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Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders Debate in Florida; Republican Presidential Candidates Prepare for Upcoming Debate; Interview with Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart. Aired 8-8:30a ET

Aired March 10, 2016 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:00] DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Couldn't be elected dog catcher.

I'm watching Marco sweating like a dog on my right.

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Trump seems to have a way with pups. Remember the time he yelled at a reporter?

TRUMP: Sit down. Sit down. Sit down.

MOOS: Jimmy Kimmel, tested the command on actual dogs.

TRUMP: Sit down. Sit down. Sit down.

(LAUGHTER)

MOOS: Three out of four sat. Sit down and pledge.

TRUMP: I do solemnly swear.

MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN.

TRUMP: Raise your right hand.

MOOS: New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: No one does quite like Jeanne.

All right, we're following a whole lot of news. Let's get right to it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am not a natural politician, in case you haven't noticed.

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He wants to be Don Rickles, and he's not Don Rickles.

SEN. MARCO RUBIO, (R-FL) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: At the end of the day you know that's not something I'm entirely proud of.

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Madam Secretary, I would match my record against yours any day of the week.

TRUMP: We are seriously going to make America great again.

CLINTON: You don't make America great by getting rid of everything that made America great.

SANDERS: One of the major political upsets of modern American history.

SEN. TED CRUZ, (R-TX) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We are the only campaign in the position to beat Donald Trump.

TRUMP: If Ted Cruz became president Washington would be a total piece of stone.

GOV. JOHN KASICH, (R-OH) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Don't be thinking it's over yet.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Alisyn Camerota, and Michaela Pereira.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome to your NEW DAY. It is Thursday, March 10th, 8:00 in the east. Michaela is in New York. Alisyn and I are live at the University of Miami. And it was a brawl last night. Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders taking on immigration and other issues critical to Latinos and really all voters, a fiery debate here in Miami. The candidates facing off for the final time, this is key, before next week's big primaries in Florida and Ohio.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: So tonight the Republican hopefuls take the stage in their final debate before Tuesday's contest. By that time Jeb Bush, the former governor and candidate will have met with all of the remaining GOP candidates except for Trump. Yes, there is one notable absence, you are right. So what can we expect from those meetings and in the CNN debate? We have it covered only the way CNN can, starting with John Berman on the Democratic debate last night. John?

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: I certainly have to say, it was fascinating. After what happened in Michigan, the big Bernie Sanders upset there, there was new energy, new electricity in this debate. And if Hillary Clinton had been trying to pivot towards the general election, she's not doing that anymore.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SANDERS: Madam Secretary, I will match my record against yours any day of the week.

(APPLAUSE)

BERMAN: A new confidence from Bernie Sanders in this new campaign reality. After the huge Sanders upset in Michigan, this could go on for a while. CLINTON: I've won some, I've lost some.

BERMAN: The debate in Florida the debate sponsored by Univision with sections in Spanish was full of questions on immigration and full of attempted contrasts.

CLINTON: In 2007 one of the first things you did was vote against Ted Kennedy's immigration reform.

SANDERS: I worked very hard in improving the guest worker provisions so that in 2013 people who were in the guest worker program in America would not be treated like slaves.

CLINTON: In 2006 Senator Sanders supported indefinite detention for people facing deportation and stood with the minutemen vigilantes.

SANDERS: What the secretary is doing tonight and has done very often is take large pieces of legislation and take pieces out of it.

BERMAN: Sanders continued to hit Clinton for what he called her ties to Wall Street.

SANDERS: There is a reason why Wall Street has provided $15 million just in the last reporting period to the secretary's super pack.

CLINTON: I do have the toughest, most comprehensive plan to go after Wall Street.

SANDERS: Clearly the secretary's words to Wall Street have really intimidated them. And that is why they have given her $15 million in campaign contributions.

BERMAN: And Clinton continues to hit Sanders for being what she considers unrealistic.

CLINTON: Senator Sanders has talked about free college for everybody. He's talked about universal single payer healthcare for everybody. And yet when you ask questions, as many of us have, and more importantly, independent experts, it is very hard to get answers. And a lot of the answers say that, you know, this is going to be much more expensive than anything Senator Sanders is admitting to. My dad used to say, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

SANDERS: I think if the rest of the world can do it, we can.

BERMAN: Though most of the focus was on each other, there was some looking beyond to Donald Trump.

