Nightly news begins now. Good evening, were going into a situation this weekend that is very scary for a whole lot of people. I want to read you a quote from a veteran forecaster today, he says we are in uncharted territory here, i have never seen anything like this, i never saw anything like it, at a loss to describe what it could do. It is near certain that Hurricane Sandy will make landfall, rather than turning out to sea, end of quote. Dire predictions like that are coming days in advance, despite the storm that was shredded by dry air all day. Not much to look at, not very powerful as the center of it sits off the coast of miami. This is what is going to happen, the setup, the chemical reaction, when it takes a left hook, oceans will surge, trees will come down, portions of the coastline could be ravaged. We have it covered and want to talk to janice huff, how are we so confident it will blow up in size and make that left hook . Well, brian, there is still uncertainty with the track of the storm, but there is a certainty that it will intensify, moving into parts of the midwest, and helping the storm to pick up and energyize even more. It is weaker now, the category 1 topping winds of 75. Moving away from the bahamas, there is a chance it could be weaker by saturday afternoon. But then they project it will bring it back up to category 1 status, but they found it all the way to virginia, and maybe even the outer banks will feel its effects by then. The storm is expected to move onshore by monday and tuesday afternoon, possibly as a very strong hurricane or maybe even another type of storm, a noreaster, moving onshore, all depending on where it moves onshore is how severe it will be. But the entire area will feel the effects, whether youre inland or along the coast. You know, the spaghetti trackers, here, all over the place. But most of them are concentrated between rhode island and washington, d. C. So there is a possibility, that across the south of maryland, parts of the new jersey shore, the maryland coastline will see the stronger impacts in terms of the storm surge, and heavy rain, as well. This projection brings all the rain north to southern new jersey and virginia and maryland by sunday, monday, afternoon, monday night into tuesday is when it would be the worse, brian. Not helped by the fact we have a full moon. All right, thank you, it looks certain the storm will affect people across as we just saw that huge area. And sadly, as janice pointed out. So many of the computer models have it coming along shore somewhere along the new jersey shore. Nbcs ann thompson is at Pleasant Point for us, good evening. Reporter good evening, brian, a number of states in this region have already declared states of emergency. New jersey is one of the places where Hurricane Sandy could make landfall on monday night. Already on the east coast, preparations are being made for what is expected to be an historic storm. Today, sandy toured across the bahamas, the powerful storm knocking over trees and sending the ocean into the streets, at least 40 dead in haiti, cuba and jamaica. Scenes of destruction adding to the preparations along the east coast of the u. S. I think that everyone has learned lessons from the last storm. Reporter connecticut is one of 13 states haunted by last years hurricane eirene, and th billion in damage, leaving thousands without power for days. Today, governor malloy warned it could be the type of storm not seen in 30 years. Have enough food and water for everyone in your household. Assume there will be an elongated period of time in which you will be without energy. Reporter at the Massachusetts Store . I have generators, make sure we have oil, flash lights, got to be prepared. Reporter storm surge is another worry, with a full moon, being a difficult combination, it sent the area in norfolk, virginia, out to sea. Others sought safe harbor. I may as well take the right steps, get the boat out of the way. Reporter this boat yard couldnt keep up with requests. No, im sorry, we cant take boats out of the water. Reporter theyre bracing for the worst here on Point Pleasant beach. The workers built sandbags and built along the doors of concession stands, and up on roofs, usually they took time putting away the ride, now theyre trying to get it done by sunday. Were all working, making sure we can get it taken care of before the storm hits. Reporter there are also five Oil Refineries in the path of the storm, representing 60 of the nations refining capacity. Now fema is moving resources into the area, and the midatlantic region. For those of you asking if this is still hurricane season, it doesnt end until november 30th. It is hard to watch all of that, having spent time there, ann thompson in new jersey, preparing for a rough weekend, thank you, our coverage of the storm, of course, continues through the weekend. If youre concerned about where you live, on our website there is a Hurricane Tracker allowing you to plug in your own zip code at nbcnightly. Com. And on top of everything else, the frantic pace as they try to finish, now they really do have to worry about the storm, heading for some of the most valuable political real estate there. Peter alexander has more. Reporter brian, good evening to you as Hurricane Sandy takes aim on the east coast, forecasters are north the only ones on alert, the Campaign Strategists are, as well. With crews defending against potentially devastating flooding in virginia, the campaign cancelled a rally. Officials in North Carolina say they could suspend early voting, if needed. In ohio, snow threatens to hurt the voting efforts. In iowa today, he was introduced by a situation with the states senior senator. Well put america on a