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Four Remaining GOP Candidates Crisscrossing the Country Stumping for Votes; Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders Looking Ahead to Super Tuesday in Michigan; L.A. Police Have Acquired Knife Reportedly from O.J. Simpson's Former Estate; Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370: Possible Debris Found in Mozambique Being Examined; NPC Holds Yearly Meeting in Beijing; Democratic Debate to Take Place in Flint, Michigan; Western Storms Have Potential to Break C.A. Drought. Aired 4-5a ET
Aired March 05, 2016 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:00:13] GEORGE HOWELL, CNN NEWSROOM HOST: A fight now among four, but how it will end? It's not very clear at this point, U.S. Republican Ted into Super Saturday with even more pressure to battle and win.
Plus of view from Flint, Michigan ahead of CNN Democratic debate there, we hear from people who's hope beyond 2016 are already shattered.
And finally accepted from his countries harshest enemy, again Iranian poet who has made his home in Israel.
From CNN world headquarters in Atlanta, welcome to our views here in the United States and around the world. I'm George Howell, CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.
A very good day to you. We begin this hour with Super Saturday and the United States voting begins in just a few hours in the various Presidential primaries and caucuses and at stake, 109 delegates for Democrats in the states of Kansas, Louisiana, and Nebraska overall Hilary Clinton has a sizable lead over Bernie Sanders and for Republican there are 155 delegates up for grabs.
In Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Maine Donald Trump has the lead in the delegate count over those states. And in the meantime Ben Carson has officially ended his campaign on Friday. He told the conservative conference that the delegate's match just wasn't in his favor. Carson did not endorse another candidate.
So now there are four remaining Republican candidates and they are crisscrossing the countries stumping for votes after a debate that was filled with insults, with vulgarity and taunts. CNN's Athena Jones has this report.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: These politicians come up here like lightweight Marco Rubio, like lying Ted Cruz.
ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: On the heels of a ruckus even raunchy debate, the insults kept flying on the campaign trails. Donald Trump not letting up in his criticisms of his rivals. And not letting go of Marco Rubio's comment about the size of his hands.
TRUMP: So when little Marco fuse his crap about the size of my hands which are big those hands can held a golf for 285 yards.
JONES: Ted Cruz questioning the billionaire businessmen's readiness to be President and his shifting views.
TED CRUZ, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know, so many times he said the word flexible. Let me tell you what politician tells you, he's going to be flexible that makes you get ready to stick into.
JONES: A new shift on display's 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 to families of terrorist in violation of international law. Saying in a statement, he understands that the United States is bound by laws and treaties and "I will not order military or other officials to violate those laws."
Thursday night debate was lace with locker room in (inaudible).
TRUMP: He referred to my hands if this will something else must be small, I guarantee you there is no problem, I guarantee you.
JONES: Cruz and Rubio unloading a series of attack on Trumps temperament, his business dealing and his immigration proposals. A consorted 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 guy.
MARCO RUBIO, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He had spend a career convincing American that is something that he is not in exchange for their money.
(CROSSTALK)
JONES: But later all three contenders standing by their pledge to back amend they spent the entire night arguing isn't fit to lead the country. Trump continuing to design normal political rules deciding to skip on major conservative gathering outside Washington this weekend.
He'll campaign in Kansas instead, Rubio took the opportunity to tweak Trump. RUBIO: He really doesn't belong in a career of serve of grabbing (ph), Donald Trump is not a conservative.
JONES: Meanwhile Cruz is drawing cold water on the prospect of blocking Trump had a contested convention.
CRUZ: If the Washington deal makers tried to steal the nomination from the people I think it would be a disaster.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: That was CNN Athena Jones reporting for us.
So the pressure is on for Trumps rivals to now chip away at his momentum before the Republican National Convention that happens in July and that is when delegates will choice the party's nominee.
Our Chief U.S correspondent John King deals into what at stake with CNN's Anderson Cooper.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF CORRESPONDENT: ... allow him to win to stop Donald Trump. Well let's look at the map and see how that would play up. If he here's where we are of the Super Tuesday, let's just fast forward this gets us to March 15th.
[04:05:01] This scenario Mr. Donald Trump runs the board wins everything this weekend, wins everything next Tuesday and then wins everything on Tuesday March 15th. Likely don't know, but conceivable yes, if that happens game over just fold your tents get out Donald Trump is almost three courses the way the nomination plus he will make a convincing case you guys can't beat me.
But here's the Romney scenario, let say John Kasich wins in his home State of Ohio and Marco Rubio wins on the 15th in his home of State of Florida, that was some contest this weekend and before then he would think if they're going to stop Trump they will get to start there. But let just take this is a Romney scenario and just to show that maybe somebody gets momentum uneven to give John Kasich Illinois in this scenario here.
