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Rubio Projected to Win Puerto Rico in Primary; Flint's Water Crisis; Nancy Reagan Died at 94 of Heart Failure; New Poll Shows Clinton Has 57 Percent of Likely Primary Voters; Race to the White House; Interview with Kevin Spacey. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired March 6, 2016 - 16:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:00:30] POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: All right. It is the top of the hour. 4:00 p.m. Eastern. We do have a key race alert for you in the primary contest on the Republican side, Puerto Rico - Puerto Ricans going to the polls today voting with seven percent of the vote, eight percent in so far. You see Marco Rubio on top there by a wide margin. Again, this is early going.

This is the first key race alert in the race in Puerto Rico. But again, 72 percent for Rubio, followed by Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, John Kasich. 23 delegates up for grabs in Puerto Rico. Obviously, the delegate race has been intense. We will keep you posted as more of the results continue to pour in from Puerto Rico.

Let's turn now to my colleague, Victor Blackwell, in Flint, Michigan. Victor.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Poppy, thank you so much. I want to bring in our panel her to talk more about tonight's debate but of course, the numbers we're seeing in Puerto Rico. CNN political commentator Donna Brazile is with us, also we have iwht us the host of "Reliable Sources" Biran Stelter.

Let's look at these numbers here. Donna, first to you, what we are seeing out of Puerto Rico, Marco Rubio making a play there, trying to get second W.

DONNA BRAZILE, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Oh, it's no question. Puerto Rico is a very important state. Not only because of voters that will be delegates to the convention but given the crisis in Puerto Rico, the economic crisis, to have Marco Rubio, any presidential candidate visit Puerto Rico at this time is very, very important. Let's not forget, also in Maine today, on the Republican side, they held their caucus yesterday, the democratic side - they will caucus until 8:00 p.m. tonight.

BRIAN STELTER, HOST "RELIABLE SOURCES": What an important moment for Rubio because after Super Tuesday and then Super Saturday. Ted Cruz is soaking up so much of the oxygen in this GOP race. Any oxygen not taken by Donald Trump is going to Ted Cruz right now. So a rare good day for Rubio.

BLACKWELL: Yes, trying to look ahead to Florida, the question originally as, is the party, is the electorate, going to sit and allow Rubio to lose all weekend, lose as we go into Florida, and it seems maybe he may be able to pull off Puerto Rico. From what I remember, if you get beyond 50 percent you take all the delegates here in Puerto Rico.

BRAZILE: That is correct. But also, look, Marco Rubio needs a victory for other reasons. He has to justify standing in a race and looking more and more like a two-person race. So this is a big day for him, as delegates. I don't know if he will get enough momentum going into Tuesday when Mississippi and Michigan and other states are participating.

BLACKWELL: So let's turn to tonight and what we're expecting to hear from Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. The voters here have heard from politicians that they sympathize, they empathize with what people are going through here. You two were out, I was on the air at the time, handing out water in the community. Help people understand, if they don't know the details of this water crisis. What you're seeing as you meet the people in Flint.

BRAZILE: This was man-made disaster that started almost a year and half ago. And for months, politicians ignored it. Ignored the crisis at a time when people were being poisoned. They said go back. The water is fine. They were drinking it. Politicians were not drinking it. Instead they ignored it.

This was man-made disaster and what you have now is a community that needs help. They need not just water but they need to kind of, what I call, moral and political help that you don't see often. Yes, we handed out water at the places that I attended yesterday, we also handed out food. I cannot tell you the number of people who also came looking for milk products for their babies. Diapers. Pampers. It was a very humbling experience. I'm glad that CNN sponsored our project yesterday, today the DNC, they are organizing a food bank drive. There's more we can do. I'm glad Hillary and Bernie, they both visited Flint. We wanted this debate in Flint so we can talk about those who are - the people in this country who are on the outskirts of hope, who need politicians to pay attention and to deliver, not just to talk the happy talk and not be there when they need safe drinking water.

