Hallie Jackson NOW - Sept. 10 | NBC News NOW

>>> WE'RE COMING ON THE AIR GEARING UP FOR THE DEFINING MOMENT OF THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL RACE FOR THE FIRST FACE-OFF BETWEEN VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. NOT JUST THE FIRST OF MAY, THE FIRST TIME THESE TWO WILL EVER MEET IN PERSON. NEW POLLING SHOWING THE RACE IS A DEAD HEAT. IT IS BASICALLY DEADLOCKED. PICK YOUR CLICHI. THIS RACE IS REAL CLOSE. 3 IN 10 AMERICANS SAY WHAT HAPPENS TONIGHT COULD HELP MAKE THE DECISION ON ELECTION DAY. WE WILL BREAK THAT DOWN LIVE FOR THE DEBATE HAPPENING SOON. >>> A POTENTIAL HURRICANE BARRELING TOWARD LOUISIANA. WE ARE JUST GETTING AN UPDATE FROM THE NATIONAL GOAL -- HURRICANE CENTER. FRANCINE, A TROPICAL STORM FOR NOW. EXPECTED TO GET STRONGER OVERNIGHT. POSSIBLY TURNING INTO A HURRICANE AT SOME POINT BEFORE MORNING. ON THE GROUND IN NEW ORLEANS. WHAT ARE PEOPLE BRACING FOR? >> Reporter: WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF FLOODING, EVEN TORNADOES, POTENTIALLY HERE IN NEW ORLEANS. ALL OF THIS AND FRANCINE IS MAKING U.S. LANDFALL SOMETIME LATE TOMORROW. THE TRACKS ON THESE ARE SHIFTY SO WE ARE WATCHING AS IT DEVELOPS. IT IS STILL A TROPICAL STORM AND NOT YET REACHED HURRICANE STATUS. WE ARE EXPECTING THAT TO DEVELOP OVER THE NEXT DAY OR SO. IN NEW ORLEANS, YOU CAN HEAR AND SEE THE RAINS WE ARE DEALING WITH. THE RAIN IS COMING DOWN BETWEEN A TRICKLE AND A MIDST. WE CAUGHT UP WITH SOME PEOPLE EARLIER TODAY AT THE SANDBAGGING STAGE. ONE OF THE RESIDENCE WHO WAS FILLING UP SANDBAGS, HERE IS PART OF WHAT WE HEARD TODAY. >> WE WERE HAVING THE NEIGHBORS OVER FOR A HURRICANE PARTY. GETTING SAFE, GETTING IT TOGETHER. >> JUST A FEW DAYS FROM THE 19th ANNIVERSARY FROM HURRICANE KATRINA, PEOPLE ARE CAUTIOUS AND WANT TO BE PREPARED. >> Reporter: THE KATRINA ANNIVERSARY WAS AT THE END OF AUGUST. TO BE CLEAR, WE ARE NOT EXPECTING AT THIS POINT FOR HURRICANE FRANCINE. WE ARE NOT EXPECTING THE STORM TO REACH THE STRENGTH OF HURRICANE KATRINA, WHICH CAUSED SO MUCH DEVASTATION IN THIS COMMUNITY. IT IS STILL IN PEOPLE'S MINDS IN NEW ORLEANS AS WE BRACE FOR A GOOD AMOUNT OF RAINFALL. >> JESSE KIRSCH, BRACING FOR ALL OF IT. LET ME BRING -- WHAT IS THE LATEST? >> Reporter: WE HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS AND NEWS THAT IS CONCERNING FOR NEW ORLEANS. ALL OF THE RAIN AS NOT EVEN ASSOCIATED WITH FRANCINE. WE ARE WATCHING A LIGHT SHIELD OF RAIN GOING IN THERE. STILL A TROPICAL STORM. NO ONE THOUGHT IT WOULD STILL BE A TROPICAL STORM. DRY AIR OFF THE COAST OF MEXIC , INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM. THAT'S WHY HE LOOKS LIKE A BIG DOUGHNUT THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THAT IS FANTASTIC. WE DON'T WANTED TO. HURRICANE CENTER THINKS IT WILL BE A HURRICANE LATER TONIGHT AND STRENGTHENING AS IT APPROACHES SOUTHERN LOUISIANA. WE SHIFTED CLOSER TO NEW ORLEANS. WE DO NOT THINK IT WILL BE A CATEGORY TWO OR CATEGORY THREE. IT LIKELY WILL BE CATEGORY ONE. WITH IT WILL COME SOME STORM SURGE ISSUES AND OTHER ISSUES LIKE SEVERE WEATHER WITH TORNADOES. SOME MINOR WIND DAMAGE AND THE RAINFALL. FLASH FLOODING, POTENTIAL. COMPUTER MODELS, THE BLACK LINE IS THE NEW FORECAST. AT LEAST THREE OF THEM ARE TO THE RIGHT OF THAT AND CLOSER TO NEW ORLEANS. THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK OUT. HOW MUCH OF THE CORE, THE CENTER OF THE STORM, THE WORST PART WILL BE IN NEW ORLEANS OR GOING TOWARD BATON ROUGE OR THE MIDDLE TOMORROW AFTERNOON? WE THINK THAT THE LANDFALL WILL BE 6:00 TO 8:00 P.M. LOCAL TIME IN LOUISIANA. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE WARNINGS IN BATON ROUGE. NEW ORLEANS UNDER A TROPICAL STORM WARNING. THE WIND GUSTS IN THE RANGE OF 60 TO 90 MILES PER HOUR. IF IT IS JUST AWAY FROM NEW ORLEANS, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE TREES AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND POWER OUTAGES. SOMEONE WILL HAVE A LOT OF POWDER -- POWER OUTAGES. WE DO NOT KNOW IF IT'LL BE BATON ROUGE FOR NEW ORLEANS. >>> LET'S GET BACK TO THE TOP SIR. THE DEBATE IS SET TO HAPPEN LIVE IN PHILADELPHIA IN A COUPLE HOURS. WHAT IS AT STAKE HERE? I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU. TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE COULD BE WATCHING AND KAMALA HARRIS WANTS TO DEFINE HERSELF. THE VICE PRESIDENT WANTS TO MAKE THE CASE AGAINST SOMEBODY WHO SAY THEY KNOW WELL, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. HE IS THE ONE WHO WANTS TO TAKE THE LEAD ON DEFINING THE VICE PRESIDENT. HE HAS HIS OWN CHALLENGE. STAYING ON MESSAGE. STAYING AWAY FROM THE PERSONAL ATTACKS AND HIS ALLIES WANT HIM TO AVOID THEM. THAT'S AN INSTINCT HE'S BEEN ABLE -- UNABLE TO RESIST. LET'S GET YOU TO PHILLY WITH MONICA ALBA. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE STRATEGY FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT MOVING FORWARD. I KNOW FROM TEAM MEMBERS, SOURCES ARE SAYING THAT SHE IS READY AND THEN PREPARING FOR DAYS. >> Reporter: PRETTY EXTENSIVELY. THAT IS NO ACCIDENT. SHE IS APPROACHING THIS LIKE A PROSECUTOR PREPARING FOR TRIAL. SHE POURED OVER THE DOCUMENTS, THE BRIEFING BOOKS, ALL OF THE GAME FILM TO SEE EVERY TIME DONALD TRUMP HAS APPEARED ON A DEBATE STAGE. SHE IS COMING OUT OF THIS FEELING LIKE SHE KNOWS WHAT HE WILL SAY ON ANY GIVEN TOPIC WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT HE HAS SAID IN THE PAST. SHE'S LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF THE UNSCRIPTED MOMENTS WHERE THERE COULD BE PERSONAL ATTACKS OR DEROGATORY COMMENTS. THERE ARE THINGS THAT I'M TOLD SHE HAD IN THE MOCK DEBATES. THEY WENT TO SCENARIOS AND HAD SOMEBODY WHO DID THE SAME THING FOR HILLARY CLINTON IN 2016. THEY COULD ACTUALLY GO THROUGH SOME OF THE POTENTIAL EXCHANGES. THEY SAY THAT SHE IS SOMEBODY WHO APPROACHES THESE SERIOUSLY AND WILL BE FOCUSED ON THE SUBSTANCE. THEY ALSO KNOW THERE WILL BE A LOT OF ATTENTION ON THE STYLE. WILL THEY SHAKE HANDS? THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER MET BEFORE OR HAD FACE-TO-FACE TIME. TONIGHT THAT WILL BE A NEW ANGLE. ON TOP OF THAT, THE FACT THAT AMERICANS SAY THAT THEY REALLY FEEL LIKE THEY NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS TO MAKE UP THEIR MINDS ABOUT WHETHER THEY WILL SUPPORT HER ARE NOT? THAT IS SOMETHING THEY ARE AWARE OF. SHE HAS A HIGH PART OF MEETING AND INDICATE SOMETHING NEW ABOUT HERSELF TO THE VOTERS WHICH COULD BE CRITICAL. ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE EYES WILL BE ON STAGE. >> BONUS POINTS FOR USING THE WORD CORRECTLY, COMMONWEALTH. THANK YOU FOR THAT. TO VOTERS, THAT IS WHAT MATTERS. THAT IS ALL OF THAT WHEN EARLY VOTING STARTS. ONE VOTER WHO BACKED PRESIDENT BIDEN BUT LEANS TOWARD TRUMP IS IN ARIZONA. ALEX ASKED WHAT HE WANTS TO HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES THAT YOU COVER? >> FEEL LIKE SHE IS REPAIRED AND THEY DON'T PUSH HER TOO MUCH. WE WILL SEE TOMORROW? >> Reporter: IF SHE GETS CHALLENGED AND ANSWERS WELL, COULD YOU POTENTIALLY CHANGE YOUR MIND? >> YES, ABSOLUTELY. AS LONG AS MY CONCERNS GET ADDRESSED. >> YOU SEEN IN THE POLLS TODAY, 77% SAY THEY ARE WATCHING. 30% SAY IT COULD MATTER A GOOD DEAL FOR GREAT AMOUNT. A RACE FOR THE MARGINS ARE THIS TYPE IT COULD BE A GAME CHANGER. >> Reporter: THEY KNOW THAT. THEY KNOW THERE IS A DICHOTOMY BETWEEN VOTERS WHO SEE HER AND SAY SHE CLEARLY IS SOMEBODY IN LINE WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN. DOES SHE REPRESENT EVERYTHING HE STOOD FOR? SHE IS ALSO SAYING THINGS LIKE THERE IS A NEW WAY FORWARD AND I AM ABOUT THE FUTURE. WHICH IS IT? THEY ARE AWARE THAT IS THE DYNAMIC IN VOTERS MINDS THAT THEY NEED TO ADDRESS. THERE MIGHT BE POLICIES SHE WILL BREAK WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN WHILE PRAISING HIS LEADERSHIP. THEY KNOW THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS SHE WILL TALK ABOUT. IF I'M ELECTED HERE IS WHAT I WILL DO DIFFERENTLY. ON THE SUBSTANCE IT IS HARD TO GET IT ACROSS ON THE DEBATE STAGE. THAT IS SOMETHING SHE WILL TRY TO DO. TWO MONICA ALBA, WE WILL FIND GARRETT HICKEY WHO COVERS FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. CHIT CHATTING ON THE PHONE ABOUT HOW HE'S DOING. HE SAYS HE IS FEELING GOOD. IT WOULD BE BIGGER NEWS IF HE SAID HE IS FEELING TERRIBLE. THE POINT IS, HE KNOWS WHAT IS ON THE TABLE TONIGHT. HE UNDERSTANDS TELEVISION, AUDIENCES, TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE COULD BE WATCHING. POSSIBLY TWICE AS MANY WHO TUNED INTO THE RNC. >> Reporter: THAT IS RIGHT. DONALD TRUMP HAS DONE MONITOR THESE -- MORE OF THESE THAN ANY OTHER CANDIDATE. HE IS EAGER TO GET ON THE STAGE AFTER WHAT I AM TOLD. SOURCES INVOLVED IN PREP THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, THEY DID BEAR DOWN AND GET SERIOUS ABOUT PREPPING. THE LEADOFF FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS WAS NOT THE CASE. HE'S MORE FOCUSED NOW. THE HARDEST THING ABOUT PREPARING IS THE IDEA THAT SHE HAS TAKEN CONTRADICTORY POSITIONS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND HE'S NOT SURE WHICH SET OF POSSESSIONS TO PREPARE FOR. HIS CAMPAIGN SAYS THAT IT IS ONE THEY'RE HAPPY TO SUPPLY. WHATEVER THEY THINK THE MOST OUT OF THE MAINSTREAM POSITION SHE HAS TAKEN IN THE PAST, THEY WILL SAY WHATEVER ELSE SHE SAYS, THAT IS WHAT HER VIEWPOINT IS. I SEPARATED THE CAMPAIGN AND DONALD TRUMP BECAUSE THAT IS THE CHALLENGE WITH HIM. WE KNOW HIS STRATEGY BUT NOT HIS EXECUTION ONCE THE LIGHTS TURN ON. >> TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE. HE HAS DONE A NUMBER OF DEBATES AND IN MANY HE CAN BE PRONE TO BE , LOBBING PERSONAL INSULTS WE HAVE SEEN HIM BEFORE. SOMEONE WHO INTERRUPTS. WE ALSO HAVE SEEN THE DONALD TRUMP WHO WAS ON STAGE IN JUNE, HE LOOKED AND LET PRESIDENT BIDEN UNRAVEL HIS OWN CAMPAIGN. WHICH OF THOSE CANDIDATES WILL BE ON STAGE TONIGHT? >> Reporter: WE WILL NOT KNOW UNTIL IT IS UNDERWAY. DONALD TRUMP DOES NOT CHANGE BUT HE CAN'T FOCUS. ESPECIALLY WHEN HE THINKS THINGS ARE GOING HIS WAY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE TIGHTENING OF THE POLLS, NEW YORK TIMES POLL SHOWS HIM MARGIN OF ERROR LEAD. HIS CAMPAIGN PREDICTED THAT HARRIS WOULD HAVE A HONEYMOON AFTER HER CONVENTION THAT WOULD END IF -- I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT DONALD TRUMP BELIEVE THAT BUT I THINK HE DOES NOW SEE A RACE THAT IS CLOSE. I THINK HE FEELS A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE STRATEGY AS IT EXISTS. THE MOMENT HE FEELS IS NOT GOING HIS WAY, WE COULD SEE THE BAD VERSION OF DONALD TRUMP THAT YOU DESCRIBE. HIS CAMPAIGN IS HOPING IT DOES NOT MAKE AN APPEARANCE TONIGHT. >> WE WILL TALK TO YOU 1000 TIMES DURING THE COURSE OF THE EVENING. I WILL BRING CONGRESSMAN. IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> IT IS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU. YOU SHOULD BE HERE WITH US. NOT IN NEW YORK. IT IS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU. >> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LISTEN TO MY CONVERSATION WITH GARY HICKEY? THE ABILITY TO LET AN OPPONENT UNRAVEL. WHICH DONALD TRUMP IS TAKING THE STAGE TONIGHT? >> WE WILL SEE THE SAME DONALD TRUMP WE SAW IN ATLANTA ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO. HE WILL BE CALM. HE WILL SET THE CONTRAST OF HIS SUCCESSES VERSUS HARRIS AND JOE BIDEN FAILURES. THE POLLING HAS TOLD EVERYBODY WHAT WE ALREADY KNEW. THEY FELT ON THE ECONOMY, INFLATION, ON THE BORDER. AND THEY FAILED ON FOREIGN POLICY. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT DONALD TRUMP WAS SUCCESSFUL WITH WHEN HE WAS PRESIDENT. I DO NOT THINK THERE WILL BE CHANGE FROM HIS TONE AND DEMEANOR AND FOCUS TONIGHT. SAME THING IN ATLANTA A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, BUT THE KEY THING TONIGHT, WHAT WILL HARRIS DO? THE PRESSURE IS ON HER TO PERFORM. NOT, DONALD TRUMP. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE WILL DO. SHE HAS TO HAVE A KNOCKOUT PERFORMANCE TODAY. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WILL HAPPEN? >> OUR TEAM REPORTED THAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAS GOTTEN MORE DIALED IN. HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH HIM TODAY? >> NOT TODAY. I KNOW HE HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON SEEING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. IF YOU LOOKED AT HIS SCHEDULE, THEY RAMPED UP THE AMOUNT OF RALLIES AND EVENTS, TALKING PUBLIC POLICY. ECONOMICS RIGIDITY IN NEW YORK CITY, COUPLE THAT WITH THE FACT HE HAS BEEN TALKING TO THE MEDIA LIKE HE ALWAYS DOES. ALSO ADDING MORE INTO IT. ALL OF THE PODCAST INTERVIEWS HE HAS DONE THAT LAST FOR 30 TO 45 MINUTES. AN HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF. CONTRAST THAT WITH KAMALA HARRIS, NOBODY HAS SEEN HER IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS A RACE WHERE DONALD TRUMP KNOWS WHERE HE WANTS THE COUNTRY TO BE. HE WANTS AMERICA TO BE GREAT AGAIN. HE WANTS TO FIX OUR ECONOMY AND SECURE BORDERS. THAT IS THE SAME THING FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. SHE MET WE MENTIONED THE MANY INTERVIEWS, THE DISCUSSIONS, THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS. HE CAME UNDER FIRE FOR HIS WORD SALAD ANSWER ON CHILD CARE. MEANDERING, RAMBLING, IN THE WORDS OF SOME CRITICS. WHAT IS HE DOING IN THE PREP SESSIONS WHERE HE IS TALKING POLICY? WHAT IS HE DOING IN THE SESSIONS TO AVOID A MOMENT LIKE THAT ON THE DEBATE STAGE? >> WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAS SO MUCH EXPERIENCE, NOT JUST BEING COMMANDER IN CHIEF, BUT ALSO THE ECONOMY -- HE HAS A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF EVERY PUBLIC POLICY ISSUE. I THINK THE CONVERSATIONS ARE ABOUT REFINING POINTS. THAT IS THE SMART THING TO DO. HE WILL BE READY TO GO. THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS IN AND OUT OF THE POLICIES, CLEANING UP THE STUFF FOR THE DEBATE STAGE, EVERY CAMPAIGN DOES THAT. HE IS DOING THAT AS WELL. HE'S NOT STANDING IN FRONT OF THE STAGE WITH -- >> I KNOW HE IS NOT. HE IS TAKING THE STAGE LIKE HE DID WITH HILLARY CLINTON PITT AGAINST THE WOMAN WHO WAS LOOKING TO BE THE FIRST WOMAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE. A DOUBLE-DIGIT GENDER GAP RIGHT NOW. HOW MUCH IS THAT COMING INTO PLAY IN THE DISCUSSIONS? I DO NOT THINK IT WILL THAT MUCH. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHETHER YOU ARE MALE FEMALE, BLACK OR WHITE, HISPANIC, THE BORDER MATTERS TO YOU. THE ECONOMY MATTERS. THOSE OF THE THINGS THAT CAN BE FIXED. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PEW RESEARCH POLL, THERE IS A GENDER GAP GOING THE OTHER WAY. THE SAME GAP WITH MEN SUPPORTING DONALD TRUMP, VERSUS WOMEN WHO ARE LEANING TOWARD SUPPORTING KAMALA HARRIS. THIS DEBATE, THE PRESSURE IS ON KAMALA HARRIS. SHE'S THE ONE WHO HAS TO PERFORM. RIGHT NOW HER SUPPORT IS 48% OR 47% NATIONWIDE. THE STRENGTH AND DURABILITY IS AN INCH DEEP. THAT IS HER PROBLEM. DONALD TRUMP DOES NOT HAVE THAT PROBLEM. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US FROM MY HOMETOWN OF PHILLY. >>> YOU HEARD HIM TALK ABOUT THE NUMBERS AND WHERE THINGS ARE. WHO KNOWS THE NUMBERS BETTER THAN THIS GUY? STEVE KORNACKI. HELLO. LET'S GET INTO. YOU CAN PICK YOUR CLICHI, WHATEVER IT IS. IT IS CLOSE AND THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE. >> NATIONALLY HERE, THE RUNNING AVERAGE OF THE MAJOR NATIONAL POLLS. HARRIS, 47, TRUMP, 45. THIS IS DOWN A TAKE GOING INTO LAST WEEKEND, HARRIS HAD A THREE POINT ADVANTAGE. NEW YORK TIMES POLL YESTERDAY HAD JUMP AHEAD. AN IMPROVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATS FROM WHEN JOE BIDEN WAS THE CANDIDATE. HE TRAILED TRUMP ALL YEAR BUT YOU WOULD THINK AFTER 2016 OR 2020, HE WAS FURTHER BEHIND THAN HE IS RIGHT NOW. IT IS FAMILIAR FOR DONALD TRUMP AND IT RAISES THE QUESTION , DONALD TRUMP LOST THE POPULAR VOTE AND FOUND HIS WAY . >> THAT IS WHY THE BATTLEGROUNDS MATTER. POLLING SHOWS THAT K HARRIS IS DOING BETTER IN CRITICAL STATES. SHE TAKES THE LEAD NATIONALLY. BIDEN DID NOT HAVE THAT. THIS IS THE RUNNING AVERAGE IN THE BATTLEGROUND STATES. YOU DO SEE HARRIS WITH SMALL -- RAZOR THIN. TRUMPED UP BY HALF A POINT. ONE THING THE FLAG, THE STATE WHERE IT IS NOT THAT TINY IS WISCONSIN. HARRIS, 23. THE BIGGEST POLLING MESS WAS WISCONSIN. OVERESTIMATED DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT . >> IT IS HAPPENING. PENNSYLVANIA. SUPER CLOSE. OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE THE DEBATE. YOU HAVE JD VANCE THERE THIS WEEKEND AND HARRIS DOING ANOTHER EVENT THIS WEEK AS SHE AND HER RUNNING MATE GET OUT THERE AFTER THE DEBATE. WHERE DO THINGS STAND? TWO LOOK AT IT THIS WAY, PENNSYLVANIA HAS 19 ELECTORAL VOTES. YOU GOT 16, 10, SIX, 15, 16, AND 11. IF YOU LOSE FUNDS OF ANY, YOU HAVE TO WIN TWO OTHERS TO OFFSET IT. >> WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING FOR? >> DONALD TRUMP IN THE FIRST ONE, WE SAW THE LAID-BACK SPEAKING STYLE. DID HE LEARN SOMETHING FROM THAT? DOES HE COME BACK THE WAY WE HAVE KNOWN HIM BEFORE? INCUMBENT VICE PRESIDENT, NOT THE SAME AS BEING AN INCUMBENT PRESIDENT. THE FIRST DEBATE, WE SAW WITH BUSH VERSUS OBAMA, IS THERE ANYTHING TO THAT? >> I COULD SEE HER FOR AN HOUR. >> LET'S DO IT >> THANK YOU. THAT IS ANTHONY SCARAMUCCI. HE KNOWS >>> WE ARE BACK NOW WITH COVERAGE OF THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE BETWEEN VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. A DEBATE YOU WILL WATCH LIVE ON NBC NEWS NOW. WE REPORTING THAT ONE OF THE KEY GOALS FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT IS THE GET UNDER DONALD TRUMP'S SKIN. THE QUESTION, HOW EXACTLY IS SHE GOING TO DO THAT? HEARD TEAM IS BRINGING FORMER OFFICIALS UNDER DONALD TRUMP'S MINISTRATION. INCLUDING, ANTHONY SCARAMUCCI. THE WHITE HOUSE MEDICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR A BRIEF PERIOD. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. >> GOOD TO BE HERE. >> WE HAVE BEEN TALKING SUBSTANCE AND STYLE. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE STYLE. AS WE REPORTED, THERE IS A SENSE THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT MAY TRY TO PROVOKE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, TO GET UNDER HIS SKIN. HOW DOES SHE GET THAT RIGHT? >> YOU HAVE THE MIKE MUTINY. THAT WAS PART OF THE JOE BIDEN AGREEMENT FOR THE DEBATES THAT SHE HAS TO ABIDE BY THOSE RULES. MY GUESS IS THAT SHE WILL BE FOCUSED ON THE POLICY TONIGHT. HERE IS HOW THE COUNTRY LOOKS ALONGSIDE THE ALLIES AS WE GO FORWARD. SHE IS A STRONG AND POWERFUL WOMAN. WE KNOW THAT HAS BEEN A BOTHER FOR DONALD TRUMP IN THE PAST. >> I KNOW THAT STEPHANIE GRISHAM IS IN PHILADELPHIA ON BEHALF OF THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN. YOU HAVE LIZ CHENEY COMING OUT TO SAY THAT SHE AND HER FATHER WILL VOTE FOR VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS. THE IDEA THAT REPUBLICANS, ARE COMING OUT TO BACK HARRIS, HOW CRITICAL IS THAT FOR THE COALITION SHE IS LOOKING TO BUILD? WHAT ELSE DO THEY HAVE TO DO TO PUT OUT AN OLIVE BRANCH? >> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION. I DO NOT WANT TO OVERSTATE MINE OR ANYBODY'S IMPORTANCE. IT HOLDS WELL FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT. PEOPLE SAY DOES IT CONCERN YOU THAT 40 PEOPLE ONCE WORKED FOR DONALD TRUMP, WORKING ALONE SIDE HIM IN THE WEST WING, WHO DO NOT TRUST HIM OR WANT HIM NEAR THE PRESIDENCY, SAYING THAT HE PUTS HIMSELF ABOVE THE CONSTITUTION, THAT HOLDS VERY WELL. I THINK WHAT HARRIS IS LOOK TO DO AND SHE HAD SUCCESS SO FAR, TO BUILD A BROAD-BASED COALITION. IMAGINE BERNIE SANDERS, MYSELF, AND CHENEY VOTING FOR THE SAME PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN 2024. >> YOU, LIZ CHENEY, WALK INTO A BAR. DEMOCRATS ARE NOW LOOKING TO MAKE AGE AN ISSUE. WE FLASHBACK TO THREE MONTHS AGO WHEN I WAS PRESIDENT FIGHTING GETTING READY FOR HIS DEBATE AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, VOTERS HAD REAL CONCERNS ABOUT HIS FITNESS FOR OFFICE IN PART BECAUSE OF HIS AGE. NOW DEMOCRATS ARE LOOKING TO TURN THE ISSUE ONTO DONALD TRUMP WHO IS IN HIS LATE 70s. THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN TALKING ABOUT THE OLD PLAYBOOK, ET CETERA. TALK ABOUT HOW SHE EFFECTIVELY MAKES THE CASE IN THE FACE OF SOMEBODY WHO MAY TURN TO HER TO SAY THAT YOU SUPPORTED PRESIDENT BIDEN UNTIL THE END? >> THAT IS POLITICS. SHE IS PLAYING HARDBALL. SHE KNOWS IT BOTHERS HIM. ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT GETTING UNDER HIS SKIN, SHE KNOWS HE IS SELF-CONSCIOUS ABOUT BEING OLD. SHE KNOWS THAT HE FLAUNTS IT A LOT ON THE TELEPROMPTERS AND HE GETS CONFUSED AS TO WHERE HE IS. THE OTHER NIGHT HE SAID HE WAS IN NORTH CAROLINA. SHE WANTS TO HAMMER THAT HOME TO PEOPLE. ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND POLITICS. I DO NOT MIND HER TAKING THAT POSITION AND I THINK THAT IS A WAY TO UNNERVE HIM. IN WE TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE SUBSTANCE THAT WILL COME UP. YOU KNOW IT WILL BE THE ECONOMY FRONT AND CENTER. AMERICANS SAY THAT IS WHAT IS DRIVING THEM TO THE POLLS. NOBODY IS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE ANYMORE. THERE IS A NEW HOLE SHOWING THAT A SLIM MAJORITY OF VOTERS THINK THAT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS BETTER EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THE ECONOMY. HOW DOES THE VICE PRESIDENT TURN THAT AROUND? >> I THINK SHE HAS TO GET HER NARRATIVE OUT THERE. SHE HAS A GOOD RECORD TO RUN ON. INFLATION IS COMING DOWN. WAGE GROWTH IS UP OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. MANUFACTURING, AS A RESULT HAVE -- BUILDING MICROPROCESSORS IN THE U.S. AGAIN. SHE IS REBUILDING BRIDGES, ROADS, TUNNELS, WHICH IS REDUCING THE COST OF TRANSIT ACTIVITY IN THE USA THAT IS GREAT FOR THE ECONOMY AND BUSINESSES. WE HAVE TO POINT OUT ABOUT SPENDING, WE WENT FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON TO GEORGE WEIJIA. BUSH. WE ADDED A $7 TRILLION DEFICIT. IN FOUR YEARS CT CREATED A NATE RYAN DOLLARS DEFICIT. HE IS A DANGEROUS GUY WITH DANGEROUS POLICIES. MONTHS TO PUT TARIFFS AND THEY ARE AGGRESSIVE ON POOR PEOPLE. >> YOU TALK ABOUT DEFICITS. DO YOU BELIEVE REPUBLICANS CARE ABOUT DEFICITS? LOOK AT VOTES IN CONGRESS UNDER DONALD TRUMP'S, THAT IS A FAIR QUESTION. >> YEARS AGO THEY DID. TODAY THEY DO NOT. I THINK IT IS DANGEROUS AND THE U.S. IS MORE PROSPEROUS THAN WE GIVE CREDIT FOR. THERE WILL COME A TIME IF WE DO NOT DEAL WITH IT THAT IT WILL LEAD TO A CRISIS. >> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. >>> WE WILL TAKE YOU RIGHT BACK TO TALK TO SOME FOLKS WHO KNOW THE CANDIDATES, ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO WIN OVER THE UNDECIDED VOTERS NEWS NOW. >>> YOU ARE BACK WITH THE CONTINUING COVERAGE OF TONIGHT'S CRITICAL DEBATE IN PHILADELPHIA. I WANT TO BRING A COUPLE FOLKS WHO KNOW THESE CANDIDATES WILL. DONALD TRUMP 2020 CAMPAIGN PRESS SECRETARY AND FORMER WHITE HOUSE SECRETARY -- PRESS SECRETARY. LET'S START WITH EXPECTATIONS FOR TONIGHT. I AM CURIOUS TO HEAR FROM BOTH OF YOU. ONE THING THAT STRUCK ME TALKING WITH ONE OF THE SURROGATES FOR THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN, HE SAYS THE ONUS IS ON VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS. THERE IS A GAME THAT EVERYBODY PLAYS BEFORE DEBATES LIKE THESE THAT IS SOMEWHAT ASYMMETRICAL. THE EXPECTATIONS FOR HARRIS ARE HIGHER THAN THE EXPECTATIONS FOR DONALD TRUMP. HOW DO YOU SEE IT? >> YOU HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES. SHE IS A BETTER DEBATER HISTORICALLY. THERE IS THAT. SHE HAS PREPPED MORE. NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. HE ALSO PREPPED DIFFERENTLY. THE EXPECTATIONS IS NORMAL COURSE OF BUSINESS. IT DOESN'T MATTER UNTIL THE DEBATE STARTS. WHAT IS DIFFERENT, SHE HAS NOT DONE A DEBATE AT THIS LEVEL IN FOUR YEARS. SHE MET SHE HAS NOT DONE ONE AT THIS LEVEL EVER. >> OR CLOSE TO THIS. THEY ALSO HAVE NEVER MET. THAT BLOWS MY MIND. I DON'T KNOW IF IT BLOWS YOURS? THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE DYNAMICS FOR CHEMISTRY OR LACK OF CHEMISTRY. IT DOESN'T MATTER ONCE THE DEBATE STARTS. DOES IT BLOW YOUR MIND? >> DO THEY COME ON STAGE AND SHAKE HANDS? ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS AROUND THIS. IN SHE SHOULD TRY TO SHAKE HIS HAND. DO YOU THINK HE SHOULD SHAKE HERS? >> WHY NOT? WHY NOT INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO ONE ANOTHER? IT BLOWS MY MIND THAT THEY HAVE NOT MET. THE ENTIRE TIME IN D.C., THEY NEVER MET. SHE'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR 25 YEARS AND HE WAS PRESIDENT. >> WE TALK ABOUT THE MOMENTS TO INTRODUCE PEOPLE. I'M FASCINATED BY HOW MANY PEOPLE WATCHED THE DEBATE IN JUNE COMPARED TO HOW MANY PEOPLE WATCHED THE RNC. TENS OF MILLIONS WATCHED THE DEBATE IN JUNE. 70 PLUS MILLION WATCHED THE DEBATE. THESE ARE MONSTER NUMBERS. IN POLITICS IT IS AS CLOSE AS HE WILL GET. 3 IN 10 VOTERS SAY THIS WILL BE A GOOD PART OF THEIR DECISION- MAKING. 1 IN 10 SAY THEY NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT DONALD TRUMP. HOW DOES HE TRIED TO REDEFINE HIMSELF? >> I DON'T KNOW THAT HE WANTS TO REDEFINE HIMSELF SMACK HE NEEDS TO RELY ON HIS RECORDS. HE NEEDS TO DO A GOOD JOB OF DEFINING HER BEFORE SHE CAN DEFINE HERSELF. HE NEEDS TO STAY ON MESSAGE. IF HE DOES THOSE, HE WILL COME OUT. AT THE LEAST, ON PAR, IF NOT A CLEAR VICTORY. >> THERE IS THE GENDER GAP IN THIS RACE. 13 TO 14 POINTS, DEPENDING ON WHICH POLL. THE LAST TIME HE DEBATED A WOMAN WHO WAS SEEKING THE WHITE HOUSE, PEOPLE REMEMBER WHEN HE LOOMED OVER -- SHE TALKED ABOUT IN HER MEMOIR. SHE WAS EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE AT THAT MOMENT. THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN TODAY. BOTH CANDIDATES HAVE TO SAY AT THE MICROPHONES. THE MICROPHONES WILL BE MUTED. HOW DO THE RULES OF TONIGHT PLAY INTO WHAT WE EXPECT TO SEE ON STAGE? >> THE MICROPHONES BEING CUT OFF IS A BIG DEAL. THERE IS A REASON THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN ONE OF THEM LEFT ON. IN 2020 WHEN DONALD TRUMP LOST HIS MIND, HE KEPT TALKING. IF YOU ARE THE HARRIS TEAM YOU WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. THERE ARE TWO MINUTES FOR YOUR ANSWER AND REBUTTAL. AND ONE MINUTE. IT IS LESS LIKELY -- PEOPLE IN THE ROOM MIGHT HERE BUT THERE ARE ONLY THE MODERATORS IN THE ROOM. THEY COULD'VE BEEN A MOMENT THAT WE WOULD TALK ABOUT A COUPLE DAYS FROM NOW. IT IS A LOT MORE CONTROL. I THINK THAT IS BETTER FOR HIM AND NOT AS GOOD FOR HER. >> I AM HEARING THAT WE HAVE BRAND-NEW SOUND FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MINUTES TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT. I BELIEVE HE SAID HE HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS? I MEET SAY THAT FOR THE FOLKS. WE WILL LISTEN TOGETHER. >> I SPOKE TO THE VICE PRESIDENT. SHE SEEMS CALM, COOL, COLLECTED. I'M NOT CONCERNED. >> HE GAVE HER SOME ADVICE THAT HE WILL NOT TELL US WHAT IT IS WHAT SHE IS FEELING CALM, COOL, COLLECTED. IS THERE RISK THAT WITH THE PREPARATION THAT SHE IS OVERCOOKED OR OVER FIVE? >> THE KEY WITH PREP, A CANNOT TELL YOU DOWN. YOU PREPPED TO BE AGILE IN THE MOMENT. THAT IS TRUE IN ANYTHING. >> MY FIRST TIME ON MEET THE PRESS, I DID ALL OF THIS PREP AND -- >> CALM DOWN AND BE IN THE MOMENT. THERE WERE OTHER ISSUES WITH THE FIRST DEBATE BUT ONE ISSUE IS THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS TRYING TO SPIT OUT THE NUMBERS AND DATA HE KNEW. FIRST OF ALL, VOTERS DO NOT VOTE ON NUMBERS AND DATA. THEY VOTE ON HOW YOU CONNECT WITH THEM. SHE HAS TO REMEMBER IT'S ABOUT PULLING HEART STRINGS. >> VOTERS VOTE ON HOPE. HOW DOES A CANDIDATE LIKE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHOSE CAMPAIGN HAD OMINOUS OVERTONES, TRY TO DELIVER THAT MESSAGE? >> PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED DONALD TRUMP AND WANT HIM TO BE PRESIDENT ARE HELPFUL. TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD GAS. SO THE SOUTHERN BORDER COULD BE SECURE WITHOUT WARS BREAKING OUT ALL OVER THE WORLD. HIS POLICIES ARE CLEAR. IRONIC THIS ENTIRE DEBATE WILL BE DONALD TRUMP TRYING TO REMIND PEOPLE OF HIS RECORD. HARRIS WILL TRY TO MAKE PEOPLE FORGET ABOUT HERS. THE WAY PEOPLE FEEL NOW ARE BECAUSE OF HARRIS. IT'S AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC TO WATCH THEM. AGAIN, HE WAS PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. HE HAS A RECORD TO RUN ON. THE HOPE AND VIOLENCE THING, I GET THAT PEOPLE LIKE THAT. TRYING TO PAY FOR MY GROCERIES WITHOUT THE OTHER DAY AND IT DIDN'T WORK. THE FACT, PEOPLE CARE ABOUT POLICIES THAT ALLOW THEM TO SUCCEED. HARRIS HAS NOT OFFER THAT AND DONALD TRUMP HAS A TALK ABOUT THAT. >> TRIED TO THEN MOW YOU SOME VIBES THE OTHER DAY. IT DIDN'T WORK. DONALD TRUMP GETS THE GO LAST FOR CLOSING. I WILL GIVE THE FINAL THOUGHTS TO YOU. >> THIS IS A HUGE KNIFE OR BOTH. THE LAST NIGHT THAT WE KNOW OF THAT THEY WILL STAND SIDE-BY SIDE, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY CHANGE BUT THEY ARE A MOMENT TO SHAKE THINGS UP. IS NOT JUST ABOUT TONIGHT, ABOUT THE MOMENTS THAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT A WEEK FROM NOW. >> GREAT TO SEE BOTH OF YOU. WE WILL TALK WITH YOU MORE THIS EVENING. >>> VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS AND TRENTON, AS PHILADELPHIA AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY GET READY FOR THEM TO TAKEE LATEST BREAKING NEWS, ANALYSIS, DOWNLOAD THE NBC NEWS APP, NOW. >>> WE ARE LAYING OUT EXPECTATIONS FOR TONIGHT. VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, THE FORMER PROSECUTOR SET TO TAKE ON DONALD TRUMP. DONALD TRUMP, A SHOWMAN BASED ON YEARS IN REALITY TELEVISION. PERHAPS THE TWO OF THEM HOPING TO AVOID GOING VIRAL FOR THE WRONG REASONS. NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU PREP, SOMETIMES IT IS THE MORE EMOTIONAL THAT 10 TO LIVE ON IN PEOPLE'S MINDS. PAST DEBATES MAY GIVE A CLUE AS TO STRATEGIES TONIGHT. TAKE A LOOK AT THE MOST CRITICAL MOMENTS. WATCH. IN THE FIRST FACE-OFF BETWEEN CANDIDATES WITH DIFFERENT PREP, STYLES, AND DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE . FOR VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, HER FIRST TIME STEPPING INTO THIS KIND OF GENERAL ELECTION SPOTLIGHT. AFTER MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN PRIMARY AND KEY DEBATES. >> I AM SPEAKING. >> Reporter: HARRIS, NO STRANGER TO THE STAGE. WHEN HER OPPONENT AWKWARDLY DABBED. >> THERE IS A CLEAR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES IN THIS RACE. I THINK THE VOTERS WILL MAKE THAT DECISION. IN LA'S LOOK TO HER EXPERIENCE THAT -- HARRIS DRAWING ON HER PERSONAL BACKGROUND WITH HER FUTURE BOSS. >> YOU WORKED WITH THEM TO OPPOSE BUSING. THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL IN CALIFORNIA WHO WAS PART OF THE SECOND CLASS TO INTEGRATE HER PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SHE WAS BLESSED TO SCHOOL EVERYDAY. THAT LITTLE GIRL WAS ME. BYE SHE HAD TO PLAY DEFENSE LIKE IN ANOTHER DEBATE, ACCUSED OF HYPOCRISY TO SHIFT TO A PROGRESSIVE POSITION. >> TOO MANY EXAMPLES TO SAY. SHE PUT OVER 1500 PEOPLE IN JAIL FOR MARIJUANA VIOLATIONS AND LAUGHED ABOUT IT WHEN SHE ASKED -- WAS ASKED IF SHE SMOKED MARIJUANA. IN MOST RECENTLY IN JUNE, A SHOWDOWN ULTIMATELY ENDED PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PRESIDENTIAL RUN. THE FIRST-EVER DEBATE IN 2020, NOTABLE FOR WHAT DONALD TRUMP DID NOT SAY WHEN HE WAS ASKED IF HE CONDEMNED WHITE SUPREMACISTS? >> I'M WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. GIVE ME A NAME. >> WHITE SUPREMACISTS. >> STAND BACK AND STAND BY. IN THE FIRST DEBATE AGAINST HILLARY CLINTON POSE A RECORD FOR THE MOST WATCHED EVER. 84 MILLION VIEWS. THE TWO SPARRING OVER FOREIGN POLICY AND VLADIMIR PUTIN. >> HE WOULD RATHER HAVE A PUPPET FOR PRESIDENT. IT IS PRETTY CLEAR -- TWO DONALD TRUMP LOOMING BEHIND HIS OPPONENT ON STAGE. ANOTHER POT DELIVERING PERSONAL ATTACKS. EARLIER IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES, RESPONDING TO AN INSULT BY THE SIZE OF HIS HANDS. >> LOOK AT THOSE HANDS. ARE THEY SMALL? REMAKE VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS IS HOPING TO MAKE GOOD ON PAST PLEDGES. >> I WOULD WIPE THE FLOOR WITH HIM. WE'RE ACCORDING TO THE RULES OF THIS DEBATE, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL GET THE LAST WORD. I WANT TO BRING SOMEONE WHO IS COVERING EVERY DEBATE WE SHOWED. ANDREA MITCHELL IS JOINING US. WE KNOW