. >> joining me now to share their reporting and their insights is jeff zeleny, david chalian and cnn's phil mattingly. i hit the panel jackpot today. good morning, gentlemen. thank you so much for being here. i should say that jeff and david, you and i were up late last night. i know we're not going to complain about lack of sleep, but it was very interesting to be there and to kind of get a sense of what it was like here in california. i want to start with you, david chalian. can you just give an overall analysis of what we saw and why it matters? >> we saw several people on the debate stage thirsty for attention. that was really clear in how they presented themselves last night. and what we didn't see, again, for the second time in a row now, was a front runner on that stage. so these debates are becoming this exercise where we are now just over 100 days from the iowa caucuses for one of these candidates to start being able to consolidate enough support in the nontrump supportive wing of the party to actually emerge as an alternative to donald trump. and so this is a process. you don

over the place on this issue and haven't figured out how to address voters. >> good thing we have jeff zelenyd to jeff. >> if he really did say that, that's a step away. because i believe that in iowa, we need to have a heartbeat bill too. >> something like that cause you to consider supporting someone else? >> yeah, it will. after i do my research to see if that's true. >> how pervasive is that? >> i think that's a good reminder of my conversation last night. she was at a tim scott town hall and asking hum about abortion. he brought up these donald trump comments. it's a reminder that this still has to seep through the atmosphere. the former president made comments, he's thinking about the general election. this will tell the resilience of voters. he's going to iowa tomorrow to campaign in dubuque. there's no question that the meet the press comments are going to be a part of ads that his rivals are going to do to remind evangelical voters that, wait, he's not supporting the pro life cause right now it's more pervasive than he would like to think. >> we'll see if it has an impact on the race

let me just start with this reporting we just heard from jeff zeleny talking about evangelicals. like the pastor in jeff's piece just said? >> i don't think that it's a foregone conclusion that donald trump is going to win this race. i think that ron desantis needs to finish first or second and be the alternative to donald trump and see what happens down the road to see if the votes solidify in his favor. i also think that nikki haley is moving in the polls. if she's in the top three, i think that her chances are better down the road. i really think once you get rid of some of the candidates who aren't doing well after iowa, new hampshire, then you're going to start to see really how much of a lead donald trump has. >> all right. so, you think it could continue past those two states, which i think is significant in and of itself. trump was asked yesterday on nbc about his conversations with republicans about the biden impeachment inquiry. and i just wanted to play a short part of that exchange for you. here it is. >> did you talk to your republican allies on capitol hill and say,

>> jeff zeleny, thank you so much.re on all this playing out in new hampshire and whether any republican stands a chance there and elsewhere against donald trump. with me now is harry enten, cnn political commentator kristen solstice. harry, desantis ticking down. nicky haley ticking up. what else do you see in the numbers in new hampshire? >> i'm a fan of going on twitter sometimes. and there used to be this meme t of this dumpster fire. to me, that is the ron desantis campaign in the state of new hampshire. the fact is he started off the year with north of 40% of the vote among republicans who might vote in that primary, and he has ticked down continuously. now he's at just 10% of the vote. so, nicky haley going up, ron desantis very much going down at this particular point. >> so, if you are nickki haley, chris christie, now in a tie for second. how do you break out? >> i think an important way to break out is to continue to do well in these debates and cement yourself as the person to go head-to-head with trump. th

jeff zeleny, what is he seeing to make this decision? >> the former president has long had a one eye on the general election to where he is hoping for a rematch with president joe biden next year, but he is keeping an eye on the primary election, and we know that because he is in south carolina this afternoon. of course, south carolina is the three spot on the road to the white house for republicans in terms of the primary schedule next year, and of course, the former south carolina governor nikki haley has been making inroads there in south carolina, and he is holding an event there today, and he has his eyes on the general going to michigan to appear with striking workers. michigan is at the center of the region of the country where any president must win. he won it in 2016 and lost nit 2020, and then in california friday for the california state convention, and skipping debate. the reason that he is skipping the debate is found in the new nbc poll. look at the numbers in terms of the command that the former president has over this. 59

