mortem next weekend, guys. thank you so much. early voting, the biggest unknown for pollsters in central florida as tens of thousands head to the polls in this battleground state. and what will happen when we wake up wednesday morning? what will the headlines be and how will the country move forward? hey there, starting your search for the right used car? i am! you got it. just say show me millions of used cars for sale at the all new carfax.com. but, i don' want one that's had a bunch of owners just say, show me cars with only one owner pretty cool it's perfect. that's the power of carfax® find the cars you want, avoid the ones you don't plus you get a free carfax® report with every listing start your used car search at carfax.com good day, everyone. i'm alex witt here in new york at msnbc world headquarters. it is high noon in the east, 9:00 a.m. out west. three days to rewriting history. election day 2016. >> we will make america strong again. we will make america safe again.

we will make america great again! >> i want you to be able to say, "i voted for a better, stronger, fairer america!" >> bitter end. hillary clinton and donald trump making final arguments as the campaign's blitz through the battleground states. history in this case numbers. it is the last day of early voting, and within the hour, we have received new information on who is already voting and where. and a final look at the poll numbers and the path to victory. what you need to look for as tuesday night unfolds. all that, right here on msnbc, the place for politics. ♪ let's get right to the campaign trail. fresh off of a star studded concert last night, hillary clinton is back on the campaign trail in florida. just about an hour or so from

now, she'll kick off a vote rally there. it's one of eight states, most of them key battle grounds where clinton, donald trump is barn storming today. in total, 16 separate events. trump traveling to four states today and coming at a time when the latest abc daily tracking poll shows trump trailing clinton by four points, the lowest in ten days. it also shows clinton rebounding from her dip in voter enthusiasm. she's now neck and neck with trump. moments ago, trump and his running mate in dueling rallies. where they touted favorable poll numbers in states with tight races. >> in three days, we are going to win the great state of florida. and we are going to win back the white house. some of the polls are good. i only really acknowledge them -- by the way, we're winning in a lot of polls. a lot of them.

we're doing great in texas. but we're doing great in new hampshire. we're doing great in iowa. we're doing great in ohio. doing phenomenally well in north carolina. i think we're going to win pennsylvania. >> in one poll after another, we're leading across the country. for more on the outrage, we are wheel to wheel here in the state of michigan, and we're let's head to central florida. going to sprint to the finish and take the checkered flag on mariana atenso. november the 8th. welcome to you. what are you hearing from the >> ohio shows trump with a voters? five-point lead. >> reporter: so alex, i've been polls out of michigan, talking to black voters today. pennsylvania, new hampshire, black voters make up roughly 11% north carolina show him either of early voters here in the trailing clinton by a few points state of florida, according to or neck and neck. our latest nbc news target smart president obama holding two numbers released earlier in the events for clinton in north carolina yesterday. week. there are 1.7 million black he sat down with my colleague, al sharpton, for an exclusive voters, like jason gregory. interview where he opened up about the fallout with the alex, we met jason last week, latest fbi investigation. >> i've said before and i'll say just when secretary clinton's again. jim comey is a good man. latest e-mail scandal broke. you weren't ready to cast your

ballot back then. and i do not believe that he is you voted today, sure. can you share with us who you voted for and why judge. in any way trying to influence >> yes, i voted for secretary of the election one way or another. i think he is a serious public state hillary clinton. servant and wants to do the and she just appears to -- i right thing. when you are investigating a relate more to her and to what case, then unless you have the issues are, and, you know, unearthed something you need to last week it was breaking news. just do your job. everything just happened so suddenly. we really didn't have all of the if there are things that you information. so i wanted to make sure i was think are worth presenting, then an informed voter and had all of the facts before i cast that you present them to a vote. prosecutor. >> reporter: now, president the prosecutor then makes a obama came to florida twice this judgment. the prosecutor can make a week. he's back in this county decision either to file a charge tomorrow. did he being here influence your or not to file a charge. vote at all? >> yes, president obama is >> and with three days to go, we extremely inspiring. have reporters covering every i've been a supporter of his for angle. the last eight years. if he feels hillary clinton is nbc's jolene kent, and morgan the best person to carry on his legacy and continue to give us hope, and, you know, lead us bradford keeping an eye on early into a better america and to a better future, then i'm voting. peter alexander in tampa with definitely with hillary. team trump. and we begin with kasie hunt in >> reporter: thank you so much, jason. now, alex, i did interview florida with the clinton campaign. senator tim kaine last thursday. kasie on the clinton campaign this past thursday, and he said bus in pembroke pines, florida.

