more homes burn to the ground. "nightly news" begins right now. >> announcer: the democratic national convention. this is nbc "nightly news with lester holt" reporting tonight from philadelphia. good evening. as we come on the air, the roll call vote is under way on the floor below us. and we expect that before we are off the air, hillary clinton will be the official nominee of the democratic party, the first woman to get the nomination of a major party. it's a moment of political history for certain, but one that hillary clinton and her campaign will have little time to bask in as her team aims to mend tears in the party. and to recast her image after republicans last week painted her in the harshest of terms. bill clinton will take the stage tonight to make the case for his wife. kristen welker leads us off with the latest. >> reporter: lester, good evening, an incredible moment happening right now, all 50 delegations casting their votes. we have heard some cheers and also some jeers, emotions running high throughout this arena. history unfolding tonight in the city where democracy was born. a roll call vote officially nominating hillary clinton, the first woman as a major party nominee. passion on all sides, bernie sanders emotional as his brother reads his name. >> i cast my vote for bernie sanders. >> reporter: the headliner tonight, her husband poised to make the case for his wife in personal terms, but there are fresh signs not everyone is ready for her. earlier today, bernie sanders greeted with boos from the california delegation. >> it is easy to boo, but it is harder to look your kids in the face who would be living under a donald trump presidency. >> reporter: but today vice president biden arriving at the convention, downplaying any party disunity. >> we have to be a little graceful here. you know, the sanders delegates worked their tail off. they get a chance, man, give them a chance. i promise you they're going to be fine. >> reporter: the challenge for clinton's team, trying to reverse numbers like this one, a whopping 68% saying clinton is not worthy or trust worthy. trying to reveal something many in the campaign still don't know, a case that will be made by party stars, biden and daughter chelsea. what do we have to teach voters what they already don't know about hillary? >> the public charges and the counter charges, they don't know the softer side of hillary clinton. >> reporter: last night it was a rough start, sanders booing when hillary's name was mentioned, some even brought to tears. but on stage, efforts brought to unity. >> can i just say to the bernie or bust people, you're being ridiculous. >> reporter: the first lady may have made the greatest impact, rallying the crowd against donald trump. >> don't let anyone ever tell you that this country isn't great. that somehow we need to make it great again. because this right now is the greatest country on earth. >> reporter: while polls show a majority of sanders supporters are now behind clinton, we found a mixed response among some of his delegates today. >> raise your hands right now if you know you're going to vote for hillary clinton on election day. >> reporter: and we are here just before the vermont delegation, which is expected to have the final say of tonight's roll call, a symbolic nod to senator sanders historic campaign, another attempt at party unity. >> kristen, you have a good advantage point for a time honored political tradition, the roll call. peter alexander is also there watching it unfold. peter what is it like from where you're watching? >> reporter: we're now in the arizona delegation, where we found the honorary chair, this is jerri emmett, she's 94 years young, she remembers being with her mom when her mom voted for the first time. you were overwhelmed by emotion when you cast the majority of delegates for hillary clinton, why? >> well, i knew for a long time, living with my mother and knowing how interested she was in what was happening in america and i just was so happy when the arizona gave women the right to vote, i think i was 8 years old. and we all went out and said hooray! >> reporter: she told me if hillary clinton's elected, she'll be a happy woman, but she already has her inaugural dress picked out. it was 12 years ago tomorrow when much of the nation first heard the name barack obama when the then illinois state senator gave his keynote address at the illinois democratic national convention. tomorrow he's sitting down for an interview with savannah guthrie, the controversy here showing the leaked e-mails that the dnc seemingly favored hillary clinton and were the russians behind the hack. >> do you believe that the russians were behind that hack and that they're actually trying to interfere with the u.s. political election? >> i think the fbi is still investigating what would. i know that experts attributed this to the russians. what we do know is that the russians hacked our systems, not just government systems, but private systems. but, you know, what the motives were in terms of leaks, all that, i can't say directly. what i do know is that donald trump has repeatedly expressed admiration for vladimir putin. >> reporter: sounds like you're suggesting that putin might be motivated to prefer trump in the white house? >> i'm basing this on what mr. trump himself has said and i think that trump's gotten pretty favorable coverage back in russi russia. >> reporter: is it possible that the russians would try to influence the election? >> anything is possible. >> much more of savannah's exclusive interview with the president tomorrow on "today." the president may have a tough time tomorrow night giving a more passionate memorable speech than his wife did last night, that electrified this room that brought clinton and sanders support together after a day of dom ma. >> reporter: michelle obama officially -- trying to pave the way for the first woman to hold that office. >> because of hillary clinton, my daughters and all our sons and daughters now take for granted that a woman can be president of the united states. >> reporter: