By ,
Published January 23, 2017
This is a rush transcript from "Hannity," May 26, 2016. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.
MIKE HUCKABEE, GUEST HOST: And welcome to "Hannity."
Tonight, Donald Trump clinches the Republican nomination.
Hello. I'm Mike Huckabee. I'm filling in for Sean.
The magic number of delegates needed to secure the GOP nomination 1,237, and after speaking with unbound delegates, the Associated Press is reporting that Trump now has 1,239.
Mr. Trump talked about clinching the nomination and more at his rally earlier tonight in Montana. Here are just some of the highlights.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, R-PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: We had a big day today. Today was the day where we hit the 1,237, right, 1,237.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: And you know, you heard our president say, He will not be the nominee of his party. Oh, really? He's been right about that, like he's right about everything else, which is never!
Who would have thought? This wasn't supposed to happen. It was supposed to be that Trump would go to the convention. We were going to have a horrible convention because it was going to be contentious. I never believed that because I always said I was going to win on the first ballot.
When you have the Syrian refugees and you look at what's going on with the migration -- you have the Syrian refugees, and they're pouring into this country. They're pouring in all over Europe. Europe has this -- tremendous problems, and that's their problem, OK? We don't need to have any more problems. We have enough.
So here's my notes. Look, that's my notes. Don't you like it when somebody doesn't use a teleprompter, right?
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: Right? Here's my notes. Who else makes a speech to a crowd like this with this?
It's going to be a big wall. It's going to be a beautiful wall. Someday, when I'm gonzo (ph), maybe they'll name it after Trump. I'd really much rather have a statute in Washington, D.C. I don't want a wall named after me, but that's OK. I want a statue in Washington, D.C.!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUCKABEE: A statute in Washington, D.C. All right. Well, here with reaction, pollster Frank Luntz, attorney and political analyst David Wohl and the president and founder of High Noon Strategies, Lisa Boothe. Welcome all.
All right, Frank, let me get right to you. You wrote a terrific article that was in Time magazine, and it's all about the election from hell. And you talk about how voters have thrown out all the rules this year. And they really have.
You and I were backstage in Iowa a little over a year ago before Donald Trump had even announced his candidacy, and we along with everybody else said, Donald Trump is finished today after what he said about John McCain. I'm just -- I'm not going to say I was wrong, but by gosh, Frank, you were wrong.
(LAUGHTER)
FRANK LUNTZ, REPUBLICAN POLLSTER: Well, you know what? We're not calling you the presidential nominee, either, Governor. Look, I love the line that Trump used today when he said, Hey, I don't need a teleprompter. I've got everything I need on these five notes. This is what's different about this guy, and you could not tell back a year ago that this was going to be the case.
Number one, he speaks from the heart. He says what he means and means what he says, and that is perfect for an electorate that is fed up with Barack Obama and the teleprompter and all the prepared text that actually mean nothing.
Number two, he speaks -- he has the voice of the American people. Now, I got to admit this, that he's a little rough for me. He's a little direct for me. He's a little bit sharp for me. But it works.
And number three, that he's talking about the issues about national security, economic security, personal security that the American people are looking for. So in all three of those cases this is a guy who may not have had it back last August, but oh, my God, he's got it right now and it's why he and Hillary Clinton are dead even.
HUCKABEE: Well, and it's interesting that he is not just winning the nomination, but he's winning the hearts and minds of a lot of people who've never voted Republican. David, what do you think has been the secret? You've been a long-time supporter of Donald Trump. You were with him before it became cool.
DAVID WOHL, ATTORNEY AND POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes.
HUCKABEE: What is it about Donald Trump that has just really I think brought a new level of energy to the political world?
WOHL: You know, Governor, you can hyperanalyze his platform, you can dissect his ideas all day long, but sometimes, it's as simple as the right guy with the right ideas at the right time. You know, in my experience anecdotally, the vast, vast majority of his supporters, despite his extraordinary fame and wealth, are ordinary Americans who simply want a better life for themselves and their children. What a concept!
But you know, this tsunami of support -- and let's see, he's gone up about 12 points on Hillary Clinton in the last few weeks, has been based in that. My daughter came up to me today and she said, You know, Dad, I -- it's my experience that a lot of people who are going to be voting for Donald Trump still won't admit it, but that's OK because they're going to be voting for him.
On June 7th is our primary, and that will probably put him over 1,400 delegates. It's rather extraordinary, considering he has the most votes of any candidate in GOP history. It's just the man. It's an intangible. It's his ideas. It's his plan to stop being politically correct, make America great again and put us first, rather than second, and making sure, as we do right now, that we're not offending anybody before we make a move.
