Fox News Finally Lands Obama Interview, "Obama Watch" To End

Fox News anchor Chris Wallace says it's been 769 days since Sen. Barack Obama agreed to an interview that never materialized. But this Sunday, the wait is over. According to a Fox News release, Sen. Obama will be appearing on Wallace's "Fox News Sunday" this weekend.

From the press release:

FOX News Sunday's "Obama Watch" to Stop This Weekend

FOX News Sunday host Chris Wallace will sit down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with Democratic Presidential Candidate Senator Barack Obama airing on Sunday April 27, 2008.

This interview follows the much talked about "Obama Watch" clock that FOX News Sunday began running on March 16, 2008 to track the time that had lapsed since Senator Obama accepted Wallace's initiation to appear as a guest: 730 days, 13 hours, 53 minutes and 18 seconds.

The last clock count as of last Sunday was 765 days, 13 hours, 54 min, 47 seconds.

Wallace had started a weekly segment called "Obama Watch" last monthwhen, 730 days since he claims that the senator had agreed to an interview, Sen. Obama still hadn't appeared on the channel. Those many days means that Sen. Obama agreed to the interview in 2006, far before Democratic candidates for the 2008 election famously refused to participate in any Fox News debates.

Although Sen. Obama's camp has yet to release an official statement, Wallace wrote a post hinting that the upcoming exclusive interview may be the result of Sen. Obama's "double-digit loss" in Pennsylvania.

Missed Wallace's "Obama Watch"? Read Jason Linkins' Sunday morning coverage of "Fox News Sunday" and more here.

This item has been corrected from a previous version that said Senator Obama refused to appear on Fox News Channel. In fact, Obama has been interviewed on Fox News several times. The Huffington Post regrets the error.

Comments

[wingman1]

Good for Obama. If he's prepared to talk to the leader of Iran as Prez, then why shouldn't he talk to Fox News as a candidate! Good man Barack, walking into the eye of the storm, cool as ever. And those of you who say he'll tank on Fox, don't underestimate him. He'll be fine.

[exxonmobil4prez]

Why does float like a butterfly, sting like a bee fit here.. They won't even know what hit them as they continue to interrupt the flow of words as that is the only way they confront or NOT confront folks on FAUX. And he will just cooly sit there while they raise their voices and badger him.. It will be fun to watch the boorish unintelligent make fools out of themselves.

[LeftHandedBrain]

Barack on Faux?

Hillary spokesperson calling Faux "fair and balanced"?

Tony Snow on CNN?

I'd say "God help us all" but I'm an atheist.

Does anyone know of a Monastery for atheists? I think I need to check out for a while.

[mrman]

I'm with you!

[BurtR]

Buddhists are atheist. Any Zen monestary would do fine. Go for it.

[laocoon]

Buddhists are more like agnostic in the sense that Buddha would not comment on whether or not there was a God. You are supposed to figure that sort of thing on your own and not accept an answer that you have simply been given. My understanding in any event.

[indypete]

My house! Just ask my wife!

[mellene]

I can't wait to see if Obama will be treated as poorly as Bill Clinton was when Chris Wallace interviewed him. Too bad Obama doesn't have a hideous laugh like Hillary to respond to some of Wallace's insults.

[95flhtcu]

He bowed out of the last debate because of his abysmal performance on ABC and he thinks he's ready to go one on one with fox? This is going to be disasterous.

[exxonmobil4prez]

Says who? You? Are you the expert on this information? You must not have liked his choice of jewelry or lack of.

[xenite69]

Obamabots..be afraid for your King! I will keep score on how many times he will stutter. hahahaha

[exxonmobil4prez]

Oh so now it's a stuttering issue with you.. how appropriate to work on the ridiculous speech issues that folks have. I suppose you LOVE how Bush speaks.

[indypete]

And bush doesn't have a stutter... just no ability to make sense.

[stoptheworldiwant2getoff]

You Hillary supporters who call Obama a King and a Messiah need to get a clue. His supporters see him as an outstanding opportunity to bring about some real needed change.
You call him a king? Perhaps that’s why you can't get over Hillary losing since you see her as your queen and the heir apparent.
She screwed up trying to play a tuff hard politician instead of a good senator. She voted for important things that were just wrong for this country and its people. (War, bankruptcy Law, etc.)
Then she tells lies to woo voters. Not a little lie but a complete fabrication.
Now she can’t make up her mind on what it will take to win the nomination. It’s the delegates, no it’s the popular vote and now it’s who can win the Electoral College. Well which one is it? Make up your mind already.
I have no delusions about Obama. I don’t expect he will accomplish many of his goals. (Neither would she and her record have proved that.) He has a vision and ideas that can make this country proud again at home and abroad.
It is SOME of you obsessive Hillary supporters that want to make him Godly because your small mind can't envision the likes of him.
He’s no saint but he is better than anything on the menu today.
So get over it.He’s a running for president not GOD.

[k6007]

Since Obama said he would give FAUX news an interview once he had the nom.......Does he know something we don't? hmmmmmmmmm?

Obama08

[msmaggie]

He knows the momentum has, if not swung to Hillary, has at the very least stopped swinging his way. Which was pretty predictable in such a tight race.

Obama is a lot smarter than many of his supporters. Again, nothing particularly unique there.

[MelDel7365]

Hillary has lost - how can the momentum swing her way?
Yes, the media has begun to repeat her talking points - but only because it brings in great ratings.

She was $15 million in debt at the BEGINNING of April - before she spent herself silly in the PA primary - trying to keep pace with Obama ... so the $10 million she allegedly raked in after PA won't even fill that hole. She's behind in money.

