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Focus on New Hampshire; U.S. Military Steps Up War against ISIS; Marco Rubio Building on Momentum. Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired February 03, 2016 - 10:30   ET

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

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[10:30:22] CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.

The eyes of the political world now focusing on New Hampshire where this morning Hillary Clinton is kicking off her day in the state with a big rally. These are pictures from the town of Derry where Clinton and former Arizona congresswoman Gabby Giffords will team up to get out the vote.

CNN's Jeff Zeleny is also there and I'm also joined by Dan Tuohy who's a political reporter for the "New Hampshire Union Leader". He's in Manchester, New Hampshire. Jeff -- I want to start with you though. Take it away. Good morning.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning -- Carol. Hillary Clinton is trying to make that six-day push to the New Hampshire primary. Of course, she is, you know, saying that she's the victor in Iowa. She was declared the winner in Iowa yesterday.

But what she really is trying to do here going forward is convince those New Hampshire voters to stay on her side and to consider an alternative. Bernie Sanders, of course, has a considerable lead here in New Hampshire. He's a senator from next door, Vermont.

So over the next six days, her advisers say what she's trying to do is really refocus them, in the words of one of the advisers, get her to focus on -- get them to focus on her plan.

And she's really going after true Democrats. Independent voters are, you know, so famous here in New Hampshire that some of them frankly are looking at the Republican side. Some of them may have been Bernie Sanders supporters.

So she's trying to focus on those Democratic voters here and by having Gabby Giffords here, the former congresswoman from Arizona who was tragically wounded some five years or so ago. She's trying to remind and point out to people that she has the stronger record on gun control.

I was with them as they were campaigning in Iowa just a few days ago. It's very effective. That's one of the things she's doing here in New Hampshire. And of course, they have the town hall meeting tonight here in Derry as well -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Yes, I'm just looking at the pictures of Gabby Giffords. She seems to be doing ok.

Dan, a question for you. So Bernie Sanders leads by a lot in New Hampshire over Hillary Clinton. What do New Hampshire voters need to hear from Clinton to change their minds?

DAN TUOHY, NEW HAMPSHIRE UNION LEADER: Well, I think he's leading in the polls by a significant amount in some polls. But for both campaigns it's really about the expectations gained here.

You heard Jeff mention earlier about the Clinton people saying that Bernie Sanders, this is his backyard, so he has a home field advantage so to speak. You know, the Clinton campaign as we all know has a lot of establishment Democrats here in New Hampshire including Senator Jeanne Shaheen who is a master at getting out the vote. So you have that going back and forth over the final six days here.

I think for Sanders, I mean he's trying to hit some of these pockets of the state that are strong for him and some that may not be strong. Like tonight he's in Rochester in Stratford County which is really Shaheen territory and it's Bill Clinton territory -- Hillary Clinton territory. So he's trying to broaden the map quite a bit there.

COSTELLO: Got you.

So Jeff -- a question. Bill Clinton is now in South Carolina stumping for his wife. Why didn't he stay in New Hampshire to help her there?

ZELENY: Well, Carol, there's only so much territory to go around in New Hampshire. And he was in New Hampshire yesterday throughout the day campaigning. But I think that that is a realization and the fact that this is a long-term gain here now for Democrats. This is going to be a delegate fight.

So having Bill Clinton in South Carolina, this is a recognition of the fact that they can be two places at once. They can, sort of shore up some of those South Carolina Democrats. Of course, that primary is key -- that comes at the end of February.

But Carol, he will be back here before the New Hampshire primary campaigning here as well. But he's frankly been here so often they are just trying to spread him around a little bit -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Got you.

So Dan, a question about the Republican side of things. So you may have heard or you may not have -- Donald Trump has been on the Twitter tear against Ted Cruz. Donald wants to contest the vote in Iowa because he says Ted Cruz cheated.

I know that Donald Trump has a big lead in New Hampshire but is it in danger at all? TUOHY: I think Donald Trump is going to do what Donald Trump

does -- right. Incidentally he's going to be making a trip to South Carolina I believe on Friday as well. So he's kind of hopping around from New Hampshire Thursday to South Carolina and then he's back Saturday and Sunday here in New Hampshire.

The really big news for Donald Trump has nothing to do with him per se today. It's Rand Paul dropping out of the race. Here in New Hampshire Rand Paul has a strong following of liberty activists who may migrate to Ted Cruz. That's a strike, if you will, against Donald Trump trying to really claim that mantel as the broad Republican favorite come Tuesday.

COSTELLO: Interesting and we're just looking at Ted Cruz. He's at a campaign even in Hannigan, New Hampshire and you can see he is rallying supporters right now.

[10:35:05] Jeff Zeleny, Dan Tuohy -- thanks for being with me.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, the U.S. steps up its war against ISIS in Syria. An exclusive trip to this remote airfield -- next.

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The United States is looking for ways to intensify the military campaign against ISIS. The Pentagon has already announced that some 50 Special Forces troops are operating within Syria.

