US VP debate: Controversy over moderator

Controversy has emerged over the moderator of tonight’s vice presidential debate, Gwen Ifill.

She is writing a book about Obama and other African-American politicians called The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama.

It is due to be released on January 20, 2009, coinciding with inauguration day.

The McCain campaign say they didn’t know about the book when they approved Ifill as a debate moderator on August 6.

However, the Associated Press reported on her book two weeks before August 6.

McCain refused to endorse an article on the National Review’s website calling for Ifill to step-aside in the interests of fairness. “I think Gwen Ifill is professional and will do a totally objective job,” McCain said.