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Delegate Race for Presidential Hopefuls, Clinton Amasses Giant Lead in Super Delegates; Deadly Tornadoes Rip Through Gulf Coast, 3 Dead; Trump Accelerates His March to GOP Nomination; Sen. Booker on 2106 Race for President; Clinton & Sanders Make Pitch to South Carolina Voters. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired February 24, 2016 - 07:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:31:54] ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Super Tuesday just six days away and then we have a calendar filled with primaries in March, so the delegate count becomes key for all of the candidates. Trump and Clinton have big leads today but they are far from insurmountable.

David Gregory of "MEET THE PRESS" fame is here to take us through all math and geography of these delegate races. There's a lot to talk about.

DAVID GREGORY, FORMER MODERATOR, "MEET THE PRESS": You said there wouldn't be math. That there wouldn't be problem solving.

CAMEROTA: Oh, there's math.

GREGORY: Oh, there's math. OK.

CAMEROTA: In fact, let's start with the Republicans, OK?

GREGORY: Yes.

CAMEROTA: So this is where the delegate count stands today. Donald Trump has 80. That's not a runaway victory, particularly when you realize that he needs -- let me see -- oh, whoopsy daisy -- already --

GREGORY: We're going to scroll through this.

CAMEROTA: -- technology has already failed me.

GREGORY: Right. But your point is -- before we get to this, your point is that 1,237 is the ultimate so we're still very early on in this contest here at this stage where he's only got 80 pledged. He's got a lead but we're still very early on and that's why we really do look, if we go to the next screen, to Super Tuesday.

CAMEROTA: OK, so let's look at Super Tuesday, and here is where the numbers get into some really high stakes. Five-hundred and ninety- five --

GREGORY: Right.

CAMEROTA: -- delegates up for grabs. How does this play out?

GREGORY: Well, again, what's important here was we look at the totals -- 595 -- these are proportional, right? So if you're Ted Cruz, you're looking to make a stand in Texas. That's where he's got to actually show that he has some game left here. If Donald Trump does well, and you look at the polling, you look at the momentum -- he could get about 180 of those 595 and keep building on his lead. And that's what's really important about this idea of momentum and where, as you were talking to a Rubio supporter -- does he start winning to start grabbing some delegates?

CAMEROTA: Yes, but that's interesting what you just said. The feeling today is Donald Trump is running away with this, but you're saying he just gets a fraction of the 595 because it's all proportional.

GREGORY: Right.

CAMEROTA: People will be leeching off, in each one of these states, some delegates.

GREGORY: Well, the question is who and how many delegates? That will be the important point because Donald Trump has shown that he's got enough strength. Again, if you're Ted Cruz and you can't do enough here in Texas to win a lot of these delegates, then Trump just keeps building and keeps building. And then that takes us to a very important March 15th.

CAMEROTA: And the reason this is important is because this is where the winner takes all again. So here are some big states, including Ohio. We've talked a lot about Ohio because of John Kasich -- popular. The governor in Ohio believes he's going to win it. Not what the polls suggest today.

GREGORY: Right, but -- and then you have Florida. But you're right. I mean, the polling shows that Donald Trump is doing well in Ohio, he's doing well in Florida. If he wins big on Super Tuesday -- he gets another 180 delegates, let's say -- keeps building on that total -- where does the momentum come from to turn the tide?

And if you're Marco Rubio and you can't win the winner-take-all in Florida, real problem for you. If you're Kasich -- you can't win Ohio -- a real problem for you. That's why this is so important. And on the other point on the math here is that by this point -- by the end of these contests on March 15th, Trump has the potential to be over 50 percent on his way to this ultimate number -- if I can get into your personal space. He could be 50 percent plus there because -- let's go back. When we talk about these proportional delegations -- so now I'm just having fun on the wall.

CAMEROTA: I can see that. You've just taken over.

[07:35:16] GREGORY: I mean, it's just -- well, let's get to -- I want to point something out here which is when we talk about Trump doing well, the assumption based on that 180, for example, is that of that number maybe he gets 30 percent. That's based on what he's been getting so far. Of course, he got higher than that in Nevada with 45 percent. I could start doing square roots at any time here. I just want you to be aware of that.

CAMEROTA: I know. I can see you're moving into long division at some point.

