>> michael scott carlo. >> my brother-in-law, mortan howard frank. every day your handsome face and beautiful smile reminds me to stay strong and keep fighting. we love you and miss you terribly. >> nbc's ron mott is live at ground zero in lower manhattan. ron, certainly a day no matter who you are, where you are, you remember that very moment 14 years ago today. >> yeah, hey there, francis. good afternoon. 14 years since this terror attack and it's still very fresh. in fact, one of the most poignant things we heard from the service going on there from the family member was that it's been 14 years but it feels like up with 00 100 to them. it's that kind of searing memory from that day 14 years ago. but we have this beautiful new tower that is open for business now. one world trade. it's sort of a sign of hope and sort of a kickback, if you will, to the terrorists around the whorld who want to do harm to americans that this is how we rebound. you may kill us, you you may take lives. as people we come together in the same spirit that helped build this country. so that tower represents that for many, many people here. obviously all americans were shocked and horrified about what happened on that day, especially those folks working and living here in new york city. i lived here the time and i thought the day was so chaotic and con funs ifusinconfusing. walking home as i did from the midtown area back to the upper west side, past hundreds of thousand of people. very strange day. we have good news that obviously come out of that terror attack. there were some kids today who opened up the new york stock exchange, rang the opening bell. celebrating their birthday today, 14 years old today, and also kantor fits jfitzgerald, lost 650 employees when the towers fell, they are hiring 50 family members who lost parents in that attack. so it's a day too remember, somber day, a day to celebrate exactly how far we've come as a country. >> nice to see that amongst all the tears and the heavy hearts. nbc's ron mott at ground zero here in new york. thank you. of course the phrase never forget has become synonymous in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. as we mark 14 years since that day the #neverforget has received 330,000 tweets. as i mentioned earlier president obama led a moment of silence at the white house this morning but before that, he tweeted this. 14 years after the terrorist attack of 9/11 we honor those we also. we salute all who served to keep us safe. and we stand as strong as ever. joining me here in studio is former new york governor george pataki. governor of new york in 9/11 and was in new york city on that day. he is also a republican presidential candidate. governor, thank you for being here as we reflect and reremember that very day. so walk us through. we were talking earlier, saying you weren't even supposed to be in new york city. >> no. >> that day. >> i usually didn't stay in new york city. i just happened to the night before. and i was in the city. it was beautiful a. beautiful day. my daughter called. she was working the news. it was early in the morning. she goes, dad, turn on the tv. a plane hit one of the towers. i said, oh, new york, stupid things happen. it was probably a mistake. while i was watching i saw the second plane and immediately knew we were being attacked. akd serrated our emergency command and response. activated the national guard. talked to mayor giuliani. talked to president bush at the education summit in florida. >> this is when your security detail was saying you need to leave the city. >> we didn't know what might happen next. thankfully after shanksville there was no other attacks. my security was saying you have to go to the command center in albany in a bunker. for the first tomb i said, no, i have got to be here. i think it's important, the state, the city, the federal government all worked closely together. but, francis, i have to tell you, the most inspiring thing was the courage and strength of new yorkers from every walk of life. that will stay with me forever. >> that is what we see so much, even today, 14 years later, former new york mayor rudy giuliani also spoke about this 14th anniversary this morning on "morning joe." >> every single reason for that attack is festering in parts of the world right now. >> intensifientensified. >> i would say it's intensified and diversified. >> yeah. >> and the islamic terrorist threat to america is greater today than it was before. september 11th. >> strong words, governor, when you think that we were vulnerable back then. we didn't know it if now he's saying we should be vulnerable now. is there truth to that? >> i think it's absolutely true. we are at greater risk today than we were on september 10th of 2001. islamic terror is bigger, stronger. al qaeda was isolated in afghanistan, only had box cutters. no money. no westerners. they carried out those attacks. isis has hundreds of millions of dollars. they have weapons of mass destruction they've used. thousands of people with western passports. sophisticated social media capability. and we are not doing enough to protect us. we have got to be far more proactive or we are going to tragically live through, i fear, another day like september 11th. >> this is something if you were to be included in a presidential debate coming up. unfortunately you're not going to be on the stage on that one on wednesday. >> i will be on the earlier stage and making this case. >> but let me ask you this. how do you continue to try to be heard when it's not in -- the later one, and when is the time for that pivotal moment when you say, all right, it's realistically time for me to back down and maybe back someone else? >> francis, i'm in. it's hard for me to get heard. it's hard for anybody to get heard. there are i think 16 candidates. only two are in double digits. pretty much everyone else is lumped around within the margin of error. i think that's going to change. i think the american people want someone who actually can govern, who has solutions, who has experience and a vision for america. and one of the things about sple september 11th, we were so yun neyed. americans came together. i saw the strength of americans when we stand together. today we are so divided, particularly in washington. i know we have to work across party lines. i'm a republican. and i'll work