♪ ♪ captioning sponsored by cbs >> reid: tonight, closing blitz. president trump and joe biden chase votes and trade insults in a fight to the finish. >> this doesn't seem like someone who is going to come in second. >> it's time for donald trump to pack his bags and go home. >> reid: polls show a tightening race, early voting still smashing records across the country. also tonight, dr. fauci's new warning about a whole lot of hurt ahead. tensions flare: the president xating this incident on a texas highway. >> did anybody see the picture of the crazy bus driving down the highway? >> reid: battleground pennsylvania: we talk to voters about their choices. plus, the reality check at the border-- how president trump's remigration policies are affecting families and children. our exclusive with the homeland security chief.

>> reid: and on the campaign trail, he shoots, and scores. >> oh! >> that's what i do! >> reid: later, a lesson in civility, and civics, from a 101-year-old voter. >> all, old, young, should vote, bring us together as one. bring us together as one. >> this is the "cbs weekend news." >> reid: good evening, i'm chip reid reporting in washington. the most costly presidential campaign in american history appears headed to a suspense- filled close. polls show a tightening race as the nation suffers the worst health crisis in a century. in 13 battleground states identified by cbs news, the average of new infections reported daily has jumped 45% over the past two weeks. in these final hours of 2020, president trump is blitzing

several of those states. joe biden is focusing on two: ohio and pennsylvania. with over 93 million americans voting early, the undecided are few. weijia jiang leads us off. >> does anybody have a coat i could use, please? this is definitely not the right one. >> reporter: michigan marked the first of five states where president trump is holding rallies today, along with iowa, north carolina, georgia, and florida. the president brought up another crucial state, texas, where the biden campaign told cbs news yesterday a group of trucks with trump signs and flags tried to slow down one of its buses and slow down one of its buses and run it off the road. the incident led to the biden team canceling some events. mr. trump offered an alternative lternativen: explanation: >> did anybody see the picture of the crazy bus driving down the highway that was surrounded by, like, hundreds of cars? you know, they were protecting his bus yesterday, because

they're nice. they had hundreds of cars. >> reporter: president trump faced new criticism today for his downplaying the uncontrolled covid-19 crisis. in a new candid interview with of "the washington post," dr. anthony fauci said the biden campaign is taking the pandemic "seriously from a public health perspective," unlike mr. trump, whose view "is driven by the economy and reopening the country." fauci said the u.s. is in a perilous position heading into the fall and winter months, and that "we're in for a whole lot of hurt. it's not a good situation." the white house released a statement saying, "it's unacceptable and breaking with , "it'sms for dr. fauci, a senior member of the president's coronavirus task force, and someone who has praised president trump's actions s actionst this pandemic, to throughout this pandemic, to choose three days before an election to play politics." >> we're going to have to get covid under control. it's almost criminal the way he has handled it.

>> reporter: the former vice president campaigned in philadelphia earlier, trying to flip a critical battleground state from red back to blue. >> so every single vote matters. the power, the power to change this country is literally in your hands. >> reid: weijia joins us now from the white house. weijia, both candidates are heading back to pennsylvania to rally tomorrow. just how important is that state? >> reporter: well, chip, the 20 electoral votes could decide the race. today, president trump criticized the supreme court for its decision not to intervene about the deadline to count mail-in ballots in pennsylvania, which is three days after november 3. he insisted that the result should be finalized that very night. in 2016, the president was not declared a winner until the early morning after election day. chip. >> reid: weijia jiang, thank you. now to the state of the race. cbs news elections surveys director anthony salvanto is

at our election headquarters in new york. >> reporter: hey, chip. the most important thing people need to know going into tuesday is that joe biden has a lead among the millions of people who have already cast a ballot. that's record early-vote turnout. but, the president has a lead among the people who say they are going to show up on election y.y. so what happens depends on that second part. now, in our battleground tracker estimates from all 50 states, we see that states leaning toward joe biden would give him a narrow electoral college lead. it's the electoral college that decides the presidency. but if you run the numbers through the states-- if republicans get an election-day surge and turnout, the president holds to his 2016 southern map and can flip pennsylvania to win reelection. having said that, there's a path and can flip pennsylvani for joe biden to win comfortably, and that is if democrats match that turnout, joe biden flips a string of states through the south and the upper midwest. chip.

