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New Day
Trump, Sanders Win Big in New Hampshire; The Money of Politics; Contests Ahead in the 2016 Race. Aired 8:30-9a ET
Aired February 10, 2016 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:30:52] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Who can give the people what they want? The answer in New Hampshire for the GOP? Donald Trump. That is who. Checking boxes for just about all types of republican voters. Let us get three takes from three camps as the South Carolina primary approaches.
Are we going to lose some people if the field stays this big? What does it mean? Discuss.
CNN Political Commentator, Ana Navarro and a Jeb Bush supporter, also a good friend of Marco Rubio, just about everybody else; CNN Political Commentator and former Communications Director for Senator Ted Cruz, Amanda Carpenter and CNN Political Commentator and former White House Political Director for Ronald Reagan, Jeffrey Lord, a proud Donald Trump supporter.
Ana I start with you this morning, because you are next to us and you have the abdication of being happy, because you have good news about your man, Jeb Bush. Why was he more successful last night? What does it mean going forward?
ANA NAVARRO, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Listen, first of all I think he is a better candidate by the day. There is no doubt that Jeb had some rust. I think it is all off right now. I have been to some of his town halls. I was at some of them in New Hampshire. And, the difference between that and what I saw six months ago or nine months ago from him was dramatic.
Also because I think New Hampshire is better suited for him. But, I am very proud of him, OK? Because just a week ago, out of Iowa, we were writing his obituary. We are giving him the last rites. We are picking out the coffin. The guy shook it off. He went to New Hampshire. He put one foot in front of the other.
He kept going to town hall after town hall, listening to the people of New Hampshire that have real problems and giving them real answers in real time. And, I think what you saw yesterday was the resurrection of Jeb Bush. Hallelujah.
(LAUGHING)
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Amanda, let us talk about Ted Cruz. He came in third last night. And, so, now we move on to South Carolina. And, he and Donald Trump have been going at each other as you know and that appears to be continuing. Here is a new ad from Donald Trump trashing Ted Cruz. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE SPEAKER (voice-over): Who runs a campaign of dirty tricks that tries to sabotage Ben Carson were false rumors. Ted Cruz. The worst kind of Washington insider, who just cannot be trusted.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CUOMO: It is like grandpa coming after Ted Cruz there with that voice there.
(LAUGHING)
CAMEROTA: So, Amanda, is this still the battle that we should look for? Ted Cruz, Donald Trump?
AMANDA CARPENTER, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes. I see going this off cam. Certainly, Cruz/Trump is the number one battle. Below that you have Bush and Rubio duking it out. But, as for this ad, it is really interesting. Clearly, Donald Trump views Ted Cruz as his strongest competition for the nomination.
Clearly, Donald Trump understands it is an outsider year and is trying to paint Ted Cruz as the insider, which is just laughable on its face given Cruz's track record. But, you know, they are going to go and have this discussion. Donald Trump is going to have the really negative over the top nasty attacks.
I expect Ted Cruz will continue to answer it with humor and continue to talk to voters about why he is the real conservative in the race. And, just one note, I am a New Hampshire one. It is really amazing, Jeb Bush reportedly spent $36 million for that fourth place finish. Ted Cruz, under $600,000.
And, so, in terms of being for bought candidates that can go the distance and run a real smart discipline campaign that uses the money well, going into a big super Tuesday -- excuse me, SC Tuesday Event, Trump has a lot of -- excuse me, Cruz has a lot of momentum at his back in terms of being able to go the distance.
CUOMO: Jeffrey, in terms of that ad how big a stick does Donald Trump think the dirty tricks against Carson is that he dedicates a whole ad to it, how do you think that helps him?
JEFFREY LORD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, I think what every candidate has to do is paint a portrait of the other guy. I mean that is what Ted Cruz is trying to do with Donald Trump. That is what, you know, all the candidates are trying to do with each other. So, I do not really find anything terribly exceptional about this. This is what you do in presidential primaries and in presidential elections period. So, you know, he is running the ad here. [08:35:00] What I find very interesting is that in the figures last
night, the exit polls, Donald Trump beat Ted Cruz by, I think it was, 12 points among those who described themselves as very conservative, which is very interesting because senator Cruz is indeed a conservative but a lot of Americans, a lot of New Hampshire certainly perceive Donald Trump to be the same.
CAMEROTA: Ana.
