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Trump, Clinton Enter Final Sprint to Election; CNN Obtains Trove of Documents on ISIS Terror Attack. Aired 10-10:30a ET
Aired September 06, 2016 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: They got a lot on their plate for the next four weeks. First up, the senate will vote at 5:30 p.m. Eastern on a $1 billion bill to fight Zika. Democrats have already blocked it once because it contains restrictions for funding for Planned Parenthood. The next hour of CNN "Newsroom" starts now.
COSTELLO: And good morning, I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton now in the final sprint to election day, and with 62 days to go, the candidates are neck and neck. A new CNN/ORC poll shows Trump ahead of Clinton by two point among likely voters. Among registered voters, Clinton leads by three. Keep in mind all of this is within the margin of error. Let's bring in CNN's senior Washington correspondent, Jeff Zeleny to parse the numbers for us. Good morning.
JEFF ZELENY, SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. Within the margin of error and also showing at this race is tighter than some Clinton supporters and some Democrats have hoped. But it certainly, -- it gives some satisfaction to the Trump's supporters after this long summer. Now, let's look at these numbers here. Among likely and registered voters, a bit of a difference here, Donald Trump now up two percentage points over Hillary Clinton, but again within that margin of error. Registered voters are a bit more of an advantage on Clinton. A difference here, perhaps we could explain this is because of enthusiasm. Donald Trump's voters are more enthusiastic, so they might be more likely to vote. Now, take a look at this, 58 percent of Donald Trump's voters said they're extremely or very enthusiastic to vote, Clinton voters only 46 percent. Now, the ballot will count the same if they're enthusiastic or not if they actually go to the polls. That is something that Democrats want to work on. The Clinton campaign believes it needs to work on. That's why you're seeing President Obama, Vice President Biden, Michelle Obama, every Democrat from the Democratic bench will be out campaigning the month of September and October, trying to get that excitement up. But the gender gap, another key thing here. Take a look at these numbers. Among Trump and Clinton, women and men, this really tells the story here. Hillary Clinton a 15 percent advantage over women. Donald Trump is at 22 percent advantage on men. Now, when you break that down by race, white versus non-white voters here, this tells the story - of the selection as well. 22 point advantage for Donald Trump white voters, 53 point advantage for Hillary Clinton among non-white voters. Some of those are part of the Obama coalition of course, Hispanic voters, African-American voters. It's why Donald Trump has been trying to broaden his base to reach out a little bit more to a diverse section of voters here. This gives you snapshot of Time in a national contest. We have to remember, Carol, these are battleground states. That's how elections are won here. It's a path to 270 that makes the deal. So, after we see Ohio, North Carolina, Florida, some of those other battlegrounds, we'll see how close this race actually is here. But going forward, this sets the tone for a very competitive campaign. We'll see it playing out on television, advertisements and other things. So 63 days to count, to go.-
COSTELLO: And we'll put this poll into further perspective in just a minute. Jeff Zeleny, many thanks. So both candidates are back on the road today of course. Donald Trump is in Virginia and North Carolina while running mate Mike Pence courts voters at a rally in Missouri. In the meanTime, Hillary Clinton will be in Florida. Her running mate, Tim Kaine and Bill Clinton will both go to North Carolina. So for more let's bring in CNN's Phil Mattingly. Good Morning.
PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. And yes it is all about the swing states. You're going to see not just the candidates and running mates, but also top surrogates like Michelle Obama and Elizabeth Warren for Hillary Clinton later this week. The big issues, though, is something actually that happened last week. We're still talking about that big day, that Wednesday when Donald Trump was talking about immigration and also visiting Mexico and their president, Enrique Pena Nieto. Now, on immigration policy, it is been a cornerstone of Donald Trump's campaign tough out the campaign.
