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Trump Mocks Clinton's Mental State; Kasich Explains Why He Skipped GOP Convention; Clinton Leads Trump By 8 Percentage Points In New Poll; Battle for North Carolina Voters; Women and Sexual Harassment Highlighted in Campaign; Yankees Star Alex Rodriguez to End Career. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired August 7, 2016 - 16:00   ET

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


[16:00:01] FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Meanwhile, Trump is refocusing his attention on Clinton, leveling a new round of harsh attacks going as far as to question her mental stability.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: It was in front of some friendly reporters, they asked her a very easy question, and she short circuited. She used the term "short circuited." She took a short circuit in the brain, and she got problems.

I mean, if we had real people, this would be a real problem for her. But I think that the people of this country don't want somebody who is going to short circuit up here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: This as some Republicans are slow to rally around Trump including Ohio Governor John Kasich, who skipped the GOP convention. He explained his reasoning and his thoughts on Trump's recent battles with prominent Republicans and he talked exclusively this morning on "STATE OF THE UNION."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST, "STATE OF THE UNION": Governor Kasich, thanks so much for joining us.

GOVERNOR JOHN KASICH (R), OHIO: Glad to do it. Thanks for coming here.

TAPPER: So last time I saw you was around the time of the Republican convention which you did not attend. Very interesting results. It's the first convention in modern history according to Gallop, where more people were less likely to vote for the nominee after the convention than were more likely, 51 percent said that they were less likely to vote for Donald Trump after the convention than 36 percent say they were more likely, why do you think that is?

KASICH: Well, look, I think, Jake, in America, people even though we have these enormous problems, I don't think people want to live in a world of anger. They want to believe there is a better tomorrow. I got the sense that there was a sort of a foreboding out there.

And I just don't think that is where people want to be and I didn't go because I think it's about manners. You know, if I wasn't prepared to go there and get up and endorse a nominee I just thought it was inappropriate to go into that convention hall.

And here is something, Jake, that is really true. People want politicians to stand on principle until the principle they're standing on is not one that they agree with.

Now what no one should be confused about, no one is that you know, I wrote an op-ed piece about Hillary. I think she is on the bus, Bernie is driving and she is sitting in the back seat. She is no more than big government.

TAPPER: You said there should be no confusion about your support of Hillary Clinton. You don't support Hillary Clinton.

KASICH: No, of course not.

TAPPER: But you also don't support Donald Trump.

KASICH: I have not endorsed him.

TAPPER: You have not endorsed him. Do you know what you're going to do when you go in the voting booth?

KASICH: No, still have time. It's something I think about a little bit but not a lot.

TAPPER: Have you ever voted for a Democrat for president?

KASICH: No.

TAPPER: You've only voted Republican.

KASICH: Yes, I'm a Republican.

TAPPER: Is it possible that you will not vote for a Republican for president?

KASICH: Let not get ahead of ourselves. This is very disturbing and alarming. I shouldn't say alarming. It's not alarming. I wish that I could be fully enthusiastic. I can't be. So I don't know what is going to happen at the end.

TAPPER: You said you didn't watch the Democratic convention.

KASICH: I watched just a tiny bit. I watched all Donald Trump's speech and I watched -- I did see the Khan speech.

TAPPER: So the Khan's obviously, Khzir and Ghazala Khan, their son, Captain Humayun Khan was killed in Iraq in 2004. You tweeted after Donald Trump started attacking the parents and questioning things about the parents. You tweeted, "There is only one way to talk about gold star parents, with honor and respect. Captain Khan is a hero. Together we should pray for his family." Trump's response was he was viciously attacked by the Khans.

KASICH: Well, look, I didn't see that, but here is what I do want to tell you. As the governor, every year except this year, we've had families of people who have been lost serving their country, Jake. They come to the state house. They gather in the cabinet room and then one by one these families come in to see me.

It's very tough. Usually there is a picture of their son or their daughter or their mother or their father that is right up there as they come in. I give them a flag and I sit and I talk to them. I tell them about the loss of my mother and father in a sudden accident.