new path to a new day with a new president. Obama. A new president romney, pardon me. Time for new bold changes that measure up to the moment, that can bring the americans families to the certainty that the future will be better than the past. Reporter speaking to a construction plant that benefitted from mr. Obamas help, he blasted the opponent. Were the nine million jobs that the president promised. Reporter president obama targeted the most loyal supporters without ever leaving washington, courting young voters now on tv. We now have to go directly to the source, the colleges and universities and say you have to work on cutting tuition. Reporter later, working on the undecideds. The major election in any issue is can you count on the person youre putting into the oval office, fighting for you, having a clear set of convictions. Reporter meanwhile, the Romney Campaigns national cochair, john sununu, criticized them of using stereotypes. How lazy, detached he is. Reporter backing away from new comments on cnns questioning why colin powell endorsed the president. When you take a look at colin powell is that an issue based on issues, or a slightly different reason for preferring president obama. What reason would that be . Well, i think when you have somebody of your own race that youre proud of being president of the united states. I applaud colin for standing with him. Reporter sununu released a statement, calling colin a friend, but not apologizing. I dont doubt that it was based on anything but the support of the president. And we reached out to the Romney Campaign for comment, but they offered nothing in addition to sununus statement. All right, peter in ohio, thank you, this brings us to our political director and chief white house correspondent, chuck todd. So chuck, this is the field in front of us, john sununu said that colin powell endorsed the president because theyre both black guys. Another endorses president obama for president , by mistake, and romney talks about the piece of property, accepting help from stimulus money, beyond unforced errors, the romneys campaign is to put together the electoral and not the popular vote in the math, in the next ten days to push the victory. That is right texhe magic number, 270, here the states in yellow are the states we believe are tossups, the ones which we just dont know. They may lean one way or the other. Let me take you through some scenarios where we think the battleground will narrow in the next week. If you talk to democrats they believe theyre ahead in new hampshire. By the way, as you see me moving these states you will see the numbers above the president and above mitt romney change. So watch as i change them. They think theyre a little bit ahead in wisconsin. But they also believe the democrats are a little ahead in ohio. They feel good, that gets the president to 63. Mitt romney, and the republicans believe, florida and virginia, the two Southern States putting them in pretty good shape, getting them to 248. That brings us to the two most hotly contested, colorado and ohio, but look at this, if i move ohio over to romney, he is still short of the 270 magic number, could mean that colorado, a state we told you yesterday in the polling had it 4848, means it could be the state keeping us up all night. But speaking of keeping us up all night, here, i give the midwestern states all to romney. Wisconsin, iowa, ohio and florida, but go ahead and give virginia to the president. Let me show you where this takes us. 269 for romney. 269 for the president. Here, and i have no more electoral votes to push. This would mean we would have the constitution work, and this would also mean, brian, that the most likely outcome in this is the house would elect romney president , and the senate would elect biden vp. There are a lot of possible scenarios, this one, not so implausible. Chuck, step away, we have y days to go, many different scenarios, well be checking in with you, chuck todd, washington. And now, we turn to a tragic story around the country today. This begins with a very big number, in this country, 13 million children are turned over to the care of somebody other than their parents, in many cases while their parents go to work. Last night here in new york city, the absolute unthinkable happened. We get more on the story. Reporter marina krim returned home thursday with her threeyearold daughter to find her other two children dead. Police say twoyearold leo and sixyearold lulu were stabbed by their babysitter, yoselyn ortega, being seen taken away on the stretcher. The father, kevin, was out of town on business, met at the airport by the police with the news. As word spread, the neighborhood reacted. I woke up this morning, and my first thought was my two boys are safe in bed, and this poor family has lost two of their children. I know what their mother is going through right now. Im a mother, too, who lost her kids. As a mother and a nanny, you tend to develop a bond with the kids that you take care of. Reporter and not just in new york, many across the country express their sadness on line, too. I have felt sick to my stomach on the verge of tears all day, this story haunts me to the core. By all accounts, the krim family knew their sitter well, even visiting ortegas family in the dominican republic. For parents, this is a unique relationship sometimes built on trust. When Something Like this happens, every parent questions themselves and says, am i doing anything that places my child at risk . They worry about the safety of their children while they are away from them. Reporter tonight, the babysitter is in critical condition, and a family has been shattered. Nbc news, new york. When we continue here on a friday