Republicans Clash At First Debate; RNC: "The Whole Country Is Looking At us"; Trump Won't Rule Out Third Party Bid. Aired 11p-Midnight ET
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: Good evening, 11 P.M of the East Coast, 11 P.M. in Cleveland where 10 leading Republicans wrapping up their first debate. We'll get live reaction from inside the hall in just a moment. We're also expecting to hear from some of the candidates, live events from around the city. And I'll bring them to you in the next two hours that we are live on the air. Going in, all odds, the first one, Donald Trump and right from the get go, he made headlines when he said he would not necessarily support any opponents if he isn't the nominee and held open the possibility of running as an independent. That said he was far from the only one on the stage who made remark that caused spark or got people talking. This evening, we're going to analyze and fact-check what was said tonight. We'll take some -- we'll talk to some of the people taking part of the debate. We'll ask a panel of undecided Republican women about what they saw and heard and we're joined for the next two hours by some of the sharpest political minds in the country. Before we get to all of that, some key moments from the stage tonight.</s>BRET BAIER, FOX NEWS CHIEF POLITICAL ANCHOR: Is there anyone on stage and can I see hands who is unwilling tonight to pledge your support to the eventual nominee of the Republican Party and pledge to not run an independent campaign against that person? Again, we're looking for you to raise your hand now. Raise your hand now if you won't make that pledge tonight. Mr. Trump?</s>DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I cannot say. I have to respect the person that if it's not me, the person that wins. If I do win and I'm leading by quite a bit. That's what I want to do. I can totally make the pledge if I'm a nominee.</s>BAIER: OK.</s>RAND PAUL, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And this is what's wrong, he buys and sells politicians of all stripes. He's already...</s>BAIER: Dr. Paul.</s>PAUL: Hey. Look, look. He's already hedging his bet on the Clintons, OK. So if he doesn't run as a Republican, maybe he supports Clinton or maybe he runs as an independent.</s>BAIER: OK.</s>PAUL: But I'd say he's already hedging his bets because he's used to buying politicians.</s>CHRIS CHRISTIE, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And, Megyn. Megyn, that's it. That, you know, that's a completely ridiculous answer. I want to collect more records from terrorists but less records from other people. How are you supposed to know man?</s>PAUL: Use the fourth amendment.</s>CHRISTIE: What do you supposed to -- how are you supposed to...</s>PAUL: .Use the fourth amendment.</s>CHRISTIE: No, I'll tell you how do it.</s>PAUL: Get a warrant.</s>CHRISTIE: Let me tell you, senator, do you know...</s>PAUL: Get a judge to sign the warrant.</s>CHRISTIE: And, you know, senator...</s>MEGYN KELLY, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: Wait, Senator Christie make your point (ph).</s>CHRISTIE: Listen, Senator, you know, when you're sitting in a subcommittee just blowing hot air about this, you can say things like that. When you're responsible for protecting the lives of the American people, then what you need to do is to make sure...</s>PAUL: Here's the problem Governor.</s>CHRISTIE: ... is to make sure that you use the system the way it's supposed to work.</s>PAUL: Here's the problem. I don't trust President Obama with our records. I know you gave him a big hug, and if you want to give him a big hug again, go right ahead.</s>KELLY: Go ahead. Go ahead.</s>CHRISTIE: You know, you know Senator Paul -- Senator Paul, you know the hugs that I remember are the hugs that I gave to the families who lost their people on September 11th. And those are the hugs I remember and those hugs had nothing to do with politics, unlike what you're doing by cutting speeches on the floor of the senate and putting them on the internet within a half an hour to raise money for your campaign...</s>KELLY: All right.</s>CHRISTIE: And while still putting our country at risk.</s>TRUMP: Now, with Iran. We're making a deal, we would say we want him. We want him. We want our prisoners. We want all of these things we don't get anything. We're giving them $150 billion plus. They are going to be -- I'll tell you what, if Iran was a stock, you folks should go out and buy it right now because you've quadrupled. This is what's happened and Iran is a disgrace.</s>KELLY: Dr. Carson, in one of his first access Commander-in-Chief President Obama signed an executive order banning enhanced interrogation techniques in fighting terror. As president, would you bring back water boarding?</s>BEN CARSON, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, thank you Megyn. I wasn't sure I was going to get to talk again.</s>KELLY: We have a lot for you. Don't worry.</s>CHRIS WALLACE, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: Mr. Trump, I'll give you 30 seconds -- I'll give you 30 seconds to answer my question which was what evidence do you have, specific evidence, that the Mexican government is sending criminals across the border? 