Friday’s “big three” morning shows on ABC, CBS and NBC lauded Oprah Winfrey’s endorsement of the handicapped Lt. Governor. John Fetterman (D), over her longtime colleague, Fetterman’s GOP opponent, Dr. Mehmet O.
Two of the other crazy train passengers insisted that Senator Chuck Grassley (R–IA) was in a difficult reelection battle. On another occasion, they brought in a failed Kamala-Harris adviser to suggest that Democrats are well-positioned for a strong showing in Tuesday’s midterms.
Today on NBC was the lightest network, but Oprah Winfrey was the most heavy. Savannah Guthrie, co-host, teased that Oprah had given a surprise endorsement in one of the nation’s most close races. Craig Melvin added a few minutes later that it was a “major endorsement.”
Saturday Today anchor Peter Alexander called it “a surprise endorsement” and noted that Oz was “given his start in TV almost 20 years before the heart surgeon launched a talk show in 2009.
“The Oz campaign responded overnight, writing: ‘Dr. Oz loves Oprah, and is open to the fact that they have different political views. He said that Washington needs more balance and less extremism.
ABC’s Good Morning America’s correspondent Eva Pilgrim briefly mentioned it during a report about the Pennsylvania Senate race. “And overnight Oprah, who gave Dr. Oz her start in TV and worked alongside him for years, endorsed his opponent, Fetterman. We have seen the lead shrink as we approach election day. Fetterman was ahead in the polls before.
Robert Costa, CBS chief campaign and election correspondent, referred to it on CBS Mornings in an “unexpected event” and “big news.” Gayle King, Winfrey’s best friend, was absent so it was up to her and her co-hosts for their marvel. Tony Dokoupil, co-host, gave a “wow” and Nate Burleson, co-host, had an “mmmm.”
GMA and Today also sought to question Grassley’s chances of reelection.
On the former, ABC’s chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl said former President Trump was in the Hawkeye State Thursday “to give a boost to Iowa’s longtime Senator Chuck Grassley,” with him facing “a tougher-than-expected challenge from Democrat Mike Franken” as “a sign of just how unpredictable these midterms are shaping up to be.”
Shortly thereafter, however, Karl voted to New York with Governor Kathy Hochul, D-NY, at risk of losing Congressman Lee Zeldin, R-NY.
Alexander cited Trump’s rally on NBC as proof that “Grassley is facing a tough reelection fight in forty decades, clinging at a slim advantage over Democratic Mike Franken.”
Alexander mentioned 2020 and “political violent” and finally admitted that Biden had “steered clear of key battlegrounds west, instead visiting typicallyblue strongholds.”
Rachel Scott, ABC congressional correspondent, was surprisingly a true representation of reality. She noted that “Republicans really are gaining ground in the final stretch” and that Biden is now in “reliably blue territory” since Democrats really are on defense.
They aired a portion of Costa’s softball interview on CBS with Fetterman, while campaign and White House correspondent Ed O’Keefe covered the campaign of Rhode Island Republican Allan Fung as an example of the GOP’s diverse range of candidates (click “expand”)
FETTERMAN: There is a stark choice between someone who has a career and actually served Pennsylvania, or someone who’s just here to use Pennsylvania.
COSTA: Pennsylvania voters could decide who controls the U.S. Senate.
(….)
COSTA: John Fetterman challenged Republican Mehmet Oz’s claim that he is soft on crime in our interview.
FETTERMAN – I am the only candidate in the race who actually has hands-on experience fighting against crime. I put gun violence at the heart of my focus.
COSTA: Fetterman is currently recovering from a stroke in May and used closed captioning to record the interview. The stenographer then typed the questions in real-time. [TO FETTERMAN] We’ve heard from some voters who still doubt your health. What would you say to convince them?
FETTERMAN – I think we have done more and shared more types of medical evaluation than anyone, unless you are running for President. It’s been a challenge for me and my family.
COSTA: Fetterman, like most Democrats in this cycle has had to deal with voters dismayed at the high cost of living. [TO FETTERMAN] What can you say to them?
FETTERMAN – I would tell them that they need a senator who is going to fight against corporate greed and price gouging.
(….)
