Jim Lehrer, Bob Schieffer, and Candy Crowley will moderate 2012 presidential debates
Three news veterans — including the first woman in 20 years — will moderate presidential debates this October. Politico identifies them as debate mainstay Jim Lehrer of PBS, Face the Nation moderator Bob Schieffer of CBS, and State of the Union anchor Candy Crowley of CNN, though the Commission on Presidential Debates has not yet confirmed Politico’s report. [Update: The Commission has confirmed these names.]
Crowley’s inclusion comes two decades after ABC News anchor Carole Simpson moderated a presidential debate in 1992. (Barbara Walters also moderated presidential debates in 1976 and 1984.) Her selection may have been influenced by a pair of Change.org petitions launched by three New Jersey high school students, which urged the Commission on Presidential Debates to select a female. The petitions garnered support by high-profile figures including Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, as well as over 180,000 signatures.
According to Politico, Lehrer will moderate the first debate Oct. 3 in Denver, Colo. Crowley will host the second town hall-style debate Oct. 16 in Hempstead, N.Y. The final debate, moderated by Schieffer, will be held Oct. 22 in Boca Raton, Fla.
Martha Raddatz of ABC will moderate the vice presidential debate between Joe Biden and Paul Ryan on Oct. 11 in Danville, Ky.
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