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What the New Hampshire Exit Polls Tell; Inside the War-Torn Aleppo; Sources: Christie to Suspend Presidential Bid. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired February 10, 2016 - 09:30   ET

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

[09:31:08] CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.

We all know Donald Trump was a winner last night but exit polls are delivering what could be even better news. They show Trump won with voters across almost all groups. Conservatives, moderates, men, women, first-time voters and those who have voted before. But there is a head scratcher in those very same exit polls. Traditionally voters want a candidate who shares their values, yet only 13 percent say Trump actually share their values. Kasich, Cruz and Bush, all beat out Trump in that category. But when it comes to telling it like it is Trump is the clear winner.

Tom Foreman is in Washington with more of the breakdown of those exit polls. They're fascinating.

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it is. And it's really a question of what voters want done and whom they think can get it done. One of the other interesting metrics of this is government experience.

Look at this. For the people who want an experience in government. People who understand how government works and have been there. Look at the results here. Kasich up top. 28 percent. Bush up there 20 percent, Rubio 18 percent, Cruz 14 percent. That's who people chose if they said the solution to the problems in Washington is experience.

But when you say the solution is somebody who just doesn't do it the Washington way, look at the difference. Trump rockets up to 61 percent. Then you get Cruz, Fiorina, Kasich, a totally different mix there, carol. So this question of being from the political establishment is on this side just as it appears to be on the Democratic side right now a bit of poison.

And let's turn to the next one here because I want to talk about this next bit here. Look at this. Field betrayed by Republican politicians. These are New Hampshire Republicans saying they feel betrayed by their own party. 36 percent, another huge number there going to Trump. Kasich 15 percent, Cruz 15 percent. And by the way, Cruz is the guy who's running on the campaign of our party has betrayed us in a sense. You know, we have to be the radical reformers here and he's only getting 15 percent.

And then of course when you look at the independents there is a big payoff there for Trump as well. The people who were saying, well, I'm not really even calling myself a Republican except for these purposes. 35 percent go to him. 18 percent for Kasich, and 11 percent to Cruz and Bush. So really, you see how it's stacking up there, Carol. And the people, this is what we've been hearing all along. Bernie Sanders on the Democratic side is saying this is about revolutionary politics. Well, it looks even more revolutionary on the Republican side. And there are a lot of people out there just saying, this may be our party but the people who are leading it, we don't trust to lead it. We want somebody very different.

COSTELLO: Tom Foreman, thanks for the insight. Very interesting. Right?

FOREMAN: Good seeing you, Carol.

COSTELLO: Good seeing you, too, Tom.

Very interesting. I was going to say. With me now to talk about this Republican National Committee member Steve Duprey, and CNN political commentator and New York 1 anchor, Errol Louis.

Welcome to both of you.

ERROL LOUIS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Good morning. So, Steve --

STEPHEN DUPREY, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBER: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Steve, when you consider what Tom just told our viewers what goes through your mind?

DUPREY: Well, I think Donald Trump had a very convincing win. When somebody wins by a 2-1 margin in New Hampshire, when there's a crowded field and it's been a hard fought battle that's nothing short of very impressive.

Donald Trump start to finish did a better job capturing the anger that Republicans have with a government that doesn't seem to work. Nothing gets done. He tells it that way and that captured the hearts and minds of lots of voters.

COSTELLO: It certainly did, Errol. But I too was surprised by the low numbers in that category for Ted Cruz since he is running on, you know, I'm anti-establishment.

LOUIS: Well, this is true. You have to keep in mind, though, the establishment doesn't just mean the political establishment. During his victory speech Donald Trump made a lot about the unemployment statistics and saying he thinks it's much higher than what's reported. He says he doesn't believe that it's 5 percent. Well, yes, the state of New Hampshire has an unemployment rate down around 5 percent.

[09:35:04] When you look, though, at 18 to 35 year olds, it's a much, much higher percentage. So he is speaking some truth. It's an unusual kind of a truth and not everybody is hearing it but the dismay that people feel is not just at the Washington establishment. It is at the corporate leadership. It is at an economy that is not working for them and their families and hasn't for a long, long time.

So this is a pretty big wave and not every political poll is going to pick up just how deep and how broad it is.

COSTELLO: So, Steve, is it fair to say for a large number of voters it doesn't really matter where the candidates stand so much? It's if they can bring change however that change comes.

DUPREY: Well, I think that's absolutely correct and I think that's one reason Bernie Sanders had such an historic win. People want someone who can change the system who are going to get -- who is going to get things done. I think that you just heard there are a lot of people in New Hampshire who are underemployed, who's wages are stagnant. They haven't seen this recovery and they are willing to try somebody who's completely outside of the government.

