REPORT: DNC Officials, Media Outlets Worry Next Month’s Dem Debate Moderator Won’t Be Liberal Enough

The Democratic National Committee and journalists at PBS worry Politico’s choice to moderate December’s Democratic debate will be too conservative for the likes of the party, NBC reported Monday.

Politico publisher Robert Allbritton wants Politico Magazine political correspondent Tim Alberta as the co-host for the sixth Democratic primary debate on Dec. 19 in California. The DNC and reporters at PBS are worried about Alberta’s ideological purity, NBC reported, citing sources.

Alberta once wrote for National Review, a conservative magazine.

PBS journalists Judy Woodruff, Yamiche Alcindor and Amna Nawaz are being considered for the job. DNC officials believe Alberta is out of step to co-moderate a debate meant to introduce the Democratic candidates to the American public, NBC reported.

To make the sixth debate stage, Democratic candidates will need to hit more stringent requirements than was asked of them in previous debates. They must hit 4% in at least four DNC-approved early voting state polls or receive 6% support in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina or Nevada.