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How Does East Coast Blizzard Stack Up?; Does Donald Trump Have Iowa Locked Up?; Tina Fey Returns To SNL To Mock Sarah Palin; Bloomberg Could Put Up $1 Billion For 2016 Run. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired January 25, 2016 - 06:30   ET

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

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ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Mountains of snow piling up on streets and highways be up and down the east coast. This blizzard of 2016 lived up to the hype. So how does it compare with blizzards of the past? Meteorologist, Chad Myers, is here with a look. Show us the comparison -- Chad.

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It was a good one. It was right up there in a lot of spots. Even New York City picked up its greatest 24-hour snowfall, but not it's greatest for any one storm by 0.1 inch like you could actually see it, measure it.

D.C., the way they measured the snow, 17.8. National Zoo, 5 inches more. D.C., kind of let the snow compact before they measured it with their stick. Whereas the National Zoo did a little bit better job. Dulles in the 26 range.

Anchorage, Alaska has had 25.8 inches of snow this year, Alaska. New York City has had more. It's going to take a long time to melt. We warm up into the 40s. At that rate it will take weeks to get rid of this.

And that slush will be in the streets for weeks so make sure you have plenty of washer fluid. The incoming solar radiation will bounce off the snow. It is so bright you will have the snow blind in your eyes.

The air doesn't warm up very much so therefore it doesn't melt very much. Even at 50 degrees, it will take weeks to get rid of this. Only 2 to 4 inches a day will melt as we get into the 50 or 60-degree range.

CAMEROTA: OK, Chad, thanks for explaining all of that. That was really helpful. All right, back to politics, tonight is the big CNN Democratic forum to be hosted by Chris. So let's go live to Iowa and see what's happening on the ground there. Hi again, Chris.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: What are the chances that I would come to Iowa and get better weather in the middle of the winter than New York City? But that's what happened. Good for me. Bad for you.

So we just got to wait until the Iowa caucuses. We have new polls. They show Donald Trump building on his lead in the last few weeks. So that does that mean? What is working for him here especially against Ted Cruz? Who will come in first and second? But more importantly, who will come in third? Why is third more important? We'll tell you from the GOP perspective, next.

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[06:38:38]

CUOMO: Welcome back to NEW DAY. We are here in Iowa where we have an answer to whether Trump salvos have made a difference for him and/or Ted Cruz here in the upcoming caucus. Who is going to win, maybe just as important, who will be third.

We'll explain why. We have Matt Strawn, Republican strategist and former chairman of the Iowa Republican Party. He is currently a partner at Next Generation Public Affairs. Good to see you, my friend.

MATT STRAWN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Great to have you in Iowa.

CUOMO: So let's take a look at the poll that we have out here now. Fox News showing that Trump has moved and moved in a significant way and done so during the same time frame that he was coming at Cruz with all the eligibility and all the other stuff. What does that mean about his tactics and their impact?

STRAWN: Yes, I think we are seeing two things. We are seeing the hits against Ted Cruz are working, the hits coming from Donald Trump. The questions being raised by Governor Terry Branstead when it comes to renewable fuels.

And what President Ted Cruz would mean (inaudible) economy. But we are also seeing the questions being answered about these first time caucus goers that have been showing up in droves around at these Trump events around the state.

More and more Iowans believe that they are actually going to show up on February 1st and caucus for the first time. So you are seeing the numbers that show most of those first-time caucus goers account for that rise we are seeing in Trump's numbers over the last few days.

CUOMO: Turn out always important especially if you are talking about any type of campaign that is any way an insurgency. Not in a terror context. But I mean, that you are asking different people to come out.

[06:40:02]What do you think is the strongest indication at this point that we may really see that this time? We saw it with Barack Obama when he was running. Haven't seen it in the next cycle after it. Didn't really see it before, but what do you think this time?

STRAWN: Well, I mean, you just have to look out the window with the snow banks right now when you go to these Trump events. The weather is awful, but you have people that are standing outside in subzero temperatures for hours to go see Donald Trump. So the notion that they are not going to give maybe 60 to 90 minutes of their time on February 1st might be wishful thinking for the folks that don't believe that this Trump rise is real.

CUOMO: Establishment, dirty word, on both sides now. Bernie Sanders, obviously, Vermont senator using it. How important is that label in determining who gets your nomination?

STRAWN: Well, right now, over 60 percent of Iowa caucus goers, likely Republican, identify with an anti-establishment bit whether you're Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Ben Carson competing for those votes. Even Marco Rubio we have seen, you know, try and shed and stay away from that establishment label.

Even though many (inaudible) Republicans in Iowa are interested in his candidacy, which is one reason why that "Des Moines Register" endorsement that we saw this week for Senator Rubio kind of cuts both ways.

When he's competing with Jeb Bush and Chris Christie for that establishment center right vote, it's a plus. In northwest Iowa when he is competing with Ted Cruz for that anti-establishment conservative vote.

They have a really weary eye towards the "Des Moines Register" and some of its more liberal editorial positions.

