Ahead of Wednesday’s Republican presidential debate, NBC’s Today promoted Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton having “her own battle plan heading into tonight,” preparing to respond to the GOP 2016 field with a new ad blitz.
Correspondent Kristen Welker announced: “With Republicans set to go on the attack tonight, Secretary Hillary Clinton is preparing to counterpunch, releasing four sleek new ads during tonight's GOP debate in Iowa and New Hampshire. The 30-second spots aimed at pre-butting the Republicans by painting Clinton as a champion for working class women voters, touting equal pay and college affordability.”
Welker continued: “The new ad campaign comes as Clinton is gaining strength. A new poll in Iowa shows she's trouncing Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders by a whopping 41 points. 65% to 24%. It's the first poll of its kind conducted on the heels of Clinton testifying before the Benghazi Committee, and after Vice President Biden announced he's not entering the race.”
Gushing over Clinton “trying to connect with voters on a more personal level” with a Tuesday night appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Welker noted her “letting people in on what she's binge watching.” A soundbite ran of Clinton sharing: “We finally finished House of Cards. It took a while.”
While Clinton’s campaign received softball coverage, the morning show touted a Florida newspaper’s attack on Senator Marco Rubio.
Here is a full transcript of Welker’s October 28 report:
7:12 AM ET
MATT LAUER: Alright, let’s get more on the frontrunner now on the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton. NBC's Kristen Welker is in New Hampshire where Clinton is campaigning today. Kristen, good morning to you.
KRISTEN WELKER: Hey, Matt, good morning to you. That's right, Secretary Clinton will be far from the debate stage, instead courting voters here in New Hampshire, but she's got her own battle plan heading into tonight.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Clinton Goes on the Offensive; Releasing New Ads Ahead of GOP Debate]
With Republicans set to go on the attack tonight, Secretary Hillary Clinton is preparing to counterpunch, releasing four sleek new ads during tonight's GOP debate in Iowa and New Hampshire. The 30-second spots aimed at pre-butting the Republicans by painting Clinton as a champion for working class women voters, touting equal pay and college affordability.
HILLARY CLINTON: I'm Hillary Clinton, and I approve this message.
WELKER: The new ad campaign comes as Clinton is gaining strength. A new poll in Iowa shows she's trouncing Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders by a whopping 41 points. 65% to 24%. It's the first poll of its kind conducted on the heels of Clinton testifying before the Benghazi Committee, and after Vice President Biden announced he's not entering the race.
Part of Clinton’s strategy, distancing herself from some of the Obama administration's more controversial policies, such as bailing out the banks. On display Tuesday night when she appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
STEPHEN COLBERT: If you're president...
CLINTON: Yes.
COLBERT: ...and the banks are failing, do we let them fail this time?
CLINTON: Yes, yes.
COLBERT: We let them fail this time?
CLINTON: Yes, yes, yes.
COLBERT: Wow.
CLINTON: Yes. They will fail. And the if they’re too big to fail, then under my plan and others that have been proposed, they may have to be broken up.
WELKER: All this while trying to connect with voters on a more personal level, letting people in on what she's binge watching.
CLINTON: We finally finished House of Cards. It took a while.
WELKER: Now while Clinton is firmly in the lead in Iowa, the race gets much tighter here in New Hampshire, where one recent poll shows her running neck in neck with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. She’ll try to gain more traction during a politics and eggs breakfast a little bit later on today. Matt, Savannah?
LAUER: Alright, Kristen, thanks very much. A reminder, you can catch the Republican debate, Your Money, Your Vote. That’s tonight at 8 Eastern on CNBC.