30 seconds.</s>TRUMP: Border patrol, I was at the border last week. Border patrol, people that I deal with, that I talk to they say this is what's happening because our leaders are stupid, our politicians are stupid and the Mexican government is much smarter, much sharper, much more cunning. And they send the bad ones over because they don't want to pay for them. They don't want to take care of them. Why should they when the stupid leaders of the United States will do it for them. And that's what's happening, whether you like it or not.</s>JEB BUSH, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want to win. I want one of these people here or the ones at 5:00 to be the next president of United States. We're not going to win by doing the Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton do each and everyday, dividing the country, saying creating a grievance kind of environment. We're going to win when we unite people with the hopeful optimistic message.</s>PAUL: And slash, the Republican Party's been fighting against the single party system for a decade.</s>BAIER: OK.</s>PAUL: ... for a decade. See, I think you're on the wrong side of this if you're still arguing for a single party.</s>TRUMP: I'm not -- I don't think you've heard me. You're having a hard time tonight.</s>CARSON: All right...</s>TRUMP: Most of the people on this stage, I've given to just so you understand, a lot of money.</s>MARCO RUBIO, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Not me. Not me. But you're welcomed to give me a check.</s>TRUMP: Got many of them. That's right.</s>RUBIO: And actually to be clear, he supported Charlie Crist.</s>TRUMP: Not much.</s>KASICH: Hey, Donald...</s>TRUMP: But I have good...</s>KASICH: ... I hope you will give to me.</s>TRUMP: Good. It sounds good.</s>CHRISTIE: OK.</s>TRUMP: It sounds good to me Governor.</s>COOPER: That was just a few of many key moments we'll be talking about. Tonight, we're going to show you more throughout the next two hours also we'll be fact-checking and unspinning with panel of partisans and nonpartisans alike. Joining us first, CNN Political Commentator S.E. Cupp, Ana Navarro, Jeffrey Lord and and Donna Brazile. Ana is Jeb Bush supporter, friend of Marco Rubio, Jeffrey Lord, former Reagan White House, Political Director and current Trump supporter. Donna is Democratic Strategist and Vice Chair of the DNC Voter Project. Just quick thoughts from all of you. Jeff, let me start with you. Obviously, for Donald Trump (inaudible).</s>JEFFREY LORD, TRUMP SUPPORTER: I think he delivered his message. I mean there's just no question. I mean when he -- what is appealing to here are folks who feel that the entire system has gone off the rails. And so when he raised his hand at the beginning and said, "No, he wasn't going to promise what he's really communicating...</s>COOPER: Not to run as a third party candidate.</s>LORD: Run as a third party candidate. What he is really communicating here is, if these other people win, what difference will it make?</s>COOPER: Not very popular though certainly in that hall.</s>LORD: No. No.</s>COOPER: If you got widely boos by it.</s>LORD: Right. But outside of this hall...</s>COOPER: Do you think it (inaudible)</s>LORD: ... I mean there are a lot of Republicans I mean...</s>COOPER: I mean did you feel that he's come off in anyway diminished by -- it is the first time he has been on a stage with all the other candidates, do you in anyway feel that he was so out of the ordinary that he seemed diminished in anyway?</s>LORD: No.</s>COOPER: Do you think play it through though (ph)?.</s>LORD: I don't think so. I mean remember, the thing that I think drives this is the anti-politician basis I'm feeling among other things.</s>COOPER: Right.</s>LORD: So there he is with all of these other folks who are professional politicians, I mean he stands out and, you know, you have a lot of the political class that look out and say, "Oh, he hurt himself." And then you have a lot of people of...</s>COOPER: Right. Donna, to you what stands out?</s>DONNA BRAZILE, VICE CHAIR DNC VOTER PROJECT: You know there's no question that Mr. Trump, at many times, looked like he was auditioning for his role as the leading contender and, at times, he was looking at the other nine contenders and saying, "I won," clearly, his body was of I can go either way. I can, you know, take over this debate off and sit here and pretend that I'm interested to hear what the other folks have to say. There's no question that some of the candidates will fade after tonight. Ben Carson struggled to articulate what...</s>LORD: Yes.</s>BRAZILE: ... he stands for. Ted Cruz tried to take over the debate like it was the senate floor. Marco Rubio, did treat it like the senate floor. But, you know, my best moment was the fireworks between Chris Christie and Rand Paul. I cannot wait to see that rewind again. That was testosterone with a little bit of Tabasco and for me I love that part of it.</s>COOPER: You're from Louisiana, of course.