Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Fragile Truce in Syria; Obama Pressured to Accuse ISIS of Genocide; Zimbabwe President Celebrates Lavishly in Drought-Stricken Country; Christie Endorses Trump; Clinton, Sanders Make Final Pitch in South Carolina; Inside Notorious South African Prison; Donald Trump's Many Loves. Aired 4-5a ET
Aired February 27, 2016 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:00]
(MUSIC PLAYING)
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Just hours after a fragile cease-fire in Syria started, there are new attacks across that country. The very latest ahead on a new wave of violence that threatens to undo weeks of tense diplomacy there.
Robert Mugabe is celebrating his 92nd birthday in style while many in Zimbabwe feel the effects of severe drought. A live report from that country is coming up.
Plus this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), N.J.: America must have a strong leader again that could restore American jobs, that could restore American confidence. And Donald Trump is just the man to do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: The Republican race for the White House takes another interesting twist as these two former rivals team up to take on Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz.
From CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta, welcome to our viewers around the world. I'm George Howell. CNN NEWSROOM starts now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HOWELL: And a good day to you. It is 11:00 am in Syria. Violent clashes are now being reported across that country, just about 11 hours after a temporary truce took hold. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the incidents are between regime and rebel forces in Latakia. There are also firefights in Aleppo and Homs.
The agreed-upon cease-fire includes the Syrian government, Russia and opposition forces. Military operations against terrorist groups like ISIS and Al-Nusra Front will continue. This is a rapidly changing story that CNN is covering from all angles this hour. Our international diplomatic editor, Nic Robertson, is live in Riyadh where the high negotiating committee that supports opposition rebels is watching this very closely.
And senior international reporter Arwa Damon is live in Istanbul, Turkey, following developments in the region.
Arwa, I would like to start with you, first of all. This cease-fire never included Al-Nusra Front or ISIS. So the question now, does the fighting focus on them or are others involved?
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the issue, George, is that even though, yes, Al-Nusra and ISIS were not part of this agreement of cessation of hostilities, where are we going to end up seeing clashes?
You were talking there about these violent firefights taking place. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, in one particular area in particular, in Latakia, which is a very significant coastal region that has been a regime stronghold for quite some time now, also an area that most certainly the regime does not want to lose any ground in, there, according to the observatory, clashes took place between the regime and rebel forces.
In Aleppo, however, according to the observatory, the clashes that took place were between the regime and ISIS. Now we have not up until now at least heard any reports about air strikes taking place.
Even though there is not necessarily a lot of optimism that this cessation of hostilities is going to necessarily going to hold, even though there is a lot of skepticism surrounding it and how realistic it actually is and what kind of future developments it could lead to, one must say, at this stage, that any cessation in hostilities, even if it is for a day, any sort of respite from the relentless air strikes that most certainly had intensified leading up to that deadline for the cessation of hostilities to begin, is such a brief but really welcome relief to those who continue to suffer the brunt of the violence.
Of course, the hope is that if this does hold, much needed humanitarian aid will be able to reach those who really need it at this stage. But the concern, George, is that, yes, under the guise of attacking Nusra or ISIS, you could potentially see the regime or the Russians striking out at the more moderate opposition rebels.
And then you also have another issue where the front man, the leader of the Nusra Front, al-Julani, has come out and warned other rebel groups, flat out said, look, this is a Western plot to have us end up eventually giving in, surrendering to the regime.
You also have some other leading rebel groups who have also come out and said this is a complete sham and we're getting duped. So unclear also at this stage exactly who those 97 opposition groups that signed on to this cessation of hostilities really are. So a lot of uncertainty but so far, all things considered, given that it is Syria that we're talking about, it does seem as that the violence has significantly diminished. HOWELL: Violence has significantly diminished. But, again, we understand that these clashes still taking place. Arwa Damon, explaining the situation for us, thank you for your reporting.
Now let's turn to Nic Robertson --
[04:05:00]
HOWELL: -- who is live in Riyadh.
