NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Sunday, November 3, 2024

Episode Date: November 4, 2024

NBC’s Steve Kornacki breaks down final NBC News poll; Trump and Harris campaign in battleground states in final hours; Severe weather rips through Oklahoma; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, the final, final sprint to Election Day, now less than 48 hours away. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, both blitzing battlegrounds. The fallout tonight from Mr. Trump's violent reference to the news media and Vice President Harris' surprise cameo on Saturday Night Live. Plus, our Steve Kornacki's posted up at the big board to break down our latest NBC News poll. Inside the final hours, the strategy from both campaigns to get out the vote. The shock poll in a place you may not expect, Iowa. So could it really turn blue? We're on the ground talking with voters in a state Donald Trump won twice with Kamala Harris surging.

Two white police officers charged in the death of a black man, the critical body camera footage, and what led up to this deadly altercation. Intense weather ripping through Oklahoma. Multiple people hurt. Tens of thousands without power, even as they try to pick up the pieces. Look at that.

We're in the storm zone. And there is good news tonight. In an election that may feel stressful and emotional, meet the musicians trying to bring some calm to the polls. This is NBC Nightly News with Hallie Jackson. Good evening. Just 36 hours from now, the race for the White House that began two years ago, and yes, it really has been that long, it'll finally be in the hands of you, of voters, or at least the ones waiting until Tuesday to cast their ballots.

But before that, one last campaign sprint with Vice President Kamala Harris stopping by SNL last night. You see her there. Then today, hitting multiple stops across Michigan. Former President Trump had his first rally at 10 this morning, starting in Pennsylvania, then racing through Michigan and now Georgia. His closing message overshadowed by his disturbing reference to violence against the press covering him. You also have much of the political world trying to figure out what to make of these new numbers from one of the country's top pollsters, showing Vice President Harris may be doing better than the conventional wisdom anticipates in Iowa, a state that hadn't really been on anyone's battleground bingo card. Our teams are there and with both campaigns on the road.

We'll get to our correspondents in a minute, but now let's start with our guy at the big board here. We meet again, Steve Kornacki. Allie, this is it. I know. Our last NBC News national poll and the headline is super consistent. This race is still extremely competitive. Exactly. I mean, it's fitting because certainly no one really knows what to make of everything that's been happening. So we land on a 49-49 Harris-Trump tie in our final NBC News national poll and take a look a little bit underneath this here. How about the issues that are driving this

campaign? And again, this is a consistent story. Where does Harris do best? A 20-point advantage over Trump on who do you trust more, who would do a better job when it comes to abortion? Trump, again, it's inflation. It's the cost of living. That's his best edge here. He does well on the border, too. But we've seen that throughout the campaign and that's where it lands at the end. Again, consistency over the last few months here. You know this. I know you know this. Races are not won or lost nationally. They are won or lost in the battleground states. And there's some new numbers here that may contain potentially some surprises. Final set of battleground polls, all of them here from The New York Times, Siena College, one of the best regarded pollsters out there. And look, they do show Harris with an advantage here. It's very slight. But in Wisconsin,

North Carolina, that's very significant, Right. Because that's the only battleground Trump actually carried in 2020. Harris trying to play offense there. Trump, Michigan, Arizona. You know, so much attention on Michigan, given all the Gaza war controversies. And then right there, Pennsylvania, the biggest of all the swing states, dead even. I have to talk about a state that's not on this list that a lot of people are talking about. And that is Iowa. We'll have more Barrett there with more in just a second. But this shock poll coming from a very well-respected pollster, she's considered the gold standard.

And that's it. She has picked up on last-minute trends before that no one else has seen. In fact, she saw that four years ago with Trump doing surprisingly well. And today, Ann Selzer, who does the Des Moines Register poll, out with one showing Harris three points ahead of Trump in a state Trump won both times by almost 10 points. This was not on the battleground list. It may not be this time around, but it could pick up on some early trends. And also it raises the possibility.

