Fox's Fortunes Fall With GOP's

Fox News soared eight years ago by hitching its star to Republicans in general and George W. Bush in particular; now that the president’s in decline and its one-sided approach is no mystery, the channel has hit the skids. Democrats' refusal to debate on Fox damaged its reputation—and the station’s been embarrassingly unable to get candidate access, Salon's Eric Boehlert writes.

The demise of Fox favorite Rudy Giuliani sapped energy among the anchors, who have visible distaste for the other Republicans. The ratings have gone bust as well, with CNN scoring 250,000 more viewers on New Hampshire primary night (compared to Fox’s 200,000-viewer advantage for the same contest in 2004) and drawing nearly even as South Carolina GOP results came in. (More Fox News stories.)