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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Trump's Lead Over Cruz Shaved To Four Points; Hillary Responds To Trump Vulgarity; New Criteria For Next GOP Debate; Iraq Forces Battle To Retake Ramadi; Suspect In Deadly Vegas Crash To Appear In Court; Chinese Landslide Survivor Rescued; Terrorists Ambush Kenyan Muslims And Christians. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired December 23, 2015 - 05:30   ET

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

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BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Boris Sanchez.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Christine Romans. It's 31 minutes past the hour. Let's begin with the tightening lead in the Republican presidential race, Donald Trump now just four points ahead of Ted Cruz in the latest poll. Good reason for Cruz to agree with Trump's recent statement.

That the Republican contest is turning into a two-man race. Marco Rubio is now polling third. It's also a matchup that Cruz says, it's, quote, "a good choice to the American people."

CNN's Sunlen Serfaty has the very latest from the Cruz campaign for us.

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Boris and Christine, Ted Cruz feeling some momentum coming from this new national poll showing that he is chipping away at Donald Trump's dominance. Trump is still in the lead, but his lead over ted Cruz is getting smaller.

This Quinnipiac poll showing that Cruz has gained 8 points in the past four weeks and is now within striking distance of Donald Trump, meaning, basically, that the two are now the clear frontrunners.

Now Ted Cruz here in Tennessee says that this brings him encouragement and made this interesting prediction on where he sees the race going.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SENATOR TED CRUZ (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I did think it was interesting. Donald said a couple days ago that he thought the Republican race could come down to him and me. I think he may well be right.

If you look at the polling numbers, we are surging in the polls. Donald may well be right this is turning more and more into a two-man race between Donald Trump and me. I think if that's the case, the decision will be made by the voters.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERFATY: Today in Oklahoma City, Ted Cruz will wrap up his week-long tour of states that vote in early March. This has been a core part of the Cruz campaign's strategy that focused on the long haul. It's right now all about looking ahead -- Christine and Boris.

SANCHEZ: All right, Sunlen, thank you. Hillary Clinton responding indirectly to Donald Trump's harsh comments about her saying no one should be able to bully his way into the oval office. Her remark came at a town hall in Iowa, where a 10-year-old girl suffers from asthma asked Clinton about what she would do about bullying.

Clinton responded that bullying is more widespread now with social media and that she, herself, has faced more than her share of it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We need more love and kindness in our country. I think we are not treating each other with the respect and the care that we should slow towards each other. And that's why it's important to stand up to bullies wherever they are and why we shouldn't let anybody bully his way into the presidency because that is not who we are as Americans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Trump, meantime, defended his controversial description of Clinton's 2008 primary loss to President Obama in a tweet he wrote, quote, "Once again the main stream media is dishonest. The word is not vulgar. When I said it, that meant beaten badly."

ROMANS: All right, even with the holidays near, it was a busy day in politics, helping us to break it all down this morning, CNN politics reporter, Eric Bradner. Good morning.

Hillary Clinton was there. I think she closed out in (inaudible), that was the plan. Sometime the other day she sat down with the "Des Moines Register."

She said she is not going to take the bait. She is not surprised to use those comments, but she's not going to take the bait. Do we have sound for saying that? Let's listen, play that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLINTON: So nothing really surprises me anymore. I don't know that he has any boundaries at all and his bigotry, bluster, bullying have become his campaign, and he has to keep upping the stakes and going even further.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: So that's in her own words. We knew yesterday her campaign issued a response.

[05:35:08]So does this end now or does this thing keep brewing over the next couple of days when these candidates go home for the holidays?

ERIC BRADNER, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: It's an interesting insight into Hillary Clinton's strategy, right? She's not responding to these personal attacks. She is not getting bogged down by them. We saw the same thing last week when at the Democratic debate she would not really weigh in, wouldn't really talk about the whole data breach issue with Bernie Sanders and the DNC.

When Donald Trump is attacker her individually, she sort of taking a pass on it whereas when Trump is attacking Muslims or immigrants or anything along those lines, she's making a point of hitting him as hard as she can.

So it shows she is trying to stay focused on these policy issues, on issues that resonate with a lot of people rather than making it about her.

BORIS: All right. I want to ask about changes to the debate planned for January 14th. Fox Business Channel saying they will change the format of the debate to kind of add more candidates to the undercard and tighten the amount of candidates on the main stage.

Right now, predictions from real clear politics and political break it down this way, on the main stage, Trump, Cruz, Rubio, Ben Carson, Bush and Chris Christie. On the under card stage, Senator Paul, Governor Kasich, Carly Fiorina, former Governor Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, as well as former New York Governor George Pataki.