[16:05:00]

STELTER: You know there's serious activism here. As we were walking here to the library where we are broadcasting from, here on Harrison Street, 60, 70 protesters walking up the street, some with bull horns and signs that read water is a human right and fix Flint now. So it is very much an ongoing story. This is not something that happened in the past. It is still happening everyday here.

BLACWELL: You know, Donna, when I spoke with people in Flint, only been here for a couple of days, people here just cannot understand how the U.S. got hundreds and millions of dollars to Indonesia after the tsunami. Hundreds of millions of dollars to Japan after the earthquake. Money to Haiti. But can't fix the pipes here in Flint, Michigan.

BRAZILE: It starts with the governor. I think the governor has to be held responsible. I also think that we also have to hold local officials to make sure that they get statewide officials and yes, the federal government, the EPA is here. HHS is here. I'm using all the federal acronyms.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

BRAZILE: But we need more leadership and Senator Stabenow has a bill now on Capitol Hill, (INAUDIBLE), who is a Republican, he supports it. But we have another Republican, Mike Lee, who is holding off on giving this community money and communities across the country that have problems with their drinking system. So we need all of the people to work together - this is not a political crisis as well - this is not just a political crisis, it is a moral crisis.

We need to help the people of Flint and all across the country. We should never ever get to the point where we are insensitive to the needs of poor people in this country. When we hear problems, we should help them. That's what we are called to do.

BLACKWELL: All right. Donna, Brian, thank you both so much.

We want to good out to Joe Johns. We're just a few hours from the big debate here in Flint. 130 delegates at stake from Michigan for the democrats and Republicans have 59 up for grabs on Tuesday. There is this new NBC Wall Street Marist poll out today that shows Hillary Clinton with a wide lead here in this poll, 17 points over Bernie Sanders.

Let's go over to CNN senior Washington correspondent Joe Johns now on the debate stage. Joe, no doubt we will hear from Senator Sanders and Secretary Clinton for Senator Mike Lee to lift that hold on the bill that could bring money to this community and communities like it across the country.

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you know, and I've talked to people with both campaigns today and they've give me an indication that we should not expect any dramatic new policy pronouncements about Flint from either the candidates but this will be an opportunity for them to talk through some of the issues they said previously on the campaign trail.

Hillary Clinton today at a church in Detroit talked a bit about Flint. She said in the past, for example, that FEMA needs to expedite its review of the situation. She sent in a couple OF staffers to help Flint out if need be. Bernie Sanders on the other hand has said the governor of this state needs to resign over the issue of Flint. That line before a partisan democratic crowd in Warren, Michigan just last night got big applause. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I have never, I don't think I have ever left a room as shattered as I was listening to the pain of what was going on in Flint. And really what I felt, what I felt is I could not believe that I was listening to people who were living in the United States of America in the year 2016.

I think the governor should do the right thing and resign.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: And Bernie Sanders has also made the point that in his view, this is not just about the water in Flint. It is also very much about the economy for example. He said in 1960, this was one of the richest communities but because of what has happened to the auto industry over the years and jobs going overseas for example, it's not so much that today. Victor?

BLACKWELL: The problems in cities like Flint and across this country have been going on for decades. This water issue obviously a crisis of urgent need of attention. Joe Johns there for us for the site of tonight's debate. We'll be right back as we countdown, fewer than four hours until tonight's democratic debate here from Flint, Michigan.

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[16:12:28]

HARLOW: Rsults just now coming in from Puerto Rico as Republican primary today. Let's take a look at numbers.

Marco Rubio has a solid lead with 11 percent of precincts reporting. We will pull them up for you if we can here over 72 percent of the vote thus far has gone to Marco Rubio. Key for the people over 74 percent now with 11 percent reporting. Key for the people of Puerto Rico right now, massive debt crisis they are living with, dealing with everyday. Puerto Rico now more than $70 billion in debt. That is top of mind.

Again, Marco Rubio leading Trump, Cruz and Kasich by a wide margin. The democrats there in the primary don't go to the polls in Puerto Rico until June 5th. Let's get back to my colleague, Victor Blackwell, live in Flint, Michigan. Ahead of the big CNN debate there tonight, Victor?

BLACKWELL: Poppy, thank you.

