Stewart: Media 'too cozy' with candidates

DENVER, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Political humorist and U.S. talk show host Jon Stewart says the mainstream media is too cozy with candidates and passes along campaign "spin" too often.

Appearing in Denver Monday at breakfast meeting with reporters before the start of the Democratic National Convention, the host of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" took jabs at the 24-hour cable news networks, calling them "gerbil wheels," CNN reported.

He also said the 24-hour political news cycle created by cable channels such as CNN, Fox News and MSNBC created a "false sense of urgency" and prompted reporters to use familiar story lines instead of doing in-depth stories on issues that affect viewers.

But Stewart also admitted his own show was part of the cycle because candidates flock to it in order to reach younger audiences, saying, "It's just one part of their sales pitch," CNN reported.

The comedian told reporters it was difficult to lampoon the likely major party U.S. presidential nominees, Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and John McCain, R-Ariz., because neither of them is inherently funny.