Incumbents generally don't ask for debates, they grudgingly agree to them, and have the upper hand in setting ground rules. The challenger is usually lesser known, so the debates give the challenger an opportunity for exposure the incumbent would rather not give him.
I agree.
Therefore all I can conclude is that Newt is trying to lure Obama into a debate by telegraphing that he is skeered.
Yeah, and Incumbents demand to be addressed as “Meester Persident” which in our culture is equivalent to “Your Excellency” or “Your Holliness”, that’s the way it is, as far as perceptions go, like it or not, and is lamely excused as respecting the “OFFICE” of the POTUS, but is no different than kissing the hand to the Pope, or kneeling before Kinbg George, whom, and whose rituals we like to think we had defeated 200 or so years ago, while we continue to lick the carpet on which the POTUS or former POTUS walks and spits.