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Trump to GOP: Don't Block Me; Cruz Sees A Two-Man Race With Trump; Clinton, Sanders Spar In Fiery Flint Debate; Remembering Nancy Reagan. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired March 07, 2016 - 07:30   ET

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

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[07:33:00]

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DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: As a party we should come together and stop this foolishness. If they run a third party or an independent party -- if they do that, it will make it impossible for the Republican candidate, on the assumption it's me, for anybody to win.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: All right, that was Donald Trump warning the GOP against any attempts to block him as the Republican nominee, saying he will take all of this voters with him. Ted Cruz trying to close the delegate deficit this weekend, beating Trump in two states. Will the race go all the way to a brokered convention?

Let's bring in chief strategist and communications director of the RNC, Sean Spicer. Sean, great to have you here in the studio.

SEAN SPICER, CHIEF STRATEGIST AND COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, RNC: Good morning. Thank you.

CAMEROTA: Do you see this headed for a brokered convention? Is that how this is all adding up?

SPICER: Let's put it in perspective. We've got 906 of 2,472 delegates so far selected.

CAMEROTA: Don't try to wow me with your math this morning.

SPICER: I went to a liberal arts college. There's no math involved. And so, we're about a third of the way through. We've got another 150 delegates this week. Three-hundred or so on the 15th. We start getting that key winner-take-all phase for Florida and Ohio, and eight other states are going to be winner-take-all between now and the end.

There's an opportunity for some folks to break away, but just to keep things, again, in context, if you won every single delegate -- all of them -- going forward today, no candidate could reach the 1,237 required to be the nominee until April 26th. So, that's literally impossible. So, we basically guarantee that we won't have a nominee right now until May.

CAMEROTA: Wow. That is an interesting perspective in terms of the calendar and how it's all going to shake out. Let's talk about what happened over this weekend. Ted Cruz won two states, Donald Trump won two states, Marco Rubio won Puerto Rico. John Kasich was never planning, he says, to win any of these states. He has his eyes set on Michigan and Ohio. So, let's just -- in terms of the math, and your wizardry at it, Cruz and Trump are now both in the 300's. What surprised you about what happened this weekend?

[07:35:15]

SPICER: Well, I think, look -- this race is tightening. We're down to four candidates. People are focusing, really, on those choices. It's not the 17 that we started off with. And so, you're seeing a bit of that tightening. There's some opportunities to break away, but again, as you pointed out, we're not that far apart when it looks at where everyone stands.You've got two of the folks in the 300's, another person 150 back, but this is not some kind of far and wide race.

CAMEROTA: But, let's look at the numbers again because it's really interesting to look at. If you just look at Louisiana, case in point, about what happened there. How different the polling was, that what ended up happening. Donald Trump was supposed to run away with it basically. He was going to, at projection, get 46 -- almost 47 percent. Then the results were much tighter than expected. He got 41 and Ted Cruz got 38.

SPICER: Right. One of the things that was really interesting in the exit polls in both that race and several others is there's somewhat of a disparity sometimes between states that have early vote and day-of voting, and that's where we're seeing a lot of the discrepancy in the polling. When you look at the early vote it matches up a lot more with what the public polling says in day-of votes are different. And I think what that is having an effect on is two things. One is advertising and two is ground game. Those are where really that ground game comes into play.

CAMEROTA: As you know, 2012 nominee Mitt Romney has been coming and publicly basically saying vote for anyone but Trump. I mean, he feels as though Trump would ruin the Republican Party. He was asked this weekend on "MEET THE PRESS" whether or not he would be ready to step in if need be at the convention. Let me play that for you.

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MITT ROMNEY (R), 2012 PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I don't think anyone in our party should say oh no. Even if the people of the party wanted me to be the president I would say no to it. No one's going to say that. But I can tell you this. I'm not a candidate, I'm not going to be a candidate. I'm going to be endorsing one of the people who's running for president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Is there any scenario in your mind by which something like that happens?

SPICER: No. Look, we're going to have a nominee that gets 1,237 delegates. That will be our nominee.

CAMEROTA: But, before the convention?

SPICER: Well, that's up to the voters and the delegates to decide. I still think we're on track for that to happen. That's always what's happened in the traditional. It's a nice parlor game to play now. I still believe that we're at 85 percent certainty that we will have a nominee going into that convention. Whoever gets that 1,237 will be our nominee and have the full support and resources of the RNC to win in November, plain and simple.

CAMEROTA: I know that you have no horse in this race. You represent the RNC. You don't ever say that you favor one candidate over another. Would it help the party for people to begin dropping out?

