Dem Candidates Not So Open With Press?

As a journalist, I found this behind-the-scenes glimpse into how the presidential candidates deal with their respective press gaggles pretty fascinating. Any reporter will tell you, a subject ain't worth much if you can't get him or her to talk on the record. This is particularly important in politics because so much of what politicians say is already part of the public record. So if for example they say something at odds with a previous statement, that's news.

The LA Times breaks it down by party and finds, among the big four remaining candidates, the Republicans are all about access. Mitt Romney places few restrictions on reporters and John McCain, Mr. Straight Talk, has let it be known that when he's on the road, he's on the record pretty much 24/7.

It's a different story apparently for the Democrats. Hillary Clinton's campaign managers are constantly going back and forth over what's on the record and what's not, to the point where reporters on her plane staged a revolt of sorts and gave a mandate:

journalists from outlets including the Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, New York Times, Chicago Tribune and National Public Radio said that if Clinton wanted to speak to the press aboard the plane, it would have to be for publication.

Obama too places a lot of rules on the media. During a recent off-the-record chat on his plane, some journalists turned on their tape recorders as a form of protest. Obama reportedly promptly walked away.

Interesting stuff from a rarely-seen perspective. What insights does a story like this give you into each of these candidates and how their respective campaigns are being run?