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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Sanders Doubles Down on "Not Qualified" Attack; Donald Trump Shifts Strategy in Fight for Delegates; John Kerry Arrives in Baghdad; Taking Back Mosul From ISIS. Aired 4-4:30a ET
Aired April 08, 2016 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:l5] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: A bitter battle for votes in New York. Late last night, Bernie Sanders doubling down on his belief that Hillary Clinton is not qualified to be president.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And Donald Trump with a new strategy to win the White House. Is the Republican frontrunner preparing for a fight for delegates at a contested convention?
ROMANS: Breaking news this morning, Secretary of State John Kerry landing in Baghdad. A key meeting on how to fight ISIS. We are live.
Good morning. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
MARQUEZ: And I am Miguel Marquez. Happy Friday to you. It is Friday, Friday, Friday. April 4th, 4:00 a.m. on the East. Not April 4th. April 8th.
ROMANS: It's all right. All I heard is Friday.
MARQUEZ: It's Friday. It's all we know.
New attacks and reaction this morning in the Democratic battle over credentials on "Late Night with Seth Myers". Bernie Sanders standing behind his putdown that Hillary Clinton is not qualified to be president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SETH MYERS, LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MYERS: You made a comment about Hillary Clinton being unqualified for the office of president. Is that something you regret saying?
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, it was said after she and her campaign said that I was unqualified.
MYERS: Well, I didn't hear her say you were unqualified. I heard her failed to say you were qualified. I didn't -- she didn't say unqualified.
SANDERS: Well, look, the issue is, you know, after we won in Wisconsin and that was our sixth victory in seven caucuses and primaries, I think the Clinton campaign has been getting a little bit nervous and I think they have been getting more negative. If people attack me and distort my record, we will respond.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUEZ: Well, that as both candidates crisscross New York today, trying to lockdown the state before its crucial April 19th primary.
Senior Washington correspondent Jeff Zeleny has the latest from the Big Apple.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Christine and Miguel, after one of the most heated days on the Democratic campaign trail, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton campaigning again today in New York. Now, Bernie Sanders questioned the qualifications again and again of Hillary Clinton to be president. He actually went there and said, because of her vote on the Iraq War, because of her positions on Wall Street, how she accepts money from Wall Street donors, she's not qualified to be president.
Now, most Democrats probably don't believe that, but it certainly fired up his supporters. But she took the high road, for the moment at least and this is how she responded.
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, it's kind of a silly thing to say, but I'm going to trust the voters of New York who know me and have voted for me three times, twice for Senate and once in the presidential primary.
Look, I didn't -- I don't know why he's saying that, but I will take Bernie Sanders over Donald Trump or Ted Cruz anytime.
ZELENY: Now, Bernie Sanders for his part saying he is simply trying to respond to what he called campaign smears from the Clinton campaign, who have planned to question his qualifications, his preparedness, his readiness to be president. He took one more shot at Hillary Clinton for all her fundraising. She flew to Ohio and Colorado to do some fundraising on Thursday and he made sure that voters knew about it.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I will not leave here this morning and go to a Wall Street fund-raiser. I will not be --
(APPLAUSE)
I will not be hustling money from the wealthy and the powerful.
ZELENY: Now, with both candidates on the campaign trail here in New York, Hillary Clinton in Rochester and Buffalo, Bernie Sanders in the city, they're doing an all-out push for the New York primary now to some 11 days away. How this race goes is going to shape how the rest of the Democratic Party goes and if the party will ever unify once this long primary race is over -- Christine and Miguel.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARQUEZ: Thanks, Jeff Zeleny.
And next Thursday night, one you don't want to miss, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders face-off in a CNN Democratic presidential debate in Brooklyn. That's April 14th, 9:00 p.m. Eastern, five days before the New York primary.
ROMANS: All right. Bill Clinton campaigning in Philadelphia for his wife took on Black Lives Matter protesters heckling him over the 1994 crime bill he signed into law as president. The protester said that bill destroyed African-American communities because it led to a surge of imprisonment of black youth.
Bill Clinton said last year that he now regrets signing the bill but on Thursday, he was defiant.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT: I heard it. Can I answer?