Even if this happens right? Even if this happens guys win in their home court, Cruz won Texas, Rubio wins Florida, Kasich wins Ohio and as a gift will give Illinois for the sake of this scenario. Even in this scenario Trump is well ahead but what Romney and everyone else in the establishment is hoping for is to tense somebody gets the high hand that when they win Trump comes down and something like this happens.
This place is out through the convention, this is Rubio I have winning New York, winning North Carolina, winning Pennsylvania winning some states out the West including California. I used Rubio on this scenario you could make it Kasich, you could make it Cruz, you could split the states between them. Trump win someday win others, but this is what the establishment is hoping for something like this, somebody gets a hot hand Trump win some, but not as many as his winning right now and you get to the convention, this scenario has Trump at the convention over a thousand.
They're hoping to keep Trump in the 800 to 900 range so they think they would have stronger moral argument to stop him. But if he held over a thousand it would be more than three quarters to the way, but then you have Rubio here, Cruz here, Kasich here and again if you're watching at home and you prefer one of this guys switch the numbers.
Trump would be on the lead, the other candidates had some, some stronger than others and then Anderson the scenario Romney lays out is this where the negotiations begin. Nobody can win on the first ballot nobody has enough and so that what would happen nobody knows because this is never happen in our lifetime, but could Trump negotiate with Kasich? That will get you close enough but Trump-Kasich ticket with get you close enough to the finish line.
Or with Cruz and Rubio got a deal which would get them across the finish line with their delegates. That -- this is the scenario they hope for, they're just hoping to get through a convention and then write rules that they like and cut deals that they like. Can I do that? I don't know, if these like one of these guys. Here's the scenario as I says one of these guys has won go in the power ball we just don't know who if some might just place out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Fellow CNN Chief U.S. correspondent John King running out the possibilities they're leading up to the Republican at national convention which again is set to happen in July. There's been plenty of talk about this possibility what's called the brokered or contested Republican convention. But what exactly are they?
Coming up in about 25 minutes our Jonathan Mann breaks down the entire process on what can be a very confusing part of the U.S. political system.
Now on to the Democrat, the race maybe just a bit more civil but the stakes are just as high with two rivals, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are both looking ahead to Super Tuesday's critical primary in the State of Michigan. And they're focusing their message on a lost of Americas jobs overseas.
Senior Political correspondent Brianna Keilar has more from Detroit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hillary Clinton was in the motor city laying out her plan to create jobs and taking aim at Donald Trump.
HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I tell you, when I hear people running for President whom spend all their time bad mouthing America it really upsets me. You know, what we've got work to do instead of complaining lets join hands, lets lift ourselves of, lets get going together.
KEILAR: But as she turns her attention to the potential Republican nominee she's taking incoming fire from Bernie Sanders also in Michigan slamming her pass support for trade deals that many in this labors stronghold opposed.
BERNIE SANDERS, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If the people of Michigan wants to make a decision about which candidates start with workers against cooperative America against its disasters trade agreements, that candidate is Bernie Sanders.
KEILAR: But Clinton is also courting unions.
CLINTON: I hope they do the patriotic thing and stay in America.
KEILAR: In car parks manufacturing plant she railed against outsourcing.
CLINTON: If you deserve America you'll pay a price, but do the right thing investing your workers and your country's future and we will stand with you.
KEILAR: As the Sanders campaign seeks to under cut work deals to union workers, highlighting this comments Clinton made about outsourcing will on a trip to India in 2012 as Secretary of State.
CLINTON: That I think that, you know, there are advantages with it that have certainly benefited many parts of our country and there's disadvantages that go to the need to, you know, improve the jobs skills of our own people and create a better economic environment. So it's like anything it's, you know, got plus and the minuses.
KEILAR: With the chances of a Sanders nomination dimming some Democrats think his attacks will only weaken Clinton for a potential general election.
[04:10:05] SANDERS: Secretary Clinton has a number of Super PACs.
KEILAR: But Sanders has millions still in the bank to finance his campaign in this promising to push to the convention this summer.
SANDERS: We're in this race to win, we're do in the best that we can though I think I don't run negative campaign ads, but I do think it's appropriate that on the campaign you just distinguish the differences but your opponent otherwise why run.
KEILAR: The Democratic candidates preparing for the CNN debate in Flint, Michigan on Sunday night, they will of course be addressing the water crisis there, but this is also a chance for Bernie Sanders to try to make splash is Hillary widens her delegate lead over him.
Hillary Clinton is expecting that Bernie Sanders is going to be an offense when it comes to how she's been trying to court union voters he has been taking her own on her past support of trade agreements like NAFTA and she's ready to defend her self against that on Sunday night. Brianna Keilar, CNN Detroit.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: And as you heard from Brianna there Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders will face off on the debate stage once again in a CNN Democratic debate. We will have it for you live from Flint, Michigan, Anderson Cooper moderates that happen at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday on the East coast and 1:00 a.m. Monday in London only here on CNN.
