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ISIS Affiliate Claims Responsibility on Russian Jet Crash; St. Petersburg. Russia in Mourning; GOP Debate Meeting Ends with Modest Goals; Wreckage Similar in Size to El Faro Found; Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired November 02, 2015 - 04:29   ET

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

[04:30:01] MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Russian officials now say the plane's fuselage disintegrated mid air scattering debris across eight square miles in remote part of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation and unknown. Was it a technical problem with the 18-year-old Airbus jet? Could it have been a terror attack?

Well, for the latest on the search for answers, let's bring in CNN's Ian Lee, he is in Cairo for us -- Ian.

IAN LEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miguel, that is the predominant theory at this moment. That this plane had a technical issue with the Russian officials saying that it disintegrated over the Sinai Peninsula. We're also hearing that this plane had a history of incidents. Back in 2001, here in Cairo, when the plane was taking off, its tail hit the tarmac. Now it's presumed that damage was repaired. But this is something investigators are also going to be looking into.

The Egyptian official, the civil aviation minister, has said that prior to the flight everything checked out. There wasn't any concern. The pilot didn't express concerns. This despite the ex-wife of the co-pilot saying that he didn't think the plane was fit to take off.

Now there is the other theory right now that's being thrown out that this could have been a terrorist attack. And that's coming about because of an ISIS claim that they brought down the plane. But an Egyptian military source has told CNN that they just wouldn't have the capabilities of doing it with a missile. There is also the theory that they could potentially put a bomb on board, but these right now don't seem as likely as a mechanical issue.

But all these answers, they're hoping -- all these questions, they're hoping will be answered once those black boxes are analyzed, once the data is revealed. That is going to be taking place shortly. They have a team from Airbus here as well as a team from Ireland helping with this investigation.

MARQUEZ: All right. Ian Lee, thank you very much.

KOSIK: In Russia, a city is in mourning. In St. Petersburg overnight, a plane landed carrying the remains of 144 victims of the Metrojet Flight 9268 crash. A second transport plane is expected to depart Cairo around midday Eastern Time.

This haunting photo right here spreading on social media this morning. This is 10-month-old Darina Gromova in St. Petersburg before she and her parents boarded their plane to Egypt. All three perished on that return flight. At St. Petersburg Airport, a makeshift memorial has been set up. Piles of flowers, candles and children's toys.

And that's where we find CNN's Nic Robertson. Nic, what are you hearing at this point that's being done for the family members of the victims?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, some of the family members who are waiting here at the hotel near the airport with government officials. They have been given counseling, they've been given psychologists helping them with their grief. But some of them have now been taken this morning to the morgue where the 144 bodies that arrived in the early hours today have been transferred.

This is the beginning of the identification process. A very difficult process. It won't be over quickly. Government officials warn because there are more bodies that will be coming back later tonight. More personal possessions that were lost on that flight. They will be coming back overnight as well.

And what we've been seen here is a very big outpouring of support of sympathy. I mean, you only need look behind me here at the huge piles of flowers. The toys that have been laid here. 25 children, not just the 10-month-old Darina Gromova, who's the youngest of the children. 25 other children died aboard this plane. And also there were quite a number of parents that have gone on a -- on this trip to Egypt, that they left their young children with relatives, in the care of their relatives here.

So now there are quite a number of orphans in St. Petersburg because of the tragedy of this flight. And that is being felt very, very deeply here. A lot of people we see stopping by to put flowers down, they're in tears. Questioning looks on their faces about how all this could happen. And of course the realization for so many people that this could so easily have happened to them. But the most painful part of today will be for those families who are now beginning to identify their loved ones -- Alison.

KOSIK: Absolutely. Nic Robertson, live from St. Petersburg. Thanks for that.

MARQUEZ: Now Republican presidential candidates are trying to get more control over the debates both from the RNC and from the networks. A meeting last night face-to-face for the first time but this morning the campaigns have precious little agreement on the issues.

