Texas Debate Set - Feb 21; No to Wisconsin Debate
The New York Times Political blog announced within the hour that Obama has accepted an Austin Texas debate
Barack Obama has accepted an invitation to debate Hillary Rodham Clinton in Austin, Tex., his campaign announced.
The event, co-sponsored by CNN, Univision and the Texas Democratic Party, is set for Feb. 21, ahead of the state's March 4 hybrid caucus/primary.
The debate is also sponsored by the Texas Democratic Party and in conjunction with the Lyndon B. Johnson Foundation. The program will air live from the LBJ Auditorium at the University of Texas in Austin on CNN and on CNN International from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (ET)and will air in Spanish on the Univision Network beginning at 11:30 p.m.
Debates are always political, before and after. More below on pressure via Texas and Wisconsin debates.
: Texas, primary debates, debate about debates, Obama, CNN, Univision, Wisconsin
Although in principal the Obama Campaign had accepted a debate in texas prior to the primary, critism from the Clinton organization for not accepting debates has continue unabated. The NYT implies the pressure lead to accepting the debate.
Mr. Obama's positive R.S.V.P. comes after Mrs. Clinton's team put out a wave of statements criticizing him for refusing to sign on to several one-on-one events.
Wisconsin debates Unlikely
Wisconsin's Oshkosh Northwestern.com reports that the debate in that state won't happen, as Obama says no to debates beyond OH and TX.
Clinton also agreed to appear at a debate at Marquette University, but Obama has not responded to the invitation. U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin and Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton called on him Monday to do so, saying it was the best way for Wisconsin voters to see where the candidates stand on issues.
Obama’s spokesman Dan Leistikow said his schedule is still being put together.
But, Leistikow also said it will be impossible for the two candidates to debate in every state, and they’ve already met 18 times with two more debates planned.
