http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080426/ap_on_el_pr/democrats

Sorry, I just (wrongly) assume everybody uses Yahoo because I still do.

Here is the letter sent (gleaned from Ben Smith (pah-tooie) over at Politico:

[blockquote]April 26, 2008

David Plouffe, Campaign Manager
Obama for America
P.O. Box 8102
Chicago, IL 60680

Dear David:

The attention, excitement and energy around this presidential election is unprecedented. The stakes could not be higher for our country and the American people. The economy is sliding into recession, our men and woman in the Armed Forces are fighting two wars abroad, and our country is reeling from the harsh legacy of the Bush-Cheney Administration. The American people are choosing a direction for their children and families. They have a right to hear from those who want to be their leaders. Our Democratic primaries reflect the keen interest of the American citizenry in this election. Our primaries have brought millions of new people into the political process and invigorated a national conversation about the best solutions to meet our challenges.

Senator Clinton believes deeply that political debates are a vital part of our democratic process. It is the American way to place our would-be leaders side by side to hear them articulate and defend their ideas; to challenge each other on their visions for the future; to answer the tough questions about their plans, their records and their judgments; and to celebrate their achievements.

Senator Obama has declined the invitation from CBS and the North Carolina Democratic Party to appear for a debate at North Carolina State University tomorrow evening. Senator Obama has apparently declined the invitation of the Indiana Debate Commission to appear for a debate in Indiana next week. Senator Obama has not responded to Senator Clinton’s challenge to debate in Oregon. Will there be no debates in other upcoming states? The American people, of course, deserve more. They deserve debates before casting their votes. They deserve debates just like the states who have participated in this invigorating process before them.

I understand that Senator Obama has raised the point that there have already been more than 20 debates this election cycle. However, only four of those have been between Senator Obama and Senator Clinton. We can all agree that many important issues have received scant attention during previous debates, including such important topics as education and the energy crisis.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates, a series of public debates across Illinois where two candidates put their ideas, their visions, and their values before the American people. I have no doubt that Senator Obama, who hails from that great state, understands how valuable and vital these national conversations were to the heart of America. We can surely meet the standard our forbearers did. Our final two primary candidates to date have had three fewer debates than Lincoln and Douglas held in single state over 60 days in 1858.

And if we debate, Americans will come. Recent debates have attracted record numbers of viewers – more than 10 million for the last one. And a great number of voters in recent primaries have said that the debates in their states were important to their decision.

Senator Obama himself suggested the last debate in Philadelphia did not provide enough opportunity to talk about issues that “matter[] to the American people.” A Lincoln-Douglas style debate would certainly provide that opportunity. There would be no questions from the media. There would be equal time and equal opportunity to grapple with the important policy questions we are facing today. As Douglas put it, the two candidates would meet “for the purpose of discussing the leading political topics which now agitate the public mind.”

In the spirit of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, we make this proposal:

Senator Clinton and Senator Obama will participate in a 90-minute debate in an open public forum. Just the two of them -- no questioners, no panelists, no video clips. One candidate would speak for two minutes, then the other, alternating back and forth all the way through the debate. Their discussion – not any pre-set rules – would determine how long they spend on one subject before moving on to another. Such a debate would range across all of the challenges, large and small, we face as a nation or it could focus on the most significant issue we face today, -- the economy.

We can readily agree on a host, a place, a date, and a broadcaster or series of broadcasters.

Both of our candidates are making history. Let us continue to do so. Let’s debate.

Sincerely,
Maggie Williams

Campaign Manager[/blockquote]

Fox News Sunday aired a snippet from the Obama interview that will air tomorrow where he was asked if there would be any more debates and he flatly said he will not debate Hillary between now and the Indiana and NC primaries. Of course this question was asked before this current proposition.

Hillary is after free air time again, however I don't think there is really a threat to Obama to accept given the format. I mean She has a helluva lot more skeletons, though I can guarantee Clinton would bring up Rezko for the first time officially - to which I'd love to see Obama rattle off a laundry list of Clinton scandals that would take up his full two minutes to get through.

Of course this challenge is further Clinton desperation, though it does rebut Obama's claim of no more debates because they lack substance from the moderators. She gets free publicity from the challenge and either from the debate if he does accept or the fallout if he declines.

I think the sooner Obama gets his own stride back, staying focused on his own game, instead of being constantly derailed by Hillary's agenda, the better. She's just waiting to get him to attack her so she can say "Is this the kind of new politics you stand for?"

I think a basketball game would be better.

Okay, lets try that again using the whole alphabet.

Earlier, when she was the front runner, this would have been great for him. