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Cruz Picks Fiorina and Trump Gets Endorsement; Opioid Pills Found on Prince; Trump Vows to Work with Russia. Aired 9:30-10a ET
Aired April 28, 2016 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[09:30:00] BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: That would be a very significant effort. And it would have to be backed up by the U.S. military with fire power, air, artillery on the ground, and especially the additional hundreds of special forces that are headed to Iraq. The president, of course, announcing more troops for Iraq, more military advisors, and more military advisors, U.S. special forces also going to cross the border into Syria. The U.S. presence definitely growing on the ground. And in the next several minutes, the defense secretary expected on Capitol Hill to talk about all of this as the vice president is in Baghdad.
Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Barbara Starr, you stole my words before I could say it, and I'm glad you did, but that is happening right now on Capitol Hill. Multiple high level U.S. officials that are about to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee. You see John McCain there sitting down. Defense secretary Ash Carter and the Joint Chiefs Chairman, General Joseph Dunford, will soon go -- they'll soon testify about counter-ISIS operations and Middle East strategy. Of course, we will continue to monitor this hearing for you and bring you any new developments.
And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thanks so much for joining me.
Donald Trump trying to lock down Indiana today. Doors open now for his noon rally. But this is from last night. Just hours after picking up what he called the greatest endorsement in the history of Indiana, that would be from legendary basketball coach Bobby Knight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOBBY KNIGHT, BASKETBALL COACH: You folks are taking a look at the most prepared man in history to step in as president of the United States. There has never been a presidential candidate prepared to the length that this man is. There will be no president who has ever had a better relationship with our military, nor they would them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Ted Cruz is trying to make sure that relationship never happens, announcing former rival Carly Fiorina as his running mate in a bid to head off Trump's rise in Indiana.
So let's talk about that with the former co-chair for the Carly Fiorina presidential campaign, Charlie Gerow.
Good morning. Welcome back, Charlie.
CHARLES GEROW, CO-CHAIR, CARLY FIORINA 2016: Carol, great to be with you again.
COSTELLO: Nice to have you here.
So, Donald trump has Bobby Knight speak for him. Ted Cruz picks Carly Fiorina as his VP choice. Which do you think will get most attention from Indiana voters?
GEROW: I've always been a big fan of the general, Bobby Knight, but Carly Fiorina brings so much to Ted Cruz. She's a tireless campaigner, a woman with great business experience, a business leader. And, most important, she's the person that everybody wants to see debate Hillary Clinton. If this works out, she'll get that chance. America will love it.
COSTELLO: Carly Fiorina will get the chance -- I mean she's going to -- she's the VP. Hillary Clinton's running for president.
GEROW: But as you know, the vice presidential candidate, Carol, is the person that is used as the quote-unquote "attack dog" in these campaigns. So it will be Carly doing her best, sending the message about why Hillary shouldn't get the White House.
COSTELLO: OK, I understand. So she'll going to be the attack dog for ted Cruz. But I think Ted Cruz does a pretty good job of that himself and it doesn't seem to be working at the moment.
GEROW: Well, Indiana is pivotal. And if he does well next week, and I think that the Fiorina selection for Cruz gives him a boost going into Tuesday. If it works for him on Tuesday, it's a different game than it is today.
COSTELLO: Do you think Indiana voters really know or are familiar with Carly Fiorina?
GEROW: They know her and, most important, Carol, as they get to know her, they will love her. The one thing about Carly Fiorina is, she is incredibly likeable. People just plain like Carly Fiorina. And that's an, obviously, very, very important element to any campaign, but particularly right now for the Cruz campaign. I think she's a big boost for him.
COSTELLO: Well, here's the thing. You know, Ted Cruz has to do well in California, too, right? He has to do well in Indiana and California to survive. And Fiorina is from California. Californians are familiar with Fiorina, but she lost her bids for both governor and senator there. so why would she even resonate in California?
GEROW: Well, she lost for the U.S. Senate in California, Carol, and she lost to Barbara Boxer, somebody that most Republicans didn't think could be even challenged. And Carly gave her the toughest challenge imaginable. I mean California's a pretty blue state. But in the primary, the Republican voters there know Carly, they like her. She will be a big help.
COSTELLO: So I just want to ask you about the evangelical vote, because that's very important for Ted Cruz, especially in the state of Indiana, which is why he's really campaigning hard there, right? But in Pennsylvania, Ted Cruz didn't win the evangelical vote, Donald Trump did. Why was that?
[09:35:01] GEROW: I'm not sure, Carol. That, to be very blunt, is still a little bit of a mystery to me. Donald Trump won across the board here in my state of Pennsylvania, including in some areas where not many people expected him to do well. So the Trump phenomenon is very real and in some ways it's difficult to explain. But both Ted Cruz and Carly Fiorina are personally very dedicated evangelical Christians, and I think that in the Hoosier state that really helps them.
COSTELLO: So if ted Cruz does lose Indiana, should he just stop?