[08:05:02] CLINTON: He's talking about a very tall wall. The most beautiful tall wall, better than the great wall of China, it is his fantasy.

BERMAN: And some looking within.

CLINTON: I am not a natural politician, in case you haven't noticed, like my husband or President Obama. So I have a view that I just have do the best I can.

BERMAN: There were few softballs. Clinton was flat out asked if she would drop out of race if indicted over her e-mails.

CLINTON: That is not going happen. I am not even answering that question.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: That was a tough question. There were a lot of tough questions, and there were a lot of the exchanges between the two candidates. You really got the sense that they are settling into to what they think could be several months of tough campaigning. And that could be the last debate they have. We don't know if there will be more debates after this.

CAMEROTA: All right, John, thank you for all of that, the highs and lows. We appreciate it. Here to discuss is Jonathan Tasini. He is Bernie Sanders surrogate and author of "The Essential Bernie Sanders and His Vision for America." Jonathan, great to have you.

JONATHAN TASINI, POLITICAL STRATEGIST: Great to be here in the sun of Florida.

CAMEROTA: Yes, it is a delight. OK, so what did you think was Bernie Sanders strongest moment last night?

TASINI: Well, I think in general he did what he's always done, talk to the American people about free healthcare, free tuition for public colleges, taking on the big banks. The one thing I was asked last night, what are you expecting? The same thing that Bernie has always talked about and the principles and things he's advocated about for 34 years. So to me there was no big surprise.

CAMEROTA: One of the most compelling moments was when he was asked by one of the moderators about some comments he made in this 1985 video that were positive about Fidel Castro. So let me play that video and then his response to it last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SANDERS: You way back in 1961 they invaded Cuba, and everybody was totally convinced that Castro was the worst guy in the world. All the Cuban people were going to rise up in rebellion against Fidel Castro. They forgot that he educated their kids, gave them healthcare, totally transformed a society.

What that was about was saying that the United States was wrong to try to invade Cuba. It would be wrong not to state that in Cuba they have made some good advances in healthcare. They are sending doctors all over the world. They have made some progress in education.

(END VIDEO CLIP) CAMEROTA: All right, he was deflecting a little bit there

because the moderator asked him, do you still feel that way, that positively about Fidel Castro, do you stand by those comments, then? And he didn't answer that.

TASINI: Well, I think what he wanted to answer is what he meant to talk about in that debate, in that discussion. I was very proud of Bernie. I've been very proud of to watch him over the course of these debates stick with his principles.

And the fact is our attitude towards Cuba has been a disaster for 50 years. It's been an embarrassment. Most of the rest of the world has relations with Cuba. The United States has continued to have this embargo. And I praise President Obama for trying to end that before he leaves office, and good for him try to establish relations with a country just 90 miles away from us.

CAMEROTA: Here in Miami with so many Cuban refugees, should he have been stronger in his response?

TASINI: But that is the beauty about Bernie Sanders. He understands the politics of it. But unlike his opponent who will take a poll and decide how to recalibrate and change principles based on some poll, Bernie sticks with his principles. For 30 and 40 years this guy has not changed. And I think that is what has energized the country, and that's why people are pouring out all over the country. Every time he is exposed to more voters polls get closer and he wins contests like Michigan. I think he is going to do very in Ohio and people here more about him and see the authenticity that comes from him. They love him.

CAMEROTA: Hillary Clinton did seize to comment on that last night. Here, let me play her response to it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLINTON: I just couldn't disagree more. If the values are that you oppress people, you disappear people, you imprison people, even kill people for expressing their opinions, for expressing freedom of speech, that is not the kind of revolution of values that I ever want to see anywhere.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: So the crowd liked that response.

TASINI: Yes. But what's fraudulent about this is look at more recent times. When thousands if not tens of thousands of Egyptians were pouring out into the street in the Arab spring trying to bring justice to their country, Hillary Clinton stood behind one of the most oppressive dictators in the Middle East, Mubarak, and said he's our friend and did not side with the protesters. Mubarak was a dictator who imprisoned people, tortured people, and Hillary Clinton supported Mubarak. So that was a completely fraudulent response in my opinion. CAMEROTA: Look, I hear what you are saying that he stands on his

principles even if it's maybe not politically expedient to do so. But there is also strategy. Florida is a big deal. So do you think that was wise for him to take that tact last night?

