Return to Transcripts main page

CNN NEWSROOM

Presidential Candidates Shift Strategies After First Presidential Debate; Trump Stirs Controversy Over Downing of MH-17; Exclusive Interview With Ivanka Trump on Donald Trump Attention; Jeb Bush Becomes First Candidate to Release Fundraising Contributions; President Obama to Keep 5,500 Troops in Afghanistan; Taliban Overruns Kunduz and Move Toward Additional Key Cities; Computer Glitch Delays Flights Across the Nation. Aired 05:30-6a ET

Aired October 8, 2015 - 05:30   ET

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


[05:30:00]

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: To the night. What they're saying this morning about Tuesday's debate and why it's causing some candidates to change their strategy now.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: A CNN exclusive, Ivanka Trump opens up about her father's campaign for President and his controversial comments on women.

ROMANS: A breaking overnight. Computers crashing at airports across the country. Thousands of passengers are stuck this morning. What we're learning this morning about your trip to the airport, ahead.

Welcome back to EARLY START, I'm Christine Romans.

KOSIK: And I'm Alison Kosick. It's 30 minutes past the hour.

And we begin with Hillary Clinton capitalizing on momentum from her debate performance with a series of campaign events, beginning in Las Vegas. Last night, at her first large rally in months, Clinton basked in debate afterglow.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am thrilled that people finally got a chance to compare the Democrats to the Republicans. And I think we came out of that pretty well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSIK: With more on the resurgent Clinton campaign, let's go to Senior Political Correspondent, Brianna Keilar.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning Alison and Christine. Hillary Clinton making some post debate campaign stops in Nevada and cording(ph) some key constituencies in the swing state. Union members and Hispanic voters. She stopped by a trade union training facility and picked up an endorsement of a key trade union. And she also made a stop at a local chain, La Flor De Michoacan, which specializes in Mexican ice creams and other sweet treats.

She spoke about Joe Biden as he contemplates a run for the White House, even as this first debate is over.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLINTON: I'm going to continue to run my campaign and make my case for my candidacy. And everyone else, whether they're in or they're not in, will have to make whatever judgement is best for them. And I will repeat what I've said to you many times. I have the greatest respect and affection for the Vice President. He and I are friends; we were former colleagues in the Senate. I just think he needs to decide what is best for him and his family.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Hillary Clinton's next stops will be today in San Antonio, Texas. She'll go on then to New Hampshire on Friday. and Alabama on Saturday, as she tries to gin up some enthusiasm after her debate performance in Las Vegas. - Christine and Alison.

CHRISTINE: All right, Brianna. Thank you for that this morning.

Bernie Sanders also riding the momentum from the debate this morning. At the same time, his campaign is trying to pivot from a focus on building excitement with huge rallies, by adding smaller events aimed at persuading voters that Sanders can win all the way to the White House.

CNN's Sunlen Serfaty is with the Sanders campaign in Los Angeles. She has the latest.

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good Morning Christine and Alison. Well, for the moment, Bernie Sanders is really trying to capitalize on his debate performance through momentum and money. He's building off that $2 million that his campaign has been out touting, that they've raised since the debate performance. And here in Los Angeles, held a pair of fundraisers, raising an additional $160,000 for the campaign.

And it was here speaking out for the very first time about that performance where he specifically went out of his way to reference all this money they have raised and specifically that memorable moment where he spoke out about Hillary Clinton's e-mails. That got a big reaction from this crowd.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BERNIE SANDERS, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm tired of Hillary's e-mails. Let's talk about real issues.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERFATY: Today, Bernie Sanders will make an attempt to show his softer side. We got an early look at his interview with Ellen today, where yes, he does dance. He divulges that his favorite song is "Staying Alive" and he says he thinks he has the best hair of all the candidates. This is an area where (INAUDIBLE) really showing a little bit of color, a little bit softer image, while out on the campaign trail.

Now the campaign will have a small shift in strategy in the few events coming up. We will see Bernie Sanders, in addition to all those big booming rallies that really have defined the early start of his campaign. We'll now see him in more small, intimate settings and that shift starts with this weekend in a two-day swing through Iowa. - Christine and Alison.

KOSIK: All right, Sunlen. Thanks for that.

