Unlike the CNBC GOP debate (though unintentionally) FBN’s first presidential primary debate was not about the moderators, but about the candidates. Just as they’d hoped.
This morning all four debate moderators, Neil Cavuto, Maria Bartiromo, Trish Regan and Sandra Smith (three of whom previously worked at CNBC) were on Fox & Friends (simulcast on FBN) taking a victory lap.
“We’re biased, we work for Fox,” Steve Doocy said, before citing CNNMoney’s story on the debate. “Their headline is–CNN, that must kill them–No debate over Fox Business moderators: Better than CNBC. Hats off to all of you,” said Doocy.
“Well, thanks,” said Bartiromo. “I worked there. Neil worked there. Trish worked there. So it’s pretty good.”
“You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression,” Cavuto said when asked how important this debate was for the 8-year-old network. “We wanted it to be a favorable one. We’re all very comfortable being nerds. We’re comfortable discussing money issues, it’s what we’re about, it’s in our DNA and that’s what we were going to push, nothing more, nothing less.”
Bartiromo also explained the broach she wore, which took on a life of its own on Twitter. It’s a family heirloom. “I felt like my grandmother was with me. It was her broach,” she said.
She also talked about her favorite moment: “It was when I got booed!” In a question, Bartiromo used those two words that never go over well in front of a GOP crowd: Hillary Clinton. Bartiromo thought it was important to ask the candidates which one of them could beat the Democratic frontrunner in the general election.