McCain Confident About Fairness Despite Debate Moderator's Book On Obama

October 2, 2008 10:20 a.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Some Republicans are concerned about whether journalist Gwen Ifill will be a nonpartisan moderator on Thursday's debate, but Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) isn't.

Ifill is set to moderate a 90-minute debate between Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) Thursday night at the Washington University in St. Louis. There are concerns about her role in the forum because she is set to release a book entitled The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama on January 20, when the new president is inaugurated.

"I think that Gwen Ifill is a professional, and I think that she will do a totally objective job because she is a highly respected professional," McCain told Fox on Wednesday. "Does this help that if she has written a book that is favorable to Senator Obama? Probably not, but I have confidence that Gwen Ifill will do a professional job. And I have that confidence."

Ifill, who is African-American, is the moderator and managing editor of PBS's Washington Week. She moderated the 2004 vice presidential debate between former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards and Vice President Cheney. The Commission on Presidential Debates announced her as the moderator of this election's VP debate in August.

She has defended herself from criticisms and told the New York Times that she began working on her book last spring, when Obama was viewed as a long shot for the nomination. Ifill added that she has not finished writing the book, which discusses the rise of African-American leaders after the civil rights era such as Obama and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. "Since I haven't finished the book, it's interesting people think they know what's in it," she said.

Palin, in contrast to her running mate, is not so confident about Ifill. The first-term governor, who has been in McCain's Arizona ranch since Monday preparing for the debate, told Fox on Wednesday, "I am not going to let it be a concern... Let me just tell you that John McCain has been in an underdog position before. And this ticket, I think, we can safely say is in an underdog position. But that just makes us work harder."

The debate will take place just as some conservatives, citing Palin's statements in recent interviews, voice concerns about her inexperience in foreign policy and national security issues.

Biden, a six-term senator who is an expert on foreign policy but prone to gaffes, began preparing for the debate earlier this month with Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm as stand-in practice sessions. His main challenge, observers say, is to attack Palin without while avoiding any backlash from women voters.