Charlie Gibson: Obama Can Already Predict What Hillary Will Say In Wednesday's Debate

NEW YORK — ABC's Charles Gibson spent days behind closed doors preparing to moderate two presidential debates in January, but says he feels "way too laid-back" in advance of Wednesday's session between Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and rival Sen. Barack Obama.

It's probably because George Stephanopoulos will be with him onstage at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia for the 90-minute debate, airing at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC.

"I've got George to hide behind," Gibson told The Associated Press. "This time, whenever I get in trouble I'll say, `George?'"

The timing of this debate, as the relative campaign lull leading up to next Tuesday's Pennsylvania primary is ending, made it particularly attractive to ABC.

The network is soliciting questions from Pennsylvania voters but Gibson isn't sure whether they will be used. ABC has also talked to a number of superdelegates and gotten good suggestions about issues to raise that have received little attention so far, he said Friday.

The most interesting suggestion Gibson received for a debate format didn't make the cut. He asked Obama what ABC could do to make this debate different.

"He kind of smiled and said, `We've done it so often that I could do Hillary's lines and she could do my lines and we could each debate as the other person,'" Gibson said. "I said, "Ooh, I think that may be it.'"

Gibson finds moderating these debates satisfying but not satisfying enough.

"I'm always one of these people who walks away and thinks he could have done better," he said. "The last one went far better than my fears and not nearly as good as my fantasies."

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Comments

[LeftLeaner]

Now, Charlie Gibson is spekaing for Obama, too.

Let's see the mild mannered Gibson's mysoginistic tendencies come out tonight.

They all have the B**** to attack her because she's a woman, but I'm sure it will be hands off with their precious Media darling, Barack.

Plus, she'll probably be asked the FIRST QUESTION again repeatedly like slimy, Tim Russert and Brian Williams did in a previous debate.

[AlanRockville]

I spoke to Cokie Roberts on Monday at a book signing. I asked her who would be moderating. She told me it would be Charles Gibson and George Stephanopolous (so the article above confirms this). I asked her if she wanted to host, she declined, saying that in debates the candidates just stick to their stump speech words. (She was with her Mom, very cordial, signed her book for me).

That's too bad. First, Stephanopolous used to work for Clinton, so I hope he's up to the task of asking tough questions at her. I don't know Gibson that well, since the only 6pm news I watch is PBS.

Roberts has always impressed me on "This Week". She is absolutely professional, and since she moderates a "round table" she knows how to conduct debates and make sure the replies are not purely spin. Another ex-ABC correspondent I like for debates is Ted Koppel. Outside of ABC, my favorites are Margaret Warner, Bob Schieffer, Bernard Shaw.

[uheardme]

Since George S. is a blatant Hillary Clinton stooge, he shouldn't be allowed in the room let alone participate in this debate.

[Ethioqn08]

that would be great entertainment..makes for a good snl sketch

[GayGrandpa]

Charlie Gibson has fantasies...now that made me chuckle!

[LBM]

That actually could make for a really fun debate, for them to role-play as each other. It may even be therapeutic!

[useyourbrain]

HuffPo is reaching new lows in their headlines. Shame on you.

[johnnygoodwud]

hillary will be desparate, she's running out of primaries. and it will show, she'll be very transparent, and not very presidental. obama should keep his cool, although i'm sure his quick wit can easily keep up with her. anyone notice, obama twice admitted he used wrong words in s.f. and made a mistake. he said it won't be the last time he makes a mistake. anyone EVER hear hillary admit to making a mistake? when she's caught in one of her lies, (misspeaks) she'll either laugh and try and discount it, say she misspoke, say it's irrelavant, or better yet, lie to cover up the lie. americans wake up.

[KINOKO]

Or she'll respond by saying "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?"...which has absolutely nothin' to do with nothin'.

[Katie1263]

You know who is desperate, and has been since the three March 4th victories Hillary Clinton had ? Barack Obama and his supporters. PATHETIC. Begging someone to drop out of a race because it might "destroy" the Democariatic party. YEAH RIGHT!
Tell me how democratic it is to try and force someone out a race that is INCREDIBLY CLOSE? An approximate 1-2 % statistical difference between the two candidates. It has been so offensive to the Clinton supporters, and WE ARE A STRONG GROUP OF PEOPLE who will not let you attack Hillary Clinton with chaep shots. NO THANKS! " WE ARE IN IT TO WIN IT! "

[Neocon187]

Oh yeah -Barack Obama supporters are so desparate because McHillary only has to win all remaining state primaries by over 60 percent to catch up to them.
You can use all of the fuzzy math you want: Barack Obama is ahead by over 160 delegates, he's almost even in super delegates, and he's ahead in the popular vote by over 700,000.

Unfortunately, you may be "in it to win it", but the race is already over.
Drink deeply of the Koolaid.

[Softnsweet]

It is so easy to blame the other side Katie1263. Has it ever occurred to you that most of what is said about Hillary and Barack to taunt us are the republicans? We don't know who's fingers are behind these keys. It is so easy to blame Hillary or Obama's camp. A friend of mine told me at work (republican) told me he loves stirring up trouble on the internet between us.

Lets try not to blame each other's (Hillary or Obama's) camps for everything. They want the democratic party to pull apart. So far, we seem to be helping them.

[harriscrl3]

If he can recite Hilary's line he is MUCH BETTER than I thought. SInce she goes on and on and on and says NOTHING. Thats what makes these debate boring. Someone need to tell Hilary to stop padding her answers remove the political fluff and just ANSWER THE QUESTION.

