ABC's Kate Snow Turns on Clinton With Inflatable Doll Metaphor

ABC reporter Kate Snow, who has repeatedly gushed over the Hillary Clinton campaign in the past, appeared to be edging away from the Democratic candidate on Tuesday's "Good Morning America." Discussing the long odds the New York senator now faces to the nomination, Snow gratuitously offered this comparison: "And here's a metaphor. Last month, supporters gave Clinton an inflatable doll. The other day, it was spotted all shriveled up, deflated."

The GMA correspondent also made sure to point out that "[Clinton's] biggest Kentucky crowds are closer to a thousand and Obama just pulled 75,000 in Oregon." She also explained, "An event in Oregon in a dimly lit room had more reporters than voters. Clinton was somber." This type of downbeat reporting is quite a change from Snow's cheery, pro-Hillary journalism. On January 7, 2008, she marveled at the senator's knowledge and enthused, "No subject is too small. No issue too dense." On October 1, 2007, Snow rhapsodized at Clinton's ability to disarm "her critics with a gleam in her eye and a roar straight from the belly."

On October 25, 2007, Snow extolled Bill and Hillary Clinton for being "masters of spin" and as experts at "turning bad news into good." (A round up of Snow's fawning can be found in a November 30, 2007 NewsBusters blog.)

So, if Hillary Clinton has lost (or is losing) Kate Snow, it may be a very bad sign for her presidential campaign.

A transcript of the May 20 segment, which aired at 7:02am, follows:

ROBIN ROBERTS: We begin though with the race for '08 this morning. Voters going to the polls today in primaries in Kentucky and Oregon. Senator Clinton expected to win Kentucky, Senator Obama, Oregon. So, what's going to happen after tonight? ABC's Kate Snow is in Louisville, Kentucky where Senator Hillary Clinton is telling voters not to write her off just yet. Isn't that right, Kate?

KATE SNOW: That's right. Good morning, Robin. She's confident that a lot of these Louisville voters are going to circle that little mark next to her name here and staffers we talked to say that she's likely to stick in this race all the way through June 3rd when the last votes are cast but it could be the longest two weeks of her campaign. Okay, so her biggest Kentucky crowds are closer to a thousand and Obama just pulled 75,000 in Oregon but in Lexington last night, they were energized.

ABC GRAPHIC: Hillary's Still Fighting: But is it Lights Out for her Campaign?

SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON: So, are you going to vote tomorrow?

SNOW: "Mission accomplished? Not so fast." The headline on a memo from the Clinton camp. It says Obama's plan to declare victory for winning the most pledged delegates is a slap in the face to voters.

HILLARY CLINTON: You know, the last thing we need is somebody who gives up and quits as our next president.

SNOW: Since her win in West Virginia, Clinton and her husband have been keeping a grueling schedule. The one night the press thought they'd get some sleep, she switched to a red eye from Oregon to Kentucky.

JENNY BACKUS (Democratic strategist): The problem, when you're coming to the end of the campaign and you're not winning, is that you will grab for any beacon of hope that's possible. You don't want to totally let go.

HILLARY CLINTON [Calling voters at a phone bank]: Hi, this is Hillary Clinton. How are you today?

SNOW: Over the last week, there are signs the campaign is winding down. An event in Oregon in a dimly lit room had more reporters than voters. Clinton was somber. And here's a metaphor. Last month, supporters gave Clinton an inflatable doll. The other day, it was spotted all shriveled up, deflated. Bill Clinton last night railed against the pundits for declaring the race over.

BILL CLINTON: Every time you turn on the television and you listen to one of those people dissing her, they all have a college degree-- they've all got a good job-- they've all got health care and they're having no trouble filling up their gas tank.

SNOW: But it's not just TV commentators, her own staffers talk in terms of when it will be over, not if.

BACKUS: I think the staff is finding it harder and harder to fine the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

SNOW: The Wall Street Journal reports this morning that there are aides warning Clinton that the longer she stays in the more she risks losing a shot at vice president. Still, there are efforts under way already to bring the party back together. Al Gore is expecting to host a fund-raiser on May 31st with fund-raisers and donors from both Obama and Clinton camps. And back to Diane.