until next time, woo! it's wednesday, february 17th, coming up on "early today," the republicans are feeling the pressure as the clock winds closer to the south carolina show down. and president obama lays out a bold plan to nominate his successor to the supreme court while taking direct aim at donald trump. a rare moment of pope francis losing his cool and the reason why as he greets the faithful. plus incredible images of a driver going straight into a wicked tornado. and a world class athlete shares her darkest hour. and meet c.j. he beat out more than 3,000 dog fweez names it be named best in show. "early today" starts right now. closing in on the south

push back against critics. in the latest poll, the donald has a 12 point lead over sepnator ted cruz and jeb in a disappointing fourth place trailing marco rubio. president obama weighed in on the race and a direct shot at the frontrunner, donald trump. >> being president is a serious job. it's not hosting a talk show. or a reality show. it's not promotion, it's not marketing. it's hard. >> and this is what mr. trump reacted to when he was told of the president's remarks. >> reality show is not promotion, is not marketing, it's hard. that's from president obama. [ crowd boos]

job and for him to say that is a great compliment. your arer lucky i didn't run last time when romney ran because you would have been a one-term president. >> but he soon turned his attention to fellow republican, ted cruz. >> ted cruz who i think is totally unfit be to president, but these are minor details. meanwhile in columbia, south carolina, cruz had his own take on the job. >> you know, people will be forgiven this election season for thinking at times it seems like a bit of a circus. the time for games is over. we need a leader who's prepared to be commander in chief. [ applause ] when radical islamic terrorists wage jihad on the united states of america, the answer is not to tweet insults at them.

indorsements, kansas congressman tim, the medal of honor recipient recipient. veterans makeup over 12% of the population there. and for the democrats, both are fighting hard for the african-american vote. hillary clinton is ahead of vermont sanders by 18 points, numbers clinton is hoping to keep security. on tuesday, she met with the leaders of the national urban league and al sharpton said his decision is decided but under wraps. >> she's trying to ask whether i'm endorsing and i said only you know and i'm not telling. >> later during a speech in harlem, clinton hit sanders again with a charge of being a single-issue candidate.

economic plan to be break up the banks. you also need a serious planning to create jobs, especially in places where unemployment remains doubly high. [ applause ] >> but there are signs of trouble in clinton's push as a top african american democrat in georgia said he would switch from clinton to sanders. siting the minimum wage and health care as reasons for the shift. daughter of eric garner, who died by being put into a choke hold by police in 2014. the late supreme court justice, ant nnonin scalia's

and senate judiciary who's in charge of any confirmation hearing said in part quote i would wait until the nominee was made before i made any decisions but he's not open to a confirmation hearing. yesterday president obama charged them to rise above day to day politics. >> this will be the opportunity for senators to do their job. your job doesn't stop until you're voted out or until your term expires. i intend to do my job between now and january 20th of 2017, i expect them to do their job as well. >> nbc's tracie potts is live in washington as well. now we have president obama taking direct aim at the republicans. >> reporter: exactly. sometimes we forget that he taught constitutional law. his argument that this is not a partisan sue, it's a

listen to his response to republicans arguing that a late-term president in his final year should not be nominating a justice to the u.s. supreme court. >> there's no unwritten law that says that it can only be done on off years. that's not in the constitutional text. i'm amused when i hear people who claim to be strict interpreterase of the constitution reading in things that aren't there. >> reporter: republicans here and on the campaign trail have said they will block those hearings. you heard what chuck said just a few moments ago, that sound that you ran from him. although, he walked that back a bit. also, president obama saying that he will nominate someone who sticks to the law, even if

>> thank you so much for that. and happening overseas, tensions continue to mount in regards to north korea's missile ambitions. the u.s. flew over south korea today after north korea tested ballistic missile technology. this comes in response to their latest missile launch. defiance of the sanctions, pyongyang firing a long-range rocket with a earth observation satellite. they won't say how long the planes with il ss will be deployed in a region. and apple plans to fight. court papers reveal that they failed to provide voluntary

phone of syed farook. investigators are trying to find out who the shooters were communicating with and who may have helped plan and carry out the massacre. a rare moment of anger from pope francis during his visit to mexico tuesday. he lost his cool after a member of the crowd caused him to lose balance and fall on a man in the wheelchair. he said in spanish "don't be selfish." and he will hold a mass today in the violent border city of juarezjuare juarez. >> reporter: i think we'll hear the same message that's been consistent throughout his tour of mexico. this the fifth and final day. one of help for immigrants along the boarder. there's going to be an interesting mix of theology and technology here later today.

