What a difference a month makes. Just four weeks ago, Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie was grilling Joe Biden over his son Hunter’s “sleazy” business dealings in Ukraine. However, during an exclusive interview with the now-Democratic frontrunner on Thursday, the NBC anchor was sympathizing with the former Vice President over Republicans “coming after” him on the issue.
“If someone had told you even a week ago that you would do so well on Super Tuesday, that you would be outright winning states you never even set foot in, be honest, would you have believed them?,” Guthrie asked as the friendly chat began, allowing Biden to revel in his recent primary wins.
Moments later, she lamented that President Trump was “obviously hoping that there’s more investigation of your son, of Burisma, the energy company that he served the board on.” Guthrie fretted: “Do you think that as your political fortunes rise, they’re coming after you more?”
Biden assured her: “Come on. Of course. There’s nothing there, there.”
The most challenging questions Guthrie put to Biden were those worrying whether he was liberal enough:
> Let’s talk about Mr. Sanders. He has been talking about your victory. He said, “Joe is running a campaign which is obviously heavily supported by the corporate establishment.” What do you think about that argument?
> Senator Sanders has been hitting you hard on some of your past decisions, some of your record. In particular, he’s talking about your vote in favor of the Iraq war. He also says you voted for trade agreements that will make it difficult for you in some of the rust belt states that were gonna come voting in the next few weeks. Did does he have a point about aspects of your record coming back to haunt you?
To the latter question, Biden cited the media as a character witness: “No. My record has been so thoroughly investigated, you guys rightly looked at it, every vote I’ve ever taken.”
In reality, NBC and ABC have been particularly adept at covering up Biden blunders throughout the campaign.
A significant portion of Thursday’s softball interview consisted of questions designed to tout Biden’s political support within the Democratic Party:
> Is it time, though, for President Obama to get off the sideline and make an endorsement and put his finger on the scale?
> Let’s talk about Michael Bloomberg. He dropped out of the race, he’s supporting you now. What kind of help do you think he’ll give to your campaign? What do you expect? What do you hope?
> Do you feel confident that you can sow up this nomination before the convention or do you think this is a battle that’s gonna go all the way to Milwaukee?
As the taped report ended, fellow co-host Craig Melvin concluded: “Vice President Biden clearly confident.” Guthrie gushed: “Yeah, he definitely had a little more pep in his step after Super Tuesday and was, you know, kind of feisty....obviously feeling better than when we saw him a couple weeks ago before Iowa. A much different situation.”
It was definitely a “different situation.” Generally as a candidate for president rises in the polls, media scrutiny increases. Instead, NBC seems to be moving in the opposite direction, getting gentler as Biden nears the Democratic nomination.
Here is a transcript of all of Guthrie’s questions Biden during the interview aired on March 5:
7:12 AM ET
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SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: If someone had told you even a week ago that you would do so well on Super Tuesday, that you would be outright winning states you never even set foot in, be honest, would you have believed them?
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GUTHRIE: Let’s talk about Mr. Sanders. He has been talking about your victory. He said, “Joe is running a campaign which is obviously heavily supported by the corporate establishment.” What do you think about that argument?
JOE BIDEN: It’s ridiculous.
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GUTHRIE: The President, of course, has been watching the Democratic primary very closely and he actually has been weighing in on behalf of Bernie Sanders. He said, “The system is rigged against Sanders,” that the Democrats are, quote, “staging a coup against him.” Okay, I’ll throw it out there –
BIDEN: I wonder why he’s saying that?
GUTHRIE: Well, I mean, why do you think so? Do you think the President is rooting for Sanders?
BIDEN: Look, I think the one thing the President doesn’t want to do, from the very beginning, is face me, because I will beat him, period. Period. He has done everything in his power, he’s even risked his presidency because he doesn't want to face me.
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GUTHRIE: Well, you know, you mention the President has gone after you. We know that he’s obviously hoping that there’s more investigation of your son, of Burisma, the energy company that he served the board on. Do you think that as your political fortunes rise, they’re coming after you more?
BIDEN: Come on. Of course. There’s nothing there, there. Look, Donald Trump has corrupted the soul of this country. Donald Trump has pummeled the middle class. Donald Trump has embraced dictators and poked his thumb in the eye of our allies. Donald Trump is a disaster.
And he knows it and he knows I am going to be able to point it out. I can hardly, hardly wait to debate him.GUTHRIE: First you’ve got to get through the Democratic primary. And returning to that, Bernie Sanders released an ad today, I’m going to play you a portion of it, I think you may recognize the voice you’re about to hear.
BARACK OBAMA [BERNIE SANDERS AD]: I think people are ready for a call to action. They want honest leadership who cares about them. They want somebody who’s going to fight for them. And they will find it in Bernie. That’s right, feel the Bern!
GUTHRIE: President Obama of course has not endorsed anyone in the Democratic primary. Do you think that ad is misleading?
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GUTHRIE: Is it time, though, for President Obama to get off the sideline and make an endorsement and put his finger on the scale?
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GUTHRIE: Let’s talk about Michael Bloomberg. He dropped out of the race, he’s supporting you now. What kind of help do you think he’ll give to your campaign? What do you expect? What do you hope?
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GUTHRIE: Senator Sanders has been hitting you hard on some of your past decisions, some of your record. In particular, he’s talking about your vote in favor of the Iraq war. He also says you voted for trade agreements that will make it difficult for you in some of the rust belt states that were gonna come voting in the next few weeks. Did does he have a point about aspects of your record coming back to haunt you?
BIDEN: No. My record has been so thoroughly investigated, you guys rightly looked at it, every vote I’ve ever taken.
(...)
GUTHRIE: There was a scary moment on stage the other night when a protester rushed the stage and your wife, Dr. Jill Biden, and one of your senior advisors, Symone Sanders, rushed to the rescue. They make for good security, but does that raise, in your mind, the question of whether you should have U.S. Secret Service protection and whether the other candidates in the race should?
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GUTHRIE: Was that scary?
BIDEN: My wife is something else, isn’t she?
GUTHRIE: Yes. She had your back for sure.
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GUTHRIE: Does it feel like that kind of protection is necessary?
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GUTHRIE: Do you feel confident that you can sow up this nomination before the convention or do you think this is a battle that’s gonna go all the way to Milwaukee?
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GUTHRIE: Mr. Vice President, thank you for being with us, really appreciate it.
BIDEN: Thank you, Savannah.
CRAIG MELVIN: Vice President Biden clearly confident.
GUTHRIE: Yeah, he definitely had a little more pep in his step after Super Tuesday and was, you know, kind of feisty with Bernie Sanders, saying, “Come on, old friend, let’s do it.” “I can’t wait to debate the President,” he said. So obviously feeling better than when we saw him a couple weeks ago before Iowa. A much different situation.
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