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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Republicans Prepare to Debate; Deadly Flash Flood; Migrant Crisis: Countries Close Borders. Aired 4:30-5a ET
Aired September 15, 2015 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:30:00] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: The stage is set for the CNN Republican presidential candidate debate just one day away. How the candidates are preparing, ahead.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking overnight, deadly flash flooding out west. At least eight people killed. Cars swept away as the water pours in.
ROMANS: Shutting out migrants. European countries close their borders trying to stop refugees seeking asylum. We are live.
Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
KOSIK: And I'm Alison Kosik. It's half past the hour.
And with less than two days to go before a major presidential debate right here on CNN, Donald Trump headlines a huge rally in Texas. While other Republicans are hold up were studying their little debate briefing books, Trump was in Dallas fires up an adoring crowd with promises of political triumph and putdowns of his opponent.
CNN's Sara Murray has more from Dallas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: Good morning, Christine and Alison.
Donald Trump fired up a crowd of thousands last night here in this arena in Dallas.
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: They mentioned a little while ago, Scottie, about the silent majority. It's back. And it's not silent. I think we should call it -- maybe we should call it the noisy, the aggressive, the wanting to win, wanting to win majority.
MURRAY: Even bringing the crowd to their feet at one point when he promised to end illegal immigration.
TRUMP: And I don't mean to be disrespectful, but when a man has a problem and he's got his wife or his girlfriend and they move her to the border for one day, has the baby on the other side of the border, our side, now that baby is a citizen of our country for however long the baby lives. Hopefully a long -- it's wrong. It's wrong.
MURRAY: Now a number of voters were honest. They said they were here for the entertainment factor. And on that, Donald Trump delivered.
TRUMP: We're going to have so many victories that at some point, they're just going to be coming out of your ears.
I have to be careful about what I say about coming out of somebody's ear. I have to be careful. Nose, ears, eyes, those are the only places I'm talking about.
MURRAY: He promised he would never participate in a bicycle race as president. He once again swore his hair was real and he even congratulated Arnold Schwarzenegger on being the new host of "Celebrity Apprentice."
Those voters, though, expecting to get a little bit more serious when the candidates head to the CNN debate stage. They said they want to see a number candidates, including Donald Trump, layout what they would do as president.
Christine and Alison, back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right. Sara, thank you for that.
One of Trump's opponents turning one of those patented put-downs against him. Carly Fiorina rolling out a new campaign video that responds to Trump's recent insult about her face.
Trump said to "Rolling Stone", "Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that?", among other things.
Now, watch Fiorina's ad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, CARLY FOR AMERICA)
CARLY FIORINA (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Ladies, look at this face! And look at all of your faces, the face of leadership.
This is the face of a 61-year-old woman. I am proud of every year and every wrinkle.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: Meantime, Jeb Bush out with a new campaign video this morning, also likely to be seen as a rebuke to Donald Trump. In the video, Bush speaks entirely in Spanish defying Trump's call for him to speak only English on the campaign trail. And Bush's rarely seen Mexican- born wife Columba delivers a message entirely in English, praising the value of Hispanic culture in the U.S.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLUMBA BUSH, WIFE OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JEB BUSH: I have lived more than half my life here. So, you know, I agree that we have the same interests, the same feelings.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Ben Carson preparing for tomorrow night's debates. The Republican polling second behind Donald Trump tells Anderson Cooper, he is getting an idea of what questions to expect by speaking with advisors and with average Americans at the town halls. The retired neurosurgeon says he's prepared for attacks and even gets in his own subtle dig at Donald Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: I'm wondering if you anticipate more candidates coming after you and also Donald Trump?
BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Yes, I would imagine they probably will. Although, you know, I hope that we will focus more on the issues and what our vision is and what the solutions are. But, you know, sometimes it's hard to resist.
I think everybody has different kinds of experiences. And, you know, it's human nature to think that whatever you do is the greatest and provides everybody with their messiah. I don't have that complex, quite frankly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[04:35:00] KOSIK: Republican contender and former college athlete Marco Rubio answering football-themed questions and showing off a sense of humor in his new campaign ad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, YOUTUBE/MARCO RUBIO)
QUESTION: More nervous before first presidential debate or first college football game?
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I was more nervous before my first college football game, because you were actually going to get hit. No one is going to hit at the debate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: OK, OK. The ad is mostly fun, but there are a few digs.
When asked, what was harder to recover, Hillary Clinton's e-mails or Tom Brady's texts, Rubio says Clinton's emails.
Stay with CNN leading up to the two debates on Wednesday night, live from the Reagan presidential library in Simi Valley, California. The main debate right here at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, preceded by the undercard debate with lower polling candidates. That's happening at 6:00 p.m.
I can't wait.
ROMANS: I know.
So, those are Republicans. Let's talk about the Democrats for a moment, shall we?
