CNN's strategy of playing to the middle to distinguish itself from Fox and MSNBC appears to have fallen flat. From the Politico On day one, CNN ruled cable news. But while viewers may flock to the network for election day or the Inauguration, day 130 is a different story. CNN, which just took home a Peabody Award for its 2008 election coverage, and dominated cable-news ratings on days when politics took center stage, is having trouble getting those viewers back on other nights.