Who does this benefit? I get the feeling this might help someone like Chris Christie, who is kind of been off to the side, hasn't had as he would like in the debates. He probably will get more air time now.

ROMANS: Jeb Bush is only polling at three or four percent.

BRADNER: Ted Cruz is a really good debater, but this helps the candidates like Chris Christie is the first name that comes to mind. Jeb Bush, perhaps even Marco Rubio, candidates that will have more opportunities to answer questions and talk policy.

And sort of get into their comfort zone in a way they haven't been able to do it up to 10 candidates on the stage especially when there's been, you know, they have about 8 minutes to talk, trying to take a great shot at Donald Trump or at one of the frontrunners.

ROMANS: Right.

BRADNER: So this gives somebody like Chris Christie, who has a lot of talent, whose plain spokenness and comfort with talking about foreign policy with terrorism is really showing. It gives him more opportunity.

So it's great news for those candidates. It definitely hurts the people who didn't make the cuts, right. They are getting bumps down and they are losing talking time so --

ROMANS: You know, the talking points today -- I guess, the line today is that this is becoming a two-man race on the Republican side. You got Ted Cruz moving up the ranks here Donald Trump, 28 percent, Ted Cruz, 24 percent. Marco Rubio and Ben Carson are in double digits, Governor Christie 6 percent and Jeb Bush at 4 percent.

Is this a two-man race now do you think or could that January 14th debate shake it up again?

BRADNER: We are definitely entering the winnowing process, that debate will be a part of it. The New Hampshire primary is the biggest part of it. At some point we will see these establishment candidates who are polling in the high single digits. We will see a few leave the race.

Then a question for someone like a Marco Rubio or perhaps Jeb Bush or Chris Christie can win the New Hampshire primary or perform really well there and sort of consolidate all of the establishment support, the more moderate Republican support behind one candidacy.

If that happens, then, no, it's probably not a two-man race, but right now there is no doubt it's being dominated in Iowa by Ted Cruz and actually by Donald Trump. These two are way ahead in the polls.

BORIS: Alright, Eric Bradner, we appreciate the insight.

BRADNER: Thanks.

BORIS: Happening now, U.S. commandos are in Northern Syria working against ISIS. CNN has learned a small contingent of special operation troops are there advising local fighters. U.S. officials are declining to say exactly how many or where they are for strategic reasons, but this contingent is among up to 50 special operations forces the president has approved to advice ISIS fighters.

ROMANS: To Ramadi now, battles are raging this morning in the key Iraq city of Ramadi. Iraqi forces fighting to retake that capital of Anbar Province from ISIS. Now ISIS fighters capture this city in May. It was a key propaganda victory. It was a strategic foothold for ISIS now just 70 miles from Baghdad.

CNN's Robyn Kriel following developments for us in London. Robyn, what is the very latest?

[05:40:02]ROBYN KRIEL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: In terms of casualties, Christine, we are hearing from Iraqi defense officials that 20 ISIS militants were killed in the fighting yesterday. We are not sure about casualties on the Iraqi side. We have not confirmed that yet.

What we can also tell you is that 250 to 300 ISIS fighters remain in Ramadi City when this onslaught began. Many of them would have filtered out quietly with the population.

Many of the population were asked to leave by the international coalition and Iraqi forces just days before this onslaught began. Leaflets were dropped warning them this operation was going to be in the coming days. This is a very slow moving operation, Christine. It's not being moved very quickly and the reason for that is because ISIS did not allow all the civilians to leave.

We understand from U.S. defense officials that they do have up to 10,000 civilians. That they have forced to stay in the city to use as human shields.

Now part of the reason this is going slowly is because obviously, they want to minimize civilian casualties although we have been told that collateral damage in this case is very likely just given because there is such a tight space that they are fighting.

It's also moving slowly, Christine, because of the risks of things like sniper fire and suicide bombers.

ROMANS: Experts say don't expect to swift this victory and then moving on, you know, this changing tactics of ISIS almost acting more like an insurgency slipping away and coming back that it could be a long battle there. Robyn Kriel in London following that for us, the battle for Ramadi, thank you.

BORIS: We have new information about the woman accused of driving into a crowd of pedestrians on the Las Vegas strip as she gets ready to face the judge next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BORIS: The 24-year-old woman suspected of intentionally ramming her car into a crowd of pedestrians on the Las Vegas strip will face a judge today. Lakeisha Holloway charged with killing a young mom from Arizona and injuring more than 30 others. CNN correspondent, Stephanie Elam, has the very latest.

