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Poll: 2-Man Race Between Trump, Cruz; Video Shows U.S. Sailor Apologizing to Iran; Rep. Mike McCaul Talks Terror Threat. Aired 1:30- 2p ET

Aired January 13, 2016 - 13:30   ET

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


[13:30:00] WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get to presidential politics here in the United States. A new poll shows a two-man race between Ted Cruz and Donald Trump in Iowa and less than three weeks before the Iowa caucuses. The Bloomberg/"Des Moines Register" poll shows that Cruz is on top at 25 percent with Trump at 22 percent, and that is within the margin of error. And now on the radio in an interview, Cruz says, quote, "Donald seems to a little bit rattled, and he went on to say this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TED CRUZ, (R), TEXAS & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think that it may shift in the new rallies to play in New York, New York, and Donald comes from New York, and he embodies the New York values.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: And for his part, Trump is beating the birther drum to question whether Ted Cruz is even eligible to be president of the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & CEO, TRUMP ORGANIZATION: I really don't know. He was born in Canada, a citizen of Canada until 15 months ago, which a lot of people don't understand, and that is a big problem, a real problem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: And that is a lot to talk about with the political panel, Doug Heye, a former deputy chief of staff for the majority leader, Eric Cantor, and he's a former Republican National Committee communications director; and Angela Rye, a political strategist, and former director of the National Black Caucus here in Washington, D.C.

And, Doug, what do you make about increasing volatile battle between Ted Cruz and Donald Trump?

DOUG HEYE, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, it speaks right to Iowa. It is the first state, and neck and neck, and within three points of the within the margin of error. What we don't know is if Donald Trump can show up to the caucus, and stay there when he is not the attraction, but it is open question, because he has created excitement, and anxiety for some, and myself included, but it is neck and neck so it's no surprise they'll start going after each other.

BLITZER: A month ago, Cruz had a 10-point lead in Iowa in this poll over Donald Trump, and now it is three point, and is this birther argument having an impact?

HEYE: Well, may be, and certainly taken Ted Cruz off of the message that he wants to emphasize, and mattered in that sense. But a month ago, Ted Cruz was saying that Donald Trump is wonderful. And when you are up 10 points, your opponents can be wonderful, but when it is three point, they have other state values and thing likes that which we are seeing in the rhetoric right now.

BLITZER: The South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley delivered the Republican response, Angela, to the president's State of the Union address, and clearly took on the president, but she took on some of her own Republican presidential candidates. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIKKI HALEY, (R), SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR: During anxious time, it can be tempting to follow the siren call of the angriest voices. We must resist that temptation. No one who is willing to work hard, abide by our laws and love our traditions should ever feel unwelcomed in this country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: And earlier this morning, on CNN's "New Day," Don Lemon asked her if she was referring specifically to Trump. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HALEY: Partially him, but a lot of people. You know what a lot of we are talking about is that we have seen across the country, if you are looking at places like Ferguson and Baltimore, people are feeling loud and angry to have their voices heard. And look to the example of South Carolina, when we had the shooting of Walter Scott. It is a time when we could have had that, but, instead, we got together and two months to the day passed the first body camera bill in the country. And this is Democrats and Republicans and blacks and whites coming together and we didn't have all of that. And, yes, partially to Donald Trump, but partially to at lot of people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: She is a rising star clearly in the Republican Party and daughter of immigrants from India, and speculation she could be a vice president nominee. How did she do last night?

ANGELA RYE, CNN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR: I think that response was good in terms of the delivery, but the content, I would question. I think that Nikki Haley exhibited a little bit of the revisionist history this morning even to repeat we weren't as angry. I don't think that's true, even most recently with the non indictment or the bailout of this officer in the Walter Scott shooting. That speaks volumes, and people are angry. Just because they did not protest does not mean they are not angry, Wolf. Another thing that is important, and a pathway for her, is to take on

the very group of people that the GOP hoped to reach with the autopsy report right after the 2012 elections. They have not been speaking to blacks and browns and gay folks. They have eliminated any ability to outreach to these groups this election cycle with the hateful rhetoric spewed not just by Donald Trump, but other hints in other mainstream candidates.

BLITZER: Doug, you disagree?

HEYE: Yes, and not only because Nikki Haley was upbeat and substantive in the remarks, earlier this week, Tim Scott, and Paul Ryan, were also in Columbia, South Carolina, leading a forum on poverty, and they are talking about different issues in different ways and getting out of the Republican comfort zone. And if I am a Republican, which I am, I am looking at Nikki Haley and Paul Ryan and Tim Scott to deliver the message that Republicans need to say and our voters need to hear.

(CROSSTALK)

RYE: And they are not presidential candidates though.

(CROSSTALK)

[13:35:07] BLITZER: And, Angela, how much trouble is Hillary Clinton in right now with Bernie Sanders ahead of her not only in neighboring New Hampshire, but Iowa as well according to the most recent polls?

