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Four Dead, 14 Injured in Kansas Workplace Shooting; Rubio & Cruz Ambush Trump in Fiery Debate; Cruz Slams Neutrality, Pledges to Support Israel; Rubio, Trump Clash Over Immigration; Former Mexican President: "Not Paying for That F**king Wall; Countdown to Hollywood's Big Night. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired February 26, 2016 - 07:30   ET

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

[07:30:00]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: -- killing three people and wounding 14 others.

T. WALTON, SHERIFF, HARVEY COUNTY, KS: Law enforcement confronted the shooter, gunfire was exchanged, and law enforcement shot and killed the shooter.

FLORES: Identified by a co-worker as 38-year-old Cedric Ford.

MATT JARRELL, CO-WORKER: I witnessed him shoot the shots. I saw the shell cases come out of the assault rifle.

FLORES: At 4:57 p.m. local time Thursday, authorities receiving a call about a man shooting from a vehicle. One person shot in the shoulder, another reportedly shot in the leg. Minutes later, Ford allegedly entered Excel Industries, where he worked and had clocked in earlier that morning, proceeding to unload a long gun on the almost- 150 people in the building at the time. Authorities saying victims were randomly shot.

DYLAN, WITNESS TO SHOOTING: We heard a pop, pop and we thought it was just metal falling on the ground, and then the doors opened, people started screaming, coming out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was just unloading on everybody and I told the girls that were working on my line, I said let's go. Let's run.

FLORES: Police arriving on the scene minutes after the gunman opened fire. The first police officer on scene single-handedly taking down the shooter. Witnesses to the gruesome bloodbath in shock.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Never in a million years something you would imagine that would happen.

FLORES: Those who knew the shooter, grasping for answers.

JOHN JONES, SUSPECT'S NEIGHBOR: I wouldn't think he would have done that. I mean, he loved his kids and he was a good guy. (END VIDEOTAPE)

FLORES: Now, as authorities continue to look for a motive in this case, the sheriff tells us that at 3:30 yesterday the subject was served with a protection from abuse. The first shot, the sheriff tells us, was about at 5:00 -- Alisyn.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST: Rosa, please keep us updated if you find out anymore this morning from the authorities there. Thank you for that update. Turning back to politics now, Ted Cruz focusing his energy on trying to take down Donald Trump. So will the senator's aggressive approach pay off and is Super Tuesday a make or break moment for Ted Cruz? Cruz's new communications director joins us next.

[07:32:12]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:37:38] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN HOST: Two very different styles of going after Trump on this play last night in the big GOP debate. Rubio was going right at him barb for barb. But, Sen. Ted Cruz was doing something else. He was making a case against Donald Trump in the moment, going after, specifically, his conservative credentials. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TED CRUZ (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Donald is right. He is promising if he's elected he will go and cut deals in Washington, and he's right. He has supported -- he has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democrats. Anyone who really cared about illegal immigration wouldn't be hiring illegal immigrants. Anyone who really cared about illegal immigration wouldn't be funding Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi -- wouldn't be funding the Gang of Eight.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: Ted Cruz -- theory of the case last night was very clear. Donald Trump is not a conservative and if you put him into a general election he makes this party vulnerable. Did it stick? Well, let's get some confirmation this morning from Ted Cruz's communication director, Alice Stewart. It's great to have you this morning with us. So, what was the strategy last night and what do you think the net result was?

ALICE STEWART, TED CRUZ COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Well, the strategy was to demonstrate, as you just said, to point out --

CUOMO: I got it right?

STEWART: You did. You got it. Two thumbs up. To point out that Donald Trump is not a conservative. To point out that he has a lifetime of donating to Democrat liberal candidates, and to point out that he has stood on the left side of every issue that is important to Republican voters. And as Ted did last night -- held him accountable. Asked him the questions directly. Forced him to answer to his policies and he did as he always does. He calls him a liar, changing the subject, attacks the messenger.

And I think it was quite effective because we did learn last night on several fronts, Donald Trump supports socialized medicine. He has always supported socialized medicine. It's the same as Bernie Sanders. That's not what this country needs.

CUOMO: Are you drawing that from when Trump was saying I won't let people die on the sidewalks?

STEWART: When Ted asked him repeatedly -- directly -- do you support socialized medicine, he never answered the question.

CUOMO: He kept saying I won't let people die on the sidewalks.

STEWART: And he never answered the question and that's the key. He never answered the question on that, and another key distinction was he shares the same view when it comes to our greatest ally in the East is Israel, as Hillary Clinton. And he says Donald's position on that is we should remain neutral in that. No, we shouldn't. We should support Israel and we should not remain neutral in the Israeli- Palestinian issue. And those are important issues to the American people.

