>> she shows she looks presidential when she talks about serious policy. >> president biden to valley forge will deliver a campaign speech laying out his 2024 reelection argument. >> remind americans of what happened. his mission is to say you think it's chaotic now. what if we go back to this guy. >> tension etcscalating. targeting more ships near american troops. >> u.s.ist is now claiming responsibility for a pair of deadly explosions in iraq. >> time is rung out to get a solution along the border. >> dangerous, unlawful behavior. >> good morning, everyone. it's the top of the hour. i'm phil mattingly. >> poppy harlow is off today. right now the countdown to the iowa caucuses is on. >> and donald trump is get ting

ready to make his big return to the state with two rattle i wills as he seeks a dominant victory in just ten days. his top rivals are escalating their attacks on the former president as they struggle to chip away at his massive lead. desantis and haley both made the case to iowa voters that republicans will lose in november if trump is the nominee. >> the kras want trump to be the candidate. they are going to talk about all the legal stuff. january 6th, that will be what the election will be out. >> chaos follows him. and we can't have a country in disarray and a world on fire and go through four more years of chaos. we won't survive it. and you don't defeat democrat chaos with republican chaos. >> jeff zeleny is in des moines with the highlights. as we said, the countdown is now. how are they going to change the dynamics of this race? >> reporter: good morning. you can just hear those arguments there really making

strong warnings to republicans about the idea of reelecting or renominating donald trump. ron desantiss was talking about the failed agenda of the trump administration. nikki haley was talking about the chaos that a trump presidency is would bring. they were not going after one another as they have been and their attack ads have been, but they are making an argument for a new generation of leaders in a party that is still led by donald trump. >> it is time to move past president trump and time to start focusing on how to strengthen america. >> you don't want it to be a referendum on trump in the past. you want it a referendum on biden's failures. >> reporter: sharpening arguments. ten days until iowa voters representer the first judgments of the republican presidential race. in back to back town halls last night, desantis raise ing questions about trump's eligibilitiablety and the legal

challenges against the former president. >> whatever maybe beneficial in the primary isn't in the general election. a 2024 election where the democrats get to run against the candidate that is going through all this stuff, that's going to give the democrats an advantage. >> hah lee arguing she's the most electable of all. >> americans don't want another nail biter of an election. that's what we'll get. >> reporter: even as she sought to put to rest a controversy that's been following her over fail ining to say that slavery sparked the civil war. >> i had black friends growing up p it's a very talked about thing. we have a big history in south carolina. i shouldn't have done that. i should have said slavery. >> in the aftermath of a deadly

shooting in iowa, 30 miles away from the site of the town hall, desantis and haley both said new gun laws weren't the answer. >> instead of living in fear, let's do something about it. we have to deal with the kcance that is mental health. we have to. >> delasantis said he supports florida proposal to eliminate a three-day waiting period to buy a firearm. a law passed following a 2018 shooting that killed 17 people. >> you shouldn't have to be on a waiting period. instant checks will do the job. >> from immigration to the economy to foreign policy, the republican rivals presented their own views rarely criticizing one another to the degree they have on the campaign trail. >> biden's weakness invited a lot of the problems that we're seeing around the world. when i'm president, it's going to be totally different. we're going to lay down very clear markers and people are going to know don't mess with the usa. >> haley drew gentle booses from the audience at grand view university in des moines.

>> oh, my gosh. >> over a statement she made earlier this week in new hampshire. >> you know iowa starts it. you know you correct it. >> reporter: with a smile, she down played that comment. >> new hampshire makes fun of iowa. iowa makes fun of south carolina, it's what we do. the problem in politics now is it's just too serious and too dramatic. >> they are locked in a bitter fight to emerge as the leading alternative to trump. their collision course has left trump in a front runner's lane of his own as he heads back to iowa today. he's eyeing more than a victory in the caucuses. he's looking for a decisive one. trump's advisers tell cnn complacency is among supporters poses a bigger challenge than any rivals. >> we have to be sure that we put this thing away. the poll numbers are scary because we're leading by so much. the key is you have to get out and vote. >> so for all the criticism of

donald trump, one thing not mentioned was the january 6th insurrection with the exception of one voter asking about patriotism. but ron desantis did make an interesting point. he said all of the legal challenges facing the former president may rattle lu his base for the primary, but will be a negative in the general election campaign. now all of that is coming into clear view as donald trump comes back to iowa and president biden on the campaign trail as well talking about that very thing. january 6th, the anniversary of that is tomorrow. so with ten days until the voting begins here, you get the sense that time is running a bit short. there are also many open minds. that's what haley and desantis were trying to do to try to close some of them. >> the sprint is on. jeff zeleny, thank you. next wednesday jake tapper and dana bash moderate the presidential debate live from iowa. you have to tune in for that.

