this morning he is speaking out in this exclusive live interview. and trick or treat. we are hosting a halloween bash on the plaza. the question is, whaare you going to be? the question is, whaare you going to be? "todayoctober 29, 2010. captions paid for by nbc-universal television and welcome to "today" on this friday morning. i'm meredith viera. >> and i'm ann curry who's on assignment, interviewing president bush. a likely excuse. >> it's always fun around here in the morning. but we're not going to tell you -- >> this is the cheap thing they do every year. >> and that one has floating hair. we should move that out of the way. al roker on the side, yuck, yuck, yuck. i can tell y't tell you what we going to be, but it is star studded. >> we also have some serious thing t get to, including alarming new details on the potential cause of the oil disaster in the gulf of mexico. halliburton now admits that a critical test was not done before the oil rig exploded. four days left and things are getting interesting in the campaign trail. we're going to talk to decratic representative kendrick meek in a moment. but savannah guthrie is here. >> this florida senate race just got more fascinating. marco rubio, the republican nominee is leading in the rolls. govern charlie crist now running as an independe i trying to catch him. crist wants meek out so he can get some of those democrat votes. a senior clinton officials me this morning that clinton never told meek to get out of the race and meekever agreed to >> no one has called me and said, hey, you need to get out of the race. >> reporter: intrigue in the florida senate race. according to a story in politico, bill clinton tried to persuade kendrick meek to drop out of the running in the three i way race for the florida senate race. but late thursday, meek denied it. >> all i have to say is that the press rert that's out there from politico is inaccurate at best. >> reporter: but a spokeman tells nbc newss that clinton said if crish got out of the ra said meek might win. in pennsylvania thursday the former president was on the campaign trail taking on sarah palin. >> she got a big laugh when she said how's that hy changy stuff working out for you? wh . >> reporter: palin meanwhile was in alaska at a rally for republican candidate joe mler trying to salvage momentum in his struggling campaign. >>'re going to take the government welcome back and put it on the side of we the ople. >> while miller's opponent senate la murkowski made a choicestatement. joe miller, jim demint and sarah palin may criticize me for not towing the party line. palin quit before finishing out her term. >> i will not sk re-election as governor. >> reporter: but on entertainment tonight wouldn't ruleut running for president in 2012. >> if there's nobody else to do it, of course i believe we should do this. >> reporter: jon stewa calls his the rally to restore sanity. kolber calls his the mark to take fear out of people's lives. so did bill clinton float the idea of democrat kendrick meek dropping out of the senate race. let us set the record straight, did political clinton ever request ask you to drop out of the race for senate? >> no ma'am. when he came down here and he had two rallies for me, one in orlando and one in s petersburg, we talked about reports of the week before and i told him that i'm not interested in getting out of the race, we said, well, okay, we talked about it and that wa that. he never to i never told him i was getting hut and he never ask me. there were reports out there by the charlie crist campaign that i was considering getting out of the race. as soons i won the democratic nomination, s campaign started on that. i never once said i was going to get out, never once seriously considered getting outf the race. >> if you did quit, independent charlie crist would be able to beat marco rubio, but if he didn't explicitly ask you to get ou wasn't that the message? >> the bottom line is we have some smart voters out here in florida. >> did clinton ever discuss the possibility of dropping out. >> no, what he said, he's been in the position before when he was down in the polls,e said he's lost a few campaigns, he said that he's won quite a few and he still made it to the presidency. that's not what i'm running for, i'm running to be the next united states senator. he's done over 11 events for me. and so we were talking before we went on stage. you know, as you know, bill clinton, he loves to talk politics, but he never once painted a scenario of me getting ou and helping charlie crist. >> he does love to talk politics and i know last night on cnn he talked about it. i'm going to play it and we'll talk about it on the other side. >> i talked to him and i told him that weent through everything, we talked about it a couple of times and i said in the end, he has to do what he thought was right, he had to do what he felt best about. >> it sounds like he was asking you to