SPICER: Well, I don't know, in the sense that I think every candidate has got to make a decision how much support they have, do they have the resources to go forward? Those are decisions for candidates and voters to make, not anyone in Washington. Not, especially, for the RNC.

The beauty of this process -- we started out with 17 amazing candidates. Very historic in terms of the level of qualification, the diversity there -- and it's the voters who have made that decision. They've decided who to move forward, who they're going to provide their resources and votes to, and it will be ultimately up to them who continues to go forward.

CAMEROTA: At the beginning of this, did you ever imagine that you would find yourself in this situation with the most unconventional race that people say they've ever seen?

SPICER: Well, I am excited that the level of enthusiasm has gone up. At the beginning we talked about record debate turnouts and it was where is that going to head? And, we've looked now -- almost every single state, including Puerto Rico last night, you saw a record turnout on the Republican side. And on the Democratic side you're seeing very -- almost in every one of them, lows to below 2008 levels when they last had a contest.

I think the enthusiasm, the intensity are on the Republican side, and what's happening is that it's actually showing in the vote. And when you look at battleground states -- states that we have to win in November -- we're up almost 100-120 percent in those states in terms of turnout and registration. That's really good for our party.

CAMEROTA: Well, of course, in head-to-head matchups, Hillary Clinton, in the latest polls, wins.

SPICER: Well, there already kind of moved onto a general election phase. She is looking at the general. We've still us a ways to go, but at the end of the day -- again, remember, these are going to come down to a lot of battleground states. In thebattleground states the intensity is coming onto the Republican side, not their side.

CAMEROTA: John Spicer, great to have you here in the studio. Thanks so much for being here -- Michaela.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOUR: All right, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders squaring off in a contentious debate. The Clinton camp calling his tone, at times, disrespectful. We'll get reaction from team Sanders, next.

[07:39:42]

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[07:43:45]

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton clashing in a contentious debate last night. Sanders taking his most direct approach to date with the former Secretary of State. Here's a listen.

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HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He voted against the money that ended up saving the auto industry. I think that is a pretty big difference.

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, if you are talking about the Wall Street bailout where some of your friends destroyed this economy --

CLINTON: You know --

SANDERS: Excuse me, I'm talking.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: Let him --

CLINTON: If you're going to talk, tell the whole story, Sen. Sanders.

SANDERS: Let me tell my story, you tell yours.

CLINTON: I will, OK.

SANDERS: No, wait a minute. Can I finish? You'll have your turn, all right? And, essentially, your position is there should not be any guns in America, period.

CLINTON: That's is like the NRA position. No.

SANDERS: Can I -- can I finish, please? All right?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: All right, save a few headlines coming out of there. Let's discuss what mattered and why with Tad Devine, senior media advisor for Bernie 2016. Good to have you this morning, Tad.

TAD DEVINE, SENIOR MEDIA ADVISER, BERNIE 2106: Thanks, Chris. CUOMO: Substantively, there were two big pressure points last night. The bailout, and then you can pick your second choice anywhere else.

DEVINE: How about trade? Let's talk about trade, OK?

CUOMO: We'll get to that as well.

DEVINE: Sure.

CUOMO: The question about the auto bailout seemed to give Bernie Sanders some pause. Do you think that was a vulnerability for him last night with that audience?

DEVINE: No, I don't. I think it was a vulnerability for Hillary Clinton because what she did was so utterly disingenuous -- so false. She said Bernie Sanders opposed the auto bailout. On December 11th, 2008 he voted on the floor of the United States Senate to bail out the auto industry.

She knew that, but nevertheless she wants to mislead people here in Michigan and elsewhere on the eve of an election. Bernie supported the auto bailout. He voted for it in the Senate. Forty Republicans, 50 Democrats, and two Independents joined him.

CUOMO: It was the second vote she was talking about.

[07:45:48]

DEVINE: Yes. No, what she was talking about was the TARP. Was the bailout of Wall Street. And to take that money and just say aha, you're against the auto industry because Bernie Sanders said the middle class of America should not bail out Wall Street, is totally, utterly disingenuous. And it speaks to her great weakness as a candidate that she cannot be believed.

CUOMO: But it is true what she's saying, that there was a lot of money in that bill that went for the auto companies and he did not vote to have that money given to them. That's not untrue.

DEVINE: No. Listen, it's true that the $350 billion, which was the second half of the TARP, contained the $14 billion that ultimately wound up bailing out the auto industry. Bernie supported bailing out the auto industry. He voted for it on the floor of the Senate.

Hillary knew that and she's very clever in what she says. She didn't say you voted against the bailout. She said you voted against the money for the bailout, OK? That money was part of the second half of a $700 billion bailout of Wall Street that she and others supported and Bernie opposed. And I think he's very proud of that opposition, and he should be.

