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US Presidential Campaign Latest; Possible New Development in OJ Simpson Murder Case; Iditarod Needs Imported Snow. Aired 2-2:30a ET
Aired March 05, 2016 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[02:00:10] NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: The field gets smaller and the competition gets louder. At Ben Carson drops out of the U.S. Republican race for the White House. We'll tell you why this Saturday means so much for the remaining candidate.
Also ahead the murder case of how the worlds fell down, getting press attention as investigators examine a knife of allegedly found on the former escape of O. J. Simpson.
And determining if this piece of debris could over new clues for to the whereabouts of missing jet MH370, we'll have a live report for you.
It's all ahead here on CNN Newsroom. We're live from Atlanta. I'm Natalie Allen.
The first polls in super Saturday voting for the U.S. presidential race open in just a few hours. 109 delegates are up for grabs among Democrats in Kansas, Louisiana and Nebraska.
Hillary Clinton has a sizable lead over Bernie Sanders. And for Republicans there are 155 delegates at state in Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana and Maine. Donald Trump is leading that delegate count.
In the meantime, Ben Carson officially ended his presidential campaign on Friday. He told the conservative political action conference the delegate map wasn't in his favor. Carson did not endorse anyone.
The remaining Republican candidates are crisscrossing the U.S. stumping for votes after a debate filled with insults and talks.
For now, here's Athena Jones.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUIMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This politician come up like lightweight Marco Rubio. Like lion Ted Cruz.
ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPODENT: On the hills of racist, even raunchy (ph) debate. The insults kept flying on the campaign tail. Donald Trump not letting up in his criticism of his rivals. An not letting go or Marco Rubio's comment about the size of his hands.
TRUMP: So when little Marco's fuses is crap about the size of my hand which is a big. Those hands can hit a golf ball 285 years. JONES: Ted Cruz questioning the billionaire businessman readiness to be president and his shifting views.
SEN. TED CRUZ, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know, how many times he said to work flexible. Let me tell you, when a college students (ph) tell you he's going to be flexible. That means he's getting to (inaudible).
JONES: A new shift of display Trump walking back this line from last night.
TRUMP: We should go for water boarding and we should go tougher than water boarding.
JONES: Reversing his fans on torture and ditching his calls to target the families of terrorist. In violation of international law saying in a statement, he understands that the United States is bound by law and treaties and I will not order our military or other officials to violate those laws.
Thursday's night debate was lace with locker room in new window (ph).
TRUMP: He refers to my hands of this ball something else must be small. I guarantee you this there's no problem. I guarantee you.
JONES: Cruz and Rubio unloading a series of attacks on Trumps temperament. He's business dealing and his immigration proposals, a concerted effort to stop the seemingly unstoppable GOP frontrunner.
CRUZ: I think the American people understand that yelling and cursing at people doesn't make you a tough guys.
SEN. MARCO RUBIO, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He has spend a carrier, a convincing American that is something that he's not in exchange for their money.
TRUMP: For the lost of something that wrong.
JONES: But later all three contenders standing by their pledge to back a man they spend the entire night arguing isn't bit to lead the country. Trump continuing to define normal political rules, deciding to skip a major conservative gathering outside Washington this weekend. He'll campaign in Kansas instead.
Rubio took the opportunity to Tweet Trump.
RUBIO: He really doesn't belong at a conservative gathering. Donald Trump is not a conservative.
JONES: Meanwhile, Cruz is destroying cold water on the prospect of blocking Trump at contested convention.
CRUZ: If the Washington deal makers try to steal the nomination from the people. I think it would be a disastrous.
(END VIDEO CLIP) ALLEN: Well back on the Democratic side Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are also looking ahead to Tuesday important primary in the U.S. state of Michigan. And a Senior Washington Correspondent Jeff Zeleny reports both candidates are focusing their message on the economy and jobs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BERNIE SANDER, U.S. DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you (inaudible).
JEFF ZELENY, SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: It's an all out fight for Michigan.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bernie is fighting hundreds of thousands in new job losses.
