Hugh Hewitt moderated the third 2024 Republican Presidential primary debate alongside NBC News anchors Kristen Welker and Lester Holt. He thought the debate went well, and there was a specific reason for that.
Hewitt appeared with colleague Mike Gallagher after the debate to discuss the event and said NBC News made sure the moderators were adequately prepared for everything.
“Do you remember what I told you last night? Nine rehearsals,” Hewitt told Gallagher. “And you’re a theater guy. Yep. And you know what? It turns out it makes a big difference.”
“So it helps you be prepared a little more?,” questioned Gallagher.
“We did a couple of rehearsals for the CNN debates eight years ago, but nine rehearsals with five stand-ins who knew and studied these candidates? Everything that was done was anticipated,” Hewitt admitted. “Not the particular answers, but some techniques that candidates use. I’m not going to call out anyone, people can do their own media analysis. But when you rehearse and rehearse and rehearse, it’s certainly easier.”
Gallagher then questioned if the moderators were prepared for candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to take a shot at the media, which Hugh Hewitt revealed was part of the preparation.
“She didn’t blink,” Hewitt said. “After 2015, 2016, we discussed it a lot, but I kept going back to it. The former President (Trump) had some fun with me…You’re not there to be the debate. You’re there to ask the questions and get the heck out of the way.”
