Candidates Prepare for 2nd Republican Debate
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Tod, what are your seeing now? Is it getting any better as we start to approach a new day?</s>TOD SUDMEIER, FIRE PHOTOGRAPHER (via telephone): Good morning. I'm a little bit south of the fire now. But I left there not long ago, and when I left, there were still multiple dwellings, multiple structures that were burning. However, most of the peak burning appears to be over. There are a few structures that are burning pretty actively, but a lot of it already gone to the ground. There are several fire engines that are there continuing to arrive. They're getting more reinforcements. They're getting some of these fires knocked down. They're also doing a better job because there's more of them preventing new fires from taking off or getting large.</s>SAVIDGE: How likely will the effort to control or subdue these flames change with daylight? Can they bring in air assets or other things maybe they can't use at night?</s>SUDMEIER: Well, air assets are definitely something that are not commonly used at night. The biggest thing is they're be able to be a little bit more aware of their surroundings, be able to see what's going on. As time ticks by, more resources will arrive. That's really what they need is just more help right now.</s>SAVIDGE: And you mentioned that the neighborhoods in which we're looking at this incredible imagery that you took earlier, most of those people had already fled, correct?</s>SUDMEIER: Yes. I did not see pretty much from the time I arrived in Middletown I did not really see a mass exodus of people living. They must have been gone by the time I got there. I never really saw a lot of people leaving or leaving in a hurry. I think that had already taken place.</s>SAVIDGE: Where are you going to be focused today?</s>SUDMEIER: I'll be back in Middletown shortly. I had some cell service issue there is there, but I'll try to get back there and get a little bit more video. And I'd like to try and check and see where the main fire front is. I've been unable to locate that. The fire is so large. It's not possible to see everything from one location.</s>SAVIDGE: All right. Tod Sudmeier, we appreciate it. Please be careful of your efforts. Of course, anything that you learn and see, we would want to see as well. Thanks very much.</s>SUDMEIER: Thank you.</s>SAVIDGE: And then the other breaking news is the story that's happening as dozens have been injured in violent crashes in Israel. Fighting erupted after Israeli police stormed the holy Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. Protesters reportedly had barricaded themselves inside. They threw rocks and fire bombs at those who approached. This all comes just hours, of course, before the Jewish New Year that begins late they are evening.</s>CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: So we have 11 Republican hopefuls taking the stage at the Reagan Presidential Library for the second GOP debate. The line-up will include Carly Fiorina. During the first debate last month, you know there were fireworks. Take a look.</s>SEN. RAND PAUL (R-KY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The Republican Party has been fighting against a single-payer system for a decade. I think you're on the wrong side of this if you're still arguing for a single- payer system.</s>DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm not -- I don't think you heard me. You're having a hard time tonight. Most of the people on this stage I've given to, just so you understand, a lot of money.</s>BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Not me, not me.</s>PAUL: Let's break this down with CNN political commentator and conservative radio talk show host Ben Ferguson and Maria Cardona, Democratic strategist and advising Democrats and the party. Thank you both for being here. It's good to see you.</s>BEN FERGUSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Good morning.</s>MARIA CARDONA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENATOR: Good morning, Christi.</s>PAUL: Good morning. Ben, I want to start with you. You know, the stage is Trump's comfort zone. Who do you think -- give me one or two names that you think of candidates who just might be able to out-shine him this time around.</s>FERGUSON: I think Ben Carson. There's a very good chance that we can have a great night. I also think, you look at Carly Fiorina. She did incredibly well in that early debate last time. She's now on the big stage and a lot of people are going to be paying attention to her, especially after the last feud that they just had at Donald Trump attacking her, really her looks. I think there's probably one or two one-liners she's prepared to go after him at this debate. So, I think both of those could have a really good night if they play it right.</s>PAUL: Maria, I wanted to ask you about Fiorina. Obviously, she's going to use this to say he's got a problem with woman. How do you expect he's going to respond? Certainly, we know they most likely will not be an apology.</s>CARDONA: No, I don't think there will be an apology. I'm sure he will respond by attacking her on her record. It's been so interesting, because once it came out that he was actually criticizing her because of her looks, he seemed like a schoolboy who had been caught without having done his homework. He tried excuse after excuse to say, and to try to convince people that he wasn't talking about her looks. First he said, oh, no, it wasn't talking about her looks. It was about her persona. Then he said, oh, look, I said it because it's entertainment. You know, so which is it? So, I do -- I agree with Ben, I think Carly Fiorina is in a very good place to call him out on his hate speech, his divisiveness, the fact that leadership, I love her line earlier today, it's not about everything that you are showing helicopters and boardrooms, and, you know, gold plated stairs. You know, whatever it is. But I also think --</s>FERGUSON: Reality</s>TV. CARDONA: Exactly, reality TV. I also think the other candidates need to start calling him out on his lack of policy positions.