. you are asking us to learn to die with it. and it's wrong. the white house changing its tune on a virus victory. >> we are not going to control the pandemic. >> they are admitting defeat. >> as the outbreak spreads inside the administration again. also tonight, despite the surging virus, early voters out in force at home and abroad. >> we are worried about things like whether our vote will cast fwlmpt dangerous forecast. california faces an extreme weather threat, as snow dampens wild fire flames.

at the vatican, a historic selection. >> they were pioneers. >> we got used early on, to dealing in a man's world. >> there were forks in the road. >> later, it's 2020, so you know it will be a very scary halloween this year no kidding. >> trick or treat! ♪ this is the "cbs overnight news." good evening. nine days to go until the election. and the coronavirus is once again spreading inside the trump administration. at least five aides to vice president pence now testing positive. cbs news battleground polls out today show a tight races in three southern states with joe biden having the edge over the president had in florida. biden is up four points in north carolina and the contest is even in georgia. tonight the president handed out

candy to children of front line workers and health care workers after campaigning in military and new hampshire. paula reed starts us off. >> reporter: as the county topped 80,000 new cases in a day. the president told the people that the virus is fading out. >> we are rounding the turn, we have the vaccines, we have everything. we are rounding the turn. even without the vaccines we are rounding the turn. >> reporter: but covid is still spreading among top white house staffers. as vice president mike pence's chief of staff, mark short, is the latest official to test positive. along with four other members of the vice president's team. in a statement, the white house said, while vice president pence is considered a close contact with mr. short, the vp will maintain his schedule in accordance with the cdc guidelines for essential personnel. on face the nation, margret

brennan pushed on pence's refusal to quarantine >> i want think campaigning and voting are the most essential things he can be doing. >> couldn't he do it virtually to be safer? >> i think he is taking all the precautions and my understanding is that he tested negative as has the second lady. >> reporter: white house chief of staff, mark meadows said the vice president will wear a mask and socially distance on the campaign trail. but also suggested the administration is not looking to mitigate the risk of the virus. >> we are not going to control the pandemic. we are going to control the fact that we get vaccines, tlar put i cans. >> vice presidential nominee kamala harris seized on the remarks as she landed in detroit. >> they are admitting defeat. listen, he should be following the guidelines. we are doing it and i think we have modeled the right and good behavior and they should take our lead. >> vice president joe biden defended his smaller, drive-in campaign es.

>> i don't like the idea of all the distance, but it's necessary. i appreciate you being safe. what we don't want to do is become super spreaders. thank you so much -- >> tonight the vice president was back on the stump campaigning in north carolina, when president trump was asked if his running mate should be out campaigning after being exposed to the virus. president trump said, you will have to ask him. jamie? >> well, paula, with a week to go, who are the campaigns trying to appeal to at this point. >> our cbs news poll shows that biden voters are more concerned about the coronavirus and the concerns are driving a lot of voters to support the former vice president, but the polls show that trump voters, they are more focused on immigration and the committee. so in this last full week before election day. both campaigns are going to be making their final appeal to voters, even though millions have cast their ballot. >> paula, thank you. those votes nearly 60 million now have been cast despite the

pandemic and record infections. ttd the u.s. death toll passed 225,000. >> here is cbs's lilia luciano. >> reporter: america is showing up in record numbers to vote early. from long lines in louisiana. i'm coming to vote, my life depends on. i have my mask and gloves on. so i feel safe. >> reporter: nationwide, coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are setting records. on saturday, 83,718, cases. 31 states are in the red zone for new cases. face the nation was told the next few weeks are critical. >> we are entering the steep slope of the curve, of the

epidemic curve. >> reporter: north dakota and san diego rank second in new cases. delta is taking safety guidelines seriously. its added 500 people to the no-fly list for refusing to mask up on flights. according to an internal memo from cbs news. the surge is not stopping this woman from casting her ballot. she was born before women even had the right to vote and has marked a presidential ballot nearly two dozen times. >> we think one little vote might not make a difference, but it makes a lot of difference. like her, californians are casting their ballot, and people are being urged to wear a mask if you don't, you will be escorted to an outdoor area where you can still full nfill r civic duty and vote. >> thank you. a historic announce. at the value can, pope francis

