Nightly News Full Broadcast - Aug. 21

Intro >>> TONIGHT, IN CHICAGO, KAMALA HARRIS' RUNNING MATE, TIM WALZ, FACING HIS BIGGEST TEST YET ON THE NATIONAL STAGE HERE AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION. THE MINNESOTA GOVERNOR SET TO ACCEPT HIS PARTY'S NOMINATION. THAT'S FOR VICE PRESIDENT IN CHICAGO. A BIG CHANCE FOR THE FORMER TEACHER AND FOOTBALL COACH TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AFTER REPUBLICANS ATTACKED HIS MILITARY SERVICE AND RECORD AS GOVERNOR. HIS SPEECH COMING A NIGHT AFTER TWO OF THE PARTY'S BIGGEST STARS FIRED UP THE CROWD. BARACK AND MICHELLE OBAMA MAKING THE CASE FOR HARRIS AND UNLEASHING SCATHING ATTACKS ON DONALD TRUMP, AND MR. TRUMP TODAY HITTING BACK AT HIS FIRST OUTDOOR RALLY SINCE THE ATTEMPT ON HIS LIFE, NOW SPEAKING BEHIND BULLETPROOF GLASS. >>> PLUS, NEWS ON RFK JR. SOURCES SAY HE PLANS TO DROP OUT. HOW IT COULD SHAKE UP THE RACE. >>> THE GRIM DISCOVERY IN THE SUNKEN YACHT OFF ITALY. FIVE BODIES FOUND, ONE PERSON STILL MISSING. THE GROWING QUESTIONS TONIGHT. >>> UKRAINE LAUNCHING A DRONE ATTACK ON MOSCOW. THE LARGEST SINC USA'S NOAH REVEALING HIS HIGHEST AND LOWEST MOMENTS FROM THE PARIS GAMES. >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" Walz takes center stage at DNC tonight REPORTING TONIGHT FROM THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IN CHICAGO. HERE IS LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING FROM CHICAGO AND THE FLOOR OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION. IT IS HARD TO REMEMBER A SUMMER WHEN THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE SHIFTED SO RAPIDLY. THINK ABOUT IT. IT WAS ONE MONTH AGO TODAY PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED HE WAS DROPPING OUT HANDPICKING VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS AS HIS SUCCESSOR. TONIGHT, A LINEUP REVEALING JUST HOW THINGS HAVE EVOLVED FEATURING HEADLINER MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ, HARRIS' VERY NEWLY MINTED VICE PRESIDENTIAL RUNNING MATE INTRODUCING HIMSELF TO THE NATION, AND NANCY PELOSI, WHO HELPED CATALYZE THE CHANGE IN THE TOP OF THE TICKET ALSO TAKING CENTER STAGE, BUT THE CHANGES ARE NOT OVER. JUST IN TONIGHT, THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE AND SCION OF THE KENNEDY FAMILY, ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR., IS POISED TO SUSPEND HIS CAMPAIGN AND ENDORSE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP ACCORDING TO TWO SOURCES. PETER ALEXANDER STARTS US OFF TONIGHT FROM HERE IN CHICAGO. >> Reporter: FOR TIM WALZ, TONIGHT IS GAME NIGHT, A CHANCE FOR THE MINNESOTA GOVERNOR AND FORMER HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO AMERICA. CAMPAIGN AIDES TELL NBC NEWS WALZ WILL HIGHLIGHT THE VALUES HE GREW UP IN SMALL TOWN NEBRASKA THAT SHAPED HIS SERVICE IN THE NATIONAL GUARD AS A TEACHER AND AS A SIX-TERM CONGRESSMAN. NBC NEWS GETTING A FIRST LOOK AT THE