Meet the Press NOW — Sept. 9

Intro INTERVIEWS. DOWNLOAD THE NBC NEWS APP NOW. >>> IF IT'S MONDAY, IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN TO DEBATE NIGHT AS VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP GET READY TO MOVE ON THE BIG STAGE FOR THE FIRST TIME TOMORROW NIGHT WITH THE RACE NECK AND NECK, ACCORDING TO NEW POLLING. PLUS, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP TARGET THE INTEGRITY OF THE 2024 ELECTION, THREATENING TO JAIL HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS WHILE BASELESSLY CLAIMING THE ELECTION COULD BE STOLEN FROM HIM. >>> AND THE FALLOUT ON CAPITOL HILL AND BEYOND AFTER A SCATHING REPORT FROM THE REPUBLICAN-LED HOUSE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE BLAMING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR THE CHAOTIC WITHDRAW FROM AFGHANISTAN. Harris and Trump prepare for tomorrow's debate >>> WELCOME TO "MEET THE PRESS" NOW. I'M DAVID GUTIERREZ IN WASHINGTON WITH ONE DAY TO GO UNTIL THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE BETWEEN VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, BOTH CAMPAIGNS SETTING EXPECTATIONS AS THE CANDIDACY PREPARE TO TAKE THE STAGE. >>> PLUS, THE FACE-OFF IN PHILADELPHIA WILL MARK THE FIRST TIME THE TWO HAVE MET IN PERSON. A NEW POLL SHOWS THAT HARRIS STILL HAS WORK TO DO TO INTRODUCE HERSELF TO VOTERS. THE VICE PRESIDENT, WHO IS SET TO DEPART LATER THIS HOUR FOR PHILADELPHIA, DESCRIBES HER APPROACH TO THE BIG NIGHT IN AN INTERVIEW THAT AIRED TODAY. >> THERE IS NO FLAW FOR HIM IN TERMS OF HOW LOW HE WILL GO, AND WE SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THAT. WE SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE FACT THAT HE IS NOT BURDENED BY TELLING THE TRUTH. AND WE SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE FACT THAT HE IS PROBABLY GOING TO SPEAK A LOT OF UNTRUTHS. >> THIS TIME HARRISON ALLIES PLAY THE EXPECTATION GAME AND PREPARE FOR IN A PREDICTABLE NIGHT AGAINST IN A PREDICTABLE OPPONENT. >> IT WILL TAKE ALMOST SUPER HUMAN FOCUS TO DEAL WITH DONALD TRUMP IN A DEBATE. IT'S NO ORDINARY PROPOSITION. NOT BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP IS A MAST OF EXPLAINING POLICY IDEAS AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE BETTER OFF. IT'S BECAUSE HE'S A MASTER OF TAKING ANY FORM OR FORMAT THAT IS ON TELEVISION AND TURNING IT INTEREST A SHOW THAT IS ALL ABOUT HIM. >> SOURCES TELL NBC NEWS THE FORMER PRESIDENT SPENT THE WEEKEND FOCUSED ON POLICY AS THE BATTLE HIT THE AIRWAVES. >> I THINK WHEN HE STAYS ON THE ISSUE, POLICIES ARE ABSOLUTELY, THOSE ARE THE WING ISSUES, BECAUSE AGAIN, WHETHER IT'S CRIME, WHETHER IT'S THE BORDER, WHETHER IT'S ISRAEL, WHETHER IT'S WARS ABROAD, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS GOT NOT ONLY THE RECORD OF HAVING SERVED AS PRESIDENT AND ACCOMPLISHING PEACE IN THE WORLD AND PROSPERITY AT HOME BUT HE'S ALSO GOT POLICIES RIGHT NOW THAT MAKE A TON OF DIFFERENCE FOR EVERY AMERICAN. >> BUT THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS ESCALATING HIS RHETORIC AROUND FALSE CLAIMS THAT THE 2020 ELECTION WAS STOLEN WHILE THREATENING TO JAIL POLITICAL OPPONENTS AND LAYING THE GROUND WORK FOR FUTURE CLAIMS OF FRAUD IN THIS YEAR'S RACE. THE FORMER PRESIDENT ALSO ATTACKING VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS AND PRESIDENT BIDEN AS STUPID DURING A RALLY IN WISCONSIN. >> WE'RE RUN BY STUPID PEOPLE. STUPID, STUPID PEOPLE. AND WE FOUND THAT OUT AT THE DEBATE WITH JOE. HOW DID THAT WORK OUT? WE'RE GOING TO FIND IT OUT AGAIN ON TUESDAY NIGHT. IS ANYBODY GOING TO BE WATCHING? IF COMRADE KAMALA HARRIS GETS FOUR MORE YEARS, YOU WILL BE LIVING A FULL-BLOWN BANANA REPUBLIC BY AN ANARCHY AND TERRY KNEE. >> ALL OF IT COMES AS NEW POLLING SHOWS AN EXTREMELY TIGHT RACE WITH TRUMP LEADING NATIONALLY BY A POINT, ACCORDING TO ONE POSSIBLE, AND HARRIS HOLDING A SLIGHT EDGE IN TWO OF THREE KEY BATTLEGROUNDS IN ANOTHER. HARRIS ALSO HEADS INTEREST TOMORROW'S DEBATE WITH 28% OF LIKELY VOTERS SAYING THEY FEEL LIKE THEY NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HER. ONLY 9% SAY THE SAME OF TRUMP. SO NOW LET'S BRING IN SOME OF OUR NBC NEWS REPORTERS. AARON GILCHRIST IS FOLLOWING THE VAIPT PITTSBURGH AHEAD OF THE DEBATE IN PHILADELPHIA. SHAQUILLE BREWSTER IS IN BATTLEGROUND WISCONSIN. AARON, I WANT TO START WITH YOU. WE KNOW THE VICE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN IN DEBATE PREP WHILE IN PITTSBURGH. WHERE HAS HER FOCUS BEEN? >> Reporter: I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS YOU JUST MENTIONED HAVE BEEN A KEY PART OF HER FOCUS. I SHOULD NOTE THAT WE'RE SMEARING OF THE SIRENS AND MOTORCYCLES. WE EXPECT THE VICE PRESIDENT TO BE LEAVING DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH AT ANY MANIPULATE HEADING TO THE AIRPORT BEFORE SHE GOES TO PHILADELPHIA. AS FAR AS THE PREPARATION FOR THE DEBATE THIS TUESDAY NIGHT, THE VICE PRESIDENT, AS YOU NOTED, HAS BEEN VERY COGNIZANT OF WHO SHE IS GOING TO BE DEBATING AND THE CHALLENGE THAT THAT PRESENTS IN FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, IN THE KNOWNS THAT REVOLVE AROUND HIM. SHE'S BEEN PREPARING FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF DEROGATORY COMMENTS. OBVIOUSLY YOU HEARD FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL HE USED THE WORD STUPID. HE'S USED THAT SEVERAL TIMES. THE VICE PRESIDENT IN THE RADIO INTERVIEW DID GO ON TO SAY THAT SHE DOES EXPECT DONALD TRUMP TO LIE, FLAT OUT, SHE USED THE WORD "LIE," ON THE DEBATE STEAK. SO PART OF HER PREPARATION HAS BEEN HOW TO HANDLE THAT HOW TO APPEAR CALM AND PRESIDENTIAL ON STAGE NEXT TO HIM, AT THE SAME TIME STANDING UP TO HIM, CALLING OUT LIES THAT SHE PER SAFES DURING THE COURSE OF THE DEBATE, BUT ALSO ARTICULATING WHAT SHE BELIEVES HIS DECISIONS, BOTH NOW AND WHEN HE WAS PRESIDENT SEVERAL YEARS BACK. THE OTHER PART OF WHAT THE VICE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON IN THESE DEBATE PREPARATIONS, WE UNDERSTAND, HOW SHE IS GOING TO GIVE FOLKS HER VISION, HOW SHE IS GOING TO LAY OUT HER VISION FOR THE COUNTRY. WE SAW A NEW AD FROM THE CAMPAIGN COME OUT THAT DIDN'T MENTION DONALD TRUMP BUT DID MENTION HOW SHE WANTS TO BUILD UP SMALL BUSINESSES AROUND THE COUNTRY. