After hailing Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren as a “progressive champion” for Hillary Clinton on Thursday, on Friday, NBC’s Today doubled down as co-host Savannah Guthrie led the show by cheering the left-wing lawmaker formerly endorsing the presumptive Democratic nominee: “Clinton's secret weapon?...Is Warren on the VP short list? The speculation that has the political world spinning.”
In the report that followed moments later, correspondent Peter Alexander announced: “If there were any questions about Democratic unity, those have quickly been silenced, with the President, Vice President, and now Elizabeth Warren rushing to back Hillary Clinton. A top Democratic official telling us Warren has emerged as a weapon of war against Donald Trump.”
Alexander hyped Warren as a “another powerful ally” for Clinton in the wake of President Obama’s Thursday endorsement and hailed: “Progressive hero Elizabeth Warren, long viewed as Bernie Sanders’ ideological teammate, fueling speculation about a Clinton-Warren presidential ticket.”
In a panel discussion that followed Alexander’s glowing report, fill-in co-host Carson Daly wondered: “We saw a real concerted effort here, a coordinated effort for the Democratic Party to unify yesterday. It was a big day for Hillary. But how big with the endorsement from the President and also Elizabeth Warren?”
Political analyst Nicolle Wallace asserted: “Well, Hillary Clinton has arguably had her best 10-day stretch since she launched her campaign. At the same time, Trump has had his worst 10-day stretch. So these leaders coalescing around Hillary Clinton creates a head of steam for her....She’s got this Democratic sort of tour de force around her right now.”
Guthrie turned to Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd and excitedly asked: “Clinton officials are delighted with Elizabeth Warren, they think she’s a weapon of war and can really take it to Donald Trump....do you really think she's a potential VP candidate for Clinton?”
Todd tamped down the enthusiasm: “One person she doesn't know very well, Elizabeth Warren....It’s more likely she's going to want to pick somebody she’s known for a long time.”
Here is a full transcript of Alexander’s June 10 segment:
7:00 AM ET TEASE:
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Clinton's secret weapon?
ELIZABETH WARREN: Donald Trump is a loud, nasty, thin-skinned fraud.
GUTHRIE: One day after receiving her endorsement, NBC News has learned that Hillary Clinton will meet with Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren this morning. Is Warren on the VP short list? The speculation that has the political world spinning.
7:02 AM ET SEGMENT:
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Let’s get right to our top story, two big endorsements for Hillary Clinton. First, President Obama, saying, ‘I'm with her,’ shortly after his meeting at the White House with Bernie Sanders. And then late last night, Senator Elizabeth Warren announcing her support for Clinton on the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. This is all before Clinton meets privately with Warren later today. We’ve got all this covered. Let’s start with NBC national correspondent Peter Alexander, he’s at the White House for us. Peter, good morning.
PETER ALEXANDER: Savannah, good morning. If there were any questions about Democratic unity, those have quickly been silenced, with the President, Vice President, and now Elizabeth Warren rushing to back Hillary Clinton. A top Democratic official telling us Warren has emerged as a weapon of war against Donald Trump. She was the only female Democratic senator who hadn't yet backed Clinton. And this morning, a short distance from here at the White House, the two women will meet privately at Clinton's home.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Clinton’s Two-Woman Ticket?; Meeting With Warren After Endorsement]
Overnight, Hillary Clinton securing the endorsement of another powerful ally.
SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN [D-MA]: I'm going to do everything I can to help Hillary Clinton get elected. And I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that Donald Trump never comes within shouting distance of the White House.
ALEXANDER: Progressive hero Elizabeth Warren, long viewed as Bernie Sanders’ ideological teammate, fueling speculation about a Clinton-Warren presidential ticket. Asked by MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow if she believes she’s qualified to be commander in chief if necessary, Warren left no doubt.
WARREN: Yes, I do.
ALEXANDER: Earlier unleashing a blistering attack on Trump.
WARREN: Donald Trump is a loud, nasty, thin-skinned fraud, who has never risked anything for anyone and who serves no one but himself.
ALEXANDER: Vice President Joe Biden hammering Trump for his repeated criticism of a Latino federal judge.
JOE BIDEN: I find Donald Trump's conduct in this regard reprehensible. It is racist.
ALEXANDER: President Obama on Jimmy Fallon, mocking Trump.
BARACK OBAMA: You know, I have been watching my new favorite show, Orange is Not the New Black.
ALEXANDER: After sitting on the sidelines all campaign, the President for the first time throwing his support behind Clinton in this video.
OBAMA: And I'm with her. I am fired up. And I cannot wait to get out there and campaign for Hillary.
ALEXANDER: The endorsement, full of praise for his 2008 rival.
OBAMA: I don't think there's ever been someone so qualified to hold this office.
ALEXANDER: In a private, hour-long White House meeting with Bernie Sanders Thursday, Obama played presidential peacemaker, giving Sanders room for a graceful exit.
BERNIE SANDERS: We’re still standing!
ALEXANDER: Sanders, vowing to campaign through Tuesday’s D.C. primary, showing increasing signs he is open to backing Clinton.
SANDERS: I look forward to meeting with her in the near future to see how we can work together to defeat Donald Trump.
ALEXANDER: The 2016 finalists exchanging shots on Twitter. Trump, swinging first, “Obama just endorsed crooked Hillary. He wants four more years of Obama – but nobody else does!” The Clinton camp's response, “Delete your account.” Trump pouncing, “How long did it take your staff of 823 people to think that up – and where are your 33,000 e-mails that you deleted?”
And as for rallying Bernie Sanders supporters over to Clinton, President Obama really could be a huge asset. His approval rating among Sanders' primary voters right now, 82%. The President heads out to campaign with his former Secretary of State for the first time Wednesday in Wisconsin. Savannah?
GUTHRIE: Alright, Peter Alexander at the White House, thanks.