And I said you know, let's not compare, but what I can tell you is I've seen the black hole. I've had the deep mourning and the pain, but here is what I know. I believe the scripture when it says that those who give up their life or serve someone else will wear a big crown.

[16:05:06]That their service is marked in the book of life. Never to be erased. I hug them. Sometimes there are a few people who will sit in the room with me. Sometimes a tear gets shed. Sometimes I give recommendations as to how they can find somebody to help them.

It's really tough, Jake, and but I'm honored to do it. Because if there is anything that I can say to these families, anything at all, and they got kids in there and their dad is gone or their mom is gone. It's just excruciatingly difficult. But I'm so glad I do it and I'm so glad that they would honor me to come.

TAPPER: There was a report in "The New York Times" that Donald Trump Jr. called you and tried to assess out your feelings, your interest in being the vice president and said you would be able to run domestic and foreign policy. Is that report true?

KASICH: I never got a call, apparently my aides did.

TAPPER: Donald Trump Jr. did call one of your aides and have that conversation?

KASICH: That's what the reports are but you know --

TAPPER: But I mean, your aide said that it was accurate?

KASICH: That is what one of them has told me.

TAPPER: Yes, that it was accurate.

KASICH: But I never got a call. That is yesterday. And again, I said during the campaign and nobody in the press believed that -- you know, I might have agreed to be George Washington's vice president, but I got the second best job in the country. You know, president, governor of Ohio, so I was never interested in being anybody's vice president.

TAPPER: It was not tempting at all?

KASICH: You know, isn't that amazing, never considered it?

TAPPER: Really?

KASICH: No. Why would I want vice? I would be the worst vice president. I have too many opinions, Jake.

TAPPER: You have a lot of opinions, that's for sure. Well, because you get to run foreign policy and domestic policy. If that was the pitch, it sounds like a pretty --

KASICH: Well, I'm running foreign policy in Ohio. You got to remember we have Michigan on our border, you know.

TAPPER: You're going to build a wall, I'm sure. So the Trump campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, said you were embarrassing your state of Ohio when you skipped the convention in Cleveland. You talked about the pressure that you felt. People telling you, you needed to go and endorse. Were there back channel efforts to get you to come to the convention? And who put the pressure on you?

KASICH: No, no, no, I mean, people would call who are longtime friends of mine, and say, you know, you need to support the party and secondly, don't give the impression that you're a Clinton supporter. That's just kind of this thing, you know. Well, let me be clear, I'm not, OK. I see four years of gridlock with her, total gridlock and meltdown, and economics. OK, so that is one thing.

TAPPER: What do you see with --

KASICH: Well, I see gridlock there too.

TAPPER: Were you surprised when Donald Trump declined to endorse Speaker Ryan, Senator McCain and Senator Ayotte?

KASICH: Well, yes, I thought it was a little bizarre. Let's talk about each of them. Paul, you know, he is in the Jack Kemp mode. He is a guy who is positive and wants to reach out to people in poverty. He wants to lower the taxes codes so we don't punish the successful, build entrepreneurship, great guy.

OK, he used to be an aide when I was budget chairman. Kelly Ayotte, OK, she is a terrific senator. She comes from New Hampshire. I'm going to go campaign for her and do whatever I can to help.

TAPPER: You're going to work a lot on these --

KASICH: I'm all over, I was just in Illinois the other day helping Senator Kirk raising money for the House Republicans in Illinois. I've been for Senator Paul. I'm going to Colorado. I was in Philadelphia in a tough race over in Philadelphia.

Yes, I'm going to help all House and Senate members and that is important to me. Let's talk about McCain. I love John McCain. John McCain is such an amazing guy. Not just an American hero.

But here is a guy who has served his country well, he is outspoken and takes orders from no one. As far as I'm concerned, McCain should not have to run for election in the Senate. He ought to be in the Senate as long as he wants to be.

You know, he is in a tough race out there. I'm going to go out there. I don't care what it takes. I got to go out there and help McCain. He really is truly for the people who watch this show. He is a remarkable guy. He so loves his country.

