From Greg Sargent at TPM Election Central:

Senior McCain advisers have flatly declared that they want the subject of the campaign changed from the economic crisis to Barack Obama’s past associations and the various things that allegedly make Obama a “risky” choice.

So the question going into tonight’s debate is this: Will moderator Tom Brokaw let McCain do this? For that matter, will Brokaw himself ask about former Weatherman William Ayers?

And if the discussion does shift over to Obama’s relationship with Ayers — whether due to Brokaw’s questioning or McCain’s attacks — will Brokaw play the association game fairly and ask about the Keating Five scandal?

No one is questioning Brokaw’s professionalism or impartiality, but keep in mind that Brokaw has taken on a behind-the-scenes role as a kind of emissary to the McCain campaign for NBC, suggesting he may be sympathetic to the McCain team’s claims that McCain has been treated unfairly by the media.

What’s more, Brokaw has indicated that he may be less than sympathetic to efforts to recall McCain’s role in the Keating Five scandal. He recently agreed with an assessment of the scandal as “ancient history.”