HUCKABEE: Lisa, there are still some holdouts, I mean, these guys who say, We're going to find some third party person to run because we don't like Hillary, we don't like Trump. I mean, isn't it time to stop that nonsense talk and just get with the fact we've got basically two choices, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton. And for many of us, Donald Trump looks terrific if that's our matchup.
LISA BOOTHE, HIGH NOON STRATEGIES: Well (INAUDIBLE) the third party idea is just not a viable option. You look at Ross Perot. He was able to get ballot access in all 50 states, but he wasn't able to get any Electoral College votes. And he was a multi-millionaire who, as I mentioned, was able to get ballot access, which is a really difficult thing for a third party candidate. So it's not viable.
And I would say to the "never Trump" crowd, why not focus on the 24 Senate seats that Republicans are defending, seven of which are in states that President Obama won in 2008 and 2012. And if you don't like Donald Trump, wouldn't you want checks and balances to him, which is why it would be important to keep the Senate and to keep the House.
HUCKABEE: Look, I've only got a couple of minutes. I need to get all of you in here. Frank, let me ask you because you're the master of words. What words has Donald Trump used that has really given him this commanding experience right now? What are the key words?
LUNTZ: Well, the first phrase is political correctness and his rejection of it. See, I don't believe that people are voting for Donald Trump for where he stands. I think they're voting for him for what he represents, and there's a difference, that you don't know the specific details, but you do know through his strength, through his determination.
People are voting for that persona. And the people who are concerned about him are also concerned about that persona. This is the first time that we've got a Republican Party candidate that they're focused more on -- on his character traits and attributes and less on the policies.
HUCKABEE: Lisa, six months ago, would you have believed that it's the Democrats who are going to have a contentious convention and the Republicans are going to have a lovefest?
BOOTHE: I wouldn't, but I am loving watching this go on on the left.
And I think Donald Trump and what he's been doing well is he speaks to the millions of Americans who feel left behind by this economy. And if you look at his energy speech today, it was an important step for Donald Trump because not only is he contrasting the failed energy policies which affect everyday Americans because not only does that affect our pocketbooks, rising energy costs, President Obama limiting access to oil, limiting access to energy exploration and laying those policies out -- so not only is he speaking to the Americans who feel left behind, but he's talking about opening up the doors to energy exploration and contrasting himself with the failed policies that we've seen.
HUCKABEE: Lisa, thank you very much. We're out of time. David, Frank, Lisa, great to have all of you here.
Coming up next right here on "Hannity"...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: I think it's fair to say that they are surprised by the Republican nominee. They are not sure how seriously to take some of his pronouncements, but they're rattled by him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUCKABEE: Yes, that was President Obama earlier today saying that leaders are rattled by Donald Trump. Well, the presumptive GOP nominee has said, Hey, that's a good thing. Former Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal joins us next with reaction.
And then later...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON, D-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It was allowed. And the rules have been clarified since I left about the practice. Having said that, I have said many times it was a mistake.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUCKABEE: Indeed it was. Hillary Clinton talks about the State Department's audit of her private e-mail sever. Catherine Herridge has the latest.
That and more as "Hannity" continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HUCKABEE: And welcome back to "Hannity." President Obama is in Japan for the G-7 summit, and during a press conference, he said world leaders are, quote, "rattled" by Donald Trump. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: They are paying very close attention to this election. I think it's fair to say that they are surprised by the Republican nominee. They are not sure how seriously to take some of his pronouncements. But they're rattled by him, and for good reason because a lot of the proposals that he's made display either ignorance of world affairs or a cavalier attitude or an interest in getting tweets and headlines instead of actually thinking through what it is that is required to keep America safe and secure and prosperous, and what's required to keep the world on an even keel.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUCKABEE: OK, to borrow a phrase from Donald Trump, that was low energy.
(LAUGHTER)
HUCKABEE: He needs to switch to caffeine if he's going to make those kind of comments.
Donald Trump, addressing supporters earlier tonight in Montana, responded to President Obama. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: He was talking about Donald Trump, that other countries are very nervous. That's good if they're nervous. That's good. That's good, right?
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: It's good. Let them be a little bit nervous. By the way, I'll have a better relationship with other countries than he has, except we'll do much better and they won't be taking advantage of us anymore and they won't be calling us the stupid people anymore!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUCKABEE: You can't argue with that. I mean, I think it's pretty evident that when the president says foreign leaders are rattled, maybe that is a good thing.