And as Ted said, when you say that you're strong on the immigration issue, you don't have a lifetime of hiring illegal immigrants. It's disingenuous and contradictory to say that you will stand firm on the immigration issue when your own actions in your past have been to hire illegal immigrants.

CUOMO: Another high profile angle that Sen. Cruz took last night was that there's a reason that Democrats want and/or like Donald Trump, including Sen. Harry Reid. Let's play that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CRUZ: There is a reason why when Harry Reid was asked of all the people on this stage who does he want the most? Who does he like the most? Harry Reid said Donald Trump. Why? Because Donald has supported him in the past and he knows he can cut a deal --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: Now, the last part of that is why I am playing it. This is me, so clearly, I'm not doing it just to boost Cruz. What happened there was, as a form of attack he's saying Donald will cut deals with these guys. Isn't there a danger in doing that? That you're sending a message loudly and clearly that Ted Cruz will not compromise with anybody about anything. Then how can you get anything done?

STEWART: Well, you can get a lot done in Washington by standing firm on your principles and not wavering on that. And also, another devout Democrat has said Donald Trump would be a good candidate. Jimmy Carter said he would be a good candidate because he's malleable and he would do whatever the Democrats would say. And the way you make your case in Washington if there's others that

don't agree with you, is you take it to the people. That's what Ronald Reagan did. When he wanted to get something done and was facing opposition in Washington, he took it to their bosses -- the people -- and created a movement with the people. They, in turn --

[07:37:38] CUOMO: But, Reagan worked a lot with the other side, as well. He, with George H.W. Bush -- they worked a lot. I mean, make the case for why Ted Cruz -- the green eggs and ham -- brought him to public consciousness. But it was also a very a very stark demonstration of his resolve to gum up the works and have nothing happen in the name of principle. Is that progress?

STEWART: Well, standing firm on principle is something that should be commended in Washington. And as he said last night, standing firm to protect the constitution as Donald tried to get him to back down on that. He will never apologize for standing firm on the constitution. He will never apologize or back down on standing firm on principles.

CUOMO: Sounds like a Supreme Court Justice-type of statement more than a politician. You've got to work with people who don't agree with you. You have to work with people who don't like what you want, and why. So what do you do in those situations?

STEWART: Well, as I said, when he's elected, as he was a U.S. senator, he runs on certain principles. Standing firm for the constitution, working to remove Obamacare, his tax policies -- the flat tax will help with the economy, abolishing the IRS.

CUOMO: As one of a hundred you can be a stalwart. It works. It works for Ted Cruz. That's a big reason why he is where is he right now. But, as president, you don't think you have to have a different skill set in terms of how to get things done?

STEWART: Well, he can certainly get things done. As I said, when he's elected by the people of this country they know one thing for sure is that he's going to stand firm on his principles, and people will come to the table. And that's part of the process -- is bringing people to the table, listening to both sides, and if the ball doesn't move down the field then you take it to the people.

And that's why currently -- right now, he's polling well here in Texas, his home state. We're expecting to have a great night next week. We're expecting to have a great night through Super Tuesday. I think one of the key takeaways as we head into March 1st is Ted's doing well here, we expect to do well in several of the other states.

Marco Rubio is behind in his own home state of Florida. Donald Trump is beating him by double digits in Florida and I think the key -- what we saw last night was that the candidates needed to make their case that they can stand up to Donald Trump.

Ted is the only one who has taken on Donald and beaten him in the Iowa caucus. He's also the only one to the American people that can take on Hillary Clinton, as he pointed out last night. Donald Trump can't go against Hillary Clinton on the health care issues and issues that are important.

CUOMO: That was his case last night.

STEWART: Absolutely, yet, Ted can. He can stand up to him on the health care issues and issues of the economy and Israel, and that's what we need. Someone that can take on Hillary Clinton.

CUOMO: Alice Stewart, thank you very much.

STEWART: Thank you.

CUOMO: I need you to come back on NEW DAY because you have to tell me the story of those handshakes between Marco and Ted Cruz behind Donald's back during the breaks in the debate last night. I want to hear that story.

STEWART: Those were the good stories.

CUOMO: I know. Again, that's how I get you back. That's the big one. All right, so Donald Trump. After what happened in Nevada, he said look at that victory. There's going to be a lot more of that. And guess what? It's proof that Latinos do love me. That's what Donald Trump said. There's a new poll, though, that gives a new perspective straight ahead.

