Mississippi. Including one dedicated to the states role in the Civil Rights Movement. That event boycotted by several prominent africanamerican leaders like congressman john lewis, Bennie Thompson and the mayor of jackson, mississippi. The president did not mention the controversy in his remarks. He used his speech to pay tribute to civil rights activists, noting the contribution of the late met ger evers and every honored. Today we strive to be worthy of their sacrifice. We pray for inspiration from their example. We want our country to be a place where every child from every background can grow up free from fear, innocent of hatred and surrounded by love, opportunity, and hope. Lets go to white house cour correspondent jeff bennett near the mara laug maralago resort and what was the president s comments. The reaction to the room to the comments, from what im told, this person was struck by the fact that the president appeared to hit all of the right notes. The speech was crafted appeared to really mute the backlash and the controversy that you mentioned that was so intense that the white house changed its plans. The president spoke to that crowd in a private setting. He did not participate in the public ceremony that took place after that. And so the speech really trapped the triumphs and the challenge of the civil right movement. You heard the president pay tribute to the leaders of the movement. But its small comfort to the president s critics that he at times has been the center of or fueled racially divisive issues, including the comments after the racial violence in charlottesville, saying there were both people on the side of the protest, and they say the rise was built on the notion of birtherism and then candidate or donald trump, the private citizen, had said about barack obama. But it was meant to honor the Civil Rights Movement and track the changes against bigotry and the president wanted to be there to do what he could to be a part of that process. Jeff bennett with the president in florida, just returning moments ago. As i said about an hour ago. President trump last night was in pensacola, florida. Flexing his political muscle for u. S. Senate candidate roy moore in neighboring alabama. Here is a bit of that. How many people here are from the great state of alabama . The future of this country cannot afford to lose a seat in the very, very close United States senate. We cant afford it, folks. And he spent a good section of that talking about immigration as well. So a different tone here from what was said today in jackson, mississippi. This being held this Campaign Style rally held just four days before the Senate Special election was to happen, 25 miles away from the Alabama State line. And just a short time ago doug jones gave remarks at selma historic brown chapel ame church. Vaughn hilliard is in selma with the race there. And how did it go and what did he say . Reporter david, we should know that he is in selma. This is a county here a county 80 black. He was joined here by alabama lone democratic congressman terry seoul and Massachusetts Governor joined him out there and he went on about roy moore calling him the groundhog noting while he is out on the campaign trail, roy moore hasnt been seen and he is not wrong. He is not campaigning this weekend and we wont see him until monday in a preelection eve rally where he will be joined by louie gomer and steve bannon returning to the state. But to note where this race is at. Doug jones is here in selma and heading to montgomery for another rally with new jersey senator cory booker and then going up to a concert that the campaign is hosting in birmingham where they have having another convert in huntsville to turn out the vote because not only do they need democrats, but they are going to need republican crossover voters. Flyers and mailers have been going out around the state. I believe we have a couple to show you. One of those it was sent out on behalf of a projones superpac that has ivanka trump and Jeff Sessions and a republican from alabama Richard Shelby and it says listen to the respected voices of alabama. This is at this point a campaign that not only needs to turn [ inaudible ] but needs to turn out the republican crossover voters. David. Vaughn, great that you are showing reporter sorry about that. No problem. Ive been called all sorts of things in my time. So you could call me david if you like. But back to the story here. Were seeing both sides and the pulling out of the tars. They are pulling out may add weight to their brand. Weve seen this in elections across the country before. And the question is will it work with these voters. They dont like outsiders sure. They dont like outsiders. And you remember two months ago when President Trump came into the state and endorsed roy moores opponent Luther Strange and didnt move the polls. Despite donald trump suggested it so. When you talk to people on the ground, they say we like donald trump but it doesnt matter what he says or what Mitch Mcconnell says and we asked doug joans about that, the fact that cory bookers and outsiders are coming in and he believes that the people hes bringing into the state are at least concerned about issues that are pertinent to alabamans. If you ask on the republican side, they would make their pitch that steve bannon is also listening. But at this point, there is a contingency of voters up in the area and these are the cross over voters that well have to Pay Attention to in the three days and whether they are going out and vote at all at this point. And quickly here, tick tock, tick tock, what are you seeing on the airwaves and what are they getting in the mail boxed. Is it increasing or leveling off . Reporter im hearing from people their mailboxes are becoming full. Which is unusual for alabama. Tl theyve been on tv. Doug jones is out spending roy moore five to one. Dating