Sharapova Suspended from Tennis; Trump Cruz Want Two-Man Race; Outlook for Democratic Primaries; How Trump, Supporters Deal with Protesters
CHURCH: Tennis star Maria Sharapova shocked the sports world admitting she failed a drug test at the Australian Open.</s>BARNETT: The five-time grand slam winner said she didn't know it had been added to the banned substance list on January 1st. Take a listen to what she had to say.</s>MARIA SHARAPOVA, TENNIS PLAYER: I made a huge mistake. I've let my fans down. I let this sport down that I've been playing since the age of 4 that I love so deeply.</s>CHURCH: The International Tennis Federation put Sharapova on a provisional suspension, pending the outcome of its investigation. And Nike announced its suspending its endorsement deal with her while that investigation continues.</s>BARNETT: The host of CNN's "Open Court," Pat Cash," joins us on the phone, to talk about this from Indian Wells. Pat, the tennis world seems shocked by this admission. What is your response to Maria Sharapova admitting she failed a drug test?</s>PAT CASH, CNN HOST, OPEN COURT (voice-over): It's one of the unfortunate things that Maria, I think by and large, people regard her as a fair athlete who competes very hard. And she just put her hand up and admitted that she made a bit of a mistake. Didn't do her homework and didn't realize that a medication she had been using for a number of years had been put on the banned list. Performance- enhancing substance. It's unfortunate this is the case.</s>BARNETT: In her press conference, she admitted to using this substance, I believe it's pronounced Maldonium, as well as other meditations for the past decade, because of a family history of diabetes and other things. It was placed on the banned list. She did receive an e-mail in December, detailing it was, in fact, banned. But in the press conference, said she didn't click the link. She didn't open it. Athletes take the sport very seriously. Are you buying the excuse that she didn't click the link and didn't know?</s>CASH: I think there would be few people that wouldn't say she is a fair player. And what's the interesting thing is that it's on the banned list because it is performance-enhancing. There's been people who have been using it to gain advantages over their opponents. Not just tennis, specifically. Olympic athletes. They realize that this is a substance that actually does help. It's performance-enhancing. I think it clears up questions. And Maria said this is what's going on. It's hard to believe, in many ways, who is that fit and that healthy, has these so-called underlying issues. She does need to clear her name. She needs to disclose some things, certainly to the authorities. And I think to the general public to really clear her name. I think she deserves to be given the Benefit of the doubt. I would.</s>BARNETT: She is known for playing by the book and being a professional. It makes this admission more alarming. Pat Cash, on the line with us, a Wimbledon champ from 1987, two-time Australian Open finalist and host of CNN's "Open Court." Thanks for your time today.</s>CASH: You're welcome. Thank you.</s>CHURCH: Tuesday could be a turning point for Republican and Democratic candidates in the U.S. presidential race, with caucuses and primaries in four states.</s>BARNETT: Michigan is holding a primary with 69 Republican delegate and 130 Democratic Delegates up for grabs.</s>CHURCH: Also in contention, 17 so-called super delegates. They are Democratic delegates that are not pledged to a specific candidate, regardless of how the state votes. Donald Trump and Ted Cruz are hoping for a two-man race after Tuesday's primary races. But Marco Rubio says he is not dropping out. CNN's Sunlen Serfaty has the latest on the Republican presidential candidates.</s>DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & CEO, TRUMP ORGANIZATION: Should we do the pledge? Raise your hand. I swear I'm going to vote for Donald Trump.</s>SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Donald Trump and Ted Cruz making the remaining nominating fight looking like a two-man battle.</s>TRUMP: I would love to take on Ted one-on-one.</s>SERFATY: To reassess their campaigns.</s>SEN. TED CRUZ, (R), TEXAS & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If you're not able to win primaries, if you're not amassing delegates to get the nominee, every candidate has to reflect, meet with their team and say, do we have a path?</s>SERFATY: Cruz's path getting a boost, after banking wins in Maine and Kansas, picking up more delegates this weekend than any other candidate.</s>CRUZ: We've beaten Donald Trump seven times in states all across this country, with wide geographic diversity.</s>SERFATY: But the math and the momentum are still on the front- runner's side. Trump with wins in Louisiana and Kentucky, leading with 398 delegates. Cruz, 302. Rubio, at 149. And John Kasich, far behind with just 37 delegates. Trump is hoping for another big Super Tuesday showing.</s>TRUMP: We're going to have a couple of good ones tomorrow, I hope.</s>SERFATY: The big prize tomorrow night, delegate-rich Michigan. The polls there showing Trump leading by a large margin.