CNN "CNN Newsroom" - Transcript: Interview with Rep. Steven Horsford

Interview

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SCIUTTO: Joining us now, a Biden supporter, Democratic Congressman Steven Horsford of the great state of Nevada. Congressman, we appreciate you taking the time this morning.

REP. STEVEN HORSFORD (D-NV): It's great to be on. It's a beautiful morning, here in Las Vegas.

HARLOW: I bet.

SCIUTTO: I'm sure it is. Don't rub it in. Let's talk about -- let's talk about the former vice president. For months, really, one of his main selling points was he is the most electable Democrat against Donald Trump. But after these first two disappointing finishes -- we can certainly call them that -- in Iowa and New Hampshire, is that still the former vice president's selling point as we go into Nevada?

HORSFORD: It is. In fact, because in every poll that's out there, the vice president does best against Donald Trump in making sure that we win this November. I am supporting Joe Biden because he is trusted, he is vetted and he has delivered for the American people.

As the former vice president to the first African-American president, Barack Obama, they worked together to pass the Affordable Care Act, to help us recover from the Great Recession, giving us the best economy and job creation in our history as well as making sure that we're taking on the NRA to make sure our families and our children are safe from senseless gun violence. SCIUTTO: Yes. Of course, Las Vegas had the deadliest mass shooting in

the country's history.

HARLOW: Of course. Why do you think it is, Congressman, that in the last few weeks, Joe Biden has seen such a decline in support among African-American voters? Nationally, it's down 20 points in just a few weeks, and Mayor Bloomberg has seen a surge in support from African- American voters?

HORSFORD: Well, I know that we focus a lot on national polls. But as you know, this is about battleground states and the data --

HARLOW: I do, but I just --

HORSFORD: -- diverse (ph) --

HARLOW: -- I just wonder why you think that number is what it is, because it's such an important -- such an important thing for the vice president, to maintain that support among African-American voters across the country.

[10:35:06]

HORSFORD: And I think tonight, you're going to hear him speak about his record and what he has done to help deliver, not only for the African-American community but for all of America.

I think what's interesting is that Mike Bloomberg, who did not endorse President Obama in 2008, he called the Affordable Care Act disastrous, he had policies around stop and frisk which were discriminatory and affected the lives of young black men as well as his position on redlining. Those are things that he is going to have to account for.

We know he's a billionaire. We know he's issued an apology. But he cannot apologize in such a way that brings back all the lives that have been affected, based on the policies that were enacted when he was mayor. So those are the issues that are going to be at the forefront of tonight's debate.

SCIUTTO: Those are fair messages, but they're familiar ones. I just wonder, is there a concern in the campaign -- the Biden campaign, and among surrogates like yourself -- that Biden has to change his message to some degree to break out here?

I mean, these were -- he finished well behind several other candidates, including -- and this is key -- moderate candidates, moderate alternatives, which is, again, part of his selling points as well. What's he going to change, if anything?

HORSFORD: Well, to be clear, only two percent of the votes have been cast. With all due respect to Iowa and New Hampshire, they do not reflect the diversity of our electorate. Nevada and South Carolina do.

And so I think the vice president is going to articulate a very clear message tonight, one that focuses on, first and foremost, building on Obamacare, providing for a public option, which people want in order to strengthen our health care options, bringing down the high cost of prescription drugs, making sure that we finally hold the NRA accountable by restoring the assault weapons ban, passing background check legislation and holding gun manufacturers accountable for the weapons that they put in so many of our communities.

Those are the issues that the people in my district care about. I've been on the ground with Vice President Biden this week. He has tremendous support throughout my community and here in Nevada, and I'm very optimistic he's going to do great tonight and on Saturday in our caucus.

SCIUTTO: All right. Well, we'll see in the numbers. We'll certainly bring those to you when they happen. Congressman, pleasure to have you on the program this morning.

HARLOW: Thank you, sir.

SCIUTTO: Three Wall Street Journal reporters have been ordered to leave China over a headline that Beijing is calling racist. The latest fallout from the coverage of the worsening coronavirus crisis, coming up next.

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