Now that the U.S. State of California and the discovery there that once again has the infamous O.J. Simpson murder trial capturing Americans attention. Los Angeles Police say that they have acquired a knife that was reportedly found at Simpson's former estate.
More here from CNN's Paul Vercammen, on this new mysterious development.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LT. ANDREW NEIMAN, LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPATMENT: I was really surprise.
PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A shocking discovery the murder case involving O.J. Simpson, a knife reportedly found more than a decade ago on the football stars former state. Just servicing after being obtained by police in the last month from a retired LAPD officer.
NEIMAN: He claimed that an individual who claimed to be a construction worker provided him with this knife claiming that it was found on the property.
VERCAMMEN: The retired officer says the construction worker supposedly work on the property this could have been around the time of his demolition in 1998.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not guilty of the crime of murder.
VERCAMMEN: Three years after Simpson was acquitted of murdering ex- wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please describe the knife the condition it was in, how long the knife is if found anything on it? Possible dry blood.
NEIMAN: Yeah, I don't have that information and the best gear (ph) is as if we not be very descriptive about the knife.
VERCAMMEN: Detectives will say forensic testing is under way for blood, DNA, even finger prints, but police are holding back details as they bet whether or not this is all a hopes. Investigators once in a while the officer who says he was given the knife while working security on a movie set waited so long to turn in the knife.
NEIMAN: I would think that an LAPD officer if the story is accurate as we're being told would know that anytime you were -- you come in the contact with evidence that you should and shall resubmit that to investigators.
VERCAMMEN: The surprising revelation comes as there's a renewed fascination with all things O.J. brought on by the epic series, "The people versus O.J. Simpson".
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you got a to leave being her, he is not going to get away with killing her.
VERCAMMEN: Even President Obama commented on the news today.
OBAMA: Well I thought it might be useful to take a small break from the skeptical of the political season and now I got O.J. to focus on something that really matters to the American people.
VERCAMMEN: For the Goldman family development isn't something they want to address saying, it only creates more unnecessary hype and encourages the media circus.
O.J. Simpson remains in the Nevada prison after being convicted of kidnapping and arm robbery in Las Vegas. Most legal expert say Simpson can never be retried where the two murders.
ALAN DERSHOWITZ, FORMER O.J. SIMPSON ATTORNEY: There are two verdicts in every case, there's the verdict of the trial and that can't be reverse, because of double jeopardy and then there's the verdict of history the verdict of history as no statue of limitations, no double jeopardy plus.
VERCAMMEN: Paul Vercammen, CNN Los Angeles.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Well that's fair to say that knife could end up being a no consequence at all but the discovery of a possible missing link is causing wide spread speculation. Earlier we spoke to attorney Lisa Bloom about one of the major lingering questions from this trial, the question of what happen to the murder weapon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LISA BLOOM, ATTORNEY, THE BLOOM FIRM: At one point the prosecution seem to suggest to that a certain knife that they had found on O.J.'s property was the murder weapon, they been back to way from it and said no that was not yet. The experts who testify the trial said it would have to be about a 15 inch blade that serrated. A knife needing that description was never found. There was a witness who said that O.J. Simpson disposed of some items at a trash can at the airport because that night he went on a flight from Los Angles to Chicago.
[04:15:01] So the bottom line is he knife was never found and we don't know the description of the knife that the police are now talking about today, was it serrated, was it 15 inches -- I mean we just don't know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Lisa Bloom there and forensic teams have yet to announce there findings.
It is the Chinese government's biggest weak of the year. Coming up we take a look at what in store with this year's National People's Congress and that against with the harsh look at that country's economy.
Also ahead after few agonizing years victims' families of Malaysia airlines flight 370 are hoping this debris you see here might yield some answers a live report ahead from Malaysia. It is presently 5:15 in Kuala Lumpur.
This is CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
RICHARD QUEST, CNN HOST: I'm Richard Quest, and this is top business headlines. President Barack Obama says the U.S. economy is on the right track and that the economy had a (inaudible) 42,000 long term jobs in February, that's 50,000 more than economist that is expected.
The president urged the American people to ignore the main sales.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, U.S. PRESIDENT: The numbers, the facts don't want and I think it's useful in given that there seems to be an alternative reality out there from the some of the political folks that America's down in the doubts. It's not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUEST: Brazilian stock markets running down to the police detained, their former President Lula da Silva as parts of the ongoing investigation into corruption but to his home and his instituting some part of being search or he is being questioned. Its part of a larger probe involving at the state an oil company Petrobras.
Rupert Murdoch has start it on for the fourth time, its (inaudible) marry to Jerry Hall in London. They will celebrate their wedding on Saturday and surprised a judge in Fleet Street which is a spiritual home of the media.
