DebateScoop.org: NC Debate-About-Debate Intensifies

NC Debate-About-Debate Intensifies

By Allan Louden 04/25/2008 12:01:54 PM EST

Friday morning Hillary Clinton stepped up her call for a televised debate in North Carolina. Speaking at a firehouse in Jacksonville NC (MSNBC's FirstRead):

She made a pitch for her campaign's interactive "NC Ask Me" feature, in which people can submit questions online and get an answer -- some of which have been used in television ads.
"It has been great, and we've gotten over 14,000 questions," she said. "We have answered every one of those questions. But the only question I can't answer is why Sen. Obama won't debate me in North Carolina. And I'd sure like to give an answer."
She said that each upcoming state deserves their own debate, because "the issues in Pennsylvania are not the same as the issues in North Carolina," and "the issues in North Carolina aren't the same as the issues in Indiana."
"There's all kinds of issues that we should be debating about right here in North Carolina," she said. "So again I offer that I'll go anywhere at any time. And we'll have that debate as long as Sen. Obama would agree to actually meet me. I think that would be good for the voters and it would be good for this important campaign."

Does a debate in NC make sense? The Obama campaign has been trying to deflect the calls invoking "debate fatigue," citing 21 previous debates. More likely they find more comfort in filling UNC's Dean Dome next Monday than taking the time out to prepare for anther debate. The recent history of debates indicates the Clinton campaign would use a debate to press attacks and find openings for positioning following the debate.

Below fold: "So What" and Obama response

Tags: debate about debates, North Carolina, media narrative, Clinton, Obama

Although the Clinton campaign certainly would welcome a series of debates, they also can exploit Obama's hesitancy in the local media, arguing he won't engage their issues. The mediated debate-about-debates seems like a win-win for Clinton's NC trench warfare.
Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan gave an Obama response - we already accepted a debate they ignored (National Journal Hotline):

"While Senator Clinton is focused on debating debates - except, of course, for the one in North Carolina that Senator Obama accepted and she didn't, or the previous 20-plus debates they've already had - Senator Obama is focused on finding real solutions for our families like making energy more affordable and securing our energy independence," he said. "The difference in this election couldn't be more clear."

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