ready for change but what kind? in our new poll just weeks from the election, what amecans say they want. what he said about his the election, what americans say they want. what he said about his christian faith. the president takes a direct question today from a voter. what happened? did americans in uniform lose control and kill innocent civilians? a dramatic story unfolding on camera. and back in business after a heartbreaking disaster, a nation treasure is, again, making music. also tonight, what's being described as the moon mission for a new generation. "the nightly news" begins now. captions paid for by nbc-universal television good evening. there is important news in what we're about to show you because it may be evidence of a trend afoot right now. we are at this hour debuting a new nbc news "wall street journal" poll. while there is some good news here for the democrats who may

be worried about a blood bath, sweeping losses at the upcoming mid-term elections have been predicted. there is really bad news if you're an incumbenoffice holder of either party. the voters increasingly don't want to ar it. they want some things meone else, and something new. our nbc news political director chief white house correspondent, chuck todd, here with us to start us off. >> good evening. we'll start with the number everybody asks about five weeks before the election and that is, this generic ballot question. who's up? who's down? what do you prefer? last month, it was a nine-point advantage for the republican now, the lead has shrunk to six. the mood of the electorate hadn't changed. theyant change. they don't like the direction of the country and democrats ar starting to engage african-americans and hispanics. as peter ht, our pollster put it, democrats can change the turnout but not the landape.

but what is the change voters want? what is this change th want? listen to this, 75% say the result they'd like to see is reduced special interest influence. 70% want to elect political outsiders, even if they are inexperienced, whether we're talking about christine o'donnell from delaware or other folks like that. 54% hope the tea party enthusiasm in the republican party makes them a fiscay conservative party. 54% want to see the repeal of health care, but what's interesting. they care about these things more than which party controls congress. they want washington to change the way they do business, not necessarily just change the color of the jerseys. speaking of the tea part it is the engine inside this republican enthusiasm gap, 42% say it's been good. even if they don agree with the tea party movement they believe it's good. only 18% say it's a bad thing. speaking of big-named politician, the most popular politician was sarah palinnewt

gingrich, you name it, nancy pelosi. bill clinton has his best ratings we've seen since he left office. nostalgia for the good old days may be helping the president. >> interesting. i wanted to show you something and you've seen this before. this was ts afternoon in new mexico. president obama backyard event behind him, happening from the front porch of the house, the american flag, red hot chile peppers. he was asked about his christian faith, his religion and gave an interesting answer. >> i'm a christian by choice. my family didn't, you know, frankly, they were not folks who went to church every week. my mother was one of the most spiritual people i knew but she dn't raise me in the church.

so i came toy christian faith later in life. and it was because t precepts of jesus chrisspoke to me in terms of the kind of life that i would want to lead. beg my brothers and sisters' keeper. treating others as they would treat me. and i think, also, understanding that jesus christ dying for my sins spoke to the humility we all have to have as human beings. we're sinful and we're flawed and we make mistakes. and that we achieve salvation through the grace of god. >> the president today, on his christian faith, chuck, one area where every word spokeby barack obama is dissected over and over again.

>> and this one will likely be dissected. during the campaign they spent a lot of time courting the evangelical media outlets, evangelicals in general, because the president at the time, candidate obama, his advisers believed the man's faith would be something that would connect to voters and of course, with the reverend wright episode and there's been almost a wall around the president when it comes to religion. you can tell it sort of affects him in different ways. he seems more reserved about it. doesn't like to talk about it. but in this case this was somebody in a backrd who said -- why are you a christian? we know why this conversation is sort of a constant conversation as people still want to understand the president's faith. >> chuck todd, starting us off on politics and faith, as it were tonight. chuck, thanks as always. form president jimmy carter is in the hospital tonight, and he was transported by ambulance today after feeling ill during a flight from atlanta to cleveland to promote hinew book.

the delta captain called ahead to the cleveland tower reporting a sick passenger on board. he didn't say who. president carter was sick to his stomach, apparently. doctors decided to keep him in the hospital overnight to force him to rest. president obama called him at the hospital. was quoted as saying, the former president sounded great. former president, by the way, is 85, about to be 86. very active. he recently flew to north koa to bring home an american that had been arrested and detained. he was here just eight days ago promoting his same book, his diary, during his years as president. terrifying moments this morning at university of tex. a 19-year-old phomore fired multiple shots from an ak-47 before running into a library, turning the gun on himself and taking his ownife. the police said he's a math major that lived off campus. university went into full lockdown while the buildings were searched.