So even though Senator Cruz has been pretty good about railing against the Washington establishment he doesn't seem to be picking up much speed here. You know, he did well considering the time he spent here, but he lost 3-1 to Donald Trump. Wow.

COSTELLO: Well, he's a sitting senator. I don't think we can, like, totally forget that. But, Errol, here's the thing.

DUPREY: No. No.

COSTELLO: So people -- people clearly want change. But what do they mean when they say that?

LOUIS: Yes, I --

COSTELLO: But you can go to -- like, what do they mean?

LOUIS: I think in the first instance what it seems to mean is they want to hear that there is a path forward that is simple, that is not complicated, that is guaranteed to win. That is guaranteed to succeed. So when Trump gives them what they are asking for, he's saying we're going to make America great. He won't explain how. He says he's going to solve the immigration problem, he won't say how.

He says he's going to, you know, change all of our trade relationships with our major trading partners, he doesn't say how. And the more you get into the weeds about how the less attractive it all starts to sound. So I think voters right now want to hear somebody who's going to at least say, I'm going to give you exactly what you want, what you are calling for. There could well be some disappointment down the road if a President Trump actually has to, say, deport 11 million people as he promised. But we'll have to leave that for another day.

COSTELLO: Yes. All right. I have to leave it there.

Steve Duprey, Errol Louis, thanks to you both.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, a world away from U.S. politics. An exclusive look at life in the war-torn city of Aleppo, Syria. Fred Pleitgen takes us there next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:41:46] COSTELLO: The U.S. will send about 500 more troops to Afghanistan's Helmand Province to help Afghan soldiers there. A U.S. Defense official telling CNN the troops will join other American forces already stationed in the area. That official also stresses this will not change the overall number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan but it is just a shifting of resources.

The Afghan Army has reported problems in Helmand recently including low morale and accusations of corruption in senior ranks.

The U.N. Security Council will meet behind closed doors later this morning to discuss the humanitarian crisis, gripping the war-torn city of Aleppo. The northern Syrian city, the target of a brutal government offensive but still home to some 320,000 people faced with constant shelling. Many of them hungry and without electricity.

CNN's Frederik Pleitgen went inside Aleppo, Syria, and talked with people there about life on the battle front.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We are right in the heart of Aleppo. This is the al-Maliyah area and it's actually fairly close to the frontline. But it's also one of the main places held by the Syrian government.

Now as you can see in this area, there are a lot of products that are actually available. Food, also a lot of other products as well. However, the people here, it is very, very difficult for them. There's almost no electricity. Most of it comes from generators. And of course, because we're so close to the frontline, there is also shelling here. And it's quite dangerous for the folks who live here.

(Voice-over): "I believe we've already endured about 80 percent of the hardship," this man says. "And I hope the remaining 20 percent will end soon."

"The situation is very tough right now," he adds. "But we are steadfast and we believe the power will be on the correct side."

And this man says, "We have had very tough times, but thanks to the victory of the army, we have survived these hard times."

(On camera): Aleppo is currently the key battleground in Syria's civil war. The Syrian government under President Bashar al-Assad has started a brutal offensive in this part of the country, also of course backed by Russian air power and pro-Iranian militias as well. And they believe that if they're able to deal a crushing blow to the rebels in this part of Syria, that they could decide the Syrian civil war for themselves. Of course, that still is unclear. They don't know how solid their gains are at this point or whether or not the rebels might try to launch a counterattack, but at this point in time, Aleppo is certainly one of the toughest battle grounds in the civil war that's been going on for about five years.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Aleppo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Still to come in the NEWSROOM, want to win over the majority of voters? Eye the minority. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders bracing for a battle in South Carolina.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:49:02] ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

COSTELLO: All right, we have new information about Chris Christie's campaign. As you know, he didn't fare well in New Hampshire last night and he went home to huddle with his people, and apparently they've come to some sort of conclusion.

Mark Preston is here to break the news. Good morning, Mark.

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Good morning, Carol. Yes. No surprise that Governor Chris Christie is heading back to New Jersey and will meet with his top campaign aides today. All indications are that he will end his bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

Now, one source told me that the governor is a political realist and he realized he was not going to make the cut to appear in the debate on Saturday night. He also noticed that fundraising was going to dry up and would make it impossible to move on.

Now ,another source noted that, after his problems with Bridgegate, a lot of people had left him for political dead. But in fact Chris Christie had crawled his way back in, clawed his way back in, in my ways, into the fight for the Republican presidential nomination here in New Hampshire and actually did well.

[09:50:04] At this time, though, Carol, it is unclear who Chris Christie might endorse for the presidency but it would be no surprise if eventually he would endorse one of the governors.

So as we wait to hear some more details about when Chris Christie will announce that he's suspending his campaign, we look now down to South Carolina and see what the other candidates are going to do. Carol?

