welcome back to "face the nation." we go now to the republican governor of the state of arkansas, sarah huckabee sanders. good morning, governor. >> good morning, margaret. it's great to be with you. >> it's good to talk to you. you are one of the youngest, if not the youngest governors in the state, the first female governor of arkansas. i want to ask you about a number of things, including the current arkansas law.

we've been tog a lot about reproductive health. the law bans abortions except to save the mother's life in a medical emergency. no exceptions for rape or incest. your attorney general has twice recently rejected ballot measures that would repeal the ban and give a limited right to abortion up until 18 weeks of conception. as governor, are you open to any ballot initiative? >> look, i'm proud of the fact that arkansas is one of the most pro life states in the country. i'm unon getically pro life. i believe we are a culture that protects life, values life. i think that's who we are as a country and i'll continue to support those measures. >> but i know those are your personal convictions. would you seek the opinion of your constituents on this? some of the attorney general's objection, one of the things he objected to was replacing the word conception with fertilization and another one it

was narrowing a medical emergency to threat to physical health and defining it just as that. they seem to be tweaks. on the premise would you be open to seeking the opinion of your constituents in a ballot initiative? >> arkansas is overwhelmingly pro life state. i'm proud of that fact. i'm proud of where we are and will continue to push for things that i think protect all innocent human lives. it's why we haven't just focused on pro life legislation, but we've also done things in the foster and adoption care space. it's why i've spent so much time focusing on education and empowering every single ar can san to have a great quality of life. we are looking at every aspect making sure we can do what we can to protect and value life at every stage here in the state of a arkansas. >> sounds like you wouldn't want to put it on a ballot? >> i'm not going to put a

blanket on anything that could come forward, but as it stands right now, i haven't seen anything i would be supportive of. >> your state, you're talking about the sanctity of life. your state had one of the highest maternal mortality rates according to the cdc up until about 2021. arkansas is one of the few states that hasn't extended postpartum care for mothers. why don't you want those moms to get care for a full 12 months as is being offered instead of just 60 days? >> well, i'm going to have to disagree with the premise of your question saying i don't want that. i want us to do everything that we can to help during pregnancy and well after a child is born, which is why we have done things like focus on the foster and adoption care. we've put significant funding into our pregnancy crisis centers. we're focusing on things that help our mothers including bring your kids to work at state

government. we've expanded maternity leave for state employees. we included that in our education package. we have taken a number of steps that are very positive in this front, and we're going to continue to do that as long as i'm governor. >> the states of mississippi, wyoming, montana, south dakota did extend for 12 months rather than 60 days. i'm wondering specifically on that option why you opted out? >> we're going to continue to look at options that we feel like best help people here in the state of arkansas. we've done that in a number of ways and we're going to continue to do that over the course of hopefully the next seven years while i'm governor of arkansas. >> so i want to ask you as well, what is happening with the kids in your state? i was interested to see that you are not among the 15 republican governors who rejected a new federal program to give food assistance to 8 million children during the summer months. you opted into that.

a number of republican governors -- >> i did. >> say on premise this violates conservative principles. why are they wrong and you okay with this federal program? >> i want to focus on why i think it helps our state. arkansas in the past has ranked at the bottom when it comes to food insecurity for children. i don't think any child should go hungry. if we have options available to us to help us improve that's that what we're going to do. that's why we opted into this program. we'll continue to look for ways to help and protect kids in our state and i was proud to be part of that program and will continue to look for options to help move arkansas out of the bottom when it comes to food insecurity and into the top. >> you are, as we said at the get-go there, the youngest governor in the country, and i wonder, when you look at your party right now, what does it say about the party and about

our politics that not only is the president of the united states at such an advanced stage, but the republican frontrunner, donald trump, 77 years old here, are these much older individuals really the new generation that you've been calling for? >> i think this election right now is very simple. it's a very clear contrast. you have two individual who is have a four-year record to run on. one has a record of success, coming from a posture and a position of strength in donald trump, and one who comes from a position of weakness. every single thing that voters actually care about, every single thing that drive voters to show up and cast their ballot, donald trump is winning on, whether it's the economy, whether it's securing the border or national security, whether it's taking a hardline against china, every single one of those major issues that really drive voters, donald trump is dominating joe biden on.

