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Clinton Plunging In Polls; NYC Mayor, NYPD Apologize To Former Tennis Star; Did Police Use Excessive Force In Blake Incident?; NFL Season Kicks Off, Patriots Beat Steelers; Governor Pushes For $15 Minimum Wage For New York. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired September 11, 2015 - 07:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:31:10] ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Donald Trump still on top in Iowa. There's a new poll that shows Trump with 27 percent support among Republicans, but Ben Carson is nipping at his heels. The poll shows a major decline, though, for Scott Walker. He led Iowa in July, now he's polling 3 percent. Meanwhile, the stage officially set for next week's CNN GOP debate with Carly Fiorina joining the primetime festivities.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton's lead in the polls quickly slipping away. The latest CNN/ORC poll has her just 10 points ahead of Bernie Sanders and in head to head matchups with the top Republican rivals.

She now trails Dr. Ben Carson by 5 points and is tied with Donald Trump and Jeb Bush. Potential Democratic rival, Joe Biden, casting doubts on his own readiness to run following the death of his son telling Stephen Colbert, quote, "I would be lying if I said that I knew I was there."

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: The wife of a killed hostage, Warren Weinstein, says she is horrified by a "Washington Post" report that says the CIA identified a western hostage they believe may have been Weinstein, but failed to keep him under surveillance.

The 73-year-old Weinstein was killed in the U.S. strike on an al Qaeda compound in January. His wife says the family feels deceived and can't imagine any justification for the CIA not trying to rescue or at least track a hostage once located. U.S. officials emphasized it is still unclear if it was Weinstein they initially spotted.

PEREIRA: Two apologies now for former tennis pro, James Blake, after he was roughed up by a New York police in a case of mistaken identity. Apologies coming from New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton and also from the mayor of New York, Bill De Blasio.

There are lingering questions about whether race or whether excessive force was involved in this incident. Joining us to discuss, CNN law enforcement analyst and retired NYPD detective, Harry Houck, and CNN political commentator and op-ed columnist for "The New York Times," Charles Blow. Gentlemen, a lot to get to so let's try to chip away if we can. Harry, first of all, from what we know, and I know we don't know everything about what happened here. That is important to say. Was protocol follows here? What that kind of force the right amount of force for this non-violent arrest?

HARRY HOUCK, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Based on what Mr. Blake has said and he seems credible and very level headed, he believed the police officer that came and tackled him was unwarranted. We have to wait to see the video.

PEREIRA: What is the protocol? Do you say, halt, NYPD, put your hands up?

HOUCK: What I would do is make sure that you are safe. Make sure that nobody takes you out, all right? To go up to him and talk to him that's what I would have done. Then find out what the information was.

I would probably go up, excuse me sir, you are under arrest, put your hands behind your back. Mr. Blake said he did not identify himself as a police officer and this man instantly tackled him.

PEREIRA: Four others did.

[07:35:01] HOUCK: Exactly. I'm looking at this saying, OK, all I want now is to hear the officer's side of the story and see the video, and then we'll be able to find out.

PEREIRA: We'll talk about the video in a second. Charles, we know that the officer has been placed on modified duty right now. We are hearing that they think this is unwarranted, even though we learned from "The Daily News," this officer, only on the job four years had several accusations of excessive force and failing to identify himself as police officer. Was modified duty enough? Are you OK with that?

CHARLES BLOW, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: It's not whether I'm OK with anything. I think the modified duty, what they do is protocol when you are investigating. That's what they are going to do. I think the bigger question is whether or not there's appropriate use of force in this particular case and if there's a pattern that any officer exhibits of excessive use of force if this is excessive use of force.

PEREIRA: If it is, is this a training issue?

HOUCK: Yes, I think it's a training issue here. Do I think the officer should be fired? That's up to the police commissioner. This guy has a pattern of using excessive force and has been found guilty and this is something they definitely look at.

PEREIRA: Here is one question that a lot of people are discussing because Bill Bratton came on the air and said this has nothing to do with race. There is no way it has anything to do with race. Your thoughts on that?

BLOW: That's always a problem. When people categorically rule out or rule in race as a factor in anything. At best, you are guessing or at best, it's a hypothesis or educated guess. Maybe it's based on your experiences, for and against.

But that's just a guess, you cannot crawl into someone's head unless they articulate in words that race is playing a part, you can't say. Even if you could crawl into someone's head and they are thinking they are doing the right thing.

