Obama Campaign: Watch The Debate On CNN

I just received the following text from the official Obama text message number (62262) which first sent out the Vice Presidential news:

Watch Barack debate John McCain tonight at 9pm Eastern on CNN. Also, remind friends to register to vote at VoteForChange.com. Please forward this message.

This is particularly odd given that the debate will be airing on every network, both broadcast and cable, at 9pm Eastern. Has the Obama campaign officially endorsed CNN?

When contacted, an Obama staffer said it was "shorter than saying 'on cable news,'" and that they were "not trying to make news."

A CNN representative told me, "It was a complete surprise to us."

In July, the campaign blasted a text promoting Obama's speech in Berlin saying, "The speech will be live on CNN."

Update 6:30 PM: The Obama campaign must have revised its message. I've just now received a follow-up text saying,

Watch Barack Debate John McCain tonight at 9pm ET on any of the major networks or cable. Fwd this msg & remind friends to register to vote at VoteForChange.com

Looks like the campaign figured out how to speak SMS short-hand and thus free up enough characters to type out "any of the major networks or cable" vs. "CNN."

Comments

[pilgrim7]

What an unfortunate insult. Better not to have mentioned any network.

[Mattie]

what a surprise, every person on CNN is in love with Obama, and all the anchors spend their whole show trashing first Hillary Clinton and now John McCain, the network has become embarrassing to watch. Jack Cafferty literally rants about anyone who dares to question Obama, and that hack Roland Martin is just a fool. Campbell Brown is pissed at John McCain, so she trashes him relentlessly, and Jeffrey Toobin actually called HIllary Clinton a witch on the air. yeah they are really impartial!

[proudloudlib]

Lou Holtz. Glen Beck.

[kayatarms]

Great! Only 3 people on CNN to watch, but in order to do that, you have to watch the others who sicken me! CSPAN or MSNBC anyday..

[ShanniC]

I don't think it was that serious. MSN, CNN, ABC, CBS, god forbid FauxNews.... are all three letters, thus short enough to fit into a text message. It's a new generation!

[bluesjones63]

My view = the Obama campaign KNOWS that CNN has been "less than positive" about his pursuit of the presidency. Even Candy Crowley, assigned to cover the Obama campaign, has had MORE INFORMATION analyzing strategies supportive of McCain than her ASSIGNED DUTIES. Bill Schiender reports polls that show a "tied" election or terms polls reflecting "a narrow"/"within the statistical margin of error"; Wolf B. clearly prefers a Hillary/McCain "fight".

PERFECT EXAMPLE of letting the HENS (viewers) watch the FOXES (Wolf & company)!!!

[pilgrim7]

Glad someone else picked up on Candy Crowley. I switch or hit Mute whenever she's on.

[roshni]

Cany Crowley is a tool. I only watch MsNBC.

[MrsPeel]

I agree about Candy Crowley. I'm glad it's not only me!

[Agentlady007]

Candy Crowley is amazing. I would vote for her because she needs to know all the details.

[dct1999]

Crowley = 0verweight, unattractive, miserable and incapable of being impartial.

[Boadicea]

Watch the debate on c-span!

[MIMom]

WHO CARES?

CNN is a brand name....like you say "Coke" for a pop (soda) or a "Kleenex" for a tissue.

What's the difference?

[ctmommy]

maybe in your circles.

[MIMom]

You don't have shorthand names for things in your neck of the woods?

[jakky]

cspan is the only coverage that doesnt make my stomach turn with spin.

[boogiewoman]

I can make up my own mind who won or lost, so I will watch C-SPAN thank you very much.

[rextrek]

exactly ....I DVR'd the debate on C-SPAN!

[ReelBusy]

CNN has the widest coverage for a single network worldwide.
Not a bad choice.

[MindyIsHot]

Ask Hard Questions...

http://myrealitytelevision.com/2008/09/mccain-versus-obama-2008-presidential-election-debates-hard-questions-demand-answers/

Schedule there too.

[macman851]

I got a re-text saying to "watch on any of the major networks or cable"

I think they realized that was a little rude. Especially since its being moderated by a PBS guy. Also, CNN is arguably has stayed the most unbiased of cable news providers. MSNBC leans left, FAUX news staggers right.

[hi5dud3n355]

I got the new one too. lol, like it friggen matters, really. But meh.

[nootrope]

pure genius. msnbc isn't suddenly going to start backing john mccain. and that fox is in the tank for the right goes without saying. why not give a little booster to CNN, get them more on your side? subtly brilliant.

[sherylgurl]

Coincidence?

I just received a text message from the Obama Campaign telling me to watch the debate "on any of the major networks or cable."

[Lakshmi0000]

I'm watching CSPAN