Posted on 02/07/2008 4:44:44 PM PST by jdm
DAYTON, Ohio—Barack Obama is considering skipping the presidential primary debate scheduled for later this month in Ohio to instead spend time talking to voters, a newspaper reported last night.
The U.S. senator from Illinois faces U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York in the March 4 primaries in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont.
CNN announced last week that it would partner with the Democratic party in Ohio to bring a debate to the perennial battleground state on Feb. 27.
"Sen. Obama has debated Sen. Clinton 18 times during this campaign — including four times in the last month," Ben LaBolt, an Obama spokesman, told the Dayton Daily News for a story posted on its Web site. "There will be more debates before this race is over. Right now, Sen. Obama will focus his time in Ohio on meeting with and listening to the concerns of voters rather than talking again to Sen. Clinton."
The campaign left open the possibility that Obama could reconsider.
Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said yesterday that the Clinton campaign would seek four debates with Obama between now and March 4.
CNN also is working with the Republican party in Ohio for a Feb. 28 debate. The locations of the debates and other details have not been released.
Good strategy and good move by Obama's campaign team, IMO. They remember 2004.
I think Obama is on to something here. How many debates can the voters stand to listen to anyway?
I agree. If I were a candidate, I know I’d be much better at just presenting my case to voters rather than participating in endless, meaningless sessions of gotcha and one-upmanship. Enough is enough.
Yep, that’s a typical frontrunner move. Now the Hillary camp will start accusing him of avoiding them. Sit through enough of these campaigns and they all start to look alike.
Obama is signalling that he thinks Ohio is a lost cause.
“Obama is signalling that he thinks Ohio is a lost cause.”
Yes, that’s exactly what he is doing, Padre...and also that he thinks he is otherwise the front runner with nothing to gain and everything to loose by appearing in a debate with Mrs. Bill Clinton in a place like Ohio.
All things being equal, and I am not at all sure they are, Obama will win the D nomination and the election.
Just like Rooody was the inevitable GOP nominee (oh, that was six weeks ago).
Bad news for Hillary. Maybe she can debate herself? She should know about self-servicing as Bill has left her alone for twenty-some years....
OK. We’ll see.
Absolutely. She is scrambling and he should play to his strong suit which seems to be mesmerizing crowds.
Oh gosh, it is sad how many so called “conservatives” on this site seem to think that every single thing is a set back against H. Clinton.
A few things your morons: And if you think I am being harsh, then take my predictions to the bank.
1) Obama is an empty suit. In fact he would be a much easier foil to McCain in that he will in no way will win the working class vote.
2) So many of you are so blinded by your Hillary hate that you seem to root for Obama and think that everything he does is somehow wise.
3) His refusal to debate in Ohio will not play well with dem voters there.
4) You refusniks have essentially becomes obama-cons. And frankly, you are MORONS.
McCain will win against either H. Clinton or Obama and your foolishness will become legendary.
Pout, pout, pout.
Morons the lot of you, including perhaps the founder of this site.
You are perhaps the worst moron of them all.
“Obama hides his liberalness better too if he don’t debate. McDole can Pilot Air Force One for him. It’s going to be a hard left of high tax rates and a stall out on the economy.”
You may well be right. God knows a $400,000,000,000.00 deficit will give it a good shove in that direction.
I’ve noticed the same thing about the working class vote. They’re not falling for Obama... He’s the choice of the Aspen crowd and people who like to park a Prius in front of their McMansion so all the neighbors see how much they “care” about the environment.
Hillary can debate Ron Paul.
Starbucks vs Walmart
Maybe we can have Huma debate McCain’s lobbyist g/f
“1) Obama is an empty suit. In fact he would be a much easier foil to McCain in that he will in no way will win the working class vote.”
Likely he is an empty suit. Likely the working class will not vote for him. They also will not vote for McCain.
“2)So many of you are so blinded by your Hillary hate that you seem to root for Obama and think that everything he does is somehow wise.”
Why do you think anyone around here thinks Obama is wise? Thinking he’s a good politician is hardly the same thing.
“3) His refusal to debate in Ohio will not play well with dem voters there.”
Agreed. He apparently has written them off at least for primary purposes so why is this important?
“4) You refusniks have essentially becomes obama-cons. And frankly, you are MORONS.”
Are you very or only a little afraid of the American voters?
Rock stars don't have to debate.
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