Candidates Prepare for 2nd Republican Debate; Candidates Prepare for Debate Night on CNN
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I just think, in terms of targeting any voter, that's what I'm talking about, I want them to vote, I want them to love Trump, and I want them to know I'll do a great job. As far as candidates, you know, to me, they are all the same. They really are.</s>JIMMY FALLON, COMEDIAN: OK.</s>CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: Even Fallon cannot keep a straight face. Donald Trump last night on his show picking his targets ahead of the CNN Republican presidential debate which will be at the Ronald Reagan library in California. And this week, he took on rivals, Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina. And she's going to join him on stage at this debate, which is different from the last. So, a lot of people are wondering if he'll unleash more attacks, how they will respond face-to-face with each other. Our national correspondent Suzanne Malveaux gives us some insight here.</s>SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Carly Fiorina, the only woman joining her ten Republican rivals on the stage in next Wednesday's debate isn't holding back in her face-off with Donald Trump.</s>CARLY FIORINA (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Leadership is not about the size of your office, the size of your airplane, the size of your helicopter.</s>MALVEAUX: The former Hewlett-Packard CEO responding to Trump's jab after he said this to "Rolling Stone." Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that? The face of our next president? Trump told FOX News the controversial comment was made because he is an entertainer.</s>TRUMP: Many of those comments are made as an entertainer because I did "The Apprentice."</s>MALVEAUX: It's a different explanation what he told CNN's "</s>NEW DAY." TRUMP: I'm talking about her persona.</s>MALVEAUX: And for a second day in a row, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal blasted Trump, comparing the GOP frontrunner to Charlie Sheen.</s>CHARLIE SHEEN, ACTOR: Giant marquee names comes through on your called ID, and it's like winning.</s>TRUMP: I'm winning in all of the polls.</s>MALVEAUX: Today, Trump's second place rival Ben Carson is in Ferguson, Missouri, meeting city officials, the same city that erupted into civil unrest a year following the death of Michael Brown. Carson refused to engage with Trump's attacks.</s>BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Do I want to respond to Donald Trump's charges? The answer is no. I really don't.</s>MALVEAUX: Carson is tangled with Trump over faith and the critical evangelical vote, questioning each other's religious beliefs. I sat down with Carson and asked him about his faith.</s>CARSON: It's very easy for them to see that, you know, my faith is not something I come by lightly.</s>MALVEAUX: Trump has gone after Carson on his views for abortion.</s>TRUMP: He was heavy into the world of abortion.</s>CARSON: First of all, I've never done abortions and wouldn't approve of it and never have.</s>MALVEAUX: I also asked him how he is preparing for the upcoming debate.</s>CARSON: By living my life, by having town hall meetings where I don't screen the questions. That's probably the best preparation.</s>MALVEAUX (on camera): Dr. Carson stressed the need for respect and dialogue. He said he visited Ferguson to deemphasize the divisiveness of race. One group he has not met with is Black Lives Matter who criticized in the past. He says he is now open to talking to them. Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, Ferguson, Missouri.</s>MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: You know, I don't know if we have mentioned it, but that debate Wednesday is right here on CNN and we want to talk more about it because it is just such a hugely anticipated political event. The Super Bowl, if you will. Joining me now is Maria Cardona, a Democratic strategist who advises Democrats and the party, and Cathy Lynn Taylor, a conservative political strategist. Thank you for being with us this morning.</s>MARIA CARDONA, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Good morning, Martin.</s>SAVIDGE: Good morning. To you first, Cathy. Let's talk about stage placement. How will Donald Trump do you think fare between Jeb Bush and Ben Carson and two who he has mocked extensively this week.