Democrats And Fox News Play Nice

With Hillary Clinton on the "O'Reilly Factor" and Barack Obama on "Fox News Sunday" (not to mention Terry McAuliffe's ringing commercial endorsement), the Democrats and Fox News appear to be playing nice. The New York Times' Brian Stelter reports on the developing relationship between the Democrats and Fox News:

All of a sudden, the once-frosty relationship between Fox News and the Democratic candidates seems to have grown warmer. Mrs. Clinton and Barack Obama, who steadfastly refused to attend Fox-sponsored debates last year, are now giving plenty of interviews as they court Fox's viewers, who are largely white, conservative and undecided.

"It's probably true that we appeal to white working-class voters," said Brit Hume, the network's Washington managing editor and the host of "Special Report." "The candidates are going where the voters are."

Conversely, Fox seems to have softened its stance toward the Democrats, mindful of the intense viewer interest in the prolonged primary season. Although Fox News remains firmly in first place among news channels, CNN has crept up in the ratings on primary nights. So Fox wants to appeal to people who might otherwise flip the channel in search of more time with the Democrats.

In short, Fox News and the Democrats abruptly find each other useful.

Read the entire New York Times article here.

The New York Post's Michael Starr confirms how useful the Dems are for Fox, with Hillary Clinton's "O'Reilly Factor" appearance bringing in big ratings for Bill:

Clinton's first-ever visit to Fox News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor" averaged 3.7 million viewers, a 42 percent increase from O'Reilly's year-to-date numbers (2.6 million).

The numbers were even better in the "money" demo, adults 25-54, where "The O'Reilly Factor" averaged 939,000 viewers - a whopping 82 percent increase from its season-to-date average (515,000 viewers), according to Nielsen.

TVNewser confirms it was O'Reilly's highest-rated show of the year.

Comments

[ShawnMichel]

Watching the Limpocrats sell out to Fixed News was a real low point, and should tell you plenty about the spines of Obama and Clintoris.

It's time for a revolution, folks. And neither Obama nor Clintoris are strong enough to start one.

[cinemaven]

Don't be silly, I watched Olbermann last night so I know it's only Clinton who's done Fox. In fact, he pointed out that both Clinton's went on Fox and spoke at length about how desperate that made them. Not once did he mention that Obama had been there the week before.

[ntmessage]

The main reason is that the DNC, MoveCON, DailyCON, ObamaWeek, NBC and MSNBC have repulsed many Democrats who now have decided to vote for McCain this go around if they cannot vote for Clinton.

This amazing phenomenon is hard to ignore when the incumbent Republican President has some of the lowest ratings in history.

It indicates that despite all the baggage they now view the DNC and Obama as a worse outcome than McCain. Says a lot for the elitist DNC, maybe in fact it was they that felt entitled all along.

Their reaction is not ignorant, dumb or holding to their religion or guns. Frankly, they have what a liberal ivy leagues education sometimes ignores. Common sense, perspective and judgment. Not to mention an innate ability to spot BS.

[Manni]

Very well put. The far lefties and outsiders (The Nader voters) have hijacked the Democratic Party and trying to drag the democratic party to the abyss called "far left". Its Clinton thats trying to keep the democratic Party to maintain some sanity.

[rwe]

Probably , the Democrats realize ,that pundits aside, that FOX NEWS is the most watched cable news network ..They actually do go out of their way to interview ALL ...And even the DEMs have said their reporting is fair ..O'Reilly and Hannity treat Hillary bgetter than Olberbama , and Abrams is just a nauseating version of watching a highschool local access production..And what does csnbc or cnn have to offer the candidates as far as visibility?

[mamacat]

These Democrats are coming into their own, and they now feel comfortable facing down the wackos on Faux News. It is a dangerous game if they are not prepared for the hyperbolic innuendos, the repetitive Big Liles, and the insults, but after so many months on the national stage, facing the inanities of George S. and Tim Russert, they probably feel confident to handle just about anything.

Both of these Democrats now realise that the nation is ready for new, improved, competent leadership, and the question is no longer whether they can provide it, but which one can better do so.

Unless things change radically, McCain will likely be routed in November, and that will be a good thing for the whole planet.

[ann1]

Dan Abrams deserves the SCUM AWARD of the week for covering Rev Wright for a full hour tonight.

[izAriver]

Isn't he usually scum 5 nights a week? Seems like he'd kick ass on some better sounding award. Scum Knight of the Week perhaps?

[izAriver]

How about Scum Wright Knight with Clinton playing funk in the background? (You knew I meant George Clinton, wright?)

[Sophie22]

I have been watching Fox because they have been far more fair toward Hillary than the other networks. This far they have presented her as a real person, not the ridiculous caricature that some others have pushed forward in their their blind faith in Obama's beliefs and qualities that remain invisible to me.

[izAriver]

I don't care who you're voting for. Just stop thinking of fox noise as a real...hell! Stop treating it as real! It's a lie! It's a lie, I tell you! It's a f@#$ing lie!

[hussein]

Because the liberal media is so involved in advocacy they have forgotten what Journalism is about.

Olbermann has turned his show into "Hillary Bashing Hour".
Chris Matthews has turned his show into "Tea time with Obama Supporters"

Hillary Clinton covered more substance in 30 mins on O'Reilly than all MSNBC debates combined.

[rh654]

I suspect that Foxnews is playing a little nicer - because:

a) The Democrats completely shut Foxnews out of holding any Democratic debates.

b) I think Foxnews is thinking - oh oh - if there is a Democratic President we might find ourselves not only not getting any good interviews but potentially out of the White House loop.

c) And looking to their future - if they want to be more and more polarizing they could end up with an upper limit on viewer-ship (perhaps already reached) because other than the far right they just won't be able to attract viewers.

[longislandlol]

Hill may feel that her enemy's enemies are her new best friends-- it's biblical...

[lvogt]

It's pretty simple. There are a lot of older voters who only watch FOX. It's an opportunity to have those voters hear them directly. While I hate the idea of legitimizing FOX I think you have to try to reach those people. They don't go online and there is no news on Network TV of consequence. CNN and MSNBC are there but only marginally better. I think during the campaign season you have to go where the voters are and you have to counter the propaganda where it is. After the election, FOX should be avoided like flesh-eating virus.

[Poised]

Truth is, many Republican and independent voters are not in love with McCain and are considering voting for a Dem. But which one? They need to see Hillary and Barak grilled with tough questions by an interviewer who isn't wearing kneepads.

I hear that Hillary is gaining plenty of Indies and disenchanted Repubs. Barak, not so much.

[bigogre]

Here's a good idea for Hillary: switch party. For good. Stay where you belong, among warmongers and corporate henchmen.

[WorkingClass]

I think Clinton could be elected by a coalition of republicans, independents, and democrats much the same as Lieberman won in Connecticut . I am opposed to her candidacy but not because I think she cant win.

[hwebb54]

lol....I love that the left wing blogs that have been hating on Hillary Clinton are complaining when she goes somewhere else to get her message out. No matter what you think, you don't really have all that much power.

[LeftLeaner]

I think they're cozying up to Faux Noise because the white blue collar voters in Indiana are Faux News veiwers, and wnnt to get the visibility through this forum.

[trollsbwild]

No idea why they would lower themselves to be on Faux. At the moment of truth, this fall, Faux will screw them over every way they can.

[Sophie22]

Of course. But now they give them airtime, which last time I looked was pretty expensive.

[ann1]

Even Jesus had to confront satan.