We do know, based on the last couple weeks Donald Trump has walked back on one crucial issue, and that is the immediate deportation of all 11 million-plus undocumented immigrants in the -- country. He wants to prioritize, start with criminals, then go to visa overstays. But Carol, that's only about 6 to 7 million people according to analyst, that leaves about four to five million people left. What happens with them? Now, explicitly in that speech in Arizona, Donald Trump said there would be no path to citizenship and no path to legal status. But he has said multiple times, this is an issue he wants to deal with later. Take a listen what he told reporters yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We're going to make that decision into the future. OK? Good question. I'm glad you asked it. That decision will be made. Our first thing is to get all of the -- bad element out, the gang members, drug - OK, we get them all out. We secure the border. We are going to stop the drugs. We are going to get rid of the bad ones. We're going to build the wall. And you need the wall to stop the drugs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MATTINGLY: The reality is this, Carol, when it comes to deportation, it is one of the most complex and complicated issues about immigration reform period. It is the biggest snag and why we haven't seen immigration reform over the last 20 to 30 years. And you see a little bit of a muddling here in Trump's message. It could be strategic. In fact, a lot of Democrats think that's exactly [10:05:16] what's happening. But you're also seeing Democrats attack Trump for that visit to Mexico, a visit that Trump's campaign advisors think went extremely well. Listen to what Hillary Clinton had to say about that visit and Donald Trump's response.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What happened is what we call a diplomatic incident because he came out saying one thing and the Mexican president contradicted him almost immediately. So it is clear that he went down with a mission. It's been the mission of his whole campaign from the very first day to demonize immigrants, to call Mexicans rapists and criminals, to do everything he could to stir up all kinds of bad feelings about hard working people, and he didn't raise it. So he did choke.
TRUMP: I don't choke. She chokes. Look at the deals she's made. She's responsible for so many bad things that have happened to our country including the signing by her husband of Nafta which has drained our country of its jobs. I've been given - A+ including by you people, but I've been given A+'s for the job I did in Mexico. And the fact is Mexico will pay for the wall.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MATTINGLY: All on the eye of the beholder it would appear. Well look, that's the back and forth we're going to see continue. Carol, as you know, we're in final sprint here. If you live in Ohio, or Virginia, or Florida, or New Hampshire, you're going to see a lot of the candidates, a lot of their surrogates and a whole lot of commercials over and over and over again. Carol.
COSTELLO: I'm sure people can't wait. Phil Mattingly thanks so much. Joining me to talk about this, David Gergen, CNN senior political analyst and former presidential advisor to Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton and CNN chief political correspondent Dana Bash. Welcome to both of you.
DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Thanks Carol.
DAVID GERGEN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST AND FORMER PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR TO NIXON, FORD, REAGAN AND CLINTON: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Thanks for being here. So David, can you put this poll into perspective for us. Because it appears to me that Clinton didn't lose voters, but Trump gained them. What does that mean exactly for this campaign?
GERGEN: I think that it means that over the last two or three weeks his campaign seems to have stabilized some in the eyes of many voters, despite the - over immigration last week. He has not made as many gaffs. He's had a steadier performance. And I think it's allowed him to gain some momentum. This poll is significant. It's the first major poll since the conventions. That shows Donald Trump actually ahead, yes, within a margin of error, but he is ahead. So that's enormously welcome news for the Republican side, and it should be a loud insistent wake-up call for the Democrats. Complacency should go right out the window with this poll.
COSTELLO: Yes. The other interesting thing in this poll, Dana, when you dig a little deeper, independent voters overwhelmingly choose Trump, 49 percent to 29 percent. Why the big disparity here you think?
BASH: Well, I think there are lots of reasons. One -- I don't know what David thinks about this. I think a lot of people who call themselves independents are really independent. And you know, they tend to be maybe more on the conservative side, but I think in this particular case, people who consider themselves independent are looking for something new, and Donald Trump is new. And Hillary Clinton is not. But I also think -- the fascinating thing about that is that the Clinton campaign, -- you know, clearly they're hoping that they are persuadable independents, they are hoping they are persuadable Republicans, never mind independents, but they're banking on their get out the vote operation. Hillary Clinton was absent from the campaign trail, a lot of August, raising money. That money is going to go to getting out the vote, voter I.D. operations in all of these battleground states. That is probably going to put the Republican - you know process to shame because its -- Donald Trump is simply not working that. They are it seems -- very diligently, but -- it's not the same. So I think that -- when you're looking at the Clinton campaign strategy in Brooklyn, it's making sure all those Democrats get out in a really robust way. And they hope that, that will be the difference.
