Chris Matthews Takes Credit for Hillary Campaign Line

On Tuesday night's "Hardball" MSNBC's Chris Matthews bragged that Hillary Clinton took his strategic advice for taking on her critics. After Matthews replayed his recitation of a speech he wrote for Clinton last week, he then showed a clip of Hillary, apparently, aping his line of defense and then praised the Senator from New York as he declared: "Well done."

The following occurred on the November 6th edition of "Hardball":

Chris Matthews: "Last week I gave some free advice in the form of suggested speech notes. First to Obama, then to Joe Biden, then to Hillary. I guess she heard me. Here's what I said she should say on Thursday and what she ended up saying on Friday."

[Begin clip of Matthews from November 1st, "Hardball"]

Chris Matthews speaking for Hillary Clinton: "Taking the heat is what leadership is all about. As Harry Truman said, ‘If you don't like the heat stay out of the kitchen.' Taking heat is all part of the process of proving yourself for the world's most important democratic office. The fact that I am the first woman has nothing to do with the heat on me, in this week's presidential debate. I was the target because, quite simply, I am running well in the national polls."

[End clip]

[Begin clip of Hillary Clinton]

Hillary Clinton: "I anticipate it's gonna get even, you know, hotter and if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen and I'm very much at home in the kitchen. So I think I'll stick around."

[End clip]

Matthews: "Well done."