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Iowa Caucuses Today; Attack in Damascus; WHO Calls for Emergency Neeting on Zika Virus; Boko Haram Attack in Nigeria; Thousands of Migrant Children Missing in Europe?. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired February 01, 2016 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:00] ERROL BARNETT, CNN NEWSROOM SHOW HOST: -- first votes in the presidential election season. The race is tight in both parties. And now the weather could play a role.
Plus, ISIS claims responsibility for a deadly attack in Syria's capital while peace talks struggle to make any headway in Geneva.
And the World Health Organization calls for an emergency meeting on the Zika virus. CNN heads to Uganda's Zika forest where the virus was first discovered.
A warm welcome to those of you watching here in the States and every one tuned in from around the world. I'm Errol Barnett. Thanks for joining my second hour of CNN Newsroom.
It is freezing right now, in the U.S. State of Iowa. But the race for the White House there is as heated as ever. In a matter of hours, Iowa will hold its presidential caucuses. The first voting in the 2016 nominating process.
The latest polls show a dead-heat for democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Meantime, republican Donald Trump has a slight lead over chief Ted Cruz. Now neither party has a clear frontrunner. And that's what the candidates stepping up their campaigns even at the last minute.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BERNIE SANDERS, (D) U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Is that if tomorrow night there is a large turnout in caucuses all over the state, I believe we will win.
HILLARY CLINTON, (D) U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want you to know what I will do as your president. I want you hold me accountable for delivering for you. I don't want to overpromise and under deliver. I'd rather under promise and over deliver.
TED CRUZ, (R) U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If I'm elected president, let me tell you what I intend to do on the first day in office. The first thing I intend to do, is rescind every single illegal and unconstitutional executive action taken by this president.
(APPLAUSE) DONALD TRUMP, (R) U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: By far, the Trump voter, the Trump person is the most loyal by far. They say Donald Trump can do practically anything and they're still voting for him. They're going to still caucus for him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton spent the eve of the caucus making final appeals to voters. But the latest Iowa polls showing the two candidates virtually tied.
CNN's Brianna Keilar has more.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: In the home stretch in Iowa, Hillary Clinton positioning herself as the defender of President Obama's legacy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: We are at 90 percent universal coverage right now. Senator Sanders wants to start all over again. He wants to plunge the country into a contentious debate.
KEILAR: Sanders pushing back.
SANDERS: I'm disappointed by the tone of her campaign. She is talking to the people of Iowa and saying Bernie Sanders wants to dismantle health care.
(CROWD BOOING)
SANDERS: Dismantle health care. I've been fighting for universal health care my entire life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: The Clinton campaign is criticizing Sanders for his endorsement of a new book, "Buyer's Remorse: How Obama let Progressives Down." Even as he meets with the president and courts his supporters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDERS: It's also important to remember how far we have come in the last seven years, under the leadership of President Obama and Vice President Biden.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: A key confidant of the presidents who has endorse Clinton, is former top aide, David Plouffe, tweeting, be honest then, Senator, run firmly against the Obama record. Despite the attacks, Sanders refusing to hit Clinton on one of her biggest vulnerabilities, the controversy of her State Department e-mails. The administration announcing it will not release 22 e-mails because they are top-secret.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDERS: There is a legal process taking place. I do not want to politicize that issue. It is not my style.
KEILAR: This is sanders' style.
SANDERS: Join in the political revolution. Thank you all very much.
KEILAR: Rallying a crowd of almost 4,000 college students this weekend in Iowa City. If he has enthusiasm on his side, Clinton is arguing she will be a more effective president.
CLINTON: I am a progressive who likes to get things done. I'm a progressive who likes to make progress.
KEILAR: The latest Des Moines Register poll showing Clinton and Sanders neck and neck here, one day before the crucial Iowa caucuses.
SANDERS: We're doing great.
KEILAR: Bernie Sanders is relying much more on first-time caucus goers. They do tend to be more unreliable about showing up. But when they come out, they can really make the difference. We saw that in 2008, with then-Senator Barack Obama.
Brianna Keilar, CNN, Des Moines.
BARNETT: Joining me now to discuss the battle among democrats is CNN political commentator Peter Beinart, he's also a contributor for the Atlantic.
[03:05:01] Peter, always great to see you. A lot of points to address here, but overall, with Clinton and Sanders in a statistical tie and with a blizzard watch in effect for Iowa, how important is the enthusiasm among Sanders' supporters? Could it really make the difference here?
PETER BEINART, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: It's very important. Sanders has had an advantage in terms of enthusiasm, throughout this entire race. What we don't know is whether he'll be able to translate that enthusiasm into turnout tomorrow, whether he has the organization or the capacity to do that in the way that Barack Obama did.
Because many of his supporters, the young people. People who are less reliable in turning out. Obama was able to bring them to the polls and get a turnout with a lot of new voters who voted for him. We don't know whether Sanders would be able to pull that off or whether could make it harder.
