MSNBC’s Chuck Todd and Brian Williams on Tuesday hailed John Kasich’s second place finish in New Hampshire as evidence that the “grown-ups” and “adults” in the Republican Party had been victorious. Presumably citing Joe Scarborough, Brian Williams touted, “My friend Joe in New Jersey says he's always been the only grownup in the race.”
Todd agreed, hyping the moderate Ohio governor: “The adult, one of the grownups won. And in this case, Kasich has been the grown up.” (Of course, Kasich didn’t win. He came in second.) Todd said of Kasich, “He's stayed above the fray. Right? You can do that in New Hampshire. It will be much harder in South Carolina.”
A transcript of the exchange:
Place for Politics
2/9/16
9:11pm ETBRIAN WILLIAMS: John Kasich has done it tonight. Chuck, my friend Joe in New Jersey says he’s always been the only grownup in the race.
CHUCK TODD: Well, that is what you wondered would happen. This is — You can’t help but wonder if this was the fallout of Saturday night, which is, as Christie and Rubio sort of punked each other, and —
WILLIAMS: Christie didn't gain because of the attack.
TODD: No. It was basically, he brutalized Rubio. He took him out.
RACHEL MADDOW: He took Rubio out.
TODD: Almost like a hit. Took him out and the adult, one of the grownups won. And in this case, Kasich has been the grown up. Look, there’s going to be — It will be interesting to see if Kasich can continue to run this. He’s stayed above the fray. Right? You can do that in New Hampshire. It will be much harder in South Carolina, much different electorate. It’s going to be a more conservative electorate.