NAVARRO: But, you know, this is not only about the big stick, about you know, regarding Ben Carson. It is also about sucking up to Ben Carson. Ben Carson's campaign has disintegrated. He is well loved. He is well liked still by the republican electorates. He really is a persona that people like, particularly in a place like South Carolina.
CUOMO: You think Trump is trying to cultivate him.
NAVARRO: Oh, yes he is. You know, Trump is no dummy. Listen, any moment now, he is going to offer to do Ben Carson's laundry. So, Ben Carson does not have to go home, does not have to go fresh laundry. Because, you know, he know -- I mean Ben Carson still got, you know, 8, 9 percent of the vote in place like South Carolina, where there are so many evangelicals and social valued Christians. Ben Carson's support could be significant.
CAMEROTA: Donald Trump's people will do Ben Carson's laundry.
(LAUGHING)
CUOMO: Better yet, he will buy him a Laundromat. He will buy him a Laundromat.
NAVARRO: Donald Tump's people's people will do Ben Carson's laundry.
(CROSSTALKS)
CUOMO: As long as the laundry gets done.
CAMEROTA: But, Amanda, let us talk about that. Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio all had underwhelming finishes. What happens this week? Do people get out?
CARPENTER: Well, I think Chris Christie is clearly thinking about it. But to Anna's point, there are a lot of crumbs left at the table for other candidates to pick up. The key is who can court those voters. Who can consolidate some of that.
I think you saw evidence of the Cruz consolidating some of the Rand Paul wing in New Hampshire last night with that surprise third place finish. I think he had six delegates or state senators who were Rand Paul supporters that came over and supported Cruz. Cruz was able to pick up some Huckabee people. We will see what happens with Carson.
Anna is dead right. Trump is making a play for the Carson folks. And, so, we will see what happens there. But, I think Fiorina has got to do some thinking at this point. And, to Carly's candidacy, I really hope if and when she makes that decision, she puts a point on her candidacy.
She is a woman in the field, had a good showing early on. We need to talk about the meaning of her candidacy and how it will help more republican women later on. And, so, I think she -- I hope she makes that case sometime soon, because it was important. And, I just do not want to see her go away quietly.
CUOMO: Well, the big bleed last night, though, was in Rubio's numbers. Right, Jeffrey Lord? I mean, 89 percent of the people who voted in the last 72 hours, they split Kasich, Trump. We are saying that the debate was a very big deal for them. So, where his support went seemed to make a big different there.
But, Donald Trump, we are talking about people getting out of the field. Why would Trump want that? Is not that the one thing he should fear? Is that, as people get out of the field, you do have this risk of this coalescing around a faction of the party he does not represent.
LORD: You know, Chris, I am not so sure about that. I realized that has been a pretty standard formula here. Everybody thought if they just get behind one person to fight Donald Trump that, that would be their key to success. I am not so sure, looking at across the board results here with Donald Trump.
One other thing, our friend and colleague Michael Smerconish was pointing out to me last night, that of the other candidates when you get to this discussion of who is going to get out, there is that small thing known as ego. And, already last night, I believe I heard that Kasich campaign trying to prod Jeb Bush out of the campaign. And, I certainly do not think he is about to go. So, you are going to get into this business of, you know, "No, you go." No, you go," and we will see what happens.
(LAUGHING)
CAMEROTA: All right, panel. Thanks so much for the insights. Great to have you here, the morning after New Hampshire.
Well, it turns out the economy was the most important issue for voters there in New Hampshire. Why this will be a crucial topic for candidates to address in South Carolina and Nevada. We will look at that next
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[08:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MICHAELA PERIERA, CNN ANCHOR: All right, here we go. The five things to know for New Day. Number one, Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders coming away with big wins in the New Hampshire primary in their respective races. Ohio Governor John Kasich emerging a strong second place on the republican side.
The Supreme Court temporarily blocking President Obama's effort to regulate emissions and coal fired power plants. The White House says it is confident, though, the plan will prevail.
Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl's court martial on hold. The judge issuing a stay of proceedings until the dispute involving the sharing of classified evidence with Bergdahl's defense team is settled.
The CDC's director will be part of a hearing today on Capitol Hill regarding the Zika Virus epidemic. It comes as researchers in Brazil say the mosquito born virus may now be linked to eye abnormalities in babies.
