What They Are Asking: Is President Obama Worried?
Two Networks Ask The Same Question On The Same Day
CNN’s Brooke Baldwin: “You’re a sport’s guy.”
Obama Senior Adviser Robert Gibbs: “I am.”
Baldwin: “Let’s talk fair play. Because your guy - President Obama - three states, two days. Talking to a lot of students along the way. And some people say that’s not fair. This is the Republican’s week to really shine. Why is President Obama out campaigning? Doesn’t that violate tradition? Is this very sportsman-like behavior for the President?”
Gibbs: “To use the analogy, I think it’s well within the bounds of what we do these days in political campaigns.”
Baldwin: “Skirting the bounds a little?”
Gibbs: “No I don’t think so. I have no doubt that the Republicans will be doing the same thing while we’re in Charlotte next week. Conventions are extremely late this year. There really isn’t that much time left in the Conventions. I think it’s important time for the President to be out. He’s obviously as you mentioned on three college campuses over the next two days talking to students as they get back and in their college routines about what’s really important in this election.”
Baldwin: “Either conclusions, number one, or the fact he is out campaigning and the first lady is on late night TV and the vice president was supposed to be here. Either the perhaps the President is worried or something, team Romney has done something right? I’m assuming you’re going to tell me I’m wrong.”
Gibbs: “The President understands what’s at stake. He’s a hard worker. I don’t think he does down time real well. And I think he feels like there are a lot of huge and important issues in this campaign. For him to spend every minute of every day both as president and trying to run a re-election campaign to get him reelected because those issues are so important, I don’t think you can keep him down this week.”
(CNN’s “Newsroom,” 8/28/12)
NBC’s Ryan Nobles: “First of all, let me talk a little bit about the President’s visit. This is a little bit out of the ordinary for a President to campaign during his opposing primary’s Convention. Now Republicans are saying that’s because the President’s worried they will get too much attention this week. Is the President worried about the spotlight being too bright on the Republicans?”
Gibbs: “No I think the President believes that we have a lot of important issues to talk about and discuss in this campaign. The president is out on a three-state swing that will take him to Virginia to talk about college affordability on college campuses. You know the Conventions are really late this year. There’s not a lot of time left in this campaign. The President thought this was an issue important enough to talk about this week.”
(NBC 12, 8/28/12)
