president obama reveals his ncaa bracket busters. "early today" starts right now. good morning everybody and thanks for joining us today. i'm betty nguyen. president obama has picked merrick garland. >> he's not only one of america's sharpest legal minds and brings to his work, modesty, integrity and even handedness and excellence. >> he's known for his more moderate views. he was confirmed in 1997 and has the support of seven current gop senators even hatch who says his intelligence cannot be questioned.

timothy mcva bombing and nbc news justice correspondent pete williams with the details. >> reporter: the president introduced merrick garland as decent, and even handed. >> he's earned the respect and admiration of leaders from both sides of the aisle. >> garland was emotional. >> this is the greatest honor of my life, other than lynn agreeing to marry me 28 years ago. >> reporter: one of his daughters missed the moment out in the mountmountains. he grew up in chicago. as a federal prosecutor, he led that team that brought oklahoma city bomber to trial and often tough on criminals.

middle and maybe a little to the left. >> reporter: at 63, he's the oldest supreme court nominee in nearly 50 years but when nominated for the federal appeals court in 1997, he was confirmed 76-23 with 32 republican votes. a point the administration now emphasizes. >> i simply ask republicans in the senate to give him a fair hearing. >> reporter: but senate republicans continue to say they won't even consider it because the next president should make that choice. >> the decision the senate announced weeks ago remains about a principal, not a person. >> reporter: so far even a few republicans have said they would meet with garland. >> i would not feel comfortable refusing to meet with the president's nominee to the high highest court in the land. and with hillary clinton and donald trump edging closer to

they're now setting their sights on each other. >> racist, torture. >> reporter: game on. going after each other as though they were already tpay' nominees. and trump ridiculing clinton as a weak commander and chief, showing her barking like a dog as she told a joke on the campaign trail. after clinton ridiculed trump in her victory speech. >> our commander and chief has to be able to defend our country, not embarrass it. >> reporter: clinton's strategy, don't get in the mud with trumps a some of his republican rivals did. go after him on policy, immigration, the ban on muslims, embracing torture, highlight how he dodges questions about foreign policy on "morning joe."

number one, because i have a very good brain and have said a lot of things. my primary consultant is myself. >> reporter: campaign spokesman -- >> with hillary clinton in the general election match up, the option will be clear. who supports defending the president's executive actions. >> reporter: he's ready to keep hitting clinton hard. >> frankly, hillary's a disaster, by the way. you know that. >> look, you know she's guilty. we have numerous polls showing me beating her easily. >> reporter: that was andrea mitchell reporting. is it hillary clinton needs 35% of the remaining delegates and trump needs 55%. if it does come down to a contested convention, former

said he would support current speaker paul ryan. and they clarified. meanil south carolina governor nikki haley has switched her allegiance to ted cruz. she called him a strong leader who's action minded. another rubio indorser, oklahoma senator has now switched his indorsement to john kasich. this is kasich's second indorsement from a senator and first from outside his home state of ohio. and donald trump picked up the support of rick scott who said it's time to coles behind trump. we have sad news to report

frank sinatra, jr. has died. start spreading the news i'm leaving today i want to be a part of it new york, new york >> sinatra followed in his father's foot steps and eventually worked for old blue eyes when sinatra jr. was 19, he was kidnapped at gun point. his family paid $230,000 ransom. and later in life he performed his father's songs. he died of cardiac arrest while on tour in daytona, florida. and his daughter, nancy sinatra said "sleep warm, frankie." dead at the age of 72. a colorado convenience store clerk is being called a hero.

she talks to the cashier and then appears disoriented. >> i grabbed the baby's arms. she start stood sway and was lost in space. so, i thought i better take the baby. something doesn't feel right and right then she started to fall. >> after calling 911 for the woman's seizure, she says she was just following her instingtscts and feels bad about not catching the woman. at a naval air force base in san diego and a german shepherd who fell off a fishing boat two miles off the coast of san clemente clemente. she was presumed dead but somehow luna made it to shore and was spotted boo ithe navy on tuesday. other than being undernourished,

and time to get a check of the weather on this st. patrick's day. you're wearing green. i forgot mine. >> you have other things on your mind. >> baby on the brain. we watched the snow yesterday in areas of the midwest. the storm itself is over lake superior. and upper peninsula, michigan and we're watching a little bit of snow from cadillac northwest and the rainfall here that's going to be down along the gulf coast. and stationary front is going to stay here. pensacola, that area's going to deal with rain. and the new york city parade looks great, 54. boston looks fantastic too. 59. we may deal with a little bit of rain in mobile, about 72 degrees and if you've nervlver had a st.