>> reid: anthony salvanto, thank hrough now to the surging coronavirus crisis. as of today, more than nine million people in the united states have been infected. more than 230,000 have died. that's the most in the world. that's the most in the still, early voters have risked it, turning out to vote in historic numbers. cbs' lilia luciano has the latest. >> reporter: tonight, excitement at the polls, even as the pandemic rages out of control. >> if there's any silver lining, it is the fact that people are deeply engaged. >> reporter: in record numbers, more than 93 million early ballots cast, and still counting. >> so much sacrifice was made so that we could have the opportunity to vote. >> reporter: in california, where every eligible voter got a mail-in ballot, anthony banjo went to the polls. >> because i want to make sure that my vote counts. >> reporter: at the same time, the nation's fall covid surge is in full force, new infections nearing 100,000 a day. 27 states are breaking records for daily infections in the last

two weeks. former f.d.a. commissioner dr. scott gottlieb said on "face the nation" that the winter could be grim. >> i think december is probably going to be our toughest month. but when you look at what's happening in states right now, you're seeing an accelerating spread. >> reporter: in new york city, police shut down an illegal halloween party with nearly 400 guests. starting wednesday, all out-of- town visitors to new york will face mandatory testing, but no quarantine for now. back in california, a covid coronavirus story. natalie coelho tested positive for coronavirus just weeks after starting treatment for an aggressive form of breast cancer. >> so i had two things going against me. >> reporter: her doctors paused her chemo so she could fight covid first. >> it was very scary. >> reporter: how did your family take it? >> i was in the hospital. it was took control of the house hold. it made me cry. very positive, they keep me going for sure. >> reporter: this super vote site at the honda center, home

of the anaheim ducks, is open until 8:00 tonight. in all, orange county has of the anaheim ducks, is open already seen a 61% voter turnout. chip. >> reid: lilia luciano, thank you. as we mentioned, all eyes are on yes are onground state of pennsylvania. cbs' natalie brand spoke to voters in the keystone state about their choices as america decides. >> reporter: in southwestern pennsylvania's coal country, mining has long been a source of pride and survival. >> that crew that you work with, those eight men, that was your second family. you were there working in the mine because of your first family. if you didn't work, they didn't eat. >> reporter: steve corcoran is retired, but worries about the future of the industry. it's one reason he's voting again for president trump. what about biden's messages on this topic concerns you? >> if he were to be elected, you know, some of his views and some of his plans, it would devastate this area. >> reporter: it's a fear that impacted the vote here in 2016

when mr. trump carried greene and fayette counties by more than 60%. >> he was going to bring coal gock. >> reporter: a program that swayed democrat tony burnsack to vote for the president-- but not again. >> i was lied to once, he ain't going to lie to me another time. >> reporter: despite the trump administration rolling back regulation, coal has seen double-digit decline and plants have continued to close. >> coal is a dying industry. i never thought i would say those words, but it is. >> reporter: economic forces, including the natural gas fracking boom, is considered a driving cause, but fracking has also benefited this area, abundant in natural gas. and now it's a big campaign issue for those who depend on the energy industry. >> there are so many other jobs that complement the gas industry. >> reporter: biden has campaigned on building a new green energy infrastructure. >> as far as the green jobs go, i'm sure a lot of the younger guys probably could transition to something like that, but it would be very difficult.

>> reporter: those in the industry worry about not only a loss of income but also a loss of identity. >> my two sons-in-law, you know, that they're working in the gas industry, they would lose their job. they can come and live with me. but it's scary. >> reporter: the road ahead is uncertain for a region where energy has fueled life and ead tics. natalie brand, cbs news, masontown, pennsylvania. >> reid: one of the president's biggest focal points these last four years has been immigration and how his policies have affected migrant families. last month, we learned that the deported parents of hundreds of children could not be found after they were separated at the border. mireya villarreal is in hidalgo, texas. >> reporter: after four hours riding along with border patrol, we end up in a south texas citrus field with agents searching for a group they believe crossed into the u.s. illegally, their search leading us to this family of three. their story of despair, shared