HILLARY CLINTON, U.S. DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I will fight for you in Flints no matter how long it's takes.
ZELENY: Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders facing off in campaign ads and now on the ground, four the days before the states primary seals or resets the course of the Democratic race.
The state is a laboratory for their dueling economic messages.
[02:05:02] CLINTON: What has been broken can be rebuilt, stronger than before.
SANDERS: And if you elected president we are going to very fundamentally transform transformed trade policy in this country.
ZELENY: Sanders is hitting his rival hard on trade saying agreements from the Clinton administration starting with NAFTA and other she's voted on have been bad for Michigan.
SANDERS: NAFTA in permanent normal trade relations have been a disaster for working people in this country that cost us millions of decent paying jobs, Secretary Clinton was on the other side. She supported them.
ZELENY: In Detroit Clinton pushed back.
CLINTON: But I don't think we can answer that question by re-fighting battles from 20 years ago. Anyone running for president owes it to you to come up with real ideas, not an idealogy, not an old set of talking points but a credible strategy design to the world we live in now.
ZELENY: Its four frenzy days for Sanders and Clinton, six states voting and CNN's presidential debate in Flint on Sunday.
Sanders is looking for a super Tuesday rebound stopping for a trim at Kansas barber shop before heading back to Michigan for a weekend of campaigning.
SANDERS: On March 8th Michigan can help lead this country forward to a political revolution. Let's do it.
ZELENY: But Clinton is trying to stay on top saying the policies outlined Thursday night at the GOP debate in Detroit would set the country back.
CLINTON: The economy would should be at the top of any list that anybody running for President has was basically an after thought.
ZELENY: Sanders rallying against corporations and Wall Street hopes his message to working ties Americans resonates with Democrats and more.
SANDERS: Our message speaks to working class people all over this country. I'm not going to tell you the conservatives are going to agree with that every issue. They are surely not. But there are a lot of issues I think that we can bring people together on.
ZELENY: And the fight is clearly on for Michigan 130 delegates. But before that votes in Nebraska, Kansas, Louisiana and Maine will vote this weekend that will set this stage for this big Michigan contest next week is one of the last chances for Bernie Sanders to revive his campaign in his bid against Hillary Clinton.
Jeff Zeleny, CNN, Allendale, Michigan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: And again Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders will face off on the debate stage once again in the CNN Democratic debate. It's live from Flint, Michigan. Anderson Cooper moderate that 1:00 a.m. Monday London time.
The infamous O.J. Simpson murder trial is once again capturing the attention of the American public. Los Angeles police say they have acquired a knife that was reportedly found at Simpson's former state years ago.
Our Dan Simon explains the mysterious new development.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Orenthal James Simpson not guilty of the crime of murder.
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Despite the acquittal many if not most believe it was a slam dunk case with incriminating evidence like bloody gloves, bloody shoe prints and a history of alleged abuse. But one key element prosecutors never had was a murder weapon namely the knife use the brutally kills Simpson's ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.
Now 21 years since the infamous could the mystery knife be found at long last.
CAPT. ANDY NEIMAN, LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPT: It is being treated as we would all evidence. So it is been submitted to our lab. They are going to study it and examine it before all forensics, including serology, and DNA, and hair samples.
SIMONS: It maybe a stunning twists of fruitless (ph) discovery. Los Angeles police announced they have recently come with position of a knife reportedly discovered on the Brentwood property where Simpson once lived. LAPD captain Andy Neiman says they learn within just the past month that a former Los Angeles police officer receive a knife from a construction worker back in the 90s after he allegedly found it on the property outside the home possibly when Simpson's home was being demolished.
The reason unknown, the officer now retired did not submit the knife to detectives until recently. Police want to talk to construction working if they can find him.
NEIMAN: Anytime you are -- you come into contact with evidence that you should and (inaudible) submit that to investigators.
SIMON: It's unclear why the officer waited nearly two decades to hand over the weapons or if he knew the case was still open. It's now on the hands of crime lab technicians but even if it turns out to be murder weapon and incriminate Simpson in the killing, state prosecutors can't charge Simpson again for the same crime due to double jeopardy. It's unclear if he can be charge federally with civil right violations.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a case.
