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Hillary Clinton Meets With Black Lives Matter Movement; Trump Soaring; Interview With Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. Aired 18-19:00p ET

Aired August 18, 2015 - 18:00   ET

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

[18:00:18]

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now: second blast. Just a day after a powerful and deadly bombing, a new explosion sends tourists running for their lives. Who is behind the attacks? We have new information tonight.

Trump soars. Our new poll shows he is even farther out front of the Republican rivals, gaining in popularity and voter trust on key issues. Are Trump's opponents being forced to follow his lead?

And tense confrontation. We have new video of Hillary Clinton's private talks with Black Lives Matter activists. What does it reveal about her campaign and their tactics?

We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BLITZER: Let's get right to the breaking news.

A manhunt is under way right now for a suspect in a powerful bombing attack at a popular shrine in Thailand that killed at least 22 people. Police now say they're very sure a man seen in surveillance video is in fact the bomber. The footage shows him leaving a backpack at the blast site Monday. Authorities say a second explosion today involved a similar bomb.

Also tonight, Donald Trump widens his lead in the Republican presidential race. Our exclusive new poll shows he is now winning his party's trust on several top issues, more than any of the other GOP candidates. We will dig deeper into the numbers.

And I will get reaction from presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. he is joining us in THE SITUATION ROOM. Our correspondents and analysts, they are also standing by to cover all the news breaking right now.

First, Andrew Stevens joins us with the very latest from Bangkok -- Andrew.

ANDREW STEVENS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the linkage is very clear now, politics say, between the two blasts here in Bangkok, that second blast coming in the early hours, fortunately not injuring anyone.

But the M.O. was very much the same. The same type of device was used, a pipe bomb, and the same type of target, a target where tourism was at the heart of this. What happened in the second explosion is that a pipe grenade or pipe bomb appears to have been thrown, but it bounced off a pillar into the water, where it did explode. Police said it was a big -- that was a powerful explosion. It was a big bomb.

It was aimed at tourists who were lining up on a pier to catch a ferry. There's a lot of tourists up there, because this is another big tourist spot. And this came a few hours after this major blast here in Bangkok at one of the busiest parts of the city, the so-called Times Square of Bangkok. Take a look at the moment of the explosion.

There has been a lot of video circulating on social media showing that blast when it happened, which gives you an idea, Wolf, of just how busy it was at the time. This is an area where you get a lot of tourists. At the time and the date, 7:00 p.m. in the evening, people were also, local times, were leaving their offices and going home and stopping at that shrine to make a blessing.

And so you had a mixture of a lot of local people, particularly Chinese, who come there also seeking some good fortune and other tourists as well. It could not have come at a time more likely to inflict maximum damage, which is that bomb did, Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Andrew Stevens on the scene for us in Bangkok, thank you.

Now to Donald Trump. He's gaining even more momentum tonight. He comes out on top in question after question in our exclusive new nationwide poll. While he is the clear leader among Republicans, there is also skepticism about how he might do in a general election.

CNN Athena Jones has more now on the numbers and Trump's rivals, how they're responding to Donald Trump.

Athena, what are you seeing?

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf.

Right now, it looks like nothing can stop Donald Trump. He's been driving the conversation all summer. And our new poll shows his support is growing. All of this suggests he may have real staying power in this race.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONES (voice-over): Drawing crowds wherever he goes, Donald Trump is dominating the Republican field nationwide.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am going New Hampshire, going to Iowa, going to South Carolina, going to Tennessee. We're going all over. JONES: And growing his lead. In the new CNN/ORC poll, the

billionaire businessman earns the support of nearly a quarter of GOP voters, up six points since July, nearly double the support of his nearest rival, Jeb Bush, and three times the support of Scott Walker, two governors who were close behind him just a month ago.

[18:05:15]

Trump's favorability is also on the rise; 58 percent of Republicans now have a favorable view of him, even after controversial comments about FOX anchor Megyn Kelly.

TRUMP: You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever.

JONES: And former prisoner of war John McCain.

TRUMP: He is a war hero because he was captured. I like people that were not captured, OK, I hate to tell you.

JONES: The tough-talking Trump tops the field on every issue, with Republicans trusting him most to deal with the economy, social issues, ISIS and illegal immigration. In fact, he is setting the agenda and driving the conversation on illegal immigration.

