On Friday’s NBC Today, co-host Savannah Guthrie touted Donald Trump leading in recent polls as a problem for the 2016 Republican field: “He is having a bigger impact than a lot of people expected and that is leading to a growing war of words between the real estate mogul and his political rivals.”
In the report that followed, White House correspondent Kristen Welker promoted one 2016 contender being delighted by Trump’s success: “The one person who seems to be enjoying it all, Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton. She’s trouncing Trump in a general election match-up.” A soundbite played of Clinton speaking at the National Council of La Raza and denouncing Trump to cheers and applause: “I have just one word for Mr. Trump – basta, enough.”
Like Guthrie, Welker hyped other Republican candidates being hurt by Trump’s bid: “For all of his controversial rhetoric, polls show Trump is surging, with one this week putting him ahead of the Republican pack....lesser known candidates are paying a price.”
A clip ran of The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza explaining: “It’s not bad for the top guys, but for the men and women below Donald Trump in the polls it's very, very tough.”
While NBC gushed over Clinton “enjoying it all,” the network has ignored – along with ABC and CBS – a new AP-GFK poll showing her favorability rating plummeting to 39%.
Here is an excerpt of Welker’s July 17 report:
7:12 AM ET
(...)
KRISTEN WELKER: For all of his controversial rhetoric, polls show Trump is surging, with one this week putting him ahead of the Republican pack, even besting Jeb Bush by three points. Analysts say he's on top now but that lead may not last. Still, lesser known candidates are paying a price.
CHRIS CILLIZZA [WASHINGTON POST]: It’s not bad for the top guys, but for the men and women below Donald Trump in the polls it's very, very tough.
WELKER: The one person who seems to be enjoying it all, Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton. She’s trouncing Trump in a general election match-up.
HILLARY CLINTON [SPEAKING AT LA RAZA]: I have just one word for Mr. Trump – basta, enough.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
(...)