no one else was hurt and university oicials said their emergency plan, including a text messaging systemworked well. and an interrogation video is providing chilling details about how a group of american soldie, allegedly, murdered afghan civilians and what we're learning is from the soldiers themselves. it's all part of a case that could have an impact on the war in afghanistan, and, perhaps, put american troops at greater risk of retaliation. our pentagon correspondent has the tale of this tape. >> reporter: this u.s. soldier's casual account of the killing of civilians in afghanistan sounds disturbing, if not cold-blooded. >> you guys want to wax this guy or what? >> reporter: in all, five soldiersre accused in the murder of three innocent civilians in southern afghanistan early this year. in this interrogation interview obtained by nbc news, one suspect, corporal jeremy

morlock, tells that staff sergeant calvin gibbs, seen here in a high school photo, allegedly selected the victims and took command of the killings. >> he pulled out an american grenade, popped it and tells us to [bleep] -- kill this guy. kill this guy. wax this guy. >> reporter: army officials say gibbs bragged aboukilling civilians in iraq and morlock told investigators he even fears gibbs might kill him. >> if gibbs knew i was sitting here in front of thicamera there's no doubt in my mind that he would take me out. >> reporter: he wasn't alone. specialist adam winfield text messaged his parents about the first killing. some innocent guy about my age just farming adams' father, chris, warned the army but tragically army officials refused to investigate. his son, now charged in the third killing, that took place three months later. >> is your son a whistle blower or a murderer? >> he's a whistle blower. tried.

the army didn't listen. >> he does not deny he was present at the third killing which need not have happened had the army investigated but he was not -- he did not cause any injury to the deceased. >> the army fears it has a bigger problem and is with holding from public release some of the more gruesome photos that are evidence in this case. there are serious concerns that the images like that that emerged from the abu gaib scandal in iraq will ignite a firestorm of anti-american sentiment in afghanistan, putting the afghanistan war itself at risk. nbc news, the peagon. as many of you saw last night, the networks of nbc are hosting an education summit lled "education nation." tonight we take on the question of what makes a great teacher? a question that microsoft founder, bill gates, really wants to answer. he's putting a big chunk of his own fortune into finding out. tonight, tom brokaw talks to bill gates who is a supporter of this education summit.

>> how much more time do you need? >> reporter: in any classroom, this is the engine that powers the day. the teacher. but as we all know from personal experience, some teachers are just so much better than others. >> raise your handf you feel like you know better. >> what makes a great teacher? that's a question witho many parts. >> do they work longer hours? do they break the classroom down more? >> you're a tough competitor. >> reporter: microsoft founder, bill gates, is spending half a llion dollars over the next five years to find out. what are the essential elements of a great teacher? how do we measure them? >> there'sot a lot of raw data where you can take what goes o in the classroom or classroom lecture, group, one-on-one type things and try to connect that to, okay, some teachers are really good with students ahead. some are good at calming the classroom. >> can you use more specific words? >> reporter: it's called m.e.t

measures of effective teaching. a three-year study by t bill and melinda gates foundation. 3,000 teachers around the country have agreed to be evaluated by video, student questionnaires and by the teachers themselve and by the results of student performance on standardized tests. >> reporter: how do you respond to those teachers who say,look, i just can't teach to a test? >> if you want something to be excellent it can't go unmeasured. >> reporter: this sixth grade teacher came from a hool where she said she was never observed during her first two years of teaching. now a ps 126 in new york, she's evaluated all the time. >> i would say i kind of enjoy being under the microscope to be fair. i'm getting observed in multiple ways that makes me feel like i'm learning every day. >> whaabout the teacher establishment? between the unions and people that have been around a long time? they have real resistance to the changes coming on? do you butt up against that? >> teachers really want fair

evaluation and i think the resistance comes when they think the evaluation won't reflect what is going on. >> which is probably why bill gates showed up at the america federation teach's convention. >> those of you who are backing these new measures are taking a risk. why would you do it? >> we're both tryin to figure out how to look at great teachers and deconstruct their practice. >> so do you like reading more than you did a year ago? >> it's gotten aot easier because teacr has gotten better and better and helping me. >> reporter: so what has been learned so far? >> if you say to t students, does my teacher use the time in class well? and when i'm confused, does the teacher help straighten me out? the answer to those questions gives us hope that we can use they multiple measures and we'll know more about what a great teacher looks like. >> reporter: and what they have to say. >> the best thing is getting

experience, learning from other teachers who have done it so well. and sharing best practices. >> you have to understand your students on many levels. not just what they can do academically. >> so the real question is, can you teach me math? >> absolutely. >> i don't think so. >> math is fun. >> reporter: that may be too great a challenge for even the best of the teachers but the bottom line is to be an effective teacher you can't approach your class as one-size-fits-all. different kids have different needs and the most eective teachers they discovered so far recognize that. they also created a climate that is exciting. even organizing competitive teams to tackle math problems. for example, most all, students are most productive when they feel that the teachers care about them as individuals. brian? >> and we're allalking about this. tom brokaw, always a pleasure. when we continue in just a moment, after being handed a terrible challenge, a eat american city launches a comeback. and does it to music.

and later, what we heard today about the challenge of educatg our children and what it being compared to. replant a forest?you want to maybe you want to rebuild homes for those in need? or, maybe you want to help improve our schools? whatever you want to do, meers project from american express can help you take the first step. vote, volunteer or donate for the causes you believe in at membersproject.com. take charge of making a difference.

