Candy Crowley named as presidential debate moderator

The Commission on Presidential Debates has named CNN's Candy Crowley as one of its moderators for the 2012 Presidential Debates. Crowley will be the first woman in that position since 1992, and with her appointment, three New Jersey teen girls score a victory.

In June, this blog reported on the petition circulated by Emma Axelrod, Sammi Siegel, and Elena Tsemberis of Montclair High School that called for a woman to be named as one of the 2012 moderators. At that time, I heard from some people on Twitter (even a major network producer) who told me the girls and my report were incorrect because Gwen Ifill had moderated the presidential debates for years. I explained then as I do now that Ifill does not moderate presidential debates. She moderates vice presidential debates. The word vice makes all the difference.

Congratulations to the teens and congratulations to Candy Crowley. Crowley regularly hosts CNN's State of the Union on Sunday mornings..