Jim Lehrer: My Debate Performance Was Successful

Says his mission was to let the candidates engage each other

Jim Lehrer has been widely criticized for his passive performance as moderator of Wednesday's night's presidential debate, but in his first post-debate interview, he tells POLITICO that he was simply fulfilling his new mission, which was to allow the candidates to engage one another without interruption.

"Based on what the goal was, I saw it as successful," Lehrer told POLITICO. "I've always said this and finally I had a chance to demonstrate it: The moderator should be seen little and heard even less. It is up to the candidates to ask the follow-up questions and challenge one another."