</s>PAUL: Well, that may happen. I wanted to say this because I want to get this sound bite in of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. He may be, indicated to CNN yesterday, ready to show a sharper edge at this debate. Listen to what he said.</s>REPORTER: You know CNN has this little debate coming up. What's your strategy going into that debate to make sure you have a moment that people remember?</s>GOV. SCOTT WALKER (R-WI), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, the biggest thing is just presence. Have some -- you know, I'm a Midwesterner, we're pretty polite. Last time, around I waited until questions came to us, I think we're going to step it up and be more aggressive this time, not rude, but be aggressive and make the case we're ready to wreak havoc on Washington.</s>PAUL: OK. So, here's the thing, Ben, I'm just wondering. Walker saying he's going to step it up. Chris Christie is indicating he's not necessarily going to wait for a question, so to speak, every time. Is there a chance that any aggression anybody else shows could be a risk because we have seen it before and it might seem disingenuous?</s>FERGUSON: Well, I don't know that it will be seen as disingenuous, as much as you run the risk of Donald Trump fighting back. And he's very good at off the cuff remarks, attacking someone that just attacks him. I mean, that's where he really does steal the scene. He's the master of the one-liner and that's where you have the biggest risk of overreaching or trying to do too much. At the same time, I think you look at two different people that I think you'll see come after him, not with just a war of words, but with policy. I think you're going to see Scott Walker do that. I also think you're going to see Ted Cruz do that. Ted Cruz over the couple of weeks has really been focusing on policy. And I think even when he took the stage with him talking about earlier Iran in Washington, D.C., several days ago, one of the things I noticed about Cruz -- and I think you'll see this Wednesday night is he's going to come out and say I'm the guy that you might want to look at the you like Donald Trump who actually has policy ideas. I think that could play very well for him. But you always run that risk of Donald Trump being able to smack you around verbally because he is a great trash talker in politics.</s>PAUL: Yes, he is. This is something that I found interesting. When you look at the two guys who are on top, you got Trump at 32 percent, I believe it is, and Ben Carson at 19 percent. These are two very different individuals.</s>FERGUSON: One eighty.</s>PAUL: Yes --</s>FERGUSON: Completely different styles.</s>PAUL: -- one is bombastic. Yes. And then you've got Ben Carson who who's a little more soft spoken but making his points. What does that tell you, Maria, about the divide of the GOP right now?</s>CARDONA: I think that's exactly right, that GOP voters are divided. That is a great opportunity for all of these other candidates to come in and really differentiate themselves with real leadership positions, real policy positions. Let's remember that Trump at, let's say, 32 percent, which is the highest that he's gotten in any polls, that still means that 68 percent of Republican voters don't want him as their commander in chief. But the challenge for all these other Republican candidates is to then say, here's what I'm offering instead of what Donald Trump is offering and do something that really elevates voters, that puts them into a position of optimism, of thinking that the future can actually be better. And the big difference that Donald Trump is using, he's using very negative language, rhetoric, focusing on fear.</s>PAUL: But it's working for him. It's working for him so far.</s>CARDONA: You're right it is. But it's early.</s>FERGUSON: Look at Ben Carson. His style like we've just said, completely different. Ben Carson, his style is also working for him. Look at how much he's been able to get a solid grass roots effort behind him. If I was advising Ben Carson, I would say, you know what, go out there and be you. Don't be anybody else. Don't try to be different than what you are. Because obviously when you speak about political policy, people are listening and they're liking it. I would stay true to form if I'm Carson and I would not try to get into some back and forth match with Donald Trump on who is more entertaining on Wednesday night.</s>PAUL: Yes, I'm sorry. We're out of time. I didn't even get, Maria, to this new ad from Hillary Clinton where we're going to see her as grandma, which nobody as seen yet, and the whole thing. Next time, next time, guys. Thank you so much.</s>CARDONA: Sounds great, Christi. Thanks.</s>FERGUSON: Thanks.</s>PAUL: Sure. All righty. And today, by the way, just a reminder here, we're starting a full day of coverage from the Reagan Presidential Library, home to the next GOP debate. Of course, Jake Tapper, kicking it off with the "STATE OF THE UNION" at 9:00 a.m. Eastern today. Be sure to tune in for the next Republican presidential debate hosted by CNN this Wednesday starting at 6:00 p.m. Eastern.</s>SAVIDGE: This weekend's massive wave of migrants and refugees has pushed Munich, Germany, to its tipping point. We're going to get a live report of the crisis, just ahead. And now that the New York Police Department has apologized to James Blake about this controversial takedown, the former tennis star says he's considering a lawsuit. Why he might do it, ahead.