We understand about bias that you can think you are doing the right thing and bias can still be operational. When they do test for bias, they do it as a speed test. Answer the questions, do the activity before you can think.

PEREIRA: James Blake himself has told "The Daily News" that in his mind, that race probably was a factor. It's more than that. To him, it's about the use of force here.

HOUCK: He said he doesn't believe race was a factor.

PEREIRA: He's been speaking outwardly since his appearance.

HOUCH: So he's changed his whole attitude here all of a sudden. On GMA, it's not a race issue and now it's a race issue.

PEREIRA: I don't know that he's changing it all of a sudden. To the video, do you think we are going to see it?

HOUCK: Yes, we are going to see it. The NYPD always release video. Once the investigation is finished, we are going to be able to see the video.

PEREIRA: All right, Gentlemen, thanks so much for joining us. Charles Blow, Harry Houck. Tonight, you are going to hear from James Blake himself, "AC360," tune in at 8 p.m. Eastern -- Chris.

CUOMO: Tom Brady back on the field after deflate-gate. He hasn't said a lot about the scandal. Did something else happen last night that you need to know about? Yes.

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[07:42:25]

CUOMO: One-0, that's how defending Super Bowl champs, the New England Patriots are starting out this season after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers, 28-21. Victory comes a week after a judge threw out quarterback, Tom Brady's four-game suspension over deflategate.

Here to weigh in CNN Sports anchor, Rachel Nichols, tell us you spoke to the man himself. How did you see the game and the intrigue that happened during the game?

CAMEROTA: He's excited.

RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: It's all good stuff, Chris. Look, it was raining last night, but I could tell you it did nothing to dampen the celebration. This was a party. It was essentially a party to celebrate the Super Bowl win. There were fireworks ahead of time. They unveiled the Super Bowl banner.

But it really felt like a victory party for Tom Brady's suspension being lifted. Here is some evidence of that for you. The lawyer who got Tom Brady off was walking around the stadium before the game started.

Not only did fans recognize him, they started chanting his name, Jeffrey Kessler, when he's getting some of the biggest cheers of the night, you have a feeling for the mood. Yes, the game went pretty well for them too. Here is what Tom Brady had to say afterward.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM BRADY, QUARTERBACK, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: It was a special night. I was excited. Our whole team was excited. We haven't had one of these games in a long time. It's always fun to be out there and get the opportunity to play. We took advantage of it. It was a good win.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NICHOLS: Now, Tom Brady of course not only got to be in the building last night, got to play. Roger Goodell, the man who initially suspended him for four games, well, he wasn't there last night.

Chris, it was his first time as commissioner he decided to skip the season opener. He said he didn't want to be a distraction. I don't know. The crowd wasn't so happy with that. They started chanting "where is Roger" at the end of the second. His absence was duly noted.

CUOMO: I'm sure they would have been warm and embracing had he been there. This is not between the two moments of perfection. You do not have John Berman. I am not going to ignore what else happened when all the Pittsburgh coaches, the Steeler coaches were like, what's going on in my headset right now? Why am I hearing the Patriot radio call of the game and not my coaches? Tell us about it.

NICHOLS: Yes, well, the coaches as you know, have headsets during the game. They talk to each other. They talk up into the booth to other coaches.

[07:45:06] They would like to hear each other talk. Instead what the Pittsburgh coaches said they heard for large parts of the first half was a loud bleed of the Patriots radio broadcast. They talked to the NFL officials about it.

NFL policy is to shut down the other team's headsets while they fix the problem, so they did that. The Patriots were shut down for a while. They said fixed the problem. They put them online and they were OK for the second half.

I want to read you a statement from the NFL. The NFL said that "The Pittsburgh coaches experienced interference in their headsets caused by a stadium power infrastructure issue, which has exacerbated by inclement weather."

Once the power issue was addressed, the NFL said, "The equipment functioned properly with no additional issues. Now the NFL has an explanation. The Pittsburgh coach, Mike Tomlin, did not seem satisfied by that.

Chris, after the game, he was terse, is the adjective I'm going to use. When asked about the headset issues, he says this always happens here.

It would be interesting to note last week "Sports Illustrated" had an extensive story about other teams complaining about the issues they have here at this stadium. The NFL, I just want to point out, the NFL does control the headsets. The Patriots don't control the headsets. The NFL controls the headsets.

CUOMO: The NFL just doesn't control them well frequently in this one stadium?

PEREIRA: This one specific arena, interesting. We all hear the wrong voices in our head.

