Howard Kurtz: Media Scrutiny of Romney Increased Because Press Now Think He Can Win

Howard Kurtz spoke an inconvenient truth on Sunday that should be extremely embarrassing to the entire Obama-loving media.

At the end of a lengthy segment about the coverage of the presidential campaign, the host of CNN's Reliable Sources said, "The reason that Romney is getting so much scrutiny right now is because the press belatedly, in my view, has finally come around to the view that he may win this election" (video follows with transcript and commentary):

HOWARD KURTZ: I would just make the closing point that I think the reason that Romney is getting so much scrutiny right now is because the press belatedly, in my view, has finally come around to the view that he may win this election.

I think, a month ago, the conventional wisdom was the president is going to skate in. And now, with the polls being tight, with Romney outraising him in the latest period and the economy having that bad jobs report, there is a sense that this is going to be a very close election and we could possibly be looking at a Romney administration. And that's the reason that the scrutiny I think has jumped up a notch.

In some sense Kurtz is right, as there's no question that recent polls, Obama campaign missteps, and bad unemployment numbers are causing angst in the liberal media leading to more scrutiny of his opponent.

However, as NewsBusters has been reporting since last year, the press have been attacking all of the Republican presidential candidates since the GOP debates began.

That the scrutiny of Romney has suddenly increased is likely more a function of him being the presumptive nominee as well as all the other targets disappearing.

However, now that it has become clear that the former Massachusetts governor does indeed have a chance at winning in November, the attacks on him and his wife have become more numerous, more petty, and more personal.

Athough this can't possibly be a surprise to NewsBusters readers - we've been predicting for almost two years the eventual GOP nominee would face such scrutiny! - it is never the less appreciated Kurtz would accurately point his finger at his colleagues.

If only it would do some good beyond giving folks on the right a sense of vindication.

To receive my articles hot off the presses follow me on Twitter ow.ly/btalc and Facebook ow.ly/btald.

— Noel Sheppard (@NoelSheppard) June 9, 2012