TAPPER: Governor, you're admiration for John McCain is moving, your nominee for president, the Republican presidential nominee said John McCain is not a hero, he prefers people who weren't captured.

KASICH: Well, I don't agree with that. OK, I think John McCain is a hero. Look, Jake, here is the thing.

[16:10:11]All throughout this anybody can say OK, you know, Trump said this, you say that. Why don't you slug him over the head? Look, my actions have spoken louder than any words.

TAPPER: Your refusal to endorse him?

KASICH: And think about this, I want to know when anybody had a convention in their state when they were the governor who didn't go in the convention hall. I mean, some people are really furious with me about that.

But I did what I thought I needed to do and you know what? I never went in that hall to promote myself. And I wanted -- believe it or not I wanted to show respect to the nominee and my going up there and disrupting his deal was not what I intended to do.

TAPPER: Can Trump win Ohio?

KASICH: Can Trump win Ohio? He is going to win parts of Ohio where people are really hurting. There will be sections he will win because people are angry, frustrated, and haven't heard any answers. But I still think it's difficult if you are dividing to be able to win in Ohio. I think it's really, really difficult.

TAPPER: What does Donald Trump need to do to get you to vote for him? You obviously said you will never vote for Hillary Clinton. Is there any way that Donald Trump can change?

KASICH: You know, there is so much water over the dam now it's becoming increasingly difficult but I want unifying. You know, you can either operate on the dark side of the street or you can operate in the light. I believe that America needs people to operate in the light. Plain and simple.

TAPPER: Governor Kasich, thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate it.

KASICH: I loved it. Thank you. (END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And we'll get reaction to Kasich's comments and what it signals for Trump's chances in Ohio after the break.

Plus, sexual harassment and women's concerns have been central in this election. Still ahead, our panel discusses the political landscape for them.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:16:15]

WHITFIELD: All right, before the break, we just heard from Ohio Governor John Kasich on why he skipped the GOP convention and why he has yet to endorse Donald Trump.

For more on that and other challenges facing both campaigns, I want to bring back Republican strategist, Brian Morgenstern, and political analyst and author of "The Party Is Over, How I Became A Democrat," Ellis Henican.

All right, welcome back. Brian, you first. So Kasich, not sure whether he will vote for Trump and if you look at the latest ABC News/"Washington Post" poll, a lot of Americans are still trying to figure that out, as well.

How concerned should the GOP be right now when for a long time it seemed like he was running away with it. And now, you know, his numbers have dipped quite a bit.

BRIAN MORGENSTERN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Yes, he has a heavy lift from here to November and it was created by himself, by the way he campaigned in the primary, the sort of scorched earth tactics he used where he went after each of the candidates personally. It makes it awfully difficult.

And you know, I mean, Ted Cruz, also burned a lot of bridges, but you know what when he was addressing the Texas delegation at the RNC, he talked about how Trump involved his wife and dad conspiracy theories about JFK.

And it's basically telling voters, if you were me and you just went through that, I think you would have a pretty hard time coming around. So you know, Kasich is not alone in wrestling with this decision.

I think it's interesting that he is doing it publicly. That is something that, you know, maybe sometimes if you're really behind the party no matter what you may not do that.

But then again, Trump's tactics were something that you may not do also. So I think the chickens are coming home to roost. Let's see if he can put the pieces back together.

WHITFIELD: And Ellis, last time we all talk, we talked about Virginia, now Georgia, let's talk a little bit more about, you know, that state, voting Republican in every election since 1996. But now, a new Atlanta Journal Constitution poll has Clinton up by four percentage points. If Trump loses Georgia, how difficult will it be for him to win the White House?

ELLIS HENICAN, POLITICAL ANALYST: I would say impossible. If he loses Georgia he is cooked. And you know, it's not just Georgia or Virginia, it's a whole bunch of other states that used to be pretty reliably Republican. Arizona is a good one to keep an eye on.

That either -- one of two things will happen, right? Either Trump loses that state in which case he will lose the presidency, or they have to devote so many resources to protecting the flank in a normally safe state that you then become more vulnerable in the genuine states that ought to be up for grabs. So yes, it's a scary equation all around.

