Obama Countdown Clock Set to Ring With Appearance This Week on ‘FOX News Sunday’
Barack Obama has abandoned his more than two-year silent treatment toward “FOX News Sunday,” accepting an invitation to appear this week on the national morning talk show.
The Democratic presidential candidate’s appearance will end a 772-day record of refusing to sit down for an interview.
FOX News Sunday host Chris Wallace said the decision to launch a “count-up” clock may have helped encourage Obama’s decision to be a guest.
“We started the clock a month ago at 730 days. This Sunday it will be up to 772 days and the conversation about Obama coming on got a lot more serious after we started the count down, or the count up,” Wallace said.
He added that an Obama campaign aide had called the clock “obnoxious” when it first aired on March 16, 2008.
“It may have been obnoxious but it was also effective,” Wallace said.
Last Sunday, the Obama clock was past 765 days, 13 hours, 54 min and 47 seconds by the end of the show. Since then, Obama lost the Pennsylvania primary to Hillary Clinton by 10 points, the first primary to be held since the clock aired. The two candidates face off next in North Carolina and Indiana on May 6.
Wallace said if Obama had won Pennsylvania, he may not have accepted the invitation.
“If he had won he’d probably on a Caribbean island this weekend. The fact that he’s going to be on Sunday television and on FOX News may be an indication he figures he has to reach out to working-class Democrats, moderates and conservative Democrats and FOX News is a good place to do it,” he said.
Clinton last appeared on “FOX News Sunday” on Feb. 3. Obama will pre-tape his appearance on Saturday from Marion, Ind., to appear on local FOX affiliate stations on Sunday morning. “FOX News Sunday” airs on FOX News Channel at 2 p.m. ET Sundays.
rudhun well said
Barack Obama is a charismatic man and politician. And in the future he is going to be a great statesman. He is just the right President of the United States for eight years.
Chris Wallace let Obama off the hook. After watching the show, I thought the line of questioning should have been a lot tougher. For example, when Obama stated that Ayers was only an acquaintance of his, as if he’s only someone he knows in passing. Why wasn’t the question asked; why would someone you “hardly know” host in their home the kick-off to your campaign/run for office back in 1995? Sorry, this is but only one example, Chris had his chance to expose the constant inaccuracies and spin of Obama’s statements and blew it! Maybe it went to his head that he was able to get Obama on his show, so he went easy on the questions or maybe he just wasn’t prepared. In any case Obama played him good!
I believe Obama does for America what no President since JFK has done. He has gotten Americans to believe that we can rise above the rhetoric of Washington and petty politics and show the world what America truly stands for. I believe he will transform America. GOD BLESS BARACK OBAMA!!
I am amazed that tv networks don’t much comment about the “chaos movement” promoted by Rush Limbaugh and Laura Ingrahm. Many folks are engaged in this process and are cheered by the radio talk show hosts who are heading this less than honrable process. The idea is to help Clinton become the nominee as she is so poloryzing and would more than likely loose to McCain. Is it possible that, beieve ir or not, like it or not, this has, in a big way shifted the dynamics in this primary elections?
i just left a comment about the great senator obama and i forgot to say that i am 51 yrs. old white and a woman from the south. not typical if i cant vote for obama i wont vote
Obama knows Fox news is reporting the complete and real truth about him…and it is hurting him..This is the only reason he has agreed to appear on Fox news..KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK FOX…
Senator Obama, is an educated Statesman that intimidates the entire Electra because of where he has come from, fear of his positive potentials for America and disbelief of his audacity to continue with his god-given mission to the Presidency!