Manhattan billionaire may enter the race, Michael Bloomberg. First jeff zeleny on the democrats. I know some of you are already supporting me, and i thank you. And i know some of you are still shopping. I like to shop, too. Reporter but the shopping season is running short. And the democratic race between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in iowa is deadlocked. She continues presenting herself as a realist, taking aim at sanders proposals, starting with free college tuition. I disagree with my esteemed opponent senator sanders. I dont think its right to give me and my husband free college for our child. I think that if you can afford to pay, you should pay. Reporter sanders rallied voters all weekend and today asking them to join what hes calling a revolution. A Political Movement to bring real change. Now nothing that i have described to you today is utopian. It is not pie in the sky. In fact, much of what ive talked to you about today exists today in other countries on earth. Reporter the stakes of the election are high, and emotional. And its so hard to do anything to pay your bills. Reporter as sanders saw firsthand today. It is not easy for people to stand up and say that. So i thank you for saying and for telling us whats going on in your lives because the truth is, you cant make it on 12,000. You cant live in dignity on 10,000 or less. Reporter sanders and clinton have been trailing one another across iowa trying to win over undecided voters and mobilize their supporters. But today, clintons voice showing the strain. You do talk a lot in this campaign. Reporter iowa is a test of campaign organization. And the real activity is taking place behind the scenes in offices across the state. See you on february 1st, iowa. Reporter the caucuses are no traditional election. Its a series of galleries across the state next monday night. The candidates are telling voters how to take part. The implications stretch far beyond iowa. Sue sorden supported clinton last time and will again. But sees sanders big crowds and worries. I came and listened to bernie. I loved his ideas, but i dont know that they are very practical. I dont know that they could be implemented. I just think hillary has been around the political block a few times, and i feel more comfortable with her. Reporter how does this feel versus that . Im always nervous. Im always nervous when my candidates on a little shaky ground. I was very confident hillary was going to win eight years ago. Jeff zeleny joins us now. You spent a lot of time covering things back here in 2008. How do things feel the same or different . Hillary clinton has learned her lessons, or they say they have, from 2008. Spent almost all year building an organization and they wont be surprised again. And Bernie Sanders is not barack obama. No question about it. But one thing thats changed is the power of social media. Bernie sanders big crowds are because he puts something on facebook and people come. The question is will the power of social media, these young supporters, actually turn out for this arcane process one week from tonight. A process many may have not have participated in until now. They are a key demographic age 17 to 25. All of whom could not vote some eight years ago. All right. Jeff zeleny, thanks. Theres a lot to talk about. Jeff will stay with us. I want to bring in cnn political commentator donna brazile, top dnc official and katrina vandenhoevel. At the top of the program, we mentioned cnns new polling showing Bernie Sanders gaining a bit of ground nationally. We should also point out there was a fox news poll in iowa showing Hillary Clinton leading sanders 48 to 42 . If she can pull off a win here, thats would be a big change in momentum for her, would it not . Look at the poll cnn just released. It shows Bernie Sanders has essentially recreated the Obama Coalition. Extraordinary support, 74 among 18 to 29yearolds. Very strong support among independents. And also what struck me was the democrats say they are happy, comfortable with both candidates. Anderson, i think what Bernie Sanders needs to do tonight is speak forcefully about why he is a realist and a doer. His ideas are practical. They are in the mainstream of american political ideas, and he needs to say that the new realism is that we must dismantle a rigged, corrupted Political Economic system if were going to have the transformational changes this country desperately needed. Thats why he has such enthusiasm. Will he get them out, the younger voters, to a byzantine process jeff spoke of . That remains to be seen. Donna, do you really believe that sanders has recreated the Obama Coalition . Among africanamericans, although senator obama didnt really have huge africanamerican support early on. Senator sanders is lacking compared to senator clinton. The comparisons at this point dont exist in large part because we dont know exactly what the electorate will look like next monday night. President obama did several things quite well. He energized the electorate, brought in new voters. He was like one of the first candidates to really, truly expand the electorate. I didnt see that kind of enthusiasm for years on the democratic trail. He was also able to capture independents. Remember, independents can go and caucus with democrats, as long as they register that night as a democrat. So i think tonight is very important because Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders and Martin Omalley because even with 2 , 5 , they dont reach viability. Martin omalley supporters can, if its a close caucus, they can rally with secretary clinton, or senator