GREGORY: But, that's the point is that we're capping him at 30 percent. Maybe he's higher. So the point is we get through Super Tuesday, we get through March 15th -- if Trump continues he could be more than half the way there to the grand total.

CAMEROTA: I can see you trying to dazzle me with the math wizardry, and it's working.

GREGORY: Right.

CAMEROTA: So, let's go to the Dems.

GREGORY: Let's go to the Dems, right.

CAMEROTA: OK, so -- now here's a stunning number. Fifty-two pledged delegates versus 51. They're tied.

GREGORY: They're tied.

CAMEROTA: But then, how do you explain the totals?

GREGORY: Well, these are party elders. These are elected officials who have pledged to Hillary Clinton. These are the so-called super delegates that we talk about that are really important as we move forward. Now, they can change their vote. If all of a sudden you see Bernie Sanders doing well in some of these later states as we get into the spring, the argument could be made look, you should switch your allegiance because I'm starting to reflect the will of the people, but he's actually going to start winning.

CAMEROTA: So the pledge doesn't mean that much, other than a snapshot of where they are today?

GREGORY: Right, but it is a show of tremendous strength if you look at not only where is her base coming from among those proportional delegates, but those super delegates as well.

CAMEROTA: OK, and they need 2,000, so take me through the map.

GREGORY: Again, I think what's important here is that if you look at her strength in some of the polling in some of these states here, she's looking at counties that are largely minority, African- Americans. We'll see how she does in South Carolina to build on that.

If you're Bernie Sanders, you're looking at Minnesota, you're looking at his strength in Vermont, in Massachusetts -- where he can start to build up some leads. What's important as we look through this, and then you go on to March 15th -- not winner-take-all -- different on the Democratic side. But, if Hillary Clinton can build up even a small but sizeable lead,

it's difficult to overtake that delegate count. He would have to start really running up big margins of victories in some big states, like in Ohio on March 15th. Like a Florida, like a California, or like a New Jersey a little bit later in the spring.

CAMEROTA: OK, so the question is when we will have a Democratic nominee?

GREGORY: Well, I think if you look -- we've got to wait until voters actually say here, but it looks like Hillary Clinton could get there faster based on the kind of lead that she could build up. But, Bernie Sanders will want to stay close enough to try to stay in the race and prolong it.

On the Republic side, if Trump continues at this level, you know -- he says, look, we might be done within a couple of months. You have like 15 contests now between the end of March and in April. He could rack them up and get just about there.

CAMEROTA: We might have an answer by the end of April?

GREGORY: We could. We could.

CAMEROTA: David Gregory, thank you. That was a lot of math you just did without a calculator.

GREGORY: I feel pretty good about myself.

CAMEROTA: Well done.

GREGORY: Yes, thank you.

CAMEROTA: All right -- Michaela.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: All right. We turn to some breaking news now. Parts of the Gulf left reeling from a deadly tornado outbreak. A large path of destruction in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida.

Our meteorologist Jennifer Gray is live in hard-hit Pensacola, Florida. Jennifer, I know it took you some time to get there. Tell us what you're seeing.

JENNIFER GRAY, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, Michaela, we drove all night to get here to Pensacola. Miraculously, there have been no deaths reported here but there have been a couple of areas within the city that were hit very hard. One of those areas, this apartment complex behind me. We were pushed back quite a ways because the sheriff's office believed it's a dangerous situation with live power lines on the ground, as well as some of the walls in the apartment definitely in jeopardy. Some of the concrete walls completely fell to the ground.

The entire second story on a couple of the buildings completely gone. It crumbled onto cars in a parking lot. And also a couple of townhomes were completely destroyed in the Pensacola area. This storm moved very quickly. It moved onshore and it hit hard here across Pensacola. Roughly 27 tornadoes were reported across the area between Mississippi, Alabama, as well the Florida Panhandle here in Pensacola, as well the New Orleans area in south Louisiana.

