NBC: 'Nostalgic' Obama in Iowa, Where His 'Improbable and Historic Journey' Began
On Tuesday's NBC Today, correspondent Kristen Welker described
an Obama campaign "filled with anticipation and nostalgia" and the
President giving his final stump speech in Iowa "With an eye on his
future" and having "reached back to the past." Welker continued to fawn:
"...the state which gave Mr. Obama his first 2008 victory,
launching his improbable and historic journey. An emotional night, even
for a president known for keeping his cool." [Listen to the audio]
Later in the report, Welker touted: "And while [Obama's] top surrogates
stormed the battleground states, some of the biggest names in
entertainment also lent their voices, from Jay-Z to Bruce
Springsteen..."
On ABC, correspondent Terry Moran gushed over the "magic" of Obama in 2008 and "what seemed like the hinge of history."
Here is a full transcript of the November 6 report:
7:05AM ET
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Now let's go to NBC's Kristen Welker, she's at
President Obama's campaign headquarters in Chicago. Kristen, good
morning to you.
KRISTEN
WELKER: Good morning to you, Savannah. Well, President Obama arrived
here in his hometown of Chicago overnight. He's staying in his own home.
Later today he will watch returns in a hotel with family and friends
and his closest advisors, many who say this is a moment filled with
anticipation and nostalgia. With an eye on his future, President Obama
reached back to the past.
BARACK OBAMA: I've come back to Iowa one more time to ask for your vote.
WELKER: The First Lady by his side, the President held his final
campaign event in Iowa, the state which gave Mr. Obama his first 2008
victory, launching his improbable and historic journey. An emotional
night, even for a president known for keeping his cool.
OBAMA: When the cynics said we couldn't, you said, yes, we can.
WELKER: It capped a frenetic final day of campaigning, with Mr. Obama
traveling more than a thousand miles to defend the Midwest states he's
expected to need for re-election, Iowa, Wisconsin, and critical Ohio.
OBAMA: When you're making this choice, Ohio, you have to remember that this isn't just about policy, it's also about trust.
WELKER: With the election so tight, the President has made every second
count in this final push, stopping by a campaign office in Columbus,
making last-minute phone calls urging his supporters to turn out.
OBAMA: We'll bring it home tomorrow. Let's keep it going.
WELKER: And even appearing on Monday Night Football.
OBAMA: In politics, it's not winning elections, it's making sure that you're delivering for the folks who sent you.
WELKER: And while his top surrogates stormed the battleground states,
some of the biggest names in entertainment also lent their voices, from
Jay-Z...
JAY-Z [RAPPING]: If we go for four more years.
WELKER: ...to Bruce Springsteen, who admitted he was rattled by that dismal first debate.
SPRINGSTEEN: Actually the first debate really freaked me out.
WELKER: And now after four years in office and months of intense campaigning:
OBAMA: It's out of my hands now. It's in yours.
WELKER: And you are looking at a live shot now of Greenville, Delaware,
where Vice President Biden is expected to vote any minute now. This is
the band room of Dupont High School. Now, Mr. Obama became the first
president to vote early. He did that several days ago. Vice President
Biden will eventually join President Obama later today to watch those
election returns. Savannah, the President has an election day tradition,
which is to play a game of basketball with his closest friends and
advisers, and I'm told he's hoping to fit that tradition in today.
Savannah.
GUTHRIE: Alright, Kristen Welker in Chicago, thanks.