DNC VIDEO TO AIR TONIGHT NARRATED BY HIS WIFE. >> TIM WENT TO COLLEGE ON THE G.I. BILL AND BECAME A SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER.IM AND I MET. WE SHARED A CLASSROOM WITH A DIVIDER RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE. >> Reporter: DEMOCRATS TOUT HIS PLAIN-SPOKEN MANNER, BUT SOME OF HIS PROGRESSIVE POLICIES AS GOVERNOR GIVING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS DRIVER'S LICENSES AND TAX-FUNDED HEALTH CARE HAVE COME UNDER ATTACK FROM REPUBLICANS WHO ACCUSE HIM OF EMBELLISHING HIS MILITARY RECORD INCLUDING A CROWD WHERE HE SAID HE CARRIED WEAPONS IN WAR DESPITE NEVER SERVING IN COMBAT. >> WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WEAPONS OF WAR THAT I CARRIED IN WAR IS THE ONLY PLACE THEY'RE AT. >> Reporter: THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN SAYS HE MISSPOKE. WALZ'S SPEECH CAME AFTER AN ELECTRIFYING TONIGHT. >> AMERICA IS READY FOR A BETTER STORY. WE ARE READY FOR A PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS. >> Reporter: FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA CALLING ON AMERICANS TO WORK TOGETHER WHILE MOCKING FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. >> THERE ARE THE CHILDISH NICKNAMES. THE CRAZY CONSPIRACY THEORIES. THIS WEIRD OBSESSION WITH CROWD SIZES. [ LAUGHTER ] >> Reporter: BUT GETTING THE LOUDEST OVATION FORMER FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA. >> AMERICA, HOPE IS MAKING A COMEBACK. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> Reporter: DELIVERING HER OWN STINGING TAKEDOWN OF THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE. >> HIS LIMITED, NARROW VIEW OF THE WORLD MADE HIM FEEL THREATENED BY THE EXISTENCE OF TWO HARD-WORKING, HIGHLY EDUCATED, SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE WHO HAPPEN TO BE BLACK. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] WHO'S GOING TO TELL HIM NEXT THE JOB HE'S CURRENTLY SEEKING MIGHT JUST BE ONE OF THOSE BLACK JOBS? >> Reporter: BUT WITH DEMOCRATS RIDING A WAVE OF NEW ENTHUSIASM, THE FORMER FIRST COUPLE DELIVERED A WARNING. >> THIS WILL STILL BE A TIGHT RACE IN A CLOSELY DIVIDED COUNTRY. >> Reporter: AND A RALLYING CRY. >> MICHELLE OBAMA IS ASKING YOU, NO, I'M TELLING Y'ALL TO DO SOMETHING. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] [ CROWD CHANTING, "DO SOMETHING" ] >> Reporter: LOOKING TO SHOWCASE THE PERSONAL SIDE, A SELF-DEPRACATING DOUG EMHOFF SHARED THE FIRST TIME HE CALLED HER. >> I GOT KAMALA'S VOICE MAIL, AND I JUST STARTED RAMBLING. HEY, IT'S DOUG. [ LAUGHTER ] >> Reporter: AND CELEBRATED THEIR BLENDED FAMILY. >> SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR OUR CHILDREN, AND I KNOW SHE'LL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOURS TOO. >> AND, PETER, YOU HAVE SOME NEW REPORTING ON WHAT PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL SAY TONIGHT. >> LESTER, THAT'S RIGHT. AN AIDE