president biden will travel to valley forge, pennsylvania, to deliver a major campaign speech revolving around to tomorrow's third anniversary of the capitol insurrection. it comes as he prepares for a possible rematch in november with trump. biden is using the revolutionary war landmark to send the message that the former president is a danger to democracy. priscilla alvarez is a at the white house. good morning. you want to start with this moment for the biden campaign as he tries to use this anniversary to kick off his case for second is term. >> reporter: he's going to use this moment to set the stakes for the 2024 election. protecting democracy has been the center piece of the president's campaign, he's going to illustrate that in his speech today by the calling back to the january 6th insurrection and also the threat that former president trump poses to democracy. if you recall back in 2020, the president also did this in his bid for the white house. calling for the battle of the

soul of the nation in his reelection video last year when he announced he would run again in 2024, he start ed that video with images of january 6th, what campaign officials say the threat is so much more urgent. saying in a statement, quote, the president will make the case directly that democracy and fire freedom have fought and died for remains central to the fugt we're in today. as you menaced there, the location of the speech is also important. s it's the historic revolutionary war. that's where george washington commanded his troops. it's also where the president is going to highlight how washington after two terms of his presidency relinquished power. he's drawing the contrast to the former president who wouldn't accept the 2020 results.

and also he'll talk about political violence and the insurrection marking that third anniversary tomorrow. but what is important here is that the president made the decision to jump start his campaign on this issue. it's one that his campaign sees as a potent one and laying the groundwork as they refine their messaging against the president. >> thank you so much. joining us is contributor and staff writer at the new yorker evan osnos. he happened to write a biography of president biden and knows the ins and outs over the last eight to ten years that led him to this moment. that's where you want to start. there's connective tissue from the battle of the soul of the nation and his campaign launch in 2019 to warm springs to gettysburg to philadelphia. you have to take it all the way through. why? >> for joe biden, this is something that began long before january 6th. he had images of the neo-nazis marching in charlottesville when he announced his candidacy in

2019. you see it now tying into a through line that runs right up into this moment. the choice to make the first major speech of 2024 of the election year not about the economy, not about legislation, but abouts democracy is to send a clear message. that's the central arena of the come ing year of this campaign. and i think this is also partly a message it democrats who are worried about his approval ratings who say we the to see a feistier response to a donald trump candidacy steam rolling across the republican field. >> donald trump will actually be in court on january 9th. he's expected to be in d.c. court talking about being immune from prosecution on charges he tried to overturn the 2020 election. so how big a role do you think these court cases could play in this race? is that something that biden is going to address head on? >> biden has been careful to keep some bright lines around

what he's doing as a candidate, when he talks about the threat to democracy as a fundamental issue is one of his advisers put it. but at the same time, not saying he's getting involved in legal issues. we know this is something americans are concerned about. he's concerned about perception he would be interfering. it is a strutting juggling act. what is clear after months of democrats say whag is this campaign going to hinge on, there's no question this is about when they call inside the campaign the freedom agenda. the idea that there's a fundamental assault on american freedoms and that there's a candidate, a republican likeliment nominee who is leading that charge. >> a at the psalm time that he's going to give these remarks tomorrow, it marks the third year since the january 6th attacks. his campaign lost a half a million ad buy in seven battleground states. take a listen to some of it. >> there's something dangerous

happening in america. there's an extremist movement that does not share the believes of our kralgs. all of us are being asked right now, what will we to to maintain our democracy? history is watching. the world is watching. most important, our children and grandchildren will hold us responsible. >> i think what i come back to is you talked to democrat who is have a million ideas of what biden and his team should be talking about right now. and often times it's not democracy. it's about economic issues, what you're doing to stem inflation, and biden always comes back here and i wonder if that's because hes thinks they were wrong the first 15 times or there's something else he's seeing. >> there's an element here that the biden campaign believed in 2020 and then they believed again in 2022 in the midterm elections that it was not going to colt down to questions of the economy. yes, people are concerned about