WHITFIELD: OK, each of the candidates have been going after one other about, you know, pertains to kind of mental fitness. You know, Hillary Clinton and her camp have just released a new ad that really gets to the core of Donald Trump's moniker of making America great again.

But then she is underscoring, you know, in this message that he is not producing much of his clothing line in the U.S. of A, so let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We employ people in Bangladesh.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The ties are made in where? China? The ties are made in China.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So Brian, you know, how effective is this? You were talking earlier about you know the entertainment factor of some of the ads and this is you know, kind of underscoring an entertainment outlet. This is David Letterman and late night, and it was Donald Trump making an appearance and these are his words. This is something that happened.

MORGENSTERN: Yes, this was a very similar ad to the one aired during the primaries by some of his opponents and some of the PACs that were out there.

[16:20:04]Trying to undermine his message of, you know, he's for the workers when he actually outsources himself. And look at Trump University, who is taking advantage of working class people.

These lines of attack were used and he still made it through the primaries. So I'm not sure if this tactic is going to work. I understand the goal that it's supposed to underline the credibility of this messenger for that message.

Again, I understand it. They tried that in the primary and it didn't really work. So I don't know if there is going to be a different way for them to do that to make it stick or not, but it hasn't worked so far.

WHITFIELD: OK, and then the thread that you know, really has some -- has gone some distance during the primary season and even now leading up to the general election, Ellis, is that of these e-mails. Donald Trump pivoting and calling a lot of attention to you know just the constant back and forth. Hillary Clinton almost keeping the issue alive herself.

HENICAN: Yes, and she has handled it very clumsily. You have to say she has been her opponent's best weapon to use against her. Here's the question, though, in both of these. You have to ask who the audience is, right? Brian is right that those attacks didn't work in the primaries.

But you know, those were very different electorates than the ones we're facing right now. The same thing with the e-mails, you know, people who were inclined to hate Hillary, it proves what a rat she has been all along.

But those folks who are kind of support above her or in the middle, is it really swaying them at this point? That is the key question.

WHITFIELD: All right, Brian Morgen -- go ahead.

MORGENSTERN: Well, I was just going to say that both of these candidates keep adding fuel to the fire, though, and creating new avenues of attack for their opponents. And so you know, the onslaught of new information I think is what is keeping this thing interesting.

WHITFIELD: All right, Brian, Ellis, thanks so much, Gentlemen. Good to see you. Appreciate it.

All right, also coming up, sexual harassment has been a focal point on the campaign trail recently. I'll ask my panel, the female panel, they are back. They are going to be talking about which candidate they believe would help create a good environment for everyone. We'll discuss next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:26:23]

WHITFIELD: All right, hello again, and thanks so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Donald Trump is back on message and ramping up his attacks on Hillary Clinton as his poll numbers continue to sink.

Last night at a rally in New Hampshire, the Republican candidate lashed out at his rival. Trump even questioning Clinton's mental health.

All right, let's get more on these developments with CNN's Scott McLean, who is in Washington for us. So Scott, new polls out today on the candidates. What are we learning?

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Fredricka, so this is an ABC News/"Washington Post" poll showing that Hillary Clinton holds an 8- point advantage over Donald Trump. It also shows that he has a pretty steep climb in order to get back on message and get back in good favor with voters on a number of issues. We'll bring up some of them.

First, favorability, more people -- Hillary Clinton has a much higher favorability rating than Donald Trump, 48 percent to 34 percent. More people also think that Clinton has the temperament to be president, 59 percent for Clinton, just 33 for Donald Trump.

Now, when it comes to the issue of honesty and trustworthiness, Trump and Clinton are in a virtual tie. So even though the e-mail issue continues to erode Clinton's trustworthiness, she is not doing any worse than Donald Trump on that issue.

So you can see 59 percent of people think that Clinton is not honest and trustworthy compared to 62 percent for Donald Trump. Now these numbers come in the wake of that controversy involving a gold star family and Donald Trump's criticism of them.

This poll asked people to weigh in, 73 of respondents disapprove of Donald Trump's handling of that dispute. Just 12 percent of people approve.