BARNETT: But we did had another twist this weekend on Friday. The State Department reported 22 of Hillary Clinton's e-mails from when she was Secretary of State, would not be released because they are, in fact, top secret.
Sanders said this is a serious issue. Slightly different than when he said he didn't care about her darn e-mails. Could that tip the scales at all?
BEINART: It's hard to know. I think democrats don't care as much about this as republicans do. But to the degree, you know, it reinforces some of the concerns that some -- even some democrats may have for Hillary Clinton's honesty, it could be a little advantage for sanders. It's hard to tell.
BARNETT: Now, unlike for republicans, democrats who do not get at least 15 percent support during this caucus, they have to pledge their votes to another candidate. All expectations are that Governor Martin O'Malley will be in that position. So you think Clinton or Sanders will win his support in the end?
BEINART: If O'Malley endorses someone, I would imagine it's more likely to be Hillary Clinton. Just because she's more likely to be the eventual nominee. And she's more likely to be able to do things for him, whether it's retire his campaign debt or, you know, help him in some other way.
I think that sanders is less like -- is not in as much of a position to kind of trade favors with Martin O'Malley. So, I would be surprised if O'Malley end up endorsing Sanders.
BARNETT: And another interesting note, Sanders raised $20 million in January alone and mostly from small donations. His fund-raising pace has picked up dramatically, as well. So, might we see a marathon fight for the nomination, just like we did between Obama versus Clinton back in 2008?
BEINART: Yes, I think so. I think Sanders will have the financial ability to compete. Oftentimes, candidates drop out because they don't have the money. But Sanders' base of small donors, many can give more since they have not want to know the maximum out, they haven't give the maximum amount.
I think he could be better funded, maybe even better funded than Hillary Clinton. And it's also not cheaper to raise money in the way he's doing it. You don't have to put on big fund-raisers. You just basically, you know -- it's done for your web site for virtually no money. So, I think financially, Sanders is in a very strong position.
BARNETT: So, those expecting the result of Iowa to close it out for the democrats. Do not hold your breath, we could be in for another long fight. Peter Beinart, always great to get your insight. CNN political commentator. Thanks for your time.
BEINART: My pleasure.
BARNETT: Now behind every candidate in Iowa there are volunteers, thousands of them drumming up support ahead of the caucuses They've been working in Iowa but they come across the U.S.
Dana Bash introduces us to some of them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is Molly Maddux.
DANA BASH, CNN'S CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hustle and bustle at Ted Cruz Iowa headquarters, accelerated to an all-out frenzy...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you supporting Ted Cruz?
BASH: ... to get out the vote.
You can see this. I mean, there is obviously a lot of buzz here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are definitely making a lot of calls, 27,000 calls yesterday, which is just -- it beats our record.
BASH: Cruz campaign aides boldly boast about the size and scope of their operation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two thousand five hundred doors yesterday, out of this office alone. We have camp Cruz, where a lot of the people are staying. We have two dorms, 830-plus people.
When people check in, they put a pin where they're from. So, we have people from California. We obviously have a lot from Texas. A lot from Iowa. Missouri, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, New York.
BASH: Still, it's the candidate who has to close the deal. He did with some. But James Breibach (ph) still isn't sold. Are you still on the fence after hearing Ted Cruz?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, I think I'm probably closer.
BASH: But you're still not 100 percent sold.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, you know, I'm going to go listen to Mark here in a little bit.
BASH: Iowa Congressman Steve King is a veteran of the caucuses and a fixture on the trail with Cruz.
STEVE KING, FORMER IOWA CONGRESSMAN: I'm going to pick 135,000 republicans as the turnout. And if that number goes well above that, then Donald Trump has a shot.
[03:10:00] BASH: That's because Donald Trump is trying to turn out first-time caucus goers like Sue Appen (ph), who we met at a Trump rally. Have you caucused before?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, this would be my first time. I'm really excited. I didn't ever think I would do something like this. But he certainly got me charged up.
BASH: To Juanta Lopez (ph) told us she's a born-again Christian, usually drawn to candidates who talk her talk. But not this time.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right now we don't need a pastor. We don't need a Spanish school teacher, we need someone who has the authority and the power and the guts to say what's on his mind. BASH: Trump aides are somewhat secretive about their get out the vote
operation. But several Iowans here say the campaign is reaching out. The open question, will the celebrity candidate crowds translate to votes? It may with Stephanie Reagan Laverone (ph). We talked to her before seeing Trump. You're not sure if you're going to support him?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right. I'm teetering between Donald Trump and Ben Carson.
BASH: on the way out, all-in for Trump.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is after listening to him I'm just thinking everything that he does, I just feel like he resembles the American dream.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello. I'm a volunteer, calling from the Marco Rubio campaign.
BASH: Meanwhile, at Marco Rubio headquarters.
TIM HUTCHINSON, FORMER ARKANSAS SENATOR: I learned a new word today, 'marcomentum.'
BASH: Friends like former Senator Tim Hutchinson flew in from Arkansas to help.
HUTCHINSON: Yes. We'll be driving out to one of the caucuses and representing the campaign.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've been volunteering since before Christmas.
BASH: Wow.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, I've probably made close to 1,000, anyway.
BASH: But now volunteers like Jill Caps are calling Iowans already committed to Rubio to make sure they actually show up. Because for all of the rewritten rules in 2016...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Every vote does count.
BASH: That rule will never change.
Dana Bash, CNN, Des Moines, Iowa.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BARNETT: CNN political commentator, Ben Ferguson, is a conservative talk radio host and he joins us now from Dallas to discuss the race among republicans. Ben, great to see you. Trump, told CNN, he does not have to win Iowa because he's doing so well with so many groups in so many places.
Pretty surprising from a guy who tells us supporters they'll be tired of winning. But does he even have reason to be nervous? BEN FERGUSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, I think there's reason
to be nervous. And that is because Iowa voters love to mess with pollsters. We've known that for many years. That people come out of nowhere. If you don't believe me, well, last time Rick Santorum was down by double-digits just five days out in Iowa. And then he was able to win that by a decent margin over Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich and other.
So, that was a real, you know, point that Iowa voters don't like to be told what they're supposed to do. They like to kind of keep things a little bit exciting. They don't like to feel like people are trying to over influence them or try to push them in one direction or another. They take a lot of pride in this caucus. And they like to do things and shake it up on Election Day.
I think this is smart for Donald Trump to be a little cautious here. Because he had said, I'm going to win it all. And I'm a winner. I don't like losers. I don't like failures. And if you want a winner, you're going to vote for me.
If he loses the first one, whether if he wants to admit or not, it certainly can turn this campaign upside down for him. And that's why I'm sure he's hoping, his supporters are hoping that they're going to have a nice victory.
BARNETT: And on a much serious note, Trump is also being sued for sex discrimination. This by a former field organizer there in Iowa. She basically says men doing the same job were paid more and allowed to speak at rallies. How problematic could this be?
FERGUSON: I actually don't look at this with a whole lot of concern. Mainly because his national spokesperson is a woman for goodness sakes. I mean, there are certain times really close to elections that I look at things just a little bit disgruntled employees.
I don't believe this is going to affect him in any major way. I think this is something where any campaign is susceptible to somebody that's not happy suing you for their own personal headlines.
So, I don't think was of right now -- unless there's some video or paper trail making it abundantly clear that in a the Trump campaign somehow is purposely putting women at the back of the campaign office and not allowing them out front, which has not been the case with a national spokeswoman, I don't think this is going to hurt him very much at all.
BARNETT: OK. And previously, any controversy he's been through, hasn't touched his poll numbers.
FERGUSON: Hasn't hurt him at all. I mean, remember, this weekend, he said, I don't have to campaign anymore, this is a waste of time. He also said that people in Iowa were stupid. And now, yet, he's still leading in this last poll going into Election Day.
BARNETT: You talk about Iowa surprise. Well, what about Marco Rubio? Because with 15 percent support, he is the highest polling establishment candidate, if you will. And a popular backup choice, as well. What do you expect from his supporters?
FERGUSON: Well, you see these last poll numbers that came out and that it was interesting poll that was taken. It was who was your first choice and who was your second choice? For second choice, Donald Trump only had a less than -- it was single digits of people that said that he was their second choice.
So, either you loved him or you weren't going to vote for him, basically. There was double-digits for Ted Cruz, double-digits for Marco Rubio as people's second choice. So, when people are caucusing, Marco Rubio might do well in that situation.
[03:15:00] Because, remember, this is not the same as just as walking in and voting and walking out. People are hearing from supporters of each kind of to talk, and that why you should support him and why you should come to their side. This is very much a last-minute decision for Iowa voters.
And that's one thing unique things about a caucus, that's different for many of the people that are just walking into a booth. They walk in, push buttons. They're out. It's done. Completely different in Iowa. And that could certainly help Marco Rubio with that many people.
And also, Ted Cruz. There are a lot of people's second choice. Whereas, Donald Trump, his numbers are what his numbers are. They're not going to go up much but at the same time they may not be enough for him to, you know, get that first place win.
BARNETT: Things definitely heating up in what is a freezing Iowa today. Ben Ferguson, great to chat with you, our CNN political commentator. Thanks for your time.
FERGUSON: Thanks, man.
BARNETT: A major international stories are coming up next. A deadly set of suicide bombings, near one of Syria's holiest shrines could threaten peace talks in Geneva. A live report on that, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KATE RILEY, CNN WORLD SPORT HEADLINES ANCHOR: I'm Kate Riley with your CNN sports headlines.
