[Donald Trump, President Of The United States:] Democrats produce mobs. Republicans produce jobs. This November, vote for jobs, not mobs.
[Hill:] President Trump using one of his new campaign lines there against Democrats, who are leading in polling on generic ballots. But a new poll shows 50 percent of those polled want Democrats to control Congress. And 47 percent want Republicans to keep control, 41 percent there. The president's numbers are seeing a spike. And 47 percent of those polled approve of the way the president handles his job. In campaign appearances, the president says he's not on the ballot, but let's be honest, he's on the ballot. If he's right, the Democrats, could they be in more trouble with the election than they think at this point? Joining us, Kevin Madden, CNN political commentator and Republican strategist, and CNN political commentator and former manager for Hillary for America, Robby Mook. Good to have both of you here. As we look at this, Robby, for all this talk of the blue wave, as we know we have heard, Republicans do seem to have momentum today. So where do Democrats need to be focusing with 15 days to go, Robby?
[Robby Mook, Cnn Political Commentator:] Well, these are the highest numbers we have seen for the president so far. Some polls have shown it lower, but that aside, there are all the indications here of a very good year for Democrats. They are leading on the generic ballot, as you said. By the way, by the same amount the Democrats won the popular vote in 2006 when we picked up 31 seats in the House, which would be enough to win the majority here. Huge gender gap, leading by 25 with women. Historic number of Republican retirements. The list goes on and on. This is shaping up to be a good year. I think the important thing for everybody to pay attention to is there are really two elections going on here. One is in the House of Representatives whereas I said we have very good prospects. We need to work hard. We can't take it for granted, but it's a good map for us. A lot of governorships, these are really good races. I think we're going to pick up a number of governorships. I wouldn't be surprised if we get the majority of governors in the country coming out of the elections. The Senate is different. It's a ruby red map. So after election day, there's going to be something for everybody to point to here. And say that they won. But I would argue that the House map and the gubernatorial map, that is much more representative of the country as a whole, and Democrats are going to do very well there.
[Hill:] That is a rather diplomatic answer in many ways. But interesting to see all of the things you're pointing out as you head into the final two weeks. Kevin, on the Republican side, we're seeing and hearing more from President Trump. We know his happy area is out there in an area where he's well loved. What do you think is breaking through at this point for Republicans? Is it Kavanaugh, is it President Trump simply being out there? Is it sort of this narrative that President Trump is weaving about the caravan of migrants?
[Kevin Madden, Cnn Political Commentator:] Well, I think it's a confluence of all of those different elements. I think what's key about the president's approval rating is that it is an indication that Republicans are coming home. If you look at the headlines from even just two months ago, Erica, the Republican Party was listless and had a big enthusiasm gap. And while Robby is right, pointing out a lot of the elements that are factoring into Democrat enthusiasm, what we have seen now with these recent numbers, with the generic ballot and the president's standing is Republicans have narrowed the enthusiasm gap. I think the question that we're going to have on election day is where is that enthusiasm being applied? If it's in some of these suburban areas where as Robby pointed out we have a gender gap, where you have suburban women coming out, registering much more favorably for Democrats, we'll be able to maybe compete or win a couple seats Democrats had already put in the win column. That will minimize, I think, some of the losses that the party that is aligned with the incumbent in the White House usually has in midterm elections.
[Hill:] As we're looking at all of this, and even just touching on, Robby, some of what we're hearing from the president on the campaign trail, he's throwing out some wild lies, and downright misinformation as we're hearing when it comes to the caravan and jobs related to arms sales to Saudi Arabia. But we know historically speaking that going toe to toe with Donald Trump doesn't work. It tends to backfire. So what is the plan on the part of Democrats to counter some of that misinformation over the next two weeks?
[Mook:] Well, you see Democrats out there, a number of the debates going on, Republicans are attempting to also distort information out there, comparing them to other elected officials, making up outright lies about their careers. They're speaking out on that. But I will say, I think Trump's strategy is limited. Again, this is where this comes down to two maps. I think he's doing everything he can to pull out the Republican base and some of those really red states. That might help them protect or pick up some Senate seats. But I don't think it's going to save them, as Kevin pointed out, in the suburban area that are so important for the House map and the gubernatorial map. We saw in the Virginia elections last year, those were really the first, quoteunquote, "elections we had since the presidential." Turnout was high. Ed Gillespie, the Republican, got more votes than anybody who had been governor before that, who had won that race before that. But the Democrat got so many more votes because that Democratic intensity was so high, and in fact, for the first time, we're seeing that likely voters, Democratic likely voters, that that turnout intensity is higher than ever before. That's a big deal for Democrats. So I think turnout is going to be incredibly high across the board. Trump is going to do everything he can to push it up with his base, but I think Democrats are going to have that advantage going in.
[Hill:] Just real quickly, before I let you go. I want to play you sound from over the weekend. People are fired up, outraged. The way it's manifesting has people on both sides of the aisle upset.
[Unidentified Male:] Look at this piece of
[Hill:] Nancy Pelosi being confronted. Mitch McConnell as well. Kevin, I'll let you kick it off, but I would love to get an answer from both of you. How important is it for candidates and lawmakers to address this issue of civility moving forward? Kevin?
[Madden:] Well, very important because the key to successful policy is bringing together coalitions from across both aisles. And in order to do that, Mitch McConnell is going to need Democrat support, and if Nancy Pelosi were to become speaker, she's going to need some Republican support in order to get things done. They have to address it if they're hoping to be successful. But I think this just is a reflection of where we are two weeks away from an election day where both parties believe that juicing their bases is the path to victory. They're very focused on drawing a contrast with the other party. As a result, you see the most vocal based supporters showing up in public like this with demonstrations like that.
[Hill:] Robby, I have 15 seconds or I'm in big trouble.
[Mook:] I largely I'll be bipartisan. I agree with Kevin on this. I will say, our president has normalized this kind of behavior. As long as he's in office, it's going to be the norm, unfortunately.
[Hill:] Robby Mook, Kevin Madden, always a pleasure to speak with you both. Thank you.
[Madden:] Great to be with you.
[Mook:] Thank you.
[Hill:] I want to share more information. Nancy Pelosi just telling our own Dana Bash, "If the election were held today, the Democrats would handily win the House," she said. "I can only speak in the present tense, though," she went on to say, "because you never know." She's speaking with Dana Bash right now at the citizen event here at CNN. We'll bring you anything else of importance that is said as it happened. Stay with us. You're watching CNN.