night, women and smoking. New information just out about tonight about the benefits of quitting. And later, that emotional Family Reunion for malala, the girl targeted by taliban. And the good news tonight about her recovery. Help relieve the pain and stop the damage with humira, adalimumab. For many adults with moderate to severe ra, humira is clinically proven to help relieve pain and stop joint damage. So you can treat more than just the pain. Humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. Serious, sometimes fatal events, such as infections, lymphoma, or other types of cancer, have happened. Blood, liver and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening Heart Failure have occurred. Before starting humira, your doctor should test you for tb. Ask your doctor if you live in or have been to a region where certain fungal infections are common. Tell your doctor if you have had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections or have symptoms such as fever, fatigue, cough, or sores. You should not start humira if you have any kind of infection. Ask your rheumatologist about humira, to help relieve pain and stop further joint damage before they stop you. [ femala 100 cream. We were flattered when regenerist beat flabbergasted when we creamed a 500 cream. For about 30 regenerist microsculpting cream hydrates better than over 20 of americas most expensive luxury creams. Fantastic. Phenomenal. Regenerist. [ coughs ] [ baby crying ] [ male announcer ] robitussin® liquid formula soothes your throat on contact and the active ingredient relieves your cough. Robitussin®. Dont suffer the coughequences™. [ male announcer ] yep, theres 8 layers of whole grain fiber in those miniwheats® biscuits. To help keep you full. 45 bushels of wheat on the farm. 45 bushels of wheat . All morning long. Theres a big breakfast. [ mini ] yeehaw . In those fun little biscuits. Throughout our lives. One a day mens 50 is a complete multivitamin designed for mens Health Concerns as we age. It has more of 7 antioxidants to support cell health. One a day mens 50 . We have health news tonight that was just released before we went on the air, in the form of the largest study ever on the risk of women and smoking. Some dramatic new benefits on quitting, our report from chief correspondent robert bazell. Reporter 28yearold Amanda Garcia just joined a program to try to quit her pack a day smoking. She always thought about quitting. I dont think i was really ready, i kept saying im not doing it or trying it until i am really ready. Reporter the study out tonight provides the latest and best evidence that quitting is worth the effort. The researchers in britain followed women for 12 years, now in their 60s and 70s. Smoking a pack a day starting with their teens, reducing their life by years, numbers of perimeter deaths, as well. If youre a smoker for your whole life, the chances you will die directly from your smoking are greater than the chances of anything else put together. Reporter the study examined women who even smoked a few cigarettes a day, doubled their chances of dying. But the news of the study is not all bad, reinforcing the idea if you quit it reduces the risk, the sooner the better. The Research Finds if a woman quits before her teens, her chances dropped by 90 , if a woman stops by age 50, it decreases substantially. Otherss risks disappear almost completely, her reason now . Her two kids. My kids mean everything to me, and i want to be there for them. Reporter and she knows she has a far greater chance to be there by kicking the habit. Robert bazell. Up next, a very encouraging story about a young womans story that we have been following. Questions . Anyone have occasional constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating . Yeah. One Phillips Colon Health probiotic cap each day helps defend against these digestive issues with three strains of good bacteria. Approved [ Phillips Lady ] live the regular life. Phillips. Ive been fortunate to win on golfs biggest stages. But when joint pain and stiffness from Psoriatic Arthritis hit, even the smallest things became difficult. I finally understood what serious joint pain is like. I talked to my rheumatologist and he prescribed enbrel. Enbrel can help relieve pain, stiffness, and stop joint damage. Because enbrel, etanercept, suppresses your immune system, it may lower your ability to fight infections. Serious, sometimes fatal events including infections, tuberculosis, lymphoma, other cancers, and nervous system and Blood Disorders have occurred. Before starting enbrel, your doctor should test you for tuberculosis and discuss whether youve been to a region where certain fungal infections are common. Dont start enbrel if you have an infection like the flu. Tell your doctor if youre prone to infections, have cuts or sores, have had hepatitis b, have been treated for Heart Failure, or if, while on enbrel, you experience persistent fever, bruising, bleeding, or paleness. [ phil ] get back to the things that matter most. Ask your rheumatologist if enbrel is right for you. [ doctor ] enbrel, the number one biolog medicine prescribed by rheumatologists. Looking for a better place to put your cash . Heres one you may not have thought of fidelity. Now you dont have to go to a bank to get the things you want from a bank, like nofee atms, all over the world. Free checkwriting and mobile deposits. Now depositing a check is as easy as taking a picture. Free online bill payments. A highly acclaimed credit card with 2 cash back into your fidelity account. Open a fidelity Cash Management account today and discover another reason serious investors are choosing fidelity. Starts with arthritis pain and a choice. Take tylenol or take