Novak Djokovic is celebrating another historic weekend after winning the season's first tennis major. The Serbian beat Andy Murray in straight sets came as 11th round grand title. The winner both ties Roy Emerson's record of six of the Open crowns. Murray has now lost all five Melbourne finals he played in, four of them against Djokovic. Novak has now won four of the last five majors.
It will soon be the end of the road for John Terry at Chelsea Football Club. The Blues defended telling meet on Sunday he will be leaving at the end of the season after reportedly not being offered a new contract. During his 21-year career, he has won four premier league titles with Chelsea, five FA Cups, three league caps to Champions League and Europe's League title. The 35-year-old joins at the age of 14 but to the hope to continue playing.
And in Spain, it's fair to say that honeymoon period around the Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is over now. The great rivals and lead leading Barcelona won again on Saturday, to bridge a seven-point gap between themselves and third lace Los Blancos.
And on Sunday, Real hosting Espanol that (Inaudble) Cristiano Ronaldo would get a hard trick for the home site. They cruise to a sixth nailed victory, the win still sees them sitting in third.
And that's a look at all of your sports headlines. I'm Kate Riley.
BARNETT: Dozens of people are dead in a triple-bombing in Syria. ISIS reportedly is claiming responsibility for the attack that took place outside of Damascus in one of Syria's holiest Shia shrines.
[03:20:05] The state-run news agency says at least 50 people were killed and 110 others were injured when a car bomb detonated. Then, two suicide bombers targeted onlookers and medics who arrived at the scene.
Ian Lee joins us now from Cairo with more on this. Ian, the war on ISIS is being fought on a number of fronts. Just explain the significance of this attack with its location and its timing.
IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Errol, this attack took place in the Sayyida Zeinab neighborhood in Damascus, close to a large Shite mosque. There was that car bombing followed by those two suicide bombers. Now Syrian media saying at least 50 people killed. But the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights is saying that that number is at 71 right now.
This all taking place while both the Syrian regime and the main opposition groups, the high negotiations committee are in Geneva, trying to work out a deal to end this 5-year-old Civil War that has killed more than 300,000 people.
Though, there aren't direct negotiations taking place right now. There is shuttle diplomacy by the U.N., the special envoy Staffan de Mistura, he is going between the two groups, trying to get them to come together and end the Civil War. Errol?
BARNETT: And, Ian, those peace talks in Geneva, certainly a step in the right direction in the eyes of the Western world. But as you mention, a number of key groups are absent from those talks. So, with that in mind, what is the best possible outcome?
LEE: You're right. There are two really big players in the Syrian Civil War right who are noticeably missing. That is ISIS and the Al Qaeda-backed group al-Nusra, they are missing from the negotiation tables. These are the two groups that the West Syrian regime and really the rebel groups a lot that everyone wouldn't want to see there anyways.
The best possible outcome of course is the end of this war. The U.N. Security Council has put forward a resolution that they hope that can be a template to follow that there is a ceasing of the killing of civilians, that there can be an inclusive non-secular government that is formed within about six months.
They are able to have eventually free and fair elections, with a new Constitution. These are all things that they want the Syrian opposition is asking for aid to be able to go to places that is desperately needed. The U.N. saying over 400,000 people are in desperate need of food aid. Also asking for prisoners to be released, including the majority of women and children.
These are all things that they want to come out of these negotiations. Now that being said, that is going to be very difficult. As I said before, that neither side is willing to come face-to-face and start talking.
Also, the Syrian opposition wants Bashar al Assad, the head, the president of the Syrian regime, to leave. That is something that has been a nonstarter for the Syrian regime for some time.
So, there's a lot of hurdles there. Also right now, the Syrian regime seems to have the momentum. Syrian regime backed by the Russians, the Iranians as well as the Lebanese Hezbollah. So, there's a lot of factors here that are going to have to play out as well, Errol.
BARNETT: A countless number of Syrians desperately need those talks to go somewhere. But there is just no much work to be done.
Ian Lee, live for us in what sounds like a busy Cairo this morning, 10.23 in the morning there. Ian, thanks.
The World Health Organization is holding an emergency meeting Monday on the Zika virus outbreak. We've been discussing this for weeks, carried by mosquitoes, the disease has been spreading quickly through the Americas.
WHO warns there could be as many as four million new infections this year. Keep in mind, there is no treatment for this. My colleague Nic Robertson talked to the WHO deputy director general about when a vaccine may become available.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRUCE AYLWARD, WOLRD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DIRECTOR GENERAL: And so, part of our job just like on Ebola is getting the international community together. Getting consensus, picking out what are the best possible candidates. Getting the money behind that to trial designs and moving those forwards. And that is exactly the road.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: And timeframe what where at today to a vaccine? Do you have any?
