The Romney Campaign is angry and complaining that the major networks are only planning to cover three hours of the Republican and Democratic Conventions, including no coverage at all on Monday night, when the RNC planned to role out the new improved image of a "warmer" Mitt Romney, with an introductory speech by Ann Romney. Viewers will be able to watch Ann's speech, and full convention coverage on MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, PBS, and a host of cable channels, but the Romney campaign was hoping for bigger ratings.
The New York Times reports:
The Romney campaign was understandably upset about this turn of events. Ann Romney is considered a particularly good surrogate for her oft-stiff husband, and conventions can be an ideal way for campaigns to introduce potential first ladies to the country. ... Advisers to Mitt Romney, facing a blackout of the opening-night program they fastidiously scripted to soften perceptions of the candidate, are angry.
“I don’t think it’s the decision that Bill Paley would have made,” said Russ Schriefer, a senior Romney adviser, referring to the executive who ran CBS during the days of Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite.
The campaign is considering whether to move Mrs. Romney’s speech to another night, though it is proceeding for now with the Monday night plans.
Given that nothing unscripted, or surprising is expected to happen, I'm surprised the networks plan to cover any of it at all, as partisans will watch it on their favor cable channels, or 'the tubz."
In order to expand his reach to viewers, Mr. Romney has finally agreed to long interview. The NYT also notes that:
Mr. Romney will sit for two extended television interviews, one with Scott Pelley of CBS News, which is set to be shown in segments during the convention, and one with Chris Wallace of Fox News. ... Mr. Pelley said that during its broadcast each night, CBS plans to show its own news stories when the convention programming gets too scripted.
“We also want to cut away when it’s just the scripted, sort of — and I’m searching for a better word than propaganda — but cut away when the convention isn’t providing much information to the audience,” he said.
Sounds exciting, I can barely wait ... Not!
Save your popcorn for later folks, a four day long Republican campaign commercial may be hazardous to your health.
8:12 PM PT: I should have put this in the main text.
8:39 PM PT: Spoiler Alert! Cover you eyes if you want to be surprised. David Letterman just confirmed that his staff has discovered on Google that Paul Ryan will be the surprise V.P. announcement - the highlight of the convention.
8:42 PM PT: David Letterman also warns a hurricane is on the way to Tampa but not to worry, because the Republicans have shown they are very capable of handling hurricanes.
and, Todd Akin reassures viewers that "there is no evidence of damage to Florida from a legitimate hurricane.
8:58 PM PT: Rachel Maddow is about to be on David Letterman, this ought to be good.
He's introducing her as leading MSNBC's coverage of the Republican Convention, and asking her about the hurricane.
Oh, David Letterman and Maddow are a sweet pair. They are riffing on Seamus the dog, Mitt's taxes, screwing the middle class. They are getting a lot of deep stuff out really fast. I never noticed how fast Rachel can talk and still be coherent. And, David is playing dumb but is asking fantastic set up questons.