Michigan Governor Snyder and Flint's Mayor Karen Weaver, both making their case today for funding to deal with the city's toxic water crisis. Mayor Weaver will also testify the house hearing in D.C. today, but Governor Snyder declined the committee's invitations.
And, as always do not forget to go to CNN.com -- NewDayCNN.com for the latest on the five things.
Meanwhile, it is time now for CNN Money Now. Chief Business Correspondent, Christine Romans in the money center looking the money of politics.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Oh, yes! Good morning. The top issue for voters in New Hampshire, the economy. 33 percent of democrats said the economy and jobs most important issues for them. Income inequality was a very close second. 32 percent of republicans agree they put the economy higher than government spending, terrorism and immigration in those exit polls.
Now, as the election turns to Nevada and South Carolina, candidates will face tougher economic conditions. Check out the unemployment rate in New Hampshire, 3.1 percent. That is one of the lowest in the country. But, South Carolina, 5.5 percent above the national average. Nevada has one of the highest jobless rate in the country at 6.4 percent.
But, Chris it is that nagging feeling that the spoils of the recovery will only gone to the rich and the company's investor, not the everyday Joe and Jane. That is really highlighting -- resonating both parties right now.
[08:45:04] CUOMO: Not all jobs are equal. What about the pay?
ROMANS: Yes.
CUOMO: What about equality for opportunity? Those matters, every bit as much as we saw last night.
Christine, thank you very much.
And what are people asking for as we saw in the New Hampshire primaries? Outsiders. That's what they want. Outsider candidates. It's a new buzzword. Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, they check those boxes for a lot of people. What makes that an advantage? What could be a disadvantage in that as we come to the next big states, South Carolina, Nevada? Let's discuss. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CAMEROTA: The candidates already moving on from New Hampshire. Look at the calendar. In just ten days the South Carolina Republican primary happens and the Nevada Democratic caucuses. Then a few days later those two swap. The Republicans will hold their caucuses in Nevada, followed by the Democratic primary in South Carolina.
So what can we expect moving forward? Joining us --
CUOMO: Lots of travel.
[08:50:57] CAMEROTA: That's for us. That's true. What can voters expect? Joining us is "New York Times" op-ed columnist Frank Bruni and CNN politics executive editor Mark Preston as well as former moderator of "Meet the Press," David Gregory. Great to have all of you here.
Frank, let's start with you. Donald Trump had such a decisive win last night. More than double his closest competitor John Kasich. What stops Trump moving forward? How does he lose ever moving forward?
FRANK BRUNI, NEW YORK TIMES OP-ED COLUMNIST: Well, he's in great position, for starters. So I mean, he may go forward quite a distance. He may go all the way. But I think what stops him is we still don't know what the ceiling on his support is. He may not be able to ever get more than 41, 42, 40 even. And if the rest of the field somehow winnows, which people were hoping -- people in the Republican Party were hoping would happen last night -- didn't happen. If that happens in South Carolina after South Carolina or fairing soon into March, Trump could be stopped by the fact that with only a few other candidates, someone might overtake his --
CAMEROTA: I just noticed the pundits keep having to move that ceiling up, up, up. It used to be 20 percent, then it was 30 percent, now it's 40 percent. I mean, it just keeps going up.
CUOMO: Let's go to our snow-blown brother out there, Mark Preston. You know, just to be fair, you know -- You are out on the hustings. You are living it. You're a personification of it right now. This idea that people would drop out. Do we believe that was extended simply because of what happened on Saturday night? Or a little bit because of what happened last night as well, Mark?
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: I think it's a little bit of both. Look, if Marco Rubio had done well on Saturday night there would have been telephone calls taking place at this hour probably, if not in a couple of hours trying to consolidate this middle line.
Chris Christie, listen, looks by all intents and purposes that he'll drop out of the race. But we would have thought that perhaps Jeb Bush might have dropped out of the race as well. Marco Rubio, though, when he had that poor debate performance, he has opened that lane a little bit. So there is going to be more than one car in it. And look, John Kasich really came out of nowhere and showed that he
can win. The question is can he win beyond New Hampshire. So what was a consolidation or a hope on the Republican establishment side, Chris and Alisyn, when it comes to the moderate lane, the centrist lane, well guess what, that is not going to happen.
