Democrats Voting Today On New Party Leader; Democrats Voting Today On New Party Leader
WHITFIELD: All right. Right now, live pictures right now from 450 Democratic National Committee members are gathering in Atlanta to choose the new head of the party. The party is trying to find its way and re-group after a devastating loss in November. I want to bring in Symone Sanders, she is a CNN political commentator and former national press secretary for Bernie Sanders, Bernie 2016 campaign that is and Michael Hopkins, the deputy director of voter protection for Hillary Clinton's 2016 in Colorado. All right, good to see both of you.</s>MICHAEL HOPKINS, FORMER DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR VOTER PRODUCTION, HILLARY CLINTON FOR AMERICA COLORADO: Thank you for having me.</s>WHITFIELD: Symone, you're there at a potentially rowdy location. Just want to give folks a warning just in case there's a big applause that takes place. All right, so given the protest that we're seeing across the country, the President's low approval rating, you know, does it appear, Michael, that this is an all out war against Trump. And this is really the best strategy that Democrats could hold on to?</s>HOPKINS: It is. Look, Fredricka, we're in at really challenging time right now. We have an administration that is pushing back on civil liberties. They're looking to restrict rights to abortion, to travel, first amendment rights. And so, yes, Democrats do need to take that head on and be aggressive in challenging the administration and be aggressive in making sure that the Democratic principles that this country is standing on are still legitimate and still something that every American can strive to have.</s>WHITFIELD: So, then, Symone, if that's the case, how does the Democratic Party use that perhaps as a spring board to do more, to take the party into a new direction or more unified front, what?</s>SYMONE SANDERS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Look, I think the party has to continue to challenge Donald Trump to week to drive (ph) and they've been doing that, you know, under our chair, our current interim Chairwoman Donna Brazile. They've set up a Trump war room, but they also have to be able to paint the picture for Democrats and who they are and I think that's what these elections are about today. So, whoever wins chair by chair, whoever the new leadership is elective Democratic Party, I think we'll be in good hands. But we have to be able to paint the picture of who we are as Democrats. Why folks should support the party and our candidates and what we're going to do for the American people. That's what folks haven't heard and that's they need to hear.</s>FREDRICKA: And Symone, Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison is a leading contender. Bernie Sanders, who you have been working with for many months now leading up to the 2016 race. Bernie Sanders has been backing Ellison. Why do you suppose that is? What is it about Keith Ellison that makes an appealing candidate for progressive, particularly?</s>SANDERS: I mean, look, so I think folks who have thrown support behind Keith Ellison because they believe what he's talking about. He's an authentic candidate. He's good on the issues and they believe he'll be a fighter for the people, you know. Concurrently, I think people have thrown their support behind Tom Perez for the same reason, you know. I'm not voting DNC member. So I haven't thrown my support behind anybody because I know how the voting DNC members feel. But I really believe that who -- I think we've got good candidates in both these folks and I think Keith Ellison is a great pick, so same thing for Tom Perez.</s>WHITFIELD: And so Michael, you know, Tom Perez is a leading candidate as well. You know, he had the backing from, you know, the vice president. But he's also considered, you know, representative of the establishment. And if the Democratic Party is saying once you do something different, it wants to be energized in a new direction. How or why would Tom Perez be appealing to a great majority they're voting?</s>HOPKINS: Look, Tom Perez is a very qualified candidate. Absolutely. He was labor secretary. He's been endorsed by a lot of the labor unions. He's -- President Obama has thrown his support behind him. He's absolutely qualified. I do think that Democratic Party needs to be careful of continuing to use the same people and not growing the party. They use a sports analogy. When sports teams are successful, it's because they have a bench, it's because they have a minor league system. And I think the Democrats need to do the same. They need to make sure they not only have candidates that are front and center, but they're growing the bench. And I think that that's one of the worries about a Perez or even an Ellison candidacy.</s>WHITFIELD: And so Symone, you know, if reshaping the party is priority number one, another priority also would likely be, you know, the fact that the Democrats have lost hundreds, you know, of House seats over the last decade. So, what would be the focus on how to reclaim those lost seats?</s>SANDERS: I think we have to rebuild the state parties. We can't talk about building a bench. And we're not supporting the folks whose job is to go out there and build a bench. So I think the first task of this chair and the new leadership of the Democratic National Committee will be to talk, to put together a plan for how to support these state parties. Are we going to do a pipeline program? I believe in that. I believe in millennial leadership, bringing in these folk from a new blue crew as I call it, people who don't identify as Democrats. And that's the plan we need to see. So, hopefully, we'll get one of those tomorrow or Monday.</s>WHITFIELD: OK. And so behind you, you know, a lot happening now. Keith Ellison is there at the podium. It's our understanding right, Symone, that all of the candidates will get a chance to kind of make their case, their last case before the balloting begins. What's your, I guess, you know, prediction here on how soon this voting will actually get underway in the room there?</s>SANDERS: So, Keith Ellison is going to give his.</s>WHITFIELD: Yes. So he's talking right now. We understand -- they're all get a chance to talk. I'm just wondering if you know, will that take, you know, 30 minutes, 45 minutes or something like that before everyone will get a chance to lead or cast for ballots or digital ballots, you understand?</s>SANDERS: Yes, right after. So --</s>WHITFIELD: OK, good.</s>SANDERS: So Keith Ellison and there are seven candidates.</s>WHITFIELD: Right. I know it's so hard to hear there right now.</s>SANDERS: I'm sorry, I couldn't --</s>WHITFIELD: I know it is. I'm kind of using you as a reporter as well. We've got our Ryan Nobles there who will give us a quick replay. But I figure that you're in the room. Symone Sanders, thank you so much and Michael, appreciate it. Glad you could be with us as well. Michael Hopkins, appreciate it.</s>HOPKINS: Thank you so much. Appreciate it.</s>WHITFIELD: All right. So, for more now on the future of the Democratic Party, don't miss Bernie Sanders tomorrow on State of the Union, the Vermont senator to stand with Jake Tapper at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time right here on CNN. And we will be b right back.