MSNBC Launching Campaign On Wednesday (Two Days After CNN)

MSNBC is launching its midterm election coverage with “Decision 2006: Battleground America” all day Wednesday. The programming will air from 9am to 6pm. “MSNBC will profile the battleground races across the country, including interviews with numerous incumbents, challengers, and political experts,” the P.R. says. MSNBC has been promoting the coverage extensively. Some hourly examples:

> 9am: “Tim Russert will interview the chairs of the Republican and Democratic campaign committees,” as well as “Republican and Democratic pollsters as well as Chuck Todd, editor in chief of The Hotline.”

> 10am: David Gregory will interview Howard Dean and Ken Mehlman.

> 11am: Lester Holt will interview John Murtha.

> 12pm: Campbell Brown will interview Harold Ford.

> 1pm: Brian Williams will anchor a “special hour of coverage.”

MSNBC’s campaign kickoff comes two days after CNN’s. On Labor Day, the traditional start of the campaign season, The Situation Room flooded the air with reporters, analysts, and guests. (Here’s the press release.)