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Changing Fortunes In The 2016 Race; Can Trump Get Past Attacks On Federal Judge?; Who Could Emerge As An Alternative To Trump?; Mom Fights Off Attempted Abduction Of Daughter; Interview with Sen. Angus King. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired June 09, 2016 - 07:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:34:00] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Campaigns have their ups and downs. There's no question about that. Just last week, Trump was riding high as the presumptive GOP nominee, knotted up in polls in the key states, surprising a lot of people against Hillary Clinton. The email stuff was scrolling around with that inspector general report that was not favorable.

Now, Clinton's in the driver's seat all of a sudden. Her nomination secured, Trump is struggling to try to get past these comments about a judge's ethnicity and misstating the reality of his own case.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: OK, so let's discuss those ups and downs with CNN political commentator and host of "SMERCONISH", Michael Smerconish. Good morning, Michael.

MICHAEL SMERCONISH, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Good morning.

CAMEROTA: We just had Donald Trump supporter, Congressman Chris Coons (sic), on and he just told Chris --

CUOMO: Collins.

CAMEROTA: Oh, Chris Collins?

CUOMO: Yes.

CAMEROTA: Chris Collins on, and he said you know, Donald Trump has already past it. He's already moved past those claims of a racist comment about the judge. Has he?

[07:35:00] SMERCONISH: No, I don't think so. I think this issue has really resonated because of the risk that it poses to undermine the entire judicial system. I kicked off a kerfuffle on Tuesday night in CNN's coverage when, respectfully, I said to our colleague, Jeffrey Lord, there's one question Donald Trump can't answer. Why hasn't a recusal motion been filed for that judge? And that lingers.

If he thinks he's biased, then why isn't Daniel Petrocelli, who is a very accomplished trial lawyer -- you remember him of O.J. fame -- why hasn't he asked for the judge to step aside? They haven't' done that. CUOMO: Well, not only why has he not asked the judge to step aside -- you're right, 100 percent. Petrocelli was caught on tape -- not caught, he gave an interview --

CAMEROTA: Absolutely.

CUOMO: -- and he said the judge is doing his job. We're not going to move for a move.

CAMEROTA: Right. We're not going to ask for a move.

CUOMO: And what exposes is a potential metaphor effect for Trump, Smerconish, which is you just saw how he could handle a situation when he doesn't like the outcome, even if it means exaggerating the facts to the point of just being untrue.

SMERCONISH: So, to your larger question of the peaks and the valleys, and where are we and where is this going next, I don't see him, yet, as having pivoted from the primary season. He's still acting like he's in a primary contest. What really changed Tuesday with his speech, he added teleprompters, but it was pretty much the same old Trump.

And, Chris and Alisyn, what's to come on Monday? I mean, what exactly is that speech going to look like? Is it going to be a litany of the 90's charges about the Clintons because I think the nation has moved on from that? That will play to his base. They hate the Clintons, but that is not expanding the tent.

CAMEROTA: I don't know, Michael. You know, we've interviewed scores of Trump supporters. They hate when the media tells them how to feel. They hate when the media dictates the agenda. If Trump's supporters have moved on, then we've moved on, right?

SMERCONISH: But Alisyn, I have in my hands the autopsy report from 2012's election. You remember this.

CAMEROTA: Of course.

SMERCONISH: It came out in 2014. "It is imperative that the RNC changes how it engages with Hispanic communities." Is he doing that? He hasn't learned any of the lessons of what went wrong in 2012. So you are absolutely correct in what you say about the base, but it's time to grow the tent because what did he get? Thirty to 40 percent of the 24 percent of Americans who are Republicans. That's eight to 10 percent of the American society. It's not enough.

CUOMO: Except, I guess, to extend the analogy, Trump's supporters would argue this is a different body than the one you're looking at the autopsy for. He's brought in an energy and a captured spirit of the anger and frustration in this country that ordinarily a GOP candidate would not because they're part of the establishment/problem as viewed by those who are upset in this country, Michael.

SMERCONISH: Chris, he's got a demographic issue. You know that, he knows that. In 2050, this country is going to look a lot different than it looks today. We're already headed in a majority-minority direction. Look at the state of California. And I think that the Trump playbook, thus far, is all about rallying a very hardened core of support that I don't think there are enough left in this country to move him over the finish line.

