All three networks on Tuesday hyped a possible Hillary Clinton/Elizabeth Warren presidential ticket, but the journalists on ABC’s Good Morning America were the most effusive. Former Democratic operative and Clinton Foundation donor George Stephanopoulos cheered, “Elizabeth Warren, certainly a bold choice. An all woman ticket would be brand new.”
ABC analyst Matthew Dowd marveled about the nimble Hillary Clinton: “One thing I'm struck by watching the Clinton campaign unfold is how much she learned from the mistakes she made in 2008.” He even went on to compare Clinton to legendary college basketball coach Pat Summitt, who passed away on Tuesday.
MATTHEW DOWD: Pat Summitt said once, “Sometimes you learn more from losing than you do from winning,” in the course of this. And I think Hillary Clinton has learned a lot from her loss in 2008, which is allow no day to go un-left [sic] that you don’t force the message onto your opponent in the course of this. And she is doing that.
On NBC’s Today, guest Nicolle Wallace insisted that, like John McCain, Hillary Clinton is the “substance” and the “steak and potatoes.” Using a comparison that wouldn’t be favored in liberal circles, she connected Warren to Sarah Palin:
NICOLLE WALLACE: Analogy is about sizzle. You know, the Hillary Clinton and John McCain, are, sort of in the political world, they are the steak and potatoes. They are the substance. They are people who know how to govern, but Elizabeth Warren just as Sarah Palin was, provides the excitement. They pack arenas and I think Warren did that for Hillary Clinton yesterday.
On CBS This Morning, Nancy Cordes talked to one Clinton supporter who gushed over a possible all-woman ticket, saying, “I believe in girl power, you know?” Another Clinton fan despaired, “To be honest, I don't think America is ready for two women on the same ticket. I don't believe it.”
A transcript of the GMA segment, which aired at 7:07am ET on June 28, is below:
GMA
6/28/16
7:07:46 to 7:10:07
2 minutes 21 secondsGEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Let's take that question to Matthew Dowd, our political analyst and Democratic strategist Stephanie Cutter. Thanks to both of you for coming in today. And Matt, what do you think? Is that a risk worth taking?
MATT DOWD: Well, I think she has to consider it in the course of this. I think she understands that Donald Trump's vulnerability among women voters is key. I think it may be a step too far. But she has to consider it. George, one thing I'm struck by watching the Clinton campaign unfold is how much she learned from the mistakes she made in 2008, as we talk about Pat Summitt today. Pat Summitt said once, “Sometimes you learn more from losing than you do from winning,” in the course of this. And I think Hillary Clinton has learned a lot from her loss in 2008, which is allow no day to go un-left [sic] that you don’t force the message onto your opponent in the course of this. And she is doing that.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Yeah, all offense there today. And Stephanie Cutter, I saw you nodding your head to a lot of that.
STEPHANIE CUTTER: Yes.
STEPHANOPOULOS: So, when you lay that out, Elizabeth Warren, certainly a bold choice. An all woman ticket would be brand new. On the other hand, you look at somebody like Tim Kaine, the senator from Virginia could bring you a state. Has experience as a governor and a senator. How do you suss that out?
CUTTER: Well, George, I think at the end of the day, you have to go with who you have chemistry with. And I think you saw an awful lot of chemistry on the campaign trail yesterday between Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren. A tremendous amount of energy. I think she has energy with Tim Kaine, too. Ultimately, it's who you want to have a partnership with. Who it works with. You’re not, people don't vote on— based on who the VP is. You don't win a state because of that. You have to see a good partnership. A president and a vice president on the stage. And I think you saw it yesterday.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Matt, switching to Donald Trump right now. It seems to be, his campaign seems to be laying the ground work for some kind of a shift in that Muslim ban, saying now it's not about Muslims per se but Muslims from countries that have a high experience with terrorism. That have been breeding grounds for terrorism. Is this the kind of pivot he has to make?
DOWD: Well, the evolution that has gone on with Donald Trump most recently, and including the evolution with Hillary Clinton in the course of issues, Charles Darwin would love to study these two characters, watching how much they have evolved so much on issues. I think he has to be real careful. Obviously, it's a problem for him, this Muslim ban. But he has to be real careful that the asset he has, which is authenticity .