bringing people to tears about her husband's place in american history. >> generations of people who felt the lash of bondage but who kept on doing what needed to be done. i wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves. >> reporter: the speech a circuit breaker, steadying the shift after the convention's rocky start. her husband saying incredible speech by an incredible woman, couldn't be more proud. sparking almost universal praise. >> the speech was well written, very effective. >> if you weren't moved by that, go to the doctor. >> reporter: even an unlikely source, donald trump telling the hollywood reporter, i thought her delivery was excellent. i thought she did a very good job, i liked her speech. this time because mrs. obama was speaking for hillary clinton. sparks flew during that tense primary fight. >> if you can't run your own house, you certainly can't run the white house. >> reporter: but all resentments have faded. >> what i admire most about hillary is that she never buckles under pressure. >> reporter: a speech so compelling, some wonder whether despite denials, she could become the second first lady to run for office. andrea mitchell, nbc news, philadelphia. >> we turn now to our political director, the moderator of "meet the press" chuck todd. the political process moves quickly. >> different tenor on the floor here. yesterday it felt chaotic, yesterday it felt like this convention may become a mess. this roll call have excited everybody including bernie sanders, we'll see what happened when we see the over the top moment. but it feels as if yesterday is way in the rear view mirror. >> bill clinton will be able to move the needle more. let's turn overseas now where a chilling terror attack inside a small town catholic church has shaken france to its core. two attackers who murdered a priest and took hostages, one of the men was being monitored by authorities after a terrorist arrest. >> reporter: french police responded quickly and decisively. surrounding the church where two terrorists took hostages in a suburban down in normandy. according to a nun who survived, the attackers, forced the 86-year-old priest to kneel, then performed some kind of sermon in arabic. >> i think this is the first time that a man of the cloth has been murdered at his alter at a place of worship in europe through an act of terror since the second world war. >> reporter: french police killed the terrorist and arrested potential accomplices. >> it seems to be a huge intelligence failure, one of the suspects had been charged with links to terrorism, was out on bail and required to wear a monitoring ankle t. >> this is not someone who went out buying explosives, this is not someone who went abroad to another country. how do you track someone, how do you anticipate when someone is going to pick up a knife or get behind the wheel of a truck and randomly murder people. >> reporter: experts think the attack was directed by isis, or at least that the group knew about it in advance. the vatican called the attack barbaric. there were thousands of isis sympathizers who brought europe's war right to france's churches. there are new details in japan's deadliest mass killing since the end of world war ii. 19 people were stabbed to death as they slept in a center for the disabled. officials say the suspect was hospitalized just months ago after writing a letter that all people with disabilities should, quote, cease to exist. but he was released in march after doctors said he was no longer a danger to himself. it remains dangerously hot tonight for americans suffering under two severe heat domes in the east and west. temperatures felt like they were in the 90s and 100s in the east. hot conditions fueled violent storms yesterday. a camera captured this sight, lightning striking the empire state building. fire tearing through communities and forcing authorities to declare a state of emergencies. also back in the dnc spotlight, but will bill clinton's dnc spotlight, but will bill clinton's ♪ i'm free to do what i want and have a good time.♪ the ford freedom sales event is on! and zero for 72 is back! on 2016 ford focus, fusion and escape. plus specially tagged vehicles get an extra $1000 smart bonus. that means freedom from interest... and freedom to choose... with ford, america's best selling brand. ♪ i'm free, baby! now get 0% financing for 72 months. plus, specially tagged vehicles get a $1000 smart bonus. only at the ford freedom sales event. ♪ feel free... try cool mint zantac. hey, need fast heartburn relief? it releases a cooling sensation in your mouth and throat. zantac works in as little as 30 minutes. nexium can take 24 hours. try cool mint zantac. no pill relieves heartburn faster. defianour citracal bones. easily absorbed calcium plus vitamin d. defy bone 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are finding care from a community doing anything they can to help. >> we can accommodate even much more than we have here which is 500 or so. >> reporter: tonight progress has been made, buffer zones with hand crews and attacks made from the air. >> it can strike in any direction any time it wants to. that's what we have to be cautious of. >> reporter: while out on the fire lines, crews are bracing for yet another day of triple digit heat and the constant threat of a firestorm. down below you are seeing the remnants of three homes where firefighters once lived with their family, everything out here a burned out waste land. we're back in a moment with late details about what bill clinton is expected to say here tonight when he takes after a long day, jen stops working, but her aleve doesn't. hey mom! because aleve can last 4 hours longer than tylenol 8 hour. what will you do with your aleve hours? the wolf was huffing and puffing. like you do sometimes, grandpa? well, when you have 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"i don't remember." he's going like "i don't remember!" we're back with breaking news, just moments ago, hillary clinton reached the number of delegates she needs at the dnc to become