Joining us with reaction, former 2016 Republican presidential candidate, former governor of Louisiana Bobby Jindal. Governor, great to have you on tonight. Thanks for being here.
BOBBY JINDAL, R-LA., FORMER GOVERNOR: Mike, thank you for having me on. It's always great to talk to you.
HUCKABEE: Well, it's always a pleasure. You and I both are casualties of the 2016 race. We're sitting here talking about the guy who has won the nomination. But one of the things that he has done, he has spoken with very strong language.
Governor, I want to begin with you with a word of tribute because I feel like that you had said some very strong things about Donald Trump during the primary, but later you came forward and said despite whatever misgivings, he was our nominee. You were going to support him.
I thought you showed an extraordinary level of class, and I really appreciate it, that you did it with honesty and candor, yet you did it with the conviction of recognizing that it's Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton.
Do you think foreign leaders are, in fact, rattled by the prospect of Donald Trump as president?
JINDAL: Well, a couple things. First of all, thank you, Mike, for those very kind words. And I want to return the compliment. Look, the reality is, you and I both waged fierce campaigns. We're fierce competitors. Look, I went in that race thinking I'd be a better candidate. I thought you'd be a better candidate.
Donald Trump wasn't my first or second choice, but it is a binary choice. It's Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. And it's not about the Republican Party, it's about our country and that's why I've said I'm supporting him and I'd encourage others to do so, as well.
In terms of world leaders being rattled, I hope they are being rattled. And look, this says more about President Obama than it does about Donald Trump. For too long, President Obama cares more about world leaders' opinion, international opinion, than the opinion of the people that he actually works for, the American people.
You know, if world leaders are rattled, that would be a good thing. For seven years now under the Obama foreign policy, which was for a while run during his first term by Secretary -- then Secretary Clinton, Hillary Clinton, we've had a foreign policy where, Mike, we won't stand with Israel. We have a foreign policy where we weren't standing up to China. We won't stand up to Russia.
There's a reason Russia is in the Ukraine. There's a reason that China is threatening our allies in the South China Sea. Our enemies don't fear or respect us and our friends don't trust us. So I hope they are rattled. I think they've gotten too used to seven years of a failed foreign policy.
Here's what President Obama doesn't understand. I want foreign leaders to understand America is strongest, and we are safest and secure when America is strongest. We need a president who believes in American exceptionalism, that isn't embarrassed to say, You know, we're the strongest country in the world, and we make no apologies for that.
HUCKABEE: You know, I think the person who was rattled was President Obama. And I'm looking back when the Iranian navy captured some of our sailors, forced them on their knees, hands behind their back, or when the Russians flew fighter jets just 30 feet above one of our destroyers -- it was as if it was our president who was the one who was rattled, and didn't do anything.
React to those instances. Well, do you think Donald Trump will ever experience a moment where the Russians will fly fighters 30 feet above one of our ships?
JINDAL: Look, Mike, you make a great point, and those two incidents and other incidents. You know, when this president drew the line in the sand in Syria, didn't enforce it, you know, when he called ISIS the JV team -- time and time again, he hasn't stood up for American interests. He has hand-tied our economy thanks to EPA regulations and -- and deference to, again, international economies and other countries' jobs and economic growth overseas instead of at home.
What Ronald Reagan understood was peace through strength. I think there's a greater chance that Donald Trump, rather than President Obama or Hillary Clinton, would understand and display peace through strength. Here's the irony. We actually have to deploy American forces less frequently if our enemies fear and respect us!
Mike, if they really believe in American strength, they're not going to test us. The reason all these countries -- you mentioned Iranians, the Chinese, the Russians -- the reason they're testing us, the reason you're getting those overflights, the reason that they're challenging our spy planes -- they don't respect us right now. They don't respect the occupant of the White House. That has got to change.
And that's why for those Republicans that are in the "never Trump" category -- and look, I have all the respect in the world -- many of my friends are in that camp. I'm not -- if they need more time to get here, that's fine, but we have got to win this election.
You know, you and I both in Iowa and across the country said this is the most important election in our lifetimes. We're on a path toward socialism. We either mean that or we don't. You and I both meant that, and that's why we think it's so important that we not have third term for President Obama, we not have Hillary Clinton in the White House.
HUCKABEE: Gov, we've got less than a minute. We're in that magic funnel, where we're getting down to the last grains of sand. So in about 40 seconds, can you tell me as a governor much an energy state -- because Louisiana major energy state -- Donald Trump made a big speech today on energy. Why is he a better president for energy than Hillary Clinton?