inflation and remain concerned even ass it'sment come down. they believe that in the end, in the final analysis, americans will see the prospect of a return of donald trump, a return to that america, the one that is pictured in that ad. in front of the capitol, that that is the thing that will make people say i do not want to go back to that. it's a subtle acknowledgment that we know, yes, americans have their dissatisfactions with joe biden, but what this ad and campaign is going to make the case is this is not just a referendum on joe biden. their view is this is a choice between him and donald trump. >> thank you so much. isis claimed responsibility for wednesday's deadedly explosions in iran. we'll discuss how that attack and others in recent weeks are feeding into fears of war across the middle east. and former defense secretary join us live, next. we're getting new details about the 17-year-old boy who killed a 6th grader and wounded

5 other people in perry, iowa. >> i thought she was like exaggerating. you guys just heard something. then, nope, that's what she heard. it could have been her.

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new this morning, a global shipping giant says it will divert all its vessels from the red sea due to elevated security risks. those sships will sail around t tip of africa. militants a attacked several vessels in the red sea including a ship on saturday. secretary of state antony blinken is head ining to the mie east aiming to ease rising tensions on several fronts in the region. in the past five days alone, the u.s. targeted a commander in baghdad. isis claimed responsibility for the attack. israel is suspected of carrying out a strike that killed a seen yar hamas leader. and helicopters sank three houthi boats after coming under fire tensions are rising.

the regional players have stayed a away from open warfare. but as one middle east expert tells "the washington post," they are playing a very dangerous game. it's chick. any million miscommunication, any accidental strike could trigger a major escalation. joining us now to discuss is former defense secretary mark esper. i appreciate your time. those warnings have existed since the conflict began. but it feels more acute and dangerous now than ever before. is that fair? >> i think it is. it's stepped up a notch, as you outlined. some of the events related, some not related. the attack by isis in iran, but nonetheless, it heightens the tension in the region and makes the game more complicated and more dangerous. >> we have been talking about the red sea a lot. there's a major economic impact. there's obviously a major regional impact to that. there are a lot of people outside the biden administration

and you're one of them that have been urging them to do more. to directly strike the houthis in yemen. why don't they? >> first of all, the importance of the red sea, it's 12% of commercial trade. so anything passing through that waterway is going to see increased prices and delays. has an economic impact as well. your question, i don't know exactly why. i think they are concerned about escalation, which i think is a false concern, but we have seen that same mind set in the ukraine conflict. and is secondly, i think they are concerned somehow if we strike back and take actions against the houthis in yemen, it will upset the truce between the saudis. the biden administration ses that as a foreign policy accomplish the. i don't see that connection. i see continuing attacks by the houthis regardless of what we say. so we have been three months now the houthis have launched over 100 missiles and cruise

missiles. we continue to warn and threaten just as recently as wednesday. the white house set out a stern warning and on thursday, the houthis launched a remote control boat armed with explosives into the commercial shipping lane. it's not working. at some point, something is going to happen. it's going to escalate things. my view is we should be attacking the ground targets in yemen before something really big happens. >> given the amount of issues that this administration needs to work with saudi on in this moment, needs their help and assistance. how much influence do they have after a lengthy cease-fire play a role in this? >> they probably don't want to get into a conflict with the houthis right now. but again, i don't see the relationship between the united states responding to a attack

against vessels and arguably against u.s. naef ships in the south of yemen as impacting that truce. yemen, the houthis have said they are going to continue to do what they are doing as long as israel continues to go into gaza. how long are we going to wait? how many attacks are we going to suffer and how much shipping is impacted? i think if you take out the launchers, if you take out the launch pads, you have an impact. you can impose some cost on that. maybe they will think twice about the launching more rockets and cruise muscles at commercial ships. >> we have a lo lot of discussions when it comes to this topic about propor proportionality. whether something is reciprocal. my question has always been, how do you know what that line is? what happens if somebody makes a mistake? you were inside the pentagon, you were in these discussions in the situation room with national security officials. is there a chart?