And that done to the business this week but it now turns closing over 17,000 but as how I seen that for awhile. Those are the business headlines.
I'm Richard Quest from New York.
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HOWELL: Two hundred thirty nine people lost their lives on board on Malaysia Airlines flight 370 and now many of the victim's families hoped that the piece of debris that you see here could lend some answers. This U.S. tourist founded of the coast of Mozambique.
The plane disappeared on its way to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia nearly two years ago and now, experts from Malaysia will be examining that debris right there. Let's go live to Kuala Lumpur.
[04:20:10] CNN's Saima Mohsin is there and had a chance to speak with an official with the Malaysian Department of Civil Aviation. Saima what did he tell you?
SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, George late last night this are to general of the Department of Civil Aviation as all have been told me that, they all dispatching a three member team to travel to Mozambique from here in Kuala Lumpur that will comprise a member of the Civil Aviation authority head. Someone from Malaysian Airlines and someone from that specialist unit, that investigation team set up specifically to investigate MH370.
Three people heading to Mozambique. They haven't arrived but yet but as soon as they do with hold that they will do an immediate infection of that piece of debris that's being found. It's with the civil aviation authority in Mozambique right now.
We also have a team by the way standing by in Mozambique my colleague David Mackenzie is there waiting for the arrival. Now, they are hoping George as soon as they can got by the investigation if that inspections that they may well be able to -- and say yes or no for of course the relative, but I'll wait in for information as to whether this is a part of MH370. If they come they'll bring it back to here in Kuala Lumpur and if they need further test they will take it to Australia. George?
HOWELL: So difficult though for these relevance, you remember Saima the last piece of debris that was discovered and it took so long to determine to reach a conclusion about whether that was from MH370 so with this new piece of debris, here again is skepticism about whether it is from that flight.
MOHSIN: There's a little skepticism it really depends George on which expert you speak to, CNN spoke to one U.S. official of you said that they believe this is a part so the 777 aircraft. Now, the 777 naming was crucial because of course right now, anywhere in the world is there anyone triple seven that's missing George that is MH370.
But then David McKenzie in Mozambique spoke to the Civil Aviation of authority there, they told him that they believe this is from a smaller perhaps medium size plane, so it really depends on who you speak too and that's why it's crucial that this team arrived in Mozambique and absolute and carries out the test they need to and again as you mentioned the families there, their hope it's resting on every bit of evidence the (inaudible) of course could mislead to the discovery of the plane, George?
HOWELL: Saima, as you rightly pointed out David McKenzie in Mozambique and we'll be in touch with him, but we appreciate your reporting, live in Kuala, Lumpur. Saima Mohsin, thank you.
Now, we moved on to China and a crucial week there as the National People's Congress holds its yearly meeting in Beijing. The Chinese premier opened the session on Saturday that brings together nearly 3,000 delegates from across the country. This year's 12 days of meetings are of specific importance given China's slow down in economic growth.
For the very latest let's go live to the Chinese capital and Andrew Stevens is there for us, Andrew good to have you. So, you know, they are admitting that the economy is slowing but are we getting any new details about targets and the plan forward.
ANDREW STEVENS, ASIA PACIFIC EDITOR: This are getting new details and it is clear that the Chinese authority, so in the fight, it's really a warming evidence that we seen in recent months, but Chinese are now officially saying George expect slower growth in 2016 and continuing slow growth for the next five years. Now, I use the word slow advisory and relatively here because 6.5 percent to 7 percent that's official time for 2016 that's what they're talking about.
In any developed or developing economy that is still a pretty strong number but in China it's weak by comparison to not that long ago when they were pumping out to a double digit growth. So we now have a target of between 6.5 and 7 percent in 2016 and that compares with 7 percent target last year and we also have the new details on the five year plan. The five year plan is being ruled out people start in 2016 and carried through the 2020, George and this that the Premier Li Keqiang is saying, we'll see at least 6.5 percent growth if China or if Beijing is to fulfill its promise of doubling the GDP of China from 2010 levels doubling it by 2020.
To get that number -- to get that -- to achieve it they have to go at least 6.5 percent, so we're talking about for the medium term slow growth in China.
HOWELL: OK, but Andrew when you look around the world there are sluggish markets, you know, to be found, so how realistic is it really to think that will be able to hit their long term target with this five year plan that is being discussed.
[04:25:09] STEVENS: Yeah, at first there are all source of emphasis. Officially, you would have to say that they will achieve it because China has achieved pretty much on the button in every growth targets it sits for the last two decades. But -- then that least to the question, do we trust by his numbers and the answer is from many, many independent experts, we shouldn't trust the numbers.