No, you see, here's the thing, I like protesters, but the ones that won't let you answer are afraid of the truth. That's a simple no. Be afraid. Very, very afraid.
I talked to a lot of African-American groups. They thought black lives matter. They said take this bill because our kids are being shot in the street by gangs. Because of that bill, we had a 25 year low in crime, a 33-year low rate in the murder rate.
And listen to this, because of that and the background check law, we had a 46-year low in the deaths of people by gun violence.
[04:05:09] And who do you think those lives were that matter? Whose lives were saved that matter?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUEZ: On the Republican side, the presidential contest now totally focused on the race for delegates. Donald Trump overhauling his strategy for winning the nomination, focusing on New York and upcoming mid-Atlantic primaries and dropping plans for trips to California and Colorado. Another change in plans for the Trump campaign, an expanded role for veteran Republican strategist Paul Manafort in directing delegate operations in the Trump's new Washington office.
New York will be a probing ground for the new strategy. Now, Trump adding 17 co-chairs across the state and including two members of Congress, and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani announcing he will vote for Trump, though stopping short of an actual endorsement. All this with Trump way ahead in New York polls, 27 points ahead of John Kasich, and 35 points ahead of Ted Cruz.
Trump's new delegate strategist Paul Manafort will sit down with CNN this morning during "NEW DAY's" 7:00 hour.
ROMANS: It has to be interesting.
All right. Ted Cruz says he is not intimidated by the polls, suggesting Trump will crush in New York. And he is not backing down from attack on New York values. He says everyone knows that refers to liberal Democratic values. Cruz holds no campaign events today, but will travel to Colorado this weekend where he is favored to win a majority of the 37 delegates at the state convention.
But if Cruz doesn't win the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the Republican nomination, he tells CNN's Dana Bash he has a plan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Do you have a pool of Trump delegates who've already said, "I'm with you on the second ballot"?
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We are working hard to elect our people to every delegate slot. I'll tell you, if we come to a contested convention, we will know every single delegate. We will have a relationship with every single delegate. We will have conversations with every delegate. And we're working to get our people elected to every single delegate slot.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUEZ: Now, John Kasich making it no secret that his path to the White House runs through a contested convention. Kasich arguing that once delegates are no longer bound by primary and caucus results, and able to vote their conscience, he will be their logical choice.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. JOHN KASICH (R-OH), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: So, now, we're going to go to a convention and there's going to be two things that the delegates are going to think about. This first one -- now, this one is really crazy. Can the Republicans win in the fall, OK? That's a consideration. OK?
But then there's going to be a second consideration. And the second consideration is, who could actually be president? OK, who could actually do this?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Is that Montel Williams in that video with him?
MARQUEZ: That was Montel Williams I believe. He has been behind him for some time.
Kasich holds two events today. One in Connecticut and another in Upstate New York.
ROMANS: All right. It is round three in the fight with Bernie Sanders and the CEO of General Electric over outsourcing. Now, Sanders started it when he slammed GE for taking jobs overseas after using the American economy to build its multinational business. These were comments posted by "The New York Daily News".
But the GE CEO Jeff Immelt defended -- passionately defended his business in an op-ed in "The Washington Post" writing this, quote, "GE has been in business for 124 years and we have never been a hit with socialists. We create wealth and jobs instead of just calling for them in speeches." Immelt says it build plants overseas because GE has customers in 180 countries. He said his company paid billions in taxes, while criticizing the complex tax code. They like to see a simpler tax code.
In response to that, the Sanders campaign lashed out at Immelt's multimillion dollar pay package. Sanders policy director telling CNN, quote, "If the CEO of the General Electric wants to know how his company is destroying the fabric of America, he should take a good look in the mirror.
You know, Jeff Immelt said that there's a big -- I think a jet engine factory in Vermont that has very high paying jobs. They invited Bernie Sanders to come visit the factory. They said he has never come to the job facility in his own state.
MARQUEZ: Amazing response, such a blistering response.
ROMANS: It is unusual seeing a candidate and company fighting back and forth like that, very unusual.
