Jon Stewart Was Obama's 'Toughest' Interview During The Presidential Campaign

Although critics have raised eyebrows at President Obama's late night appearances, White House press secretary Jay Carney said Thursday that "The Daily Show" might have been Obama's "toughest" interview during the 2012 campaign.

Speaking to CBS News' White House correspondent Major Garrett at George Washington University Thursday, Carney said that during the last election, Obama campaign staffers had debated whether it was appropriate for the president sit down with Stewart and other less conventional interviewers. They ultimately decided it was a more effective way to reach younger viewers.

Carney continued:

"But also, I think if you look back at 2012 and the series of interviews the sitting president of the United States gave, probably the toughest interview he had was with Jon Stewart. Probably the most substantive, challenging interview Barack Obama had in the election year was with the anchor of The Daily Show."

Obama sat down with Stewart weeks before the election, and the interview ranged from questions about the administration's response to Benghazi to some light-hearted jabs.

(h/t Mediaite)