CBS News anchor Katie Couric loses North Carolina debate

Katie Couric just can’t get a break.

The CBS News anchor was looking forward to moderating a Democratic presidential candidate debate in North Carolina on Sunday, an event network executives hoped would spotlight something other than a recent spate of stories suggesting Couric may leave her post in the coming year.

But without a commitment from Sen. Barack Obama that he would participate, the North Carolina Democratic Party canceled the tentatively scheduled forum today because of “time constraints and logistical issues associated with such a large, national event,” according to a statement on the party’s website.

The party had gotten requests from 20,000 people for tickets, but it suggested that there’s a diminishing appetite among the Democratic rank-and-file for another showdown between Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

“You have shown tremendous passion and interest in being a part of history as Democrats are poised this year to elect the first female or African-American President,” the party’s statement read. “However, there were also growing concerns about what another debate would do to party unity.”

Paul Friedman, CBS News’ senior vice president, said Couric and the rest of the news division were disappointed the forum was called off.

“It would have been good for us in the sense that it would have shown Katie’s skills,” he said. “She’s a very good interviewer and passionate about politics. So it would have been good for her. On the other hand, she’s done a lot of great work for which she hasn’t gotten any credit or recognition.”

It’s unlikely Couric or her rival evening news anchors will be tapped to host the general election debates in the fall. In the last several elections, the Commission on Presidential Debates has instead relied mostly on PBS anchors to fulfill those duties. (ABC’s Charles Gibson and CBS’ Bob Schieffer each moderated a general election debate in 2004, but neither was anchoring the evening news at the time.)

Still, Friedman said he believes CBS may have an opportunity to host some sort of election forum before this summer’s conventions.

The North Carolina debate would have been the 22nd match-up between the two Democratic contenders, and it remains to be seen whether Obama will agree to another forum after Tuesday’s Pennsylvania primary. His performance in the last forum, hosted by ABC on April 16, was widely regarded as his weakest yet.

Nevertheless, both NBC and CNN are aggressively pushing proposals to host debates in Indiana, which holds its Democratic primary May 6.

-- Matea Gold

Photo: John Paul Filo, courtesy CBS

Comments

[ciszew]

Darn we will Miss Katie asking both candidates if they were popular in High school like she did on 60 minutes. Obviously this is a person who does not deserve her position, she has risen to her own ineptitude.

[NinaK]

Actually, there is no need to have any more debates; I believe most of us have had our fill and most of us are especially sick and tired of Hillary's dramas and failure to answer questions directly. The article states Senator Obama had his weakest debate during the ABC televised rag magazine debate. Wouldn't anyone being attacked by Hillary, and the two moderators look weak?? Having to defend yourself against all three rattlesnakes could not have been easy. Given the circumstances, he chose to take the high road and I commend him for it. He ACED the debate by doing so!! The fact that he did NOT get in the swamp with Hillary and the ABC moderators is to his great credit. It would be nice if Senator OIbama got kudos for this; it is much harder to stay above the fray when you have three pittbulls trying to bite your legs off! And that is exactly what that debate was all about. Hilliary is a disgrace to womanhood, the Democrat party, and the nation!!

[BadGurl404]

That's just sad. Katie, do us a favor and go back to morning TV, PLEASE!

[latinovoter1]

Thank god she lost it, we don't need an Ex Morning Magazine Show moderating any more serious debates.

[Hank]

Katie Couric is a light weight, silly, giddy, fake and irrelevant woman, who has no business being the CBS News anchor or hostess (grammatically correct) of a presidential canadate debete. She's had her chance to show us what she has, and it's nothing of value.

[Gonzodex]

too bad. I'm sure Katie couldn't have done any worse than George S and Charlie G the other night...

[Susan]

After last week's debate debacle, canceling Sunday's debate is no great loss. We need to call back the League of Women Voters to run the primary debates instead of corporate-controlled network news. Voters have a right to a fair and open forum, and we need it for the good of our republic. Tabloid style reality TV like ABCs Disney Show last week insults the American people's intelligence.

[Carol W.]

I would not have watched if Katy Couric was moderater. Hillary would chew her up and spit her out. I never watch her. I used to watch Charles Gibson until he moderated the last debate debachle. No more, I lost all respect for him and the network.

[Ali]

It isn't Katie's fault. Obama has a lot of inconvenient materials ( a lot of ties to radical people).
He doesn't want to be asked. He likes to give his speech. It is why Katie couldn't get it. Anyway, Obama didn't have to wary. He should have to accept Katie's invitation, because CBS is always on Obama's side to my assessment.

[Obamamania]

Obama is our Savior. After watching “typical white people” grill Obama during the debate, I realized that Obama, Ayers, and Reverend Wright are Right, God D*** america. Now is the time to rally around Barak and Michelle and make them proud! These poor bitter rural white folk with their guns and phony religion who are afraid of people not like themsleves should not be allowed to vote. Yes, no more so called elections where typical white people vote! And news flash america, Barak is right, your typical white american is a racist! Obama will apologize to our Muslim brothers for arrogant american policies of hate and slavery. Only Obama can forgive an evil nation founded on slavery. White people, no more gun purchases, save your money cause reparations are comin! Obama 08!!!

[Obamamania2]

Obamamania, or should I say brother...where have you been..Billary is looking for you...she is having a hard time with her pitbulls

[ellen]

Before the age of electronic communication, candidates like Abraham Lincoln would travel miles on horseback and on trains to debate many times in a single campaign. The wonderful tradition of open and "unscripted" debate is a cornerstone of our democracy. it is ironic that in this day of sophisticated communication that the public's access to candidates is so restricted. There have been 221 debates, but only a few that enable voters to get some insights into the true character of these candidates. I would really appreciate the opportunity to see debates in which the candidates themselves would ask the questions in a real give and take, with the moderator as referee. These television debates are more about the moderators than the candidates, and more about ratings. The American people are not tired of these debates, as evidenced by the 10.7 million who tuned in to the last one.