that is where mrs. clinton is low turnout by black voters set to take the stage about an remains a concern. hour or so from now. president obama's so as i mentioned earlier, coming back to this county tomorrow, and it's all florida, kasie, tim kaine is also going florida, florida. to be in florida. three days out. donald trump will be there too. donald trump is in tampa, as are you able to glean anything well. this state is a must-win for from the early voting data, as him. >> indeed it is. to which side seems to have the advantage thus far? mariana atenso. thank you. she came to national >> reporter: well, democrats are prominence when one presidential really 401( focused on the facty candidate's aspirations ended. now we talk about the one issue seem to have edged out republicans overnight in the new and candidate she says will make a difference. counts for early voting. i love that my shop is part of the morning ritual around here. but it's very, very close. democrats are really encouraged by the fact that there seems to people rely on that first cup be a surge in hispanics voting and i wouldn't want to mess with that. here in the state of florida, but when (my) back pain got bad, i couldn't sleep. which will be really important for them if they want to hold on i had trouble getting there on time. then i found aleve pm. to this particular state. of course, hillary clinton aleve pm is the only one to combine a sleep aid doesn't need to win here in florida, as badly as donald plus the 12 hour strength of aleve. trump does. without winning here, donald for pain relief that can last into the morning. trump's path narrows to nothing. ♪ look up at a new day... to 270 electoral college votes. hey guys! now i'm back. but hillary clinton very much aleve pm for a better am. wants to win here. and has been reaching out to

adult 7+ promotes alertness and mental sharpness in dogs african-american voters, as well 7 and older. as hispanic voters, trying to (ray) the difference has been incredible. get them to the polls here late she is much more aware. she wants to learn things. in the game. but, of course, this election is still marked by the scandals and (vo) purina pro plan bright mind. nutrition that performs. various back and forths kind of down in the mud that we have been dealing with throughout this campaign season. and still missing from the trail is huma abedin, the close aide to hillary clinton, whose e-mails were apparently found on anthony weiner's computer, her estranged husband. donald trump's seized on that today. take a look. >> anthony weiner has probably every classified e-mail ever sent. and knowing this guy, he probably studied every single g new cars. one in between using his machine you're smart. you already knew that. for other purpose. but it's also great for finding the perfect used car. reports also show that the you'll see what a fair price is, political leadership at the and you can connect with a truecar certified dealer. department of justice is trying now you're even smarter. very hard, and as hard as they this is truecar. can to protect their angel,

hillary. >> reporter: now, of course, still not clear if we're going to learn anything more about those newly discovered e-mails before election day, 72 hours away. at this point, hillary clinton's campaign trying to grind it out to the finish. the race much closer, it seems now than it was a week ago when we first started talking about the fbi e-mails. clinton's campaign says that's not why it's tightened, just a natural tightening of the race. they feel she still does have a i've never liked marijuana. but i'm voting yes on prop 64 lead. and in the final days here, to legalize marijuana for adults 21 and over. it has important safeguards for families, they're trying to gin up the like strict product labeling kind of excitement that followed and child-proof packaging of all marijuana products. president obama at this phase in 2012. we had the big concert last and banning edibles that would appeal to a child. raising a teenager, that regulated system night with beyonce and jay-z, makes a lot more sense than what we have now. and katy perry will appear plus, 64 taxes marijuana jointly with both president and to fund priorities like after-school programs. mrs. obama, as well as her husband, bill clinton. personally, >> the stars coming out for her. marijuana's not for me. but my mind's made up. kasie hunt, thank you very much i'm voting yes on 64. from the pembroke pines area. let's see. in the sunshine state, peter

alexander in tampa, where donald trump spoke a short time ago. we heard a little bit of that i peter. >> donald trump has a busy day, ten different stops in eight states over the next 72 hours. florida is critical. 29 electoral votes that would basically shut down his path to 270. if he can't win this state, he recognizes it, had a big crowd earlier today. he also notably picked a fight with jay-z as part of the conversation you were just having. for jay-z's use of the "n" word and "f" word repeatedly in his concert last night. here's part of what donald trump i do worry about all of our said. >> i actually like jay-z. but, you know, the language last children. as we know, now social media is night. ooh. he used language last night that a centerpiece of our lives. was so bad, and then hillary said, "i did not like donald our culture has gotten too mean trump's lewd language." and too rough. my lewd language. >> that was melania trump i tell you what. speaking friday, saying ending i've never said what he said in social media bullying would be my life. her focus if she became first lady. >> reporter: donald trump also joining me now, donna weise ticked off a lot of the talking points that resonate with the hughes, president of enough is

