ABC journalist Cecilia Vega has officially been designated the Clinton correspondent for the 2016 campaign. On Tuesday, the senior national correspondent sounded very much like a stenographer, cheering Clinton's "mystery" road trip. A Good Morning America graphic offered this important information: "Hillary Clinton Hits the Road: Stops at Chipotle Along the Trail."
Vega enthused, "Stealth is the word we're hearing out here on the trail. Who knew Hillary Clinton likes herself a good road trip? We're told this whole thing was her idea." She added, "Overnight, a campaign aide revealing details to ABC News of Clinton's mystery trip through the heartland." Many of Vega's sentences started this way: "We're told..." "A campaign aide revealing..." "Her campaign says..." The story featured zero criticism and no mention of any of Clinton's scandals (such as deleting e-mails).
There was also no labeling of Clinton as a liberal.
Instead, Vega pretended that a campaign trip, which everyone knows about and is covering, is somehow mysterious. She breathlessly related that Clinton was spotted "at an Ohio Chipotle, caught on security camera ordering a chicken burrito bowl." As though this were worth mentioning twice, Vega circled back and noted the candidate stopped "at that Chipotle in Maumee, Ohio, Monday, where she always ordered guac."
Repeating talking points, Vega concluded, "Her campaign says she's coming here with humility, ready to work for every single vote." With no irony, she noted that the campaign is "clearly trying to avoid the appearance of a coronation." Clearly, ABC and Vega plan on helping with that image.
On Monday's World News, the journalist used the same language, touting how "stealthy" Clinton's campaign has been.
CECILIA VEGA: The day's only Hillary Clinton sighting came here at that Chipotle in Maumee, Ohio. Grainy security camera images capturing the presidential candidate she was wearing sunglasses and nobody recognized her. Clinton is on a two-day stealth road trip traveling in this black van.
On Saturday's GMA, co-anchor Dan Harris praised Vega, announcing, "You will be on the trail with Hillary for this whole ride."
Vega can be reached on Twitter here.
ABC has a history of placing liberal female reporters on the Hillary Clinton beat. For the 2008 cycle, it was Claire Shipman. She was wowed by Clinton's "hot factor," spinning as a battle with Obama's "fluid poetry."
A transcript of the April 14 segment is below:
7:08
ABC Graphic: Hillary Clinton Hits the Road: Stops at Chipotle Along the Trail
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: We're going to turn now to Hillary Clinton, fresh off an under-the-radar road trip from New York City. She will make her first official campaign appearance in Iowa this morning. Our Clinton correspondent Cecilia Vega on the trail. Good morning, Cecila.
CECILA VEGA: Good morning to you. Stealth is the word we're hearing out here on the trail. Who knew Hillary Clinton likes herself a good road trip? We're told this whole thing was her idea. A political Where's Waldo? This morning, Hillary Clinton is spending her first two days on the campaign trail driving from New York to the Hawkeye State in what she calls her Scooby van. Just two public sightings in two days. One at this Pennsylvania gas station, posing for a picture with this family and another at an Ohio Chipotle, caught on security camera ordering a chicken burrito bowl. The former Secretary of State wearing sunglasses. No one even recognized her. Overnight, a campaign aide revealing to ABC News details of Clinton's mystery trip through the heartland. Just as he launched on Sunday with this video –
HILLARY CLINTON: I'm running for president.
VEGA: – Clinton, her campaign staffers, and a Secret Service detail left her home in Chappaqua, New York, driving through New Jersey, into Pennsylvania, where they made the gas station pit stop. Spending the night in Pittsburgh, heading west before stopping at that Chipotle in Maumee, Ohio, Monday, where she always ordered guac. Then there was a stop in Joliet, Illinois and then, Iowa or bust.
CLINTON: Everyday Americans need champion and I want to be that champion.
VEGA: And Iowa is an important state for Clinton. She lost here back in Iowa in 2008. For her first official stop, she tours a community college. Her campaign says she's coming here with humility, ready to work for every single vote. George, they're clearly trying to avoid the appearance of a coronation.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And that's what the Iowa voters want. Okay, Cecilia, thanks very much.
