US election 2020: Social media labels presidential debate moderator Kristen Welker as 'clear winner'

NBC News journalist KristenWelkerhas been labeled the ''clear'' and ''obvious winner'' of the finalpresidential debate between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Joe Biden.

Welker has been lauded online for her performance as a moderator for ensuring the candidates did not exceed their time limits and not allowing them to talk over her.

The 44-year-old wasborn in Philadelphia and studied at Harvard before becoming a reporter.

There have been more than 125,000 tweets about the NBC journalist, who became only the second black woman to moderate a presidential debate alone, 28 years after ABC News journalist Carole Simpson became the first in 1992.

Welker, known for her calm demeanor and incisive questioning, washelped by the muting of the candidates' microphones when they are not answering questions.

Welker was expected to bring order to the showdown in Nashville, Tennessee, after Fox News anchor Chris Wallace was criticised for presiding over a hard-to-watch bickering fest between the septuagenarians last time out.

Following the debate, when Wallacewas asked on air what he thought of the tenor of the final debate moderated by Welker. “First of all, I’m jealous,” he said.

Welkerhadchosen the six topics for discussion, as tradition dictates. They were: fighting COVID-19, American families, race, climate change, and national security.

Before the debate,President Trump and his entourage had accused her ofbelonging to the left-wingsaying that the parents of the first woman of color to host a presidential debate since 1992 were fervent Democrats.

Welkerwas registered as a Democrat in 2012 but is not politically affiliated today and has never donated to any party.