joining us on one of the most important nights of the presidential race so far. tonight's republican debate could be a complete game-changer. the debate field now witled down to sevencandidates. donald trump, right there in the mix after skipping that iowa debate. latest poll numbers just coming in showing he is still the clear front-runner. marco rubio and ted cruz, right there, tied for second place. and this is a live look at the debate hall, right now. the energy building across this state, but especially right here, where the candidates will soon face each other and the nation. our team is covering it all and abc's tom llamas starts us off. >> reporter: tonight, the stage is set.. and candidates like senators ted cruz and marco rubio getting a feel for the stage that could change the direction of this race. rubio expected to take on the most fire tonight. his poll numbers rising, and so are the attacks against him. like, from cruz, who is reminding voters who really won in iowa.

really impressive third-place finish of marco rubio? that's an odd collection of words, impressive, third place finish. >> reporter: rubio calling out cruz afterer suggesting dr. ben carson was dropping out of the race, which was not true. >> if you get a call on tuesday night saying that i dropped out, it isn't true, it's a lie. >> reporter: and donald trump, leading inhe polls here, but the race is tightening, starting the fight eay, tweeting today, "wow, jeb bush, whose campan is a total disaster, had to bring many mommy to take a slap at me. not nice." >> vote for jeb. >> reporter: but that tweet's not stopping 90-year-old barbara bush. >> he doesn't give many answers to how he would solve problems. he sort of makes faces and says insulting things. >> reporter: jeb, bringing in his famous mother to help lift his campaign off life support. today, an encouraging sign. a crowd of more than 600. bush says he's his own man, but won't run from his famous last name.

to get over it, all right? i am who i am, you know? it's -- i'm in the establishment. >> reporter: bush, part of the pool of governors, hoping for a miracle in new hampshire. today, kasich getting a boost from another notable republican governor, ararld schwarzenegger, who compared him to that bullet proof robot that make him famous. >> it sluldly would not stop. ever. never give up. so, this iss you. you are the terminator. >> and tom is right here with me inside the debate hall. tom, you're hearing one of the biggest fights tonight might actually be a rematch? >> reporter: cecilia, that's right. get ready for jeb bush versus marco rubio, part two. all week, bush has been hammering rubio. he's been relentless, saying rubio has no accomplishments. a top bush aide calling rubio a no-sho lobbiest.

bush is desperate. and seal see ya, up on that stage, they will be standing right next to each other. >> anything couldl happen. tom llamas covering the republican race every step of the way. tom, thank you. tonight's debate could shape the direction of thisp race. nearly half of all republican voters in new hampshire haven't yet made up their minds. so, what are they waiting to hear? here's abc's jon karl. >> reporter: as the candidates make the final push in new hampshire -- >> show time is over. it's game time. >> reporter: -- the republican race is tightening. donald trump still leads all the polls, but marco rubio is rising. and cruz, kasich and bush not far behind. it's just three days to go before the primary, and at the chez vachon diner, we found folks ready to pick a president. well, almost. clearly you've made up your mind now, right? >> well, we haven't. >> reporter: you haven't made up your mind? >> we haven't made up our mind. >> reportete he's not alone. amazingly, more than 40% of likely republican voters in new hampshire say they still

he's narrowed it down to trump, rubio or cruz. >> i think we're stuck on - - will we actually have the nerve to vote for trump? i mean, that's really where we're stuck. >> reporter: so, whenou go in there, are you able to pull the lever for donond trump, is the question. >> a year ago, i couldn't imimine voting for trump. >> reporter: but there are two groups who seem totally decided. those who like the frontrunner -- >> donald trump. >> reporter: no matter what? >> no matter what. i liked what he had to say. i'm ting for him 100%. no changing my mind. >> reporter: and those who don't. >> i definitely know i would not vote for trump. that's all i really know. >> reporter: but new hampshire voters have a long history of making up their minds late, and surprising everybo. after barack obama won the iowa caucuses eight years ago, he was way ahead in the polls here in new hampshire, but ended up losing to hillary clinton. this time, it's the republicans who seem most undececed. so, when will you make up your

your mind up? >> i'd say really after this last debate. >> and so many people still waiting to make up their mind. jon joins me now inside the debate hall, too. jon, donald trump not at that last debate. he will be here tonight. what are you hearing from the mpaigns about his strategy? >> reporter: well, cecilia, his campaign manager says if trump is attacked tonight, he will respond times ten. but the real question here is, which donald trump is going to show up tonight? over the past few days, we have seen him go nuclear on ted cruz, saying that he cheated in iowa, and we've also seen him show incredible restraint and say that he is really focused on his message. we'll see which one shows up. >> we shall see. jon, thank you. and abc political analyly matt dowd is here with me, too. you have called this a critical debate. who wins, who has the most to lose tonight? >> it's a pivotal moment for all seven up there. i would focus on three of them. rst, john kasich has put all of his chips on the table here