CUOMO: And that's the point about the NRA, as well. Why do I call it that? Because Hillary Clinton said last night -- and just to identify the criticism -- this is the NRA position. That we need absolute immunity for our production in order to function in America, and they wound up getting it. Bernie Sanders was in favor of that. That's her criticism. Bernie Sanders says no, that's unfair. How so?

DEVINE: Well, it's unfair because logically if you follow her position, which Bernie did last night, it would result in no guns being manufactured in the United States. She's in favor of trade policies that ship jobs, like the jobs that they have here in Michigan, to China and elsewhere. I guess she's in favor of policies that ship every gun manufacturer to foreign countries, as well.

CUOMO: And no other industry gets immunity like that. That's the part he didn't specifically address.

DEVINE: Sure, I understand that. When Bernie said he voted for that bill originally it was because a lot of small gun shop owners in his state of Vermont came to him and said listen, we're going to go out of business, OK? And he has been someone who's supported the little guy throughout the course of his career. He has also said recently that he would be willing to sign onto legislation to deal with that issue and support it.

So, Hillary's trying to make an issue out of a place where there is no disagreement. She has joined Bernie on a number of things like TARP. Like the TTP, opposing it. The Trans-Pacific agreement. She has joined him on the Keystone Pipeline. Last night at the debate, itself, she joined him on calling for the resignation of the governor of Michigan. So, she's joined him on a lot of things.

On this issue of immunity, he has said yes, he would support a bill and has signed on as a co-sponsor of the bill today in the United States Senate to deal with that issue. So, there is no difference on that issue was we stand here today.

CUOMO: The senator is getting some criticism for tone last night. No, nothing like the GOP, but the point is you guys says you're better than them, you're operating under different rules of decorum. So, do you believe that Sen. Sanders was unusually agitated last night and it wound up being expressed as him being somewhat disrespectful to Sec. Clinton?

DEVINE: I don't think he was disrespectful at all. I think she constantly interrupted him. I think she constantly distorted his record. And I think he felt the need to speak about that. And I think he did so in a respectful way. You know, last night they were comparing Bernie to Rick Lazio in the debate that he had with her in the Senate. I remember that. Lazio walked across the stage and practically mugged her, OK? So, no, it was nothing like that.

CUOMO: I don't know that Rick Lazio would agree with that assessment but it was a big moment in that debate when he walked across with the papers and then Hillary Clinton seemed to be very off put by that and the audience seemed to respond, as well. Tad Devine, thank you very much for making the case for Bernie Sanders on NEW DAY. You are always welcome, sir.

DEVINE: Thank you, Chris.

CUOMO: All right. So, you've heard both sides defend what happened in the debate last night. What do you think? Tweet us @NewDay. Post your comment on Facebook.com/NewDay. And remember, you're there to make arguments, not insults -- Michaela.

PEREIRA: Always a good reminder, Chris. All right, so we're remembering Nancy Reagan, as is much of the nation. One of the most influential first ladies of the 20th century. Her marriage to President Reagan, a true love story. Their son is now speaking out about his mothers' passing. Ahead, we'll speak with people who knew the first family well.

[07:50:20]

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[07:54:01]

PEREIRA: The nation is remembering Nancy Reagan. The former first lady died Sunday at the age of 94. Married to President Ronald Reagan for 52 years before his death back in 2004.

Joining us now are two men who knew her personally. CNN's political commentator and former Reagan White House political director, Jeffrey Lord, and CNN presidential historian and editor of the "Reagan Diaries", Douglas Brinkley.

Gentlemen, this is really wonderful to have you both here to lend some perspective as we recognize the passing of our former first lady. Douglas, interesting, because you had a chance to edit the "Reagan Diaries", released in 2007, with the support of Mrs. Reagan. She sat down with Larry King back in those days. Let's listen to this.

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NANCY REAGAN, FORMER FIRST LADY: Nobody writes anymore.

LARRY KING, FORMER CNN HOST: I know.

REAGAN: I mean, this of course, a diary, it's out of the question. Nobody's going to do that. And, imagine historically to see the diary with his handwriting.

KING: Is it hard for you -- hard for you to look at it?

REAGAN: In a way.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PEREIRA: I think the thing that moves so many of us, especially as jaded journalists, Douglas, is this love affair. This love story between the two of them. They were first lady and president but there was great love between the two.

DOUGLAS BRINKLEY, CNN PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: And that's what everybody's commenting on. In fact, when Ifinally read those diaries -- all that handwritten notations from the president. Page after page, thick volumes of this material -- my takeaway was Nancy Reagan's everywhere in it.

