Proposed North Carolina Debate Called Off

The April 27th Democratic presidential debate proposed jointly by the North Carolina Democratic Party and CBS News has been called off. A statement released by the state party today cites the "time constraints and logistical issues associated with such a large, national event" as the reason. From the release: "While there was great interest in the debate, there were also growing concerns about what another debate would do to party unity. … Both campaigns have offered North Carolinians additional opportunities to be seen and heard across the state in the coming weeks and months."

CBS News also released a statement regarding the debate: "CBS News aggressively pursued a debate prior to the North Carolina primary and offered an excellent time slot, following 60 Minutes. We regret the cancellation, but will continue to look for opportunities to present another debate, should it occur, between now and November."

Hillary Clinton had accepted the invitation to Sunday's proposed debate but Barack Obama's campaign had not. In an interview with the Charlotte Observer earlier this month, Obama voiced skepticism about participating in too many debates. "I will tell you, after the 21st debate," Obama told the paper (in advance of last week's 21st debate), "all of which have been nationally televised ... North Carolinians have had ample opportunity to watch these debates. … I don't know that they are ending up being more informative than the kinds of town hall meetings that we've scheduled." An earlier North Carolina debate proposed by CBS News was initially accepted by Obama but not Clinton.

[realpatriot1]

Unlocking,

Rest assured that those of us in North Carolina know who really sabotaged this debate. Obama was the first to agree to a north carolina debate and Hillary didn''t like the April 19th date.

She insisted on the 26th and only the 26th before the "Gotcha Debate: in Philly. If she had truly wanted a North Carolina debate they could''ve worked out a 3rd alternative.

The debate was to be held at NC State where I work and we are disappointed but not surprised.

[rowdytexan2]

Obama falls like a cheap empty suit every time he debates! And he''s scared krapless somebody will catch him lying AGAIN and call him on it!

If he can''t answer the questions from this country that need to be asked, kick his butt out of the race and let''s get on with a candidate who can handle anything!

Shooting the finger like a class clown to an audience and on video, should have totally DISQUALIFIED him anyway!

[tawpdawg11]

I can''''t for the life of me understand why blue collar voters in PA support Clinton and her pro-NAFTA record, as opposed to Obama who has already stood up for laid-off steel workers in his recent past. It just doesn''''t add up. Then you read where they have to hide the empty seats in a small high school gym at a Clinton "rally" behind a big blue curtain while the Obama rally has 35,000 boisterous folks chanting "YES WE CAN" at the top of their lungs. It just makes no sense to me how supposedly legitimate polling shows her to be so far ahead when the enthusiasm at their staged events so overwhelmingly favors Obama. I JUST DON"T GET IT. C''''mon, PA....Barack will go to the mat for you!

[getcentered]

He is truly un-electable!
Posted by vote4thebest

Well there''s a talking point for you! Just kidding...but really....

The Dems dont need anymore debates.....I know both Hillary''s and Obama''s positions.

Personaly I like Obama because of the refreshing attitude he displays and that fact that he has been donated money by over 1,200,000 Americans. WOW...is all I can say to that; I''ve never witness such a grass roots movement.....

I will be looking forward to CBS airing a debate after the nomination process. CBS will do a 100 times better job at moderating the debate than ABC. Stick to what is important!

[yaelbelle]

Obama has got to be able to debate. McCain won''t let him off the hook on that one.

Obama has got to be able to answer questions, whether they be big or small, tough or easy, if they effect his credibility. It is one thing to stand at a podium and get to do all the talking, another thing altogether to be called to bear on the credibility of all that talking.

No great leaders leads this way. Not one.

[johnnytp-2009]

CBS realised this debate would add no real value as most questions have already been explored. For people looking for only entertainment watch WWE or Hannity''s shows on FALSE News.

[unlocking-2009]

It is unfortunate that CBS chose not to tell their readers that Obama had earlier in the primary agreed to a debate in North Carolina to which Mrs. Clinton did NOT agree. Your article, by omission of that fact, leads readers to believe that Senator Obama is dodging debates. Maybe he wised up and saw the bias in your continuing coverage of the caucuses and primaries and decided not to accept.

[vote4thebest]

This shows
1. how weak Obama is when it comes to handle tough questions.
2. how slippery and unethical he is - he still can''t answer questions surrounding his character.

He is truly un-electable!