Hillary Clinton trotted around Ohio Monday with Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, adding fuel to the speculation that Warren is going to be her VP pick. And like a celebrity couple, the “big three” networks took time to fantasize about the greatness of a Clinton/Warren ticket. “A major new force on the campaign trail, Elizabeth Warren joining Hillary Clinton side by side for the first time today,” remarked NBC’s Lester Holt on Nightly News.
“And Hillary Clinton campaigning in the key state of Ohio today, hand in hand with Senator Elizabeth Warren,” reported Clinton lackey George Stephanopoulos during ABC’s World News Tonight, “The party's progressive champion, fueling an upbeat mood.”
NBC reporter, and known Clinton fan, Andrea Mitchell was getting into that mood as well saying, “What a day it was, it was really electric here.” Mitchell gushed, “could this be the start of a beautiful friendship?” She also noted Warren’s “special talent for taking down Donald Trump.”
CBS’ Nancy Cordes also took note of Clinton and Warren’s special relationship on Evening News stating:
It's a new-found friendship with benefits for both. The first-term senator gets a high-profile audition for Clinton's VP, while lending Clinton some much-needed cred with progressive and young voters that backed Bernie Sanders.
ABC reporter Cecilia Vega reported that the pair made a good tag team mentioning that both, “came out swinging in their first campaign stop together.” She also commented that Warren’s performance at the campaign rallies “sure looked like a VP audition.”
The Clinton/Warren friendship didn’t escape the eye of Stephanopoulos. “You know, Clinton and Warren, they looked like a pretty happy couple today,” he said at the end of Vega’s report.
Transcripts below:
NBC
Nightly News
June 27, 2016
7:03:43 PM EasternLESTER HOLT: To presidential politics now. A major new force on the campaign trail, Elizabeth Warren joining Hillary Clinton side by side for the first time today. They were in battle ground Ohio holding nothing back in going after Donald Trump who is slipping in new national polls. Our NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll showing Clinton increasing her lead to 5 points. Now Trump is hitting back with some provocative comments to NBC News. We have it all covered starting with NBC's Andrea Mitchell. Andrea, what a day?
ANDREA MITCHELL: What a day it was, it was really electric here. Elizabeth Warren and Hillary Clinton, never close, could this be the start of a beautiful friendship? Now trying to bring the party together by their shared determination to stop Donald Trump from becoming president.
[Cuts to video]
A deafening crowd in battle ground Ohio.
ELIZABETH WARREN: Our next president.
MITCHELL: Louder, energized with Elizabeth Warren sharing the stage with Hillary Clinton for the first time.
WARREN: I'm with her. Yes, her!
MITCHELL: Warren today continuing to show her special talent for taking down Donald Trump.
WARREN: You want the see goofy? Looking at him in that hat. Watch out, because he will crush you into the dirt to get whatever he wants.
MITCHELL: Clinton clearly relishing Warren's attacks.
HILLARY CLINTON: I must say, I do just love to see how she gets under Donald Trump's thin skin.
MITCHELL: Clinton once more centrist, now echoing Warren's liberal themes, hoping to win over Sanders' supporters.
CLINTON: I got into this race because I wanted to even the odds for people who have the odds stacked against them.
MITCHELL: Today no hints about Warren's past slams against Clinton’s Wall Street connections, or being late to the party. The last female Democratic senator to endorse Clinton. And Clinton sending a personal tweet calling the Supreme Court’s abortion ruling a victory, didn’t mention it here in a largely anti-abortion rights city. All this as Clinton focuses on a big decision, her running mate.
MARK HALPERIN: Hillary Clinton can pass on Elizabeth Warren as a running mate but still be confident that she'll be out there on a regular basis, on social media, on television, at events going hard after Donald Trump.
MITCHELL: The reviews from the rope line all positive. How did Warren do?
CLINTON: It was a great event.
MITCHELL: Tonight sparking more speculation that this tryout could turn into a regular road show.
...
CBS
Evening News
June 27, 2016
3:36:03 PM EasternCHARLIE ROSE: In the presidential race, Hillary Clinton teamed up with Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren today. THEY took aim at the presumptive Republican nominee. Donald Trump, meanwhile, faced a fight from within his party. We have two reports beginning with Nancy Cordes in Cincinnati. Nancy?
