Meet The Press

A voter with one shot at asking Clinton a question probably wouldn't have chosen to query her on New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's plan to provide driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. But Clinton's answer -- or answers -- at last week's debate was telling.

There are several models of interaction between the press and presidential candidates; each plays an important role.

Sunday talk shows offer the best opportunity for what passes for in-depth questioning. On this scale, Obama and Clinton have been the most elusive of the Democrats; Clinton made grand rounds of all five shows when she unveiled her health-care plan in September but has otherwise been unavailable; Obama has appeared just twice all year on Sunday shows -- though he's set to be on "Meet the Press" this weekend.

Among Republicans, Rudy Giuliani, who's accessible on the campaign trail, has been the Garbo of Sunday talk, turning up just once -- on Fox, naturally.

Then there are one-on-one interviews, with both national and local media. Candidates grant, or don't allow, these interviews according to how it suits their purposes. Recently, for instance, Obama, trying to emphasize his get-tough message, has been acting as if he's got reporters on his friends and family plan. His campaign says he has an interview scheduled daily. Clinton campaign spokesman Phil Singer said, "We're out there talking to the press." He noted a string of local radio interviews, TV "pull-asides" and the like.

Great, but that isn't a substitute for regular interchanges with the press corps as a whole, when candidates don't know what subjects will come whizzing at them and are subject to being quizzed on the issues of the day.

If the president can handle it, so can the candidates.

marcusr@washpost.com