the new hampshire primary a week from tonight just got a whole lot more interesting. let's start with the cruz/trump headline and hallie jackson. hello, hallie. >> reporter: hi, lester. the center of the political universe has shifted here less than 24 hours after iowa set a record with 50% more republicans caucusing than ever before. now, it's new some candidates under pressure. not used to losing -- >> we're going to win. we're going to win so much. >> reporter: donald trump finally did, today making headlines with the winning story line all ted cruz. >> so what a victory last night. >> reporter: he's deploying the same strategy in windham, new hampshire as he did near windham, iowa, shake lots of hands. >> a local volunteer with the ted cruz campaign. >> reporter: make lots of calls and take on trump. >> donald trump was saying every day that i was his friend, that he loved me, and now i'm an anchor baby. he or anyone else insults me i don't respond in kind. >> reporter: but you've attacked them? >> i do think differences on policy, on record, on substance, that's

now, it's new hampshire's turn with some candidates under pressure. not used to losing -- >> we're going to win. we're going to win so much. >> reporter: donald trump finally did, today making headlines with the winning story line all ted cruz. >> so what a vicry last night. >> reporter: he's deploying the same strategy in windham, new hampshire as he did near windham, iowa, shake lots of hands. >> a local volunteer with the ted cruzz campaign. >> reporter: make lots of calls and take on trump. >> donald trump was saying every day that i was his friend, that he loved me, and now i'm an anchor baby. he or anyone else insults me i don't respond in kind. >> reporter: but you've attacked them? >> i do think differences on policy, on record, on substance, that's fair game. >> reporter: our conversation coming just after cruz's today slammed for being too long, too flamboyant, taking a tone very different from his gracious one last night. >> and i want to congratulate ted, and i want to congratulate all of the incrediblbl candidates. >> reporter: trump now

looking past new hampshire. confidence and my trust in marco rubio. >> reporter: announcing an endorsement from south carolina senator tim scott. >> rubio wants to make the case in new hampshire that unlike ted cruz he can appeal to republicans in a much more moderate state, and so that's how he wants to position himself as the anti-cruz. >> reporter: many analysts are predicting a 3, 2, 1 strategy for rubio, if he finishes third in iowa, second in iowa and first in south carolina, that could be the path to the nomination. lester. >> for democrats it was the closest race in iowa caucus history, so tight that iowa's democratic party did not declare hillary clinton a winner and by a narrow margin until late this afternoon. bernie sanders has not ruled out contesting the count. started with nbc's andrea mitchell. >> reporter: in new hampshire today hillary clinton was sounding triumphant. >> i am so thrilled that i'm coming to new hampshire after winning iowa! >> reporter: but the stark reality is after starting ou

south carolina is a lot different from new hampshire. in 2012 exit polling 65% of gop voters identified as evangelical or born again. a voting bloc that ted cruz is expected to excel with, just as he did in iowa. and while trump owned voters who called themselves independents in new hampshire, just 25% of south carolinians see themselves that way. >> a lot of people here are shooting for giving donald trump the gold medal. >> reporter: like new hampshire, trump has drawn big and enthusiastic crowds across this state. it's where he got roaring cheers for his muslim ban. >> total and complete shutdown of muslims entering the united states. >> reporter: but historically it's also a place that's rewarred organization and cunning maneuvering. >> it's going to be sporty. i mean, south carolina takes elections real personally. >> reporter: like new hampshire, trump has led every south carolina poll since july, and now he can claim those numbers can't equal votes. katy tur, nbc news, new york. >>. >> reporter: i'm peter alexander in south caroli

new hampshire, but a gauntlet lies ahead in south carolina. clinton and cruz plotting comebacks, plus two big names bow out of the race. >>> flight risk. a new risk about batteries and the officials to planes are growing. now they are moving to take action. >>> 99 cent gas. tonight it's here, and experts saw we're headed for something just about no one thought would ever happen again. we'll tell you where. >>> and fighting comment yeah, a surprising drop in one of the most common forms. doctors say the reason has as much to do with a heart as it does with the brain. "nightly news" begins right now. nouns noints from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. >> good evening. there are two fewer candidates in the race for president tonight. casualties of a stunning night in which one-time long shot bernie sanders crushed hill hill on his way to a 22-point victory in a new hampshire democratic primary and donald trump leading the rest of the republican field in the dust with a 19-point win over his near