they both have clear records in which to run from, and i have no doubt that match up in november will declare donald trump a clear victor because of that contrast. >> he's only four years younger than the president whose age you've criticized. your predecessor asa hutchinson ended his presidential bid and endorsed nikki haley and said anyone who believes donald trump will unite this country has been asleep over the last eight years. trump intentionally tries to divide america. do you honestly, governor sanders, i'm used to calling you sarah from the front row of the white house there, do you honestly believe trump is going to unite the country this time when in the first term you were part of, the country was very divided? >> you know, one of the things that i think is so often left out of donald trump's story is, the patriotism and the love of country that he brought back. we haven't seen that in --

>> what do you mean by that? >> we've seen the total opposite. we see people who believe in america again, who see the strength of our country. we brought back american manufacturing. we secured our border. we had a strong economy. our enemies abroad actually feared us and our allies respected us. instead of the people now across the other side of the world, are laughing at us and taking advantage of the weakness of this president. donald trump, you know, you joked a minute ago and called me sarah instead of governor, your colleagues called me a lot of other things. i'll take sarah all day over some of the things that media and the left called me, but when those things were happening, the person who was defending me, empowering me to do my job was donald trump. >> well -- >> i know he can deliver again because he's done it before. >> governor, i think we've always had a respectful exchange, you and i, so i don't think we're part of the media group you're talking about. >> i didn't say you.

>> right. >> but on the substance of the question, in terms of uniting the country, some of the policy things you rattled off as you know, immigration has been brown for decades, and those border problems were under president trump. the middle east policies he had didn't solve issues. i mean, in fact, we are seeing the conflict in israel really flare up in a way he didn't broker the peace deal he promised. he didn't get russia out of ukraine. he didn't improve relations with china. so how can you point to that as a high point without recognizing that even he says the work was not finished? >> well, that's why we need him to come back for four years. he didn't get to finish. he made significant progress. our border was far more secure under president trump than under president biden. i had the chance to go to the border myself and while i was there, met with those who are

standing on the front lines, including members of the arkansas national guard that we deployed because the federal government is not doing their job, states are having to step up and in meeting with those individuals they told us more people had come across in just that month, just that month, on the terrorist watch list than in the entire four years of donald trump's presidency. donald trump was actually taking steps to secure our border to strengthen our country. it's hard to argue that having a good economy, having safe and secure borders, taking a hardline against china, those are empowering and unifying things for a country and only -- >> would you be his vp if asked -- >> hold on. only one in the race has delivered on those things it's to donald trump not joe biden. >> you would be open to being his vice president? >> i love the job i have. i think it's one of the best jobs i could ask for, and i am

honored to serve as governor and i hope i get to do it for the next seven years. >> next seven years. all right. that sounds like two terms maybe a no. governor sanders, thank you. we'll be right back. your anh more than names and dates. (♪♪) c'mon! it's the story of your family - then and now. a story that made your name mean something. a story you're still writing. so discover your heritage. preserve your traditions. represent all that makes you, you. (♪♪) i have moderate to severe crohn's disease. now, there's skyrizi. ♪ things are looking up, i've got symptom relief. ♪ ♪ control of my crohn's means everything to me. ♪ ♪ control is everything to me. ♪ feel significant symptom relief at 4 weeks with skyrizi,