TELLS NBC NEWS THAT FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON PLANS TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT THEY CALL THE STARK DIFFERENCES IN VISION, EXPERIENCE, AND TEMPERAMENT BETWEEN HARRIS AND TRUMP. NOTELY THIS IS THE Sources: RFK Jr. to drop out, endorse Trump 12th CONSECUTIVE APPEARANCE AT A DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION FOR CLINTON. LESTER. >> THANK YOU. >>> FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP CONTINUING HIS BATTLEGROUND BLITZ TO COUNTERPROGRAM THE CONVENTION HERE, AND HE IS PICKING UP NEW SUPPORT FROM A 2024 COMPETITOR TONIGHT. VAUGHN HILLYARD JOINING US NOW WITH LATE DETAILS. VAUGHN, THIS INVOLVES ROBERT KENNEDY JR. >> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT, LESTER. TWO SOURCES TELL US MR. KENNEDY INTENDS TO END HIS THIRD PARTY PRESIDENTIAL BID THIS FRIDAY AND ENDORSE FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, THOUGH TALKS ARE STILL ONGOING. THIS COULD BE A MAJOR MOVE IN AN ELECTION THAT COULD COME DOWN TO JUST A FEW THOUSAND VOTES. TONIGHT, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IN BATT CAROLINA HOLDING AN OUTDOOR CAMPAIGN EVENT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE SURVIVING THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT IN PENNSYLVANIA. >> THE VOTERS WILL HOLD KAMALA AND JOE ACCOUNTABLE. >> Reporter: SECRET SERVICE INSTALLING BULLETPROOF GLASS IN FRONT OF AND BEHIND THE PODIUM, THE EVENT BILLED ON A NATIONAL SECURITY THEME WITH TRUMP JOINED BY RUNNING MATE, J.D. VANCE. >> KAMALA HARRIS HAS ALLOWED A LITERAL INVASION OF THIS COUNTRY, MORE THAN 10 MILLION ILLEGAL ALIENS. IF WE GIVE KAMALA HARRIS A PROMOTION AND MAKE HER THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, THE SOUTHERN BORDER IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE WALMART ON BLACK FRIDAY. >> Reporter: AND VANCE WAS ASKED IF TRUMP WOULD PROMISE A CABINET POST FOR AN RFK JR. ENDORSEMENT. >> I THINK CLEARLY DONALD TRUMP IS NOT GOING TO SAY, I'LL GIVE YOU A CABINET POSITION IF YOU GIVE ME AN ENDORSEMENT. IT'S ABOUT WELCOMING THOSE WHO FEEL ABANDONED. >> Reporter: A BATTLEGROUND BLITZ THIS WEEK. TRUMP AGAIN MAKING FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT THE ELECTION. >> OUR PRIMARY FOCUS IS NOT TO GET OUT THE VOTE. IT'S TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T CHEAT BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL THE VOTES YOU NEED. >> Reporter: ARGUING THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IS ONLY FOCUSED ON HIM. >> THEY MENTIONED THE ECONOMY, LIKE, 12 TIMES. THEY MENTIONED THE BORDER MAYBE NONE. THAT'S ALL THEY TALK ABOUT, TRUMP. WE'VE DRIVEN THEM CRAZY. >> Reporter: RESPONDING TO SHARP ATTACKS FROM FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA AND MICHELLE OBAMA. >> HE WAS TAKING SHOTS AT YOUR PRESIDENT, AND SO WAS MICHELLE. YOU KNOW, THEY ALWAYS SAY, SIR, PLEASE STICK