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9 Dead in Historic Louisiana Floods; Trump's Anti-Terror Plan; Trump Effect on Down-Ballot GOP Candidates. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired August 16, 2016 - 06:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:31:55] ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Catastrophic flooding in Louisiana causing at least nine deaths. Thousands of homes, of course, are damaged and the worse may not be over.

CNN's Boris Sanchez is live in Baton Rouge with more.

How is it looking, Boris?

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Alisyn.

It's still not looking good. Six of the nine fatalities came from this area in East Baton Rouge. And the danger is far from over. There's still back water flooding. I'll get out of the way so you can see some of it in this neighborhood in East Baton Rouge.

There's several feet of water here and the quality of the water has changed drastically over the past two days. It's gone from being somewhat clear rainwater to being very, very murky. There's debris in the water. It's translucent. So, you know there are chemicals inside. It's a very precarious situation still days out from the rainfall that we've seen here.

Aside from that, we've learned about a very tragic incident where a firefighter taking part in a search and rescue operation accidentally shot a first responder. His firearm went off and now that first responder is in critical condition. There are still tens of thousands of people in shelters and they have very serious needs that you may not even consider. Baby formula, pet food, horse feed.

So, there's still a long way to go before things are back to normal in Louisiana -- Chris.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Boris, thank you very much. Appreciate the reporting. We will check back with you.

Now, let's go to Milwaukee. A 10:00 p.m. curfew for teenagers and a heavy presence of religious leaders on the streets. It's helping restore order in Milwaukee after two nights of violence, but it isn't over. A police station and the city Sherman Park neighborhood had to be shut down briefly on Monday because of threats and shots fired in the area. There are 100 National Guard members on hand in case they're needed.

Protesters did take to the streets after a police officer shot and killed an armed black man this weekend. That's what started this cycle.

CAMEROTA: A Brooklyn man now charged in that murder of a New York City imam and his assistant. Police already had Oscar Morel in custody for a hit and run car crash. Detectives say they connected Morel to the killings after finding the murder weapon inside a wall in his home. Imam Maulama Akonjee and his assistant Thara Odin were gunned down on the street of prayers of the mosque. Police say there is still no motive.

All right. So, how is the war on terror really going? Well, Donald Trump unveiling his plan to wipe out ISIS and keep extremists out of the country. How will it work? We explore that next.

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[06:38:24] CUOMO: All right. A big part of the question in this election is, of course, keeping us safe, national security focused on the war on terrorists, specifically ISIS. So, there are two propositions coming out of the Trump campaign. The war against ISIS is a failure. And the second proposition is that Trump's plan as he laid out yesterday will turn it around.

All right? Joining us now, we've got Phil Mudd, a CNN counterterrorism analysis and a former CIA counterterrorism official, and we have Captain Sean Parnell, retired U.S. Army Ranger and the author of "Outlaw Platoon", a spokesperson for Concerned Veterans for America.

Gentlemen, couldn't think of a better panel for this discussion.

Let's put up some facts for people there to provide some context, OK? First we have, who is doing the bombing, OK? Out of these 14,000 bombs, you hear a lot about this, Trump said he would bomb a lot more, other people say it's not targeted enough.

This is the commitment of the U.S. right now, 11,000 out of 14,000 is them, the entire rest of the coalition doing 3,300. So, where are they bombing? Put up that. You have two main theaters, right, Iraq and Syria. Those are your numbers.

It's about 2 1/2 to 1 bombing in Iraq instead of Syria. Why? Well, there are a lot of reasons for that. You have a lot of different geographical constraints and you also have some population concerns that's driving those decisions and we'll get more contexts from the guests in a second on that.

How much is this costing you? Let's put that up there. Money matters, right? $8.6 billion so far, just about $12 million a day. Are you getting your money's worth becomes the question.

So, let's discuss. Let's start first with the X's and O's of what's going on here. Captain, the idea that it's not working, ISIS is winning.

