Interview with Lieutenant Governor of Michigan Garlin Gilchrist.
SCIUTTO: This just in to CNN, the president's trip to the CDC in Atlanta today, which was off -- the president revealed, because there were concerns a worker there had contracted the disease -- that trip, his visit, is now back on. That worker tested negative. We will bring you that visit and his comments there as they happen. In other news, six states are now in focus as the 2020 Democrats campaign ahead of Super Tuesday part two -- which comes next Tuesday -- with 125 delegates up for grabs. Michigan's is the biggest prize on that day, and Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, they are ready to fight it out. Joining me now, Michigan's lieutenant governor, Garlin Gilchrist. Lieutenant Governor, nice to have you on this morning. You of course, the governor endorsed Joe Biden this week. What made you decide to back Biden this time around?</s>GARLIN GILCHRIST (D), LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN: Well, I'm proud to endorse Joe Biden because the vice president has been a friend to the entire state of Michigan, and especially to the city of Detroit. He has shown up over the years for the auto industry, he's shown up to protect health care, he's shown up to deliver on transportation and internet access. He has been a friend to this community. And people will win Michigan when they show up. And he's proven that, time and time again over the years. That's why I'm proud and I trust that he is going to do that for us as our nominee, and as the next president.</s>SCIUTTO: Who has the nominee? Because Sanders, he won Michigan in 2016. That was a big surprise, a big upset at the time over Hillary Clinton. Who has the advantage this year?</s>GILCHRIST: You know, I think the momentum is building. You saw that Super Tuesday was a really important day for the vice president as he delivered off the strength of the black vote, and so -- a large part of the country, coming off of the South Carolina primary. And that black vote is going to turn out in big numbers here in Michigan on Tuesday. Governor Gretchen Whitmer and I, you know, we were able to perform well because we competed in every part of the state. I think the vice president's going to do the same, and that's going to deliver a victory for him on Tuesday.</s>SCIUTTO: As you well know, in 2016, Trump won Michigan. That was considered a firewall for Democrats, it did not hold up in 2016. What is the necessary message to Michigan voters who might have voted for Trump in 2016, but also other voters who just didn't turn up to vote in 2016? What is the message the Democratic candidate, the nominee has to get to them to win that state back for Democrats?</s>GILCHRIST: Well, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and I laid the blueprint. Because while Donald Trump won Michigan by 10,000 votes in 2016, we won Michigan by 10 points in 2018. That's because we got to every part of the state and we listened to people, and we heard what they wanted us to focus on: roads and infrastructure, expanding and protecting access to health care, ensuring that we are investing in our education system. And that in Michigan, the Great Lake State, that we're protecting our environment and cleaning up our water. By focusing on the things that matter to people, how do we expand access to health care, how do we create and protect jobs by things like saving the auto industry. If we do those things, if -- Joe Biden is going to be the person who does those things for the people of Michigan, that's why I believe they're going to trust him on Tuesday and we can trust him as our nominee.</s>SCIUTTO: Elizabeth Warren has now suspended her campaign; she has not yet endorsed. Is her endorsement in your view powerful, going into the Michigan race? And what does Biden need to do, in your view, to win her support?</s>GILCHRIST: Well, Senator Elizabeth Warren was here on the night of Super Tuesday. And she is an incredible leader, and an incredible spokesperson for just how we can have ideas lead us forward into the future. And I think she absolutely has a powerful role to play, to help shaping the future of the party and the future of our politics here in Michigan and across the country, so you know, certainly we would welcome her support as we're moving forward. Because we need everyone to defeat Donald Trump. Donald Trump's agenda has been dangerous and backwards-looking, but it's time for us to move forward and I believe that Joe Biden is the right person to lead us forward.</s>SCIUTTO: The country is now grappling with the effects of the coronavirus outbreak, and really just at the beginning of a sense of how many people in this country will be affected by it as they begin to test on a large scale. What are Michigan voters telling you about the federal government's response so far?</s>GILCHRIST: Michigan voters are concerned, like people all over the country are, about how, you know, reckless the president has been with really not even funding and ensuring that the government has what it needs to provide basic public health and public safety protections. That is why in Michigan, we've taken action at the state level to ensure that we have what we need and what the people of Michigan need. We don't have any confirmed cases as of this point, but people want to know that their federal government is going to be there for them. And the way that you demonstrate that is by showing up, time and time again, and delivering for people. Joe Biden's done that, and that's why I think he is a leader that I'm confident in, and that people in Michigan can be confident in, will be able to step up to any challenge and deliver for people and deliver for public health. I mean, this is something that's super important. And we believe that our nominee will be Joe Biden, he'll do the right thing.</s>SCIUTTO: Big test coming up on Tuesday in the state of Michigan, and even a bigger one in November. Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, thanks so much for joining the program.</s>GILCHRIST: Thanks for having me.</s>SCIUTTO: Well, you heard it just moments ago. The president's trip to the CDC in Atlanta -- of course, the focus here, the one organization in charge of the response to the coronavirus -- it is back on. We will bring you his comments there, his visit as it happens. Thanks so much for joining me today. I'm Jim Sciutto. "AT THIS HOUR" with Kate Bolduan starts right now.