TRUMP: We have to make a whole new set of standards.

JONES: He is calling for, among other things, deporting all of the undocumented, an idea some of his opponents blasted as unworkable.

GOV. JOHN KASICH (R-OH), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's not doable, and, secondly, I don't think it's right. I don't think it's humane.

JONES: But on Trump's proposal to end birthright citizenship, a right enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, there seem to be at least some agreement.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't mind changing that law. I think it is a bad practice to give citizenship based on birth.

SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am open to doing things that prevent people who deliberately come to the U.S. for purposes of taking advantage of the 14th Amendment, but I'm not in favor of repealing it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JONES: Now Trump is already contradicting himself on the immigration issue, tweeting today, "When foreigners attend our great colleges and want to stay in the U.S., they should not be thrown out of our country."

But the plan he released on Sunday would make it harder for foreigners to get certain visas and green cards to stay here and work. So there's some inconsistency there. We will see if it hurts him. If recent experience is any indication, it won't -- Wolf.

BLITZER: If it's recent experience, that's certainly right. Athena, thank you.

Let's turn to the Democrats right now.

Hillary Clinton just spoke out moments ago out of the campaign trail in Nevada -- she was in North Las Vegas -- about the controversy over her e-mails and whether she sent classified information through her private server.

Let's bring in our senior Washington correspondent, Jeff Zeleny. He has got more on what we just heard from the former secretary of state.

She was very passionate, speaking out in her defense.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: She was, Wolf.

We have heard her say most of these things before. She's been defiant in her defense saying she did not break the law, she did not knowingly send or receive any classified information. But she also added a little bit more to this. She said that this has become a cause celebre. She criticized others for seizing on this, but she took no responsibility of her own. Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No matter what anybody tries to say, the facts are stubborn. What did I was legally permitted, number one, first and foremost. OK?

Number two, I turned over, out of an abundance of an attempt to be helpful, over anything that I thought was even vaguely related. In fact, they have already conclude more than 1,200 of the e-mails I gave them have nothing to do with the work. And I said, make them public. And that's the process that one goes through to make them public.

So, I know there's a certain level of sort of anxiety or interest in this. But the facts are the facts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: A certain level of anxiety or interest. That's just from Democrats. I have talked to Democrats in Iowa, New Hampshire, other early voting states. They are anxious about this and they're wondering how far this is going to go. Of course, there are multiple investigations going on, congressional hearings coming up later this fall.

So it is clear that these questions aren't going to be answered quickly and will quickly follow her throughout the campaign trail. But it is important to note voters didn't raise this in her town hall meeting. It was in her press conference afterward with some reporters in Nevada.

BLITZER: In North Las Vegas.

ZELENY: Right.

BLITZER: And the reporters asked those questions.

All right, we're going to have more on this part of the story. That's coming up. Jeff, thanks very much.

ZELENY: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: And joining us now, Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee joining us from Jerusalem where he's been meeting with top Israeli officials. We'll get to that in a few moments. Governor, thanks very much for joining us. Let's talk a little about what's going on in these polls. This new CNN/ORC poll that just came out shows Donald Trump doing remarkably well. You not necessarily all that well. What is going on here?

MIKE HUCKABEE, GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, if we go back eight years ago, Rudy Giuliani was 2-1 over the next challenger, who was Fred Thompson. The eventual nominee was John McCain in the distant fourth place. Four years ago, Rick Perry was 2-1 over the next potential challenger. And that was either Michelle Obama or Mitt Romney.

So to look at the race right now and say, oh boy, things are in a mess -- no, they're not. They're exactly where we hope them to be. We're focusing on organization. We've got the largest organizations going, the most deep-bench structure in both Iowa and South Carolina. And that's how you win a nomination.

[18:10:16]

BLITZER: One of the things that's clearly helping Donald Trump is his strong stance on immigration. He says he wants to do, for example, do away with the so-called birthright clause in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution that automatically grants citizenship to children born in the United States, even children of illegal immigrants. He would like to build that wall along the border of Mexico. He says Mexico will pay for that.

What do you make of -- have you had a chance to take a look at his immigration plan? What is your reaction?

