CNN Hosts Liberal Journalist Carole Simpson, Who Gives Edge to Obama In Tuesday's Debate
Liberal journalist Carole Simpson is at it again. The former debate
moderator returned to CNN and cast doubt on Mitt Romney's expectations
while building up President Obama's, on Monday.
"I would have to say he [Obama] would have the edge in this debate,"
she mused. "One of Mitt Romney's problems throughout the campaign season
has been does he relate to ordinary people?" she asked before adding
"I'm not sure he can."
[Video below. Audio here.]
Two weeks ago Simpson laughed
at Romney's lack of humor on-air and praised Obama as "much more
comfortable in his own skin." Of course, she sort of admitted to being
wrong when on Monday she called Obama "somnolent" in that debate.
"These are ordinary people. I think Obama does relate to them well and
that he, like Bill Clinton, his new best buddy, is going to be walking
up to the people and, you know, touching them and relating to them well.
It will be interesting to see if Romney can pull that off and I'm not
sure he can," Simpson explained.
Interestingly enough, she re-circulated concerns that CNN's Candy
Crowley, who will moderate Tuesday's presidential debate, might go
rogue. "I am very concerned about Candy right now because the plot has
thickened. There are rumors that the political campaigns and the
Commission on Presidential Debates is afraid she's going to veer from
the guidelines that have been set down for how this debate should be
going."
Anchor Brooke Baldwin shot that down before changing the subject.
"She's absolutely following the rules and she will do a phenomenal job
at it, but she'll be allowing the members of the audience to ask the
questions and then as you point out, if necessary, she'll provide the
follow-up."
A transcript of the segment, which aired on Newsroom on October 15 at 2:46 p.m. EDT, is as follows:
[2:46]
CAROLE SIMPSON: I am – I am very concerned about Candy right now
because the plot has thickened. There are rumors that the political
campaigns and the Commission on Presidential Debates is afraid she's
going to veer from the guidelines that have been set down for how this
debate should be going.
BROOKE BALDWIN: But Carole, let me just put those rumors to rest and
just say that this is the exact same debate format as, you know, you
faced, Tom Brokaw, Charlie Gibson, the town hall where the question
comes from the audience, and the moderator has the follow-up.
SIMPSON: Has a follow-up, only if necessary. I was told only if it
needs clarification, only if it needs a follow-up. So a lot of times the
people themselves would follow-up, and I didn't have to. But Candy gets
a chance to pick the questions, I understand, and that she can ask them
in the order in which she likes. But there is this rumor that she is
planning to ask some of her own questions, because she's not allowed to
under this format.
BALDWIN: From what I understand that is not – that is not at all the
case. And, guys correct me if I'm incorrect, but, no, I'm correct in
saying that no she's not – she is going along with the town hall --
that's correct. She's absolutely following the rules and she will do a
phenomenal job at it, but she'll be allowing the members of the audience
to ask the questions and then as you point out, if necessary, she'll
provide the follow-up.
Let me pivot, though, Carole, because I want to ask about the
candidates, specifically, with a town hall format, as you saw firsthand,
you know, it can be more conducive to a certain candidate. A lot of
people are saying, this may be -- even though we saw him falter and not
win that original debate, this is Barack Obama's wheel house.
SIMPSON: He was somnolent, our President was, during that other debate,
but I would have to say he would have the edge in this debate. One of
Mitt Romney's problems throughout the campaign season has been does he
relate to ordinary people? These are ordinary people. I think Obama does
relate to them well and that he, like Bill Clinton, his new best buddy,
is going to be walking up to the people and, you know, touching them
and relating to them well. It will be interesting to see if Romney can
pull that off and I'm not sure he can.
BALDWIN: He was a strong – it was a strong first debate for him, and I
think there is a lot of pressure on the President and perhaps on Mitt
Romney as well to bring it exactly like he did the last time, but this
time talking to the Americans in that audience.
-- Matt Hadro is a News Analyst at the Media Research Center