Recently published satellite image shows that air strip being extended in Kurdish-controlled territory in northern Syria. The Pentagon only says that U.S. forces in Syria are consistently looking for ways to increase efficiency.

Clarissa Ward is the first journalist to visit that air field amid a deepening relationship between the U.S. and their Kurdish allies. Tell us more -- Clarissa.

CLARISSA WARD, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Carol -- good morning. Well, that's right. As the U.S. ratchets up its military presence in Syria as you said with at least 50 U.S. Special Forces now on the ground, they are looking to enhance good, secure relationships with allies on the ground.

[10:40:04] And they are also looking at opportunities, military opportunities beyond just air strikes and this air strip may just hold the key to that.

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WARD: This place doesn't exist, according to the U.S. Defense Department. But behind that berm of freshly dug earth, a small agricultural air strip is being turned into something very different -- a military air field just 100 miles from ISIS positions.

Satellite photos show the work that has been done here in recent months. So you can see behind me, they are working to extend the runway

so that larger planes could land here. The advantage of this site is that it's well-secured inside Kurdish territory. So it could be used to supply U.S. Special Forces deployed here in Syria.

He's coming now.

We were escorted away from the air field as soon as we were spotted -- told it was a military zone. It's another example of the U.S.' growing military footprint in this remote corner of northern Syria and its deepening relationship with Syrian Kurdish fighters known as the YPG.

In an abandoned apartment building closer to the front line, we were given access to the YPG's joint operations room. It is a modest setup. 21-year-old Dahan Hasaki (ph) and his colleagues talk to their men on the battlefield using newly-provided tablets, they pass on enemy locations to a coalition command center from where air strikes can be launched.

Right now, this is the front line of Hasaka, he says. "Our comrades there have seen the movement of two enemy fighters and so we sent this message along with their coordinates to the general command room."

When there are heavy clashes, the operations room moves to the front lines. Immediately after the strikes, Hasaki and his men rush in to make sure that the right targets have been hit.

Who taught you how to use this? He tells us a group of foreigners and Americans trained his commanders who, in turn, trained him and his comrades. In the skies and on the ground in Syria, the U.S. is deepening its commitment to the battle against is.

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WARD: And it's not just the U.S., Carol. Less than 50 miles from that air strip, there are reports that the Russians are also increasing their military presence, certainly northern Syria is becoming a rather crowded neighborhood -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Clarissa Ward reporting live from Iraq this morning -- thank you.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, Marco Rubio is trying to keep the momentum going after a strong showing in Iowa but he's taking hits from all sides after a third-place finish.

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[10:47:19] COSTELLO: Marco Rubio trying to build momentum in New Hampshire after a strong third-place finish in Iowa. He's holding three town halls today and defending his record on immigration which has troubled some in his party.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This means

finishing the 700 miles of fencing and walls that we know we need. It means an entry/exit tracking system to prevent these overstays. That's almost half the problems. It means mandatory e-verify to prevent people from being hired if they are here illegally.

And until we do that we don't do anything else. And after that, we're not going to have amnesty. Sanctuary cities should lose all their federal funding and criminal aliens should be immediately deported.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: I'm joined by Manu Raju. He's live in New Hampshire with more on what Marco Rubio had to say. Good morning.

MANU RAJU, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Good morning, Carol.

Indeed Marco Rubio has taken a much harder line on the issue of immigration since running for president. Remember just in 2013 he cut that Gang of Eight immigration bill that included a pathway to citizenship for the nation's 11 million undocumented immigrants. Now he says that he does not support that bill anymore and says that we need to do other things first, secure the border first. He said there should be no amnesty although he's still open to a pathway to citizenship just eventually.

He says people who are here illegally should pay fines, et cetera. The criminals should be deported. But it's clearly an issue that he's had to deal with on the campaign trail.

Also, what he's had to deal with on the campaign trail have been attacks from other folks in that so-called establishment lane of the party namely Chris Christie who says that Marco Rubio has been (inaudible) a little bit too closely to his script and Jeb Bush who says he's now ready. He says Marco Rubio is no ready to be president.

Earlier today he had a chance to talk to CNN and he defended himself from those attacks.

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RUBIO: Well, I think when people attack you -- usually they don't attack someone who isn't doing well. You usually only get attacked in politics if you present a threat to someone.

Both Jeb and Chris have had a tough couple of few days. And obviously sometimes people don't react well to adversity and so they are saying some things they'll probably later on regret.

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RAJU: Reporter: so clearly it shows where the focus is in this race here in New Hampshire. Marco Rubio, in order to build off that third-place finish in Iowa, he needs to finish ahead of Chris Christie, Jeb Bush and John Kasich -- those governors who are trying to occupy that lane, assume that sort of establishment mantel.

If you were to fall behind them in this race or do not place below them it would be much harder for him going into New Hampshire to say that I am the unity candidate. He's trying to make this a two or three-person race between him and Ted Cruz and Donald Trump.

