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New Plane Debris Found in Indian Ocean; Police: Movie Theater Attacker Had Psychological Issues; Republicans Prepare for First Presidential Debate. Aired 6-6:30a ET

Aired August 6, 2015 - 06:00   ET

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


ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

[05:58:09] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. This is NEW DAY. And we do have breaking news about MH-370. We're just getting reports that new plane debris may have been recovered in the Indian Ocean.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: According to the AFP news agency, Malaysia's transport minister says seat cushions, window panes and aluminum foil were found in the waters off Reunion Island. That, of course, is the same place where a part of a Boeing 777's wing was found.

So let's get right to CNN's Andrew Stevens. He is live for us in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with all of the breaking details -- Andrew.

ANDREW STEVENS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Alisyn.

That's right. The transport minister here in Malaysia telling local reporters, as well as the French news agency that this new debris had been found related to an aircraft. That's his term, calling it that.

But we're talking about window panes, talking about strips of aluminum and seat cushions, as well. He also went on to say -- and this is a direct quote. They were very small and have to be identified by the French authorities.

Now, people on Reunion Island. This was found on Reunion Island, of course, where the flaperon was found.

The police on Reunion Island are telling us that so far today there has been no reports of any debris being handed in. So this happened in recent days.

Now there is, as we know, a lot of debris in the area around there. This is not confirmed at the moment. We cannot say that this is definitely, A, from even an aircraft at this stage, let alone a AAA or MH-370, but it does come less than 24 hours after the Malaysian prime minister stated very categorically that the flaperon, Chris, was actually -- was completely related to MH-370. It was -- it was a match.

So he has ruled out the -- he, basically he's said quite clearly that 370 and the flaperon are -- they are linked. So that's where we are at the moment. We cannot confirm this new debris. But certainly, it's going to -- we're going to have to wait until it comes back from Toulouse or get the word back from Toulouse exactly what this debris is, whether it is actually linked to 370.

CAMEROTA: Andrew, it's Alisyn here. The Malaysians have been wrong before, as we all remember, and in fact, the victims' family members don't necessarily trust what the Malaysian authorities say. So are there other authorities on the ground there that can corroborate this new debris?

STEVENS: Well, most of the information we've been getting over the past 515 days has come from Malaysian Airlines or has come from the transport department or the prime minister himself. So that -- they are the key sources for information.

And you're absolutely right, Alisyn. There have been many instances in the past where the wrong information has been set out, particularly, you'll remember, in those early weeks, the first couple of weeks where there were a lot of red herrings and there was a lot of confusion coming from the Malaysian authorities about exactly the flight path of that airplane, of MH-370.

And that really has built up this wall of distrust between the families and the government. We saw it in Beijing today when the announcement came out about the link between the flaperon and 370. Families in Beijing were saying, "We just do not believe this." Families down here are saying, why are they rushing so much to tell us this when there is still a slight element of doubt, which was voiced by the French prosecutor that this flaperon could be linked to 370.

So yes, there's a lot of distrust here and it is going to take a lot more to convince the people here and in Beijing that this is actually linked to 370.

CUOMO: All right, Andrew. Let us know what you find there on the ground and if there's any more detail that's relevant. Get to us, and we'll come back to you. OK?

Let's get a better sense of what we should make out of this with CNN transportation analyst Mary Schiavo. Nobody's better than she is. This former inspector general for the U.S. Department of Transportation among many other credentials.

Mary, let me be a human bucket of cold water. How easily could they be wrong that what they're seeing there is related to this actual plane?

MARY SCHIAVO, CNN AVIATION ANALYST: Well, as we've seen before, they could be wrong. I mean, the piece of metal before was part of a domestic, you know, common household ladder, so it could be wrong.

However, with these parts they can absolutely, positively identify whether or not it came from the plane, because these come from the interior now. So this is a game-changer. So if, and a big if, these are parts from the aircraft and they

are the parts they say they are, they come from the interior, so that would tell us a lot of things. It would tell us if the fuselage was breached, that it did not settle down quietly into the water and slip into the bottom of the Indian Ocean in one piece. That we would know for absolutely certain that did not happen.

And two, we can tell if the aircraft seats are parts of aircraft cushions because the interior of the plane, because it's a pretty new one, a 777, has to meet flammability standards. So they'll be able to test those seat cushions to tell whether or not they're from an airplane, because they would have to meet the U.S. federal standards.