drop out, that you were going through all the scenarios with him. >> what his suggestion was, was kendrick, you're in the race, the pele of e state of florida are going to have to vote the way they would like to vote and the real issue here is that he never once said you need to drop out. i never once said, hey, i'm going to drop out, what do you ink? or i'm not going to drop out, what do you think. >> who do you think are behind these rumors then? >> that will be -- that's a very good question, meredith and i don't know. i'm just a guy down here running for the united states senate. >> you may not know, b you must have your suspicions, congressman meek. >> charlie crist has said that he called the clinton people, that he called the white house. i didn't make these phone calls. >> yet the latest poll shows you with just 15% of the vote, so do you really believe you have a chance to win this thing? >> let me say this, i don't really believe that i'm a 15%. that's just the bottom line, i was down by 10% before the democratic primary, i won it by 26points. i'm just sing let the people of the state of frida vote. let their voice be heard. the bottom line is i'm in this race, i'm a reality in this race and i came on the "today" show to s that i'm only the pro choice candidate in this race, and the bottom line is i don't have the prerogative to sit here and say that i'm going to get out of the race. >> and if for some reason marco rubio wins this race andyou're perceived to be the spoiler by your own party, are you worried this could destroy your political career going forward or severely damage it? >> let me tell you what would destroy my political career, if there's a question of my political career, the bottom line is quitting in the middle of a race, i don't do that, and i will not do that to the people of the state of florida. but people have an opportunity to ve for the candidate of their choice. many, i guarantee you, meredith, will vote for me. i find myself in a position to win this race for the united states senate. and i'm going to continue to work hard to win it. >> all right, congressman kendrick meek, we're going to leave it at that thank you r your time this morning and good luck to you. now to another race that's getting a lot of attention, the battle for the senate in delare painting democrat chris coons who's leading in the polls with kelly o'donnell. she joins us this morning. >> you know, there's some urgency in this that is dierent because the win ore becomes a senator right after the election not waiting until january because he or she ewill finish out the term. the tea party favorite says she's trying to stir up support an close a big gap. on a 48-state b tour, the republican party's chairman michael steele stopped in delaware to help san ana candide christine o'donnell. >> we're fighting for christine, right? and my answer from the republican national committee is yes, yes, yes. >> reporter: but many republican leaders have ignored o'donnell who's far behind in polls. >> have youelt written off by some people? >> i wouldn't say that it's necessarily written off. but this campaign is unconventional and conventional wiom says we can't win. >> reporter: the democratic candidate favored in the race is chris coons. >> i'm cautiously optimistic. >> reporter: a county government executive still getting used to running against a tea party farite in a tough race. >> i get up every morning a get a spatula and get my mother and my wife off the ceiling because there's always one new ad. >> it's hard on fami? >> it's difficult. >> reporter: o'donnell said that prayer could help her win. >> the day that we saw a spike in the polls was a day that some people had a prayer meeting for me that morning for this campaign. >> reporter: but also says she would not legend based on her religious views. >> why talk about prayer and the polls in the same sentence? >> i always ask people to pray for us. i ask people to pray that voters eyes be opened because there's a very clear voice here. >> reporter: on the issue of tax cuts for families, coons had long agreed with president obama but his position had changed. your position was the tax cuts should expire for higher earners, but now your position is they can be extended for some period of time. >> i don't think raising taxes in a deep recession is aood idea. >> reporter: if harry reid is back as the majority leader, if democrats hold the majority, would you support harry reid for majority leader? >> yes. >> reporter: even though he called you his pets? o'donnell says the constitution would guide her. >> i'm sorry i didn't bring my constitutionith me, fortunately senators don't have to memorize the constitution, but can you remind me of what the other ones are? >> reporter: doesn't that give voters some concern? >> reporter: absolutely not. >> reporter: o'donnell defended her responses saying she was trying to answer precisely. her campaign has often