how to you know where the red line is? this won't cause a reaction and escalation. >> there's no formula. it's composed of a number of factors. your own capables, what the damage assessment may or may not be. what the odds are of escalation and the odds you'll restore deterrence. there are a number of factors that play in here. if you look around multiple conflicts, you see a hesitancy by the biden administration to do things that might otherwise reduce escalation, whether it's here in this conflict and not just with regard to the houthis, but let's talk about iraq, syria, southern lebanon, other places where particularly iraq and syria where forces have been attacked. and we have only responded six or seven. the same is true in ukraine with us restraining the ukrainians or not provide ing the weapons the need when they wanted it to go after russia. i can't explain that mind set.

>> i do think that the drone strike in baghdad going after a specific leader was a level we hadn't seen this administration go before. i do want to ask you, a new report from democrats in the house said 24 governments paid $7.8 million to trump entities. it's one of the things everybody was trying to figure out during his presidency is, the influence and people staying hotels or businesses. does that concern you given the influence operations that countries run? >> first of all, back to the other comment you made, i do agree i think the biden administration's attack on the militia leader in baghdad was significant. i think it was good. i was surprised they did it within baghdad. there are a number of factors at play that we were always concerned about getting forces kicked out of iraq. there's a few reasons why we need to be there. but on the second thing, i'm seeing stories popped up. you always the to be concerned about foreign influence. i know china was cited. but arguably, trump took pretty

tough actions against the chinese when it came to laying tariffs. these should be looked into. so that would be my take on it based on what i have read so far. >> it's an important point about a the forces there we should definitely talk about in the future. appreciate your time. thank you. >> thank you. a new badge of documents connected to jeffrey epstein have just been released. what we're learning about a alleged efforts by bill clinton to bury stories about the late sex offender. and a fire is ripping through a building in new jersey. the fire start ed just before 5:45 this morning. no word yet on what caused the fire or if there are any injuries. we'll keep you posted ththrought the mornining. we'll l be right b back.

new information about thursday's deadly shooting at a high school in iowa. a sixth grader was killed. among the wounded, four other students and the principal. several news outlets posted from inside the bathroom captioned "now we wait." the 17-year-old shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. vestronica is live for us in io. i want to start with what you're learning about the shooter's social media post. >> reporter: this is a part of the investigation certainly authorities are trying to figure out what the motive is.

they are looking at social media posts posted by the gunman before the shooting. we're also learning from the ap that tiktok video is part of this investigation. and also new this morning, two students revealing to abc news that bullying may have played a a factor in this shooting. they say that the 1-year-old gunman may have been bullied since he was in elementary school. take a listen. >> he got tired of the bullying. he got tired of the harassment. >> we tried to be there when he need ed us. we weren't there for him. >> reporter: the shooting happened just before the school on the first day back from winter break. it happened as students were gatherered for a breakfast club before school began. the first officer arrived within seven minutes of the first call ask saw people running from campus. students inside the building

speak about the harrowing attack on the vuj. take a listen. >> the cafeteria went sigh leapt. more shots continued. and everything just went into chaos. just saw the principal start running. all my friends, i just got out of there. when ufs on my way to go to school, there were more texts that there were gunshots and everyone was running and crying. >> reporter: outside of the sixth grader that was killed, devastating news, five other people were injured. four students and the principal. all of the injured are expected to survive. >> thank you for bringing us their voices. this morning there are new revelations from the latest batch of unsealed documents connected to jeffrey epstein. according to these documents,

epstein allege d that former president bill clinton pressured van tu fair not to cover the allegations about epstein. one of the unsealed e-mails from 2011 a reporter from the publication mail on sunday he expressed her concerns about sharing the story with the publication writing, considering that b. clinton walked into vanity fair and threatened them not to write the article about his good friend. >> the documents do not actually specify when clinton's interaction with vanity fair took place. vanity fair's editor from the time said in a statement to cnn that the interaction, quote, categorically did not happen. clinton has not been accused of any crimes or wrong doing related to epstein and has denied any criminal activity. the clinton spokesman said they had no new comment about the allegations. thursday's release follows hundreds of pages of documents

