MSNBC Does a "Delayed" Classy Job with NH Debate
One can justifiably question the exclusivity of cable network coverage of presidential primary debates as more about being played as promotional devices for MSNBC (and others) than bringing candidates and voters together. MSNBC did a classy job of bringing the candidates (and Fox before) to the central issues and giving insight into the candidates (and their views). CNN failed miserably the same challenge in earlier programs, having a foreground/background slippage with candidates in service to the networks.
If access to the debate is important MSNBC did a great job with their web efforts. This was not clear from the outset however. Spending the pre-debate period promising streaming video, those who went to their site found a commercial and a blank screen indicating the streaming video was unavailable. The problem continued for perhaps an hour of the program. Leave it to Comedy Central to notice. They posted the "bait and switch" soon after the debate began.
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: Democrat, Primary debate, MSNBC, media, on-line vidoe
Of Expectations and Tiers
Watching the early pitch on NBC Nightly News is just like watching the Superbowl pre game show. Brian Williams and Tim Russert set up the "contest" as if a champion will be crowned at the end of the night. Russert has just laid out the expectations game that purports to define the standards that the media and pundits will use to determine winners and losers tonight. Russert puts Clinton, Obama, and Edwards in his "first tier." For these candidates, the focus is on not making mistakes. Hillary cannot appear aloof, Obama must show mastery of policy specifics, and Edwards must square his lifestyle with his concern for poverty (Russert).
Placed in the "second tier" are Richardson, who needs to show his executive experience, Biden, whose partition plan for Iraq needs to be shown to be the only realistic solution, and Dodd, who needs to emphasize his bipartisan, legislative experience (Russert). Again, all of these claims are according to Russert and become "conventional wisdom prior to the debate.
Do the democrats have a plan to beat the expectations game? Read more...
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: Democratic Primaries 2008, South Carolina, Presidential Debates, Media
