On the day of the much anticipated Georgia congressional special election, CNN New Day co-host Alisyn Camerota teed up Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff with grand questions about how important his potential victory would be:
ALISYN CAMEROTA: Do you see whatever happens today as a bellwether for something bigger than this district?
...
CAMEROTA:Yes, but don't you think this race also has national implications?...
CAMEROTA:Yeah, there's not only great intensity and interest, there's also a lot of money, as we just said, so there has to be a reason, Mr. Ossoff, that all of this out of state money has poured into your campaign. How do you explain it?...
CAMEROTA: Understood, you've worked hard. But do you not see the national implications of this race? Do you not think it's at all a referendum on Donald Trump?
...
CAMEROTA: As I'm sure you know, there was this negative campaign ad about you, put out by this right-wing PAC and it linked you to the horrible event that unfolded at that GOP baseball game. Let me just play one little portion of this ad.
[AD PLAYS]
NARRATOR: Now the unhinged left is endorsing and applauding shooting Republicans. When will it stop? It won't if Jon Ossoff wins on Tuesday.
[AD ENDS]
CAMEROTA: What did you think when you saw that ad?
Translation: You poor victim, what do you say to those hateful, mean Republicans? Here are two more easy questions:
CAMEROTA: So Mr. Ossoff, if you do win and you do go to Congress, what do you do about the atmosphere that you walk into that many describe as the most toxic ever? I mean, really, other than words, because we've heard a lot of words after this shooting by people. But what would you do, you know, actually to try to change this horrible partisan rancor?
...
CAMEROTA: What about health care? A lot of people think this also — that your race also is a bellwether of how people are feeling about health care. As you know, Republicans in the Senate are engaged right now in crafting some sort of plan. They're doing it behind closed doors. Much to the dismay of Democrats who held a late-night session about this, railing against it. Do you think that your race is connected to this?
At the same time that Camerota allowed Ossoff to play the wounded victim of partisanship, she ignored the Democrat’s own slams. Look at these slimy attacks on Republican Karen Handel:
OSSOFF: Well, the contrast in this district is between a career politician, my opponent, Karen Handel, who's notorious for cutting off funding for life saving breast cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood or a fresh voice who wants to work across the aisle and get things done
...
OSSOFF: I'm proud of the fact my campaign is powered by small dollar grassroots fund-raising with an average of less than fifty dollars, while my opponent's campaign has been bailed out by the same old special interest super PACS peddling deception, fearmongering and hate here in Georgia for months now.
So, her opponent wants to cut off life-saving care and is “peddling deception.” Might warrant a follow-up, but not on lazy, liberal CNN.
After that softball interview, Camerota hyped some personal details about Ossoff:
CAMEROTA: Jon Ossoff, we have to leave it there. But I do want to note: Congratulations on your engagement.
OSSOFF: Thank you very much. I'll pass that along to Alicia.
CAMEROTA: Please do and I like to think that I somehow played some role in badgering you into it.OSSOFF: I don't think that that's the case, but if it makes you feel good to think that way then fine
CAMEROTA: Thank you, it does. Thank you very much for being on with us this morning. We're obviously watching with great interest.
Nothing like a good send off from your supporters in the media. Optum and Carvana sponsored that hard-hitting New Day interview. Their ads followed the interview.
