During the 2008 primary season,CNN premiered its “Magic Wall,” a national map with real-time election results from counties across the nation. And John King had all of 20 minutes to learn how to operate it. “I was skeptical at first,” says King, the network’s chief national correspondent and host of CNN’s Inside Politics. “I thought it was another one of the bells and whistles of television.” After a few early software glitches, the Wall now serves as King’s right-hand man. “It’s a great tool. You have a library and a map at the touch of your finger.” The 52-year-old correspondent comes to Cleveland’s RNC having covered the previous seven national elections while working for the Associated Press and CNN. “The primaries are hot rods,” says King. “The general election is NASCAR.”
On switching to broadcast journalism: When I was at AP, I didn’t have to wear a tie and makeup. I have a sign in my office that says, “Today Was a Total Waste of Makeup.” I used to watch TV news and think, The pretty people do that. It’s not that hard. But I quickly realized I was wrong. Lots of people watching TV have smartphones, tablets and laptops in their hands. You get one shot to say something compelling.
On the fascination of Trump: Nothing directly compares to what he has done. Donald Trump engineered a hostile takeover of the Republican Party and wiped the floor with a field of candidates that had 193 years experience in elected office. That’s extraordinary.
On what’s wrong with the GOP: Both parties have issues, but the Republicans’ issues are more obvious and profound. I don’t think whether Trump wins or loses is going to end that.
On Northeast Ohio’s role in the election: If Hillary Clinton gets a high turnout in the African-American precincts of Cuyahoga County, Trump has a problem. We’re going to know that pretty early on. And we always look at the suburbs within 20 miles of the city. Cuyahoga and Lake counties are a key for Clinton.
On Trump’s campaign: It’s going to be Metallica … not the symphony. It will be very nasty, very personal and very character-driven. For the Republican Party this is an enormous campaign. Is Trump an aberration, or do the forces of change in the party morph into something different?