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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Race for President: GOP Brawl for Votes; Can Obama Fill the Supreme Court Vacancy?; Grammys 2016: Winners & Best Moments. Aired 4- 4:30a ET
Aired February 16, 2016 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:14] ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: Republicans running for president pulling out all the stops. Jeb Bush taking his brother out on the campaign trail as competitors launch vicious new attacks on each other.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And in just hours, President Obama to address the Supreme Court vacancy, as more Republicans threaten to block anyone he nominates.
KOSIK: Breaking overnight. The Grammys honor the year's best music. The big winners and the big moments, coming up.
Good morning. And welcome to EARLY START. I'm Alison Kosik.
MARQUEZ: And I'm Miguel Marquez. It is Tuesday, February 16th, 4:00 a.m. here on the East.
This morning, the fight in the Republican Party escalating to all-out war. None of the leading candidates holding back. Marco Rubio attacking Ted Cruz and vice versa, Cruz also targeting Donald Trump. Trump lashing out at everyone -- Cruz, Rubio and Jeb Bush, as well as non-candidate George W. Bush.
The former president on the campaign trail in South Carolina ahead of the primary there in support of younger brother Jeb. It was W's first time in full-on campaign mode since Barack Obama won in 2008. He returned Trump's fire with fairly veiled barbs.
Chief political correspondent Dana Bash has the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Miguel and Alison, George W. Bush back in the political spotlight. He drew a huge crowd for his brother and also drew some pretty sharp distinctions between his brother, Jeb Bush, and Donald Trump.
Now, he never said Trump's name, but he never had to. He described the person and the persona that we have become used to see from Donald Trump, the kind of character that drawn so many supporters to him.
But the point that George W. Bush was trying to make is that Americans shouldn't go for somebody who preys on the fears and frustrations of Americans. Instead, they should go for a strong and steady hand, somebody who isn't necessarily the loudest person in the room, clearly describing his brother.
GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT: The presidency is a serious job that requires sound judgment and good ideas. And there's no doubt in my mind that Jeb Bush has the experience and character to be a great president.
(CHEERS)
BASH: But what was as interesting as George W. Bush's performance was his brother's, the fact that Jeb Bush seemed to come out of his shell. He was much more passionate, much more engaged with the audience, had more presence than he has in the eight months since he announced for president.
JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If you're tired of the politics of division, if you want someone with a proven record, solid conservative who acted on his conservative beliefs each and every day as governor, someone with 32 years of private sector experience, then you are looking at the nominee for the Republican nomination. And I can beat Hillary Clinton. I can promise you that.
(CHEERS)
BASH: So, the question now is whether or not that is going to be enough to give him momentum to come from behind in South Carolina in order to start to build his comeback that he keeps saying he's going to have -- Miguel and Alison.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOSIK: OK. Dana Bash, thanks very much.
Donald Trump on the attack, trying to upstage the Bush event with his own news conference, threatening to sue Ted Cruz over his eligibility to run if Cruz does not take down anti-Trump ads. Renewing the threat to stage a third party run in response to the boos he had received at recent debates. And now that George W. Bush is campaigning for Jeb, Trump threw on the attack on the former president over the Iraq war and 9/11.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I heard for years he kept the country safe after 9/11. What does that mean after? What about during 9/11? I was there. I lost a lot of friends that were killed in that building. The worst attack ever in this country, it was during his presidency.
Jeb Bush has spent about $20 million on negative ads that in many cases are false. But they're negative ads. His campaign in my opinion is going absolutely nowhere.
Ted Cruz is desperate. Look -- yes, I think Ted's a very unstable guy. I have never, ever met a person that lies more than Ted Cruz.
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Today, Donald Trump held a press conference where he apparently lost it. I mean, he was just going on and on about how I'm the most horrible person in the world because I keep repeating the things he said.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: Trump and Bush and Rubio, they're all holding campaign stops throughout the day today in South Carolina.