unseal ed on wednesday with mor expected in the coming weeks. joining us now is journalist vicky ward. she was one of the first reporters to investigate epstein and spoke with him for many hours. she was contributing editor for 11 years. this did not happen. give us context here. >> sure. i never heard that that happened. what i wonder is if virginia roberts is hearing gossip and getting it slightly wrong because what did happen back in 2002 when i was profiled to write about jeffrey epstein, this is a time when nobody knew who this guy was other than he lived in the most expensive townhouse in manhattan. i learned not of the horrific sex crimes going on that we now

know about increasingly in more detail. i did hear about the story of two sisters, and they were on the record detailing to me at the time the abuse they had suffered at the hands of maxwell and epstein. when jeffrey epstein realized that i was in possession of their allegations, he appeared in the offices of vanity fair. i knew about this because fact checker who was fact check ing y piece at the time sent me an e-mail saying he's standing here in the office. i have said before, the allegations were suddenly cut from thes piece that was ultimately published. i suspect -- i never met

virginia until 2019, long of these papers were filed. i didn't know of her existence. i wish that i had because she was escaping from jeffrey epstein's clutches at the exact time i was trying to deal with him and write this profile. but i suspect that some version of the story i have just told you probably reach ed its way t her and that might be. >> your story is that p steen himself showed up in the office. you have also reported this very closely, so have you noted some factualer roars? >> there's wasn't about me. it describes me on a witness list for virginia. they say that we had knowledge of the sex trafficking by maxwell and epstein, i didn't know anything. i wish i had known more about the farmers. but there it is.

>> these types of things are released, does it fill in gaps for you from your reporting or questions you just simply can't get answers to and has there been anything that says, okay, that explains that. >> so what's really horrific and sickening to read that i missed back in 2002, what was going on in realtime the depravity, and we learned they tribed it as a pyramid scheme of young women recruit ing their friends in dozens. i think he said there were more than 30 into that house in palm beach. that was going on in realtime as i was dealing with jeffrey epstein. that is really a very frustrating and horrible thing

to feel as the journalist who was assigned to him at the time. i was also assigned to look at how this man got his money and why all these powerful bold-faced names that we're reading about now were drawn to him. i think that these papers don't really explain that. virginia roberts does allege that she was sent out to sleep with prince andrew and she names other men, but the other women really took the depositions on the whole talk about the fact that they were all bringing each other to sleep with jeffrey epstein, which still leaves this question. why were all these scientists, why were later on names we know, bill gates, why were these

academics, what did jeffrey epstein have that attracted them all to him? we still don't really understand the answer to that question. >> it underscores why people are so fascinated by the story. that is exactly right. thank you. appreciate it. now in her first interview with international media since being released from hamas captivity, asher is opening up to cnn about her and herer youn daughter's's journey h home aft being heheld hostagege for 50 d.

a 38-year-old abducted by hamas on october 7th has died. that's according to the hostages forum in israel. he was a dedicated family man and father, who were his entire world. his grandmother, who was seen being driven on a golf cart, was among the first group of hostages released in november. >> we're getting new insight on what life was like inside hamas captivity. she and her two young daughters were held hostage for 50 days. now she's telling her story for the first time. bianna golodryga has the story. >> i don't have enough tears. >> reporter: nearly six weeks

ago, she and her two young daughters returned home after spending roughly 50 days held captive in gaza. >> the first thing that they did was to go outside to fooel the wind on their skin and how good it feels because we were never outside. we didn't see dayday light that entire time. >> perhaps not yet fully able to process what happened, she exudes remarkable resilience. >> translator: why we were hostages, all of my energy was dedicated to the girls, because if i were to get lost in grief, there would be no one to take care of them. so i was acting on auto pilot. i was building walls around me. i'm still on auto pilot. >> reporter: the three were visiting his pore for the weekend where the girls loved to play. that's a 5-year-old in the pink dress on the right and the 3-year-old holds on to her stuffed animal. this was their last photo taken before hamas terrorists rampaged through the can i be bits cbuts

killing 48 residents including their uncle. >> translator: we woke up to the sound of sirens. we were inside the shelter. and then rumors started to come in that terrorists had invaded the kibbutz. >> re >> translator: he tries to speak with them in arabic to i try to save himself. after a few minutes, there was silence. we understood they took him with him. >> reporter: another group of terrorists would arrive. this time taking all four women with them to gaza. only three would survive. >> translator: they have led us to the fence. then they put us on a tractor with israeli hostages. on the way there, there was shooting going on. that's how my mother was mu