[10:50:01] So the focus for Marco Rubio will continue to be on a sort of two-front war -- one against Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, and the other from those governors who are continuing to attack him -- Carol.

COSTELLO: So I'm just curious about something. Marco Rubio is obviously Cuban-American. He's from the state of Florida and he has this immigration stance that many Hispanics probably would not stand behind. Do you have any idea how Marco Rubio is doing among minorities?

RAJU: You know, that's a good question, Carol. I mean when we look at the Republican electorate, typically that Hispanic voters and minority voters tend to lean Democratic especially more recently. So his standing and approval rating among those types of voters are generally lower because those voters tend to be more Democratic.

But Marco Rubio has said that will take his conservative message to those voters when it comes time for a general election. He talks more in generational terms when he's running for president and saying it's time for change. It's almost a little bit like Barack Obama in 2008, more unity post-partisan type message, something he thinks can appeal not just to folks in his party but also groups that don't traditionally vote Republican.

COSTELLO: All right. Manu Raju, reporting live for us this morning. Thank you.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM -- let's take a trip out to New Hampshire first. This is Ted Cruz. He's on the stump. And he's been talking a long time out there. As you know, Ted Cruz is a gifted speaker. And Donald Trump leads by a large margin in New Hampshire and, of course, Ted Cruz is trying to make that margin smaller or make it disappear altogether.

We'll keep you posted.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, Cam Newton isn't one to shy away from speaking his mind. So what's the Super Bowl QB tired of talking about? We'll tell you next.

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[10:56:25] COSTELLO: Panthers quarterback Cam Newton taking on all questions from reporters ahead of Super Bowl 50. And while he's resting up for the big game one thing is for sure, he's sure tired of talking about race.

Coy Wire live from Super Bowl City in downtown San Francisco with more on that -- good morning. COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS: Good morning -- Carol. Beautiful morning

here at Super Bowl Stadium.

Look, Cam Newton is bold, he's unique and he plays the game displaying his passion for it in a way that few have ever done. Last week Cam said some people may be scared of an African-American quarterback. He'll become just the sixth black quarterback to start in a Super Bowl this Sunday.

But each of the last four Super Bowls have featured African- American QBs. So yesterday when he was peppered with questions about black quarterbacks, he said, he thinks stereotypes were shattered long ago and that he's done talking about the subject. Listen.

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CAM NEWTON, CAROLINA PANTHERS: I don't even want to touch on the subject of black quarterback because I think this game is bigger than black, white or even green. So I think we limit ourselves when we just label ourselves just black this, that and a third. I wanted to bring awareness because of that.

But, yes, I don't think I should be labeled as just a black quarterback.

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WIRE: Bit of drama coming from the Bay Area yesterday. Broncos practice squad player Ryan Murphy and his brother were detained yesterday and question yesterday as part of a prostitution sting in San Jose. Murphy was released and wasn't charged in the incident but head coach Gary Kubiak still sent him packing -- sent him home. Local media is reporting that Murphy's brother was cited for solicitation.

It looks like Johnny Manziel will be leaving Cleveland. The Browns released a statement yesterday saying that Manziel's off the field incidents run counter to what the organization expects from its players and that they will address his status with the team as soon as league rules permit, which would be March 9th.

Fort Worth police and the NFL are investigating a disturbance involving Manziel and his ex-girlfriend that happened last Saturday.

Finally, here's a "what would you do" question of the day -- Carol. Broncos punter Britton Colquitt just found out that he's going to have to dish out $1,800 for a ticket for his one-week-old daughter to attend the Super Bowl. That's right. There is no two and under admitted for free deal at the Super Bowl. Everyone has to have a ticket even if you can't sit in the seat. So, Carol, what would you do, my friend?

COSTELLO: I would not bring a two-week-old baby to the Super Bowl because the two-week-old baby will have no memory of the Super Bowl and I'm not sure -- I'm just kind of confused by the whole story.

I'm just being honest because, you know, I like to tell things as they are. What about you, Coy Wire?

WIRE: Probably fly a babysitter out and back for probably half the price but hey Drew Brees says his great memory was having his young child with him and the pictures afterwards on the field holding up that trophy so good for Britton.

COSTELLO: It's not like cold-hearted but I guess it did sound that way. Sorry.

Just a word about Johnny Manziel since I am from the Cleveland area and he's probably the most hated man in that city at the moment. Why did it take the Browns so long?

WIRE: It's a great question, Carol. In my humble opinion I think long ago when they started seeing this erratic behavior continue, because remember this went all the way back to college, they should have sent a message to their team that it doesn't matter who you are. We're going to do the right thing time and time again. Finally it looks like they may get their message across -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Man -- and I don't think anyone else will pick him up. We'll have to see -- right. Coy Wire, thanks so much live from San Francisco.

[11:00:00] Thank you for joining me today. I'm Carol Costello.

"AT THIS HOUR" with Berman and Bolduan starts now.