attracted national buzz. after a figh over whether a local interview could be videotaped. >> reporter: were you embarrassed by that? >> didn't have makeup on. if you look at the video, you'll see, my hair's up, i didn't have makeup. >> reporter:as it more vanity? >> i won't say that, or i won't admit that. >> reporter: an o'donnell campaign has decided to respond to anonymous internet posting that's gotten attention on the web. they call it an example of sexism and sleaze that's directed against female candidates and even the national organization for women also came out and condemned the anonymous report. >> kelly o'donnell this morning, thanks. david gregory, moderator or mt the press and white house correspondt chuck todd are both here to break down the final push of the midterm finish line. don't be shy, we have got just four days to go. where exactly are both sides as we head to the finish line? >> i think you have got a lot of energy on the republican se. democrats trying to for a split decision here which is to hold on to the senate, drive up turnout. the president is going to state where is he can actually have an pact on races. trying to win some of these house races too. >> are the democrats going to losehe house, chuck? >> they're definitely losing the house, but what their strategy is to hold the losses to a minim minimum. if they lost 45 seats, democrats will say, hey, it could have been a lot worse. i have had some republicans tell me they would b more shocked if they got 40 states than if they got 70 seats. this morning they're going up with ads for the first time in alaska. they're looking for any way possible to sort of steal a senate seat to cost the republicans their seats. >> kendrick meeks, what do you make of this? >> the white house was aware some of this was going on, but they weren't particularly driving it. there's a question whether at this point it would make any difference. in this case marco rubio is the leader. and charlie crist said at some point the governor could have benefited if this had hapned some time ago. and apparently there was a deal about crist moderatin as a democrat. he said he wldn't caucus with anybody, it would depend on basically who was offering him the better deal. so there's a lot in the works here, not clear if it would have made a hug impact on the race. >> chris o'donnell, if she does not win, does she have asenate? >> maybe in this medium. somebody may give her a tv show or something like that. but what's interesting on the bill clinton thing is this is the second time the white house dispatched him. because there w this is not the year to try to pull an inside deal because right now voters don't like tha business. >> i've got to ask you about this news tt sarah palin has said about running in 2012. she keeps getting hit, slammed really by karl rove and her name keeps popping up. where are you two on this? is sarah palin a serious contender in 2012? >> i think she absolutely is, she's doing things to maintain her power within the republican party, her rock star status. she's going to rock the boat here, she's not going to ben establishment candidate. she's got a constituency, that much we know. >> she's got something on the line this eltion. if her candidate doesn't win in alaska, lisa murkowski has stood up and beat her back. other republicans are saying why are we acting so scared of sarah palin? >> well, we have four days to find out how this is going to break down. thank you veryuch both of you. now let's get the rest of the top stories. natalee morales is covering for me at the news desk. we haveews about the potential cause of the explosion that tore apart the deep water oil rig in the gulf of mico triggering the worst environmental disaster in u.s. history. the presidential commission looking into the disaster has new evidence suggesting bp and halliburton knew months before the accident that the cement mixture they were using to seal the well wasn't holding. tom costello has more. >> halliburton is important because it was responsible for the cement used to seal the well. now there's evidence that both bp and halliburton knew there were problems before the explosion. >> reporter: at the heart of the investigation into what caused the massive explosion on board the deep water horizon rig that killed 11 men and triggered a massive environmental disaster is cement, cent used to seal the well at the bottom of the oceans. now the commission investigating the disaster has company documents that suggest bp and the cement provider hallirton knew it wasn't holding at least two months before the disaster. >> bp and halliburton were more interested in their own bottom line than they were about what was going on at the bottom of the well. >> reporter: investigators now report that in february two months before the accident, halliburton conducted two tests that showed its cement mixture wasn't stable. halliburto notified bp about one of those tests