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE FOCUS FOR HER AS SHE HAS BEEN WORKING THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS IN PITTSBURGH FOR THE LAST FIVE DAYS. >> ON THAT POINT, AS YOU NOTED, MORE THAN A QUARTER OF THE VOTERS SAY THEY NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HER. IS TOMORROW HER LAST BEST OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE HERSELF TO ROTORS, AND WHAT VOTERS IN PARTICULAR DOES THE CAMPAIGN HOPE TO REACH? >> Reporter: WELL, I DON'T THINK IT'S HER LAST OPPORTUNITY. OBVIOUSLY THE WINDOW IS CLOSING BETWEEN NOW AND ELECTION DAY. THERE ARE EARLY VOTING PLACES THAT ARE GOING TO BE STARTING THAT PROCESS UP THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. SO THE CAMPAIGN IS VERY AWARE OF THAT, AND THEY UNDERSTAND THAT AT THIS POINT WE'RE IN A PLACE WHERE THEY'VE GOT TO REACH OUT TO THE FEW UNDECIDED VOTERS THAT ARE STILL OUT THERE. THEN THEY'RE ALSO MAKING AN EFFORT TO REACH OUT TO FOLKS WHO ARE IN THESE PLACES WHERE THEY CAN TRY TO DRIVE UP THE MARGIN. IN PITTSBURGH, BEAVER COUNTY IS ONE THAT WENT FOR DONALD TRUMP IN THE LAST TWO ELECTION CYCLES, YES HERE WE ARE IN PENNSYLVANIA, STATE THAT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO WIN IN ORDER FOR EITHER OF THESE CANDIDATES TO WIN THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER THERE'S AN EVIDENT BEING MADE ON THE PART OF THE CAMPAIGN. THE VICE PRESIDENT IS LAUNCHING A BUS TOUR SHE IS CALLING A NEW WAY FORWARD THAT WILL START IN NORTH CAROLINA, THEN BACK HERE TO PENNSYLVANIA AS HER RUNNING MATE TIM WALZ WILL HEAD TO MICHIGAN AND WISCONSIN. >> FOLLOWING THE VICE PRESIDENT IN PENNSYLVANIA. AARON, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WANT TO TURN NOW YOU TO VAUGHN HILLYARD. SOURCES SAY TRUMP PARTICIPATED IN EXTENSIVE DEBATE PREP. THIS, OF COURSE, IS A CANDIDATE WHAT SAID HE DOESN'T NEED IT. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT PREP LOOKED LIKE FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT? >> Reporter: HE PROVED IT ON SUNDAY. HE HAD EX STEPSIVE DEBATE PREPARATION AT HIS MAR-A-LAGO ESTATE, WHICH IS A NOTABLE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, BECAUSE TYPICALLY WE HAVE SEEN DONALD TRUMP HERE THROUGH THE JUNE DEBATE AGAINST JOE BIDEN TO CONTINUALLY SUGGEST THAT HE DIDN'T NEED TO PREP, BECAUSE EITHER IT'S IN YOUR HEAD OR IT'S NOT. BUT I'M TOLD BY A TOP ADVISOR TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT THAT HE HAS BEEN WORKING PARTICULARLY ON PREPARING TO MAKE THE CASE TO THE AMERICAN ELECTORATE THAT KAMALA HARRIS, THE CURRENT VICE PRESIDENT, SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE ARE FOR, THE WORDS OF THE ADVISER, HER COMPLICITY IN THE ACTIONS OF THE DIVIDED ADMINISTRATION, AND THAT IN NO WAY SHE WAS A BYSTANDER. AND I'M ALSO TOLD THAT DONALD TRUMP IS PREPARING FOR WHAT THEY EXPECT TO BE QUIPS OR ONE LINERS OR LINES THAT THE CURRENT VICE PRESIDENT MAY TRY TO DEPLOYING A GAINS HIM AND HOW THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE CAN BEST RESPOND. >> IN ADDITION TO THAT PREP, IF YOU LOOK AT DONALD TRUMP'S SOCIAL MEDIA, HE SEAMS TO BE PREPARING FOR OTHER THINGS. >> Reporter: THIS IS ONE WHERE YOU HAVE NOT SEEN CAMPAIGN AD VISORS OR AL LEU LIES, IF IT BE VOCAL IN TELL DONALD TRUMP TO STAY AWAY FROM THESE SORT OF THREATS OF HOW E COULD POTENTIALLY USE THE SECOND ADMINISTRATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO GO AFTER HIS POLITICAL RIVALS. OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS IT'S BEEN CLEARLY AT THE FOREFRONT OF HIS MIND. HE HAS POSTED IMAGES ON HIS SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT OF JOE BIDEN, KAMALA HARRIS, NANCY PELOSI AND OTHERS IN ORANGE JUMP SITES. HE POSTED THAT ANYBODY INVOLVED IN ACTS, WHETHER IT BE DONORS OR STRATEGISTS OR ELECTION OFFICIALS, SHOULD EXPECT TO BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT WHICH WOULD INCLUDE LONG PRISON SENTENCES. SO DONALD TRUMP HAS MORE THAN JUST THE DEBATE ON HIS MIND, BUT CLEARLY RETRIBUTION TO A CERTAIN EXTENT IS A FOCUS POINT FOR HIM IN THESE CLOSING TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTION. >> VAUGHN, TRUMP'S RUNNING MATE, SENATOR J.D. VANCE, HE'LL BE IN THE SPIN RADIO. HE'S BEEN PUT IN THIS ROLE THIS SUMMER OF EXPLAINING THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S WORDS. >> IT'S NOT UNLIKE THE ROLE THAT MIKE PENCE PLAYED EIGHT YEARS AGO. AND WAYS IN WHICH HE IS CALLING TO GO AFTER HIS POLITICAL ENEMIES, YOU HAD MIKE PENCE, NOW YOU HAVE J.D. VANCE, YOU COULD SAY POLL LIQUOR THOSE STATEMENTS A LITTLE MORE IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE THEM MORE ACCEPTABLE OR PALATABLE TO A GREATER SWATH OF THE ELECTORATE WHO MAY BE TURNED OFF. FOR J.D. VANCE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT CHILD CARE POLICIES. DONALD TRUMP SORT OF STUMBLED HIS WAY THROUGH A QUESTION ABOUT CHILD CARE LAST WEEK. BUT J.D. VANCE HAS OFFERED HIS OWN POLICY WITH A $5,000 TAX CREDIT. WE HAVE NOT SEEN DONALD TRUMP SIGN ON TO IT. Race to mobilize new voters in Dane County, Wisconsin SO HE'S TRIED TO OFFER POLICIES WHEN DONALD TRUMP IS NOT THE QUICKEST TO OFFER THEM. >>> SHAQUILLE