[04:05:03] John Kasich begins the morning in Michigan, but returns to the Palmetto State by evening.
And Republican candidates get to speak out on CNN this week in a unique two-night event Wednesday and Thursday at 8:00 p.m. For the very first, this campaign, all six candidates will answer questions from the voters of South Carolina in two live town halls moderated by Anderson Cooper. Ben Carson, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, they will be on Wednesday, followed by John Kasich, Jeb Bush and Donald Trump on Thursday. That's live starting at 8:00 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, right here on CNN.
MARQUEZ: Now turning to the Democrats, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are fighting for minority votes this morning. Clinton is in Harlem where she will meet with civil rights leaders, including officials of the NAACP, and give a civil rights speech this afternoon. Sanders campaigning today in South Carolina and Georgia.
Both candidates trying to make their cases to black and Latino voters while drawing distinctions between their agendas. One thing Clinton and Sanders agreed on Monday, that President Obama should be able to get his chosen replacement for Justice Scalia on the Supreme Court.
CNN's Jeff Zeleny has the latest on that from South Carolina.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Miguel and Alison, the Democratic side of this campaign is also getting rough. Hillary Clinton out making the case that Bernie Sanders is simply a single- issue candidate. She traveled across the state of Nevada on Monday telling voters that he simply is not prepared to be president, that he simply is focusing only on Wall Street, only on the economy.
Now, the Sanders campaign is pushing back saying that's what people want to hear. He says he is not a single issue candidate. He said he is focusing on health care, on climate change, on raising the minimum wage.
Now, Bernie Sanders is going to be campaigning throughout the day on Tuesday here in South Carolina, trying to make the case that he can appeal to voters beyond the narrow electorate in Iowa and New Hampshire. He is trying to show that he can appeal to African- American voters, to Hispanic voters in Nevada.
On one issue they are finding rare agreement, that is Republican obstructionism. What they are calling Republican obstruction, what they believe will be happening with the Supreme Court nominee.
Now, they both talked about that on the campaign trail on Monday.
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The president under our constitution has a right to nominate a new justice. The Senate Republicans led by Mitch McConnell have said don't think about it. I believe strongly the president has the right to nominate and the Senate has the duty to decide.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Talk about cowardice, talk about obstructionism, here you have the Constitution. It's clear as clear can be. The president of the United States nominates people to the Supreme Court.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
Republicans start hearings on his nomination, do not obstruct. Obey the Constitution.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
ZELENY: Now, Democratic voters certainly will agree with that, that they believe that President Obama should be able to fill that vacant seat on the Supreme Court. But beyond that, there is very little agreement at this moment between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. They are going to make their final push before the Nevada caucuses on Saturday and South Carolina primary a week from Saturday.
The outcome of those races are going to determine how long this Democratic fight will go on -- Miguel and Alison.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOSIK: All right. Jeff Zeleny, thanks for that.
And new details are emerging that suggest Justice Antonin Scalia may have been in declining health. A Texas county judge said Scalia's personal physician told her there was a history of heart trouble and high blood pressure and that Scalia was considered too weak to undergo surgery for a recent shoulder injury. The judge says she consulted with the doctor and investigators before concluding Scalia died of natural causes and no autopsy was necessary. Still no word on funeral details from the Scalia family.
MARQUEZ: Meantime, a supreme showdown shaping over replacing Justice Scalia on the high court. President Obama expected to address the controversy at the news conference today, while he weighs potential nominees.
Both lawmakers and presidential candidates are telling him essentially, don't bother. They say the next president should be the one to fill the Supreme Court vacancy. And then there's the impact on the key cases already before the court.
We get more from CNN justice correspondent Pamela Brown.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE REPORTER: Well, good morning, Alison and Miguel.
Justice Scalia's death certainly put President Obama and Senate Republicans on a collision course and also caused a monumental shift in the high court. The Supreme Court will continue to hear oral arguments and vote on cases, but Scalia's death changes the dynamic. Without him on the bench, the eight remaining justices could find themselves in a 4-4 split in their decision.
