Q&A: Anderson Cooper talks U.S. election and Prime Minister Trudeau

TORONTO – Anderson Cooper is stumped by this U.S. presidential election.

“I think there’s no way to predict,” he said in a telephone interview with The Canadian Press.

“It seems like both these races are going to go to the convention and it’s going to be a fascinating summer. It goes on and on.”

The CNN anchor is making the media rounds to promote his new book, “The Rainbow Comes and Goes,” a collection of email correspondences with his mother Gloria Vanderbilt as they discussed their lives. Cooper spoke to CP about the looming vote, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his memories of Canada.

— On the U.S. election:

“It’s like none other I’ve ever covered,” Cooper says.

“The level of interest and engagement of voters and viewers so early in the process is like really nothing I’ve seen — even back in 2008 when you had President Obama. And this you have both on the Democratic side and on the Republican side, incredibly exciting races.

“So it’s unprecedented.”

— On Canadian news that he has his eye on and wants to cover:

“Certainly I think the new prime minister seems really interesting. He obviously came to the United States and made a big impression here. It would be interesting to meet him sometime.”

— On one of the most memorable Canadian news events he’s covered in the past:

“I was there up in Ottawa for the terror attack that occurred there and I found that incredibly moving to be there and just a really powerful time … to see the spirit with which people responded to that and the resilience of people there.

“I think Canada is an amazing place and wish I could say I have travelled more extensively, but it’s next on my list of places.”

— This interview has been edited and condensed.