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New Day

Paris Terror Suspect Captured; Snow in New England; GOP Braces for Contested Convention; Gov. John Kasich Live on New Day. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired March 21, 2016 - 08:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:32:52] MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Authorities sounding an alarm following the dramatic capture of the escaped suspect from November's Paris attacks. Salah Abdeslam was reportedly ready to launch another attack with a new terror network in Brussels. CNN's senior international correspondent Nima Elbagir is live in Molenbeek, Belgium, with the latest for us.

Nima.

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Michaela, authorities now believe that not only was he able to evade their capture for almost four months, but during that time he was able to build a new network around him, one with the intent of launching a series of new attacks here in Belgium. Authorities are also warning of the possibility that foreign fighters might still be on the move from Syria as part of the plans put forth by that network. They're watching all borders. Interpol has put out an alert across Europe and is calling for hypervigilance.

They're also intensifying the manhunt for a key conspirator in the Paris attacks. A man until recently only known as Sufian Kia (ph). Through their interrogation of Salah Abdeslam, they now know his real name, Najim Lashlaowi (ph). He was intercepted in phone calls with the Paris ringleader, Abaaoud, appearing to be the one giving the orders. So this is a very important man and one that authorities are warning is also very dangerous. The threat level here remains at three, but we're told by Belgium authorities they are reappraising that continuously.

Alisyn.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: OK, Nima, thank you very much for that important update.

All right, well, on a lighter note, say it ain't snow on the very first week of spring. Let's look at the roads outside of Boston this morning. Oh, my gosh, it's like a whiteout there in Boston. CNN meteorologist Chad Myers has the forecast for us.

This isn't spring, Chad.

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: No. Sometimes, though, in the northeast, spring does get white and it happens down here in the south, too. But today, the snow is New England, Maine, Boston, all the way down to about Rhode Island. That's about it.

But look at some of these numbers, four and a half to six inches of snow already on the ground. About to end finally though and later on today it's all done.

And then it warms back up. In fact, New York City today gets to 50. So this is what happens in the spring. It tries to snow. Cold air stays for about ten minutes and then all of a sudden it's gone and it warms back up and it's all gone.

[08:35:09] I have Hampton Beach here in New Hampshire. There's a pretty shot of a beach scene. How about that for downtown Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. Enjoy.

PEREIRA: Sand as white as snow. Oh, wait.

MYERS: Exactly. It just looks like the Caribbean, doesn't it?

PEREIRA: Exactly, except not.

All right, Chad, thanks so much. We'll bear with it. I guess we will, right?

So it's looking more and more likely that Republicans are going to have a contested convention. What are the conversations going on inside the RNC and what do they think about that possibility? We have lots of questions for RNC Chairman Reince Priebus. He joins us next.

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CAMEROTA: The three remaining Republican candidates vying for votes out west ahead of the Utah and Arizona contests tomorrow. And Donald Trump warning the GOP, he says they would hand the election to Hillary if a third party candidate were to deny him the nomination.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If they're going to do that, they're going to do that, but then you might as well just hand the election to Hillary Clinton, or whoever runs, because, frankly, the Republicans wouldn't even have 1 percent of a chance of winning if that's the case. So if they're going to be stupid and if they're going to do that instead of embracing these millions of people that are coming in to vote, then they're going to have to do that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: OK, let's bring in Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus to talk about all this.

[08:40:02] Good morning, Reince.

REINCE PRIEBUS, CHAIRMAN REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE: Hey, good morning, Alisyn. CAMEROTA: So it seems like a contested convention has gone from sort

of this out of the question, you know, fantastical possibility months ago, to now a real possibility. So how are you preparing for what might happen four months from now?

PRIEBUS: Well, it's still a possibility, but we still have candidates that can get to the majority number before the convention. But taking your question, we're going to be prepared for all scenarios, Alisyn. I was general counsel for two years of being now chairman for six. We will put on a great convention. If it is a multi-ballot convention or an open convention or a contested convention, whatever word you want to use, we'll be prepared.

And what happens is, is that you have a vote and if no one gets a majority of the delegates on the floor, then you have another vote and another vote and another vote until somebody actually gets a majority. It's no different than when I became chairman of the party. Alisyn, you may not know this, but I won on the seventh ballot. It was hardly a landslide.

CAMEROTA: A resounding victory.

PRIEBUS: But, eventually - right. But, you know, I was never behind. I was always ahead, but I had to keep going on until I got the majority. So a minority of delegates does not rule for the majority. You have to have a majority. There's no question about that.

CAMEROTA: That is some interesting history, Reince.

Now, some Republicans -

PRIEBUS: Yes.

CAMEROTA: As you know are so upset at the prospect of a Trump nomination and certainly a Trump presidency that they're suggesting something even different. They're suggesting putting in a third candidate. Let's say that Trump and Hillary Clinton become the nominees. Some Republicans are floating this idea of then parachuting in a third candidate and they're mentioning names like Tom Coburn, Paul Ryan, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney. How certain are you you'll never get to that point?