appointed the first african-american cardinal. william gregory was among 13 new cardinals named sunday. he is currently the archbishop. the sheriff's office in a los angeles suburb got a call about a cat up a tree. in california, you can't just say here kitty, kitty. >> he thought like a mountain tiger. and i saw the tail of it. >> so it not exactly a mountain tigerer. more like a mountain lion. she was asleep at first and wearing a collar and an ear tag, no attempt to coax it down. get this, authorities left her hanging hoping she'd head home by night fall. >> this cbs overnight news will be right back. s

. ♪ this is the cbs overnight news. we turn to extreme weather and new wild fire fears in california. powerful winds expected tonight can leave hundreds of thousands had in the state without power. as pg&e shuts down lines to prevent them from sparking new fires. in colorado, snow fell today. putting plows on roads and bringing possible relief to crews battling record wildfires there. flames have scorched some 300 square miles, roaring through homes, ranches and rocky

mountain national park. our meteorologist and climate specialist, jeff is tracking all of that. jeff, you are busy. >> yeah, it can could be a very dangerous night across california, here's the reason, look at the pink area. extremely critical fire danger. the last time it was issued in oregon in september, it ended up being a devastating time. the santa ana winds will begin to kick in. can cold air is pushing across and it will races down the mountains and in to the valley of the san francisco bay area. wind gusts in the hills and the canyons, up to 85 mile an hour winds. hurricane force winds are possible, that's the case across southern california during the day tomorrow n a fire were to light, it could turn dangerous, very quickly. >> good news, relief for firefighters in colorado, 1-2 feet in the mountains. denver and boulder will see

6-dwe6-12 inches of snow. feels like zero on monday morning and 18 below in denver, in its own category on tuesday. 10 below in aspen. winter has arrived two months early with a vengeance. >> thank you. >> on this vote, the yeahs are 51, the nays are 48. the emotion is agreed to. >> today the u.s. senate met in a rare session voting to advance supreme court nominee amy coney barrett toward final confirmation, despite democratic objections. a final vote is expected tomorrow. barrett would be the fifth woman to serve on the high court. compared to 109 men. but before any woman became a justice, others blazed the trail. here is cbs's jan crawford. >> reporter: for most of these women, they were the first. >> there were two of them in my law school class. >> we got used early on to dealing in a man's world. >> there were had forks in the road. >> reporter: the first female

and african-american federal judge in new jersey. >> rulings that come from the bench make a big difference. they determine lives. >> reporter: judge susan black, the first female federal court judge if in florida. >> that is one thing wonderful with about more women in the law and on the bench. all of a sudden, you will have women who are differnt from each other. so, you are not branded as a woman. >> reporter: and judge stephanie seymore the first in oklahoma. >> we have been discriminated against in various times in our life. so we bring a different prspective to the cases we deal with. >> reporter: in 1979, president carter appointed these women. and 20 others to the federal bench. making a statement about the future of the judiciary. >> what was that statement? >> that women can do this job. >> and they the did the job and it made it possible for women to follow. and to pep get over the stereo

types. >> reporter: what do you mean? >> there are some assumptions, at that time, about women being soft, being emotional. >> reporter: for judge seymore, her had path to court was blocked, literally, when pregnant practicing law. >> and the baliff threw his arm across the way after my male colleague went through and said only lawyers are allowed up here and i stood up straight and stuck my belly out and i said i'm one of those. and i pushed my way through. >> reporter: the way the women pushed through while juggling child raising was preparation. they knew the stakes were high. so etch you were a historic first federal woman, judge, in the state, you were going between work to get the kids to orthodontist, and sports practices? >> absolutely. sitting in the bleachers, reading briefs.