JINDAL: Oh, several great things he said about reining in the EPA, more domestic production. He said, Yes, I'm for green and renewable energy, but I'm for all of it. He said previously not only is for oil and gas, he's for coal. He's for spending less of our money overseas to other countries, energy independence. And that's great for Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, but Mike, that's good for steel, fertilizer, chemical manufacturing jobs across the country.
These aren't the minimum wage jobs that Hillary Clinton talks about. These are good-paying, private sector jobs. Instead of folks being on welfare, Medicaid, food stamps, they'll have good-paying jobs with a strong energy policy.
I thought Donald Trump did a great job today differentiating himself from the culture of dependence represented by Hillary Clinton and President Obama.
HUCKABEE: Governor Bobby Jindal, thanks for joining us. Great to see you, my friend. Thanks for coming on.
All right, coming up right here next on "Hannity"...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: It was allowed. And the rules have been clarified since I left about the practice. Having said that, I have said many times it was a mistake.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUCKABEE: Indeed it was! Hillary Clinton does her best to try and spin the State Department's audit of her private e-mail server. Catherine Herridge is next. She's got a full report.
And then later tonight...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I hear they want to put Biden in! I hear they're going to actually slip Joe Biden in!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUCKABEE: Yes, Donald Trump is suggesting the Democrats may need to find a new candidate to run for president. This as a brand-new poll out of California shows that the race between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders is extremely tight in the Golden State.
That and much more as "Hannity" continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HUCKABEE: Welcome back to "Hannity." Hillary Clinton and her campaign continue to spin the State Department inspector general report that accuses Clinton of breaking federal record-keeping rules.
Here with the latest, Catherine Herridge -- Catherine.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CATHERINE HERRIDGE, FOX NEWS CORRESPONDENT: For a second day, the Clinton campaign was on the defensive after the 83-page inspector general's report illustrated deep conflicts between her public statements and its investigative findings.
Today, Mrs. Clinton said everyone knew about her personal account.
CLINTON: My e- mail use was widely known in the department, throughout the government. And I have provided all of my work-related e-mails.
HERRIDGE: Pressed on the disconnect, the State Department spokesman suggested Clinton and her team were not up front.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was only a partial understanding of how much Secretary Clinton relied on personal e-mail, and we just did not have a complete picture. And because of that, I think no one undertook the steps to address that.
HERRIDGE: Clinton also insisted today her personal e-mail practices were in synch with her predecessors.
CLINTON: This report makes clear that personal e-mail use was the practices for other secretaries of state.
HERRIDGE: But the inspector general's report found no other secretary of state had a personal sever. Colin Powell used his personal e-mail to contact people outside the office. And he worked with the State Department to secure his account. Condoleezza Rice and Madeleine Albright did not use personal e-mail for government business.
Asked why she didn't cooperate with her own agency's investigators, Clinton suggested her marathon congressional testimony about the Benghazi terrorist attack had covered it.
CLINTON: Well, I have talked about this for many, many months. I testified for 11 hours before the committee, the Benghazi committee.
HERRIDGE: But Clinton's e-mail practices were not the primary focus of the 2015 congressional testimony, and the inspector general found that despite public assurances that they want to be open, Clinton and her aides refused to cooperate with investigators, even though no one is exempt under the regulations. Asked about the FBI criminal probe, Clinton said no interview date has been set -- Governor.
HUCKABEE: Catherine, thank you very much.
And now here with reaction, Salem Radio nationally syndicated host Larry Elder and attorney and political commentator Eric Guster.
Eric, I'm going to get right to you. This is an issue where you just say, Look, Hillary Clinton goes out there every day and says, I did nothing wrong. Some of her folks will say, I may have made a little mistake. But Eric, this is dog food that the dogs aren't eating.
ERIC GUSTER, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: Yes, and like I always say, you know, when I tell clients, Don't let your mouth write a check that your tail can't cash. And that's what Hillary's been doing. She's been talking too much, and she needs just shut up because the more you talk, the bigger grave that you're digging.
HUCKABEE: And you're a supporter of Hillary!
GUSTER: I am! I'm, like, God, please (INAUDIBLE) just shut up for a second because if she did something wrong, she can -- she may be able to get out of it, but the more she talks her way into it -- for example, she's giving interviews saying, I turned over everything and I followed policy, but then it's coming out that she did not. That's problematic to her. So I just wish that her lawyers would just tell her just shut up.