COSTELLO: Did this trust issue is -- really dogging Mrs. Clinton still, David. In fact, she trails Trump by 15 points on that issue. - I'd like to play how Joe Biden, Tim Kaine address that trust deficit in an interview with Jeff Zeleny. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZELENY: Why do people have this suspicion about her though? She's been in public life so long. Is it that - she hasn't opened up or is it because of some of her own doing?
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Hillary knows it's a problem. And she's trying to figure out how to remedy it. And my advice to her, the best way to remedy it, is talk about what you care about and talk about it with some passion and people will see through it. - But this is going to be in - you know better than I do, Jeff. This is going to be the most negative campaign in the history
[10:10:16] of modern politics. And so my question is, is anybody going to be able to breakthrough? What is just - you know, sort of the notion of pox on both your houses. And that's why you hear her talking more about explicitly what it is she's going to do. How she's going to change things? --
TIM KAINE, DEMOCRATIC VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And we're making a case on the issues. You know, we really do feel like talking about our small business backgrounds and these points of the economic plan to people -- people are looking for a ladder. They want to see there's a ladder that they can climb. And that's what Hillary and I are talking about. And at the end of the day that will pose a comparison that's very, very stark.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: OK, so -- here is the thing with that. They say if you talk about issues and plans voters will respond. But let's face it, Trump has not laid out an economic plan, he's not laid out how he's going to defeat ISIS, we no idea where he stands on immigration, yet he's leading in this poll by a slight margin.
GERGEN: -- Carol, first of all, let me say this. As usual, Dana was right, especially with regard to why independents I think -- are breaking for Trump in this poll. But I do think that the numbers on trust are the most startling in the poll because heretofore, both candidates have been distrusted. - And you know behind margin, in most polls Donald Trump is more distrusted than Hillary Clinton. To have this 15 point gap open up, well beyond the margin of error suggest that -- the events of the last two weeks have been corrosive for her. -- And as Democrats will claim this is -- all unfair, you know its trivial stuff. But nonetheless, it's taking a toll. And I do think she's going to have to consider something bolder to -- put a tourniquet on these -- numbers about trust. You know, she may have to -- she will have to decide what we really want to do about the Clinton Foundation if I'm elected. Are we willing to shut it down or not, or do we have to -- choose something that bold, I mean that wouldn't take -- Clinton would hate that. Because I do think and so many others do think that it does so much good. But she's going to have to find something here, maybe a long press conference which she will hate. She will loathe having a long press conference about this. But I -- it seems to me she needs to find a circuit breaker on this continuing stream of stories about the e-mails and the foundation.--
BASH: And Carol, can we just discuss how wonderful it is to have someone like Joe Biden out there answering the questions. Jeff asked him a question and he actually answered it. He actually stopped himself to say, well, I get myself in trouble - for saying -- for giving the real answer. And then he did, that she understands it's a problem. And then he went on in a separate part of the interview to talk about the fact that she's got to lay out there on the foundation, what they're going to do. You know, Tim Kaine, understandably is kind of more -- in the talking point lane about talking about the issues. And that is - you know, certainly something that they are going to do, but Joe Biden, he just - you know, he just told it like it is which is kind of refreshing.
COSTELLO: And just one last question because I'm curious about this. Everybody says Hillary Clinton hates to give these long press conferences. But certainly she's used to them by now. So why not just suck it up and do it if it will indeed help her with this trust issue?
BASH: Is that for me? I think-
COSTELLO: Anybody that would like to answer.-
BASH: I actually would love to hear -- David's response because David actually was in the White House with the Clintons when they were under siege on a lot of different issues. But my quick answer is that my impression is that she feels like every time she gives an answer, she stumbles. So you know kind of what's the point because she'll just create more of a story line on it. I don't think that's the right approach as somebody -- a member of the press corps and somebody who wants to see transparency, but that's my sense, she's been in the defensive posture for decades and that's -- part of the reason. But I don't know about David.
COSTELLO: David?