It's more important, I think to look at what the Chinese governor or the Chinese premiers talking about to hit those numbers they are talking about providing 50 million, 5-0 million jobs including 10 million in 2016 alone over the next five years.
They're talking about transitioning manufacturing from this heavy reliance on metal bashing on sort of primary industries and exports to a much more technology based sort of industrial based talking about innovation, that sort of thing as to why of getting to way they need to be as far as growing the economy.
Can they hit that? Will the Chinese still even though we're seeing this big outpouring of reserved to try to (inaudible), do they still have hundreds of billions of dollars that hit this puzzle. They can still use it to pump up the economy and the most economists to say, are we still going to see a lot of money frown at the economy, but that leads us to the question, there is already big deaths within China. They've get -- this get mountain isn't now is we'll get bigger and bigger.
So, they have a lot of very specific issues they need to face while keeping the general population happy, healthful, the last thing they want to see is social on risk by people being frown out with those all industries and I'm talking millions of people here, George. They've got to manage that transition. They've got to do it without creating an unsustainable debt burden, which will drag the economy down very sharply. They've got a lot of major, major issues.
Li Keqiang says this next five years is critical in setting up the economy, the country for the foreseeable future. But, it's also facing China is facing probably a toughest five years they've had so far.
HOWELL: Roll up your sleeves moment. A lot of work are to be done in transitioning the economy over the next five year target plan. Andrew Stevens, live for us in Beijing. Andrew, we appreciate your reporting as always.
You are watching CNN NEWSROOM.
And still ahead, we are taking some of confusion down of the U.S. presidential race, especially when it comes to the convention process. Live from Atlanta and broadcasting around the world this hour. You're watching CNN worldwide.
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[04:31:04] HOWELL: A warm welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. Good to have you with us. I'm George Howell.
The headlines were following this hour.
Los Angeles police are investigating a knife that was reportedly found at the former estate of O.J. Simpson. The football star was famously acquitted in a murder trial that grip the American public in the 1990s. The knife used in the murders was never recovered.
The former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is denying corruption allegations after being interrogated on Friday. Prosecutors say da Silva benefited from millions in bribes from a state oil company. Clashes broke out as police raided his house and office. Da Silva is a mentor to Brazil's current president.
Republican Ben Carson, he is officially out of the race for the president of the United States. He announced that he was ending his campaign on Friday and that there are a lot of people who, "Love me, they just won't vote for me." He is taking on a new challenge now heading up a group to increase Christian folks in the election.
Republican front-runner, Donald Trump skip the conservative conference outside of Washington, D.C. to stay on the campaign trail. He was met though by more than two dozen protesters at a rally in New Orleans.
Meanwhile, Democratic frontrunner, Hillary Clinton is battling Bernie Sanders for votes in the state of Michigan on Friday, she layout a plan to boost American workforce.
Candidates will also be crisscrossing the country this weekend for what is called Super Saturday. That's when 109 delegates are up for grabs among Democrats at contest in Kansas, Louisiana, in Nebraska and for Republicans there are 155 delegates at stake in the state of Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana and Maine.
Now, for a closer look at the U.S. presidential election process parts of it can be difficult to understand and now that we're hearing about the possibility that the Republican nominating convention could be brokered or even contested. It's even more convoluted. So, our Jonathan Mann breaks it all down for us.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JONATHAN MANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: If the anti-Trump forces are serious about stopping him, they do not have a lot of time. The primaries of course are well underway and of course, Trump's mostly winning them. The next best hope will be at the presidential nominating convention months from now in July.
MITT ROMNEY, FORMER GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSSETTS: The next president of the United States of America, Mitt Romney.
MANN: The modern American Party Convention is a scripted as anything you'll see on T.V. State delegates selected by the primaries and caucuses nominate the presidential candidate they've chosen months earlier.
The last time, the Republicans gathered for example, Mitt Romney was so far ahead. There was a crushing majority at no suspense. He had 90 percent of the delegates.
But, what if Donald Trump's rivals can get enough delegates to keep him from getting a majority? He doesn't have one yet. The convention could turn into a real competition voting until it can find a consensus.
It hasn't happen in decades, but it's known as a contested convention. Or if voting doesn't deliver a nominee, party leaders could intervene to guide the outcome was known as a brokered convention.
It's all mathematically possible, but it looks very uncertain. The crucial thing is this, Trump's opponents have to start winning primaries and caucuses and what they know, what we know is the polls are still very clearly against them. Back to you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Jonathan Mann, reporting there for us.
The Democrats will hold their nominating convention in July in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. But, before we get there, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have several more debates ahead of them including one that you can see right here on CNN on Sunday. They will be taking stage at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, 1:00 a.m. in London, only here on CNN. And that debate takes place in the City of Flint, Michigan.
That's a city where tainted water has become a hot button issue on the presidential race. The contaminated water contains lead and other toxins which can cause health and behavioral problems in those who are exposed to it.