sanders voters. You have a lot of people who are still uncommitted. They are still shornp, as hilla clinton said earlier. Are they shopping for the revolution . Are they shopping for the candidate who will be able to implemts many of the policies that both senator sanders and secretary clinton agrees on. This is a very key moment tonight. This town hall will not only help galvanize the race in the closing days of the campaign but might energize more voters to turn out. I think when donna speaks let me just bring in jeff here. As much as the Clinton Sanders race nationally may be close and on a statebystate basis, when you look lets put these numbers up. You look at some of these polls, a lot of democrats still say by a wide margin they expect Hillary Clinton will be the nominee. No doubt. She has all the attributes of the establishment. She has, you know, the support of the establishment. Right now, yes, most people believe shell be the nominee. If Bernie Sanders beats her, thats could change that calculus. Its important to step back and show how strong she is. He is still an independent. He calls himself now a democrat, selfavowed socialist. How will that play out once people actually start going after that . Even in South Carolina and the next steps beyond here. He does not have the support from the Diverse Coalition of africanamerican voters and others, but he does have support in all those caucus states that barack obama won some eight years ago. Minnesota, montana. This race could go on for a long time, particularly if he wins here in iowa. I think theres this argument that Bernie Sanders will somehow plateau, that after iowa, New Hampshire, which are largely white, rural states, he cant surpass Hillary Clinton. I was talking about Bernie Sanders recreating the Obama Coalition in iowa. Listen, Bernie Sanders is still introducing himself to millions of americans who like what they are hearing. Jeff is right. They are shopping. But the media, lets be honest. Bernie sanders tonight could remind people that nine months ago he was at about 3 . Hes at 38 . The media lavishes so much attention on donald trump they forgot about the huge rallies bernie was holding last summer. Hes come a long way. The poll released tonight shows he is onethird support, pretty good support among nonwhites, minorities, a coalition he needs to speak to carefully. Hes just introducing himself. Its possible. The other factor tonight on Hillary Clinton, she wrapped herself, made herself out to be a candidate of continuity in this moment of change. Jeff spoke of the establishment candidate. I think thats a tough position to be in at this moment of such volatility. People seeking change. Well, iowa is famous for putting it in front of a when you talk about the establishment, she has lots of labor Union Activists on board supporting her. Planned parenthood, women activists, civil rights activists. A lot of activists who are bringing the energy and enthusiasm that i think Bernie Sanders is also getting from the grassroots. This is a good moment for democrats and great for america, and im glad we have two candidates and three candidates, really, who are out there fighting for every vote. Its in stark contrast to the gop. Katrina raises a good point. Has Hillary Clinton boxed herself in by listeninging herself to so closely to president obama . You want my opinion on that . Look, i support my president. I think hes done a fantastic job. He hasnt been right on all the issues but hes been really good for the country. The fact she says shes going to continue to protect health care, shes going to continue to create jobs like president obama. She has said a lot of things that is consistent with what democrats believe and i think a lot of independents and republicans, if they can get the tape off their mouth. Hillary clinton will be able to come up with a message that says president obama has done x, y and z very well and were going to continue that. We have to continue to create jobs, make college more affordable. Here are ways that i think i can do a better job. Theres no reason why she should be boxed in just because she is supporting the president on those key issues. And donna brazile, katrina vanden heuvel. Speaking of president obama, he weighs in on the two leading democrats. Even though hes not officially endorsing anyone, some think he gave more than a little boost to headquart Hillary Clinton. Donald trumps final push for voters here. And every time someone gets close, someone gets hit. Well talk about that with a cnn democratic town hall less than an hour away. Stay tuned. If you have high Blood Pressure many Cold Medicines may raise your Blood Pressure. Thats why theres coricidin® hbp. It relieves cold symptoms without raising Blood Pressure. So look for powerful Cold Medicine with a heart. Coricidin® hbp. Human maintenance guy would acti got to hang a picture. Am. It may not seem like much, but to that resident it was the best thing in the world. Its amazing to me because it takes me seconds. But yet, when i go into the apartment, im there for half an hour. It is not just hanging a picture, it is conversing, it is being a friend. There arent old people there. There are actually young people with old clothing on. My lineage was the vecchios and zuccolis. Through ancestry, through dna i found out that i was only 16 italian. He was 34 eastern european. So i went onto ancestry, soon learned that one of our ancestors we thought was italian was eastern european. This is my ancestor who i didnt know about. He looks a little bit like me, yes. Ancestry has many paths to discovering your story. Get started