Latest Poll Data for Iowa and New Hampshire
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: But I think there may be something to what Bernie Sanders said. I don't think they thought it would be this close at this point - Pamela.</s>PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: Yes. As you said earlier, perhaps a little too close for comfort. Brianna Keilar, thank you so much. And the new polls show the Republican race is getting tighter in Iowa, but getting wider in New Hampshire. Just moments ago Quinnipiac University released its poll of likely Iowa caucus goers and Donald Trump, take a look, leads Ted Cruz 31 to 29 percent, well within the margin of error with the rest of the field far behind. Also today, Monmouth University came out with its result for New Hampshire. And it is now the third poll in a row that shows Donald Trump with at least a third of the GOP vote in New Hampshire. The real race is for a distant second place among Ted Cruz, John Kasich and Marco Rubio. With me now is Democratic strategist Harlan Hill and Republican political consultant Mindy Finn. Thank you both for coming on. Mindy, I'm going to start with you here because in Iowa, Quinnipiac found that while Trump is slightly ahead, his negative rating is much stronger with 26 percent saying they would definitely definitively support Trump. But for Cruz that number was just seven percent. Is that a sign to you that Cruz will ultimately prevail?</s>MINDY FINN, REPUBLICAN POLITICAL CONSULTANT: Yes. There are some troubling signs for Donald Trump in Iowa. I mean, that race according to poll is essentially tied right now. But as you mentioned, more than a quarter of Iowa caucus goers say they would never vote for Donald Trump. In terms of the matchup between Donald Trump and say Hillary Clinton, he does not do as well as in Marco Rubio or a Ted Cruz. And as we get close to the final votes here, what we are seeing is that this rate starts to really take shape and there can be shifts even in this last few weeks. I think when voters make that final decision, it's really important for them to consider, you know, who can do best in a general election, who has the longevity here in the race.</s>BROWN: Yes. A lot can happen between now and then a few weeks and half of the voters apparently have not made up their minds according to this poll. Harlan, to you now. I want to ask you about this birther debate now that is sort of ramping up against Ted Cruz. We have Rand Paul now jumping into this voicing his concerns about Cruz's eligibility. Would Democrats challenge this if Cruz does advance?</s>HARLAN HILL, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST/POLITICAL CONSULTANT: Well, if Cruz does advance, there's no question this is going to be on the table. So if I'm a Republican strategist, if I am Republican candidate, I think I want to get this out of the way now, you know. If your primary concern is, you know, is winning back the White House in 2016, we need to establish that Cruz is actually eligible to be the next president of the United States. So I think it is perfectly fair game for Donald Trump and for everyone else in the field to take a shot at him on this because frankly Cruz needs to answer it.</s>BROWN: Well, and Cruz has answered it and said he believes that he is a U.S. citizen. But Mindy, what do you believe -- what is your take on this about Rand Paul sort of jumping into this debate? He is at two percent in the latest polls, of latest poll. Why do you think he's jumping into this?</s>FINN: Yes. It's hard to see how this helps Rand Paul. I think other than getting his name in the headlines, we are talking about him today. It's been hard for him to get traction in a crowded field, but it could potentially hurt Ted Cruz. The more people pile on and cast doubt on his candidacy.</s>BROWN: And Harlan, turning to Sanders now closing in on Hillary Clinton as we just talked about with Iowa - I mean, with Iowa, with Brianna. Should we win in Iowa and New Hampshire, should that mean that the party should see him as the candidate as he suggests or a small setback for Clinton?</s>HILL: I'm losing her.</s>BROWN: OK. You are having some issue. That's OK. Mindy, I'll go to you on that question then. What do you think? I mean, if Bernie Sanders wins in Iowa and New Hampshire, how much of a setback would that be for the Hillary camp?</s>FINN: I think that would be a major setback. I mean, going back to 2008 when she entered that race as the presumptive nominee and didn't take Barack Obama seriously and look where we are today. And that's with her doing better in New Hampshire. Obviously, Barack Obama doing well in Iowa. If Sanders were to win Iowa and New Hampshire, I think that casts her candidacy into doubt and really puts him in a position of a front runner. There's no way to look at that differently.</s>BROWN: Mindy Finn and Harlan Hill that we just lost there due to technical issue. There he is back again. Thank you so much to both of you for coming on. Great discussion there.</s>HILL: Thank you.</s>BROWN: And up next in the NEWSROOM, a warning for cops in Philly after the ambush of an officer on duty. A tipster now tells police, the suspect had ties to a radical group. Plus, saying good-bye to music legend David Bowie, an artist who had the rare opportunity to draw the singer's portrait shares his perspective on Bowie's legacy.