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Michelle Obama with Hillary Clinton in North Carolina; ISIS Fighters Killed in Offensive; Trump's Brand Under Fire; Wife Begs for Votes. Aired 9:30-10a ET
Aired October 27, 2016 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:30:54] CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thanks so much for joining me.
President Obama's approval ratings are strong and Michelle Obama's are even stronger. That's why she's in the crucial state of North Carolina today, where aides say she will give her closing argument for Hillary Clinton, shifting her focus from Donald Trump to Hillary Clinton's strengths.
North Carolina is a must-win for Donald Trump, too. He was there yesterday. But new polling shows Clinton right now leads in that state by seven points. And she's hoping the first lady can help seal the deal. Mrs. Obama now headlining a new pro-Clinton ad that unabashedly celebrates female accomplishment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ON SCREEN TEXT: "So much history yet to be made," Michelle Obama.
Sandra Day O'Connor, First woman U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
Shirley Chisholm, First African-American congresswoman.
Georgia Neese Clark, First woman Treasurer of the U.S.
It's time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CUOMO: All right, so let's talk about that. With me now is Patsy Keever. She's the chairwoman of the North Carolina Democratic Party, and Zan Bun is the president of the North Carolina Federation of Republican Women.
Welcome to both of you.
PATSY KEEVER, CHAIRWOMAN, NORTH CAROLINA DEMOCRATIC PARTY: Thank you.
ZAN BUNN, PRESIDENT, NORTH CAROLINA FEDERATION OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN: Good morning.
COSTELLO: Good morning, and thank you for being here. Zan, you saw that ad. It plays up female empowerment. Would it
resonate in North Carolina?
BUNN: I believe that North Carolina has an exciting day ahead, Election Day, where we will go and vote for our entire strong Republican ticket. We hope to replicate the results of 2012, when the Republican ticket from top to bottom was strong in North Carolina.
COSTELLO: Right, but do you think that ad would resonate among women in North Carolina?
BUNN: Perhaps. Perhaps. Media messages of all types are being attempted at this time in our state. We are a battleground state.
COSTELLO: So, Patsy, your view? Would that ad resonate with the women in North Carolina?
KEEVER: Well, I'm sorry to say, I haven't seen the ad, but I can't wait to see it. And, yes, I'm sure it absolutely will. I think people are very excited, particularly today, to have Mrs. Obama coming in to Winston Salem with Secretary Clinton. I know that's -- I'm on my way there as soon as we finish this interview. So I know there are a lot of people excited about it.
COSTELLO: Zan, from a Republican perspective, does it worry Republicans that Michelle Obama has been so effective on the trail, at least in Democrats' minds?
BUNN: That is definitely a Democrats' mind. But we welcome and invite Republicans, unaffiliateds, and Democrats to consider the strong Republican ticket that we offer in North Carolina. And again, the results in 2012 were not --
COSTELLO: Right, but does Michelle --
BUNN: In a --
COSTELLO: Is Michelle Obama an effective spokesperson for Hillary Clinton?
BUNN: I am certain that Michelle Obama is an effective spokeswoman for Hillary Clinton.
COSTELLO: OK. So, Patsy, Mr. Trump was in your state yesterday. He unveiled a new deal for black America. He did that in Charlotte. But, again, he outlined his plan to a mostly white audience. So does that really resonate with African-Americans within the state?
KEEVER: I don't think so. I think African-Americans within North Carolina are very much behind Secretary Clinton. I think they're excited about her being our next president. So I -- I know Mr. Trump is going to do everything that he can, and as he should, that -- you know, we're in a presidential election, but we are very optimistic. We're keeping our fingers crossed.
I think the most important thing is for everybody is to get the vote out. People to go to the polls. And we've had great results at the polls so far. So we're very excited about the numbers.
COSTELLO: Right. So, Zan, have you noticed an excitement.
BUNN: Well, Republican --
COSTELLO: Oh, go ahead.
BUNN: Yes, we definitely have noted an excitement. And what I was going to point out is that what is not resonating with North Carolinians are the skyrocketing rates in health care. At the same time that people are receiving their absentee ballots, to complete them and return them and cast their votes, they're receiving their notices of premium hikes, rate increases, reduced coverage, and fleeing providers in our state and all over the country. And so I hope that voters do give that a strong, strong look.
[09:35:26] COSTELLO: Well, Zan, I do -- I want to -- I do want to -- I do want to ask you about Obamacare within North Carolina because, you're right, premiums will rise 20 percent for some customers. And, of course, Mr. Trump has been hammering that issue. But Obamacare is very popular in North Carolina. According to "The Charlotte Observer," it has the fourth highest enrollment in the entire country. More than half a million people in North Carolina are enrolled in Obamacare. So will they be for, you know, getting rid of Obamacare and replacing it with something else?
BUNN: I believe so because when you dig deeper than the headlines in "The Charlotte Observer," and when families have to confront paying their bills and balancing their budgets, I think that people will make some critical and some difficult this year. Perhaps it's not -- it's not been apparent until now exactly how devastating the destruction of health care has been in our country.
