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Obama to Push Ahead on Supreme Court; Trump's Commanding Lead in South Carolina; U.S. Blasts Russian Airstrikes in Syria; China Puts Missiles on Disputed Island Chain; Pope to Visit Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired February 17, 2016 - 04:30   ET

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

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[04:31:22] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: President Obama pushing back against Republicans, promising to nominate someone to fill the Supreme Court vacancy. A battle looming as the president weighs in on the 2016 race, lashing out at the Republican front-runner. Remarkable comments from the sitting president of the United States weighing in on this election.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Unheard of, it's amazing.

ROMANS: Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

MARQUEZ: And I'm Miguel Marquez. It is 31 minutes past the hour.

President Obama this morning keeping mum about who he might nominate to replace Antonin Scalia except to say it's someone with, quote, "an outstanding mind indisputably qualified, a White House strategy to getting someone on the high court starting to take shape with a news conference in which the president push backed on what he called Republican obstructionism.

Justice correspondent Pamela Brown has the latest from Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Christine and Miguel.

This is the first time that President Obama took questions following Justice Scalia's death and he took a tough stance, saying that the Constitution is clear, both he and the Senate have the responsibility in filling the Supreme Court vacancy. He said he expects Senate Republicans to consider any nominee he puts forward no matter what, that they have a job to do until they're voted out and he made the point that whoever he chooses will be so indisputably qualified that the Republicans will essentially look bad if they refuse to even consider that person.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're going to find somebody who has an outstanding legal mind, somebody who cares deeply about our democracy and cares about rule of law. There's not going to be any particular position on a particular issue that determines whether or not I nominate them, but I'm going to present somebody who indisputably is qualified for the seat, and any fair-minded person, even somebody who disagreed with my politics would say, would serve with honor and integrity on the court.

BROWN: He would not give any hints about who is on his short list. He said don't jump to any conclusions about whether they're moderates. We know that the White House has already started whittling down potential nominees. And, normally, this is a process that takes about a month before this president comes out and announces who his nominee is and then the ball is in the Senate's court -- Christine and Miguel.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Pamela Brown, thank you for that.

President Obama says Donald Trump is not ready or qualified to be president and the American people are too sensible to elect him president. The president slamming all the GOP candidates for their stances on climate change, on Muslims, on immigration, but calling out Trump by name as the candidate least ready for his job, criticism that Trump then wore as a badge of honor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: I continue to believe Mr. Trump will not be president, and the reason is because I have a lot of faith in the American people and I think they recognize that being president is a serious job. It's not hosting a talk show or a reality show.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He has done such a lousy job as president.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

You look at our budgets, you look at our spending. We can't beat ISIS. Obamacare is terrible. And for him to say that actually is a great compliment if you want to know the truth.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[04:35:00] ROMANS: There were big cheers when he said that.

You know, Trump support is only growing in South Carolina, holding huge leads in the CNN poll.

Our Athena Jones has the latest for us this morning from Columbia, South Carolina.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christina and Miguel.

We're closing in on primary day here in South Carolina, the first state in the south to hold a primary. And we have some new numbers out from CNN and ORC showing the state of the race.

Take a look here. You can see Donald Trump holding a big lead over everybody else, 16 points ahead of Ted Cruz who's in second place at 22 percent. Marco Rubio follows at 14 percent. Jeb Bush at 10 percent in fourth place. The rest in single digits.

Now, this poll shows Trump is seen as the candidate best able to handle the economy, immigration, and ISIS, and as the candidate having the best chance to win in November and seen as the most likely to change the way things work in Washington.

And when it comes to the evangelical vote, you know evangelicals make up the majority of the GOP primary electorate here in South Carolina, Trump leads Cruz by nearly 20 points among evangelical numbers. Those numbers are 42 percent for Trump to 23 percent for Cruz.

Now, I should tell you, our poll found that about half of likely voters say they've made up their minds, the rest are still deciding or are leaning towards a candidate. So, how are the campaigns trying to win over these persuadable voters?

Well, as for the Bush campaign, they're clearly relying a bit on his family name. We already saw President George W. Bush take the stage, campaigning for his brother here in South Carolina. Tomorrow, Barbara Bush will join her son once again on the campaign trail. We already saw her stumping for him in New Hampshire. She'll join him again tomorrow and stay with him through the primary.