CUOMO: We are hearing from more people in the GOP side that it's no longer their concern about whether Trump wins in the state who doesn't -- everybody is talking about the margins now. He's going to win, but it won't be by that much.

And that's why who comes in third is so important also because you'll have a new group that are getting almost equal consideration by people and that's what's going to be there.

Now a little bit of that is a little cynicism towards Trump and the GOP it seems to me, but how important is that. That the margin is not that big so there are three people. It is still anyone's race.

STRAWN: Yes. That's Iowa's traditional role in the process. A lot of times, you know, we take some brief that we don't pick the winner necessarily here in Iowa. That's not our job.

Our job is to start the (inaudible) process and some of these candidates on to New Hampshire with some momentum and some it's the end of the road. And that's why third place is so key right now.

When you look how things are bunched up in New Hampshire especially in that center right lane. That's why, you know, Senator Rubio, right now a little bit of boost from "The Des Moines Register," he is appearing today with our wildly popular new senator, Joni Ernst, which is a nice boost.

Even though Joni is not giving an endorsement, still not a bad person to be seen within the last week before caucus day. CUOMO: What does your gut tell you? Is Trump going to win here? Do you think if he wins here, he does go on this some predictive role where he winds up going right into the convention?

STRAWN: It sure feels like Trump has a momentum right now and talking to people around the state whose advice I trust that I worked with when I was state chairman, they think this Trump move is real.

CUOMO: Do they think the margin is going to be three points, five points, seven points or do you think he still has a chance at a blowout?

STRAWN: Well, that's the million dollar question. If we have an electorate that looks anything like a traditional Iowa caucus electorate, it will be razor thin between Ted Cruz and Donald Trump.

But the thing to watch on February 1st, the higher that Republican turn out climbs, the better night Donald Trump is going to have.

CUOMO: Matt, I appreciate it very much.

STRAWN: Absolutely.

CUOMO: Look forward to seeing you out here. Let's get back to you in New York, my friend, J.B.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN GUEST ANCHOR: All right, Chris, thanks so much. So Sarah Palin, she endorses Donald Trump. What do you think "Saturday Night Live" was going to do? Tina Fey is back. The highlights next.

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[06:47:23]

BERMAN: The historic and deadly winter storm still paralyzing parts of the northeast this morning. Officials warning of treacherous travel conditions with black ice on the roads.

Schools, federal and local government offices are closed in Washington, D.C. today. Air travel also crippled. More than 1,300 flights today, seven of 12 branches of the Long Island railroad in New York set to resume service in about 15 minutes.

CAMEROTA: The FBI hoping a $50,000 reward will help them recapture three inmates who rappelled out of a maximum security facility in Southern California. The brazen escape from the Orange County Central men's jail came on Friday. The trio cut through half-inch steel bars and plumbing tunnel before roping their way to the ground. The trio is considered armed and dangerous.

BERMAN: So with Sarah Palin's endorsement of Donald Trump, you knew it was only a matter of time. "Saturday Night Live" vet Tina Fey and Darrell Hammond, they dusted off their impressions of Palin and Trump, and they appeared in the show. Watch. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TINA FEY, COMEDIAN: We Americans are struggling. So many of us have lost our job at the factory or reality shows about Alaska. And we have seen our own children targeted by the police for no reason other than they committed some crimes.

I'm here for all you teachers and teamsters, you farmers and charmers. Whether you're a mom or "two broke girls" or three men and a baby, rock and roller, holy roller pushing stroller, pro bowler with an abscessed molar.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's a firecracker. She's a real pistol. She's crazy, isn't she?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Look, Donald Trump knows what he's getting when he gets the Sarah Palin endorsement. I'm sure the Trump campaign is perfectly happy with this. The more attention the better.

CAMEROTA: You know that Lauren Michaels at "Saturday Night Live" is going -- he has Tina Fey on speed dial.

BERMAN: They are significant numbers of people who still can't tell the difference between what Sarah Palin said and what Tina Fey said. A lot of it is what Tina Fey said.

All right, there will be more. Trust me. Perhaps a Bernie Sanders spoof. "Saturday Night Live" returns February 6th with Larry David, a.k.a, the real Bernie Sanders, hosting.

Former New York City mayor, Michael Bloomberg, he is a considering a run for the White House, a third-party run. Is there room for another New York billionaire in this race? We'll discuss.

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[06:50:00]

BERMAN: Just what this election needs a new possible shakeup in the 2016 presidential race. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg considering jumping in. A source says Bloomberg asked advisers to draw plans for a potential third-party run.

He would be willing to spend a billion dollars to fund it, which apparently he has. God bless him. So how would that affect the race?

Joining us now CNN political commentator and political anchor for Time Warner Cable News, Errol Louis. Errol, you are a New York City guy. You know the former New York City mayor. Michael Bloomberg sitting there with his $16 billion looking at this race and thinking what?

ERROL LOUIS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, first of all, it's $37 billion.

BERMAN: I short changed him.

