Originally posted on Wednesday, May 14:
Trumpeting the “major endorsement” from John Edwards for Barack Obama, the day after Obama was trounced by 40 points in West Virginia all three broadcast network evening newscasts led Wednesday night with the “dramatic” announcement of the “political prize” that gives Obama a “major boost.” Katie Couric returned at the end of the 6:30 PM EST CBS Evening News feed to reiterate “our top story tonight” as she effused over live video of Edwards speaking at the rally: “John Edwards endorses Barack Obama, saying he's one man who knows in his heart that it's time to create one America, not two.”
ABC was so excited that its 6:30 PM feed of World News went live at about 6:40 PM to Grand Rapids, Michigan for 90 seconds of Obama introducing Edwards, compete with a Bruce Spingsteen song as Edwards bounded on stage. Gibson then acknowledged:
Timed for maximum exposure, timed to coincide with the evening newscasts, timed to give Barack Obama a needed boost after his bad defeat yesterday in West Virginia. George Stephanopoulos, this is the kind of publicity that you can't buy.
Indeed, no need to pay for it when ABC News is eager to give it to you for free.
Gibson had teased his show: “Tonight, political prize. Barack Obama win a major endorsement from John Edwards.” Couric had hailed “a major endorsement for Barack Obama” before asserting “Obama took back the spotlight this evening dramatically when he won an endorsement both candidates wanted badly.” On NBC, Brian Williams touted: “Tonight, the campaign of Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination has received a major boost.”
Highlights from the Wednesday, May 14 ABC, CBS and NBC newscast coverage of the endorsement of Barack Obama by John Edwards:
ABC's World News:
CHARLES GIBSON, TEASE: Tonight, political prize. Barack Obama win a major endorsement from John Edwards. Will it help Obama in his quest for support from white, working-class voters?
GIBSON LED: Good evening. We have a live picture to show you right now, from Grand Rapids, Michigan. A Barack Obama campaign rally, where John Edwards is about to take stage and endorse Barack Obama. Edwards flew to Grand Rapids, arriving moments ago. His is a major endorsement sought by both Obama and Hillary Clinton. We will go to the rally momentarily when the speaking begins.
AFTER COVERAGE OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN CHINA, A PIECE FROM DAVID WRIGHT ON THE ENDORSEMENT AND LIVER COVERAGE OF THE RALLY, GIBSON OBSERVED: Timed for maximum exposure, timed to coincide with the evening newscasts, timed to give Barack Obama a needed boost after his bad defeat yesterday in West Virginia. George Stephanopoulos, this is the kind of publicity that you can't buy.
CBS Evening News:
KATIE COURIC, TEASE: Tonight , a major endorsement for Barack Obama from former rival John Edwards.
COURIC LED: And good evening, everyone. Well, Hillary Clinton didn't get to enjoy her landslide win in West Virginia very long at all. Barack Obama took back the spotlight this evening dramatically when he won an endorsement both candidates wanted badly -- John Edwards.
COURIC, AT VERY END OF NEWSCAST: And once again, our top story tonight: John Edwards endorses Barack Obama, saying he's one man who knows in his heart that it's time to create one America, not two.
NBC Nightly News:
BRIAN WILLIAMS, TEASE: On the broadcast here tonight, a big endorsement this evening for Barack Obama
WILLIAMS LED: Tonight, the campaign of Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination has received a major boost. John Edwards, former North Carolina Senator, former presidential and vice presidential candidate, is endorsing Barack Obama for President. He informed Senator Clinton of his decision today by phone. Edwards got 7 percent of the vote last night in West Virginia. Interesting because he's not in the running anymore. But it does show support for him still out there, support that Obama now wants to convert in his attempt to put this race away.
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
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Comments Policy
Just another in-kind
August 11, 2008 - 05:27 ET by motherbeltJust another in-kind contribution by the networks to Barack Obama.
Obama's next line:
August 11, 2008 - 06:26 ET by sawing battaThis is not the John Edwards I know...
→ batta
August 11, 2008 - 06:33 ET by Cool ArrowI 'll bet he's got Couric, Williams, and Gibson in the woodshed right now.
His press secretaries should have vetted Edwards better.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE
You mean the John Edwards I
August 11, 2008 - 06:33 ET by motherbeltYou mean the John Edwards I knew....
→ He said
August 11, 2008 - 06:36 ET by Cool Arrow"The Edwards I knew" he said as he brushed an imaginary John Edwards off of his shoulder.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE
...then Edwards was thrown
August 11, 2008 - 07:37 ET by tater...then Edwards was thrown under the Obama bus.
www.theholyrosary.org
"There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we can not resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary." -Sister Lucia
Hey Tater, I'm with ya!
August 11, 2008 - 18:50 ET by RukusHey Tater, I'm with ya! It's gettin' crowded under that bus! LOL!
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
when asked, obama replied,
August 11, 2008 - 08:20 ET by larry on LIjohn who?
coverage you can't buy
August 11, 2008 - 08:34 ET by NonanonI sent a message to Obama's campaign website asking how much they were paying to the media for all of the favorable coverage and campaigning Obama was receiving from the media. I received a canned message stating they received so many messages since his victory in Iowa, over 1000 each day, and they can't read each one. They obviously didn't read mine because two days later they sent a message out as if I were a supporter suggesting several ways I could help the campaign. Three days after that I received another message stating that due to a "technical malfunction" messages from the that time period has been lost and mine hadn't been read, but again provided ways I could help. So I sent another message asking it in a different manner and again received the canned 'received your message' message. Apparently they still did not read it since five days later I received a message providing a way for me to be 'the first to know' and be notified when Obama selects his VP. Regardless how many messages they get a day, they count every one as a supporter. I'm wondering how many others are in this same category.