Clearly, the Bush team hoping that family name will give him a boost here in South Carolina -- Christine, Miguel.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Athena, thank you. Republican candidates speak out on CNN this week. It's a unique two-night event, tonight and Thursday at 8:00 p.m. For the very first time, all six candidates will answer questions from the voters of South Carolina in two live town halls. They will be moderated by Anderson.

MARQUEZ: That is going to be illuminating.

ROMANS: Absolutely.

MARQUEZ: Interesting to watch.

With a week and a half to go until the South Carolina primary, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are fighting hard for crucial minority votes. The latest CNN/ORC poll shows Clinton maintaining a commanding 18-point lead in this state, 56 percent to 38 percent. Sanders spending precious campaign days trying to cut into Clinton's lead, stumping across South Carolina, appealing to African-American voters while Clinton spoke in Harlem proposing $125 billion for new programs fighting racial and economic inequality, and implying Sanders was a late-comer to racial issues.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: When we talk about what's going on in this country and the fact that virtually the entire nation suffered terribly as a result of the greed and recklessness and illegal behavior of Wall Street, which drove this economy into a terrible recession, the African-American community suffered more and has recovered in much less significant way.

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We have to begin by facing up to the reality of systemic racism because these are not only problems of economic inequality, these are problems of racial inequality. And we've got to say that loudly and clearly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: Now, today, Clinton will be joined in Chicago by the mother of Sandra Bland, the African-American woman found hanged in her cell jail after a routine traffic stop in Houston.

ROMANS: The U.S. reportedly had a cyberattack plan in place if the diplomatic effort to limit Iran's nuclear ambitions fell through, and led to a military conflict, that bombshell from an upcoming documentary as well as interviews with military and intelligence officials. The plan called Nitro Zeus would have disabled Iran's air defenses, communications systems and parts of its power grid. It was meant to give President Obama options to avoid all-out war, but it was put on the back-burner after the nuclear deal between Iran and six other nations was reached last summer.

MARQUEZ: Commercial airlines are getting a green light. The two countries signing a deal that will allow the daily flights to and from the island nation for first time in more than 50 years. It calls for as many as 110 daily flights to ten destinations in Cuba, with about 20 of them to Havana. U.S. airlines will now be invited to apply for operating the flights. It's amazing.

ROMANS: All right. You may hear Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz tout his flat tax plan at tonight's CNN town hall in South Carolina. He says it's so simple Americans could file their taxes on a single post card.

[04:40:02] But a dive into numbers shows the deficit would explode. The Tax Policy Center predicts the plan would $8.6 trillion to the nation's deficit over the first 10 years and at least $12 trillion over the following decade. The only way that won't happen is if huge, huge spending cuts are imposed.

Now, this tax analyst group does agree that Cruz's tax plan is simpler than current law and simpler than that of his rival candidates. It says there are elements that would benefit the U.S. economy, but without realistic spending cuts the country's deficit would increase significantly, the Tax Policy Center says, and it could disproportionately benefit wealthy Americans as they would see more tax cuts than the middle class.

MARQUEZ: The U.S. blasting Russia for increasing airstrikes in Syria, attacking schools and hospitals, just days before a proposed ceasefire. We are live with that, next.

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ROMANS: Today, vital humanitarian aid is set to reach starving civilians trapped behind the front lines in Syrian civil war. At least that's the plan. But as of yesterday, the U.N. was still negotiating permission from the Assad regime.

And just days before a proposed cessation of hostilities is set to go into effect, violence is only increasing. The airstrikes on schools and hospitals in rebel-held territory that the U.S. is blaming on Russia.

For the latest, we turn to senior international correspondent Matthew Chance live in Moscow.

[04:45:03] Still, a very dangerous and depressing situation inside Syria.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, absolutely. It seems as if the deadline approaches for the cessation of hostilities that was brokered with the help of John Kerry, U.S. secretary of state last week in Munich, the Russians are only stepping up their air campaign inside Syria, attacking opponents of Bashar al- Assad, their key Syria ally, of course, the Syrian president.

The Russian defense ministry saying that in the past week, they've carried out 444 bombing sorties of various areas against opposition groups inside Syria, more than 1,600 airstrikes carried out, doing everything they can it seems to give Bashar al-Assad as much advantage on the ground as possible for that cessation of hostilities takes hold, if it takes hold.

In terms of the situation with those hospitals, the one in Azaz and the one in Idlib, where so many people lost their lives over the past few days, the Russian position on this has been categorical denial. All the time, they say we don't target civilians, we don't kill civilians. They're employing the same strategies when it comes to these as well. They say their warplanes were nowhere near those hospitals when they struck.

