Midterms: CBS Downplaying Expectations For Couric; “This Is Like Round 1”

For Katie Couric, “who has thus far been stuck in third place in the ratings,” midterm election coverage “would seem particularly important,” Jacques Steinberg notes. But CBS News VP Paul Friedman is trying to downplay the night’s significance.

“This is like Round 1,” he says. “It’s a set piece. It won’t attract as many viewers as an unexpected development would… Not that I’m wishing for disasters or anything.”