Why Chris Matthews, anyway?

St. Pete Times columnist Howard Troxler wasn't the first to ask why  "Hardball" host Chris Matthews, a Beltway insider, will moderate next week's second gubernatorial debate between Charlie Crist and Jim Davis. Check out Troxler's rant-filled piece here.

Crist media adviser Stuart Stevens asked why the Florida media passively accepts an outsider moderating a crucial face-off between Crist and Davis when, he said, there appear to be abundant Florida journalists with deeper knowledge of the candidates and issues.

The answer is, most of the Florida media had no say in the matter. The Oct. 30 debate, to be broadcast from WFLA-Channel 8 in Tampa, is produced by the NBC stations, and they're eager to showcase their news stars such as Matthews and Tim Russert of Meet the Press in a debate in the nation's biggest battleground state.

As WFLA news director Don North told The Buzz: "They have a huge profile, and in these types of situations, they do a good job. It adds a certain profile to the debates." (WFLA is owned by Media General, which also owns The Tampa Tribune).

Comments

Hey, they should have had Al Roker or some little hottie from NBC. Matthews is a blowhard.

Al Roker would be HILARIOUS!!!!!!!! I second that motion

The question is, will Matthews ask Criset the gay question?

[Gene Smith]

The real question is will Matthews allow Crist to get away with his patented "bumper sticker" answers.

Crist is scared of Matthews and frankly both candidiates should be.

I think the winner of that debate will not be the one who answers the questions the best but does not let Matthews style affect them.

The question is, will Davis show up?

I vote for Willard Scott.

How about Bernie from "Weekend at Bernie's"?

the question is, will matthews ask Crist what he thinks of Hardball?

[the shadow]

Eat it Gene. Lets fight!

[terminator]

Both candidates should watch the FOX interview where Matthews got dressed down by W.
Matthews looked like a naughty little boy who just got caught with his fingers in the cookie jar.
He didn't look like the hardball reporter that he is reputed to be.

I vote for Steve Bousquet

Matthews has a chance to show some maturity here.

But will he??

When has Howard Troxler ever written a column that wasn't "rant-filled?"

It's like reading Al Franken.

let matthews go have a beer with that moron in the white house. get a moderator for this debate that actually knows something about the state of florida.

[Susan S]

I'm sure Matthews will ask Davis and Crist how their win would impact Hillary Clinton. The man is OBSESSED with her and Bill!

The Florida Chamber of Commerce Poll:

A separate poll by that business-backed group shows Crist with a still-commanding 49-38 lead over Davis among registered voters. And Crist's lead grows to 54-36 when the sample is reduced to only likely voters, the chamber says. The overall survey of registered voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

Hey 11:59, do you mean Helen Thomas?

:)