GERGEN: I agree with that absolutely. I say let it all hang out right now. I think -- Dana, from my point of view she would be well advised to do something before the first debate, try to clear the air as much as she can. I doubt with all those issues so forth, when she gets into the debate and then she can focus on the issues themselves, the big issues, substantive issues as well as her attack lines on Donald Trump. But I do think she needs to do something now before the debate and not go in limping into the debate. Now, one poll does not make a campaign, as we well know. So let's see some other polls too, to see this -- trust gap, 15 points. If that's substantiated by the polls, it's a more serious problem for her than we thought.
COSTELLO: All right I have to leave it there. David Gergen, Dana Bash, thanks as always.
BASH: Thanks Carol.
COSTELLO: You're welcome. Coming up in the "Newsroom," never-before- seen images showing moments before the ISIS attack on Paris. CNN has exclusive details on how the terror group pinpoints their targets.
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[10:15:16]
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COSTELLO: We're learning exclusive details about how ISIS plans and carries out its attacks against the west. CNN has obtained tens of thousands of pages of documents from the investigation to the ISIS attacks in Paris last November. Those documents show us how sophisticated the organization really is and where it operates in Europe. This trove includes never-before-seen images, interrogations and details, actual communications between ISIS attackers and handlers back in Syria. CNN senior international correspondent Clarissa Ward spent months investigating this story. She joins us live with her exclusive report. Hi, Clarissa.
CLARISSA WARD, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol. Well, our team spent months pouring over some 90 thousand pages of documents, most of them in French. And what we found is that they offered an unprecedented window onto the inner machination of ISIS and how it carries out its attacks in Europe. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) WARD: November 13th, ten ISIS operatives attacked Paris, targeting bars, restaurants, a concert hall and the stadium, shooting as many people as they could before blowing themselves up. By the end of the massacre
[10:20:16] the worst terrorist attack in Europe in a decade, 130 people were dead. Now for the first time, CNN has gained access to thousands of pages of documents and photos from the internal European investigation, which shed new light on the sophisticated network ISIS uses to coordinate terror attacks across Europe. The documents reveal another suspected terrorist, never before made public who investigators link to the cell that carried out the Paris attacks. He was on the loose in Europe for more than six months. Other ISIS operatives are right now believed to be living among ordinary citizens in Europe. Plotting other strikes directed by senior ISIS handlers in Syria according to multiple sources. Within days of the shocking rampage in Paris, police learned that two of the three suicide bombers at the Stade de France stadium entered Europe by posing as Syrian refugees. These surveillance photos never seen before publicly show the bombers as they approach their target. This is the moment they detonate their devices. But according to the documents, two more men were part of the ISIS cell. They traveled the same refugee route as the suicide bombers, blending in with thousands of people from war- torn countries. Their names are Adel Haddadi and Mohammed Usman. They were eventually arrested and records of their capture and interrogation obtained by CNN show how ISIS supported the attackers, throughout their mission. This is their story, based mainly on multiple interrogations of Haddadi. Early October, six weeks before the Paris attacks, the documents show their journey began in Raqqa, Syria, the capital of the self-declared ISIS caliphate. The men didn't know each other's real names or what their mission would be. According to the documents, Haddadi later tells investigators he only knew they were being sent to France to do something for the good of God. Much of their journey was directed by a shadowy ISIS leader in Syria known only as Abu Ahmad, who arranged meetings, cellphones, money and transportation for them. Jean-Charles Brisard, is a French expert on terrorism, we asked him to analyze the documents obtained by CNN.
JEAN-CHARLES BRISARD, FRENCH EXPERT ON TERRORISM: Abu Ahmad is clearly an ISIS operative. He's key in sending those individuals, at least the foreigners into the Paris attacks because he's the one who recruited them, who funds them, who trained them, who provided electronic devices to them, telephones. He was always in contact with them.
WARD: According to the transcripts of interrogations Haddadi and Usman, along with the two Paris attackers traveled from Raqqa across the Turkish border on to the coastal city of Izmir, switching vehicles, picking up cash passed from one smuggler to the next along the way. They receive instructions from their ISIS handler in Syria through encrypted apps such as Telegram and Whatsapp. Throughout the journey, they're only given enough money and information to get to the next stop.
PAUL CRUICKSHANK, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: ISIS is accelerating its international attack. Planning, it's increasingly sophisticated in the way it does this, set up an intricate, logistical support system for these terrorist cells throughout Europe.