COSTELLO: But, still, Zan, if -- if North Carolina has half a million people on Obamacare, enrolled in Obamacare, if -- if Obamacare is repealed, where do they go? Have you heard from Mr. Trump what happens to those people?
BUNN: I don't have the specific plan, but I do know he has a website, donaldjtrump.com, and I imagine that upon his election, he will consult the best and the brightest and develop some options that will be better for all of North Carolina, not just the half a million that may be on Obamacare at this time.
COSTELLO: And, Patsy -- Patsy.
BUNN: We -- we should develop a health care system that's responsive to something that's good for all 9 million North Carolinians.
COSTELLO: Well, I think everybody would agree with you there.
So, Patsy, Mrs. Clinton says she wants to fix Obamacare. Do you know specifically how she might do that?
KEEVER: Well, of course not. But I think the point is, Obamacare has done tremendous good for North Carolinians, has allowed children up to 26 to stay on their parents' health care, which has been extremely helpful to so many and it's gotten rid of, you know, the preconditions. So I think it's done so much good already that certainly we would not want to repeal it. That would be ridiculous.
What we do want to do, though, is to fix some of those things. But right now the point is not Obamacare, the point is, who do you want to be the president of your nation? And do you want somebody who is experienced, and level headed, and has been working all of her like to help people, or do you want a billionaire businessman who, you know, we don't know what he's going to do. So I think that in North Carolina, the vast majority are going to choose Secretary Clinton, as they should.
COSTELLO: (INAUDIBLE) on Election Day --
KEEVER: And I would suggest that people -- right, and that's what it's all about. So --
COSTELLO: Head to the voting polls --
BUNN: Voting -- early voting --
COSTELLO: All right, I've got to leave it there. Zan --
BUNN: Early voting is (INAUDIBLE).
COSTELLO: And people are going.
KEEVER: Early voting is important.
COSTELLO: Patsy Keever --
BUNN: Let's -- let's not forget -- let -- let's not forget that --
COSTELLO: Patsy Keever, Zan Bunn, thanks to both of you. Thank you so much for being with me.
Running from ISIS with white flags flying. New video shows families escaping as Iraqi forces push forward toward Mosul. We'll take you to the front lines, next.
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[09:42:52] COSTELLO: Iraqi troops, backed up by U.S. special forces and air power are liberating dozens of villages from ISIS. A woman waves an Iraqi flag as she makes her way to safety. Children hold white flags, too, to make sure they're not fired upon by mistake. As those families flee the fighting, U.S. military officials say nearly 1,000 ISIS fighters have been killed, but thousands more are inside Mosul, waiting.
Mosul isn't the only goal. The defense secretary, Ash Carter, says U.S. and coalition forces will go after ISIS in Raqqa, Syria, within weeks. CNN's Michael Holmes is near Mosul with more.
Hi, Michael. MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi to you, Carol.
You mentioned American air power. Not 30 seconds ago, what appeared to be a 500 pound drop -- bomb dropped on Bashika (ph), not too far away, which is an indication of just how impressive that power has been. It's the second one to be dropped over there in the last hour or so. Bashika, a strategically important town about 20 kilometers from Mosul.
As this offensive continues, you've got Peshmerga fighters some four kilometers from Mosul. You've also got an Iraqi counterintelligence unit, we're being told, who are within eye shot of Mosul.
An important town about 10 or 15 kilometers south of Mosul has been surrounded by Iraqi forces. Inside, we're told, foreign fighters from Chechnya, from Tunisia, from Morocco. This is still a hard fight, and not all units are up around Mosul. There's still a lot more to be done.
Inside the city, preparations have been made, suicide bombers, hundreds of them, we're told, have been brought in to the city from Syria, and those reports coming from residents inside. Also we're told of the positioning of dozens and dozens of truck and car bombs ready for when this assault begins. And even Katyusha rocket launchers placed on three sides of the city.
All of this as, as you said, the defense secretary, Ash Carter, pointing out that Raqqa in Syria is next on the list, and the campaign to take over the ISIS de facto headquarters could well overlap with Mosul campaign as well. It's going to be a very different battle. For one thing, the two cities are in different countries. Here in Iraq, there a central government that is controlling the fight with the help, of course, of the U.S. and others and Peshmerga fighters. But in Syria, central government not involved. It's going to be up to local fighters to do the hard work with a lot of help from American air power.
[09:45:25] Carol.
COSTELLO: Michael Holmes reporting live near Mosul, Iraq, this morning.
A horrific bombing out of southwestern Syria. At least 20 children have been killed after pro-regime warplanes bombed a school complex. Fifteen adults also died. The toll is expected to rise as crews continue to search through the rubble. Activists blame Syrian military and Russian warplanes. The attack happened as students were leaving three schools in a rebel-held village. UNICEF says this was deliberate. It's a war crime.
I'll be back.
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[09:50:22] COSTELLO: Donald Trump's business is under siege thanks in part to his presidential run. Trump insisting his brand is hotter than ever, even as scandals and fiery rhetoric push people and organizations away. CNN's Miguel Marquez has more on this, this morning.
