Posted by Jed Lewison on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 7:21 PM Pacific

No commitment from Clinton to North Carolina debate

Clinton (unsuccessfully) attacked Obama in Wisconsin for not agreeing to a debate in the state

No Response From Clinton

By Julie Bosman

When two more Democratic debates were announced this month, both Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama quickly accepted the invitation to meet in Pennsylvania on April 16.

But Mrs. Clinton, unlike Mr. Obama, has not yet agreed to participate in a North Carolina debate on April 19.

That debate, sponsored by CBS News, would be the first opportunity for Katie Couric to perform hosting duties. And if it happens, it will highlight the importance of North Carolina, whose primary will be held May 6. Mr. Obama is favored to win there.

I wonder if Clinton doesn't want to debate in North Carolina in order to maintain some wiggle room to to drop out of the race after Pennsylvania. After all, her campaign isn't just broke, it's in debt, and she must know that if she doesn't win at least 60% of Pennsylvania's pledged delegates, she's got no shot at the nomination. (In fact, she likely needs closer to 70%, but 60% would probably keep her in the game.)

Probably just wishful thinking on my part...

Side note: Couric would be the third woman to moderate a televised debate this year -- Campbell Brown and the Editor in Chief of the Des Moines Register being the other two. I think that Couric would be just the second woman to moderate one of the debates this year. (The Editor in Chief of the Des Moines Register being the other.)

No commitment from Clinton to North Carolina debate

Clinton (unsuccessfully) attacked Obama in Wisconsin for not agreeing to a debate in the state

No Response From Clinton

By Julie Bosman

When two more Democratic debates were announced this month, both Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama quickly accepted the invitation to meet in Pennsylvania on April 16.

But Mrs. Clinton, unlike Mr. Obama, has not yet agreed to participate in a North Carolina debate on April 19.

That debate, sponsored by CBS News, would be the first opportunity for Katie Couric to perform hosting duties. And if it happens, it will highlight the importance of North Carolina, whose primary will be held May 6. Mr. Obama is favored to win there.

I wonder if Clinton doesn't want to debate in North Carolina in order to maintain some wiggle room to to drop out of the race after Pennsylvania. After all, her campaign isn't just broke, it's in debt, and she must know that if she doesn't win at least 60% of Pennsylvania's pledged delegates, she's got no shot at the nomination. (In fact, she likely needs closer to 70%, but 60% would probably keep her in the game.)

Probably just wishful thinking on my part...

Side note: Couric would be the third woman to moderate a televised debate this year -- Campbell Brown and the Editor in Chief of the Des Moines Register being the other two. I think that Couric would be just the second woman to moderate one of the debates this year. (The Editor in Chief of the Des Moines Register being the other.)

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