CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: Representative Ro Khanna Is Interviewed About The Sanders Campaign

Interview

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Joining us now, Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna of California. He's a national co-chair of the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign. Congressman, thanks so much for joining us. Let's get to some of these issues. You say the Sanders campaign needs to do better on turnout, the next primary contest, there are five primaries, one caucus next Tuesday. You say the campaign needs to do it, especially among younger voters. So what sort of changes are in the works?

REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA): Well, there's no doubt we need higher turnout among young voters, not just for Bernie Sanders, but for the Democratic Party. We've seen suburban turnout go through the roof, but the young voters need to come out. We're going to have a concerted effort on digital to target them, which we haven't done as much as we should have been doing. We're going to have more direct organizers at these rallies, talking to young people about not just marching, not just showing up to rallies but filling out their ballots going to vote.

BLITZER: Six states, as I mentioned, will vote next Tuesday, a sort of mini Super Tuesday. What sort of showing does Bernie Sanders need to stay competitive? And I asked the question in part because I see he canceled a trip to Mississippi. The assumption being he's given up on Mississippi to spend more time in Michigan.

KHANNA: Well Wolf when all is said and done after Super Tuesday in my home state of California is counted, I think we're going to be about 30 delegates back from Joe Biden. So we're very much in the hunt. It's neck and neck.

He needs a strong showing on Tuesday. He's going all in on Michigan in terms of spending his time there. That's a state he won in the past. It's a state his message for working class folks who have been left out, a resonate, and he's going to talk about how he is going to bring jobs back and not let jobs go offshore. He's also going to win Washington, I believe, and he's going to win Democrats abroad.

But at the end of Tuesday, we're still going to be very close with delegates. And I actually think this is going to come down to a debate between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders laying out very different visions for the future of the party.

BLITZER: Yes, the next debate will be a CNN debate in Arizona, March 15. And then Florida comes up on March 17th. That's going to be a huge prize potentially as well for these two remaining candidates. Were you surprised, Congressman, that Senator Warren is holding off on making an endorsement?

KHANNA: I'm not. I have tremendous admiration for her. She was the intellectual leader in the 2020 cycle. She came out with great proposals. I don't think her voice, frankly, was often recognized enough and I think we have to give her some time, give her supporters time, acknowledge her contributions, but I don't think anyone should be expected to drop out and endorse on the same day.

BLITZER: Are you confident that your campaign eventually will get her endorsement?

KHANNA: I can't say that. I mean, I certainly haven't had a direct conversation with Senator Warren. But I'm confident that our campaign will win a lot of her supporters. Because we both campaigned on Medicare for All, we both believe in free public college, we both believe in expanding Social Security. So when you look at her policy platforms, there's a huge overlap with Senator Sanders's platform, but it's for our campaign to earn those votes. It's not going to be automatic. We need to make the case.

BLITZER: All this started off, as you remember, Congressman, as one of the most diverse group of candidates in American history. What does it say about the Democratic Party right now that voters are left with two white male candidates who are 77 and 78 years old?

KHANNA: Well, this was an extraordinary diverse field. Three African- Americans, two Asian Americans, a gay veteran.

[17:35:05]

When I was growing up, I never imagined that kind of diversity but it just shows that it still takes time. We are -- I have no doubt going to have women and people of color as our nominees and future cycles. It's a process and hopefully in future cycles that will happen.

BLITZER: Whoever does get the Democratic nomination, let's say it's Bernie Sanders or Joe Biden, the assumption is that a woman will be the vice presidential running mate, but we shall see that sooner probably rather than later.

Representative Ro Khanna as usual, thanks so much for joining us.

KHANNA: Thanks for always having me on, Wolf.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source