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The Daily Nightly began on May 31, 2005. As Brian wrote in his first post it aims to provide a narrative of the broadcast day and a window into the editorial process at NBC Nightly News. Brian weighs in every weekday and NBC News correspondents and producers post regularly.

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Lester Holt: Getting ready for Super Tuesday

Posted: Saturday, February 02, 2008 4:07 PM by Daily Nightly Editor

by Lester Holt, NBC News anchor

It is already looking a lot like election night here on the third floor of 30 Rock. The technicians and editorial staff are in this weekend rehearsing formats, camera positions, and going through some of the new technology that we hope will set our Super Tuesday coverage apart. Down the hall from our newsroom, we have a studio dedicated to just presenting exit poll data. That will be my role Tuesday on the MSNBC side of our coverage, and it involves some virtual reality elements designed to help viewers better understand how the vote breaks down in the many states where we are polling. They're going to let me take it for a spin later today so I'll be ready on Tuesday. If I like it, maybe I can get them to make me a version for my Play Station.

In the meantime, we are also busy preparing for tonight's Nightly News broadcast in which we plan a series of reports from the campaign trail. In addition to the latest on Clinton, Huckabee, McCain, Obama, and Romney, NBC's Mike Taibbi has put together a fascinating look at the changing tone and message from Bill Clinton, who, in recent days, has hit fourteen events in eleven states.

Our Savannah Guthrie takes a look at the Republican drain going on in Washington, where the list of retiring GOP legislators is growing. 

Then, Peter Alexander tells us why Starbucks is putting on the brakes in what had seemed like its limitless expansion. Has the hip coffee chain lost its cool?

Those stories and an update on Knut, the cute little polar bear who captured worldwide attention, but who these days, is neither cute nor little.

Thanks for clicking on the blog. I hope you'll join us later for NBC Nightly News.