Are there other states out there like this? Steve Kornacki, great to see you. We'll talk again, I know, in the days to come. Appreciate it. When it's this close, you know, neither candidate can take their foot off the gas. Both of them have been making multiple stops today across the battleground states. Garrett Haig is traveling with the Trump campaign in Georgia. Tonight, dueling strategies from dueling campaigns in the race's closing weekend.

A noticeably angry Donald Trump hammering Kamala Harris in central Pennsylvania at his first of three planned rallies in three states today. That horrible, terrible, the worst ever vice president lashing out at Democrats. But it's a very demonic party. The former president remarking on the bulletproof glass that mostly enclosed him on stage, noting that anyone who might want to shoot him would have to fire through the reporters covering him. And I have this piece of glass here, but all we have really over here is the fake news. And to get me, somebody would have to shoot through the fake news. And I don't mind that so much. Trump's campaign later issuing a statement that did not disavow

his remarks, reading in part, quote, President Trump was stating that the media was in danger in that they were protecting him and therefore were in great danger themselves. Also making headlines after RFK Jr. saying a new Trump administration would, quote, advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water. Trump today telling NBC News the fluoride removal idea, quote, sounds OK to me. So good to worship with you. Meanwhile, Harris focusing on Michigan, trying to energize black voters at a church in Detroit this morning.

When I think about the days ahead and the God we serve, we were born for such a time as this. And later at a black-owned business outside Detroit. And reaching out to Arab and Muslim voters angry about the administration's handling of the war in the Middle East. We need to end the war and we need to get the hostages out. And as president of the United States, I will do everything in my power to achieve that end and a two-state solution. Overnight, Harris making a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live, giving the show's version of herself a pep talk.

The American people want to stop the chaos and end the drama-la with a cool new step-mama-la. Kick back in our pajamas and watch a rom-com-a-la. Like Legally Blondela. Garrett is joining us now from a rally in Georgia. And Garrett, it looks like Mr. Trump is not going to be ending his campaign with an appearance with his now former rival Nikki Haley, right? That's right, Hallie. Haley penning an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, urging skeptical Republicans to support Trump. But the two won't appear together, even as Harris aggressively courts Haley's supporters.

Hallie? Garrett Haig, thank you very much. With one full day left of campaigning, we have new reporting tonight about the closing strategies for both campaigns. Erin Gilchrist is traveling with Vice President Harris in Michigan. Are we ready to vote? As they head into the final hours of this campaign, both sides doing everything they can to energize their supporters, laser-focused on turning out the vote. Vice President Harris with her last rally in Michigan tonight.

But tomorrow, going all in on must-win Pennsylvania, with three stops there, ending with a star-studded final rally in Philadelphia. Today, posting a video urging people to vote and showing her absentee ballot. So make sure you fill out your ballot. I did mine. I'm going to put it in the mail. Harris using an optimistic closing message, trying to show a contrast with her opponent. I see an incredible number of our young people, our young leaders. Oh, it would inspire you to see how they are organizing for change. How you doing?

Releasing this final closing ad, a two-minute message aimed at undecided voters watching Sunday afternoon pro football. We see in our fellow Americans neighbors, not enemies. The Trump campaign says their final stops are data-driven, targeting locations they believe they can drive supporter turnout. Former President Trump will spend tomorrow across three states, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and his final stop, Grand Rapids, Michigan, at midnight, where he's ended each of his previous presidential campaigns. So we got to get our country straightened out or we're not going to have a country, all right? That's all. And you have a chance in two days.

And if you don't vote, you're stupid. You're stupid. Aaron is joining us now. So, Aaron, we're learning more about the election night plans for each of the candidates, right? Yes, Ali, a source tells us that Trump will spend his election night at a watch party in West Palm Beach, Florida, after he votes there in the morning. Harris will be at election night parties at her headquarters in Washington, D.C., at Howard University, her alma mater. Ali. Aaron Gilchrist in East Lansing for us tonight. Thank you. Now, neither candidate is traveling to Iowa in the final stretch, a state that hasn't really been on anyone's radar as a battleground until, that is, about 24 hours ago, when that new poll sent shockwaves across the political landscape, showing the race there may be up for grabs.