Of course, people in Gulf states are thinking clean-up for today. There is a lot to clean up now that the sun if finally coming up, and all of the debris is strewn around. All of these apartment complexes, the townhomes, trees completely uprooted. There are areas where power lines look more like cobwebs. But now these storms, Alisyn, are shifting to the east and so folks on the eastern seaboard really need to be aware, especially in parts of North Carolina and Virginia, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Absolutely, Jennifer. Thanks so much for that warning. All right, back to politics. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders trying to sway voters to their sides in the latest CNN town hall. The South Carolina primary just three days away. Let's talk to Senator Cory Booker, a Clinton supporter, about her past and the nomination now.

[07:40:18]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:43:57] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN AMCJPR: All right. We want to bring in New Jersey Sen. Cory Bookie -- Booker. He's got a new book out -- Booker, bookie -- goes well together. All right, so here is what the book is, "United".

(AUDIO BLANK)

CAMEROTA: OK, we do want to bring in Sen. Cory Booker. I'll take it here. We're having a few satellite issues. Senator, thanks so much. Did you see that seamless transition from Columbia --

SEN. CORY BOOKER (D) NEW JERSEY: I did.

CAMEROTA: -- South Carolina here to New York. We do want to talk about your book and so much more. Let's talk about what happened in Nevada last night. Donald Trump had a pretty runaway decisive victory. He is at 45.9 percent. That's with 96 percent of the votes counted there in the caucus. Now, you, senator, had said as recently as a week ago -- let me quote you. "I do not believe it will come to pass that he is the nominee." What do you think today?

BOOKER: Well, I've also, usually in the same breath, that I've gotten everything wrong about this Republican primary. I was one of these guys sitting around in August when he made fun of a war hero, John McCain, someone I've gotten to know, respect, and admire in the Senate.

When he made fun of him and said he was not a hero for being held in a prison camp, tortured, and showed heroic commitment to his colleagues in that camp when he refused to let himself be liberated until they were. I thought his career was -- that his career for presidency, at least -- run for presidency -- was over, and I got it wrong.

So, look, this is a campaign on the Republican side that's belying a lot of conventional wisdom and it's exciting to watch.

CAMEROTA: OK, so let's talk about something else that was exciting to watch, and that was the CNN town hall last night in Columbia, South Carolina that Chris moderated. What did you hear from Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders that was different last night? Who made a case that you -- I mean, obviously, we know who you're supporting, but talk about a case that you heard that was different, or who you think won over the voters there?

[07:45:48]

BOOKER: Well, again, I think that Hillary Clinton continues to show, in every appearance that she has, a mastery of the detail of policy -- a plan to move us forward and an understand of foreign policy that, frankly, now two years in the Senate understanding what's going on around the world, we really need somebody who's ready to be president and commander in chief.

CAMEROTA: And what did she say last night that told you that she is ready to be commander in chief?

BOOKER: Well, I confess. I was in the office in the working so I didn't watch CNN as closely. I just caught some of the clips today. But, I have the privilege of having gotten to know both candidates pretty well, and have sat with president -- excuse me -- Hillary Clinton and heard her detailed analysis of not only the challenges that we have, but when it comes to issues that really matter to American voters who are struggling to hold onto the middle class and get into the middle class.

From ways to wage raises after being stagnant for about 15 years. From ways to make pathways to success, whether it be education, jobs and skills training. To deal with issues that are urgent to me, having represented an American city for a long time and seeing the broken criminal justice system, seeing the challenges with crime.

I feel an incredible confidence that she's the one that not only can win the election, which is critical with what you see going on, on the Republican side. But in this very tough climate here in Washington we need people that could actually bring folks together, and she's shown time and time again and advanced the ball down the field for the American people.

CAMEROTA: And I do know that's what your book is about. But first, before we get to that, I want to talk about something that Bernie Sanders has been hitting her on, and that is an overly-cozy relationship with Wall Street. So last night she addressed the question of whether or not she would release the transcripts of some of her speeches that were highly-paid that she gave to Wall Street. Listen to her response.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Sure. If everybody does it, and that includes the Republicans because we know they have made a lot of speeches.

CUOMO: You know everybody's not going to bring up their transcripts. There'll be 100 reasons why.

CLINTON: Well, why is there one standard for me and not for everybody else, Chris?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: So that got a very good response in the room, that she doesn't want to be held to a different standard, but would it just solve the problem if she released her transcripts so everyone knew what she talked to Wall Street about?

