact be
over.
GORANI: Kayleigh?
KAYLEIGH MCENANY, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I don't think so, Bill. Don't start celebrating yet. We were sitting here about 26 days ago
roughly and John King was talking about the momentum was going in Trump's direction. He had multiple paths to 270.
We still have 18 days to go. None of us know what's going to happen. Look, just in the last week, we had attentions against Trump, but we also
had the FBI 302s that suggested quid pro quo corruption between the State Department and FBI.
We also had the Wikileaks. There is 18 days to go. Donald Trump is not that far behind. In Pennsylvania, the average, he's behind six points.
That is a state Democrats won going back to the 1980s, don't pop the champagne.
[15:40:07]So it's not over yet, Bill so don't pop the champagne.
PRESS: No, I'm not popping any champagne, but if you look at every single poll, OK, NBC Hillary up 11, CNN Hillary up 8, ABC Hillary up 4, she is up
in every single poll. No candidate at this point with 18 days to go has ever been that far behind and come back and won the presidency.
And particularly as you just pointed out with Michael, when Donald Trump is not adding new people at all and politics is about addition, not
subtraction.
GORANI: Kayleigh, you must admit, though, Kayleigh that Donald Trump has not done any outreach work to anybody beyond that base of supporters that
have been passionate about him from the beginning. Do you acknowledge that?
MCENANY: Well, I think he has tried outreach and I think the plan to have basically paid leave from your job, that big speech he gave, was geared
towards women. I think he has tried to speak to inner city communities, that is a group that doesn't support him currently, but he could probably
get in his column.
But a lot of it, to your point, has been about energizing his base and discouraging her base. So I do think that's a big part of the strategy,
and I just want to point out the "Investors Business Daily" poll that came out, the most accurate in 2004 and 2008 has Donald Trump up by one.
There are polls that show going in a different direction and I think we will see a Brexit here in the United States and it will be very exciting
for Donald Trump supporters and the American public.
GORANI: I never heard more Americans say the word Brexit on the Trump side than I have just in the last two or three days. Isn't that, Bill, the big
hope? Because we covered Brexit here in London and it was -- we were all blindsided. There was very few expectations, just one or two polls before
the big day predicted that Brexit would win over remain. But is it possible then that something similar will happen in the United States? Why
or why not?
PRESS: Well, first of all in politics, that's why we love it, anything is possible, right? But very, very unlikely. If you look at the history of
the presidential elections in this country, look at the numbers where they are right now.
I would say there is zero path for Donald Trump to get to the White House. And that is reflected, Hala, in what we saw today for the first time, the
Republican -- the Chamber of Commerce, which is a Republican organization is now out with new ad for Senate candidates saying we need that Republican
in the Senate to counter balance Democratic President Hillary Clinton.
They are accepting the fact that they've lost the White House. So now they are focusing on Senate races and House races. So there is no clearer sign
that Donald Trump will not make it to the White House.
GORANI: And Kayleigh, yesterday, at the Al Smith dinner, Donald Trump got booed at one point. I want our viewers to listen to that portion of his
speech that didn't go down well at all.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Hillary believes that it is vital to deceive the people by having one public policy and a totally different policy in private. That's OK, I
don't know who they're angry at, Hillary you or I. For example, here she is tonight, in public, pretending not to hate Catholics.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Kayleigh, what did you make of that? That was very awkward. It went down very poorly. It wasn't considered funny or appropriate.
MCENANY: Look, I think both candidates could have been more self- deprecating last night that includes Donald Trump, but to be booed by a room full of elites in New York City, that's not going to affect his
chances at the poles at all. There is a lot of frustration geared toward the elites, Washington, and the polls of New York and L.A. So I don't
think being booed by a room full of them is problematic for him.
PRESS: You know what? This is Donald Trump's audience. He is an elite of New York City, who are you kidding? He was there among all of these real
estate moguls and bankers, he usually does business with.
But here's the problem, Hala, I mean, I would agree with Kayleigh on this point, self-deprecating humor is the best of humor, it is also the toughest
to pull off.
The one thing you need to do is make fun of yourself and make fun of the person on the other side. They have to singe but not burn. I think that
is where Donald Trump made his mistake. He was too mean. They don't want you to be mean, funny but not mean.
GORANI: All right, well, thanks to both of you, Bill Press and Kayleigh McEnany for joining us. We really appreciate your time here on CNN.
[15:45:02]Don't forget, you can check out this -- some of the interviews that we have done on the program this evening on the Facebook page,
facebook.com/halagoranicnn.
Coming up, a new prime minister, a huge job ahead and a country at a crossroads, Theresa May has been in power for 100 eventful days. We take a
look at how the British prime minister was greeted at an important E.U. meeting. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: There will be some difficult moments. That is what Theresa May's take on Britain's upcoming negotiations to leave the E.U. That is how she
is describing the road ahead. She was attending her first European Council Summit as prime minister and got quite a frosty reception from some of her
counter parts, but she says she want a mature relationship with other E.U. countries.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THERESA MAY, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: The United Kingdom will be a fully independent and sovereign country. Free to make our own decision on a
whole host of different issues such as how we choose to control immigration, but we still want to trade freely in goods and services with
Europe and the U.K. will continue to face similar challenges for our European neighbors. We will continue to share the same values. So I want
a mature and cooperative relationship with our European partners.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: That comes as Mrs. May marks a 100 days as Britain's prime minister. It has been a tumultuous time for the country as she tries to
navigate the choppy waters of post-Brexit reality. Max Foster takes a look at how she is getting on.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIGEL FARAGE, U.K. INDEPENDENCE PARTY LEADER: Let's join the 23rd go down (inaudible) as our independence day.