HUCKABEE: Well, honestly, I don't spend as much time talking about Donald Trump as you guys do. I'm focused on my message. You know, what I've said is we've got to secure the border. That's got to be done before we start talking about what do we do with all the other components of immigration?

But one of the things that I think a lot of people have not understood, until you take economic incentive away from not only the employee but the employer for illegal immigration, you're going to keep having it. And one of my reasons for advocacy of the fair tax, which is a tax on consumption is that it removes the economic advantage to both the employer and the employee for illegals. I think it is the kind of thing we have to be doing if we're serious about solving this issue.

BLITZER: Well, without mentioning Donald Trump's plan on the substance, would you deport 11 million or 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States?

HUCKABEE: I don't see how that's realistic. I'm not sure that that's necessary. I don't think we ought to have amnesty. I don't know of any of the Republican candidates who advocate open amnesty.

But there's got to be first some confidence that we're controlling our borders, which there isn't any confidence. We can do this. Seventy-three years ago, we built a road between British Columbia and Alaska. It was a 1,700 mile road, and we did it in less than a year with engineering capabilities of 73 years ago, and during an arctic winter.

To say that we can't secure our border is ridiculous. We can if we have a president who makes that a priority and who absolutely says let's get it done. And I would do that.

BLITZER: What about the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which the courts have said automatically grants citizenship to children born in the United States, even if their parents are here illegally?

HUCKABEE: Well, I think that's going to require a little bit more discussion. The fact is that we have operated under that assumption really since the 1800s. And to change it, it would require some strong will, either on the part of the president.

The biggest issue is not changing so much how we interpret the 14th Amendment. It is making sure that we start enforcing our own laws. And we do need to deport people who have committed crimes. We don't need to continue to have a lax enforcement of the borders. We need to get rid of sanctuary cities. These are commonsense things that a president can do if he wants to.

BLITZER: Let's talk about Hillary Clinton for a moment. There is now video of her meeting with some Black Lives Matter protesters. We heard her tell the protesters they're going to need to come together to demand change, but they need to change laws because she said you're not going to be able to change everyone's heart. Do you agree with her on this?

HUCKABEE: You know, I've dealt with race issues my whole life. And quite frankly, I think it is more of a sin problem than a skin problem. There are injustices in our culture. I fought them as a governor. Before that, 35 years ago, I fought them as a pastor when I integrated an all-white church and did so against death threats.

So, I understand how people have great passions. But I also understand the way you begin to resolve them is you do it by loving people and treating people with dignity and respect. And you don't do it by magnifying the problems. You do it by really magnifying the solutions. And when I hear people scream "black lives matter," I'm thinking, of course they do. But all lives matter. It is not that any life matters more than another.

That's the whole message that I think that Dr. King tried to present. And I think he would be appalled by the notion that we're elevating some lives above others.

BLITZER: Governor, we have much more to discuss. I want to take a quick break. You're in Jerusalem. We'll come back. More with Governor Mike Huckabee right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:19:25]

BLITZER: We're back with Republican presidential candidate Mike. He's Huckabee in Jerusalem talking to Israeli leaders about the Iran nuclear deal.

Stand by for that, because right now, President Obama is losing some more Democratic support for that agreement.

Our senior White House correspondent, Jim Acosta, is traveling with the president on Martha's Vineyard. That's where the president is on vacation.

What's the latest development in the story, Jim?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, they expected Bob Menendez to defect on this Iran deal, but the White House says President Obama remains engaged on this agreement, even while he's vacating here on Martha's Vineyard.

And despite this bipartisan opposition that is building up on Capitol Hill, aides to the president are confident this agreement will survive.

[18:20:04]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA (voice-over): The list of Democrats coming out against the Iran nuclear deal is growing. This time, it's the Senate Foreign Relations Committee former chairman, Bob Menendez.

SEN. ROBERT MENENDEZ (D), NEW JERSEY: But if Iran is to acquire a nuclear bomb, it will not have my name on it.

ACOSTA: But Menendez, whose announcement was expected, is hardly the biggest setback of the week. That distinction goes to Republican Senator Jeff Flake, who likely ended White House hopes for any bipartisan support for the deal.

SEN. JEFF FLAKE (R), ARIZONA: The president and the administration is saying that it does not tie our hands, but the plain text of the agreement seems to do so.

