Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Midterm Election for Control of Congress; Iran Tests Modified Air Defense Missile System. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired November 06, 2018 - 04:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[04:30:14] DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The midterm elections used to be boring, didn't they?

They don't know what to do. They're going loco.

Speaker of the House Pelosi --

(BOOS)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: It is time -- time to vote. Polls open in just a few hours for a critical midterm election. A referendum on the president with huge stakes for the next two years.

Welcome back to EARLY START on Election Day. I'm Dave Briggs.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: It is here. I'm Christine Romans. It is 30 minutes past the hour. We welcome all of our viewers here in the U.S. and around the world.

They're here finally, midterm elections today across the United States. The polls open along most of the East Coast in just about 90 minutes.

On Monday, President Trump campaigned for Senate candidates in Ohio, Indiana and Missouri. The final pitch to his base, a mixed tape of his greatest hits.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: The key is you have to go out and vote, because in a sense, I am on the ticket.

I shouldn't say this because I want to unite. I do eventually want to unite. But the fact is we're driving them crazy. We're driving them crazy.

They don't know what to do. They're going loco. Loco.

Democrats are inviting caravan after caravan -- isn't that nice? -- of illegal aliens to flood into our country and overwhelm your communities.

If the radical Democrats take power, they will take a wrecking ball to our economy and to the future of our country.

If you don't want to be saying the words Speaker of the House Pelosi.

(BOOS)

The midterm elections used to be like boring, don't they? Do you even remember what they were? People say midterms and people say what is that? What is it, right? Now, it's like the hottest thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: People are saying. The border has been a key part of the president's midterm pitch for weeks. CNN learning he hated the main TV ad unveiled last week which featured Christine Romans.

ROMANS: For a second.

BRIGGS: It closed out the campaign and featured an upbeat message on the economy.

Republican officials say the president insisted on the hard line anti- immigration message to fire up the base. That ad racist in tone and subject matter rejected by CNN and later by NBC and even eventually Fox News rejected that ad. That was, of course, before the network's biggest star appeared on stage at the president's rally in Missouri. Something Sean Hannity said he would not do.

ROMANS: Mr. Trump's constant talk about caravans and migrants is weighing on the GOP vote. A top Senate Republican aide tells us there are many in the party who would prefer to win the midterms on the economy, quote, without dehumanizing and fear-mongering. And the president may be getting the message, at least a little bit.

You know, he signed an op-ed for Fox News that says: Now America faces a critical choice whether to build on the extraordinary prosperity that Republican policies have delivered to our nation, or whether to allow Democrats to take control and take a giant wrecking ball to your economy and your future?

BRIGGS: But the most noteworthy thing the president said Monday was not on stage, but in an interview with the Sinclair affiliate in Washington. He said he may have one regret.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

INTERVIEW: Is there anything as you look back at your first almost two years that you regret, that you wish on you that you could just take back and redo?

TRUMP: Well, there would be certain things. I'm not sure I want to reveal all of them, but I would say tone. I would like to have a much softer tone. I feel to a certain extent I have no choice. But maybe I do, and maybe I could have been softer from that standpoint. (END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: Wow.

Last month, the president said he would not be to blame if Republicans lose the House. But yesterday, he said he is ready to own whatever happens.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: It's really about the candidate, but if they want to give me the credit or liability, I'll be willing to take it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Ahead of today's vote, the president warned against illegal voting without the evidence or a threat. Meantime, the U.S. intelligence community is in a ready-set-go posture, prepared to protect voting systems against any actual threats. And Facebook said last night it has taken down dozens of Instagram and Facebook pages, acting on a tip from U.S. law enforcement against online activity that may be linked to foreign entities.

BRIGGS: All right. Let's bring in CNN White House reporter Sarah Westwood and Nathan Gonzales, editor and publisher elections and a CNN political analyst. Both live in Washington this morning.

Good morning to both of you.

ROMANS: Good morning.

NATHAN GONZALES, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning.

BRIGGS: Two key races I want to start with for two key reasons. Number one, we like to go to bed early because we have to be up at 2:00 a.m. So, we got to look at the East Coast.

But the other reason is, these two key races, Kentucky 6th and Virginia 7th swung big time for Republicans just two years ago.

[04:35:06] In Kentucky, it was plus 22 for the Republican and in Virginia. It was plus 15 for the Republican. Now, they are both extremely tight races.

Sarah, how big of an indicator will they be tonight?

SARAH WESTWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, Dave Brat's district in particular is one of those suburban districts where you hear about this talk of immigration not being helpful than economic message perhaps more resonant in that kind of territory. This is a classic example of that. It is a northern Virginia, it's right outside of Washington, D.C.

