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Delta State University Professor Shot And Killed In Office; Donald Trump Still Leading The Pack. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired September 14, 2015 - 15:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


[15:30:00] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: I wanted to have a geek out moment with you that we are here at the Reagan library. I need to go straight to Mississippi as we know a professor was shot and killed this morning, Professor Ethan Schmidt at the Delta State University. A news conference has just begun. Let's dip in.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They have come out from every aspect of this state, city or county. And we really appreciate everything they are doing to apprehend the person of interest and we feel very confident with the work they are doing and we thank them.

CHIEF CHARLES BINGHAM, CLEVELAND, MISSISSIPPI POLICE: Again, I'm going to reiterate what happened this morning at approximately 10:18 a.m., the Delta State University police department received a call of shots fired in Joe Hall. They immediately contact the Cleveland police department. Upon officers' arrival, a gentleman was found deceased in his office, who was later identified as Ethan Schmidt. We do have a professor of interest at this time and we're actively pursuing every lead that we have.

At the conclusion of this press conference, we will be releasing a copy of his photograph to the press. And we ask that anyone that knows this person or has contact with this person to please contact the Delta State University police department at area code 662-846- 4155. The Cleveland police department at area code 662-843-3611. The county sheriff's department at area code 662-843-5378.

The person of interest that we're looking for is Mr. Shannon Lamb. He is an employee of the university and at this time we're following up on leads. And we have nothing else to release at this time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: What is his connection to the professor Schmidt?

BINGHAM: We're not releasing any information on that part.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: Do you believe that Mr. Lamb may have been involved in a homicide (INAUDIBLE)?

BINGHAM: At this time we did have information that he possibly could be involved in a homicide (INAUDIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: Do you think he's still on campus?

BINGHAM: At this time, we don't think he is on campus, but we're not taking anything lightly. We're at the process now we went into lockdown. We made sure that the students, faculty, staff and administration were safe. And at this time, we're methodically going building to building to get the students out and let them leave and go home safely.

Our local high schools were locked down and at 3:00 we will have a significant police presence at these schools for the students from both schools to be able to go home to their parents also.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE) locked down?

BINGHAM: What was that, sir?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: Margaret Greet in the Elementary school also locked down?

BINGHAM: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: Was there -- is he connected to another homicide that happened here in town today at Mr. Schmidt's home?

BINGHAM: We have no information of another homicide here in town this morning.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: Did you know if he has record in the past, Mr. Lamb?

BINGHAM: No, not this time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: You say he is currently employed. Which department did he work in?

BINGHAM: I'm not sure. I was just advised he was an employee of the university.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: Current employee or former employee?

BINGHAM: Current employee. No students were injured.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: How many shots were fired?

BINGHAM: Sir?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE).

BINGHAM: No, sir. At this time, we're not releasing that information.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: About the weapon used?

BINGHAM: No, sir. We're not releasing that information.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: Do you (INAUDIBLE) he traveling in?

BINGHAM: Right now, we are not, but we will have another press conference in approximately an hour to an hour and a half. And we will at that time hopefully have more information for you concerning this. That's all the questions now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's all to complete our press conference. I will let you to get back the command staff so that --. Yes, if you'll hang out right here, we'll have a copy of the picture.

BALDWIN: All right. So, you just been hearing from law enforcement there in Cleveland, Mississippi. That is the home of Delta State University where we learned this morning that a professor Ethan Schmidt was shot and killed in his office. The news now is that police believe they know who did this. They have what they are calling a person of interest and they are actively pursuing him. They don't think he's on campus. He could be linked to a separate homicide from earlier about six hours away in Gautier, Mississippi. A female has been killed. Again could be connected.

You're watching CNN. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:38:46] BALDWIN: I'm Brooke Baldwin. You're watching CNN.

We're back here live in the middle of this Ronald Reagan library here in Simi Valley, California. I'm flanked by this stunning mountain range. Off camera, to me, it's a beautiful place to call home for all of us for the next couple days.

Listen. We're 48 hours away from the big show, the CNN Republican debate that could really change momentum, change this 2016 race for the nomination. Let me show you the candidates and remember 11 of them on that stage at 8:00 eastern come Wednesday night desperate, obviously, to steal the limelight from the man who is in the center, Donald Trump.

A new ABC News/"Washington Post" poll puts Trump on top of the Republican field and he's now at 33 percentage points. The only other in double digits is Ben Carson. Even seeing a 12-point jump in the key early primary state of New Hampshire. That's in Ne Monmouth University poll. That was also out today.

So let me bring Cheri Jaocbus, Republican strategist and here with me in Simi Valley, I have Kevin Madden, CNN political commentator and former national press secretary for Mitt Romney for president. So he has been through this rodeo a couple times.

So, welcome to both of you. Thank you so much for being with me.

And off the top here, Sherry to you first and then Kevin, I want you to name two candidates who will be let's say of the 11 Wednesday night that this will be make or break. Cheri?

