CNN Gives Gabbard The Cold Shoulder In New Hampshire
The cable news network announced a series of town halls for eight 2020 Democrats before the state’s Feb. 11 primary, but the Hawaii congresswoman says she wasn’t invited.
WASHINGTON — Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard says she was snubbed.
When CNN it was hosting a series of nationally televised town halls in New Hampshire, just days before the state’s Democratic primary, Gabbard was left off the list.
Eight candidates made the cut, including the four frontrunners — former Vice President Joe Biden, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg.
The other candidates invited to participate include Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, businessman Andrew Yang, billionaire Tom Steyer and former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, a late entry in the race who polls far behind the rest of the pack.
Gabbard struggles in most national presidential polls — currently averaging , according to Real Clear Politics — but does better in New Hampshire where she’s taken up residence and spends significant amounts of time and money.
Over the weekend, Gabbard hit at least 5% in two polls conducted among likely Democratic primary voters in the Granite State.
Each poll — including one from and another that put her at 6% — counts toward qualifying her for the Democratic National Committee’s next debate scheduled for Feb. 7 in New Hampshire, only a few days before voters cast their ballots.
Gabbard’s campaign decried CNN’s decision to leave her out of the town hall mix in a fundraising email that bordered on conspiracy, saying that the “establishment” was out to get her for her criticism of mainstream media, the DNC and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who Gabbard once described as the “queen of the warmongers.”
Gabbard last week filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against Clinton for comments she made that described the Hawaii congresswoman as a “favorite of the Russians.”
“If this seems like a blatant attempt by the establishment media to silence our voices right when we’re gaining strength, and rig the primary — it’s because it is,” Gabbard’s campaign said in its fundraising pitch.
“CNN won’t provide a reason for why it is refusing to give Tulsi the air time, but here’s a guess: They are making her pay for her vocal criticism of the Clinton War Machine, the corporate media and the DNC establishment elite.”
Civil Beat reached out to CNN to find out why Gabbard was not included in its town hall scheduled, but has yet to receive a response.
