Beto O'Rourke Will Try to Recapture Momentum at Tonight's CNN Town Hall
BOLDUAN: Democratic presidential candidate, Beto O'Rourke, is looking to push the reset button and try to recapture the momentum he's lost since his highly anticipated campaign announcement. He's even been publicly admitting mistakes he's made.</s>JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, THE VIEW: Would you say those are mistakes? Being on the cover of "Vanity Fair"?</s>BETO O'ROURKE, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Yes, so --</s>BEHAR: It looks elitist? What?</s>O'ROURKE: Yes. Yes, I think it re-enforces that perception of privilege. And that headline that said I was born to be in this, in the article is attempting to say that I felt that my calling was in public service. No one is born to be president of the United States of America, least of all me.</s>BOLDUAN: So he's got another shot tonight to make his case to voters, in a CNN town hall, 10:00 eastern, with chief political correspondent, Dana Bash. It's all happening in Des Moines, Iowa. Let's go there. CNN political director, David Chalian, is standing by. David, Beto O'Rourke, he started off with huge fanfare, huge fund- raising haul, lots of attention, and now all the talk is about Beto O'Rourke and his need to reboot his campaign. Where does he stand right now as he's about to go into this town hall?</s>DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes, as you just pointed out with that clip from "The View" Kate, that talk isn't coming from some faraway place. It's coming from Beto O'Rourke himself who is out there talking about the need to regroup here and try a different approach. You know, he clearly, and his team around him, are trying to have him be a little less freewheeling and a little more focused on policy prescriptions, a little more presidential, if you will, in how he presents himself. But there's no doubt he lost some steam from where he was as you said in that very anticipated entrance. But you know, we should also caution, there's a long time from now until the Iowa caucuses. I think some 258 days to be exact. And to write him off or anyone off at this point would be a fool's errand.</s>BOLDUAN: What is at stake for him then tonight?</s>CHALIAN: Yes, this is a big moment. Because he's been hosting town halls in the early states, but this is getting up in front of a national television audience and really going to take questions on a whole host of topics. We have seen voters across this country through our entire series of town halls ask about everything from health care to reparations to criminal justice reform. And so he is going to have to sort of in this reintroduction to voters, and for many people getting their first impression with him, Kate, to really spell out his vision for the future of America, why he is the best equipped, of 23 Democrats, to stand on that fall debate stage in 2020 with Donald Trump.</s>BOLDUAN: So maybe tonight, what I have kind of been struggling with will be answered or maybe not. Here it is. With Biden holding a big lead right now, but a lot of time left, and 23 people in the field, is that more than enough time for a reboot or do you really only get one chance at a first impression?</s>CHALIAN: You know, Kate, I think it is more than enough time. Here is what I know. You're right. Joe Biden, formidable front-runner, no doubt about it. Surprised many people how strong his front-runner status is out of the gate. But I can't think of a time in modern presidential campaign history where someone just walks through with the nomination from beginning to end and doesn't get some sort of challenge. So there's going to be a battle for this nomination. It's not just going to be a coronation of Joe Biden. So I think there's plenty of time for some of these other candidates to make their case to these Democrats.</s>BOLDUAN: An important next chapter, though, at least beginning probably tonight with this town hall and that opportunity. Great to see you, David.</s>CHALIAN: Yes.</s>BOLDUAN: Can't wait to see you. I really appreciate it.</s>CHALIAN: Thanks.</s>BOLDUAN: You can watch it all happen tonight, the CNN town hall with Beto O'Rourke from Des Moines, Iowa. Dana Bash moderates, at 10:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN. We're following some breaking news. We're continuing to keep an eye on the skies and the water. Water rescues are under way right now in central parts of the United States after 19 tornadoes ripped through four states. We'll take you live to hard-hit Oklahoma to figure out what's the latest on the ground there right now. We'll be right back.