GEROW: Well, that's obviously a call for him to make, but I think the path forward becomes more difficult if he loses and especially if he loses significantly in Indiana. But if he does well in Indiana, California coming ahead, and the other states on June 7th make it a really different game than it looks like today.
COSTELLO: All right, Charles Gerow, thank you so much for being with me this morning. I appreciate it.
GEROW: Great to be with you again. Always a pleasure.
COSTELLO: You're welcome. Thank you.
Still to come in the NEWSROOM, new details into Prince's death exposed. What was found on the singer when he died.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:40:11] COSTELLO: New revelations about the death of Prince. A source revealing overnight that prescription opioids were found on the singer when he was discovered unresponsive inside his home. Drug enforcement officials now joining the investigation. Stephanie Elam is live outside of Prince's estate this morning with more.
Good morning.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Yes, investigators are saying that they found these pills, not only on Prince's person, but also within his house. And we do know that they had already issued a search warrant to go through. They said they were going to leave no stone unturned to see what else they could find related to this.
But what we do know it that this opioid is usually used as a painkiller. They also believe that when Prince's plane was brought down early, when he was traveling back from Atlanta about a week before he died, in Illinois, that he was treated potentially for an overdose of these painkillers and that it led to some sort of reaction, and that's what he was treated for before he died.
What they want to find out is where Prince was getting these pills, how he was getting them, and whether or not there was any interaction with any other drug, and see if there was any miss -- wrongdoing in this case. But definitely drilling in on this.
Of course, we won't actually know what was in his body until those toxicology reports come out and the results of that autopsy, but we could still have a couple more weeks before we know anything, Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Stephanie Elam reporting live from Minnesota this morning.
A terrifying close call for the passengers and crew aboard a Delta jet just seconds before taking off for Miami. Flight 873 was roaring down the Atlanta runway, at top speed, when a landing plane suddenly crossed right in front of it. The Delta pilot slammed on the brakes with just seconds to spare before a collision.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: Delta 873 cancel take off. Delta 873 cancel takeoff.
Delta 873, sorry about that. Make the right turn on taxiway Mike and you can taxi normally. (INAUDIBLE) operations, let me know.
DELTA 873: We'll make a right turn at Mike 6. We'll get our Delta in order and we'll -- we'll taxi back. You want us to go all the way down on Mike, you said?
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: Yes, go all the way down on Mike and -- yes, just -- sorry about that. That was -- that was my -- that was my mistake.
DELTA 873: OK, yes, we're going to exit here at Mike 6 and we'll go back to Mike. We'll just have to do a little brake temperature check and whatnot. Yes, we actually had to double check and make sure we heard you right. So that's why it took us so long. Sorry.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: That's OK. No, it's my mistake, guys. Sorry about that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: They're so calm. No one was hurt and the flight did eventually take off. But one passenger said he will never forget the terrible sound of screeching brakes.
Still to come in the NEWSROOM, from Russia with love, why Trump's foreign policy plans are winning over Putin.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:47:25] COSTELLO: Donald Trump extends an olive branch to one of America's biggest adversaries. On Wednesday, during his first major foreign policy speech, Trump pledged to find common ground with Russia in order to build a better relationship, but he says he's not afraid to walk away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Some say the Russians won't be reasonable. I intend to find out. If we can't make a deal under my administration, a deal that's great, not good, great for America, but also good for Russia, then we will quickly walk from the table. It's as simple as that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So how is Russia responding to the GOP frontrunner? Let's bring in CNN's senior international correspondent Frederik Pleitgen. He's live in Moscow.
Good morning.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning.
Yes, and the Russians are actually quite happy with the comments that Donald Trump made, especially when he said that he believed that there couldn't just be better relations with Russia, but that there could actually be a friendship with Russia. Now, it's no secret that both Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump have said they believe they can work with one another. We asked ordinary Russians about how they feel about Trump's remarks. Here's what they told us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PLEITGEN (voice-over): It's no secret that Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin seem to feel a certain admiration for each other.
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): He is a brilliant and talented person without a doubt.
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I like him because he called me a genius. He said Trump is the new real leader. Trump should be the leader and he's a total genius.
PLEITGEN: And many ordinary Russians are Trump fans as well.
"The key thing about him is his willingness for a breakthrough in relations with Russia," this man says. "Maybe they won't get closer, but at least there will be dialogue."
And this man adds, "first of all, Trump is a positive guy and he spoke about Putin in a good way. He wants positive change in America."
In a recent Ugov (ph) poll conducted in the G-20 nations, those surveyed in every country said they would take Hillary Clinton over Trump, except in Russia, where The Donald leads by a landslide. While relations between Russia and the Obama administration have soured over Moscow's policy in Ukraine and Syria, Trump, in his foreign policy speech, says he thinks he can work with Russia. TRUMP: I believe an easing of tensions and improved relations with
Russia from a position of strength only is possible.
PLEITGEN (on camera): Many Russians believe if Donald Trump were to become president, that the U.S. would have a more isolationist foreign policy. They think that would lead to fewer disagreements between the U.S. and Russia and ultimately to better relations.