Now despite these four numbers, though, Fredricka, I should point out Donald Trump still holds a double digit lead among men and he is still winning against Hillary Clinton among independents by four points.

WHITFIELD: All right, Scott McLean in Washington, thanks so much for the update.

All right, meantime, the fight is on for North Carolina, one of the big battleground states in this year's election, once a Republican stronghold, the state went for Barack Obama over Senator John McCain back in 2008 in a very tight race separated by just 14,000 votes.

But in 2012, Mitt Romney came out on top in North Carolina with roughly 97,000 more votes than President Obama. CNN's Sunlen Serfaty shows us how each side is handling its ground game to get out the vote in a state which is now up for grabs.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TRUMP: I'm going to be in North Carolina so much that you're going to get so sick and tired of me.

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONENT (voice-over): In North Carolina --

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We're going to fight for every vote in this state.

SERFATY: This is where the rubber is meeting the road. Hand to hand political combat being waged door by door.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Would you vote for a Republican, Donald Trump, or a Democrat, Hillary Clinton? SERFATY: In one phone call at a time.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're trying to get busy registering voters so we need all people.

SERFATY: And the stakes could not be higher.

STEVEN GREENE, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, NC STATE UNIVERSITY: If Hillary Clinton wins North Carolina it's almost a sure thing that she has won the election. For Donald Trump it's an absolute must-win state.

SERFATY: On the ground, a stark contrast and approaches, Team Clinton has 12 field offices opened throughout the state in coordination with the Democratic National Committee with a paid Clinton campaign staffer in each of the 25 regions. The Trump campaign has a smaller footprint, relying almost exclusively on the Republican National Committee for offices and staff.

[16:30:00] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When I saw Donald Trump mock a disabled person, I was just shocked.

SERFATY: The Clinton campaign has spent 5 million on TV ads on this date since early June with another 2.5 million coming from its allies. The Trump campaign has not spent any money on TV ads yet. Only one group supporting Trump is on the air, the NRA with a modest $250,000 fine (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hillary as president? No thanks.

SERFATY: Another factor affecting the dynamics of the race, North Carolina's rapidly changing demographics, the state is growing more diverse, more urbanized with an influx of college graduates.

And the Clinton campaign is hoping to capitalize on this trend to mobilize a coalition of voters that helped then Senator Obama become the first Democrat since Jimmy Carter to carry this date in 2008.

It's why the president and Hillary Clinton made North Carolina the place for their first joint campaign appearance last month.

BARACK OBAMA, U.S. PRESIDENT: I'm ready to pass the baton.

SERFATY: But Clinton campaign official say one of their top targets in the Tar Heel State are gettable Republicans skeptical of Donald Trump.

PATSY KEEVER, NORTH CAROLINA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRWOMAN: And certainly, where Secretary Clinton may not be the person that some of the Republicans who are unaffiliated really want, she certainly is a much, much better choice.

SERFATY: The Clinton campaign is directing its efforts towards college educated suburban women...

KRISTIN DAVIS, ACTRESS: Hi, I'm good. How are you?

SERFATY: ...bringing in celebrities to help make the case.

DAVIS: I know that I would not want to vote for someone who calls women dogs. If ever there was a year where people might be open to changing how they would have traditionally have voted I feel like this it.

SERFATY: Like Rafaela George, who has voted Republican before, but not this year.

RAFAELA GEORGE, NORTH CAROLINA VOTER: And I've said this to my friends that I know that she has a lot of baggage and people have criticisms of her but I just can't go for Trump.

SERFATY: But others aren't convinced.

TRACY RICHARDS, NORTH CAROLINA VOTER: That I wish there was honestly a better candidate to run as a Republican this year, but I again feel so strongly about the other option that I won't vote for her.

SERFATY: The Trump campaign is tailoring its outreach too focusing on getting out their core base of supporters.

KARA CARTER, ANC NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: We are looking to identify, persuade and turn out GOP conservative remain unaffiliated voters.

SERFATY: A strategy being carried out step-by-step by Trump volunteers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will be a little further up.