[07:42:54]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:45:02] CUOMO: Donald Trump's rivals slamming the GOP front- runner on his immigration policy during CNN's Republican debate last night as a new poll tell us what? The brash billionaire is not doing as well with Latino voters -- at least not as well as he says he is. Let's discuss with Alfonso Aguilar, the executive director of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles and former chief of the U.S. Office of Citizenship. It's great to have you with me this morning.

ALFONSO AGUILAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LATINO PARTNERSHIP FOR CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES: Thank you so much for having me.

CUOMO: So, that poll -- let's pop it up there again. Not a pretty story for Donald Trump.

AGUILAR: No.

CUOMO: Frankly, not a pretty story for anyone in the GOP right now. The only one I think is positive on the plus-negative with Latinos is Rubio, and just slightly. Cruz in negative territory on a positive- negative basis. Trump really big -- 80 percent, 70 percent, saying that they find him objectionable. Your take?

AGUILAR: Well, it's not surprising and that's something that Latino analysts have been saying for a long time. He's just not popular with Latinos.

CUOMO: Then why did he win in Nevada with Latinos?

AGUILAR: Well, the Latino electorate in the Republican caucus in Nevada is extremely small, so the fact that he got over 44-45 percent really doesn't mean much. You cannot conclude anything from the results in Nevada, really.

CUOMO: But if he got 70-80 percent say we don't like him, it seems to resonate around this idea of how he feels about immigrants. He would say only illegal immigrants. People would say even that's offensive. It should be undocumented. He says that's P.C. But if it's that important on that issue that you have 70-80 percent who don't like him, how do 45 percent have such a different perspective in Nevada?

AGUILAR: Again, we cannot conclude too much from Nevada. It's a very particular caucus. That number came from a sample from entrance and exit polls of about 158 Latino voters, so we cannot generalize or make any broad conclusions from those results.

CUOMO: You would know. I mean, this is your business and your passion -- is understanding where that community is and why. Now, a big flashpoint just came up again, literally, on the same day as the debate with former Mexican president, Vicente Fox. Let's remind everybody of how -- what would be the right word -- vociferously, you know -- passionately Vicente Fox talked about not wanting to pay for a wall and why. Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VICENTE FOX, FORMER MEXICAN PRESIDENT: I declare, I'm not going to pay for that (bleep) wall. He should pay for it. He's got the money.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The wall just got 10 feet taller, believe me. I can only tell you if I would have used even half of that word it would have been national scandal. This guy used a filthy, disgusting word on television and he should be ashamed of himself, and he should apologize, OK?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: All right, let's leave aside the irony that Donald Trump if offended by somebody's harsh language. Vicente Fox -- well, he's not the current president. He is a strong representative example of the nationalistic feeling of many Mexicans on this issue. So, the way that plays out -- what is the plus-minus in terms of trying to court all Latino voters? Is there any upside in holding this position?

[07:48:10] AGUILAR: Not at all. I mean, for Trump it may help him with his base. And I think last night he did well in policing his base -- that 30 or 35 percent.

CUOMO: I think this even helps him with his base to have Fox being angry and cursing about the wall.

AGUILAR: Correct, but it's still a minority within the Republican base -- those who oppose immigration reform. It's about 30 to 35 percent, and those voters are very loyal to Trump. They've been with him from the beginning of his campaign. But the problem is that, again, if you look -- and survey after survey shows this -- his favorability rating with Latinos remain extremely high.

So if he were the GOP nominee there's just no way he could get enough Latino support to win battleground states where the Latino vote has become decisive. States like Florida, Nevada, Colorado. So, I've said that if becomes the nominee, clearly he cannot win the White House just because he wouldn't have the Latino vote that's necessary to get there.

I mean, people say that a Republican candidate would need around 40 percent of the Latino vote nationally to win the White House. Donald Trump cannot get there. But, however, having said that, we saw last night that not every candidate is like Donald Trump, like Democrats like to say.

CUOMO: Who's the best for Latinos on the stage last night?

AGUILAR: Essentially, Marco Rubio, but you had Gov. Kasich, and Dr. Carson, and Marco Rubio supporting legalization.

CUOMO: Not last night. Rubio had a very strong position and he was using it against Trump.

AGUILAR: No, no, no. Well, no.

CUOMO: He was saying that --

AGUILAR: He was saying that Donald Trump has flip-flopped, which is true.

CUOMO: Well, he might have been saying that Trump would let people back in and Rubio was finding that objectionable.

AGUILAR: And allow them to become citizens.

