Welcome to the beat, I'm Ari Melber and boy do we have a big night on the beat.

Legendary filmmaker Spike Lee live from the White House will explain why he's here tonight

but it is a big deal. James Carville back for the campaign Homestretch and the big

superstar Democratic governor you see right there. Westmore who leads Maryland

joins me in a moment as part of this segment. So he's moments away. Our top story is the

election and we begin with the facts and measurable reality which we will try to

bring to you every night over these next 15 days till election day as I just mentioned to our

colleague Nicole 15 days a crucial home stretch where even close campaigns

have to do every last thing because this can be one or lost.

Every day is a countdown in these final moves.

And with 15 days, there are things campaigns can still do,

like add an interview, target new locations,

and there are things that frankly they can't do anymore like get a whole

another national debate off the ground or veer into a totally different map strategy for

their 270 electoral votes. We've all been around campaigns before, you've watched them, you've voted in them, I've covered them and worked on one.

This is the home stretch, and the reason for that brings us to another number.

35.

That's how many states have already begun the early voting.

So voters are looking into their choices.

35 have the early vote.

49 states overall have early vote. 49 states overall have early vote or vote by mail where people can now send it in.

Now you and I both know some people procrastinate, they do it later, some people do it right away.

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