to get in second and third. this is thenly place he can do that from. jeb bush is another ononwho has the most to gain. he's spent more money than any other candidate in this race. if he doesn't get in the top four, his candidacy is on life support. and finally, donald trump has the most to lose. donald trump comes into this race with double-digit lead. he has led 70 straight polls since august in this state. and as we know, new hampshire voters are --here's a ton of late deciders. he has to do well here to keep thatead going. >> all right, the whole team here following it all. thatcountdown is on for the democrat candidate, too. bernie sanders, the favorite son here. hillary clinton, the understood dog. she was out, going door to door herself today. he will have a national audiee later tonight. abc's david wright on the trail. >> it's a beautiful day in manchester! >> reporter: hillary clinton may be down in the polls here in new hampshire, but don't count her out yet. >> well, i need your help on

come along. >> reporter: today, she's been out pounding the pavement, knocking on doors, trying to make up ground agast bernie sanders. >> i feel like a rock and roll star. >> reporter: sanders has accused clinton of being wall street's favorite democrat, not progressive enough. >> i have spent my entire adult life trying to knock down barriers. >> reporter: today, madeleine albright joined clinton, appealing to women, in particular. >> just remember, there's a special place in hell for women who don't help each other. >> reporter: but some of the people attending clinton's own event agree with sanders. >> probably for bernie sanders. >> i'm actually a bernie supporter. >> reporter: you are? but are you here at this event? >> i am. >> reporter: do you feel like you are behind enemy lines? >> kind of. >> reporter: today at a town hall at new england college, the first questioner made a freudian clip.

>> reporter: calling her by her opponent opponent's name -- >> young people support bernie sanders, but i support you even if you don't support me. >> reporter: tonight, >> reporter: the sanders surge here is clearar a nuisance for clclton. but it will be interesting to see how seriously the republicans take him. cecilia? >> i think that's safe to say. david, thank you. and,d,f course, the debate, you do not want to miss it. just moments away. vid muir and martha raddatz moderating at 8:00 p.m. eastern, right here. but we do now move on to other news. that deadly crane accident in new york city. the movehat went out of control, and the crane's sudden collapse, caught on camera. the cab of that crane landing upside down its arm smashing onto cars below. one man killed three others injured. and abc's phillip mena on the latest in the investigation tonight.t. >> reporter: tonight, a massive job.

crews forced to use blow torches to tear it apart, after it came % crashing down friday morning in new york city. killing one and injurink three, crushing cars and sending this counterweight into a building. you can see all that debris still on the road there. some of it came from the top of that damaged ilding, where part of the crane still lies. the unanswered question tonight, what triggered the collapse? officials looking closely at the wind and snow conditions. how long do you think before we can figure out exactly what happened? >> you know, i think you're going to have to give us a couple of weeks at least while we do some calculations, go through the metal and how it failed. >> reporter: officials say the operator tested negative for drugs and alcohol, and has been cooperating wi the investigation. this crane is so big, that workers are having to cut it into 35 pieces just to clear it from the street. cecilia? >> phillip, thank you. to a health alert now.

after a controversial recommendation to women. it says women should refrain from drinking alcohol, saying the risk to babies is too high. the reaction has been fierce, many women saying that advice goes way too far. here's abc's gloria riviera. >> reporter: women across thehe country, sounding off against the cd c's new alcohol guidelines. >> makes no sense to me. >> are you serious? is this really what you feel comfortable telling your wife, your sister, your daughter? >> reporter: while many women support the cd c's long-standing warning about the dangers of drinking while pregnant, the new guidelines hit a nerve, because they go further, telling health professionals to advise a woman to stop drinking if she is trying to get pregnant or n n using birth control with sex. ououage exploding on social media. calling the advice patronizing and sexist. the women we spoke to, telling us they can be trusted to make smart, safe choices.

overstepping their boundary in terms of what a woman can do with their own body. >> this is, perhaps, the rht intention, with a very wrong execution. >> reporter: the cdc points out, half of all pregnancies in the u.s. areunplanned. many women don't know they are pregnant for several weeks. possibly unintentionally putting eir child at risk. today, the cdc telling abc news "we were sorry some people took offense at our communications." the cdc is standing by its advice, which, it says, was obly intended to clearly explain the risk drinking may have on an unborn child. cecilia? >> gloria, thank you. and the debate set to take place here in this hall is not the only showdown this weekend. the super bowl not less than 24 hours away. more than 100 milllon people will be watching. the stage is set in san francisco. and abc's ryan smith has the big ticket. >> reporter: super bowl frenzy in full effect.