ACOSTA: But the president, who was out at the beach today on Martha's Vineyard, is not throwing in the towel just yet.

A White House official said the president is engaged on the issue, adding, "We remain confident that ultimately a majority of Democrats in both the House and the Senate will support the deal."

That's critical, as Republicans face an uphill battle, needing 11 more Democratic senators to defy the president, vote to block the agreement and then join GOP efforts to override any presidential vetoes, which explains why Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was quoted by reporters in Kentucky as saying "The president has a great likelihood of success."

CARLY FIORINA (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: New deal. New deal.

ACOSTA: But Republicans in the race for the White House vow they will have the final say and tear up the deal once they enter the Oval Office.

FIORINA: Until you open every military and every nuclear facility to real anytime/anywhere inspections, the United States of America, without anyone else's permission or collaboration, will make it as difficult as possible for you to move money around the global financial system.

ACOSTA: The deal's critics say Iran is still dangerous, noting this tweet saying from the ayatollah saying Tehran will take all possible means to support anyone who fights Israel.

RUBIO: It guarantees that Iran, run by a radical Shia cleric with an apocalyptic vision of the future, will possess a nuclear weapon and a long-range missile capable of hitting the United States.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: Now, White House officials insist that the number of Democrats who support this deal will start to grow as senators and House Democrats start to announce that they're coming out in favor of the agreement.

As a matter of fact, that happened earlier today when Rhode Island's two Democratic senators said they will back the deal. And aides to the president insist, Wolf, that the bottom line has not changed, that the Republicans simply just don't have the numbers to block this agreement from actually coming into fruition -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Jim Acosta, thanks very much.

And we're back with Governor Mike Huckabee, the Republican presidential candidate who's joining us from Jerusalem.

Let's talk a little bit about some of the controversy you caused not that long ago when you suggested that this U.S./U.N.-brokered nuclear deal with Iran was, in your words, "marching Israel to the doors of the oven."

How has that been received in Israel? Because that is clearly a reference to the Holocaust.

HUCKABEE: Well, it was the Iranians who brought up the Holocaust. They specifically said they've developed a missile system and they're ready to deliver a Holocaust to Israel. For 36 years, that government has said they would wipe Israel off the face of the map.

What I'm speaking about is the inherent danger that exists by our capitulating to the demands of the Iranians, giving them a deal that inevitably will allow them to have nuclear material. We violated every single thing that we said was a prerequisite in this, whether it was "any time, anywhere" inspections, whether it was that they couldn't have any enrichment, whether it was that there was unlimited access to the inspections. None of that turned out to be true. We caved in on all of it.

We don't even have our hostages back. There are four Americans sitting in an Iranian jail.

And as a result, this is a tragic deal in which we've now sided with the Iranians, who represent about 15 percent of the world's Muslims, versus the Sunni Muslim countries, which represent about 85 percent of the Muslims.

BLITZER: What is your alternative? The president says you and the other critics have no alternative to the current plan.

HUCKABEE: Well, that's the president's problem. Reagan said trust but verify. This president says trust but vilify. Vilify everyone who disagrees with him and pretend there's no other solution.

But the real solution would have been continue the sanctions, make them even tougher, begin to help the people who would like to overthrow the regime. And most importantly, on our own domestic side, ramp up energy production so that we're exporting energy. We change the marketplace of Europe, Africa and Asia by exporting the energy and become the competitor to Russia, the Iranians and to the Saudis. Change the balance of power, and bring that prosperity to America and bankrupt the bad actors like Iran.

BLITZER: On another issue, a very sensitive issue -- I want to give you a chance to respond and clarify where you exactly stand. You're getting a lot of criticism for suggesting -- and correct me if I'm wrong -- the other day that that 10-year-old girl who was raped by her stepfather, that 10-year-old girl should not be allowed to have an abortion. Should be forced to have that baby.

[18:25:17]

And I guess a lot of people have been suggesting if this were your daughter, God forbid, how would you respond if that were to happen to her by a relative, let's say?

HUCKABEE: Wolf, as I've said, it is a tragedy, no matter whose daughter it is. It's a horrible thing when a person has this kind of pregnancy. But we don't help that person by compounding the problem by

taking an innocent life. In this case, the life of the unborn child. We either believe it is a person or we don't. It is not that I'm lacking in sympathy, but I'm also believing that one of the worst things that we do is to create and compound the problem by taking the life of someone who has nothing to do with the sin and the tragedy.