absolutely. >> reporter: this trail blazer has a message for those of tomorrow. >> think of what you want to do in this world. and go for it. what can make a difference and what can you be good at. >> just as these women can did. jan crawford, cbs news, washington. >> great advice, girl power. love it. still ahead, the fight for a critical voting block african-american men. (ringing) - hey kaleb, what's up? how you doing? - hey, i'm good, guess what, i just had my 13th surgery. - really? i just had my 17th surgery. - well, you beat me. - well, i am a little bit older than you. - yeah it's true. how are you doing? - i'm doing good. i'm encouraged by seeing how people are coming together to help each other during times like these. - kind of like how shriners hospitals for children is there for us. imagine if i couldn't get my surgery.

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covid travel restrictions keep canada closed to most americans. it's the same for much of europe. at cbs's elizabeth palmer, americans living outside the u.s. are voting. turns out americans don't even have to be earth bound to vote. u.s. astronaut kate rubin's who blasted off last week cast her absentee ballot from a make-shift voting booth from the international space station. >> it's important to everyone to vote. if we can do it from space, i believe folks can do it from the ground too. >> that is what alex colton is doing from her home in london. >> are you voting in a state where you think it could make a difference? >> i would certainly hope so. i'm from georgia. i have always voted in georgia. and it is super important.

i feel like every vote counts. >> the system of absentee voting has been running smoothly for decades. this year, demand is through the roof said suzanne who runs the u.s. vote foundation. >> as so many different crisis hit the u.s., overseas citizens became more and more aware of what was going on and wanted to participate. >> have you got any idea how many more overseas ballots will be returned this year than in previous years. >> it will probably be about double. >> will you shut up, man. >> who is on your list, joe? >> in this most bitterly contested election in decades, american ex-pats are feeling stress. >> the question is, do i trim the page or don't i trim the page? janet fisher read and re-read the instructions that she

printed at home. >> if it was not 100% perfect i felt they would discount my vote. i felt passion about voting in this particular election. >> i didn't receive my ballot and i have spoken to two other americans as well that have been living here and they have not received theirs either. >> she did register online though, and was able to print one. but it has shaken her faith. >> i'm not are really sure, so i feel smor skeptical than i have in the past. >> in the lobby of the u.s. embassy in london, there's a special mailbox. some americans rattled by changes to the u.s. postal service and allegations of fraud choose to post their ballot here's. one was patricia wynn. >> how confident are you that your vote will be counted in the long run? >> i think it's really worrying question these institutions. and that we are worried about things like whether our vote will count. >> reporter: these votes could

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trump. we spoke to three generations of men to see where they stand. >> i'm 46, man, take it easy on me. >> each week, demetrious short leads runners through nashville, but it's the race for president that has them going the extra mile. >> reporter: have you all voted yet? >> yes, i voted, normally my, with me being in the military i'm a-political, pretty much independent. >> reporter: which is why retired marine rucker the did not support trump or hillary clinton four years ago. >> i pretty much voted for the libertarian. i could not see either of those two. >> imagine if all those folks actually turned out to vote. >> reporter: this election the biden and trump campaigns are increasingly courting african-american men through ads. >> now, it's our turn. our responsibility to take our power back. >> he wants everyone in america to have the opportunity toward success. >> reporter: and most recently in the last debate. >> nobody has done more for the

black community than donald trump. criminal justice reform. prison reform. opportunity zones. >> we have to provide for economic opportunity, better education. better health care. >> reporter: the candidates have unveiled specific plans appealing to the estimated 36 eligible african-american voters. black males voted for trump three times more than african-american women. >> reporter: what do you believe has spoken to the african-american men. >> i don't feel that anybody took a stand to protect african-americans, and promote africa americans. >> there's power. and nothing will change if we all take a back seat. >> reporter: so they are putting their best foot forward. nicole kimpt --

>> when had we return, costumes, candy and covid.