And, Nic, I'm curious as to whether you have you heard any response from the high negotiating committee about this, obviously keeping a close eye on events, questioning whether, as Arwa pointed out, questioning whether it's a sham in their opinion or whether they believe that this will hold up and that the fighting has stopped against rebel forces.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Sure, well, they are certainly hoping that it will. And the 97 different groups and factions that they represent run the gamut from really hardcore Islamist groups, like Jaysh al Islam, that Bashar al-Assad, the Russians consider terrorist organizations, all the way through to a former prime minister.
What they have said, the high negotiating committee, is that this cease-fire -- and they said they don't expect it to be an easy path, either -- that this cease-fire should not be used by the regime to pursue moderate rebel groups.
And of course it (INAUDIBLE) does come where you have this Al Qaeda group, Al-Nusra Front is aligned in different areas with different hard-line Islamist rebel groups. And some of those appear to be part of that fighting that is going on around Latakia. It's a gray area. Perhaps over time they will become a better, more broadly understood definition of who is Al Qaeda actually, which groups can be defined as Al Qaeda as well as the Al-Nusra Front. It's clear who ISIS is.
That's potentially one of the things that may happen. But what the high negotiating committee, the opposition grouping here has said is that they want any irregularities, any breaks in the cease-fire to be carefully monitored independently. And for that -- you know, for whoever is violating the cease-fire to be called out on it, to be made very public and transparent process here.
And that, of course, if that happens, is something that can potentially help through the hiccups, as the special envoy to Syria has said could occur during this cease-fire process.
So at the moment the opposition agency is not making any comment how the cease-fire is going, I think perhaps it is a bit early days for them yet to say clearly.
But certainly if we do see a return to the scale of bombing by Russian aircraft and government helicopters, then I think we can expect them to make a very, very clear statement, as they have in the past condemning such actions. HOWELL: So as Arwa stated, no air strikes but clashes continue. And as you are pointing out, the high negotiating committee keeping a very close watch on what's happening.
Nic Robertson, thank you for your reporting there and we'll stay in touch.
Now despite the issues that Nic just laid out for us and the things that could go wrong, the U.S. special envoy says this may be a chance for hope for Syria's people. What they have lost is immeasurable, loved ones, livelihoods and their heritage.
Hala Gorani digs into CNN's archives and amateur video to take us inside Syria's largest city of Aleppo to see how much has changed there.
HALA GORANI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Caught in the crossfire of Syria's civil war, Aleppo is being destroyed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Allahu akbar.
GORANI (voice-over): It's not until you look back at what this ancient city used to be that you realize what is being lost here.
Before the war this is what the city center looked like, narrow alleys and covered souks, UNESCO World Heritage sites.
We've been coming to Aleppo since long before the civil war started. And in just the past few weeks we got access to see what is left of the old city. The ancient souk, once such a central part of Aleppo life when we came here before, where craftsmen worked their goods and stalls bustled, today looks like this: empty, much of it reduced to rubble.
People would often sit atop the citadel for a drink in the afternoon sun. And today, though the structure's iconic ramparts are in most parts still standing, makeshift military posts now look out across the city.
To the south of the citadel these satellite pictures show how the urban landscape has been virtually flattened. The swimming pool you see here belonged to the luxury Carlton hotel. The hotel then became a makeshift base for government forces. It was leveled in 2014 after rebels dug a tunnel underneath it and packed it with explosives.
Satellite pictures also show the damage done to Aleppo's Umayyad Mosque, its 11th century minaret demolished. It was a 1,000-year-old tower, an imposing feature --
[04:10:00]
GORANI (voice-over): -- visible from across the city. But in the end it was taken down by shelling in 2013.
Aleppo has always been known for its ottoman architecture, its large mansions and courtyards. Hanan Wazir (ph), a 7th century inn, now lies abandoned, a nearby mosque in ruins.
As hopes for the latest Syrian cease-fire are eroded, so, too, are the remains of hundreds of years, even millennia of history in Aleppo -- Hala Gorani, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: There is growing pressure on the Obama administration to formally accuse ISIS of genocide. We're told that inside the White House and State Department there has been an intense debate over making that call given what might compel the administration to do if ISIS is given that label. Our Brian Todd has this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Groups of Christians in orange jumpsuits, lined up on beaches in Libya, beheaded at the hands of ISIS. It's happened at least twice. ISIS has crucified people in the center of Raqqah, Syria. In Iraq, the group has killed thousands of Yazidis, an ethnic and religious minority.