(CROSSTALK)
AYLWARD: Probably the earliest with, again, we heard a few different things. We could probably have something in a phase one trial in four to six months. And then probably have something available in a year. (END VIDEO CLIP)
BARNETT: CNN international diplomatic editor, Nic Robertson, joins us now from Geneva, Switzerland with more. Nic, the WHO was roundly criticized during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, specifically for not moving quickly enough. So, what's the hopeful outcome of these emergency talks?
[03:25:00] ROBERTSON: Well, I think out of the gate this time, the WHO really feels that it's moved quickly. And the principal fated country, Brazil as well, moved very quickly, before it even had some of the key data available.
It said that we've got a problem here and made people -- made people aware of it and began to take steps to deal with it. So, the WHO really feels that this is different this time. That they activated teams on the ground, regional teams there to get involved and start assisting as early as early as May of last year, when evidence first began to present itself at the spread of these virus.
So, what's happening today here is an emergency committee meeting. The importance of the emergency committee meeting for the WHO and for all the affected governments on those might be affected as well, is this is something that has potentially has teeth. It is part of an international treaty.
So, whatever this emergency committee decides it will put forward recommendations. And those recommendations can then be used by the director general here to oblige governments to follow through on what the WHO says.
Now, the emergency committee meeting they are having today, it's a virtual meeting. They host it with experts around the world and governments that are affected around the world. They host this virtual meeting. It will begin later in the day today. And it will -- and it will try to prioritize essentially three things.
Is there a link between Zika virus and microcephaly that the deformed births that are being witnessed in these countries? What recommendations can they make? And what research can they accelerate to learn and understand more about it?
So, these are the key things that are happening in this meeting that WHO would say is an indication that they are, right now, trying to make sure they're at the leading edge of this and getting out of the gate fast on it.
BARNETT: Yes. And you certainly hope that they can keep up that momentum. Nic Robertson, live for us this morning in Geneva, Switzerland.
Iowa voters are the center of attention, as they await the caucuses. Next, a look at what happens when they cast their votes.
[03:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK) BARNETT: A big welcome back to those of you watching here in the United States and everyone tuned in from around the world. It is your last half hour with me, Errol Barnett. Let's update you on our top stories right now.
The 2016 U.S. presidential candidates are campaigning hard in the final hours ahead of the Iowa caucuses. The latest poll shows Donald Trump with a very narrow lead among republicans. Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, well, they are in a statistical dead-heat. The caucuses mark the first voting for the 2016 party nominations.
Dozens of people are dead after Boko Haram burned a village to the ground near Maiduguri, Nigeria. Locals say the militants open fire and torch homes killing anyone in sight. Some reports said the terror group burned people as well.
Cuban President, Raul Castro is set to meet with French President Francois Hollande in Paris shortly. France is expected to sign a debt deal with Cuba. Last December, France was instrumental in brokering a similar deal with several foreign governments, that Cuba owed money to it.
Back now to the race for the White House. Democrats and republicans are blazing a trail across Iowa at this moment. And just hours to go until the caucuses, there's not a moment to lose. CNN's George Howell has more.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We want to make America great again. That's what we want to do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Time is running out before the critical Iowa caucuses. And candidates running for president pulled out all of the stops to try to get voters' attention. Donald Trump's wife, Melania took the stage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELANIA TRUMP, DONALD TRUMP'S WIFE: Hello, Iowa. It's great to be here. He will be unbelievable. The best dealmaker. The best master negotiator.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: And rival Ted Cruz relying on the support of Duck Dynasty atr, Phil Robinson, taking a jab at the frontrunner.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PHIL ROBINSON, DUCK DYNASTY ACTOR: For all of the ladies, that would be a duck call. So, how many out here have duck calls? So, let's try one more time to get Trump. Let's call Donald Duck to come meet with Cruz and debate. (END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: From celebrity endorsements to grassroots supports, this woman travelled halfway across the country in what she calls teh Bernie buzz to get Iowa voters to turn out for Bernie Sanders in a tight race against Hillary Clinton.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I'm going to feel it out and see where the campaign thinks I need to go and whenever I need to go would be going. Definitely I plan on hitting all of the big states in terms of where the delegates are the most, to inspire people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Recent polling by The Des Moines Register and Bloomberg politics, shows democratic Senator Bernie Sanders with 42 percent of the vote not far behind Hillary Clinton at 45 percent.
In the crowded republican field, that same poll, gives Donald Trump a five-point lead over Ted Cruz. Marco Rubio, third at 15 percent, and Ben Carson, fourth. But with so many others polling, in the single digits, there's still a lot percentage of voters, who, if swayed, could turn the tide for one of the frontrunners.