But most amazingly is he would start meditating on her being gone for a half a day if she had an event she had to go to. When is she coming back? I went to the window and Nancy's not back yet. So, you know, it's really quite -- you really start -- when you read that much material -- start recognizing that they were not only a great love story, but a codependency and in many ways shared the presidency.

CAMEROTA: Oh, my gosh. Well, I want to ask you about that, Jeffrey, because you were in the White House during Ronald Reagan's time. What was Nancy's influence?

JEFFREY LORD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Oh, she had tremendous influence, perhaps most notably in the firing of Don Regan as the White House Chief of Staff. He was picked over somebody, frankly, who was my boss, Drew Lewis, who we thought was going to be the new White House Chief of Staff after the 1984 election, and it went to Don Regan instead.

And Don Regan was a very talented guy, but he was just in the wrong job. And he got on the south side of Nancy Reagan fairly quickly. And while that didn't particularly matter all that much, it mattered finally when we got to the Iran-Contra scandal. And she was extremely upset. She felt he hadn't done his job. She wanted him fired. But in her defense, it sort of made it seem like she was out there to get him and she was the one who got it done. In point of fact, Don Regan was very unpopular on Capitol Hill and in the media. But she certainly pursued it and finally President Reagan got the point here and let him go.

PEREIRA: She wielded her influence to a point that some referred to her as the dragon lady. We know that the image of her, obviously since she left the White House, Douglas, has changed as it often does with anybody that's in the White House. But in terms of who she was, really interesting to hear her son's recollection. Let's listen to some sound from him.

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RON REAGAN, JR.: Nancy Reagan was a woman who was totally dedicated to her husband, and I know that sounds anti-feminist, but I don't really mean it in that way. She loved her husband more than anything in the world, and I think that you can make the case that the Ronald Reagan that we all came to know as president would not have existed without Nancy Reagan.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PEREIRA: Such an interesting time. Alisyn and I were talking about this, Douglas. An interesting time for women, and she had kind of a different role at a time when women's roles were changing. But as the current President Obama said yesterday, she redefined the role of first lady, didn't she?

BRINKLEY: She did redefine it in certain ways. One thing she did, she came in and Jimmy Carter had banned alcohol in the White House. She allowed alcohol to come in. Then she said let's redo the White House some, and then she started really trying to inject a sense of fashion and tone during the 1980's. She got critics for doing that.

But she was always very even-keeled. And as for people worried about her, Peggy Noonan the speech writer recently in her memoirs said gosh, when I saw Nancy Reagan I'd get so scared I'd hide behind a pillar. And I've interviewed many people that said when Nancy Reagan called, I would just freeze because a hard word from her could make grown men quake. She was tough and it was all about not denting her husband. Don't you dare take a swipe at him.

CAMEROTA: And Jeffrey, I mean to that point, her son Ron, Jr. did talk about why she somehow aroused more ire sometimes from critics than even President Reagan. So listen to what he said this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RON REAGAN, JR: Well, I think it was tough for her in the White House because there was a lot of anger that could have been directed at my father, but my father was a person who was almost impossible to dislike as a human being. And she was a little more, let's say, complicated a personality than he was. She made an easier target, I think.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Jeffrey, what do you think of that dynamic?

LORD: Well, she was very determined to protect him, and Ron is quite right. I mean, President Reagan was quite amiable, quite easy to get along with. I can give you one instance. In the White House political office in the fall of 1986 we had to keep the Senate. So, when President Reagan was on the campaign trail, and of course that was interrupted by the Reykjavik summit. So, when he came back and we were sending him across country to campaign for Senate candidates, we foolishly got him to the west coast on the schedule and then we were going to fly him back to the White House.

Mrs. Reagan called and said he may be president, but my husband is 75. You're not slinging (ph) him across America and bringing him back in the same day. He stays in California overnight. Case closed. Thank you.

PEREIRA: Wow, it shows the power she wielded. Jeffrey, Douglas, thank you so much. We're going to continue to remember the first lady throughout the day here on CNN. We are following certainly a lot of news today, including a look at the Democratic debate. Let's get to it.

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SANDERS: What I saw literally shattered me.

CLINTON: Let's have some facts instead of some rhetoric for a change.

SANDERS: Well, let me tell you. I don't want to break the bad news. And the cracks are not always right.

CLINTON: America didn't stop being great.

SANDERS: Some of your friends destroyed this economy.

CLINTON: You know --

SANDERS: Excuse me, I'm talking.

SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If someone keeps punching people in the face, eventually someone's going to have to stand up and punch them back.

TRUMP: I'd call for him to drop out of the race.