SERFATY: Not visiting every house only knocking on doors they know...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, how are you?

SERFATY: ...are open to voting for their candidate.

Sunlen Serfaty, CNN Raleigh, North Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And up next, staying in the battleground State of North Carolina, Donald Trump's campaign is there today holding an event to court more African-American voters. Trump's daughter-in-law was there. We'll talk with her next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:35:00] WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back. Donald Trump recently was asked a hypothetical question regarding sexual harassment in the workplace.

Trump was asked to imagine a boss harassing Ivanka, here was his response to USA today saying, "I would like to think she would find another career or find another company if that was the case."

Well, Trump's son, Eric then responded on CBS saying this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIC TRUMP, DONALD TRUMP'S SON: Ivanka is a strong, you know, powerful woman. She wouldn't allow herself to be, you know, objected, you know, to wait and by the way you should certainly take it up with human resources and I think, you know, she definitely would as a strong person at the same time I don't think she would allow herself to be subjected to that and I think -- I think that's the point he was making and I think he did so well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And then Trump's daughter, Ivanka went on television and shared her thoughts this way.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IVANKA TRUMP, DONALD TRUMP'S DAUGHTER: I think that sexual harassment is inexcusable in any setting. I think harassment in general, regardless sexual or otherwise is totally inexcusable. And if it transpires it needs to be reported and it needs to be dealt with on a company level.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So the intersection of women in politics has been front and center throughout this election cycle. So I asked my panel Michaela Angela Davis, Kayleigh McEnany, Kelly Wallace, Anushay Hossein about issues facing women and for their take on these recent Trump family comments.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAELA ANGELA DAVIS, CULTURAL CRITIC AND WRITER: You are running for the highest office in the world, so when you are asked a question, right? You were answering from the voice of someone who was running for the highest office in the world.

Not what I would do as an individual millionaire father to my white privileged daughter. What would I say to her? I'm speaking to the American people. Every time this candidate opens his mouth he is speaking to the American people and to the world.

So, it is so unfair -- that we infantile him to say, oh, that's just his opinion, that's what his -- you're running for president of the United States of America.

KELLY WALLACE, DIGITAL CORRESPONDENT AND EDITOR-AT-LARGE: And, you know, one observation with really this conversation I think symbolizes is look at how women's issues are center stage in this presidential campaign.

I mean, we're talking now about sexual harassment, an issue, when did you have presidential candidates address it? But I want to talk about paid leave and issues like that.

I remember, you know, if the debates you had this issue front and center by candidates on the Democratic side and some discussion on the Republican side and you had women out there saying wow, what an amazing thing.

Normally, these issues are sort of those side issues.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And again, thanks to Kayleigh McEnany, Michaela Angela Davis, Christine Romans who is with us earlier, Anushay Hossain and Kelly Wallace. So, for more on our panel discussions, you need to check out cnn.com.

Meantime, we're staying with the issue of sexual harassment. After the break, up next, one of the Trump family members, Eric Trump's wife, Lara responds to her family's recent comments.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:40:00] WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back, it's day two of the Summer Olympic games in Rio and a celebration of sport and its ability to inspire defines the games.

So this week's CNN hero understands how powerful that inspiration can be. Scotsman Davie Duke was homeless when soccer or as he calls it a football motivated him to transform his life.

Now he is doing the same for thousands of others.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTSMAN DAVIE DUKE, CNN HERO: When you're homeless, you lose more than just the roof above your head. You lose your dignity, your self- esteem, so you isolate yourself. Football gives you a place where you belong, confidence, fitness, friendships. It brought me my life back.

(END VIDOE CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, to see more of Davie's story and to vote for a hero that inspires you, head to cnn.com/heroes.

In an effort to make in rows with the African-American community, Donald Trump's campaign was in church this morning, a historically black church in North Carolina.

