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Article updated: 10/9/2012 5:34 AM

Lehrer: 'I backed off' so debate would be real

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Jim Lehrer faces criticism over letting President Obama and Mitt Romney talk over him as moderator of their first presidential debate.

Associated Press

Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama participate in the first presidential debate Oct. 3 at the University of Denver, in Denver. Jim Lehrer, center, served as moderator.

Associated Press

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Jim Lehrer said Monday that he accomplished precisely what he wanted to while moderating the first presidential debate: get Mitt Romney and Barack Obama talking to each other. The former PBS anchor said last week's confrontation, viewed by 67 million people, will be remembered as a watershed moment because it was a real debate instead of simultaneous interviews of the candidates.