So, it is interesting to see Dave Brat, someone who is vilified by the Republican establishment when he ousted Eric Cantor, now has had to receive help some of the very members of that establishment, sort of one of the ironies of how difficult this terrain is for Republicans. And in Kentucky, it is another example that is an issue for both. Amy McGrath is someone who could be a star in the Democratic Party if she were to win.

She has been trying out new ways to run in Republican territory, highlighting her centrism, issuing some of the more progressive language that you have seen in other races. Abigail Spanberger in Virginia's seventh district, almost someone, former CIA analyst, who's considered a very strong candidate for Democrats. So, it shows how important candidate recruitment and how strong the year is for Democrats that they were able to get those kind of candidate to run.

ROMANS: You know, Nathan, you say that you are watching entire states to see if Democrats hit their mark. You mentioned New Jersey, Virginia, California, where they could pick up one, they could pick up several in some of these places.

GONZALES: First of all, for you watching right now, pace yourself, because if you are on the West Coast, you should go to bed. I'm going back to bed.

But, yes, instead of looking for individual bellwethers, I think looking in states. For example, in New Jersey, Democrats are going to get -- they're going to gain at least two Republican seats, the second district and the 11th district. But they have -- they could get up to four if they defeat Tom MacArthur and Leonard Lance.

And, you know, two I think is enough for the majority for early in the night, which show that I think Democrats are well on their way.

In Virginia, you talked about a couple of seats. I think Democrats need at least one, gained one seat in Virginia. Maybe it's defeating Barbara Comstock in the 10th district. But if they're winning that Dave Brat seat, or if they're wining the open 5 district seat or over in the second district, which is a Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach district, I think that's a good night for Republicans.

And then in California, I mean, who knows when those votes will finally be counted? It may be a few days or a week. But there are nine opportunities for Democrats to take over seats. They probably need to get at least three or four to gain 23 they need for majority.

But, you know, there are so many Democratic opportunities around the country that they don't have to run the table in the House. They have some room for error.

BRIGGS: It will be late, but fascinating to see what happens with Duncan Hunter given the nasty, divisive anti-Muslim ads that he's run and the investigation he is under.

But let's turn to the blue wave. We may not see a huge wave through the House because on average, we see the party in control lose about 30 and it looks like it's going to be around there. But what about these governorships, Sarah?

We're seeing 36 governorships up for grabs. Republicans are defending 26. Let's focus on those two that have been nationalized and that is, of course, Georgia and Florida. We will see some early indications on that.

What will it tell you?

WESTWOOD: Well, look, I think Georgia, Florida, and also I would Kansas, are three states where whatever the outcome, President Trump's role is going to be discussed very heavily. And that's because he intervened in all three GOP gubernatorial primaries, on behalf of candidates that haven't fared well in the general election. These are three states where Republicans are defending seats that are -- it's a possibility that they could lose all three governorships, and there are some Republicans who will tell you, that's because Trump backed less electable candidates.

And some Republicans are sort of lamenting the fact now if Adam Putnam, the candidate who is positioned to win the GOP gubernatorial primary in Florida, before President Trump backed Ron DeSantis was running right now, then perhaps we'd be looking at a different race in Florida. I would add that sort of the counterpart that you said those, Georgia and Florida, are two governor's races that have been nationalized. They have come so close.

One race that has actually stayed localized for the gubernatorial contest is Oregon. That's one I'll be watching tonight. There is a Republican candidate for governor in Oregon who is actually running just a few points in recent polls behind the Democratic governor in Oregon. That's because the race hasn't been nationalized. It has not gotten attention.

And it shows you how different the dynamics of a contest can be when it's allowed to be localized. That's a very Oregon focused race that's actually pretty close heading into Election Day.

BRIGGS: Also late, Alaska will be a fascinating one for the governor.

We should mention, in Georgia, if you don't get 50 percent, if you don't break that threshold, we will have a December run-off.

[04:40:04] So, we could be far from over down there.

ROMANS: Sarah will be watching Oregon. I'll be watching Iowa, my home state, where Ivanka Trump was campaigning for Kim Reynolds who's running for governor, the incumbent running for governor. This has become a story about women and the candidates who are women, but the president and his reputation and attitudes toward women.

The president last night -- I want to play this -- the president last night introducing his daughter Ivanka Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: The truth is she's a very, very -- you are not allowed to use the word beautiful anymore when you talk about women. You're not allowed. No, no. It's politically incorrect. No, no. It's politically -- I will never call a woman beautiful

again. Every man here, every man here, raise your hand. You will never, ever say your wife, your girlfriend, anybody, is beautiful, right?