Bernie Sanders addressed crowds at opponent ends of the state of Virginia, which were also poles apart. Sanders started his day at Christian conservative Liberty University in Lynchburg. He got mostly polite applause apart from a small cheering section. But Sanders did not shy away from sharp areas of disagreement like gay rights and abortion.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I do believe that it is improper for the United States government or state government to tell every woman in this country the very painful and difficult choice that she has to make on that issue.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
And I honestly don't want to be too provocative here, but often conservatives say get the government out of my life. I don't want the government telling me what to do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Monday afternoon, Sanders ventured back on common ground, taping an interview in front of the students at the University of Virginia. There, he drew a distinction between his views on economic issues and those of the frontrunner Hillary Clinton.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDERS: I think if you look at Hillary Clinton's views on the issues, which is what this campaign is about, I think the views that I am fighting for, the positions that I'm fighting for will do more to address the very serious crises facing the middle class and working families.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: He talks about the spoils of the recovery going to the richest and income inequity and taxes on the rich.
Bernie Sanders has big plans if elected, government-run health care for everyone, expansion of Social Security, free tuition or debt-free tuition at public colleges. And all those programs come with a big price tag. According to "The Wall Street Journal", his expansion of government will cost at least $18 trillion of new spending over a decade. That includes $15 trillion for Medicare, $1.2 trillion for Social Security, and $1 trillion to rebuild infrastructure.
To pay for it, he wants to raise taxes. So far, his staff says he detailed $6.5 trillion in revenue, and additional tax proposals will be offered to offset the price tags of his health program.
KOSIK: All right. The new emphasis on Hillary Clinton's lighter, funnier side coming through again in campaign appearances that she made on Monday. At the University of Northern Iowa, she aimed the barb at Donald Trump while criticizing the entire Republican field.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It is somewhat entertaining. Their flamboyant frontrunner has grabbed a lot of the attention lately. But if you look at the policies of all of them running, they are pretty much the same. They are Trump just without the pizzazz and hair.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: Clinton even taping an interview with the entertainment show, "Extra". In this chat posted on "Extra's" Web site Monday, she laughs at host Mario Lopez's question about Vice President Bill Clinton.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIO LOPEZ, HOST: Do you consider Bill as a running mate?
CLINTON: He would be good, but he is not eligible under the Constitution. He has served his two terms. I think the argument would be as vice president, it would not be possible for him to ever succeed to the position. At least that's what I've been told. So, you know it has crossed my mind.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: Clinton also talks about meeting Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, and she even asked Kanye to hold off on running for president until she completes her second term. You know, let him take a step back.
Breaking news overnight, at least eight people dead, five more missing as flash floods moved in.
ROMANS: Still looking for more people there.
Plus, tens of thousands evacuating a monster wildfire spreading in California. We've got that for you, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KOSIK: Breaking overnight: eight people killed and five others missing this morning following heavy rains and flash flooding in southern Utah. Water rushing down a mountain side in the town of Hildale swept away two vehicles with 16 people inside. And with thunderstorms moving in the area overnight, officials are warning there could be more dangerous flooding today.
ROMANS: The Valley Fire still raging out of control in northern California. It began a few days ago, but already, it's the most destructive wildfire of the season. Hundreds of homes destroyed, thousands more homes threatened by smoke and flames.
A Middletown, California firefighter says somehow his house was spared. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DON LOPEZ, MIDDLETOWN, CALIFORNIA FIREFIGHTER: Eventually, the fire got into the Middletown area and my wife told me they are leaving. I hear people's houses are being burned and I figure mine is going to be gone.
I'm driving around and I'm in shock. I'm a firefighter. What do you do? You have to keep working.
I talked to my wife. And she said, what are we going to do? I said, there is no reason for you to not keep working. So, that's what I'm doing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Look at that.
Fire crews may get help from the weather today. CNN's Stephanie Elam getting a first hand look for us at what the wildfire has left behind.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine and Alison.
As we are getting a better look of the devastation from this valley fire, you can see just how hot and scary this fire was as it raged through this community.
As we are driving around today, you come across many places where the telephone poles are still burning, leaning over the streets, their wires either in the trees or across the roadway. At one point, we even saw one house that was just starting to burn and we were able to alert a fire crew that this house was about to light up and we were able to help out there. That's just how raw and tender the situation is here still.
[04:45:00] And for many people who were able to evacuate, they are still living in tent cities across the area, evacuated to fairgrounds like the Napa County fairgrounds, where we met some people who are wondering what the houses look like.
We also know there's one person who did not make it, an elderly woman who they say they got a call in requesting for help, but they were not able to rescue this woman because the flames got too big and she was not able to self evacuate.
Overall, though, this is a situation as you look behind me, that obviously is going to take a really long time for these people to bounce back.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOSIK: Thanks for that, Stephanie.
You know, these fires have been so devastating, so hard to control.
So, meteorologist Pedram Javaheri explains why this is -- Pedram.
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Alison and Christine, good morning to you guys.
Showing you the scene across California. We know, of course, the Valley Fire, with 62,000 acres consumed. That itself twice the size of areas of San Francisco. To the east, 71,000 acres consumed in this particular one. The Butte Fire, at least 35 percent containment, and we know rainfall at least in forecast across this region. At least one for one of the fires, minimal rainfall, but certainly worth taking.
