Obama on Debate: Not so Fast
Barack Obama is not sure if he will debate Hillary Clinton in North Carolina on April 27.
Obama’s North Carolina spokesman, Dan Leistikow, just released this statement via e-mail: “We had proposed a debate in North Carolina before the 22nd of April. Apparently, the Clinton folks vetoed that. We haven’t made a decision whether the later date fits into our schedule.”
The significance of April 22? That’s the date of the crucial Pennsylvania primary, where Clinton is favored. Presumably, Clinton would prefer to debate after April 22 in hopes that she will be riding a wave of momentum after a Pennsylvania win.
Despite Obama’s uncertainty, Jerry Meek, the chairman of the N.C. Democratic Party, expressed confidence that a North Carolina debate would occur. “Both campaigns have indicated, at least, that they are going to take North Carolina very seriously, and we think that that’s an indication that this debate on the 27th will take place,” Meek told Trail Mix.
The debate, if it happens, would be moderated by Bob Schieffer and Katie Couric of CBS News, and it would take place either in Raleigh or Charlotte. Meek said that Wake Forest University “made a compelling case” for why it should host the debate, but the party looked to other sites. “We seriously considered it, but I think Wake Forest has been blessed with a couple presidential debates, and we thought maybe we’d share the wealth.” Wake Forest has hosted presidential debates in 2000 and 1988.