[15:40:10] CHERI JACOBUS, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: I think Ben Carson, for one. He's doing well in the polls as we know coming in second very strong. What's also interesting is that when you're asked for a second choice, Ben Carson leads the others by quite a lot. So I think that you're going to see Ted Cruz coming after Carson because he wants that number two spot to Donald Trump. I don't think they are going after Donald Trump. They have an alliance.

Another one, Carly Fiorina. She has got some good bragging rights now going in. She just won the straw poll for the national federation of Republican women. We had Ted Cruz come in second. Ben Carson Third. Donald Trump, fourth. So this is her chance. As you know, you know, she's been trying to get to the grownups table as they say on the stage. She is there. So she has an opportunity.

I'm going to name one more, John Kasich. He has been the sleeper in this. He's doing a lot of grass roots work. He's gaining some key endorsements, but he's largely been laying low. He doesn't really want to have to make his candidacy be about Donald Trump. So I think that he has a shot to really shoot forward. So those would be the three-four, really, that I would be watching.

BALDWIN: OK. Kevin, you have two?

KEVIN MADDEN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well, I'm going to agree with Cheri on Carly Fiorina. I think this is an extraordinary opportunity. She used the first debate to break through into the top tier and really get a look from a lot of voters. I think those voters are going to be tuning again in to see if there's more of they like the first time around.

And this is an opportunity for her. I mean, and one thing she's struggled with has been name I.D. So this chance to get before tens of millions of new Republican voters and really build on that momentum is big.

I would say in the break column, I would say this is a big night for Scott Walker. Scott Walker has really seen his numbers plummet since the Donald Trump industrial news complex has taken over. And here's an opportunity for him to really breakthrough that clutter and show the people that were registering support for him again previously that he's back in the fold. So I think that will be interesting to see for him.

BALDWIN: We are 48 hours out. I was asking you if you're missing any of this or not you know. That didn't go around and he laughs. He laughs.

But Kevin, but 48 hours out, what is happening right now with these candidates in their campaigns? How into the needy-gritty are they that they have been, you know, readying for this for quite a while?

MADDEN: Well, I think this last 48 hours, they are doing a lot of polishing up on some of the policies. Some of the points that they want to make. Some of their strategies on how are they going to breakthrough on that stage.

I think the other part if it is when they start to do this walk through and they see that sight in how close they are going to be together, they are going to start thinking through the strategies of just the physical element of this debate. And starting to think of ways that they can break out in that sense. BALDWIN: They are basically, and I was asking you about this off

camera before, but they are basically from me to you. And so, we were talking about cringe worthy moments. And listen. All these candidates have cringe worthy moments where all there, you know, folks working with them off stage. But when you saw your guy, when you saw Mitt Romney grab Rick Perry like this, awkward.

MADDEN: Awkward.

Yes. The one thing you have to remember about these is more and more is that they become performances. And the optics really start to matter. And the optics can work in your favor. But when you do something like Mitt Romney and reach out, those optics can really start to be a difficult moment for the candidates. These debates are largely defined by moments of strengths and moments of weakness.

Now, somebody like Donald Trump who for the last 35 years has been a celebrity and is much more comfortable in these environments, it could work to his favor. And similarly, Jeb Bush who is, you know, more of a policy wonks, somebody who is focused more on substance, that physicality may work against them. So they are going to have to be waste overcome soon.

BALDWIN: How they use the audience because the front row is feet away. All of that will be at play.

Cheri, to you, totally off the lay of the land here. You know, one of the big stories we have been following at CNN is the story out of (INAUDIBLE), Kentucky with this, you know, county clerk Kim Davis who, you know, is out of jail. She is back at work today. They did allow a same-sex cup to get a marriage license, though he was MIA. But this whole story line about religious freedom, you know, we saw Huckabee and Ted Cruz there in Warhead, Kentucky last week. Obviously, big issues for them, but what about, you know, a Chris Christie or a Jeb Bush? How will those candidates take that question on Wednesday?

JACOBUS: Well, I'm assuming you have some inside information that that will be one of the questions.

BALDWIN: I have no inside information. I have not been inside the cone of silence, let me just say that. But I'm thinking about it.

JACOBUS: Yes. One thing that all of the candidates will struggle with and what they want to do well with is no matter what they are asked, of course, they want to address the question. And I know the format is such that they are going to be addressing each other. Jake Tapper has said that much.

But what they want to do is talk about their priorities. They want to define themselves. So if that is an issue with which they want to be defined by, then they should go ahead and talk about it. If there's something else that they can address that is related to that that they care more about, I think they should address that.

[15:45:12] MADDEN: Look. You know, I think there's an undercard here between Cruz and Huckabee and even Carson for the evangelical vote. Even if it's not asked as a question, I will bet they are going to try and leave it in because that's what they want. They won't allow these voters in places like South Carolina and Iowa which are early on in the contests on the calendar, they want the voters to know that they are the candidate that's going to stand up for their values in this race.

JACOBUS: I would agree on that issue.