SIMON: The lack of the knife at trial some believe may have allowed Simpson to walk. Simpson of course is now on the Nevada prison convicted in 2008 in connection with armed rubbery in a Las Vegas hotel room.
[02:10:00] Simpson claimed he was just trying to retrieve items that have been stolen from him.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Count one, conspiracy to commit a crime, guilty. Count two, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, guilty.
SIMON: Many applauded the conviction if for nothing else seeing Simpson finally get prison time. But he and his infamous murder trial remain a source of constant intrigue.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your ex-wife Nicole Simpson has been killed.
SIMON: With the February debut of a series on FX vividly retelling the trial and the people versus O.J. Simpson. With Friday's revelation of a knife could there be another chapter to add to the O.J. saga.
This retired cop told investigators that he was doing some security work for nearby movie shoot and this construction worker just came up and give him the knife. Police say they don't know if that's a true account or not. They are publically calling for this construction worker to come forward.
Dan Simon, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: So this discovery of course is causing widespread speculation. Earlier I spoke with Attorney Lisa Bloom about the potential legal implication.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LISA BLOOM, ATTORNEY THE BLLOM FIRM: O.J. Simpson cannot be retried for this double murder even if there is DNA on this knife. Even if he stood up in the middle of Time Square and said "I did it". Even if the new witness came forward doesn't matter his already been tried, he's been acquitted. It's over.
So this is not going to matter in terms of legal jeopardy. But in the eyes of the public, in terms of the history this case it could be very significant.
ALLEN: Well, his in prison right now on another charge. If something were to come out of this knife investigation could that perhaps keep him in prison longer?
BLOOM: Well, that's a very good question and the answer is yes. So O.J. Simpson is up to parole for the burglary and kidnapping charges that his currently incarcerated for and that goes back to an incident on Las Vegas hotel room a few years ago.
When he goes up for parole, parole cast a very wide net and people are entitle to come in and tell the parole board reasons why he should be release and reasons why he should remain incarcerated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: Forensic team have yet to announce their findings about this knife.
Well, after two agonizing years' families of those aboard Malaysia Airline flight 370 hope that this debris may give them some answers. We'll have a live report coming next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ALLEN: One of the world's biggest political meetings is beginning in Beijing this weekend. The annual session of the national people's Congress brings together thousands of delegates from all cross China. This years gathering is particularly important given China's slowdown in economic growth, other major role economies are anxiously awaiting Beijing plans for the future.
[02:15:01] For nearly two years relative of 239 people who were aboard Malaysia Airlines flight 370 have been looking answers to know bail (ph). The plane disappeared on its way to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Official searching for the Boeing 777 in the Indian Ocean hope this piece of debris may give them some clues. And now Malaysian and Austrian experts will examine the debris which actually was found by an American tourist along the coast of Mozambique. It wasn't part of any official search which makes all the more interesting.
Our Saima Mohsin join us live from Kuala Lumpur with more on developments in this fine. Saima, and how interested officials are in this possible piece of airplane.
SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN CORRESPODENT: Well of course Natalie every piece of debris that comes in has to investigated. They've eliminated a number as we know over the last two years. And of course we found that flaperon on Reunion Island that was proved to be part of MH370.
Today the only piece of debris, so their incredibly interested late Friday night I spoke to this directed general of Department of Civil Aviation in Malaysia. He told me that a three member team has been dispatch to Mozambique. We're expecting them to arrive in Mozambique within the next few hours. Our team there David Mckenzie is on standby for when they arrive.
Now, that's team comprising one member of the depart of civil aviation, a member of Malaysia airline and you remember that especially investigation seems full MH370 that was set up, a member of their team as well.
Now, those experts will be quick to inspect that piece of debris that's been found. Let's remind everyone what that looks like. It's a round meter long, 33 inches, discovered as you say by a tourist on holiday. But who also happens to be an aviation enthusiast in particular very interest in MH370, took boat out to take a look that. Now the experts are now there. They want to take a look at that. They'll carry out that inspection as soon as possible Saturday Mozambique time. Natalie.
