CNN "State of the Union with Candy Crowley" - Transcript: Iraq

Interview

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CROWLEY: When you look back over your 37 years, who was the easiest president to work with?

SEN. TOM HARKIN (D), IOWA: I think two were easy to work with. George H.W. Bush, first President Bush. Of course, he signed my Americans with disabilities act into law so I have great esteem for him and he was just good to work with and then Bill Clinton.

I mean, we had a great relationship, and, you know, Bill Clinton only had a Democratic Congress for two years and then it was a Republican Congress from then on. Then he had the impeachment and all that, but even in the face of that, we had one of the best economic growths we've ever had in this country.

CROWLEY: Most difficult?

HARKIN: Well, it would be a tie. George W. Bush or Jimmy Carter.

CROWLEY: Interesting. That's very bipartisan of you. Interesting.

HARKIN: Well, it's true.

CROWLEY: You're retiring and what that means to folks in Iowa is the last steak fry. The 37th steak fry. It's a fund-raiser for the Iowa Democratic Party but more than that it's been a huge draw for presidential candidates. This year you're big headliners Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Will you be a Hillary Clinton supporter? Are you a Hillary Clinton supporter?

HARKIN: We're very close friends. Both Bill and Hillary have provided I think inspiring leadership to our country for a long time.

I served on the committee with Hillary when she was in the Senate. I think her performance at secretary of state was amazing. She has energized women and girls all around the globe. She's given them hope and new aspirations. She is a global figure.

CROWLEY: That falls a little short of Tom Harkin jumping on her bandwagon at this moment. Tell me about the newcomers in the Republican -- in the Democratic Party. Who is the new face of the Democratic Party? Who is out there that can take her on?

HARKIN: Well, I don't know. I mean, I'm sure that different people will come to the forefront. I have had Governor O'Malley --

CROWLEY: What do you think of him? He's a liberal -- certainly could be seen as a progressive.

HARKIN: He has been a great governor, a great governor, done great things. He's certainly out there as a viable person. He's there. And I think you may see one or two senators that might come up that might want to do something in this regard.

I think of people like Mark Warner from Virginia. He'll win his re-election this year. Others that are out there that I think that might be coming up, younger new Democrats coming up like that.

CROWLEY: Do you think it will be a race or is it a little bit of a done deal if Hillary decides to run?

HARKIN: Well, look, let's be honest about this. If Hillary decides to run, I think it's going to be very tough for anyone else. That's not to say they won't do it. They might. Some other Democrats may pop up or you might get a Bernie Sanders, for example, as an independent might pop up.

I don't know. I think you may have people come to the forefront that maybe want to stress certain issues in a - in a campaign, but I think if Hillary decides to run, I think it's going to be very tough for any Democrat to try to get ahead of her. I'm not saying it can't be done, it will be very tough though.

CROWLEY: You served a long time with Joe Biden.

HARKIN: Mm-hmm.

CROWLEY: You were liberal voices together on many, many things.

HARKIN: Mm-hmm.

CROWLEY: Is he going to run for president and would you support him?

HARKIN: I love Joe Biden.

In fact, he spoke at my steak fry just last year. Got a great reception. I mean - I mean, everyone loves Joe Biden. In fact, I was quite frankly surprised in the 2008 race, I thought he was going to do a lot better than what happened in the Iowa caucuses because everywhere I went, people love Joe Biden, but Obama was just running through Iowa and he was --

CROWLEY: Up against Obama and Hillary.

HARKIN: And Hillary both. I mean, he's just (ph) a great friend and I think Joe Biden would make an outstanding president but I just don't know if Hillary gets in the race, will he run? I don't know. Let's ask him.

CROWLEY: But you know him.

HARKIN: Oh, I love Joe Biden. He is great. He is just -- he's just good all around. He's got everything it takes to be a good president and he has been a great vice president.

CROWLEY: Right. There are lots of people that have run that probably would have made great presidents over time. I guess the question is now for someone you've worked so long with and you see the Hillary Clinton bandwagon sort of growing as it goes along, what's your advice to him?

HARKIN: To Joe Biden? Hang in there. You never know what tomorrow brings.

Keep doing what he's doing. He's been around the country campaigning for Democrats, supporting our Democratic candidates around the country. He's been out front on a lot of good issues. And my advice is hang in there, Joe, because you never know what tomorrow brings.

CROWLEY: And if Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton were in the race, what would Tom Harkin do?

HARKIN: Love them both.

CROWLEY: Senator Tom Harkin, we've known each other a long time.

HARKIN: A long time, Candy.

CROWLEY: I'm so glad you came by.

HARKIN: Thanks, Candy, good to see you always, always. Thanks.

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