[Tapper:] Welcome back. For such a complicated process vice presidential vetting often produces relatively uncomplicated choices. Take current House Speaker Paul Ryan, Governor Romney's 2012 running mate. He was squeaky clean. But things get tricky as they did with Sarah Palin in 2008. There are nonstop stories about candidates past, family and every skeleton real or imagined hidden away. So why is Governor John Hickenlooper, a guy who admits to getting high, taking naked pictures, and being arrested for drunk driving potentially on Hillary Clinton's VP list? He sat down with Jake to talk about it.
[Jake Tapper, Cnn:] Governor, thanks so much for being here.
[Governor John Hickenlooper , Colorado:] Yes, glad to be on.
[Tapper:] Now we should explain your life in beer. This is not because you have a problem. This is because you started your career in brewing and as a restaurateur.
[Hickenlooper:] I started out as geologist and had five great years in the gas business and then the price of oil collapsed, the company got sold. And for a couple of years, I was out of work and ended up starting a brew pub in this old abandoned warehouse in lower downtown Denver back when the rent was at $1 per square foot per year.
[Tapper:] That was a long time ago.
[Hickenlooper:] Yes.
[Tapper:] So and then from there to mayor of Denver to governor of Colorado. I have to say, for a politician, if you'll pardon me, for a politician's memoir, it's a rather jarring beginning. You start off basically talking about the end of your first marriage and you come to Washington, D.C., and you and your wife go to the hotel and there's a bed and you haven't $ slept in the same bed for a long time. It's a very unusual way to start a book.
[Hickenlooper:] Yes. It was actually my ex-wife's idea to make that the first chapter. She helped write part of the book. She came to my wedding a few months ago. We're very we're still family but a different kind of family. You know, it was I got into public life because I wanted people to believe in government. I thought people in small business should bring some common sense to government. We hate government. We hate ourselves. America, they are us. So I thought if I was going to write a book like this, I had a story that might matter to other people, I should be authentic. I should be flat out tell the truth. To reveal not just the good stuff I'm proud of, but some of the stuff I'm sorry that I did.
[Tapper:] So the first sentence of the book, publicist's pitch to us. I realize you didn't write it. The first sentence of the pitch is you are a solid contender to be the next vice president. Obviously Hillary Clinton should she get the nomination is going to be looking for a vice president. Is a job you would be interested in? Would you submit? Is this book the submission? Here's all warts and all? Here's everything
[Hickenlooper:] If I was auditioning for a VP slot, I probably a lot of things I probably should have left out of the book. But I love being governor. Colorado right now is at the nexus of a lot of great things that are going on. Our unemployment is down to 3 percent. We have job growth. We're transforming our education system, our health care. I think we're finally getting our arms around bending down the cost of health care. It would be tough to walk away from a place like Colorado. It's pretty beautiful to live there, too. I don't mind point out.
[Tapper:] There is a lot of, I should say, when you say warts and all. You're not kidding. There's a thing about a drunk driving arrest, smoking marijuana, and a nude self-portrait.
[Hickenlooper:] Long ago. We are talking college, just to be clear.
[Tapper:] I want to ask you about Colorado. It is a battle ground state. Will Donald Trump, should he be the nominee, will he be able to win that state do you think?
[Hickenlooper:] I think it's going to be a pitch battle, but I don't think he'll win. I think that Colorado is very independently minded, independence in almost every sense. I think they care a lot about character. I think they are faced with the prospect of their children looking up. Kids look up to the president of the United States. That's who they model themselves. He's been such a bully. I think he's a blow hard. I think the people of Colorado are going to that's going to repeal them I think.
[Tapper:] Governor Hickenlooper, it's great to have you here. Thanks so much. The book again, "The Opposite of Woe: My Life in Beer and Politics." Thanks so much for joining us.
[Hickenlooper:] You bet. I appreciate it.
[Sciutto:] That's it for THE LEAD. I'm Jim Sciutto. I turn you over to Pamela Brown. She is in "
[The Situation Room." Pamela Brown, Cnn Guest Anchor:] Happening now, third party threat, a leading