The -- a source inside the meeting tells CNN's Manu Raju, the campaigns will take over negotiations with host networks on the debate format, seeking a two-hour time limit, and 30 seconds for opening and closing statements, among other things.

[04:35:12] The RNC will continue to handle the basic debate logistics. The campaigns will push for earlier information on debate moderators and whether candidates will get equal speaking time. Among the points where no agreement was reached, CNN's source says lower polling candidates want two debates perhaps split between equal numbers of randomly selected candidates. And the Bush campaign wants Telemundo restored as a debate co-sponsor while the Trump campaign says it would boycott the debate if that happened.

Moderating last night's meeting was Republican attorney and fixer Ben Ginsberg. He says having the RNC handle negotiations with the network has left the campaigns out of the loop.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEN GINSBERG, REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY AND DEBATE MEETING MODERATOR: The campaigns themselves were not talking to the debate sponsors. The information flow has not been nearly what it's been in past years. Campaigns have been able and should be able to get information about the details of the debate far sooner than they have so far this cycle.

So if you have that transparency and accountability, you can talk to the sponsors about formats and opening and closing statements, and the way they put up graphics on the screen and even who the moderators are and the types of questions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: Sounds like a good old fashion Washington taffy pulling contest.

For more on the campaigns' efforts to set the terms of future debates, let's turn to CNN's Chris Frates. He's in Washington for us.

CHRIS FRATES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Alison and Miguel, good morning. There are still a number of Republican presidential campaigns upset about how CNBC handled Wednesday night's debate. And some of that blame is coming down on the RNC itself.

The committee tried to channel some of that frustration on Friday when they announced they were suspending the February debate they had planned with NBC News. But that hasn't stopped some of the campaigns from getting together to talk about how they might take some control back over the debates from the RNC.

Now remember in the past, the campaigns themselves negotiated with the TV networks. But this year, the RNC did the negotiating on behalf of the campaigns because they felt like there were too many debates last cycle. Republicans felt like their eventual nominee, who of course was Mitt Romney, came out of the primaries battered by roughly two dozen debates. So this time the RNC cut the number of debates down to nine and announced the debates ahead of time.

The RNC chairman said he was, quote, "trying to limit the opportunity we had to kill each other." But what the RNC couldn't have predicted is the logistics of trying to manage the debate with such a big presidential field. The problem here, of course, is that all the campaigns have very different agendas for what they want. The second tier candidates want to get on the primetime debate stage with the frontrunners, and not having earlier less-watched undercard debate.

Frontrunners, guys like Ben Carson, they want fewer tough questions and more time for talking points which will be a tough sell to the television networks. You know, Carson is basically looking for more of a forum than a debate and that likely won't fly.

And let's not forget, a lot of politics going on here. The candidates are trying to use this moment to influence a process going forward to their advantage. They are even fundraising on this issue -- Alison, Miguel.

KOSIK: All right, Chris, thanks for that.

And Jeb Bush is trying to revive his struggling campaign. He's going to be stumping in his home state of Florida today. And Bush says he's determined to improve as a candidate and in his debate performances. And he's not letting up on Marco Rubio. Listen to what he said about the Florida senator on "Meet the Press."

BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: In this era of gridlock, it's really hard to break through. And I think he's given up. And I think that's the wrong thing to do. This is about public service, about solving problems.

I will be better. And look, I know that I got to get better doing the debate. And I'm a grinder. I mean, when I see that I'm not doing something well, then I reset and I get better.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSIK: Carly Fiorina also trying to reenergize her campaign admitting she misspoke in last week's debate when she insisted 92 percent of the jobs lost during President Obama's first term were held by women.

MARQUEZ: Now Bernie Sanders' first TV ad buy of his campaign on the air this morning in Iowa and New Hampshire.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's taking on Wall Street and a corrupt political system. Funded over a million contributions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: The campaign says it's going to spend more than $2 million on the ad over 10 days. This months after the Clinton campaign went on the air in key early nominating states. Hillary Clinton herself is in northern Illinois today fundraising in Chicago and Evanston.