but bp did not act. then in april, just seven days before the explosion, halliburton used another test using a different mention sure. investigators say halliburton never told bp. then halliburton changed the testing protocols and got one good test, those results were reported to bp after the explosion. >> the cemt is the very first line of defense against flow of oil and gas to the sface. >> reporter: to determine whether the cement was a contributing causeo the explosion, the predential commission ask chevron to test halliburton's cement mixture, those tests shown on these photos. in a detailed letter, chevron shows it conduct nine different tests. >> it looks like they didn't take the time to really think through what might be the consequences of what they were doing. >> reporter: this morning halliburton has released a statement in which it acknowledges it skipped a critical test as it relates to thcement and the well. but it does not believe the cement was the cause of the incident. that cement, that chevron tested is not the cement that halliburton used. it insists that it was bp that failed to conduct the proper tests and follow the proper procedures to make sure that the cement and the well were safe. meanwhile bp says no comment. >> tom costello following that for us in washington. the tsa is changing the way passengers will becreened at airports. passengers who choose not to go through scanners will receive a thorough pat down. friends and family released hundreds of balloons into the air and then headed with their surf boards out into the pacific. and san francisco took another giant leap in its b for a world series championship. the giants beat the texas rangers 9-0 last night. they now lead the ser good morning. we're about ten minutes away from sunrise. it's partly cloudy and quite a chill in the air on this friday morning. near upper 40s to 50. it may drop a f more degrees. climb back into the upper 50s with blustery wind. cold tomorrow morning. might get a freeze wes of interstate 95 and temperatures climbing to near 60 tomorrow with diminished winds and lots of sun. sunday, a bit milder and monday >> that's your latest weather. meredith? coming up verdicts in the cons the moment you feel run down or achy nip flu-like symptoms in the bud, th oscillococcinum. get oscillo and feel like yourself again. oscillococcinum, nip it in the bud. everyone in the crowd is decked out. we have got great costumes so far. look at this. much more after your local news. good morning on this friday, tober 29. i'm joe krebs. final preparatns are under way for the tongue-in-cheek real js being held down on the national mall tomorrow. the dueling events will be held at noochblt they're calling it the rally to restore sanity and/or fear. we'll take a break nownd come back and look at our weather and traffic. stay with . maryland's governor martin o'malley. endorsed by the washington post and unwavering commitment to education. o'malley's made college re affordable. he's helping restore t health of the chesapeake bay, has forward-looking plans on transportation and a record rucing violent crime. governor martin o'malley. one leader moving maryland forward. and his inspection business. fimian's former business partner said fimian lied, his record "built upon a fraud." his business sued more than 40 times. slapped with thousands in liens. its corporate status revoked. now we learn fimian signed a campaign pledge that protected tax breaks for corporations outsourcing jobs. fraud, failed policies. unfortunately, that's keith fimian. almost dawn now and pick and chilly. highs today only the upper 50s with a blustery wind and increasing sunshine. tomorrow the winds will diminish. cold and windy. we'll probably have a freeze. later in the day, highs phenomenal the 50s to near 60. then a bit milder on sunday but remaining cool and dry into next week. jerry, how's the traffic? >> along i-95 southbound the right side jammed because of roadwork in place headed to lieuington. on the outer loop as you come over to the 270 spur. joe? >> today on nbc 4 it's a scary good time on "ellen." singer vanessa 7:30 now on your friday morning, october 29, 201 it's already halloween heren in rockefeller plaza. you never get tired of these folks. >> i'm meredith viera. alongside ann cur who's in for matt this morning. coming up the verdict from the drug trial connected to anna nicole smith's death, her lyer was convicted of conspiracy, and her doctor was acquitted. mortgage rates are enticingly low, in fa they're the lowest since the 1950s. but this is something you need if you want to take advantage of those low rates and unfortunately, that's the thing a lot of americans don't have. let's begin with those verdicts in the drug conspiracy case tied to anna nicole smith's death. >> as y said, there were three people that were on trial and none of them were actually accused of killing anna nicole smith but what prosecutors wanted was