crowded polls in new hampshire. can donald trump score a big victory? our interview and a sign you haven't seen. why he says he'd act differently as president. >>> also, the rest of the gop crowd, rubio, kasich, cruz, and bush. are we headed f a surprise? is bernie sanders headed for his first victory against hillary clinton? >>> olympic fears. tonight the american star who says right now she wouldn't go to rio because of concerns over zika. >>> lessen your bills and saving you big money. entire business just that, now sharing how i do it with amazing results. >>> and tom brokaw joins us to talk about something important that suddenly has gone missing. "nightly news" begins right now. >>> good evening. we're 90 minutes away from the last of the poll closings here in new hampshire. and the evening's drama is about to begin. do trump and sanders become the big stories of the night, or will new hampshire's independent-minded voters defy the polls and once again reset this game? as we look in on a polling precinct, this one in hudson, we can tell you offici

i love you all, thank you, new hampshire. thank you, thank you, new hampshire. thank you, we are going now to south carolina. we're going to win inca south carolina. >> governor john kasich held 106 town hall meetings in the granite state and it paid off. and voters focussed on the economy and strong support from those whot oppose a ban on muslims entering the u.s. and those who want political 21% of voters who made up their minds in the last few days also went kasich and he got a good showing from post graduates, ua older vogters old er voters as well as moderates. >> there's something that's going on. that i'm not sure that anybody can quite understand. there's magic in the air with this w campaign. because we don't see it as just another campaign. we see this as an opportunity fortu all of us to change america, to reshine america. to restore the spirit of america and to leave no one behind. >> chris christie also spent most of his time in new hampshire but with drastically different results. he finished sixth. he will reevaluate his future. >>> it's an extrem

she will stay here in new hampshire now through the primary. lester? >> andrea mitchell with the debate stage behind her and a reminder, chuck todd and rachel maddow will democratic debate on msnbc tomorrow night live from the university of new hampshire in durham at 9:00 eastern time. >>> there's late word that the criminal sexual assault case against comedian bill cosby will move forward. a judge has thrown out a defense motion to dismiss the case which dates back to 2004. nbc's stephanie gosk is outside the courthouse in norristown, pennsylvania. stephanie? >> reporter: good evening, lester. well, the defense team for cosby was trying to get this case thrown out, claiming that the district attorney in 2005 promised their client that he would would never be charged criminally for the sexual assault of andrea content having him sit by for a civil deposition, however the judge heard two days of testimony from that district attorney saying he didn't find enough evidence to prosecute the case and also said he wanted to some form of justice but a the judg

her. >> reporter: new hampshire is much more trump's style. far less religious than iowa, it's where trump can be trump. the billionaire is comfortable here. he's led in 75 polls going back to june, relying on his broad brash insult. >> jeb bush? >> loser. >> ted cruz? >> i'll say nasty. >> hillary clinton? >> in a certain way, evil. >> reporter: his daughter trying to get out the vote. >> absolutely. >> reporter: nine month pregnant, she was playing ambassador for her dad. >> ivanka trump. >> reporter: stopping at five polling stations and working the phone bank with volunteers. [ applause ] >> thank you. >> reporter: as the minutes wind down, trump is shaking hands and hoping his moment is now, not never. and donald trump has up-ended this race, he's broken all of the rules. if he wins here, it will be a big deal. dare i say huge, especially considering he'll be able to say that all of this enthusiasm we're seeing does translate into votes, lester. >> all right, katy. away from the boisterous rallies and his speeches brimming with confidence

chuck sanders long new hampshire race. does that take any pressure off secretary clinton in this matchup tonight? >> you know, i don't think it does, only because of the clinton tradition here in new hampshire. new hampshire's been very good to the clinton family. saved bill clinton's candidacy in 1992. helped extend 2008. i don't think her time. but look, this debate is coming at a time when the two of them are having a real debate about what should the democratic party be. should it be what it's been? is it the party of obama and clinton? or does it need to go in a new direction as bernie sanders? clearly an army of supporters wants to take it. >> chuck, thanks very much. tonight's msnbc democratic debate kicks off live from the university of new hampshire, co-moderated by chuck, and rachel maddow at 9:00 eastern time. >>> in the republican race, another new poll shows marco rubio leaping over ted cruz in new hampshire, to take the number two spot behind as nbc's hallie jackson tells us, rubio's adversaries are piling on

we'll go live to new hampshire. plus: midlands police and a grieving family are sending out new appeals for help in the unsolved murder of a teenager. sunny and cold over the next several days as polar air has taken over much of the southeast. sunny, windy and cold today with highs in the middle to upper 40s. the wind will be from the w/nw will feel like the lower 30s, it will be a raw day. clear, breezy tonight, lows in the upper 20s wednesday friday: sunny and

