CNN "The Lead With Jake Tapper" - Transcript: Interview with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
Interview
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[16:26:09] TAPPER: Welcome back. We are live here in Detroit, Michigan, ahead of tomorrow night's Democratic debate right here on CNN.
Major focus for the Democrats in the 2020 campaign will be trying to put Michigan back in the win column, in the blue column after Donald Trump became the first Republican presidential contender to take the state in almost 30 years. Trump won here by fewer than 11,000 votes, 0.2 percent of the total votes cast in the state.
Joining me now is Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer. So, obviously, it can be done.
Governor Whitmer, thanks so much for joining us.
GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER (D-MI) : Thank you. I'm thrilled to be here.
TAPPER: So, my first question for you is what did you do in 2018 to win that Hillary Clinton did not do in 2016 and why were you able to win the state?
WHITMER: Well, in 2018 I made a point of getting into all 83 counties across the state of Michigan. And this is a huge state. It took a lot of time but I think showing up and actually listening to what people's anxieties are, to what dreams are keeps you tethered to the things that really matter.
So I ran on fixing the dam roads. Guess what? We have an infrastructure crisis in this country and these presidential candidates I think should be talking about infrastructure. I ran on cleaning up drinking water. We have got --
TAPPER: In Flint, yes.
WHITMER: Water issues all across the country and closing the skills gap through better education and skills so that people could get good- paying jobs. I never talked about what was going on in Washington, D.C. You go to the grocery store, people are not focused on the president's Twitter feed and they are focused on feeding families.
TAPPER: Well, so that's an interesting point, because the Democrats nationally, Hillary Clinton in 2016 and a lot of Democrats today focus a lot on what they perceive to be the indecency of President Trump, the remarks he makes that by any standard are indecent, the "Access Hollywood" tape, et cetera, et cetera. You could go through with it, we could do six hours on that.
But you don't think that Democrats should focus on that, is that what you're saying? You think Democrats should talk about trade deals, economic anxiety and infrastructure, is that what you're saying?
WHITMER: Absolutely. At the end of the day, people are losing sleep over the fundamentals, not about what's happening in Washington, D.C. And staying focused and building bridges literally and figuratively, giving a vision and solutions to these issues that backs us is the most powerful thing any candidate can do.
TAPPER: So I want you to take a listen to Michigan voter that Maeve Reston, a CNN reporter who's here just a second ago talked to. His name is -- Grant Gaither. He was initially skeptical of President Trump but listen to him now.
Oh, it's a full screen. I'm sorry.
I will take progress over a few blank words that are said here and there. The guy says stupid things but as long as things are going good, I could give two blanks.
And the economy is better in Michigan than it was in 2016. Wages are up. The GDP is up.
What would your message be to Mr. Gaither?
WHITMER: My message is to all Democrats running for president to stay focused on the fundamentals. I mean, what Mr. Gaither is saying is he cares about getting things done and cares about people who are going to solve problems and do it together. He's not paying attention to the tweet of the day. He's paying attention to what it means for his family and what it means for his bottom line. When we make sure our kids have got great schools. When we protect the Great Lakes, these are the things that Michiganders care about. And that's why I'm urging these candidates to stay focused on those fundamentals.
TAPPER: So, a lot of them are talking about fundamentals, but they're talking about proposals that some Democrats think are too far to the left, not all but some. Medicare for all, free college tuition, college loan debt forgiveness, the Green New Deal and on and on.
Do you have any concerns about the direction of Democratic Party?
WHITMER: I think it's important for, you know, all of the candidates that have positions on issues but they have got to have plans to solve problems. Talking about the Green New Deal, we have to relate it to what does it mean to the Great Lakes, what does it mean to all this, you know, agricultural farms that are under water right now, what does climate mean to our future. To really attach the, you know, the bigger ideas out of Washington, D.C. into the daily lives of people. That's what matters.
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[16:30:02]
GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER (D-MI): To really attach the -- you know, the bigger ideas of out of Washington, D.C., into the daily lives of people, that's what matters.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: It sounds like you're suggesting that maybe some of these ideas are a little impractical. Am I reading into that too much?
WHITMER: Well, I think in that first debate where you saw people raising their hands about private insurance, that just feeds into people's anxieties.
Insurance costs too much. There are huge gaps. That's what we need candidates to be focusing on, not playing into these little sound bite games, but really drilling down on, how are you going to expand access for people?
TAPPER: So, today, the Black Caucus of the Democratic legislature here came out and endorsed Senator Kamala Harris.
A couple days ago, the mayor of Detroit came out and endorsed Vice President Joe Biden. You have not endorsed anybody. You have talked to some candidates, given them advice. And are you just telling them what you have been telling us?
WHITMER: Absolutely.
I think people are always asking, what is the magic sauce in Michigan? There's nothing mystical about it. People want leaders they can look up to who can solve problems and actually deliver results for our people, improving our quality of life.
I haven't endorsed it. I may endorse before the primary. I may not. I'm going to be looking very hard at these candidates, and insisting that they are going to be a great partner to me in delivering for the people of Michigan.
TAPPER: All right, during the commercial break, you will tell me who your favorite secretly is. (LAUGHTER)
Governor Whitmer, thank you so much for your time.
WHITMER: Thank you.
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