MARQUEZ: Yes. Well, it's unusual year, I say.
ROMANS: Isn't it?
MARQUEZ: From what I can tell.
Explosive new fallout from the Panama Papers. What the world leaders linked to the billions kept in offshore accounts are now saying. We'll have that coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:13:53] MARQUEZ: All right. We're following breaking news: Secretary of State John Kerry landing in Baghdad this morning as part of his Middle East diplomacy tour. He'll be taking part in a host of key meetings.
CNN's global affairs correspondent Elise Labott is on the phone.
Elise, who is meeting with and what will his message be?
ELISE LABOTT, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Miguel, well, primary, he will be meeting with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. Obviously, he will be meeting with President Barzani and others.
The message really is to show support for Prime Minister Abadi. You know, Iraq is really in the throes of a massive political crisis. Haider al-Abadi, the prime minister, has really been trying to root out corruption in the government. Not fast enough for some that particularly with the well-known cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who's launched protests against his government. He is battling for his job right now.
Secretary Kerry showing up in Baghdad and show support for the government, but also to keep the message on do not let this political crisis divert from the fight against ISIS. The prime minister has had to divert some resources to protect his office, to protect the capital from these massive protests.
[04:15:03] And there is a concern that this political crisis will divert all of the attention from the fight against ISIS. We have a massive move on Mosul coming up and U.S. wants to make sure that the gains the Iraqi army will be preserved -- Miguel.
MARQUEZ: That's the question. Is there anything else he is offering up as the Iraqis and some American troops move on Mosul?
LABOTT: Well, I think you will see a ramp up of U.S. military. I also think that Secretary Kerry will be addressing the bad humanitarian situation here. You can expect a little more aid for the Iraqi people while the secretary is here today. Really this is symbolic. I think you will not see massive announcements of military aid. The Pentagon has been talking about some more things they can do. I really this is a political show of support by the secretary of state at a critical time.
MARQUEZ: We look forward to hearing how those meetings go.
Elise Labott for us with the Secretary of State John Kerry in Baghdad -- thank you
ROMANS: The explosive leak of the Panama Papers is shaking up leaders around the world.
In Russia, Vladimir Putin is calling the revelations about shell companies and tax havens and American plot to destabilize his country. The Panama Papers indicate some of Putin's closest associates moved $2 billion offshore accounts.
Also caught up in this widening scandal, British Prime Minister David Cameron, he now admits profiting from an offshore trusts established by his father after first calling the issue a, quote, "private matter".
Leaders in Iceland named a new prime minister and calling for early elections. Former Prime Minister Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson resigning under fire after the Panama Papers linked him to an offshore account.
And in Argentina, federal prosecutors are calling for an investigation of President Mauricio Macri after he was implicated in the document leak. He denies any wrongdoing and says he has nothing to hide.
The law firm behind the Panama Papers says everything was legal but there are questions about the fallout around the world.
MARQUEZ: Huge fallout and I think we're only seeing the tip of that iceberg of fallout.
Now the latest on the religious freedom laws in the south. Mayor of Charlotte calling the North Carolina law discriminatory and harmful to the economy. The law requires transgender people to use bathrooms that match their birth certificates, not the way they identify. So far, more than 130 business leaders calling for repeal.
And South Carolina's governor is speaking out against a similar bill just introduced yesterday. Nikki Halley says there had been no incidents or complaints suggesting a law such as this is needed.
ROMANS: Tennessee, the latest Republican-led state, pushing for a new religious freedom law. A bill that could soon land on the governor's desk would shield therapists who deny services to clients based on the therapists' beliefs.
For the latest on that proposal, let's go to CNN's Nick Valencia. He's in Nashville.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miguel and Christine, the so- called therapists rights bill here in the state of Tennessee is intended to protect marriage counselors from being sued for discrimination for refusing gay or transgender people. Of course, critics to this legislation say that it is the latest in the string of states to try to pass anti-LGBT legislation. From Georgia to North Carolina to Mississippi and beyond, the common thread of supporters in the states is they believe Christian morals and values are under attack in the country. They believe this legislation is necessary to protect the morals and values.
