he was nothing to me now. >> but chelsa has been and is her father's staunchest defender.e chosen the other path? >> i think they're just very upset by what happenednd the relationship was not as close to my dad. they wer either not home or not awake when i was awake. and ey were not around him the next day like i was around him. >> chelsa says dave was acting perfectly normal the day after whatever hpened happened. no odd behavior. nothing whatever to suggest he had en up all night committing a terrible crime. >> so, the things that convinced me about his innocence aren't here to convince them. i think they are defending my mom so much, though, that it's like they're going to point to the most obvious suspect. >> but chelsa isn't the only one in this small town who believes dave hawk is innocent. >> i believe what he says, that he had nothing to do with her disappearance and presumed death. >> sandy brown is dave's long-time pastor and friend. >> this person who's portrayed as such a monster just isn't. he's a man who's worked hard in the church. he is a good

chelsa, devastated, has remained her father's champion. she says her family has even questioned her unshakable love for her mom. >> it's hard to convince them ñ and believe the other parent's innocence. because they just cannot see that because they're so hurt. >> and conrad, imagines he knows her thoughts better than she does. >> i personally don't think that she believes that her father's innocent. i think in her mind she would rather have one parent who may have done a horrible thing than have no parent at all. >> has this created a rift between the two of you? >> little bit, yes. >> what do you do about

wk took over custody of chelsa and savannah, not the way they expected to spend their 80s, anymore than they expected to have to defend their son. >> well, he's made some >>> this morning on "early today," first hurdle. lawmakers gear up for a key test vote on the president's tax cut deal with republicans. >>> snowed under. a massive storm system buries the midwest. collapsing the roof of the minneapolis metrodome. >>> and suicide? scientists may have unraveled one of the solar system's scientists may have unraveled one of the solar system's greatest mystery captions paid for by nbc-universal televion >>> good morning to you, i'm veronica de la cruz. today we begin with testing the waters. the senate will get its first crack at the president's controversial plan to temporarily extend tax cuts for l americans today. the test vote paves the way for a final vote later in the week, and then is on to the house where critics say the real battle will begin. nbc's tracie potts joins us live from washiton with the details. tracie, good morning to you. >> reporter: veronica, good morning. good mo

but they'll be close again, said chelsa. some day. >> it's going to take a while, yes. and maybe it's too soon to start because we're both still hurt. things are too fresh. but we don't want to lose it. >> that's all for now. i'm ann curry. and for all us here at nbc news, thanks for joining us. >>> this sunday, the tax fight. the president gets some powerful support for his deal with republicans but liberal democrats are in revolt, unmoved by the president's rationale follow compromise. >> i think it's tempting not to negotiate with hostag takers unless the hostage gets harmed. then people will question the wisdom of that strategy. in this case, the hostage was the american people. >> will the deal pass congress and what will it do to create jobs? we'll ask our lead news maker guest, the chairman of the white house council of economic advisers, austan goolsbee. and then the politics of the center. if washington is broken is the answer an independent? independent mayor of new york city michael bloomberg joins me exclusively to discuss the economy, the president's leader