On Sunday's World News, ABC correspondent David Kerley mocked the current field of GOP presidential candidates as making comedians "happy" as he recounted that polls show many Republicans are not satisfied with the choices available so far. After informing viewers of the disappointment for Republicans that Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels had chosen not to run, Kerley continued: "Recent polls show that nearly half of Republican voters are not happy with their potential candidates. But comedians are."
Then came a clip of late night talk show host David Letterman: "The Republicans are really scrambling out there, really backs to the wall looking for a guy to lose to Obama."
Kerley then moved on to revelations about Republican candidate Newt Gingrich spending $500,000 on jewelry and comedian Stephen Colbert's response:
DAVID KERLEY: Newt Gingrich, whose first campaign week was a wreck after he criticized the Republican Medicare plan, also had to deal with revelations of a half million dollar bill for jewelry.
STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST OF THE COLBERT REPORT: $500,000 At Tiffany's? There's a simple explanation. The guy clearly buys his engagement rings in bulk.
Below is a complete transcript of the report from the Sunday, May 22, World News on ABC:
DAVID MUIR: We are going to turn now to politics this evening and that bombshell in the President's race from Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. Many Republicans thought he was the best bet, but tonight, he's joined the ranks of would-be candidates announcing they're not running. So who will against President Obama? Here's David Kerley.
DAVID KERLEY: Mitch Daniels says it is family first, and his wife and four daughters vetoed a presidential run. Quote, "I find myself caught between two duties. I love my country. I love my family more." A disappointment for prominent Republicans. Laura Bush had called Daniels' wife encouraging a run. His exit is likely to help Tim Pawlenty who will announce tomorrow morning he's running. And how strange is this? Mike Huckabee, who just announced he won't run, interviewing Pawlenty about whether he can win early primaries.
MIKE HUCKABEE, FNC HOST: You have to do well or win one of those early states, and I don't think it's, you know, one in particular, but you got to win one of them pretty quickly.
KERLEY: Mitt Romney, leading in the polls, and the most recognizable candidate, was in South Carolina this weekend, where he performed poorly in 2008.
MITT ROMNEY, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't think our President respects the states like I do.
KERLEY: Recent polls show that nearly half of Republican voters are not happy with their potential candidates. But comedians are.
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST OF THE LATE SHOW: The Republicans are really scrambling out there, really backs to the wall looking for a guy to lose to Obama. (AUDIENCE LAUGHTER)
KERLEY: Newt Gingrich, whose first campaign week was a wreck after he criticized the Republican Medicare plan, also had to deal with revelations of a half million dollar bill for jewelry. STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST OF THE COLBERT REPORT: $500,000 At Tiffany's? There's a simple explanation. The guy clearly buys his engagement rings in bulk.
KERLEY: This morning, Gingrich said the bill has been paid. NEWT GINGRICH, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We owe nothing. BOB SCHIEFFER, HOST OF CBS'S FACE THE NATION: What did you buy?
GINGRICH: Well, nothing, well, it's, it's a personal, it's my private life.
KERLEY: All this has led prominent Republicans to look for a wild card candidate, trying to convince either Chris Christie, the New Jersey governor, or former governor of Florida, Jeb Bush, to make a run. So far, it appears their answer is the same they gave earlier this year: No thank you.
- Brad Wilmouth is a news analyst at the Media Research Center