jeff zeleny brings us the latest from iowa. >> reporter: with four months remaining before the republican caucus the field of republican candidates gathered in iowa to campaign over the weekend. they spoke at a dinner saturday night in des moines, reaching out to evangelical voters. of course former president donald trump who's leading the race wasn't on hand. his rivals were. former vice president mike pence tried to take aim at president biden and the impeachment inquiry in the house. >> i don't want to jump to conclusions about this, where there's smoke there's usually fire in washington, d.c. and the american people deserve the facts and i'm going to be out there championing and defending house republicans as they bring the facts to the american people and hold joe biden and his family accountable. >> reporter: the criticism of president biden is one thing candidates could agree there, there were differences on abortions and blocking nominations. south carolina tim scott trying to reach out to these evangelical voters. donald trump is still in command of this contest. the question is,

jeff zeleny, before you were an ace television reporter, you were an ace front reporter at "the new york times." and i mentioned the fact that there was this summit that senator feinstein brokered, which was a big deal back in 2008 after the primary season. you broke that story. i want to read a little bit about what you wrote back then. before senator hillary clinton stepped forward to endorse senator obama, which she is scheduled to do here on saturday, they came together for a private reconciliation on neutral turf, the living room of senator dianne feinstein's home. >> it was extraordinary at the time because it was two days after the final round of primaries ended. just a couple days before then senator clinton would endorse. and with all remember how that campaign was at the end. it was very raw. so without that meeting, you wonder, would that door ever opened and become secretary of state or would he have froezen her out? but that meeting over a glass of water in the senator's living room, she was upstairs in her study. she said she wasn't listening in, but you have to wonder abou

cnn chief national affairs correspondent jeff zeleny is here. what is on trump's agenda and what is moatbly absent? >> pamela, he's keeping one eye on the primary which is why he was in south carolina this afternoon. south carolina goes third in the voting next year, but also nikki haley is from south carolina as is tim scott. he's trying to assert himself in that primary. flying to michigan on wednesday, he's going to appear at the uaw workers strike there. he's also flying to california on friday. that is for the state krafrment convention. he's after the delegates there. they've changed their rules there. the california primary is on super tuesday. that's what he has his eye on there. on sunday he's going to ottumwa, iowa. what's not on the calendar, of course, is the debate. at the reagan library on wednesday all the other republican candidates will be gathered there. he, of course, is making a decision to not campaign. so ignoring his rivals on one hand, but trying to focus on staying ahead of them in these states even as he focuses on pres

jeff zeleny breaks down the numbers for you. >> reporter: as president biden sets off for the g-20 summit, blinking warning signs for his re-election prospects here in the united states. a new cnn poll shows a 39% approval rating for the president. when you look into those numbers, there are dramatic signs of challenges across the board. let's take a look at some of those numbers. on his approval rating, in that number 39% approved, 61% disapprove. largely based on the economy. some 58% of americans believe that biden policies have respect wouldened the economic conditions here in the united states. that certainly is not something that the administration has been hoping for. they believe their policies from the infrastructure bill to lower prescription drugs to the "inflation reduction act" would certainly be a cling card for his re-election. but with inflation still higher than most people would like, this certainly is a challenge fohim. now, one other alarming number 67% of democrats say they would like a different candidate. and of course there are no other major democratic candidates

jeff zeleny, cnn, rye, new hampshire. >>> a u.s. government official says noesk'rth korea's leader c head to russia to cut a weapons deal aimed at bolstering the war effort in ukraine. >> "new york times" says the meeting between kim jung-un and vladimir putin may happen this month. back in july the russian defense minister visited north korea and paraded through its hall of weapons as the cameras rolled as you see. let's go to kristie lu stout in hong kong. these are two countries that probably need each other right now. >> reporter: yeah, for different reasons. this is what we know about this potential meeting. kim jung-un may meet with vladimir putin in russia, that is according to the u.s. national security council, and they are expected to discuss potential arms deals for russia to get more north korea weapons to use against ukraine. the typing of this meeting is unclear, but it was the "new york times" that first reported about this potential meeting saying that kim could travel from pyongyang to meet with putin at a forum set

cnn's jeff zeleny joining us to discuss.oncerned is a word i feel like that word might be a little more extreme, if you will, looking at these numbers. >> good morning, sara. there's usually an adjective in front of concerned when you talk to democrats about how they are feeling about the white house and the state of joe biden's reelection effort. of course, all of this must be put into context. we are more than a year before the general election next year. that's why all of these polls certainly offer us a sense of where things are, but as you said, that abc news "washington post" poll is an outlier. all of the other recent national polls show that this is essentially a dead heat between president biden and former president donald trump should they actually face off next year in a rematch. the one thing that's very clear, the specifics of these polls are not as important as the underlying dynamics here and that is that there are challenges for the white house. that they have not overcome concerns about the economy. they are

. >> more now from cnn's jeff zeleny. >> reporter: the republican candidates tangled furiously during a two hour debate wednesday night here at the reagan library in see me valley, california. time is clearly running out for many of these candidates to break through and emerge as a leading alternative to former president trump. that was clear from florida governor ron desantis who early on in the debate directly confronted the former president. >> you know who else is missing in action? donald trump is missing in action. he should be on this stage tonight. he owes it to you to defend his record where they added 7.8 trillion to the debt, that set the stage for the inflation that we have. >> reporter: short time later former new jersey governor chris christie followed suit. of course he has been building his candidacy off of a critique of the former president. his indictments were not mentioned at all during the debate. but the former new jersey governor said this -- >> donald, i know you're watching. you can't help yourself. i know you're watching. okay? and you are not here tonight. n

first, i want to digest what david showed us with jeff zeleny, kristen holmes and daniel strauss. i'm guessing, as david mentioned, and ooum sure all of you who are excellent reporters have done the same, you have been talking to people inside biden world. and even though i said there's no way to spin this, i will tell you what a source told he. they haven't started advertising in earnest or organizing or spending the must be that they have in a big way. having said that, reality check, jeff zeleny. >> that is true, but the president has the biggest mega phone of anyone. but he is out there every day. so while it's true that there's no question that some of these factors in the economic policies or programs, people don't know what is in all these big pieces of legislation. that maybe true. but the spin that it's impossible to spin is on the president himself. on his age, on what people think and see and feel when they see him. he cannot change. he's 80 years old. he walks slowly. he sometimes speaks with gaffes, as he has done for years. they put some context on it, but people loo

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that's where jeff zeleny is. what are you seeing on the ground in the first in the nation primary state? >> reporter: there's no question the form president has a commanding lead. he's running circles around his opponents. at the same time, there are open minds from republican voters and certainly all important independent voters here in new hampshire, who can vote in the republican primary early next year. many voters we have been speaking with here who are watching the candidates campaign yesterday on labor day and here today, former vice president mike pence will be holding an event right here in just a short time, they have open minds. they are looking for a alternatives. so voters are essentially divided into two camps. you're either with trump or looking for someone else. but new hampshire governor chris sununu had this to say yesterday when we asked him about the state of the race. >> you don't believe this primarily is effectively over? >> god no. not even close. was it over when clinton was leading barac

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even though former president trump leads the race as jeff zeleny shows us, many voters in this criticaleir options. >> to catch up to trump, it is a big climb. >> reporter: bob tilton has a front row seat to the presidential contest. he likes a few options but he loves former president trump. his wife crystal does not. >> i think that he has had his time and there was enough controversy over it, it is time to move on. >> reporter: their disagreement brings to life a monumental divide inside the republican party. >> they were attacking him constantly. how could anybody do a good job? i mean, he did, but he was constantly attacked and it was all fake. >> reporter: here in new hampshire home to the first in the nation primprimary, a summee campaign has given way to a fall fight for survival in a race dominated by signs of trump's strength. chris sununu insists the contest is still competitive. you don't believe it is over? >> not even close. was it over when clinton was leading barack obama by 20 points at this point back in 2008? no one could beat the clinton machine, remember? no, not at

>> jeff zeleny, that is the question, can any of trump's rivals catch him.nk you for joining us this morning. i can't believe the time goes by so fast. the iowa caucuses four months away. the faith and freedom coalition fall blanket is a marquee event for the republican primary. as you saw there, in jeff's report, abortion was a big topic. any big takeaways from this event for you? >> yeah, i think the abortion issue is still making republican candidates nervous. so almost all, as you just saw, were asked about supporting a federal ban. each supported a ban at 15 weeks of pregnancy, if not sooner, but they were split on passing some sort of federal ban. and mike pence gave the clearest only the issue. a lot of others are wishy-washy. desantis was a little bit unclear. haley broke from the group on the topic. it's clear? is a topic they would prefer not to address. the second thing that stood out trump didn't show up. he believes that his support among evangelical voters is firm and all of the other candidates right now are essentially fighting for second pla