And I don't think anybody who really looks at this understands that if a person is a person -- period -- then you're either pro-life or you're not. And I mentioned to Dana Bash the other day on this network that I once worked for a man some 40 years ago who was the product of a rape. His mother was raped and attempted three times to have him aborted. She couldn't find a doctor willing to do it. Thank God she couldn't. because he turned out to lead a Christian organization that now provides food, water and existence for literally hundreds of thousands of people across the world. People who would not have their lives had it not been for the fact that he has his. And he wouldn't have his had he been aborted.

BLITZER: So what would you say to that little 10-year-old girl?

HUCKABEE: You know, I don't know that I would sit down and say to her, look, this is what you have to do. I would say to her that what has happened to you is a terrible, horrible tragedy. We're not going to abandon you. We're not going to leave you alone. But we want to help you through this. We don't want to have yet another mistake, another problem, another tragedy by taking the life of the unborn child that is within you. And let's hope this child ends up doing something terrific and wonderful in the world and defies the very crime that created him or her.

BLITZER: I just want to be precise. So you disagree with, let's say, Donald Trump and other Republicans, conservatives who oppose abortion, but they have exemptions. Rape, incest, the life of the mother. You say there should be no exemptions, no exemptions at all. Is that right?

HUCKABEE: Well, Wolf, when you say the life of the mother, if you're talking about saving the life, you try to save every life. Sometimes in the course of medical practice, a doctor may not save every life that's in the room, but he's going to try to save every life. What we're talking about with abortion, is not that you couldn't save a life. It's that you decided not to and that you actively took the procedure that would end a human life.

And if I'm different than my Republican opponents, then so be it. But I feel like we've got to be consistent. If we think that's a human being, and we come to that conclusion, then the conclusion is that all humans matter. There is no such thing as a worthless person. There is to such thing as a person that does not have intrinsic worth and value.

I personally know a number of people who are products of rape. And one, Rebecca Kiessling, who is a delightful mom and attorney in Michigan would be the first -- you ought to have her on the show and ask her how she feels about the idea of saying that a person is the result of a rape, that they really don't matter and they should not have been allowed to live.

BLITZER: Well, let me be just be precise. If the doctor says to the woman, the baby will be okay but if you deliver the baby, you will die, you would say what?

HUCKABEE: Look, I would say the doctor has to make tough decisions. And the doctor is still going to try to save everybody. He may not be successful. That often happens in cases where a doctor is desperately trying to save -- whether it's one patient, two patients or everyone in the E.R. after a tragedy. But you don't blame the doctor for trying to save everyone. You don't blame him if everyone doesn't get saved.

What we're talking about is something very different when there is an intentional desire and action that results in the life of a human being.

BLITZER: Governor Huckabee, thanks very much for joining us.

HUCKABEE: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: And just ahead, what is driving up Donald Trump's popularity among Republicans? We will take a deeper dive into our brand-new poll and Trump's controversial moves.

And Hillary Clinton's tense private conversation with activists from Black Lives Matter, how much of a problem potentially is this for Democrats?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: The breaking news we're following. Hillary Clinton has just spoken out about the controversy over her e-mails, denying she sent classified information through her private server. Listen to what she said just a few moments ago out on the campaign trail in Nevada.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[18:34:56] HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: In order to -- in order to be as cooperative as possible, we have turned over the server. They can do whatever they want to with the server to figure out what's there and what's not there. That's for the, you know, people investigating it to try to figure out. We turned over everything that was work-related. Every single thing. Personal stuff, we did not. I had no obligation to do so and did not. Thank you all very much.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Let's get some more on what she said, what she didn't say. Joining us, our senior Washington correspondent, Jeff Zeleny; our senior political reporter, Nia-Malika Henderson; our political director, David Chalian; and our senior legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin.

Jeff Zeleny, she always says, at least in recent days, she didn't receive or send any information that was marked classified, which is a -- which is a very specific term.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: She's saying that for a reason. It's a key distinction. It was not -- she's saying it was not marked classified at the time, meaning it was -- became classified after the fact, after -- a couple years after the fact, which actually often happens.