</s>BRAZILE: Yeah.</s>COOPER: Ana Navarro, I mean obviously you're candidate is Jeb Bush. She has certainly a lot on the line tonight. I saw some folks say online they thought he stumbled a little bit particularly in the beginning maybe when talking about education he seemed to get it back and we're showing you pictures there of the spin room which is actually usually what they call it where you see candidates and their supporters going in, telling anybody who will listen, how well their candidate did. What do you make as we look at these pictures, Ana, of how Jeb Bush did tonight?</s>ANA NAVARRO, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: I think he did very well. I think he did get warmed up. And I think he did gain some lights when, you know, as his debate went on. It was a tough stage. There was a lot going on. There was a lot of life there on that stage and a lot of lights in that room. I've got to tell you, it was fun. It was entertaining. It was riveting at parts. I with Donna, that page match between Rand Paul and Chris Christie, you know people were just popping corn into their mouth. You know, you saw Trump. We've been asking all week, is Trump going to be Trump or he is going to be a more subdued version of Trump. Well, he came and he was Trump and he was diminished because he was surrounded by people who are solid and knew policy and he looked like the odd man out who doesn't know policy. I also think, you know, when he started by saying I'm not willing to give up on running a third party and when he, you know, when he started making fun about calling women in fat pigs, well, guess what, most women in America look like me. Not like Melania.</s>COOPER: And S.E, what did you make of what you saw tonight because to Ana's point about it being -- I mean, it was obviously very fun to watch. There was a lot of -- there were a lot of fireworks. Did the candidate who is didn't quite bring that, I'm going to pick you, Ben Carson, some might even say Jeb Bush. And there's been Carson, taking Carson right now in the spin room. Did they seem diminished because of the strong personal who were on the stage?</s>S.E. CUPP, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yeah, I think Ben Carson had a bad night, although I didn't expected Ben Carson to come with much substance if you've been watching him over the past few years. He's not big on substance. I think trump looked fairly unserious next to everyone else. I think his stick works really well on the stump. But when asked substantive questions, you know, he doesn't have a lot of answers. And I think that really came into focus with all of this other guys. I think to hit for the cycle in this debates, you really have to accomplish three things. You have to have a personality moment. You have to make a great substantive point and maybe you get the opportunity to clarify on a pass of misstep. But, on that, I think Chris Christie and Marco Rubio did the best tonight. They all had. They both have a great personality moment. They have a couple good one liners. I think they made good substantive policy arguments and they got to sort of correct for some of the past maybe mistakes that they've made with conservative voters. I think Jeb Bush and Scott Walker performed well. They did no harm. I didn't see any mistakes, but I also didn't see a whole lot of movement from them coming out of this debate. So we'll have to see. The only person I thought who had a terrible night was Rand Paul. I think he looked pretty childish and (inaudible), you know, haranguing Chris Christie for the hug and kind of jumping in when he wasn't asked to. I just don't think he came up looking great.</s>COOPER: Although the flip side of that and Jeb, what do you think about this, is, you know, for in a race which Donald Trump has sucked a lot of the oxygen and been able to come as the anti-establishment candidate who has been able to be the outsider, did Chris Christie and maybe even Rand Paul certainly to Rand Paul's base at the very least claim back some of that mental Rand Paul saying I'm a different kind of Republican saying that repeatedly, Chris Christie clearly trying to come across as a strong, tough, kind of guy.</s>LORD: I think that each reinforce their base. I'm not sure that that particularly in Rand Paul's case. I don't think he really got much beyond that. And one of the things that I'd say, as well, and after the 1980 Debate with Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter, you know, of course, the Carter people went out right away and said we won. The media reports tended to give it to Jimmy Carter as well. It wasn't until a day later when the overnight polling fell in. It seemed that the country not seemed but the results were two to one in Reagan's favor so I'm just saying that we're talking about this in the media aftermath. We should really be careful because, you know, the next days...</s>COOPER: Right.</s>LORD: ... we could find that the entire country have a totally different opinion here.</s>COOPER: How could people in New York not being completely (inaudible) shockingly. How can anybody in the media not be completely in tune with the...