David Gregory and MSNBC’s ‘Race For The White House’

David Gregory opened the show with a declaration of fast and hard coverage. He promised the show would open each day with a check of the biggest headlines from the assembled panelists. I expected a quick hit from each panelist. But, everyone seemed to go on and on! It has potential… but keeping the panelists to :30 or less will help deliver on that promise for ‘hard and fast’ coverage. Plus, just moments before this show launched, news broke that Florida would NOT hold a second primary. What an opportunity! Only Chuck Todd really addressed the issue before Gregory and other panelists moved on to other headlines. How dynamic a start if the first segment with the panelists was refocused with Gregory opening the show and saying to the panelists, “…Florida Democrats have made a decision, give me :30 on what this means to Obama and Clinton.”

MSNBC is juggling is lineup, no doubt to capitalize on the great presidential election season. Gregory’s dedicated hour will happen each night at 6pm. Andrea Mitchell will handle her own political show at 1pm each day. Plus, Dan Abrams will issue a ‘Verdict’ on news of the day each night at 9pm.

Gregory is NBC’s Chief White House correspondent and a candidate for some position soon on ‘Today;’ He fills in for Matt Lauer regularly, but where would that leave Lestor Holt?