white working class voters who enough, internet safety advocacy filled this area here. and also filled an auditorium group and a trump supporter. and welcome back to the last night in new hampshire. broadcast. we last spoke in the buildup he is, donald trump, of course, with the last election. prone to exaggerating. so good to see you again. he said last night there were and i do want to remind our 27,000 people in attendance. viewers, you came to national folks at the arena acknowledge prominence certainly back in 1987 when gary hart's the number was closer to 10,000. presidential aspirations ended trump feeling momentum and still trying to carve out his best because of a snapshot of you and course to 270 electoral votes. him. let's fast forward to today. two sources now confirm to nbc news, donald trump is going to donald trump has been caught on be cancelling a scheduled event tape making some lewd comments about a dozen women or so accuse this weekend in wisconsin. him of inappropriate behavior. trump on stage said he's now he denies all accusations. eyeing minnesota as a potential why do you think he is still place to pick up electoral votes standing? what do you think the difference is in terms of the temperament he might need, although that hasn't been announced as a possible stop. between 1987 and now? >> that's a great question. michigan another place. what's notable about wisconsin i mean, we have seen so many and minnesota, both states haven't voted for a republican candidate for president, alex, scandals, each election cycle. since 1984. so i believe that for one, the but donald trump, of course, is a candidate, unlike any other. american public has gotten used to some of this, unfortunately. and the people we speak to here i would say. repeatedly say this is a guy who but we also now have a situation the polls don't properly where there are -- there's not a perfect candidate. capture. they're confident he is going to and i think people on both sides turn out the numbers he needs to win this race. are going, you know, the clinton supporters, well, she may not be

>> peter alexander, thank you exactly, you know, what i would very much from tantamount pa for that. joining me in studio, joy reid, hope for, but she's what we've got and some of the trump host of ""a.m. joy"" and caitlyn supporters feel the same way. and, of course, like you said, burns for "real clear politics." donald trump did apologize, and ask for forgiveness for things glad to have you here. as we look at the list, what he said that i believe were indefensible and so does his wife and so does his daughter. kind of conclusions can we draw? >> it's tough to draw a conclusion from what donald we also have secretary clinton, trump is doing, other than being who is under an ongoing in florida, which is what he should be doing. if this were a normal republican investigation for criminal candidate, he would be spending lots of time in ohio, lots of activity, and there's evidence of corruption. time in florida. because the problem that so, again, i think it's republicans face on the important for the electorate -- electoral map in general is they win a lot of states and that's really who i'm speaking to, those undecided pneumoniaercally, but win a lot voters that are not clearly in of states in the middle of the country that don't have a lot of one camp or the other, to look electoral college votes each. at not the personalities, but other than in texas, don't have a lot of big electoral vote the trajectory of each party. states. so if they can pick up on ohio and look at those platforms. and florida, he puts that together, but here's the because sometimes it's so hard challenge. if he gets ohio, florida and to discern everything with the every other swing state open on media bias that's going on. the map, he is still short, so what your world view and still 253. he needs to flip a democratic which way do you want this state. and the challenge with trying to country to go? flip a michigan or pennsylvania for me as a conservative, i is that, number one, republicans believe in a government for the people and by the people.

keep saying they're going to do it and can't do it. not ruled by elitists in and number two, this vanishing washington and the establishment. that has not been working very white voter has not shown himself to be real. you had a lot of people who well. another thing that's really key, wanted to vote for donald trump in the primary who are, let's a president serves only four to say, democrats. eight terms. northern florida democrats. they have already registered but this president will appoint up to three, maybe four justices themselves as republicans in order to vote in the closed who will serve an average of 30 primary. they're already accounted for. so we're not seeing any data years. that shows new voters that are that's going to have a generational impact. for donald trump. >> you know -- >> so when you look at your own it's just existing republican voters he's getting. world view and you measure it >> let's make that point. with the early data -- the polling data, we can see there against the philosophies of these two different candidates, were people registered republican, registered democrat, they're two entirely different but you can't tell. that's -- extraek degrees for this nation. >> that's right. and you know that donald trump >> during these four to eight has weakness with some years, president obama made an interesting point. republican voters. and he said while out on the notably republican women. we don't know what percentage of those republicans to your point campaign trail for secretary are actually voting for donald clinton, he said, look at trump. we won't flow until the end. character. and the fact is that when you're >> the cancellation of in the white house, a spotlight, wisconsin, he may hit minnesota. he is going to be visiting a brilliant spotlight, is shined colorado. upon that person. do you think this is a sign that we have seen the way donald the trump -- is just -- they're trump has reacted, knee-jerk throwing everything they have at the wall, and hoping something sticks? or does he have a chance in reactions, sometimes cruel, sometimes lewd. those states?

