Dobbs tells O'Reilly he'll stay in 'public arena'
Photo credit: CNN | News anchor Lou Dobbs sits on the set of his show, 'Lou Dobs Tonight,' in New York City. (file, 2005)
Next move for Lou Dobbs? Maybe a run for Senate.
Maybe even a run on "The O'Reilly Factor."
Lou Dobbs appeared on last night's "Factor" - his first TV interview since quitting CNN last week - saying there are "a lot of things on my mind. I'm not going to be coy. My wife and I are thinking about a lot of opportunities [and] one hundred percent I'm going to remain in the public arena."
Dobbs' first interview was fast - lasting just about 10 minutes - and much of it was dominated by Bill O'Reilly, who noted in the "Memo" that "the departure of Lou Dobbs was inevitable - it's a miracle he lasted as long as he did."
However, the former CNN host almost seemed to shrug - one of those moves made after "I heard they had decided to take CNN in a different direction and that advocacy journalism would not be a part of it."
CNN's ratings were lower - "I was partly to blame for that" - but Dobbs also suggested he left because of threats to his personal safety.
"I know someone shot at our house - it's a demonstrable fact - that followed months and months of threats on the issue of illegal immigration. It became a matter to me of some intensity."
O'Reilly then asked Dobbs, "I'd like you to come back on a semiregular basis."
Dobbs: "It'd be my honor."