ROMANS: All right. Matthew Chance, thank you so much for that this morning.

MARQUEZ: Apple is now under court order to help law enforcement recover encrypted data from the iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters, Syed Farook. A federal judge ruling on a request by prosecutors to have Apple assist in finding the passcode and access information from Farook's locked cell phone.

Syed Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik murdered 14 people in San Bernardino in December. Court documents reveal Apple declined to assist the FBI voluntarily.

ROMANS: The Food and Drug Administration issuing new guidelines to prevent the Zika virus from contaminating the nation's blood supply. It would require blood banks in areas where Zika has been transmitted like Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, to import blood rather than use local donation. Experts say it's likely the Zika virus could be transmitted through tainted blood. The FDA has recommended that certain at risk donors not donate blood for now.

MARQUEZ: Michigan Governor Rick Snyder blaming the federal government for multiple failures in responding to lead contamination in Flint's drinking water. Snyder telling reporters he hopes U.S. officials are being asked tough questions. The EPA took exception to Snyder's remarks, issuing a statement that said, state and local officials failed to work with the EPA in a transparent and proactive manner, to address the risk to the public health.

ROMANS: South Dakota lawmakers passing a controversial bathroom bill that's drawn outrage from the LGBT community. This bill requires public school students to use restrooms and other facilities based on their chromosomes and anatomy at birth. Supporters argue it is designed to protect privacy. Critics say it discriminates against transgender students. If the governor signs it, as expected, South Dakota would be the first state with such a law.

MARQUEZ: After that arctic blast, a return to warmer.

ROMANS: You need to thaw your mouth.

MARQUEZ: Yes, I got to -- and my brain.

ROMANS: You need some warm weather.

MARQUEZ: Is warmer weather on the way? That's the bottom line. Let's ask our meteorologist Pedram Javaheri.

Good morning.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Miguel and Christine, guys, yes, a warming trend definitely in store. And really, initially, it's going to be a little cold, at least seasonal we'll say for this time of year, places like Boston go from 33 today down to about 34 by tomorrow afternoon. Even New York City drops off about five degrees from today's high of 42 down to tomorrow's 37.

But long term, we look toward the weekend. It could be around 60 in Philly. Could be 60s comfortably in Washington, while New York City makes it up to 63. Even Boston manages to get up to 50 above after nine below last Sunday morning.

Long-range forecast this weekend into early to mid next week, really the entire country has the chance of being above temperatures. So, seeing those conditions looks likely but still watching showers pushing off. Light snow showers around portions of Lake Erie and Ontario this weekend.

But this weekend how about 20 above average, ten above average across parts of the Northeast. The southerly flow keeps it going. Temperatures soar into the lower little cooling by later next week. But, again, still looking to be above average, guys. ROMANS: All right. Pedram, thank you.

MARQUEZ: We like above average. I need above average I think.

ROMANS: Everyone's above average.

MARQUEZ: Here's an above average. Congratulations to a German short- haired pointer named CJ. He's America's new top dog. The competition was rough.

But CJ prevailed as the winner of the coveted best in show trophy at the Westminster kennel club dog show. More than 2,700 dogs from around the country took part in the annual events in New York City. CJ is the 3-year-old male, the third dog of his breed to take the top prize.

ROMANS: Congratulations.

MARQUEZ: What a cutie.

ROMANS: Do you think he knows he won?

MARQUEZ: He's like get me home, get me a kibble.

ROMANS: I know.

All right. The slight rebound in oil prices still hitting your wallet, but you'll save hundreds this year at the gas station. I'm going to explain when we get an early start on your money, next.

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MARQUEZ: Breaking overnight: heightened tensions in the South China Sea. U.S. military officials say China has sent surface to air missiles to an island chain in disputed territorial waters.

CNN senior international correspondent Ivan Watson is following developments from Hong Kong.

Ivan, it seems like another step from by the Chinese to anger the Americans and basically say that they won't be stopped in asserting control over these islands.

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That right. Well, the Chinese say this is purely an act of self-defense.

What you've got here is in the South China Sea, there's an archipelago of islands and reefs that are claimed by Vietnam, China, and Taiwan, and one island in particular, woody island, that's where a satellite imaging company called ISI came up with a series of photos it published.

We're going to show you. It says these are photos along one beach on the island that China has controlled for more than half a century that show the recent deployment of what appear to be surface-to-air missiles. Now, why is that important right now? That's because the South China Sea is a big tangled mess of different countries in the region that are competing for control and claims to different parts of the South China Sea -- Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines.