murdered. i was hurt in the back. my youngest was hurt in the leg. >> once you got into gaza, what happened? >> translator: we got into our hiding place, an apartment that belonged to a family. we were inside the room without the ability to get out. closed door, closed window, and after 16 days, they relocated us to another place. a so-called hospital. >> did anyone tell you what was going on, why you were there? were they members of hamas? >> translator: they didn't give us a lot of information. they mainly tried to say that hamas wants to release, but in israel, no one cares about us, which wasn't true. we didn't believe most of the stuff they were saying. >> what was going through your mind when you were there kidnapped, not knowing what would happen to you and your two babies there with you. >> translator: the stuff they have seen on october 7th, i

couldn't hide from them. it's like we were in a war movie. but after that, it was very important to me they wouldn't feel danger. i told them there are no terrorists anymore. we are with good people who are guarding us until we can return home. >> were they good to you? >> translator: they didn't physically harm me, but there was a lot of psychological warfare. >> like what? >> translator: that we won't return to live in the kibbutz because it's not our how house. it's not the place we belong. >> did you know if they were hamas or just citizens in gaza? >> translator: they didn't give me a lot of information about them. i don't even know their names. i guess the father is with hamas, but they didn't give me much information. he worked at israel in the past and that's how we mun communicated. >> why do you think they moved you after 16 days?

>> translator: i think they tried to gather hostages together because the day we arrived, other hostages arrived there as well that was the first time i met other hostages. >> why do you keep saying so-called hospital? >> translator: a hospital needs to treat sick people. it doesn't hold hostages there were a few times when the girls had high and they were sick. i needed to get them medication, so they brought someone who they said was a doctor. and the next day i got medication from him for the girls, but it wasn't enough. i used to put her in the sink with cold water to bring down her temperature. she was screaming. the girl had high fever, but i had to take care of her somehow. >> could you hear the bombing? did you know what was going on? were you worried that you and your girls would have been in

danger? >> translator: i herd the fighting, and yes, we were scared. the noises were very loud, but at least that's how we knew that something was going on in order to get us backment home, to put the pressure on hamas to release us. >> what did you fear the most when you were there? >> translator: surprisingly, it was the day that we were released. they were smuggling us out of the hospital, and they got us on hamas vehicle to get to a meeting point with the red cross. we waited a long time for the red cross. we were very scared because we didn't knows what was going on. no one gave us any information. once the red cross vehicles arrived, thousands of gazans, children, elderly, everyone came in and started to climb on the cars and bang on the cars. i was holding my girls and i was scared of a lynch mob. this was the first time that she said to me, mommy, i'm scared.

they absolutely put on a show to dress me up in nice clothes and shoes before i was released. we were barefoot for 50 days and we were cold because we were wearing short sleeves in november. it's one big show. >> today the girls are back in kindergarten and with family therapy for the most part are readjusting well. >> translator: there was one day that they saw a tractor here. they asked if the evil men are here. i had to tell them, no, the tractor doesn't belove to the evil men. the evil men are in jail. >> the healing can't really begin until all of the remaining 1 129 hostages are released. >> translator: yes, absolutely. the world has to understand the reality that the hostages are in. they are not being treated as human beings. they don't give them medication. there's bare ly any food. taking a shower is not something that's happening. we came back sick because of the poor hygiene.

i don't want to think about how they are treating men there. >> we should note that today the younger of the two daughters turns 3 years old. the family plans to hold a small party at home and perhaps a larger one for her at kindergarten. >> very important piece. thanks for that reporting. now ron desantis took on donald trump last night in cnn's taown hall. we'll talk to a surrogate about his iowa strategy. >> donald trump is not willing to show up on the debate stage. does he come to communities and answer questions. has he gone to all 99 counties? that's not the way to do it.