CAMEROTA: So Michael, you know there's always this talk that maybe this third party candidate is going to descend. Not Gary Johnson, but an Independent. And Bill Crystal has been trying to lead that charge. It hasn't worked out yet. There's this retreat happening at Mitt Romney's place. Do you think there will be another candidate getting in the race?

SMERCONISH: I don't. I think that that clock is ticking. We're all mindful of the Texas deadline having run, and you could say well, that really wouldn't matter because Texas is a pretty red state, still, in presidential elections.

I really think Johnson-Weld -- I really believe that two, two-term Republican governors from blue states are going to put a dent into this campaign. I'm not going to tell you that they'll win, but I think that if pollsters will include them they will get the requisite 15 percent, they'll be standing on that debate stage, and they will become yet another wild card in what is already a crazy cycle.

CUOMO: We'll have to see and, in truth, they do have a little bit of a circular problem there, right? They can't get into the polls because they don't have a threshold. Then they can't get the threshold because they're not in the polls. What do you think in the matchup of Trump University, what he said about the judge, and that dogging him going forward versus his attack line on the Clintons, which is the Foundation?

He's moved away from the sexual innuendoes about what Hillary's role was to now this. How much there, there? How much teeth is in the Clinton Global Initiative Foundation allegations?

SMERCONISH: Listen, when he said on Tuesday night that he's going to deliver this speech, what I really was hearing him say is that he's going to stand up soon and essentially read from Peter Schweizer's book, "Clinton Cash" and the Clinton supporters were very quick to dismiss it. I read it. I found it to be credible.

[07:40:00] And I would remind people that "The Washington Post" and "The New York Times", not exactly conservative oracles, built on Schweizer's reporting. And what was the premise of the book? The premise of the book was that foreign individuals who aren't permitted by law to donate to an American presidential campaign, or campaign of any kind, nevertheless curried favors with the Clintons by paying him big bucks to speak, and making donations to the Clinton Initiative, and were rewarded.

Did he close that loop? Well, he didn't close the loop because the final chapter of the book is "quid pro quo?" But he raised enough questions that I think it legitimately puts this issue in play.

CAMEROTA: Michael, always great to get your insight. Thanks so much for being with us.

SMERCONISH: OK, guys, thank you.

CUOMO: All right, we were talking earlier. We always say a picture's worth a thousand words, right? Video even more so. There's shocking surveillance video of the moment a man tried to abduct a 13-year-old girl, but the mother comes flying into the rescue. We're going to discuss this incredible moment. We'll show it to you. You don't get to see this very often.

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[07:44:40]

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can tell he searched out his victim, he stretched, and then he went after that child with terrible, terrible motives and he was getting his butt kicked by mom, and that was one of the refreshing things that you saw in that video.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[07:45:00] CAMEROTA: That was the Citrus County sheriff's office praising a courageous mother after a heart-pounding moment captured on video. (Video playing) That mother that you're about to see desperately clinging onto her teenage daughter and yelling, saving her from that potential abductor. Look at how violent the struggle got.

Joining us now is Callahan Walsh. He's a child safety advocate for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. He's also the son of child protection advocate and host of CNN's "THE HUNT", John Walsh. Callahan, great to have you on.

CALLAHAN WALSH, CHILD SAFETY ADVOCATE: Thank you for having me.

CAMEROTA: How crazy is this video and this abduction that's caught on video? You deal with this all the time. Have you seen something like this?

WALSH: You know, this is a bit different than what we're normally dealing with. These predators are smart. They're usually targeting kids that are alone or walking to or from school. They know that these stores -- there's more and more of these security cameras available, so to see something happen in broad daylight, like this, with the parent there by the child's side is just amazing.

This guy was so brazen in his attack and you can see right on the video. I think everybody's watched it by now. It's an amazing event.

CAMEROTA: OK, a little more background. The suspect's name is Craig Bonello. He's 30 years old. This was in Florida. He went after a 13-year-old girl. Now, in the public we often tend to think of abductions being a risk for younger kids -- toddlers or kids up until about 10 years old. For instance, your brother, Adam, at 6 years old, from a store. What about teenage abductions? Are they rare? WALSH: Not really. We've been analyzing attempted abductions at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children for over a decade and about 40 percent of the cases happen to kids that were in their teens -- teens and tween-aged.