finally tonight, it's that timefor ghost approximates and goblins and things that go bump in the night. but it is twen2020, so trick or treating is uniquely scary this year. >> reporter: in a town famous for witch trials and halloween celebrations the scariest thing the tourists. the mayor is telling sight seers to stay home. >> it's not the year to km to salem. and it's not the year to come to visit. >> reporter: people are showing up anyway. >> it's been crazy. it's been as many crowds as usual. >> reporter: halloween will not be as much about trick or treating. displays like this one can be enjoyed by people safely from a distance. >> here you go. >> thank you. >> reporter: how do you dispense treats from a distance? in this neighborhood, one family came up with a solution. >> called the covid safe candy

slide. >> the slide made from pvc pipe. >> trick or treat! >> while keeping socially distant, the mayo clinic urging americans to avoid high risk activities. costume parties, haunted houses and especially trick or treating. >> unfortunately having many people from different households mixing in, in close proximity is a high risk opportunity. >> reporter: instead, recommending alternative low risk celebrations. in case you are wondering the candy on the slide is disinfected first. halloween is not cancelled, it's just different. >> everything that's been different had a purpose. but we can give them a little bit of normalcy. they deserve it. >> michael george, cbs news, new york. and that's the "cbs overnight news" for this monday. for some of you the cbs news

continues. reporting from los angeles. "cbs news," original reporting. ♪ this is the "cbs overnight news." >> good evening, i'm jamie in los angeles, nine days to go until the election, and the coronavirus is once again spreading inside the trump administration. at least five aides to vice president pence now testing positive. cbs news battleground polls out the today show a tight race in three southern states with joe biden having the edge over the president in florida. biden is up four points in north carolina, and the contest is even in georgia. tonight, the president handed out candy to children of front line health workers and military families after campaigning in maine and new hampshire.

>> reporter: even as the country topped 80,000 new cases a day. the president told supporters that the virus is fading out. >> we are rounding the turn. we have vaccines and everything. we are rounding the turn. even without the vaccines we are rounding the turn. >> reporter: but covid is spreading among top white house staffers as vice president mike pence's chief of staff, mark short, is the latest official to test positive. along with four other members of the vice president's team. in a statement the white house said while vice president pence is considered a close contact with mr. short, the vp will maintain his schedule in accordance with the cdc guidelines for essential personnel. on face the nation. margaret brennan pressed robert o'brien, who had the virus earlier this year on pence's refusal to quarantine. >> i think campaigning and voting are about the most

essential thing we can doing. >> couldn't he do it virtually to be safer? >> i think he is taking all the precautions and my understanding is he tested negative as this is has the second lady. >> reporter: white house chief of staff, mark meadows said that the vice president will wear a mask and socially distance on the campaign trail and that the administration is not looking to mitigate the virus. >> we are not going to control the virus. we are going to control getting vaccines and theraputics. >> reporter: kamala harris seized on the remarks as she landed in detroit sunday. >> they are admitting defeat. listen, he should be following the guidelines. we are doing it, i think we have modeled the right and good behavior, and they should take our lead. >> reporter: on saturday, former vice president joe biden defended his smaller, drive-in campaign events. >> i don't like the idea of all the distance. but it's necessary. i appreciate you being safe, what we don't want to do is become super spreaders.

>> tonight the vice president was back on the stump campaigning in north carolina. when president trump was asked if his run are mate should be out campaigning after being exposed to the virus. president trump said you had have to ask him. jamie. >> well, paula, with a week to go, who are the camp ans trying to appeal to at this point? >> jamie, our cbs news polls shows that biden voters are more concerned about coronavirus and those concerned were driving a lot of voters to support the former vice president. but our polls show that trump voters, they are more focused on immigration and the economy. so, in this last full week before election day, both campaigns are going to be making their final appeal to voters even though millions have already cast their ballot. >> paula, thank you. those votes nearly 60 million now, have been cast despite the pandemic and record infections, today the u.s. death toll passed 225,000. here's cbs's lilia luciano.