TO POLICY. DON'T GET PERSONAL, AND YET THEY ARE GETTING PERSONAL ALL NIGHT LONG THESE PEOPLE. >> Reporter: THE FORMER PRESIDENT SIGNALING HE WON'T Harris and Walz face biggest political test CHANGE DESPITE MANY OF HIS ALLIES URGING HIM TO STICK TO POLICY, NOT PERSONAL ATTACKS. VAUGHN HILLYARD, NBC NEWS, ASHBORO, NORTH CAROLINA. >>> ALL RIGHT, VAUGHN HILLYARD, THANK YOU. >>> HERE IN CHICAGO THIS IS A FAR DIFFERENT DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION FROM THE ONE ORIGINALLY PLANNED. "MEET THE PRESS" MODERATER KRISTEN WELKER JOINING ME NOW. THIS TICKET IS ONLY THREE WEEKS OLD AND NOW THIS HUGE TEST. >> THAT'S RIGHT. KAMALA HARRIS AND TIM WALZ ARE FACING THE TEST OF THEIR POLITICAL LIVES AND IT'S PARTICULARLY CRITICAL FOR TIM WALZ THAT HE LAND THIS SPEECH TONIGHT. HE'S GOT TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO THE COUNTRY WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE SAY THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH HIM, SO I AM TOLD TO EXPECT HIM TO CAST HIMSELF AS A FORMER TEACHER, A VETERAN, AND ALSO A FAMILY MAN, AND THAT IS REFLECTIVE, THAT TONE IS REFLECTIVE OF WHAT WE'VE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THIS CONVENTION, WHICH HAS BEEN REWORKED OVER THE COURSE OF FOUR WEEKS NOW. THE GOAL HERE IS REALLY TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT KAMALA HARRIS WILL TAKE THE COUNTRY IN A POSITIVE Israel-Hamas war looms large over DNC DIRECTION WHEN MANY PEOPLE ARE DISSATISFIED WITH THE DIRECTION THE COUNTRY IS HEADED. LESTER. >> THESE DELEGATES NOW TAKING THEIR SEATS AS THIS IS ABOUT TO GET UNDER WAY ON NIGHT THREE. >>> THE WAR IN GAZA REMAINS A POTENT ISSUE HERE WITH PROTESTS ARRESTS AND CALLS FOR A CEASE-FIRE. SOME OF THE HOSTAGE FAMILIES ARE HERE. TODAY I SPOKE WITH JOHN POLIN WHOSE SON HERSH IS STILL IN HAMAS CAPTIVITY. >> EVERY DAY YOU AFFIX A PIECE OF TAPE TO YOUR SHIRT WITH A NUMBER. TODAY IT'S 320, 320 DAYS. WHAT IS IT LIKE TO PUT THAT NUMBER ON EACH DAY AND WATCH IT CONTINUE TO GO UP? >> IT WAS DAY 26 THAT MY WIFE, RACHEL, SAID, I'M TIRED OF PEOPLE ASKING ME WHAT DAY IT IS. I'M JUST GOING TO WEAR IT, AND THERE IS SOMETHING INCREDIBLY EMOTIONAL ABOUT NOT JUST PUTTING ON A PIN BUT EVERY DAY DELIBERATELY PULLING OFF THE TAPE, WRITING THAT NUMBER OUT, FEELING THE EMOTION OF IT BEING ONE MORE DAY. >> Reporter: JOHN POLIN SAYS HIS ATTENDANCE AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION SHOULD ONLY BE READ ONE WAY. >> IS THE FINE DANCE TRYING TO AVOID BEING POLITICAL OR BEING PERCEIVED AS POLITICAL AS YOU APPEAL TO LEADERS? >> ALL HOSTAGE FAMILIES, ALL OF US HAVE THE ONE JOB OF DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BRING HOME OUR LOVED ONES, OUR SON, OUR DAUGHTERS, OUR MOTHERS, OUR FATHERS, GRANDPARENTS. THAT'S WHAT WE FOCUS ON, AND OUR JOB IS NOT TO BE POLITICIANS. IT'S TO BRING HOME OUR LOVED ONES, AND UNFORTUNATELY ON DAY 