Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) Discusses The Democratic Race & Coronavirus
KEILAR: We're witnessing a major consolidation in the Democratic race for president. Michael Bloomberg is the third candidate within the last 72 hours to drop out and endorse Joe Biden. Senator Elizabeth Warren may not be too far behind. Her campaign says they're assessing a path forward. One advisor tells CNN that Warrens biggest decision is not whether to drop out but whether to endorse Biden or Sanders if anyone at all. This news following a huge Super Tuesday for Joe Biden who managed to win nine states compared to Sander's three. This puts Biden ahead in the delegate count for now at least. I say this because delegate-rich California is still counting its ballots and Sanders is ahead there. Joining us now to talk about all of this is Congressman Eric Swalwell, of California. Congressman, with signs that Warren could be getting out, do you think she needs to pick either Biden or Sanders to endorse or can she stay on the sidelines?</s>REP. ERIC SWALWELL (D-CA): It's up to her. Good afternoon, Brianna. I think wherever she goes, she should be proud of the race she's won and ideas she put out there. People across the country and young men and women, who believed in her campaign. That's really up to her. I think candidate by candidate has to make that decision. But winning in November has to be the most important factor for any of us as candidates.</s>KEILAR: Your endorsement is?</s>SWALWELL: I'm getting there, Brianna. As you know, I ran on the issue of ending gun violence.</s>KEILAR: Yes.</s>SWALWELL: I'm looking at the candidates that remain now. That's important to me as the father of a 1-year-old and 2-year-old. I believe Vice President Biden has a long record on this going back to the assault weapons ban. And I look forward to talking to all the candidates this week about that.</s>KEILAR: If you look at Biden or Sanders, clearly, one is going to stand out more when it comes to gun rights than the other, right? Sanders comes from Vermont. His record has reflected that.</s>SWALWELL: That's right. Also, I want to win. With all the candidates we have remaining, they can say something Donald Trump can't. They're not corrupt. When it comes to health care, they're for addition, not subtraction. When it comes to climate, they want to live at sea level and Donald Trump wants us under water. I think on these issues, we have candidates of the three left who can win. And I hope to make that decision soon.</s>KEILAR: As you mentioned, you were in the race early on. And you had a moment that got a lot of play when you were running. This is what you said really about Joe Biden when you were on the stage.</s>SWALWELL: Joe Biden was right when he said it was time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans 32 years ago.</s>SWALWELL: He's still right today!</s>KEILAR: I want to ask you about this. You also said here on CNN, I don't think we can nominate a -- let's see, sorry, my prompter stalled for a moment -- "I don't think we can nominate a candidate who has been in government longer than 20 years."</s>SWALWELL: Yes.</s>KEILAR: This applies to Sanders and Biden.</s>SWALWELL: Right.</s>KEILAR: I wonder if you're so surprised these are such older candidates really rising to the top and what this says about voters deciding, actually, we are ok with someone who has been here in Washington for decades.</s>SWALWELL: Brianna, when I ran and went across the country, I made a generational case. It's very much the case that Mayor Buttigieg made. But what I learned and what I was told in so many homes, even of supporters of mine was, we like that you're running and the issues you're raising but we're so anxious to losing to Donald Trump we're not going to roll the dice on a generational candidate. It was hard to hear that. But I get it I get that people want to be normal again. They want the anxiety of where this president has taken us to go away. And the steady leadership and experience of Vice President Biden has certainly been appealing. He called me -- he was the first person to call when I got out of the race and he told me, on the issue of passing the torch, I hear you and I promise you, if I am president, I will do everything I can to put young people in positions of leadership. That's what I and young people will look to, to see if the Biden administration will put young people in positions to lead, to step up.</s>KEILAR: Since you are from California, I want to ask you, since there are six new coronavirus cases in your state, which means your state is dealing with more cases than any other at this point in time. Does your state have the testing it needs?</s>SWALWELL: No. No, we do not. You're in this pickle where, if you're sick, you are supposed to stay home. But if you stay home too long to the point it gets catastrophic, you may not come out of it in good shape. Having the diagnostic testing is critically important. I'm meeting with the vice president later today with my Democratic colleagues. The message is: We want you to succeed. We want to work with you. We struck a deal on funding but that has to include getting testing kits as widely disseminated as soon as possible.</s>KEILAR: Congressman, thank you so much.</s>SWALWELL: You're welcome.</s>KEILAR: We really appreciate you --</s>SWALWELL: Thanks. Thanks for having me.</s>KEILAR: -- joining us today. Congressman Eric Swalwell. Still ahead, anger and frustration after five people at the same nursing facility in Washington state died from the coronavirus. So what's being done to protect everyone else there. I will talk to a woman whose mother is living in that nursing home, next. And could March Madness fade away because of coronavirus. Coming up, one group's mission to play the big game without the big crowds.