11:30 a.m. UPDATE: OK. I got off the phone with Noel Fritsch, communications manager for Chris McDaniel campaign. He’s none too happy that I’m blogging about this, but — as I told him — I’m none too happy because I get the very real sense that he’s not being straight with me.
Here’s how the conversation went. These are not direct quotes, just paraphrases, but I’m sticking as closely as I can to preserve the tone of the conversation. We’ll pick up after he expressed his disappointment for me blogging about this.
Noel: I mispoke. It’s not Meridian.
Me: You misspoke?
Noel: Yes. I got the city wrong.
Me: OK. Then where is it?
Noel: Everything’s on the media advisory.
Me: There’s not a 4 p.m. event on the media advisory. There’s a 6 p.m. event on the media advisory.
Noel: Everything is on the media advisory.
Me: Then why are you canceling? Is it really a scheduling conflict?
Noel: Yes. There’s a scheduling conflict.
Me: But there’s nothing on the media advisory for 4 p.m.
Noel: Then it must be a private event. Private events aren’t on the media advisory.
Me: Where is it?
Noel: It’s a private event.
Me: You just said it was a public event earlier.
Noel: No, I didn’t.
Me: You said it was on the media advisory, and the media advisory only has public events.
Noel: I thought it was a public event, but it must not be.
Me: So is it in Meridian or Jackson or Brandon?
Noel: It’s a private event, and that’s it.
At that point, we returned to the discussion about how he couldn’t believe that I was blogging about this. I explained that I couldn’t believe he wasn’t being straight with me.
Honestly, I expected McDaniel to cancel. But how hard is it to say, “Sorry. We can’t make it. We have a scheduling conflict.” No made-up Meridian event needed. Sure, I would have asked about the conflict, to which I would have expected a, “Sorry. It’s a private function. I’ll get you a new date soon.” But, no…
By the way, had the campaign thought it through, they would have realized McDaniel didn’t have to cancel. Yes, we would have asked about the Cochran video, but that would not be the majority of the interview. If you think about it, what more do you expect to get about that topic? There’s a lot of other things about which to talk.
Furthermore, Cochran hasn’t even scheduled an editorial board meeting, and the McDaniel campaign knows that. They are still delaying. Can you imagine the great press McDaniel would have received for coming to do an editorial board interview today — after all that broke this weekend — and Cochran is still refusing to do so? I can. I had already started formulating the editorial in my head…
ORIGINAL STORY
Generally I don’t bring campaign staff into a story, but we’ve reached bizarre levels now.
Noel Fritsch, communications director for Chris McDaniel, called at 9:25 a.m. to tell me McDaniel would not be able to make the scheduled 2 p.m. editorial board meeting with The Clarion-Ledger because of what he called a “scheduling snafu.” It seems they have a 4 p.m. event in Meridian, and they can’t do the editorial board meeting and make the event.
Fritsch did say he would reschedule the meeting for later this week. The call lasted 51 seconds, and he hung up before I could ask about details of the event.
So, at 9:29 a.m. I emailed and asked him for the details so we could send a reporter and photographer. His reply a minute later:
should be on media advisory
At 9:44 a.m. I called to let him know we could do the editorial board meeting earlier if that would help. He didn’t answer, but he called back two minutes later. In a call lasting on minute, he told me that their schedule was too booked and that it couldn’t be today. He did say he had already emailed the scheduler to request a new time this week. That’s fine. Things come up…
Before we got off the phone, I asked for the details on the Meridian event. He told me they were on the media advisory. “That’s why I send out a media advisory, so you guys will have those details,” he told me. I explained that I didn’t have the media advisory in front of me and couldn’t he just tell me the details while we were on the phone.
He explained that he was too busy. He has lots of media requests — mostly national, he added — and that things were hectic. “I just need to know where,” I said. “Meridian,” he replied. “That’s all I know.” He then instructed me to look at the media advisory.
So, I did. Guess what: There’s not a Meridian event listed.
Here’s everything the media advisory has on it for Monday, May 19:
“On Monday, May 19th, state Senator McDaniel will meet with interested citizens in Pocahontas, Clinton and Brandon to discuss his candidacy for U.S. Senate to represent Mississippi.”
Luncheon with Jeppie Barbour at Cock o’ the Walk Restaurant in Pocahontas
Meeting with Rankin County Republican Women in Rankin County Board of Supervisors Meeting room in Brandon
Answer me this: How are they going to have an event in Meridian at 4 p.m. and still make the Rankin County Republican Women event at 6 p.m. in Brandon?
I’ll let you know if I ever hear back from Noel.
10:25 a.m. UPDATE: Just talked with someone with the Rankin County Republican Women. Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves is scheduled to speak to them tonight. McDaniel is not on their schedule, but candidates are always welcome and encouraged to drop in. That’s how they usually handle candidate speeches, I’m told.
Still no email or returned call from Noel.