[04:35:11] CNN's Sara Sidner introduces us to two -- three young people who have been impacted by this crisis.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOMINIQUE ABSELL, HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR: Because I wanted to serve my country and ...
SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Dominique Absell is only 18 but his life long dream for his future is dead.
ABSELL: That was dream to consider army and it's now that came.
SIDNER: This city he loves is now a source of anxiety partly, because of the water crisis. And what has happened to his body sense.
ABSELL: I start, I gain headaches and pass now seizures.
SIDNER: His family says, the doctors can't pinpoint exactly why he began blacking out. Sometimes, several times a week.
It means medically he can't qualify for the army. He isn't even allowed to drive. His blood test showed very low levels of blood. Convincing his mother, the contaminants influence water are to blame. But there's no medical proof.
You said you don't know if it's the water. What do you think it is?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It has to be the water. He just thought it pass now, because I just stop drinking with the water.
SIDNER: Absell is one of the children who will inherit the city of Flint, a city that is now a shell of it's former self. Realteach (ph) wreck estimates one in 14 homes has been abandoned. For three consecutive years ending in 2013, Flint has had the most violent crimes for capita and about 40 percent of the resident lived beneath the poverty line.
Then came the deficient by government officials to save money by switching the water supply. It ends up creating a major health hazard. The biggest potential harm hitting Flint's future generations. Like 8-year-old Julianne and Nadia who play like children but thinking extreme about the water.
What's wrong with the water?
NADIA BAYLOR, EIGHT YEARS OLD: They have led already and they have poisoning because the pipes are dirty.
SIDNER: Did you know what led those to people who drink that?
At eight, they noticed everything like the number of times they'd had to practice sheltering in place in case there's a shooter. And, the number of ported up house is in their neighborhood.
It's always up to them, their future won't be in Flint.
And what about these, why would you leave Flint?
BAYLOR: Because this water is poisoning. If I drink, then I go die. And I don't want to die. Nobody wants to die.
SIDNER: From eight to 18, many of Flint's children and their families, point the town is dying.
(Inaudible) saw parted young man beside himself because he truly believes, he has no future at all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: It feels so badly for all the people in Flint, Michigan dealing with the crisis that that quite frankly could have been avoided, had officials spoken out about what was happening.
That was CNN Sara Sidner reporting for us in Flint, Michigan.
Switching over the weather now. Parts of the Western U.S. are gearing up for a wild weather and the days ahead. Meteorologists, Derek Van Dam.
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: George, the series of storms that are lining up for the Western U.S. had the potential to maybe break the drought in California.
And they have a potential of rain half a years with the snow falls to the Syria mountain range in just the matter of 10 days that has serous implications on the economy the drought, but is it going to be too much, too quickly.
Let's take a look. Answer that question for you and the viewers at home. This is big stuff. We've noticed this for several days now. We've got one, it's called the atmospheric river.
So once you're looking at here, anywhere you see that shading of blue, there's California in the western half of the United States.
I'll set this in motion, but look what's happening. Look at how the constant bloom of moisture continues, it separate the western half of the United States.
That is going to send what it's called the pineapple express, that moisture leading there from Hawaii to the west coast of the U.S. and it's going to bring in storm after storm, after storm. We're talking about significant amounts of precipitation, too much too quickly perhaps the potential exists for flooding and a debris and mudslides as well.
But let's talk about the snow first. Here you see Nevada mountain range and we take it through just the weekend. Storm Number 1, we have in access of 36 inches of snow, 3 feet of snow.
But let's take it through the next seven days and it's off the charts. People look at that shade of white from Northern lake to South Lake Tahoe and Mount Fiesta, good news for skiers or snow boarders, perhaps extending the season a little bit into late April and May.
But, wow, this is really going to drastically increase that snow path. Remember, snow path is so critical for the reservoirs downstream as we had into the spring and summer months because that water melts and it also gives the fresh drinking water to places like San Francisco and Los Angeles.
[04:40:03] And keep in mind, we have come off back to back to back years of drought, five years strong as we speak.
So, this would be much needed relief potentially. Here's the jet stream, remember the jet stream, the upper level winds that drives our storm systems. You could see that it's traveling just across the entire Pacific bringing our storm after storm over this region, it is going to bring a significant amount of precipitation to a much needed area.
I want to show you one thing though. Bring it to Alaska, keep it to the United States. Take a look at this video, yeah that is some heavy duty machinery picking up snow fall in Fairbanks, Alaska.
You see, George, the problem here is the ceremonial start to Iditarod the snow sled racing event starts today, Saturday at 10:00 a.m. local time in Anchorage. But they didn't have enough snow for this snow sledding event and so they had to shipped it in from third breaks and here it is arriving on seven cars.
