Historic Week For President Obama; Poll: Clinton's Lead In New Hampshire Shrinks
MALVEAUX: We're continuing to follow breaking news out of New York where an intense manhunt continues for escaped convict, David Sweat. Right now police are hopeful that Sweat is in a contained perimeter. We will continue to bring those updates on the story as we get them throughout the morning. But now the landmark week in the United States, we want to talk about that from the Supreme Court upholding a key portion of Obamacare to the high court's historic ruling that states can no longer ban same- sex marriage. President Obama closed the week with a moving version of "Amazing Grace" when he delivered the eulogy for State Senator Clementa Pinckney's funeral in Charleston. Just Listen.</s>MALVEAUX: It is just an amazing moment when you take a look at that and listen. It could be one of the more important weeks for the president really in the more than six years that he has been in office. Joining us are CNN politics senior reporter, Stephen Collinson and CNN politics reporter, MJ Lee. Thank you both for joining us this morning. Steven, I'll start off with you here. I mean, we have really not seen this kind of week in a long time for any of the presidents that I covered. It is a sweeping change. Under one week under one administration, President Obama having an incredible, incredible week. I can't imagine we will see another like it.</s>STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: I don't think so, Suzanne. It was a confluence of history. Different strands of the Obama presidency coming together. I think the reason we remembered is because the things that happened this week, gay rights, Obamacare, the president getting fast tracked trade authority to negotiate a big trade deal in Asia. It will be things that endure after his presidency. That's the way historians tend to judge presidents. It is the legacy they leave and how long it lasts. So I think the things that happen this week are in that category.</s>MALVEAUX: Then, M.J., I have spoken to people that are close to the president. There has been a sense of frustration in really trying to make sure that he gets some of the things that he really wanted to get done, done. That happened this week and clearly that speaks to his legacy.</s>MJ LEE, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: Absolutely, Suzanne. I think it has been striking to see the president in the last several weeks show a real emotional side to him when he talked about the shooting in Charleston, South Carolina. You could tell that he was physically frustrated and angry. He used the controversial "n" word to make his point. When he spoke about the Supreme Court's ruling yesterday about gay marriage, I think you are seeing him spontaneously singing "Amazing Grace" to this historic black church. You're seeing a president who is freer and I think it's sort of embracing the fact that he only has a little bit of time left. In that time, he is committed and devoted to doing as much as he can to leave his mark on this country.</s>MALVEAUX: I want to talk New Hampshire, very interesting moment here when you take a look at these polls here and the latest CNN/WMUR poll, Hillary Clinton getting 43 percent of the vote. Bernie Sanders second with 35 percent. Clinton's lead now down in the single digits, just eight points ahead of Sanders. So Stephen, let's talk about this, the Clinton campaign, Sanders right behind them on their back. How do they respond to that early in the game?</s>COLLINSON: Yes, I think it is interesting. If there is one place that Bernie Sanders was going to make a run at Hillary Clinton, it probably would be New Hampshire. For months, he's well known in New Hampshire because part of the TV market sort of encompasses New Hampshire. I think what's happening is that characters like Bernie Sanders and also Donald Trump who is doing well in the polls on the Republican side are responding to people are kind of fed up with politicians as usual. They are looking for someone that can come and say the things that they are thinking even if they might be a little bit explosive and a little bit not too subtle. We saw Donald Trump's remarks on Mexican immigrants. Bernie Sanders is tapping into a real sort of distrust of corporations on the Democratic Party. I think at this stage, the voters are not necessarily looking at choosing a president. When we get closer to the primaries next year, people will start to evaluate who would be the best president. Then, you might see more established candidates like Hillary Clinton, Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush on the Republican side move farther ahead.</s>MALVEAUX: OK, let's talk about this. This is a change on the Republican side. I want to bring MJ back into the conversation. Donald Trump, latest declared candidate, now nipping at the heels of Jeb Bush, five points behind the former Florida governor in New Hampshire now. So MJ, what do you think of what people are calming the Trump bump?</s>LEE: Look, I think the big question for Donald Trump is, are the people who are supporting him now, are they actually devoted, passionate Trump supporters or are they just people who are seeing Donald Trump in the headlines a lot. Remember he only announced his intention to run for president. He has been dominating the new cycle. I think that people in these early states are seeing his names a lot and are interested in him. But the question is, is that sustainable? Is that a permanent sort of group of some supporters that are coming out and saying, this is the guy we want or you know, similar to when Ben Carson first announced. You remember that he was tied in the national polls with someone like Jeb Bush. Is that lasting or is it a temporary sort of bump as you called it?</s>MALVEAUX: All right, MJ Lee, Stephen Collinson, thank you so much. Appreciate it this morning. Can Donald Trump rise to the top? What does he really think about the other candidates? We're going to find out. This Sunday, "STATE OF THE UNION" with Jake Tapper tomorrow morning at 9:00 Eastern right here on CNN.