NEW YORK - Second in the broadcast network competition to talk to Sarah Palin: Katie Couric.
The CBS anchor will spend two days on the road with the Republican vice-presidential candidate as well as presidential hopeful John McCain, the network said Tuesday. Couric's interview material will be aired Sept. 29 and 30 on the "CBS Evening News" and "The Early Show."
It's timed for just before the Oct. 2 vice presidential debate between Palin and Democrat Joe Biden.
ABC's Charles Gibson had the first in-depth network interview with Palin last week. She's also talking to Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity this week.
There's no word on whether Couric's interview material will appear on "60 Minutes," which competed hard to get the first Palin interview.
Awarding Couric the interview also appears to be a clear message from the McCain campaign to NBC News. Republicans have been unhappy with NBC, primarily because of the active support for Barack Obama voiced by MSNBC's Keith Olbermann.
So while Gibson and Couric have interviews with Palin, NBC's Brian Williams -- who anchors the top-rated evening news program -- has been snubbed so far.