and see the thousands as they watch and listen to his mass, which will be just a few miles away, across the boarder. still, for many this is as close as they can get to the pontiff. >> reporter: pope francis ends his tour in mexico with a mass later today in juarez. the five-day journey of hope in a country where it's desperately needed. >> he's reforming the church and i think he's absolutely wonderful. >> reporter: his message to hundreds of thousands who spilled into the streets, fields and arenas to listen has been focussed on compassion to immigrants and a challenge to eliminate the crime, conditions effecting those along the boarder. >> i hear a lot --

if the pope goes, things are going to change. and i remind him the pope is not good and he's not going to change things immediately, but over time. >> reporter: he's going to preach his message to mill yngz ofyngz -- millions in juarez and in sun bowl stadium. a pontiff's historic visit. >> close to city mexico is very emotional, being here. >> reporter: emotions effecting so many in separate countries but from a single faith. the faithful are expected to gather hours before the mass here at the sun bowl for songs and prayer celebrating the papal visit. and here in el paso, i'm jay gray. back to you. well, from incredible video

a dash cam was rolling as a man ran straight into the path of a tornado. you can see the sheer force of the twister as tree limbs go flying through the air. and in rochester, new york, hundreds of drivers got stuck on highways and local roads. nearly two feet of snow fell in some parts. and good morning to you, raphael. crazy weather. yeah, we had everything from that same storm system, the severe weather across the south and florida. much quitter today. we look at the satellite and radar picture, our storm is gone and finally high pressure settling in across the east. temperatures in the 40s from boston to d.c. lots of sunshine, also quiet in chicago, 29 and sunny there. and near 80 in miami. out west, 91 in phoenix. 74 in l.a. and we're tracking rain and

northwest down to central california. so it has been quiet, stormy at times return to the west tomorrow as well and we're chilly but dry in the northeast for your thursday. that's a look at your national weather, now here's a closer look at your day ahead. finally catching a break today in new york city, 42 sunshine, boston looking good as well, light snow showers across the great lakes down in the southeast, temperatures in the 60s and 70s. a beautiful day in florida, 78 in miami. back to you, dara. >> thank you. one of the most bazar slow-speed chases ever. plus ultimate fighter, ronda rousy reveals her darkest thoughts if you're looking to save money on your medicare part d prescriptions, walgreens says, carpe med diem. seize the day to get more out of life and medicare part d.

that'll be the highlight of your day. now preview the cost of your copay before you fill. you can even get one-dollar copays on select plans. announcement: this storm promises to be the biggest of the decade. with total accumulation of up to three feet. roads will be shut down indefinitely. and schools are closed. campbell's soups go great with a cold and a nice red. made for real, real life. it's not a quick fix. it's my decision to make beauty last. roc retinol started visibly reducing my fine lines and wrinkles in one week. and the longer i use it the better it works. retinol correxion from roc. methods, not miracles. soup and sandwich and somewhere to go, and clean and real and nowhere to be, and warmth and looking good,

and dan is back! good, clean food pairs well with anything. the clean pairings menu. 500 calories or less. at panera. food as it should be. (baseball on tv in background) with heart failure, danger is always on the rise. symptoms worsen because your heart isn't pumping well. (water filling room) about 50 percent of people die (dog whimpering) within 5 years of getting diagnosed. but there's something you can do. talk to your doctor about heart failure treatment options. because the more you know, the more likely you are... (dog whimpering) to keep it pumping. there is a new top dog in town. c.j., a german short-haired

in show at the 140th westminster dog show last night. the 4-year-old beat the best of the best, including rumor has it the german shepherd having won over 100 previous competitions. and check out this police dash cam video of a backhoe on the florida keys seven-mile bridge. deputies were able to stop 59-year-old driver by throwing spike strips in front of the backhoe, slicing the tires. in oklahoma, the new bridge came crashing down on tuesday. it was imploded one month after a brand new bridge was open in january. and on "ellen" yesterday, ufc champ ronda rousy recounted her saving grace. >> i was down in the corner and i was like what am i anymore if

sitting there and thinking about killing myself and i'm like i'm nothing. and i looked up and saw my man standing there and i looked up at him and i was just like i need have his babies. i need to stay alive. >> amazing moments pfrmnt. nfl commissioner roger goodell gets a multimillion dollar pay cut. and the show-stopping finish. i'm phil mickelson, pro golfer. my psoriatic arthritis caused joint pain. just like my moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. and i was worried about joint damage. my doctor said joint pain from ra can be a sign of existing joint damage that could only get worse. he prescribed enbrel to help relieve pain and help stop further damage. enbrel may lower your ability to fight infections. serious, sometimes fatal, events including infections, tuberculosis, lymphoma, other cancers, nervous system and blood disorders and allergic reactions have occurred. tell your doctor if you've been someplace