COSTELLO: This is really interesting news, Mark, because, you know, during the debate, everyone was wondering whether Chris Christie's attack on Marco Rubio would hurt Rubio but ultimately help Christie. Didn't help Christie, right?

PRESTON: No, it didn't help Christie. But in many ways I think Chris Christie certainly helped some of the other governors. You look at John Kasich, who placed second in the New Hampshire primary, as well as Jeb Bush. In many ways, those punches that Chris Christie threw at Marco Rubio took him off of his feet, took him off of his game, and placed him fifth in New Hampshire. So Chris Christie, if he does decide to endorse, could be a valuable asset on the campaign trail, because Chris Christie is very good at throwing a punch and ducking one when it's thrown at him. Carol?

COSTELLO: Does this decision surprise you at all?

PRESTON: Well, I'm going to tell you what, it does surprise me that Chris Christie was able to overcome all the controversy around Bridgegate. You know, as the source said, he was left for dead and he did fight his way back into it. But I'm not surprised that he would decide to get out. I mean, he is a political realist, as someone very close to him told me. And, look, he's not going to continue on a fight where it was a losing battle.

At this point in the campaign, Carol, you need money. Money is going to fuel the presidential campaign. Chris Christie was not going to have that money and there's going to be a consolidation at some point after we see this battle between Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush and John Kasich for that moderate-centrist middle lane. Chris Christie was no longer in that lane. They were trying to consolidate behind somebody else.

So Chris Christie, a political realist. Look, he could be a very valuable on the campaign trail, and should a Republican win the nomination, I would think that Chris Christie would be in mind for a top cabinet position if he so wanted one.

COSTELLO: OK, so just to reiterate to our audience, our viewers who may just be joining us, your sources are telling you that Chris Christie will what?

PRESTON: Well, at this point, all indications are that he will suspend his campaign today. He will be meeting with top campaign aides down in New Jersey. Chris Christie will be ending his bid, we're told, for the Republican presidential nomination. Carol?

COSTELLO: All right, Mark Preston reporting live for us and imparting breaking news. We appreciate that. Mark Preston, thank you.

I'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:56:50] COSTELLO: Checking some top stories for you at 56 minutes past.

Adding insult to injury, in Flint, Michigan, the city is now under a boil water advisory following a water main break on Tuesday. City officials are urging people to boil their filtered water just as a precaution. In the meantime, Flint's mayor says she needs $55 million to replace the city's lead pipes. She's asking Governor Rick Snyder to partner with her to get the money.

Ferguson, Missouri, could get slapped with a civil rights lawsuit after city officials said they want to make changes to a deal that was worked out with the U.S. Justice Department. Under the proposed agreement, Ferguson must pay for reforms that include new staff and new software. The city council says it's concerned the huge price tag for those reforms will cripple the city, but the Justice Department officials say changing the agreement will now create unnecessary delays. They are considering any legal action necessary against Ferguson.

The court-martial of Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl has been put on hold because of disputes over what kind of information can be given to Bergdahl's defense team. The government says some of the materials are classified and should not be shared. An appeals court has now been asked to make that decision. Bergdahl's desertion trial has been scheduled for August.

One and a half million cars are being recalled in the United States because of concerns over exploding airbags. The parts were made by Takata, the same company whose defective airbags have been linked to at least ten deaths in the U.S. The recalled cars are made by Volkswagen and Daimler-Chrysler. You can see a full list of the affected vehicles at CNNmoney.com.

The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts now.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

COSTELLO: And good morning, I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.

In the wake of a disappointing finish in New Hampshire, Chris Christie has headed back to New Jersey for a critical meeting with top aides. Mark Preston is CNN's Politics executive editor. He joins me from Manchester, New Hampshire, with the breaking news about the Christie campaign. Good morning.

PRESTON: Good morning, Carol. Yes, I've spoken to two sources very close to the governor and they tell me he'll be meeting with his top aides today and all indications are he will end his bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

Now, I'm told that Chris Christie is a realist and he understands that he was not going to qualify to appear in Saturday's debate down in South Carolina, and also realized that the fundraising was going to dry up. Now, this is Chris Christie, who a lot of people had left for dead, political dead, after the very controversial Bridgegate. But as one of these sources said to me, he crawled his way back into the New Hampshire primary and ran a very, very strong campaign up here, which showed that not only was he a good candidate, but the resilience of the campaign around him.

At this moment, though, Carol, we don't expect Chris Christie to endorse anybody formally, but as a governor you would have to think that he would look at two of the remaining governors left in the race eventually, Jeb Bush or John Kasich. Carol?

COSTELLO: All right. Mark Preston reporting live from New Hampshire this morning with breaking news that Governor Chris Christie will likely suspend his presidential run.

[10:00:05] As Chris Christie steps off the trail to reassess, the other Republican candidates head south.