HOWELL: Wow.
VAN DAM: Twin cars into Anchorage and that is the only way that we would have this ceremonial start today because there's just isn't any snow.
HOWELL: When do you see snow pile like that on, you know?
VAN DAM: And bring you not have snow fall in Anchorage, Alaska.
HOWEL: That's ignore though known worthy.
VAN DAM: As to that question is actually have in twice in 25 years.
HOWELL: Derek Van Dam, thank you so much. Stay with us though ...
VAN DAM: All right. HOWELL: ... I want to talk to you this next story, you know Pluto obviously down graded.
VAN DAM: Having done there.
HOWELL: Planet, I remember what was the planet that's I was thought.
VAN DAM: Now dwarf planet.
HOWELL: Yeah, it is a dwarf planet. But, Pluto has something going forward now. NASA's has the former ninth planets, mountain peaks are covered in snow. Not snow that's made of water though, it's made of methane.
The main component of natural gas here on earth. A NASA scientist says, since only the upper slopes are icy. The methane may act like water does in earth's atmosphere condensing as frost at high altitude.
You could find out more about this discovery on our website, cnn.com. Pretty cool over, Derek.
DAM: The universe is a big place.
HOWELL: Derek thanks. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. For better or for worst, Donald Trump's campaign side has left the mark on U.S. politics that is impossible to ignore.
Coming up, we'll look at how some of his supporters are reacting to his latest controversial comments about his body parts.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:45:26] HOWELL: Welcome back, a gay poet, who fears persecution in his native Iran, is now seeking asylum in a country where he feels accepted, but it's a place that his homeland considers to be an enemy state. Oren Liebermann has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I am failing, no longer needs to hide. On the street of Tel Aviv he is open, he is out.
An unlikely transplant who found a new home, when he says his country became his prison.
PAYAM FEILI, IRANIAN POET: My life came to blind early, it's empty, I couldn't anymore and the circumstances I had with who I am.
I couldn't survive in that country.
LIEBERMANN: The openly gay, Feili, left his family in his native Iran two years ago, a victim of persecution he says in a country where homosexuality is illegal.
The book you see him reading, "I will grow, I will bear fruit fix", has passages about homosexuality.
When he published it in Hebrew, he says, he was held captive in Iran for 44 days.
Upon his release, he says he fled through Turkey to Israel. He arrived the day he's riding to a feature during a performance in Tel Aviv. Ido Dagan arranged his visa.
IDO DAGAN, FEILI'S FRIEND: He felt like it was a warm welcoming of one big family.
LIEBERMANN: We need Feili on rough trial street, one of the most popular streets in this progressive city.
It's almost bizarre in a way to stood here in Tel Aviv in Israel holding a passport that says, "Islamic Republic of Iran".
And you open it, there are few stamps and near there Turkistans and they write at the back, it says, "The holder of this passport is not entitled to travel the occupied Palestine."
It's a beautiful day in the street city, and Feili is relaxed.
In the city that (inaudible) just gave pride celebration in the Middle East, he says, he feels safe.
He considered himself an atheist, sporting female polish academe's earring in a Jewish star on his neck.
FEILI: When you talked about Israel and Iran, its enemies, you're talking about governments, not people.
Many people in Iran really love Israel and would like to visit, just like Israelis had talked to me about Iran.
LIEBERMANN: Feili's three month visa was about to run out when it was extended until November, but it's still has no permanent home, a stranger seeking asylum in the country where he says he feels like a native son.
Oren Liebermann, CNN, Tel Aviv.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: You're watching CNN NEWSROOM.
Donald Trump's opponents have often accused the Republican front runner acting childishly. But, what do actual children think of Mr. Trump? We will hear with you, as CNN NEWSROOM continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PATRICK SNELL, A PATRICK'S CNN: Hi there, I'm Patrick Snell with your CNN world sport headlines.
European football is governing by the UEFA has announced that Goal- Line technology will be used to make championship league final in Milan in January. EUFA said, GLT would be used at Euro 16.
Also on Friday, UEFA's is exact committee deciding to install (inaudible) as entering General Secretary following Gianni Infantino's election as the new president of FIFA.
The UF1C is getting underway in Australia later this month in Melbourne, with a fullback change aim to try to make qualifying more exciting.
The four time world champ said, battle isn't convinced, though the German saying, "It's a little bit chaotic if a couple of weeks before the season start to reinvent certain rules and the formats of qualifying and personally not a fun and I think speaking on behalf of all the drivers, no driver is. We don't get what is wrong with the old qualifying and why they changed it.
[04:50:19] Now, onto the latest chapter what's being another exceptional season for the NBA champion, Golden State Warriors, Steph Curry and co have been sweeping all before that met on Thursday night here in the state.
