Like Andrew Sullivan,
I think that the Obama campaign has little to lose and everything to
gain by encouraging the CPD to have Gwen Ifill to pull out of
moderating the VP debate.
It's not that the right's critique
isn't utterly transparent, but media backlash was one of the principal
dynamics in motivating the Palin bounce in the first place.
But there's another factor here too.
In preparing for a debate, you are often preparing nearly as much for
the "judge" or moderator as for the opponent. Both campaigns probably
have a pretty good idea of what types of questions she is likely to
ask, how he is likely to ask them. Palin and Biden have undoubtedly
watched videotapes of Ifill moderating the 2004 debate between John
Edwards and Dick Cheney.
By changing the moderator, you're
throwing everyone a curveball, and catering to the candidate who is
better able to adapt on the fly. Which, most likely, is not going to be
Sarah Palin.
--Nate Silver