BREWER IS IN WISCONSIN. YOU'RE UNMADISON, KEY PART OF A KEY STATE FOR THE DEMOCRATS. WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD FROM FOLKS ON THE GROUND AHEAD OF TOMORROW'S DEBATE? >> Reporter: WELL, WHEN YOU TALK TO STUDENTS, THEY SAY THEY ARE REALLY FEELING THE PRESSURE. YOUNG VOTERS HAVE BEEN AT THE CENTER OF THIS BOOST TO BOOST TURNOUT, BOOST ENERGY HERE ACROSS THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, SO MUCH SO THAT YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS WARNING WHAT THEY ARE SEEING UNDAYTON COUNTY IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR DONALD TRUMP AND FOR REPUBLICANS GOING FORWARD. I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT HOW THE HAIRS CAMPAIGN IS ALREADY PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS TO EXTEND WHAT'S BEEN A WINNING STREAK. THE RUSH BACK TO COLLEGE CAMPUSES -- ?OOLS, IF YOU GUYS ARE PLANNING ON VOTING -- >> Reporter: IS ALSO A RACE TO MOBILIZE NEW VOTERS IN -- BOTH SIDES KNOW EVERY VOTE MATTERS. >> IF I WALK, I TRAY TO GO BY TABLE. >> Reporter: IT'S AUSTIN'S FULL JOB, A PAID COM PUS ORGANIZER. >> Reporter: WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY? >> THE GOAL IS TO GET EVERYBODY REGISTERED AND VOTING BLUE IN NOVEMBER. >> Reporter: THE HARRIS PLAN I TO LOCK IN, NOT JUST A TREND. HOME TO THE STATE CAPITOL, DANE COUNTY IS THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTY IN WISCONSIN SINCE 20, A PROGRESSIVE AREA WHERE TURNOUT FAR OUTPACES THE REST OF THE STATE. 89% IN 2020, 80% IN 2022. >> IT'S A CONCERN FOR REPUBLICANS. >> Reporter: BARRY BURDEN IS THE DIRECTOR VU W MADISON'S ELECTION RESEARCH CENTER. >> THE GROWTH HERE JUST SEEMS UNSTOPPABLE IN TERMS OF SUPPORT FOR THE DEMOCRATS, AND REPUBLICANS HAVE TO FIND MORE VOTES TO MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE. >> Reporter: A PROBLEM THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE MITIGATED WITH BIG MARGINS IN RURAL AREAS. BUT HAS THE COUNTY'S REPUBLICAN CHAIR PLEADING FOR MORE ATTENTION. >> DEMOCRATS IN WISCONSIN HAVE ONE OF THE BEST TURNOUT OPERATIONS OF ONE ANY PARTY IN THE COUNTRY. REPUBLICANS HAVE LEFT THE VOID FOR SO LONG. WE JUST HAVE TO GET THAT EXT PERCENTAGE POINT OR TWO. >> Reporter: HOW DO YOU DO THAT? >> WE GO AFTER THE LOCAL REPUBLICANS AND THE SWING VOTERS ON THE ECONOMY. >> Reporter: LUKE SAYS SOME OF THOSE VOTERS CAN BE FOUND ON THE SAME CAMPUS DEMOCRATS ARE ALREADY BLITZING. >> I CAN TELL YOU THE COLLEGE REPUBLICAN TALKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE ON CAMPUS, THERE ARE A LOT OF YOUNG REPUBLICAN VOTERS THAT WE CAN GET OUT. >> Reporter: A BATTLE TO SHIFT THE DYNAMICS OF THIS KEY COUNTY. >> YOU MIGHT NOT VOTE. >> MIGHT NOT VOTE, YEAH. >> Reporter: WITH THE YOUNGEST CITIZENS ON THE FRONT LINE. >> Reporter: AND YOU HEAR THERE, THE PUSHBACK FROM REPUBLICANS, NOT THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SPLIT THIS COUNTY BUT REALLY JUST DIG INTO THE MARGINS THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING EXPAND IN DANE COUNTY AND IN THIS CITY. HERE ON CAM PUTS' NOT JUST THE LOCAL POLITICAL PARTIES THAT HAVE BEEN MOBILIZING. WE'VE SEEN THE CITY. WE'VE EVEN SEEN A SUPER BACK TRYING TO GET THESE YOUNG VOTERS. >> WE'VE SEEN POLLS SHOWING PEOPLE WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS. BUT ONLY ONE IN TEN FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP. THAT WHAT YOU ARE HEARING IN WISCONSIN? >> THAT'S THE KEY THING. THE PHRASING IS THAT THESE VOTERS FEEL THE NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS. IT DOESN'T SAY THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHEN SHE IS OR DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HER. IN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAD WITH FOLKS, THEY SAY I YOU'VE HEARD THIS ABOUT HER, I'VE SEEN THIS POLICY, BUT I WANT TO GO BACK AND RESEARCH MORE. I WANT TO ANALYZE HER POSITIONS. I WANT TO SEE HOW THINGS CHANGE. ONE THING WE CAN CONTINUE TO WATCH ON THESE COLLEGE CAMPUSES, THE IMPACT OF THE WAR IN GAZA, THE FACT THAT SO MANY STUDENTS HAVE THAT SYMPATHY FOR THE PLIGHT OF PALESTINIANS IN GAZA. THEY WANT TO SEE HOW SHE RESPONDS IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS TO COME AS WE HEAD INTO ELECTION DAY. AND I THINK THAT FACTORS IN TO WHAT YOU SEE IN THOSE NUMBERS, GABE. >> JACK BREWSTER LIVE IN MADISON. WISCONSIN. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US THAT REPORTING. SPEAKING OF THE DEBATE, WE WILL HAVE SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE FIRST HARRIS-TRUMP PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE HOSTED BY ABC NEWS AND STREAMING LIVE RIGHT HERE ON NBC NEWS NOW. IT ALL KICKS OFF TOMORROW NIGHT AT 8:00 P.M. EASTERN. >>> AND AS DONALD TRUMP RAMPS UP HIS CONSPIRACY THEORIES ABOUT ELECTION WORKERS, THREATENING TO JAIL THEM AND HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS, GEORGIA'S TOP ELECTION OFFICIAL IS RAMPING UP HIS EFFORTS TO ASSURE VOTERS THAT THE STATE'S ELECTION WILL BE FAIR AND SECURE. GEORGIA'S SECRETARY OF STATE, BRAD RAFFENSPERGER, A REPUBLICAN, IS TESTING ELECTION EQUIPMENT STATEWIDE. AND HE KNOWS A THING OR TWO ABOUT THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S EFFORTS TO SEW DOUBT AFTER HE BECAME A TOP TRUMP TARGET FOR REFUSING HIS REQUEST TO OVERTURN JOE BIDEN'S VICTORY IN 20 20. NOW IN 2024, THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S ALLIES ON GEORGIA'S, GRANTING LOCAL OFFICIALS NEW POWER TO INVESTIGATE ELECTION RESULTS AND A MOVE THAT COULD DELAY OR EVEN DERAIL THE CERTIFICATION OF RESULTS. JOINING ME NOW IS NBC CORRESPONDENT JULIA ANESLY. WHAT ARE SOME OF THESE CHANGES THAT THE ELECTION BOARDS HAVE PUT IN PLACE? >> THERE