the first woman everybody to be nominated by a major party. the state of south dakota putting her over the top of the delegate count. the voting continues, senator bernie sanders now, as the vermont delegation supports him. tonight marks another critical moment for the clintons as bill clinton addresses the convention to make the case on behalf of his wife. sources sell nbc news, the former president will get personal focusinging on things about his wife that is public might not know. >> reporter: 47 states since january. >> hello billings, how are you? >> reporter: bill clinton who turns 70 in a few weeks, has worked hard to help his wife. he still wants to shake every hand and answer every question. >> this guy said bill clinton for first lady. nothing would make me happier. >> reporter: matt mckenna was his spokesperson for eight years. >> he has this unique understanding for the candidate and the job, like no one else has. >> reporter: but there have been problems, on the trail, he's faced hecklers, and his drive by meeting with loretta lynch on a phoenix tarmac pushed his popularity rating down. his speech will be as important for his legacy as hers. expect him to double down on those white working class voters she has struggled to connect with. >> you can be forgiven for thinking things are going to hell in a hand basket. >> reporter: we go back to their hometown and see if the folks still have that connection. and we discovered some are lukewarm on another clinton presidency. >> it's a different world now than it was in the 1990s. >> reporter: rick kennedy is the editor of the hope star. he says when clinton came to arkansas to campaign for the democratic candidate and senator seven years ago, both still lost by double digits. still his last convention speech is credited with giving president obama's re-election a major boost in 2012. >> i want to nominate a man who it's cool on the outside but who burns for america on the inside. >> reporter: you were advising him, what's the press strategy going forward? >> it's her campaign, she's doing a great job and if she asks you to do something, then do it. >> reporter: the unstated advice, and otherwise, don't mess it up. cynthia mcfadden, nbc news, philadelphia. we're back in a moment with some final thoughts from the dnc in philadelphia. i had so many thoughts once i left the hospital after a dvt blood clot. what about my wife... ...what we're building together... ...and could this happen again? i was given warfarin in the hospital, but wondered, was this the best treatment for me? i spoke to my doctor and she told me about eliquis. eliquis treats dvt and pe blood clots and reduces the risk of them happening again. not only does eliquis treat dvt and pe blood clots. but eliquis also had significantly less major bleeding than the standard treatment. knowing eliquis had both... ...turned around my thinking. don't stop eliquis unless you doctor tells you to. eliquis can cause serious, and in rare cases, fatal bleeding. don't take eliquis if you have an artificial heart valve or abnormal bleeding. if you had a spinal injection while on eliquis call your doctor right away if you have tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness. while taking eliquis, you may bruise more easily... and it may take longer than usual for bleeding to stop. seek immediate medical care for sudden signs of bleeding, like unusual bruising. eliquis may increase your bleeding risk if you take certain medicines. tell your doctor about all planned medical or dental procedures. eliquis treats dvt & pe blood clots. plus had less major bleeding. both made switching to eliquis right for me. ask your doctor if it's right for you. w...i was always searching for ways to manage my symptoms. i thought i had it covered. then i realized managing was all i was doing. when i finally told my doctor, he said humira was for people like me who have tried other medications,... but still experience the symptoms of moderate to severe crohn's disease. in clinical studies, the majority of patients on humira saw significant symptom relief... ...and many achieved remission. humira can lower your ability to fight infections... ...including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers,... including lymphoma, have happened; as have blood, liver, and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions,... ...and new or worsening heart failure. before treatment, get tested for tb. tell your doctor if you've been to areas where certain fungal infections are common, and if you've had tb,... ...hepatitis b, are prone to infections, ...or have flu-like symptoms or sores. don't start humira if you have an infection. if you're still just managing your symptoms, ask your gastroenterologist about humira. with humira, remission is possible. finally, in the emotional and supercharged atmosphere of this election season, it's not easy to set aside politics and our likes and dislikes, but take a moment to consider it's been less than a century since women in this country were given the right to vote. and tonight a major political party has nominated a woman for president. history has unfolded here tonight. whether you like this woman, the fact is that this day, the political playing field has been widened. what's at play is is power of your vote, man or woman, hillary clinton, donald trump or any of the other candidates win or lose, let's make them earn it. that will do it for us tonight on this tuesday night, i'll see you at 10:00 p.m. tonight eastern, you're watching nbc10 live from the democratic national convention. >> madame chair, i move that the convention suspend the procedural rules. i move that all votes, all votes cast by delegates be reflected in the official record, and i move that hillary clinton be selected as the nominee of the democratic party for president of the united states. a remarkable show of unity here on the floor of the wells fargo center as you just saw hillary clinton making history minutes ago. she became the democrat's first female

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