CUOMO: All right. So in the interest of optimism, getting answers for some 239 families, explain to people how a wing that is a big piece of metal and a little plastic sheet from a window could travel at the same rate and show up at the same time, just as a ballast effect? How could they have all arrived at the same time?

SCHIAVO: Well, the key to all of them is that they have to float. I mean, this is not wreckage that has washed up from the bottom of the ocean. These are the things that have to float. And so at that point, it doesn't depend on the size of the object. It depends upon the current action and how fast this gyre, this trash gyre, if you will, this big round centrifuge in the Indian Ocean is moving in its currents. So at that point, big or small, it's going to depend on the speed of the water and the currents.

CAMEROTA: So Mary, I mean, what the French minister -- the transport minister is saying, is that aircraft seat cushions and window panes have been found in that same area. Could they be something else? I mean, aircraft seat cushions are pretty distinctive.

SCHIAVO: Well, they're pretty distinctive to people who -- who make, study and, you know, know about aircraft cushions. If there are piece of fabric and foam, there are an awful lot of things that have that on them, not the least of which are boat cushions. And so unless and until experts meet again -- once again it's Boeing -- until the Boeing engineers take a look at them and, in this case, they will have to test them, most likely, to make sure that they really are aircraft seat cushions and seat covers, seat material.

CUOMO: Well, that's true. Who knows what they look like now, Mary, right? I mean, it's not like they're going to look like they do when you're -- when you sit down on the plane.

SCHIAVO: Yes.

CUOMO: You know, they've probably become greatly disheveled. So you're right. It doesn't go with common sense. But you do need a level of expertise to identify what these things are, let alone attach them to the actual plane. Point taken.

CAMEROTA: Mary, thank you. Thanks so much. We'll check back in with you through the show. [06:05:03] CUOMO: Yes. Because this is coming from AFP, a

credible news source. But we're going to be tracking it down, trying to get more detail about what this is and what it could mean; and then we'll come back to you.

CAMEROTA: OK. In the meantime, we're going to turn to a different story, because there are some new details to tell you about the man shot and killed by police after he attacked movie goers inside a Tennessee movie theater with pepper spray and a hatchet. Authorities say he had been committed to a mental institution four separate times, and he also had a prior arrest.

CNN's Nick Valencia is live in Nashville with the latest developments. What have you learned, Nick?

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Alisyn.

People here in Nashville praising the quick response of police, who prevented something that certainly had the potential to be much worse. The gunman showed up at this theater yesterday behind me. In the afternoon, he bought a ticket and carried out his attack.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This shady-looking guy stood up, with like two bags, and walked toward the back of the theater.

VALENCIA (voice-over): A frantic 911 call released this morning reveals the chilling moments inside the Nashville, Tennessee, theater.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He pulled out like a hatchet and started attacking this family. And then he pulled out a gun, and we all ran out of the theater.

VALENCIA: Twenty-nine-year-old Vincente David Montano stormed into the 1 p.m. theater showing of "Mad Max" Wednesday, wearing a surgical mask, armed with an Airsoft gun, a hatchet, and cans of pepper spray.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We heard screams coming from another theater.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We thought it was a scary movie.

VALENCIA: Montano attacking this father, slicing his shoulder with the ax, causing minor injury. His wife and child, doused with pepper spray.

"STEVEN," VICTIM OF THEATER ATTACK: I'm eternally grateful -- excuse me -- for the Metro Police Department for their fast response today and the fact that no one else got injured.

VALENCIA: racing to the scene, two officers working a car crash right in front of the Nashville theater.

DON AARON, NASHVILLE POLICE SPOKESMAN: The officers stopped what they were doing and immediately ran to the meter. Our response to the theater was probably 60 to 90 seconds.

VALENCIA: At first Officer Jonathan Firth, a six-year veteran, ran inside. Montano raised his gun, and Firth fired, backing out of the theater.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All cars, be advised. We got shots fired, officer involved.

VALENCIA: Minutes later, the SWAT team converged into the theater, donning gas masks, when the suspect tried to escape. A firefight ensued.

AARON: The gunman tried to go out through a rear door. There were other officers waiting.

(GUNFIRE)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VALENCIA: Montano is -- was believed to have been homeless. On Monday his mother filed a missing person's report with the Texas Rangers, telling them that her son was diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic and, quote, "had a hard time taking care of himself." Police still trying to figure out the motive -- Chris.

CUOMO: You know, once again, Nick, hearing about a history of unchecked mental illness, of not properly treated mental illness, is not a coincidence. You know the bill that Representative Tim Murphy, and now with more colleagues, that they're trying to get momentum. It's good for the audience to take a read on it, because again, this is not a coincidence that we keep hearing about a connection between violence and mental illness that has gone unchecked. Unchecked. Nick, thank you very much. Appreciate it.