[06:40:01] We see that because of all the terror attacks around the world. Is that a fair appraisal?

CAPT. SEAN PARNELL (RET.), CONCERNED VETERANS OF AMERICA: Well, I think if we use the CIA director's own testimony to Congress, I think that he himself agrees that their operation capabilities have not been impeded at all. I think primarily because a strategic bombing and air campaign is largely ineffective unless followed up with ground troops to exploit objectives and bolstered intelligence capabilities on the ground to make sure that we're exploiting human intelligence on the ground to make sure we're taking out the right people.

CUOMO: So, the trick here, Phillip Mudd, you construct us all the time, you cannot bomb away terror. You cannot bomb away ISIS. You cannot bomb away hate.

There is complexity to this that doesn't play well in a campaign. So, when you look at the war against ISIS, how do you analyze what is the success to failure ratio?

PHIL MUDD, CNN COUNTERTERRORISM ANALYST: I think we're doing okay, particularly if you compare low point in 2014, Chris. Look, let's get away from politics and deal with facts which we don't do in Washington, D.C.

When you assess a terror organization, let me give you four, five facts. Do they control geography? ISIS has lost significant geography in both Syria and Iraq. What about money? ISIS has lost access to oil revenues. What about recruits? The FBI director himself has said that fewer Americans are going to fight with ISIS.

What about ideology? ISIS itself is telling recruits don't come to Syria, presumably because there's no place in Syria for them to train or few places. Stay home and attack. I think that's because ISIS is on the defensive.

So, you can paint a picture, as Mr. Trump did, of a negative ISIS campaign. Looking at the characteristics, though and taking facts, I don't see how you can say that we're in a worse place in 2016 than we were in 2014.

CUOMO: Captain, what do you think about the idea of bombing the hell out of them as an improvement in the situation? Would carpet bombing, as that term was loosely used during the Republican primary, what we're hearing from Trump right now is, let's bomb a lot more. Let's find any ally who wants to go after ISIS, even if it's Russia, and let's call them an ally for this purpose. That would make things better.

Do you agree?

PARNELL: No. No. I think that Russia has very, very different geopolitical goals in the region. And I think that bombing just for bombing's sake does not work. I mean, as the other guests on here with me said, you can bomb them

all you want, they're really not going to go away unless you focus on the ideology itself. And I think one of the ways to do that is focus on local communities here at home by working in the local communities with political leaders, police officers and local Islamic reformation leaders to try to thwart the ideology here at home.

CUOMO: So, Phillip Mudd, Donald Trump says, not only should we work with Russia and anybody else who wants to. It's OK as long as they want to get ISIS. He says, we're getting out of this regime change business.

People like you have told me for years, that's more important than the military part of this campaign that you don't create stable democracies in these countries you are basically giving a good fertile ground work for extremism.

So, which is right? Do you nation build or do you not?

MUDD: I am so irritable, Chris, this morning.

CUOMO: Uh-oh.

MUDD: Let's be clear, big ugly. Let me tell you what's going on.

We went into Afghanistan in 2001 and left early and people said if we had stayed and helped them, maybe we would not have the resurgence of the Taliban we have today. It's not whether you want a nation built. I pay a lot of taxes. I don't like it.

It's whether you create an environment of instability or allow an environment of instability where people like the Taliban and ISIS emerge. Where has ISIS emerged? Where has collide emerged? Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, every place there's instability where nations fail, ISIS emerges.

So, if you want to say you don't want a nation build, I've got a question for you, what will you do when there's a vacuum ISIS moves into and it's too late? You make your choice. Mr. Trump, you can agree with him or not, says we're not going to be there. And I'm going to say, if you let nations fail, we've seen what happens.

CUOMO: Phillip Mudd, thank you very much.

Captain Sean Parnell, I see that you agree with Phillip Mudd. And you should know that when he said the big ugly, he was referring to me, not you and not Donald Trump.

PARNELL: Yes.

CUOMO: All right. Gentlemen, thank you very much.

Alisyn?