for free at ancestry. Com welcome back. 45 minutes until the Democratic Candidates take the stage in des moines. The audience is already full. Nearly 300 press credentials shalled. A lot of eyes on that stage and the National Race with news breaking and new polling coming out about hourly these days. High stakes this week and tonight. Joining us is town hall moderator and new day coanchor chris cuomo. How is this going to work . I have the best seat in the house. Yours is pretty good. Anderson doesnt like compliments but its the truth. Town hall is different. This is the opportunity for the voters to directly bring the concerns of their heart and head to the candidates. They are coming out one at a time. One at a time. Theyll never be on the stage together, which i think is helpful for this. Because if they wont get into that typical, well, forget about me. Heres why anderson is not the right guy. Instead of that, theyll have to address this directly. I think there will be a different dynamic. You sit across from big shots all the time. If they dont like your question they say, let me tell you what matters. You cant do that to a voter. This is someone talking to you about their life and what matters to them. You are asking the questions or is it all people in the audience . Followups . Off the top, just a little scene setting there, get into some news of day, highlight points with each of them that are relevant from a news perspective. Then right into the voters. My job is, less is more. So if something isnt addressed, when the question specifically is asked for, then we get into it. If theres a necessary follow, well get in. The incentive is to move it along and get as many voters at possible. Clinton and sanders have been highlighting the differences between them than the first debate that we did so many months ago. They call it contrast now. Its not negativity. Its not criticism. Its contrast. Sanders then omalley and then clinton . Yes. Thats the order . Yes. Theyll all get equal time. Have you been working on this obviously, youve been working on this a while. What are you expecting tonight . Are you expecting them to go after each other or because theyre not on the same stage to more interact with the audience . Ordinarily, i feel like i know what were going to get. I dont know how theyll deal with questions they dont like coming from the audience. I do expect them to try to go outside the lines a bit. Thats why were here. All right. Well look forward to it. Chris cuomo. Well also talk to chris right after the town hall is over as well. President obama made such a big impression here eight years ago. Getting plenty of buzz. The reason, a 40minute interview he did with politico. Listen to how he assesses the two frontrunners and judge for yourself. I think bernie came in with the luxury of being a complete long shot, and just letting loose. As ive said before, i think that, like any candidate, her strengths can be her weaknesses. Her strengths, which are the fact that shes extraordinarily experienced and wicked smart and knows every policy inside and out, sometimes could make her more cautious and campaign more in prose than poetry. But those are also her strengths. It means she can govern, and she can start here day one more experienced than any nonVice President has ever been, who aspires to this office. Well, lets talk about the obama factor. Cnn political analyst and New York Times president ial Campaign CorrespondentMaggie Haberman joins me. Also cnn senior political reporter nia Mallika Henderson joins me as well. Its interesting hearing president obama talk about these two candidates. What jumped out to you in his remarks . He was very clear. He was asked by our former colleague, do you see an analog between now in 2008 and Bernie Sanders now . He said, i dont think so. Thats a ream message to Bernie Sanders supporters. The other thing that struck me was that he basically absolved Hillary Clinton of attacks on him in 2008. Youve seen various democrats and some republicans point to the attacks she leveled against him in that fight. This inoculated her. I took some things too seriously. They werent that big a deal. That gives her a real line going into tonight. I think thats right. We dont know sort of privately that obama as well as his top aides favored Hillary Clinton. But i think this was as close as hes come so far. I do think there was that absolution that he gave her from 2008. So i think that was important. And one of the things i wonder if Hillary Clinton will almost just the audio of him praising her and really making the point she wants to make about her campaign, which is that she is the one who can deliver. Shes been making that more and more. Weve seen both from clinton and sanders, whether its contrasting their policies with each other. They have been getting more aggressive. You compare the last debate, very interesting to see what happens tonight on this stage compared to the first democratic debate where bernie said enough of the damn emails. Literally some of the exact same lines are being used by Hillary Clinton against Bernie Sanders that she used against barack obama and some of the same lines he is using that barack obama used against her. You are seeing it appeal to types of voters as opposed to a heart head contrast. The race has tightened. In iowa in particular, its gotten very close. And the clinton case is going to be made on getting out the vote. The sanders case will be made on enthusiasm. You broke this story about Mike Bloomberg. How real is this . Hes really thinking about it. This is real. Its not consultant driven. This is somet