LOUIS: If you don't spend it just gets bigger and bigger. If there is any reasonable shot at running for president he is thinking I'll take it. He has been saying that since before 2008. If there is a reasonable shot at running for president, I will consider it.

I think the reasonable shot is sort of a tricky scenario. It is not in conceivable that Trump or Cruz, as the Republican nominee, Bernie Sanders as the Democratic nominee.

Mike Bloomberg says, listen, I'm a centrist. This is a country where a record high 42 percent, 43 percent say that they are independent and aren't particularly enamored by Republicans or Democrats.

[06:55:11]If you have got these extremists candidates from Mike Bloomberg's point of view and you've got a billion dollars and you're on the ballot on all 50 states and you have governed the biggest city for 12 years and it wasn't a terrible run as mayor, it was actually a good run as mayor, well, what's to stop you? Why not consider it?

BERMAN: This is a great big chasm in the middle that he thinks he can fill. Who does this hurt most? He gets in the race. This hurts Democrats most? Republicans most?

LOUIS: I'd say a couple of different scenarios and you know, it is hard to know for sure, you know, you to compare what people will do as opposed to what they say they will do. He would hurt the Democrats more.

He has governed the biggest city, one of the most liberal cities in the country. Even though he came in as a Republican. Even though he is fabulous wealthy, even though he identifies with Wall Street, which is where he made his fortune, this is not somebody who would pass muster as a conservative or frankly as a mainstream Republican.

BERMAN: He is not socially moderate. He is socially liberal.

LOUIS: Well, that's right.

BERMAN: You could make a case in many ways he is more liberal than Hillary Clinton.

LOUIS: Very much so or at least he's been in a position when he had to govern, he made choices that put him in sync with New York City values, I guess, for a lack of a better word. Sanctuary city, same- sex marriage, open immigration, attitude in policy, and very strongly against gun violence.

BERMAN: An advocate of new laws, restrictions in some cases to gun rights.

LOUIS: It is interesting. Having said that, he was also the single biggest donor to George W. Bush. He supported the Republicans. He had supported the Republican legislature, our state senate here in New York. And he has in many ways a lot of conservative views, certainly a very vocal champion be for Wall Street. You know, he's been the first to say you can't put me in a box. He dropped his party affiliation.

He literally is an independent. He spent most of his life as a Democrat. Ran for mayor in one as a Republican. On the independent line here in New York, and then dropped everything.

BERMAN: Let's look at the calendar right now because we have Iowa coming up one week from today. We have New Hampshire a week after that. The timing of when Michael Bloomberg to get in is March 1st. Deadline to get on the ballots next November as third-party candidate.

He has to decide pretty soon. Not just soon, but before in some cases you will know if Hillary Clinton completely collapsed. Say Bernie Sanders does very well. He wins in Iowa. Wins in New Hampshire.

But Hillary Clinton comes back and wins in Nevada and South Carolina. What does Michael Bloomberg do then?

LOUIS: Well, it is a perplexing sort of a puzzle, which is why it's more likely than not that he will sit this out. But the reality is if you are somebody like him with $37 billion and you invest a billion dollars, you at least make it possible.

You know, the reality is even if you're on the ballot in all 50 states, it's not as if you have to show up. Anybody can, as we know, suspend their campaign at any point. He is creating this intriguing possibility.

He's not doing it purely out of ego. There are a lot of people who are out there are saying this is what the country needs. The harsh partisanship, the Trumps, Cruzs and the Bernie Sanders, that this is not where the future of the country lies.

BERMAN: Make no mistake. He's doing because he can and you have $36 billion. You can think along these lines. You know, we can think about the possibilities of what if might happen. For instance, news about what a general election would be with both Donald Trump and Michael Bloomberg, New York billionaires on the ballot. Does that look like America?

LOUIS: Well, it says something about America and what it says is maybe not so pleasant. We are a long way from Abe Lincoln, you know, splitting logs in the middle of the country.

This is kind of where things are headed. You know, the majority of the members of the Supreme Court all come from New York City. Every single one went to Harvard or Yale.

We've got an issue here. This is fueling a lot of the anger, frankly. When people talk about the elites, this is kind of what they're talking about.

BERMAN: Errol Louis, great to have you with us. Thanks so much.

LOUIS: Thank you.

BERMAN: All right, what is your take on this? Tweet us @newday or post your comment at facebook.com/newday. There is a lot going on this morning so let's get to it.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Day two of the big dig is beginning today.

BERMAN: The historic blizzard crippling the nation's capital.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is a complicated snow removal effort.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have been lucky with no fatalities. Let's keep it that way.

BERNIE SANDERS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDAT: We are locked in a very, very close race right here in Iowa.

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The stakes in this election are so high.

SANDERS: If we win here in Iowa, I think we will do very well in New Hampshire.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (via telephone): I would love to have Michael Bloomberg run. I would love that competition.

BERMAN: ISIS has released a gruesome new propaganda video.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It appears to show nine of the terrorists responsible for the attacks in Paris.

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