This 15-year-old Yazidi described what happened to his family in Sinjar Province.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): ISIS killed my dad, my uncles. They kidnapped 25 relatives, including women.
TODD (voice-over): Then ISIS has enslaved Yazidi women and girls, militants bragging about it in videos.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Where is my Yazidi girl?
TODD (voice-over): Now members of Congress are pushing the Obama White House to formally accuse ISIS of genocide.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's time for America to act.
TODD (voice-over): Religious freedom advocates say it's past time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've got killings by a number of barbaric methods, beheadings, rape of young girls, a number of actions with the intent to inflict violence, death and other tremendous (ph) forms of mental stress, which will drive those communities from the Middle East.
TODD (voice-over): U.S. officials tell CNN inside the Obama administration a debate has been going on since last year over whether to accuse ISIS of genocide. Now under pressure from Congress, Secretary of State John Kerry says he's close to making the call.
JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: I share just a huge sense of revulsion over the -- these acts, obviously.
TODD (voice-over): But Kerry says the administration's lawyers have to first make a judgment that what ISIS is doing meets the standard of genocide. Advocates say it should, since ISIS appears to be targeting Yazidis, Christians and others based on their religions.
This 19-year-old Yazidi woman tells a horrific story of being handed over to an ISIS militant.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): He put me to a room and put a gun to my head and I was on the ground. And he said, "I will kill you because you won't convert to Islam."
TODD (voice-over): If atrocities like that are labeled as genocide by the U.S., the Obama administration wouldn't be legally compelled to do anything but morally and politically they would come under pressure to take actions that might not be popular with many Americans.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It will certainly mean more protection of minority communities on the ground, which will mean more military engagement. It will also mean more resources in terms of identifying and resettling refugees.
TODD (voice-over): Would being accused of genocide put any more pressure on ISIS? Analysts say it might result in more investigations, possible trials before the International Criminal Court. It's not clear if it would mean stepped-up bombing or other military operations. And experts say it likely won't change ISIS' behavior, given the group's apocalyptic view toward anyone who's different from them -- Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HOWELL (voice-over): You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. The president of Zimbabwe is celebrating his birthday in style. But people throughout the country are upset with the lavish festivities, the country that's struggling with its economy.
Plus the gloves are off in the Republican race for the White House as Marco Rubio steps up his attacks on that man there, Donald Trump. The news continues after this.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:15:00]
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(HEADLINES)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HOWELL: Video here of the Iranian president voting in what is essentially a referendum on his performance. These were the first elections since Hassan Rouhani negotiated an agreement that limits the country's nuclear program.
In return, some sanctions against Iran have been lifted. Reformers and conservatives fought the election over control of two key government bodies. Early results are expected in the coming hours. And we will continue to monitor here.
On now to Zimbabwe, where President Robert Mugabe is celebrating his 92nd birthday. And he is sparing no expenses for quite a lavish party. All the while, his country's economy is struggling and its people are suffering through the effects of a severe drought. CNNMoney Africa correspondent Eleni Giokos has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELENI GIOKOS, CNNMONEY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is Jaismal Hanga's (ph) daily routine, catching up on the latest news headlines in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare.
GIOKOS: Do you want to see change?
JAISMAL HANGA (PH): Yes, yes.
GIOKOS: What change do you want to see?
HANGA (PH): A new president, new government (INAUDIBLE).
GIOKOS (voice-over): President Robert Mugabe has been in power for 36 years. And on the eve of his 92nd birthday celebrations, many are reflecting on the state of the economy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's so much unemployment and the (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) I mean, it's (INAUDIBLE) going down.
GIOKOS (voice-over): And it's not just the people who are discontented.
GIOKOS: Do you think the president is happy with the state of the economy?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. He definitely is not. He would love this economy to perform. There is a missing link here. And we think the missing link is confidence. The missing link is -- this is about perception.
[04:20:00]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So even if the perception is good, you find that more people come to Zimbabwe and invest. Plus it gives you (INAUDIBLE). It's a matter of combining those forces and making more money.
