CNN "The Lead With Jake Tapper" - Transcript: Interview with former Gov. John Hickenlooper

Interview

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BLITZER: We're counting down to tonight's Democratic presidential debate, the first of two high-stakes showdowns right here on CNN.

Joining us now, someone who will be on that debate stage behind us tonight, Democratic presidential candidate former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper.

Governor, thanks so much for coming in.

JOHN HICKENLOOPER (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Of course.

BLITZER: All right, so in the polls right now -- and you have seen all the polls -- the Quinnipiac University poll that just came out, you're not even at 1 percent.

What do you need to do tonight to get ahead?

HICKENLOOPER: Well, I was at 2 percent last week, just so we're clear. Let's get -- the statistics are often...

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: So, either 1 percent or 2 percent, but there's still others who are way ahead of you.

HICKENLOOPER: Absolutely.

And I have argued from the beginning that I'm the one person who's done what everyone else has talked about.

I think, tonight, I have got to open up more who I am and let my experience as a small business owner and an entrepreneur, as a mayor for eight years, as a governor for eight years, let that -- those stories come out.

BLITZER: You tweeted this yesterday: "Elizabeth Warren has some big ideas that have an even bigger cost. We proved in Colorado that you don't need big expensive government programs to achieve progressive goals. Let's talk about it tomorrow night."

So are you planning to go after Elizabeth Warren, given some of the positions she has staked out? HICKENLOOPER: I'm not going to go after her. But I do think that

this -- this notion that we can have these massive government expansions is a surefire way to hand the election to Donald Trump, to reelect who I would argue is one of the worst presidents we have ever had.

BLITZER: Because we remember, a few weeks ago, you were booed at a California...

(LAUGHTER)

HICKENLOOPER: I know.

BLITZER: ... when you declared -- quote -- "Socialism is not the answer."

Does that influence your approach tonight? Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, she says she's a capitalist, but he says he's a democratic socialist. Will that be an issue for you tonight?

HICKENLOOPER: Listen, I have been a small business person my whole life. Even when I went -- became a mayor and a governor, I functioned like a small business -- small business person solving problems.

Their large, expansive government solutions are not what I think America is ready for or wants.

BLITZER: If one of them, Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders, were to get the Democratic nomination, would you be behind them?

HICKENLOOPER: Oh, sure.

I mean, look...

BLITZER: But you don't think they could beat Donald Trump?

HICKENLOOPER: I think they would have a much harder time beating Donald Trump in states like Michigan, where we are.

This is a state that is -- cares about jobs. And they're not for giant government programs. They are a much more conservative state than what we see in California and New York.

BLITZER: Let's talk about one of the biggest issues, if not the biggest issues, for the candidates tonight, health care.

You say it should -- it should be a right, not a privilege. It should be a right, not a privilege. But you envision a role for -- certainly a role, important role, for private health insurance.

[16:15:03] So how do you plan on reducing costs in all of that?

HICKENLOOPER: Well, the key to reducing costs is transparency in hospitals. That's a good place to start. And changing how we regulate insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies. Why are we paying 30 times more in the United States for insulin than

they pay -- than they pay just across the river in Canada? That the crazy.

BLITZER: So from your perspective, what happens to your private health insurance?

HICKENLOOPER: Well, private health insurance is going to have to compete with a public option. So, they are going to have some pressure on them to deliver better service and have happier customers.

BLITZER: So, when we'll hear Bernie Sanders support Medicare for All. When he does that, what will be your reaction?

HICKENLOOPER: My reaction as it has been, this is America. We believe in choices. And he's asking 180 million Americans to give up their private insurance and a lot of them don't want to.

BLITZER: What about the other moderate candidates on the stage. Not all are as progressive as Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. What is going to be your message to them? Because they're, like you, they're competing and a lot of them really want to survive?

HICKENLOOPER: No, of course. And we all are. And that's why -- I mean, this is so exciting. These debates are great political theater.

You know, I'd match my record with anybody. I was a entrepreneur and small business owner for 15 years and I know what it is like to make a payroll, to create something from scratch, to work 80 hours a week so that something doesn't fail. I think that's important experience.

I was out of work for two years and then I opened the largest brew pub in the country. You know, I've had a wide ranger of experience, I would argue, than any of the other moderate candidates.

BLITZER: So, tell us what factors you will be weighing after tonight in terms of whether or not you decide to stay in the race, if you make the qualifications to go to the third round of debates in September.

HICKENLOOPER: Well, you know, to be honest, I haven't really given any consideration to getting out of the race. I mean, I treat every day, every interview, this interview, as make or break. And I'm trying to be focused on being honest and direct to the American people and say, you know, here's what I believe. Here is what I think is good for America.

I think we can beat climate change, right? I really believe that. We have the tools now. These new innovations, I think we could get our arms around health care and control the inflation. But we've got to do it by bringing people together, and I look at pretty much every one else who's running, I don't think they've done that.

BLITZER: Every one -- all of the Democratic candidates?

HICKENLOOOPER: All Democrats -- well, certainly not the president. The president has made his whole political career by dividing people. BLITZER: If you don't make it as the Democratic presidential nominee,

are you open, because you were a popular governor in your home state of Colorado, are you open to running for Senate? I've asked you this question before.

HICKENLOOPER: I know. You're relentless.

BLITZER: Well, just looking ahead.

HICKENLOOPER: I am 100 percent focused on being president. The moment I start entertaining questions about my business or running for Senate, whatever, I lose focus, and my staff loses focus.

BLITZER: You are not ruling it out.

HICKENLOOPER: I want to be 100 percent focused on being everything I can in this campaign and really trying to open myself up to the American people and say, here's what I think America could be.

BLITZER: We're out of time. But what is the single best piece of advice you got going into tonight.

HICKENLOOPER: Somebody told me -- what do they say, you don't win a stink fest if you're with a bunch of skunks. But they're not skunks. We have a great group of people that are -- you know, it's actually honor to be up on the stage. It really is.

BLITZER: All right. Thanks. It's historic, too. Thanks so much, Governor, for joining us. Good luck tonight.

HICKENLOOPER: All right. Good to see you.

BLITZER: Thank you.

HICKENLOOPER: Chris, back to you.

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