[09:50:08] PLEITGEN (voice-over): A recent Trump campaign video, seemingly lumping Putin in with ISIS as a challenge to America, did lead to some anger in the Kremlin, but Fyodor Lukyanov, head of the Russian Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, says Vladimir Putin still appreciates Trump's style.
FYODOR LUKYANOV, COUNCIL ON RUSSIAN FOREIGN AND DEFENSE POLICY: He basically aligns those who are frank, open, and disregard political correctness. And this is exactly the keys (ph) of Mr. Trump.
PLEITGEN: It's a style that propelled Vladimir Putin to several terms as Russian prime minister and president. While some believe Trump's frankness could carry him all the way into the White House, he still has a long way to go.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PLEITGEN: And, of course, Carol, the main thing that the Russians want is they want the sanctions against Russia to be lifted. Now, so far the Obama administration has said, yes, sure, that can happen once Russia stops meddling in Ukraine. Now, yesterday during his speech, Donald Trump did not mention Ukraine at all and that's certainly something that's going down very well with the Russians, not very well with America's allies in Eastern Europe, Carol.
COSTELLO: Interesting. Frederik Pleitgen reporting live from Moscow, thank you.
Still to come in the NEWSROOM, this gov's got major love for Bruce Springsteen and everybody was watching.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:55:33] COSTELLO: Checking some top stories for you at 55 minutes past.
The man accused of gunning down former Saint's player Will Smith has a preliminary hearing in just about an hour. It will help determine if Cardel Hayes remains in custody as he awaits trial. Smith was shot to death after a traffic incident with Hayes in New Orleans on April 9th.
Relatives of eight family members shot execution-style in southern Ohio are terrified they could be next. Police are providing extra security as the first of the funerals begin today at noon. Even though extensive marijuana growing operations were found at three of the four killing sites, police have not publicly speculated on a motive. CNN did talk with one of the family's relatives though.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LISA WALLACE, RHODEN FAMILY SPOKESWOMAN: Hurting (ph) Gary was like kicking a dog.
QUESTION: What do you think that says about the people who did this?
WALLACE: They're cowards. They're simply cowards. I mean --
QUESTION: Talk to us about -- I mean how to you even begin --
WALLACE: The whole family -- the whole family was great people. It's senseless. It's just senseless. They were all good people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Police have questioned dozens of people but have made no arrests so far.
A night at a Texas amusement park nearly turned tragic for a father on a roller coaster with his young son. The father was recording his son on the ride when the boy suddenly slipped out of his restraint. When the father told the ride operator afterward, the response was not exactly what he expected.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DELBERT LATHAM, SON'S ROLLER COASTER RESTRAINT BROKE: As soon as we went over, I felt the seat belt release. I guess the motion of going down, it threw him to the bottom of the cart, and that's when I reached over and I grabbed him. And he stated to me that, oh, yes, I'm sorry about that. That's been happening sometimes. That's when it made me more angry, obviously.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The theme park company apologized to the family. The malfunctioning equipment was later taken off the ride.
Mega rocker Bruce Springsteen is not easily upstaged, but at his recent New York concert, there was one diehard fan in particular who seemed to attract even more attention than The Boss. Here's CNN's Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When Chris Christie's wife made that ever so subtle eye roll --
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The only thing she's got going is the woman's card.
MOOS: As Donald Trump slammed Hillary, we wondered what her husband was thinking. Was he reliving his wild and crazy night before? The governor didn't just clap his way through a Bruce Springsteen concert in Brooklyn, he belted his way. And played air guitar. And took selfies with strangers and then sang with them. And he didn't care that cellphones everywhere were spying on him. He
didn't act trapped. He acted free.
"I've never seen such a display of such pure joy from one man," tweeted a concert goer. "I mean the guy is rocking out like no one's watching." "Hey, when you're in a trance with your eyes closed, no one is watching."
Even Christie critics at Gawker called him a concert hero. "Guys, Chris Christie couldn't be cuter if he tried," tweeted another audience member.
The New Jersey governor has idolized The Boss since he was a boy. He's attended over 130 Springsteen concerts.
MOOS (on camera): Politically speaking, the governor and the rock star dance to the beat of a different drummer. Springsteen, a diehard liberal, turned down Christie's request to perform at his first inauguration.
MOOS (voice-over): But they shook and hugged it out at a Hurricane Sandy telethon.
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: He told me, it's official, we're friends.
MOOS: Even if The Boss did once sing a parody about bridgegate with Jimmy Fallon.
JIMMY FALLON AND BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (singing): (INAUDIBLE) the Governor Chris Christie for the New Jersey traffic jam.
MOOS: Now the one jamming is the governor.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Oh, Jeanne.
The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts now.
Happening now in the NEWSROOM, Cruz and Fiorina team up.
[10:00:01] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am pleased to introduce to you the next vice president of the United States, Carly Fiorina.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: And Trump smacks down.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Cruz can't win.