GIOKOS (voice-over): Zimbabwe is not only dealing with a drop in commodity prices but also a widespread drought that has plunged over 3 million people into hunger.
Ironically, President Mugabe's birthday bash will take place in one of the most drought-stricken areas in the country, Masvingo.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why should people celebrate where people are suffering?
GIOKOS (voice-over): According to reports, there is an $800,000 price tag for this year's party.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't. I'm already turning 64.
GIOKOS: What is your hope for Zimbabwe?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE). I hope it will change one day. But it will take many years because you don't change an economy overnight.
GIOKOS (voice-over): At the age of 64, Jaismal (ph) is unemployed and homeless. His dreams have faded. But for the 92-year-old president, retirement is not on the cards just yet.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: On the phone with us now, Eleni Giokos actually joining us live.
Good to have you with us.
I wanted to ask you, the public opinion, the popular view about this president, given such great disparity...
GIOKOS: Well, this is the interesting thing. Here we are in Masvingo. It's one of the areas that is hard hit by the drought. And hunger is one of the biggest issues, where you've even got food aid that is coming to the country.
So we are starting to see the disparity and also perception. Just 50,000 people have gathered for the 90-second birthday celebration of the birthday of the president. And one of the important things that we are seeing on the ground is that people are excited. We are seeing a lot of celebrations (INAUDIBLE).
It's a very different story where people are concerned about their future. But also an important thing to mention there is a big question on succession planning. One of the post president Robert Mugabe Zimbabwe (INAUDIBLE) the party itself is (INAUDIBLE) has actually split into two essential leaders, two factions that we have seen in terms of succession.
And you've got the first lady, Grace Mugabe, that is leading the (INAUDIBLE) at the moment. And it's said that she could possibly take on the reins going forward. And the vice president also has another faction, (INAUDIBLE) starting to be split internally.
In fact, this is the first time where both factions are going to be meeting to celebrate the president's birthday.
HOWELL: Eleni, one other question that I have for you. And I was really interested to see in your reporting when you spoke to people about their views.
But, I mean, is there a sense of hopefulness?
Or is it a great deal of frustration, just given what we are seeing with this president having such a lavish party?
GIOKOS: (INAUDIBLE). That's a good question. And this is what we are seeing on the ground. If you talk to people in Harare and you speak to people on the streets, the average person that is trying to make a living with their earnings perhaps $100 to $150 a month. (INAUDIBLE). You are seeing that they are worried about the economy. They feel that the government has failed them. They want to see change. They want to see political change and they want to see economic change.
If you go to the (INAUDIBLE) and you speak to some of the (INAUDIBLE) that (INAUDIBLE) money, and you're talking about a different (INAUDIBLE) scenario where they're saying that (INAUDIBLE) is growing. But (INAUDIBLE) the gap between the rich and poor is quite big at this stage.
HOWELL: Eleni Giokos, live for us in Zimbabwe. Thank you so much for your reporting there.
And when it comes to Zimbabwe's economy, it has struggled for many years. Starting in 1998, that country suffered through a 10-year recession. It coincided with hyperinflation and peaked at an estimated 79 billion percent month-to-month. In 2009, the economy allowed foreign currencies to be used. The policy that was called dollarization brought inflation under control.
Still to come here on CNN NEWSROOM is, an exclusive look inside a South African prison accused of mistreating its inmates. Stay with us.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:25:00]
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HOWELL: A warm welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm George Howell.
The headlines this hour:
(HEADLINES)
HOWELL: A newly aggressive Marco Rubio is ramping up his attacks against Donald Trump. The presidential candidates went head-to-head at Thursday night's Republican debate. Rubio hit at Trump on his background and his character. Some are calling it the most effective takedown of the billionaire so far.
And after that savage battle of a debate, Donald Trump dropped a major bombshell. He appeared on stage Friday with New Jersey governor Chris Christie, who is now backing the billionaire for president. Christie dropped out of his own presidential bid earlier this month and now says Trump is the man for the job. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTIE: America must have a strong leader again that could restore American jobs, that could restore American confidence. And Donald Trump is just the man to do it. America needs someone who's going to make sure that Hillary Clinton doesn't get within 10 miles of the White House. Donald Trump can do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: And Chris Christie there also taking direct jabs at Marco Rubio in that speech. He could be exactly what Donald Trump needs as the Republican establishment steps up its attacks against the front- runner. Senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta has the very latest for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Donald Trump trying to turn the page after CNN's fiery Republican debate, rolling out a jaw-dropping endorsement from Chris Christie.
