GOP Blasting Obama for WYFF-TV Interview

WYFF-TV's exclusive interview with President Barack Obama hasn't aired yet, but it's already drawing fire from the GOP.

News 4 Anchor Michael Cogdill's interview with the president is set to air at 5 p.m., but State Republican Party Chairman Chad Connelly says the president is using the interview to hide from having to answer to South Carolina voters personally.

“While giving the appearance that he wishes to answer questions about his failed policies from South Carolinians, Barack Obama chose a television station where he can reach voters in western North Carolina,” Connelly said.

Connelly said the President is trying to “pull the wool over the eyes of South Carolinians and speak to western North Carolina voters without setting foot in either state.”

WYFF 4 News Director Justin Antoniotti said the station had no comment on the issue, but that WYFF4 would include Moore's release as part of its coverage of Cogdill's interview with the president.

State Republicans believe the president should come to South Carolina to “explain his failed jobs record and answer questions about his government take over of healthcare,” according to a release sent out by State Republican Party Executive Director Matt Moore.

"South Carolina voters know that neither our national economy nor this President are 'doing fine,'” Connelly said. “And come November, hundreds of volunteers from the South Carolina Republican Party will work to ensure that North Carolina voters know this as well."

Amanda Loveday, executive director of the South Carolina Democratic Party, said that appearing on WYFF 4 gives the president a great chance to reach a large number of people at once.

“The President is one person and can't be in 50 different states at once,” Loveday said. “It's a great way for him to reach as many people as he can at one time.”

The appearance on a station that covers both North and South Carolina at once gives President Obama a chance to reach “two different states in two different situations,” Loveday said.

“The North Carolina Governor is helping them to build jobs and helping them put people back to work,” Loveday said. “The South Carolina Governor cares more about her personal celebrity than helping the people of South Carolina."