Gwen Ifill from PBS

Suppose the moderator of tonight’s vice presidential debates is writing a pro-Obama book. Do you suppose that might produce a moderator bias in the debate?

But that is exactly the case with Gwen Ifill, who is writing a book title, The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama which is to be released in January. Presumably, the book will sell better in January if Obama is elected president, providing greater financial reward for Ifill if Biden and Obama’s ticket performs better in the debates tonight.

Is it a good idea to have a moderator who could benefit financially from the outcome of a debate? Of course not.

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