TASINI: Yes. And, again, I want to say it is because people feel the authenticity.

[08:10:01] Had he tried to massage it, something inauthentic would come out. And that is not what he is. But what he did talk, which is what young people care about in Florida, is free tuition, free healthcare which we should have like every other country, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, those are things that Floridians care very much about.

CAMEROTA: So let's talk about his strategy in Florida, because, correct me if I'm wrong, I believe his very first campaign event in Florida was this past Tuesday. That is awfully late in the game for what's going to happen this coming Tuesday. Is that too Johnny come lately for Floridians?

TASINI: Well, look, Bernie just started running less than 10, 11 months ago.

CAMEROTA: Sure, but where's he been for the past 10 months --

TASINI: Trying to win Iowa where he essentially tied if not won in the popular vote, crushed Hillary in New Hampshire, almost won Nevada where he was 25 points behind five weeks out.

Look, we're campaigning in every state. I think we're going to do well here. And I think in other states, I'm very confident about Ohio. One of the things since we're in Florida, spring training is upon us. To quote from the great philosopher Yogi Berra, it feels like deja vu all over again where every time he's behind the polls close and he gets close to winning. It happened in every state. He clearly in Michigan. I think we're going to do very well in industrial Midwest and I think we're going to surprise people in Florida.

CAMEROTA: What does very well look like?

TASINI: I'm not going to predict wins or losses, but I think the polls are not reflecting what the end result is going to be. And ultimately what the real issue is continuing this political revolution and talking to the American people about how we want a different kind of country.

CAMEROTA: Jonathan Tasini, great to see you. Thank you.

TASINI: Great to be here.

CAMEROTA: Chris?

CUOMO: All right, on the Democratic side it doesn't look like it is going to be ending any time soon. That may not be the case on the GOP side. And that is why tonight is so important, a big debate. So let's cover what may happen with CNN politics reporter Sara Murray joining us now with a preview. Sara, you cannot exaggerate the stakes.

SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: That's right, Chris. This is the last chance these Republicans are going to have a chance to move these voters ahead of these pivotal winner take all states that vote on March 15th, places like here in Florida, places like Ohio. Now, Donald Trump is predicting this is going to be a softer debate, a little different from the rowdy, vulgar debate that we saw last time. But I think that is going to be hard for him to pull off. Ted Cruz is coming into tonight looking for a two-man fight, looking to prove that he's the guy who can take down Donald Trump. And for his part, Trump hasn't been sounding very kind or gentle on the campaign trail. Take a listen to what he had to say last night about Ohio Governor John Kasich.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: And as you know, we have Ohio where you have an absentee governor. Absentee. And we're going to -- no we're going to have this, I think we're going to do great in Ohio. We'll do great, great, great in Ohio.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MURRAY: Now, Trump hasn't really hit Kasich until now, which is of course a reflection of Kasich's rise in poll numbers and probably a preview that he's going feel a little more heat tonight. This is a make or break debate for John Kasich and especially for Marco Rubio. Marco Rubio comes onstage tonight with a string of disappointing primary nights, and after taking a new tactic with Donald Trump, going hard against him. But even Marco Rubio is starting to admit that that tactic may have backfired.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RUBIO: In terms of things that have to do with personal stuff, yes. You know, at the end of the day, you know, it is not something I'm entirely proud of. My kids were embarrassed by it. And, you know, if I had to do it again, I wouldn't.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MURRAY: Now, Rubio is going to be trying to look for a moment on this debate stage to redeem himself in the eyes of voters and also to prove to them that he really has what it takes not just to win here in Florida but to mount a real challenge against Donald Trump. Obviously he's a favorite of many Washington establishment Republican but so far he has not been able to churn out those victories. He's going to be looking to turn that around on the debate stage tonight. Chris?

CUOMO: Even Trump supporter Sam Clovis helping to run the campaign said tonight the tone and the substance has to be elevated. It will be important to see. And certainly the stakes could higher. Florida, Ohio, big stakes, winner take all. And our man Jake Tapper will be at the reins tonight to moderate the CNN Republican debate, tonight, 8:30 eastern right here on CNN. Michaela?

PEREIRA: All right, let's give you a look at our headlines. We'll get back to you both in Miami in a second.

