Poor Katie Couric loses North Carolina debate, but she feels OK

Katie Couric just can't catch 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 20,000 requests for tickets, but suggested there’s a diminishing appetite among the Democratic rank-and-file for another showdown between Obama and Sen. Hillary 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.”

(Blogger's Suggestion: Maybe Katie could debate two empty chairs?)

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 believed 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 matchup 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.

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

-- Matea Gold

(With the exception of the really helpful Blogger's Suggestion, this item is being cross-posted from The Times Show Tracker blog.)

                                                                            Photo Credit: CBS

Comments

[Anee]

Snobama is a coward who won't debate anymore because he failed miserably in the last one.
We need a strong, intelligent fighter in the White House not a whinny, wimp, arrogant brat like Snobama.

[Raja]

Who is Katie Couric ?? Who cares if she sleeps on the job or goes AWOL. With country in shambles, you folks dont know what is important to report.

Instead of paying her $15 million for reading crappy news, pay her $15/hour and move on

[RDunn]

Don't see how Ms. Couric could do any worse now... but I don't think debates should have a single 'moderator' or questioner. Ultimately, debate moderator/questioners may have learned one thing... mix up some substantive 'issue' questions with the 'scandal' questions from the very start. Personally, I don't think there should be allowed more than just one 'scandal'/shallow/personal type question from any moderator/questioner. Pick a salient character flaw, ask it, and be done with it... move on to issues and proposals.

[Gaias Child]

Wait, aren't the candidates supposed to debate one another? Are they supposed to debate the interviewer? I don't think so.

Then again, after the last debate, one wonders what IS a debate anyway?

It does look like it is a well-rehearsed free advertisement in which whoever is running second tries to break the legs of whoever is running first.

O, yes, I saw that relationship in the Harry Potter series.

Your story is very patronizing to Couric. It is hard to feel sorry for someone earning at her level. All students of writing learn that in the introductory class. The canceled debate is only a loss to Senator Clinton who gets free air time with it, which is important as she has not been able to manage her campaign budget. O, yes, that's one of the important responsibilties of the chief executive!!

[Diana]

Obama is afraid of messing up again. What a coward, can't take the heat. He wants to be treated with silk (I don't like kids') gloves. I thought the ABC moderators' questions were appropriate. About time that moderators finally had the courage to ask the right questions. The public deserves to know everything about anyone wanting to be elected the most powerful person on earth. Thanks ABC for a job well done!

[bill alton]

Boy how things can change fast, ole Obama wanted to debate anyone, then when he gets his a.. kicked what do they do, they just cancel the rest of the debates, how nice. Obama has now shown he cant do the job!!! What a looser!!

[Kimberly]

What's the matter Obama - are you afraid? I live in NC, so don't you think we deserve the same respect that PA, Iowa, and all the others states in which you debated?

I love Katie on the CBS News - I hope she doesn't leave.

Vote for Hillary 08!!!