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this morning on "today," 3,000 dogs from 12 different countries and all 50 states competing for top dog. today takes you behind the scenes that westminster dog show. and now to sports. college upsets. texas taking on west virginia in austin. the long horns manage to keep the lead. and 25th ranked baylor battled iowa state. baylor with the upset at home. and any idea what this guy earned last year as nfl commissioner? roger goodell earned just over $24 million in 2014 and that's down from the 24.2 million he

a sprinkler malfunction caused a delay in the olympic qualifying match. and 5-1 was w the victory. and talk about the dunk team has raised the bar. the seven-team member finish with a monster slam dunk that shatters the back board. talk about your show stopper. and just ahead, someone famous is getting a face lift just for the oscars. plus, the eagles of death metal make a triumphant performance in paris. do you love your wireless keyboard more than certain family members? is your success due to a filing system only you understand? does printing from your tablet to your wireless printer give you a jolt of confidence? if so, you may be gearcentric. someone who knows that the right office gear helps you do great things.

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i think we should've taken a left at the river. tarzan know where tarzan go! tarzan does not know where tarzan go. hey, excuse me, do you know where the waterfall is? waterfall? no, me tarzan, king of jungle. why don't you want to just ask somebody? if you're a couple, you fight over directions. it's what you do. if you want to save fifteen percent or more on car insurance, you switch to geico.

ohhhhhh! do you have to do that right in my ear? now to entertainment news. character actor, george gains of "police academy" has died at 98. is perhaps best known as the soap opera star with a crush in "ets to "tootsie." >> welcome aboard. >> you were -- well, the eagles of death metal had an emotional concert in paris last night the first since the paris attack. and they led a tribute to the victims.

member in the new house gang, none other than donald trump. >> you see, donald, that's just it. if you really want to make america great again, you have to bring people together, not push them apart. >> look, duneledonald, we understand you're used to winning all the time and now that you're not, you're scared and confused. >> i know, you're right. what ever happened to predictability predictability. the milk man, paper boy. >> funny moments.

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leading the news on nbcnews.com, florida team arrested for performing exam with fake doctor with own offices according to authorities. the 18-year-old even had his own website that offered holistic care. he was booked for practicing med medicine without a license. and cliven bundy must stay behind bars in oregon and referred to as the father of the rancher's resistens was an avid supporter of the occupation. the judge said if he was granted leave before trial, he would most likely not return. and in montana, police received a 911 call from neighbors who heard loud

gun. instead they found two adults and several kids watching the mid-season premier of amc 's zom be hit, "the walking dead." the academy has changed them to look more like the original 1929 model. they used a 3d printer for the new mold. and they say dogs are a man's best friend, this video shows a georgia vet sitting in a cage with gracie, an abandoned dog. the doctor was so worried she wouldn't eat that he got in the cage to eat his breakfast with her. in monday's winter storm left hundreds of travellers stranded across the east coast but 60 students from american fork high school orchestra

weary travellers when they gave an imprumptue performance at regan airport and they made nearly $300 in tips during a 45 minute period. what a great way to share their gifts with people who are obviously frustrated. >> much better than the music they pipe over the system at the airports anyway. >> and a true performance. and the state of florida will announce one of three winners of the january 13th powerball jack bought. they will be receiving 1/3 of the $1.5 billion jackpot. and denise richards turns 45, michael jordan is 53, and major league actress, reneeuruenee

i'm dara brown."if i could go back and do it again, i'd do it again. he's used to battling flames... is fighting for his life following a lung injury he got during training. hear the prognosis... and his family's hope in a radical new treatment. witness search.. police are looking for a 17 year who could provide more information in a police shooting at an urbandale motel. why they think she could be important to the investigation. supreme arguments.. what iowa's top court will decide in the death of a slipknot member and the arguments it heard last night about why his family has the right to sue his former doctor. it's wednesday, february 17th,