CUOMO: Sometimes Berman gets piped into my IOP and he makes me say crazy things.

PEREIRA: Is that what it is?

CUOMO: That's what it is.

CAMEROTA: Thanks, Rachel. Thanks so much.

Moving on, fastfood workers in New York will get a pay raise, but not everyone is happy about it. We'll explain.

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[07:51:10]

PEREIRA: All right, time for CNN money now, chief business correspondent, Christine Romans, in the money center. I understand Wall Street keeping its eye on a few deadlines. What's happening here?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: It's Friday. There's a wait and see mode on Wall Street. Two big reasons, one next week's fed meeting when the fed decides to raise interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade.

That will affect everyone and its debt ceiling time once again. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew pushing Congress to raise the debt limit, he sent a letter to Congress yesterday urging Congress to take action saying the U.S. will be in danger of defaulting in late October.

Fastfood workers in New York will get their $15 minimum wage and Governor Andrew Cuomo will now push the state legislature to adopt that higher wage for all New Yorkers. It would be the first day to do that.

Here he is with the vice president who wants the federal minimum wage to rise too. Restaurant owners are not happy with that increase. They say it will lead to higher menu prices, fewer hours for current workers and job cuts.

I'm telling you the case the business owners make is pretty compelling, but it's falling on deaf ears across the country. Cities and states considering this across the country.

PEREIRA: If you think about it -- to try and live in New York City on minimum wage is impossible.

ROMANS: Seattle has already raised it. There are some cities in California that have raised it and businesses scream. They say it's going to hurt people who need those wages the most. It is still a national conversation.

You know, Joe Biden yesterday really pushing for the federal minimum wage to rise. He said that's one of the pieces of unfinished business they haven't been able to get through. Still no sign that Congress is going to do it.

CUOMO: Quickly, but what do you see in the places that raise the minimum wage? What do you see that happens?

ROMANS: You know, it's interesting. We've been watching in the labor numbers around the country, you know, the wages rising in those places. Are you seeing the job cuts? The jury is still out on that.

PEREIRA: All right, Christine, thanks so much.

ROMANS: You're welcome.

CUOMO: Romans typically noncommittal on the situation.

New Republican poll numbers are good news for Donald Trump and Ben Carson. There's another name on the rise as well, Carly Fiorina. What will happen when she goes head to head with Trump in CNN's debate after what he just said about her face? We'll take it on.

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[07:57:19]

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The CNN Republican presidential candidate debate stages have been set.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The idea of Donald Trump is great, the reality is awful.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's not a serious candidate.

BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I really don't want to get into the mud pit.

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: How do you bring people together to get something done?

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": Do you really see yourself being president of the United States?

BERNIE SANDERS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Emotionally prepared to run for president.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Terror in Phoenix.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shattered windows, bullet holes, police combing the highways.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very likely he is going to end up shooting somebody while they are driving the vehicle.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR, "EARLY START": The nation will pause this morning to remember the attacks on this day 14 years ago.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO: Good morning. Welcome to your NEW DAY. It is Friday, September 11th, 8:00 in the east. Of course, this is the day we remember what happened on 9/11 14 years ago. So many innocent lives lost and a country changed.

This is ground zero today. That is the freedom tower, a reminder of what was there as much a reminder of what it is today. And the sky cast and probably the right light for what we're dealing with this morning.

So we also have politics to talk about. We have Joe Biden wearing his heart on his sleeve in an emotional interview with Stephen Colbert admitting that he doesn't know if he can give his all to the challenge of running for president of the United States.

CAMEROTA: Hillary Clinton was also on national television yesterday. She was on "Ellen." Her lead over Bernie Sanders is shrinking in this new CNN/ORC poll. And her advantage over the top Republican candidates appears to be gone.

CNN's coverage of all the latest political developments begins with CNN's senior Washington correspondent, Jeff Zeleny. What is the latest, Jeff?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Alisyn. Let's start with Vice President Joe Biden. He did not close the door entirely to the possibility of running in that interview last night.

He's had meetings all week to discuss a plan if he decides to jump in. But that appearance last night with Stephen Colbert showed how difficult this would be. He wants to run, several of his friends tell me, but he doesn't know if he's emotionally able to. Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Look, I don't think any man or woman should run for president unless, number one, they know exactly why they would want to be president. And two, they can look at the folks out there and say, I promise you, you have my whole heart, my whole soul, my energy, and my passion to do this.