our chief national affairs correspondent jeff zeleny is joining us. oes the race stand right now? >> well, look, as you said, the former president holds a commanding lead and he is in command of this race, without question. but this is largely becoming a race for second place, a race to eventually go head to head with him. and we see a lot of national polls of course, but we're starting to get a closer look at these state by state polls, which of course are much more important. so let's take a look at some of those recent ones that just give a snapshot in time of where the race is. in iowa, for example, a poll out yesterday from fox news shows that the former president is at 46%. certainly a head and shoulders away. but look below there. governor ron desantis from florida, he has fallen considerably. nikki haley, the former south carolina governor and u.n. ambassador, she has climbed. so you can see some distinctions there in the race. but then when you look to south carolina, of course that is the third spot in the road to the white house here in the

joining me is chief national affairs correspondent jeff zeleny who is at a nikki haley event in indianolaiowa. what are you hearing, jeff? >> reporter: we are four months from the iowa caucuses that will kick off the 2024 republican nominating contest. and many candidates are in iowa this weekend with the exception of former president donald trump. now there is no doubt he has command of this race. he is leading by major amounts in polls. but when you talk to voters, there is a sense that there are many open minds, many voters, many republican voters are taking a look at this field of candidates. and the former south carolina governor, nikki haley, will be arriving here at a manufacturing facility just south of des moines in a short time. she's been making her way around the state, as has florida governor ron desantis, former vice president mike pence was at a trap shooting event earlier today. it's all going to culminate into an event this evening where christian conservative voters will be gathering in des moines to hear all of the candidates. but as we talk to voters, take a listen to

cnn's jeff zeleny has been talking to voters in new hampshire and is at the center of the universe in this morning. jeff, what have you heard? >> reporter: john, good morning. one of the big questions hanging over this republican presidential race is whether it's becoming more of a coronation for donald trump or a full-blown campaign for the rest of his rivals. talking to many voters here over the last several days certainly offers a more nuanced view of the race. >> catch up to trump, it's a big climb. >> reporter: bob has a front row seat to the republican presidential contest. he likes a few options, but he loves former president donald trump. his wife crystal does not. >> i think he's had his time and there was a lot of controversy over it and it's time to move on. >> reporter: their disagreement brings to life monumental divide inside the republican party. >> they were attacking him constantly. how can anybody do a good job? i mean, he did, but he was constantly attacked and it was all fake. >> reporter: here in new hampshire home to the first in the nation primary, a summertime

i want to bring in jeff zeleny. there are plenty of opinion writers who wrote a column like this.is reverberating around washington, d.c. why? >> this is different in many ways. the biggest reason is that david ignatius has been an admirer of president biden and indeed in fact is an admirer of the president. as you were saying there, his words it is painful to say this, and his column and his argument backed up by the fact that he believes president biden has been a successful president. he believes he has governed well and david ignatius as you know from covering the white house, this is someone who the president respects and speaks to and knows and likes as do many of the president 's advisers. that is why this is different. that is why yes a familiar drumbeat, may sound familiar to our viewers, but it is different in the sense that it is coming in the print edition of the "washington post" which president biden reads every morning. and this is from david i gnatiu basically saying his legacy could be enhanced by not running. but what is not expressed, what is plan "b." democrati

jeff zeleny, thank you very much. let's dive deeper into dibiden' numbers.e white house address the very significant issues facing joe biden that are outlined in this poll? >> wolf, the white house believes that his record is the best offset to public opinion. they point to his record on legislation in the last two years. and on foreign policy that will be center stage at the g20 and that actions speak louder than polls and that messaging needs time to sink in, and it will take several months. but the problem, that concern about age is very real. and it's getting more deeply entrenched in voter's psyches. when you think about the question asked in the poll about whether he's a candidate who has the sharpness and stamina to serve as president effectively, 74% of corresporespondents in t said biden does not, up 20 points since the last election cycle. so that's going in the wrong direction for the administration. and just today, we saw kamala harris on the defensive about the president's mental acuity. >> are you prepared? >> yes, i am, if necessary. but joe b