</s>LORD: My friends in Central Pennsylvania will understand what I'm talking about.</s>BRAZILE: My Friends in South Louisiana may not like rerun when you hear it again but you know what I thought the moment when Kasich said he went to a gay wedding recently of a friend and I was waiting to hear the boos back in 2012.</s>COOPER: Wide applause.</s>BRAZILE: Yeah. Big applause.</s>COOPER: It was also interesting because it reminded me a little bit of the moment where (inaudible) talked, asked Michael Dukakis a personal question about rape and somebody in his family was rape and there was this very personal part of it and he really answered it in a personal way about his daughter. I want to go to Dana Bash who's standing by. Dana, who do you have?</s>DANA BASH, CNN, CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I had the Chairman of the Republican Party, Reince Priebus with me and the obvious question to you is what was your reaction when Donald Trump raised his hand, signaling he will not pledge to be a Republican through this whole process?</s>REINCE PRIEBUS, CHAIRMAN, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE: I think it's pretty mature. I mean I've got a pretty good feeling about where he's at on this and I think tonight I don't think he was ready to raise his hand but I think that he getting to a pretty good place. So I'm not just living in a vacuum here. I'm dealing with the presidency of the United States and whether we're going to be able to win. I talked to Donald Trump often. I think he's getting in a pretty good place. He's not going to raise his hand tonight but I think that -- I think if you give him a little while I think you'll see his hand will go up.</s>BASH: Did he give you like double secret probation promise or something. It sounds like that's what you're saying.</s>PRIEBUS: I don't think it's a double, secret probation promise, but I think I've got a pretty good sense on where he's at on this issue. And I'm not that nervous about it at all.</s>BASH: I have to say that if somebody who is the chairman of the party to not be nervous about somebody is standing on your own debate stage not vowing to be a member of your party, that seems a little odd, no?</s>PRIEBUS: Right. No. Actually, what is does is that it proves what I'm saying which is if I'm not nervous about it, I don't think anyone else should. So if there is one guy that should be nervous about whether Donald Trump runs as independent it should be me and I'm telling you I'm not.</s>BASH: OK. What else? Just more broadly, big picture. What were your takeaways of this debate? Do you feel that your party voters got a good sense of who they're candidates really are?</s>PRIEBUS: I think the way they're great person. I think we're controlling the entire interest of this country. So it's incumbent upon us to keep that going. It's important for us to try to contain the process and sort of, you know keep it to Jeb's and elbows not killing each other but the whole country is looking at us. They're not looking at the other side in Hillary Clinton. That sort of just boring stuff so I feel good about that.</s>BASH: I just have to ask you one last question, the earlier happy hour debate, the 5:00 debate, there were very few people on the audience so there's no one in the audience. Do you feel in retrospect that you could had done it differently that was more respectful to the seven candidates on stage that they had the energy in the room that you saw tonight?</s>PRIEBUS: This was a unique place because we've got the entire arena. So it's 5,000 people. There was no way for the cue to put 5,000 people in the seats, pull them out, two hours later, bring another 5,000 in. It's just or holding sick people for six hours. So look, the next debate I think it's a back to back so I think everyone is going to sit their seats but it's also much smaller venue. So meaning these are kinds of things you have to deal with, security, and obviously it's not all our call but and I'm not making that as an excuse. I'm just explaining and answering your question.</s>BASH: Well, we'll see you at the next debate.</s>PRIEBUS: I'm looking forward to Simi Valley, CNN in California. It should be great.</s>BASH: September. Thank you Mr. Chairman. I appreciate it.</s>PRIEBUS: You bet. Thank you Dana.</s>BASH: Thank you.</s>PRIEBUS: You bet.</s>BASH: Back to you Anderson.</s>PRIEBUS: Dana, Rience Preibus thanks very much. With that Donna, what do you make of what he said that he is not concerned about Donald Trump running on a third party? What's very interesting statement right there.</s>BRAZILE: Right.</s>COOPER: What do you...</s>BRAZILE: You know, I'm a vice chair of the Democratic Party and so clearly Bernie Sanders had that the same question someone who caucus with the Democrats but not a Democrat, I would be worried There's no question because look, in order to achieve the kind of support you need in a party, you need to get the party activist to sign your petition run his deligates. So I think he was -- Mr. Chairman, good bless you. Good luck with Donald Trump. That's my advice.