A season after watching the Giants' World Series celebration first hand. The Kansas City Royals are living it tonight. They are the new world champions. And they are partying in Kansas City tonight.

[04:40:21] KOSIK: Well, did you at least say that they are loving life at this point? The Mets are crying. There you go.

MARQUEZ: There you are.

KOSIK: End of story.

MARQUEZ: Please, the Mets are having a very tough time. This was the worst series ever for the Mets to come -- to be on top so many times and then be down.

KOSIK: Super frustrating for fans.

MARQUEZ: Absolutely.

KOSIK: All right. Are we going on to -- all right, let's go ahead and toss to a break. We'll get it together and come right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOSIK: Welcome back. Time for an EARLY START on your money.

Bad start for the stock -- for the week for stocks. Asian stocks are lower. A new survey shows China's factory activity slowed for a third month in a row. European stocks and U.S. stock futures are mostly lower as well.

A little perspective for you, though. Stocks have been on fire lately. On Friday, stocks actually closed with their best month in four years. The Dow climbed 1500 points in October. The S&P 500 shot up more than 8 percent.

Chipotle has closed dozens of restaurants in Washington and Oregon after an e. Coli scare. The source of the contamination not yet determined yet but 22 cases have been linked to six locations in the Seattle and Portland areas. Chipotle immediately closing 43 restaurants in the area just to be cautious.

[04:45:10] E. Coli infections are caused by ingesting human or animal waste. They can range from mild to life threatening.

MARQUEZ: Doesn't sound particularly fun, does it?

KOSIK: No.

MARQUEZ: No. Investigators are convinced they've located the wreckage of the cargo ship El Faro. 15,000 feet down off the coast of the Bahamas. The ship vanished one month ago during Hurricane Joaquin. 33 crew members were on board. They are lost. The big challenge now recovering the vessel's data recorder and of course any human remains that might be found down there.

We get more from CNN's Sara Ganim.

SARA GANIM, CNN INVESTIGATIONS CORRESPONDENT: Miguel and Alison, a new development in the search for El Faro. Officials believe they may have spotted it using sonar technology. They saw these images on Saturday, a ship about that size in the location where El Faro was last seen off the coast of the Bahamas.

It's resting about three miles down on the ocean floor upright and intact as far as they can tell. So now investigators of the NTSB and the U.S. Navy are going to deploy this underwater drone, this submarine with cameras to make sure with 100 percent certainty that it is the El Faro.

Of course family members of the 33 crew members who, for the last month, have been dealing with not just the loss of loved ones, but also a lack of answers are very hopeful that this will bring some much needed closure.

Barry Young is the relative of one of those crew members. He said he'd like to see the ship retrieved from the ocean floor. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARRY YOUNG, RELATIVE OF EL FARO CREWMEMBER: If they can pull it up, which I know is kind of not an easy situation with the depth there. We hope that something, if nothing else, something can bring us some closure. To have Sean brought back home. By whatever state it is. We would like to see him brought back home.

The one thing that every parent, every loved one, every family members stated that Wednesday when they said they were suspending the search, they all wanted to find their loved one. Whether they were alive or not. They wanted to have them home. That was their main objective.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GANIM: Now to be clear, the NTSB saying that they have no plans at this point to remove the ship from the ocean. But they say that if they do find human remains, that efforts will be made to bring those back home.

Now also, you know, this process of positively identifying the ship could take up to 15 days. And that's in good weather conditions. If the conditions are less than ideal, it could take longer than that -- Miguel and Alison.

MARQUEZ: So heartbreaking. Thank you, Sara Ganim.

A season after watching the Giants' World Series celebration first hand, the Kansas City Royals are living it tonight. Back on track here. They are the new world champs. We have details coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:51:53] KOSIK: And the World Series champs are the Kansas City Royals.

MARQUEZ: Wow.

KOSIK: They beat the New York Mets 7-2 in 12 innings to win the series in five games. OK, now if you missed the game, the Royals were actually down 2-0 in the ninth inning, but scored two runs to tie the game and send it into extra innings. They scored five runs in the 12th to put it away.