>> joy brings up a great point. he has thrown out a lot of vitt he has to do three things. re olson the campaign trail and he has to get the entire romney map, which includes north carolina, which is no sure bet i don't think you will deny that. so you look at someone's at this point. flip the remaining personality. but doesn't character reflect battlegrounds, including nevada, someone's personality? where i know polls show a aren't you concerned about that? tightening, but you talk to >> i do. i am very concerned about that, and like i said, i think we have strategists, republican and democrat, they both say it two flawed candidates. flifrs clinton at this point. we've got a candidate like then he has to flip an additional blue state, including trump, who often puts his foot even if he wins new hampshire, in his mouth and he says that he which he is leading at this regrets many of the things he point. we're close to. says off-the-cuff. so if you're looking at but then you've got a hillary clinton, who appears to be michigan, pennsylvania, wisconsin, some of these states, presenting one face to the clinton has been leading public, and saying other things consistently throughout this in private, even with what the entire cycle. the pennsylvania race has closed, but remember, there is e-mail investigations have no early voting in pennsylvania. so the big focus on both these shown. and she's already called half of candidates is on pennsylvania and the final stretch, because the american public deplorable it typically is. and indefersable. so, i mean, i don't think you and so closing that gap, can really say one is worse than pennsylvania is always fools the other. gold for republicans. certainly can't say trump is any they always try win it. i'm not sure this is the year, even though polls are tightening worse. than these kinds of things that there. we already know that hillary >> but this is kind of interesting. i want to stay in pennsylvania clinton has done. and look at some of the again, i think the focus on the information we've got in just the last half hour regarding supreme court -- and for me, as that state. a conservative, i look at who

41% of democrats have cast their ballots. trump has surrounded himself let's see. 49% for republicans. with. do you think that concerns mike pence, really smart people democrats? >> no. not necessarily. because here's the thing about that love this nation, and then pennsylvania. it's a state that is sort of the people around hillary built to be a trump-like state. clinton, many of them are also only a 12, 13% african-american being investigated for population. it's got a lot of rural and a corruption. lot of what you call rust belt and obstruction of justice and all kinds of things. population. so it is a confusing time. that white working class vote. >> but he's also surrounded but the problem is, pennsylvania himself with steve bannon, who is -- it's like ohio, but it's a is running his campaign in little more affluent. essence. it's got a higher percentage of >> well, kellyanne conway is white college educated voters running his campaign, and she is versus a state like ohio. a wonderful person and a so there aren't as many personal friend of mine. >> listen, ankle ann is a great trump-type voters. so again, just because republicans are going to vote, person, but -- some of those are filly suburbs >> well, that is true. republican women. and we've shown consistently in but so is podesta on the other every poll in the last several side. and huma abedin. months that republican suburban so, you know, there are -- all women are trending toward hillary clinton. so there's really nothing to be those issues. but i think if you look at the gleaned by the early votes. team around them, and you look and philadelphia is so big that at the trajectory, and for those it overwhelms the number of who are undecided, are you rural in western pennsylvania better off? republicans who would vote for really, are you better off? trump. >> okay. looking back, caitlyn, on another thing a lot of people october 25th, rudy guiliani said don't realize, whoever comes into office, they are going to