jeff zeleny is in new hampshire tonight. how many of the republican candidates were there tonight, and what are they saying? >> reporter: john, about half the republican field was in new hampshire today holding a variety of parades and picnics, as you said. so, about four or five candidates. we just finished an event in new hampshire with former vice president mike pence. and he gave a message that certainly many of his rivals could agree with. they hope the campaign is at the starting point, not the ending point, making the case that labor day is the traditional launching pad of a campaign. so, that is very much an open question. yes, of course, the former president has many supporters, as you were just saying, in those national polls. but state by state, the surveys are a little more competitive without question. and the burden is on many of these candidates to make it even more competitive. when you talk to voters, when you talk to republican voters, of course, and here in new hampshire, the all-important independent vote

chief national affairs correspondent, jeff zeleny joins us live on the campaign trail in des moines, not up. this came out in the interview yesterday morning. i wonder how people there in iowa, particularly, are responding to those comments from the president, former president. >> reporter: poppy, those comments certainly will be reverberating. the former president is coming to iowa later this week to dubuque county, heart of the catholic community, and also iowa governor, kim reynolds, has signed an exact same law that florida governor ron desantis did in florida, that six-week bill. that is being held up in a legal challenge here. this is the central issue here. abortion certainly has been something the former president has not wanted to engage in. he believes it's a losing issue in his words for the party, as the midterm elections last year has showed. there's no question that there is a huge debate, a divide inside the republican party on this. that was made clear here over the weekend when his rival candidates expressed their views at a faith and freedom dinner for evangelical v

jeff zeleny on the trail in iowa for us. thanks. great to see you as always. we appreciate it. >>> joining us with more is mark kaputo, reporter for "the messenger" and expert on florida politics. great to see you. thanks for doing this. let's start with florida republicans scrapping this loyalty oath. this is a big win for donald trump months before they even start voting in primaries like florida. >> right. it's just a show of power and a show of force for trump. he didn't want the loyalty oath they instituted in may. he had his allies, a state senator who had run afoul of desantis actually, months, maybe years ago, carry his effort to undo this loyalty oath. desantis' people decided to fight it and keep it. so desantis made it a test of wills, and trump cleaned his clock. and one of the difficulties that desantis is having is notching any wins anywhere. it's not happening in the polls in florida or in early states like iowa or nationally. he's saddled with frequent bad headlines, you know, he had problems with his campaign, had a shakeup, money was tight. a

cnn's jeff zeleny is at the magic wall for us to break down these numbers. ff, what are biden's biggest liabilities according to our new poll, and are they fixable? >> you mentioned that 39% approval rating. when you look inside these numbers, here are some of the reasons why. the economy. how have biden's policies affected u.s. economic conditions, 58% say that they have worsened the conditions. of course this is the president's calling card. the legislation, the laws that he has signed into -- from infrastructure to the "inflation reduction act" to lowering drug prices. clearly those examples have not made their way into the consciousness of the american public. 58% say that his policies have worsened the conditions. when you go a little bit farther, stamina, that is one of the central questions here, does the president have the stamina and sharpness to serve effectively as president? 74% of americans say no. only 26% say yes. go into that a little bit more. you compare this -- democrats and independents and republicans, now versus march, these numbers have

joining us now is cnn national correspondent kristen holmes in south carolina and kayla tausche and jeff zelenyn, first to you. we know trump's skipping a republican debate and spending his time instead in four important primary states and he doesn't think there is much competition for the gop nomination. >> well, jim, part of what we're seeing this week is early voting. the next couple of weeks, as well and these are gearing up this campaign is not just for the general election which is what we've been talk a lot about with this trip to michigan, in south carolina, iowa and new hampshire these are trip's

jeff zeleny is in simi valley, california where republican candidates will take the stage in a few hours. jeff, who made the stage? how critical of a night is this for candidates looking to break through, which is, to be honest, all of them? >> reporter: it is all of them, jake, a critical night for all seven of those candidates, who will be on stage. at center stage once again is florida governor ron desantis. he also will be surrounded this time by former south carolina governor nikki haley, as well as ohio entrepreneur vivek ramaswamy, and the rest of the field goes out from there. yes, this is a scramble for second place, a race to be seen as the trump alternative. there's no doubt, a lot has happened since that last debate in milwaukee at the end of august. certainly, there's a looming government shutdown. there's a massive strike that is potentially creating economic head winds and waves in michigan. abortion policy is also much more front and center than it was, even a month ago, because of donald trump's own comments. those are some of the new issues. but many of these kidds, man