TONIGHT'S DEBATE IS A FIRST. I WONDER HOW IT FEELS TO YOU BASED ON YOUR REPORTING, COMPARED TO OTHER DEBATES YOU COVERED? >> Reporter: I WAS GETTING LITTLE PTSD. ONE DOWN MEMORY LANE IN SOME OF THOSE MOMENTS. IT WAS SO EXCRUCIATING FOR THE CANDIDATES. I THINK THIS ONE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. THERE IS NOTHING THAT COMPARES TO THIS. YOU HAVE BEEN THERE. YOU HAVE A FORMER PRESIDENT AND A CURRENT VICE PRESIDENT , THE CURRENT PRESIDENT TOOK HIMSELF OUT UNDER HUGE PRESSURE. A HISTORIC DECISION TO GIVE UP POWER. SHE HAS TO PROVE HERSELF AS SHE HAS ONLY DONE ONE OF YOU. PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW WHO SHE IS ACCORDING TO POLLING. TWICE AS MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT DONALD TRUMP WOULD BE A CHANGE . SHE'S GOT TO FILL IN THE GAPS. DO MORE THAN RESONATE. DO MORE THAN TALK ABOUT THE LEGACY OF JOE BIDEN. TO SEPARATE HERSELF TO SHOW SHE CAN BE SOMETHING NEW AND DIFFERENT. SHE IS DIFFERENT. SHE IS A WOMAN AND MUCH YOUNGER. SHE IS A FRESH FACE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN HER. THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HER BUSHES TO FILL IN THE GAPS AND TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY. AVOID SOME PITFALLS. HE IS AN UNKNOWN FACTOR. HE CAN BE DISCIPLINE. WE HAVE NOT SEEN HIM BE THAT WHEN IT HAS COME TO A WOMAN CANDIDATE. WHEN IT COMES TO FEMALES HIS RESPONSE SOMEHOW IS ALWAYS UNPREDICTABLE OR OFFENSIVE. AS NIKKI HALEY SAID, HIS OWN ADVISORS HAVE TOLD HIM NOT TO TALK ABOUT APPEARANCE OR CALL THEM STUPID. TALK ABOUT POLICIES. THE STAKES ARE SO HIGH BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENCES. THE CONTRASTS BETWEEN THESE CANDIDATES. THE PRINCIPLES, THE WAY DONALD TRUMP DISTORTS THE TRUTH. THE BULLYING. THE NEW YORK TIMES POINTED OUT TODAY. THIS IS A CANDIDATE THAT WE HAVE TO COVER IN A DIFFERENT WAY. >> EVEN WHEN FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP TALKS POLICY, THE FORMER PRESIDENT GETS INTO PERSONAL ATTACKS IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS. LET ME ASK ABOUT HARRIS. THE WAY THIS UNFOLDED WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN STEPPING OFF THE TICKET AND HER ENDING UP, SHE WAS NOT TESTED BY PRIMARY DEBATES THIS CYCLE. DOES THAT HELP OR HURT HER THIS TIME AROUND? >> I THINK IT HURTS HER. SHE AVOIDED A LOT OF PITFALLS BY NOT GETTING BEATEN UP IN THE PRIMARIES. SHE HAS NOT MADE MISTAKES YET IN THESE LAST 70 PLUS DAYS. THE FACT IS, SHE HAS NOT BEEN TESTED IN THE TROUBLE OF A CAMPAIGN. WE SAW IN 2016, HILLARY CLINTON DID NOT DO WELL IN THAT TEST. SHE REACTED BADLY AND A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES. SHE SHUT DOWN AND DID NOT DO INTERVIEWS. SHE COULDN'T HANDLE THE PRESSURE. THAT WAS EXTRAORDINARY PRESSURE. DID NOT HANDLE THE WAY SHE NEEDED TO. >> YOU TALK ABOUT HIS HISTORY SAYING THINGS LIKE CALLING HILLARY CLINTON A NASTY WOMAN. PEOPLE CLOSE TO HIM SAID THEY WOULD LIKE HIM TO FOCUS ON POLICY, ISSUES LIKE THE ECONOMY AND EMIGRATION. HE PULLS BETTER THAN HER BY A SLIM MARGIN. TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU WILL WATCH FOR TONIGHT? >> WHAT HE DID THE LAST TIME WITH JOE BIDEN, WHATEVER HE WAS ASKED HE PRETTY MUCH ANSWERED ABOUT IMMIGRATION. THIS USUALLY THE QUESTIONS? IN THIS FORMAT CAN SHE COME BACK AT HIM. WILL THE MODERATORS BREAK IN AND DO SOMETHING, DO ANY FACT CHECKING? ABC WERE TOLD THEY HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY. IF IT IS A TIGHTLY FORMATTED CAMPAIGN, THE VOTERS WILL NOT LEARN WHAT THEY NEED TO LEARN. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ISN'T THAT WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO? WILL VOTERS LEARN WHAT THEY NEED TO TONIGHT? >>> WE WILL TRY TO READ THE TEA LEAVES ON WHO THE VOTERS THE CANDIDATES ARE TRYING TO REACH OUR. >>> WE WILL HAVE AARKLING. >> AND A SPARKLING. IT IS HAPPENING. >>> THIS DEBATE HAPPENING IN THE CRITICAL PENTAGON COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA. YOU KNOW FROM THE CONVERSATION WE HAVE SHOWN YOU WITH STEVE KORNACKI, IT IS VERY CLOSE IN THAT STATE. AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT DONALD TRUMP LANDING THERE AS WE SPEAK. THIS IS THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S PLANE. HE IS NOW ARRIVING ON THE GROUND. VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, IS ALREADY THERE. SHE ACTUALLY HAS BEEN THERE FOR DAYS NOW. SHE HAS BEEN IN THE WESTERN SIDE. AS FOR, DOING PREP. SHE HUNKERED DOWN AND MADE A COUPLE OTR'S. UNEXPECTED CAMPAIGN STOPS. VISITED A SPICE SHOP. SHE TALKED ABOUT HOW SHE IS FEELING ABOUT THIS DEBATE. NOW DONALD TRUMP IS ALSO IN PHILADELPHIA. JUST HOURS AWAY. JUST ABOUT THREE HOURS AWAY, I SHOULD SAY, FROM THE START OF DEBATE NIGHT. PENNSYLVANIA, KEEP IN MICHIGAN, ALSO KEY. OUR TEAM TALKING WITH VOTERS AND WE WANT TO SHOW YOU THAT QUICK. >> I HOPE THAT HER PERFORMANCE TONIGHT WILL SHOW THAT SHE IS THE RIGHT CANDIDATE. >> I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO HEAR KAMALA'S POLICY . SHE HAS NOT BEEN CLEAR ON ANYTHING. IT SEEMS LIKE A CELEBRITY CAMPAIGN SO FAR. REBECCA SOUNDS LIKE VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS HAS THE ABILITY TO WIN YOUR VOTE TONIGHT? >> YES. >> THAT SAYS IT ALL. ANY CANDIDATE PRESUMABLY WOULD WANT TO HEAR THAT. CHUCK TODD IS BACK. WE WILL SEE IF HE SAYS ANYTHING. YOU SAID THAT YOU ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON WHICH VOTERS THE CANDIDATES WILL TRY TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS TONIGHT. WE GOT A SIGNAL AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION BASED ON THE VICE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH. PEOPLE SHE SEEMED TO AIM AT. TALK ABOUT YOUR EXPECTATION FOR TONIGHT AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS? >> Reporter: FRANKLY IT IS A GOOD WAY TO WATCH THE DEBATE. YOU GET AN IDEA OF WHAT EACH CANDIDATE'S CAMPAIGN BELIEVES. YOU GET MORE FROM THE HARRIS SIDE THEN YOU WILL FROM TRUMP. FOR HARRIS TO WIN, JUST TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET 51 PERCENT. DONALD TRUMP, HIS THEORY OF THE CASE IS TO MAKE 40% A WINNING NUMBER. A LOT OF EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT HE DOES NOT WANT TO -- WHO ARE THOSE VOTERS? THE SLICE OF'S -- OF VOTERS ARE CENTRISTS. THE DOUBLE HATERS WHO WERE UNFAVORABLE TO BIDEN AND TRUMP. THEY ARE SKEPTICAL OF HARRIS AND SHE HAS TO FIGURE OUT -- SHE DIDN'T -- TURNING THE PAGE, THE MESSAGING. TRYING TO TURN HIM INTO THE INCOME IT OF THE POLITICAL ERA. EVEN THOUGH SHE IS TECHNICALLY THE INCUMBENT ADMINISTRATION. I AM CURIOUS, WILL SHE GIVE THEM MORE THAN, I WILL TURN THE PAGE? HOW WAS SHE VIRTUAL -- VIRTUAL SIGNAL, I WILL NOT BE CONTROLLED BY THE LEFT? THAT WAS A QUESTION SHE DIDN'T ANSWER AT THE CONVENTION. >> THE PLANE THAT WAS LANDING WAS ACTUALLY JD VANCE. THE WHISPER DOWN THE LANE. I WANTED TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT WE ARE WAITING ON THE FORMER PRESIDENT TO LAND IN PHILLY. THAT PLACE IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. THIS IS THE WAY THE HARRIS CAMP LOOKING TO CONTROL THE FORMER PRESIDENT. THEY FEATURED AN AD WITH SOME OF HIS FORMER ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SLAMMING HIM. DO YOU THINK THAT WILL BE A FOCUS TONIGHT TO GET UNDER HIS SKIN? >> I TALKED TO ADVISORS PREPARING HARRIS. HER GOAL IS TO MAKE HIM FEEL SMALL. IN A LOT OF WAYS, SHE DOES NOT WANT TO DEBATE WITH HIM OR GET INTO THE MUD WITH HIM. TO REALLY JOUST WITH HIM. TO BE A LEVEL HIGHER. SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THAT MEANS NOT GETTING INTO THE FIGHT THAT HE WANTS TO. HE WILL ANSWER THE QUESTION QUICKLY AND PIVOT TO HITTING HER. THAT WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HER TO DEFEND HER RECORD AND GO AFTER HIM. SHE WOULD DO THE SAME. YOU SAW A LOT IN THE LAST DEBATE, DONALD TRUMP WOULD HIT BIDEN BY ANSWERING QUICKLY AND MOVING ON. SHE IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO RISE ABOVE IT AND TO MAKE HIM FEEL SMALL. THAT'S WHY SHE SPOKE TO HILLARY RECENTLY TO ASK FOR ADVICE. DONALD TRUMP IS UNPREDICTABLE. IS NOT AN EASY PERSON TO DEBATE. IT IS QUITE A SPECTACLE AND HARD TO AVOID. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW SHE'S ABLE TO HANDLE THAT? YOU HAVE TO BE ON YOUR TOES. I DO NOT THINK IT WILL BE EASY. IF HE DOESN'T GET WHAT HE WANTS HE COULD GO TO PLACES AND DRAG YOU INTO. >> JUST A SOMEWHAT HIS ALLIES ARE SAYING THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM DO, WE UNDERSTAND THAT DONALD TRUMP WILL DO WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO. IF WE COULD GIVE HIM ADVICE AND THERE'S A 50% CHANCE HE WILL TAKE IT. >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HARRIS WANTS TO DO, TO MAKE HIM LOOK SMALL. OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SIX WEEKS, IF MY MATH IS CORRECT, YOU HAVE SEEN THIS MORE AND MORE. DEMOCRATS LOOKING TO PAINT HIM NOT AS A LARGE THREAT TO DEMOCRACY AS BIDEN DID, BUT AS SOMEBODY SMALL AND WEIRD AS THE WORDS OF GOVERNOR WALZ. WE HEARD HER ALLUDE TO THIS AT THE CONVENTION CALLING HIM, I'M SERIOUS. SHE USED THAT LINE ON PREVIOUS. HOW EFFECTIVE DO YOU THINK THAT WILL BE? >> IT DEPENDS ON HOW SHE DOES IT. IF SHE IS THE INSTIGATOR -- THERE IS A FINE LINE YOU SHOWED EARLIER. SOME OF THE DEBATE MOMENTS, THE MARCO RUBIO MOMENT. WHEN HE DECIDED TO GET DOWN TO DONALD TRUMP'S LEVEL. WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM? HE SOLELY TO HIM. IT KEPT DONALD TRUMP THE FRONT RUNNER. AS >> HE WANTS TO MAKE IT ABOUT HIM. IT'S NOT HARD TO DO THAT. THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT CAN GET UNDER HIS SKIN. A BIG ONE IS REMINDING HIM THAT HE WAS FIRED BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. I THINK IT IS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT FOR HIM TO DEAL WITH. USING HIS LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM, I THINK IT WILL BE A FASCINATING MOMENT. I WILL BE CURIOUS WITH HOW HE HANDLES IT. >> ONE OF THE THINGS YOU ARE WRITING ABOUT, THE SUPER PATH, WHICH SPENT A TON OF MONEY IN IOWA TO LOSE THE CAUCUS BY 30 POINTS. THEY ARE SELLING YOU THE MODEL FOR THE ANALYTICAL'S, HOW DOES THAT DYNAMIC HAPPENED BEHIND THE SCENES? >> THEY BASICALLY TOOK ON THE PATH THAT JUST STARTED IN MID- JULY. THIS IS THE GROUND GAME THAT THEY ARE OUTSOURCING. IT IS SOMETHING NEW AND REVOLUTIONARY. THEY JUST RULED THAT CAMPAIGNS CAN COORDINATE. IT WAS A PACK THAT WAS SO UNSUCCESSFUL TO COORDINATE WITH. IT WAS SHOCKING THAT THEY WOULD DO THAT. THAT THEY WOULD WORK WITH THE NEVER BACK DOWN CREW, ONLY TO LOSE BY 30 POINTS. AND THEY ALL HATE HIM AND HIS TEAM. IT'S A LONG, LONG FEUD BETWEEN THEM. >> WILL BE TALKING MORE TONIGHT. THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING WITH US. THAT'S A WRAP FOR THIS HOUR. WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE COVERAGE PICKING UP RIGHT NOW. ♪ ♪ >>> HEY THERE, I AM HAILLE. TONIGHT, WE WILL SEE WHAT MAY BE THE MOST CRITICAL MOMENT OF THIS RACE. AND THE MOST CRITICAL MOMENT YET, THE FIRST DEBATE BETWEEN VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS AND FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. THIS IS THE SPIN ROOM. BACKERS OF BOTH CANDIDATES WILL COME OUT BEFORE AND AFTER TO SAY, HEY, MY PERSON WON. THAT'S WHAT WE OAC IN THESE ACTION ROOMS. THE THE EVENT ROOM IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION WHERE ALL THE DRAMA WILL BE. THE BIG QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THEY WILL DEFINE THEMSELVES IN FRONT OF EACH OTHER IN FRONT OF A TV AUDIENCE THAT COULD HIT 50 MILLION. IT'S IN A VIRTUAL DEAD HEAT. IT'S BASICALLY DEADLOCKED. THE RACE, IT IS REAL CLOSE. 