[Poppy Harlow, Cnn Anchor:] Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Poppy Harlow, in for Carol Costello. She's back tomorrow. AT THIS HOUR with Berman and Bolduan starts now.
[Kate Bolduan, Cnn Anchor:] Another wild ride on Wall Street. This time investors shrugging off problems overseas and head back into the market big time. And Jeb Bush is trying to clarify his comments about so-called "anchor babies." In doing so, he finds himself in even more of a mess. Presidential hopeful, Senator Lindsey Graham, is here to weigh in on that and some surprising new poll numbers. And also new this morning, chilling details about the final moments of a Louisiana state trooper's life and the Good Samaritans who tackled the suspect as he tried to flee. I'm going to speak to a friend and colleague of that trooper this hour. Hello, everyone. I'm Kate Bolduan. John Berman is off this morning. Thanks so much for joining us. We begin with the presidential blessing and the prospect that Joe Biden may soon jump into the race for the White House. The vice president last night reportedly holding had close friends and political operatives over to his home at the Naval Observatory to chat about what a campaign might look like if he decided to seek the Democratic nominations. A lot of caveats there. CNN has learned that talk came hours after President Obama gave Biden his blessing of sorts. A senior Democrat saying that the president made clear he would not stand in Biden's way if he chose to run and he wouldn't advise him against a run. Biden, of course, doesn't need the president's permission, and the president's blessing should not be read as an endorsement we're told. At the White House briefing, Press Secretary Josh Earnest was asked about Biden. Here is what he said.
[Josh Earnest, White House Press Secretary:] I think the president's view about Vice President Biden's performance as the vice president of the United States should give you a sense of the president's belief in his aptitude for the top job.
[Bolduan:] There you have it, I guess. So is Biden in? Is Biden out? What does it mean for President Obama who may be stuck in the middle? Joining me is CNN political analyst, John Avlon; and CNN political commentator, Margaret Hoover. I have the better half with me in studio.
[Margaret Hoover, Cnn Political Commentator:] While Obama's sort of blessing is important, Joe Biden, in my view, has two women to thank for this moment. One is Hillary Clinton and the second is Elizabeth Warren. If it were not for her softening poll numbers, this question about her trustworthiness, fundamental question about her integrity in office, we wouldn't be here right now, he wouldn't be here right now, he wouldn't even be having these thoughts. If it weren't for the possibility that Elizabeth Warren might endorse him or join his campaign or effort in some way that could really change the dynamics of the Democratic race, this wouldn't be serious either. This is more than Joe Biden has been able to do for himself as a candidate the times he's run. Remember in 1988, he backed out because of plagiarism charges. In 2008, he only won 1 percent of Iowa and had to step down himself. So really he has not just President Obama but Hillary Clinton herself and Elizabeth Warren to thank.
[Bolduan:] Sometimes, often times it is better to be lucky than good, at least in the news business. John, the blessing should not be read as an endorsement, we're told, but he has said, being the president, that picking Biden was the best political decision that he has made. Of course, in that implicitly is he's not saying that his appointment of Hillary Clinton for secretary of state was the best decision he has made. Should people are reading into that?
[John Avlon, Cnn Political Analyst:] I would not read too much into that. Of course he's going to say that. Of course he feels that way. The president is in sort of a double blind here. The party has been previously very united around Hillary Clinton. I think Margaret makes great points about the circumstances. Some of them which have led to Joe Biden's rise. I think the other factor frankly is Donald Trump. Joe Biden has always been considered a bit gaffe-tastic but he's triangulated between Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton seems inauthentic, but he likes positively presidential next to Donald Trump. The president and the White House are in a double blind here because they're not going to stand in anyone's way. They're not going to throw Joe Biden under the bus. Of course, he's a valuable partner in the administration. But the numbers show Joe Biden is not as compelling a general election candidate as Hillary Clinton, and that's got to weigh heavily on Democrats' minds as well as they view this possible. The fight could be fun. It could be invigorating but will it lead to an outcome that has the most competitive nominee come the fall of 2016?
[Bolduan:] But, Margaret, let's continue to focus on President Obama then. What position does this put him in if Biden jumps in? The first word that comes to mind is awkward.
[Hoover:] I actually think for President Obama, look, he's on his way out, thinking about his legacy, who is going to carry on his legacy. Right now he has one choice, Hillary Clinton. She's the only person in the race that sort of viably could win and she does have this argument of a historic candidacy behind her. But if, for example, Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren were to get in, and they were to shake up the field, then actually if you're President Obama looking at who is best to carry on my legacy, who is going to fight for Obamacare, the middle class, the little guy, gives him a choice at least.
[Bolduan:] Do you give any credence to the fact that the press secretary yesterday said it is possible that the president could endorse in the primary. Do you think that's possible?
[Hoover:] Anything is possible. Look, I think more than anything that says that Mr. Earnest has been in a terrible position having to defend the Hillary e-mail situation behind the podium every day for the last two weeks. I think he would be delighted to not have to answer those questions.
[Bolduan:] One thing I find fascinating, and I think you will as well, John, he's huddling with key Obama advisers, he's meeting with fund- raisers, he has this meeting with Senator Elizabeth Warren. Yes, Washington is leaking like a sieve. But why are we learning so many details of what is considered to be a secret process when you're considering it?
[Avlon:] I wonder how that's happening because the Biden team obviously is leaking. It's part of the drum beat of speculation they've benefited from and, you know, really in the wake of his son's tragic passing, there's an additional halo effect. But obviously, this is being pushed out as a way of increasing speculation. I would just say that the people most excited about this are Republicans because they recognize that if Hillary Clinton is not the nominee, their chances of winning a general election goes up whether it's Biden or not. The ultimate legacy for any president is being succeeded by a president of your own party. But Republicans have a real interest in both weakening Hillary Clinton through investigations and innuendo and then seeing a vibrant fight that could possibly leave her damaged or not the nominee. They realize that, too. Where you stand is a matter of where you sit on this one.
[Bolduan:] That's right. And I sit right in the studio, which means nothing. Great to see you, John.
[Avlon:] Sure.
[Bolduan:] Coming up, another wild ride on Wall Street, but today things are looking up. The Dow surging after a day of really what a lot of folks described as sheer panic. So what should we make of it this time? And risking their lives. Two heroes jump in and wrestle a shotgun from an armed man just after he shoots a state trooper during a traffic stop. The latest on that investigation ahead. And dramatic escape. We'll take up inside the tunnel two killers used to make their brazen break out of prison. How they inched their way underground to freedom.