NBC’s Tom Brokaw has been tapped to moderate an October 12 California gubernatorial debate between Democrat Jerry Brown and Republican Meg Whitman.

Asked by the San Francisco Chronicle about any concern over “an out-of-state moderator” who might not “[press] the candidates hard enough to fully answer questions that mattered most to Californians”, the semi-retired Brokaw replied:

Do you think that after all the years I was a White House correspondent, that I was the anchor of Nightly News, that I was the anchor of the Today show and that I filled in on Meet the Press for Tim [Russert] and then [was its interim host], that suddenly, since I’ve been living in Montana, that I’ve become a patsy of some kind?

That would have more legitimacy as an inquiry, I think, if I had been doing game shows. I haven’t. Tell your pals that they don’t have to worry.

After all, Brokaw joked, “I’m just an old guy out here working for a handout from time to time.”

Brokaw also told the Chronicle he’s working on his next book, but did not divulge the subject matter.