NBC's Todd Crows: Obama Campaign 'Pretty Happy' With GOP Debate 'Too Much to the Right'

Reviewing Wednesday's Republican debate on Thursday's Today, NBC chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd spun hard for Democrats: "You know, there was something about last night's debate that I know the folks in Chicago, meaning the Obama re-election team, felt pretty happy about....it felt like the shift was a little bit too much to the right and away from the middle." [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]

Todd detailed the reasons why the Obama camp would be so pleased by the debate: "They felt that the conversation the Republicans were having, 20 minutes on earmarks, you know. Another 10 or 15 minutes on contraception....as much criticism was being leveled at the Bush administration as it was on the Obama administration. The tacks to the right on immigration." Todd concluded: "I'm not sure right now the Republican brand is – is helping itself with these debates."

The question co-host Ann Curry had put to Todd had little relation to his response: "Chuck, jumping ahead just a little bit, it may be a little bit too much ahead. I want to know what you think about how formidable a Romney-Santorum ticket would be, if the two of them in one shape or another would show up on the same ticket for the Republicans?" After deeming the answer to be "unclear," Todd proceeded with his anti-GOP analysis.

Here is a transcript of Todd's February 23 exchange with Curry:

7:11AM ET

(...)

ANN CURRY: I'm going to switch gears and ask you, Chuck, jumping ahead just a little bit, it may be a little bit too much ahead. I want to know what you think about how formidable a Romney-Santorum ticket would be, if the two of them in one shape or another would show up on the same ticket for the Republicans?

CHUCK TODD: Well, you know, it's unclear. You know, there was something about last night's debate that I know the folks in Chicago, meaning the Obama re-election team, felt pretty happy about. They felt that the conversation the Republicans were having, 20 minutes on earmarks, you know. Another 10 or 15 minutes on contraception. Another long – where as much criticism was being leveled at the Bush administration as it was on the Obama administration. The tacks to the right on immigration.

So, if you look at it that way, I'm not sure right now the Republican brand is – is helping itself with these debates. And especially last night, where it felt like the shift was a little bit too much to the right and away from the middle.

Whether that ticket's formidable, you know, everything changes once there is a nominee. And once the party gets fired up. But you do have to wonder at some point if the front-runner here, Mitt Romney, can't fire up his base, how is that going to help him in a general? I think that's still a big question mark.

CURRY: Right, I know, and it's a little early to ask that question, I know.

(...)