BOOKER: Well, first and foremost, I'm a little frustrated by this. Even when I was supporting Obama back in 2008, I saw her treated her in a different way and the different standard for her. Different levels of vetting, different levels of examination. Even articles about criticizing what she was wearing and her hair thatI didn't see for other candidates in the race.

Enough is enough. A lot of these things that are throwing at her are distractions from the core issues. What is your plan for the American people, how realistic is it in this time of urgency, and how are you going to move the bar?

So, I agree with her response. Let's stop putting her up to a higher standard. I've seen things thrown at her as Secretary of State, watching what the Republicans have done to her, putting her through hours and hours of hearings that were never done under similar circumstances to other administration.

So, I'm really somebody that is trying to focus on what the issues are -- the urgencies of the day. A lot of Americans are struggling with everything from mental health challenges, autism, access to health care, all the way to senior citizens -- five million living in poverty right now on meager social security checks. We need a president that's going to focus on those things and actually be able to move the bar and help the American people.

CAMEROTA: Yes. And I want to ask you about the Supreme Court and the battle now over a replacement for Justice Antonin Scalia who passed away. Your name is included on the short list as a possible nominee candidate. What can you tell us about that?

BOOKER: I think it's very flattering. Trust me, I called my mom and made sure she looked at the clips. But in all seriousness, I feel like the most blessed person in the world. I'm two years into the Senate, elected by my state. People put their faith and trust in me to try to get a job done and I love my job, and every day I'm down here in Washington battling to move the ball. Hit singles and doubles for New Jersey and for our nation. And I'll tell you, I'm down here and finding incredible ways to

partner across the aisle with folks to do things that were not getting down, whether it's get new rail tunnels built underneath the Hudson, which is potentially making for a traffic Armageddon if we don't get those things done, to even bigger things like criminal justice reform and end this cancer on the soul of our country's mass incarceration.

CAMEROTA: Yes, and you talk about a lot of that in your new book called "United", and you write that we must work together. We must be more compassionate with each other. That sounds wonderful, senator. Who could disagree with that? But somehow in Washington they seem to be incapable of that. How do you propose these two polarized sides come together?

[07:49:13]

BOOKER: Well, first of all, it's not a Kumbaya, why can't we all get along book. It's actually a very difficult look at a challenging ideal, which is an American ideal -- interdependency. Remember, we're a country that started the Declaration of Independence with this idea that we pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, our sacred honor.

Patriotism, in and of itself, is not a sword to wield against somebody else that hey, I'm more patriotic than you. It's love of country, which necessitates love of countrymen and women despite our differences. Differences matter but our country matters more.

And so, two years down here in Washington I've found that there is opportunity to do big things if you're not first seeing somebody say oh, you're a Republican, I'm a Democrat. You're a Tea Party, or you're a Bernie Sanders supporter, I'm a Hillary Clinton supporter, and let that be the lens that really blocks out all the other light and commonality that we have. And so, we have an obligation as Americans to understand that nothing will change unless we do.

Alison Walker said the most common way people give up their power is not realizing they have it in the first place. And it's time that we begin to make a clarion call for us to exercise our power to heal our country because as the old African proverb says, if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together. Our nation must continue to go far and so we've got to find ways to start to bridge these distances, and these gaps, and these fissures in our society.

CAMEROTA: Well, that's a great message this morning, and the new book, again, is called "United". Sen. Cory Booker, thanks so much for being with us on NEW DAY.

BOOKER: Thank you for having me.

CAMEROTA: All right. After the Democrats vote in South Carolina the focus shifts to Super Tuesday. So what is the Clinton campaign strategy moving forward? We will ask her spokesman, up next.

[07:51:04] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:54:07]

CUOMO: All right. The South Carolina primary is coming up for the Democrats and last night was the last best chance for Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton to make their case to South Carolina voters in our town hall. Not just about taking questions from me, but people who are living situations with deep concerns.

So, how they connect on a human level? How did they make their case? We're getting perspective from both camps this morning. Let's bring in Brian Fallon. He's the press secretary for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Brian, it's good to be with you. What did you see as a benefit to last night for Sec. Clinton?

