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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
#CNNDebate: Republicans Prepare to Debate; Devastation Out West; Migrant Crisis: Countries Close Borders; Monday Night Matchups. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired September 15, 2015 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: 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.
[05:00:06] ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: I could feel the confidence oozing.
ROMANS: I know, right? There's a lot of confidence out there these days, isn't there?
KOSIK: All right. EARLY START continues right now.
ROMANS: Republicans running for president, now one day from facing off on the debate stage. How they're preparing this morning.
KOSIK: Devastation out west. Flash flooding kills eight people overnight as tens of thousands evacuate from a monster wildfire.
ROMANS: European countries lockdown their borders, trying to stop the flood of migrants and refugees seeking asylum. We're live as this crisis unravels.
Good morning. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
Nice to see you.
KOSIK: Happy to be here. Thank you.
I'm Alison Kosik. It's Tuesday, September 15th. It's 5:00 a.m. in the East.
And we are less than two days to go before a major presidential debate here on CNN. Donald trump headlining a huge rally in Texas while other Republicans were holed up preparing for the debate. Trump was in Dallas last night, acting like a rock star firing up the crowd with promises of political triumph and, of course, some putdowns for his opponents.
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, Sara.
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?"
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: She, of course, has lived here half her life, raised their kids here. And they speak Spanish at home by the way.
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 he mets 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.
[05:05:05] 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 thing and provides everybody with their messiah. I don't have that complex, quite frankly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: And then there is 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: The ad is mostly fun, but there are a few digs. When asked what was harder to recover, Hillary Clinton e-mails or Tom Brady's texts. He says Clinton's e-mails.
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, at 6:00 p.m.
It will be a good one.
ROMANS: So, let's talk about the Democrats. Bernie sanders addressed crowds at opposite ends of the state of Virginia, which are frankly poles apart.
Sanders started his day speaking to Christian conservative Liberty University in Lynchburg. He described himself as a socialist. He got mostly polite applause apart from a small cheering section.
But Sanders did not shy away from what he acknowledged of 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 very often conservatives say, you know, 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)
KOSIK: 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 asked Kanye to hold off on running for president until she completes her second term. I think that's good advice.
ROMANS: All right. Time for an early start on your money this morning.
Another wild day in China stocks. Shanghai benchmark closed down 3.5 percent. Still worries there about China's economy and just how quickly or slowly it is growing. European stocks are also lower, so are U.S. stock futures. The Dow yesterday down 62 points. Investors awaiting the Federal Reserve decision on whether to raise interest rates for the first time in the decade. We'll know for sure on Tuesday.
Happening this morning, a huge labor contract for 140,000 auto workers running out. The united auto workers union will give an hour by hour extension of the contract as it expired at midnight. The issue is a two-tier classification of workers that was put in place when the industry was collapsing. Veteran workers earn about $28 an hour. They want a raise. Recent hires can under maximum of $19.28 an hour.
[05:10:02] The union wants to close that gap. So stay tuned on that one.
KOSIK: Breaking news overnight, deadly flash flooding out west. At least eight people dead, cars swept away in what is described as a wall of water. Details 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: The fatigue in the eyes. Fire crews may get some help from the weather.
CNN's Stephanie Elam getting a firsthand look 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.
[05:15:07] That's just how raw and tender the situation is here still. 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)
ROMANS: All right. Stephanie Elam, thank you for that, Stephanie.
KOSIK: You know, these fires have been devastating, so hard to control.
Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri explains why.
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Alisyn and Christine, good morning to you guys.
Look at these numbers, incredible stuff when you consider 62,000 acres consumed. That's twice the size of city of San Francisco, 9,000 structures threatened by these fires. And the landscape is exacerbating the fire, these rolling hills, the landscape of Northern California well known for, the hills, the wine country, all of this intensifying the flames here because the fire as they develop downhill, what they do is gasses and heat are released and heating up the landscape and uphill really quickly.
So, the pre-heating that is taking place allows the fires to spark up. In 2010, we saw fires impacting a region and traveling uphill at some 100 miles per hour.
People have a hard time believing that fire travels faster uphill than they do downhill as they're pre-heating the land ahead of them going uphill.
But here's the landscape, as far as the rainfall coming in. We know the Valley Fire certainly gets in on some rainfall. It doesn't look like much, about a quarter of an inch at best, and the thunderstorms and the monsoonal moisture that was in place across parts of Utah is really problematic, of course, as well, because the landscape here is also mountainous. And when you put down 2 to 4 inches of rainfall per hour down, which is what occurred across this region, all of this flows down stream and creates major problems for those homes and neighborhoods that are in the lowland escape across this region -- guys.