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I would not miss your coverage of the News.
We will be out this evening, but my husband
is taping the program for me, so I can watch
it Sunday morning.  Have a nice evening, Mr. Holt.
Go Huckabee!
Hi Lester, you, Brian Williams and the Nightly News is all we are still watching on MSNBC. The rest of your Political Team is on a witch-hunt out to get Hillary Clinton. I find more objective and fair reporting from CNN and even Fox-News! So how deep have you sunk and more importantly "Why?"
May that be as it is,  let me today set one "fairytale" straight : Barrack Obama did not vote against the authorization of the war against Iraq, because at this time he was not a member of the US-Senate!!!
So his stand against the war is noted (like many of us) but he had no right to vote in the Senate (again like many of us. His claims to the contrary are untrue.
Put that to rest please. That Hillary voted for such an authorization was a mistake and unfortunate, but understandable given the political,nationalistic and patriotic pressures of this time. Also nobody really knew,that madman Busch consequently would wage this terrible war using false and fabricated arguments.
Now we have an euphoria again. A Rockstar "Obama" will save us using false assurances again. His concertgoers with cheerleader Oprah present us the Messiah and we will see the "Promised Land". No more
"scandal ridden Clinton times" - so they say.
No mention any more, that the great tactician Bill had great success in working both aisles of Congress and acchieving great political successes including the biggest Surplus in US-History. All you people see now are his moral flaws? Shame on you. This is not a nation of altar boys. His accomplishments meant of course, that he had to step on the toes of some of his liberal enemies like Leahy and Kennedy and the liberal Press.
Now - to the misfortune of Hillary Clinton, who really and deservedly runs on her own record - it is "Pay-Back Time!' It is "inspirational time" and great things will come to who believes it.   Really ??
Is Hillary falling in love with Obama or is she getting even with Billy for the "blowinsky" thing - Raymonty.
If all of these so called presidential hopefuls all want reform in washington, I have an Idea for them. All elected Federal & state officials get one term!! President one term 6 years, Congress/Senate/HOR one term 4 or 5 years. Governors one term 6 years.This would eliminate all those do nothing re-election years and the favors they promise to raise re-election funds. This would ensure new Ideas and change and would end abuse of political power by the old men and women who have been there to long. If they mean what they say shove this in their face and watch them back pedal.!!!!
Good Evening Mr.Holt, Nice to see you back in New York City on a Saturday evening broadcast of Nightly News. Happy Groundhog Day! We have our own groundhog here in Georgia named General Beauragard Lee and he predicted an early Spring. So I suppose it will begin to get warmer soon. I hope so. Now on to the broadcast. The Presidential Candidates have certainly visited Georgia. Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton came to Atlanta and Presidential Candidate Senator John McCain is here in Georgia this evening in Cobb,County giving a speech as seen on the broadcast behind Kelly O'Donnell. I couldn't say who has the edge here in the State, but our State has been mentioned more often in recent days. I just want to get through this Super Tuesday to vote and watch the results. A big day for the candidates. On another note with regards to Mr.Alexander's report concerning Starbucks and their problems it is evident they have expanded into many other products and not just concentrated on coffee. I visit Starbucks often and I like the fact they sell pastries to go with the coffee, but I have not seen any breakfast sandwiches at any of the stores that I have visited in my area. The stores do sell lunch sandwiches and yogurt parfaits, but not breakfast food. I suppose the selling of the cd's and sometimes books is alittle too much. It is always good to stick with things you do best. Finally, the report by Mr.Colt about Knut the once baby polar bear that is now grown up showed how just in a year how big the animal has grown I really enjoyed seeing the baby pictures of him though because this bear was really cute. I liked the new polar bear cub too who is being raised by people after being abandoned by its mother. It was adorable seeing it look at itself in the mirror! Even though they can't talk it would be funny to hear what Knut would say to that baby polar bear named Snowflake (I think) because fame is fleeting. Thank you for the broadcast Mr.Holt. It sounds like big technology being built over at your studios. See you on Sunday! Peace to all!  
Lester, always enjoy your broadcasts and look forward to seeing you on MSNBC Tuesday.
Hi Lester
Yes Super Sunday ( Giants ) and Super Tuesday ( Go Hillary ). After seeing the Hillary/Obama Debate live I can now understand why the news is so different. A friend from Arizona called and said McCain was almost recalled by voters as Senator. Now let's see how well he does running for President with Arizona voters. Good news for Obama voters is he has a background of two years in the Senate. Now Hillary is in her second term as Senator.
Now to some history. In 1967 as a junior in college Hillary joined in with Black students to help recruit more African Americans in colleges. Let's see Obama was 6 years old then but boy did he benefit from Hillary and many others efforts and hard work.  

As for your report on Bill Clinton. I am one of the millions of Minority Americans who was allowed to live  the American dream. Those years allowed my children to go to college. Yes all four graduated for the following UCLA, Cal State LA, University of Nebraska and American University in London England. All this talk about how bad Bill Clinton's Presidency was well I remember and I'm grateful. I just never thought I'd see America go backward nor did I expect to see Minorities turn their backs on a President that the years of all Americans success. Live and learn I guess.

As for the GOP retirement run I can only say most are involved in current and up coming criminal investigations.  I love to hear Law Makers say they are retiring to spend time with their families, then announce they have a job. With all the Corrupt Law Makers with the crimes committed in the pass 7 years people like Dennis Hastert would rather leave then get kicked out.  I have never seen so many Law Makers with Criminal Funds for up coming criminal cases.  Look for more to leave as right now the Attorney General is doing the best he can to cover up the crimes until Bush/Cheney leave office.
Poor Knut.  I'm sorry to hear of his woes.  Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to save his life?  I know - pains me to even think it.  Poor bear!  I wonder what Eeyore would have to say about this... he's still cute, though.

Starbucks has always been sooooooooooooo overrated.  I think I've stepped foot in one just once for a meeting with peers... and that's it.  Did I mention how overpriced they are?  Apparently I prefer my coffee flavored but not fancy.  

My democratic representative is not technically retiring; he's running for the senate this year against our GOP incumbent.  That didn't get mentioned in Savannah's report, though I saw his photo.  Does that make any difference to the leadership?