BALDWIN: Cheri, to be continued. I promise, to be continued.

Cheri Jacobus and Kevin Madden, thank you so much for being with me.

And again, let me remind you, folks, must-see TV Wednesday night. The CNN presidential debate for the Republicans Wednesday at 6:00 eastern is when it begins here on CNN.

Coming up next, no surprise, we're all thrilled the energy, the anxiety is palpable here in Simi Valley. We'll take a look back, though, at the memorable and historic moments these huge events, these debates have produced in the past. We're going into the vault.

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[15:50:47] BALDWIN: I keep talking about this beautiful mountain range here in Simi Valley, California. The Santa Susana Mountains, our home for the next couple of days here. You see truck after truck, this is a busy place, folks. It is serene but it is about to get fiery come Wednesday night for the big Republican presidential debate here at the Reagan library.

Preparations well under way here in Simi Valley, California here. CNN has built this stage to -- flanked by President Reagan's Air Force One here, talk about historic hallowed ground. And no doubt a number of candidates are ready to really put it out there, win this debate, jab of course, and with a record number of candidates on stage. Remember there's going to be 11, this one will only add to the history books.

CNN's senior media correspondent and host of "Reliable Sources" Brian Stelter takes a look at some of the most memorable moments starting with Ronald Reagan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would the song man please turn Mr. Reagan's mic off?

BRIAN STELTER CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): 1980, the Republican primary debate, when Ronald Reagan essentially catapulted himself to the nomination.

RONALD REAGAN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I paid for this microphone, Mr. Speaker.

STELTER: He was funding the debate with his campaign money to try to include all the candidates. Of course he went onto win the New Hampshire primary and the presidency. In 1992, Jerry Brown and Bill Clinton got into a spat on the stage.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is funneling money to his wife's law firm for state business. That's number one.

BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't care what you say about me, but you ought to be ashamed of yourself for jumping on my wife. You're not worth being on the same platform as my wife.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I tell you something Mr. Clinton. Don't try to escape it.

STELTER: George W. Bush and John McCain argued about negative ads in a 2000 CNN debate.

GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is not an attack piece.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: That is not my campaign.

BUSH: Well, it says paid for by John McCain.

MCCAIN: It is not part of my campaign.

STELTER: And who can forget when Hillary Clinton was asked about her likability in 2008?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: What can you say to the voters of New Hampshire on this stage tonight who see a resume and like it but are hesitating on the likability issue where they seem to like Barack Obama more?

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, that hurts my feelings.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: I'm sorry, Senator. I'm sorry.

H. CLINTON: I don't think I'm that bad.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You're likable enough, Hillary.

H. CLINTON: Thank you.

STELTER: Former Texas governor Rick Perry would surely like to have this moment back from 2012.

RICK PERRY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's three agencies of government when I get there that are gone. Commerce, education and the -- what's the third one there? Let's see -- I can't. The third one I can't. Sorry. Oops.

STELTER: And then of course the FOX News Republican debate from just last month. New Jersey governor Chris Christie argued with Senator Rand Paul over the government's mass collection of personal communications. GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: When you're sitting

in a subcommittee just blowing hot air about this, you can say things like that.

SEN. RAND PAUL (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't trust President Obama with our records. I know you gave him a big hug. And if you want to give him a big hug again, go right ahead.

STELTER: And this moment needs no introduction.

MEGYN KELLY, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: You've called women you don't like fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals. Your twitter account --

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Only Rosie O'Donnell.

(LAUGHTER)

KELLY: No, it wasn't.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: What could happen Wednesday night? Brian Stelter joins me now.

Listen. Donald Trump, he's in Dallas. I know he's going to be in Mark Cuban's Dallas Mavericks arena tonight with thousands of people. In the meantime, Mark Cuban himself is apparently taken noticed of Trump's success. What is he now taking saying?

STELTER: That is right. And dropping hints about his interest in politics, yes. Emailing CNBC today, Mark Cuban saying if I got in the race I could crush Donald Trump. Cuban says he gets people saying every day to him that he should run for president and he is, you know, hinting that maybe mulling the idea now. Last year he said heck no when he was asked about a run for office.

So maybe this is a change for Mark Cuban. It just goes to show, Brooke, the celebrity moment that we're seeing in politics, Donald Trump the best example. Someone who knows how to be the star of his own TV show. And that's exactly what he is now as a presidential candidate. Well, Mark Cuban is the star of another show kind of like the apprentice, "Shark Tank," I'm sure people are going to be curious to see what Cuban is saying. Listen. Do I believe he's going to run for president? No, but it's a very interesting idea, isn't it?

[15:55:15] BALDWIN: Brian Stelter, thank you, my friend in New York.

STELTER: Thanks.

BALDWIN: Still ahead this Wednesday here at the Reagan library, it will be make or break for a number of these candidates when these Republican contenders who are all vying for their party's nomination faceoff 48 hours from now right here in Simi Valley, California, your guide to what to watch for here. You have to stay with CNN. We'll be right back.

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