We sent Maura Barrett to find out more. A Midwest surprise overnight. I didn't have this on my bingo card. A highly respected Des Moines Register poll showing Kamala Harris leading Donald Trump in the solidly Republican state of Iowa. It's kind of nice to see people are thinking twice, thinking more, not just kind of one-sided, but more open-minded. The poll showing Harris leading, but within the margin of error. A dramatic shift from September, when Trump led by four points.

The change fueled by senior women and independent women. I feel like democracy needs to be defended. Iowa, not normally a battleground in recent elections, and has been ignored by both candidates in their final pitches. Trump dismissing the poll today. They just announced a fake poll. Hey, think of it. Right before the election that I'm three points out. I'm not down in Iowa. One possible contributing factor, Iowa passed a strict six-week abortion ban this summer, which may be energizing women to vote. It should be between the person and their provider, not the government. Human rights really, I think, is what this election has become about, unfortunately. This latest poll seems a bit off. University of Iowa political science professor Tim Hagel

echoing skepticism from both Republican and Democratic strategists. If Harris wins Iowa, how does that shift the larger electoral map? We've only got six electoral votes, and if it shifts to Harris' side, then that's a 12 vote shift. Trump would have to win some other states in order to compensate for that. And so that could be problematic. And another bright spot for Republicans here. They've managed to increase their voter registration advantage by about 170,000 people just since last cycle. Hallie. Maura Barrett, thank you. To Oklahoma now, where more bad weather's on the way tonight after a string of strong storms, including apparent tornadoes ripped through the state.

Guadalcanagos is there. Tornadoes tearing through Oklahoma, carving a path of destruction. Heavy winds and rain decimating neighborhoods this morning, flipping cars and leaving tens of thousands without power. We have a lot of flooded areas still in these neighborhoods. The area is still deemed very dangerous. The National Weather Service confirming at least five preliminary tornadoes across Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. State officials reporting some residents were rescued from the rubble and at least 11 people were taken to hospitals with injuries there have been no reported deaths this is one of the areas

with the worst damage you can see vehicles slamming into these homes total destruction here and even a transmission tower falling onto that house even the pictures that was up here in oklahoma city tamara shaver and her family say they're lucky to be alive today after most of their home was wrecked. So you walked into this hallway and this is where you were. My dad was standing right here and I was crouched down on my hands and knees down here. Across the street, their neighbor Anthony Manzana says he was able to run into his bathroom just in time.

I luckily I was off the bed. I was was able to run into his bathroom just in time. Luckily, I was off the bed. I was like right at the door when everything just fell apart. I just got blasted straight into the wall. There we go. Tonight, residents bracing for more possible tornadoes, high winds, and severe weather overnight. Guadalajara, NBC News, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Up next, two white police officers charged in the death of a black man. What the body camera footage shows.

We're back with breaking news out of Ohio. Two white police officers now charged in the death of a black man. The whole encounter captured on body camera video. Maggie Vespa has the story with a warning. Some of these images are disturbing. That's that gentleman standing at the door right there. Please get him out of here now. Tonight, criminal charges against two Ohio police officers who prosecutors say

killed Frank Tyson in a Canton, Ohio bar. Body camera video shows officers Kandon Birch and Bo Schoenegge wrestling the 53-year-old to the ground back in April, one kneeling on him. And later leaving him face down, motionless, for more than five minutes before checking his pulse. Now we know who the bad guy is. And it wasn't Frank. Prosecutors charging the officers with reckless homicide. No one is above the law. Saying the third-degree felony could carry three years in prison.

That point frustrating for Tyson's brother. You don't believe those charges are strong enough? No, I don't know. In today's time, when a man said he can't breathe and whether he can't breathe or not, just saying it should be an eye opener. A police union rep saying we urge people to give these officers the same rights as the people they arrest. They are innocent until proven guilty. Police said the April encounter began with Tyson crashing his car into a pole and running into the bar. For a private club, somebody came in. We've asked him to leave. He won't leave. He's screaming at our members he won't leave. An autopsy report obtained by our affiliate WKYC shows Tyson died of cardiopulmonary arrest