♪ i think a 2024 election where the democrats get to run against a candidate that is going through all this stuff, that is going girlfriend the democrats an advantage. you don't want it to be a referendum on trump in the past. you want it to be a referendum on biden's failures, our positive vision for this

country. donald trump is running for his issues. nikki haley is running for her donors' issues. i am running for your issues. i am running for your family's issues and running to turn this country around. [ applause ] >> that was florida governor ron desantis ramping up attacks on former president trump. the cnn town hall last night in iowa less than two weeks before the caucuses. joining me is a evangelical leader in the state, endorsed ron desantis. a huge get at the time for the desantis campaign. the governor of iowa has endorsed governor desantis. appreciate your time. based to on what we saw last night, you said you don't believe the polls that show that desantis is 30 or 40 points down. it doesn't correspond with what you are hearing on the ground. what have you heard about last night's performance? >> he keeps getting better and better. as a matter of fact, i think he knocked it out of the park last night. i thought kaitlan collins of cnn did a great job with her

questioning as well as the audience members. caucus members, a lot undecided yet. a lot of undecided caucus voters. i thought governor desantis was clear in his message. he is exceptionally prepared to be president and his campaign i think is going to do very well monday, january 15. >> you told erin burnett last night if his organization turns out on caucus night he may shock the nation. we heard a lot about his organization, effort they put in on the ground, the super pac that supports him, but the if the front of that statement ways intrigued by. why are you not certain the organization will turn out? >> you always don't know until you get to that night, january 15. you build a great organization. they have done everything they can. as a matter of fact, phil, i thought the cruz organization in 2016 was the best i have ever seen in the iowa caucuses. i am looking at the desantis organization. i think that's light years ahead where cruz was at in 2016.

if governor desantis, which is doing now, closing the sale of iowa and his organization produces, i think again he could shock the country on january 15. >> that's a big comparison with a cruz operation, i think widely considered one of the best in the state maybe ever. >> it was. it was the best i ever seen. >> you endorsed ted cruz. you have a pretty great record of endorsing folks who end up winning the caucus. are you concerned your kind of oracle of iowa run is going to come to an end? >> well, first of all, it's not about me. i think that's what governor desantis told the people last night. it's not about him either. it's about the people of iowa. it's about the people of this country. i think we need the next generation leader. i tell people i am a friend of donald trump. this is not against donald trump. but this is for the future of our country and i think we need a leader who can lead on day one and lead for two terms. i think america will be exceptionally blessed if we

chose governor desantis for that purpose. >> you made the point, this is an expectations game kind of moment where everybody is talking about where does somebody need to finish in iowa, where does nikki haley need to be. you said he needs to be first or a close second, somewhere, i think you said, ten points. if he is outside of that, is his race over? >> well, i don't think so anymore because now trump is supposed to get 50 to 55%. there is nothing in my dna that believes trump is going to get 50 to 55% on caucus night. they are saying desantis may get 16 to 18. i think he will out perform those numbers. now governor sununu is saying that nikki haley is going to take second in the state of iowa and there is no way i believe she will take second. i think one candidate will out perform his numbers on caucus night and i believe that will give momentum to new hampshire, south carolina and the other states. >> to step back before i let you

go, evangelicals have taken eat. some of the members of their church, their faith. what is the response since you decided to endorse ron desantis? >> well, there is no doubt. i mean, the former president, he is a new york street fighter. he knows how to play this game. but i take it as that. so i don't take the attacks personal at all. and that's why i'm saying being a friend of donald trump isn't always telling him what he wants to hear. i think right now it would be best if the country turned the page, our party turned the page. nominate a person that can debate about this country's future. we don't want this election to be about the past. we want it to be about the future. >> would you vote for him if he is the nominee? >> well, you know, it always

comes down to choices. right now the focus is the iowa caucuses and this primary. the general election is a ways off. when that comes to the point, we get to discuss that issue as well. i think everybody sees there is a big difference between the biden administration and the trump administration. this country is much better off in the previous administration. >> a huge ten days in the state of iowa for the desantis campaign as well. bob, thank you very much. >> thank you, phil. this just in to cnn. former capitol police officer harry dunn on duty during the january 6th attack and later testified before the house january 6th committee is running for congress. dunn says former president trump's role in the capitol attack partly inspired him to run. he told cnn, quote, i want to do everything in my power that i can do to fight back against him. as a congressman, that gifts me a seat at the table now to hold him accountable. dunn joins a crowded sfeeltd of democrats vying for an open seat in maryland's thir