I've talked to a lot of people in the intelligence community. If things change on the ground in a certain situation or country, things can become classified after the fact.

So she is saying that she did not knowingly turn over any information. That's why this is different than some of the other cases that seem similar, like David Petraeus and others. That was marked classified at the time. So she is saying she did not turn over, or she did not knowingly turn anything over.

But, you know, the rest of the fact is, she still is defiant that she basically did nothing wrong, that she did it out of convenience. Now it's not so convenient. But Wolf, it all goes back to the decision made in January of 2009 to decide to do a private e-mail server in her home in Chappaqua when she was secretary of state. That is haunting her, will continue to haunt her.

BLITZER: Certainly will. Jeffrey, I want to play that clip for you. She was obviously irritated with the line of questioning. To her credit, she did take questions from reporters, knowing that the sensitive subject, presumably, would come up. But listen to this, Jeffrey.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLINTON: Whether it was a personal account or a government account, I did not send classified material, and I did not receive any material that was marked or designated classified. Which is the way you know whether something is.

What you're seeing now is in disagreement between agencies saying, "You know what? They should have." And the other is saying, "No, they shouldn't." That has nothing to do with me. If it had been a government account and I said, "Release it," we'd be having the same arguments.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: All right, Jeffrey. What's your analysis?

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Well, what she's saying is true as far as it goes. But what it doesn't deal with is the fact that the government over-classifies everything. And the standards for what's classified and what's not are very murky.

So what's going to happen now, with almost certainty, is that the government is going to say, "You know what? Some of these e-mails that you thought were unclassified are, in fact, classified." And that's going to be embarrassing, and that's going to be a problem for her. It's going to be a political problem, not a legal problem. I don't think there's any possibility she's going to be prosecuted or even a grand jury impaneled here.

But it is going to be a continuing embarrassment. Because it is a certainty that some of those e-mails, the agencies are going to say, "You know what? We can't release it, because it's classified information."

BLITZER: Nia, I want to listen to another little clip. This is the former secretary of state, the Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, only a few moments ago, trying to put a little lighter note on the whole issue of wiping that server. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLINTON: I don't -- I have no idea. That's why we turned it over.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You were the official in charge. Did you wipe the server?

CLINTON: What, like with a cloth or something? No. I don't know how it works digitally at all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: What do you make of that? She's obviously trying to have a little fun with that.

NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: She's trying to have a little fun with that, and we saw her do that before when she made the Snapchat joke to the audience of Democrats, who ate it up and thought it was funny. The press folks there didn't necessarily think it was so funny.

But this is what she's trying to do, trying to make light of it; trying to take the edge off of it; trying to show that she isn't afraid that there is any criminal wrongdoing here, that there is any real political cost to be paid here, even though, as Jeffrey said, she's going to be answering questions about this for this time. I'm sure she regrets what she did. And that there is going to be some sort of political cost here.

We've seen ads already cut by some of these super PACs that are splicing what she said versus what other people said. So she's had a long road on this one, and it's going to keep going and going.

BLITZER: David, let's go back to our poll, our exclusive CNN/ORC poll. And these numbers are pretty interesting. The enthusiasm level among Democrats and Republicans. According to our poll, 55 percent of Democrats are enthusiastic right now about voting; 61 percent of Republicans say they're enthusiastic about voting right now. So that potentially bodes well for the Republicans. If they're more enthusiastic about actually going to the caucuses or the polls. DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Right. And no doubt that

has a lot to do with the occupant of the White House. I went back and looked at the numbers in about June 2007, eight years ago, when a Republican, George W. Bush, was occupying the White House. The numbers were completely flipped. The Democrats were enthusiastic, about 60 percent; and the Republicans were about 52 percent. When you're out of power for eight years, that is a big motivator for to you to get your party out to vote.

BLITZER: Jeffrey, the Donald Trump phenomenon, I must say, in this poll among Republicans, pretty amazing. He's way, way up. But take a look at this.

Among registered Republicans, his favorability number is 58 percent to 38 percent unfavorable. But among all voters out there, his favorability is only 36 percent, 59 percent unfavorable. So there's a problem, potentially, for Donald Trump in the Republicans if he were to get the Republican nomination, right?