jeff zeleny, margaret talev. and former federal prosecutor elliot williams.ust to get to viewers of what menendez is facing. very, very serious charges, conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit fraud and this indictment, that menendez disclosed nonpublic information to businessmen about u.s. military aid, provide that information to those in the u.s. embassy in cairo. the indictment really goes on that talk about the cash bribes that menendez allegedly had. the mercedes-benz c-class car that kara referenced a few minutes ago, $500,000 seized from his home. and gold bars. eliot, he starts to lay out his defense, take us through what he's going to argue and how hard will that be for prosecutors to pierce? >> i thinks a politician, members of congress and the senate, his argument is going to be that you're criminalizing the work of politicians. you're criminalizing the kinds of communications with constituents, or even possibly foreign governments that may be might be suspect to people, but are still permissible within the bounds of the law. i think hi

. >> cnn's jeff zeleny is in iowa. th evangelical, particularly that very important voting group where you are in iowa? >> reporter: dana, it is a very important voting group. in fact, the rival candidates have been spending the week here wooing those evangelical voters. there was a major event in des moines where more than 1,000 were listening to the evangelicals speak. the former president wasn't there. there is some that would like to see a prag matic approach to this. with abortion being front and center. we did sit down with a pastor in des moines, he has had this discussion with the president before about his views. listen to what he said? >> why would you say something like a heartbeat bill is too strict. why would you say that? that's given me questions, i don't understand it, help me figure it out. his answer to me wasn't the bust to be blunt with you. >> reporter: what was it? >> his answer was we're now in a better position to negotiate a better place. >> reporter: so this is one of the central issues that wi

joining us now is cnn national correspondent kristen holmes in south carolina and kayla tausche and jeff zeleny. kristen, first to you. we know trump's skipping a republican debate and spending his time instead in four important primary states and he doesn't think there is much competition for the gop nomination. >> well, jim, part of what we're seeing this week is early voting. the next couple of weeks, as well and these are gearing up this campaign is not just for the general election which is what we've been talk a lot about with this trip to michigan, in south carolina, iowa and new hampshire these are trips he's doing to shore up the support in the early states and there is a comfortable lead in the nationwide poll, his is very aware of the fact that when cop serve tiffs are polled even if they say that they support donald trump many of them are still interested in alternative options and they're trying to get support and trying to rally up the team here with the people. the other thing i want to point out is michigan, talking about general versus the primary and he is looking towards the

we have jeff zeleny here in studio with us. this push has been building for months.ght this to a head? >> yeah, this actually moved much more quickly today than anyone anticipated. we expected the house speaker kevin mccarthy would announce on thursday that this was supportive of this impeachment inquiry, but then he announced it today around 11:00 a.m. he's arguing that this is going to empower his committee chairman who have been working on these investigations to get more information. he also pointed out a series of what he views as a culture of corruption from the biden white house. but we should note that there is no direct link at this point, nothing that these committees have uncovered to this point that shows a direct link of joe biden benefitting from hunter biden's foreign business dealings. this comes at a critical time for house republicans as they are trying to find a consensus around funding the government. it's also not clear that the announcement today that mccarthy made is going to satisfy those on his right flank who have been threatening to oust hi

jeff zeleny reports from washington. >> reporter: with second republican presidential debate now on theorizon scheduled for next week, candidates are scrambling to try to distinguish themselves from one another. this really has effectively become a race for second place. let's look at a couple new state by state polls that have just been released. in iowa for example, which starts off the nominating process next january, of course donald trump holding a commanding lead in iowa. but look at nikki haley. she has increased her standing there in recent weeks and now this truly is a race for second place as ron desantis from florida has fallen. in south carolina the same thing. former president trump holding a commanding lead in the race. but nikki haley is in second place there, her home state of course. but it is in new hampshire where this race for second place truly is fascinating. of course the former president not quite as strong there, but there is essentially a four-way tie for second place. on thursday in new hampshire nikki haley was asked by a voter to distinguish herself from don