And this is a time that those kids are looking for independence. Parents are trying to grant independence to these kids. And those younger kids, they're usually more guarded by their parents. So, you are seeing these types of attacks on this age -- these types of ages.

CAMEROTA: Do we know anything more about that abductor, if he was a registered sex offender or something?

WALSH: He was not a registered sex offender so this was something that was out of the ordinary. It wasn't something that law enforcement was looking or tracking him for. But the mother and the daughter did everything right in this scenario. The kicking and the screaming is absolutely something we teach. We teach kids the four rules of personal safety at the National Center, and the mother, the daughter and the off-duty sheriff -- they're the true heroes in this story.

CAMEROTA: Let's talk about some of your four rules for children when going out and, obviously, this isn't necessarily with a parent.

WALSH: Right.

CAMEROTA: Check first with your parent or guardian. Obviously, let them know where you're going. Use the buddy system. It's obviously safer to be with somebody than to be alone. It's OK to say no. What do you mean?

WALSH: Well, we oftentimes teach children to be polite to adults and that's not always the case. If they make you feel -- if they make a child feel sad, scared, confused, or uncomfortable, then that child has the right to say no to that adult.

CAMEROTA: I was interested, Callahan, to hear that you say that most abductions occur during the day. This is not a shadowy, under the cover of darkness event that happens with kids. It happens most between 2:00 and 7:00 p.m.

WALSH: That's correct, and when they're walking to or from school or a school-related activity. It's unfortunate that that's when these kids are being targeted, but it is when they're the most vulnerable, when they're alone. Oftentimes, it can be on rural roads or waiting for their bus, so kids need to be vigilant.

In this case, the mother was there. She was able to protect her child, thank God. But the parents won't always be there and that's why it's important to empower kids with safe decision-making.

CAMEROTA: You say that of the child abductees who have escaped their captors, 83 percent of them did something proactive. Seventeen percent had family members to help them. But of the 83 who did something proactive, what is that? What can kids do? WALSH: That's the kicking, the screaming, the yelling. Anything that they can do to draw attention to that situation. Anything they can do to draw the adult's attention or, hopefully, if there's law enforcement around. Something that they can get other people involved to help rescue them.

CAMEROTA: This is just a good reminder for everybody to go home and have a conversation with their kids about stranger danger and let them know that it's OK to kick and scream and yell. Callahan Walsh, thanks so much. Nice to see you.

WALSH: Thank you. Good seeing you, too.

CAMEROTA: Let's get to Chris.

CUOMO: The only open questionI have there is where was everybody else in that store, you know? That's a question.

CAMEROTA: Well, they called for police, at some point, because the mother was screaming.

CUOMO: Right, but there was a lot of footage there of people fighting over a child, you know?

CAMEROTA: Yes.

CUOMO: Supposedly, Javier's telling me people stopped him outside, but what about inside store, you know? That's why we do the good stuff. Have people step up in moments like that, you know?

CAMEROTA: Absolutely.

CUOMO: All right, so Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump already on the attack. Still five months from Election Day, the first round of the prize fight. The 2016 race is shaping up to be all about the negatives. So let's bring in Sen. Angus Hines (sic). He's going to weigh on what it should be about for you -- next.

[07:49:50]

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[07:53:45] CUOMO: All right, here's something you don't hear very often. We are failing -- the people who are running the campaigns, the candidates, the media. This 2016 race is not all about you and making your lives better. That's just true. And why is it? What's working so well on both sides of the aisle that's making this campaign what it is, and how should we make it better? What should it be about when there's so many problems that we all know about.

So, let's get an Independent take from Independent Maine senator, Angus King. He's on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Committee on Armed Services. I will give you my quick perfunctory apology. Yes, I often call you Angus Hines because he's the only other Angus I know, and I apologize. I love having you on NEW DAY, so I'm sorry, once again, Senator. SEN. ANGUS KING, (I) MAINE: Chris, no problem. As long as you don't call me late to dinner, I'm OK with it.

CUOMO: But we both know I now have to take you to dinner for this the next time I see you down in D.C. So, you know what the state of play is. You've talked to me in positive and negative fashion before about why the media is enabling an election that you see as counterproductive. What is going on first? How do you explain the state of play?