Lester, I was sad to hear you cheer for the Giants on Friday's Today Show.  I hope you aren't totally crushed after the Patriots are finished with them, again!  *smile*  Don't take it personally tomorrow night when I'm not watching the broadcast... I'll be partying with the fam!
Lucky Knut to be serenaded by Elvis.  My favorite song of his was "Love Me Tender".  I saw Elvis in concert when I was a teenager.  And later when I was
a secretary at GE. I saw Ray Charles in concert in
Louisville,.  Elvis Presley and Ray Charles were my
two favorite singers. In my opinion, the 50s had the
best music.  I enjoyed the pictures as well, but
you came out on top.  More bang for the buck.
Hello:
  I notice clinton is claiming that President Bush duped her into voting for the war. I don't want to be the last to mention that he[Bush] was not the first President to "dupe" her.
   Randy
Romney, Texas
I am an faithful NBC news watcher but was more than perturbed Saturday evening when for over 7 minutes you reported on the Democratic candidates then only brushed over in less than 3 minutes the Republicans. What ever happened to equal time for both parties? I hope you can improve. We do watch even if you are slightly biased.
Great post Klaus! I couldn't agree more. NBC seems out to get Hillary and I don't see why. She is the only candidate that can bring change. I will literally switch parties if Obama gets the nomination. He is not ready. America is not ready. I never thought it would / could be worse than GWB, but if Obama gets the nomination, and worse, the election, see our country back about 150 years. Sad.

I can't believe people are believing the hype of Oprah. She is too big for her britches for sure.

Obama is an arrogent weasel who deserves to be discrediated. I hate to have to vote Republican (the first time in my life) but will if he is nominated. Sad, sad, sad.  
I'm wondering where the coverage of the  Maine  caucus (primary?)
is? The "Mitt" took Maine with over 52% of the GOP vote. Are you or
Brian going to cover it??? I mean- isn't this big news??!
Have you seen this?
by Mark Penn, Chief Strategistin News2/3/2008 1:51 PMJust yesterday I noted that people had very limited information on Sen. Barack Obama as we go into millions of people voting on the two candidates.

And then in the last two days we see three stories that illustrate the point very clearly about what Sen. Obama says about his views and record and what journalists find when they dig into the facts:

1) The New York Times on its front page explains how Sen. Barack Obama told voters he stood up to the nuclear power industry and how he passed a bill to require reports of any radioactive leaks after hearing from his constituents.  But The Times discovers, after a lengthy examination, that the bill was watered down after meeting with Exelon, the company whose plants created the issue and whose key executives are big contributors and bundlers to his campaign. Answering written questions for the NY Times, the campaign, in the words of the paper, never "directly" explains why Sen. Obama would tell voters he passed a bill that in fact was not passed and did not become law.

2)  The Chicago Tribune features a similar story on a different topic. While Sen. Obama on the stump tells people about the plight of Maytag workers who lost their jobs, ("Obama's fundraising collides with his rhetoric") the Tribune documents that the union covering those workers believes they got no help from the Senator, who was again taking significant contributions and bundling from one of the company's directors and biggest investors.

3) And yesterday there was an AP story where Senator Obama told the voters of Idaho: ''And then there are people who say, 'Well, he doesn't believe in the Second Amendment,' even though I come from a state  -- we've got a lot of hunters in downstate Illinois. And I have no intention of taking away folks' guns.'' But he didn't disclose to those voters, as the AP said that "he does support gun control and has a record of voting for it in the Illinois Senate. He backed limiting handgun purchases to one a month, but he made no attempts to ban them." When he originally ran for the state legislature 12 years ago, he filled out a questionnaire saying he ''supported banning the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns.''  He gave the voters of Idaho no indication whatsoever of either his record in the State Senate or his prior views on the questionnaire.
I see NBC news has taken sides in this election year: twice they have snubbed Hillary, and not interviewed her, but have give Obama more face time then then Ted Kennedy spends at the bar.  

I am sick of it!  Mondays nightly news you interviewed Obama, but not Hillary.  Tuesday on the Today show you interviewed Obama, but only showed Hillary going into vote.  Maybe your catch phrase for this years programing should take a page from Fox: "Unfair and Unbalaced"   Is Jeff Zucker trying to make-up for the Imus episode.


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