Iran test-firing two ballistic missiles, Tehran's second test in as many days. Iran's news agency says the missiles were marked with a statement in Hebrew reading Israel must be wiped off the earth. All sides have been quick to point this isn't a violation of the nuclear deal, but the U.S. says it likely violates a U.N. resolution.

Meanwhile, the United Nations issuing a dire warning about the fate of the Mosul dam in northern Iran. Officials say the two-mile long barrier is at an unprecedented risk of catastrophe. This image from the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. shows up to 1.5 million Iraqis could be at serious risk.

[08:15:00] Waves up to 45 feet high could submerge Mosul if that dam fails.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

PEREIRA (voice-over): You have to see this video, it was caught on video, a brawl breaking out on a Spirit Airlines flight from Baltimore to L.A. Hair pulling, punches thrown despite attempts by the flight crew to intervene.

This brawl apparently broke out between two women when they -- these two women, rather, refused to turn down their music. Five women were met by police when they landed, however none were arrested. A little more raucous than I'd like on my flight, Alisyn. I don't know about you.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

CAMEROTA: Oh my goodness.

PEREIRA (on camera): Right?

CAMEROTA: Just when you think you've seen everything on a flight there's that. All right, Michaela, thank you very much.

Speaking of brawls, it's possible that could happen tonight. The Republicans face off again in CNN's debate tonight and all eyes on Marco Rubio. Can he use his home state to advantage? We have insight from Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, that's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: The stakes could not be higher. You have Florida and Ohio coming up on Tuesday. They're winner take all, they could really separate this field. And no one's feeling that pressure more than Marco Rubio. Sure, he's here in his home state of Florida, but with this huge debate tonight, this could be his last best chance to make the case to stay in this race.

Let's discuss with Florida Congressman, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart. He is a Rubio supporter after initially supporting Jeb Bush, not an unusual disposition here in South Florida. It's good to see you, Congressman.

REP. MARIO DIAZ-BALART (R), FLORIDA: Good to see you.

[08:20:11] CUOMO: So, first of all, do you disagree with my premise that tonight is all important, especially for Marco Rubio?

DIAZ-BALART: Absolutely. Look, this is probably the most important process of the election that we're going to see. And we've got this last debate and then we have winner take all Florida. And you know, Florida not only is it important for the - for the primary process, but it's also, as you well know, a must win state for whoever is going to be the next president of the United States.

CUOMO: But for Marco Rubio, he's been saying, I'm going to win Florida, I'm going to win Florida. His biggest opponent, Donald Trump, says he was mortally wounded by going after him in the last debate and that's why he's had - now trending down in the most recent contests. What's your take?

DIAZ-BALART: Look, I -- everybody has always underestimated Marco Rubio, just ask former Governor Charlie Crist. Marco Rubio has always been an underdog. He's been a person who has worked awfully hard his entire life. Nothing was ever given to him. And yet, by the way, he's a humble servant. And you know, we've - we - for the last seven years we're had so somebody in the White House who, whether you agree or disagree with him, is know as - as probably - potentially the biggest ego that we've had in the White House in a long time.

Marco Rubio's just the opposite. He's a humble leader, he's a servant, public servant, and he's a person who has always been underestimated, has always had to climb uphill. Anybody who thinks that Marco Rubio is out doesn't know Marco Rubio's story, doesn't understand his talent, his willingness to work hard, to prepare and to understand the issues.

CUOMO: Now, some suggest what you call that humility was damaged a little bit by his aggressiveness, by his tactics in the last debate with Donald Trump. Even, as you know, Senator Rubio has said he regrets some of that.

So, what about tonight? Who should he be tonight? How should he be tonight? I know the stock answer is just be Marco.

DIAZ-BALART: Yes.

CUOMO: But what will that mean on the stage?

DIAZ-BALART: Humility with talent. Look, the bottom line is that when you look around the world right now, you know, the Middle East is up in flames, this hemisphere you have -- you have all sorts of issues, you have, as was just reported on CNN and elsewhere, right, you have the Iranians now firing two more missiles.

You have a very dangerous situation around the world and you have an economy in the United States where people, frankly, are still dissatisfied. There's still a large number of people that are not working. Marco Rubio knows the issues, and more than just knowing the issues, has solutions to create jobs, to create wealth, to once again strengthen the position of the United States better than anybody. Specific proposals, I'm hoping he has the opportunity to talk about some of those proposals.

CUOMO: Oh, he's going to get the opportunity.