COSTA: However, Fetterman said he would be proud to stand alongside President Barack Obama and the former President Barack Obama this weekend.
FETTERMAN: They reject extremeism. These are the values I believe are the right way to go about this race.
(….)
O’KEEFE – I’m Ed O’Keefe from Rhode Island, where Allan Fung doesn’t want to control the Senate. He is running to help Republicans retake Congress.
ALLAN FUNG: Have an amazing day now.
O’KEEFE is the former mayor of Cranston in Rhode Island. He is the son of Chinese immigrants and grew up in his family restaurant. He is now running for office on economic issues.
FUNG: This is a crisis in the cost of living that affects every Rhode Island resident and every Rhode Island business owner.
O’KEEFE – Fung is running against Seth Magaziner for an open seat in the house. Republicans are determined to win this seat and many others, and they’re doing it with the most diverse group of house Republican candidates. There are 89 candidates from the black, Latino and Native American communities across the country.
YESLI VEGA [in Campaign Ad] [in Spanish]: Hi, I’m Yesli Vega. I agree with this message.
YESLI VEGA’s FATHER [in a campaign ad] : Me too.
O’KEEFE – The GOP is also competing for New England seats. For example, Rhode Island hasn’t elected a Republican Congressman in over 20 years. Fung knows this because the GOP brand isn’t popular here and isn’t helped by Donald Trump.
Later on the show, CBS brought in Republican strategist Leslie Sanchez, and former Harris official Ashley Etienne. But they seemed more interested in Etienne’s fantasyland that liberal fear-mongering about America ending will be if Republicans win (click “expand”):
DOKOPUPIL – Democrats want to make it about democracy’s future. Democracy is at stake. According to polls, the economy is the most important issue for voters. Are Democrats making a mistake?
ETIENNE : I mean, we’re hitting both on both messages. We are not going to abandon the economy, but democracy is at risk, as the President stated. This is a way to see it: it’s actually working. If people feel threatened by democracy, they will run to the polls. This is happening in states like Georgia and Ohio. Early vote numbers are on the rise. This is encouraging news for Democrats because it means that Democrats feel more encouraged.
DOKOUPIL: Yeah.
ETIENNE
DOKOUPIL: Yeah.
ETIENNE – I believe democracy is what we should be focusing on.
DOKOUPI : Ashley, I was so excited about talking to you that I forgot your due. You were communications director for Vice President Kamala Harris, and also for Nancy Pelosi.
ETIENNE: Yeah.
DOKOUPIL: Your insights are important here.
(….)
BURLESON – Speaking of optimism, this summer we saw a shift from the Democrats having some momentum to the Republicans. What is the evidence that the Democrats are seeing on the ground that gives reason for optimism?
ETIENNE Polls don’t vote. People actually vote.
BURLESON: Okay.
ETIENNE – There has never been a poll in 2016 that predicted Donald Trump would be the President. I believe we should agree with American citizens on this issue.
BURLESON: That’s true, right.
ETIENNE This is good news for democracy and good for Democrats’ party. There was a lot of optimism on the ground, and long lines in Georgia and Pennsylvania. This is what we feel very encouraged by.
(….)
BURLESON – Now, Ashley, there is disapproval for President Biden. We’ve seen —
ETIENNE: Some —
BURLESON: — yeah, some.
(….)
ETIENNE But, here’s the thing:
BURLESON – But why is Obama there?
ETIENNE : Because people love and adore Obama and he’s great on the stump.
BURLESON: Yeah.
ETIENNE – Here’s the thing I want to make. All races are local, right? So, if you’re the President, and you’re up, and you have to face a midterm election — I’m going with a sports analogy — the most important thing you can do is to really set up the assist T]He’s established a record that, no matter what state or how competitive the races, there’s something you could talk about. The economy is doing better. Record low unemployment Ten million jobs created. Shots in the arm. Veterans’ health care, lower costs All of this. He’s given the candidates the tools to localize these races. I believe we’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Advertisers such as Progressive (on NBC), Nature’s Bounty and Apple (on ABC), made Friday’s midterms bias promoting Oprah and inflating left’s chances possible. Follow these links to view their contact information on the MRC’s Conservatives Fight Back Page.
For ABC, CBS and NBC, click here for the transcripts.