by many other families, often worsens long after reaching the border. although the trump administration's child separation policy is no longer active, the a.c.l.u. recently revealed the government couldn't find the parents of 545 children after separating them. >> the government was given two months to do that, and they were not able to do that. >> reporter: it's a problem the group justice in motion is trying desperately to solve. >> we were literally going to churches. we set up a 1-800 number in guatemala and honduras. if you know someone who has been, you know, sent back and separated from their child, call this number, and we might be able to help. >> reporter: in an exclusive interview with cbs news, acting homeland security secretary chad wolf argued most of those parents made the decision to stay separated, when given the choice. that's a really difficult position for a parent to be in. >> but is it? it's not. >> reporter: for a parent? >> but it's not-- it's not-- >> reporter: do you have children? >> i do, i do. >> reporter: that's what i'm saying-- >> there's no way that i would

leave them another country unknowing who, what kind of sponsor they're going to be put with. i would-- i would absolutely have them with me. >> reporter: in the dangerous country, versus... >> again, that's a misconception, right? you're assuming it's dangerous. >> reporter: honduras and guatemala? no. >> every part of the country is dangerous? every single part? >> reporter: not every part. in 2019, the trump administration decided asylum seekers from other countries must wait in mexico while waiting their cases to be heard. the policy is credited for cases ng apprehensions, but it's also led to camps like this one just across the border. refugee advocates report some people have been waiting here for more than a year. families are exposed to so many dangers. >> reporter: sister norma pimentel says this camp is proof our immigration system is far from being fixed. >> i'm disheartened at the fact caat we can allow such a humanitarian reality of human suffering be controlled by political agendas, you know, that all our policies are geared

toward simply to deter families, to discourage them, to totally disregard their humanity. >> reporter: mireya villarreal, cbs news, hidalgo, texas. >> reid: other news now: a vicious attack in quebec city. alice arrested a 24-year-old man charged with killing two people and wounding five others. the suspect was dressed in medieval clothing and armed with a japanese sword. there's no word on a motive. in turkey, the death toll from friday's earthquake has risen to at least 49. today, rescue workers dug on, searching for survivors. they pulled a man from the rubble after he had been buried for 33 hours. and this, a rabbit, thought to be someone's pet, was also rescued. an engagement in the sports world. four-time olympic basketball champion sue bird made the news public on instagram. she posted a picture of two-time world cup winner megan rapinoe, placing a ring on her left hand, and we add our congratulations.

and we add our congratulations. president obama finished a campaign appearance in flint, michigan, last night, leaving a gym in dramatic fashion. taking the ball deep in the corner, mr. obama drained a three. >> oh! >> reid: nothing but net. >> oh! >> walk-off. >> that's what i do! that's what i do! >> reid: nice touch. straight ahead on the "cbs weekend news," the things this election will decide that have nothing to do with trump or biden. also, from algeria to zimbabwe, why this election is so important to some africans. and later, she's 101, and still very passionate about the right to vote. and a champion for my own health. i talked with my doctor... and switched to... fewer medicines with... dovato. prescription dovato is for some adults who are starting hiv-1 treatment or replacing their current hiv-1 regimen. with...just 2 medicines... in 1 pill,

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>> reporter: as voters across the nation line up to cast their ballots, statewide laws are also on the line. >> personally, it's just my voice being heard. and it's an opportunity, especially on the local level. >> reporter: california leads nie country with 12 ballot measures, including prop 22, which would turn workers for gig companies like uber and lyft into independent contractors and grant them some limited work benefits. the golden state will also decide on lowering the voting age to 17 in state primaries and restoring voting rights to felons on parole. mississippi is choosing a design for its new state flag-- the w st one lowered in july, that featured the confederate battle emblem, the last state to do so. >> if it's rejected by the people, we'll come back and we'll do it again. >> reporter: rhode island, the smallest state, has the longest official name, "the state of rhode island and providence plantations." a measure there would shorten it to just "rhode island." and colorado will decide if she gray wolf will be

reintroduced to roam parts of the state again. legalizing recreational marijuana is on the ballots in arizona, south dakota, montana, and new jersey. oregon and washington, d.c., could legalize psychedelic mushrooms for therapeutic use. and, today is the last day for early voting in several states, including the battlegrounds of wisconsin and florida. and here in new york, long lines again, with folks wanting to have their say. chip. >> reid: tom hanson, thanks. still ahead on the "cbs weekend news," the world is watching america decide. we'll show you what some are seeing. by getting vaccinated. if you're 65 or older, get the superior flu protection of fluzone high-dose quadrivalent. it's the only 65+ flu vaccine with four times the standard dose. and it's free with medicare part b. fluzone high-dose quadrivalent isn't for people who've had