there is some cold air out there. colder air to the north and warmer air to the south, 80s and 70s are pretty widespread. and towards the weekend, pretty seasonable from kansas city. chicago has a cold air on saturday, warm up on sunday. and with the parade in mobile. and looks good in tampa. a lot of fun to be had on this st. patrick's day. >> oh, st. paddy's day isalways fun. and the shocking scene at a

don'e at m e me. e me see me to know that psoriisissointh iave. t ntus seme tow that......i sto until i find what works. discover cosentyx, a ffert kif foderat topl pis proven to herity of le find clear o mostar skin. 8 t 10 pele saw 75% skleart 3 nt. whe the majo saw eara do not use iare alic tntyx bere staing, yuld tested ferculo an increased risnfections wered ability to themay occur. ..ell doctoou he infecon or syms.. .sucever, swts, ch, muscle achescough. f you receivea vaccor plato hav amma bowel d tellr doctorsymp veloorse ous ic rns mar. see me e me. se on my way. fiar sn. and a paorward. foa differnd of micine,

bl gum yothin a rof hing tard. itot. it sign ly seas lierine(r)elp e... early gum diase in justwo ek listerine(r) po youmoh ! th whe. clean saw thefferent things h t phondoes... ...it nded hf hismagic . it's nott formarkalls it's t on n ease.. and ba grioo. he'sour... .all around-tough-cleaner, mr. at gois br icans noggo meing ellselic.eggo m .

eggoresandwich. el b er wehoing v to watc burins a a dicadispensa. kerhr eaz app toho workers extctc taino makebioiu >lenin speako sevechdren on and sharpds h orerts. aingo me thul. she latith t gek ero

athutest, fdy miclle possit oingo cti to wiur p ar wo at,il notun fo prest.no goo.amaseraurs ha aea h d being t id o t aiaur tscaia a heli bleo clim eveuall fw with the li fm rog at careuredusours te t to g busine kies ion off cal the hyilf blis

wiakespear and pce ee nd $1.7 >> a i iveng te io e sho a wn ureel hsseor t ces tomacall ti but they'll avaablenl member ng heoler thi year. asehrale roy rew a tirde w to saudirabia e aren aed dr and preobsncaa brtbu >> and she r o domina t '

lookg good d sandwind sou and a personest.and ttle hp and and sh anudy go, ean airs within try ean men era.as it ld b veri aring because vering s fa for age moves th y d stay all d ver with a banbran flexible fabric adhesive bandage. quilted northern works so well people can forget their bathroom experience. just like they forgot conductor randy, who sees all and forgets nothing.

als wial cgestion? findt reli be the c wiritin-d.up

this morning on "today," the end of an era. after intense criticism, seaworld announces a major change to its killer whale breeding program. find out what it is later on "today." now to sports, we're down to 64 after the final first four. the cinderella team so far is 15-19 holy cross. they managed to hold off

and they will advance in their first ncaa tournament victory in 63 years. and then it was michigan taking on tulsa for the last spot. and wolverines advance to take on nameny night in brooklyn. president obama fills in his annual ncaa. [ ets. >> 2009, first year of your esiden pic north carolina and n. two o times they did n - >>ts th thi kansas pick is presidency and they didn't winithemeso,etorkstharan golden steorst rnheir iv wingast n theyru >ndo srican cize

ect>>he s's ae healy ad carofhatkes yo..u. no doistg bo washotio ctivrals. tog theide nount beauti thieing inavee

get to kohl's super saturday - this saturday! and save on early birds 'till 1pm. like 40 to 60% off dresses. save on sport shirts and knit tops for him. and on all cookware and food prep. everyone get kohl's cash too! this saturday - only at kohl's. cha st prefor s' pain ae weeks. at ahose? t he itan pcrt whi wtest... when5 times better than theleading whitening toothpaste. d say. ...sne's mak e an ireion. crt 3d whiterips. e way to whiten. what's going on? toaster's broken. which means no eggo waffles. something smells delicious. eggo! l'eggo my eggo breakfast sandwich. it's sweet, it's savory, it's in your microwave. l'eggo my eggo breakfast sandwich.

h isur productsre too. gel ft s ett. rires ani t.e u rely prep t? plan your r rietir tirerethtre. ow ementne. elseand is gng tan be otime ek weth a fr he 1h. oteron e is

thou starsai wem > in teie iad ldardte w dofal " sheld entved a tv series based on "heathers". it will take place in the present day. model and romance novel coverman, fabio. where has he been? she's finally a u.s. citizen. he was one of more than 6,000 immigrants who took the oath of allegiance yesterday. he said it was one of the happiest days of his life. his hair still looks good,

and the legendary music studio called magic shop is closing its doors after almost 30years. they hosted top names like david bowie and cold play. and jimmy fallon had things to say about donald trump's recent primary victory. >> actually, he gained a lot of delegates and looks like he hit a really significant number. yeah. when trump said he was good at making deals, i didn't know he was that good. >> i did notice that number, the 666. >> you did notice it. i said wow, that's kind of interesting, although i didn't think to wear green. >> but you did think about that instead. >> the things that go through my mind. >> are you taking your son to

>> are you kidding me? he's three months old. i'm betty nguyen. this is "early today." (baseball onin backgund) dang ialwathe se.symporseuse hearn't puwell er fng room) abouerce peopldie himpering) 5 yf g dise thermethinyou . tayourr abt heartilure treatment ons. bethe ou khe more likelu are. (doghierin top it pumping. up andanichd cld re d insi jokes d scho nht.

y thcln pa men atera.ood as ild b >>st lawmakers coinci cot o rerd p f t citye eshant falutor theaneputie s veomp

seadyor utoth a n ni,eoi we i nd'menee cu.ap s's d.we're alwe gre. nhisorng ouhe? >>nd red atterday. w t che perft corhat addss tomy iig the n raityongblue i will s- il bacomd geterie. ndk realo loelack i a le green itcae n' wen