RYE: Yeah, I think it is a real concern. The one thing that the campaign did early on that was very good is to say, we may be the front runner, but it does not mean that we are the heir apparent, and lot of folks were laughing at a, that and of course, she is the frontrunner, and the of course, we are going to win, but she set the stage, and they are not take it lightly at all, and she and Chelsea Clinton, and Bill Clinton are take on Bernie Sanders.

BLITZER: It is going to be lively on both sides for the race to the White House.

RYE: Yes.

HEYE: Yeah.

BLITZER: All right, guys, thank you very much.

And for all of the latest on the presidential contenders and the latest, go to CNNpolitics.com for the latest news.

And brand-new video coming in of the 10 American sailors detained in Iran talking about why they were taken by Iran's military. And you are going to hear what they said on Iranian television. We have the video. We will share it with you when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [13:40:18] BLITZER: Let's get back to the breaking news that 10 Americans, nine men, one woman, held by Iran and all U.S. members of the Navy. They were returned within 24 hours and freed after Iran acknowledged that the sailors strayed into Iranian waters by accident.

A little while ago, Iranian state television aired a video of one of the sailors and identifies that individual as the commander formally apologizing to the Iranians for entering Iranian territorial waters. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED U.S. SAILOR: It was a mistake that was our fault, and we apologize for our mistake. It was a misunderstanding. We did not mean to go into the Iranian territorial water.

The Iranian behavior was fantastic while we were here and we thank you for your hospitality and your assistance.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: We're waiting for the U.S. government to clarify the apology from the sailors. Secretary John Kerry and Vice President Joe Biden insist the United States did not formally apologize to the government of Iran, and the secretary of state did say this only a little while ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: In fact, it is clear that today this kind of issue was able to be peacefully resolved, and efficiently resolved, and that is a testament to the critical role that diplomacy plays in keeping our country safe, secure and strong.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: We obviously don't know if the sailor who made that comment about the apology was speaking under duress and whether he had no choice to say what he did. And we will try to get additional clarifications from the administration,

Let's talk about all of this in the meantime. Joining us is our CNN military analyst, retired Lieutenant Colonel Rick Francona; and our CNN political analyst, Josh Rogin.

Colonel, what about the apology that we heard from the sailor and what does it say to you?

LT. COL. RICK FRANCONA, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: I think that he said what he needed to say to get the troops out of there. And his first duty is the safety and the welfare of the sailors, and he did what he felt he had to do, and he did not admit any wrongdoing, and he said it was a mistake, apologize and I don't see anything wrong with that and that is within the training that these officers get.

And, Josh, why would the secretary of state say that he did not offer any apology to Iran?

JOSH ROGIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, the United States government is walking a fine line. They said it is not a hostile act, and that diplomacy was effective in securing the release of the soldiers, and at the same time as the facts of the case come out, it is more clear that the Iranians were intending to provoke us. It is basically a video of somebody in captivity and broadcast with the intention of humiliating the United States and using this as a tool of Iranian state propaganda, but the administration doesn't want to make the situation any worse so by saying no official apology and putting it on the soldier under duress they can walk that line carefully.

BLITZER: And, Colonel, the defense is secretary Ash Carter was speaking at Fort Campbell in Kentucky a few moments ago and he said this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ASH CARTER, DEFENSE SECRETARY: The 10 Navy sailors departed Iran early this morning, and they are now back safe in U.S. hands. I am very pleased that this was resolved quickly. And I want to take this opportunity to thank Secretary of State Kerry for his efforts and to reaffirm to you that our highest commitment is to the safety of all of you. Wherever we may ask you to go, the country will never leave an American servicemember behind.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The U.S. military, clearly, Colonel, is going to be doing the postmortem to try to determine precisely what happened and how these two small vessels strayed into the Iranian territory waters. Walk us through how this happens, because they want to learn from the blunder to make sure that it does not happen again.

FRANCONA: Yeah, exactly. The sailors have a lot of questions to answer, and the Navy has to figure out how this was allowed to happen. If you are looking at the distance between the Farsi Island and the Saudi coast, 50 miles, and no reason for them to be that close to what is an extremely sensitive facile for the Iranian, and nothing on that island, but an IRGC and detail post, and so they are very, very sensitive about it. And this is also very sensitive between the hard- liners and the moderates, and fortunately the moderates hold sway in a lot of the issues, but the Navy is going to be holding the investigation to find out how this happened. And that commander has some tough questions because you don't easily give up two vessels to the Iranians.

[13:45:15] BLITZER: And it is fair to say, Josh, that it was resolved quickly in part because of the improved relationship between John Kerry and the Iranian foreign minister, Zarif, and they have worked closely over the Iranian deal for the past two year, and so credit due?

RAGAN: Credit for the administration for resolving it quickly, and not emerging into a broader crisis, but at the same time it is concern amongst the supporters and the critics of the nuclear deal that as we get into the sensitive parts of the administration of the deal, the administration will continue to seek to downplay what they are called provocative actions of Iran, and the firing of rockets and ballistic missile tests, and the other things that are the nonnuclear parts of the relationship. So we can resolve the issues quickly, the question is, are we going to be responding to the actual provocations, and this incident does not reassure those in Congress who are afraid that we won't.

