CNN hires Fox News personalities

Fox News anchor Kirsten Powers is leaving the network and heading to CNN as a political analysis. Powers, who will continue as a contributor for USA Today, will join the network immediately.

She follows former Fox News anchor Alisyn Camerota who joined CNN in July. Camerota had spent 16 years at Fox.

Besides Camerota, Powers will find another familiar face at her new network. Bob Beckel, who spent years as one of the co-hosts on Fox News’ afternoon program, “The Five,” joined CNN in October 2015.

It looks like Jeff Zucker, President of CNN Worldwide and formerly with NBC, is pulling in some more-balanced talent. Zucker had recognized that CNN was “a little too liberal” in the past and appears to be rectifying that problem, telling the Wall Street Journal:

“I think it was a legitimate criticism of CNN that it was a little too liberal,” Mr. Zucker said. “We have added many more middle-of-the-road conservative voices to an already strong stable of liberal voices. And I think that we are a much more-balanced network and, as a result, a much more inviting network to a segment of the audience that might not have otherwise been willing to come here.”

WSJ added:

After years of weak ratings, the network is nipping at the heels of Fox News, the longtime ratings leader in cable news, whose prime-time audience has grown 42% to 450,000 viewers, and is roughly doubling the audience of MSNBC, the weakest of the three major cable news channels. which is up 73% at 225,000.

The changes at CNN have been noticed so it will be interesting to see if Zucker is able to lure others from the Fox News stable of personalities.

Jeb continues to lead GOP in CNN/ORC 2016 presidential poll

By Lynn R. Mitchell

CNN reported in their latest 2016 presidential poll that former Florida Governor Jeb Bush continues to lead in the ever-expanding field of Republican candidates:

Bush stands at 19%, up from 13% in May — and his best showing in CNN/ORC polling since December. Trump follows at 12%, up from 3% before his announcement. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (8%), neurosurgeon Ben Carson (7%) and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (7%) round out the top five.

Notably absent from this top five — though statistically speaking not far behind — are Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (6%, down from 14% in May) and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (6%, down slightly from 10%). Both had been top five candidates in each of the last two CNN/ORC polls, and Walker had been in the top five since February.

The poll, conducted just before New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie formally launched his campaign with a rally in Livingston, New Jersey, on Tuesday, also finds that Christie begins his push for the presidency with just 3% support.

The findings suggest Bush is making progress toward being seen as the frontrunner in a field that has long lacked a clear leader. He holds a significant lead over the second-place candidate Trump, is seen as the candidate who could best handle illegal immigration and social issues, and runs about even with Trump and well ahead of the other candidates when Republicans are asked which candidate can best handle the economy.

Trump continues to face fallout due to his negative immigration comments about the Mexican-American/Hispanic community while announcing his candidacy for president. Macy’s, NBC, Univision, and others are severing ties with the real estate mogul and billionaire businessman.

Hillary continues to lead the Democratic field.

CNN Poll: Jeb leaps in front as candidate with ‘right experience to be president’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Jeb Bush is at the top of the latest CNN 2016 presidential poll — and brace yourselves because there will be a gazillion more between now and November 2016 — but a couple of things jumped out.

Here are the candidate rankings that have Jeb at the top with Walker five points behind:

Solidarity in Paris: the world rallies against radical terrorism

By Lynn R. Mitchell

As leaders from around the world gathered in France on Sunday to show solidarity against terrorism, it was noted that the President of the United States was not there. Taking Barack Obama’s place was U.S. Ambassador to France Jane Hartley (see Obama, Kerry absent from unity rally in Paris):

Hundreds of thousands of people attended the march in Paris on Sunday, waving both French flags and those of other nations.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov were among those who attended, along with religious leaders.

CNN Poll: ‘Jeb Bush surges to 2016 GOP frontrunner’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Jeb Bush is the clear Republican presidential frontrunner, surging to the front of the potential GOP pack following his announcement that he’s “actively exploring” a bid, a new CNN/ORC poll found.

He takes nearly one-quarter — 23% — of Republicans surveyed in the new nationwide poll, putting him 10 points ahead of his closest competitor, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who tallied 13%.

“Sixty-nine percent say they want a nominee that can beat the Democratic candidate for president, even if that person doesn’t agree with them on every issue, while only 29 percent of GOP primary voters are purists. And that makes Bush the candidate to beat in a GOP primary.”

The poll was released December 28.

NBC-12’s Ryan Nobles heading to D.C. to join CNN

By Lynn R. Mitchell

On Monday afternoon Richmond-based WWBT NBC-12 reporter Ryan Nobles posted to his Facebook page (on the day that coincidentally happened to be his birthday):

George W wants Jeb to run for President

By Lynn R. Mitchell

In an interview Thursday afternoon at his Crawford, Texas, ranch with CNN’s Jake Tapper, former President George W. Bush said he hopes his younger brother, Jeb, to run for President.  He noted that Jeb is doing his homework, and that he personally had not talked with him about his decision. He said Jeb probably would not announce until after the November 2014 elections and that he would make a great president.  He reiterated, “I hope he runs.”