ALLEN: It's so interesting Saima that to one official piece from the plane and then this suspicious piece both found by people not officially a part of this costly search that we've seen carried out now for so many months. And all of this latest find just before the two year anniversary of the disappearance.
MOHSIN: Yeah, absolutely. The timing is crucial, you know, just a couple of days before the two year anniversary. Someday here in Kuala Lumpur there's going to be a day of remembrance -- family members are flying in from all around the world to be a part of that two year monsoon (ph) of waiting to hear about their loves ones. What exactly happens?
And this of course yet another potential crucial missing piece in that incredible jigsaw puzzle Natalie. Now that piece will be inspected today. They are hoping to be able to give us an answer today if their not. They will bring it back here to Kuala Lumpur and potentially for further analysis in Austria.
But the experts are saying to where this debris was found does match their search area given the currents and oceanic expert have inspected, where their searching if there is a debris, if that is where the plane is. This is where the debris would potentially wash out. Natalie. ALLEN: All right. Well, hopefully this is something that's real for all of these people still have no answers. Thank you Mohsin for us there in Kuala Lampur.
Donald Trump opponents have often accused the Republican frontrunner of acting like a child. But we do children think of him. We'll hear from a few within CNN Newsroom continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[02:20:47] ALLEN: The Iditarod sled dog race only hours from its ceremonial start. But Derek Van Dam is here to tell us there is a little problem.
DEREK VAN DAM, METEOLOGIST: The iconic snow sled race doesn't have any snow Natalie. I call that a bit of problem wouldn't you?
ALLEN: I think so.
VAN DAM: Yeah, that's right. This is the 44th annual event taking place in Alaska and this is the first time that anchorage the ceremonial start location has had zero snow on the ground.
ALLEN: What they are going to do?
VAN DAM: Well get a load of this, I'll show you what they are doing to. Well, rectify the problem. They are literally taking the heavy machinery out, getting snow from the central parts of the state. This is service (ph) and they are putting it on seven train cars and bringing it all the way to Anchorage which is several, several kilometers to the south. Take a look at your next video and you'll see the train cars arriving in Anchorage beautiful, beautiful city as well if you get a chance to go over there.
Take a look at this. This is ...
ALLEN: Oh my goodness would you look at that.
VAN DAM: But this is happened two times now in 25 years. But it is unprecedented just to considering what they are doing just to get the ceremonial start underway, 85 team running this year and basically this ceremonial start Natalie has been shorten from 17 kilometers to roughly about 11 kilometers. So they are really shortening this particular distance because of the lack of snow.
But overall they have got a lot distance to cover but there are some major obstacles they have to get over first and that mean extremely warm conditions for this time of the year of five degree celsius above average where they should be where the normal root takes place.
Here's the route from Nome all the way to Anchorage and they only have about 155 centimeter of snowfall but they've only received really a fraction of that so far this year. Current condition certainly cold enough for snow, it just unfortunately not fine from the sky and it doesn't look like there's going to happen anytime soon. The snow forecast over the next 24 hours or the next several days I should say. How many calls for a bit of light snow outside of Anchorage, but just phenomenal to see that and now I'll leave you with his beautiful picture.
Natalie, I know you love this so much. But those are some of the racing cost.
ALLEN: Their gone to the best.
(CROSSTALK)
ALLEN: In 44 years it's been run only twice. They haven't had the snow in the past couple decades.
VAN DAM: That's right.
ALLEN: All right, thank you Derek.
Look you've been watching. The U.S. presidential race has been nothing short of brutal this election season with Republican Donald Trump often playing both offense and defense and going out insults on his way.
CNN, Gary Tuchman visited a campaign stop in Michigan to see what Trump's supporters think of the insults and a new window (ph) dished out by the frontrunner and his opponents recently.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They've waited in line in the frigid Northern Michigan weather.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get you campaign buttons Hillary for president. Bomb the hell out ISIS, Trump for president.