320, I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE ALL FAILED. >> AT THE SAME TIME IS IT HARD TO BE NONPOLITICAL WHEN YOU SEE HOW THE VARIOUS PARTIES APPROACH THE HOSTAGE ISSUE? >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN REALLY ENCOURAGING FOR US IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH WE'VE SO FAR BEEN ABLE TO MOSTLY KEEP IT OUT OF POLITICAL DIVISIONS, BUT IT IS HARD. EVERYTHING IS POLITICIZED THERE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE ALL HUMANS. WE'RE SENSITIVE TO SUFFERING ON ALL SIDES. WE'RE FIGHTING FOR OUR LOVED ONE AND 108 OTHER HOSTAGES, BUT WE WANT ALL THE SUFFERING TO COME TO AN END. >> JOHN POLIN AND OUR CONVERSATION TODAY. IT IS GOING TO BE A BIG NIGHT IN CHICAGO. COVERAGE IS STREAMING ON NEWS NOW ALL NIGHT AND JOIN US ON NBC AS WE HEAR FROM FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI, FORMER Russia: Ukraine drone attack on Moscow PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AND VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TIM WALZ. >>> WE TURN OVERSEAS NOW WHERE RUSSIA IS SAYING UKRAINE TARGETED MOSCOW IN A LARGE DRONE ATTACK, BUT AFTER MORE THAN TWO YEARS OF WAR, SOME UKRAINIAN TROOPS ARE GROWING INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED. ERIN McLAUGHLIN SPOKE WITH ONE, BUT FIRST, ERIN, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE DRONE ATTACK? >> Reporter: LESTER, RUSSIAN OFFICIALS SAY 11 DRONES TARGETED MOSCOW. THE LARGEST DRONE ATTACK IN THE CAPITAL'S HISTORY. UKRAINE HAS YET TO COMMENT. TODAY'S ATTACK, THE LATEST SALVO IN A NEARLY 2 1/2-YEAR-OLD WAR THAT IS INCREASINGLY BEING FOUGHT WITH DRONES. WE SPOKE WITH ONE UKRAINIAN WHO PILOTED THOSE DRONES UNTIL VERY RECENTLY. HE DESERTED THE MILITARY DAYS AGO. INCREASINGLY DISILLUSIONED WITH THE DIRECTION OF THE WAR AND HIS COMMANDERS. NBC NEWS AGREED TO WITHHOLD HIS IDENTITY AT HIS REQUEST. >> FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, NOW WE ARE LOSING THIS WAR. >> Reporter: THINGS WERE DIFFERENT WHEN HE LEFT HIS JOB IN I.T. TO BECOME A DRONE PILOT. >> YOU WERE FILLED WITH HOPE. >> YES, I KNEW THAT THERE'S NO OTHER OPTION THAN, LIKE, TO FIGHT. >> Reporter: BUT HE SAYS THAT HOPE SOON TURNED TO MISERY WITH LAST SUMMER'S FAILED COUNTEROFFENSIVE IN WHICH UKRAINE GAINED BACK VERY LITTLE GROUND. >> THAT WAS FRUSTRATING. THAT WAS PAINFUL. RUSSIANS SEEM TO HAVE MORE OF EVERYTHING. >> Reporter: THE BREAKING POINT, HIS COMBAT PARTNER DIED IN HIS ARMS WHEN A MAKESHIFT DRONE EXPLODED. >> SO, I HAD TO DRAG HIS BODY AWAY FROM THE FIRE, AND I LOOKED IN HIS EYES, AND I SAW IT WAS LIKE THE LAST, I DON'T KNOW, SPARKLE OF LIFE GOING AWAY IN HIS EYES. >> Reporter: HE DESERTED JUST DAYS LATER. IF CAUGHT, HE FACES POTENTIAL JAIL TIME. >> THE BIG PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE COMMANDERS, THEY ALWAYS LIKE TO PUT PRESSURE US TO DO FASTER AND FASTER. >> Reporter: LEADING TO DEADLY MISTAKES. ERIN McLAUGHLIN, NBC