[04:10:03] If that happens, two scenarios could play out. Either they could decide to delay the decision until a new justice is named and the case would have to be reargued, or the 4-4 decision would mean a lower court's ruling is upheld, which could mean big losses for the Obama administration in some big cases, dozens of cases could be impacted, but particularly the immigration case and the Texas abortion case that limits access to abortion clinics in the state.
Now, the lower courts ruled against these cases. So, if there is a 4- 4 tie, no Supreme Court precedent is set, and the lower court's ruling stands -- meaning big losses for Obama, especially on his signature immigration policy. Worth noting in the affirmative action case, Justice Kagan recused herself. So, a tie would not be an issue.
In the meantime, the White House has already begun the process of picking out a nominee.
Back to you, Alison and Miguel.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOSIK: All right. Pamela Brown, thanks for that.
Time for an early start on your money. Investors are returning from a long holiday weekend to a global rally for stocks. Futures are posting big gains, with the Dow up more than 250 points in early trading, pre-market trading. Europe is pushing higher. There was a big rally in Asian markets overnight, boosting the oil market. We are seeing oil prices surging, building on big gains over the past two days.
Looking at crude oil, it's now back above $30 a barrel, crossing $31 earlier this morning. Investors are hoping OPEC and other producers will cut production in a bid to push prices higher. New reports say oil ministers from Saudi Arabia and Russia will be meeting in Qatar today. But cutting production will not likely raise prices immediately. It will likely be a more gradual trend.
The International Energy Agency predicts supply to outstrip demand by 2 million barrels this year. So, maybe our lower gas prices are still kind of safe for a while. MARQUEZ: I would hope so, because I like paying 27 cents at the pump.
KOSIK: I wish.
MARQUEZ: It's amazing. No, I was kidding.
A night for the biggest stars in music to shine. And, boy, did they ever. The 58th Grammy Awards.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)
MARQUEZ: OMG. I love her. I am going to wear that tomorrow. That sparkly jump suit. I'm in it tomorrow.
Taylor Swift won three Grammys, including one of the top awards, album of the year for "1989." Ed Sheeran was awarded song of the year for "Thinking Out Loud." Hooray. Record of the year went to "Uptown Funk." Love it.
And rapper Kendrick Lamar took home the most Grammys, winning five. So cool.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)
MARQUEZ: That is so awesome. Who does not love Lady Gaga?
This year's ceremony may be the best remembered for tributes for those who recently died. Including, Lady Gaga, of course, saluting David Bowie. The Eagles' Glenn Frey and Earth, wind and Fire's Maurice White were celebrated as well.
KOSIK: So many of the artists that I know I grew up, gosh, have died recently. It's so depressing.
MARQUEZ: This is a rough year. There was a one -- Glenn Frey, and Bowie, I mean, just devastating. They were just giants.
KOSIK: It makes me realize just how old I am.
MARQUEZ: Oh, please. You appreciate music of all generations. That's what it is.
KOSIK: There you go. Nice spin.
All right. Dozens killed as air strikes in Syria target hospitals and schools. New details on the devastation, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:17:23] KOSIK: A grim search for survivors in northern Syria after airstrikes hit two hospitals and school building Monday, killing at least 22 people. Eight others are missing and presumed dead. The group Doctors Without Borders claim the attacks on the field hospitals were deliberate. It comes just days after world powers agree to a cessation of hostilities in Syria due to take effect on Friday.
CNN's Jomana Karadsheh is monitoring developments from Amman, Jordan.
You know, Jomana, you look at the hospitals targeted. The school -- you wonder in this devastating civil war if anything is off limits.
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Alison. These attacks are drawing a lot of international condemnation with rights groups coming out and saying attacks on hospitals could amount to war crimes in this case.
