Prince harry. Harry delights the crowds and the president during a quick trip to the u. S. What he revealed about the moment he says changed the direction of his life. Today, thursday, october 29th, 2015. Announcer from nbc news, this is today, with matt lauer and savannah guthrie, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. Morning, everyone. Welcome to today on a thursday morning. Usually, you and i track through the debates. We couldnt keep up. My thumbs arent fast enough. There were different moments. Fiery, intense, heated. Pick any of the words to describe the republicans third debate. While the candidates have issues with each other, they shared a collective target. Last night, it was the media. Well break it down and talk to the man who many people think won the night, marco rubio. Highlights. Good morning to you. Reporter good morning. Among the nights winners, two ambitious senators, marco rubio and ted cruz, Chris Christie, all setting themselves up to rise. Jeb bush gave a poor performance after what was a chaotic and contentious night. Call it the rumble in the rockies. Donald trump and ben carson faded to the background. The biggest clash, between marco rubio and his onetime mentor, jeb bush. After rubio was pressed about missing dozen of senate votes and bush called him to resign. When you signed up for this, this was a sixyear term. You should be showing up to work. Literally, the senate, what is it, a french work week, you get three days you have to show up . Rubio turning in what many consider the best night of his campaign, blasted that as a convenient criticism. The only reason youre doing it now is because were running for the same position, and someone convinced you that attacking me will help you. Heres the bottom line reporter john kasich didnt mince words, tearing into trump and carson. Arguing both men are unkwaulqualified to be president. Folks, we have to wake up. We cannot elect somebody that doesnt know how to do the job. He was such a nice guy and said, im never going to attack. Then his poll numbers tanked. Thats why hes on the end. He got nasty. You know what . You can have him. Reporter the candidates cheered on by the colorado crowd were united in their contempt for the moderators and the media. The questions that have been asked so far in this debate illustrate why the American People dont trust the media. Nasty question. Propaganda. All the mainstream media. Reporter the chairman spoke after the debate. It was one gotcha question, one personal low blow after the other. Executives at cnbc, nbcs sister network, shot back. People who want to be president of the United States should be about to answer tough questions. On stage, Chris Christie showcased his tough personality. We have people out of work, isis and al qaeda attacking us, and were talking about fantasy football. Reporter Carly Fiorina acknowledging a weakness. After the last debate, i was told i didnt smile enough. Reporter all night, bush struggled to seize the spotlight. You find a democrat thats for cutting spending 10, ill give them a warm kiss. Reporter how bad was the night for bush . The nomination isnt going to be decided after the course of one debate in october, but a republican operative tells me this morning that his campaign is now on life is now on life support. His one job last night was to show he could own the stage. Savannah, in his operatives words, he didnt. Peter alexander, thank you so much. Senator marco rubio is with us now. Senator rubio, good morning to you. Good morning. Good morning. You were up late. You have an Early Morning to join us. Has that blow softened at all by the fact that most viewers thought you had the breakout performance of the night. Is that how you feel about it . We feel good about it, and its just a debate. Weve already done two others and felt good about those, as well. Theres more to come. We have another one in 13 days. For us, every time i get a chance to do the debates, its an opportunity to hopefully talk to the American People about the future of our country and what i would do if they gave me the chance to be president. I felt good about that chance last night. Of course, were looking forward to the next one as well. Everybody is talking about the moment between you and governor jeb bush, your former mentor and friend. There were a lot of comparisons to the young jedi taking on obi wan kenobi. There was another analogy, when your kid whips your behind in a oneonone for the first time. Because you do have this personal relationship with governor bush, what was it like taking him on in that moment so directly and so personally . You know, i s4ill have tremendous admiration for him both as a person and what he did as governor of florida. Im not going to talk bad about governor bush. My campaign isnt about him. Im not running against him on anyone else. Im running for president. What ill continue to do, and what i hope more candidates will do, is well talk about who we are and let the voters decide. If there are policy differences between them, we should engage on those policy differences. Thats how im going to run my campaign. Of course, everyone can run theirs. I wont change how i run my Campaign Based on what other people decide to do. It wont change my views about him. That said your Communications Director last night told reporters your phone is already buzzing from bush donors, ready train. Is that true . Were trying to get new supporters. It cost money. If the media stops charging for advertising, well stop raising the money. Its expensive to communicate with the American Voters and to get the message out. I know youve heard this in recent times. Once and for all, answer the sentinels question. Should you resign . Would you resign . Why not leave your senate seat and just remove this issue from your opponents, remove it from the discourse . Well, for me, its an incredible honor to serve in the United States senate. I enjoy very much to serve the people of florida. For example, we serve real people every day. The veteran who