a couple of surprises left. be appointing almost 7,000 but then he was on "hard ball" people to run all the various last night with chris matthews and here's what he had to say to agencies. so, again, what is your world him. >> i had no idea jim comey was view? are you more liberal-leaning? going to do the day that he did or are you more conservative and are you better off? and then there's the it. nor did i ever think he was going to do it. what i did know about, which is unaffordable careless act. i can tell you right now, my quite true, for about four husband and i are paying $2,000 months, is that the fbi was a month in premiums, and that very, very upset about the way doesn't include the cost of drugs, which is ridiculous. jim comey handled the case. >> well -- but i heard that from former fbi >> used to be a $20 co-pay, now it's $500 for a prescription. agents, not from current fbi agents. >> that last subject you bring >> is there any indication at up certainly would warrant an interview automatic on its own. all there was some sort of a i do agree with that. cooperation between the fbi and the trump campaign, or is this donna rice hughes, thank you very much. good to see you again. guiliani bluster? >> well, there are all sorts of >> thanks, alex. a live look at we get off stories now about frustrated this screen here to dueling rallies, expected to be in at fbi, current and former, leaking the top of the hour. hillary clinton in florida, information, this tension donald trump in north carolina. we're going to take you there between the fbi and doj at this live, next. [burke] at farmers, we've seen almost everything, point. it's hard to tell what rudy guiliani is exactly talking so we know how to cover almost anything. about, because he kind of has been a little bit all over the even a rodent ride-along. map this cycle. [dad] alright, buddy, don't forget anything! i think what's important,

though, about this story is that [kid] i won't, dad... [captain rod] happy tuesday morning! captain rod here. i do think it had some kind of it's pretty hairy out on the interstate.traffic is impact in places like new literally crawling, but there is some movement hampshire and perhaps in some parts of pennsylvania, just on the eastside overpass. because they vote on election day, and they're more getting word of another collision. reseptemberive or more impacted by late-breaking news. [burke] it happened. december 14th, 2015. and we covered it. but i think it's also a couple other things. talk to farmers. we know a thing or two one, we have seen in some polling republicans starting to because we've seen a thing or two. ♪ we are farmers. bum-pa-dum, bum-bum-bum-bum ♪ come back to donald trump. and i think a lot of that is because of the news surrounding obamacare, as well. and then you've had donald trump relatively staying on message, or on the message that his campaign wants. veering off at points, though, to hit the media, continuing to slam the media, even today, still talking about how the media is rigging this election. and that sort of thing. but if you look at the broader picture, and if you talk to republicans, they think he's been on some sort of message and that they are coming home. whether it's enough, though, at this point, he hasn't broken above the high -- low 40s. >> but in terms of the damage, and this will be the last question to you, joy, the damage done by this e-mail fallout,

should hillary clinton be elected president, will she have to deal with this? after she is inaugurated? >> jason chaffetz who heads the oversight committee, made it clear he intends and republicans intend to investigate her until the end of the earth. what that has done, is at the same time, it's damaged hillary clinton with people who already disliked her or distrusted her but fired up democrats. i think the news that came out from comey for a while hurt hillary clinton in terms of enthusiasm. you started to see that, particularly in the tracking polls, which really measure at this point enthusiasm. but when it came out that there seems to be collusion between the fbi, between someone like rude rude jaul any who has bragged about it. whatever damage it did among people who already didn't like hillary clinton, i think it's actually helped hillary clinton in a sense because now democrats are saying, wait a minute, we might have to think down ticket if republicans are going to haunt her even after she becomes president. >> okay. caitlyn huey burns and joy reid. we've got some "p.m. joy" coming

our way today, 6:00 p.m., right? >> yes, ma'am. >> see you then. thank you. two crowds at rallies on the campaign translate into actual votes. it didn't seem to for mitt romney in 2012. i'll ask republican steve schmidt about that, next. u, my . making simple, smart cash back choices... with quicksilver from capital one. you're earning unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, everywhere. like on that new laptop. quicksilver keeps things simple, gary. and smart, like you! and i like that. i guess i am pretty smart. don't let that go to your head, gary. what's in your wallet?

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prop 51 will upgrade libraries, science labs, and classroom technology and relieve school overcrowding creating more opportunity . . . and better learning for students help students succeed vote yes on 51. we don't need jay-z to fill up arenas, you know. we do it the old fashioned way. we do it the old fashioned way, folks. we fill 'em up because you love what we're saying, and you want to make america great again. that's about it. >> let's bring in steve schmidt, republican strategist, and an msnbc contributor. a big welcome to you. let's look back to 2012. mitt romney at this point in the cycle, playing to really big crowds. and his advisers were by all accounts shocked he lost. do you think that crowds like