>> reporter: america is showing up in full force to vote early and in person in all 50 states despite an alarming fall covid surge. from long lines in louisiana. >> i'm coming out to vote my life depends on it. >> reporter: to california, where patricia williams cast her ballot. >> i have my mask on. i have my gloves, so i feel safe. >> reporter: nationwide, coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are setting new records. on saturday, 83,718 new infections. just shy of friday's pandemic record. 31 states are in the red zone for new cases. former fda commissioner dr. scott gottlieb told face the nation that that the next few weeks are critical. >> we are entering what will be the steep slope of the curve, of the epidemic curve. >> north dakota and south dakota rank first and second in per capita infections and the risk ary fall travel season is here. >> delta is taking safety

guidelines seriously. it added 500 people to the no-fly list for refusing to mask up on flights according to an internal memo obtained by cbs news, the surge is not stopping 109-year-old arlean hart andrews to cast her ballot. she was born before the women had a right to vote. >> we think one vote does not make a lot of difference, but it makes a lot of difference. >> reporter: people are casting their ballot in person. and while public health officials are urging people to wear a mask, if you don't, you will be escorted to an outdoor area where you can fulfill your civic duty and vote. jamie? >> thank you. we turn to extreme weather and new wild fire fears in california. powerful winds expected tonight could leave hundred-s of thousands in the state without power. as pg&e shet shuts down lines

prevent them from sparking fires. in colorado, snow fell today. putting plows on roads and bringing possible relief to crews battling record wildfires there. flames have scorched some 300 square miles, roaring through homes, ranches and rocky mountain national park. cbs news meteorologist and climate specialist, jeff baridelli is tracking all of that. jeff you are busy. >> it could be a dangerous night across california. here's the reason. look at the pink area. critical fire danger. the last time this was issued in in oregon in september, it ended up buying a devastating situation. that is for tonight. during the day tomorrow, the worst of it is across southern california around los angeles when the santa ana winds kick in. here's what is going on. a strong cold front pushing across nevada, rushing down the valley in to the bay area, wind gusts in the hills and canyons, up to 85 mile had an hour winds. hurricane force winds are possible. and that's the case in southern

california across the day tomorrow. if a fire were to light, it could turn dangerous quickly. good news, relief for firefighters in c colorado, 1-2 feet in the mountains. even denver and boulder will see around 6-12 inches of snow there. look at the brutal wind chills. feels like zero on monday morning. feels like 18 below in denver. in its own category on tuesday morning. 10 below in aspen. winter looks like it has arrived with a vengeance two months early. >> thank you. a historic announce. at the vat can. pope francis appointed the first african-american cardinal. he was among 13 new cardinals named sunday. he is currently the archbishop of washington. he has been a leader in addressing the catholic churches sexual abuse scandals. the "cbs overnight news" will be right back. [phone rings] "hello, how can i"

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♪ this is the "cbs overnight news." thanchlgs for staying with us. te presidential eelection is now just a week and a day away. 10s of millions americans have already cast their votes either in person or at drop boxes or through the mail. we have reports from western europe and russia. starting with seth doan, here in europe, they are watching the election closely. and while two names were at the top of the ticket. one seems to get the most

attention. president trump. >> he is really taken the world by storm. >> in a good way or bad way? >> i would, well -- in an american way. >> reporter: the chummy europe/u.s. relationship has strained recently. the long-time allies parting ways over climate change and spatting over trade. with new u.s. tariffs on products made from french made airplanes to italian parmesean cheese. >> it's okay. >> the united kingdom's former ambassador to the u.s., knows both worlds well. >> people who, are used to a more traditional american -- find it extraordinary, disrupt i have and they don't like it. >> derek made headlines in 2019.

