it's monday, december 14th. coming up on "early today," political fortunes are shifting in the polls. donald trump unleeches on ted cruz. in los angeles, we'll show you the video. from cherry blossoms in d.c. to ice cream in the big apple, more northwest flooding and a snow blast in the middle. what's behind this crazy weather.

town elementary shooting. perfect after week 14 in the nfl, a possible new player in the race for president. >> this is anton important day. i made a big decision. i'm entering the race for president of the united states of america. >> "ert today" starts right now. >> good morning, i'm gigi stone woods, tomorrow's republican presidential debate has the potential to be the most explosive yet with the iowa caucus seven weeks from today, there is a lot to talk about. not least of which donald trump's latest proposal. so his lead in the gop race may not be as secureds a once thought. >> reporter: with ted cruz threatening to knock donald trump out of the top spot the billionaire businessman again turned up the height. >> i don't think he's qualified to be president look at the way

he goes in there like a -- >> a new poll puts cruz been striking distance of the front runner. trump's 27% of gop voters nationally. cruz nets 22%. an increase of 12 points for the texas senator. . in iowa cruz tops him by ten points. >> i have a much better temperment. because i actually get along with the people much better. circuit. merely tweeting thank you in response to the iowa poll. those surveys provide a snapshot of how republican voters are reacting last week. >> donald j. trump is calling for a total and complete united states. >> controversial comments he defended against. >> i am not looking to be

i am doing this to do the right thing. >> the new poll is an cakes of how fluid the road is. potentially giving the rivals an opening. >> the most important thing is xander if chief. >> that requires having an understanding of the complex issues on foreign policy. i personally believe he continues to struggle to articulate that. >> for dr. benefit carson now dropping a whopping 18 points to 4th place with 50 days until the iowa caucuses. it's still anyone's gain. and overnight, more brand-new numbers from our nbc news "wall street journal" poll. tracy potts joins live from washington. >> sure, gigi, these numbers are interesting. they tell us what will happen for every top candidate versus harrisburg

boy, he would have a hard time beating hsuing harrisburg today losing by 10%age points. did cruz surging among republicans would lose to clinton by three percentage points, seemingly those at the top of the field for the republicans can't seem to be here right now. but the next two candidates could, ben carson, despite a huge slip, would still beat hillary clinton by one point and marco rubio could beat herbie 3 points. the biggest jump. those republicans are most supporting are least likely to beat hillary clinton or unable beat hillary clinton, those sliding in the polls are not doing nearly as well actually seem to be the best answers. >> really surprising information. tracy potts, thanks. if you are into politics, you will definitely get a kick out

will ferrell tops a legendary sfl persona, president bush. >> a field of republicans out there are so messed up, makes you miss it, doesn't it? jeb, a pretty good plot choice. as far as i wish you would have asked me about the explanation point on the edger end of his name. look. i don't like to take to broccoli. it doesn't get any tastier few call it broccoli. >> at least two tornadoes ripped through texas overthe weekend. the state of emergency was declared in glendale east of dallas where up to 50 poems homes were dallas. train cars were knocked off

the unseasonable weather caught the area off guard. >> it's kind of unusual this is not the time of the year to wrap up and prepare. >> in washington, d.c. the d.c. cherry blossoms were in ploochlt and new york city stourists tourists seemed to bed in ice 68. we have your forecast in a few minutes. . there has been another deadly officer involved shooting saturday near naengs. los angeles. the city response is expected. we should warn you, these images

>> tense moments in los angeles. >> as deputies open fire on a man with a gun. this cell phone video is extremely graphic as the shooting continues the man identified as 28-year-old nicholas robertson falls and tries to crawl away. deputies continue to fire 33 shots in less than 25 seconds. it's unclear how many struck robertson. protests over the shooting as friends and family took to the streets in protest. >> he was crawling on his knee, they kept shooting, why? >> the los angeles county sheriffs kept quick to provide pictures showing robertson with a ..45 caliber handgun. you see him entering the scene weapon in hand. he was behaving bizarrely. >> investigators received calls.