back to thanksgiving you couldnt avoid the airwaves. Suddenly the fact that alabama is in the spotlight is significant. This is it and were here and it is kind of hard to run away from it at this point. Nbcs Vaughn Hilliard. Thank you so much, sir. Lets bring in our panel. From blockberg news, Sean Sullivan and analyst robert trainham, also a former bushcheney Senior Adviser and from bustle. Com. And you see that the democrat at this point going after africanamerican voters in the church today but also you could see the schematics in terms of the outside stars and i was asking vaughn as you were all listening to here, is that right, right now, given what roy moore is saying about doug jones . Well i think vaughns report spells it out great for everyone. Because at the end of the day this is coming down to alabama voters. This race has been volatile to say the least. I think it is captured the attention of the entire country. And it is really taken on a significant cultural meaning well beyond the state of alabama. But what is going to be interesting to see, is should roy moore be elected in just a couple of days in the senate. How is he going to be greeted in the halls of congress in washington, d. C. And weve seen over the past couple of days in particular again this race take on much more of the significant meaning than just within the state of alabama. Weve seen this in the past couple of days with the resignation of senator al franken. Im not comparing the accusations or allegations made against these two people. But weve seen this cultural moment come to the forefront. However he is greeted in washington, that is the story moving forward. Robert trainham, that is the question. You heard the names of patrick and booker, are these the names that will get out the vote as you know so well, one out of four potential voters in that state are africanamerican. That is exactly the key there, richard. So two things. Number one, alabama will decide this race, there is no question about it. It is their state. This is their future. But for doug jones to win who has been clear i dont want any outsiders coming into the state and i dont need nor want outside votes coming in or surrogates coming in because that is the antithesis and the nuance is that he needs a significant number of africanamerican voters to come out, specifically in birmingham and also in selma. So if anyone is going to be able to kind of turn up that base if you will, it is a john lewis, who by the way went to school at Troy University in alabama. And marched in alabama. And possibly could be the Deval Patrick and it is a finite group of africanamericans who could reinforce the need to come out and vote come tuesday. So if anyone could do it, it would be a john lewis or perhaps a duveval patrick. And then candidate obama, the numbers have gone down in the state as we look at the last race in terms of africanamerican turnout for a democrat candidate and then what will get the voters out . They are both saying it is about getting voters to the booth. Turnout is what this ca ra will come down and it is a race weve seen waves. Some momentum toward Luther Strange and then roy moore edged that out and then it looks like doug jones didnt have a shot until the allegations surfaced. But moore has been a controversial figure throughout his tenure in the political sphere in his tate and republicans are seizing on this and look at this as a referendum in 208 2018 and going into 2020. And 2020 is interesting sean because in some sense and it is not a new idea, this is a referendum on the teflon quality of donald trump and his base. This is a state wide election and looking past Sexual Assault allegations, Sexual Harassment allegations, Sexual Misconduct allegations, saying i want this candidate because it is good for my party, that is what we saw in 2016. And this is another one of those big tests about how influential donald trump may be in 2018. That big stick that some of the congressional candidates might use. Would you agree with that . This is a big test and when i talk to parties strategists on both sides when they look at these special elections, they say, look, momentum bee gets more momentum and it gets whoever wins this race, whichever party wins this race momentum going into 2018. Were almost at the end and the mid campaign will ramp up early next year. We look back at last big in virginia where democrats have a successful day. And they look at this election as a chance to broaden that and ride that wave of momentum and yeah, it would be a message to the president if doug jones does win the race given that he campaigned actively for roy moore when the majority of Senate Republicans and Senate Republican leadership were not with this guy, were cutting ties with him. So trump is really taking a Political Risk here for a candidate who polls show right now is in a tight with doug jones and we dont know how this will turn out. And kevin you said, the democrats they win either way. No, i dont think so. Go for it. If doug jones if doug jones cant be roy moore, and i think it is a great point. Hes trying to shun the support of some democratic allstars. People like senator Elizabeth Warren, a potential 2020 democratic candidate and hes saying dont get near me. Hes not really even running as a democrat, trying to run as an alternative to roy moore. So who is doug jones and what policies does he put forth. He needs various coalitions and i think if this guy loses to roy moore, in a couple of days, a lot of democrats will be like, why didnt he embrace the democratic progressive message. What message is doug jones embracing other than essentially that hes not roy moore. Which, yes, could be a winning message. But why isnt he bringing in the democratic allstars. Hes bringing in some, why not bring in more. Robert, do you agree with that . Absolutely not. First of all. I got that sense