NANCY CORDES: Charlie, this was Warren's first campaign appearance with Clinton, and many here wondered whether they were getting their first glimpse of the democratic presidential ticket.
[Cuts to video]
Warren may have waited to endorse Clinton, but she made up for lost time today before an elate Clinton crowd.
ELIZABETH WARREN: Hillary has brains. She has guts, but most of all she has a good heart.
CORDES: It's a new-found friendship with benefits for both. The first-term senator gets a high-profile audition for Clinton's VP, while lending Clinton some much-needed cred with progressive and young voters that backed Bernie Sanders.
HILLARY CLINTON: Let's provide debt relief as soon as we can, as soon as we start to work, Elizabeth.
CORDES: A source familiar with the VP vetting process says the former Harvard professor and Wall Street watchdog is a more serious contender than many have assumed.
CLINTON: I do just love to see how she gets under Donald Trump's thin skin.
CORDES: Indeed Trump began attacking Warren even before she began speaking, calling her unproductive and “goofy”.
WARREN: You want to see goofy? Look at him in that hat. When Donald Trump says "Great," I ask, great for who exactly?
CORDES: The tough talk delighted this trio. Can you see the two of them together on a presidential ticket?
CLINTON SUPPORTERS: Absolutely. Absolutely, yes.
CLINTON SUPPORTER 1: It’s time for two women.
CLINTON SUPPORTER 2: Yeah, step aside and let the women take over. Power to the women!
CORDES: Running mate or not, Warren will remain in Clinton's embrace through November. Nancy Cordes, CBS news, Cincinnati.
...
ABC
World News Tonight
June 27, 2016
6:38:39 PM EasternGEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: The race for the White House now. And Hillary Clinton campaigning in the key state of Ohio today, hand in hand with Senator Elizabeth Warren. The party's progressive champion, fueling an upbeat mood. Our new poll showing Clinton with a 12-point lead. A big swing from last month's dead heat. But that question of trust still dogs Clinton, and she addressed it directly today. ABC's Cecilia Vega is on the trail in Cincinnati.
[Cuts to video]
CECILIA VEGA: It sure looked like a VP audition.
ELIZABETH WARREN: I'm here today because I'm with her. Yes, her.
VEGA: Elizabeth Warren and Hillary Clinton came out swinging in their first campaign stop together.
WARREN: When Donald Trump says he'll make America great, he means make it even greater for rich guys just like Donald Trump.
HILLARY CLINTON: I do just love to see how she gets under Donald Trump's thin skin.
VEGA: ABC news has learned the Massachusetts senator is among the names being formally vetted as a possible Clinton running mate. Many here excited by the prospect. You would vote for a Clinton/Warren ticket?
CLINTON SUPPORTER: Absolutely.
VEGA: But today, Clinton herself not going there. How are you feeling about Elizabeth Warren for a VP pick, Madam Secretary?
CLINTON: It was a great event.
VEGA: Are you liking her for VP, though? How about a VP possibility?
CLINTON: I'm not making any news today.
VEGA: No news today? The big news, that new poll showing 64 percent of voters say Trump is unqualified to be president, and an overwhelming majority think he's biased against Muslims, women and minorities. Trump today calling Warren a sellout, and, again, mocking her for claiming she's of Native American decent.
DONALD TRUMP: Did you hear Pocahontas? Pocahontas. Pocahontas.
VEGA: Tweeting, "She lied on heritage." Trump supporter, former Massachusetts Senator Scott brown, going even further.
SCOTT BROWN: She can take a DNA test.
VEGA: And Clinton, in a rare moment of campaign trail self-reflection, acknowledging that many voters just don't trust her.
CLINTON: Now, I don't like hearing that. And I've thought a lot about what's behind it. I've made mistakes. I don't know anyone who hasn't. So, I understand people having questions.
[Cuts back to live]
STEPHANOPLOULOS: And Cecilia joins us now. Now, Cecilia, you know, Clinton and Warren, they looked like a pretty happy couple today. But what are you hearing from voters you talked to outside the rally about two women on the ticket?
VEGA: Well, George, I can tell you, this crowd inside the rally was one of the most enthusiastic I have seen while covering the Clinton campaign. But some voters that I talked to here in Ohio today told me they do not think this country is ready to see two women on the ticket. Clearly, however, the Clinton campaign sees Warren as a huge asset, especially when it comes to attacking Donald Trump. And George, as we saw today, he is ready to attack right back.