ignored their commands and was watching towards a gas station. >> there are two women and three children in a car at a gas pump within five feet of him at the time. >> activists are calling for an independent investigation for the justice department to get involved. while law enforcement is hopeful that sharing more information may help calm the west. dotty schwartz, nbc news, los angeles. a warning from health officials in northern california over the weekend. hundreds of newborns were possibly exposed to tuberculosis tuberculosis. more than 350 may have come if contact with a nurse what has been targeted for tb. officials started informing parents on friday. since parents cannot be tested, parents are advised to treat them with ain't balks for the

the force is strong with a new" star wars" movie. they haven't announced which theater it will be playing in. what is not a secret the record smashing numbers expected. boxoffice.com, predict it will be the grossest movie of all time, projecting up to a $220 million opening weekend. "saturday night live" decided to post fun at the fans to remember when the first film hit theaters. >> new action physicals and playsets for ages 6 and up. >> way up. >> my lightsaber. >> leave it in the box. >> one to display, one to open, one just in case. >> why? >> it takes a confident man to admit ris love of action figures. io eng that's bad. that's why we have you. a confident man giving up the weather.

you are talking record smashing numbers for "star wars. >> yesterday we had weather in the 70s. we are tracking storm that will bring rain across the mid-west. much more of a wintry scene out there. let's talk about the warm weather again. 64 degrees in central park. temperatures 25 degrees above average. we are tracking rain, watching out for travel delays there. heavy snow possible in salt lake city and the rockies. watch out for delays in the rockies. this snowstorm does spread into the plains tomorrow. showers exiting the northeast. a little cooler for tuesday. 61 degrees for your high in central park. finally cooling down to the 50 by wednesday. that's a look at your national forecast. now here's a closer look at your day ahead.

early on in estimate across the great lakes. >> that rain heads through the northeast as well. new york city seeing more for the community. >> warm weather, el nino. >> very confusing. i'm take it for now. >> which have a big day ahead, lus the busiest day of the year for the post office. we'll have details on that next. . breo won't replace a rescue inhaler for sudden breathing problems. breo opens up airways to help improve breathing for a full 24 hours. breo contains a type of medicine that increases the risk of death from asthma problems and may increase the risk of hospitalization in children and adolescents. breo is not for people whose asthma is well controlled on a long-term asthma control medicine, like an inhaled corticosteroid.

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...you need new theraflu expressmax. theraflu expressmax combines... maximum strength medicines available without a prescription... ...to fight your worst cold and flu symptoms... ...so you can feel better fast and get back to the job at hand. new theraflu expressmax. the power to feel better.tm >> today closing arguments will be made in the trial of officer porter. he is charged in the death of freddie gray. gray died in april in custody, prosecution claims porter contributed to gray's death, by not calling for medical help or

we'll decide if port is being charged with reckless endanger endangerment. 17 women were elected into office. it was the first time women were allowed to vote and run for office. they are still not allowed to drive a car, however. it was three years ago today a gunman entered sandy hook lottery school in new town, connecticut. 26 people died. 20 of them children. not far from this town, another school is marking the anniversary with 26 days of kindness harry smith has that story. >> everyone all set? >> mary callahan has an assignment in fairfield, connecticut. >> moments later, they begin rising you could hear a pin drop. >> to a teacher or elsewhere in the country. >> first responders. >> i want to talk to parents

without their job, it's selfless. >> this idea. 26 days of kindness, honors the 26 children and six adults who lost their lives in the 2012 mass shooting at sandy hook elementary scale in new town. manifest in acts big and small, like donating food and blankets to the homeless, an annual tradition in notre dame these past three years. >> it remind us that human goodness and human kindness is an every day affair. >> reporter: for students here, it couldn't make more sense. >> we aren't waiting for more bad to happen. >> they have learned there is a world outside these walls, crowded with cruelty. remember that old saying about it's better to give than to receive? they still believe that here harry smith, nbc news, fairfield, connecticut. >> let's get down to business. according to u.s. post office,

mailing day of the year for card, letters and packages. they estimate 14 billion pieces of mail will be send sent this season. engagement is upon us. men are paying more than ever for that special rock. researchers finding men are spending an average of $5,978 on an engagement ring. that's up from $5,403 in 2013. just ahead, he's back. rob gronkowski making his return

that's next up.