CUOMO: Yes.

AGUILAR: But, Rubio has been very consistent from the very beginning that he supports legalization. What he's saying is -- I'm not sure -- he's not changing his position, he's changing tactics. He's saying let's try -- with the current environment in Congress, to get immigration reform done we have to secure the border first.

Once we do that, then we can provide a path to legal status from documented immigrants. But his position hasn't changed. I mean, I find it really frustrating when Democrats generalize and say all the Republican candidates are like Donald Trump. But we saw last night, even Dr. Carson saying, I would provide them a six-month period to register and they eventually could have a path to legal status.

CUOMO: Mr. Aguilar, that's why we want you here. To make the case about what's going on with the net party and what it means going forward.

AGUILAR: Thank you so much for having me. CUOMO: Come back again.

AGUILAR: I will.

CUOMO: Alisyn, back to you in New York.

CAMEROTA: OK, Chris. Let's inject some glamour into this show as we all get ready for the Oscars this Sunday. How will host, Chris Rock, handle the diversity controversy? Michaela Pereira joins us live from Hollywood with her fabulous self and all of the glamour, coming up. Talk to you in a minute.

[07:52:58]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:56:26] CAMEROTA: All right. The Academy Awards are this Sunday night and a lot of folks are interested in seeing how the show's host, Chris Rock, will handle the #OscarsSoWhite controversy. Our own Michaela Pereira is on the red carpet in Hollywood with an Oscars preview. Michaela, great to see you. So, what are you going to be paying attention to this weekend?

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN HOST: Well, listen, there's so much to pay attention to this weekend but I think, obviously, as you mentioned, Chris Rock. He is not known to shy away from controversy. Word is he is working his material around town. He takes his craft very seriously, and you best believe that he is very aware of the temperature in the nation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PEREIRA: Chris Rock returning as host of the Academy Awards for the second time.

CHRIS ROCK, HOST, ACADEMY AWARDS: What's easier and better than presenting? You come in, you do something really funny, and you get out of there.

PEREIRA: The comedian, not yet set on his act, sat down with a Hollywood reporter weeks before the backlash over all 20 of the acting nominees being white.

ROCK: You know you do a pretty decent monologue and be funny two or three other times throughout the show, you'll be fine. If you get off on the wrong foot, though, it's a real hard hole to dig yourself out of.

PEREIRA: Sunday will be the first time hearing from the comic since some actors calls to boycott the show and for Rock to step down as host. Fellow comedian Steve Harvey made this plea on his show Thursday.

STEVE HARVEY, HOST, THE STEVE HARVEY SHOW: He has got to host this show. I want you to be so black that you represent the funny actors that ain't coming that night. PEREIRA: Vice President Joe Biden will be there pushing the White House's campaign against sexual assault, presenting Lada Gaga's performance of "Till It Happens To You."

All eyes are on overwhelming favorite Leonardo DiCaprio to finally bring home gold. Nominated five times, this year odds are in his favor to win best actor.

Sylvester Stallone has a good chance at nabbing his first Oscar as best supporting actor in Creed, playing Rocky Balboa, a role he was nominated for 39 years ago.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been in the world 37 hours.

PEREIRA: And Oscar newcomer, Brie Larson, could also be a winner for best actress in Room.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CAMEROTA: So, Michaela, it's going to be a very exciting night and some people, of course, are tuning in for the controversy. Some people are tuning in for the movies, but some people tune in for the glamour and all of the outfits. I can't believe you left New York without showing me the dress you'll be wearing.

PEREIRA: Oh, darling. Oh, darling.

CAMEROTA: Care to give us just a preview?

PEREIRA: Ok, so the real talk is I brought two because last year a crisis was narrowly averted that I almost wore the exact same dress as another person on our air. So, I have two dresses and we're just going to roll a dice and see what happens -- which color I feel like. You know, I'm not the only person on the red carpet, by the way.

The media is already here, as well -- our friends from the media. You can start to feel the energy here. As the sun eventually will begin to come up we're going to feel the excitement building. The big difference, though, from last year, though -- just from a red carpet coverage standpoint -- it's dry as a bone. Not a lick of rain and we could not be happier, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Amen. That will make it a lot easier. All right, Michaela, I can't wait to watch your coverage. Thanks so much for a preview here.

PEREIRA: You got it.

CAMEROTA: All right. We're following live news this morning. Let's get right to it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: This guy's a choke artist and this guy's a liar.

RUBIO: If he builds a wall the way he built Trump Towers, he'll be using illegal immigrant labor to do it.

TRUMP: I got along with everybody.