Story highlights Neither democracy nor voters are well served when the moderator becomes the focusCan any single moderator possibly satisfy both candidates plus millions of viewers at home? Unfortunately, the 2016 structure instituted by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) once again gives the moderators a central role in what should be candidate-focused affairs. While one debate will be a town-hall style exchange with voters, the other two give the moderator a thankless and impossible task. Donald Trump has said he would prefer to debate Hillary Clinton without a moderator taking part, that he believes the criticism of Matt Lauer will game the moderators to rig the debates against him. The CPD gives the moderator sole discretion over the topics to be covered in the debates.

Source: CNN September 12, 2016 13:07 UTC