>> with me is chief of international chief of affairs, gel jeff zeleny, and going through the polls, and this is what has the biden administration concerned, and you always out and about with the voters, and talk about this choice of the president. if it is a gop candidate, and take a look at this, because it is not what we are seeing throughout the last couple of months. nikki haley would be the candidate that was most preferred if it was a gop candidate running for president against president biden. that is fascinating by two points, and that is within the margin of error, but what has changed, and this is really reflecting what people are thinking out there on the trail? >> well, sara, the numbers are interesting, and first and foremost, there are alarm bells going on at the white house without a doubt, but it is also no surprise, because we live na divided country, and it is going to be a close connection, but the nikki haley numbers specifically, and she is talking about this and using this at town halls, and i was asked about this in new hampshire, and she is making the argumen

jeff zeleny, cnn, des moines. >> let's discuss this with aaron murphy from the gazette oig. thanks for being with us. i want to talk about the importance of iowa even though new hampshire has the reputation of the launch pad for underdogs. it seems as many of the gop candidates are betting that voters there in iowa are most likely to help them beat trump. is that where it has to happen? >> well, it is certainly where they get an opportunity especially those candidates who maybe started this race not as well-known as candidates like donald trump and ron desantis. iowa gives them an opportunity to come here, campaign relatively cheaply compared to other states. you can get around the state easily, you can get on the tv a little cheaper and you can get in front of voters and maybe in being your name recognition and your visibility to a point where maybe people start to pay more attention to you. and if they start to pay more attention to you near here in iowa, that spreads out as well. >> tim scott seems to do pretty well in iowa polls. vivek ramaswamy has staged over 100 event

i'm going to bring in jeff zeleny. eight years ago cnn was hosting the first republican -- second republican primary debate, i appreciate say, of the 2016 cycle. i was a questioner in that debate. it was a huge stage. so much so that there were two debates. but just in terms of the party, where it was, it was much more in the mold of the man whose library where this is, the reagan library. >> in question. and walking up today and seeing all the reagan history, i'm reminded of that debate when it was still the reagan party. the reagan era was very much intact. it was changing and transitioning and that night made it transition even though with donald trump. but it was clear so many of the candidates were talking about the reagan legacy. so many candidates were talking about reagan. that will not happen as much tonight. mike pence wants to talk about that, nikki haley has been studying foreign policy lines, but it is an entirely differently republican party in our country's history in just eight years. >> what are the su

with me here are two of our terrific colleagues, cnn political director david chalian and cnn's jeff zeleny hi guys. >> hi, diana. >> we are always last in the room because we have so much to talk about. jeff, i love -- we were talking before hand, and we will take you in our conversations off camera. you are sort of -- your analysis of what we saw tonight, what was it? >> look, as the seasons have changed, just a sense of urgency on the debate stage tonight was so different from milwaukee. we are now in the fall and you can just feel the imperative on the minds of each candidate to try and do something, try and make a move in this race. really, person by person by person. in the beginning when florida governor ron desantis, he wasted no time directly confronting donald trump because that is what he needs to do. he said, he is missing in action. then it went on from there. but i just think that the feeling of time could be running out for some of these candidates in a scramble for second place. they want to make their move. >> yes, and i would just note that for each person, and i agree wit

jeff zeleny in new hampshire first. >> when i pick a fight, the people always when. >> nikki haley isreasingly picking that fight in a presidential race, trying to break through a crowded field. >> we need a leader that will stand up to democrats and republicans. republicans talk a big game but they are nearly as reckless as the democrats on spending. >> she's eyeing voters who are seeking anyone but trump, and hoping to add more to their ranks by confronting the former president directly on spending and more. and she unveiled her economic plan in new hampshire, she said trump was no better than democrats in the white house. >> joe biden, donald trump, and barack obama added more to our national debt than the previous 42 presidents combined. >> it is a tenuous tightrope for the former carolina governor, who is trying to distinguish yourself through conservative policy, rather than policing the conduct of the former president. in who's a ministration she served as the ambassador to the united nations. she is proposing to eliminate the federal gas tax, reform social security and medicar

not everyone is convinced in the crucial state of new hampshire where jeff zeleny is "outfront." >> to front row seat to the presidential contest. he likes a few options, but he loves former president donald trump. his wife crystal does not. >> i think he has had his time, and there was enough controversy over it. and it's time to move on. >> reporter: their disagreement brings to life a monumental divide inside the republican party. >> they were attacking him constantly. how can anybody do a good job? i mean, he did. but he was constantly attacked. >> reporter: here in new hampshire, home to the first in the nation primary, a summer time campaign has given way to a fall fight for survival, in a race dominated by signs of trump's strength. chris sununu insists the contest is still competitive. you don't believe this primary is effectively over? >> oh, god no. not even close. was it over when clinton was leading barack obama by 20 points at this point in 2008? no one could beat the clinton machine, remember? no, not at all. >> reporter: sununu believes trump will be unable to win back t

