Lehrer: No regrets for moderating

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NEW YORK – Jim Lehrer said Monday that he accomplished precisely what he wanted to while moderating the first presidential debate: get Mitt Romney and Barack Obama talking to each other.

The former PBS anchor said last week’s confrontation, viewed by 67 million people, will be remembered as a watershed moment because it was a real debate instead of simultaneous interviews of the candidates.

He took some heavy criticism on social media for his light hand, letting the candidates talk and generally asking open-ended questions designed to encourage them to explore differences.

It was a new format approved over the summer by the Commission on Presidential Debates. Lehrer said the differences were not explained well to the public in advance.

The commission issued a statement Friday backing Lehrer.

Lehrer said Monday he would have gotten much harsher criticism had he cut the candidates short.

“Not only that, but I would have deserved it,” he said.

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