Obama campaign prefers talking to country DJs to news folks

A couple DJs at a Huntington radio station got to interview Barack Obama this morning.

HUNTINGTON — Rocky and Rod, morning show hosts with Rocky ‘n’ Rod’s Radio Ranch on WDGG-FM, 93.7 The Dawg, had a special visitor at 9 as Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama called in to the morning show.

So now I know where The Herald-Dispatch ranks in the world of politics.

Here's why I say that.

A month ago, I published a little item on the editorial page advising candidates that if they wanted to express an opinion in something longer than a letter to the editor, that they needed to get it in by a certain date. But the pieces had to be no longer than 500 words.

So right before the deadline, the Barack Obama campaign for central and southeast Ohio called and asked if we would consider a submission from their candidate. I told then to send it in and I would look at it. It was a piece on health care, and it was something like 750 words.

Fast forward to the past seven days. We get an advisory that Obama would be in Portsmouth, Ohio, today. I figured I would ask if we could get some access. Here is what I wrote to the campaign for central and southeast Ohio:

I see where Senator Obama will be in Portsmouth, Ohio, on Thursday. That’s about one hour west of us. Any chance we could get some availability for our editorial board? In person is preferable. We can do it by phone if need be.

This week I get a call from Obama's West Virginia campaign saying the candidate is not doing interviews.

And this morning I learn he was on local radio.

So I write the Obama campaign pointing out the fact that Obama apparently does not have time to talk to a newspaper that circulates in southern Ohio, but he does have time to talk with a country music radio station.

The campaign replied that I could talk with Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland or Sen. Sherrod Brown or West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, but not Obama.

I did not reply. I might have said something I would regret, considering this newspaper has endorsed every Democratic presidential candidate since I can remember, including both Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale over Ronald Reagan.

But now I know where we in the press rate compared to country music DJs.