DONALD TRUMP, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This was an endorsement that really meant a lot.
CHRISTIE: There is no better fighter than Donald Trump. And he's going to fight for the American people.
DONALD TRUMP: Other than that I rest my case.
(CROSSTALK)
ACOSTA (voice-over): It was a deft move for Trump after he seemed rattled by a newly aggressive Marco Rubio at Thursday's debate.
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R), FLA., PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If he hadn't inherited $200 million, you know where Donald Trump would be right now?
Selling watches in Manhattan.
(APPLAUSE)
DONALD TRUMP: That is so wrong. Rubio has decided the only way to take down the GOP front-runner is to match insult with insult.
RUBIO: Let me tell you something. Last night in the debate during one of the breaks, two of the breaks, he went backstage. He was having a meltdown. First, he had this little makeup thing, applying like makeup around his mustache because he had one of those sweat mustaches.
Then -- then he asked for a full-length mirror. I don't know why because the podium goes up to here. But he wanted a full-length mirror, maybe to make sure his pants weren't wet. I don't know.
ACOSTA (voice-over): In Texas, Rubio ridiculed Trump's misspelling of the words "lightweight choker" in his post-debate tweets.
RUBIO: Here's the first one.
"Lightweight Marco Rubio was working hard last night."
This is true.
"The problem is he is a chocker. And once a chocker always --"
A choker, I guess that's what he meant to say.
He spelled choker c-h-o-k-e-r, chocker.
DONALD TRUMP: He was sweating so badly --
ACOSTA: Trump mocked the Florida senator as drowning in sweat backstage at the debates, badly in need of TV makeup.
DONALD TRUMP: I will not say that he was trying to cover up his ears.
I need water. Help me. I need water. Help.
When you're a choke artist, you're always a choke artist.
ACOSTA (voice-over): It was a continuation of the alley fight that broke out during CNN's debate. On ObamaCare, Rubio got the last word over who repeats himself the most.
RUBIO: So that's the only part of the plan?
Just the lines, the interstate competition?
DONALD TRUMP: Nice part about the -- you have many different plans. You'll have competition. You'll have so many different plans.
RUBIO: Now he's repeating himself.
DONALD TRUMP: No, I'm not repeating -- no, no, no.
RUBIO: You don't repeat yourself?
DONALD TRUMP: He's the guy who repeats himself.
You repeat yourself every day.
DONALD TRUMP: Talking about repeating. I watched him repeat himself five times four week ago.
RUBIO: I saw you repeat yourself five times five seconds ago.
ACOSTA (voice-over): Trump wondered whether Rubio will now land the support of the last GOP nominee, Mitt Romney. Romney, Trump joked, was never going to win in 2012.
DONALD TRUMP: When you walk onto a stage you cannot walk like a penguin. He walked like a penguin.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: Donald Trump there. And that was Jim Acosta reporting for us.
Chris Christie's support for Mr. Trump is a big surprise. Just a few months ago, he was singing a very different tune, though. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTIE: Donald's a great guy and a good person but I just don't think he's suited to be President of the United States.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why?
CHRISTIE: I don't think his temperament is suited for that and I don't think his experience is. He's got great experience in doing things of business. But I'll give you a perfect example. If he doesn't get what he wants from John Boehner, he can't fire him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: So that's a 180 there.
And Trump went after his former rival on a number of different occasions in the past, even blasting how Christie handled Hurricane Sandy when the storm devastated his state. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Honestly it was terrible. I was with him. They had the flood, they had the hurricane and Obama went to New Jersey and he was like -- he was like a little child. He was like a little boy.
Oh, I'm with the president.
Remember he flew in the helicopter and he was all excited to be in the helicopter?
I said I would have put you in my helicopter, it's much nicer. Still. No, I thought it was a terrible thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: We will see how strong the new Trump-Christie pairing proves to be when we get to Super Tuesday. That is in just four days' time.