MAX FOSTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After the result, that few predicted and the sudden end of an era.
DAVID CAMERON, FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I love this country and I feel honored to have served it.
FOSTER: Theresa May found herself as the last conservative leadership candidate standing, a prime minister by default, not voted for by the
public or even her party.
MAY: As we leave the European Union, we will forge a bold new positive role for ourselves in the world.
FOSTER: Her cabinet was carefully balanced to include those who had wanted to remain alongside some of the most ardent Brexiters. The biggest
challenge in the immediate aftermath was to hold her party together, a task made more manageable by turmoil in the main opposition party, Labour,
something Theresa May was quick to highlight.
MAY: The Labour Party may be about to spend several months fighting and tearing itself apart. The Conservative Party will be spending those months
bringing this country back together.
FOSTER: Jeremy Corbin was eventually reelected as Labour leader, but still faces opposition from many of his own Members of Parliament.
[05:50:05]Theresa May continued pushing her message that Brexit could be a positive thing if done the right way. Her way will involve triggering
Article 50 of the E.U.'s Lisbon Treaty kickstarting the process without a vote by MPs, an assertion she is now facing a legal challenge on. At her
own party conference, she stood firm and announced a time table.
MAY: We will invoke Article 50 no later than the end of March next year.
FOSTER: That was the commitment leave voters have been waiting for, but then she faced strong words from Scotland where 62 percent of people wanted
to remain part of the E.U.
NICOLA STURGEON, FIRST MINISTER OF SCOTLAND: I am determined that Scotland will have the ability to reconsider the question of independence and to do
so before the U.K. leaves the E.U.
FOSTER: Now in Brussels, May finds herself surrounded by leaders, who have criticized the U.K.'s decision.
DONALD TUSK, EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT: She will be safe with us. I hope that she will also realize the E.U. is still the best company in the world.
FOSTER: A long road lies ahead for Theresa May, but she's come through her first 100 days sticking to her line that Brexit means Brexit. Max Foster,
CNN, London.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: The Philippines government is down playing comments by its president, again, on relations with the United States. On a state visit to
China, Rodrigo Duterte said his nation is, quote, "separating with the United States and realigning with Beijing."
After that, a presidential spokesman said that comments were not meant to reneg on any treaties with allies. CNN's Jim Sciutto has more.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: This walk back today you're hearing from officials, really a run back, because the
Philippine president was way out there on some of these statements.
But this walk back today is giving some comfort here, but the fact is that this is a very sensitive time in not just the relations with the
Philippines but with China. You have the U.S. and China facing off over China's land grabs in effect in the South China Sea.
And the Philippines had been shoulder to shoulder with the U.S. on this because the Philippines has disputes with China over land, the Scarborough
Shoal, in particular, but land features that China and the Philippines claims and the U.S. has been deploying more forces there, tightening up
that treaty as it were to back up the Philippines at the Philippines' request.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Thank you very much, Jim Sciutto.
Coming up, some of these animals are being hunted. Others are losing their homes, but a group of photographers caught some of their best moments on
camera.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: If you like wildlife photos, this is going to be a treat. There is an exhibit showing off the best of them that opened here in London.
Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It has to be aesthetically strong, but then there is the interest and the story. There is an emotional feel sometimes to a
picture. It really does move you and that will take a picture up towards being a winner.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Looking down, nothing really prepared me for this scene. Right now the penguins are being hunted across all its state. The
scales are used in traditional medicines across Asia, China being particularly, and then the meat is being consumed in high-end restaurants.
[15:55:12]When you see the scale, this image is 4,000 penguins, the most highly traded mammal in the world right now. It's all great to take
beautiful imagery, but these images need to be shown because if not there will be nothing left to photograph anyway.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to tell the story of the orangutan in its habitat and how they really need the intact rainforest to survive. One of
the big issues orangutans are facing is habitat loss.
You know, their forest is still being cleared, fires spread especially into disturbed forest, looking through the smoke at these orangutan mother and
baby that have been forced out to the river edge.
People would kill the orangutan mother to get the baby and try to sell it as a pet. This looks precious, but actually each of these baby orangutans
represents a dead mother in the wild.
People don't appreciate what is going on out there until they can see it I think for themselves. Our pictures are a way that people can learn about
the world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: A little more U.S. politics before we leave you tonight. Remember this feisty exchange.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: My Social Security payroll contribution will go up as will Donald's assuming he can't figure out how to get out of it, but what we
want to do is to replenish --
TRUMP: Such a nasty woman.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Feminists pounced on that outburst and music lovers turn to Janet Jackson. Spotify searches for Jackson song, "Nasty" spiked after the
debate. That wasn't the only Trumpism that went viral. He caused another flood of tweets with the phrase bad hombres.
Not everyone took hombres to be Spanish for men. Hombre is also a way to color your hair. I've seen better hombre jobs, but they shared some nasty
dye jobs or hombres. Janet Jackson, I love that song. You could call her underrated, but one of my favorites.
This has been THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. I'm Hala Gorani. Have a great weekend. "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS" is up next.
END