Marco Rubio, for instance, now turning his attention to New Hampshire and trying to win over moderate voters who would otherwise support Jeb Bush.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUBIO: I don't just want to bring the conservative movement back together. I want to grow it. I want to convince more Americans that conservatism is the right approach for them and for this country. And that will mean taking our message to people that have not voted for us in the past.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: but before the New Hampshire primary and the next round of debates, a win in Iowa matters because it means momentum moving forward.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: We've run a terrific campaign from the grassroots up. Of course, it's close. It's competitive. That's why I hope everybody who has decided to caucus for me will be sure to come out on Monday night.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Hillary Clinton focused on the race and off the recent questions raised about her controversial use of a private e-mail server during her time as Secretary of State. An issue that Bernie Sanders has refused to challenge her on during debates. But just recently, he described it as a, quote, "serious issue." It comes down to what voters decide in this first state to weigh in on the 2016 presidential race.
George Howell, CNN, Atlanta.
BARNETT: So, it's all happening Monday in Iowa. But the key question is, how, exactly? The caucuses have lots of specific rules. And they work differently for each party. Luckily, we have CNN's Randi Kaye to explain how the process works.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[03:35:02] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You wouldn't mind filing in, we would like to get started.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would like to call this republican caucus to order.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can turn as a republican if you wouldn't mind filing in and taking your seat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RANDI KAYE, CNN'S INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER: It's caucus night at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I will call this democratic caucus to order.
KAYE: Not the real thing yet. Just a mock caucus to teach first-time caucus goers how it works. This training session is called WTF, a caucus.
How many times have you ask yourself there, what WTF is a caucus?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot. I Googled it. It made everything more confusing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can somebody here help the situation?
KAYE: It's easy to get confused. Republicans and democrats caucus on the same night. But they do it differently. On the republican side, voters hear a pitch from the candidate's surrogates. Jeb Bush Jr. surprised everyone at this mock caucus.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With that, we start with Jeb Bush.
KAYE: Practicing his own selling skills before the big night.
JEB BUSH JR, JEB BUSH'S SON: Good evening. My name is Jeb Bush Jr. It is an honor to be here tonight on Drake. Go, Bulldogs. I hope you, guys, come out and caucus on Monday night.
KAYE: Then, republicans simply fill out a piece of paper with the candidate they want.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Once you have voted, please, fold the paper in half and return it to the secretary.
KAYE: Next, the votes are counted and a winner named for that caucus site.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a winner. It looks like Jeb Bush.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The democratic caucus, as you can see because that we have no chairs, is a little different from the republican caucus.
KAYE: Now, it's the democrats' turn.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our process on the democratic is a very active process. It's very dynamic. There's a lot of engagement and enthusiasm.
(CROWD CHANTING)
KAYE: The democrats divide themselves into groups. Each one supporting a different candidate.
(CROWD CHANTING)
KAYE: So, if you like Martin O'Malley, you caucus with his supporters. Drake student Lara Cox told us she's voting democratic, but was still undecided.
LARA COX, DRAKE UNIVERSITY STUDENT: It was first in the nation so everyone is kind of watching. And then it goes away and no one cares about Iowa anymore. So, I think it's a lot of pressure.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She is not, you know, a candidate, that came out of nowhere.
KAYE: Lara first caucused with Hillary Clinton supporters.
COX: I think that Hillary is so deep in the establishment, then I don't know if she really wants to change things or if she just wants to be president.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, the whole goal of this thing is to get 15 percent.
KAYE: Then, she caucused with Bernie Sanders' group.
COX: The race ends up with Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. Do you think Bernie Sanders can get any moderate republican votes?
KAYE: She feels pressure from both sides. And time is running out.
COX: How much time do we have?
KAYE: This is exactly what makes the democratic caucus so interesting. So much pressure from friends, neighbors, even roommates, to get others to vote their way. COX: One of my roommates is over here. She was trying to convince me.
And one of my roommates is over here, and either way, I have to go home to one of them. And they're going to be mad.
KAYE: In the end, Lara decides to caucus for Hillary Clinton. Mainly, because she likes her experience.
COX: Here I am.
KAYE: Randi Kaye...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thank you all for coming out here again.
KAYE: ... CNN, Des Moines, Iowa.
BARNETT: Maybe time for some new roommates when this is said and done.
Now if the race wasn't close enough, some folks may get frozen out of caucuses. Our meteorologist Derek Van Dam is here to explain what's the forecast for all this, Derek?
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Timing is everything, Errol. That is so important with this highly advertised winter storm we continue to talk about.
I want to show you some footage coming out of the Southern California because this is where the storm is originating. It moved onshore this morning. And unfortunately, there was a fatality from high winds. Winds clock nearly as high as hurricane force, nearly 74 miles per hour. It knocked over an eight-foot-wide and 80-foot-tall diameter tree. Unfortunately, there was a motorist travelling at that time. And there was a fatality.
I want to get to my graphics to show you where the storm is heading. It is a significant storm and it's moving across the four corners. This is our watches and warnings map. It's really lit up like a Christmas tree, so many various colors on here.
But I want you to pay attention to is that shading of pink. That's the winter storm warnings. Utah, Nevada, into Colorado, into parts of Nebraska. but when you see that shading of green. That's the region where we have the potential of blizzards.