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if you still have time to get there you best hop in the car. it's being billed as quite likely the best pay in the nation tonight and it's in nashville, where country mus royalty will gather to celebrate the grand re-opening of the grand ole opry. coming five months after that institution and much of the city was submerged in a history-making flood. nbc, janet shamlian is there. >> reporte in the cathedral of country music on a stage scuffed by every industry legend this just might be the biggest night ever. the rehearsals have been going on all day. brad paisley, martina mcbride, a who's who of country royalty. you might just call it "homecoming in nashville." the reopening of the grand ole opry in may, torrential rains ravaged the region and $2 billion in damage. the opry's stage and treasures were buried under four feet of

water. >> it's heartbreaking to see this. >> in the aftermath, paisley and opry favorite got a first look at his home. >> this is absolutely hard to see. >> reporter: the officials said they would bring it back, a four-month, around the clock job, finished today. >> i can't believe it. i'm just in awe of this. they did it, fast, too. i mean, when was it that we talked? >> may 11th or may 12th. >> that's crazy. this is the type of thinthat should take two years. >> reporter: the famed circle of wood, dried out and restored is back in its rightful place at center stage. >> reporter: the work is far from over but this is a milestone, a symbol music city has regained its rhythm. tonight, the building's official rebirth. a celebratory concert before a sold-out hometown crowd. >> now we're back to business. country musicwise but people still need help.

this is a big step. >> reporter: a fresh start for a trsured tradition as country music finds its way back home. janet shanlihan, nbc news, nashville. >> congratulations to the grand ole opry. when we come back, something that won come in the mail this year for the first time. i know who works differently than many other allergy medications. hoo? omnaris. [ men ] omnaris -- to theose! [ man ] did you know nasal symptoms like congestion can be caused by allergic inflammation? omnaris relieves your symptoms by fighting inflammation. side fects may include headache, nosebleed, and sore throat. [ inhales deeply ] i told my allergy symptoms to take a hike. omnaris. ask your doctor. battling nasal allgy symptoms? omnaris combats the cause. get omnaris for $11 at omnaris.com.

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folks along the east coast are being warned of a big, bad weather system from the north. a tropical depression from florida, expected to become tropical storm nicole is projected to merge with another low system and bring flooding rain from florida on up north through the carolinas and then the whole mess is expected to ma its way to new york and western new england by thursday. a one-timemerican staple is going away. it's been reported that the irs will no longer send out tax forms at tax times, via the u.s. mail. they say it's because so many americans are filing electronically, they say those wantinforms can print them off the web or find them at libraries and post offices.

and they hope to save $10 million by doing it, which will not be credited towards wer taxes. interesting new study out tonight on ologizing. it basically says that if it seems like women apologize more than men, it's because the two sexes may perceive wrongdoing differently, meaning what should warrant an apolo. as one researcher put it, men apologize just as frequently as women when they think theve done something wrong, you see. it's just that they think they've done fewer things wrong. i'm sorry if that's at all confusing. when we come back, some of the emotional voices from the citizens of "education nation." zens of "education nation." the morning is over, it's time for two more pills. the day marches on, back to more pills. and when he's finally home... but hang on; just two aleve caneep arthritis pain away all day with fewer pills than tylenol. this is steven,

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if copd is stillaking it hard to breathe, ask your doctor if incding advair will help improve your lung function for better breathing. get your first full prescription free and save on refills. finally here tonight, some of the many voices we've been hearing for the past few days as we here at nbc have en hosting a multi-day "education nation" summit. education ally has emerged as a big and urgent issue, finally after years of decline and neglect. so much so we wanted you to hear what we've heard and witnessed over the past few days. >> we're looking at elected

officials like they're supern. we're not waiting for superman. in my house i'm supermom and on good days i'm superdad. so i nd us to begin to engage parents in a meaningful, meaningful conversation. >> we have to change the history of these families so it's a history of successes. a history of achievement and all of us have to lp. the community has to come together again. and help our kids. >> i really believe that we have to move faster. these kids cannot wait. you know, one year -- [ applause ] one year is too long. >> this country keeps talking about they want a moon shot. they want a sputnik moment. folks, this is it. education is more gradual than a moon shot. remember how the moon shot happed. it was three fellowships of the brightest people in the country to go to universities without borrowing money, without job, to focus on what this nation eded to land a man on the moon and bring him back and we did it. >> i would describe myself as a 17-year-old young lady destined

for grtness. i have been the bypduct of ailing systems like dss and foster care. but today i'm proud to say i will be the first in my immediate family to graduate from high school and attend coege. [ applause ] >> some of what we heard today. our coverage of "education nation" continues tomorrow on this broadcast and on msnbc as well as on the web. we have post a ton of information and resources for teachers and parents on our site. educationnation.com. for now, that's our brad cast. thank you for being here with us. i'm brian williams. we hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. good night. -- ptions by vita -- www.vitac.com -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

four years ago, bob ehrlich got fired as governor of marylan for good reason. first, he protected tax loopholes for giant cable cable companies. then, he let ulities jack up our rates 72%. and for the last four years, he worked as a hired gun for big corporations, even a bank that took billions from a taxpayer funded bailout. ehrlich sides with corporate executives again and again and again tell bob ehrlich big banks and billionares don't need help. middle cde d