The netroots love it, but literally every serious-minded Democrat engaged in this race we’ve talked to has told us this is spelling doom for Edwards. Democrats love to swipe Fox News, but avoiding their sponored air time is just plain unintelligent. The Edwards campaign explains, “there’s just no reason for Democrats to give Fox a platform to advance the right-wing agenda while pretending they’re objective.” – A point that doesn’t make sense considering Fox is trying to essentially make a several million dollar donation to the DNC by fronting the money, platform, airtime and largest cable audience in the country – and Edwards is refusing because they are a right-wing news network? Foolish.
As Edwards trails in the polls and the fundraising war, his rejection of a debate in front of such a huge audience (Fox’s NON-conservative viewers outnumber CNN’s TOTAL viewers) can do him no good.
Edwards previously ditched a Fox debate planned for Nevada that was sponsored by the Nevada Democratic party and others. With Edwards out and significant pressure from MoveOn and a gaggle of persistent bloggers, the Nevada Democratic party decided to abandon the Nevada event.
The public reasoning for the deal between the CBC and Fox, was expressed by Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS), chair of the CBC Institute “as a leading organization dedicated to educating the public on issues of national policy, the CBC Institute is committed to presenting the presidential candidates to the broadest audience possible.” Thompson added, “Our goal with each debate is to provide a platform that will allow voters to hear the positions of candidates from both political parties. Collaborating with FOX News provides an opportunity to take this presidential election to millions of households.”
Apparently for the Edwards campaign, avoiding a network you disagree with is more important than – not even engaging WITH it, but engaging your Democrat opponents ON it.