Campaign 2008: Choosing your interview…
The Washington Post’s Howard Kurtz writes about presidential candidates being very picky about what news shows they will go on…
The Democratic candidates, meanwhile, have refused to debate on Fox News, even for an event co-sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus. In the last nine days, however, they were happy to face off before liberal bloggers at a convention staged by the Web site Daily Kos; at an event co-sponsored by Logo, a gay-themed network operated by MTV; and at an MSNBC debate moderated by Keith Olbermann, one of President Bush’s fiercest critics.
“Republicans like Fox because it plays to their primary voting constituency, and Democrats like to boycott Fox because it brings cheap applause from their primary voting constituency,” says Mike Murphy, a GOP strategist and occasional panelist on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “The Democrats make a mistake by boycotting Fox, because they’re going to need red states to win. And Fred Thompson makes a mistake by communicating only through the medium of Sean Hannity.”
Chris Lehane, a Democratic strategist, says the rise of the Internet means that “there is much less of a premium on traditional outlets. In the past, Sunday shows were a great way to connect with the activist crowd and show that you’re a credible candidate. Now you can do it through a blog, a Web chat, putting up your own YouTube ad.”
Wow, even Politicians are picky when choosing what news show they would watch
Comment by Plank Fish — August 13, 2007 @ 10:26 am
Spud,
What about KOS vs Harold Ford Jr., on Meet the Press. NBC is trying to mainstream the Daily KOS? Or is the correct term enabling?
Comment by Ree — August 13, 2007 @ 10:50 am
Yes, I believe it is a huge mistake for the Democrats to boycott Fox News. Look at the crappy ratings when they go to NSNBC, CNN, and those radical groups. These candidates are out of their groove believing there are only radical voters in this country. The name of the game for the Dems has always been PANDER. When a Republican again becomes the president, they would then wish they were not as shallow and arrogant. Piss on them!
Comment by RGL — August 13, 2007 @ 1:23 pm