with democrats to solve problems. that may be her rest si to some but it's what america needs. >> you talk about the difficulty of getting heard. a lot of who is getting heard, donald trump. >> yes. >> latest targets. target jeb bush, now carly fiorina, also -- >> and ben carson. >> ben carson, bobby jindal as well. today his campaign tweeted something that has since been taken out. i would like toe extend my best wishes to all, even the haters and losers on this special date tlechb september 11th. many people say the point of no return has been past for donald trump, that he's gone too far. has he gone too far? >> he has gone too far. i don't think he's fit to be president of the united states. not just as comments towards other candidates but when you demean an entire ethnic group, mexicans are rapists, demean women and africa mes, you are not fit to be president of the united states. i think as this gets closer to the primaries, republican voters, the american people are going to say, we had our theater. we had our enterentertainment. >> that's what they said before the debate, before iowa. now it still continues to be pushed back. when will that happen? >> i'm not a political expert but i do have faith in the american people. i can't tell you when but i tell you it will happen because americans understand we have to come together. we can't -- we can't have someone whose main claim to fame is to tedemonize others or othe groups. we will see that strength again. >> if he gets the nomination will you back him? >> i would find it extremely difficult. >> to back him or for him to get the nomination? >> first of all, he's ♪ going to get the nomination. i will make a bet right now that there's not a chance he's going to be the nominee. he's not going to win the nomination. if he did he would not win the election. republicans know better. the american people know better. we will have a candidate who will bring americans together and solve our country's problems. >> all right. former new york governor george pataki, thank you. appreciate your time on this busy day for you. looking now live at the 9/11 ceremonies in manhattan where any moment vice president joe biden is expected to speak. very emotional biden was the guest of honor on stephen colbert's "late show" and he talked about a possible run but appeared to come near tears when he talked about beau who passed away from brain cancer earlier this year. >> i met a whole group of military families. not unusual, rope line 100 yards from the aircraft. it was going great. and a guy in the back yells, major beau biden, bronze star, sir, served with him in iraq. and all of a sudden i lost it. how could you -- that's not -- i shouldn't be saying this. you can't do that. >> that was joe biden last night but we are awaiting him to take to the podium here at the uss intrepid. now the intrepid aerospace museum. but right now, he worked on obama's 2008-2012 presidential campaign. drft biden movement. you listen to the vice president last night. surely we all heard and even felt the emotion. sounded less like a man ready to mount a hard last-minute campaign. talk to me about your restlessness, if it's that, or your worries now a joe biden actually won't jump into in this race. >> francis, we have no worry. the vice president needs to do what's best for him. we're going the support whatever decision he makes. frankly last night america got a chance to window into a man who we all feel very strongly about. saw a guy with a character of faith, love for his family. struggling with the decision. we want to make sure if he makes the decision to run, particularly in the early states, he knows we have his back. >> what was really stunning to some is when his words last night saying that, you know what, i would be lying if i knew he was there, the 110% that needs to be there of anybody who is running for president. but talk to me, what is there? what will it take for him to get there? >> well, i mean, there's no way to peer into his heart and determine this. he's been through it before. he's buried a spouse and a child. what we have to do is make sure if he decides next week or in two weeks or a month and he's ready to go that we built infrastructure for him. people out there talking to voters, donors ready to contribute. >> you said the day he hits the ground running, are you all prepared for the day when he says, you know what, i don't think i'll be there? i can't do it. i'm not going to run. >> well, i think, frankly as stephen colbert said there are going to be a lot of americans upset with that. if that's the best decision for joe biden, we would all be completely support i of that. >> i want to show you some latest democratic polling from cnn and orc. among registered voters hillary clinton tied with trump but losing to bush and dr. ben carson here. also a number of democrats you think clinton gets the nomination, a, less than 14 months to the election day. so if president biden is a no, will your organization throw your weight and support hillary clinton or do you think bernie sanders is a more viable candidate? >> well, i think it's too early to tell. it's clearly wide open. if you go back to cnn's polling on this day in 2007, hillary clinton enjoyed a 23-point lead. we all know how that turned out. i think it's still wide open. the vice president making noise is shaking up the race in a way that i think is positive. it's still really, really early. we'll see how it all plays out. >> do you think it's too early? many are saying it's too late when it comes to setting up a campaign, raising money. you think it's still too early? >> no, in terms of too late to get in the race, absolutely not. the vice president has 100% name id, national network of friends ready to go. i can tell you in the just the 12 or 13 hours since his colbert interview, the text messages i have got are phenomenal. people from all corners of the country that will help this man run. whether he gets in a week or two weeks or three weeks, if he decides to run we've got plenty of time to get this off the ground. >> democratic strategist steve shell, thank you very much. you are on our right. on the left you see there that 9/11 memorial happening live. governor andrew comb mow is speaking right now and you can see the vice president there to his right. so after the governor speaks, vice president joe biden will take to the podium and we'll take those remarks live. for now, we'll take a quick break. i've got two reasons to take care of my heart. that's why i take meta. meta is clinically proven to help lower cholesterol. try meta today. and for a tasty heart healthy snack, try a meta health bar. you are looking at can you spot the difference? 