has to fight for his disability benefits and prove hes disabled even though hes missing both legs, or the elderly couple whos convicted of tax fraud. Were going to continue to do it. Senator rubio up early with us this morning. Appreciate your time. Thank you. Lets bring in chuck todd, nbcs political commentator and moderator of meet the press and nicolle wallace, former Communications Director for president george w. Bush. Lets start with a quick, one second, who won . Ted cruz. Okay. Timing seemed to be the biggest player in the room last night. Timing that donald trump lost his national lead. He was subdued. Timing that ben carson took the national lead. He didnt want to mess up. And timing that jeb bush seems to realize his chances are slipping away. Yeah, jeb bush didnt have the night his campaign acknowledged he needed to have. Afterwards, jeb bush said, im not a performer. Unfortunately for him and all the people who admire the way he governs, you have to become a performer to win the job. It was not a good night for jeb bush, and now people are saying how much longer will he stay in the race. His people are constantly saying, were in it through the early states. We have the money, the organization. But is there kind of, for lack of a better term, a death watch . Can i tell you last night in boulder, it felt like a wake. Other Campaign Operatives were not gloating about this. They were like, oh, my god, is jeb not going to actually make it to the starting line . That was the air in there. Look. Hes got that 100 million in the super pac. He has the safety net. The first president bush getting whipped in the primaries didnt get out until may. There is no way the second bush was whipped by mccain, he didnt get out. That said, theyre going have to throw something to the wolves. Hes going to have to do something publicly, do something with the campaign to shake it up. Nicolle, the people on the side of the stage there, did anybody do or say anything, anyone like kasich, Chris Christie, or fiorina, that will move their numbers . Chris christie has strung together a magical moment in the debates but its not showing in the polls. I thought trump was subdued, but he had the town hall demeanor. He seemed to be holding back and only engaging where he had to. I say cruz was the winner. Cruz was the winner because of his indictment of the moderators. Republicans are desperate for someone who stands up against what they feel is a rigged system. And thats sort of the elephant in the room we havent talked about. The media was the opponent not on the stage right with them but, clearly, a big part of this debate. Fairly or unfairly, this is a Winning Strategy for candidates. Well, it is. Cruz captured the moment better than anybody. Look. In many ways this was a premeditated attack. There had been some leaked ideas that, you know, beforehand, they were going to go after the moderators and say, hey, the democrats didnt get questions like this. And they determined this before boy, cruz captured the moment. He was magnanimous. He actually came across as the guy that supposedly everybody secretly doesnt life, but he was the guy that defended everybody on the stage. Maybe an important moment for him, if he does what hes trying to do, which is vacuum up trump and carsons support if, not when in my book, but if they falter. Chuck todd, nicolle wallace, guys, thank you very much. By the way, jeb bush will be chucks guest this sunday morning on meet the press. Thanks, guys. The other political intrigue in washington. The paul ryan era is under way on capitol hill. The congressman was nominated to the next speaker of the house, and theyre making it initial with a full house vote this morning. Ryan said the Republican Party lost its vision and he intends to begin a new day on the house of representatives. Lets turn to the drama in the sky thats captivating the country. An unmanned military balloon breaking free and drifting 115 miles from maryland to pennsylvania. Fighter jets had to be the balloons long tether caused a lot of destruction on the ground. Tom costello is in muncie, pennsylvania, where the balloon came down. Good morning to you. Reporter good morning. Power has been restored to people in pa, and a military team cornered off this area. Its behind this tree line, described as having a lot of holes in it. It was impossible to control and very difficult to catch. Reporter its a top secret project with a price tag of 2. 5 billion. This morning lying in a field in central p. A. A hovering hightech Surveillance System thats supposed to watch the skies along the eastern seaboard. This is a military system thats supposed to detect cruise missiles, lowlying cruise and drones. Reporter on wednesday, the unthinkable. This military balloon broke free in rain and high wind at a military base in aberdeen, maryland, and floated out of control to pennsylvania. In the east coast skies, air Traffic Controllers routed passenger planes around the balloon while no nor norad scrambled 516s to intercept it. Theyre working very, very as fast as they can. Reporter for four hours, cable news and social media followed its soaring to 16,000 feet, then skipping across the pennsylvania countryside. The size of two football fields, the balloon dragged a heavy milelong cable, hitting utility lines, knocking out power to nearly 28,000 people. Here we are, no power, after the blimp knocked out the power in bloomsburg. Reporter finally the helium escaped and the balloon fell to the ground amid amish country. Theres been correspondence controversy about the project. Meanwhile, theyre hoping to pull it out of the woods sometime today, and it will be a military operation to do that. Meanwhile, the people here in central p. A. Who had Property Damage were told they can file a claim with the army. Back to you. Tom costello covering what was a bizarre story. Tom, thank you. Its sentencing day for a former student at a prestigious New Hampshire prep school convicted of sexually assaulting a younger classmate. Hes asking for probation