Gail Shister
TVNewser Columnist
CNN’s Wolf Blitzer during some limited downtime Tuesday night covering the Pennsylvania primary.
CNN isn’t counting on a Clinton-Obama debate in Indiana.
But just in case, “we’ve already scouted two locations and are good to go,” says CNN political director Sam Feist. “We can turn these things around pretty quickly.”
The Democratic primary is May 6. At this point, it’s even money that the presidential event — sponsored by the Indiana Debate Commission, CNN and PBS — will take place, according to the, well, feisty Feist.
“We’re waiting to hear,” he says. “The Clinton campaign is interested. The Obama campaign said they would not look at our proposal until after the Pennsylvania primary [Tuesday.] We’ll see what happens.”
CNN has been debate-less since the Democrats got it on Feb. 21 in Austin, leading up to the Texas primary. The deal went down so fast that CNN announced it “nine days before it actually happened,” Feist says.
Along with good citizenship, the debates have been scoring boffo ratings this cycle. CNN has six of the top 10. The network also beat Fox News and MSNBC during PA primary coverage last night in both Total Viewers and the ad-friendly 25-54 demo.
However, the unexpectedly long primary cycle has meant many canceled vacations, 80-hour work weeks and nagging illnesses, Feist says. Not to mention beaucoup bucks.
“We’re trying to take care of people and make sure to rotate them off the trail. Nobody expected this. But it’s the campaign of a lifetime. The candidates are continuing full steam ahead, and so are we.”
Fun Fact: Feist turns 40 Jan. 21, the day after the inauguration. “Sounds like a good time for a vacation.”
On another note, the newest member of “the best political team on television” is expected back in Washington today or tomorrow, says Feist.
Contributor Tony Snow, who was to have debuted Tuesday on CNN’s Pennsylvania primary coverage, instead was hospitalized in Spokane, Washington, due to exhaustion.
“You’re likely to see him on CNN in the next few days,” Feist says. “He’s feeling much better. It was nothing serious.”
Feist is a longtime Snow fan. “One of the great things about him is, whether you agree or disagree with him, everybody likes him. He’s a wonderful man.”