aleve, the 1 recommended pain reliever by orthopedic doctors. Just two aleve can keep pain away all day. Back to the news. Mayor casino owners in west cavirginia are spendingday. Millions against question seven. That upsets me. And that upsets Jonathan Ogden. You dont want to upset Jonathan Ogden. Ogden no you dont. Mayor question seven means thousands of jobs and millions for our schools. But these West Virginia casinos want to keep it all for themselves. Were not happy about that. Ogden no we arent. Mayor so join us and vote for question seven. And West Virginia, dont make me send Jonathan Ogden over there. Mayor vote for question seven. Ogden for baltimore. There was a tearful but also joyful Family Reunion today in a british hospital at the bedside of the young pakistani woman who was targeted by the taliban because she stood up for girls and education. Tonight, we see just how much progress she has made in just three weekss time. Our report tonight from amna nawaz. Reporter ten days after she arrived in england, Malala Yousufzai has reunited with her family, when came in yesterday racing to the hospital under tight security. They were taken in to see her. The kids in our life, out of happiness. Reporter when her father last saw her in pakistan, she was hanging on to life. In pakistan, i told my brotherinlaw, that they should make preparations, because of the situation but thankful to god. Reporter today, he called it a miracle that malala is expected to make a full recovery. Everywhere across the world, they condemn the attack, in strong words, and they prayed for my daughter. Which is not only my daughter, which is the daughter of everybody, sister of everybody. Reporter doctors here continue to take malala through a series of tests to rule out any longterm injury and say so far they see no sign of brain injury. Despite being treated in birmingham, the 15yearold remains a symbol of hope back in pakistan. When she fell, the person who took her, they wanted to kill her. But i simply will say she fell temporarily, she will rise again. Reporter and eventually, she told her father, she will also return home. Amna nawaz, nbc news, birmingham, england. Up next here tonight, jim cantore with the latest on the storm with the power to make life miserable for us in the coming days. I honestly loved sm, and i honestly didnt think i would ever quit. [ male announcer ] along with support, chantix is proven to help people quit smoking. It reduces the urge to smoke. It put me at ease that you could smoke on the first week. [ male announcer ] some people had changes in behavior, thinking or mood, hostility, agitation, depressed mood and suicidal thoughts or actions while taking or after stopping chantix. If you notice any of these stop taking chantix and call your doctor right away. Tell your doctor about any history of depression or other Mental Health problems, which could get worse while taking chantix. Dont take chantix if youve had a serious allergic or skin reaction to it. If you develop these stop taking chantix and see your doctor right away as some can be lifethreatening. If you have a history of heart or blood vessel problems, tell your doctor if you have new or worse symptoms. Get medical help right away if you have symptoms of a heart attack. Use caution when driving or operating machinery. Common side effects include nausea, trouble sleeping and unusual dreams. With chantix and with the support system it worked. It worked for me. [ male announcer ] ask your doctor if chantix is right for you. Five days later, i had a massive heart attack. Bayer aspirin was the first thing the emts gave me. Now, im on a bayer aspirin regimen. [ male announcer ] be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. [ woman ] learn from my story. But kate still looks like. Kate. Nicen easy with Colorblend Technology gives expert highlights and lowlights. For color thats true to you. I dont know how she does it. With nicen easy, all they see is you. [ male announcer ] yep, theres 8 layers of whole grain fiber in those miniwheats® biscuits. To help keep you full. 45 bushels of wheat on the farm. 45 bushels of wheat . All morning long. Theres a big breakfast. [ mini ] yeehaw . In those fun little biscuits. [ coughs ] [ baby crying ] [ male announcer ] robitussin® liquid formula soothes your throat on contact and the active ingredient relieves your cough. Robitussin®. Dont suffer the coughequences™. Well you know the rule by now, jim cantore, the Weather Channel, if he shows up where you live it is about to get really bad there. He is in singer island, in florida, jim, ive been amazed at what i have heard. Reporter and i think well be amazed. Lets talk about it, we look at it on satellite, it doesnt really look like all that much. But while this is in its cocoon it will come out as a butterfly with a swath of winds 100 miles wide. Lets look at the path, probably downgraded to a Tropical Storm in the next 24 hours, but look for Tropical Storm watches or even hurricane watches by saturday as it is forecasted to become a hurricane once again. Going all the way up through the even seaboard up through here. This is uncharted territory for modern meteorology. But once again, for the second year in a row, others face the prospect of being in the dark the week before halloween. All right, jim cantore, safe travels, well stay with you and the Weather Channel all weekend long as we track the progress of this. For us, for now, that is our broadcast on a friday night for us and for this week. Thank you for joining us, im brian williams, lester holt will be here with you this weekend. We, of course, hope to see you right back here on monday night. In the meantime, please have a good weekend. Good night