TUCHMAN: To see the man who is shaking up the Republican race for president.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentleman please welcome our next president of the United States Mr. Donald J. Trump.
TUCHMAN: Donald J. Trump who was never suffered from a lack of confidence.
TRUMP: Where to me. I think I can do all most anything in your whisper, right?
TUCHMAN: Trumps seems to be on this something case on point is has off color remarks during Thursday Republican debate.
TRUMP: He referred to hands if they are small, something else most be small. I guarantee you there is no problem. I guarantee you.
TUCHMAN: So you heard about. You heard Donald talking about his hands.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And yeah any other private parts yes.
TUCHMAN: Any other private parts.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah.
TUCHMAN: So what do you think of that the private parts stuff?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think all of it is inappropriate whether is from Donald Trump Mitt Romney, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz. It's all inappropriate.
TUCHMAN: But Donald Trump is only who kind of a implicit reference to as you call in private parts. So that Trump about the candidate you love so much.
[02:25:00] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
TUCHMAN: How come.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because I think its part of the rhetoric that has to take place for some reason.
TUCHMAN: Jennifer Thomas is a teenage daughter.
Would you watch (inaudible) watch and listen to that?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To me I'm sure they've heard worth in school nowadays.
TUCHMAN: But he wants to be the leader of the free world.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah. A lot of leaders of this free world have done very bad things.
TUCHMAN: Donald Trump talks about his hands again at his rally in reference to Marco Rubio.
TRUMP: I want to show the size my hands how I could grab him. How I could grab him.
TUCHMAN: And he had to say about a protester who was kicked out of his rally.
TRUMP: He was friend of Mitt Romney.
TUCHMAN: Which brings up another topic front and center, the comments Mitt Romney made about Trump.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm curious of Mitt Romney. Curious with Mitt Romney because he has no business telling those of us how we should vote.
TUCHMAN: No one we talk to at this rally was welling to give Romney a break.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't appreciate him getting involved in this. He had two changes and lost both. This just time for him to back away. TUCHMAN: Very few days go by that Donald Trump doesn't get some kind of new unexpected attention. He's nemesis Mitt Romney, his hands, his manhood are the latest examples. While that Trump was many voters on he Unites Stats.
In this room is probably mistake of Trump.
And part of that mistake is giving Trump a lot of slack.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Their just little boys in the backyard, school yard being bullied. Everybody wants to be the top dog and that's the way it goes.
TUCHMAN: Do you Romney is a bully?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They are all bullies right now.
TUCHMAN: Do you think Donald Trump is bully.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, no his not a bully. He just said it was it is.
TUCHMAN: His supporters most loyal.
Gary Tuchman CNN, Cadillac, Michigan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: So Rubio, Cruz and Trump are liking to school boys often times. Well, we wonder what do children think about what they might have heard the behavior on the campaign trail.
Well, take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: And Marco he just got little flipped mouth but a lot of times it doesn't work under pressure.
I have never ever met a person that lies more than Ted Cruz.
And Marco is sweating is pouring down, and then he repeats himself once, twice, three times.
I think Ted is very unstable guy. I watch him, I see him. And I always say he's a good debated but he can't talk. I've been told hey.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love Donald Trump.
TRUMP: And we have leaders who don't know what they are doing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Like yourself.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's talking about himself thank you for understanding me Trump.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's nice guy. But the other people are rude came. They don't allow him to talk.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But my dad give me a million dollars alone.
TRUMP: No he did. But a million dollars isn't very much compared to ...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It hasn't been easy for me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But I'm filthy rich.
TRUMP: When Rosie O'Donnell.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If he's going to be rude to ladies. He shouldn't be a president.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He speaks with mind and doesn't really care what people think but sometimes the things that not presidential is what is one his mind.
TRUMP: Tremendous potential lets make American great again.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Doing great. And you're going to make it worse.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: Aha, there you go. Thank you for watching. I'm Natalie Allen.
Next it is Living Golf.
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