just looking at you. I mean im not an alabaman but ive been to state a couple of times. I have a lot of friends from alabama. What they just heard is just it is literally nails on the chalkboard. Doug jones is not a progressive democrat at all. The last democrat to win alabama was a guy by the name of Richard Shelby who is now a republican. Conservative democrats that are prolife and progun win in the state of alabama. According to history. So for Elizabeth Warren of all people to come into alabama, with all due respect, im not from that state, but even i know that is a kiss of death, to embrace the progressive, quote, unquote, agenda of the Democratic Party and embrace that in alabama of all places, what i hear that it just reminds me all of the reason why alabamans will say you guys in d. C. , you just simply do not get it. You continue to talk down to us, you think that were one size fits all, please stay away and please respect my conservative lower k. C. Values. No outside in, only inside out. Erin. That is the dynamic that steve bannon is setting up. He said they are trying to take away your voice. He is talking about the establishment and the republicans in congress. People are going for roy moore because they see him as a figure that flies to the outside. But look at the campaign the white house is running on behalf of moore. They are saying you have to cast your vote for him because that is a sure vote for republicans. We cant give up our slim edge in the senate. We have to get tax reform through. And infrastructure and border security. They are saying you have to preserve the majority, to me that is similar to the argument that kevin was making. Everyone is running here to preserve their party status. Sean quickly to you, the outside in idea, trump speaking in pensacola last night and also making the decision to have jerusalem as the capital of israel, a head not to evangelicals there in the state and put that together for us. Well, to sort of build off the points everybody else is making a couple of minutes ago, it is interesting that both sides are kind of distancing themselves from the National Party. They have been in the past few weeks. Doug jones trying to distance himself from democrats an roy moore positioning himself as somebody a check against his party. But in the final weekend here you are seeing that distance kind of that gap narrow where you have roy moore embracing the president and his National Platform and you have doug jones campaigning with national figures, cory booker, Deval Patrick, the former governor of massachusetts and other members of congress. So were seeing this final push and for as long as these guys have tried to separate themselves from their National Party figures, at the end of the day, as we approach tuesday, that gap is definitely narrowing. Of all of us, the person with the best job is Vaughn Hilliard and going the next three days. Because he gets to be there and we all want to be there to soak this all in. Thank you. Well be back later. Thank you all. Coming up, new information in the russia investigation. One of president s trumps most trusted advisers hope hicks interviewed by special Council Robert muellers team. What does that mean . Well get into it. Plus keeping an eye on those massive wildfires in california. A live report next. Ost people, e most people. But on the inside, i feel chronic, widespread pain. Fibromyalgia may be invisible to others, but my pain is real. Fibromyalgia is thought to be caused by overactive nerves. Lyrica is believed to calm these nerves. Im glad my doctor prescribed lyrica. For some, lyrica delivers effective relief for moderate to even severe fibromyalgia pain. And improves function. Lyrica may cause serious allergic reactions, suicidal thoughts or actions. Tell your doctor right away if you have these, new or worse depression, unusual changes in mood or behavior, swelling, trouble breathing, rash, hives, blisters, muscle pain with fever, tired feeling, or blurry vision. Common side effects dizziness, sleepiness, weight gain, swelling of hands, legs and feet. Dont drink alcohol while taking lyrica. Dont drive or use machinery until you know how lyrica affects you. Those whove had a drug or alcohol problem may be more likely to misuse lyrica. With less pain, i can do more with my family. Talk to your doctor today. See if lyrica can help. Just serve classy snacks and bew a gracious host,iday party. No matter who shows up. Do you like nuts . The legendary hope, come on up here. Shes shy. Shes a great person. Shes done an amazing job. And i have an amazing staff. Hope hicks. President trump not holding back from the praise of hope hicks who likes to remain behind the scenes. She rarely makes public statements but she was interviewed but Robert Mueller team. The times also reporting fbi officials warned her earlier this year about repeated attempted by russian operatives to contact her during the president s transition period. Although there is no indication she did anything wrong. It shows russian efforts to make contact with the trump team continued even after u. S. Intelligence agencies accused the russians of interference in the election. For more, lets bring in spokesperson for the National Security council under president obama, kendall brocky. And lets start with you. The npr headline is if you were to summarize this week, it was a knife fight. In terms of what had happened going back and forth. And there were several items related to the russia question russia connection question, one of which is hope hicks. And lets tastart there. What might mueller have asked her. Shes a trusted loyalist but she will tell the truth, as a reminder, it is a federal crime to lie to the federal authorities and we saw that with papadapoulos and flynn. And as you mentioned, what did she and others do in response to her information from the fbi. The russian agents