CAMEROTA: Okay, David. Let's talk about what we're going to see in South Carolina because we're already seeing it. Donald Trump has a new attack ad out against Ted Cruz. It appears that these two are the two who will be going at each other. So watch this, what South Carolina voters are seeing today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm Donald Trump and I approve this message.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What kind of man talks from both sides of his mouth on amnesty for illegals on national television and still denies it? He took more than a million dollars in sweetheart loans from Wall Street banks and fails to disclose those required by law. Who runs a campaign accused of dirty tricks that tried to sabotage Ben Carson with false rumors? Ted Cruz, the worst kind of Washington insider who just can't be trusted.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAMEROTA: That's scary.
DAVID GREGORY, FORMER MODERATOR, "MEET THE PRESS": Why is he whispering?
CUOMO: Because he's angry.
GREGORY: Because he's angry. He's so angry he can't yell.
CUOMO: That's exactly --
GREGORY: I think there's a number of points. First of all, Cruz and Trump are in control of this campaign right now. Cruz doesn't do as well in New Hampshire. But now he goes into the south. A lot of evangelicals, his really strong base of support. Waiting for Donald Trump, you see, they are going to go up against each other.
This is going to be a national security primary as well. It's always been that military issues loom very large. It will be a strong hard right ideological campaign. That's trouble for Kasich. For Jeb Bush, what's different here. He's got Lindsey Graham down there who's going to be arguing his case. That will be significant on national security. And for the first time, has his brother, President George W. Bush.
(CROSSTALK)
CUOMO: And a good legacy in that state for the Bushes.
GREGORY: Great legacy. Look, Bush in 2000 -- as Frank and I know, we were covering it -- ran a really hard right ideological campaign. Tough campaign against McCain and won. Will he, will President Bush, make the case against Donald Trump and try to break up this mainstream mashup in the middle? If that does not happen, then Rubio can't find a lane, Bush can't find a lane and it will still be Cruz and Trump in control.
CAMEROTA: Frank, we have an attack ad to show you as well. This one from Ted Cruz against Donald Trump. Enjoy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey, Hillary. I'll give you money to be my friend. Check out my house, Mr. Trump.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's a lousy house. I'm going to take your house with eminent domain and park my limos there.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We wouldn't tolerate these values in our children. Why would we want them in a president?
(CROSSTALK)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAMEROTA: Frank --
BRUNI: Wow.
CAMEROTA: I have no question. Just (inaudible).
(CROSSTALK)
GREGORY: I mean, my kids are always fighting about eminent domain. I don't know about yours. It's like stop talking, you know --
(CROSSTAK)
BRUNI: I'm not sure that ad is going to do much good. I mean, I think all of that's been thrown at Trump already and in a weird way Trump is impervious to this stuff. I think the ad against Cruz is much better. And I'll tell you why, because if you looked at the exit polls, among people who cared about personal characteristics and leadership quality, Ted Cruz polled abominably. And that is what that ad against him is about. The ad against Trump I think is so lighthearted and silly I think it defangs itself and that's been thrown at Trump already. There is nothing new there.
[08:55:02] GREGORY: But don't forget. Donald Trump does break doll houses. He has very high unfavorables in this race. So when it does winnow down, that is why it is so important for the party to whittle it down.
BRUNI: So he just lost the Barbie vote?
GREGORY: Apparently --
BRUNI: Oh man.
CUOMO: We do not have independent corroboration of him ever having broken a doll house. Mark Preston, it's the only (inaudible) -- the snow is melting off the top of Preston's head as he hears the allegation coming out. What is a big x factor for us as we go forward, my friend? What do you see?
PRESTON: Listen, the hope is certainly amongst the Republican establishment is that Ted Cruz and Donald Trump destroy each other. The hope is is that they beat each other up so much that people on the edges who might like Trump because they think that he's a fighter for America could peel off of him and maybe go with a more mainstream candidate such as Jeb or such as Rubio or such as Kasich.
But what's interesting about Jeb in many ways is that Jeb is not only going to go after Rubio because of obviously there's a personal rift, but if you saw last night during his speech, he went very hard against Donald Trump trying to compare and contrast himself to say who has better values. Do you really want Donald Trump to be your president? So I would expect to see Jeb go hard at Donald Trump down in South Carolina.
CAMEROTA: Mark, Frank, David, great to have all of you with us this morning. And of course, great to have all of you watching us this morning.
"NEWSROOM" with Carol Costello begins right after this very short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now in the "NEWSROOM"