PRIEBUS: Well, I don't know about certain, but, I mean, a few of those names I know are not even in the realm of possibility. So those names right there. And I know you're just repeating what other folks are actually saying. So I'm not questioning your information. But it's never going to happen at least with the names that you've just mentioned.

And, secondly, it's getting too late. It's getting -

CAMEROTA: None of those? None of those, you think, it could ever happen to those.

PRIEBUS: No. No. No. But just take the question generally though, it's just getting too late, number one. But, number two, we don't even know who our nominee is going to be. So, I mean, we have two candidates that can get to a majority before Cleveland and so no one really even knows what the - who the nominee on our side is going to be. And by the time you get to Cleveland, then it's really too late.

And so, look, I think it's a lot of talk. I get it. I mean this has not been - this has been a drama filled and full of intrigue type primary. There's no doubt about that. I'm not -

CAMEROTA: Yes.

PRIEBUS: I'm not questioning that this hadn't been more contentious than normal. But I think that we'll come together and the truth is, in all of the polls, you look against Hillary Clinton, who's in a ditch herself, we're either winning or within a margin of winning. So I think we're in good shape to win in November, but we have to get through this primary season, no doubt.

CAMEROTA: Yes. This weekend there was more violence at a Donald Trump rally. A protester was kicked and punched. Are you comfortable, Reince, that Donald Trump has done everything he can to quell violence at his events?

PRIEBUS: Well, he's certainly talking about it a lot more now and certainly just, you know, calling for the temperature to be cooled more now. But, you know, look, we're not a party that believes in violence. I think violence begets violence. And I think you ought to leave some of the - the work and the crowd up to the professionals. But I also think, Alisyn, if we're being fair here, and it's no - nothing against you or anyone, but, you know, when cable shows are on a constant loop and, you know, a couple knuckle heads pushing each other on a 24/7 loop, you know, I mean, you create an environment, I think, that just adds fuel to the fire. Look, it shouldn't happen. People should -

CAMEROTA: But shouldn't we focus on - shouldn't we highlight if there's violence at events - at campaign events? And it's only Donald Trump's? Shouldn't we mention that?

PRIEBUS: Yes, no doubt. No, no, mentioning it is fine. I just - I'm questioning the 24/7 loop. I'm questioning three hours in prime time at night every day talking about it. I mean I get it. It's news. I'm not questioning it's news. I'm not. But it's the obsession that I think that also adds to the problem.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

PRIEBUS: Granted, both sides have to disavow violence. I'm not - I'm not saying that. But I do think that the media is obsessed to the point of it being very noticeable and almost bizarre.

CAMEROTA: Reince Priebus, we appreciate you being on NEW DAY. Thanks so much.

PRIEBUS: You bet. Thank you.

CAMEROTA: Let's get to Michaela. [08:45:03] PEREIRA: All right, Alisyn.

Big money keeps pouring in for presidential contenders. Who is out- raising who? We'll break down those numbers ahead.

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PEREIRA: All right. It's time for CNN Money now. Chief business correspondent Christine Romans in the Money Center. You're looking at the presidential candidates' money outlook. How are things looking?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi there. Yeah, Michaela, Hillary Clinton is raking in the delegates, but Bernie Sanders is raking in more cash. Sanders received $43 million in campaign contributions in February. More than Clinton's total for the month. But Clinton has more cash on hand. Nearly $31 million to Sanders $17 million. That will be crucial as Clinton tries to wrap up the nomination.

On the Republican side, Ted Cruz spent the most in February. $17 million trying to compete with Donald Trump, who spent $9.4 million. John Kasich spent more than $3 million.

Now Trump has been funding his own campaign, as he often notes. He has loaned himself $24.3 million so far, but he has also received contributions. $9.8 million now in contributions, Michaela.

[08:50:03] PEREIRA: All right. Thanks for looking at that for us.

John Kasich is not backing down from his strategy, swoop in, become the Republican nominee. He will make his case next, here on NEW DAY.

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CAMEROTA: The anti-Trump faction of the Republican Party is looking for a way to slow down the frontrunner. Can they do it tomorrow on Western Tuesday?

Joining us now is Ohio Governor and presidential candidate John Kasich. Good morning, Governor.

GOV. JOHN KASICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Hi, Alisyn. How are you?

CAMEROTA: I'm well. Nice to see you. What do you predict is going to happen tomorrow in Arizona and Utah?

KASICH: Oh, no, I'm not predicting, but we will -- we are going to have a decent showing out there. I think it will be a good showing. But I don't get into predictions. Every time I get into predictions, if I predict it somewhat wrong everybody jumps on me. So I've stopped predicting.

CAMEROTA: There you go. Some Republican leaders say that you being in the race is only serving to leech votes away from Ted Cruz and thereby ensure Donald Trump the nomination. Let me play for you something that Senator Lindsey Graham had -- at one time, as you know, was a presidential candidate himself -- what he said this weekend.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: John Kasich is the most electable Republican. I don't think he has a chance to win at the convention because it is an outside year and John Kasich is an insider and most of the delegates are looking for an outsider.