ARE SOME RULES THEY HAVE ALREADY PASSED AND SOME MORE THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE ON, ON SEPTEMBER 20th. THERE HAVE BEEN ETHICS COMPLAINTS ABOUT REPUBLICANS ON THE BOARD FOR PASSING THESE IN THE FIRST PLACE. IN A NUTSHELL WHAT THEY DO IS THEY GIVE MORE DISCRETION TO COUNTY OFFICIALS, LOCAL BOARDS WHO HAVE TO CERTIFY THEIR ELECTIONS. IN THE PAST, WE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS REALLY UP TO THE COUNTY, WHETHER THEY CERTIFIED. THERE IS STILL A LOT OF BELIEF AMONG CONSERVATIVES, IF NOT CONSPIRACY THEORISTS, WHO BELIEVE IT SHOULD HAVE GONE TO TRUMP IN GEORGIA IN 2020. SO THERE'S NO RULES THAT WOULD ALLOW SOMEONE IN A COUNTY TO SAY WE CAN'T CERTIFY THIS UNTIL WE'VE DONE A REASONABLE INQUIRY. THOSE ARE THE TWO WORDS WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT IF THIS BECOMES A MAJOR STICK POINT TO CONTEST THE ELECTION RESULTS. >> WHAT'S REASONABLE. >> THAT'S VERY VAGUE. IT SEEMS INTENTION. AND BRAD RAFFENSPERGER HAS SAID THE LONGER THEY DELAY, THERE'S MORE BREATHING ROOM FOR CONSPIRACY. >> YOU SPOKE TO HIM LAST WEEK. WHAT WAS HIS BIGGEST CONCERN HEADING INTO NOVEMBER? >> HISSEST CONCERN IS THAT DELAY, THEY'RE ABLE TO USE THESE RULES NOT TO CERTIFY, THEY WOULD BE BREAKING A STATE LAW THAT SAYS THEY MUST CERTIFY BY THE MONDAY HAVE AFTER THE ELECTION. HE'S KIND OF TEEING UP FOR POSSIBLE LAWSUITS. HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY TO ME. >> WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF GIVING COUNTIES THEIR OWN DISCRETION TO CERTIFIED ELECTION RESULTS? >> ACTUALLY, COUNTIES DO NOT HAVE THE DISCRETION TO CERTIFY THEM. IN THE BLACK LETTER LAW IT SAYS ON THE MONDAY FOLLOWING ELECTION THEY SHALL CERTIFY THEIR ELECTION. IT IS A REQUIREMENT OF STATE LAW. >> AND THAT TROCHES THIS NEW RULE IF. >> THAT TRUMPS BECAUSE IT IS THE LAW, AND IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THE LAW, YOU'LL BE COMING BEFORE A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE. >> THINK THAT MIGHT HAPPEN? >> I DON'T MAKE PREDICTIONS. I JUST SAY WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THE LAW AND MAKE SURE EVERY OTHER PERSON FOLLOWS THE LAW AND DOES THEIR JOB. >> A BIG REASON WHY WE WANT VOTERS AND VIEWERS TO SEE THIS NOW BECAUSE IF THESE TWO END UP BEING ISSUES AFTER THE ELECTION AND THERE'S A CON TEST, WE WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE SOME FRAME OF REFERENCE. IT. >> SO YOU SPOKE TO ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS. HOW DOES SHE JUSTIFY THIS? >> IT'S INTERESTING. I SPOKE TO A REPUBLICAN, RISING STARKS AND SHE SAID THEY PASSED THESE RULES BECAUSE THEY HEARD FROM LOCAL ELECTION OFFICIALS THAT THIS IS WHAT THEY WAND. NOW, OF COURSE, IT'S HARD TO SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY, BUT SHE THINKS THIS IS GOING TO HELP RAISE SOME OF THE CONCERNS FROM STATE ELECTION OFFICIALS BUT SHE SAYS THEY DO NEED TO CERTIFY BY MONDAY EVEN THOUGH THE RULE DOESN'T SAY EXPLICITLY. >> RAFFENSPERGER, HIS LIFE HAS CHANGED A LOT. >> IT WAS INCREDIBLE TO SPEND THE DAY WITH HIM. HE HAS SECURITY THAT TRAVELS WITH HIM. IF HE THINKS THAT HE MIGHT ENCOUNTER SOMEONE WHO COULD BE A THREAT, HIS FAMILY, HIS HOME, ALL THINGS HAVE REALLY CHANGED FOR HIM SINCE 2020. >> NBC SECURITY CORRESPONDENT, THANK YOU. >>> COMING UP, WE'RE LIVE ON CAPITOL HILL AS LAWMAKERS RETURN FROM THEIR BREAK, WITH JUST THREE WEEKS TO MAKE A DEAL TO AVOID A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. PLUS, THE REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE IS SET TO SPEAK MINUTES FROM NOW ABOUT HIS COMMITTEE'S SCATHING NEW REPORT ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN. YOU'RE GOP tries to Harris to Biden's handling of Afghanistan withdrawal >>> WELCOME BACK. HOUSE REPUBLICANS RELEASED ANOTHER SCATHING REPORT ON THE U.S.'S CHAOTIC WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN ACCUSING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OF WATERING DOWN A WARNING ABOUT THE DETERIORATING SITUATION AND FAILING TO LAUNCH THE EMERGENCY EVACUATION OF AMERICANS AND OUR ALLIES UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. FOR MORE -- THE MORE THAN 300- PAGE DOCUMENT OFFERS MUTED CRITICISMS OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DECISION TO MAKE A DEAL WITH THE TALIBAN, COMMITTING TO A FULL U.S. WITHDRAWAL. DURING TODAY'S WHITE HOUSE PRESS BRIEFING, NATIONAL SECURITY SPOKESMAN JOHN KIRBY PUSHED BACK ON SOME OF THE GOP CRITICISM. >> ANY WAR IS MORE DIFFICULT THAN STARTING THEM. PRESIDENT BIDEN KNEW THAT. HE ACKNOWLEDGE EADES THAT. BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE DECISION TO END THIS ONE WAS WRONG OR THAT THE WITHDRAWAL WASN'T CONDUCTED AS PROFESSIONALLY AND AS BRAVELY AS WAS HUMANLY POSSIBLE, GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES. IT DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T GRIEVE AND MOURN WITH THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHOSE LIVES WERE TRAGICALLY TAKEN DURING THE WITHDRAWAL, ESPECIALLY AT ABBEY GATE ON THE 26th OF AUGUST OF THAT YEAR. BUT NOW THAT THE WAR IS OVER OUR NATION CAN BETTER FOCUS ON NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS AROUND THE WORLD. IT WOULD DO WELL OVER THIS PARTISAN RANCOR TO REMEMBER. >> THIS REPORT AS DONALD TRUMP AND KAMALA HARRIS PREPARE TO TAKE THE DEBATE STAGE TOMORROW AND AS REPUBLICANS LOOK TO DAY THE VICE PRESIDENT TO THE TUMULTUOUS WITHDRAWAL. JOINING ME NOW, WHAT ELSE ARE HOUSE REPUBLICANS SAYING, AND WHAT'S THE RESPONSE FROM DEMOCRATS? >> Reporter: ESSENTIAL WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A CONTINUATION OF THREE-YEAR-OLD DEBATE ON CAPITOL HILL SINCE THAT WITHDRAWAL OF U.S. TROOPS FROM