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(siri voice) ok, jack's boutique is nearby. alright, i've got another friend and his name is bryan adams. ok. this isn't going to work again. ♪"please forgive me, i know not what i do..."♪ introducing app-connect. the things you love on your phone, available on 11 volkswagen models. and i am a certified arborist for pg&e.ughes i oversee the patrolling of trees near power lines and roots near pipes and underground infrastructure. at pg&e wherever we work, we work hard to protect the environment. getting the job done safely so we can keep the lights on for everybody. because i live here i have a deeper connection to the community. and i want to see the community grow and thrive. every year we work with cities and schools to plant trees in our communities. the environment is there for my kids and future generations. together, we're building a better california. from and the people whought you underwhelbrought youet speeds. temperamental satellite television. introducing... underwhelming internet speeds and temperamental television... in one. welcome to the moment no one's been waiting for. the fastest internet and the best tv experience is already here with x1. only from xfinity. now to a developing news in politics. the name of the game for republicans is no doubt taking swipes at donald trump. even as the donald maintains his eagle soar in the latest polls and even as he once again repairing to assume center stage in next week's second republican debate a number of fellow republican candidates are taking aim at the front-runner. sometimes because he insulted them or if you're bobby jindal because it's a possible route to rejuvenate a flagging campaign. today and yesterday the louisiana governor has laid into trump every chance he's gotten. here's an example. >> the show has been amusing because here's the problem. the idea of trump is great, the reality is different. it's absurd. he has no policy depth no, substance. he doesn't believe in limited government. he is not for making america great. he's for making donald trump great. that's not what we need right pow. i think it's outrageous for him to be attacking anybody's appearance when it looks like he's get a squirrel sitting on his head. >> join mg me from washington is nbc news political editor carrie. always good to see you. talk about this war between donald trump and bobby jindal. it started yesterday. we can't nominate this ego maniac, go back to reality pv this is this just in his way posturing so we're talking about bobby jindal? >> we're talking moren't bobby jindal today than we had if he had released a tax plan or something other candidates do. clearly this has gotten him into the news cycle and as donald trump pointed out bobby jindal is at 1% or less in national polling. so he literally has very little to lose right now by taking on trump. the attacks that bobby jindal is making on donald trump are different than what you've seen from other republican candidates. other republicans have tried to brand trump has a faux conservative or, say, attack him on his tax policy. bobby jind is sort of fighting fire with fire. he has made those policy arguments in the last 24 hours but he's also decried trump an e sgrks o maniac and clown. he's using the same kind of language trump uses. this is something republican establishment has wanted somebody to do. bobby jindal is signaling to those folks i'll be willing to fight on trump's level. >> moving targets when it comes to donald trump because you have bobby jindal and carly fiorina. want to talk about ben carson since he's doing so well in the polls. donald trump still on top. certainly giving donald trump a run for his money in the polls. a new iowa poll has trump at 27% followed closely by carson. both have big jumps since july. also carson's favorables are higher than trumps and when republican voters are asked who has a temperament to lead in an international crisis dr. ben carson leads by 13 points. what's behind the carson surge and is it somewhat of a signal here that the trump strategy and the crass talk and shoot from the hip strategy is wearing on voters? >> in that new quinnipiac poll you mentioned 80% of voters said they want a republican primary voter said i want somebody without washington experience. i want an outsider. that's what you're seeing where w. this surge, both from donald trump obviously and then ben carson. neither have held elected office. you're right that you're starting to see a divide within the numbers, with carson really gaining a lot of ground. when you look inside them donald trump is doing well in iowa with the same folks he's doing well with nationally. people who are low income, men, people without a college degree. carson is starting to edge up with other communities. he's doing well a little bit better with women and he's doing actually seven points better with evangelicals in iowa. the message may be starting to get through to the conservatives in the key caucus state. maybe they want somebody who isn't as much of a shoot from the hip, personal style is between donald trump and ben carson could not be any more different with ben carson being very reserved and very low key. and a bit nicer in his -- in the way he talks about other candidates. they ulz say that cliche iowa nice but there might be voters in iowa ho are starting to say maybe i like the nice guy over donald trump. >> nbc news pritt caolitical ed breaking news here out of washington, d.c. where police are investigating reports of a shooting at union station. one person was reportedly shot and no others injured. we know this scene has been cleared and people are being let back inside. right now all officials have confirmed that this is not an active shooter situation. we'll gather more details and continue to follow this and bring you any updates as they come in. also more breaking news, this time from camp pendleton in california. a marine has died in a vehicle rollover accident. 18 others were injured.