NEWS, KHARKIV, UKRAINE. >>> IN 60 SECONDS NEW DETAILS FROM SICILY ON THAT LUXURY YACHT THAT SANK CARRYING AMERICANS AND A TECH CEO. MOST OF THE MISSING NOW RECOVERED. WHAT Five bodies recovered from sunken yacht >>> DIVERS MADE A TRAGIC DISCOVERY TODAY AT THE SITE WHERE A SUPER YACHT SANK OFF THE COAST OF ITALY AS NEW DETAILS EMERGE ABOUT THE ILL-FATED VOYAGE. STEVE PATTERSON REPORTS. >> Reporter: TONIGHT AFTER DAYS OF A GRUELING ROUND THE CLOCK SEARCH RESCUE WORKERS FINALLY MAKE THEIR GRIM BREAKTHROUGH. THE UNIDENTIFIED BODIES OF FIVE OF THE SIX MISSING PASSENGERS PULLED FROM THE DEPTHS ACCORDING TO ITALIAN AUTHORITIES. OFFICIALS SAY 22 PEOPLE WERE ON BOARD THE LUXURY YACHT ANCHORED ABOUT A HALF MILE OFF THE SICILIAN SHORE WHEN THE STORM STRUCK. THE SUPER YACHT'S HULL SINKING ABOUT 160 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE, 15 PEOPLE ABOARD THE YACHT WERE INITIALLY RESCUED. THE BODY OF THE SHIP'S CHEF DISCOVERED MONDAY. SINCE THEN CREWS SPENT DOZENS OF HOURS SEARCHING FOR THE SIX MISSING INCLUDING THE YACHT'S OWNER, UK TECH BILLIONAIRE MIKE LYNCH AND HIS 18-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, HANNAH. NEW YORK-BASED POWERHOUSE ATTORNEY CHRISTOPHER MORVILLO AND HIS WIFE NEDA, AS WELL AS MORGAN STANLEY CHIEF JONATHAN BLOOMER AND HIS WIFE JUDY. THE YACHT SANK AROUND 5:00 A.M. MONDAY. EXPERTS CALLED IT A ONCE IN A LIFETIME STORM SO SEVERE AND UNEXPECTED, IT OFFERED LITTLE WARNING. THE COAST GUARD SAYS THE DEPTH AND DANGER OF THE WRECKAGE MADE THE MISSION DIFFICULT. MEANWHILE, ITALIAN MEDIA SAYING THE YACHT'S SURVIVING CAPTAIN HAS BEEN QUESTIONED BY AUTHORITIES. THE DISASTER AT SEA NOW TURNING A PAGE TO A NEW CHAPTER AS FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS LOOK FOR ANSWERS AS TO HOW EXACTLY THAT SUPER YACHT SANK. STEVE PATTERSON, NBC NEWS. >>> AND UP NEXT HERE TONIGHT, WHAT'S REALLY RESONATING WITH VOTERS? OUR SERIES, "WHAT MATTERS." WE PUT THE QUESTION TO BATTLEGROUND VOT Battleground Pennsylvania voters speak out >>> WE'RE BACK NOW WITH THE 2024 RACE AND THE ROLE ONE SMALL TOWN COULD PLAY IN THE CRITICAL BATTLEGROUND OF PENNSYLVANIA. OUR JACOB SOBOROFF IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WPXI TRAVELED THERE TO FIND OUT WHAT MATTERS TO VOTERS MOST. >> MAYOR, AT THE END OF ALL THIS, HOW MANY BUILDINGS WILL BE DEMOLISHED IN ALIQUIPPA? >> ABOUT 150. >> Reporter: DEMOCRAT DWAN WALKER HAS BEEN MAYOR OF ALIQUIPPA FOR 12 YEARS. TODAY HE'S PRESIDING OVER A DEMOLITION BONANZA FUNDED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN'S RESCUE PLAN. >> THIS IS NOT A RESURRECTION PROJECT. THIS IS A RENAISSANCE. WE'RE CHANGING THE ENVIRONMENT OF OUR DOWNTOWN. >> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT MATTERS IN THIS CITY, WHY DOES THIS MATTER? >> I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO CHANGE WHAT PEOPLE SEE. >> Reporter: WE FIRST MET MAYOR WALKER HERE IN 2016 AS ALIQUIPPA STRUGGLED TO