3 IN 10 AMERICAN SAYS WHAT HAPPENS TONIGHT COULD HELP THEM MAKE A DECISION ON ELECTION DAY. WE HAVE REPORTERS COVERING EVERY ANGLE OF IT. THEY WILL BE DOING IT ALL NIGHT LONG. WE WILL GET TO DASHA BURNS IN JUST A SECOND. WE WILL GO TO YAMICHE ALCINDOR . WE HEARD PRESIDENT BIDEN SAY HE GAVE THE ADVICE, THIS IS WHAT THE ADVICE WAS. BUT HE'S FEELING CALM, COOL, AND COLLECTED. WALK US THROUGH THAT. >> Reporter: SOURCES FAMILIAR WITH VICE PRESIDENT HARRISON THESE LAST FEW HOURS TELL ME THAT SHE WILL WALK THROUGH HERE IN PHILADELPHIA COME INTO THE CONVENTION CENTER, LOOKING AROUND TO THE STATES WHERE SHE WILL BE DEBATING FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IN JUST A FEW HOURS. SHE IS REALLY FOCUSED ON REFINING HER MESSAGE. ESPECIALLY UNDECIDED VOTERS SPECIFICALLY ON WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE. TALKING ABOUT POLICY, HER MIDDLE-CLASS BACKGROUND, HOW HER -- WAS SHAPED. SHE ALSO WANTS TO GET UNDER DONALD TRUMP'S SKIN. SHE WANTS TO DATE HIM AND REALLY MAKE HIM LASH OUT AT HER, IF POSSIBLE. AND MAYBE EVEN USE DEROGATORY LANGUAGE. SHE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE GETS THEM TO STUMBLE, MUMBLE. SHE ALSO FOCUSES ON KEEPING CALM, AND NOT GETTING CAUGHT UP HERSELF, HAILLE. >> YAMICHE, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WHAT'S BEEN INTERESTING HERE, HE DOES LONG RALLIES -- THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE THIS TIME AROUND. HE'S DONE HOURS OF WHAT THEY ARE DESCRIBING AS POLICY SESSION, WHICH IS ITS OWN FORM OF PREP. MAYBE NOT THE MOCK LIGHTING, BUT IT IS STILL PREPARATION NONETHELESS. TALK US THROUGH THAT AND YOUR DETAILS ON STRATEGY FOR MR. TRUMP HEADING INTO TONIGHT. >> Reporter: YES. LIKE HE LONG SAID, CAMPAIGNING IS MY PREP, LIFE IS PREP FOR ME. HE WAS AT MAR-A-LAGO DOING MUCH MORE EXTENSIVE PREP FOR HOURS, GOING THROUGH POTENTIAL QUESTIONS. HE'S BEEN FOCUSED IN. HE'S FEELING GREAT, HE'S HAPPY WITH HOW HIS DEBATE PREP HAS CONCLUDED. THE THING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PUSHING HIM TO DO IS TO FOCUS MORE ON POLICIES THAN PERSONAL ATTACKS. TRY TO TIE HARRIS TO THE BY THE ADMINISTRATION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. TRY TO MAKE THE VICE PRESIDENT ACCOUNTABLE, WHETHER IT IS ABOUT THE ECONOMY, OR THE OTHER THING YOU ARE LIKELY TO SEE HIM DO TONIGHT IS TO REMIND FOLKS SOME OF WHAT HARRIS SAID, SOME OF THE POSITION SHE HELD WHEN SHE RAN FOR PRESIDENT BACK IN 2020. SOME VIEWS THAT ARE HARDER TO THE LEFT THAN WHAT SHE WOULD DO NOW IF SHE WERE IN THE WHITE HOUSE. TRYING TO PAINT HERSELF AS MORE LIBERAL THAN THOSE AVERAGE DOWN THE MIDDLE VOTERS WOULD LIKE TO SEE, HAILLE. >> DASHA BURNS, LIVE FOR US. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LET'S SHOW YOU WHAT WILL HAPPEN TONIGHT. YOU WILL SEE 90 MINUTES OF BOTH CANDIDATES ON THE SCREEN. -- A TWO MINUTE REBUTTAL, AND THEN A MINUTE TO FOLLOW-UP. LET'S BE ALSO ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN TONIGHT, PEOPLE HEAR THINGS THAT ARE NOT TRUE. RIGHT? THAT IS THE REALITY. THERE ARE GIGANTIC FACT CHECKING APPARATUSES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT COVER THE NEWS AROUND THE COUNTRY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAY COME UP TONIGHT, AND ALSO MAY NOT, IS THE CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT DONALD TRUMP'S VICE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN SPREADING ABOUT -- IN OHIO. IT HAS BEEN ROOTED IN RACIST STEREOTYPES. WALK US THROUGH THIS. WE ARE HEARING MORE ABOUT THIS IN THE STATE OF OHIO. >> YES, THAT'S RIGHT, HAILLE. IMMIGRATION WILL BE A HUGE ISSUE. WHETHER OR NOT THIS SPECIFIC STORY COMES UP. THERE IS THIS TOWN THAT HAS A POPULATION OF ABOUT 15,000, ACCORDING TO THE LICENSES. IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IT HAS SEEN A HUGE INFLUX OF HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS. ABOUT 15,000 OR SO. YESTERDAY, OHIO SENATOR JD VANCE PUT SOMETHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA THEY GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION. HE SAID THAT REPORTS NOW SHOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD THEIR PETS OF DUCK IT, AND EVEN BY PEOPLE THAT SHOULDN'T BE IN THIS COUNTRY. THEY PUT OUT THEIR OWN STATEMENT, SAYING THERE HAD BEEN NO CREDIBLE REPORTS OR SPECIFIC CLAIMS OF PETS BEING HARMED OR ABUSED BY INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. THAT PROMPTED JD VANCE TODAY TO POST SOMETHING ELSE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WALK AND GET BACK A BIT. HE SAYS IT IS POSSIBLE, OF COURSE, THAT ALL THESE RUMORS WOULD TURN OUT TO BE FALSE. JUST IN THE PAST TWO HOURS OR SO, AND THE MAYOR SAYS THE STORY ORIGINATED IN ANOTHER TOWN ENTIRELY. THERE WAS A WOMAN ARRESTED FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY. OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK IN CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS ABOUT THIS MIGRANT INFLUX. JUST TONIGHT, THE GOVERNOR SENDING MORE STATE RESOURCES TO SPRINGFIELD AND IS CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO DO MORE. >> GABE GUTIERREZ, THANK YOU FOR THAT. THE STAGE IS SET. MIKE WALSH IS JOINING ME NOW. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. >> YEAH, SURE. >> SO YOU ARE A LONG TIME SUPPORTER OF THE PRESIDENT. ONE OF THE TWO LOOKING FOR TONIGHT ON WHAT MAY BE THE BIGGEST AGE, THE HIGHEST PROFILE MOMENT OF THIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN? >> Reporter: I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A VERY CLEAR CONTRAST ON WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DID FOR THE ECONOMY PRE- PANDEMIC IN THE LOCKDOWN THAT WE HAD TO IMPOSE. IT WAS AT RECORD LOW UNEMPLOYMENT THAT THE BORDER WAS THE MOST SECURE THAT IT HAD BEEN. IN THE MIDDLE EAST, YOU HAD -- TAKEN OFF THE BATTLEFIELD, THE HEAD OF ISIS TAKEN OFF THE BATTLEFIELD. AND LITERALLY, -- BEING ON THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN. A MILITARY THAT WAS ON THE ROAD OF REBUILDING. THOSE POLICIES THAT WERE WORKING, THE BORDER, THE ECONOMY, IT CONTRASTED WITH -- VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS IS GOING TO TAKE CREDIT FOR THE BY THE POLICIES IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. WHETHER THAT IS AFGHANISTAN, THE MIDDLE EAST, RECORD INFLATION, OR IF SHE WILL TRY TO LOOK FORWARD. I KIND OF LIKE THE NICKNAME CALIFORNIA KAMALA WHERE YOU SEE PROGRESSIVE POLICIES AND FIRST. THEY LOST A MEMBER OF CONGRESS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN CALIFORNIA'S HISTORY. I THINK YOU WILL SEE THAT POLICY CONTRAST. IT WILL BE BRIGHT AND CLEAR. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL SEE IT FOR WHAT IT IS. >> SERVING IN AFGHANISTAN, YOU SAW THAT LONG-AWAITED REPORT COME OUT JUST MONDAY. EITHER WAY, IT IS VERY NEW. WE'VE SEEN DEMOCRATS AND WE'VE SEEN THE WHITE HOUSE CONDEMN IT AS PARTISAN. HOW MUCH DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT COMING UP TONIGHT FROM FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP? YOU ALLUDED TO THE FACT THAT YOU BELIEVE YOU WILL TRY TO LATCH, LAYERS TO JOE BIDEN POLICIES. >> YEAH, THERE HAS BEEN COMMENTARY ON THE TIMING OF THE REPORT. WE COULDN'T EVEN START ON THE INVESTIGATION UNTIL LAST YEAR. DEMOCRATS AROUND THE HOUSE IN 2021 AND 2022. THERE WAS NO INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED, NO SITDOWN INTERVIEWS. THERE WAS NOTHING. SILENCE. I THINK THE FAMILIES, THE VETERANS WHO SACRIFICED SO MUCH FOR THE NATION AFTER 20 YEARS OF WAR AND BLOOD OVER IN AFGHANISTAN. JUST TO UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT WENT WRONG. ALL OF THOSE FAMILIES ARE ASKING FOR THAT WE HONOR TODAY WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL IS AN APOLOGY, AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT FROM BIDEN AND HARRIS THAT THINGS WENT WRONG, THAT PEOPLE WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, AND THAT WE WILL LEARN LESSON SO THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. INSTEAD, THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN SO MUCH AS A PHONE CALL. I THINK THAT IS A REAL DISSERVICE TO THEM AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED. >> IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT THIS WAS INITIATED UNDER -- THERE IS A SENSE THAT SHE MAY TRY TO PROVOKE HIM, ESSENTIALLY. IN A WAY TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THOSE MOMENTS. ALSO THIS IDEA OF AGE BEING A FACTOR IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY THAN THAT LAST DEBATE AT THE END OF JUNE WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN. VOTERS SAID VERY CLEARLY THAT THEY HAD CONCERNS WITH THE PRESIDENTS AGE. NOW IT IS DONALD TRUMP WHO IS THE GENERATIONAL THE OLDEST CANDIDATE ON STAGE. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO TURN THE PAGE. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FORMER PRESIDENT WOULD DO TO TRY TO COMBAT THAT? >> Reporter: LET ME JUST ADDRESS THIS NOTION THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP STARTED THE WITHDRAWAL. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY ACCURATE, BUT BOTH -- AND PRESIDENT OBAMA NEGOTIATED WITH THE TALIBAN. ADVISERS CAME TO HIM AND SAID THAT THEY HAD NOT LIVED UP TO 6 OF THE 7 TENETS OF THE AGREEMENT. AND HE SAID, FINE. DEALS OFF. HAD HE WITHDRAWN THEM, HE WOULD HAVE PULLED ALL OF OUR CIVILIAN ASSETS OUT. BIDEN AND HARRIS DID THE OPPOSITE. THEY PULLED THE MILITARY OUT, LEAVING AMERICANS AND ALLIES BEHIND. EITHER YOU ARE A VICE PRESIDENT THAT I GUESS WAS JUST A WALL POWER AND YOU WEREN'T AT THE TABLE, OR YOU WERE AT THE TABLE WEIGHING IN ON THE POLICIES. WHICH IS IT? IT CAN BE BOTH. YOU CAN'T CHERRY PICK WITH POLICIES YOU ARE A PART OF IN WHICH YOU WANT TO RUN AWAY FROM. IF WE HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE SHE IS RUNNING AWAY FROM THE RECORD, AND PRESIDENT TRUMP IS OWNING HIS, I THINK THAT WILL BE A GOOD NIGHT FOR THE PRESIDENT. I'VE NEVER BEEN AROUND ANYONE WITH AS MUCH ENERGY AND A MOTOR LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S. I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN ACCUSE HIM OF BEING LOW-ENERGY. >> CONGRESSMAN MIKE WALTZ, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US LIVE. YOU HEARD WITH THE CONGRESSMAN IS WATCHING FOR. POLICY ISSUES WITH BOTH, HARRIS AND DONALD TRUMP MIGHT BRING UP. CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR THE HARRIS- WALZ CAMPAIGN. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> YOU, TOO. >> LET ME GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND. I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD SOME OF THAT CONVERSATION WITH THAT WE JUST SPOKE ABOUT WITH MIKE WALTZ. HOW IS THE VICE PRESIDENT PREPARED TO TAKE THIS ON IF IT IS SOMETHING THAT COMES UP TONIGHT? >> LOOK, I THINK THE VICE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN ENCOURAGED TO DO WHAT IS NEEDED TO DO. THAT IS WHAT THEY DID. IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS DEEPLY PERSONAL TO HER. I THINK THAT WHAT AMERICANS ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO, WHO DONALD TRUMP IS AND WHAT HE TALKED ABOUT. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THE VICE PRESIDENT HAS NEVER DONE. SHE HAS NEVER CAUGHT THE MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM LOSERS. THE VICE PRESIDENT DOES NOT HAVE A LITANY OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING HER ECONOMIC ADVISER FOR FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER, HER FORMER VICE PRESIDENT, OR ANYONE WHO EVER WORKED FOR HER. SAYING THAT SHE WOULD BE A DANGER. DONALD TRUMP HAS ALL OF THOSE. THAT'S HOW HE REFERS TO MEN AND WOMEN. I THINK HER RECORD IS RESPECTFUL TO OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM. I THINK DONALD TRUMP WILL OWE THE COUNTRY AND ITS NATION FOR HIS. >> CAN YOU TOUCH ON THE WORK SHE'S BEEN DOING HERE? HOW TODAY HAS GONE, HER MIND SET AS SHE HEADS IN. GIVE US A SENSE BEHIND-THE SCENES OF WHAT'S GOING ON. >> LOOK, SHE'S EXCITED. KNOWING THAT THIS IS DONALD TRUMP'S SEVENTH PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE, THIS WILL BE THE VICE PRESIDENT'S FIRST. BUT SHE HAS A VISION FOR THIS COUNTRY. MOST IMPORTANTLY, SHE KNOWS THIS IS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY. MAKING SURE THAT SHE WILL BE PREPARED TO SPEAK TO AMERICANS ABOUT THIS. LOWERING THE PRICE OF FOOD, INCLUDING GIVING AMERICANS A TAX CUT. 100 MILLION AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, LOWERING THE COST OF HOUSING WITH PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP. SHE IS GOING TO GO UP AGAINST TRUMP, WHO HAS PROJECT 2025 WHAT HE WANTS TO USE TO TAKE THIS COUNTRY BACK. >> ARE YOU TAGGING HER THE UNDERDOG? IS SHE THE UNDERDOG IN THIS DEBATE YOU BELIEVE? >> LOOK, DONALD TRUMP IS A SHOWMAN. HE WILL GET ON STAGE AND LIE A LOT. THE VICE PRESIDENT WILL SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ABOUT HER VISION. BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, DONALD TRUMP IS THE ULTIMATE SHOWMAN. THE VICE PRESIDENT WILL COME PREPARED. SHE WILL WIN THIS DEBATE, BECAUSE SHE KNOWS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, PROTECTING DEMOCRACY. DONALD TRUMP WILL CONTINUE TO DOUBLE DOWN. >> YOU MENTIONED THAT DONALD TRUMP WILL GET UP THERE AND LIVE. WILL SHE BE FACT CHECKING HIM? >> SHE WILL BE DOING THAT WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF HER ANSWERS TONIGHT. UNFORTUNATELY, SHE KNOWS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE BETTER THAN THAT. SHE WOULD NOT FACT CHECK EVERY SINGLE THING, THE MODERATORS CAN DO SOME OF THAT. THE VICE PRESIDENT IS SHOWING UP, READY TO PUT IN THE WORK. AGAIN, HER FOCUS WILL BE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, MAKING SURE SHE GETS HER POINT ACROSS ABOUT HER ADMINISTRATION AND HOW WILL IT. >> AS I'M TALKING TO THOSE IN THE TRUMP ORBIT, ONE OF THE THINGS THEY BRING UP IS THAT THEY WILL LOOK TO NOT ONLY TIE HER TO BIDEN POLICIES, BUT TO ALSO POINT OUT WAYS IN WHICH SHE SHIFTED TO MORE PROGRESSIVE STANCE TO WHERE SHE STANDS TODAY. HOW IS SHE PREPARED TO DEFEND HERSELF ON THOSE ATTACKS IF HE GOES THERE? FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD SAY IT WOULD BE NICE IF TRUMP AND REPUBLICANS WHO ARE AGAINST HARRIS REALIZE WHO THEY ARE RUNNING AGAINST. IT IS VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS. SHE WILL BE HER OWN PRESIDENT WHEN SHE IS ELECTED. THAT IS WHAT THE FOCUS WILL BE. SHE WILL MAKE THOSE POSITIONS CLEAR TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. YOU CAN EXPECT DONALD TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICANS TO LIE ABOUT WHERE HER FOCUS IS. ON A LOT OF THESE ISSUES, DONALD TRUMP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WOMEN LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY THAT DON'T HAVE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM. WHEN HE LEFT OFFICE, AND WHEN HE CAME IN. IN THE VICE PRESIDENT WILL HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE. AGAIN, SHE WILL SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ABOUT HER VISION IN THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY. >> QUENTIN FULKS, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. THANK YOU. >> SO YOU HEARD FROM PEOPLE WHO BACK BOTH OF THESE CANDIDATES. AT A MOMENT WHEN THE STATE OF PLAY CAN BEST BE DESCRIBED AS SUPER CLOSE, WHICH OF COURSE IS A TECHNICAL TERM. STEVE KORNACKI KNOWS THAT. >> ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS THE AVERAGE OF THE NATIONAL POLLS RIGHT NOW. THEY ACTUALLY HAD DONALD TRUMP AHEAD. >> PEOPLE WOULD GO, WAIT A SECOND, THE NEW YORK POLL HAD A DIFFERENT NUMBER. IT SPITS THIS OUT. >> EXACTLY. IT IS ANOTHER HIGHLY RESPECTED POLL. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ONES FLOATING AROUND. ONE OF THE BEST WAY TO GET THE TOTALITY, AVERAGING THEM TOGETHER. THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. >> OKAY. GET INTO A LITTLE BIT WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE IN THOSE BATTLEGROUND STATES. IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO WHAT HAPPENS IN PENNSYLVANIA, MICHIGAN AND GEORGIA. >> THAT'S RIGHT. DONALD TRUMP LOST THE POPULAR VOTE THE LAST TWO ELECTIONS, BUT HE HAD THE ADVANTAGE IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE. SEVEN CORE BATTLEGROUND STATES HERE. SIX OF THESE BY THE WAY WERE BLUE STATES IN 2020. THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS A RED STATE IN 2020 WAS RIGHT HERE. NORTH CAROLINA. AGAIN, THE POLL AVERAGES, IT DOESN'T GET ANY CLOSER THAN THAT. YOU SEE HERE IS, VERY SLIGHTLY ABOVE TRUMP. THE OVERALL PICTURE YOU CAN SEE, JUST LOOK. IT'S RAZOR THIN IN THOSE STATES. THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR ERROR IN THE STORIES. >> EVEN THINK A LOT ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS, WHAT SOMETHING YOU HAVEN'T SAID ON TELEVISION THAT YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW. >> THAT'S OF THE UESTION. WE TALK SO MUCH ABOUT THEM. THERE IS ALWAYS A QUESTION IF ONE OF THE CAMPAIGNS CAN PUT SOMETHING ELSE IN PLAY? REPUBLICANS WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU VIRGINIA MADE SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I'M NOT SURE HOW IT WILL ALL SHAKE OUT IN FLORIDA. IT WILL ALL BE INTERESTING TO ME BECAUSE THERE'S NO STATE IN THE COUNTRY WERE RE-GET MORE COMPLETE EARLY RESULT ON ELECTION NIGHT. THE 7:00 P.M. HOUR ON THE EAST COAST, WE WILL HAVE FOUR COUNTIES COMING IN FROM ALL ACROSS FLORIDA. EVEN IF THE STATE IS RED, AS WE EXPECT IT TO BE. >> WHAT'S HAPPENING FOR THE LATINO VOTE, LOOKING IN SOME OF THESE COUNTIES. STEVE KORNACKI, YOU READY? >> I HAVE NO CHOICE. >> APPRECIATE IT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE PAST DEBATES HAVE BEEN, FOR VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, IT COULD BE A CRITICAL NIGHT IN HER POLITICAL ROUTER -- CAREER. SHE HAS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THE COUNTRY MORE ABOUT WHAT KIND OF PRESIDENT SHE WOULD BE, WHO SHE WOULD BE AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF. ON THE FLIPSIDE OF THING, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP TIME TO -- TRYING TO RECOVER AFTER HE SAW HIS FIRST OPPONENT DROPOUT -- BEING GENERATED BY KAMALA HARRIS AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET. AND NOW THE RACE, LOOKING A LOT LIKE IT DID IN JULY. I WANT TO BRING IN NBC NEWS CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT ANDREA MITCHELL. THANK YOU BOTH FROM BEING WITH US. ANDREA, LET ME START WITH YOU. YOU'VE SEEN SOME OF THESE CLOSE RACES BEFORE. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE POLITICAL VIEW, AND WHY? >> THESE PEOPLE HAVEN'T EVEN MET -- >> SO THAT IS A BIG CHALLENGE FOR HER. AS TO HER ADVANTAGE, ACCORDING TO HIS PEOPLE AND THE HARRIS PEOPLE IF HE DOES UNLEASH THE ATTACKS. THE SHE HAS A BIG OPPORTUNITY TO DEFINE HERSELF. THE LATEST POLLS SHOW THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT HER POLICIES ARE. SHE HAS TO WALK THIS TIGHT ROPE BETWEEN OBSERVING AND RESPECTING THE LEGACY OF JOE BIDEN, NOT DISCOURAGING HIM, NOT BEING DISLOYAL. BUT MOVING ON, LOOKING FORWARD, DISTINGUISHING HERSELF. THAT WILL BE HARD TO DO WITHOUT BEING GLUED TO JOE BIDEN. SHE HASN'T DEFINED WHAT SHE WOULD DO, SPECIFIC POLICIES. THEY KNOW MORE ABOUT HER BECAUSE OF THE DNC, THOSE WHO SIDE. BUT THEY DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SHE WOULD DO. >> SHERRY, LET ME TURN TO YOU. YOU HAVE FOLLOWED AND COVERED KAMALA HARRIS SINCE SHE WAS IN THESE LOCAL STATE RACES IN CALIFORNIA. OF COURSE, 2010. THERE WERE SOME INTERESTING MOMENTS THERE WHERE SHE LET HER OPPONENTS AWKWARD MOMENT HANG WHEN HE WAS ASKED IF HE WOULD DOUBLE DIP, TAKE A SALARY IN HIS FEDERAL JOB, STATE JOB. SHE SAID, HEY, SHE LET HIM TALK HAPPENED AGAIN IN HER -- IN 2016. SHE LET THAT MOMENT HANG. SHE HAS EXPERIENCE ON DEBATE STAGES ON SMALLER STAGES. NOT A NATIONAL STAGE HERE. TALK ME THROUGH WHAT YOU WILL BE LOOKING FOR TONIGHT. FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS DONE ONE VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE IN THE LAST CYCLE. WHAT'S YOUR SENSE? >> Reporter: HAILLE, BASICALLY WHAT I WILL BE LOOKING FOR TONIGHT IS FOR HARRIS TO MAKE HER POINT ON POLICIES, NOT TO GET CAUGHT UP IN ANY ATTACKS THAT TRUMP MY GET ON HER. AND FOR HIM, THE TEST WILL REALLY BE DOES HE FOCUS ON THE LINE OF ATTACK THAT WORK FOR HIM? THAT SHE IS TOO FORMAL LIBERAL, THAT HER POLICIES ARE BAD, TYING HER TO WHAT REPUBLICAN SEE AS THE URRENT ADMINISTRATION'S FAILED POLICIES. I IMAGINE THEY WILL BOTH COME OUT LOOKING PRETTY GOOD. I'M NOT SURE THAT HE WILL MANAGE TO STICK TO THAT. WHEN IT COMES TO HER, SHE HAS MANAGED TO GET GOOD VIRAL MOMENTS WITH SPECIFIC ONE- LINERS. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF SHE GETS ANY OF THOSE MOMENTS. AS I'M SURE YOU'VE MENTIONED, THE ISSUE OF THE HOT MIC'S IS SOMETHING THAT THE TEAM REALLY FOUGHT FOR. THAT COULD LEAD TO A PROBLEM IF SHE'S NOT ABLE TO GO THEM INTO LOSING HIS COOL, AND THEN SHOOT OFF A CUTE LITTLE ONE-LINER LIKE SHE NORMALLY DOES. >> TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES HERE, TOO. ANDREA, I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THIS, TOO. ESPECIALLY WOMEN IN SOME OF THESE KEY BATTLEGROUND STATES. PENNSYLVANIA IS ONE OF THEM, THINK ABORTION WILL BE ONE FOR THEM. IN SOME POLLING, MORE FOR THEM IN A LARGE MARGIN. WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE GENDER GAP IN THIS RACE. I THINK IT IS THE EXPECTATION OF MANY PEOPLE THAT KAMALA HARRIS WILL TRY TO GO ON OFFENSE OF THIS ISSUE. WHAT DOES SHE NEED TO DO TO MAKE THAT EFFECTIVE? >> Reporter: SHE NEEDS TO TIE HIM TO A LOT OF THE EXTREMIST POLICIES. SHE'S BEEN PRETTY EFFECTIVE. REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES SHE HAS WORKED ON THE LONGEST, STRONGEST ON. AS LONG AS SHE'S ABLE TO TIE HIM TO EXTREMIST POLICIES, OR WHAT SHE WILL SAY IS EXTREMIST POLICIES, IN TERMS OF HOW MANY WEEKS YOU CAN GET AN ABORTION UNTIL, CAN YOU ACCESS CONTRACEPTIVES? THOSE WILL BE VERY KEY FOR HER. I WILL ALSO BE CURIOUS TO SEE HOW MUCH SHE TALKS ABOUT THE CARE ECONOMY. IT'S SOMETHING THAT HOLDS REALLY WELL WITH BOTH REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, AND INDEPENDENTS. I'M LOOKING TO SEE IF SHE BRINGS THAT, AS WELL. >> YOU TALKED ABOUT ECONOMY, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. HOUSING COSTS, THAT IS LIKELY TO COME UP. IMMIGRATION, AS WELL. HIS CAMPAIGN, THE VIEWS THAT SHE HAS WEAKNESS HERE. THEY SEE A POLITICAL LIABILITY IN HER HANDLING OF THE NORTHERN TRIANGLE, HOW SHE IS HANDLING SOME OF THE CAUSES OF THE CRISIS. HOW DOES SHE PREPARE FOR AN ATTACK LIKE THAT? >> THE BEST THING SHE COULD DO, THAT IS HER BIGGEST VULNERABILITY IN POLLING, IT'S EMIGRATION. BUT SUBSEQUENTLY, IT'S EMIGRATION. THE BEST THING SHE COULD SAY IS THAT THERE WOULD BE A BORDER BILL FROM THE CONSERVATIVE -- A BIPARTISAN BILL THAT DONALD TRUMP TANK. THAT WAS A BORDER ENFORCEMENT BILL, AS WELL AS FORMING A LOT OF THE PROCEDURES. I THINK THAT'S THE BEST SHE CAN DO. THE CHANCE FROM THE BIPARTISAN ACTION ON IMMIGRATION. >> ANGELA MITCHELL, SHARON, GOOD TO SEE BOTH OF YOU. COME IN, ALLOW MORE COVERAGE OF THIS FIRST DEBATE RIGHT HERE ON NBC NEWS NOW. BY THE WAY, WHEN THAT DEBATE BEGINS IN JUST ABOUT 2 1/2 HOURS, YOU CAN WATCH IT EXACTLY HOW YOU ARE WATCHING NOW. ON TV, ONLINE, ON YOUR PHONE. IT WILL BE RIGHT HERE ON NBC AND NBC NEWS NOW. WE WILL HAVE MORE FROM PHILLY, AND WE WILL ALSO TAKE YOU DOWN SOUTH. MANY OF THEM ARE UIS NOW. NEWS FOR THE GENERATION OF NOW IS NBC NEWS NOW. >>> IN MY NOTES, I CAN'T STOP LOOKING AT MY TEXTS. THAT IS HOW QUICKLY THINGS ARE COMING IN AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE BAIT NIGHT. YOU KNOW ELSE IS GETTING CLOSER? A MESSAGE TROPICAL STORM, POTENTIALLY A HURRICANE TO MAKE LANDFALL. THEN NEW MASSIVE HURRICANE UPDATE JUST ABOUT 90 MINUTES AGO. BILL KARINS IS JOINING US NOW. PEOPLE IN LOUISIANA ARE ALREADY GETTING READY. THEY'VE GOT EVACUATION ORDERS IN PLACE. TALK US THROUGH IT. >> EVERY STORM IS DIFFERENT. LET ME GET INTO IT. FIRST OF ALL, HIS THE FORECAST. THE NUMBER ONE THING WE TYPICALLY TALK ABOUT A STORM SURGE. A CATEGORY 1 WE ARE EXPECTING, WE WILL NOT HAVE A CRAZY STORM SURGE. THE AREA BETWEEN 5-10 FEET IS THE AREA OF MOST CONCERN. THAT LOOKS TO BE SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO MORGAN CITY. LET'S FOCUS ON THIS. HERE'S AN AWARD MEN'S AREA. LET'S ZOOM IN CLOSER. THERE IS WATER EVERYWHERE IN SOUTHERN LOUISIANA. THE MANY LAKES THAT ARE IN THIS AREA. A LOT OF SOUTHERN LOUISIANA AFTER KATRINA AND MASSIVE FLOODS, THEY INVESTED A TON OF MONEY IN THE LEVEE SYSTEM TO PROTECT A LOT OF THE COMMUNITIES. THEY ARE GOING TO GET POSSIBLY A 5-10 DOT STORM SURGE, BUT THE LEVEES HAVE BEEN BUILT UP SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER. THE LEVY AND MORGAN CITY IS 20 FEET. THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT. BUT THERE ARE OTHER SMALLER COMMUNITIES THAT DO NOT HAVE A LEVEE SYSTEM LIKE THAT. I JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU ONE HERE. THESE ARE THOSE THAT HAVE EVACUATED ALREADY. SO IS JUST SOMETHING TO WATCH AS WE GO THROUGH TOMORROW. WE EXPECT THIS TO BE A CATEGORY ONE, MAYBE CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE MAKING LANDFALL. >> WE KNOW WHERE YOU WILL BE THIS TIME TOMORROW, BACK HERE WITH US ON NBC. LET'S TAKE YOU BACK TO PHILADELPHIA. WE ARE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO A DEBATE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE A FACTOR FOR AT LEAST SOME VOTERS IN SEVEN KEY BATTLEGROUND DATES. BUT DO I NEED TO SAY IT AGAIN? IT IS CLOSE, FOLKS. ONE OF THEM, THEY ARE IN MICHIGAN. THAT IS WELL INSIDE THE MARGIN. WHEN YOU ARE TALKING WITH PEOPLE OUT THERE, DO THEY CARE? HAD THEY DECIDED ON A CANDIDATE YET? WALK US THROUGH IT. >> YEAH. I WAS ACTUALLY SURPRISED TO HEAR THE AMOUNT THAT THEY DO PLAN ON WATCHING, OR AT LEAST COMING UP WITH THE HIGHLIGHTS AFTERWARDS. AND THAT'S ESPECIALLY THE CASE AMONG THOSE UNDECIDED VOTERS. AT LEAST PEOPLE WHO ARE TORN, STRUGGLING TO MAKE THAT DECISION. SPECIFICALLY WHERE YOU THOUGHT YOU SAW TRUMP -- WHERE TRUMP WON IN 2016, BUT IT WAS FLIPPED IN 2020. I WANT TO THE FARMERS MARKET AND JUST AS PEOPLE, ARE YOU PLANNING ON WATCHING THE DEBATE? HERE ARE SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS. >> WHAT ARE THOSE ISSUES YOU WANT TO HEAR? >> I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT HEALTHCARE, ABOUT THE ECONOMY. AND JUST THAT SHE'S GOING TO BRING A BROAD PERSPECTIVE. >> I JUST WANT TO KNOW -- >> YOU VOTED FOR TRUMP IN THE PAST, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS HAS THE ABILITY TO WIN YOUR VOTE. >> YES. I WANT TO FEEL LIKE SHE WOULD BE A GOOD LEADER. >> Reporter: YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A PATTERN I FOUND IN MY CONVERSATIONS, NO MATTER WHO THEY SAID THEY WERE SUPPORTING. A LOT OF EYES ARE ON THE VICE PRESIDENT. THEY WANT TO HEAR MORE FROM HER. FOR DONALD TRUMP, A LOT OF IT, THEY JUST WANT HIM TO BEHAVE, ESSENTIALLY. WE WILL SEE IF WE GET THAT LATER THIS EVENING, HAILLE. >> IS IN ITS UPRISING. WHAT SURPRISED YOU TO MOST -- THE MOST? I'M CURIOUS. >> Reporter: I THINK THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDECIDED STILL. IT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE THINGS HAVE CHANGED UP HERE A LITTLE BIT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET. MANY PEOPLE SAID THAT TODAY, IT'S NOT JUST THE ECONOMY ITSELF, BUT IT'S ABOUT TEMPERAMENT. HOW THEY GET THEIR INFORMATION. IT'S NOT CLEAR THAT THIS WILL BE THE ULTIMATE FACTOR, BUT IT'S REALLY THE TALK AFTERWARDS. >> SHOPPERS THERE, THANK YOU OUT THERE. MORE TO COME. WHEN WE COME BACK, MORE TO COME FROM US, AS WELL. THEY ARE TELLING US WHAT THEY , DOWNLOAD THE NBC NEWS APP NOW. >>> FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS NOW ON THE GROUND IN PHILADELPHIA. 2 1/2 HOURS AWAY FROM THAT DEBATE. VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS, THAT'S OF COURSE WHERE WE ARE IN LIVE COVERAGE TONIGHT IN THE GREAT CITY OF PHILADELPHIA IN THIS CRITICAL BATTLEGROUND OF PENNSYLVANIA. LET ME BRING IN A COUPLE OF FORKS -- FOLKS. VICE PRESIDENTS FORMER SPOKESPERSON. I WILL GO TO YOUR -- TO YOU FIRST. PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HER. RIGHT? THEY ARE SAYING THAT ABOUT 3 IN 10 AMERICANS, THEY NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHO SHE IS. CHRIS CHRISTIE, SAYING HE IS NOT VOTING FOR DONALD TRUMP. HE SAYS I DON'T HAVE MUCH OF AN OPINION ABOUT VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS NOW. HE SAYS, IF SHE IS AN UNKNOWN COUNTY TO ME, YOU CAN BET SHE IS KNOWN THAT'S UNKNOWN TO MANY AMERICANS. >> HE KNOWS HER NAME, RIGHT? BUT NOT A LOT ABOUT HER. A NUMBER OF PEOPLE UNDERESTIMATED THE VICE PRESIDENT. I THINK THAT SOME WERE ACTUALLY QUITE DISMISSIVE OF HER. AND NOW THAT SHE'S AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET AND LITERALLY COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PRESIDENCY, AND FOR FOLKS KEEPING THE SENATE AND INNING BACK THE HOUSE, IT'S LIKE, OH, MAYBE I SHOULD LEARN MORE ABOUT HER. LOOK, WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE POLLS, WHEN THEY ARE SAYING THEY DON'T KNOW A LOT A LOT ABOUT HER, THEY WANT TO UNDERSTAND HER VALUES PEOPLE FEEL THEY UNDERSTAND DONALD TRUMP'S VALUES. THEY HAD DECLINED TO ELECT THEM ON EVERY BALLOT HE'S BEEN ON SINCE HE WON IN 2016. THE MONEY VOTERS THAT YOU KNOW WHO DONALD TRUMP IS. AND YOU KNOW WHAT HE COMES WITH. AND PEOPLE WHO REMEMBER THAT, THERE ACTUALLY LIKE, YEAH. SHE NEEDS TO ALSO TALK ABOUT NOT JUST THAT SHE WAS A PROSECUTOR, SHE TOOK ON THE CARTELS. YEAH, SHE HAS TO WEAVE IN HER PROFESSIONAL BIO, BUT HER PERSONAL BIO, AS WELL. >> MAYBE IT'S NOT THAT DEEP, MAYBE PEOPLE WILL TURN IT ON A MAKE THIS DECISION. >> THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE SITTING IN THE STRATEGY SEATS -- YOU HAVE TO TALK TO THE REGULAR PEOPLE. THEY CARE ABOUT THE POLICY. THEY ALSO SAY I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HER. AND THAT HAS TRANSLATED TO I DON'T KNOW WHO SHE IS. THOSE ARE HER VALUES. DONALD TRUMP IS ATTACKING HER, SAYING SHE'S NOT REALLY BLACK. SAYING ALL THESE THINGS ABOUT HER. WHAT ARE HER VALUES? I UNDERSTAND SHE'S AN ACCOMPLISHED OF THE BENEFICIAL. I UNDERSTAND SHE'S THE VICE PRESIDENT, BUT I WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HER. WHEN SHE TALKS ABOUT HER RECORD, SHE ALSO HAS TO TALK ABOUT HER MIDDLE-CLASS UPBRINGING. SHE TOOK ON THE BIG BANKS BECAUSE SHE WATCHED HER MOM. SHE THOUGHT OF HER MOTHER IN THAT MOMENT. >> WITH ALL OF THIS SAID, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE? SOMEBODY WHO HAS -- WHAT IS FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S BIGGEST LIABILITY? >> WELL, I THINK THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE, HE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT HE ALSO DEFINES KAMALA HARRIS. THERE IS A QUARTER OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO SAY THEY DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT HER. THEN THEY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SOME OF HER RADICAL POSITIONS LIKE DECRIMINALIZING DRUGS, DEFUNDING THE POLICE. WE ARE EVEN FINDING OUT ABOUT A 2019 SURVEY WHERE SHE TALKED ABOUT TAXPAYER-FUNDED TRANSITION SURGERIES FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. A LOT OF THESE ILLEGAL POSITIONS IN THE PAST, DENISE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESS HER ON. AND IF SHE TRIES TO WALK BACK, WHAT I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOUR VALUES HAVEN'T CHANGED? THAN ON THE SECOND SIDE OF IT, HE NEEDS TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT NONE OF THE REST OF THE STUFF MATTERS. THE BORDER IS WIDE OPEN. KAMALA WAS THE TIE-BREAKING VOTE ON THE INFLATION AT AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN. THEY OPENED THE BORDER. THINGS WERE CHEAPER AND THINGS WERE SAFER WHEN HE WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE. >> YOU TALK ABOUT POLITICAL LIABILITY HERE. YOU SAID A LOT ABOUT VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS. I WANT TO ASK ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. IT WILL BE AN ISSUE ON THE BALLOT IN 10-12 STATES IN NOVEMBER. MORE THAN HALF THE VOTERS THERE WANT TO SEE HIM WIN IN THAT STATE, YET WITH A VALID INITIATIVE, MORE THAN HALF OF THE VOTERS WANT TO SEE PROTECTIONS REINSTATED FOR REPRODUCTION RIGHTS. IT GOES TO THE CHALLENGE THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS HERE. HOW DOES HE HANDLE THAT TONIGHT? AND DO YOU SEE THAT IS A VULNERABILITY, AS WELL? >> I THINK IT CAN BE AN ASSET IF HE LEANS INTO THE FACT THAT THIS IS DEMOCRACY. HE HAS SAID THAT HE THOUGHT SOME STATES WENT TOO FAR. AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIND SOME COMMON GROUND, SOME MIDDLE GROUND. WE ARE SEEING THAT PLAY OUT. THAT'S THE THING THAT I THINK YOU CAN SAY FOR DECADES. INCLUDING THE JUSTICE. EVEN THOUGH SHE SUPPORTED THE POLICY, THIS LETS LAWMAKERS, LEGISLATORS MAKE THESE DECISIONS, AND LET THE VOTERS HAVE THEIR SAY. HE SAYS WHERE HE THINKS THINGS ARE TOO FAR, AND WHERE THEY ARE NOT FAR ENOUGH. I THINK IT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT HARRIS WOULD HAVE TO DO IN THE STATE. SHE CAN'T FACT CHECK IN HIM AND WALKING DOWN EVERY STATEMENT. DO NOT SUPPORT THE POSITIVE EDUCATION? SHE HAS TO GO DOWN THE LIST. BECAUSE I DO THINK THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAS GOTTEN AWAY WITH THESE BROAD STATEMENTS THAT ARE NOT ANCHORED TO ANY OF THE FACTS, IF YOU WILL. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF MANY OF OUR CONVERSATIONS. INCLUDING HOW THEY PLAN NEWS NO >>> KRISTEN WELKER HOSTS MEET THE PRESS EVERY SUNDAY ON NBC. >>> SO HERE WE ARE. JUST ABOUT TWO HOURS AND CHANGE AWAY FROM THE DEBATE. IN THIS ERA BETWEEN DONALD TRUMP AND KAMALA HARRIS. WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT LANDING IN THE GREAT CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, YOU SEE IT THERE. HAVE WE SEEN HIM WALK OUT YET? >> I THINK WE ARE STILL WAITING. WE WILL SEE IF HE WALKS OVER TO THE CAMERAS, IF HE DOES ANYTHING. THIS IS IN THE RUN-UP TO THE DEBATE. IN PITTSBURGH, THAT'S WHERE SHE HUNKERED DOWN TO PREP. THEY LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY'VE BEEN HANDLING THESE THINGS. AND THAT IS THE ECONOMY. YOU KNOW WHY? THIS MATTERS TO THEM. YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE NUMBERS HERE. THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE, THE ECONOMY HERE. A POLITICAL ADVISER, FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. BEFORE WE GET TO THE ECONOMY, YOU ARE THE LAST PERSON TO DEBATE, HARRIS. HOW DID YOU PREPARE FOR THAT? >> WE DID 390 MINUTE SESSIONS. HE IS VERY MUCH DEEP INTO THE POLICY. AND I THINK THE PREPARATION PREPARED HIM WELL. >> WHAT MADE HIM NERVOUS? WHAT MADE YOU NERVOUS ABOUT GOING UP AGAINST SENATOR HARRIS? BE HONEST, BE REAL. YOU CAN TELL ME THE REAL DEAL. >> I THINK YOU'VE SEEN AS A SENATOR, SHE HAD PLENTY OF HEARINGS WHERE SHE PUT WITNESSES IN DIFFICULT PLACES. I THINK DEBATING MINORITY FEMALE, BEING ABLE TO SAY, HEY, I'M TALKING NOW. I THINK THAT'S HOW FAR IT GOES IN TERMS OF BEING CRITICAL. >> I WOULD IMAGINE SO, YEAH. I WOULD THINK SO. >> FORGIVE ME, MARK. I'M GOING TO PIVOT TO THIS FOR SECOND. THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND HIM HELPING HIM GET READY. HE'S BEEN DOING -- >> I THINK THEY HAVE BUILT-UP EXPECTATIONS, RIGHT? YOU THE CAMPAIGN SAY WE'VE BEEN HUNKERED DOWN IN PITTSBURGH ALL WEEK. AND HE'S AKING IT MORE SERIOUS THIS TIME. I THINK THEY BOTH RAISE EXPECTATIONS. >> WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING FOR? >> I THINK IF YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A DEBATE ON THE POLICIES, HARRIS HAS MORE VULNERABILITIES. THEY ARE UNHAPPY WITH INFLATION. I THINK TRUMP CAN PROSECUTE THAT. BUT THE QUESTION IS, WILL HE? IF HE ACTUALLY STICKS THE POLICY, I THINK THAT WOULD BE IN HIS FAVOR. >> IS THERE A DIFFERENT ONE? >> WELL, WAIT A SECOND. SAME GUY, RIGHT? LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT. >> TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE. HE ALSO HAS THE ABILITY, AS YOU SAW IN JUNE, TO LET AN OPPONENT UNRAVELED HIMSELF. I DON'T DISAGREE. >> I THINK HE IS FAR SMARTER THAN PEOPLE ANTICIPATE. I THINK HE IS ALSO AN ENTERTAINER. HE DOESN'T REALLY GET DEEP INTO THE POLICY. AND REALLY, I THINK THAT PROBABLY HELPS THEM. HE WOULD BE PLAYING TO THE AUDIENCE. >> BEFORE I DO, MARK, DO YOU THINK YOU ARE JUST ANOTHER TRUMPER NOW? ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM? >> I THINK ANYBODY WHO PUTS THEMSELVES IN FRONT OF THE CONSTITUTION AS CONSERVATIVES -- >> I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. BUT THERE HE IS RIGHT THERE. HE'S GETTING READY. JUST TWO HOURS AWAY FROM HIS FIRST -- SHE'S TWO HOURS AWAY FROM HER FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE. I ASKED IF YOU PLAN TO BACK HIM, BECAUSE LIZ CHENEY DOES NOT, FOR EXAMPLE. CHENEY DOES NOT. I KNOW YOU WILL MAYBE ROLL YOUR EYES ON SOME OF THEM. >> I DON'T PUT MYSELF IN THEIR CAMP. >> OKAY. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MODERATE REPUBLICANS. CLAIMING ELECTRIC FRAUD -- ELECTION FRAUD, LIES ABOUT ELECTION FRAUD. THEY DON'T HAVE INTEREST IN VOTING FOR DONALD TRUMP. THESE ARE MOST LIKELY MODERATE COLLEGE SWING VOTING DADS THAT ARE PROBABLY UP FOR GRABS. IF THERE ARE ANY MEN THAT THERE ARE TO WIN FOR DONALD TRUMP, THAT WOULD BE THE GROUP. THEY ARE PROBABLY LIKE HE -- LIKELY NIKKI HALEY VOTERS. I THINK THAT GOES A LONG WAY FOR HER. AS MANY PEOPLE AS SHE CAN GET, GIVING CREDIBILITY, THAT HELPS HER. SHE CAN'T BE SEEN. ANY OF THOSE CONSERVATIVES VOUCHING FOR HER, THAT'S A GOOD THING. >> MR. TRUMP THERE PULLING OFF, LANDING IN PHILLY. HE WILL GET READY JUST TWO HOURS FROM NOW. THIS IS A LIVE SHOT ON THE TARMAC IN PHILLY. I CAN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THE SMIRK. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE CLASS? >> I DON'T THINK THE ENDORSEMENT MATTER TOO MANY PEOPLE. TRUMP IS BASICALLY A KNOWN COMMODITY. I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE TO GAIN AND A LOT MORE TO LOSE FROM KAMALA HARRIS TONIGHT. >> MARK SHORT, FORGIVE ME. WE BLOWN THROUGH ALL OF OUR BREAKS. WE ARE TRYING TO GET VAUGHN HILLYARD OVER HERE TO THE TABLE AND SNEAK YOU OFF IN A GRACEFUL MANNER. >> I CAN EXIT GRACEFULLY. >> THANK YOU, MARK. HANG ON, WE CAN DO THIS. WE TALK ABOUT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. WE KNOW HE'S THERE. WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP? OVER PREPPING. WE'VE HEARD SOME FOLKS ON THE TRUMP SIDE. HE LIKES TO BE -- >> THEY WILL BE THE CONCERN THAT ANY CANDIDATE IS SEEN AND AUTHENTIC. YOU WANT TO SEEM SINCERE. >> THERE IS LIKE A NEXUS TO TV. WHAT DO WE SAY EVERY DAY? BE A NORMAL PERSON. THAT'S IT. IT'S HARD TO DO WHEN YOU ARE IN FRONT OF A BIG AUDIENCE. >> THIS IS LIKE THE BIGGEST MOMENT OF HER LIFE. THAT IS SO LOW STAKES TO THIS. SHE WAS SITTING. NOW SHE WILL PROBABLY BE IN THE HIGHEST SALES, BECAUSE SHE IS 54 -- 5'4". THAT'S PROBABLY PART OF THE REASON THEY WILL NOT BE SHAKING HANDS. >> RIGHT. THAT WENT AWAY IN COVID. >> YOU JUST WANT TO SEEM COOL. AND IF SHE WILL TRY TO WIN OVER VOTERS, SHE CAN'T SEEM LIKE SHE'S BEEN REHEARSED. SHE HAS TO SEEM AUTHENTIC. >> ONE OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE, VAUGHN HILLYARD, HAS JOINED US NOW. IT IS SUBSTANCE, IT IS STYLE. TALKING ABOUT HILLARY CLINTON'S DEBATE PREPAREDNESS. PRACTICING THESE GREETINGS, GOING IN FOR AN AWKWARD HUG. THEY RAN THROUGH VARIOUS SCENARIOS ON HOW THAT MOMENT WOULD GO DOWN. THESE TONE SETTERS COULD MATTER FOR HOW THIS DEBATE UNFOLDS. >> RIGHT. IN 2019, I WAS COVERING KAMALA HARRIS DAY TODAY. >> WE WERE COVERING THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN SINCE 2015. I WENT ACROSS IOWA, NEW HAMPSHIRE WITH HER. THE PART ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS, SHE HAD BEEN PREPARING TO DEBATE DONALD TRUMP EVER SINCE 2019 IN FRONT OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. SHE WOULD BE THE ONE TO PROSECUTE THE CASE AGAINST HIM ON THE DEBATE STAGE. SHE SAID SHE WOULD GO TOE TO TOE WITH HIM. EVERYWHERE SHE WENT, THAT WAS HER MESSAGE. SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE BIOGRAPHY, OR THE HISTORY OF BERNIE SANDERS, OR JOE BIDEN. THEY THOUGHT THAT SHE COULD SEPARATE A DEMOCRATIC PARTY FROM DONALD TRUMP AS AN ENTITY. THIS IS HER MOMENT WHEN SHE VISUALIZED ON CAMPAIGN STAGE AFTER CAMPAIGN STAGE. >> SO YOU ARE SAYING SHE MANIFESTED IT? >> SHE MANIFESTED IT. >> OKAY, SO FOR BOTH OF YOU NOW THAT WE GET CLOSER TO THE TWO HOUR MARK BEFORE THIS DEBATE BEGINS. WE'VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR HOW LONG? AND WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVEN'T SAID ON TELEVISION? >> I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS THE OTHER DAY. WHEN KAMALA HARRIS ANNOUNCED SHE WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, AND IT WAS SO OVERWHELMING. THE CROWD WAS OVERWHELMING. SHE HAD A GREAT SHOWING, RIGHT? IT WAS MUCH LIKE THE ROLLOUT. >> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IN 2019? >> THEY WERE SAYING, OH MY GOD, WE ARE TERRIFIED OF THAT WOMAN. THAT WOULD BE THEIR WORST FIELD -- FEAR. HEAR IN THE POLLS. SHE WAS JUST COMING OUT AND I THINK SHE WAS REALLY IN HER MOMENT AND PEOPLE WERE GIVING HER A LOOK AND, YEAH, THEY WERE TERRIFIED ABOUT HOW HE WOULD REACT TO HER, SO IT'S AMAZING, I THINK BACK TO THIS AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT THIS MORNING, IT'S LIKE LET'S SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT. >> TO THAT POINT, THIS IS LIKE IN A LONG CONVERSATION HOW MUCH DO YOU FOCUS ON DONALD TRUMP, RIGHT? BACK IN 2019, THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS FOR DEMOCRATS THIS TIME. HOW MUCH YOU FOCUS ON DONALD TRUMP VERSUS FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE AND POLICY AND HOW YOU CAN MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER. KAMALA HARRIS WAS SOMEBODY WHO NEVER SHIED AWAY FROM TALKING ABOUT DONALD TRUMP DIRECTLY AND THAT PLAYED INTO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S FEARS OF THE TIME THAT THEY MAY HAVE TO TAKE HER ON. >> SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH. WHAT A GREAT CONVERSATION. IT'S GOING