On Wednesday, the ABC and CBS morning shows were so excited at the prospect of Democrats seizing control of the House of Representatives in November that they decided to get an early start on their slanted campaign coverage by gushing over the number of female Democratic candidates who won primary races in multiple states on Tuesday, particularly in Pennsylvania.
“Well, this was a huge night for female candidates. Look, if Democrats stand a chance of taking back the House, then Pennsylvania is going to be key,” Senior Congressional Correspondent Mary Bruce happily announced on ABC’s Good Morning America. The reporter enthusiastically proclaimed: “And last night, Democratic voters there showed they can turn out high numbers and that some of those women are poised to make history.”
Keeping the hype going, Bruce teased the possibility of a wave election: “Overnight, the pink wave rolled through Pennsylvania, women showing their strength in nearly every corner of the state....At least seven Democratic female candidates scoring victories in a state that currently has no female representatives in Washington.”
Moving to Idaho’s primaries, Bruce touted: “State Representative Paulette Jordan winning the Democratic primary for governor....She is now poised to make history and could be the country’s first Native American female governor.”
Only briefly did the report make any mention of one of the Republican candidate’s who won on Tuesday, with Bruce noting: “In the Keystone State, Trump’s close ally, Congressman Lou Barletta, coming out on top in his race for Senate.”
Wrapping up the segment, the correspondent set up the midterms as “a big test for President Trump” and declared that in Pennsylvania “Democrats see the state as a chance to pick up several seats and propel them to retaking the House.”
CBS This Morning offered similar fawning coverage of the primary results, with co-host Norah O’Donnell telling viewers:
Pennsylvania’s all-male congressional delegation will change when voters will go to the polls in November. Women won eight congressional nominations in last night’s primary vote. Two women will face each other in the 5th District in the fall.
That was the only vague allusion to a Republican winning a race.
Instead, the anchor focus on the liberal contenders: “Susan Wild, the Democratic nominee in a toss-up district, said she’s proud to be part of the movement where more women are running for office.”
Following a lengthy soundbite from Wild, O’Donnell highlighted how the GOP suffered a setback after the state’s congressional districts were redrawn: “Pennsylvania’s congressional map was recently redrawn after the state supreme court ruled that Republicans had unconstitutionally gerrymandered the districts.”
O’Donnell observed: “And it’s stunning still to think that they had an all-male congressional delegation, when you think about trying to have some equal representation.” Fellow co-host Gayle King agreed: “It’s 2018, people. You’re right about that.” Co-host John Dickerson chimed in: “Times are changing.” O’Donnell repeated: “Yes, times are changing.” King added, “Good.”
How convenient that all but one of the female candidates happen to be Democrats.
Here is a transcript of the May 16 report on GMA:
7:10 AM ET
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: To politics now and the results of last night’s primary battles in four states. Women candidates the big winners last night in races that will shape control of Congress. Our Senior Congressional Correspondent Mary Bruce is on Capitol Hill with all the latest. Good morning, Mary.
MARY BRUCE: Good morning, George. Well, this was a huge night for female candidates. Look, if Democrats stand a chance of taking back the House, then Pennsylvania is going to be key. And last night, Democratic voters there showed they can turn out high numbers and that some of those women are poised to make history.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Women Win Big In High-Stakes Primaries; What Could Outcomes Mean for Midterm Battle?]
Overnight, the pink wave rolled through Pennsylvania, women showing their strength in nearly every corner of the state.
KATHY O’DOHERTY [PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENT]: A lot of them are mothers and they care about the average person and their household and the things that matter to the families in America.
BRUCE: At least seven Democratic female candidates scoring victories in a state that currently has no female representatives in Washington.
CHRISSY HOULAHAN: I hope very much to be one of many people who break that trend.BRUCE: Chrissy Houlahan, a veteran and small business owner, says it’s time women step up.
HOULAHAN: I think women are uniquely qualified to be able to be those collaborators and to be able to be those unifiers.
BRUCE: And in Idaho, State Representative Paulette Jordan winning the Democratic primary for governor.
PAULETTE JORDAN: Idaho is needing us. They need our voices.
BRUCE: She is now poised to make history and could be the country’s first Native American female governor.
But President Trump’s presence still felt.
LOU BARLETTA: We have a big election in November, we got one more to go.
BRUCE: In the Keystone State, Trump’s close ally, Congressman Lou Barletta, coming out on top in his race for Senate.
Now, many of these races are a big test for President Trump. The president, of course, narrowly won Pennsylvania in 2016. Now Republicans are hoping for a do-over there come November, while Democrats see the state as a chance to pick up several seats and propel them to retaking the House. George?
STEPHANOPOULOS: Okay, Mary Bruce, thanks very much.