It's been five months since Flint, Michigan switched back to Detroit's water supply but the people here still can not drink water coming from their faucets. Late last week, the city began replacing the first pipes that brought in that contaminated water. Recently some tests show that homes still have water with twice the amount of lead that the EPA considers toxic. Crews are beginning to replace the pipes, the families at the highest at risk, with those pregnant women, children and seniors there. For some people in Flint are now reporting physical and mental issues potentially brought on by lead poisoning. CNN's Sara Sidner talked to one Flint resident.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Aaron Stinson thought he was being healthy by drinking a lot of
AARON STINSON, FLINT RESIDENT: I try to take care of myself. I try to drink as much water as possible.

SIDNER: But his attempt at being healthy may have ended up hurting him. He started feeling fatigued and in pain.

STINSON: Strange pain, muscle pains, cramps in my joints. At times, I was experiencing dizziness.

SIDNER: On a scheduled visit he decided to ask for a blood test. The doctor called with results.

STINSON: He said I'm concerned about the lead levels in your blood. Your lead levels are kind of high. I said, kind of high. What does that mean? Am I dying?

SIDNER: It turns out, of all the adults tested in his city and county, his blood has the highest level of lead at 27 micro grams. The CDC says that's nearly three times the amount considered toxic for adults. Stinson lives in Flint, Michigan, where officials decided to switch the city's water supply resulting in lead leaching into the drinking water.

[16:15:00]

STINSON: This is a scary thing. I really don't know how I'm going to be attacked from this. But it is in my body. And it will take its toll on my body at some point.

SIDNER: Even doctors can't determine that.

(ON CAMERA): What might that mean for him? With a level that high?

Right now, it is sort of in a zone of uncertainty for medical management.

SIDNER (voice-over): Neurologist Peter Lewitt says lead does less damage in adults than children but it is still toxic and can have long-term consequences, even affecting DNA.

PETER LEWITT, NEUROLOGIST: I'm sure an individual like will be as worried as I would be, as to whether this is something that would impact the quality of thinking, increased risk for cancer and possibly have a legacy in one's children.

SIDNER: A legacy that has Stinson and the rest of the residents of Flint fearful about the future and furious at officials who created the water crisis. And then refused to listen to those who warned the corrosive Flint River was an unhealthy source of water.

STINSON: People knew the water would be poisoned. People knew that we were going to get sick. People knew there would be backlash. But I guess some people would rather go after the money and throw their morals out the window.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: Sara Sidner is with us now. Sara, when people are, I guess, considering they've been exposed to this toxic water, what are the symptoms they should look for?

SIDNER: That's the hard thing. They can be absolutely nothing. You don't notice it. Or there is all sorts of things that can come up because lead affects every system in your body. That's why doctors say there really is no safe amount of lead in your body. But there is an amount that the CDC looks at and says if you're above this amount then you need to seek medical help.

But there isn't much you can do unless you are going to die, literally, from toxicity from lead, there is a drug they can give you but it takes all the lead which settles in your bones. Takes it out of your body and makes it go through your organs which can be really, really dangerous. So there are foods that they tell people to eat, things like fruits and vegetables. Things that can sort of suck up the lead and it does pass through your system. But really there really is no answer to that. Because it can be hundreds of different things that can happen to your system because lead is in there. But particularly children.

If you notice that your child is having problems with hyperactivity, if they are even sluggish sometimes, if they're not responsive, if they're doing worse in school, these may be indicators that your child has been affected by it but for adults it affects them a little less. Not as strong as children but still, it's a poison, it's a toxin, and that's why someone like him, who has had a really elevated level has to worry for the rest of his life. It affects your DNA.

BLACKWELL: You say they should eat fruits and vegetables. Folks in Flint need a grocery store. They need somewhere to buy the fruits and vegetables here.

SIDNER: They have to travel outside of their town, out their own city to gets fresh fruits, except for there's a farmer's market on Saturday, downtown, beautiful place that they can get some fresh items. But yes, it is - there's a lot of frustration. It's not just about the water, Victor, it really is and you've seen that yourself. There are so many things here with unemployment, the number of houses that are abandoned. One in 14 houses are vacant here. Boarded up. And so there are lots of issues that people are going to want to talk to these candidates about. I'm sure it's going to get pretty heated in there.