DIAZ-BALART: Good.

CUOMO: I mean, you know, that's what the CNN debate is about. Certainly you have a very capable guy in Jake Tapper to keep it on point. But the question is, do you think he'll have to tonight? Do you think we're going to see a change in tone to elevate this, to, you know, to raise the stakes but also raise the substance for the voters?

DIAZ-BALART: You know, look, Mr. Trump has - has done very well by jumping on people, by insulting people, by insulting other (ph) groups.

CUOMO: He's saying he wants a nicer tone.

DIAZ-BALART: Yes, and I think that will be a big part of how this goes. If in fact, you know, if in fact the moderators can keep it on the issues, that's good for the country, but it's also good for Marco Rubio. Nobody is more prepared, and knows the issues better and has more specific proposals to solve the world problems and the economic problems that are facing the United States thank Marco Rubio.

CUOMO: Now, he made his choices in the last debate, as you well know, Mario. He decided to go personal, and make the jokes and have the quips. And we know what that tactic was, that was trying to beat Trump at his own game.

DIAZ-BALART: Sure.

CUOMO: Do you think we'll see that tonight?

DIAZ-BALART: I have no idea, I have no idea. I think it depends on, again, you know, how - you know, debates are kind of like fluid issues, right, fluid things. I don't know what's going to happen in the debate. What I do know is that if -- debates are where Marco has been able to shine because when people see him unfiltered, that's when he does best.

CUOMO: I love to quote Mike Tyson, you know, not that common a guy to look (ph) at, but he had a great line, everybody's got a plan until they get punched in the face.

DIAZ-BALART: Right.

CUOMO: And that's what can happen in a debate.

DIAZ-BALART: Right.

CUOMO: How will he respond?

DIAZ-BALART: Right.

CUOMO: You think his instinct will be to elevate it this time.

DIAZ-BALART: I think so.

CUOMO: Stick to what he knows best.

DIAZ-BALART: You know, again, I don't think - you shouldn't underestimate Marco's ability to fight back. This is a guy who has never had anything given to him and, you know, he's had to work for everything that he's ever had in his entire life. So, this is a guy who's a fighter. However, he's always been humble and respectful, and I think you're going to see the Marco Rubio that Florida knows very well. People just need to emphasize and look at Marco Rubio. The more you look at him, the more you got to like him.

CUOMO: Now, the hard question that your initial candidate had to face, former Governor Jeb Bush, Senator Marco Rubio's facing it right now. If he does not win in Florida, the pressure will be immense. Not just from the party, not from the media, his donors. Do you think Senator Rubio has to think long and hard about staying in the race if he gets beat down in his home state?

DIAZ-BALART: Look, it would clearly make it much more difficult. And you know, this is a math issue, right? You have to get the 100 - what is it, 1,237...

CUOMO: 1,237.

DIAZ-BALART: 1,237 delegates. It's a math issue. Florida is pivotal, it's 99 delegates that go to whoever wins. So, obviously whoever wins Florida is going to leave this state with a lot of momentum.

CUOMO: This is make or break for Marco Rubio.

DIAZ-BALART: I think it's crucially important for every single person who's going to be on the stage tonight.

CUOMO: Especially Marco Rubio.

DIAZ-BALART: Potentially more important for Marco, but I think it's crucial for everybody.

CUOMO: Unshakable.

[08:25:12] DIAZ-BALART: Florida - Florida - look, I'm - I'm - I am Florida centric, I am. Florida to me it is the center of the universe and politically tonight, in this debate and in the election next week, it's the center of the universe.

CUOMO: Congressman, thank you very much for being with us on NEW DAY.

DIAZ-BALART: Good to see you all.

CUOMO: Appreciate it. Thank you for this weather.

DIAZ-BALART: Oh, I know, right? Not a bad place to be.

CUOMO: Beautiful, beautiful.

All right, so that's the GOP side, the stakes very high. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton was hit hard on a number of issues last night and she gave a lot of attacks as well. She had very strong positions. Will she rebound now with wins in Florida and Ohio after that bruising loss in Michigan? We have a top Florida supporter for Clinton joining us next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAMEROTA: Hillary Clinton fielding a host of tough questions at last night's debate. Listen to some of them.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who specifically gave you permission to operate your e-mail system as you did? Was it President Barack Obama? And would you drop out of the race if you get indicted?