It's Kansas City's first World Series title since 1985 and the second in the team's history. The Mets just couldn't get it together.

MARQUEZ: They would -- yes.

KOSIK: They couldn't get it together all season.

MARQUEZ: And then be way down. It's very depressing.

KOSIK: I know. There's always next year.

MARQUEZ: The nightmare, the Halloween nightmare series. For the Mets fans, that is.

KOSIK: For Mets fans.

MARQUEZ: Now, El Nino taking shape bringing heavy rain and snow in the west to start November. Let's get to meteorologist Alison Chinchar with more -- Alison.

ALISON CHINCHAR, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, we are finally going to get some much-needed rain in parts of California. And not just rain, but also some snow. Notice as the system begins to trail in on Monday and even stretching into Tuesday. A lot of rain expected across much of the west stretching from Seattle down to San Diego and then making its way east over the next day or so.

And as I mentioned, it's not just rain, but it's also snow. This is great for not only the ski resorts, but also just help add some moisture back in. We're talking over a foot of snow in some of the higher elevations. Rain wise, again some much-needed rain into parts of California and also stretching up and down the West Coast where they've had a lot of wildfires. We're talking 2 to 4 inches in many spots. Some could even see as much 5 or 6 inches of rain.

Temperature wise, though, we're going to be a little bit below normal in some places. Including Reno, only 40, 60 -- average is actually 61. But it will be 83 for the high in Las Vegas. That's about 10 degrees above their normal.

Very warm across much of the Midwest including Chicago, they could be breaking records, Miguel, Alison, on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

KOSIK: OK. Alison, thanks for that. And some sad news. Fred Thompson is being remembered this morning from Tennessee to Washington to Hollywood. The former senator and actor died Sunday following a recurrence of lymphoma.

Thompson was first elected to fill Al Gore's Senate seat in 1994 before winning a full term. He briefly ran for president in 2008. And he appeared in several films, but he may be best known for his role on the TV show "Law & Order." Fred Thompson was 73 years old.

MARQUEZ: Very sad.

KOSIK: Yes, it is.

All right. It's officially November. That means holiday shopping is here. That's kind of fun.

MARQUEZ: What are you getting me?

KOSIK: Of course it's all about you, isn't it?

MARQUEZ: Yes, yes. Well, of course.

KOSIK: Your guide for the early deals. That's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:58:35] KOSIK: I'm Alison Kosik. Let's get an EARLY START on your money. Asian stocks are lower. A new survey shows China factory activity slowed for a third month in a row. But European stocks and U.S. stock futures, they're bouncing back from earlier losses.

A little perspective here for you. Stocks have been on fire lately. On Friday, stocks post their best month in four years. The Dow climbed 1500 points just in October. And the S&P 500 shot up more than 8 percent.

We're also watching oil prices. They're falling this morning. Down more than 1 percent at the moment. Prices have been relatively low for many, many months now. More than a year. Trading for half the price from just a year ago. And that's really been bad news for oil workers.

Chevron is the latest to slash jobs between 6,000 and 7,000 jobs gone this year. That's 11 percent of its work force. Profits have plunged 64 percent from a year ago. You look at Exxon, ConocoPhillips, many other big oil companies. They've announced thousands of job cuts. It's amazing.

Halloween is over and what could that mean? Holiday shopping is here and lots of headaches. Crowded shopping malls. And those retailers they began putting out those special promotions yesterday. Target offering free shipping and returns until Christmas. And the Target app Cartwheel is going to offer a 50 percent discount on a different toy every day. Toys 'R' Us has also launched its special deals and Wal-Mart has begun discounting products from electronics to baking essentials. And shoppers can scan products in store with their phones to add to their wish list.

I don't mean to sound like a curmudgeon. I do like shopping out there. It's just -- you know, it gets so crowded.

MARQUEZ: Right.

KOSIK: And everybody kind of gets kind of mean. MARQUEZ: Well --

(END)