</s>COOPER: Do you think he has something to worry about?</s>BRAZILE: Oh absolutely. I mean, Donald Trump has not only millions of followers, billions of dollars in the bank and for Donald Trump not to say I will support the eventual nominee if it's not me, I may not agree but I'm a Republican and this is what you do You fall in line.</s>COOPER: Jeffrey.</s>LORD: Well, I think he's being careful because, you know, we all know what happens. If you get up along side of Donald Trump and I don't think he's want to go there and I think that he is aware that there was some sentiment that the party establishment was on the other side and so, you know, through phone calls and apparently some regular contact here they've gotten back according to Donald Trump himself, you know, in a much better situation so I don't think he wants to, you know, test that.</s>COOPER: I want to go Ann and S.E. but I do just Donna very quickly also Rience Preibus saying that based the Republicans right now are controlling the focus of the country, people aren't really looking to Hillary Clinton, and aren't looking at Bernie Sanders in terms of the enthusiasm, the excitement, there is certainly is a lot enthusiasm and excitement on the GOP side. Do you believe Reince Priebus, what he said?</s>BRAZILE: Well, I did. I loved that. If his candidates they're sucking up all of the oxygen they've been running since, you know, January 2013 when President Obama took office. I'm not surprised that the energy is with the Republicans now but get ready for the Democratic debate in a couple of weeks.</s>COOPER: Do you believe Joe Biden is going to rejoin?</s>BRAZILE: I don't think so but, you know what the -- as we say the Democratic side, the door is open if you want to come in, come on in. It's a better place to support the Democratic.</s>COOPER: Do you think it would be good for Hillary Clinton if he did I mean third better candidates?</s>BRAZILE: You know what it's a personal decision. It's a tough decision. I recognize that the vice president who is very well beloved in Democratic Party has to make this decision but I'm not going to rush him in making this decision. He has some time.</s>COOPER: Ana, S.E. was saying, she tough Rand Paul didn't really do himself any favors tonight perhaps he do with the bases, Jeff, what do you make of it? Who do you think was a biggest loser tonight?</s>NAVARRO: I think Rand Paul was a loser. I think Ted Cruz also didn't have a terribly good and night. This was a very enthusiastic audience. I think John Kasich did himself some help of course. This is a home turf advantage for Kasich and I can tell you the arena was practically packed with everybody from Ohio. So he had a pack pals of his own team there but I think he did very well. I think Ben Carson did not help himself. Did not distinguish himself and I think, you know, I think there were some standouts and some people that did not do well most certainly I think Rand Paul and Ted Cruz were lack a lot of steps tonight. And I will tell you, you know, Anderson, the enthusiasm there reminded me so much of the Miami Heat playing in the American Airlines arena and my heart was breaking because this is where LeBron James is playing now. So I feel dirty having been inside there.</s>COOPER: S.E., in terms of if other moments that really stuck out to you, I'm wondering, you know, what tomorrow morning you're going to wake up about?</s>CUPP: You know, it's a shame, if not Reince Priebus isn't worried about for Donald Trump, he should be, because if not for Donald Trump I think the thing we would all be talking most right now is John Kasich's great performance, you know, he barely made it into this debate just announced his presidency, Locked into great timing to do it in order to ge to this debate. And I think he had a really great night and I think that every GOP contender should study his answer on the gay marriage question. It was a phenomenally compassionate but convicted answer and I think really represented himself in the party well. So it's not for Trump and maybe it's not for the Chris Christie, Rand Paul amazing sparring match. I think his would be the lead to lead story out of this debate tonight.</s>COOPER: I'm very curious to see if anything changes polling wise obviously in the days ahead, and if anything...</s>CUPP: Yeah.</s>COOPER: ... changes sort of in terms of Donald Trump's approach because, you know, S.E. you were saying you did think he was somewhat diminished being on that stage next to this other people, Jeffrey definitely disagrees with this. But, but when you compare them side- by-side, I'm wondering if people started to think well his great to have out there and we loved him, but I don't know that he's presidential. Again, will just have to wait and see. S.E., thank you, Donna Brazile, Jeffrey Lord, Ana Navarro.</s>CUPP: Sure. Coming up next, Donald Trump is asked about soon as the less flattering things he has said about particular women online, a few with Rosie O'Donnell, we'll talk about how that play will play you his answer now I might be received by voters.