And Donald Trump's stirring new controversy on Malaysia Airlines flight 17 and whether Russia is to blame for the jetliner being shot down over Ukraine. Dutch investigators now say with confidence, that pro-Russian separatists downed the airliner using a Russian made rocket, killing all aboard. Trump says that's not enough evidence and that it's time to move on.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On Russia, you said today that there was no way to know for sure if Russia was behind shooting down an MH-17. That's not what the intelligence so far shows. Why? What would make you say that?

[05:35:01]

DONALD TRUMP, GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, you know what? That's a horrible thing that happened, it's disgusting and disgraceful. But Putin and Russia say they didn't do. The other side said they did. Nobody really knows who did it; probably Putin knows who did it. Possibly, it was Russia. But they are totally denying it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I think some people might be worried you're defending Russia when you say there's no way of knowing.

TRUMP: No, I'm not defending Russia. No, I think it's despicable, it's horrible. But they deny it, totally. And they don't even say what was it, where it came from, nobody really knows. And I'm sure reports are going to be done, maybe someday we'll find out. But right now, Russia is totally denying it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Trumps daughter, Ivanka, taking on one of the biggest controversies hanging over her dad's campaign. In an exclusive interview with CNN's Poppy Harlow, Ivanka Trump dismisses, she dismisses the attention given to her father's comments about women and their looks. She says the furor has been, in her words, "Orchestrated largely by the media."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IVANKA TRUMP, DAUGHTER TO DONALD TRUMP: Look, my father's very blunt. He's very direct. He is non-gender specific in his criticism of people and people that he doesn't particularly like or people that he does like but thinks they're wrong on a particular issue. So, you know, I don't think that he's gender targeted at all. Like I said, I wouldn't be the person I am today. I wouldn't be a high level executive within his organization if he felt that way. So, he's always supported and encouraged women and truthfully, he's proven that, over decades, through his employment practices, through his hiring practices.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: I think you're going to be seeing more of her on the campaign trail. You know, she said she told Poppy, she doesn't want to talk about his policies. You know, he's going to talk about his policies. She can just talk about him as a boss and as a father. But, she did not want to weigh in to the whole Megyn Kelly controversy. Earlier in the day, though, at a symposium in Washington, she had said, didn't really interest her. The controversy with Megyn Kelly didn't really interest her.

KOSIK: I think she doesn't want to stir it up even more. I think it's stirred up enough. Perhaps.

ROMANS: Well, you know, to be orchestrated by the media isn't just, you know, I mean, she says he's blunt. He's blunt. He orchestrates the reaction to the things he says, by saying the things he says. So, I don't know. Orchestrated by the media, she's going to get some argument on that front.

KOSIK: All right. Moving on.

Jeb Bush is about to become the first Republican Presidential Candidate to release the names of fundraisers who are bundling contributions to his campaign. Bundlers are supporters who collect contributions to a candidate from dozens of friends and business associates. Now, Bush is defining bundlers as "donors who raised at least $17,600." But his critics say that his threshold is so low, it makes it impossible to identify the campaigns biggest bundlers. It's believed some of them collect amounts north of a quarter million dollars.

ROMANS: All right, it appears President Clinton - or President Obama rather, sorry, I'm too, two Presidents back. - Rethinking his plan for pulling nearly all forces out of Afghanistan by the end of the year. There are currently 10,000 US troops in Afghanistan. The President's original plan called for whittling that number down to 1,000 by the time he leaves office. Now, the administrations expected to keep about 5,500 troops there after 2016. US military advisors say that's due to a resurgent Taliban and growing threats from ISIS and al-Qaeda.

Just last month, the Taliban overran the city of Kunduz. Now, Afghan officials are concerned more key cities could fall. They say insurgents are targeting urban areas in the south, including the city of Ghazni, about 75 miles from Kabul. Officials say a Taliban offensive came within three miles of the city limits before pushing, or being pushed back Afghan troops. KOSIK: Long lines and flight delays for millions of air travelers on Wednesday were caused by a glitch in Homeland Securities computer system. US Customs and Boarder Protection says, "The program that cross matches passenger names with terror watch lists was down for about 90 minutes." The malfunction isn't considered malicious but it did create enormous backups. And I'd imagine lots of headaches at airports in New York, Atlanta, and Boston.

ROMANS: Oh, what a mess.