[08:55:05] I love John Kasich. But if he stays in this race or they don't coordinate the efforts between our (ph) Cruz and Kasich, we're going to wind up giving the nomination to Trump.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: All right, Governor. Are you a spoiler?

KASICH: Well, you know, Lindsey, I would be his fifth pick. It was for himself then it was for Jeb, then it was for Marco, now it's for Ted. Maybe he'll get around to me. As long as he picks it right at the end, that's what's going to matter. And secondly, listen, Alisyn, if I hadn't stayed in the race and had folded it up and turned over to Marco, Trump would have won Ohio and the whole thing would be over. So everybody just, you know, relax.

The fact is is that I have the vision, the message and the record. And we are probably going to go to a convention. Nobody is going to have enough delegates. I don't know what Lindsey is talking about there. There's not going to be enough delegates for anybody. And when we go to a convention, they're going to consider two things. One is who can win in the fall, and I'm the only person who can win in the fall. Lindsey just said what a strong -- you know, fall candidate I would be, which is true because I get crossover votes. And secondly, Alisyn, this is a radical thing now. But they may actually pick somebody who could actually be a good president and could run the country.

So I'm not going anywhere. Am I a spoiler? Of course I'm not a spoiler. Go ask the people that come to my rallies. What they say is thank God you are giving us some hope that this country can be improved. So I'm not going anywhere. We are going to keep working. We are gaining momentum. I am getting known and all things are good.

CAMEROTA: I mean, Governor, you said that it's going to be very hard for any candidate to get to the magic 1,237 number by the contest, but it is not impossible for Donald Trump. It is mathematically possible for him to get to that still. Isn't it?

KASICH: Everything is mathematically. How many times can we float around the moon or something mathematically? Who cares about that? He's not going to have enough delegates. I -- He's going to go there without enough delegates. And let me tell you, we have had ten Republican conventions and only three times of those ten has the frontrunner ever been selected at a convention. Because I think that at the end the delegates -- and I have been at a convention that was contentious. And you know what? The delegates take their decision making seriously. Now if I'm the only one that can beat Hillary in the fall, why would

anybody say I should leave? I mean, that's just nuts, okay? I'm not going anywhere, Alisyn. In fact, we are rising. We are raising more money. We are getting more political support. We have a lot of terrific people. Charlie Black, one of the most skilled operatives, the former governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Ridge, Mike Levitt in Utah. I mean, we are doing well. It's not even a thought.

The fact is is what we are looking forward to is an extension of this primary process, which ultimately will be a convention, and their delegates will make a choice. And I believe I will be selected because of electability and because of that other thing that we seem to lose sight of, who could be a good president. We need a president that can create jobs, that has foreign policy experience. I have a record and when people examine it it will be very compelling.

CAMEROTA: Governor, it sounds like what you're saying is that your plan, which was always to win Ohio and then gain momentum from that going forward is working according to plan, I mean, according to what you set out and you feel like there is -- momentum and all of that stuff is falling into place for you. Ted Cruz says that he has outraised you, I think, four to one in the past month in terms of fundraising. Are you saying that your fundraising is keeping a pace with what you had hoped?

KASICH: Yeah, we are doing fine on fundraising. In fact, our fundraising is like four times as much as it was, you know, the month before, something like that. We are doing fine. We're going to have enough resources to continue. And look, we laid out a campaign plan and we are campaigning the plan that we laid out and it's all fitting into place, just like I had argued it would. And as we stay up north we're going to continue to do well. And the question is as we head to the East, okay, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, those kinds of places, who do you think's going to do well there?

And so -- and I can't wait to get to California. That will be really exciting. So we are satisfied. We just keep raising money and building the organization and, Alisyn, it's working out the way we wanted it to. Because you know what is happening? People are beginning to look at the three candidates and they're saying, frankly, who can win? Who has the experience? Remember, we spent -- Remember this one -- We spent the last seven years saying how could we have ever elected a first-term United States senator? I don't think amnesia has totally set in. Maybe it has. I don't know. We'll wake them up.

CAMEROTA: Governor, very quickly, what do you predict is happening in Wisconsin?

KASICH: Alisyn, I want to tell you one other thing.

CAMEROTA: Go ahead.

KASICH: You know, in politics people think the only thing that matters are votes and fundraising. Okay? There is something else that matters in politics, too, and that is giving people hope that America can be a better place.

[09:00:03] That matters, too. The message matters very, very much to people, many of whom who have lost hope, who when they leave our town halls say, you know what, thank you for what you've done for me and what you've had to say today for our children. And you know what? That's extremely valuable in the United States of America, I believe.

CAMEROTA: There you go, Governor. Perfect way to end our show. That's it for NEW DAY today. We appreciate you being on, Governor.

KASICH: Thank you, Alisyn. Always good to be with you. Thank you.

CAMEROTA: You, too.