AFGHANISTAN. HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE PART OF THIS INVESTIGATION, DID GATHER NEW INFORMATION BUT NOTHING THAT SEEMS TO BE FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGING MINDS. THE CHAIRMAN AND AUTHOR OF THIS REPORT, MICHAEL McCAUL, SAID THE ADMINISTRATION HAD THE INFORMATION TO BETTER PLAN FOR WHAT HE CALLS THE INEVITABLE COLLAPSE OF THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT AND ACT CAUSES THE ADMINISTRATION OF PICK OPTICS OVER SECURITY AT EVERY STAGE. DEMOCRATS DISMISS THIS REPORT AS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED. THEY ARGUE THAT REPUBLICANS ARE FOCUSED ON THE WRONG QUESTION. TAKE A LISTEN AT WHAT A CONGRESSMAN TOLD US. >> THIS IS A DEEPLY FLAWED PARTISAN ATTACK, AND IT'S REALLY, AGAIN, IT'S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE ANSWERS. WE DESERVE TO KNOW THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THIS 20-PLUS-YEAR WAR. THIS WAS A 20-YEAR WAR. THIS WAS NOT A ONE-MONTH WAR. >> Reporter: AND THE WHITE HOUSE FOR ITS PART SAYS THIS REPORT WAS BASED ON CLEAR PICKED FACT, INACCURATE FACTS AND BY BIASES. >> HOW DOES THAT FACTOR INTO THE EVENTUAL U.S. WITHDRAW? >> Reporter: THE REPORT IS ACTUALLY CRITICAL OF ONE PERSON WHO WAS IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AT THE TIME WHO ACTUALLY HELPED DECIDE ON THE DOHA AGREEMENT. HE WAS THE ENVOY TO AFGHANISTAN UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WHO HELPED BROKER THAT DEAL. IT'S CRITICAL OF HIS ROLE IN THAT, INCLUDING SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE HEARD BEFORE, THAT HE DIDN'T INCLUDE IN THE DISCUSSIONS MILITARY LEADERS AND FACTOR IN THINGS LIKE THE POTENTIAL NEED AFTER THE WITHDRAWAL OF U.S. TROOPS FOR CONTRACTORS TO HELP THE AFGHAN MILITARY TO KEEP UP THEIR EQUIPMENT AND MACHINES AND MAYBE CONTINUE SOME OF THAT SUPPORT ROLE THAT U.S. CONTRACTORS HAD PLAYED FOR TWO DECADES. SO THERE IS SOME CRITICISM IN THAT CAPACITY. KEEP IN MIND UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THEY BROKERED THIS DEAL KNOWN AS THE DOHA AGREEMENT THAT WOULD HAVE SEEN U.S. TROOPS LEAVING IN MAY OF 2021. PRESIDENT BIDEN CAME INTO OFFICE IN JANUARY OF 2021. HE BEGAN THIS PROCESS WITH HIS TEAM TO TRY TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY SHOULD FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THAT AGREEMENT, WHETHER THEY SHOULD NEGOTIATE A NEW ONE, HOW THEY SHOULD MOVE FORWARD. AS WE ALL KNOW, GABE, IN APRIL OF THAT YEAR PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED THAWS TROOPS WOULD WITHDRAW BY SEPTEMBER, SO A LATER TIMELINE, BUT HE DID CARRY OUT, FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THAT DOHA AGREEMENT. THE REPORT SPECIFICALLY LAYS BLAME ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR ROLE IN CARRYING OUT THAT DECISION BUT ALSO TIN MANNER IN WHICH THE WITHDRAWAL WAS UNDERTAKEN. SO SOME OF THE CRITICISMS THAT WE HEARD FROM SAWHILL IS THAT THE EMBASSY IN KABUL DID NOT PROPERLY PLAN IN ADVANCE, NEITHER DID THE STATE DEPARTMENT ENOUGH, FOR THE LARGE NUMBER OF AMERICANS AND AT-RISK AFGHANS TO POTENTIALLY WITHDRAW ONCE PRESIDENT BIDEN MADE THAT DECISION. THEY ALSO, AS WE HEARD FROM SAHILL, THE REPORT SAID THAT THE INTELLIGENCE WAS WATERED DOWN ABOUT THE SECURITY SITUATION AND HOW QUICKLY IT COULD DETERIORATE. >> COURTNEY, REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO TIE THE VICE PRESIDENT TO THIS WITHDRAWAL IS LIKELY TO COME UP IN THIS DEBATE. WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HER ROLE? >> Reporter: THE REALITY IS WE DIDN'T KNOW A LOT AT THE TIME BUT THERE HAVE BEEN MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT HER EXACT ROLE IN NATIONAL SECURITY DECISIONS. BY HER OWN ADMISSION, SHE SAYS THAT WHEN THEY WERE MAKING THIS DECISION ABOUT THE WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN, SHE WAS THE LAST PERSON IN THE ROOM THAT SHE WAS VERY INVOLVED. WE HAVE SPOKEN AT NBC NEWS TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE DIRECTLY INVOLVED. SHE SAYS, LOOK, DURING THE TALKS, THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT TO DO, UNSPRING OF 2021, SHE WAS IN THE ROOM, SHE WAS ASKING QUESTIONS. SOME PEOPLE HAVE DESCRIBED HER OF BEING SORT OF LIKE A PROS COULD YOU TOUR IN ASKING RELEVANT AND POINTED QUESTIONS. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE DECISION WAS ULTIMATELY MADE BY PRESIDENT BIDEN. OFFICIALS NOW, WHO ARE CLOSE TO VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, HAVE SAID THAT SHE IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE DECISION TO WITHDRAW, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT WAS ACTUALLY PRESIDENT BIDEN'S DECISION. >> SOME RETIRED GENERALS HAVE COME OUT AND DEFENDED THE VICE PRESIDENT. WHO ARE SOME OF THE NAMES AND HOW UNUSUAL IS IT THAT A MILITARY BRASS WOULD COME OUT AND WEIGH IN ON A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION? >> Reporter: SO, THE REALITY IT'S BECOME MORE AND MORE COMMONPLACE FOR RETIRED GENERAL OFFICERS AND ADMIRALS, AFTER THEY HAVE LEFT MILITARY SERVICE TO ENGAGE IN POLITICAL. WE DON'T STREET EVERYONE, BUT IT HAS BECOME MORE COMMONPLACE IN THE LAST DECADE OR SO. THE LETTER THAT THESE RETIRED GENERALS AND ADMIRALS AND SENIOR ENLISTED MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY PUT OUT, IT DOESN'T JUST IDENTIFY AFGHANISTAN. IT IS MAKING A LARGER CASE FOR WHY THEY SAY KAMALA HARRIS IS REALLY THE ONLY PERSON IN THIS RACE WHO CAN BE PRESIDENT AS OPPOSED TO FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, AND THEY ARGUE THINGS LIKE HER ROLE IN SUPPORTING UKRAINE, HER SUPPORT FOR THE U.S. CONTINUING TO OPPOSE OR, YOU KNOW, WORK AGAINST THE PROLIFERATION IN KLEIN FLEW AND OTHER