All right, time for an Early Start on your Money, this morning. A good start to stocks around the world have bounced where European stocks and stock futures are pointing higher here, after a bad day on Wall Street yesterday. The DOW down 157, down by one percent.

A disappointing start to the earning season at Walmart. Wow. Look at this one. Strong dollar and the higher wages it's paying its workers, are hurting its profits. The stock plunged 10 percent, a three-year low on that news. Walmart says profits could drop between six and 12 percent next year. The retail giant had been under pressure, of course, to raise employee's minimum wages. Earlier this year, it raised wages to $9 an hour; it goes up to $10 for most workers in February.

Minimum wages workers in St. Louis will have to wait longer to get their pay raise. A St. Louis judge striking down an ordinance that would raise the cities minimum to $11 an hour by the year 2018. Now, that increase would have happened in stages, rising a dollar each year.

[05:40:00]

We've seen, you know, the federal minimum wage has not changed in years. Although, what we have seen are these states and localities doing it. Now, a real legal challenge there in St. Louis.

KOSIK: Never a smooth process with something like that.

All right. We're getting new information on how Lamar Odom ended up in the hospital. What police and one brothel owner are revealing about Khloe Kardashian's husband, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Lamar Odom fighting for his life this morning in a Las Vegas hospital. The former NBA and reality TV star was found unconscious in a Nevada brothel. The owner says Odom had been staying there several days.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DENNIS HOF, OWNER, THE LOVE RANCH: Well, everything was fine until Tuesday morning. They last saw him at 6 o'clock in the morning when they went to do some things and he was going to sleep, or had been sleeping. And then my staff took some food into him about noon, which he was sleeping then. The girls came back at 3:15 and he was unconscious, foaming from the mouth.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Workers at The Love Ranch say Odom was using cocaine and taking drugs to enhance sexual performance, herbal supplements for sexual performance. Something police later confirmed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHARON WEHRLY, SHERRIFF, NYE COUNTY: The reporting parties informed the Nye County Sherriff's office dispatch, the male had been using cocaine. They confirmed his usage on Saturday but was unsure if it had continued to the weekend.

[05:45:00]

They also informed dispatch that he'd used up to 10 tabs of sexual performance enhancer supplements over the last three-day period.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Odom is said to be still unconscious. He's on life support. His estranged wife, Khloe Kardashian at his bedside, where she is making the medical decisions, sources say, for him.

KOSIK: All right. Let's switch gears and take a look at what's coming up on New Day. Michaela Pereira joins us now. Good morning.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Heartbreaking news about Lamar Odom, first of all. Coming from Los Angeles. He was a big part of the Laker franchise. We're really sending prayers his way. We'll talk a little bit more about all of that today on New Day. Good morning to my two friends there.

We're also looking at a big boost for Hillary Clinton's campaign, just a day after the Democratic debate. Another Republican congressman says the Benghazi Committee was designed to target her. How will this affect Clinton on the trail? What does it mean going into her testimony before the Benghazi panel? We'll take a look at that.

Also, Donald Trump going after his rivals last night. This is new CNN/ORC polls put him in double digits, ahead of Ben Carson. We're going to speak to a member of team Trump. We're also going to hear from his daughter, Ivanka Trump in a CNN exclusive. You'll hear what she says about his controversial comments about women and many more topics.

That's ahead on New Day.

ROMANS: I'll tell you Michaela, we played a little bit of that interview with Ivanka Trump and already getting a lot of feedback online about what people think about -

KOSIK: People on Twitter not happy about -

(CROSSTALK) ROMANS: Interesting. I was kind of surprised. Interesting. All right, thanks so much Michaela.

PEREIRA: No problem.

KOSIK: New attacks in Israel. The US now getting involved as violence is escalating. We're live. Next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:50:22]

KOSIK: The White House is stepping in to try to stop a wave of deadly violence between Palestinians and Israelis. Secretary of State, John Kerry will be traveling to the region and he plans to visit with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas.

Meantime, thousands of Israeli soldiers are fanning out across the country in response to escalating attacks against Israeli citizens. In Jerusalem, troops are building checkpoints to close off Arab neighborhoods. Let's go live to Jerusalem and bring in CNN's Erin McLaughlin.

So is there any indication yet, Erin that Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian leader is looking to come out and publicly condemn these presumably lone wolf attacks and try to create some calm here?

