Hours before CNN hosted a Democratic presidential town hall on Wednesday night between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, ABC’s World News Tonight and NBC Nightly News went out of their way to spin New Hampshire as “Clinton country” despite Sanders’ massive leads in the polls and argued that “[t]he pressure is on Sanders” in the race due to an unfavorable primary calendar after the Granite State.
Further, neither newscast sought to follow the CBS Evening News in deflating Clinton’s proclamations that she’s a progressive by digging up video of her describing herself as a moderate Democrat back in August 2015.
On ABC, Democratic correspondent and Saturday anchor Cecilia Vega reported that Clinton spent Wednesday “taunting Bernie Sanders on what she calls his home turf” and “now swinging” even though she’s “[t]railing by double digits here.”
Vega declared after a Clinton soundbite that even though “[t]he Granite State might be in Sanders' backyard, but this is Clinton country” because it’s “[t]he place that moved her to tears back in 2008...and embraced her husband, years earlier.”
NBC Nightly News went to Clinton campaign correspondent and MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell for the latest Clinton spin and Mitchell was more than happy to oblige.
Explaining that Clinton and Sanders were “going after each other as never before” with the former secretary of state “taking aim” at the socialist senator after Sanders questioned Clinton’s description of herself as a progressive.
“Barely avoiding an embarrassing defeat in Iowa, Clinton comes to New Hampshire behind by double digits. Can she repeat her 2008 comeback win over Barack Obama,” Mitchell wondered.
Mitchell later spun the incredibly close Democratic primary as being a scenario where not the frontrunner has the pressure by the challenger in Sanders.
“The pressure is on Sanders. If he doesn't do well here, the road gets tougher for him in Nevada, South Carolina, and beyond to Super Tuesday with more minorities, many backing Clinton,” Mitchell proclaimed.
Over on the CBS Evening News, congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes decided to let the viewers decide whether Clinton was telling the truth by playing a game of tale of the tape:
CORDES: Sanders was asked Tuesday if he thinks Clinton is progressive.
SANDERS: Some days, yes, except when she announces that she is a proud moderate, and then I guess she's in not a progressive.
CLINTON: It was kind of a low blow.
CORDES: Clinton took offense, but she has aligned herself with both wings of the party. Here’s what she said in Ohio last year.
CLINTON [in 2015]: You know, I get accused find moderate and center. I plead guilty.
CORDES: And here's what she said today.
CLINTON: We’ve been fighting the progressive fight and getting results for people for years.
The relevant portions of the transcript from ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir on February 3 can be found below.
ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir
February 3, 2016
6:34:49 p.m. Eastern[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE CAPTION: 6 Days to N.H.; Great Expectations]
DAVID MUIR: And with just six days now until the New Hampshire primary, Hillary Clinton arguing she's now in a battle on Bernie Sanders' home turf. She's behind by double digits there, getting help today from former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, but Sanders telling reporters, there is still a fight, even if it’s right next door to his home state, saying the Clintons have been campaigning in New Hampshire for years. ABC's Cecilia Vega on the expectations game tonight.
(....)
CECILIA VEGA: Hillary Clinton today today taunting Bernie Sanders on what she calls his home turf.
CLINTON: Because if it's about our records, hey, I'm going to win by a landslide on Tuesday.
VEGA: Trailing by double digits here, she's now swinging.
CLINTON: I have to tell you, I just could not ever skip New Hampshire. I cannot even imagine not being here.
VEGA: The Granite State might be in Sanders' backyard, but this is Clinton country. The place that moved her to tears back in 2008 —
CLINTON [CRYING] [on 01/07/08]: You know, this is very personal for me.
VEGA: And embraced her husband, years earlier.
BILL CLINTON [on 02/18/93]: Thank you very much.
The relevant portions of the transcript from February 3's NBC Nightly News can be found below.
NBC Nightly News
February 3, 2016
7:03 p.m. Eastern[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE CAPTION: War of Words]
LESTER HOLT: The Democrats, meantime, are trading some of their sharpest attacks yet in New Hampshire. Even though Hillary Clinton was declared the winner in Iowa, albeit by a thin margin, the Sanders camp says he got a huge fundraising boost after the caucuses, $3 million in just 24 hours. We get more from NBC's Andrea Mitchell.
ANDREA MITCHELL: The Democratic battle in New Hampshire is heating up with the candidates today going after each other as never before.
HILLARY CLINTON: So, I hope we keep it on the issues because if it's about our records, hey, I'm going to win by a landslide. [SCREEN WIPE] I am for a positive, progressive, economic agenda.
MITCHELL: Taking aim at this Sanders comment to NBC's Kasie Hunt after Clinton called herself a progressive.
NBC’s KASIE HUNT [TO SANDERS]: Do you think Hillary Clinton is a Progressive?
INDEPENDENT SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS (Vt.): Some days, yes, except when she announces that she is a proud moderate, and then I guess she's not a Progressive.
(....)
MITCHELL: Barely avoiding an embarrassing defeat in Iowa, Clinton comes to New Hampshire behind by double digits. Can she repeat her 2008 comeback win over Barack Obama?
CLINTON [in 2008] I listened to you, and in the process, I've found my own voice.
MITCHELL: This time, her campaign is trying to lower expectations against the Vermont senator.
CLINTON CAMPAIGN MANAGER ROBBY MOOK [on MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports, 02/03/16]: This is a steep climb in New Hampshire. This is Bernie Sanders' backyard.
MITCHELL: That prompted Sanders to say Clinton was insulting New Hampshire voters.
SANDERS: I think that that argument, that the only reason that we're doing well hopefully here in New Hampshire is because we're from a neighboring state is not totally true.
(....)
MITCHELL: The pressure is on Sanders. If he doesn't do well here, the road gets tougher for him in Nevada, South Carolina, and beyond to Super Tuesday with more minorities, many backing Clinton and tonight, Bill Clinton is campaigning in South Carolina for his wife as Sanders has just become a tougher challenger. He got Secret Service protection for the first time today, and dozens of Clinton aides have driven here from Brooklyn now to be here with her for this campaign. She is now delaying a planned fundraising trip to Boston. She will stay here in New Hampshire now through the primary.