So, I'm not allowed to say it because -- because it's my daughter Ivanka. But she's really smart.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: That got boos. It should have gotten laughter. Sorry.

ROMANS: There he is in Ft. Wayne, I know I'm crying. He's in Ft. Wayne there with Sarah Sanders and Kellyanne Conway, you know, showing power women who work for him, and work with him.

But, Nathan, I mean, come on, the president has so fundamentally misread the #metoo movement. I don't know if it is funny or sad. But what about women in this election?

GONZALES: Well, I always get a kick out on of will women be important in this election? They at least make up 51 percent or 53 percent of the electorate. So, I'm pretty sure half of the women voters are important.

We'll see if women end up being a greater share, if it's 54 percent or 55 percent. I know in some key states, some Republicans and Democrats are fighting over how many women will turn out to vote, but they're going to matter.

ROMANS: But I mean, they always mattered, Nathan. I mean, they matter more now. Here is why, because women and the president's attitudes toward women have been appalling for women for the past couple years now, you know? So, women are energized about sort of #metoo in a way that they haven't been before.

GONZALES: Right. I mean, some of the biggest slips we have seen in the president's job approval ratings have been among college educated white women. Those are in the suburbs. That goes back to the fight for the House.

The Senate is a different playing field. The dirty secret about close races, everyone matters. For some that go to recount or decided by a few thousand, few hundred votes, everyone starts to matter. And I think we're going to see some of that in a few races tonight.

BRIGGS: All right. Before we go, see if we can get quick answers from you both. If the polls are wrong and it seems all the pollsters are really hedges this year because of what happened two years ago.

Sarah, if they are wrong, why?

WESTWOOD: If they're wrong, why? I think that there's often a difference between the likely voters and people who actually turn out to vote. And so, if different coalitions are mobilized this year by all the things that are going on, that's why I think the polls will be wrong.

ROMANS: Nathan?

GONZALES: Well, we have five hours to talk about this. I'm not sure the polls in 2016 were that wrong. But anyway, I think it could be underestimating Democratic enthusiasm and Democratic turnout if they are wrong.

ROMANS: All right.

BRIGGS: Question that youth vote. How will young voters turn out? A massive question mark.

Nathan, Sarah, thank you both. Get your popcorn ready. Enjoy it.

(CROSSTALK)

ROMANS: And 35 million people have already voted.

BRIGGS: Thirty-five million, up from 22 million.

ROMANS: Wow.

All right. Thanks, guys. Nice to see you.

BRIGGS: All right. Ahead, missile launches in Iran. A quick and forceful response for the U.S. reimposing sanctions on oil and other sectors. CNN is live in Tehran, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:48:02] ROMANS: Iran has responded to the U.S. imposing sanctions on Tehran. Overnight, the Iranian stage a large scale military exercise involving two homegrown missile systems. The U.S. has revealed the eight countries receiving exceptions, granted exceptions from those oil sanctions. They are China, India, Italy, Greece, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey. That means six of Iran's biggest oil-buying customers, they can keep buying oil from Tehran without a penalty for now.

Let's go live to Tehran and bring in CNN's Frederik Pleitgen -- Fred.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Christine.

And, you know, the fact that some of these countries are still able to buy oil from Iran, well, the folks here in Tehran, especially the government in Tehran, sees that as a big victory of Iran over the United States, essentially saying that they believe that the U.S. blinked on this. In fact, the country's president, Hassan Rouhani, he went on TV yesterday and he said, flat out, is the fact that these waivers are in place, a defeat of the United States by Iran.

So, certainly, you have a lot of rhetoric coming out here from Tehran, a lot of people who have obviously very angry at the U.S. Quite interesting to see also that China especially is on that list, because that's by far the biggest importer of Iranian oil. The Chinese have come out and criticized the Trump administration saying they don't believe what they call their trade ties which they say are legitimate should be infringed upon by the United States.

So, certainly, you can see the Iranians believing that maybe the fact that these waivers are in place could be a lifeline for their oil and gas industry which, of course, is still set to be hit quite hard by the sanctions. Then you have those military drills that you were talking about. The Iranians coming out with some details today, saying they tested a surface-to-air missile system. They say it also has a new radar and has a range of about 100 miles. That is interesting, because CNN has also now learned that apparently, there was a request from CentCom for a beefed up military presence in the Persian Gulf which was rejected by the Pentagon.

It was one of the things that the U.S. fears the Iranians might make some military move in response to these sanctions put in place.