THINGS. IT'S NOT JUST THE WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN THAT THEY CITE AS THEIR BELIEF FOR WHY SHE SHOULD BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT. >> COURTNEY, THANK YOU. I WANT TO TURN NOW TO SAHILL. LAWMAKERS ARE BACK IN WASHINGTON WITH THE LOOMING GOVERNMENT FUNDING DEADLINE. WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THOSE TALKS AND SHOULD WE EXPECT TO SEE SOMETHING GET DONE BEFORE THE NOVEMBER ELECTION? >> THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING BEFORE THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, GABE, BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN IN THREE WEEKS IF THEY DON'T ACCIDENT. NOBODY IS SAYING THEY WANT TO SHUT THE GOVERNMENT DOWN FOR A MONTH BETWEEN THEN AND THE ELECTION, WHICH IS EARLY NOVEMBER. AS FOR THE TALKS AND NEGOTIATIONS, THERE ARE NO TALKS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE ESSENTIAL CLOCHE TO GO THEIR OWN WAY AND PURSUE A STOP GAP FUNDING BILL ON A PARTY LAIN BASIS THAT WOULD EXTEND GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR SIX MONTHS AND ATTACK THE SAVE ACT. THAT IS A ELECTION BILL THAT WOULD BEEF UP PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP TO VOTE NATIONWIDE WITH A VERY SHORT TIME TO IMPLEMENT. DEMOCRATS WHAT CONTROL THE SENATE HAVE SAID THAT IS DEAD ON ARRIVAL AND THAT IF HOUSE REPUBLICANS GO THIS ROUTED, THEY WILL CAUSE A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, AND SENATOR SHIERM PREDICTING THAT REPUBLICANS WOULD GET BLAMED. MIKE JOHNSON HAS DECIDED TO PUT THE BILL ON THE FLOOR IN THE HOUSE. THEN YOU HAVE THE STANDOFF, WHO IS GOING TO BLINK FIRST. THE STAKES ARE VERY HIGH, NOT JUST ON THE SUBSTANCE BUT ON THE POLITICS AS WELL. DO REPUBLICANS REALLY WANT TO RISK GETTING BLAMED FOR A SHUT DOWN JUST WEEKS BEFORE THE ELECTION, BECAUSE THAT IS USUALLY WHAT HAPPENS. THE PARTY THAT INSTILL GETS AND DEMANDS THINGS THAT CAN'T GET THROUGH THE NORMAL PROCESS ENDS UP GETTING BLAMED BY THE VOTERS. >> LIVE ON CAPITOL HILL, SAHILL, THANK YOU. >>> BREAKING NEWS FROM THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. TWO ALLEGED LEADERS FROM A TRANSNATIONAL TERRORIST GROUP HAVE BEEN INDICTED ON DOMESTIC TEAR ARE ROAR CHARGES AFTER CREATING A SO-CALLEDTO JUMP IN THE OCEAN. >> NEWS FOR THE NEXT DOJ accuses white supremacist leaders of terrorist group of creating "kill list" to start race war GENERATION, NBC NEWS NOW. . >>> WELCOME BACK. WE'RE FOLLOWING BREAKING NEWS. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS JUST CHARGED THE LEADERS OF A TRANSNATIONAL TERRORIST GROUP WITH ALLEGEDLY CREATING A KILL LIST OF FEDERAL OFFICIALS IN HOPES VIN CRATE AGO RACE WAR. ACCORDING TO THE INDICTMENT, THE HIT LIST INCLUDED A U.S. SENATOR, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, AND A FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL AS WELL AS STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS AND PRIVATE LEADERS. THE TWO LEADERS FACE MORE THAN A DOZEN CHARGES INCLUDING SOLICITING HATE CHRISTMAS AND CONSPIRING TO PROVIDE MATERIALS TO SUPPORT TERROR. NOW I WANT TO TURN TO NBC NEWS JUSTICE REPORTER RYAN RILEY. WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE NAMED IN THE DIERNTLE AND WHAT ARE THEY ACCUSED OF? >> Reporter: YEAH, SO ONE OF THE WOMEN FROM CALIFORNIA, THE OTHER IS AN INDIVIDUAL FROM IDAHO, BOTH ARE A MEMBER OF THE ACCELERATIONIST WHITE SUPREMACIST ORGANIZATION THAT WAS ORGANIZED ONLINE ON TELL GRAMS, REFERRED TO AS TERROR GRAM IN THE WAY THAT THESE SORT OF ASSAULTS WERE BEING ENCOURAGED. ESSENTIAL WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO DO WAS CREATE CHAOS AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WITH THEIR SAME IDEOLOGY TO GO OUT AND ATTACK PEOPLE. I THINK WHAT'S REMARKABLE AND WHAT'S NOTABLE ABOUT THIS INDICTMENT IS THIS WASN'T SOMETHING THAT THE FEDS JUST CAME UP WITH ON THEIR OWN. THERE'S ACTUALLY A LOT OF ANTIFASCIST ORGANIZATIONS AND RESEARCHERS THAT WERE OUT THERE THAT ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED CORRECTLY ACCORDING TO THE FEDS ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. THERE'S SOME REPORTING ABOUT IT AT THE TIME BACK IN MARCH OF 2023. SO THIS IS SORT OF THE OPEN SOURCE INTELLIGENCE I THINK THAT THE FBI IS SOMETIMES ACCUSED OF BEING A LITTLE BEHIND ON. YOU HAVE THE WORK OF THESE ONLINE RESEARCHERS WHO ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY PEOPLE USING A LOT OF THIS REALLY COOL OPEN SOURCE TECHNOLOGY. WHAT WE SEE NOW IS THIS HAS LED TO AN INDICTMENT FEDERALLY AGAINST THAT WOMAN IDENTIFIED IN CALIFORNIA A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AS WELL AS THIS OTHER INDIVIDUAL. SO THE COMBINED WORK OF THIS OPEN SOURCE RESEARCH AS WELL AS THE POWERS OF THE FBI REALLY LED TO THIS OUTCOME. >> WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS KILL LIST, SUPPOSEDLY A KILL LIST, ABOUT THE INTENDED TARGET, AND HOW FAR ALONG WAS IT? >> Reporter: THE KILL LISTS ARE REDACTED IN THE DAYTIME. THEY DON'T GIVE ANY STRONG BREAD CRUMBS OTHER THAN SAYING A SENATOR, A JUDGE, ET CETERA THERE. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE QUITE A MARK ON THAT YET. I THINK MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE ANTIFASCISM RESEARCHERS MIGHT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE, SO THAT COULD COME OUT IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS. WHEN IT GOES THROUGH THE PEARL SYSTEM THEY TYPICALLY CLEAN OUT THOSE DETAILS SO THAT THERE'S NOT ADDITIONAL TARGETING OF THE POTENTIAL VICTIMS IN THIS CASE. BUT THE REAL MEAT AND POTATOES OF THIS ULTIMATELY IS THIS LED TO ATTACKS. THERE WERE INDIVIDUALS INSPIRED BY THIS AND DID SHOUT-OUTS BEFORE. ATTACKS THAT HAPPENED IN COUNTRIES INCLUDING ONE ON AN LGBT BAR, AND AN ATTEMPTED ATTACK OR PLANNED ATTACK IN THE UNITED STATES AGAINST AN ENERGY TARGET THERE. >> RYAN, THANK YOU. >>> AFTER THE BREAK, NEW POLLING DATA ON WHY TOMORROW'S DEBATE COULD BE VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS' BEST CHANCE FOR KEY VOTERS THAT SAY THEY NEED TO Panel: Harris and Trump to meet on debate stage for first time >> WELCOME BACK. THERE WILL, OF COURSE, BE A BIG AUDIENCE WATCHING TOMORROW'S PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE WITH SOME TUNING IN TO LEARN ABOUT A CANDIDATE WHO HAS BEEN ATOP THE TICKET FOR LESS THAN TWO MONTHS. ACCORDING TO A SIENNA COLLEGE POLL THREE IN TEN LIKELY VOTERS SAY THEY FEEL LIKE THEY NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS. THAT NUMBER GOES UP AMONG SOME KEY PARTS OF HER COALITION. MORE THAN HALF OF VOTERS UNDER 30 AS WELL AS 4 IN 10 OF HISPANIC AND BLACK VOTERS SAY THEY FEEL THEY NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE VICE PRESIDENT. JOINING ME NOW IS THE PANEL. ONSET IS SUSAN PAGE, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF FOR U.S.A. TODAY, CORNELL BELCHER, POLITICAL ANALYST, AND REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST MATT GORDMAN. SUSAN, YOU KNOW DEBATES MORE THAN ANYONE, HAVING MODERATED ONE. ARE THE STAKES REALLY AS HEY FOR KAMALA HARRIS? >> I THINK YOU'RE SEEING THAT FOR BOTH CANDIDATE. WE DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER ONE. IT'S GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST AUDIENCE PROBABLY OF THE WHOLE CAMPAIGN. IT IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY AND THEREFORE A RISK TO KAMALA HARRIS TO EXPLAIN TO VOTERS WHO SHE IS. >> CORNELL, WE JUST PUT UP SOME OF THOSE POLL NUMBERS. LOOKING AT SO MANY YOUNG VOTERS FEEL THEY NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT A SITTING VICE PRESIDENT? IF YOU'RE A HARRIS CAMPAIGN, GLASS FULL OR HALF EMPTY? >> IT'S HALF FULL. BUT THE KEY POINT WAS THE VICE PRESIDENT. THE VICE PRESIDENT IS ALSO ALWAYS THE PERSON IN THE SHADOWS, WHETHER IT BE DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN. I AM GOING TO STEAL FROM CHUCK TODD. THE VICE PRESIDENT IS THE MOST FAMOUS UNKNOWN PERSON IN THE WORLD. NO, I THINK IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY. LOOK, SHE'S ONLY BEEN AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET FOR A MONTH OR SO. IT REALLY IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HER TO PUT FORWARD HER VISION. I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEA HER TELL A LITTLE BIT OF HER BIOGRAPHY TO TRY TO MAKE HERSELF MORE RELATABLE TO VOTERS. >> THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN YESTERDAY PUT UP AN ISSUE PORTION OF THE WEBSITE. WE'RE SO CLOSE TO THE ELECTION, THEY WAITED THIS LONG TO DO. DO YOU THINK THAT'S PART OF IT? DO YOU THINK THE CAMPAIGN KNOWS THEY HAVE TO DRILL DOWN ON SOME POLICY, OR ARE THEY JUST TRYING TO AVOID TELLING THE STORY? >> POLICY IS SOMETHING WE'VE ALWAYS -- THEY HAVE THIS -- ESPECIALLY DONALD TRUMP IS REALLY A POLICY GUY. >> SOURCES SAY, EXTENSIVE DEBATE PREP. I DON'T THINK YOU'RE BUYING THAT. >> NO, I'M NOT BUYING IT. BUT, LOOK, WHERE IS SHE ON THE POLICY? I DO THINK SHE HAS TO STAY FOCUSED ON WHAT ARE HER POLICY DIFFERENCES AND TRY TO PUT SOME CONTRAST. IT'S VERY HARD TO DO A CONTRAST DEBATE WITH DONALD TRUMP. AS YOU KNOW HE THROWS OUT A LOT OF THINGS. HE FLOODS THE BOX. >> MATT, DO YOU THINK VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, SHE GOING TO BE ON THE DEFENSIVE? IS TRUMP GOING TO BE ON THE ATTACK? HOW DO YOU SEE THIS PLAYING OUT? DONALD TRUMP IS WITH SO MANY VOTERS NOT KNOWING KAMALA HARRIS. HOW CAN HE DEFINE HER? >> LIKE WE SAW THAT UN"NEW YORK TIMES" SIENNA POLL, TRYING TO MAKE HER INTO THE MAINSTREAM, TWO RED FLAGS. ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY, AT LEAST THIS CAME UP BEFORE THE DEBATE, SO YOU KNOW WHICH WAY TO GO, MOST FOLKS SEE HER AS TOO LIBERAL. THE CHANGE AGENTS WITH DONALD TRUMP. IT GIVES BOTH OF THEM A GUIDE PATH ON WHAT THEY NEED TO DO. >> TRUMP'S LAST PERFORMANCE, IT WAS OVERSHADOWED, OBVIOUSLY, BY PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PERFORMANCE. IS THERE A CHANCE WITH A NEW CANDIDATE THAT'S 20 YEARS YOUNGER, CAN HE END UP LOOKING OLD AND OUT OF TOUCH? I THINK THAT'S A RISK. THIS IS NOT THE CANDIDATE HE THOUGHT HE WOULD BE DEBATING, THE ONE HE WAS SO CONFIDENT HE COULD DEFEAT. LAST DEBATE BIDEN WAS SO TERRIBLE THAT I THINK WE OVERLOOKED HOW TRUMP WAS RELATIVELY GOOD. PART OF IT WAS THE MUTED MIKE, IMPOSED SOME DISCIPLINE. WAS HELPFUL. THE MICS WILL BE MUTED TOMORROW NIGHT. WE'LL SEE HOW MUCH THAT HELPS HIT. SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE THE DEBATER THAT JOE BIDEN WAS. SHE'S GOING TO BE MORE VIGOROUS, SHE'S GOING TO RESPOND TO HIM IN A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY I WOULD EXPECT IN POINTING OUT THINGS THAT HE SAYS ARE UNTRUE. SO WE'LL SEE. I THINK SHE'S A PRETTY CONFIDENT DEBATER. I THINK SHE WAS FOUR YEARS AGO. SHE LOOKED PRETTY CONFIDENT ON THAT CONVENTION STAGE. >> CORNELL BEFORE THE CYCLE, PEOPLE ARE SAYING DEBATES DIDN'T MATTER. WOULD YOU SAY THEY MATTER NOW? HOW MUCH DO THEY MATTER? >> YOU KNOW, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION. I ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE AFTER COMPLETE ANSWER. I KNOW WE SAY SHE'S GOT A LOT TO LOSE AND ALL THIS FOR WHAT, BUT THERE'S SO FEW VOTERS, QUITE FRANKLY, AND OUT OF NORTH CAROLINA, DEAD HEAT IN NORTH CAROLINA.. THE WHAT'S GOING TO DECIDE NORTH CAROLINA ISN'T GOING TO BE THAT TWO OR THREE PERCENT UNDECIDED. IT'S IS WHO TURNS OUT. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING THAT TIES RACE IN NORTH CAROLINA. BUT SHE HAS PERFORMED. THIS IS MY ONE POINT ABOUT DONALD TRUMP. FACT CHECKER FROM LAST TIME, HE TOLD 30 LIES. AND ONE FACT CHECKER SAID HE WAS LYING ON AVERAGE ALMOST ONCE EVERY 100 SECONDS. SO THAT'S WHAT SHE'S UP AGAINST. CAN SHE STAY FOCUSED OR DOES SHE CHECK HIM, HIS FACT, AND TRY TO PUSH BACK HIS LIES TO STAY FOCUSED ON HER VISION FOR THE FUTURE. >> MATT, TO BORROW FROM OUR FRIEND CHUCK TODD, HE SAID THE CANDIDATE IS SEEN MORE AS AN AGENT OF CHANGE COULD BE THE CANDIDATE THAT WINS. THAT LAST "NEW YORK TIMES" POLL TRUMP HAD AN EDGE ON THAT. DO YOU THINK THAT'S WHAT VOTERS WANT, AN AGENT OF CHANGE? >> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. IT'S HARD TO SAY. WE'RE IN UNPRECEDENTED TIMES IN THAT WE HAVE A FORMER PRESIDENT AND A CURRENT VICE PRESIDENT. EACH HAS A LITTLE BIT OF COMPLICATIONS AND EACH HAS A CREDIBLE CASE. IT'S TOUGH TO SEE HOW THAT GOES. I SAY THIS ON DEBATES. IT'S ONE OF THE FEW THINGS WE HAVE LEFT IN OUR PROCESS THAT IS THE GREAT INTERVENOR. CASUAL OBSERVERS CAN CHECK THINGS THAT LIVE ON FOR WEEKS ON END AND CAN START A NEW MESSAGE NARRATIVE. I WOULD EXPECT IT TO COME OUT TOMORROW NIGHT. >> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DID HE FANG CANDIDATE. ON THE 2R5EU8, DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN DEFINING CANDIDATE. JOE BIDEN. DO YOU THINK HE'S STILL WASTING TOO MUCH TIME FOCUSING ON THE PREVIOUS CANDIDATE? IS THAT A MISSED OPPORTUNITY? >> I DON'T THINK HE'S DOING IT AS MUCH DAISY TWO WEEKS AGO, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, I THINK AT LEAST WHAT WE'RE SEEING BOTH IN THE "NEW YORK TIMES" POLL, IF YOU TALK TO FOLKS IN BOTH CAMPS, THE INTERNALS IN THE STATES IN PARTICULAR SHOW THIS IS GOING TO BE PROBABLY THE CLOSEST ELECTION SINCE BUSH V GORE. >> BUT JOE BIDEN IS AN ISSUE ALSO FOR KAMALA HARRIS. IF SHE'S GOING TO BE AN AGENT OF CHANGE, SHE NEEDS TO DIFFERENTIATE HERSELF IN A BIGGER WAY FROM JOE BIDEN. >> HOW CAN SHE DO THAT, SUSAN? HOW CAN SHE DIFFERENTIATE HERSELF WHILE PRAISING EVERYTHING ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION? SHE SEEMS TO WANT TO TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT SO MUCH IMMIGRATION. >> IT'S A BIG CHALLENGE BECAUSE SHE OWES A LOT TO HIM AND SHE'S BEEN HIS LOYAL PARTNER BUT SHE NEEDS TO PICK A COUPLE ISSUES ON WHICH THERE IS SOME SPACE. >> I WANT TO PLAY PART OF AN AD THAT THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN IS RUNNING. LET'S LISTEN. >> IN 2016 DONALD TRUMP SAID HE WOULD CHOOSE ONLY THE BEST PEOPLE TO WORK IN HIS WHITE HOUSE. NOW THOSE PEOPLE HAVE A WARNING FOR AMERICA. TRUMP IS NOT FIT TO BE PRESIDENT AGAIN. HERE'S HIS VICE PRESIDENT. ANYONE WHO PUTS THEMSELVES OVER THE CONSTITUTION SHOULD NEVER BE PRESIDENT. >> DO YOU THINK TRUST CAN BE TRUSTED EVER AGAIN? >> NO. IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE ACTION THAT PLACES OUR SERVICE MEMBERS AT RISK. >> TAKE IT FROM THE PEOPLE WHO KNEW HIM BE. DONALD TRUMP IS A DANGER TO OUR TROOPS AND OUR DEMOCRACY. >> THAT AD IS GOING TO BE PLAYING UNPALM BEACH COUNTY AND PHILADELPHIA TOMORROW PLACES WHERE DONALD TRUMP MAY BE WATCHING. THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN IS TRYING TO TROLL HIM. WILL IT GET UNDER HIS SKIN? >> YOU CAN GET UNDER DONALD TRUMP'S SKIN. WE'VE DISCOVERED. THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT COULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A NEEDLE THAT KAMALA HARRIS COULD USE. >> I THINK IT'S SOMETHING LARGER. I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REPUBLICANS WHO COME OUT AND YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED THIS PAST WEEK QUESTIONED, NOT NECESSARILY PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL FAMILY NAME, YOU KNOW, VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY IS NOW AGAINST HIM. I THINK THIS IS A BIGGER SORT OF DRIP, DRIP, DRIP AND SETTING UP A PERMISSION STRUCTURE FOR SOME OF THOSE REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE BEEN SITTING ON THE FENCE. NOT WANTING TO PULL THE LEVER FROM TRUMP BUT NOT SAYING -- BUT SAYING I'M NOT A DEMOCRAT, EITHER. >> NO CURRENT LEADER. >> WHAT PRESIDENT OR EVEN THE LAST PRESIDENT HAVE COME OUT AND SAID THAT? >> THERE A MESSAGE? THE SWING STATE. IT'S KIND OF TELLING YOU THE ACTIONS ARE SHOWING. >> $10 MILLION. I DARE YOU. WINNING ISSUE, NORTH CAROLINA. >> I EEL GO ONLINE RIGHT NOW AND SAY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THE CHENEYS IN AN AD. >> WE WERE LOOKING AT THAT AD. THAT IS TO GET UNDER DONALD TRUMP'S SKIN. DO YOU THINK KAMALA HARRIS NEEDS TO TRY SOMETHING TO GET UNDER HIS SKIN? DOES SHE BRING UP COURT CASES? DANGEROUS FOR HER TO DO IT BUT HOW DO YOU THINK HE WOULD REACT? >> SHE'S NOT A PERFORMER, RIGHT? DONALD TRUMP IS THE ULTIMATE PERFORMER AND ENTERTAINER. WHAT SHE HAS BEEN IS A PROSECUTOR, AND I THINK SHE WILL BRING UP THE FACT THAT'S FELON. BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? HE IS A FELON, LIKE 34 STAPLES. IF THAT GETS UNDER HIS SKIN, THAT'S ONE THING. I THINK YOU WILL SEE HER PROSECUTE THE CASE AGAINST HIM, BUT BACK TO THAT POINT YOU MADE EARLIER, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF VOTERS THAT NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HER. >> REALLY QUICKLY, WHAT DOES DONALD TRUMP NEED TO DO TOMORROW? HE NEEDS TO HAVE WHAT SUSAN SAID. RELY ON THE PREP WE KNOW HE'S DOING. IF HE COULD SHOW UP LIKE HE DID IN THE FIRST DEBATE, I WOULD BE PLEASED. >> THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME ON THE PAN. ALWAYS A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH THIS GROUP. AND WE ARE MOVING TO A COMMERCIAL BREAK. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.