So, we factor in the heavy snowfall. But also winds of excess of 35 miles per hour. Here's the storm starting to catapult its way out of The Rockies, gathering strength and picking up moisture as it does so. Of course, the entire nation's eyes, focused on Iowa at the moment. So, will this impact the caucuses on Monday?
Let's time this out for you. We're expecting the Monday timeframe, basically about 10 p.m., just before the polls close in Iowa, to see our first flakes of snow over the extreme western sections of Iowa. The brunt of this storm will move over the central and eastern sections, Des Moines and into Waterloo, by early Tuesday morning. [03:40:04] So, We think that the caucuses will go unhinged without a
problem from the weather. The only exception would be the extreme western precincts where we could have get, maybe a couple of inches of snowfall because those polls close. We also have to consider all of the media and the journalists that in place in Iowa, trying to get flights out of the state on Tuesday. That could be a concern.
Here's how much snow we're anticipating. Anywhere between 8 to 12 inches of snow. And if we time it out, again, 10 p.m. on Monday. Perhaps council bluffs eventually into Des Moines by about 1 a.m. on Tuesday morning. And then we'll eventually see this snow spread further and further east.
You can see the snowfall totals will be greatest on the western half of the country. By the way, Iowa Department of Transportation has it covered 9,000 miles of roadways throughout the state. But they have 900 plows to deal with this foot of snow and 24-hour employees, about 2,100 of them working around the clock.
I'm going to end with this. Because I really like the statistic, Errol. They did a study on the voter turnout with abnormal weather conditions. And the republican candidate party actually fared best. Because on the days when presidential nominations take place, one inch of snowfall adds to about 0.6 percent uptick on the Republican Party, with concerns to the voting. So, very...
(CROSSTALK)
BARNETT: All right. That could be good for the republicans. But Donald Trump, get out early...
DAM: That's right.
BARNETT: ... is a good idea. If the snowstorms is going to hit late. So, get out early.
DAM: It looks like it. Yes. Tuesday will be the brunt of the storm.
BARNETT: All right. Derek, thanks a lot.
DAM: Thanks.
BARNETT: I appreciate it.
Now another round of talks in the so-called Brexit. We'll get you live to London for the latest on Britain's negotiations over its E.U. membership. Stick around.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BARNETT: A disturbing report from the E.U.'s Criminal Intelligence Agency, Europe poll. It says more than 10,000 unaccompanied migrant children have gone missing. This, after registering with state authorities.
[03:45:08] Half of them disappeared in Italy. There are concerns that the children could have fallen victims to sex trafficking rings or outright slavery. But the agency's chief of staff says it's not likely that all of them were criminally exploited. And some might have been passed along to family members.
Meanwhile, in Stockholm, Sweden, tensions over the country's refugee influx boiled over this weekend. Nearly 100 men, some wearing masks, gathered to hand out leaflets on Friday, calling for attacks on foreigners.
Police beefed up security in the area where they heard about the plans. One man was arrested in an attack on a plain clothes' police officer, while five others were detained overnight for disorderly conduct. The Swedish minister said he condemned the, quote, "racist groups which spread hate in the public space."
Well, the refugee crisis in Britain is one of the toughest issues the primary minister is working on at the moment in talks for the European Council president. David Cameron and Donald Tusk weren't able to reach agreement on Sunday. Mr. Cameron is pushing permission to cut migration into Britain before he holds a referendum on E.U. membership.
Max Foster is following this story and joins us now from London with the latest. Max, there's still a number of issue areas to be worked out. But tell us about the so-called significant breakthrough, announced by Prime Minister Cameron's spokespeople.
MAX FOSTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's coming from their side. If you just look at Donald Tusk's side, it does feel a bit less positive. There was a meeting last night and they met for less than two hours. In the end and on the way out Donald Tusk said no deal late. And then we heard later on from down the street that they have agreed to talk for another 24 hours.
This is crucial part to the much bigger process. But it's just the beginning stage. They're trying to do, is agree on sort of a draft set of -- a draft set of proposals that can then be sent between the European capitals, ahead of a summit, in the middle of February around a renegotiation on behalf of Britain.
But all of these elements of the renegotiation would have to apply to other countries throughout the European Union, as well. And he's asking for very big things, if you look at this from a pro-European point of view. So, he wants to renegotiate whether or not people can have benefits when they come here to U.K. and get jobs.
But also, he wants to safeguard the position of countries outside the Eurozone, but within the European Union, another complex matter. So, whilst downing street is putting a positive spin to this, Donald Tusk side is a bit more straightforward saying we haven't reached a deal yet. And the extent of the deadline on the face of it, it looks as if there's some really troubling sort of barriers to a deal here so far.
BARNETT: So, Max, considering there is some dissidents to the first day of talks, what do they hope to accomplish in this next, what, 14- hour window or 24-hour window? How much can they really settle on Monday?
