Should moderator challenge lies? Campaigns differ

WASHINGTON — Campaign managers for Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton disagreed Sunday on whether the moderator of Monday night’s debate, NBC’s Lester Holt, should challenge false assertions by the candidates.

NBC took flak after Matt Lauer, co-anchor of “Today,” questioned Trump and Clinton at a forum Sept. 7.

Critics blasted Lauer for not objecting when Trump falsely claimed he had opposed the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq from the start. He had expressed support for the war in interviews at the time.

Clinton backers were angered when Lauer repeatedly focused on her use of a private email server while she was secretary of state. In July, FBI Director James Comey said Clinton had been “extremely careless” but had not committed a crime.

Blaming the moderator is not new in politics but is especially intense this year. It’s put pressure on Holt, who will ask the questions tonight, the first time the two nominees appear on stage together.

Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said on ABC’s “This Week” Sunday that Holt should point out when Trump clearly lies, calling Trump a special case because he has lied so often.

“It’s unfair to ask for Hillary both to play traffic cop while with Trump, to make sure that his lies are corrected, and also to present her vision for what she wants to do for the American people,” he said.

Appearing after Mook, Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway praised Holt, a shift in tone from Trump’s complaint this week that he doesn’t think he’ll be treated fairly.

“He’s a respected, brilliant newsman. He’ll do a good job,” Conway said.

She also said it shouldn’t be up to debate moderators to fact-check the candidates.