Despite Donald Trump's personal attacks on FOX News journalist Megyn Kelly and his comments that he's made about women in general, Trump still has support of women. Randi Kaye went to a debate watch party to get their thoughts.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Donald Trump.
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Before Donald Trump even uttered a word at CNN's GOP debate, this group was cheering for him. Dozens of Dallas women, all voting Trump come Super Tuesday.
DENA MILLER, DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTER: I think, though, they've been saying the silent majority. He speaks for all of us and has given us a voice.
AMY HILLOCK, DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTER: It's nice to have somebody that's not a canned politician. He's not in the box. He thinks outside of the box.
SHER MILLER, DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTER: He has tapped into --
[04:35:00]
-- the anger in America.
I think that he is a person that's going to go down as one of the greatest presidents in history.
KAYE (voice-over): This woman voted for President Obama and even she's in Trump's corner now.
KATHERINE CAMPOS, DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTER: I mean, he's very charismatic.
Nobody is wittier or smarter or quicker on the draw than he is. That's for sure.
But, also, there was like, the boldness about him and an independence that appealed to me.
DONALD TRUMP: You tell me about this guy.
KAYE (voice-over): Watching the debate only solidified their support.
KAYE: Who here feels stronger about Donald Trump after this debate and they did going into it?
More committed?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
HILLOCK: When I'm watching the debates and I'm yelling at the T.V., the next thing out of Donald Trump's mouth is exactly what I just said.
KAYE: But does that mean he's going to be a good president?
HILLOCK: I think he will. I think he will.
KAYE: In their eyes, he can neither do or say anything wrong.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely.
KAYE (voice-over): Even when it comes to women. This supporter told me she thinks Trump can, "save the country."
GINA ABIO, DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTER: I have a lot of friends that's cringe when he says things. But it's Trump. That's who he is. That's what he does.
KAYE: And that's what you like about him?
ABIO: Yes.
KAYE (voice-over): They support him on the issues too, like immigration.
LORI ANTHONY, DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTER: People who want to come into this country need to pay their dues and need to work as hard as everybody else to stay here.
KAYE (voice-over): And while Marco Rubio is demanding more specific plans from Trump...
RUBIO: What is your plan Mr. Trump? What is your plan on health care? You don't have ...
KAYE (voice-over): -- these women say they've heard enough.
BRENDA WHITE, DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTER: And if you listen to Trump, he actually does present plans and what his policies are on every issue.
You know, I don't hear that coming from these other candidates.
KAYE (voice-over): Other candidates like Ted Cruz. Some here plan to vote Cruz, then switch to Trump.
KAYE: Do you think he can beat Ted Cruz in Texas on Super Tuesday?
JUDITH ARONSON, DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTER: I do. I do. I think Ted has revealed himself to be someone who is not someone that we would trust.
KAYE (voice-over): They do trust Donald Trump.
RUSANNA CRAIG, DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTER: Nobody has gone to Washington that we have elected and did what they said they were going to do.
KAYE: And what makes you think he will?
CRAIG: I look at his history. I see the company he has built. I have seen the empire that he has built.
DONALD TRUMP: I'm the only one of the states that's hired people. You haven't hired anything.
KAYE (voice-over): Randi Kaye, CNN, Dallas, Texas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: Ahead of South Carolina's Democratic primary and Super Tuesday next week, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton are swinging through Southern states to snag whatever votes they can.
Sanders kept up the Wall Street attack rhetoric and Clinton is dealing with demands that she release transcripts from her paid speeches.
Here's senior political correspondent Brianna Keilar with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Bachelor parties aren't your usual campaign events.
HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is exciting, isn't it?
KEILAR (voice-over): But that's where Hillary Clinton unexpectedly found herself, at a Charleston bakery one day before the South Carolina primary, trying to convince voters to walk down the aisle with her.
CLINTON: I need your vote tomorrow.
KEILAR (voice-over): Instead of Bernie Sanders.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I), VT., PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: She has a super PAC, 15 million of which came from Wall Street.
KEILAR (voice-over): He's in South Carolina today after a stop in Minnesota, where he targeted Clinton's big-dollar speeches to Wall Street firms.