aft after a confidential memo leaked. this type of direct assessment, he argues in his new book. is typical. >> you praised trump. >> he had messages that really connected with people and his way of delivering the messages was extraordinarily effective. the difference now is that he has a record to run on. >> the judgment of the record and in turn america itself has been harsh in europe. >> america'ses a super power. it's becoming less so. >> america doesn't have the same position that it had in terms on moral authority. >> reporter: the reputation for the u.s. is in record low and little confidence in president trump's handling of world affairs. >> do you think the world is moving past america as the super power? >> i don't really. american leadership has been very important to europe. and i think to the world. and if it's not there, you just

worry that the world will be more insecure, more dangerous, more conflicted place. >> the u.s. gets low marks here for the management of the coronavirus pandemic. broader issues like health care, and the recent protests over racial inequality. and many parts of europe, this election is not only being seen as a referendum on president trump, but on america's leadership role in the world. >>. >> this is, elizabeth -- the moscow marathon brings out thousands of runners in one of the city's great fall rituals. russians love a good race. so we ask some of them who they are picking in the u.s. presidential. >> trump. trump. >> trump. >> i think truch. -- i think trump. >> the people have a preference, what about the people? in 2016, russia medaled in the u.s. election on the side of

president trump. remember the troll factory in st. petersburg? it happened in that building behind me, which was the headquarters of the internet research agency. in fact, the nerve center of the sustained and covert operation to influence the american election. and the kremlin got what it thought it wanted. presidents putin and trump went on to develop some personal chemistry. but it was not enough to warm repolice statir -- to warm relations, just the opposite. u.s. got hammered from sanctions. and yet, u.s. intelligence said that russia is trying to tip the scales in president trump's favor again. nicoli petrov is in the london think tank. >> the kremlin was disappointed how things were going on, under president trump. but there's no doubts that they

would like him to stay in the office. >> for one thing, russia believes republican administrations are less likely to criticize it for human rights abuses and silencingactivists. but, vladimir putin is nothing if not pragmatic, he signaled that he can work with either of them, and publically praised them both. one sign that the kremlin is prepared for abide enwin is this comedy sketch on russian state tv. it featured a digitally manipulated president trump, unemployed and looking for work. >> sometimes i will say, wow, that's going to be a great story. >> ultimately, most russians want the same thing as their leaders. better relations with america after november the 3rd. no matter who wins the race. >> the "cbs overnight news" will be right back. did you know diarrhea is often caused by bad bacteria in food?

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political and legal battles raging over the ballots themselves. as ed o'keefe reports, it's a modern day skirmish, as old as the day itself. >> americans are lining up to vote. georgians are facing long lines and long waits. >> earlier this month in georgia, some voters weighted a eight hours to cast their ballots in georgia, there's been record turn out. november third may be a national election will, but it's local election laws that govern how people vote, in each state, district and territory. >> would it be easier if every american voted on the same kind of ballot. ? >> it could be easier. unfortunately, we have such different rules around the country that make having a common ballot very difficult. this year, it's estimated that at least half of us will vote

early or by mail. millions -- >> i never was in to politics. >> like this 79-year-old woman from michigan, are exercising their right for the first time. >> i don't want to start crying. i felt very powerful. >> all of which means -- >> the design of the ballot, is actually a really big factor for many people. >> yeah, that is absolutely true. >> he said the past offers countless cautionary tails. like two years nag florida, where the ballots unusual design may have confused just enough voters to tip it away from his republican challenger, rick scott. who can forget the 2,000 presidential election, when confusion over the butterfly ballot in palm beach california likely cost al gore the white house. >> it's complicated, it's not attractive and it's not organized but in a way, it's farber than it used to be. >> alisha change is offer of the

book, of this is what democracy looked like. a visual history of the printed ballot released earlier this year. looking back to a century and a half of american elections, she said voting used to be designed differently. >> the fact that it was colorful at all. >> she has been researching ballots as a hobby for years. in her book, she writes, their type, their design, and the paper they were printed on, have a story to tell. they speak to changing notions of what election wills are, whom they include and exclude, and the political possibilities they offer. from ballots printed using a simple letter press in 1817 to multi-colored ballots listing the 1878 republican ticket. >> it's bonkers, first of all, how is that possibly a billion on the. >> or how about this 14 foot scroll, for a new york city