TOOBIN: Well, yes, potentially. But, you know, these favorable/unfavorable numbers, 40 is the new 50. You know, people are not popular. Politicians are not popular. Hillary Clinton has terrible numbers in terms of favorable and unfavorable. So, you know, the fact that his numbers are 36 isn't as bad as it sounds. Because all politicians' favorable/unfavorable numbers these days are pretty bad.

BLITZER: Very quickly, Nia. I know you're going down to South Carolina. That's where the vice president, Joe Biden, is vacationing. He's speaking to friends, to supporters, trying to determine whether he should throw his hat into the ring. What are you hearing?

HENDERSON: And that will be the big state. And that's what they say: He's got a lot of support down there. People sort of talking back and forth about what he could do down there. The folks he could hire if he actually decided to get in this thing. I guess we're told that it could be weeks for him to decide. He'll decide by the end of the summer, which I guess is the end of September. So there's still some time to make this happen.

But South Carolina would figure pretty prominently in his plans. Because if he's to do well in this race, it would be among those African-American and key Democratic voters in that state, very different from Iowa and New Hampshire.

CHALIAN: If you're a sitting vice president, though, you have to play everywhere. You can't pick what state you're starting in.

BLITZER: South Carolina comes right after Iowa and New Hampshire. South Carolina is obviously an important state.

Guys, stand by. Just ahead, a sometimes heated confrontation between activists with the Black Lives Matter movement and Hillary Clinton. Stand by for this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [18:46:48] BLITZER: Hillary Clinton in a frank and sometimes

tense discussion with activists from the Black Lives Matter movement. Video has now emerged of a 15-minute closed door meeting following a campaign event last week.

Let's get some more on what's going on. Joining us, CNN anchor Don Lemon, along with our CNN senior political reporter, Nia-Malika Henderson, and our CNN senior legal analyst.

Let me play you a little clip, a bit of the exchange that occurred between Hillary Clinton and these representatives from the Black Lives movement. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I say this as respectfully as I can. But if you don't tell black people what we need to do, then we won't tell you all what you need to do.

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm not telling you. I'm telling you to tell me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What I mean to say you, this is and has always been a white problem of violence. It is not, listen, there is not much that we can do to stop the violence against us. The conversation --

CLINTON: I understand what you're saying.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And also respectfully --

CLINTON: Respectfully, if that is your position, I will talk only to white people about how we are going to deal with a very real problem.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's not what I mean.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Don Lemon, let me get your thought first. Go ahead.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: It's tough. I was not there for the whole thing. But just from that -- listen, I have great respect for the Black Lives Matter movement. As I have great respect for Hillary Clinton as well. She's served this country.

I think that if I were giving advice to the Black Lives Matter, maybe they don't want my advice. I'll tell what you my boss said once I got a job. He said you have the job now. You've got the job. So, now, it's time for you to sit at the table and own it.

Now, it's time for you to sit there with Hillary Clinton. You have her ear, one of the most powerful women in the world. She is listening to you. Now it is time for both of you to listen to each other. So, I think that just from that little bit, I don't know how much

they were both listening to each other. But it is time for them to start listening to each other and to start making a difference and to stop talking over each other. Just for that little bit.

Again, I was not there the whole thing. I don't know the full context. Context is important. I just saw 10, 15 seconds there, Wolf.

BLITZER: Nia, this is the first time the representatives from the Black Lives Matter movement have had a serious conversation with a major political candidate for the presidency. I assume there's going to be more down the road. What was your reaction when you saw the 15- minute tape?

NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: Yes, from my understanding, it's the first time we've seen proof of it. They've been meeting behind closed doors, with folks like Bernie Sanders, folks like Martin O'Malley. And I think some of them have actually met with Hillary Clinton before. And this is the first time it's been video taped.

I think Don is on to something. This idea that they are talking past each other. Hillary Clinton in that meeting was saying -- listen, send me a plan. What do you want to do? Where do you want to go in terms of legislation, as they acknowledge of the importance of legislation, because they're critiquing Hillary Clinton in terms of her support for the crime bill.

And they seem to want Hillary Clinton to acknowledge something more, and that is the legacy of white supremacy.

[18:50:01] That's kind of the language they use. And they also want her to say that a white supremacy informed this crime bill that treated black bodies in a disposable way.