SANDERS: Maybe what you said behind closed doors is a little bit different than what you're saying to the American people. I am prepared to release all of the transcripts I had of secret meetings with Wall Street. Here they are.
KEILAR (voice-over): Clinton is resisting saying Tuesday at CNN's town hall.
CLINTON: Why is there one standard for me and not for everybody else? KEILAR (voice-over): "The New York Times" editorial board backing Sanders on the issue, saying voters have every right to know what Ms. Clinton told these groups. Clinton is urging voters to examine her public record.
CLINTON: Well, it's hurtful to have people say oh, I don't trust her, don't know why she's doing it.
And it suddenly struck me, well, you know, maybe there is this underlying question, like is she doing it for herself or is she really in it for us?
KEILAR (voice-over): She and Sanders are fighting for the key support of black voters ahead of the South Carolina primary and the other upcoming Southern contest Tuesday, both on defense for their support of the 1994 crime bill that helped lead to increased African American incarceration.
CLINTON: There were some positive features. However, I think that the consequences of some of what was done are serious and we have to take action as quickly and broadly as possible to try to reverse those.
KEILAR (voice-over): And Sanders at an event in Chicago where Secret Service stepped in when a woman holding a sign charged the stage. His remarks included a critique of Clinton for backing her husband's 1996 welfare --
[04:40:00]
KEILAR (voice-over): -- reform bill.
SANDERS: The result of that bill is that extreme poverty, the poorest of the poor in America, those numbers doubled as a result of that legislation. I oppose that legislation. Hillary Clinton supported that legislation.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: That was CNN's Brianna Keilar reporting for us.
The Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses next week have the potential to decide who becomes the nominee for both parties. Earlier our political analyst Josh Rogan gave his thoughts on what the big day means for the Democratic candidates. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSH ROGAN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: The Super Tuesday states, mostly Southern states, have a -- represent an advantage for the Clinton campaign that Bernie Sanders is simply probably not going to be able to overcome. You see him focusing on those states where he thinks he might have a chance. Of course, Massachusetts, Vermont, these are states he can reasonably expect to have a very good chance of winning.
Then he's focused on Minnesota and, for some reason, Oklahoma. The rest of the states in Super Tuesday are Southern states and the Clinton camp is expecting that Secretary Clinton will sweep those states.
So after Tuesday we could see Secretary Clinton with a much bigger advantage in delegates and an even bigger advantage in super delegates than she has right now. That won't be the end of the Sanders' campaign but it might be the beginning of the end of his hopes for actually surpassing her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Our political analyst Josh Rogan with that.
You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. Still ahead, the South African prison that once housed Nelson Mandela, see why some say the conditions there are inhumane for prisoners living there today.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:45:00]
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HOWELL: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm George Howell.
We turn now to South Africa. CNN was given exclusive access to one of the country's most notorious prisons, Pollsmoor Prison. It is the place where Nelson Mandela was held and it has been dogged by years of scandal and allegations of inhumane conditions. David McKenzie takes us inside.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Walls designed to keep dangerous inmates out of sight, also hiding allegations of abuse, disease, outbreaks, severe overcrowding -- until now. We've been given exclusive access inside Pollsmoor Prison.
We're headed to the one section that's the oversight most overcrowded section of Pollsmoor, (INAUDIBLE) centers. Some of the cells over 300 percent over capacity.
Statistics can be hard to grasp; the horrific reality is not. This single cell, crammed with 86 detainees. It was designed for 19. They all share one shower and a toilet but often it's just a bucket.
No mattress, no nothing?
The smell, this many bodies in such a small space, is suffocating. The filth is so extreme, skin disease is endemic. Contracting tuberculosis, an almost certainty. Inhumane conditions for even the most hardened of convicts. But all of these men, yet to be convicted.
How many of you have been here for more than two months? CLIVE (PH): The worst thing is to see all the people must lay on the floors, (INAUDIBLE). Even during the night, when we want to go to toilet, we have to climb over them.
MCKENZIE (voice-over): Clive (ph) has been stuck here for two years and two months, awaiting trial.
CLIVE (PH): Animals should live like this but not human beings.