HUCKABEE: That's the best advice I've ever heard someone give Hillary. I love it!
(LAUGHTER)
HUCKABEE: Larry, you know, I don't even know where to go. I'm so proud of Eric for this.
(LAUGHTER)
HUCKABEE: But...
GUSTER: I shoot straight! I mean, whether it's politics or not, we're talking about legal issue, I'll shoot straight regardless of the situation. But oh, my God, somebody just help her.
HUCKABEE: But Larry, let me bring you in on this because whether she talks or doesn't talk, it's a conundrum. If she doesn't talk, people say she's covering up. If she talks, she's putting herself in the problem that Eric has mentioned. What does she do?
LARRY ELDER, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Well, if you're going to talk, tell the truth and be consistent with your stories instead of telling a bunch of different things.
But Governor, there's another big point that a lot of people I don't think are emphasizing. We know from this inspector report that they did not discount the possibility that her sever was hacked.
We also know that there was a great deal of correspondence between Ambassador Stevens of Libya and Clinton. Maybe she was hacked. Maybe the bad guys knew that the security was a concern to Ambassador Stevens, and that might very well have caused them to look at Benghazi as a soft target worthy of attack. She may have a lot of serious blood on her hands as a result of having this sever in her basement at Chappaqua.
This is national security. This is not just about her credibility, this is about the nation and about the possibility that secrets, practices and methods were exposed!
HUCKABEE: Eric, part of the problem, though, that a lot of Americans are saying, We all have to live by certain rules. We have to obey laws. We have to live by rules. And if we don't, we get in trouble. We get fined. We get put in prison. Hillary Clinton -- people just say it's a mistake.
And I want to say I appreciate your candor. It's refreshing for somebody who is just as honest as you've been here tonight. But speak to that.
GUSTER: Well, she may -- she has said that she may have made a mistake, and that...
HUCKABEE: May have made a mistake.
GUSTER: ... that is a possibility. But one of the defenses that she may have is other people have done it before. However, her problem is they're issuing subpoenas for people who have supported her and her staff. And if her staff is aware that she's done something illegal, if she went around to circumvent the rules like she may -- she's been accused of, that's going to be the major problem.
I'm praying that -- oh, my God, I hope she didn't tell someone, Oh, I'm trying to circumvent the rules and she was just -- she may have just made a mistake, Governor. That's what I'm hoping.
HUCKABEE: May have just -- well, Larry, I have a feeling, I mean, at least that much is true. But you're also an attorney. Speak to the fact that when prosecutors want to go for somebody, they don't talk to them first, they talk to everyone in their orbit long before they talk to the principal. Is that what's happening here?
ELDER: That's right. That's the normal protocol. But Governor, I got to tell you I don't believe that the DOJ is going to indict her. I believe that the head of the FBI, James Comey, will make a criminal referral. I hear he's an ethical person and is going to go where the direction -- where the investigation leads him. But it's a political choice on the part of the DOJ to indict her. And if you indict her, her presidential campaign is over. And as I said, if Obama allows the DOJ to indict her, when he retires from office, he won't be able to get a table at Sad (ph) Burger.
But I will tell you, the real reason, in my opinion, that she's doing this was said about a year ago by James Carville, her long-time aide. He said the reason she had a private sever is he didn't want Louie Gohmert from Texas going -- rifling through her e-mail, which seemed to be (ph) him to - - with -- Carville seemed to be a reasonable approach.
He flat out said he -- she did not want to be accountable. She did not want to have her records reviewed by the FOIA request and by her political enemies. End of statement. That's the bottom line. It has nothing to do with her being non-technically savvy, having more than one device. She didn't want to have more than one device. She simply did not want people to probe what she was doing. End of statement!
GUSTER: But if she made a mistake, it may not be criminal. And that's what we have to -- even if she did circumvent the rules...
(CROSSTALK)
HUCKABEE: ... disqualifying to be the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and to be the president of the United States if you make a mistake of this magnitude. And Eric, we've got to go, but I got to just say this is not a person who had her first government job, a person who said, Well, gee, I didn't know that much about how government works. That's all she's ever done her whole life!
GUSTER: She should be on the ticket. She should be -- she is qualified to be president of the United States, and it may have been a mistake. I just pray that it was.
(CROSSTALK)
HUCKABEE: Eric, great to have you and Larry here. We're out of time.
All right, coming up next right here on "Hannity"...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I hear they want to put Biden in! I hear they're going to actually slip Joe Biden in!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUCKABEE: Donald Trump suggests the Democrats may be forced to replace Hillary Clinton as a presidential candidate.