But want to talk about the other big story happening across the state of Utah, because, of course, we know severe flooding is taking place across southern town Hildale. A lot of times, it doesn't take much water to cause flash flooding, especially when people are trapped in their vehicles. Precisely what happened in Hildale with the fatalities in place. In fact, just 6 inches of water can knock a person off their feet. Enough movement, enough force with this to move a vehicle downstream.
Some of these fatalities occur with people trapped in their vehicles, which, by the way, the number one weather killer in the United States is flash flooding and half of those fatalities do occur with people trapped in their vehicles. Of course, landscape does not help. You go into the area with mesas and views.
And you look very closely, the town of 2,500 people. Here are the river that goes nearby the community. Of course, we have hillsides and we have ravines and we have all of the gullies up to the city center. This is why this became a perfect storm when it comes to the mass destruction it costs over this region, guys.
ROMANS: All right. Pedram, thank you for that.
KOSIK: More European countries closing their borders trying to shut out migrants and refugees from seeking asylum. A crisis unfolding, we are live next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:50:52] KOSIK: Border controls are tightening all over Europe this morning. European ministers meeting in Brussels failing to agree on a plan to deal with the spiraling migrant crisis. Hungary vowing to seal its border with Serbia today, as Austria mobilizes over 2,000 soldiers to patrol its border with Hungary.
Let's get the latest from CNN senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman live from the Serbia/Hungary border.
So, you got this situation, Ben, where ministers met and didn't come up with a response to handle the influx of these refugees, of these migrants, and now they are not meeting for another month and we see the border controls go up. What happens between now and a month from now?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think that's what thousands of refugees and migrants are asking on the other side of this border. Now, we had the opportunity this morning to talk to some of those refugees who say that there are thousands of people just on the other side of the border desperately waiting to get -- they don't want to come to Hungary, they want to get to Austria, they want to get to Germany.
They realize Austria here, the welcome mat has long been pulled away. Overnight, a new law went into effect here, where anybody crossing illegally, the fence between Serbia and Hungary, will face a three- year prison sentence.
Now, just a little while ago, we were up the border a bit at the railroad crossing that goes from Serbia into Hungary. It's now been sealed. A railway car there, concertina wire completely closed now. There are lots of refugees who were going up and down the fence looking for a way to cross. One of them asked me if I could put them in touch with a smuggler who would help them, because they don't want to come to Hungary. They want to pass right through, but it doesn't appear that even that's going to be possible at the moment.
It is important to keep in mind the fence that had been recently built on the Hungarian side is relatively flimsy. So, it wouldn't be a great surprise if some ingenuitive young men were to go buy some wire cutters and simply slip under the border.
But, of course, what we have seen an increased military presence on the border, including helicopters flying overhead in the event somebody tries to cross. It is only a matter of time before that happens -- Alisyn.
KOSIK: And, of course, you're going to see these refugees, these migrants leaning on smugglers, which isn't the safest way to go.
WEDEMAN: No, in fact, it's quite dangerous. We have seen how dangerous it was. In Austria where 71 people last month were found dead in a refrigerator car after -- refrigerator truck after suffocating. Although the authorities are talking about cracking down on human smugglers, the fact that there is no legal way to get across the border through Hungary and to Germany and Austria, obviously, this is good news for those who are bringing them illegally into these countries -- Alison.
KOSIK: All right. Ben Wedeman live from the Hungary/Serbia border, thanks for that.
ROMANS: All right. Fifty-four minutes past the hour.
Billionaire Mark Cuban he could crush the Republican frontrunner. So, is he Donald Trump's latest competition? We'll tell you what he is saying this morning, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:58:20] ROMANS: OK, good morning. I'm Christine Romans.
Let's get an early start on your money this morning. The S&P 500 is now down 8 percent from its record peak earlier this year, recovering slightly.
But some recent Wall Street darlings are not as fortunate. I want you to look at GoPro, sales are strong but the stock has plunged 45 percent this year. It is 65 percent below its high.
Fitbit down about 40 percent from its record, so is Shake Shack. Alibaba down almost 50 percent in trading for less than its IPO price. Some of those recent IPOs really hit as the broader market has bounced back from the worst losses of the year.
When Republican hopefuls meet on the stage tomorrow night for the CNN debate, they will want to focus on the issue Americans care most about, the economy. Where will the battles be?
First, minimum wage. Ben Carson is the only top candidate who says he is willing to raise the federal minimum.
Next, immigration. Donald Trump wants to restrict it. Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush have very different plan.
And, finally, CEO pay. Over the weekend, Trump took a shot at sky high pay for CEOs and hedge fund managers. Look for him to challenge other candidates over ties to Wall Street.
Mark Cuban says he could crush Donald Trump in a presidential election. The billionaire businessman also saying he could beat Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton. "I think the conformity the Republicans require of candidates on social issues will make it far easier for any Democratic nominee not named Hillary. I think she had lost her shot."
That is what he said yesterday. Cuban says he has no interest in running, but if he did, he would simplify the tax code and address income inequality, college debt and computer-automated trading in the stock market.
So, for the record, boasting yesterday, he says, "I could crush Donald Trump and I could beat Hillary," but later telling CNN Money but I'm not going to run but I could.