WARD: In the middle of the night, the team makes the treacherous crossing to Greece in a boat filled with dozen of refugees. They're picked up by the Greek navy along the way. The two bombers who would eventually attack the Paris stadium make it through and start moving steadily north toward their target. But Haddadi and Usman's fake Syrian passports are discovered. They're arrested and their money is taken. They're held in Greece for about a month. Greek officials would not say why they were released. But authorities believe that delay was significant. They would not have a chance to become part of the Paris attacks. Haddadi tells investigators they contact their ISIS handler Abu Ahmad who arranges another 2,000 Euros for them. Flush with cash, the pair continues along the refugee route. As they work their way across Europe, Usman, identified by investigators as a bomb maker from a Pakistani terror group, passes the hours doing something strikingly un-Islamic, looking at porn. Documents show he visited almost two dozen porn sites on his phone. November 14th, the day after the Paris attacks, Haddadi and Usman arrive in Salzburg, Austria. They apply for asylum and end up in this refugee center where they stay for weeks. According to CNN sources, authorities now believe Haddadi and Usman were not only part of the same terror cell as the Paris bombers, but also that they were planning another attack. The documents show that they were in contact with people in
[10:25:16] several European countries and were researching travel to France. Investigators believe they were waiting for a third man to join them, a mysterious ISIS operative called Abid Tabaouni. Tabaouni has never been publicly named until now. Like Usman and Haddadi he traveled from Syria along the refugee route carrying a phone number linked to the terror cell of the ringleader of the Paris attacks, according to the documents, as well as a photo of Islamic State fighters standing before their flag. December 10th, nearly a month after the Paris attacks, Tabaouini finally arrives at the refugee center where Usman and Haddadi are. Later the very same day police raid the center. Usman and Haddadi are arrested. Here is what happened next according to the documents. In the scramble, Haddadi tries unsuccessfully to get rid of his sim card. Tabaouini is nowhere to be seen. Haddadi denies knowing him, but investigators find this, Tabaouini 's cell phone charging right beside Haddadi's bed. It has Haddadi's phone number saved in it. Also, in that phone, a photo taken just 30 minutes before the raid, it shows Tabaouini is sitting on the bed in the refugee center, right next to where Haddadi and Usman slept
BRISARD: We can assume that Tabaouini was also part of the same plot and was instructed to carry out an attack.
WARD: From the time he slipped away last December, Tabaouini has been a wanted man, according to CNN sources who also confirm he was finally arrested in July. The documents show this is the Facebook page Tabaouni had on his phone. And in recent months it appears he was publicly posting updates from Belgium. Investigators are now analyzing 1600 pages of data from his phone. And sources tell CNN they are moving to extradite him to Austria and tie him to Haddadi and Usman and the Paris attackers.
WARD: Are you concerned that there may be many others who use the same route -- who you just didn't know about?
BRISARD: Yes. We've seen that in the recent weeks, several of them, individuals who carry out individual attacks, inspired attacks, were coming back from Syria using the same route.
WARD: So there's a possibility that there are many more that you just don't know about.
BRISARD: There is a high possibility.
WARD: The documents show Haddadi's phone has also proven to be a treasure trove for investigators, revealing an ISIS network that fanned out through Southern and Northern Europe. He had dozens of contacts. Some gave advice on crossing borders and evading the law. One tells Haddadi that he was able to sneak into France by hiding in the bathroom of a train. December 15th, five days after the raid, ISIS handler Abu Ahmad reaches out to his operatives, Haddadi and Usman perhaps wondering about their silence. How are you, he writes, what's become of you? There's no reply.
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WARD: Now, we do have some updates on Haddadi and Usman according to CNN sources. They have both been extradited to France. And since our story was published, Carol, Austrian media citing prosecutors is now claiming that the third man, Abid Tabaouini has been extradited to Austria from Belgium where he was arrested. Belgium sources told me that they believe there are between 30 to 40 other individuals who were somehow involved in facilitating the Paris al attacks who are still at large, Carol.
COSTELLO: Clarissa Ward, reporting live from London for us this morning. Thank you. Still to come in the "Newsroom," the Trump campaign announces the endorsement of 88 military officials. I'll talk to one of those military leaders about why he's supporting Trump next.
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