NEWS AND OPINION:
Biased news organizations continue to shore up the public appeal of Democrats.
“Since Joe Biden exited the 2024 presidential race four weeks ago, the liberal networks have delivered an unprecedented boost of positive publicity to his successor in the race, Vice President Kamala Harris. Not only has Harris received 66% more airtime than former President Donald Trump, but the spin of Harris’s coverage has been more positive (84%) than any other major party nominee — while Trump’s coverage has been nearly entirely hostile (89% negative),” wrote Rich Noyes, contributing editor to Newsbusters.org, a conservative press watchdog.
Mr. Noyes called it a “massive media honeymoon” for the Democrats.
The extensive study examined 2024 presidential campaign coverage on ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts from July 21, the day Mr. Biden left the race, through Aug. 17. In those four weeks, these three broadcast networks produced 194 reports with a combined airtime of 437 minutes.
The liberal bias was also present in coverage of the vice president hopefuls, Mr. Noyes said.
“While Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance and his Democratic counterpart, Gov. Tim Walz, have received nearly equal amounts of airtime, the networks have celebrated Walz (62% positive press) and punished Vance (92% negative),” the study said.
$370 MILLION
In the meantime, the nation is about to experience a campaign-advertising blitz from Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. The campaign announced Monday that it will spend at least $370 million on digital and television advertising between Labor Day and Election Day. The campaign is busy reserving specific airtimes and ad space as the election nears.
“The Trump team has reserved virtually no critical ad placements in the battlegrounds, and has no meaningful long-term plan to communicate to the voters who will decide this election,” the campaign said in a statement.
“In addition to these historic investments on the air, the Harris-Walz campaign is also reaching voters on the ground. Our coordinated campaign now includes more than 1,600 paid staff and more than 280 offices across the battlegrounds,” the statement said.
“We are mobilizing 2,800 events across our key states in order to reach the voters that will decide this election,” the campaign said, adding that some 10,000 supporters have signed up for volunteer work as Election Day approaches.
“Collectively, these investments into paid media and organizing make clear that the Harris-Walz campaign is taking no voters for granted and planning to communicate relentlessly to battleground voters every single day between now and Election Day,” the campaign said.
“The fundamentals of this election remain true: it will be a close election decided by a small group of voters in just a handful of states. The Harris-Walz campaign’s advertising strategy is designed to break through a fragmented media environment and reach the voters who will decide this election,” it said.
CONVENTION HEADLINES
The media has perked up this week, and no wonder. The 2024 Democratic National Convention has begun, and there’s lots to do. Some headlines of note from the last 24 hours:
“Democrats will honor Biden while pivoting to Harris on first day of convention” (The Associated Press); “Tim Walz makes surprise Day 1 appearances” (USA Today); “Protests erupt, Chicago businesses board up as the DNC kicks off Day 1 festivities” (Fox News); “Democrats begin convention week with Biden passing the torch” (The New York Times); “Demonstrators begin filling Chicago’s Union Park; National Guard on standby, says Illinois governor” (The Guardian); “Trump to counter-program Harris as Walz hones his freedom speech” (CNBC); “Gaza divides threaten Democrat unity at Chicago convention” (the BBC); and “Prominent Republicans supporting Harris will speak at the Democratic National Convention” (NPR).
ONE FOR THE PUPS
The USO is seeking donations to honor the dogs who serve alongside their human companions rain or shine.
“During these dog days of summer, we’re celebrating our brave military working dogs and their handlers. For 82 years, military K-9 teams have faithfully protected our heroes in uniform and defended our freedoms in some of the most dangerous places in the world,” the USO said in a statement shared with Inside the Beltway.
“These brave K-9 teams risk so much — now it’s our turn to support them,” said the organization, which was founded in 1941.
“Summer is an especially challenging time for military K-9 teams. Not only do they face long days of scorching heat and humidity, but many of our service members are also far from home and missing precious summer moments — family vacations, BBQs and their kids’ baseball games. While the rest of us are enjoying the summer by the pool, military dogs and their handlers are putting their lives on the line to keep us all safe,“ the USO outreach said.
“Dogs have a long history of serving alongside service members. In 1942, patriotic Americans donated healthy and capable dogs to join the World War II war effort. Some 20,000 dogs bravely served our country throughout the war and helped secure an Allied victory,” it said.
Find the organization at uso.org.
POLL DU JOUR
• Half of U.S. adults surveyed say they have a great deal or a fair amount of trust in their state government; 63% of Democrats, 47% of independents and 45% of Republicans agree.
• 45% overall say they have a great deal or fair amount of trust in the U.S. Supreme Court; 27% of Democrats, 43% of independents and 68% of Republicans agree.
• 41% overall say they have a great deal or fair amount of trust in the federal government; 60% of Democrats, 43% of independents and 27% of Republicans agree.
• 32% overall say they have a great deal or fair amount of trust in the news media; 54% of Democrats, 30% of independents and 17% of Republicans agree.
• 18% overall say they have a great deal or fair amount of trust in politicians; 30% of Democrats, 15% of independents and 12% of Republicans agree.
SOURCE: A Syracuse University/Ipsos poll of 1,091 U.S. adults conducted online Aug. 9-11.
• Follow Jennifer Harper on X @HarperBulletin, on Facebook @HarperUniverse.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.