[05:45:11]STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine and Boris. The woman who police say intentionally plowed her car into a packed sidewalk on the Las Vegas strip Sunday evening killing one person and injuring more than 30 others is now facing three felony charges.

Those charges include one count of murder with a deadly weapon, one count of child abuse, neglect, or endangerment because her 3-year-old daughter was in the back seat of her car during the incident, and one count of leaving the scene of an accident.

We are also learning more about the woman who we have known as Lakeisha Holloway. She legally changed her name in October to Paris Paradise Morton.

It's not clear yet why the police are charging her under her former name instead of her current name, but we do know that she is expected to make her first court appearance later this morning. We understand that some of her family members are expected to attend -- Christine and Boris.

ROMANS: Stephanie Elam in Las Vegas for us this morning. Now we're getting our first look at the visa application allowing the female San Bernardino shooter access to the U.S. Now this 21-page document filled out by the gunman, Syed Rizwan Farook, gave no hint of violent jihad.

On the application, the U.S. citizen born in Chicago he claimed that he and his fiance met in person in Saudi Arabia after chatting online.

House Republicans are questioning whether red flags were missed on this application. They point to passport stamp dates that cast doubt on whether it was even possible that Farook and Malik actually did meet in Saudi Arabia and meeting in person is a requirement for getting that visa.

BORIS: Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl entered no plea during his arraignment Tuesday. The 29-year-old also didn't indicate a preference for a jury or a bench trial. He is facing two serious charges for deserting his base in 2009.

Bergdahl was held by the Taliban for five years, released last year in a controversial swap for five Guantanamo Bay detainees. His next hearing is set for January 12th.

Kentucky's new governor, Matt Bevin, ordering clerks' names be removed from all marriage licenses. The action comes following the controversy involving Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, who was jailed after she refused to issue licenses to gay couples.

But officials with the ACLU say Bevin's actions further complicate things because state law requires clerk's names on licenses.

ROMANS: All right, time for an EARLY START on your money in this very short trading week. Markets are mostly higher around the world, Asians shares closed lower, but European markets are higher so are U.S. stock futures.

Yesterday the Dow gained 156 points. Eight straight days of triple digit moves for the Dow. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq also climbed about 1 percent.

The key to this rally in stocks now is oil prices and an increased stability in oil prices. Crude oil about $36.56 a barrel right now. Energy has been the worst performer in the S&P 500 this year.

Stocks are still lower for the year. Here is the damage report. The Dow is down 2.3 percent putting it on track for its first negative year since 2008.

BORIS: Let's take a look at what's coming up on "NEW DAY." Alisyn Camerota joining us now. Good morning, Alisyn.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR, "NEW DAY": Good morning, guys. Look what I have here.

ROMANS: What is that?

CAMEROTA: Some brand new poll numbers, but they won't be released for 12 more minutes. So we'll show you those at the top of the hour. They do show the new state of the GOP field. Guess who's on top this time? I can't tell you.

We will break down the numbers and speak with GOP candidate, Mike Huckabee about his place in the race and these new numbers.

Also, there is a battle under way in Ramadi as we speak. The Iraqis are in the middle of an offensive to reclaim that city. What is the U.S. role in this effort? We will go live to Baghdad to get some answers. So we'll see you there.

ROMANS: You are a bad poll elf. Look at you. That means we'll tune in, thank you. How does more time off with your screaming cranking baby sound? An EARLY START on your money next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:52:23]

ROMANS: The heroic efforts of thousands of rescue workers digging at a deadly landslide in Shenzhen, China, those efforts rewarded with the discovery finally of a survivor buried under tons of earth and debris.

The 19-year-old was trapped beneath the rubble for more than 60 hours. He was badly weakened. He was dehydrated, but he is alive.

For the very latest, let's bring in CNN's Matt Rivers. He has been following this saga for three days now as this man made pile of dirt and junk basically swallowed up some of these buildings. What's the latest?

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's absolutely right, Christine, the latest is actually some good news in the fact that this 19-year- old man was found very improbably when you -- given the amount of time that he was buried for and the sheer size of this area, some 380,000 square meters that need to be searched.

The 19-year-old was inside of these buildings that got damaged and when it toppled over, he landed luckily in an air pocket. Beyond that, state media also reporting here in China that he was in an air pocket where there was some snacks that somehow managed to fall next to him.

He survived on those for several days and when rescuers got close enough, he used a piece of metal to strike a rock to alert them to the fact that he was alive. Several hours later, he was sprawled out and taken to the hospital in stable condition.