BLITZER: Josh Rogin, thank you very much.

And Rick Francona, thank you as well.

And now, one day after the president spoke about the safety of the United States, we are about to get another perspective, a reality check, if you will, the biggest threats facing the United States homeland right now. The chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Mike McCaul is here, and he is standing by live, and we will get his assessment of what he has to say about the president's speech last night when we get back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:50:56] BLITZER: In the State of the Union address last night, President Obama tried to allay the deep concerns of the American people over ISIS and other terror groups.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Masses of fighters on the back of pickup trucks, twisted souls plotting in apartments or garages, they pose an enormous danger on civilians. They have to be stopped. But they do not threaten our national existence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: We're joined by Republican Congressman and Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mike McCaul. He represents a district in Texas. He's also the author of a brand-new book that is just coming out this week entitled "Failures of Imagination, The Deadliest Threats to Our Homeland and How to Thwart Them."

Mr. Chairman, thanks so much for coming in.

REP. MIKE MCCAUL, (R-TX), CHAIRMAN, HOUSE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE & AUTHOR: Thank you.

BLITZER: I want to talk about the deadliest threats. What was your reaction to the president's remarks on homeland security, the threat of ISIS last night?

MCCAUL: He never mentioned the word homeland security. I thought he spent very little time on homeland security in the piece. The clip, as he mentioned, down playing the threat once again. He called it the J.V. team previously, now he's talking about pickup trucks, apartments, garages, trying to minimize what we consider to be the number one threat to the homeland. I was quite frankly disappointed by that. I visited with the police chief and sheriff in San Bernardino earlier in the day. They were at the State of the Union. And the president didn't even recognize them. He didn't even mention San Bernardino, or Chattanooga, the Paris attacks, almost as if it didn't happen at all.

BLITZER: He said these are threats, problems, the U.S. will deal with them, but he say it's not an existential threat along the lines of nuclear war and the battle days of the Cold War, for example.

MCCAUL: And it's not World War III. We defeated Fascism, Communism, now we have Islamic extremism. Certainly the idea of them getting weapons of mass destruction is a possibility, as I outline in my book. I believe they are a threat to the security of the United States.

BLITZER: This book of yours, what is the deadly threat right now to the U.S. homeland?

MCCAUL: A jihadist groups getting a weapon of mass destruction. I think the active shooter like in Paris, that kind of attack. A cyber security attack would certainly be very damaging attack on the United States. We point out these threats. What can we do to stop it? Right now we don't have a strategy to deal with ISIS to defeat and destroy them. We saw the president downplaying the threat. What I do in the book is tell the American people the truth about the threats we really face about the nation.

BLITZER: Is that credible that a terrorist group like ISIS could get their hands on a nuclear device?

MCCAUL: We know they have the intent. ISIS talks about smuggling.

(CROSSTALK)

MCCAUL: that's their magazine. Smuggling a Pakistani nuclear weapon into this hemisphere across the U.S./Mexico border. That is certainly their intent. Do they have the capability? Perhaps not today, but perhaps tomorrow.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: What about cyber attack against the United States?

MCCAUL: Jihadists are trying to develop that capability. Iran has that capability. Certainly, the Chinese. We talk about the Russian threat, Putin, and his aggression. We talk about that as well.

BLITZER: We're getting word from the White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest that President Obama had a conversation over the phone with Vladimir Putin. They spoke about Ukraine and ongoing efforts to bring a political transition in Syria. This, according to the White House. Do you have confidence Russia could play a constructive role in getting rid of Bashar al Assad in Damascus?

MCCAUL: I don't think Russia has our best interest at heart. I think it is a strategic power grab by Russia. However, I think Russia is the only country that has any leverage over Mr. Assad. We know with Mr. Assad, the jihadists will continue to be there. ISIS will continue to be there. Assad does have to go. The Russians are in the best position to take him out.

BLITZER: Iran was participating in the peace talks, dealing with the future of Syria. Will they eventually abandon their ally, Bashar al Assad?

[13:55:11] MCCAUL: That's a problem. I don't think the Russians are wedded to him. They just want stability. I think the Iranians are wedded to Assad as a Shia. We have seen in the past -- well, with the 10 sailors, with the ballistic missiles going off, Iran is not our friend, even though the administration would like to think they are.

BLITZER: The book is entitled, "Failures of Imagination, The Deadliest Threats to Our Homeland and How to Thwart Them."

Mr. Chairman, thanks very much for writing the book. Thanks very much for coming in.

MCCAUL: And if I could say, all proceeds go to wounded warriors and their children.

BLITZER: Thank you very much for doing that as well.

MCCAUL: Thank you.

BLITZER: That's it for me. Thanks very much for watching. I'll be back 5:00 p.m. in "The Situation Room". My exclusive interview with King Abdullah II of Jordan. We'll air that 5:00 p.m. in "The Situation Room."

The news continues right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)