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi Alison. He has yet to condemn the attacks, but in the last past he has made these calls for de-escalation because the fact of the matter is, the Palestinians and Israelis are afraid. People here, are on edge.

An example of that is an incident that happened this morning aboard a train to Haifa. According to Israeli police, there was a group of Israeli soldiers who thought they saw something suspicious. They called out terrorist on the train and an Israeli police officer, also on board, opened fire. Now everyone was taken off the train, the train searched, and they found nothing. It just really though, highlights, just the level of anxiety that people are feeling. Because the violence continues.

Yesterday there were two separate attacks. One outside the Damascus Gate entrance to the Old City and the other at a bus stop. Both stabbing attacks. In both cases, Palestinian attackers were killed by Israeli forces. And three civilians were wounded. This, despite really heavy security, increased police officers here in Jerusalem as well as in Israeli cities. Soldiers patrolling alongside police as well. More security guards at public transportation stations and yet, the violence persists. It's unclear what any leader can do to stop this violence.

KOSIK: And that is one of the big issues there. Erin McLaughlin thanks so much. Live from Jerusalem.

ROMANS: All right. The end of dinner ritual. Trying to figure out the tip, leaving the tip for the waiter or waitress. How would you feel not having to leave a tip the next time you eat out? A new trend, Early Start on your Money, this morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:56:48]

ROMANS: All right, welcome back. Let's get an Early Start on your Money today. Asian stocks are higher, Shanghai closing up two percent. European stocks, US stock futures, also up. But it was a bad day on Wall Street, folks, yesterday. The DOW plunged 157 points. That's about one percent.

Why? A disappointing start to earning seasons and Walmart really the standard-bearer there. It says the strong dollar and wage increases are eating into its profits. The stock, a stunning 10 percent decline, a three-year low on the news. You haven't seen a percentage move like this in Walmart since 1988. I'll tell you, we hear from Goldman Sachs, we hear from Citi Group before the bell, so there could be a lot going on today.

One of the most prominent restaurateurs in the country, taking on the minimum wage issue. Danny Meyer getting rid of tipping at his New York restaurants. He wants to even the pay gap between workers in the front of the house and in the kitchen. Starting next month, The Modern in the Museum of Modern Art will get rid of tips. The change will happen with the rest of the restaurants next year. Meyer's says some menu prices will rise, but the affect won't be significant, he says, on your overall bill.

But very interesting, there are other restaurateurs that are saying too that the whole idea of paying someone for their job based on gratuity at the end of the service is just outdated.

KOSIK: You know this is on the employer to pay the employees.

ROMANS: A fair wage.

KOSIK: All right, President Obama is set to announce new plans for US troops in Afghanistan. New Day, starts now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was design to go after people, and individuals, Hillary Clinton.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A bombshell admission from another Republican congressman.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Was the Benghazi Committee created to take down Hillary Clinton?

CLINTON: This committee is basically an arm of the Republican National Committee.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Donald Trump holding a double-digit lead.

D. TRUMP: Hillary and Bernie Sanders. They just couldn't give things away fast enough.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What we saw from the Democrats was a serious debate.

CLINTON: People finally got a chance to compare the Democrats to the Republicans.

I. TRUMP: Look, my father's very blunt. He's very direct.

HARLOW: What would a President Trump do for women in this country?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is New Day. With Chris Cuomo, Alisyn Camerota, and Michaela Pereira.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Good to be home. Good Morning. Welcome to your NEW DAY. It is Thursday, October 15. 6:00 in the east and we do begin with breaking news.

This just in to CNN. President Obama will announce this morning that US troops are remaining in Afghanistan longer than planned. Now, for weeks, we've been reporting on the significant events that the Taliban is making on the ground. The situation there is fragile at best. The life and death concern will be what is the mission now, for US troops?

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Now, of course, in 2014, the President promised to get US troops out of Afghanistan. So what does this turnaround mean for that draw down? Let's get right to CNN's Joe Johns. He's live at the White House with all the breaking details. What have you learned Joe?

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well Alisyn. This is an admission that the terror threat in Afghanistan remains and is likely not to be diminished that much by the time President Obama leaves office in 2017. He had planned to reduce the force there to as much as just 1,000 military ...