The Antioch Road to Glory International Ministries, officially throwing its support behind Trump with its so-called Day of Endorsement Event, here is what a few church attendees had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[16:45:00] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For 52 years to be exact, African- Americans have voted almost 90% -- 95%, you know, Democrat. You have never really seen a church step out there and support a -- really a Republican candidate in a long time. And so especially a person such as Donald Trump where everyone has said that he has no black support and just to see this even happen is you know, is wonderful.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is not a politician, so he doesn't have to answer to anyone. He is kind of like got a mind of his own, and we support him much more if that change. We don't want to go by the books anymore. We want someone to be touched by our feelings, don't just hear us, listen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Some nationally recognized Trump supporters were there including Omarosa Manigault, apprentice contestant turned Trump campaign director of African-American Outreach as well as Trump's own daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, wife of Eric Trump.

Earlier, I was joined by Lara along with Lynne Patton who is Vice- President of the Eric Trump Foundation and Senior Assistant to Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump, Junior.

And I asked them how the campaign plans to turn things around as Trump polls just 1% approval among African-Americans.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LYNNE PATTON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ERIC TRUMP FOUNDATION: This event was the most important thing I think I've probably ever done in my life. With respect to the percentage, Fredricka, I have to say that I just absolutely don't believe it.

Because, the support I saw on this room tonight shows exactly the opposite. And if you don't believe me, then believe the numbers, because since 2008, the number of African-Americans living in poverty has risen by 1.4 million.

And since Barack Obama took office in 2008, the African-American median household income has actually declined by nearly $4,000. And since Barack Obama took office, the amount of black home ownership has dropped from 47% to nearly 40%.

So, you ask yourselves, are you better off than you were eight years ago, because I know I'm not?

WHITFIELD: So Lynne, would it have been more effective if Donald Trump himself were there?

PATTON: And you know what, Donald Trump will be here and he'll be reaching out to the black community more and more as the campaign goes on and he endorses us being here. And he trusts his daughter-in-law, Lara to handle that task.

WHITFIELD: And...

PATTON: This is her home state and there's nobody else he'd rather have here.

WHITFIELD: So Lara, this is your home state, how instrumental were you in helping to, you know, convince the churchgoers there or make a pitch to the church there to end up winning their support for Donald Trump?

LARA TRUMP, ERIC TRUMP'S WIFE: Yes. Well, it is my home state. I'm honored to be here. I love and pleased to come back to North Carolina. I didn't have to make a pitch or do anything to convince people.

Quite frankly, the support in the room was 100% without a doubt. Everybody was very enthusiastic to have us here, super excited to have the service today and really, it's an honor to be here and we're so excited to do it.

WHITFIELD: Post in the RNC and DNC, we are seeing now some national polling showing that Hillary Clinton is eight points ahead. And so Lara, you know, this week, you know, Donald Trump seemed to lose a lot of steam particularly with a few missteps.

Among them he was asked that hypothetical question about sexual harassment and said if his daughter, Ivanka were harassed at work by her boss that he would hope that she would just, you know, leave.

And then your husband, Eric Trump, raised a lot of eyebrows when he went on CBS and he said this.

TRUMP: Ivanka is a, strong, you know, powerful woman. She wouldn't allow herself to be, you know, objected, you know, to wait. And by the way, you should certainly take it up with human resources and I think, you know, she definitely would as a strong person.

At the same time, I don't think she would allow herself to be subjected to that. And I think -- I think that's the point he was making and I think he did so well.

WHITFIELD: And so Lara, where do you fall on this? Is it an issue of strength versus weakness?

TRUMP: Well, look I think Eric, what he said was totally fine. I think everybody is making something out of nothing there. Eric obviously supports nothing to do with sexual harassment. There is nothing further from anything that he would endorse, including my father-in- law quite frankly. You know, it's just the same old tale, let's take a sound by out of a greater interview...

WHITFIELD: Well, it's actually part of -- there is a trend, though there are a number of incidences that involved certain sensitive topics as it pertains to women that being one of them.

And so we know that among polling Donald Trump, your father in-law, is not doing that well when it comes to appealing to a number of women voters.

So, is this yet another incident that makes it very difficult for surrogates such as yourself to try to appeal to women or try to speak on behalf of Donald Trump and his track record on that statement.

