CNN "Newsroom" - Transcript Interview with Debbie Dingell

Interview

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Joining us now, Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell from Michigan.

Congresswoman, thanks so much for joining us. As you know the Trump campaign has been labeling protesters as extremists, even terrorists. They're trying to paint Joe Biden as a left-wing radical. You're from one of those key battleground states. We're talking about Michigan. Does that message land with people where you are?

REP. DEBBIE DINGELL (D-MI): You know, I've just been very adamant for two months that we cannot let President Trump define us as to who we are as Democrats. I have since June probably participated in over 20, including one yesterday, Black Lives Matters community gatherings, vigil lights, marches, et cetera. But I have also participated in almost every -- support our law enforcement rally that has also occurred in my district, which has been about eight of them.

I did not do one yesterday because it was organized by just the Trump people. And we do have a challenge in this country. I mean, we saw what happened in Wisconsin this past week when we just look at the videos and see how a black man was treated and a white man was treated. But what we need to do is not put kerosene on a fire. We need a leader who's willing to have an uncomfortable conversation but at the same time in all those marches that I've talked to you about, almost every one of them, either the young people that organized them or the leader of (INAUDIBLE) we met with, the police chiefs ahead of time, the police chiefs marched with us, there's discussion, there's ongoing dialogue.

And we got to have people who will bring us together, not fan fires of fear and hatred. And that's what's happening right now. And all of us, Republicans and Democrats, as Americans, no one is going to say that I support anarchy or rioting. We must all denounce it on either side when we see it.

BLITZER: You know your state, the state of Michigan well. About as well as anyone from the political perspective. I want to play for you and for our viewers something you said at a Democratic Party meeting in Michigan back in 2016 before the election that turned out to be very, very wise. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DINGELL: Some people are mad that I say that I think Donald Trump could win. And people were maybe trying to say that I shouldn't be saying it. And I looked at everybody in the room and said nobody is going to script me, nobody is going to tell me what to say. I'm going to keep saying what I have to say in very short sweet Donald Trump language. Because remember, he talks at a fourth grade level.

And that is, yes, Donald Trump could win. We really need people's spirit adapt that Donald Trump could win and everybody needs to understand that their vote matters.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Of course, we know the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, went on to win Michigan narrowly but he did carry the state and its electoral votes, and helped him become the president of the United States.

Do you think the Biden campaign is doing enough right now to win a state like Michigan? Because I know, looking back, a lot of people were critical of the Hillary Clinton campaign, sort of taking it for granted that Michigan and Wisconsin, for example, would simply go the way they usually go for the Democratic nominee.

DINGELL: I think that I'm very pleased to see Joe Biden put out a strong statement this afternoon. He's going to Western Pennsylvania tomorrow. And I have to say that, you know, people were very skeptical when I started talking to people.

Wolf, as you know, I listen to people and I'm out again. And I'm hearing people. But the campaign does listen. And they listen to me two months ago. I flagged this issue two months ago. You'll see that I have talked about it for two months.

[19:15:02] And I do feel like they're listening and nobody can take this election for granted.

BLITZER: Do you think --

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: You think President Trump realistically with 60 plus days to go could carry Michigan again?

DINGELL: Yes, I do. I don't think that it's a foregone conclusion right now. But I think that it is going to be competitive until election day and we need to know that and work it hard.

BLITZER: So what do Michigan voters, those in the middle, on the fence right now, they're not sure where they're going to go, what do they need to hear from Joe Biden?

DINGELL: Well, you know, Joe Biden understands the economy. He understands working men and women. And he's really got to talk to them. He did save the auto industry. We have lost jobs in the auto industry since Donald Trump became president. Not gained them. I have steel plants that in the last three months or six months in my district, one is laid off 1500 jobs and everybody knows the plant is going to close after the election.

I have a steel plant in Dearborn, my hometown, that laid off -- not laid off, eliminated 250 jobs three months ago. We have to talk to people about how we're going to bring jobs back to this country, how we're going to bring the supply chain back and create those jobs. Joe has got to talk to them right to their hearts and souls because a lot of those auto workers, a lot of working men and women haven't forgotten 2008 and they need to know somebody cares about them. And he can do that. He's just got to do it.

BLITZER: Very quickly, we know he's going to visit neighboring Pennsylvania. He's in Wilmington, Delaware, right now. Tomorrow, how important would it be for him to go visit Michigan because we know the president, he's going to be in Michigan a lot.

DINGELL: You know, I'm not going to second-guess the campaign. They know how important Michigan is. So I think you're going to see him in the Midwest. I think there are a number of Midwest states that are our neighbors. I think they've got the message, they understand, and I think we all need to take this very seriously and we need to work hard so that we win by a very significant number so nobody can attack the integrity or the confidence of what happens on election day as well.

BLITZER: All right. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell of Michigan, thanks as usual for joining us.

DINGELL: Thank you.

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