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purchased through chase, 3% at drugstores, 3% on dining including takeout, and 1.5% on everything else you buy. chase. make more of what's yours. >> reid: the >> reid: the whole world is watching america decide its future. tonight, the view from africa. cbs' debora patta is in johannesburg. >> reporter: during south africa's struggle to end apartheid, the u.s. was hailed as a champion of democracy. americans cheered, along with the rest of the world, when nelson mandela became the country's first black president. who wins this election matters, because america is still a because amer barometer for the world, says south african author ferial haffajee. >> america has always been a place where democracy has been hamething to look up to. and it's very sad that that's no longer the case. >> reporter: south african-born osaily show" host trevor noah ce j jokingly compared president

trump to an african dictator. >> i have got a very good brain. >> god helped me by giving me a certain brain. >> we will win. he timl be winning all the time. >> we will have so much winning if i get elected that you may get bored with winning. >> yeah, remember that? >> reporter: five years later, it's no laughing matter. africans regard the u.s. president as a leader who cozies up to dictators, shreds climate t ange agreements, and quits international human rights organizations. of course, africa views the u.s. through the lens of its own often-violent history. after all, this is the continent t at knows the cost of an election going up in flames when presidents refuse to lose. professor of u.s. studies gilbert khadiagala says most africans want democracy, even if their leaders don't. >> so if they don't have key partners like the u.s., then it partners like the u.s., becomes a bit problematic. so trump has been, i think, a

threat to what i call the democratization of very fragile democracies in places like africa. >> reporter: dem >> reporter: democracy is still in its infancy here. khadiagala is worried that if the u.s. continues down this path of isolationism, that could completely eclipse america's influence. debora patta, cbs news, sohannesburg, south africa. >> reid: next on the "cbs weekend news," we get a civics lesson from a 101-year-old voter.

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>> reid: we end tonight with a story of inspiration. nikki battiste introduces us to a woman who understands the power of the vote. >> there we go. >> reporter: born before any woman had the right to vote... >> thank you so much. 101 years old. >> reporter: ...long lines on a y ney new york city day... >> your ballot is here. >> reporter: ...could not keep 101-year-old anna belfield from an opportunity to have her voice heard in 2020. >> all, old, young, should vote, bring us together as one. >> reporter: the retired nurse just tallied her 18th consecutive presidential election, 68 years after casting her first ballot for dwight d. eisenhower in 1952. >> at that time, i don't think the pressure was on people, as it is now.

this vote means an awful lot. i'm just hoping that my vote will make a difference. and be counted. >> reporter: a bit of a local celebrity now. .> sign it for me. >> reporter: she says voting is our duty, and honors those who fought so hard to make this day possible. >> and i hope what i said today will help change this world. >> thanks for voting, anna. n reporter: nikki battiste, cbs news, new york. >> reid: voting is a duty, and an honor. remember that. and this programming note: cbs news campaign 2020 live election-night coverage starts election-night coverage st at 7:00 p.m. on tuesday. that's the "cbs weekend news" for this sunday. "60 minutes" is coming up. i'm chip reid in washington. good night. captioning sponsored by cbs captioned by media access group at wgbh access.wgbh.org access.wgbh.org

now at 6:00 early voters cast their ballots across the bay area. the county seeing a huge turnout. >> unprecedented proportions and historical proportions. >> this election is one of the most important in my lifetime. >> fined for holding indoor services, now facing a lawsuit. the battle between a south bay church and health officials. we'll take center stage in court. >> the cure could not be worse than the disease, which is certainly what's happening. >> the pandemic forcing the cancellation of one of the bay area's biggest new year's celebrations. good evening i'm brian hackney. >> i'm juliette goodrich. we begin tonight with our campaign 2020 coverage with just two days until election day. early voters are coming out in

record numbers. sonoma county voter turnout at 65%. san mateo county 64%. alameda county at 57%. san francisco, napa, santa clara counties, all at more than 50%. now there's still time to get the early votes in and avoid the lines on election day. kpix 5 da lin checked out early voting centers along the peninsula. da? >> reporter: yeah, looking very good this weekend, juliette. most early voting locations closed at 5:00 today including this one, the san mateo county event center. but a steady stream of folks dropping off their ballots or voting in person across the bay area. for some people they tell me this election is very personal. >> i was diagnosed with cancer back in the spring. the possibility that the protection for preexisting conditions could go away honestly is terrifying. th reporter: terry johnson says