this translate to success? are they can aindicator of turnout? >> no. campaigns when you look at the number of people that have already voted, the turnout operations the campaigns are under way with now, democrats just have a big advantage in it. technological advantage, the big turnout advantage. and so this is all now science, right? this is the work of the campaigns. you think about a political campaign for president. you've got to think about it like an iceberg. about 10% of the iceberg is above the waterline. that's what you see. it's what we see on tv. 90% of the mass of that iceberg is below the waterline. that's what's going on in the states, in the field offices, turning out the voters and away from where the tv cameras are. >> does trump have the depth in his iceberg? >> no. >> so is that an indicator right there? >> in a close election, organization counts. and the trump campaign, stuart stevens, the strategist for mitt romney's campaign, and he's

analogized the trump campaign to essentially a rock concert tour. they're traveling around the country, doing big rallies. but they just don't have the mechanisms. but for the republican national committee, they really have no political operation at all. >> and trump has just announced he's cancelling his scheduled event in wisconsin tomorrow. does that mean he's seeing defeat? >> yes. >> that's it? >> that's it. >> is there anything that he can do this weekend that is really going to change the map we're just looking at there? don't you think by this point voters have made up their minds? >> they have. 100%. the campaigns are about getting voters out to the polls, making sure people have the endurance to wait in long lines, don't walk off the lines, they do what is necessary to get those ballots in. >> so giving your vast experience, advising republican campaigns, were you to be advising donald trump, what would you say? you've got to do this, this weekend. is there anything? >> well, look. i think when you look at this -- when you look at where the race is right now, hillary clinton will be elected the 45th president of the united states.

and so now it's time, particularly because of the rhetoric from donald trump, about the rigged election, about his assaults on the process by which we choose the leaders, i think they need to spend some serious time preparing concession speech. and being focused on initiating in a dignified manner the peaceful transition of power which takes place on january 20th. the process commences when the losing candidate picks up the phone, calls the winning candidate, the first person who addresses hillary clinton on tuesday night is madam president elect that matters is donald trump. and he's indicated that he has no intention of conceding this election in a normal manner. and it's very dangerous for american democracy. >> so you're telling this is what he should do. but what do you expect he will do in the fallout? >> i don't know what he'll do. it has been a highly unusual campaign. when you look at all of the things that have been outside the norms of this. the intimations of violence.

the threats and intimidation towards a free press. the questioning of the legitimacy of our electoral system. the fact that republicans have been cheerleading the actions of a hostile foreign power, russia, with regard to the e-mail hacks. the intervention of the fbi director, 11 days from the election, and now the serial leaking within the fbi, like a secret police organization from some banana relationship. these are so far outside the normal boundaries of american politics, that when this election ends, there will be consequences for it. the campaign has been so mean, so vile, so small, so diminishing to a great country. and we'll have an impact on our civics after it's over, for sure. >> to the level this is a turning point in american politics, does it have the power

to be that effective? >> i think you have every possibility to see a rupture inside the republican party. the alt-right movement, which has surfaced above the waterline is part of this campaign. cannot coexist, peacefully. with the decent elements in the republican party who believe in conservatism. but reject the racism, the xenophobia, the misogyny that we've seen play out, all across this campaign. >> and we thought the rise of the tea party was an issue in terms of a physical zur. >> i think the tea party was always misunderstand as a political phenomenon. it was a reaction to the presidency and republican congress in the part the two played in running up the national debt to the level it was raised to. the aftermath of the financial

crisis, the trillion-dollar bail outs to the too big to fail banks with 12 million people losing their jobs. and i think there was legitimate anger, legitimate frustration. what we have seen surface as a part of this campaign in mainstream as normal is something that two years ago, would have been unimaginable. so how do you get that back into the bottle? what are the consequences? the enormity of the leadership challenge for the rebuilding of the republican party when this election is over. tuesday is going to be a very difficult night. for the republican party looking at these polls. we will have a fairly shattering defeat, may well lose the united states senate, as well. and -- but far the comey intervention in the race, hillary clinton was heading somewhere between 350 to 400 electoral votes. and republicans were on track to

lose the senate. so that intervention has had a material impact on the outcome of the race and we'll see that play out on tuesday. this will not be a good night for republicans. there will be significant losses. and it will be interesting to see what the take-away is. because some people will say, the reason that donald trump failed in and that republicans have lost is the stab in the back theory. that people weren't loyal enough to trump. not that trump was an abyss mal candidate. >> to which i say to all that, buckle up, apparently, tuesday and for quite some time to come. steve schmidt, thank you so much. getting out the vote in these last three days. what's being done to energize the african-american community? you're going to hear from some voters in florida about what's most important to them. what are you doing? getting your quarter back. fountains don't earn interest, david. you know i work at ally. i was being romantic. you know what i find romantic? a robust annual percentage yield that's what i find romantic. this is literally throwing your money away.