a day after he sent hill hill to stunning defeat in new hampshire. having breakfast with reverend al sharpton at an iconic harlem restaurant, blocks from where kline kline moved his office when he left the white house. >> it is very important that he sent a signal that on the morning after an historic victory that he would come to harlem and have breakfast with me. >> reporter: there are signs of a possible sanders coalition. last night he won 83% of the youth vote and but hill hill still has more minority support and the stakes ahead are big and more diverse n.iowa and new hampshire, over 90% of democratic voters were white, but not in nevada with a large latino population, or in south carolina where a majority are do you think it's possible for to you win the democratic nomination if you don't convince more black voters to back you? >> well, it is absolutely essential the african-american vote and the latino vote, both votes, enormously important. we intend to do very well in boast those communities >> reporter: vermont senator making that pitch al

>> reporter: showing her softer, more reflective side in new hampshire. a rare glimpse last night. >> i've had to be in public dealing with some very difficult issues. and personal issues. >> reporter: revealing she relies on a jesuit parables. one of her strongest moments of this campaign. she also touted her progressive credentials. >> i am a progressive who gets results, and i will be a progressive president that will get results. >> reporter: struggling to answer why she took $675,000 in speaking fees from wall street banks. >> well, i don't know. that's what they offered. >> reporter: her ties to wall street, attacked from bernie sanders, and sure to come up tonight. andrea mitchell, nbc news, durham, new hampshire. >>> i'm casey hunt campaign. rallying the troops before his one-on-one debate with hillary clinton. >> i look around this beautiful room, and i sense that people here want to make a political revolution, am i right about that? >> reporter: tonight expect bernie sanders to once again go after clinton with the question, who's the most progr

new hampshire is one of the smallest states in the nation. this week it's the center of national politics. >> i'm pretty excited about where we are because i believe people in new hampshire are going to make the right decision. >> reporter: donald trump fin finished second to senator ted cruz and marco rubio almost beat trump finishing a close third. >> we have the biggest vote ever iowa by 60,000 people came out extra. >> reporter: trump says he'll win new hampshire. political experts credit cruz's incredible ground game for the win in iowa. >> i'm going to continue doing what we did in iowa here on the ground in new hampshire and south carolina working to build the grass roots army. >> reporter: meanwhile bernie sanders says he raised $3 million in donations since his victory in iowa. >> if we reach out to our friends, our neighbors, our co workers, if we bring out large people, we are going to win next tuesday. >> my commitment and determination to serve you will win your support. please, come out and support me next tuesday. >> reporter:

while marco rubio becomes a bigger target in new hampshire. taking the fifth. with a smirk the former ceo who raised the fight of the drug 5,000% refuses to testify before congress. later calling committee members imbeciles. >>> invisible threat. it can only be seen on infrar infrared. the massive leak that forced thousands from their home. nbc news takes you to the source with an exclusive view. >>> and super bowl security. we take you inside the enormous operation to protect the big game, in the air, aboard blackhawks, on the land and at sea. "nightly news" begins right now. >> announcer: from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. >>> good evening. it's debate night. hillary clinton and bernie sanders in their first one-on-one debate, just five days before the new hampshire primary. it comes as a brand-new nbc news wall street poll showing clinton with miles of ground to make up. 58% of likely democratic voters in new hampshire are backing sanders. clinton with 38%. that's virtually unchanged from a week ago. so

andrea mitchell, nbc news, manchester, new hampshire. >> reporter: i'm kasie hampshire where they are hoping to turn iowa momentum into his first 2016 victory next tuesday. >> and last night we began the political revolution not just in iowa, not just in new hampshire but all over this country. >> reporter: sanders criticizing clinton after this comment last night. >> i am a progressive who gets things done for people. >> reporter: do you think hillary clinton is a progressive? >> some days, yes. except when she announces that she is a proud moderate and then i guess she's not a progressive. >> reporter: the vermont senator still riding high after that near miss in the iowa caucuses that the campaign says was anything but a loss. >> it looks like we are in a virtual tie. >> reporter: according to entrance polls, that performance was powered by first-time caucus-goers who went but those polls also show a steep challenge for sanders. iowa democrats who are which candidate can win in november backed hillary clinton by 60 points. >> poem say, well, i like you, bernie, i want to vote for y

