Sure, the economy's in the tank, and we're in two wars, but I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't see Bob Schieffer himself bring up Ayers or Wright in this debate. Given his performance with General Wesley Clark earlier this year, it seems Schieffer isn't above spinning for John McCain if the moment presents itself, especially if he took Obama's "say it to my face" statement as personally as he took Clark's notion that being in the military didn't necesarilly qualify one to be president. He might just get McCain off the hook by asking about Ayers and Wright himself, especially if Shieffer is drawing from the Dan Balz school of journalism.
Not only that, but there's been a conspicuous lack of discussion as to the focus of this debate, and I wouldn't be surprised if, like the Gibson/Stephanopolous debate during the primaries, Shieffer didn't simply decide that all the relevant issues have already been dealt with, so why not do some culture war stuff?
UPDATE: Rahm Emmanuel just told Keith Olbermann he expected Shieffer to bring up Ayers.
UPDATE II: BarbinMD at DailyKos points to this Shieffer quote:
I don't know who's going to win this debate, but I think somebody is going to win. Somebody is going to score a decisive win. That's just my sense.
It's gonna be a long night.
--A. Serwer