i think it's over there. that way? yeah, a little further up. what year was that quarter? what year is that one? '98 that's the one. you got it! nothing stops us from doing right by our customers. ally. do it right. let's get out of that water.

welcome back, everyone. i'm alex witt here at msnbc world headquarters in new york at precisely the half hour.

here's what we're monitoring for you. early voting wrapping up across the country with 40 million people already casting their ballots. democratic voters have outpaced republican voters in iowa, michigan, nevada, ohio, virginia, wisconsin and north carolina. and that is where nbc's morgan radford joins us today. morgan, good day to you. how is the early vote turnout there? it looks pretty hardy. >> reporter: absolutely, alex. you can see this line here. this is the end of the line. and we've still got hundreds of people waiting in line to get to the front. this is the last day for early voting here in north carolina. it closes across the states at 1:00 p.m. in the afternoon. how long have you been waiting today? >> not very long. about 15 minutes. >> reporter: about 15 minutes. >> i started out by the street, so -- >> reporter: already on the street and now you're headed in. >> a beautiful day, a good day to vote. >> alex, i want to tell you what they're talking to me about since i've been here. take a listen.

>> i think that hillary clinton is a good candidate, because she has spent a lot of time serving others. and i think that donald trump is a bad candidate, because he said a lot of rude and mean things about other people. >> reporter: what the issues you think are super important for you all here, especially in mecklenburg. >> i think so it's business. we have a lot of growth here. and jobs is number one priority, i think. >> reporter: have you seen the demographics in this area change, recently? >> definitely. there's a lot of growth so you see a lot of folks coming from up north, a lot of transplants plants. not a lot of local people here. >> reporter: alex, you can see a lot of people are still here in the line, moving towards the front of the line. one of the things they have mentioned to me is this issue of

election fraud. there have been allegations from both parties that the elections have been rigged here. so people are also having less faith, not only in the election, but in the election process. and that's because we had a chase just this week in north carolina where thousands of people were taken off the voter registration list, happened in a largely african-american community. so people are saying if i can't trust the election process, how can i trust the results. that's what we're hearing in mecklenburg county. >> 26 minutes to go until the polls are supposed to close there. that looks like an awfully long line. are they going to stay open to accommodate everyone? >> if you've been in line, they're going to allow you to vote. after that, the line stops at 1:00 p.m., and no more voting until tuesday. >> okay. morgan radford, thank you so much. in just a moment, what's happening in ohio in the early voting. the one issue that appears to be driving people to the polls. we'll explain. will your business be ready when growth presents itself? american express open cards can help you take on a new job,

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jolene kent in the city of lorraine. welcome to you. what do voters say is their number one issue this election? >> reporter: well, it's all about economy and jobs. and you can see it here in lorraine county. thousands of steel jobs left, leaving the main thoroughfare completely barren. lots of stores shut down. we're actually here with some very impassioned trump supporters who say the economy is their number one issue betty, why is the economy your top issue in this election? >> you see the neighborhood here. these are some of our customers, you might say, or former customers, or, you know, maybe in the future. and with the steel mill closing and so on, these people aren't working, and the economy has dropped. >> reporter: and what do you hope to see donald trump deliver to this area, specifically? >> to this area specifically, i hope that he can bring jobs back to lorraine county to get the steel mill going again. if not, something else. >> reporter: and why is it that you're not choosing to vote for hillary? she also has a plan in place for

infrastructure, as well. but you're clearly a trump supporter today. >> i have not heard her say anything that would change my mind. i'm for trump. he has spoken, he said, and i voted. >> reporter: all right. thank you very much for your time. i know you have already voted, correct? >> yes, ma'am. >> reporter: and so many people here in lorraine county have actually already voted and what we're starting to see is according to local gop officials, alex, there is actually more of a chance for lorraine county to go into the republican category this time. this is an area that historically has been in support of obama, both times, a democratic stronghold. but we're now seeing that start to even out a little bit. so, of course, ohio a critical battleground state. back to you. >> yeah. and we should say, looking at it, we have just gotten the numbers, democratic affiliated voters have outpaced republican affiliated voters in the early voting. perhaps in that pocket where you are, it may turn out differently. joe lien kent, thank you for that. let's bring in howard dean, former vermont governor, current

