Fox News anchor Bret Baier hopes to knock Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders off their talking points Monday, when both candidates take questions on Fox News in a Democratic town hall meeting at 6 p.m. ET.
“There are topics that have not been talked about in any of these (Democratic) debates,” Baier told TVNewser Monday morning. “Hopefully tonight we can dig into some things.”
It’s the first Democratic town hall meeting on Fox News Channel this election cycle—though the network has not been granted a Democratic debate. “We’ve tried,” said Baier. “So far we have not been lucky with that.”
When FNC announced Monday night’s town hall, it was only Sanders who had committed to appear. The Clinton campaign said “a conflict in her campaign schedule” would prohibit the front-runner from joining.
“I don’t know exactly what happened. They changed their mind,” Baier said. Following the Fox News Republican presidential debate Thursday night, “we got word on Friday they were reconsidering. And right before my show on Friday … they were locked in.”
It will be Clinton’s first appearance on Fox News since she was interviewed by Baier and Greta Van Susteren in 2014.
“Hillary Clinton is good in this format,” Baier said. “She hits her marks. She always has. I think the challenge and the press from Sanders at times has been interesting to watch. Obviously last night got fiery at times.”
Tonight, Baier will ask each of the candidates questions, followed by questions from Michigan voters, many of whom are undecided. In Michigan, with an open primary, some of the independents are split across party lines. Baier says he’s spoken to “a few independents deciding between Trump and Sanders,” and a couple of voters struggling to decide between Rubio and Clinton.
Fox News has announced that Monday night’s town hall will be carried online for free without authentication. The live stream will be made available on all desktop and mobile devices by FOXNews.com.