Ground Game

Blind dates are always bad ideas, but that didn't stop Fox News from trying to play matchmaker.

During yesterday’s broadcast of Fox News Sunday, guests John McCain and Hillary Clinton were briefly, and awkwardly, on screen simultaneously. The event didn’t seem staged by the two campaigns, so much as by Fox News. After all, why would either candidate want to be ushered into a forced moment of bipartisan banter 48 hours before heading into a contentious primary-election battle?

Howard Kurtz did some follow-up with the Fox News producers, and finds:

Advisers to Hillary Clinton and John McCain felt misled yesterday when "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace prodded the candidates into talking to each other after they had agreed to be interviewed separately.

Kurtz also notes the McCain campaign was “particularly unhappy” about the unscheduled appearance.

Powerline’s Ed Morrissey says Fox owes both candidates an apololgy:

Part of the conservative complaint against McCain is his deference to Democrats while treating conservatives much more harshly. That got put on full display yesterday, as the two exchanged not just pleasantries but assurances that a general-election contest between the two would be "respectful". Republicans may want someone less inclined to put the gloves on against Hillary than taking them off against fellow Republicans. Both candidates got taken by surprise, but Hillary hasn't got Democrats wondering if the Clintons can fight hard enough against Republicans. Fox and Wallace owe both candidates an apology.