Appearing as a guest in a pre-recorded segment on Saturday's CNN Newsroom, liberal comedienne Chelsea Handler slammed Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence as a "loser" who "should be sent to Utah and, like, locked up in a little barn there," inspiring laughter from CNN host Poppy Harlow as she responded, "I like Utah." Handler, a Hillary Clinton supporter, also declared that she is not simply supporting Clinton to oppose Donald Trump, lauding the Democratic nominee as "more qualified to do this job than maybe anybody ever in history," as she praised Clinton for being "divisive."
At about 7:52 p.m. ET, Harlow enthusiastically set up the pre-recorded piece:
Comedienne Chelsea Handler gets real about politics - like really real. Not holding anything back in this one. And, even though she makes people laugh for a living, this race is not fun and games to her. She is speaking loud and clear this election season. I sat down with her this week at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit in California.
Harlow began, "You're a huge Hillary Clinton supporter, no question," with Handler responding: "Yeah, I support Hillary Clinton."
The CNN host then followed up: "You've also said, 'Hillary may not be the best option, but she's a better option than him.' Are you more passionately in opposition of Trump or in favor of Clinton?"
The liberal comedienne replied: "I believe Hillary Clinton is more qualified to do this job than maybe anybody ever in history. I understand that she's also divisive. I like divisive. I'm divisive. I don't like pleasing everybody."
A bit later, Harlow started a game of word association, in which Handler would divulge what word comes to mind in response to famous people in the news. After tagging Democratic vice presidential nominee with the word "boring," in spite of supporting the
Democratic ticket, Harlow then brought up Mike Pence. Handler huffed: "Loser. He should be sent to Utah and, like, locked up in a little barn there."
Harlow was shown live again, and, as she laughed, the CNN host quipped, "I like Utah."
Below is a transcript of relevant portions of the Saturday, October 22, CNN Newsroom with Poppy Harlow:
7:52 p.m. ET
POPPY HARLOW: Comedienne Chelsea Handler gets real about politics - like really real. Not holding anything back in this one. And, even though she makes people laugh for a living, this race is not fun and games to her. She is speaking loud and clear this election season. I sat down with her this week at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit in California.HARLOW: You're a huge Hillary Clinton supporter, no question.
CHELSEA HANDLER, COMEDIENNE: Yeah, I support Hillary Clinton.
HARLOW: You've also said, "Hillary may not be the best option, but she's a better option than him." Are you more passionately in opposition of Trump or in favor of Clinton?
HANDLER: I believe Hillary Clinton is more qualified to do this job than maybe anybody ever in history. I understand that she's also divisive. I like divisive. I'm divisive. I don't like pleasing everybody.
HARLOW: But there's been all this talk about enthusiasm gap, right? And are people enthusiastic enough about the candidates to get out there? I mean, are you enthusiastic about Hillary Clinton?
HANDLER: Yes.
HARLOW: Or are you voting against Donald Trump?
HANDLER: No, I'm voting for Hillary Clinton.
(...)
HARLOW: Tim Kaine.
HANDLER: He's boring.
HARLOW (laughing): You're a Hillary supporter.
HANDLER: That's right. I don't have to be in love with Tim Kaine.
HARLOW: Mike Pence.
HANDLER: Loser. He should be sent to Utah and, like, locked up in a little barn there.
HARLOW: I like Utah. My thanks to Chelsea Handler for that. You'll see more of her online at CNNMoney.com, maybe a little bit more tomorrow night as well.