BLACKWELL: Absolutely. Sara Sidner, thank you so much. Been working here for some time. Poppy, back to you.

HARLOW: Thank you so much, Victor. We do have breaking news. On Puerto Rico's Republican primary.

Again, a key race alert in Puerto Rico's Republican primary. Marco Rubio is projected - CNN is projecting Marco Rubio is the winner, in Puerto Rico. That projection made with 18 percent of precincts reporting. As you see, a wide lead there. 74 percent, the votes, thus far going to Marco Rubio. Way ahead of Donald Trump who has come in second.

Ted Cruz, John Kasich. Again, CNN projecting Marco Rubio has taken Puerto Rico and its 23 Republican delegates with him. Obviously, top of mind for voters in Puerto Rico when they went to the polls, the massive debt crisis that the island there is $70 billion in debt.

So Marco Rubio is the one many are casting their vote for today. CNN projecting Rubio is the winner of Puerto Rico. We're going to talk on all of this with our political panel, next. What does it mean? How big is this? Remember in 20 contests thus far, this is only the second, the second that Marco Rubio has taken, Minnesota and now Puerto Rico. Back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:23:22]

HARLOW: We have breaking news on Puerto Rico's Republican primary. CNN now projecting Marco Rubio is the winner in Puerto Rico today. Taking in 73.6 percent of the vote with 25 percent of the precincts reporting there.

Again, Marco Rubio with a wide lead. CNN projecting he will be the winner in Puerto Rico. 23 delegates up for grabs there. This is a - everyone there went to the polls with their concern thereabout the debt crisis in Puerto Rico, which is more than $70 billion in the red. The democratic race in Puerto Rico not until June 5th. Let's talk - what this all means for Marco Rubio. Joining me now, Republican strategist Brian Morgenstern and Ellis Hennican, democratic commentator. Thank you, both, for being with me.

Let me begin with you, Brian. When you look at this, does this matter win for Marco Rubio? Now he's got Minnesota and Puerto Rico and that's it.

BRIAN MORGENSTERN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Yes, this is a bell weather. Because we have Florida coming up. The campaign has openly said we are going to win Florida, guaranteeing victory. There are a million Puerto Ricans in Florida. That's a lot of votes. And so this is a much a victory for Rubio in sort of breathing more air into his campaign as it is also a bit of an indictment of the other candidates and their outreach to Latinos, particularly today, Puerto Ricans.

So the fact that Marco is crushing the field this badly with this voting block could be a very strong bell weather for them headed into the March 15th primary.

HARLOW: You just looked at him with a look of astonishment when he called you the bellwether. [16:25:00]

ELLIS HENNICAN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Well, Brian's ability to grab a little crumb and make something out of it. Because I'm afraid, Marco, this is a little crumb. I mean it has been rough going for Marco Rubio. His two main competitors have 18 of the previous 19 victories. He had been kind of just a little bit of thing to smile about. Still 15 points behind in polls in Florida which is the one that really matters. The real lifeline that might actually save his campaign. But I got to tell you, over the past couple of days, things are looking far better for Ted Cruz than for Marco Rubio.

HARLOW: What did you think, Brian, for the strategy of not only Ted Cruz came out last night and said Rubio should drop out of the race, we expect that Donald Trump says the same thing which seems sort of the psychology there doesn't really seem to add up. Because what the polls show is that if Rubio were to drop out of race, a lot of those votes, more of them good to Cruz than go to Trump. Why would Trump do that?

MORGENSTERN: Yes. I always get confused when Trump talks. Because I don't know if he means what he is saying or the opposite of it. And sometimes it is difficult. Sometimes - yes, exactly, it's complicated. I actually think the more intriguing call for Rubio to get out is Cruz because if Cruz - or the non-Trump candidates have a path to the nomination, they have to get in Trump's way, which means Cruz strategically would be rooting for Marco to take Florida to keep Trump's delegate total down.

