On Wednesday, NBC’s Today celebrated Tuesday night’s Democratic debate by heaping effusive praise on front-runner Hillary Clinton. Correspondent Peter Alexander began his report by cheering: “Hillary Clinton's debate experience, her debate preparation paid off last night. Her advisers this morning are ecstatic. They insist she was on, that she looked poised and passionate...”
Alexander trotted out more flattering adjectives moments later: “Secretary Clinton appeared confident and comfortable, casting herself as a history-making candidate....And taking pride in her enemies.” A soundbite ran of Clinton sneering: “Well, in addition to the NRA, the health insurance companies, the drug companies, the Iranians, probably the Republicans.”
Following Alexander’s report, fellow correspondent Kristen Welker touted: “If Vice President Biden was looking for a clear opening into the race last night, he didn't get it. Many of the headlines this morning suggesting that Clinton boxed him out, even his supporters acknowledging privately Secretary Clinton had one of her strongest nights of the campaign.”
Turning to Republican strategist and MSNBC contributor Nicolle Wallace, co-host Matt Lauer wondered: “We talked about, going into this debate, that it was Hillary Clinton's to lose. She had to avoid any major gaffes. Mission accomplished?” Wallace declared: “Absolutely and she did more than avoid gaffes. She did what was most important for her campaign structurally, she stopped a lot of the hand-wringing among the Democratic donor class....I thought she did everything she had to do last night.”
At the top of the 8 a.m. ET hour, Alexander was back with even more applause for Clinton’s performance:
This was easily the best day of Hillary Clinton's campaign. After months of Democratic fears that she was a wounded candidate, Clinton looked poised and presidential and solidified her status as party front-runner....Overnight Hillary Clinton basking in the glow of her debate performance....For much of the night she was confident and in command...
Despite the abundant coverage of the debate, none of it featured any fact-checking of candidate claims.
Here is a full transcript of Alexander’s first October 14 report:
7:02 AM ET
MATT LAUER: Let's start, though, with our top story, that’s the Democratic debate. Clinton and Sanders trading jabs and three other candidates getting their first chance to make a first impression. We've got it all covered this morning, from the debate to the latest on Vice President Joe Biden, and we'll talk to MSNBC contributor Nicolle Wallace. But let's begin with NBC national correspondent Peter Alexander in Las Vegas. Peter, good morning to you.
PETER ALEXANDER: Hey, Matt, good morning to you. Hillary Clinton's debate experience, her debate preparation paid off last night. Her advisers this morning are ecstatic. They insist she was on, that she looked poised and passionate in what was the first Democratic presidential primary debate in nearly eight years.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Democrats’ Showdown on the Strip; Clinton Confident as Sanders Says “Enough Emails”]
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: Let me say something that may not be great politics.
ALEXANDER: When it came to Hillary Clinton's e-mail scandal, it was her chief rival Bernie Sanders who sent a message loud and clear.
SANDERS: The American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn e-mails.
HILLARY CLINTON: Thank you, me, too, me, too.
ALEXANDER: Clinton accused the House Benghazi Committee of partisan attacks aimed at driving down her poll numbers.
CLINTON: That this committee is basically an arm of the Republican National Committee. I am still standing. I am happy to be part of this debate.
ALEXANDER: With President Clinton watching his wife from their Las Vegas hotel.
[TWEET FROM BILL CLINTON ON SCREEN: “What happens in Vegas...is I watch @HillaryClinton prove she’s the most qualified candidate for POTUS. #ImWithHer”]
CLINTON: I would not ask anyone to vote for me based on my last name.
ALEXANDER: Secretary Clinton appeared confident and comfortable, casting herself as a history-making candidate.
CLINTON: I think being the first woman president would be quite a change.
ALEXANDER: And taking pride in her enemies.
CLINTON: Well, in addition to the NRA, the health insurance companies, the drug companies, the Iranians, probably the Republicans.
ALEXANDER: The debate was initially more contentious than expected. Here's Clinton asked if Sanders has been tough enough on gun control.
CLINTON: No, not at all. This has gone on too long and it’s time that the entire country stood up against the NRA.
SANDERS: But all the shouting in the world is not gonna do what I would hope all of us want, and that is keep guns out of the hands of people who should not have those guns.
ALEXANDER: The two clashed over Sanders' political views.
SANDERS: The casino capitalist process by which so few have so much.
ALEXANDER: What he calls Democratic socialism.
SANDERS: I think we should look to countries like Denmark, like Sweden, and Norway and learn from what they have accomplished for their working people.
CLINTON: We are not Denmark. I love Denmark. We are the United States of America.
ALEXANDER: Sanders called out Clinton for her support of the Iraq war.
SANDERS: The worst foreign policy blunder in the history of this country.
ALEXANDER: Then there was Martin O'Malley challenging Clinton on foreign policy.
MARTIN O’MALLEY: I believe that a no-fly zone in Syria at this time actually, Secretary, would be a mistake.
CLINTON: I was very pleased when Governor O'Malley endorsed me for president in 2008.
JIM WEBB: This has gone back and forth over there.
ALEXANDER: As Jim Webb and Lincoln Chafee struggled to break through.
LINCOLN CHAFEE: You're looking at a block of granite.
ALEXANDER: Finally, before the two-plus hour debate was done.
ANDERSON COOPER: All the candidates are back, which I'm very happy to see.
ALEXANDER: Clinton joked about barely squeezing in a bathroom break.
CLINTON: You know, it does take me a little longer, that’s all I can say.
ALEXANDER: And then Republican front-runner Donald Trump has weighed in this morning as well, saying”Like her or not, Hillary Clinton did her job.” That e-mail line of the night played well for Clinton, but also for Sanders. As soon as it happened he began fundraising $1.3 million in just four hours. To give you some perspective, that's as much as Carly Fiorina, on the Republican side, raised in the first two months of her campaign. Clinton's team knows that one test is done. They have another test ahead. Eight days from now she testifies before the House Benghazi Committee. Savannah?
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Alright, Peter Alexander, thank you.