jeff zeleny at that labor day picnic in salem, new hampshire. a hot day and a hot picnic.selves from the pack today? >> reporter: it is a hot racin deed. this presidential campaign of course has been going on for several weeks and months already. but many of the candidates who will be speaking behind me here in just a few moments are trying to make the case to the republican voters here that this race is just getting started. that it is not over. that it is not a fait accompli. i talked to former arkansas governor asa hutchinson and he said we're in the second chapter of this book. he hopes it is a long book and hopes republican voters are keeping an open mind and as we talk to many of them here, in fact many of them are. many of them said they watched the debate a couple of weeks ago and paying some attention to the race but they are going to begin tuning into it a little more carefully. former vice president mike pence was mobbed as he arrived here to this picture -- this picnic in salem. taking pictures with folks, and shaking hands. but will that support translate into

. >> joining us now cnn chief national affairs correspondent jeff zeleny. know, these are tough numbers for biden. by the way, they've been tough for a while on a lot of these issues, but we're getting close to the re-election campaign. i'm wondering in this campaign does the white house have a response or explanation for this? >> jim, they're not surprised by these there are questions that raise new alarm bells, if you will. take a look at this, this is among democrats. never mind the republicans who have issues with the president. among democrats, 67% say they would like a different candidate. 33% say joe biden, but there is no consensus of who that would be, and there is no candidate. so that is what the challenge here is. i mean, clearly, not satisfied with their current choice, but there's, a, no one else running, so the best news probably for president biden is that he's not in the middle of a competitive primary fight. >> so far. >> if he was -- so far. time is running fairly short. the deadline to get on ballots is next month in some states. so for

remember that in a place like new hampshire, and i saw jeff zeleny's set up piece for this.t the end, these folks are looking at this, and there is a big divide between men and women on this issue to. and, i'm seeing a large number, probably two thirds to one third at my town hall meetings, women two men. because i think that the women, in much march or larger numbers, have abandoned him. if you look at that poll that came out in the wall street journal. 62% of independents say they won't vote for him. we'll, if 62% of independents won't vote for, he is not winning the general election. and in the general election polls. >> but it doesn't seem like primary voters care too much about who's going to win the general election. yeah >> yeah, because it's labor day, and they don't have to think about it yet. look, this really will start coming to focus in the next couple of months. and, people are going to start to pay attention. summer vacations are overt, kids are back to school. all right, now there's an election going on, we'll see what's going to happen. >> when you hear jack

and i would say to you too, remember that in a place like new hampshire, and i saw jeff zeleny's setup piece for this. you know, at the end, these folks are looking at this, and there is a big divide between men and women on this issue too. and i'm seeing a large number, probably two-thirds to one-third at my town hall meetings women to men. i think women in much larger numbers have abandoned him. and if you look at that poll that came out, the wall street journal poll, 62% of independents say they won't vote for him. well, if 62% of independent won't vote for him, he is not winning the general election. >> right. >> and on the general election polls -- >> but it doesn't seem like primary voters care too much about who is going to win the general election. >> yeah, because it's labor day. and they don't have to think about it yet. look, this thing is really going to start to come into focus in the next coupile of months. summer vacation is over. kids are back to school. all right. now there is an election going on. we'll see what happens. >> when you're jack smith, it's sealed. there i

. >> anderson thank you so much, which we hear a couple of our colleagues, cnn's jeff zeleny, -- wheres the last in the room, because we have so much to talk about. jeff, i love we were talking before him, talking but our conversations off camera. your analysis of what we saw tonight, what was it? >> the seasons have changed, just a sense of urgency on the debate stage tonight, it was so different from milwaukee. we are now in fall. you can just feel, the imperative on the lines of each candidate to try and do something, trying to make a move in this race. really person by person by person. near the beginning with florida governor ron desantis, he wasted no time directly confronting donald trump. that is what he needs to do. he's missing in action. then it went on from there. i think the feeling of time could be running out for some of these candidates, in a scramble for second place. they wanted to make their move. >> i would just know, for each person, and i agree with what you're saying about the sense of urgency. the mission is different. the other thing ron desantis did, was to ma