Desperate for Debate, Clinton Suggests One On “Back Of Flat Bed Truck”

From CBS News' Fernando Suarez:

WILMINGTON, N.C. -- Hillary Clinton wants to debate her opponent so badly, that she’s even willing to do it “on the back of a flat bed truck." During an outdoor rally standing before the U.S.S. North Carolina, Clinton said the debate doesn’t have to be in a “fancy studio.”

Clinton was responding to comments made by Barack Obama earlier today at a press conference in Indiana when he said, “We've got nine days to try to campaign and meet as many voters as possible... So rather than being in a studio, I want to make sure that we're reaching out to folks where they live, answering their questions and having as many interactions as possible.”

Part of Clinton’s new strategy is to push back against Obama so much that he finally agrees to a debate. In their previous four one-on-one meetings, Clinton has fared better than her opponent, and most recently at a debate in Philadelphia, Obama’s campaign complained that he was unfairly targeted by the moderators. Some said Obama’s performance may have cost him votes in the primary there.

Clinton has now incorporated into her stump speech a line where she targets Obama and his campaign for complaining about those questions at the debate saying those questions are “nothing like the questions you face at the White House.” The line draws large applause from the crowd.

Clinton first proposed a Lincoln-Douglas style debate at a rally in South Bend, Ind., over the weekend where she offered to scrap the moderator and have a 90-minute debate where each candidate would ask the questions. The Obama campaign did not agree to Clinton’s proposal saying that Obama prefers to spend the next few days campaigning rather than preparing for a debate.