Carol

[useyourbrain]

are you kidding? HRC knows her stuff and doesn't have to talk in platitudes. She has forgotten more than Obama will ever know.

[MadeinAmericaProud]

That's OK, Youtube has a way to remind her. The current posting of her with a consolidation of famous statement everyone today had forgotten too.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=exsmFDYyK4U&eurl

This should help everyone remember

[Pammy1151]

Well maybe but I think that Crown Royal is starting to work on her brain matter.

[Neocon187]

And apparnently McHillary has forgotten more than she'll know, since she's remembering dodging Bosnian ninja snipers that no one else can.

Hillary will be served tonight.

[gwhizz]

Obama's line(s):

I agree with Hillary.
What she said.

I'll bring Change!

[erichitchmo]

Or "I agree with 99.5% of what she just said, but that .5% is dispositive."

[jdkjdk]

In the rare event that no presidential candidate receives a majority of the electoral votes, then the President is chosen instead by the House of Representatives, from the top three presidential vote-getters in the Electoral College; each state delegation in Congress casts one vote.

Democrats are on target to screw up, in order, to keep Clinton quiet, let's let Hillary run in OH, NY, NJ, FL, MI, and in PA, if she wins in PA. Let Obama run everywhere else. And let's throw this thing into the House.
Where she can make the ultimate SuperDelegate argument.

[2liveNdie]

Anybody can recite what HRC will say! She's a broken recorder! She'll talk about the bitter remark, not looking down on small towners, what republicans will use in the general election, her long fight for healthcare, 3a.m. phone calls and of course her 35 years and ready to lead on day one!

[SHERHAY21]

MY GOD THE ELECTIONS WILLTAKE PLACE SOON AND THEN WE WILL SEE THE RESULTS CAN'T WE WAIT UNTIL THEN.THE COUNTRY IS A MESS OUR YOUNG MEN ARE DIEDING.BUSH IS READY TO START ANOTHER WAR WITH IRAN WAKEUP! IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU GUYS EGOS GET OVER YOUR SELF.TRUST ME THERE ARE A LOT THINGS HAPPENING IN THE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD AROUND US. THE OLD SAYS STILL STANDS"WHAT DON'T KILL US WILL MAKE US STRONG "

[CheshireCat2]

Well, he might know what Hillary is going to say, but no one will know what Obama said until the next day when he tells us what he really said or what he really meant.

[MadeinAmericaProud]

Only because they are so many people spinning his words that has access to the media, He need to immediately get access to turn off the faucet because it's not water coming out it's fire and smoke from so many small minded people. They also have to let the uneducated people know they have been insulted since they cannot read it.

[Softnsweet]

Well ChesireCat2, the cat cannot call the kettle black. Hillary has made mistatements as well. They both are flawed. They are only human.

[mistlesuede]

As a woman on the campaign trail said to Senator Obama recently, "You just used the wrong word. At least you aren't lying."
Four times that lying witch retold the same story about sniper fire and she knew damn well that she was lying the whole time. When the media finally called her on it, she just gave some snarky, bitchy response and never actually apologized for the lies. She lied about NAFTA, she's lying about the Colombia trade deal and her husband who is handy in helping her get what she wants, which is the only reason they are still married post Monica, is an even bigger liar than her. What an impressive family. Just what we need to have in the White House for a repeat performance.
She has no class, at all and watching her sip her Crown Royal and chug her Beer in Indiana pretty much confirmed what she is. She has poor character and is nothing but exactly what Randi Rhodes said.

[ChiGuy]

It really is a pity that he has had to explain his words all over again for the challenged quite a bit, isn't it?
And he always seems to bounce right back.

[wheelskeepturning]

Obama may be surprised. If you are implying that he will have a better chance preparing because he can predict what Hillary is thinking you are wrong. Hillary will be at her very best, you can be sure of that. Charlie if you don't like the heat get out of the fire. It doesn't sound like you really want to do this debate.

[mistlesuede]

Not only does he probably not want to do this debate, if he's like most of us he probably doesn't want to do this primary either. As Stephanie Miller says, "I officially hate this primary."
I am officially "BITTER" and sick and tired of the Clintons. They have no pride in this country, they only have pride and ego that can't be overcome, the country and the American people be damned.
If she somehow gets this nomination, the Democratic party is finished. I've already decided to register as an Independent after this election no matter the outcome, and may well tune out as so many have.The Clintons are to blame for good Democrats doing precisely this. She doesn't realize that the plan to damage Barack so badly that he can't win against Grampy McCain and she can run against Grampy in four years is badly flawed, like her. Those of us who are turning away this time, will never be back, especially not for a Clinton.

[useyourbrain]

If a candidate cannot survive a primary race, how do you expect them to win in the general?
These campaigns, much too long, but they do test the stamina of a candidate and their ability to withstand attacks.

What do you thin the RNC, McCain (Rove & Co.) will do to Obama. You really believe they are afraid of running against him. Ha! If BO gets the nod, McCain will be President in January.

[2liveNdie]

LET THE CANDIDATES ASK EACH OTHER THE QUESTIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sedonakaren]

Terrific idea. I am still waiting for a plausible explanation of Clinton's Bosnia story! I also want to know more about why she allowed Mark Penn, who was simultaneously working on a trade deal with Columbia, to stay in her campaign and collect salaries from both.

I also want Barack to ask her, in light of her "elitist accusation," about her own husband's remarks in 1992 about people being "insecure and scared to death."

Bill Clinton has nd said so many of the same things she criticizes Obama for, and THEN SOME. The biggest difference is that Obama doesn't have problems with telling lies and infidelity, which is pretty much the same thing.