[04:55:03] But what's very strange here is China claims water all the way down to here, to the shores of the Philippines. And where this is really at stake right now is in an area called the Spratly Islands.

Just to give you a sense of what China is doing there, this was a reef in 2005 known as Fiery Cross. Now look what's happened after ten years of Chinese land reclamation. They've built an entire manmade island out of the ocean, put in an air strip as well.

And one of the concerns that President Obama raised with this summit with Southeastern Asian leaders was about stopping what he claims were disputed territories, particularly in these manmade islands. And what the U.S. has been doing has been sending warplanes, U.S. Navy ships into these areas to challenge China's claim that it controls these areas.

So, that's ratcheting tensions up right now. China again insisting that it is building these islands to help with fishing and to help with emergency rescue as well -- Miguel.

MARQUEZ: All right. Ivan Watson, thank you very much. That controversy is not going away any time soon. Thanks.

ROMANS: The final stop on Pope Francis's trip to Mexico may be the most dramatic. The pontiff travels to the notorious border town of Ciudad Juarez. He'll pray for migrants who died trying to cross into the United States and he'll celebrate mass today just a stone's throw away from the U.S. border.

CNN's Polo Sandoval is there with them.

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POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, there, Miguel and Christine.

There is no shortage of anticipation and also plenty of security here on the streets of Ciudad Juarez. It's a place that was once considered one of the most dangerous places in the world at the height of bloody cartel turf war. Well, now, it gets ready to welcome a pope as soon as Francis wheels down about noon Eastern Time, he'll go directly to a state prison that reflect the various changes that we've seen here on the streets of Juarez. He'll pray there with about 800 inmates before he eventually heads to meet with several local leaders.

And then ultimately the moment that we expect to be extremely symbolic is when Pope Francis head to celebrate to mass only 60 yards from the U.S./Mexico border. Many here seem to agree that most symbolic moment will actually come as he will pray at a temporary memorial to migrants that's overlooking the U.S./Mexico border. Obviously, that's deeply symbolic itself before Pope Francis then gets back on the plane and heads back to the Vatican, the people, not only here in Juarez but really throughout Mexico, hoping that he leaves behind this message of peace, this message of hope in a place that already has seen plenty of violence for so many innocent lives.

Miguel and Christine, back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Polo, thank you for that.

Let's get an early start on your money this morning. Dow futures have turned higher right now after a solid rally yesterday. You know, stocks staged the biggest two-day rally since August, on Friday and then yesterday.

Oil is up now as well. It's close 30 buck as barrel. Stock markets in Europe and Asia are mix.

For the first time in three weeks, gas prices are rising. The national average ticked up to $1.71. Still, that's 19 cents less than last month and more than a dollar less than last summer.

Don't worry. Analysts expect the national average should still stay below $2 for much of this year. The average household could save an extra $400 compared to last year because of those lower prices overall at the pump.

The man with the second biggest salary on the NFL is not even the field. It's the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Check out his paycheck, $34.1 million during the 2014/2015 season. That's down $1 million down from the previous year.

The only person in the league who earned more, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, and that's thanks to a huge signing bonus. It is steep drop. It's a pay cut from the $44 million Goodell earned the year before.

Now, we can't compare his pay to other commissioners because they don't disclose what they make. The NFL has to because they operate as, get this, a not-for-profit organization, disbursing profits to the league's 32 teams rather than keeping the money for itself. So, we get to have a peek in of the last years, I think it's something like $140 million, his pay. Unbelievable.

MARQUEZ: It's not enough. That poor man. How can he survive?

ROMANS: He's got to be on a budget.

MARQUEZ: He's got to be on a budget. Absolutely.

EARLY START continues right now.

ROMANS: President Obama defiant, promising to nominate someone to fill the Supreme Court vacancy and he has new criticism for the Republican front-runner in the race for president.

Good morning and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. MARQUEZ: And I am Miguel Marquez. It is Wednesday, February 17th.

It's 5:00 a.m. here on the East Coast.

President Obama this morning keeping mum about who he might nominate to replace Antonin Scalia, except to say it will be someone with, quote, "an outstanding legal mind, indisputably qualified to serve on the Supreme Court". The White House strategy for getting a nominee on the high court started to take shape with the news conference in which the president pushed back against what he called Republican obstructionism.

CNN justice correspondent Pamela Brown has the latest from Washington, D.C.