Why Martha Raddatz was a better debate moderator than Jim Lehrer: 3 theories

Raddatz wins mostly rave reviews, and avoids the punishing criticism that Lehrer faced after getting steamrolled in last week's presidential debate

VP Debate moderator Martha Raddatz speaks prior to the vice-presidential debate at Centre College in Danville, Ky.: Raddatz approached the debate as a journalist, asking tough questions on to
(Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Jim Lehrer was accused of getting steamrolled when he moderated last week's presidential debate. Nobody's saying that about Martha Raddatz, the ABC News correspondent who presided over Thursday's pyrotechnics between Vice President Joe Biden and GOP challenger Paul Ryan. The verdict is that Raddatz served as an authoritative referee, firmly guiding the candidates through discussions of everything from the Sept. 11 terrorist attack in Libya to the Afghan war to abortion. There were dissenters — several conservative commentators said Raddatz favored Biden, and Kyle Peterson at The American Spectator says that one of her final questions, "What could you both give to this country as a man?" was better suited for Miss America than candidates seeking the vice presidency. Still, the consensus appears to be that Raddatz showed Lehrer and other moderators how it's done. Politico declared: "Tonight's winner: Martha Raddatz." What made her so good at the job? Here, three theories:

1. Raddatz went at them like the reporter she is

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