The View Becomes Go-to Show for Politicians

The View has evolved into a coveted seat of honor for politicians, writes Amy Chozick in the Wall Street Journal. Barbara Walters and crew are mixing in weightier issues amid the fluff, and politicians love its demographic of middle-aged women. Everyone from Joe Biden to Evan Bayh to Mitt Romney have appeared, and expect Nikki Haley if she wins her runoff later this month.

The key, says Walters, is not to overdo it. "There are times when I have to say we are not a Sunday morning show," she says. "We still have to talk about Dancing with the Stars." When Biden appeared recently, Walters grilled him on policy but introduced him in classic View style: "Vice President Joe Biden is here, and he looks very handsome." (More The View stories.)