Pres. Obama: ‘I Understand There Are Some Political Contests Going on Tonight’

By Chris Ariens 

White House correspondents Mike Viqueira (NBC), Ed Henry (FOX), Norah O'Donnell (CBS) and Jake Tapper (ABC) ahead of Pres. Obama news conference, March 6, 2012.

Pres. Obama began his first news conference of the year acknowledging that this not just any Tuesday, it’s Super Tuesday. “I understand there are some political contests going on tonight,” said Obama, bBut I thought I’d start the day off by taking a few questions which I’m sure will not be political in nature.”

After an opening statement on a new housing program, Obama began taking questions from:

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1. Mike Viqueira, NBC News – Syria, Iran

2. Jake Tapper, ABC News – Israel/Iran

3. Jackie Calmes, New York Times – Iran

4. Ed Henry, Fox News – Israel/Iran, Gas prices. Obama: “Ed, just from a political perspective, do you think the president of the United States going into re-election, wants gas prices to go up higher? Is there anybody here who thinks that makes a lot of sense?”

5. Aamer Madhani, USA Today – Limbaugh apology: “I don’t know what’s in Rush Limbaugh’s heart so I’m not going to comment on his apology.”

6. Jessica Yellin, CNN – Limbaugh/Fluke, Women voters

7. Lori Montenegro, Telemundo – Latino voters

8. Norah O’Donnell, CBS News – Super Tuesday, Romney criticisms

9. Lynn Sweet, Chicago Sun-Times – G8 Summit moving from Chicago to Camp David

10. Unidentified – Nato Summit, Koran Burning

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