BUILD BACK DECADES AFTER THE STEEL INDUSTRY COLLAPSED. WE ALSO MET THESE RETIREES. >> HOW HAS ALIQUIPPA CHANGED OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR LIVES HERE? >> WELL, ALIQUIPPA WAS A BOOMING TOWN. NOW WHEN THE MILLS SHUT DOWN, IT'S NOTHING. >> Reporter: THAT SHIFT SHOOK UP LIFE IN ALIQUIPPA INCLUDING IN RECENT YEARS, ITS POLITICS. ALIQUIPPA IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULOUS CITIES IN BEAVER COUNTY WHICH ONCE RELIABLY VOTED DEMOCRATIC BUT SINCE 2008 HAS PICKED A REPUBLICAN FOR PRESIDENT. PART OF THE REASON, THE STATE'S BECOME A BATTLEGROUND. >> IT WAS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. >> Reporter: THE MAYOR BELIEVES THIS COULD MARK ANOTHER POLITICAL SHIFT. >> THERE'S A LOT MORE, I WOULD SAY, OPTIMISM ABOUT THE FUTURE. >> Reporter: WE WENT TO PUT MAYOR WALKER'S THEORY TO THE TEST IN A PLACE THAT SINCE THE STEEL INDUSTRY'S DISINTEGRATION HAS BECOME THE UNDISPUTED BEATING HEART OF ALIQUIPPA, ITS FOOTBALL COMMUNITY. >> YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS HOW LONG? >> I'VE BEEN DOING IT SINCE MAYBE 1996, '97. >> Reporter: COACH MARK IS THE MAYOR'S COUSIN. >> HOW HAS ALIQUIPPA CHANGED SINCE YOU WERE A YOUNG MAN GROWING UP HERE? >> FIRST AND FOREMOST, INDUSTRY. I MEAN, JOBS, THIS WAS ACTUALLY A JOB DESTINATION. THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS THE MAJOR CHANGE, THE ECONOMY. IT WENT DOWN. JOBS WENT. >> IF YOU ASK SOMEBODY WHAT MATTERS IN ALIQUIPPA, AND THEY SAY FOOTBALL, THEY'RE NOT MEANING FOOTBALL. >> NO, WE'RE TRYING TO TEACH THEM THE MINDSET. HARD AND SMART. >> Reporter: MARY JOE HAMILTON IS THAT MINDSET PERSONIFIED. A HOME HEALTH AIDE AND A TEAM MOM, SHE'S USED TO HELPING OTHERS. >> I'M A SINGLE MOM, SO I GO TO WORK FIVE DAYS A WEEK. AS SOON AS I GET OFF WORK, WE'RE HERE AT FOOTBALL. >> ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE COME ELECTION DAY? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT -- >> I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE PRESIDENT REAL SOON. >> Reporter: MARY JOE INTRODUCED US TO THE FELLOW TEAM MOMS. >> THEY'RE TAKING THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE SERIESLY. >> IT DOESN'T MATTER ABOUT THE PARTY. WE NEED SOME JOBS IN ALIQUIPPA. WE DROVE AROUND THE CITY TODAY. I THINK THEY KNOCKED OVER TEN BUILDINGS LET ALONE TODAY. >> FEELS LIKE A NEW BEGINNING. >> UH-HUH. >> Reporter: HOPE AND NEW BEGINNINGS IN A SMALL CITY THAT COULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE COME ELECTION DAY. [ CHANTING ] >> ONE, TWO, THREE. >> ALL RIGHT, GOOD WORK, GUYS. GOOD WORK. >> Reporter: AND MAYOR WALKER IS HERE IN CHICAGO TONIGHT AS A MEMBER OF THE PENNSYLVANIA DELEGATION AND TELLS ME SINCE VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS AND GO TO BRISBANE.D >> Reporter: NOAH LYLES IS NOT SLOWING DOWN. >> WHAT A COMPETITOR. THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS." THANK YOU FOR