McCain Says Ifill Is 'Totally Objective' and Should Moderate the Debate

Sen. John McCain said this afternoon that he sees no problem with PBS' Gwen Ifill moderating tomorrow night's vice presidential debate between Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Joe Biden despite a possible conflict of interest in that she stands to make a lot of money with a Democrat victory in the fall elections because she has written a pro-Obama book.

FOX’s Carl Cameron, interviewing the Arizona senator this afternoon, asked McCain whether Ifill should excuse herself as the debate moderator. McCain said there is a potential conflict of interest but expressed confidence in the longtime journalist.

“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 said during an interview at the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. “Does this help…if she has written a book that’s favorable to Senator Obama? Probably not. But I have confidence that Gwen Ifill will do a professional job and I have that confidence.”

Campaign officials said they did not know about the book until today even though Ifill’s upcoming publication was mentioned in a Sept. 4 Washington Post profile.

See this article posted earlier today that examines Ifill's possible conflict of interest.