Plus a new poll shows that Clinton is in a dead heat with Bernie Sanders in California.
And later, an Arizona border county sheriff issues a warning about possible Mexican drug cartel violence this holiday weekend. That sheriff joins us to explain. That and a lot more as "Huckabee" continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Hillary, as I say, crooked Hillary, crooked Hillary.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: She's as crooked as they come. She had a little bad news today. The inspector general's report, not good. But I want to run against Hillary. I just want to run against her.
Look, I don't know if you're going to be able to. It could be we're going to run against crazy Bernie. That could be. I hear they want to put Biden in. I hear they're going to actually slip Joe Biden in, and he's going to take Bernie's place.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUCKABEE: That was Donald Trump suggesting that Hillary Clinton's mounting scandals might just force the Democratic Party to find a new candidate. And as the Clinton campaign limps toward the end of the primary season, new polls are showing that the all-important Democratic primary in California is now up for grabs. According to a new poll by the Public Policy Institute of California, Clinton leads Sanders by just two points, 46 percent to 44 percent, well within the margin of error.
Joining us now with reaction, Democratic pollster and strategist Jessica Tarlov as well as pollster Lee Carter. Jessica, I'm going to start with you, because Donald Trump has a way of attaching a moniker to people, whether it's "crooked Hillary" or "crazy Bernie."
JESSICA TARLOV, DEMOCRATIC POLLSTER AND STRATEGIST: Goofy Elizabeth Warren, Pocahontas.
HUCKABEE: Normally when that happens it's the beginning of the end.
TARLOV: Hillary Clinton has been through a lot worse than Donald Trump actually. I don't think this is the beginning of the end. But he is correct that the new this week from the inspector general, it's not good. And we know she'll be meeting with the FBI soon which means we'll have a decision soon and we can move past this. But this is something that's dogged her for a year now, and it doesn't help.
HUCKABEE: Why can't she close the deal?
TARLOV: She actually has closed the deal. Bernie Sanders --
HUCKABEE: Not with the people.
TARLOV: Not with the people. I understand what's going on with the Sanders supporters and they feel largely that they're just being ignored ther and she's closing the door, but she's actually not. She's given Bernie Sanders control of half of the platform. He's really going to be deciding the moves there. He's pushed her further to the left, which is a massive accomplishment. And if you look back at 2008 --
HUCKABEE: Is that a good accomplishment, though?
TARLOV: For Bernie Sanders, sure.
HUCKABEE: For the Democratic Party is it good?
TARLOV: I think that it is. We will inevitably see her shift back to the middle for the general election and I think she'll pick a more progressive running mate to kind of take the heat off of her that way.
HUCKABEE: Lee, how serious is this that even in California she's barely beating Bernie Sanders out there? This race everybody says is over, but it's not over. Bernie doesn't know, it's kind of like the scene in Rocky where Apollo Creed's trainer looks over to Apollo Creed and says he doesn't know it's a show.
(LAUGHTER)
LEE CARTER, POLLSTER: I think it's a devastating blow to Hillary. If she loses California it's absolutely devastating. It does not mean she's not going to be the candidate, but it does mean she is going to limp her way into the general election and it's going to show a weakness. It's going to show a lack of momentum. It's going to really play into this narrative that there's still an anti-establishment sentiment out there that we don't want an establishment candidate, we want something different, and that's going to play right into the hands of Donald Trump. I think it's going to be a really, really, really big problem for her going into the general if she doesn't win California.
HUCKABEE: 1968 and 1980 were years in some way similar. Nothing like as intense as this. I went through both of them. But in both cases you had an incumbent party that ended up in trouble because of an anti- establishment mood. And everybody said they'll never be able to take the establishment out, but they did. Is this a 1968 and 1980 kind of moment? Lee, what do you think?
CARTER: I think it is. The issue that I see, and this is a really, really important issue is the momentum and the energy that's behind the anti- establishment movement is big, it's huge. And when you talk to people who support Hillary Clinton they're pretty lukewarm. There's not that momentum, there's not that excitement.
TARLOV: There are Hillary supporters who are --
CARTER: But they're few and far between.
TARLOV: When she's 3 million votes ahead and she's about 300 pledged delegates ahead, I don't really understand this argument that all the momentum is with Bernie Sanders. What about the people voting? Why don't ballots count as momentum? Hillary Clinton supporters, we may be quieter, but that doesn't mean --
CARTER: The intensity and support, whether it's extreme support, extreme excitement, extreme enthusiasm, that goes for Donald Trump and it goes for Bernie. When you get that for Hillary, it's not there. They might be loyal supporters. They might say I'm going to vote for Hillary. But they're certainly not going I am extremely excited about it, and that's not what we're getting in the polls.
