Jim Lehrer backstage at this year's Democratic National Convention. (Credit: PBS)

The New York Times reports that Lehrer sent an email making this point in advance of tonight’s debate, if there is one: “I am not restrained from asking questions about the financial crisis.” He even added a happy sign-off: “Stay tuned!”

That message carries some weight, because Lehrer and the Debate Commission have assiduously tried to avoid “taking sides” between the candidates’ diverging views on the debate. Yet the organizers are obviously invested in pulling the debate off as planned, with both nominees in attendance.

However, by proactively announcing a shift towards economic topics, which was not in the original plan, Lehrer may be slightly advancing Obama’s argument that the debate is part of working toward national consensus on addressing the financial crisis — not a distraction from it, as McCain has asserted.