</s>TRUMP: I've been to Michigan a lot. I think we're going to do well there.</s>SERFATY: That, as the candidates keep their eyes on some big prizes up for grabs on March 15th, including Florida, where Rubio faces a do-or-die situation.</s>TRUMP: That guy, he couldn't be elected dog catcher in Florida.</s>SERFATY: Rubio is barnstorming Florida, looking to keep his hopes alive.</s>SEN. MARCO RUBIO, (R), FLORIDA & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm the only one left that can unite us but I'm the only one that can grow it.</s>SERFATY: Outside groups opposing Trump are hoping to stop him from picking up a win, by launching an assault on the airwaves, depicting what a Trump presidency might sound like. And featuring ads with veterans slamming Trump's lack of military service.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't let Trump fool you. Look into his record and stop Trump now.</s>CHURCH: That was Sunlen Serfaty reporting. Michigan is viewed as Sanders' best chance to cut into Clinton's front-runner status.</s>BARNETT: Look at this new Monmouth University poll. It shows Clinton holding on to a double-digit lead over Sanders there in Michigan. Both of those campaigns crisscrossed the state on Monday. Sanders criticized Clinton on free trade agreements and defended his opposition to bailouts in the recession. David Swerdlick joins me now to talk more about the race for the White House. He is the assistant editor of "The Washington Post." Thank you, sir, for talking with us.</s>DAVID SWERDLICK, ASSISTANT EDITOR, THE WASHINGTON POST: Thank you.</s>CHURCH: Let's start with the outlook for if two Democratic candidates. We saw a much more aggressive Bernie Sanders in the debate Sunday. He is clearly feeling the pressure. How much longer would you expect him to stay in the race? And what does he have to prove in primaries going forward?</s>SWERDLICK: He's going to stay in the race for a while. He has had momentum in recent months. He has come in with more fund-raising, more crowd support, more enthusiasm on his side than most people expected when this race started. Now, his campaign is seen as more of a movement. The problem for him is that he has not won the big states. And he is really starting to trail behind Secretary Clinton in terms of the delegate count. He is trailing behind her in pretty much all of the states, where you have a diverse electorate. He has had success in primaries and caucuses in states like his home state of Vermont, like Kansas. You get to state where's the electorate is significantly African-American or significantly Latino, he has not fared well. And states that are more diverse, really reflect the makeup of the Democratic primary voting base.</s>CHURCH: And Clinton's challenge is to win over more white voters by consolidating Democrats outside of the African-American south. Can she do that?</s>SWERDLICK: I think she can. Democrats traditionally get from the high 30s to low 40s in percentages of the white vote in general elections and also -- in general election campaigning. She expects to get the same amount of the vote has John Kerry did, as President Obama did. A heavy turnout with voters of color is probably going to be what the Democrats are looking from Secretary Clinton.</s>CHURCH: Let's go to the GOP side. There are reports that some Marco Rubio advisers are telling him to get out of the race before the Florida primary on March 15th. The numbers show Donald Trump will likely win that state. It's Rubio's home state. Should he stay in and risk being damaged politically? Or get out now?</s>SWERDLICK: It's hard to answer that. You see the logic on both sides. At this point, he's come far enough that it makes sense for him to say he's committed to this race and campaign and fight for his home state. Even though, he's trailing Donald Trump by eight points in the polls. He doesn't want to concede to Senator Cruz, who has come on strong. If he wants to run for president down the road, if he wants to run for governor of Florida, there is an argument to be made. And it certainly make sense that some in his camp would be saying, let's get out now and avoid a humiliating defeat to Donald Trump in Rubio's home state of Florida.</s>CHURCH: Trump and Cruz would be happy with that outcome. We'll watch it closely. David Swerdlick, thank you for joining us. Appreciate it.</s>SWERDLICK: Thank you, Rosemary.</s>BARNETT: A long way from being wrapped up. Anything can happen. Keep in mind, CNN will have a full week of extensive political coverage ahead. It begins with Tuesday's four-state contest, Hawaii, Idaho, Mississippi and Michigan. For Republicans, 150 delegates at stake. That's throughout the day and into the night right here on CNN.</s>CHURCH: Donald Trump is known for being combative. And his rallies are no different. Just ahead, we'll look at how he and his supporters respond to people who show their dissent at his events.</s>BARNETT: Plus, details on one of the largest-ever U.S. air strikes against a terror group. As many as 150 militants killed. Stay with us here on CNN NEWSROOM.