Good morning.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you.
It seems that Mr. Trump is having issues with his name these days, testing the boundaries of that axiom, any PR is good PR. The question is whether voters and consumers are just tired of that five-letter word, Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARQUEZ (voice-over): Trump in business mode. His presidential bid on brief hold.
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: As soon as we're finished cutting the ribbon, I'm off to North Carolina, New Hampshire and back down to Florida.
MARQUEZ: But the suggestion by CNN's Dana Bash that he's putting business ahead of politics --
TRUMP: For you to ask me that question is actually very insulting because Hillary Clinton does one stop and then she goes home and sleeps
MARQUEZ: Trump's brand, his name, being hammered, literally, on Hollywood's Walk of Fame over remarks he's made on and off the campaign trail. Three Democratic senators urging the U.S. Golf Association to move the women's tournament from Trump's New Jersey golf club. The USGA for now says it's staying, but in June, a PGA tournament moved from Trump's Florida golf club to Mexico when enough sponsorships couldn't be acquired.
At some Manhattan buildings bearing the Trump name, residents now petitioning to have the golden letters removed.
MARJORIE JACOBS, TRUMP PLACE RESIDENT: Why should he get part of my rent and why should his name be on there?
MARQUEZ: There are signs Trump's White House bid is hurting his brand. His latest hotel, not called Trump at all. Instead. Scion. Serta Mattress, Macy's and Univision have already cut ties with Trump.
Today, protests outside Trump's new D.C. hotel as he cut the official ribbon inside. Chef Jose Andres pulled his restaurant from the project over the candidate's remarks about immigration. Trump sued and in a deposition insisted everything on the business front is A-OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What impact do you think your political campaign has had on the success of your hotels?
TRUMP: I don't think it's had much. MARQUEZ: But at his Mar-A-Lago in Florida, the Susan G. Komen Breast
Cancer Foundation is now under pressure to move its yearly fundraiser to a new location. The foundation declined to comment to CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARQUEZ: Now, a spokesperson for the Trump organization says that the brand remains incredibly strong, that they have tremendous success across their business units, but did not say whether or not revenue is up throughout the year. Hope Hicks with the campaign said, if you take the names of Trump off his buildings, that the worth, the value of the buildings, will come down.
COSTELLO: All right, Miguel Marquez reporting. Thank you.
MARQUEZ: You bet.
COSTELLO: Still to come in the NEWSROOM, it has been one nasty campaign season, but one candidate's ad going viral. It just makes you feel good as an American. Let's watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please re-elect Gerald. Please.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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[09:57:51] COSTELLO: Political spouses typically appear in ads to help their partner get elected. But one Texas candidate's wife is literally pleading with voters to send her husband back to office. More now from Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I'm Donald Trump.
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Had enough of Trump bashing Clinton?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): So how did Hillary end up filthy rich?
MOOS: And Clinton bashing Trump?
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R), FLORIDA: He's a con artist.
MITT ROMNEY, FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: A phony.
MOOS: Maybe you'd prefer a political ad in which a wife begs voters to relieve her of her husband, a number-crunching nerd.
GERALD DAUGHERTY: And it costs us about $103 a day.
CHATLYN DAUGHERTY: Gerald really doesn't have any hobbies. G. DAUGHERTY: Last year's tax rate was 14169.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So is he always like that?
C. DAUGHERTY: Yes, all the time.
MOOS: He is Gerald Daugherty, a Republican running to be a Travis County, Texas, commissioner, with a little eye-rolling help from his wife of 21 years.
MOOS (on camera): And does your wife really roll her eyes that often?
G. DAUGHERTY: She actually does. She didn't have to take but two or three takes on that.
C. DAUGHERTY: Most people leave their work at the office.
G. DAUGHERTY: We've got three light rail cars. You can put 60 people on each car. So even if you add two cars --
MOOS: Do you really like your light rail cars well done?
G. DAUGHERTY: You know, my opponent, I asked him, I said, is there anything that you didn't like about the ad? And he said, I think the meat was overcooked.
MOOS (voice-over): Gerald's political consultant dreamed up the ad inspired by "The Office." It took six hours to shoot. The neighbors were played by friends.
C. DAUGHERTY: All he wants to do is fix things.
G. DAUGHERTY: You have fumes all over the place but, quite frankly, it's not a code violation.
You know, I think I like helping around the house here.
C. DAUGHERTY: Please re-elect Gerald. Please.
MOOS: Gerald thinks his ad went viral because humor takes the edge off the rancor of the 2016 campaign.
MOOS (on camera): Do you think your wife really wants to get you off her hands and get you out of the house?
G. DAUGHERTY: Oh, absolutely. I mean, you know, she does love me a lot, but she loves me away.
C. DAUGHERTY: Please re-elect Gerald.
MOOS (voice-over): Jeanne Moos, CNN --
C. DAUGHERTY: Please.
MOOS: New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: That's so awesome.
The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts now.
[10:00:07] And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.