HENNICAN: Can I talk?

HARLOW: Sure, go ahead. Take a shot.

HENNICAN: (INAUDIBLE) up to. You do need two or three levels with Donald. I don't think there is any chance that's Marco is going to get it. He will keep running. He's got enough money. So what he is trying to do is wound him in Florida, by calling him to get out and it makes it seem like their campaign is teetering on the edge. Both of the other candidates demanding it, even though both of them understand, he's not leaving at least until Florida, it kind of weakens him in his home state and the polls are reflecting that at this point.

HARLOW: What does the math tell us about - I mean, look Rubio must win Florida, no question. Must-win for John Kasich is Ohio. Let's even say that Rubio takes Florida, which the latest polling takes Trump pretty far ahead in Florida. Anything can change, though. What after Florida, even if Rubio takes it?

MORGENSTERN: Then we've got really a three-man race where it's going to be - where they will be competing nationally. Rubio actually was, I believe, the first candidate to have state chairs in all 50 states. He set this campaign up to go to the convention. His team is saying and not budging on that, we are going all the way to the convention. I think winning a big swing state like Florida adds to the argument that to strategic voters, if you want to nominate the guy most likely to win in November, it's me. So Florida then would provide an additional argument to future states.

HARLOW: Ellis, is this any sort of - you wonder if his strategy of turning to the ways of Donald Trump in terms of his rhetoric, about a week and half ago, if those worked. Because after he did that, a lot of people laughed, but he didn't take any super Tuesday states, then he didn't take any states yesterday, now he takes Puerto Rico. Is this sort of any vindication or their or affirmation of their strategy change?

HENNICAN: You have to keep looking to find it. I'm afraid, it makes total sense on paper, right? Marco really does have the right resume, the right look, the right tone. But voters are rejecting it in every single set. Maybe Puerto Rico is a little exception. I'll grant you that.

But the larger message is that this race is really down to two candidates of the establishment's nightmare. The Donald Trump they hate and the senator who is most loathed by every single other Republican senator. I'm telling you, we are going into nightmare territory.

HARLOW; Is there a lesson, Brian, to learn here among the critical Hispanic Latino vote, for Republican, so critical that after Romney lost in 2012, the RNC comes with this entire autopsy report saying we have to do better. A fascinating piece, three months ago now in "The New York Times," talking about how Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio approached their heritage so differently. Arguing that Rubio has embraced it more than Cruz.

MORGENSTERN: That's exactly right. And this today's primary in Puerto Rico bore that out. And that's an argument that team Rubio has been making for quite a while. I think today shows that. I think Florida may be more fruit to that and this is an ongoing argument within the party. Not only unite it, but grow it. That's the theme that Rubio has been hitting on.

But to Ellis' point that this is a two-man race - those are the talking points of the Trump campaign and Cruz campaign trying to discredit Rubio's ability to win future states. The next super Tuesday, the 15th, winner take all. 99 delegates in Florida.

HARLOW: A huge share. In Ohio, absolutely.

HENNICAN: In the future, I get that.

MORGENSTERN: Way too soon.

HARLOW: Thank you both. Way too soon to call anything at this point. Thank you both, Brian, Ellis, I appreciate it very much.

We're going to take a quick break. We'll be back with our special coverage ahead of the big debate tonight in Flint. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:30:00] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ANDERSON COOPER, AC360 SHOW HOST: Thank you so much for joining us. I'm so honored to be standing next to First Lady Nancy Reagan. So nice to see you. Thank you very much inviting us tonight.

Nancy Reagan, FORMER U.S. FIRST LADY: You're welcome. Delighted to have you here.

COOPER: It's such an extraordinary facility. You must be very proud of it.

REAGAN: I am. I am.

It certainly so. Well, thank you again, so much for hosting us tonight.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: That was our Anderson Cooper interviewing Nancy Reagan there at he Reagan Library back in 2008. The former First Lady died this morning of heart failure, she was 94 years old. And condolences have poured in remembering the woman, her life, her legacy.

Hillary Clinton tweeted last hour, quote, "Nancy's strength of character was legendary. And her advocacy especially for Alzheimer's research was tireless."