</s>CATHY LYNN TAYLOR, CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL STRATEGIST: Yes, well, look, it was virtual love fest last night and Trump realized there is no "I" in team but there is a "me" and it's working for Trump. He's tapped into the dissatisfaction exceptionally well. But the question is going to be -- I mean, the one thing consistent about Trump is Trump. He is unpredictable and I don't know how that is going to play for him down the road in a broader audience. You know, it's very interesting. He keeps saying the evangelicals, they love me. But if you look at the recent Quinnipiac poll, it shows that actually Carson is ahead with the evangelicals. Trump is doing well with the Tea Party, which makes much more sense with their coffer change. I think he still has a long road to go.</s>SAVIDGE: All right. Well, let's just listen to more of Donald Trump last night from Jimmy Fallon. He asked to say something nice about Carly Fiorina.</s>TRUMP: I think she is a really nice woman. A really nice woman. Am I doing a good job?</s>FALLON: Yes. That was --</s>TRUMP: I don't know. I haven't met her. I think she is a nice woman. I think she is going to have a hard time. She had a very, very rough past corporately, but I think she's a very fine woman, a nice woman, and I said that she should be on the main stage at the debate and she is going to be.</s>SAVIDGE: He always makes it sound like he made that happen. I'm wondering, Maria, how long can he get away with this or will he always be able to get away with this kind of talk?</s>CARDONA: Well, Martin, I think it's all going to depend on his Republican rivals and I think this has been the big issue with everyone who is going up against Trump, up until now, because it hasn't been until recently that they have had to put on their big boy pants and actually go after him for completely inappropriate sexist, misogynist, narcissistic comments he has been making and try to convince voters that this is not somebody that they really want to be representing their country on a global stage as commander in chief. So I think what this debate is going to be so interesting is that Carly Fiorina is going to be two people down from Donald Trump and how is she going to go after him? How is he going to debate, you know, like you said, Jeb Bush on one side and Carson on the other? I think the other candidates have a terrific opportunity to go into policy details -- though, it's going to be very challenging because, as you know in debates, you don't get a whole lot of time and this is a stage that, up until now, Donald Trump has shown he is the master. So it's going to be difficult for the other candidates.</s>SAVIDGE: He is definitely shown that. Let me ask you this. We believe, of course, that Hillary Clinton is going to be watching this or will she and I wonder who is she rooting for, do you think?</s>CARDONA: Well, it's interesting, because she said very recently, again, commenting on inappropriate way that Donald Trump has up until now treated women, that she would love to go up against him and debate him. So I do think that she feels that way. I think that many Democrats would feel that way and so, you know, whether she watches it or not, I think that if she does like other Democrats, they will grab popcorn and beer because that will be pure entertainment, you know, very much like WWE Raw of people wrestle and tune into the GOP debate.</s>SAVIDGE: Yes. Well, it could be a case of be careful what you wish for. Cathy Lynn, your predictions who is going to win this debate on Wednesday.</s>TAYLOR: I think it's going to be very interesting to see. You know, look. It's like the NCAA tournament. If you play well, it's a long season. And I think we have some Republican candidates that are going to have a very, very long season. What's important is, you know, that they come out top three in Iowa. I think while Carly is going to be very well and Christie will be vying for air time on Wednesday evening, I really think that the debate is going to be a Trump/Carson show. And don't count Jeb out. He is a savvy effective politician, he's run a state that is large and a border state and more akin to the rest of America than Iowa is, he is extremely well-funded and has a lot of support in the party. And so, we'll see if he can have a moment on Wednesday night as well. No doubt, everybody is going to have eyes on Trump for sure.</s>SAVIDGE: Absolutely, they will. That's part of the reason they tune in. Maria, Cathy, thank you both for your insights this morning.</s>CARDONA: Thank you, Martin.</s>SAVIDGE: As you say, be sure to tune in yourself for the next Republican presidential debate hosted by CNN, Wednesday, September 16th and it starts at 6:00 p.m. Eastern. I really can't wait for this.</s>PAUL: We are all going to be watching, no doubt about it. I know a lot of you are watching this Iran deal. It is secured now. What are people in Iran, though, saying about it? And how is President Obama going to solidify its implementation? Also, wildfires ripping through central California. Thousands of residents have been evacuated and we will tell you what is happening there this morning.