We do have more breaking news right now. A massive search is underway for a man who gunned down a Shreveport, Louisiana, police officer. The officer was responding to a report of a suspicious person inside a home, and that's when he was shot. Officials say the unidentified officer was hit several times. He was rushed to the hospitals. Doctors could not save him. We will keep you updated on all developments.

CAMEROTA: I don't know if you have heard, but the first Republican debate will be held tonight in the key battleground state of Ohio. Ten candidates are participating in the main event. Seven others who didn't make the cut, as you know, will take part in an earlier forum.

So how will the candidates stand out in this crowded field? And can any of them slow Donald Trump's momentum?

CNN political reporter Sara Murray is live in Cleveland for us.

Hi, Sara.

SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Alisyn. That's right, the big day is finally here. Like you said, it's

going to be a double-header. That primetime debate starts at 9 p.m., but earlier we'll see a 5 p.m. debate with those candidates who are trailing in polls.

Let's take a look at how everyone is preparing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MURRAY (voice-over): It's debate day, the biggest day in the campaign so far, when ten Republican candidates make their case to voters and possibly score political points against their rivals. Marco Rubio spent the night before the first GOP debate in a bar in Cleveland.

SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I came in early today, trying to convince LeBron James to come back to Miami. Just wanted you to know.

(BOOS)

MURRAY: Ahead of tonight's debate, the candidates are deploying all kinds of tactics to prepare and to shake off their nerves. After a couple of political stumbles this week...

JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You could take dollar for dollar, although I'm not sure we need a half a billion dollars for women's health issues.

MURRAY: ... Jeb Bush will spend the morning going to mass.

[06:10:05] And Scott Walker is kicking off his day at the Wisconsin State Fair before hopping a flight to Ohio.

But the man who is overshadowing them all, Donald Trump, is laying low. He's expected to land in Cleveland this afternoon, debate and depart the very same night. His rival campaigns say they don't have much interest in taking on Trump onstage, a strategy that would be high risk.

MICHAEL COHEN, TRUMP ORGANIZATION: If you attack Donald Trump, and look what happened to Lindsey Graham, not even in the debate. Look what happened to Rick Perry, not even in the debate. If you attack Donald Trump, he's going to come back at you twice as hard.

MURRAY: Instead, candidates like Chris Christie and Scott Walker are hoping for a chance to take Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton to task on issues from the Iran deal to her support for Planned Parenthood.

You can bet every candidate on that stage is looking for a breakout moment. But for now, they're keeping their strategies close to the vest.

(END VIDEOTAPE) MURRAY: Now as for that 5 p.m. debate, Senator Lindsey Graham is

calling it the happy hour debate. That's where we'll see him, Carly Fiorina, Texas Governor Scott Perry and a number of others. And many of the campaigns tell me they're looking forward to having a debate without the distraction of Donald Trump onstage -- Alisyn and Chris.

CAMEROTA: Well, Lindsey Graham suggests everyone starts drinking at 5.

CUOMO: And let me tell you, people are taking the idea. Have you been seeing in the media how many different drinking games are being developed around these? I'm not kidding.

CAMEROTA: I believe you. So let's break down what we can expect tonight in tonight's sober debate. Maggie Haberman is a CNN political analyst and a presidential campaign correspondent for "The New York Times." And Errol Louis is a CNN political commentator who is also a political anchor at New York One News. Great to have you, guys.

Maggie, you say that you do not believe this is what anyone expected when they first thought up this debate months ago.

MAGGIE HABERMAN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: I think that if we had taken dead serious six months ago that Donald Trump was going to be center stage, I don't think any of us would have made that bet. So no, I don't think anybody expected this. I think most people did not expect that there was going to be an undercard debate at 5 p.m. with the seven people who couldn't make the first one.

This is going to be a wild night, potentially. A lot of it depends on what Donald Trump does. If Donald Trump shows up to be the person who we have seen for the last couple of months, it is going to be really interesting. And those drinking games will be really interesting. If Donald Trump shows up and is much more presidential, which a lot of people are advising him to do, I think it will be lower key, but I think it will better for him, potentially, in the long run.

CUOMO: Look, if nothing else, we never put expectations like this on a first debate this early in the cycle. You know, usually it's like, all right, let's get it started, and there's going to be another dozen of these. But this one has expectations attached.