Despite her win in PA, and despite the fact that Obama is now running against FIVE opponents: Hillary, John McCain, the RNC, the MSM, and Limbaugh and his talking heads on the right telling their sheeple to go vote for Hillary...Despite ALL of this - he is AHEAD in Indiana, South Carolina, Oregon...

...and his supporters are smart enough to back a candidate that can actually win in November and lead this country better than anyone else in the race - not simply because of his name or his gender...there is a reason why one of the groups to which he appeals is the highly educated. ("elites")

[k6007]

Losing every single big lead in every single state does not define momentum. Hillary lost 17pts in 6 wks.

[Madampotential]

GOP hack Chris Wallace went on right wing talk radio this morning ( Galliger) and said he was going to ask Obama questions that the "liberal" media doesn't ask. He is going to try to get Obama upset so I hope Obama is ready. They were joking about how upset Clinton got with Wallace but that is not Obma's personality. I hope Obama gives Wallace a piece of his mind.

[exxonmobil4prez]

No he better not give Wallace a piece of his mind! Then Wallace would have one!! No let him do what he does best... distract and lack logic.. that's all FAUX is..

[realpolitic]

It is funny how Chris Wallace imagines some idea of a liberal media in order to rationalize his hit pieces on Democrats. I suppose without the construct of a "liberal" media his hit pieces would be just that, "hit pieces," and not an attempt to "balance" an overly sympathetic media. Wallace is a fool!

[MoeSart]

I like how Daily Kos is totally ignoring it after all the noise they made about Clinton being on Fox News.

Typical.

[Rastaman426]

Excellant point, MoeStart....I was just thinkng that myself....and I keep checking Kos to see if he's addressing this...but NOT a peep...what a bunch of hypocrites....

[ndnndpendent]

I am not a hypocrite....I think its good he goes on FOX and he gets used to being in the hot seat especially if elected POTUS. Obama----learn the art of concession, compromise and backing down, you need to learn this lesson. That Wright has influence over America's politicians, Obama, Clintons (Lewinsky scandal) speaks volumes about his power base. I am fearful this is transitioning from merely a racial bust up to an all out racial-religious cultural conflict.....this is scary.

[RileysMom]

Obama supporters are such delusional hypocrites

where is your outrage now? where are your calls of triator now?

[MelDel7365]

Actually, I am one of his supporters - and I think this is a mistake.

[stoptheworldiwant2getoff]

I agree. He should stay away from this one. Not that he can't withstand them but because they aren't worthy of his time.

I am shocked and disappointed that someone thought this would be a good idea and that he has decided to go along.

He has come all this way, why break stride now.

Like some other posters I guess I'll see the major points on youtube because I will not watch FAUX News.

Just no good in this at all.

Maybe he will prove me wrong but why risk anything at this juncture.

A black man at a Klan rally. WOW!

Good luck Barack.

[mrman]

I'm one of his supporters. And by the way ...who the hell are you to call me a hypocrite? I'm sure we've never met. I would remember meeting an idiot.

Anyway...Barack Obama intelligent, grown man. He is surrounded by some of the best political minds in the country...they got him this far, which was no easy task. I'm sure they're beter equipped to asses the advantages than this crowd here on HUFPO.

[exxonmobil4prez]

Don't try and understand us.. It's too deep for you.

[k6007]

The first thing he should comment on is Bill Clinton's decision to break the unions. China's MFN trading status with China. WalFart's child-slave labor profiteer suppliers......These should be his answers no matter what the questions are.

[repent1]

Pray everyone. Barak is going into the Devils Den. I wish he would change his mind.

[Luca]

He's smart. Their playbook is obvious. He'll have some fun. Good for Obama.

[rernst]

It's a mistake. Fox will slaughter him.The station will ask him all the abusive questions, over and over again to hammer in the fact that he is unelectable.

Obama is an extremely talented orator. But he doesn't hold any cards at Fox. He does not control what background imagery they will use. They may turn this into a series of statements Wallace makes instead of an interview.

This looks like a desperate move by the Obama camp. I really do not know what they are thinking.

I am an Obama supporter.

[exxonmobil4prez]

The man will rise above all their bull pucky folks.. Have a little faith..

[mountainwhere]

I am amazed at how the tune changes from Obama supporters. When Hillary agreed to talk to FOX you slammed her as a sell out. Now you have unending supporting arguments about why it's a good thing Obama talk to them. One of you even says it's brilliant. Sounds like hypocrisy and rationalization on your part. Or what does Obama keep calling...playing politics.

[SMP]

Mountianwhere,

Fox news is a Clinton organization......so why wouldnt she be on there many many times....they are one of the most disreputable news organizations in the country...next to Rush Limbaugh....

Heres an old saying:

A FOX SMELLS HIS(HER) OWN HOLE FIRST!!!

CLINTON KNEW SHE HAD AN ALI IN FOX NEWS.

lies lies lies, spin spin spin....the basis of both Fox and Clinton

[exxonmobil4prez]

If Hillary can than yes we can.. Oh I see, playing politics in politics is not acceptable? You folks kill me trying to find the evil inside Obama.. give it up already. You only sound desperate.. oh no! He's not wearing a flag pin, and he stutters, and his name rhymes with a mean mans and and.. whatever

[new logic]

I believe Obama should not go on Fox, why put himself in the line of fire of these neo cons. Obama choose your battles!!!!

[ThePodiumIsMine]

Run away! Run away!

[NCGuy]

isn't "run away" the same advice Obama has been getting about any more debates too.

The Indianapolis Star put out an editorial calling for Obama to accept a debate in IN.