Anchor Away?

GLASSES HALF FULL Banfield's banter on MSNBC's ''Newsfront'' is charming, but perhaps too edgy for ''Today'''s audience

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ASHLEIGH BANFIELD
PRO The ''girl in the glasses'' earned raves for her breezy delivery and sharp observations during MSNBC's Election 2000 coverage. In fact, the network partially credits Banfield for a near tripling of ratings during the mania -- and rewarded her with the newsmag ''Newsfront'' (with cohost Lester Holt). In short, the 33-year-old is top competition. ''You have to look at Ashleigh,'' says Steve Friedman, senior exec producer of CBS' ''The Early Show.'' ''She's a very dynamic TV personality.''
CON A personality that dynamic could alienate morning viewers who like to ease into their day.

MARIA BARTIROMO
PRO CNBC's Money Honey, 33, has netted serious interest as a savvy finance journalist. Says an industry source: ''She's a favorite of the GE hierarchy.''
CON She may not have an appetite (or, some say, ability) for the fluffier aspects of morning TV. Last year, after guest-hosting with Regis Philbin, she soured speculation about replacing Kathie Lee Gifford. ''I've found my home in business news,'' she said at the time, ''and there's really no place I'd rather be.''

HODA KOTBE
PRO The ''Dateline NBC'' correspondent has a fan in Couric, says one insider, who believes Kotbe might pop up on the ''Today'' show in the future, at least as a substitute.
CON There's one hitch. ''I've never heard of her,'' Friedman says. And he's got company.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN
PRO The busy O'Brien, 34, has visibility as an NBC News correspondent, MSNBC anchor, and coanchor of ''Today Weekend Edition.'' ''She fits the generation coming up -- multicultural, computer age,'' says Friedman. ''She's experiencing what the audience you hope to attract is experiencing.''
CON Insiders wonder if she could squeak past Curry.

NORAH O'DONNELL
PRO Media watchers say the MSNBC/''Dateline NBC''/''Today'' correspondent has the Couric quality. ''She's a pleasure to look at and she's smart,'' says hairstylist Frederic Fekkai, whose clients include Curry and Pauley.
CON At 27, she may be too much of a new kid. ''Some people think Andy Lack would love to see her on the show,'' says an insider. ''But I don't think anybody believes she's going to get it.''

(Additional reporting Lynette Rice and Allison Hope Weiner)