And when you look at one moment of intrigue here, you believe in the criticism that what FOX is doing with this debate structure is worthy of criticism and that that is a part of the story of how this debate is happening tonight: who isn't there, how it was done and the manipulation of it? Is that as relevant as what happens tonight?

ERROL LOUIS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, not as relevant, but it is important. And it's -- let's keep in mind, it's not just FOX News, this is something that the RNC decided. They decided they were going to front-load this. They decided they were going to, you know, sort of push everybody into one news organization and bless that news organization. That news organization then outsourced its decision making to some pollsters. I mean, you know, what everybody expected was that there was

going to be a fairly orderly kind of sort of shuffling together of the traditional kind of candidates. Then Donald Trump stepped in, not so much that it's Donald Trump, but that there's an anger out there that he represents and that represents why he's rising in the polls. And now they're going to have to try to contain that.

And I think that's really sort of the thing to watch. Is that how much of the real populist anger that's out there, that accounts for the rise of Donald Trump, how much of it is going to find its way into the debate? Because the rest of those folks, the professional politicians, they are aware that that anger is out there. They know that Donald Trump himself is a problem and that his supporters are a challenge that they have to meet.

CAMEROTA: Maggie, beyond Donald Trump, who are you keeping your eyes on?

HABERMAN: Jeb Bush. That is the single other person who you need to be keeping an eye on. He had a very rough week.

Jeb Bush has gotten better as a candidate over the last seven months. He was an unofficial candidate before June when he declared. But basically, he's been a candidate essentially since December. He has not gotten demonstrably better. He makes a lot of gaffes that really worry his supporters, his donors.

On Monday in a candidate forum, he was pretty listless. He was not very on his feet. He had a very tough answer still and a hard time answering a question about his family.

CAMEROTA: And what is it about that, by the way?

CUOMO: That's a good question.

CAMEROTA: But I mean, is he not practiced? Is he not game for sort of the blood sport that is campaigning? What do people say about what's going on?

HABERMAN: A couple of thing. I think when it comes to his family, that's just a tough question for him. I think that's going to be hard for him to answer throughout this race. That was always going to be difficult, and I think it's difficult for his aides to raise with him and try to sort of coach him on and get to a better place.

[06:14:59] What was interesting at the National Urban League where Hillary Clinton really went at him hard on stage in her speech while he waited in the wings. He then got on stage and -- part of it was pre-planned for his speech, but he made a call for civility in the political dialogue. That is not what people want to hear right now, at least in terms of voters. It's not tapping into what Earl was talking about, about the anger that is out there.

And so I think that when you're saying, "Everybody please calm down and be a grown-up," I'm not really sure it falls on hearing ears. CUOMO: When you have a Donald Trump, when you have Jeb Bush, who

isn't on his game -- let's just put it at that -- that creates opportunity for others.

Who do you think tonight has a chance to seize opportunity? And let's say a significant way that someone -- because when you are bunched up at 3 percent, 5 percent, 7 percent. Someone can kind of all of a sudden pop 150 percent and you wind up in a different area of echelon. What do you think?

I mean, like many other people I'm going to be watching Governor Kasich. I mean, I think he's got the biggest -- just as you described, percentage gain. You know, that...

CUOMO: Potential.

LOUIS: Potential. He's got a great resume. He's a governor of a swing state. He's had some setbacks. He's done some ideological combat down in the trenches, and he's won and he's lost. And he's somebody who can sort of appeal across the aisle.

CUOMO: This is his state.

LOUIS: And this is his state. So, you know, he's going to be somebody to watch.

Somebody else to watch, though, I think are the senators who are in there. You know, I mean, I want to hear what Ted Cruz and Rand Paul and Marco Rubio have to say about the 2013 government shutdown. I mean, this was something that was supposed to be a feather in their cap. And let's keep in mind, they voted not to end the shutdown at the end. I mean, they saw that through, really, as far as you could possibly take it. And we'll see if they think the Republican Party wants to claim that as a talking point going into 2016.

CAMEROTA: Very quickly, Maggie, the format tonight, is this just -- are these just going to be nuggets, just bumper stickers, slogans from people? Is there any substance that we're going to hear?

HABERMAN: It's too soon to predict that there won't be substance. But the format, and I think this is going to be true for a lot of the debates with ten candidates in it, the format does not allow for lengthy, you know, windy answers. There's going to be one- minute answers, and then there's a 30-second rebuttal if someone else mentions your name. So this could be a whole night of back and forth like this.

CUOMO: I like that rule.