And to me you have to have extreme enthusiasm in order to show up and get out there and start spreading the word. When you talk to people who are Hillary supporters, often, not you, when you talk to them and you say, why are you a Hillary supporter, people can't really give you an answer. And that's partly because she hasn't articulated a message. She hasn't really gotten out there. And when people say I'm with her what, which is what she wants people to say, what does that mean? And people can't really clearly articulate it. She needs to get that down as she pivots to the general. She has to have a story.
TARLOV: I don't disagree with you there. I think you have to be really well versed in her policies to be able to talk about it, and I'm a coming from a different position there where I spend all day immersed in this. And she does have to do better, but I think especially when you talk to minority populations, you talk to Latinos and African-Americans across the country, they say Hillary Clinton has stood with us for decades, and Bill Clinton, her husband, did as well. And that has stuck with them. And I think that that's meaningful and I think it will matter in California, but I think it will be close.
HUCKABEE: You guys are good. We'll have to bring you back sometime.
(LAUGHTER)
TARLOV: That's kind of you to offer.
(LAUGHTER)
HUCKABEE: No. First of all thank you so much for being here, Lee Jessica, great to have you.
CARTER: Any time.
HUCKABEE: Nice to see you.
TARLOV: Great to see you.
HUCKABEE: Coming up, an Arizona border county sheriff is warning residents to be on the lookout for assassins coming into the country from Mexico this holiday weekend. He's going to join us next to explain. And when he does there will be some interesting things to talk about. That and more as HUCKABEE continues right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HUCKABEE: Welcome back to HUCKABEE.
The sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona, issued a dire warning to citizens about, quote, "Mexican assassins" this holiday weekend. The press release reads in part, and I quote, "Based on credible information about recent Mexican drug cartel violence, Sheriff Paul Babeu is warning campers, hikers, mountain bikers, and all-terrain vehicle riders of the elevated risk of being out in certain areas of Pinal County this holiday weekend. Sheriff Babeu encourages those who are using the back roads, campsites, and trails in the known smuggling corridors of western Pinal County to be very cautious and consider carrying a firearm when in these wilderness areas."
HUCKABEE: Joining us now to explain more is the sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona, Paul Babeu. Paul, first of all, I want to tell you, I thought what you said was quite honest and it was refreshing. You said to people, there's a bigger problem than we can fix with the law enforcement personnel we have, and if you're going out there in the wilderness, and that's what you're talking about out in the wilderness, you better be prepared to protect yourself because cops are a long way away.
SHERIFF PAUL BABEU, PINAL COUNTY, ARIZONA: That's the case. Look no further than the signs that President Obama has erected in my county that literally written in English warn American citizens it's not safe to travel here. In law enforcement we call that a clue. The president is literally, it's a sign of surrendering, quite frankly, this area to the cartels instead of joining the fight with me and border parole agents on the ground bringing a heavy hand of enforcement against these cartels.
HUCKABEE: That's exactly the word that came to my mind. It's as if we have surrounded a major part of the sovereign territory of United States of America and said we don't control this anymore.
BABEU: Right.
(APPLAUSE) What has happened in America when we surrender to drug cartels?
BABEU: I'm a retired army officer and served a tour in Iraq, and when you see in my county, we've arrested now in the past year, year-and-a-half, a total of 21 plus cartel scouts on mountain tops. We're not even on the border. We're 70 miles north of the border, and these are lookouts for the cartel. The largest drug busts in the history of my state, $3 billion, 76 members of these cartels armed to the teeth, 108 firearms. And the president instead of helping us, instead of securing the border at the border, has been releasing violent and dangerous convicted criminals into my county, into my state.
HUCKABEE: Sheriff, when I hear the president, he says things are better. We've secured the border and things are better. We've deported people, and everything is coming up roses just about. What's your perspective? You're a sheriff. You're dealing with it. You get your men shot at. What's the difference?
BABEU: It is 80,000, 120,000 illegals who have been apprehended every year the past, previous three years just in the Tucson sector alone. That's not a measure of success. It's far more concerning to all Americans should be now about just illegal immigrants, not about the cartels that we're fighting. What about ISIS? What about terrorists?
And it shouldn't be a surprise to people now because the president has said the national security threat facing America, the top one is global warming. It's not an unsecured border. It's not the terrorists that we should be fighting in the field.
