First woman to moderate presidential debate in 20 years

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - CNN's Candy Crowley will
become the first woman in 20 years to moderate a
presidential debate when she questions President
Barack Obama and his Republican rival Mitt Romney
in October.
The cable network's chief political correspondent is
set to lead one of three debates before the November
6 general election, the bipartisan Commission on
Presidential Debates said on Monday.
"I am wowed, amazed and excited by the opportunity
to moderate a 2012 presidential debate," Crowley
said.
The move follows a recent push for a female
moderator since ABC's Carole Simpson in 1992. The
commission made no mention of the gender
milestone in making its announcement, only the
moderators' expertise.
"These journalists bring extensive experience to the
job of moderating, and understand the importance of
using the expanded time periods to maximum
benefit," the commission's co-chairmen Frank
Fahrenkopf and Michael McCurry said.
Several female U.S. lawmakers and other women's
groups pressed for a newswoman to lead a debate
after three New Jersey teen-aged girls began an online
petition at Change.org. The girls also called on
Romney and Obama, a Democrat, for support.
"It is long past due to have a woman on the same
stage as the men running for president," one of the
girls, Sammi Siegel, wrote online. Their petition drew
170,000 signatures, several lawmakers said earlier
this month.
Other debate moderators include PBS Newshour's Jim
Lehrer on October 3 and CBS News' Bob Schieffer on
October 22. Both have led several past presidential
debates. ABC News' Martha Raddatz will moderate the
October 11 debate between Vice President Joe Biden
and Romney's running-mate U.S. Representative Paul
Ryan of Wisconsin.
(Reporting By Susan Heavey; Editing by Cynthia
Osterman)
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