LOUIS: The shot clock is going to make it hard. It will make the format the whole story as opposed to what they're saying.

CUOMO: But this is an unwieldy thing. And then you have to see what happens at 5 and how in the first debate, and see if that influences what happens later in the night in terms of tone and themes that come up. And is their responsibility for them to bring up what may have come up sooner?

CAMEROTA: Yes. Get your beer goggles out. Maggie, Errol, great to have you guys. Thanks.

HABERMAN: Thank you.

CUOMO: We're going to have a lot of coverage this morning, and we're going to do it the right way with top guests. We're going to have Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum. Remember, he was a winner in the early rounds of the last election. Now he's not even in the big show tonight. What does that mean and why?

We also have the RNC chairman, Reince Priebus, and he's going to be talking to us about why what he sees tonight is success for his party.

CAMEROTA: And of course, the big question: can Donald Trump compete against nine experienced politicians? What do each of these candidates need to do significantly tonight? And what should they avoid doing? We'll explore that, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[06:22:00] RICK PERRY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The third agency of government, I would do away with the education -- the -- commerce, and let's see, I can't -- the third one I can't, I'm sorry. Oops.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Well, that was the moment that Rick Perry wishes everyone would forget when he had a mental lapse during a 2011 presidential debate. So what do all of the GOP candidates need to do tonight and also avoid doing tonight?

We're back with CNN political analyst Maggie Haberman and CNN political commentator Errol Louis. Guys, let's go through it one by one. I'll tell you what the other -- what other analysts say that these candidates need to do and avoid doing. You tell me if you agree.

Let's look at Rand Paul. He must stand out with policy differences, but he must avoid appearing too isolationist -- Maggie.

HABERMAN: I think he needs to standout by reminding people he's a different Republican, and he needs to avoid receding into the background.

CAMEROTA: OK. All right. I like that. Let's look at what Ted Cruz, Errol, needs to do. Some analysts say he must remind voters that he is like Trump, but he must avoid being too Trump-like.

LOUIS: Well, it's very true. It's very true. He was supposed to be the populist candidate. He was supposed to be the one who was going to sort of take the popular anger and aim it back at Washington and run as a Washington outsider. And Trump has usurped all that turf.

So now what does Ted Cruz do? He can sound like he's angry, but he can also sound a little unhinged if he's now trying to sort of compete with Donald Trump for who's the angriest politician in America.

CAMEROTA: Is this another person who has some of that issue? Chris Christie. He must, according to some analysts, reassure conservatives he's one of them, but he has to avoid his temper -- Maggie.

HABERMAN: Chris Christie has to remind conservatives that he is one of them. He has to remind people that he once upon a time was the Trump, the tell it like it is candidate. He has to avoid, however, sounding either like a bully or like he is -- people are getting under his skin.

CAMEROTA: So how does he do that, just out of curiosity?

HABERMAN: We're going to find out.

CAMEROTA: Not our problem.

Let's look at Senator Marco Rubio. He must remind voters of his policy credentials. He has to avoid blending into the crowd. That can be tough in a field of ten.

LOUIS: Yes. I mean, the real challenge is, this is somebody who's running in a way like Obama did in 2008. They have often -- they've often been compared. He's got a very interesting personal story. He's got an engaging style. The problem is, you can't do that in 30 seconds. It takes a little time to sort of develop it and sort of talk about your biography and who you are and the values you want to bring to the race and to the White House.

For him to try and like sort of get that all done while he's competing with nine other people, very, very tough.

CAMEROTA: Maggie, let's talk about Governor John Kasich. He's on home turf. Let's talk about what he needs to do. He has to emphasize his experience as governor. He has to avoid prickliness.

HABERMAN: He needs to introduce himself. He's basically an unknown. He was the second to last entrance to this race. So he needs to tell people who he is and make a positive case. He has a lot of room to do that. But in terms of prickliness, yes, he needs to avoid. Another one who has been called having a temper problem. He needs not to let that show.

CAMEROTA: Another person that people are keeping an eye on tonight is governor Scott Walker. Some pundits say he has to show leadership ability but avoid backing away from his own positions as he has been known to do in the past couple of weeks. [06:25:06] LOUIS: Well, this is somebody else who has not really

been on the national stage. I mean, he's really been in the middle of some very high-profile fights in Wisconsin. But to the extent that he was a real ideological warrior and won, and lost a couple, but really won more than he lost. That's not necessarily the face he wants to present nationally. He's going to have to really make sure he has a modulated kind of appearance tonight.