ROMANS: It is a rare glimmer of hope in what has been a very bleak few days. It shines a light, Matt, on some serious problems in China's vast economic growth. This landslide happened basically because construction garbage was piling up and piling up and piling up. This is another man-made disaster. What's the latest on the investigation into how this landslide happened?

RIVERS: Well, China consistently feels a human cost for its economic development over the last several decades. This being the latest example of that, all of the development that's gone on, construction sites has to go somewhere.

As for the investigation, we are told according to state media, rather, that a senior management official within the company that was responsible for that pile of waste has been detained by police. No word on any charges pending. Chinese officials are usually very quick to find someone to point the finger act -- Christine.

ROMANS: The question is that swift justice too late, is it a deterrent because we have seen these episodes again and again? Matt Rivers, thank you so much for that.

BORIS: We are learning more this morning about an awe inspiring act of courage in Eastern Africa where Kenyan Muslims put their lives on the line for Christians traveling with them when their bus was ambushed by Al-Shabaab terrorists.

[05:55:12]CNN's David McKenzie joins us now live with the details of this amazing story. David, their actions, their showing of solidarity with the Christians going directly against what these terrorists want, which is to sow divisions amongst the religious groups there.

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Boris, good morning. That statement putting their lives on the line couldn't be true because these are Christians and Muslims on that bus rarely face the death when Al-Shaabab, an al Qaeda-linked group had scores of gunmen ready to ambush them, here's one survivor.

(VIDEO CLIP)

MCKENZIE: Certainly another survivor we spoke to said it was the quick actions of mostly women on board. They took hijab head scarfs and gave them to Christian women piled under luggage packed with more than 100 people.

Two buses have been consolidated into one because a bus had broken down. The gunmen were told, you kill us, you kill us all, and eventually they gave up and fled. Certainly it's been praised in Kenya and around the world as an inspiring example of selfless bravery -- Boris.

BORIS: A very inspiring moment. David McKenzie from Johannesburg, thank you.

ROMANS: All right, 57 minutes past the hour. Let's get an EARLY START on your money. Can stocks make a turn around by the end of the year? Well, stock futures slightly higher. Yesterday the Dow gained 156 points. It has been eight straight days of triple digit moves for the Dow, up or down.

It's now down 2.3 percent for the year putting it on track for the first negative year since 2008. The key to the recent rally in stocks is oil. Increased in oil prices or stability in oil prices. Crude oil right now above $36.56 a barrel. It is a record breaking year for Starbucks. The coffee company expects to sell more gift cards than ever before. Last year, Starbucks sold, get this, Boris, 1,700 gift cards every minute on Christmas Eve. That's the place to go if you have not gotten a gift for someone.

One in every seven adults got one of these Starbucks gift cards as a gift. Gift card are actually the most requested gift this year according to National Retail Federation.

New York City upping its parental leave policy for its non-union workers. Here's a gift for the holidays, stay home with your screaming kids, starting next year, new parents will get six weeks of fully paid leave. They can combine it with sick days and vacation time for a maximum of 12 weeks.

Portland, San Francisco, and Cincinnati expanded their parental leave for city workers. Seattle and Washington, D.C. are considering proposals as well. This has been sort of sweeping through techland and places that are trying to keep their high talents. Now a lot of municipalities are doing it, too.

BORIS: You mentioned earlier some retail outlets are not exactly doing the same.

ROMANS: You hear a lot of low wage workers don't have some of those protection so that is still something that is a problem. The U.S. still does not have a national policy on paid leave.

BORIS: Moving on, though, brand new poll numbers that Alisyn showed us, we will get a look. Who is on top now? "NEW DAY" starts now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SENATOR TED CRUZ (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Donald Trump may be right this is turning more and more into a two-man race between Donald Trump and me.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: She is playing the woman card up. That's all she has.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We shouldn't bully his way into the presidency.

JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: She's great at being the victim.

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: That is not who we are as Americans.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Iraqi city of Ramadi.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On the move to take back the city center from ISIS, seven months after they ran away from the fight.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a big test. They haven't passed even part one yet. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Major security breach at New York's JFK Airport.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He climbed a fence and walked across two intersecting runways before anyone spotted him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's more disconcerting to me is that the person was able to get away.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: The beat of the jungle drums can only mean one thing. Good morning. Welcome to your NEW DAY. It is Wednesday, December 23rd, 6:00 in the east. Mich is off.

We do have new CNN polling out just this morning. It makes one point loud and clear, Santa is only going to be nice to Donald Trump. Everyone else in the Republican field gets cold. Trump leads in the national poll with 39 percent --