[16:50:00] TRUMP: No, not at all. And in fact, Lynne and I have been in North Carolina for the past several days with the women you previously mentioned with Omarosa (INAUDIBLE), with Katrina Pierson. We have gotten the greatest reception specifically from women.

PATTON: That's correct.

TRUMP: I want tell you is that Donald Trump employs in as far I've seen more female executives than male executives.

PATTON: That's absolutely correct.

TRUMP: He makes no distinction between men and women when it comes to a job well done. He wants the best person for the job. And that's how he is going to treat this country. He wants the best for everyone man, women, black or white. He wants the best for America.

PATTON: That's right. And as an employee of Donald Trump myself, I can personally assure all the women out there including the ones that worked for him, they know that Mr. Trump applies the same tenets in life that he apply in the boardroom. And in business, it's all about what you bring to the table not your ethnicity, not your gender, not your race.

And let me tell you something...

WHITFIELD: All right, Lynne...

PATTON: ...if I didn't produce I wouldn't be there.

WHITFIELD: All right, Lynne Patton, Lara Trump thanks so much for your time. Appreciate it from Charlotte, North Carolina today.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

Also up next, Yankees, Alex Rodriguez will play his final game this week. But he already, guess what, has a new job. We'll have that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:55:00] WHITFIELD: All right, we've got a special documentary on Top Tonight, Got Shorty, Inside the Chase for El Chapo. You'll hear from the people who searched for and eventually captured the notorious drug lord. That's tonight at 8 only on CNN.

All right, the baseball legend is calling it a career. New York Yankees star, Alex Rodriguez, better known as A-Rod announced this morning that his last game will be Friday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEX RODRIGUEZ, RETIRING NEW YORK YANKEES PLAYER: I love this game and I love this team. And today, I'm saying goodbye to both. This is also a proud day. I was 18 when I broke into the big leagues. I never thought I could play for 22 years. At 18, I just wanted to make a team. I want to thank the Steinbrenner Family for giving me this opportunity and for making me a part of this team.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, pretty powerful stuff there. CNNs Richard Roth is at Yankees Stadium. You can hear a pin drop or rather you can hear all the cameras, you know, and the shutter speeds there. But his last game is Friday, but then he is not going to be leaving the Yankees all together.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Fredricka, this was a Yankees-encouraged retirement. Hank -- Hal Steinbrenner owner of the Yankees called A-Rod. A-Rod said let me think about that offer for 24 to 48 hours.

The Yankees told Alex in effect after his failed performance on the field, let's think about a different way here. But the key has said also A-Rod is still getting $27 million plus. He is getting whatever he was owed in this humongous contract he signed years ago.

There would have been difficulties if Alex said I want -- if he wasn't going to get the money. Alex was asked at this press conference about his career and his legacy, which certainly was filled with controversy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RODRIGUEZ: I do want to be remembered as someone who is, you know, madly in love with the game of baseball, someone who loves it at every level, someone who loves to learn teach it, watch it, play it, coach it. And I also -- I'm going to be hopefully remembered for someone who trip and fell a lot but someone who kept getting up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: Those stumbles certainly referring to his problems with performance-enhancing drugs, being suspended for an entire season in 2014. I asked Yankees fans their thoughts on A-Rod's departure.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, time is time. He's got to go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's time to go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because he is 40 years old, he served his time. He is a Hall-of-Famer. It's time to go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's about time he retires. He gave all he could to the team. While he was here, he was a tremendous player, but you know, this year you could see that he is not doing all that well, so.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: He still was fourth home run short of the magic 700 number, Fredricka. And CNN Money reports that ticket sales have sky rocketed at 500% for A-Rod's potential last game...

WHITFIELD: Not bad.

ROTH: ...on August 12th, that's Friday referred to here.

WHITFIELD: Yikes, well those fans are blunt, that's a blunt talk, isn't it?

All right, Richard Roth, thank you very much outside Yankees Stadium.

All right, I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Thank you so much for being with me today. Much more of the NEWSROOM straight ahead.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Top of the hour, I'm Poppy Harlow in New York. So glad you're with us this Sunday Evening.

We begin tonight with politics and more polling in the race for the White House.