Just got off the phone with Steve Moore, CBS Radio's Vice President of Talk and the key kibbitzer on AM830's hunt for a 1-3 p.m. host.

Moore confirmed what Chad Hartman told me this morning; that Chad's in the mix. "We all like Chad a lot, but this job is a little different than his last radio job. We're coaching him, but we'd like to expand the net" for more candidates. "It's an important hire and there's no reason to rush."

Moore adds, "We're looking for a sensibility that fits in with the Upper Midwest, and [the ongoing search] is more about speading the word and making sure."

Asked how long search would last; Moore replied, "It won't be that long — two, three four weeks."

He didn't say how many people would cycle through between now and then, but did say that ex-WCCOer John Williams' Monday-Tuesday appearances did not constitute a tryout. According to Moore, Williams was just helping his 'CCO pals fill a hole in the schedule, and will be returning to Chicago's WGN.

By the way, Moore didn't know if the Craigslist ad purporting to seek host candidates was genuine.