In the Thursday evening newscasts ahead of the PBS Democratic Presidential Debate, the “big three” networks of ABC, CBS, and NBC largely focused on spinning the Congressional Black Caucus PAC’s endorsement of Hillary Clinton as “a major endorsement” and sign of “new momentum” following socialist Senator Bernie Sanders winning New Hampshire.
Further, both ABC and CBS failed to note that the endorsement came from the group’s political arm and not the official legislative caucus (and further explained by Sanders supporter and Congressman Keith Ellison’s dismay over the decision). [Video forthcoming]
Overall, each newscast ran some portion of Democratic Congressman John Lewis (Ga.) lashing out at Sanders and claimed that he never recalled him being a part of the Civil Rights Movement back in the 1950s and 1960s.
The CBS Evening News led with this development in the 2016 race as anchor Scott Pelley teased it as “a key endorsement” for the former secretary of state while congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes touted soundbites from three different African-American Democratic members of Congress that were present at the press conference announcing the move.
On ABC’s World News Tonight, anchor David Muir looked ahead to the debate while Democratic campaign correspondent and Saturday anchor Cecilia Vega with the PAC “in Clinton’s corner” with “Lewis slamming Sanders, saying he wasn't on the front lines of the civil rights struggle.” Like its fellow networks, ABC went onto briefly highlight African-American actor and activist Harry Belafonte choosing to side with Sanders.
Going lastly to NBC Nightly News, anchor Lester Holt started the lone Democratic campaign story this way:
A major endorsement for Hillary Clinton is spotlighting the critical battle under way for African-American votes in South Carolina. A February 27th Democratic primary there will be Bernie Sanders' first test in the South, and before a large number of black voters. Today, Clinton, who polls show hold a substantial lead among black voters, got an important shot in the arm from a civil rights icon, who to Sanders delivered just a shot.
White House correspondent Kristen Welker stood out from Vega and Cordes as she made to make the distinction that it was the Congressional Black Caucus PAC that made the endorsement:
The influential political arm of the Congressional Black Caucus backing Clinton today. It was civil rights icon, Congressman John Lewis, who delivered a major blow to Sanders, questioning how active he was in the Civil Rights Movement....The Sanders campaign, “Bernie is a great admirer of Congressman Lewis” and drawing a sharp contrast today, releasing this endorsement video featuring the young daughter of Eric Garner who died after police put him in a chokehold in 2014.