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we turn to our panel, political correspondent kaitlin hughey burns is up in manchester, new hampshire, and sh chief election correspondent robert costa is in studio. let's start with you, as we spoke earlier to nikki haley, the former governor, finished third in iowa and she was 30 percentage points behind there. she's behind trump in new hampshire. what are the voters telling you? yeah. new hampshire has always been kind of the hope for losers in iowa because the electorate here is very different. 40% or so are registered as undeclared or independent, so that provides some favorable

terrain. i will say republican sources i've been talking to on the ground still acknowledge that this is going to be an uphill climb for haley. yes, she's able to compete with independent voters with this message of trying to turn the page from biden and trump, but it's still a tall order because trump has such a hold on the republican base of support here. so she will have to over perform with independent voters and that also is no sure bet because if you remember in 2016 donald trump won with independent voters. it's a nuanced group and she has to get every last one to show up in a republican primary. >> in his many criticisms, donald trump has said that nikki haley supporters are democrats. what's the reality of the crossover vote? >> yeah. to be clear, democrats cannot vote in the republican primary here. they will -- they would have had to switch their party registration back in october, that was the deadline. we did see about 4,000 democrats

according to the secretary of state, did switch their party registration to republican or undeclared, but that's still about a half percentage point of the general electorate here. i will say talking to supporters of nikki haley, i've talked to a lot of them who are undeclared or independent voters, and overwhelmingly they have told me that they believe that they see their vote as a vote against trump, not necessarily a vote for haley. so the enthusiasm question are enough going to show up in a republican primary? >> and you'll be bringing us the results. kaitlin, thanks for that. bob, you're here in studio, as we talk about being able to motivate and coalesce around a candidate, as i asked governor haley, it looks like the establishment is lining up behind donald trump. 26 senators all of the house republican leadership. why? >> to build off kaitlin's

excellent reporting, to go back to that question you asked ambassador haley, where is the republican establishment. the republican establishment, my sources on capitol hill in the house and senate, say privately and sometimes even publicly they no longer run the republican party. the voters run the republican party. many of those voters are inclined toward former president donald trump. so inside the house you have the speaker behind the former president and in the senate, senate minority leader mitch mcconnell, for example, he has said repeatedly publicly he does not want to get involved in the republican primary race. so many donors who are sources of mine say they're waiting to see if haley can come within single digits of trump in new hampshire and maybe pour millions more into her campaign. they're moving towards at this point acceptance of trump as the nominee. >> mcconnell had a troubled relationship with the former president when he was in office. what about governor ron desantis of florida? can he last? we're talking about this as a

haley-trump matchup. where is desantis? >> many republicans are watching how he's changing his schedule by the hour trying to focus on south carolina but our reporting shows there is a debate among his allies whether he has a path ahead and should stay in the race? >> what will decide that? >> it's going to come down to his conversations with his wife and his inner circle and also going to come down to money. is there enough money to fund him going into super tuesday? >> we've been talking to governor whitmer about her very key state of michigan. what are you hearing from your sources about the level of concern among democrats about whether they can keep it in 2024? >> democrats and republicans, everybody is watching michigan. it's so important. you were on the ground there talking to whitmer on the front lines for president biden. but also republicans are wondering, can they start to win over suburban voters in michigan on issues like the economy, working voters who may not buy the biden administration's position on industrial policy. this is the swing state.

there is concern that younger voters in michigan especially because of the issue with palestine are getting alarmed about their support for biden. >> we heard some of that as well. we'll be back in a moment.

during our trip to michigan we sat down wauts group that included michigan state students and community activists. four identified as democrats. we talked about a range of topics including the challenges mr. biden faces in a state that supported him in 2020. >> while i'm not at peace with everything he's done he's the safer choice, more stable choice. >> you think donald trump will be the republican nominee? >> i do. >> you did change your mind? >> yes. >> on the president. why? >> i was a sham i don't know for joe biden until october 7th. i feel he's disenfranchised us with his stance on gaza. >> what do you mean? >> he's not listening to us. we're asking for a cease-fire. it's a humanitarian catastrophe in gaza. too many lives are being lost at this time. i was never a single issue

voter. in fact, i used to argue with people not to be single issue voters, but for me, this is a deal breaker. way too many lives have been lost. >> when you say us, you're muslim. that is what you mean? >> yes. >> the muslim community here feels as you to? >> yes. i think the vast majority of muslims, arab americans, even progressives who -- i define myself as a progressive. many people i talk to in my circles are not voting for joe biden. >> kathy, how do you feel about this issue? >> i feel like it's really a difficult issue but i'm glad we have someone like biden with his wisdom and experience trying to decide how to handle this. i believe that he -- i like when he says things like israel has the right to defend itself and to do what it needs to do to protect its citizens from hamas. i think he stresses that

