The anchor Lou Dobbs appears to be exploring an exit from CNN, his longtime employer. Certainly, Fox continues to aggressively bolster its on-air talent, most recently with the hiring of John Stossel, the libertarian investigative journalist from ABC News, for its spin-off channel, Fox Business. Mr. Dobbs, an administration critic who calls himself an independent, met for dinner with Roger E. Ailes, the chairman of Fox News, last month, according to two people with direct knowledge of the meeting.
One of the people said Mr. Dobbs is a potential hire for the Fox Business Network, the ratings starved, two-year-old spin-off of Fox News. Mr. Ailes has shown willingness to raid other networks for Fox Business talent, adding the controversial radio host Don Imus this month and bringing aboard Mr. Stossel in a few weeks.
It is unclear whether Mr. Dobbs is seeking to leave CNN, and a network spokeswoman had no comment on Sunday. Mr. Dobbs has been with CNN since its founding (save for a two-year stint at an upstart Web site Space.com) and anchors the 7 p.m. hour “Lou Dobbs Tonight.” He has evolved over the years from a straight-laced business anchor to an outspoken commentator who rails against illegal immigration and taxpayer bailouts, among other subjects.
Mr. Dobbs clashed with others at CNN over the summer when he asked questions about President Obama’s citizenship.
But in an interview this year, Jonathan Klein, the president of CNN/U.S., said “Lou’s show is less about Lou’s opinion than ever.”