The host of “The Source” on WURD in Philadelphia said officials provided her with a list of eight questions to choose from. The Biden campaign said its staff did not condition the interviews on them.
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President Biden’s campaign had scheduled interviews with the hosts of two radio programs with large Black followings as part of a broader effort to reassure Americans of his mental fitness.
The questions asked of President Biden by two radio interviewers this week were provided in advance to the hosts by members of Mr. Biden’s team, one of the hosts said Saturday morning on CNN.
Andrea Lawful-Sanders, the host of “The Source” on WURD in Philadelphia, said Biden officials provided her with a list of eight questions ahead of the interview on Wednesday.
“The questions were sent to me for approval; I approved of them,” she told Victor Blackwell, the host of “First of All” on CNN. Asked if it was the White House that sent the questions to her in advance, she said it was.
“I got several questions — eight of them,” she said. “And the four that were chosen were the ones that I approved.”
Lauren Hitt, a spokeswoman for the Biden campaign, said it was actually campaign aides, not White House officials, who sent the list of questions. She said it is “not uncommon” for the campaign to share preferred topics, but added that campaign officials “do not condition interviews on acceptance of these questions” by the interviewer.
“Hosts are always free to ask the questions they think will best inform their listeners,” she said. “In addition to these interviews, the president also participated in a press gaggle yesterday as well as an interview with ABC. Americans have had several opportunities to see him unscripted since the debate.”
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Source: nytimes.com
