Bret Baier Defends Fox News Amid ‘Controversy’ After Multiple Networks Quickly Call Iowa for Trump
Fox News anchor Bret Baier addressed the “controversy” surrounding the media’s quick call of the Iowa caucus for Donald Trump on Monday night and defended his network, which also made the call very quickly.
“You know, it’s interesting for the call, Brit. Um, obviously it happens very early, number of networks, including Fox making that call,” Baier began, addressing veteran political analyst Brit Hume.
“We have AP, Associated Press, we have the Fox News voter analysis, along with the Associated Press. This rolling poll of caucus-goers, as well as the raw total of votes coming in, once that was overwhelming on the analysis of that. Uh, we could make the call in the caucuses when the doors closed for the caucuses. That is when the official time is to be able to characterize the race. And so that’s how that develops that early. Again, there’s a lot of controversy around it because people were inside and obviously had their phones. Um, but that’s how the rules go for Iowa,” Baier concluded.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s campaign complained that the early call helped Trump.“It is absolutely outrageous that the media would participate in election interference by calling the race before tens of thousands of Iowans even had a chance to vote. The media is in the tank for Trump and this is the most egregious example yet,” said DeSantis spokesman Andrew Romeo on Monday night.
“Well, and you also have to, you know, the reason why people worry about calling these races too soon is that in some places, people haven’t voted,” noted Hume, adding:
That makes a lot of sense in a general election where people walk in to catch about and leave, and if they hear about it ahead of time, they may decide not even to bother. But we’re talking here about people who come out on a cold night to gather at the caucus site, and the doors have closed and nobody can get in. And, you know, and so their opportunity to vote remains. It’s hard to believe that very many people would say, oh my goodness and the race has been called I’m going home. I don’t think so. So I think, you know, it’s the impact of it seems to me to be the premise is doubtful.
“And then what’s your overall impression of the night and this big win? We don’t know how big. Uh, but it’s going to be significant,” Baier then asked.
“Well, let’s not forget that second place, uh, has led to a lot of people winning the nomination in Iowa, after Iowa, finishing second. And Iowa is worth something. Uh, there are a lot of places where it wouldn’t be in in the coming races, and the future won’t be as much. But out here, be what you win. Second, you survive, you go on. And who knows, you might win a nomination. A number of second-place finishers have,” Hume concluded.
Watch the full clip above via Fox News.
