In a September 29 piece, Los Angeles Times media columnist James Rainey writes of Fox News' stable of 2012 presidential contenders on their payroll: “Expect the stable of potential candidates to stay undeclared, and on the Fox payroll, for as long as possible. That way, they can to pitch to a favorite audience, maintain a high profile for fundraising and ward off those pesky news people, the ones who work for every other television news outlet in America.” From Rainey's piece:

Following up on the Politico story, liberal media watchdog Media Matters counted the number of times the potential candidates appeared on Fox for more than a passing moment since the start of this year. Former Arkansas governor Huckabee, who has a weekend program on Fox, led the way with 96 appearances. Next came one-time Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum (52) , former House Speaker Gingrich (48), Palin (37) and former U.N. ambassador John Bolton (36).

Through mid-September, those outside the Fox stable were central to far fewer segments. Pawlenty appeared 14 times and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, another presidential aspirant, just nine times.

I called Pawlenty's political spokesman Alex Conant, to ask why his man was wasting time on all that, you know, governing and old-school politicking. Why not just chuck it, like that erstwhile governor, Palin, and, unencumbered, deliver opinions on Fox?

Conant laughed. A little. “I understand the point you are trying to make,” Conant said. “But we have a very good relationship with Fox News. They are very receptive to having [Pawlenty] on.”

Expect the stable of potential candidates to stay undeclared, and on the Fox payroll, for as long as possible. That way, they can to pitch to a favorite audience, maintain a high profile for fundraising and ward off those pesky news people, the ones who work for every other television news outlet in America.

Previously:

REPORT: Fox News' Candidates “Speak Through Fox News” A Whopping 269 Times