[04:50:03] One of the things the Iranians have threatened over the past is to close vital Strait of Hormuz, the very narrow waterway transits about 20 percent of the world's oil, Christine.

ROMANS: Yes, certainly, it would be an international incident, no question.

All right. Fred Pleitgen for us in Tehran this morning, thanks, Fred.

BRIGGS: All right. Here it's all about turnout. Today, one big wild card, and that is the weather. Could it keep some voters at home? We will have a stormy forecast for you, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:55:15] BRIGGS: Well, on top of everything else, there's another huge election day variable. That is the weather which could effect turnout in several key states. Right now, rain and storms in the forecast from Alabama all the way up to New England during voting hours.

Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri has your forecast.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Dave and Christine, yes, the very active weather map here when it comes to Election Day Tuesday.

You take a look. We do have snow showers across the Northern Plains. But really, the quite places, that's just California, Southern Texas, portions of Central and Southern Florida, that's about it. Everyone else is an active weather to be had, mainly across the Eastern Board from portions of really Alabama, all the way up there towards the areas of the Northeast. The severe weather threat is highest the farther north you travel.

And timing on this, a lot of these areas around, say, Atlanta and Montgomery and working to western areas of North Carolina, these are areas that will see polling places opening around 7:00 a.m., some areas around 6:00 a.m., that's when the strong storms push in towards the Southern states. Well, as we approach the afternoon hours around the major metro cities of the Northeast, say 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, that's when you have the strong storms impact that region before things quiet down post sunset tonight.

But temps warming up to middle 60s in New York City, about 70 degrees in Nashville, while the lower 80s possible around places such as Houston by this afternoon.

But all of the warm air in place across the South, they're going to begin to be replace over the next couple of days. We'll get a couple shots of cooler air here, and your forecast in places like Washington go from the upper 60s down to only 47 degrees come Saturday afternoon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Thanks, PJ.

North Korea could restart its nuclear activities if the U.S. doesn't ease crippling economic sanctions. A source says continued pressure by the U.S. would force those sanctions and the presumption of military exercises with South Korea are the perfect excuse for Pyongyang to threaten to go nuclear again. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is due to meet with the North Korean counterpart in New York this week.

BRIGGS: The U.S. Olympic Committee removing USA Gymnastics governing body in the wake of the Larry Nassar scandal. In an open letter to the gymnastics community, Olympic Committee Chief Sarah Hirshland wrote everyone now faces the difficult reality of belonging to a national organization that continues to struggle to change its culture to rebuild leadership and effectively serve its membership, you deserve better.

Hirshland says the decertification process does not guarantee a particular outcome.

After searching a year to find a home for its second headquarters, Amazon has apparently decided on two. According to "The New York Times", The company is close to a deal to move HQ2 to Queens, New York and the Crystal City area of Arlington, Virginia. Amazon already has more employees in those places than anywhere else outside of Seattle.

"The Wall Street Journal" first reported Amazon's decision to pick new two places instead of one.

ROMANS: A lot of new job, a lot good paying jobs.

All right. Global markets are mixed and investors await for the U.S. midterms elections. Nikkei is up. You can see Shanghai, Hang Seng hang up saying just little s down. The Dow and FTSE and CAC just slightly lower.

On Wall Street, futures are up ahead of the midterm elections. On Monday, the Dow closed up shy of 1 percent. The S&P 500 up, but the Nasdaq lost as Apple fell. Apple lost another 3 percent after Friday's very big selloff.

Shipping with FedEx is about to get more expensive. FedEx would raise rates by 4.9 percent as of January 7th. That matches the increase from the beginning of the year. Why are costs rising? Higher fuel prices.

FedEx reported that the quarter ending in August, the fuel costs up 11 percent. FedEx rival UPS has yet to announce its rate increase for the year.

All right. Thanks for joining us this midterm elections day. I'm Christine Romans.

BRIGGS: I'm Dave Briggs.

"NEW DAY" starts right now. It's your call, America. Happy Election Day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: You have to go out and vote, because in a sense, I am on the ticket.

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO (D), HAWAII: The Republicans are banking on a president who is stoking anti-immigrant fears.

MIKE PENCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are securing our borders. We put the caravan on notice.

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT: The character of the country is on the ballot. How we treat people is on the ballot.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This president's policies help the job creators and job seekers.

SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Republicans control the Senate. I have one thing to say: tick-tock. We're coming.

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Alisyn Camerota and John Berman.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world, to a special election day edition of "NEW DAY." It is Tuesday, November 6th, 5:00 in Washington.

Here's what you need to know, the day is finally here. The day that we have talked about so much over the past year.