Of the three network morning shows on Thursday, only NBC's Today highlighted Kentucky Senator Rand Paul's viral social media meme, #HillarysLosers, which pointed out that every Democratic candidate that would-be 2016 presidential contender Hillary Clinton campaigned for in 2014 lost in Tuesday's midterm election.
At the top of the morning show, co-host Savannah Guthrie announced: "#HillarysLosers. Senator Rand Paul mocks Hillary Clinton on Twitter after nearly every candidate she campaigned for lost in the midterms."
Minutes later, fellow co-host Matt Lauer reported: "...you think it's game on for 2016 already?...Senator Rand Paul, considered a hopeful for the presidency on the Republican side in 2016, posted a series of photos on his Facebook page showing Hillary Clinton campaigning alongside five candidates for Senate, all of whom lost after she campaigned with them, with the #HillarysLosers."
You didnt think it could get worse than your book tour? It did. Courtesy of the U.S. voters: https://t.co/kGAZVFq7ze pic.twitter.com/zABFStFM67
— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) November 5, 2014
Guthrie added: "...he then said Hillary was yesterday's news."
She concluded: "I take two points away from this. Rand Paul definitely running in 2016 and he thinks Hillary Clinton is, too. So, it is on."
Here is a transcript of the brief November 6 coverage:
7:00 AM ET TEASE:
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: #HillarysLosers. Senator Rand Paul mocks Hillary Clinton on Twitter after nearly every candidate she campaigned for lost in the midterms.
7:10 AM ET SEGMENT:
MATT LAUER: The midterms behind us, you think it's game on for 2016 already? Take a look at this. Senator Rand Paul, considered a hopeful for the presidency on the Republican side in 2016, posted a series of photos on his Facebook page showing Hillary Clinton campaigning alongside five candidates for Senate, all of whom lost after she campaigned with them, with the #HillarysLosers.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Rand Paul's #HillarysLosers; GOP Senator Mocks Clinton On Twitter, Facebook]
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: I was going to say, not to put too fine a point on it, he then said Hillary was yesterday's news. I take two points away from this. Rand Paul definitely running in 2016 and he thinks Hillary Clinton is, too.
LAUER: Exactly.
GUTHRIE: So, it is on.