They tied the Chicago Bulls directly by winning a 44 straight regular season home gain with victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
No surprise, Curry lead all scores with 33 points on this night. A fantastic story, it's an incredible season for the Golden State Warriors.
That is a look at your CNN world sport headlines, thanks for joining us, I'm Patrick Snell.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOWELL: The 2016 race for the White House, fair to say, it has been without question, a brutal race this season with Republican Donald Trump often playing offense and defense.
Our Gary Tuchman visited a campaign stock in the state of Michigan to see what Trump supporters think of all the insults that have been dished out by the frontrunner and his opponents, recently.
Here's Gary's report.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They've waited in line in the frigid Northern Michigan weather.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ditch your campaign buttons, Hillary for president. Bomb the hell out of ISIS, Trump for president.
TUCHMAN: To see the man who was shaking up the Republican race for president.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, the next president of the United States, Mr. Donald J. Trump. TUCHMAN: Donald J. Trump who was never suffered from a lack of confidence.
TRUMP: With me, I think I can do almost anything that you whisper, right?
TUCHMAN: Trump seems to be on to something. Kasich point has off color remarks during Thursday's Republican debate.
TRUMP: He referred to my hands of this small, something else must be small, I guarantee you there's no problem, I guarantee you.
TUCHMAN: So, you heard Donald Trump talking about his hand.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah. And the other private parts, yeah.
TUCHMAN: And the other private parts.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah.
TUCHMAN: So, what do you think of that, the private part stuff?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think all of it is in appropriate whether it's been Donald Trump, Mitt Romney, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, it's all inappropriate.
TUCHMAN: Right. But Donald Trump is the only one who kind of a implicit reference to as you call them private parts. Did that trouble you about the candidate you love so much?
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 Tomas is a teenage daughter. Did you watch your 15 year old grow up watch and listen to that?
JANNIFER TOMAS, VOTERS: To me, I'm sure they heard worst in schools nowadays.
TUCHMAN: Right, but he want's to be the leader of the free world.
TOMAS: Yeah. A lot of leaders of the street world happened very bad thing.
TUCHMAN: Donald Trump talked about his hands again at this rally, in reference to Marco Rubio.
TRUMP: I want to show the size of my hand so I could grab him, how I could grab him.
TUCHMAN: And he had this to say about a protester who was kick down of his rally. TRUMP: He's a friend of Mitt Romney.
TUCHMAN: Which brings up another topic front and center. The comments Mitt Romney made about Trump.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm furious with Mitt Romney, furious with Mitt Romney because he has no business telling those of us how we should vote.
TUCHMAN: No one we talked to at this rally was willing to give Romney a break.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't appreciate him getting involved in this. He had two chances, he lost vote. It's this type from the back away.
TUCHMAN: Very few days go by that Donald Trump doesn't get some kind of new unexpected attention. His nemesis, Mitt Romney, his hands, his manhood are the latest examples. While that troubles many voters of the United States. In this room, it's probably going to stick of Trump.
And part of that mistake is giving Trump a lot of slack.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're just little boys in the backyards, school yard, being bullied. Everybody wants to be the top dog and that's the way it goes.
[04:55:02] TUCHMAN: Do you think Romney is a bully?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're all bullies right now.
TUCHMAN: You think Donald Trump's a bully?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, no. He's not a bully, he just says that the way it is.
TUCHMAN: His supporters most loyal.
Gary Tuchman, CNN Cadillac, Michigan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: So, hearing from Trump supporters there, many of them say that they continue to love him no matter what he says or does.
But what about children? What do kids think about his reactions, his behaviors on the campaign trail? Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: And Marco, you just get that little flip it 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. He's pouring down. And then he repeats himself once, twice, three times.
I think Ted's a very unstable guy. I watch him, I see him and I always say he's a good debater but he can't talk.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That isn't Donald Trump.
TRUMP: And we have leaders that don't know what they're doing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Like yourself.
JAYKA: He's talking about himself. Thank you for understanding me, Trump.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is a nice guy but the other people are rude and they don't love him talk.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But my dad gave me a million dollar loan.
TRUMP: No, he didn't. But if million dollars isn't very much compared to what I've got.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It hasn't been easy for me but I'm still (inaudible).
TRUMP: Only Rosie D'Donnell.
JAYKA: That sound rude (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If he's going to be rude to ladies he shouldn't be a president.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He speaks his mind and those are really care of people think, but sometimes they seem to slap presidential is what's on his mind.
TRUMP: Tremendous potential. Let's make America great again.
SYDNEY: Feeling great. And you're just going to make it worst.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: From the mouths of children there.
We thank you for watching this hour of CNN NEWSROOM. I'm George Howell at the CNN Center in Atlanta.
We'll have more news from around the world after the break. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:00:12] HOWELL: Is the Republican frontrunner hurting the party. Some leaders say, yes ...