Of course, the critics say that this is plain and simple discrimination. Here in Tennessee, the bill is currently at the House. It will then move on to the Senate where late next week, it's expected to get to the governor's desk. From that point, he'll have ten days to decide if he will sign the bill into law -- Miguel, Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARQUEZ: Thanks to Nick Valencia.
It is the end of a TV phenomena. Are you ready? Can you take this?
ROMANS: I can't. I --
MARQUEZ: "American Idol" ending its 15-year run with the final winner, major surprises and even a cameo by President Obama. He kicked off the finale by saying fittingly, this show transformed television and inspired young artists. Original judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson reunited. That was beautiful.
As you'd expect, there were spectacular performances, current judge Jennifer Lopez debuted a new song and fellow judge Keith Urban performed a duet with "Idol" winner Carrie Underwood. And, of course, as for who won, spoiler alert here, Trent Harmon beat La'Porsha Renae to become the "Idol" ever.
ROMANS: End of an era, I will say, though, if you got runner up, sometimes those people did better.
MARQUEZ: They always did better. Yes, they did.
ROMANS: Right. So, congratulations to both of them.
MARQUEZ: I'm sure they will do just fine.
New video of the Brussels airport bomber on the run. What investigators revealing about the terrorists coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:24:29] MARQUEZ: Brussels police releasing new images of a third suspected airport bomber walking calmly from the scene of the crime. Take a look, authorities are asking for the public's help in identifying him. They believe the suspect left a bomb at the airport before escaping amid all the chaos.
Police are confident he is the same man seen in the images inside the terminal moments before the bombing.
ROMANS: Happening now: U.S. and coalition troops preparing Iraqi forces for a critical offensive to retake Mosul from ISIS.
[04:25:01] The terrorists control this strategically critical city. But Iraqi fighters are now gaining territory, recapturing several villages and towns near Mosul in recent weeks. U.S. military officials admitting the next step will be not easy.
CNN's Arwa Damon is tracking this latest development for us. She is live from Irbil, Iraq, right now.
And for months, they've been talking about how they're going to retake Mosul. Where are we now?
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you said there, it's not going to be easy. And we're already seeing just how difficult it potentially could be and challenging to the Iraqi security forces because the operation has come to something of a pause.
The last village they tried to take over started out in what seemed to be a fairly successful offensive. They were backed by coalition air strikes.
But despite the fact they had significant U.S. support and managed to clear over half of this village from ISIS fighters, there was then some battlefield confusion that unfolded, and the Iraqis inadvertently retreated. ISIS then moved back in and we are hearing from top Iraqi commanders they are waiting for reinforcements to arrive before they attempt to push any further.
But caught up in all of this, Christine, is the civilian population. We met some villagers who from the areas that the Iraqi security forces managed to already clear, and they were telling us that ISIS kept them as human shields. They say that ISIS fighters gathered them into homes at the center of the village and would not let them leave as the Iraqi army was advancing.
And at least two families that we spoke to had loved ones die in the crossfire, die in the clashes that did end up breaking out.
Also of great concern, especially to the U.S., is the possible collapse of the Mosul dam. It is considered to be one of the most dangerous dams in the world and it was built back in the 1980s on a very soft foundation called the gypsum rock. This means there needs to be a 24-hour process that happens underneath the dam that's constantly pumping concrete into the soil to try to ensure that the dam does not entirely collapse. This is a process that was halted when ISIS took over the dam some two years ago.
And even though it's been going on, again, the U.S. is very concerned about the actual foundation of the Mosul dam, issuing a stark warning, telling people should the dam collapse, they need to immediately have an evacuation plan.
Now, the Iraqis are saying that the damage won't be that bad, but the U.S. says that 1.5 million people's lives could be at risk. If the dam were to collapse, the city of Mosul would be flooding with flooding stretching down to Baghdad. So, a number of challenges here on multiple fronts, Christine.
ROMANS: I'll say.
All right. Thanks for that. Arwa Damon for us in Irbil this morning.
MARQUEZ: Bernie Sanders late last night doubling down on calling Hillary Clinton not qualified to be president. The battle for votes in New York gets uglier next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
