THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES: DATES AND MODERATORS

The first televised debate of the 2012 presidential contest will take place in Denver at 9:00 p.m. on Oct. 3 with PBS’s Jim Lehrer moderating. Lehrer is an old hand at such stints, having presided over 11 presidential debates dating back to 1988, including all three debates in 2000. Democratic and Republican leaders have praised his fairness. However, last October, after writing a book about his experiences as debate moderator (Tension City: My View from the Middle Seat) the 78-year-old Lehrer said that he would no longer play that role. However, he told the Washington Post on Monday, “I believe an invitation from the Commission on Presidential Debates is similar to a draft notice — a civic responsibility.” CNN’s Candy Crowley will serve as the moderator of the second debate on Oct. 16, the first female facing the two presidential contenders since 1992. (A petition bearing more than 100,000 signatures had been collected by Change.org, demanding that a female moderator be named by the Commission on Presidential Debates.) The final Obama-Romney debate will take place on Oct. 22 with CBS’s Bob Schieffer presiding.