And here is what we know happened yesterday. Now, in Idlib province in the north, an MSF, Doctors Without Borders hospital that they support in the area came under attack. They say it was struck several times within a span of several minutes.
They're calling this, as you mentioned, a deliberate attack. This is the fifth attack on an MSF facility in Syria since January.
Now, it is not clear who is behind the attack, but there has been a lot of blame pointed towards the Syrian regime and their Russian allies.
Now, the Syrian ambassador to Moscow coming out and blaming the U.S.- led coalition, saying it was a coalition airstrike that struck that MSF hospital. But coalition officials coming out after that saying they did not have operations or any planes in the area when the attack happened in Idlib.
Now, in Aleppo province, in the border town of Azaz, this is a border town near the border with Turkey, there is a school and housing displacing people and treating mothers and babies was also hit. Again, several people were killed and wounded in that devastating attack. Unclear who is behind it.
But the Turkish prime minister coming out and saying it was a ballistic missile fired by Russia from the Caspian Sea. We have not heard any official comment from the Russians yet in response to this.
A really complicated situation. It does seem that the violence there is escalating and as you mentioned, this coming a few days after that Munich announcement of reaching an agreement for the cessation of hostilities. Lots of doubts about that going into effect in a few days' time, as announced earlier -- Alison.
KOSIK: And that is unfortunate that that's putting that cessation of hostilities in doubt.
All right. Jomana Karadsheh, thanks so much.
[04:20:03] MARQUEZ: Now, millions from the Midwest and East Coast in the path of the severe snowstorm. What you need to know coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARQUEZ: Now, the same large winter storm system that brought snow and freezing rain to the eastern U.S. spawned three reported tornadoes in Florida and Mississippi. Officials say a twister in Florida Escambia County tore trees right out of the ground and damaged or destroyed nearly a dozen homes. Crews are conducting searches for people who may have been trapped in their homes.
KOSIK: It's crazy weather lately.
MARQUEZ: Insane.
KOSIK: Yes.
Millions of people in the path of that big winter storm today facing heavy rain, freezing rain and snow.
Let's get to meteorologist Pedram Javaheri for the latest.
Good morning.
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Alison and Miguel.
Pretty wild Monday across parts of the country. Look at this -- nearly 1,600 winter storm reports. We have over 100 severe storm reports across parts of the south, and you break this down, you look at the numbers carefully. Four states and 16 tornado reports coming down on Monday as well -- impressive for mid-February.
But you take a look -- 1,600--mile stretch of land right there, where we have severe storm still in place works the way to the south.
[04:25:01] In fact, tornado watches until 8:00 in the morning local time for places like Ft. Myers, Tampa, West Palm Beach, with some storms still have the potential for some rotation in the late morning hours. And notice, the wintry side of this still exists -- 40 million people underneath winter weather advisories as well.
But I think the heaviest snow is going to be around western New York, western portions of PA and work your way down towards eastern Ohio. Some areas certainly could get upwards of a foot or more of snowfall. But look at this incredible ride we've been across Central Park.
On Valentine's morning, 8:00 a.m., temperatures minus one. Past forward 24 hours, a balmy 18 degrees, easy for me to say. Fast forward another 24 hours, so in a 24-hour period, by this morning at 8:00 a.m., the forecast takes it up to 48 degrees. That is nearly a 50 degree rise in a matter of two days across Central Park. We'll leave you with the forecast across this region about 54.
KOSIK: And here in New York, we will take those warming temps.
MARQUEZ: Yes, even with the rain.
KOSIK: Yes, even with the rain.
An all-out brawl from the presidential campaign trail. Republicans attacking each other and pulling out all the stops for votes in South Carolina. We are breaking it all down, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) MARQUEZ: Republicans running for president pulling out all the stops as they fight for votes in South Carolina. Jeb Bush bringing his brother on the campaign trail as his competitors launch new attacks.
A showdown over the Supreme Court vacancy. The president will address the controversy in just hours as more Republicans vow to block any of Obama's nominations.