[07:55:00] KING: Well, one of the problems is -- I can tell you, Chris, from having been through a number of campaigns that the science of campaigns and the consultants all tell you to go negative. Unfortunately, it works and that's why a lot of campaigns end up there. That's the nature of the world we live in. It really is unfortunate because it has a tendency to unleash some ugly stuff that we don't want.

And I think candidates, particularly as you go up the leadership ladder -- sure, we have the First Amendment. We have vigorous debate. Go back to Hamilton and Jefferson, for goodness sake. But, as you go up that leadership ladder you have a right to say what you want, but you have a responsibility to take cognizance of the effects of what you say. And that's what's worrying me about some aspects of this campaign that is unleashing, particularly, on Mr. Trump's side. It's unleashing some ugly stuff.

CUOMO: But people are refuting your definitions. They're saying what you call responsibility, I call P.C., swiping aside political talk. And while I may not like certain things that come out of Trump's mouth, I like how he's talking. It's unvarnished, it's real, it's his truth, and that's what I need because the rest of you are phony baloneys.

KING: Right, and I understand that. I think it's absolutely valid. But, there's a line and that line is hard to define. I mean, that's what the First Amendment is all about. You have a right to say anything, except the courts have long said you don't have the right to shove fire in a crowded theater that could lead to deaths.

The words that leaders use have consequences and colorful language, vigorous debate, that's fantastic. The danger is -- you know, go back 1,000 years. Henry II said who will rid me of the mettlesome priest? And a couple of guys in his entourage went and murdered the Archbishop of Canterbury, and we regretted that because he took responsibility for what he said.

And you can't just throw words out and then have tragic actions take place and say well, I didn't mean that. That's why it's a thin line and I understand that. It's not about political correctness but it is about understanding the consequences of your language.

CUOMO: But it gets confusing doesn't it, Senator, because people will shout down the tactics and yet, they have fueled his success. People are saying now he's going to make a pivot to the general election. I always shake my head when I hear that on and off camera because I'm like why would he change anything that he's doing when he vanquished a huge field? He had a much harder set of challenges than Clinton has had to this point, and he's all the way on top and he got there much sooner than she did.

KING: That's right, and I think that's probably -- I suspect there's a debate going on within the Trump campaign right now about that exact question. In fact, you saw a manifestation of it the other night. For the first time in my memory he gave a speech based on teleprompters. It was all right there and it was very carefully scripted, and it was controlled. The question is --

CUOMO: Well, what do you think is different his time, Senator?

KING: -- is that who he is?

CUOMO: Yes, that's my question. Thank you for anticipating it. This seems different. I don't know if it's because he was so insulting to the media when there was only media in the room, coupled with him attacking a judge's heritage in a way that seems completely unfounded by the facts of the case. And in doing so he insulted the judiciary. But what was it about this situation that has all the GOP standing up against him in a way they never had when he said anything else that was obnoxious?

KING: Well, I think the comments about the judge went too far for pretty much everybody, particularly when the guy was --

CUOMO: When he said ban Muslims for a while. That Mexico sends us their worst. I mean, he says lots of things. Why this?

KING: Oh, yes. Well, he is systematically gone down those groups of people and I think that's one of the real problems. The judge thing seemed to trigger a response, even from people within his own party. But if you look back, Chris, to the quotes from Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio, and Rand Paul, and Lindsey Graham, back during the primaries, they are rougher on Trump than anything Hillary Clinton has said.

I mean, they were very direct in their statements about his lack of qualifications to be president, but it didn't avail them much, at least not in the Republican primary. So I think the calculation they have to make is can Trump still be Trump and expand the number of voters in order to win a general election? There's a lot of difference between the number of votes -- I think he had 15 million --

CUOMO: Right.

KING: -- in the primaries. That's a lot of votes, but that's not anywhere near --

CUOMO: Right.

KING: -- enough to win the presidency in a general election.

CUOMO: Last point for today, Senator. What do you think should be done to help focus this election more on what should matter to people, even if they are caught up in the negative campaign? KING: Well, I think part of it is the kind of thing that you guys did a few weeks ago on the opioid epidemic. That town hall that Anderson Cooper did, which is focusing on a real issue. Not necessarily through the eyes of the candidate, but let's talk about some of the issues.

Get some smart people on and talk about what do we about the economy? What are the issues with our trade policy? What should be done about immigration, which is a significant issue? And part of it is education.

The candidates have an obligation to do that, too.