Praying for her family, Bernie Sanders also released the statement calling Mrs. Reagan an exemplary First Lady. And Governor John Kasich released the statement saying quote, "President Reagan has been reunited with his wife and partner. But America and the Reagan family have lost a woman of grace and strength."

Let's talk about her life, her legacy, and how she will be honored.

CNN correspondent Paul Vercammen is live at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. Frank Sesno, former CNN White House correspondent during the Reagan administration is with us, he is also a producer for the History Channel's documentary, Ronald Reagan, a legacy remembered. And he is director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University.

Thank you, both, for being here. Paul, let me begin with you. I understand we know that she will be laid to rest where you are, next to her husband there at the library. You may know who may preside over the services.

PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Poppy. In talking to library officials just a short time ago, they said it was Nancy's wish that John Danforth preside over her services. They say this is not etched in stone right now but they are trying to work this out as well as everything else.

As we said, she will be buried next to Ronald Reagan on the west side of this library, facing the Pacific Ocean. There will be an outdoor service. [16:34:59] And then like her husband, for what we understand, when her

body is brought up here in a closed casket, just like Ronald Reagan, the body will lay in repose in the main lobby of the library with many tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of people begin to come by and pay respects to her.

And then sort of sobering reminder we saw a backhoe come up here and officials say yes, that's right. They still need to dig her grave site. All of them so sad to know that Nancy Reagan had passed. But many of them reflecting on how much they enjoyed being around her when she was up here, Poppy.

HARLOW: Absolutely. And Frank, to you, you know, one of her most famous quotes is "My life really began when I married my husband." But for everyone who may take that the wrong way, they should know that she was an absolute partner with him in the White House. She influenced him greatly on some very key foreign policy moves. She was, in many ways, his rock, his closest friend, and a very close adviser to the president.

FRANK SESNO, FORMER CNN WHITE CORRESPONDENT FOR Ronald Reagan FUNERAL: And his protector in chief.

HARLOW: Yes.

SESNO: You know, she did influence him. She encouraged him to do business with Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet leader.

HARLOW: Right.

SESNO: She encouraged him to engage with young people and others. Of course, she took up her own drug program but it was the protector role that was really most remarkable. You know, you show that pictures. This was when the hospital was in the hospital for his cancer. I remember that very well because I was there for that.

And what struck me was after we were told that president had been informed about his own cancer, they said, he didn't have any questions about that. You know, he was a very kind of interestingly enough, soft spoken guy. But she did and she went into overdrive to figure out what was wrong, what the treatments were going to be.

I remember in 1993, some months before the letter that the president wrote, telling the world that he had his Alzheimer's disease, there was an event on the USS Intrepid in New York and I was privileged enough to be the emcee that evening. And the President was that President Reagan is there getting Intrepid Freedom Award.

And there were indications, Poppy, that there was something that was not right. The president seemed to be hesitant. And she was a step in front of him introducing him down the line saying, "Oh, Ronnie, you remember Frank. Oh, Ronnie, you remember so and so?" She had that instinctive constant ability to be running interference for him. It was just out of pure dedication and love.

HARLOW: And Paul Vercammen, to you, I mean, you had the chance to meet her multiple times.

VERCAMMEN: I did. Not only the debate here at the Reagan Library. When I was a cover reporter in Santa Barbara County, Frank Sesno may remember this they used to put on media barbecues or events. And I was fortunate enough to go up there and talk to Nancy on couple different occasions. Even though it was just a photo op, she actually took time- out and talked to me a little bit and said she watched the local news.

I'm kind of chuckling because, Nancy was famous for loving the color red and I had on a red shirt and she been talking to me about that. One thing that I can tell you, both from the people who worked with her and myself, there is just this overarching sense of sweetness. I think that was the take away that many of us had, who had an encounter with her, Poppy.

HARLOW: At the same time, Frank Sesno, she was someone that if you were in that White House and you wanted then President Reagan to sit down or consider something or change his position on something, you wanted her on your side.

