Who Will Be Russert's Successor?
Tom Brokaw by Ali Goldstein/NBC
Executives at NBC News are still reeling over the death of friend and colleague
Tim Russert. But soon they will have to come up with a plan about how to proceed with their coverage of the 2008 Presidential campaign, which includes picking Russert's successor at
Meet the Press. While we believe there are only two real candidates for the job, here's what we think about all the names that have been thrown out there.
Tom Brokaw: If he took the job on an interim basis - a possibility - the former NBC
Nightly News anchor could give
Meet the Press the gravitas that Sunday morning viewers like. It could also help heal the shock of losing Russert. But corporately, NBC rarely goes for short-term solutions.
David Gregory: The best and most logical choice in light of his experience as chief White House correspondent and his Russert-like fearlessness as an interrogator. CBS News was eyeing Gregory to succeed Bob Schieffer on
Face the Nation, but his contract with NBC runs well into 2009.
Chuck Todd: The network's political director was recruited by Russert. He's getting better on the air all the time. With Gregory at
Meet the Press, he would be a strong choice for Russert's behind the scenes role as Washington bureau chief and sit at the side of NBC
Nightly News anchor Brian Williams during convention and election night coverage.
Chris Matthews: The
Hardball host is simply too partisan and a lightning rod for criticism. He's also fallen out of favor at NBC News. His contract is up next year and the network only wants to keep him at a lower salary.
Joe Scarborough: After being adrift for years in MSNBC's prime time line-up, he's finally getting some traction with
Morning Joe, the show that replaced
Imus in the Morning. But his Republican partisan background is still too fresh to viewers and Washington insiders for him to be a credible choice.
Katie Couric: Russert first brought her into NBC News and she's made politics a priority at the CBS Evening News. But if the traditional evening news audience doesn't like her, it's hard to imagine that she'd catch on with the even the stodgier Sunday morning public affairs viewer. If Couric does return to NBC News, she's going to have to wrap her mind around the idea of being on MSNBC.
Related Russert News: "
Remembering Tim Russert, TV's Political Enthusiast "
Brokaw to Tribute Russert on June 15 Meet the Press "
TV Guide's Last Interview with Tim Russert "
Meet the Press' Tim Russert Dead at 58