ROMANS: Delta State University in Mississippi is closed this morning, the day after the professor found murdered in his office, and a manhunt for the suspect of the killing. The police say the victim, American history professor Ethan Schmidt was shot in the head in his campus office. Overnight, officials announced the 45-year-old Shannon Lamb is dead, making good on his threat to shoot himself. He said he did not want to be in prison. Lamb was also the suspect in the shooting death of the woman he lived with.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM LAFORGE, PRESIDENT, DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY: It is indeed a tragic moment for this university and for the Delta State family.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It will be shocking. I had Dr. Schmidt three days out of the five. It's going to be different without him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Police have not revealed any motive for the shooting. Lamb also taught at Delta State and is described as an expert on the geography of crime on the school's web site.
KOSIK: All right. Switching gears, we had a double helping of Monday night football. The Eagles taking on the Falcons, and 49ers hosting the Vikings. So who came out on top?
Andy Scholes has the bleacher report, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:21:56] KOSIK: Running back Adrian Peterson returning to the field for the first time in almost a year as the Vikings took on the 49ers on Monday night football.
ROMANS: You see the red rimmed eyes this morning? It is because of Monday night football.
Andy Scholes has the highlight of this morning's bleacher report.
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, guys.
Yes, week one of the NFL season wrapping up with a Monday night football double header. Adrian Peterson was back in action. And in return, well, it didn't go too well. Peterson rushed for only 31 yards on 10 carries. His fantasy owners are not happy about that this morning.
Now, 49ers running back Carlos Hyde, he had an amazing night. You got to check out this run. Look at the spin move here. He would go for a ten-yard touchdown on the play. Hyde with two touchdowns in the game and go on 168 yards rushing, as the 49ers win that easily, 20-3.
The new look Eagles playing in the early game against the Falcons. Chip Kelly's, he's traded star running back LaShawn McCoy for line backer Alonso this off season. The move paying dividends early. Look at Alonso, with the one handed reception in the first quarter. Amazing catch.
Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones had himself quite a night. Catching a touchdown from Matt Ryan. Two touchdowns in the game with 141 yards receiving. Eagles had a chance to win this game late in the fourth, but Sam Bradford with the interception on the last drive. Falcons win, 26-24.
Forbes annual list of the most valuable franchises in sport is out. The Dallas Cowboys back on top valued at $4 billion. Forbes says the average NFL team is now worth $2 billion. That's up 38 percent from a year ago. Here is the list of the top five most valuable franchises in sports. Soccer club Real Madrid is right behind the Cowboys followed by Patriots and Yankees and FC Barcelona.
Finally, a really bizarre moment last night in the Dodgers game. Fifth inning and Adrian Gonzalez lean into the stands and a fan wearing a Red Sox hat tries to wrestle the ball out of Gonzalez glove. Gonzalez is looking at him. The fan was actually ejected from the game. Guys, the funny thing is, according to "The L.A. Times", Dodgers manager Don Mattingly did not want the fan thrown out of the game until he heard he was wearing a Red Sox hat. After that, he's like, get rid of him.
ROMANS: I don't know. I think we have to rerack the tape. It was John Berman.
(LAUGHTER)
SCHOLES: So harsh feelings about Adrian Gonzalez, huh?
ROMANS: I don't know. It might have been Berman in that Red Sox hat.
All right. Thanks a lot, Andy.
Countdown to CNN Republican presidential candidate debate. Just one day to go, the stage is set. How the candidates are getting ready this morning, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KOSIK: Here we go. The stage is set for the CNN Republican presidential debate just one day away. I'm so excited, I can't say it. How the candidates are preparing ahead.
ROMANS: I like republicle, a new party, a republicle party.
Breaking overnight: deadly flash flooding out west. Look at these pictures. At least eight people killed. All the victims, mothers and their children, some still missing in the raging flood waters this morning. Cars swept away as the waters pour in.
KOSIK: Shutting out migrants. European countries closing their borders trying to stop migrants and refugees seeking asylum. We are live. Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Alison Kosik.
ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. Nice to see you this morning.
KOSIK: Happy to be here.
ROMANS: It is 28 minutes past the hour.
With less than two days to go now before the debate here on CNN. If you want to countdown, you can see on the right side of the screen. We can help you count down. Donald Trump counting down with a rally in Texas. Other candidates are holed up preparing or studying their debate briefing books or talking to citizens at town halls, Trump was in Dallas fires up an adoring crowd with promises of political triumph and put-downs of his opponent.
CNN's Sara Murray has more from Dallas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MURRAY: Good morning, Christine and Alison.
Donald Trump fired up a crowd of thousands last night here in this arena in Dallas.
TRUMP: 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 over 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.