CAMEROTA: That's Phil's pet name for you. He uses it often.

CUOMO: Yes.

CAMEROTA: Coming up is Donald Trump's style hurting fellow Republicans who are running for office. We go one on one with New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte to discuss her election fight.

That's strategy ahead on NEW DAY.

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[06:48:17] CAMEROTA: OK, time for CNN Money now. Chief business correspondent Christine Romans is in our Money Center.

Hey, Christine.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Alisyn.

All three stock averages blazing to record highs, the first time they've got together since 1999 together. The Dow, the NASDAQ, the S&P 500 in uncharted territory with strong gains for the year. Why? Low interest rates, a strong jobs market, and you know what? Investors seem to be settling into this notion that Hillary Clinton could be the next president. That's right. The pro-business people, they like Hillary Clinton.

All right. Warren Buffett is adding to his Apple holdings. Berkshire Hathaway owns 15.2 million shares of Apple. That's so 1 1/2 billion dollars worth, riding out of slump after two quarters of falling iPhone sales. Look at that, Apple shares are up 20 percent since then.

You know, Chris, typically doesn't like to buy tech stocks. He says his deputies did it. That turns out to be a good investment for him.

CUOMO: Right. He's not complaining any time soon. Christine, thank you very much.

ROMANS: You're welcome.

CUOMO: All right. Let's take a break. Donald Trump's harsh rhetoric impacting his party. Remember, it's not just about the big election, it's what effect that has on all those races below them, including New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte's race.

Now, what is going to happen with her re-election? Will it be a negative reflection because of Trump? What the senator had to say to our reporter, next.

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[06:53:17] CUOMO: So, everything Donald Trump says and does on the campaign trail could impact down ballot candidates. One of those candidates is New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte. Now, she is trying to stave off a fierce challenge for her seat up there in New Hampshire. Will the so-called Trump effect help or hurt her chances?

CNN senior political reporter Manu Raju sat down with the senator and her opponent.

Tell us about it.

MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: Hey, Chris. Actually, Kelly Ayotte has gone to great lengths to distance herself from Donald Trump on a range of issues. She's actually campaigning on that, showcasing herself as someone who's not afraid to break from her party's leadership and showcase herself as an independent in this fiercely independent state.

Now, I had a chance to talk to her about her relationship with the party's nominee. It's very clear that her relationship is a tepid one.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAJU (voice-over): Six years ago, New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte wrote an anti-Obama wave into office. Now, she is battling the headwinds caused by her own party's nominee, Donald Trump.

(on camera): You're saying you support Donald Trump. You do not endorse him?

SEN. KELLY AYOTTE (R), NEW HAMPSHIRE: I've actually said that I'm going to be voting for him, but I do have significant disagreements with him which I've been very clear on him. So, I won't be endorsing him. So, that's my position.

RAJU: What's the distinction between endorsing and voting?

AYOTTE: There's actually a big distinction. Everyone gets to vote. I do, too. And, you know, but an endorsement is one where I'm out campaigning with someone.

And so, while he has my vote, he doesn't have my endorse pt and I'm going to continue to focus on really my race.

RAJU: So you won't be campaigning with Donald Trump if he comes out here?

AYOTTE: Listen, I'll be campaigning in the Senate race.

[06:55:02] Thanks for volunteering. That's excellent.

RAJU (voice-over): And she is aggressively campaigning up and down the state, he for saving her seat and helping Republicans hang on to the Senate majority.

With Democrats only needing a handful of Senate seats to take back power, they're seizing on Trump's growing unpopularity in battleground states like New Hampshire where the GOP nominee is down 15 points in a recent poll.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, Governor.

GOV. MAGGIE HASSAN (D), NEW HAMPSHIRE: Hi. RAJU: That has Democratic Senate candidate Maggie Hassan linking

Ayotte to Trump.

(on camera): She says she is voting for him but she's not going to endorse him.