. >> lester holt from new hampshire. >>> breaking news. nbc news projects bernie sanders and donald trump have won the new hampshire democratic and republican primaries. we have it all covered. "nightly news" from new hampshire begins right now. >> announcer: decision 2016. the new hampshire primary. this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. reporting tonight from manchester. >>> and good evening. as we come on the air in the western time zones now, breaking news. nbc news projects bernie sanders has won the new hampshire democratic primary, defeating hillary clinton. and here's the count. here's the percentage. sanders with 57% of the votes so far in. nbc predicting sanders the winner. on the gop side, nbc news projects donald trump has won the new hampshire republican primary. now the race is on for second place, where it is still too close to call for second among kasich, bush, rubio, and cruz vying for second place. here's what it looks like as you saw there on the screen. our team has all the breaking news covered. let's begin with

kevin tibbles, nbc news, littleton, new hampshire. to do it for us on this tuesday night. i'm lester holt. for all of us at nbc news, thank you for watching and good night. the presidents' day sales event is on now at your new england ford dealers. save big on america's best-selling trucks for 39 straight years. now with additional presidents' day bonus cash... get up to $7,050 total savings on the history-making f-150... the future of tough. and super duty, the rougher the going, the tougher the truck. hurry in for up to $7,050 total savings...on ford f-series... month...just $249...

prompted sanders to say clinton was insulting new hampshire voters. ararment, that the only reason that we're doing well hopefully here in new hampshire is because we're from a neighboring state is not totally true. >> reporter: also attacking her for make big money in the past from paid speeches, wall street banks and colleges. >> earning $200,000 plus, i've got a real problem with that. >> reporter: pressure is on sanders. if he doesn't do well here, the road gets tougher for him i i nevada, south carolina, and beyond to super tuesday with more minorities, many backing clinton. and tonight bill clinton is campaigning in south carolina for his wife as sanders has just become a tougher challenger, he got secret service protection for the first time today and dozens of clinton from brooklyn now to be here for this campaign and she is now delaying a planned fund-raising trip to boston. she will stay here in new hampshire now through the primary. lester? >> andrea mitchell with the debate stage behind her and a reminder, chuck todd and rachel maddow will

voters in new hampshire do not have party. they can vote in either the republican or democratic primaries. that has the candidates on both sides fighting hard this weekend to woo independent voters. two reports from new hampshire tonight. we begin with hallie jackson. good evening. >> reporter: last chance for candidates to make closing arguments in a big way before new hampshire's primary. expect immigration to be a big topic. it's a potential vulnerability for marco rubio who is in the line of fire and a central theme for donald trump who unlike in des moines isn't ditching this debate. in manchester, the debate stage all set and this time, donald trump will be on it. >> new hampshire we're doing really well. >> reporter: hoping he won't underperform his number one poll position in new hampshire a state he skilled because of snow. general bush point jeb bush said his trump is center stage tonight. it's marco rubio at the center of the bulls eye. rising in the granite state, his crowds getting bigger, his campaign telling nbc

like these students at the university of new hampshire. i've got a friend in bernie >> reporter: managing expectations is another concern for sanders. he's so far ahead right now, if hillary clinton does manage to close that gap, it could still be a problem for him, even >> casie, thank you. >> check todd is co-moderating the debate on msnbc. chuck sanders long considered the front-runner in the new hampshire race. does that take any pressure off secretary clinton in this matchup tonight? >> you know, i don't think it does, only because of the clinton tradition here in new hampshire. new hampshire's been very good to the clinton family. saved bill clinton's candidacy in 1992. helped extend hillary's race in 2008. i don't think necessarily it buys her time. but look, this debate is coming at a time when the two of them are having a real debate about what should the democratic party be. should it be what it's been? is it the party of obama and clinton? or does it need to go in a new direction as bernie sanders? clearly an army of supporters

polls in new hampshire. can donald trump score a big victory. our interview and a side you haven't seen. why he said he'd act differently as president. >>> the rest of the gop crowd, rubio, kasich,uz, bush, are we headed for a surprise? is bernie sanders headed for his first victory against clinton? >>> olympic fears, tonight the american star that said right now she wouldn't go to rio because of concerns over zika. >>> slashing your big money. brothers who made their entire business just that now sharing how they do it with amazing results. >>> tom brokaw joins us with something important that's suddenly gone missing. "nightly news" starts right now. >> announcer: decision 2015, the new hampshire primary. this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt reporting from manchester. >> good evening, we're 30 minutes away from the last of the poll closing in new hampshire. the evening's drama in full swing. do trump and sanders become the big story or will new hampshire's independent minded voters defy the polls and reset the game. one polling place in