CNN's Maeve Reston pointed out the obvious on Thursday's New Day on the issue of the Democratic presidential debates: "The Democratic Party has really hidden these debates, in some ways, from voters — you know, Saturday nights. It's not been as many eyeballs as on the Republican side." John Berman added some snark to Reston's observation: "If the debate falls in the woods, does it make a sound? That's kind of the Democratic method right here." [video below]
Anchor Alisyn Camerota turned to Reston and noted that "there are no debates scheduled right now before [the] New Hampshire primary. However, something has happened, where now, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton are fighting with each other — no, I want more debates; no, I want more debates. I want a debate, but you say you don't. No, you say you don't." Camerota then asked, "What's going on here?"
The correspondent replied, in part, that "clearly, this is such a tight race...the [Hillary Clinton] supporters are nervous — and they really want to see Hillary Clinton on that debate stage again." Moments later, she made her "Democratic Party has really hidden these debate" statement," which was followed by Berman's reply.
The transcript of the relevant portion of the segment from the January 28, 2016 edition of CNN's New Day:
ALISYN CAMEROTA: Hey Maeve, let's talk about the Democratic debates — okay? — debates on that side of the aisle. There are no debates scheduled right now before [the] New Hampshire primary—
MAEVE RESTON: Right—
CAMEROTA: However, something has happened, where now, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton are fighting with each other — no, I want more debates; no, I want more debates. I want a debate, but you say you don't. No, you say you don't. What's going on here?
[CNN Graphic: "Clinton Pushing For New Debate Ahead Of N.H. Primary; Clinton Pressures Sanders To Agree To New Debate; Sanders: 'I've Called For More Debates From The Beginning"]
CHRIS CUOMO: I think you summed it up pretty good right there. (Camerota laughs)
MAEVE RESTON: Well, I mean — (laughs) clearly, this is such a tight race. Just being out there talking last night to people who had come out to see Bill Clinton in Mason City [Iowa] — people are nervous — the supporters are nervous — and they really want to see Hillary Clinton on that debate stage again. They think that, for example, in our town hall recently, that she really was able to hammer that experience point over and over again; and really raised questions about Bernie Sanders's — the feasibility of his ideas. And they think that that is a good stage for her to be on.
Bernie Sanders, of course, coming back and saying, well, that he's certainly not afraid to debate Hillary Clinton, and would — would do it many times again. So, I do think that the Democrats are enjoying this. And the Democratic Party has really hidden these debates, in some ways, from voters — you know, Saturday nights—
CAMEROTA: Right!
RESTON: It's not been as many eyeballs as on the Republican side. And I think that — you know, both of them have a shot in the debates to — to really show their strengths. And it's a good venue for them.
[CNN Graphic: "Democrats Debating More Debates"]
JOHN BERMAN: Yeah. If the debate falls in the woods, does it make a sound? That's kind of the Democratic method right here.