HASSAN: I think people should hear that statement for what it is. She is trying to have it both ways. I don't think any elected leader who is supporting Donald Trump for the presidency should hold office.

RAJU (voice-over): Meantime, Hassan, who served as the state's governor since 2013 is eager to align herself with the top of her ticket.

HASSAN: Onward to victory in November.

RAJU: Speaking at a rally for Clinton's running mate Tim Kaine. Yet, 64 percent of voters in a recent CNN/ORC poll believe Clinton is not honest or trustworthy. And asked three times, Hassan would not give her opinion.

(on camera): Do you think she is honest and trustworthy?

HASSAN: I support Hillary Clinton for the presidency because her experience and her record demonstrate she is qualified to hold the job.

RAJU: Do you think she is honest?

HASSAN: She has a critical, critical plan among others for making college more affordable.

RAJU: But do you think that she is trustworthy?

HASSAN: I think she has demonstrated a commitment always to something beyond herself, bigger than herself.

RAJU (voice-over): After this interview, Hassan's campaign clarifying that she does believe Clinton is honest.

For her part, when asked, Ayotte won't say if she trusts Trump with his finger on the nuclear button.

AYOTTE: What worries me and what I don't trust is continuing the foreign policy that we've been under, under this administration, and that will be continued by Hillary Clinton.

RAJU: Ayotte has sparred periodically with Trump on issues like his call for a Muslim travel ban and fight with a Gold Star family, so much so that Trump called Ayotte weak, only to backtrack and announce his support for her a few days later.

AYOTTE: Hey, listen, I call it like I see it. When he criticized me, I just said very clearly, which I'm going to continue to do, whether I have his endorsement or not, it's going to be about calling it like I see it for the people of New Hampshire. Whether it's my own party or the opposite party, if they're doing something that I don't agree with, that I don't think is right for New Hampshire, I'll stand up to them, but I'll also work with them to get things done.

RAJU: And suggesting Trump should release his tax returns.

AYOTTE: I think that it's really in the presidential race it's better to release them, but he's got to make that call.

RAJU (on camera): Is there anything that he could do to force you to not vote for him?

AYOTTE: Well, you know, like anyone, I think you constantly re- evaluate. So, I can say that for any position, the election is in November. So, of course.

RAJU: You could work with Secretary Clinton if she became president.

AYOTTE: Absolutely. I'll work with anyone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO: How many Ayottes are there out there, Manu, Republicans, who have to either confidently or grudgingly say, yes, Trump is our guy, but I have my own ideas?

RAJU: Roughly about half a dozen, Chris. Not everyone uses that same terminology, saying they're willing to support him but not endorse him. Really only one other Republican Senate candidate is in addition to Ayotte and that's Wisconsin's Ron Johnson.

Others are willing to be more closely aligned with him, like Richard Burr in North Carolina. But some don't want to campaign with Donald Trump including John McCain in the difficult Senate race in Arizona. Really only one Republican has -- up in a tough Senate re-election race has rescinded his or her endorsement, and that's Mark Kirk of Illinois in the very blue state. And one reason why is they absolutely need these Donald Trump supporters to come out at the end of the day.

So, while they be concerned with Trump's rhetoric, putting off the independent and moderate voters, they need those core supporters to come out in the polls in November. A real bind for a lot of these members, Chris.

CUOMO: Manu Raju, I like it. Thank you very much for giving us this insight into the process. Appreciate it.

There's a lot of news this morning coming out of the election and from around the world, so let's get right to it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Hillary Clinton's policies launched ISIS onto the world stage.

JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This man is totally, thoroughly unqualified to be president.

TRUMP: That we could find common ground with Russia in the fight against ISIS. Wouldn't that be a good thing?

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man you can trust.

TRUMP: Hillary Clinton wants to be America's Angela Merkel. It is a catastrophe.

MICHAEL PHELPS, U.S. SWIMMER: These are the greatest moments of my life so far.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A photo finish in Rio.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The American Allyson Felix and Shaunae Miller, the Bahama mama, with the finish line drama.