FOSTER: Well, it's about -- there is a few key areas which David Cameron doesn't want to compromise on. So, the whole, this is all based on the fact -- he's promised Brits a referendum on staying in or out of the European Union. He wants to bring that to the table later on this year. If he's going to do that, he has to have some sort of renegotiation ahead of that.
And that's why we keep talking about the February summit. So, he's under little pressure on this. He has to reach some sort of level of agreement with Donald Tusk as a first point of call, though. And he's speaking to other European Union leaders. And there are other European Union leaders who just don't want to compromise on some of the things that David Cameron wants.
So, for example, cancelling in-work benefits for European migrants in the U.K. is something that some countries just won't agree on. But he wants to have that, as soon as the referendum comes through.
BARNETT: All right. Max Foster in London for us. Twelve minutes until 9 a.m. there. Max, thank you.
Well, a better way to see the state trade of relations between the U.S. and China. Then a step onboard the megaship doing the heavy lifting. We step aboard after the break.
[03:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DAM: Nice warming trend over the Eastern half of the United States at the moment. But we don't want to get too comfortable because a cold snap of air will settle in by the middle to second half of the workweek. That is also associated with a major storm system and that will bring some hefty snowfall totals to the plains as well as The Rockies.
Here is our forecast for today. Along the West Coast, we do have sunshine but still windy into the greater Los Angeles region. Chicago at 5. Denver, below freezing with snow in your Monday forecast. But take a look at the watches and warnings across The Rockies through the plains states.
We have blizzard watches near Des Moines, Iowa. Blizzard warnings for portions of the Dakotas. With winter storm warnings for Denver. We have the potential between 30 to upwards of 60 centimeters of new snow, especially for the higher elevations.
This is actually the storm starting to take shape across the four corners with our water vapor satellite. And as we go forward over the 24 hours, you can see that snow overspread The Rockies, eventually impacting the central portions of the U.S.
The East Coast says in (Inaudible), thanks to a nearly of fresh room. Central America, looking good to start off the workweek. Belize City at 29. Maybe a few scattered thunderstorms across the Bahamas. More of the Sangre (ph), a typical weather pattern for the northern half of South America, with afternoon summertime thunderstorms for much of Central and Northern Brazil.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BARNETT: Trade relations between China and the U.S. are a major issue for voters in the coming presidential election. The current state of affairs has been a lightning rod for debate on the campaign trail.
While thousands of tons of goods are moving between the world's two biggest economies, our Matt Rivers reports from aboard a massive ship that is more than representative of that relationship.
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's longer than the Eiffel Tower. It's got an 80,000 Horsepower engine and weighs up the 240,000 tons. And yet, thanks to the magic of buoyancy, Benjamin Franklin floats. It's leaving China soon, heading for Los Angeles.
This is the largest container ship that has ever docked in the U.S. Being onboard; you really get a sense of scale, mainly because of how small you feel. But for a transport ship like this one, the most important figure is how much it can hold. The Benjamin Franklin can take on 18,000 containers. Placed end-to-end, they would reach 68 miles.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is cheaper to have a bigger ship in the land, contain more products in the land; you have less things to pay after that.
RIVERS: Often on the other side of doors like these are things like electronics, toys, clothes. Consumer goods, made in China that will sell in American stores. This is what trade between the two countries looks like.
And far more stuff is exported from China to the U.S. than the other way around. A difference in hundreds of billions of dollars. That imbalance has been a source of conflict for some time. In the middle of a U.S. presidential race, it makes for easy fodder.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: They're killing us. And if you want to do business with China, it's almost impossible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[03:55:00] RIVERS: Republican frontrunner, Donald Trump, suggest slapping a 45 percent tax on Chinese goods to even the playing field. But critics have attacked his idea as bad for business and for bad for States.
Trump's political future, along with his rivals relies in a big way on Iowa, where caucuses are set to kick off in this year's presidential election. And it's a state that exports billions of dollars' worth of things like crops and machinery to China each year. The U.S./China trade is incredibly intertwined. And the next U.S.
president will have some ability to influence those ties. And that will impact people's lives on both sides of the Pacific, which is why we're talking about U.S. politicians in Iowa, while we're thousands of miles away on this giant ship in the South China Sea.
Matt Rivers, CNN, of the Coast of Southern China.
BARNETT: We end with the eye in the sky. China has released hundreds of never before seen high-def pictures of the moon's surface all shown in true color.
China became just the third country to soft land on the moon back in 2013, and these pictures were taken by cameras mounted on the Lander and Rover. China's next mission is to land on the far side of the moon. Something's that no country has ever done. They could land or launch as early as 2018. Cool stuff.
Well, that's it for my two hours here on CNN. Thanks for putting up with me. I'm Errol Barnett. You can connect with me anytime on Twitter. I appreciate you keeping me company. Early Start is next for those of you in the States. And for everyone else, there's more from the CNN Newsroom. I'll see you tomorrow.
[04:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