BRIAN FALLON, PRESS SECRETARY, HILLARY FOR AMERICA: Well, first of all, Chris, I think, yet again, you did an excellent job moderating that town hall. I really think these town hall formats have been very helpful to the process here and good for our party in general. And I think for Hillary Clinton it was one of her best appearances on the campaign trail to date. And the reason I say that is because I think that you really saw her connect in a true, honest way.

And I keep going back to that exchange that she had with that young woman who stood up and talked about wearing her hair naturally, and asked a very thoughtful, poignant question about what could be done to improve race relations in this country. And Hillary Clinton, in her thoughtful, nuanced way did not offer any overly-simplistic solutions because as we've seen seven years into the presidency of the first African-American president there are no easy solutions to something so challenging as that.

But she called on the five mothers to stand up. Those mothers that have been campaigning with her throughout South Carolina, who have lost their sons and daughters to gun violence or in police custody, and talked about how she would devote her presidency to removing the systemic barriers -- especially the barrier of racism that too often plagues so many aspects of our life here in American today from housing, to education, to the criminal justice system.

And so, I thought that was just one moment that really spoke to how raw and honest she was in that forum last night.

CUOMO: It certainly meant a lot to the people in the room and beyond to have those mothers there last night. Such a painful reminder of what the country has lived through recently. There's talk out of your camp that there's momentum now. What can you point to that puts some meat on the bones of why you believe this campaign is building up speed and in the right direction?

FALLON: Well, we were very pleased with the showing that we had in Nevada. That was a very close contest but we were fortunate to come out ahead. And now we're campaigning very hard in these closing days before South Carolina. But look, make no mistake. Sen. Sanders has 200 staffers on the ground. He's up on television, and one of his top supporters just the other day -- the former state party chair there in South Carolina -- predicted that if Sen. Sanders couldn't win he would at least close it down to single digits.

So, we're not taking anything for granted in South Carolina so we're going to be campaigning hard for the next several days. We also have an eye towards Super Tuesday which is just around the corner. There's going to be 11 states voting that day. And, look, we're clear about the fact that Sen. Sanders will be winning some states on Super Tuesday and into March.

But for us, it's always been a race for delegates. That's what it takes to clinch the nomination, so even in the states where Sen. Sanders may come out ahead, our plan is to garner as many delegates as possible. As a result of the outcome in Nevada the other day we took the lead in pledged delegates, 52-51. We intend to grow that pledge delegate lead throughout the month of March.

CUOMO: All right. So, we dealt with the plus, let's deal with the minus. Two beats -- the first one is that she was asked to release the speeches, not by the Republicans -- the speeches to Wall Street -- but by Bernie Sanders. The secretary's response last night was hey, I shouldn't be held to a different standard. When everybody releases their speeches I will, too. But isn't that a little bit of a misdirection? This isn't about the GOP. Sen. Sanders is the one making the request for the speeches. And is not providing those transcripts, once again, fueling the intrigue of the unknown? That question of is Hillary Clinton hiding something.

FALLON: Well, Chris, it's interesting you bring up Sen. Sanders. As recently as two weeks ago he was saying that he didn't want to join in on the attacks on this issue. That is was her decision whether to release the transcripts. And now, as a result of the outcome in Nevada, I assume he's changing his tune on that and openly attacking her over this. That's unfortunate.

Look, there are certain things that a presidential campaign and a presidential contender is expected to make public. Tax returns, their health records. Some of the leading presidential candidates have not yet done even that. Hillary Clinton has. If it is going to be the new normal for presidential candidates that have given speeches to release the transcripts of those speeches, that's something that Hillary Clinton will be happy to participate in.

But there shouldn't be one standard for Hillary Clinton and another for everyone else, because as we've seen there's multiple candidates in this race that have given speeches, some in exchange for fees higher even than Sec. Clinton. And so we shouldn't have a double standard. I think that's the point that she was making last night.

CUOMO: Right. The question is does it fuel the drip, drip, drip that has haunted Hillary Clinton that she often talks about, as well. Brian Fallon, appreciate your perspective as the press secretary for the campaign this morning on NEW DAY, as always.

FALLON: Thank you for having me. CUOMO: Absolutely. All right, so we talked to the Clinton camp. I'm going to talk to the Sander's campaign as well, but first there are other big stories to tell you about. What happened in the caucuses in Nevada? What's going on with this horrible weather over parts of the country? So, let's get right to it.