MCKENZIE: It seems very unfair to them.
JACOBS: I understand that but unfortunately we don't invite any of them in here. Correctional Services, we don't invite any of them in here. They come here because they do alleged crimes.
MCKENZIE (voice-over): He says Pollsmoor was designed during apartheid when prisons were meant to break black inmates, not rehabilitate them.
MCKENZIE: It's inhumane.
JACOBS: It's inhumane. (INAUDIBLE).
MCKENZIE (voice-over): Jacobs wanted to show us what wardens were up against.
Today, like each morning, hundreds of remanded inmates head off to court. Some will be let off, some convicted. But the majority will just be brought back where hundreds more will join them each week inside this prison hell -- David McKenzie, CNN, Pollsmoor Prison.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(SPORTS)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:50:00]
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HOWELL: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm George Howell.
On the west coast of the United States, people are bracing for a weekend of storms. Our meteorologist, Karen Maginnis, is following it at the World Weather Center.
HOWELL: Karen, good to have you.
KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, and George, yes, back-to-back storm systems, not of equal value but nonetheless very powerful. And the rainfall that we have seen already for the season in Seattle is about 150 percent of what you think they would typically see for the last six months or so. (WEATHER REPORT)
HOWELL: Karen Maginnis, thank you so much.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HOWELL: Back to America's choice and the race to the White House, the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, is no stranger, obviously, to attacking his rivals. But he would have you believe that he is a really soft-hearted guy. Our Jeanne Moos reports on The Donald's endless love affair with almost everything.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Donald Trump is a man in love with love. And we're not just talking about his wife, Melania.
DONALD TRUMP: I love my kids. I love the Bible. I love our police. The Beatles I love.
And do we love our vets?
I love the evangelicals.
MOOS (voice-over): But the Donald's latest love left some dumbfounded.
DONALD TRUMP: We won with highly educated. We won with poorly educated. I love the poorly educated.
MOOS (voice-over): Instantly, #ILoveThePoorlyEducated started to trend. It ended up on merchandise. It was mocked on Twitter, "Make America Dumb Again."
But Donald seems smitten with --
[04:55:00]
MOOS (voice-over): -- various demographics.
DONALD TRUMP: We won with women. I love the women.
MOOS (voice-over): But why stop at love?
DONALD TRUMP: I cherish women.
MOOS (on camera): Of course there is geographical love.
DONALD TRUMP: We love Nevada. I love Iowa. I love Las Vegas. I love the country.
MOOS (voice-over): And there is passive-aggressive love.
DONALD TRUMP: I love protesters. And I love "The New York Times." It's great.
MOOS (voice-over): But the kind of love that tends to worry the recipient is often followed by a "but."
DONALD TRUMP: I love the Mexican people. I love the Muslims. I think they're great people. I love China.
MOOS (voice-over): But --
DONALD TRUMP: They are ripping us.
MOOS (voice-over): There is one sure way to win Trump's affection.
DONALD TRUMP: So Kanye West, I love him because he loves Trump.
MOOS (on camera): Even when The Donald expresses his devotion to a cookie...
DONALD TRUMP: Oreos, I love Oreos.
MOOS: -- in the next breath, he bites back.
DONALD TRUMP: I'll never eat them again.
MOOS (voice-over): He's boycotting Nabisco because it moved some jobs to Mexico.
Trump's never-ending supply of love is apparently contagious.
MELANIA TRUMP, DONALD TRUMP'S WIFE: We love you.
DONALD TRUMP: I love you folks very much. We love you.
MOOS (voice-over): To The Donald, love is blind.
DONALD TRUMP: I don't know who the hell is in this room, but whoever it is, I love you. OK.
MOOS (voice-over): Jeanne Moos...
DONALD TRUMP: I love you.
MOOS (voice-over): -- CNN...
DONALD TRUMP: Everybody loves me.
MOOS (voice-over): -- New York.
DONALD TRUMP: Everybody loves me. I give to everybody.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: And we love the fact that you stayed with us here the last hour here for CNN NEWSROOM. Thanks for watching. I'm George Howell at the CNN Center here in Atlanta. I'll be back after the break with another hour of news from around the world. You're watching CNN, the world's news leader.