I mean, this is kind of the language that they use. I don't think she'll get there. You had Bill Clinton come out and apologize for the crime bill that was sponsored by Joe Biden in the Senate and supported by many members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

So I think they want her to sort of say get closer to the language, not just Black Lives Matter but also acknowledging the legacy of white supremacy.

BLITZER: Jeffrey Toobin --

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: Hold on one second, I just want to get Jeffrey Toobin to weigh in.

Where is this moving, Jeffrey?

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Well, I hope it's moving to specifics. We're talking about lowering sentencing and getting rid of mandatory sentencing and the crack cocaine versus powder cocaine disparity, solitary confinement, mass incarceration. I mean, these are issues where black lives are really impacted and I would like to see this debate move from, you know, who did what in the mid-1990s to what can be done now, and -- specifically, and that seems to be the appropriate next step for this discussion.

BLITZER: I assume you agree, Don.

LEMON: Yes, Jeffrey just said what I'm going to say because Bill Clinton, the former president, admits that he added to the problem with the bill -- you know, with sentencing and, you know, fighting drugs back in the '90s.

So, where do we go from here? What is next? And I think that's what everyone is saying. Now that you're at the table, now that you have the job, how do you become professional and move fast?

BLITZER: Good point.

All right. Guys, thanks very much.

This important note: Don will be back later tonight, much more on his program "CNN TONIGHT" 10:00 p.m. Eastern. Check it out.

We'll have much more news right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:56:30] BLITZER: This just coming in to CNN. We're learning that the former Subway pitchman Jared Fogle is expected to pled guilty to the possession of child pornography, that according to two law enforcement officials. This comes about five weeks after federal and state law enforcement agents raided Fogle's home, capture -- carting off computers and other electronics.

An associate of Fogle who ran his anti-obesity foundation was charged this year with seven counts of producing and possessing child pornography. Subway just released a statement, saying it's ended its relationship with Fogle and has no comment.

Tonight, a CNN special report on a killing spree that horrified the nation 46 years ago this month. The Manson family murders in this spectacular trial of Charles Manson and his followers.

CNN's Sara Sidner is joining us with a preview.

Sara, set the scene for this amazing documentary.

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, we take a look back at this trial and talk to some of those who were directly involved in it, and it really is an amazing look and you'll hear some details about this case that has fascinated people for 46 years now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I proved through witnesses that Manson was the only one that had a motive for these murders and that motive was Helter Skelter.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Manson foresaw that the black men would win this war. Later on, he said the black men have to look around at those white people who survived who had escaped from Helter Skelter. In other words, turn over the reins of power to Charles Manson and his family.

SIDNER (voice-over): But to prove Manson was the mastermind, Bugliosi needed a witness from inside the Manson family, a witness like Barbara Hoyt.

BARBARA HOYT, WITNESS: I was afraid. They threatened my family. I got different death threats, different times.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I told her I would give her all the protection of the LAPD that I could.

SIDNER: But Manson's followers got to her anyway, spiking Hoyt's hamburger with LSD, enough to overdose her, but she survived.

HOYT: Finally, what it came down to is I wanted to be able to live with myself when I got old and from there I knew what to do.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That little girl came back and she was an excellent witness for the prosecution.

SIDNER: Even when Manson tried to intimidate her as she took the stand.

HOYT: He was pretty intense. He would stare at me. The girls would, too. Leslie would imitate every gesture I did. You know, if I cocked my head, she would do the same or asked me a question, Charlie like this say no and I said yes and he looked pretty peeved.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SIDNER: And you're going to hear for more people. You're going to hear from a juror. You're going to hear from one of the friends of Sharon Tate who was eight months pregnant when she was brutally murdered and new details from her. You're also hear from a reporter who met with Manson continuously throughout the trial and she has interesting details to share as well.

That's a really interesting story and look back -- Wolf.

BLITZER: We're really looking forward to seeing it tonight later tonight. Sarah Sidner, doing important work for us.

You can see the entire special report "Face of Evil: The Charles Manson Murders" that airs tonight 9:00 p.m. Eastern, only here on CNN.

Sarah, thanks very much.

Remember, you can follow us on Twitter. Please go ahead and tweet me @wolfbliltzer. Tweet the show @CNNSitroom. Please be sure to join us again right here in THE SITUATION ROOM tomorrow. Thanks very much for watching.

"ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT" starts right now.