SESNO: You sure did. She had a sweetness, if you were on the right side and the right side of her husband. But she was tough and she wielded her own power center in the White House. A lot of your viewers will not remember this because they're too young, perhaps. But for those who were around during the Reagan presidency, they certainly will remember the Iran contra scandal.

HARLOW: Sure.

SESNO: And it hurt the president very much, it hurt him personally as well. And she felt especially after the report came out that he had not been well served, especially by his chief-of-staff, Donald Reagan.

HARLOW: Right.

SESNO: And it was Nancy Reagan in the east wing, her wing of the White House, that was part of the process that led him to be fired very summarily and then very, as far as he was concerned, undignified way.

So, if you didn't, you know, fall in line or certainly support the president the way she thought, she wasn't shy about weighing in because, you know, her whole world really revolved around him. Not in a subservient way, but in that partner way, that you were talking about, Poppy.

HARLOW: Yes.

SESNO: And we saw that in a lot of ways pretty much every day.

HARLOW: Sure. And she is the one you convinced him eventually to come out to apologize for Iran contra. She tried to move forward.

I have 10 seconds left. Quickly, Frank Sesno, one word to describe the woman that Nancy Reagan was.

SESNO: Totally in love, totally dedicated, and totally committed to Ronald Reagan and the life they made together.

HARLOW: Wow. What a woman, what a legacy. Thank you both, Paul Vercammen, live there in Simi Valley where she will be laid to rest. Frank Sesno, thank you for helping us remembers her.

[16:35:00] A live look there at the beautiful Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, where services will be held for Nancy Reagan.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VICTOR BLACKWELL, NEW DAY SHOW ANCHOR: Welcome back. We live from Flint, Michigan where the CNN democratic debate starts in less than four hours now. Hillary Clinton has a pretty strong lead in the Great Lake State.

Today, NBC/Wall Street/Marist poll shows that Clinton has 57 percent of likely democratic primary voters here to 40 percent for Bernie Sanders. Now both candidates of course are expected to address the water crisis here in Flint tonight. And here is what Clinton is saying about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, (D) U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: But there's another story in Flint. It's a story of a community that's been knocked down but refused to be knocked out.

(APPLAUSE)

It is -- it is hundreds of union plumbers coming from across the country to help install new water fixtures. It's students raising funds for water deliveries and showing up to distribute supplies. It's the United Auto Workers and General Motors donating millions of dollars to help.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[16:44:59] BLACKWELL: We're also waiting for the results of the democratic caucuses happening right now in Maine. So, we'll of course keep an eye on that.

Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz joins us now. She is also the Democratic National Committee chairwoman. Madam Chairwoman, good to have you with us.

DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRWOMAN: Good to be with you. Thanks, Victor.

BLACKWELL: Certainly. So, people here in Flint are waiting for answers. We heard from Joe Johns. His reporting is that, neither candidate is going to introduce sweeping policy proposals. So, what we heard from Secretary Clinton there, is that going to be enough tonight for this community? SCHULTZ: Well, I think you will hear much more than just the comments

on the campaign trail that the candidates have made. I mean, we made a commitment to come to Flint and add this debates here because our candidates and our party firmly believe in making sure that we can, not only show the people of Flint that we are going to be there for them to help rebuild and help their families become whole, but that we're in the short term as well as the long-term committed to making sure that we can help them get through the crisis.

Critically, though, it's important that we demonstrate to urban cores just like Flint all across the country that democrats are committed to investing in our nation's crumbling infrastructure to rebuild it. So, we can create jobs and make sure that crises like we have here in Flint never happen anywhere else in the country.

And it is on the republican administration here. Governor Snyder, the republican legislature to step up and make sure that we can fix this crisis because they made this bad and they've got to make sure that they can help people get through this.

BLACKWELL: Congresswoman, when I spoke with people who live here in Flint, and I asked them about their preference, the people who are supporting Secretary Clinton started their answer with, I support her because she came here. And that she came days after the debate was announced.

But Senator Sanders came here a few weeks later. I wonder if he is still having a problem with African-American democratic voters, not here, just in Flint or across the state but across the country, how does he bring that demographic into his fold, how does he improve those inroads into minority communities this late into the season?

