Communications Director for the Sharron Angle campaign, Jarrod Agen, has confirmed that KLAS-TV/CBS Channel 8 in Las Vegas is banned from covering Angle at the GOP Victory Party on Tuesday. As of the time of this post, Agen had not clarified whether the NBC affiliate (Channel 3) would also be banned as has been reported.
“Acting on a tip from Harry Reid, a TV reporter ambushed Sharron at the airport today,” said Agen. “Sharron answered questions all through the airport, but then Channel 8 reported that she didn’t answer questions. So, it’s more fitting for them to cover Harry’s loss on Tuesday night.”
The specific origin of the tip to the reporter was not clarified in Agen’s remarks and could not be substantiated. A Twitter account called @ChickenAngle, presumed to be owned by a Democratic friendly individual or group, has been Tweeting tips on Angle’s whereabouts all week. The account this morning ReTweeted a Tweep who said Angle was on his/her flight, and provided Angle’s flight number and arrival time. Many in the press are following the feed, so it is plausible that Tweet was the source of the tip.
When Sharron Angle arrived at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas this morning, she was met by local KLAS/CBS reporter Nathan Baca who had been tipped-off to her arrival. He followed and questioned her as she exited the airport. Angle answered a few of his questions but ignored others and was clearly not very enthusiastic about speaking with him.
Later in the morning, Angle’s communications director, Ciara Matthews, asked the CBS and NBC Las Vegas affiliates to leave a meeting that had been called to coordinate press coverage of Angle at the GOP Victory Party at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. A media person who was present at the meeting told Battle ‘10 Matthews then banned the two stations from coming to the event on election night.
Matthews said during the meeting the CBS and NBC reporters’ attempt to talk to Angle at the airport was akin to a Paris Hilton-style paparazzi ambush.
The KLAS/CBS afternoon report on the airport ambush is here:
Baca and Angle have had a run-in before, as seen in this much-publicized video from earlier in the campaign:
Angle is this evening appearing with Sen. John McCain at a rally at the Orleans Hotel at 9:30 p.m. Many in the press are expected to cover the event.
This post has been updated from its original.