SIMI VALLEY, CALIF. — Anderson Cooper, the globetrotting newsman who anchors the prime-time CNN program “Anderson Cooper 360°,” will be moderating the proceedings at the Oct. 13 Democratic primary debate in Nevada, an informed source has told the Erik Wemple Blog. The debate will be the first Democratic primary clash, one of six that the Democratic National Committee has announced. This is no surprise from CNN, considering that Cooper has anchored a great deal of elections coverage, including presidential debates. In the 2012 cycle, for instance, Cooper moderated a Las Vegas debate among the Republican field.

This year, Cooper will have a much easier time than his colleague Jake Tapper, who today will moderate both JV and main-event debates of the sprawling Republican field here at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library — a total of 15 candidates. Cooper will have to prep questions for a mere handful of candidates.