SCHULTZ: Well, Victor, both of our candidates on the democratic side have significantly and consistently demonstrated their commitments to making sure that we continue to build on the six straight years of job growth we have had in the private sector.

Making the kinds of investments that we did with the American recovery and reinvestment act that pulled help us out of the worst greatest economic crisis since the depression. Rescuing the American automobile industry making sure we focus on tax cuts that help people reach to the middle class as opposed to the republicans who would undo all of that progress.

And both Senator Sanders and Secretary Clinton in each of our debates and you'll hear it tonight have been talking about how they would build on that progress. While you listen to the republicans in the most recent debate, Victor, honestly I think they should have started on the screen with the parental advisory warning.

Because the mud and the bloody mess of their debates, the vulgarity, is beneath our stature as Americans, and certainly shed no light on their views for how they would actually move this country forward. And it's understandable that voters are more and more frustrated and yet, you are seeing really strong numbers for either one of our candidates going into the general election no matter which one of them is our nominee.

BLACKWELL: Speaking of strong numbers, if you look back at the turnout for the primaries and caucuses on the republican side heavy turnout, record turnout in some contests. Not the case for the democratic contest. I wonder if you know what that is attributed to and if that concerns you as the contest moves into the general election phase.

SCHULTZ: Well, Victor, in many of the primaries and caucuses we've actually had nearly as bigger turnout as the republicans have with our two candidates. You know when they started out with 11 when voting actually happened and then eight. You know, we actually had a larger turnout in Nevada for our caucuses in Colorado.

The republicans didn't even have a caucus because they are in such chaos on the other side of the aisle. I mean, there is almost no chance that they are going to get a nominee without a brokered convention.

This is -- we're watching a party in utter Civil War and our candidates remain focused on trying to, you know, show the voters what their differences are on their approach to achieving the same goals, which is building on the 60 years of progress that we've made straight through with the job growth rescuing the automobile industry when the republicans would have let it go down the tubes.

It's very important to Michigan voters certainly and voters across the rust belt, and making sure that we can continue to add people to the health care roles when republicans would repeal it and take it away.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

SCHULTZ: So, the contrast couldn't be more clear. That's why ultimately our candidate for president will be elected the 45th President of the United States.

[16:50:06] BLACKWELL: All right. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the DNC chairwoman, thank you so much for being us.

SCHULTZ: Thank you. Always a pleasure, Victor. Thank you.

BLACKWELL: And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: All right, calling all political junkies. You will want to watch CNN tonight. Not just for the CNN democratic debate. Of course you will watch that. But right after that, a new original series called "Race for the White House." Host Kevin Spacey looks back at the six presidential races that changed this country. He sat down with our Alisyn Camerota and told her that politics today looks the whole lot like it did years ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEVIN SPACEY, ACTOR: All of these particular races that we have focused on throughout history, are really interesting examinations of while some things may have changed, you know, the way in which a politician gets their message out, which in earlier times was very slow, that someone's speech or ideas would get across to voters across the country and how that's changed. Now it's instantaneous. But how, in many ways, politics hasn't changed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: "Race for the White House" starts tonight, 10 p.m. Eastern. Right after the debate. Only right here on CNN. Thank you all for being with us today. I'm Poppy Harlow in New York.

[16:55:03] I'm Victor Blackwell in Flint, Michigan. Don't forget the democratic debate tonight at 8 Eastern. Wolf Blitzer continues that coverage after a short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WOLF BLITZER, THE SITUATION ROOM SHOW HOST: Hello, I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting to you live tonight from Flint, Michigan. That's the site of tonight's democratic presidential debate. This is also the site of a devastating toxic water crisis. Residents in this host city still cannot drink what comes out of their faucets.

The lead water emergency is the backdrop for tonight's presidential face-off. The stage is now set. Three hours from now Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders they'll go ahead to head right here on CNN.

[17:00:03] Hillary Clinton comes in with the significant lead over Bernie Sanders in the critical delegate cut. Sanders, though, are riding high in morale boosting double win over Hillary Clinton on super Saturday.