50, and fans are fired up. a clasof football's titans. all-time great peyton manning and the dazzling, dynamic cam newton -- >> you don't go 17-1 as a starting quarterback without being awesome. >> peyton manning will always be about all-time great. >> reporter: and to set the bar even higher, bruno mars confirming he will be apart of the highly anticipated super bowl halftime show. joining cold play and beyonce. security, not taking a backseat. we're standing here in one of the security operations centers for the super bowl. there are multiple ones so they can back each other up. and what are they looking for? well, they are looking on the streets, the stadium, the air space, to make sure that super bowl sunday is a s se one. safety is paramount. for players and fans alike, hoping the 50th super bowl is one for the ages. so, who will win the super bowl here at levi's stadium?

carolina panthers at 5.5-point favorites. most people here have the broncos as the sentimental choice, they are picking the panthers to win it all. cecilia? >> ryan smith right there on t t ground, thank you. and still ahead on this special edition of "world news tonight", the threatening phone calls to watch out for. >> don't disregard this message and do return the call before we take any action against you. >> a tax scam warning. why you may soon be mor at risk than ever before. and, later, the psident of a fraternity at an ivy league university under arrest. the allegations rocking that campus tonight.

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get their hands on your money. and those suspiciousalls and threats cost americans millions. here's abc's ron claiborne. >> within the next hour, they will be at your doorstep to hand you have you and put you behind bars. >> reporter: the gernment is warning americans to be on high alert for a phone scam thats bilking americans out of millions. this chicago area woman got a call le that in december, from someone claiming to be from the ir demanding she pay thousands of dollars in back taxes. >> and if we don't, there's a warrant out for our arrest. >> reporter: scared, she wired $10,000 to an account in seattle. it was all a scam. the irs says, since october 2 2013, 5,000 victims, losing more than $26 million,to people tre tending to be irs officials. so, how do you protect yourself? for years, the government has had this simple message. >> the real irs will generally first mak contact by letter and will never demand immediate

>> reporter: but starting next month, a new law requires the irs to hire collection agencies to help collect taxes. and those agencies may call taxpayers. >> in the future, when collectors are actually calling on behalf of the irs, people will be more likely to fall for that scam. >> reporter: paying taxes they don't owe. ron claiborne, abc news, new york. and when we come back, held hostage during that bonnie and clyde describe spree, how the dangerous couple held one family for hours. what they're saying tonight. and fading out? why some of our favorite candies might soon look a bit different. type 2 diabetes doesn't care who you are. man woman or where you're from. city country we're just everyday peopop fighting high blood sugar. i am everyday people. farxiga may help in that fight every day.

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and to the index now. tonight, an i vie league university rocked by rape allegations. the president of cornell's psi upsilon fraternity is facing attempted rape arges. 21-year-old wolfgang ballinger s arrested after turning himself in. the fraternity now placed on suspension. out of that bonnie and clyde crime spree. this woman's husband spotted the dangous couple right in their backyard. >> he saw a man standing there with a gun, pointed at him, saying, open your door and, what do you do? >> the florida family held hostage for three hours. suspect blake fitzgerald was later killed in a police ootout. brittany harper is? custody. and, a candy giant making some healthy changes. m&ms and skittles are getting a makeover.

artificial coloring from its products. the plan is to come up with healthier ingredients to create those vibrant colors over the next three years. still ahead, it is almost time here. we areust waiting for the candidates to take the stage, so, what happs when they're all backstage? we go behind the scenes, when we come back. i use what's already insideme to reach my goals. so i liked when my doctor told me i may reach my blood sugar and a1c goals by activatg what's within me. with once-weekly trulicity. trulicity is not insulin. it helps activate my body to do what it's supposed to do release its own insulin. trulicity responds when my blood sugar rises. i take it once a week, and it works 24/7. it comes in an easy-to-use pen and i may even lose a little weight. trulicity is a once-weekly injectable prescription medicine to improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.

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underneath those podiums -- we are in the athletic center. the candidates won't cross paths until@they're ready to take the stage. take a look at this. this is one of the candidates' dressing rooms. maybe he wants to ride an exercise bike? long hallways. arrows telling the candidates where to go. this is a racket ball court, candidates will be this there. no candidates in there. here we go. the long walk to that stage. >> guys ready? >> reporter: and then, all those rivals standing there, waiting side-by-side until their name is called. >> donald trump. >> reporter: it's rehearsal time today. the fill-ins, students playing the role of a lifetime. as you can see, this is not the real jeb bush. i mean -- maybe. >> i'm -- >> you have a good one-liner? >> the kneeldown. i got it perfectly. i'm always staring at marco when he says something,too. >> reporter: you totally have it done.

the whole gang is here. >> oh, hi, d did and martha. ready to go. and it all starts - - >> applause, applause. city applause. and -- go. >> and here we go, in just a matter of moments. you can see all the people gathering right here behind me, getting ready for this big showdown. it will be a must-watch tonight. i am cecilia vega here in new

we'll see you back here soon. pick up some fresh florida zucchini, beautiful golden squash, plumptomatoes, mushrooms, and garlic. combine with the pasta, and serve. everyone's a winner with this flavor packed meal. for more delicious recipes

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