All three networks on Monday appeared excited about the possibility of Hillary Clinton scoring Republican voters against Donald Trump, cheering the potential of “Clinton crossovers.” Former Democratic operative turned Good Morning America co-host George Stephanopoulos hailed the effort to “take advantage of that split in Republican ranks.”
A CBS This Morning graphic trumpeted, “Clinton Crossovers? Democratic Frontrunner Woos Anti-Trump Republicans.” Nancy Cordes touted, “The Clinton camp is obviously very aware of the tension between some GOP leaders and Donald Trump right now.” She added, “But so far, they have avoided doing too much to highlight it because they believe the Republicans are doing a good enough job of that on their own.”
Co-host Gayle King parroted, “She also says that she wants help from Republicans who not do like Donald Trump.” Over on GMA, reporter Cecilia Vega asserted, “Clinton is hoping that a Trump candidacy might scare off some in the Republican Party and send them her way.”
Repeating more talking points, Vega informed viewers that the Democrat is “laser focused” on the general election:
CECILIA VEGA: Clinton still locked in a primary fight with Bernie Sanders. But she is laser focused on the general election. And not just winning over Democrats, Clinton is now trying to woo Republicans, too.
HILLARY CLINTON: I am asking people to come join this campaign and I have had a lot of outreach from Republicans in the last days who say that they are interested in talking about that.
On the Today show, Peter Alexander promoted, “Clinton says she's hearing from a lot of Republicans who want to join her campaign. Today, she's targeting the voters. Suburban voters in Virginia, including independents and Republicans.”
A transcript of the May 9 CBS This Morning segment is below:
CBS This Morning
05/09/16
7:06 AMGAYLE KING: Hillary Clinton says she will not run an ugly race against Donald Trump. The Democratic frontrunner told John Dickerson on Face the Nation her fall campaign will focus on issues. She also says that she wants help from Republicans who not do like Donald Trump.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Clinton Crossovers?; Democratic Frontrunner Woos Anti-Trump Republicans]
HILLARY CLINTON: For a lot of people, again, who take their vote seriously and who really see this as a crossroads kind of election, I am asking people to come join this campaign and I've had a lot of outreach from Republicans in the last days who say that they are interested in talking about that.
KING: Nancy Cordes is covering the latest on Clinton’s general election strategy. Nancy, good morning.
NANCY CORDES: Good morning. Well, polls show Clinton has a big advantage among women right now, and she's working to cement that advantage over the next couple of days with a series of events in Virginia and Kentucky focused on women and families. The Clinton camp is obviously very aware of the tension between some GOP leaders and Donald Trump right now. But so far, they have avoided doing too much to highlight it because they believe the Republicans are doing a good enough job of that on their own.
Now, in that interview with John Dickerson, Clinton argued that while Trump does a lot of the talking, she's the one who has been listening to the American people, going out and doing these events where they do more of the talking than she does. And that’s going to be a central theme of her campaign going forward. That she's heard what people are saying about the minimum wage, about addiction, about college affordability, and that her platform has been shaped by what's she's heard.
Now, there could still be a few bumpy days left in her primary campaign. West Virginia votes tomorrow and even her aides acknowledge that Bernie Sanders could do very well there, Charlie.
CHARLIE ROSE: Thanks, Nancy.