israel's got to be really careful not to commit war crimes. i think he's been clear on that. i just don't know what else he can do. people think he has more power over netanyahu han he does. >> so abortion is legal and protected in the state of michigan, your state voting for that, but do all of you have any vision for what should happen at the national level? if you see donald trump elected, shawn, do you think that there will be federal limits on abortion access? >> no, i don't believe so and the court was clear through their opinion in the dobbs case, allowing states to taylor their own methods for regulating abortion and then in the several concurrences by the jufrzs it wasn't going to be federally regulated. the only way you can do that is if you change the constitution. >> or write a new law?

>> they could write a new law. unless they add it into the -- to an amendment then i can see the court striking it down like the court does with many things in either presidency for trump or biden. i'm not exactly worried about that issue. i would like to see instead what i just said where congress does make an amendment protecting the life of everyone including people in the womb. >> some of the republican candidates have different visions on what you just laid % out there. you are shaking your head. i have to acknowledge, please tell me. how much of reproductive rights are a factor in your presidential campaign vote? >> huge. the president chooses the supreme court justices. i wish i had confidence that you say in our supreme court justices. i think there's probably one of the most important things that president does and that we have had justices put in under president trump that are, you know, really changing precedent

in major ways that i find very disconcerting, and i'm concerned about reproductive freedom in this country. >> and you are as well? >> same. i mean i think it was, you know, looking bigger picture just the last few supreme court nominees, the process was totally up ended and totally disregarded and i think it starts with that and then freedoms were rolled back, such as reproductive freedoms. i'm fortunate we have protected them in the state of michigan. i think just again the american people are for some type of abortion protect, certainly there's a sliding scale, but for the federal government to just disregard that and go the other way, i think is appalling. >> saba, you said reproductive rights are a huge factor for you, but that you probably won't vote for president biden. >> i think it would be hypocritical of me to use

reproductive rights as a way to justify voting for biden when biden is aiding and sending military aid to israel which is air striking gaza and blocking humanitarian aid leading to women who are pregnant getting c-sections without anesthesia, not being able to be provided with prenatal care. >> it's interesting that just to button this up, you are not very excited about the democratic candidate, but the both of you, you are excited, but i saw the both of you jump when we talked about reproductive access. that is something that's going to make you show up to vote, even though you're kind of eh on the candidate. >> yeah. i think so. i mean, i'm certainly frustrated democrat at the moment. i would say. i think joe biden's made a lot of missteps. i think he's not a perfect man. he's not a perfect candidate. nobody is. and i think he's done the best,

but i think it's been alarming to see the things that are gone on, particularly in the supreme court, around things like reproductive rights. it's been alarming and i think it's a huge wake-up call to women, young women. >> we'll be back in a moment. and i'm erica. cody: and we're first generation ranchers from central texas. erica: and because of tiktok, we're able to show people from all over the world where their food and fiber come from. cody: we have dorper sheep and we have beef cattle for the sole purpose of going into the food chain. we use tiktok as a tool to inform people of what we do and why we do it. there's just a plethora of knowledge and of information swapping going on there. tiktok is helping us protect this way of life for future generations. hi, my name is joann, and i lost 75 pounds on golo.

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that's it for us today. before we go, speaker johnson's office tells us he has not called for an absolute ban on abortion but what he has said is that there is no national consensus on the issue. and until there is one, there won't be a bill on the house floor. until next week, for "face the nation," i'm margaret brennan.

>> announcer: this is the "cbs overnight news." hello, everyone. i'm lana zak in new york. thank you for joining us. florida governor ron desantis has suspended his presidential campaign and is lending his support to donald trump. the news comes with new hampshire set to hold its first in the nation primary tomorrow. it's now a two-person race for the gop presidential nomination, trump and