msnbc contributor and susan del percent o, with a welcome to you as always. ladies first with you, susan. imagine you're advising donald trump right now. why would you cancel an event? his campaign did that in the state of wisconsin. does that basically admit defeat there? >> well, he has a very hard road map to do in the next couple of days. and perhaps, you know, it makes more sense for him to be in michigan or florida or north carolina. i don't read too much into that cancellation of a big event. wisconsin would be very, very difficult to win. it's a place he's trailing. so it's not surprising at all. >> what's interesting is he has suggested he's now going to visit minnesota, his campaign told us this morning. it is hoping michigan will actually be its key to 270. so susan, why bother spending time in either state when neither has voted republican in decades? >> alex, that's a great question. because the road for trump's

success means he has to win five key states. he has to win nevada, iowa, ohio, florida and north carolina. he must win those five, and then gain another state. that being said, hillary clinton only has to beat him in one of those five states. so that's why i would think that donald trump should spend his time in those states. i think expanding the map much more is not going to help him greatly. >> by that description, howard, is that why hillary clinton is making far fewer campaign stops than trump is this weekend? what do you think the thinking is there? with so little time left before election day, would it make sense for her to be out there as much as possible? >> well, i mean, at this point, the campaigning is really -- almost superfluous. for the media than anything else. >> isn't about getting out the vote? making sure people get to the -- >> well, that's what i was going to get to. this business about democratic affiliated voters is really

tricky. there's -- more democratic affiliated voters in ohio, what you just said, and also in nevada. in nevada, that almost certainly means hillary clinton is going to win in nevada. in ohio, it's possible the so-called democratic affiliated voters are voting for trump. because that county is one of the places where white, blue collar middle aged workers have been hit hard and that is trump's core base. so, you know, i do think we're going to win and i think we're going to win north carolina. i think we're going to win nevada, for sure. and obviously pennsylvania, some of these other places. but i think you've got to be careful when we're looking at all of this big turnout that's early. it may not always mean what i think it means. >> susan, it's been said that donald trump can't win without the state of florida, which would explain that his visit to tampa today marks the 38th stop in florida since the convention. he is putting so much time in there. so why isn't he doing any better if you check the gauge of the early vote counts, it's pretty

even between democrats and republicans in the state of florida. >> well, that's why it always comes down to florida, florida, florida. it's a very tough state to predict. it is, in fact, one of the swingiest swing states there is. and that's why he is spending so much time there. yes, the early voting is interesting. it should be greater republican to democrat turnout. you would expect. but i agree with governor dean. don't take anything for granted. this is a very unusual election. and just going back to why hillary clinton may be in michigan or want to address that in trump's -- that was a tough state for her. so it makes sense that she would address certain -- she has certain concerns around -- because it is so unlikely that the models will be what we have traditionally seen. >> howard -- >> right. and there's another issue, too. when you send the principle into a state, it draws away from all the people that are supposed to be going out and getting out the vote and brings a fair number of them into organized visit. i suspect that has something to

do with hillary's thinking. donald trump has no ground operation. it doesn't make any difference he rallies those people. i just got back from north carolina. she has the most unbelievable operation i ever saw in north carolina. the last thing she wants to do is go down there, and pull out 30 or 40 people to drum up a crowd. those people out to be getting out the votes. >> that is a very interesting point. >> and also, hillary clinton has a lot more surrogates to go out and drum up support. >> that's true. >> and that leads to media coverage and does in part go for people going out on tuesday. >> howard, some election-watchers are reading clinton's detroit visit, saying she is concerned about the black voter turnout there. should she be? >> look. i think somebody made the point when you're -- when you're barack obama, the first african-american president in the history of a country which has a long, long history of race problems, it's an extraordinary thing. and you're going to have an n

enormous turnout. more black voters than white voters in the elections barack obama was running. so i don't think this is a lack of enthusiasm in the african-american community for hillary clinton. i just think the turnout, which is usually pretty high, is just going back to what it normally is, with a little bounce, of course, because of all of the offensive things trump has said, which clearly skews members of minority groups, particularly latinos, who i think are going to swing this election towards hillary. >> all right. howard dean, susan del percent o, i can't wait for our post