in association with physical altercation and prone restraint. Tonight, a push to hold police accountable. Maggie Vespa, NBC News. We're back in a moment with the volunteers at polling places, but are some of them taking it too far? Across the battlegrounds, an army of volunteers from both parties will be at the polls monitoring for any irregularities. But after the fallout from 2020 and those persistent election fraud lies from former President Trump, new concern now volunteers may try to take it too far. Antonia Hilton reports from North Carolina. We've had a lot of reports

there of people feeling intimidated. The people huddled at this table are on the front line in the fight over election integrity. They were chanting, don't vote for the black. Over the past two weeks, volunteers with the nonpartisan organization Forward Justice have been fielding calls from anxious voters in Battleground, North Carolina. This caller says she tried to help an elderly voter who could not read and that an election worker questioned her disability. She burst out into tears. She was a nervous wreck. Attorney Kat Robles says they've investigated more than 200 reports and sent them to local elections offices to find solutions.

What are you most concerned about? I mean, I think just really the volume of complaints. Anxiety so widespread, the Harris campaign has voter protection experts working across 29 state field offices. Like Director David Adelier. They are trying to sow doubt about this election. So when post-election certification comes up, we'll have eyes and ears at these meetings. And so will Republicans. Jim Womack leads the Lee County Republicans in the North Carolina Election Integrity Team.

We'll print a bunch of them. A group of more than 2,000 activists, many of whom doubt the results of the 2020 election, and are poll-watching and building spreadsheets of, quote, suspicious voters. We are concerned that we have to monitor the election system to prevent any cheating from occurring. Last week, a video of one of Womack's election integrity meetings leaked to CBS News. You were recently seen saying that Hispanic sounding last names were among the criteria used to identify suspicious voters. Why did you say that? Okay, well, first off, the video was pirated from a training conversation. And what's missing in the excerpt is the fact that I said

missing the required information, recently registered, and not providing a photo ID at the election. But those are things that could apply to people of all backgrounds. That's right. So why mention Hispanic people? Because the conversation was about the illegal immigrants that had come into the country and the vast majority were being Hispanic. But that's not the only criteria. Community organizer Ileana Santillan says WOMAC confronted some of her Spanish-speaking team members, handing out water and nonpartisan flyers at the polls on Friday, telling them they had to leave. I think it sends the message we've been hearing. We don't belong here. Why are we here? English only. Womack told NBC News they were mistaken and attempting

to goad me into a confrontation and acting like polling officials. In the meantime, he says his movement gains dozens of new volunteers every day. So it's not going anywhere. Not going anywhere. It grows continuously. Antonia Hilton, NBC News, Sanford, North Carolina. When we come back, there is good news tonight. Voting shouldn't be a chore, so meet the musicians trying to turn it into a celebration. There is good news tonight about the musicians trying to bring calm to a stressful election. When professional musician Mike Block goes to the polls this Tuesday,

he'll be bringing his cello and good vibes. It's part of a movement he started back in 2020 called Play for the Vote. It was a stressful time during the pandemic. And so I had this flash of an idea. What if, if the music is making me feel better, what if I went to my polling location on election day and tried to help my community feel better? His big idea? Catching on. Mike rallied more than a thousand musicians back then.

And for this election day, the group's hoping for thousands more in all 50 states. Violinist Sarah Von Suttel was there last time and can't wait to go back. There's a lot of focus on what divides us and our differences, but we all share music as an experience. We all share this amazing experience of being able to vote. Play for the Vote even has the backing of big names like Yo-Yo Ma. Would you please consider going to the polls, bring your instrument. Music energizing and uniting voters in other communities, too. School marching bands leading the way to the polls during early voting like these from around Dayton, Ohio.

And then there's the North Carolina Central University sound machine with Jalen Joyner drumming up excitement. I saw people smiling, waving. You know, they were excited to have us there. It gave positive energy and see a lot of people cared about going out to vote and making a change. It's a movement hitting all the right notes, inspiring others to be heard in this historic election. That's nightly news for this Sunday. We'll see you right back here for complete election coverage Tuesday at seven o'clock Eastern. Lester Holt will be back here tomorrow. I'm Hallie Jackson. For all of us here at NBC News, thanks for watching and we'll see you this week.