CAMEROTA: Let's look at Governor Mike Huckabee. People do know him. He had a TV show on FOX News for a long time. But some pundits say tonight he must play up economic populism; avoid dwelling on social issues. What do you think about that advice, Maggie?

HABERMAN: He is a talk show host, radio host. He was very good in the 2008 debates. He needs to emulate that performance. Perhaps a little less talk about leading people to the ovens, like he has lately.

CAMEROTA: OK. Let's look at Dr. Ben Carson. He, as we all know, is an understated, reserved guy. So it's interesting what the advice is from pundits. He must show off his reserved conservativism. Avoid being too reserved.

LOUIS: Yes. Well, he has to avoid being too reserved. I mean, the reason why we're even talking about him, the reason that he really came to national prominence was that he's done some fairly bold things, you know, sort of challenging the president face to face. You know, making statements that were just short of outlandish but, you know, sort of taking into account some of the real fire that's out there. Again, some of that populist anger.

So he'd be a fool to walk away from that now. So if -- if there are going to be any zingers tonight, I would expect Ben Carson to try and lob one out there.

CAMEROTA: That would be interesting.

All right. Maggie, here's the person you say you're keeping a close eye on tonight. Jeb Bush. He must step out of the Bush shadow, avoid falling into gaffes.

HABERMAN: Hard to disagree with either one of those. He needs to -- he needs to show why he is a candidate. He also needs to remind conservatives that he has a very conservative record as the Florida governor. This gets forgotten a lot.

CAMEROTA: Well, what does step out of the Bush shadow mean?

HABERMAN: Step Bush -- out of the Bush shadow means essentially tell the story of "I am my own person" without constantly talking about his father and his brother or seeming like he has trouble answering those questions, like we were talking about before. He needs to avoid tripping over his words, which he had a problem with on Monday. And he needs to avoid overly labored responses or sounding too ponderous. CAMEROTA: Before we get to the cherry on top, Donald Trump, I

mean, how does -- how does a candidate avoid gaffes? Are they prepared? I mean, you have both been around debate prep for a long time. What are they doing? How do they do this, Errol?

LOUIS: Well, I mean, the gaffes that I've seen that were the most serious came when you're either over-prepped, as we just saw, with Rick Perry, where you know, you've got the three things. You've got a million other things running through your mind. You're supposed to remember the three agencies and that sort of a thing. Or get the joke exactly right. That's where people really have problems.

The other place where they have problems is when they're not listening. Because, you know, there's a back and forth. And when a question comes to you and somebody says something as was, you know, in a famous debate, you know, what would happen if your wife was -- you know, was murdered? You know, how would you react? You've got to listen and understand that somebody just threw something at you. That's not the place to sort of reel out your talking points about the death penalty, as Michael Dukakis did.

CAMEROTA: Right. No, it's so hard to stay in the moment but yet keep all of your talking points that you've crammed for the exam in your head.

Let's talk about Donald Trump. Let's talk about what he needs to do. He must, pundits say, prove he's presidential. He must avoid dragging down the debate. Maggie, how do you interpret this advice?

HABERMAN: I think he needs to prove he's presidential if he's serious about capturing this nomination.

CAMEROTA: How does he do that? He just appears sort of sensible on stage and not hot-headed.

HABERMAN: Yes, he comes off, you know, sort of level-tempered. He's able to answer a couple of policy questions with more details than sort of "I have a secret plan for ISIS, but I'm not going to tell you what it is." And I think that's a little difficult.

What he needs to avoid is looking too mean. When he is at his worse, it is when he looks like he is bullying.

CAMEROTA: Last thought?

LOUIS: I think he has to show that he's a responsible leader. He has his own interpretation of what that means. So his vision of what looks presidential is going to be very different from what we've seen before. So I think we're in for a very interesting treat tonight to see what does Donald Trump think a president is supposed to present like on national television? We're going to see that tonight.

CAMEROTA: Errol, Maggie, you have armed us with some great things to look for tonight. Thanks so much. Great to see you this morning.

Let's get over to Chris.

CUOMO: A razor-sharp observation in something that we think is all about talking. Listening could be the most important skill for those on the stage tonight.

One thing that should come up, maybe not, will be what do we do to do better about the mentally ill? New details about the Tennessee man who attacked movie goers in Nashville. There was a hatchet. There was a pepper spray, and he battled mental illness for years.

The question this morning, after a similar attack, as we all remember, in Louisiana just a short time ago, are we witnessing a trend? Or is this just a window into a problem we must address?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)