HUCKABEE: I've always said I'm a lot more afraid of a gunshot than I am a sun burn. The gunshot I'm not sure of, or a beheading. You've been highly criticized --
BABEU: Yes.
HUCKABEE: Even by some who they're gun supporters, but they say it was irresponsible. It was a campaign tactic. So defend the idea that you said to people, if you're going to go out into these wilderness areas, defend yourself.
BABEU: Absolutely. Because cops in my county, even though we have a fast emergency response time, don't be a victim. We have a Second Amendment freedom and right, and I encourage everyone to be armed, to be properly trained. And this is where Governor Brewer, when she brought that in, open carry or concealed, crime has gone down dramatically in my state. And cops don't fear law abiding citizens that are armed. We encourage that.
HUCKABEE: I think that is an important point to make, and you made it, that it's about being trained. It's not just about going to the gun store, buying a gun, strapping it on, not having a clue how to operate it, and firing it away.
Well, sheriff, it is a pleasure to have you here. First of all, I've appreciated watching you from a distance and the job you've done in Arizona, and I appreciate the refreshing honesty with which you're speaking to your citizens in Arizona.
BABEU: Thank you, governor.
HUCKABEE: Have a great weekend and a safe one out there in Arizona.
Coming up, Sean recently sat down with ventriloquist and impressionist Terry Fator, one of the greatest. He's talks about a new character that he has. He's going to add it his line in Las Vegas. Here's a little hint. That new character wants to make America great again.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HUCKABEE: Welcome back to "Hannity." Earlier this week, Sean sat down with the man behind one of the most successful shows on all of the Vegas Strip, ventriloquist Terry Fator. He introduced Sean to a huge new edition to the show. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEAN HANNITY, HOST: He has the number one show on the Vegas Strip and he has for many, many years. Our good friend Terry Fator is here. And I see you brought a new friend here.
TERRY FATOR, "TERRY FATOR, THE VOICE OF ENTERTAINMENT": Yes. He has joined my show. I don't know how he does it with his busy schedule.
It's so good to be here again, Sean. Do you know you get the greatest ratings when I'm on your show, don't you? You know that?
(LAUGHTER)
HANNITY: I do.
FATOR: You know, I can make Terry's show great again.
HANNITY: Is it not great?
FATOR: How are you going to make it great again?
I'm going to fire anyone in the show who doesn't do anything.
Like who?
Like you. You just sit there.
(LAUGHTER)
HANNITY: All right, so when did you come up with this idea? You were actually -- sorry. You're actually -- I did a town hall in Vegas before the Nevada primary, and you were in the audience. You are a Trump fan?
FATOR: I'm a huge Trump fan. I've been a supporter of Trump ever since the very beginning. My wife and I love him, we're going to vote for him, we think he's great. But when someone as colorful as Trump, and I don't do anything derogatory. It's all fun, you know, like it's huge. It's huge.
HANNITY: Yes.
(LAUGHTER)
HANNITY: So you first, you decided to do this, what was the reaction like when you first brought Trump out?
FATOR: Unbelievable. And I don't really do political humor. I guess it might be construed as political humor, but really it's how do you feel about, how does Trump feel about something? So I'm not making a political statement in my show. I'm letting Trump say what he feels about something. But his character is so creative and so bigger than life, you know.
HANNITY: It was huge.
FATOR: The reaction was huge.
HANNITY: Are you going to win the White House?
FATOR: Of course. Donald Trump never does anything if he doesn't win. I'm going to win. Do you know how I'm going to win? I'm going to make Mexico pay for it.
(LAUGHTER)
HANNITY: Are you going to build a wall first?
FATOR: Of course. All we need is just another brick in the wall. And Mexico is going to pay for it.
(LAUGHTER)
HANNITY: They're going to pay for every brick in the wall?
FATOR: Absolutely.
HANNITY: Donald, it's an honor to meet you. Thank you, sir.
FATOR: Here we go.
HANNITY: Nice to see you.
FATOR: Always nice to be here, Sean.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUCKABEE: Terrific. Our time is gone. Thanks for yours. Hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. This is Mike Huckabee, for Sean Hannity, goodnight.
Content and Programming Copyright 2016 Fox News Network, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Copyright 2016 CQ-Roll Call, Inc. All materials herein are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of CQ-Roll Call. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content.
https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/jindal-i-hope-world-leaders-are-rattled-by-trump-ariz-sheriff-warns-about-drug-cartel-assassins