democratic -- >> the one that threw me was the so-called tape worm ballot. >> yeah, it's a doozie. they got 26 names in there and it was only after they tried it twice that the california led legislature was like, this is ridiculous. >> many saw what was at stake as the voting evolved. >> here was a ballot that was produced in reconstruction and the voter, you can clearly, he red lined through all of the options presented to him. f >> and there were ballots found by the california working men's property. where had they were centered on projecting the balance on on thes from the chinese. >> they forced straight party line votes. >> having a ballot now that has all of the candidates listed on one sheet of paper. that is a radical idea and it's

only starting to happen. say, in the early 1900s. where an australian format was adopted that had all the candidates listed by office. as before. each party themselves printed the ballots. which is nuts to think of now. >> and in the past, voting was considered a form of entertainment. >> imagine a period where there was no amuse. parks or movies and election and all the hulabauloo in that was the entertainment. so it was a massive spectacle. barbecues and fireworks and cannon fire and everything that everyone was talking about. food and fireworks were less common on election day. instead, there's worry of voter access and how quickly ballots can be counted. if you plan to vote by mail this coming november, be sure to mail back two envelopes or else your ballot will be thrown in the trash. >> that's a serious concern in a number of states, including the key battleground of pennsylvania. with the so-called naked ballot. a term that refers to a blank

envelope that the ballot must be placed in before it's returned. >> which states on or areas of states that you guys are most concerned about in terms of being able to properly manage their elections? >> in particular, when we are talking about design challenges. any state that is moving from where only a small number of people were voting by mail, to large percentages. that could be pennsylania, that could be georgia, that could be ohio. >> from poll levers to computer screens. the road is bumpy. as is illustrated here. sfwh you are a designer, you think of it a lot. how do you design the perfect ballot? >> i think i would not only design the ballot, i would expand my scope and propose that we try to take a look at the whole system. voter registration. maybe the sign is better located so you don't make basically a county level official be the art director for how the ballots get made. >> you are saying if there's a

vac answery at the board of election, you would do it? >> it's uper

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so you don't wait for life. you live it. as the race for the white house enters the home stretch, we have thoughts about the state of the campaign. >> 50 million americans have already voted. how did they make their decision. an informed elect theorate is needed for a healthy democracy. but they left no instructions. should we choose resumes or debate performance. should we think of who we want to have a beer with. you would think there should be a manual. the presidency was a clubhouse election. only propertied white men made

the score. and the electoral college ensured a good pick. they offered moral certainty that the office of president would not fall to the lot of any man who is not endo ywed with requisition. the ninth president, william henry harrison worried that people would pick the most popular candidate. men of fair estimate characters would sell themselves this is to the public like auctioneers. it's difficult to use your reason when you are pie-eyed. political parties were in control for a long time and parties told voters how to pull

the lever. herbert hoover was nervous that his party over sold him. my friends have madehe american pple think me a sort of super man. if contions rise in the land in which the political machinery is unable to cope. i will be the one to suffer. he called that one. since then, laws that blocked blacks and women from voting have been demolished the black room party bosses have been vanquished too, parties took over what the voters needed. they vote tea jersey and the rest, we have to evaluate the candidates and come up with a scheme for doing so. we are all in the clubhouse now. and this is our glorious burden. >> and that's the overnight news for this monday. for some of you the news continues, for others, check back later for cbs this morning and follow us online, any time.

reporting from los angeles. it's monday october 26, 2020. this is the cbs morning news. eight days to go as president trump and joe biden hit the home stretch, the virvus hits again. coming out in record numbers. still a surge of covid-19 cases and one expert says we are at a dangerous tipping point. dangerous encounters. swimmers in an australian beach not knowing a shark is just feet away in the middle of a feeding frenzy. good morning.