[ music playing ] >> this morning on "today" two major retailers are pulling hoverboards. what you need to know this holiday. in sports, the carolina panthers are 13 and o after rolling the atlanta falcons in a 38-0 drubbing. california clinched the playoffs. monday night football, patriots rebound from a two-game skid, tom brady checking here with rob gronkowski for the score. this was gronk's first game back after a knee injury.

when aend andy dalton broke his thumb. pittsburgh win this one 33-20. green bay had no trouble with the cowboy, since the the packers took over the afc north with a win over dallas. the streaking chiefs won their seventh straight game with a 10-3 victory. the walk redskins haven't won a road game in 23 months. they blew it. dustin hawkins proved the winner atop the afc east. redskins 24, bears 21. in the nba, check out this amazing feat. oklahoma city thunldz, russell westbrooke, bounces the ball off the back side, shoots the 15-footer to beat the buzzer. oklahoma city went on to win in overtime. the nhl's patrick kane won 28 games with his assistant duncan cane in the first. she leading with 27 assists and

blackhawk blanked vancouver 4-0. just ahead, prince drafts a huge surprise for his fans over the weekend. plus find out how actor ed norton has become a hero for phil! oh no... (under his breath) hey peter. (unenthusiastic) oh... ha ha ha! joanne? is that you? it's me... you don't look a day over 70. am i right? r jingle jingle. if you're peter pan, you stay young forever. it's what you do. if you want to save fifteen percent or more on car insurance, you switch to geico. you make me feel so young... it's what you do. you make me feel so spring has sprung. 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 saidr joint pain from ra can be a sign of existingt joint damage that could only get worse. he prescribed enbrel to help relieve pain and help stop further damage. enbrel may lower your

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 where fungal infections are common, or if you're prone to infections, have cuts or sores, have had hepatitis b, have been treated for heart failure, or if you have persistent fever, bruising, bleeding, or paleness. don't start enbrel if you have an infection like the flu. joint pain and damage... can go side by side. ask how enbrel can help relieve joint pain and help stop joint damage. enbrel, the number one rheumatologist-prescribed biologic. when your cold makes you wish... ...you could stay... ...in bed all day... ...you need the power of... rnew theraflu expressmax. new theraflu expressmax. the power to feel better. but grandma, mommy says we don't have to wad to get clean. cause we use charmin ultra soft. charmin ultra soft gets you

the wasteful wadding. it has comfort cushions you can see that are softer and more absorbent, and you can use up to 4 times less. enjoy the go with charmin. >> we have entertainment news, actor ed norton is changing the leis lives of one u.s.-bound

story of a syrian scientist bo lost his family in a missile blast. he is raising more than $380,000. the funds will aid the single father as he settles with the surviving children in the case. congratulations to eva longoria. she stars and got engaged over the weekend in dubai. he gave her a gorgeous diamond encrusted ruby ring. prince is releasing a brand-new album called hit and run phase two. it features both new sings and previously released tracks. fans can stream through the on store title. we can call him prince again. with at the don't have to call him the unpronounceable symbol. usc fighter rhonda rousey made good on her september promise to attend the marine corps ball, i love it. after being invited by a stranger on facebook.

corps ram for being a egentleman and putting a smile on her face. this is "early today" thanks for watching. tching. gentleman and putting a smile on her face. this is "early today" thanks for watching. tching. when your cold makes you wish... ...you could stay... ...in bed all day... ...you need the power of... rnew theraflu expressmax.

the power to feel better. leading the news in usa today, john kerry states climate change will transform economy. aimed at reducing greenhouse gases, the historic accord was widely celebrated yesterday. the agreement by 195 nation's hopes to limit rising temperatures to less than 2 degrees celsius, through the years 2,100. president obama declares a deal, quote, a turning point for the world. and in the daily maim,

swearing have bigger vocablaries than clean tungd folk. that was published in the lange science journals. participants were asked to say as many swear words in 60 seconds time. then they do the same with animals and those who knew the most swear words were more likely to name the animals as well. okay. we do have other more serious stories we are following. there was a deadly crash between a semi truck and a freight train in oregon, killing the truck driver. unknown fuel leaked under the train. it sparked and it caused a massive fire. the fbi is investigating after two mosques were and havalized in southern california. hawthorne, california, police received calls after graffiti and a possible explosive was found at one mosque. while jesus is the way was spray-painted on the other. the explosive turned out to be a toy grenade. these incidents come two days

in nearbyco chella. a rack keen was arrested in massachusetts, atop a pole. they rescued the critter after residents noticed. they called the police and he was hydrated. he was otherwise okay. he was taken to a wild life rehab center. santa claus taking number advantage of the warm weather this past week. he traded in a slay for water sleigh for water board. they have a lot of work to do. and a few guinness world regard was set in georgia, the most kisses under mistletoe at one time. couple locklipped over georgia saturday. nothing says romance like the sound of screaming kids on a roller coaster. now, a look ahead, president obama making a rare visit to the pentagon today. the president will be meeting

to discuss strategy on isis. he will make a statement and that's the start at trying to ease concerns over the president's anti-terrorism strategy. thanks for watching "early today."