instead of prison. Stephanie gosk is at the courthouse in concord this morning. Stephanie, good morning. Reporter good morning. From the rainy concord, New Hampshire, this case gained National Attention because of where owen labrie, the accuser, went to school. One of the most elite boarding schools in the country. Today, labries attorney will ask for probation, arguing his client has already been punished just hours from now, owen labrie will learn whether hes going to jail. Guilty or not guilty . Guilty. Reporter labrie was convicted of Sexual Assault misdemeanors and of endangering the welfare of a child. The accuser, a 15yearold classmate, alleged the sex was not consensual. Were concealing her identity. I was raped. I was violated in so many ways. Reporter the trial shined a light on the elite st. Pauls prep school and revealed the writ eun known as the senior salute where seniors asked out freshmen sometimes for sex. Labrie denied the charges. It wouldnt have been a good move to have sex with this girl. Reporter now, the 20yearold faces up to 11 years behind bars and would have to register as a sex offender. On wednesday labries lawyers asking for leniency. The harsh truth is that owen will be penalized every single day from here on out from what he did as a high school student. Friends writing hes a model gentleman, stunningly brilliant, a role model. From his father, it would do no good to incarcerate owen. His mother pleading, owen has already been hurt far beyond what anyone might ever know. But a spokeswoman for the victims family says the victim was harmed too. This was sexual violence, and it was an egregious case. Im hoping the sentence reflects what we all heard in trial. Reporter the accuser and her family will be in court today giving statements. Its not the end of the case. Labries attorneys are arguing the charge. A 10yearold boy has been seriously injured in an apparent shark attack in hawaii. Natalie has that story. Good morning. Good morning, guys. This marks the seventh attack in hawaii this year, and the third on the island of oahu in the last three weeks. This morning a 10yearold boy is recovering from wounds he suffered after an apparent shark attack off the coast of hawaii wednesday. Police say the child was bitten on the thigh while body boarding 30 feet from the shore on the island of oahu. When i looked up, i saw the lifeguards pulling the young boy to the quad and took him under the trees and did their thing. He had three gashes on his leg. His thigh was open. Reporter this is the seventh shark attack in hawaii this year, the third on oahu this month. On october 17th, a 44yearold man was seriously injured after a shark attack off of the beach. Heard him, turned and went. My dad got him, and i understood that and went to get his friends. It was just go, go, go. My dad just kept him talking to keep his mind off the giant holes in his legs. Reporter a week earlier, a leg and some of his fingers in an attack off of oahus north shore. It comes amid a series of recent shark attacks off the mainland waters this year, from california to north carolina. Due to the unusually high spike in incidents, experts in hawaii this morning are warning swimmers to stay out of dirty water. Dont go into the ocean at dusk or dawn. Never go out alone. Ocean safety officials have posted temporary shark warning signs and theyre strongly recommending that people stay out of the water there in oahu today. Dont have to convince me. Get me out of the water. Thank you. Mr. Roker, whats cooking . Weve had wild weather overnight, and we have more coming. Lets show you, first of all, in minnesota, the snow is out. Theyve broken out the snowplows, getting things going. Had a couple inches on the ground, so theyre watching that. Now we go to wisconsin and you see more snow falling there overnight. The winds were whipping, and they picked up about three inches of snow there, as well. Here in the northeast, we had big storms move through, and that caused a lot of problems. Take a look. This is connecticut. Power outages, flooding in front of homes and businesses. A real mess. In fact, about 10,000 people without power this morning in parts of connecticut. Now, were also looking at some more flooding and heavy rains out west as low pressure develops. Jet stream is to its south. We look at more heavy showers and thunderstorms, firing up where they dont need them, throughout parts of texas, louisiana, and on into oklahoma. In the southwest for today, were looking at heavy rain. Could be severe storms later on tonight. Then we move to tomorrow. Look at the heavy rain developing. 1 to 2 inches per hour. Locally 4 to 5 inches more rain. And as we get to saturday, it moves into the central gulf coast. Well get to your local forecast coming up in the next 30 seconds. And off you go, and off you go, and off you go, for every step, every stride, every start, begin strong with the Lasting Energy of 100 whole grain quaker oats. And off you go. Thats your latest weather. Matt . Thank you, al. Coming up, prince harry takes washington by storm and gets personal. Direction of his life. The utility worker knocks on your door, would you let them in . On a new rossen report, how criminals are preying on unsuspected homeowners. Jeff goes undercover to see if people would open their doors to him, no questions asked. Nbc. People make mistakes. Like paying too much for wireless. So switch to u. S. Cellular and we guarantee well beat the price on your current verizon or at t plan. Thats right, guaranteed to beat. Plus, right now well give you a 150 promo card when you switch. Dont let your next mistake be missing out. Switch to u. S. Cellular today for a price thats guaranteed coming up, the superstar who says his retirement from music is coming to an end. [tires squealing] charged up. By design. Heart pounding. How do they make starburst taste so juicy . They use wicked small fighter jets to shoot the juiciness into every starburst. [ pilot ] its about to get juicy. 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