NBC, CBS Skip Poll Showing Obama Tied or Losing to Republicans

The morning shows on NBC and CBS skipped a new Gallup poll [1] finding Barack Obama either behind or tied with his Republican challengers. Only ABC's Good Morning America mentioned the stark numbers.

In an otherwise unrelated story on Sarah Palin, George Stephanopoulos briefly mentioned, "We're going to switch gears now to politics and there is a brand-new Gallup poll showing that the four top Republican candidates are all beating or tied with President Obama."

The Gallup survey released Monday shows the President losing to Mitt Romney 46 to 48. In a match-up with Texas Governor Rick Perry, the two men tie, 47-47. Even more interesting, in a face-off with Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, Obama leads only 48 to 44 percent. The poll has a four point margin of error.

Instead of covering the President's precarious electoral situation, the Early Show on CBS looked at the new trend of seniors getting plastic surgery.

On NBC, Today found time to highlight a couple who was married in Yankee Stadium– but not the poll.

The reporters on GMA, who did cover the survey, spent most of the segment speculating on whether Sarah Palin would run for President. John Berman relayed, "Just weeks after her splashy visit to the Iowa state fair that helped produce material for this glitzy, glossy, gauzy video."

Glossy? Good Morning America should know about that. On January 20, 2009 [2], the morning show featured a very "glitzy" opening to celebrate Obama's inauguration.

To booming music, an announcer hyped, "This morning, a new dawn: Barack Obama sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. A new face from a new generation. Driven by an audacity to hope."

A transcript of the August 23 segment, which aired at 7:07am EDT, follows:

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: We're going to switch gears now to politics and there is a brand-new Gallup poll showing that the four top Republican candidates are all beating or tied with President Obama. But that hasn't stopped the GOP establishment from trying to convince new candidates to jump in and it looks like the most famous one of all just may do it. ABC's John Berman has been tracking Sarah Palin and, John, she created all this buzz with a youtube video about her trip to Iowa, early September.

JOHN BERMAN: Sure did, George. You know, Sarah Palin is getting ready to make what we're told is an important speech that will lay out her vision for America. A big speech in the big, important political state of Iowa. But, will she make a big announcement? That's the big question. A giant political roar and a political promise. Sarah Palin telling Iowa she will see them on September 3rd in a speech for the Tea Party of America. Just weeks after her splashy visit to the Iowa state fair that helped produce material for this glitzy, glossy, gauzy video. To some, this looks something like a campaign and sounds something like a campaign, including a radio ad from a Tea Party group with Palin's voice promoting the coming speech.

SARAH PALIN: We must restore America and restore her honor!

UNIDENTIFIED VOICE FROM AD: It's time, America. It's time to take a stand and restore this great nation.

BERMAN: To Republican guru Karl Rove, it's a sign she might be running.

KARL ROVE: Because the schedule she's got next week in Iowa, it looks like that of a candidate, not a celebrity.

BERMAN: People close to Palin state, bluntly, that Rove doesn't know what he's talking about. But do say while they don't know whether she will announce whether she's running, her speech will make news. Palin is third in recent primary polls, ahead of Rudy Giuliani who also says he hasn't decided whether to run yet. Congressman Paul Ryan now says he is out for sure. All summer long Palin has said she is still thinking.

PALIN [montage]: But, still haven't made up my mind yet. Still contemplating whether I should jump in there or not. I'm still considering it.

BERMAN: She told ABC's Jake Tapper she will announce her decision by the end of September.

PALIN: I think that, just practically speaking, that has to be, kind of, a drop dead time line.

BERMAN: Now, Palin's political action committee put out a statement overnight saying, "Any professional pundit claiming to have inside information regarding Governor Palin's personal decision is not only wrong but their comments are specifically intended to mislead the American public." Take that, Karl Rove. If she does get into the race eventually, she could have new company. Sources tell ABC News that George Pataki, the former governor of New York, is seriously considering jumping in the race as soon as Saturday, we're told.

STEPHANOPOULOS: That's right. He'll be in Iowa on Saturday. Also, as you mentioned, former mayor Rudy Giuliani seriously considering it but no an announcement until after the tenth anniversary of 9/11.

BERMAN: So the field may not be set.

STEPHANOPOULOS: The field may not be set. John Berman, thanks very much.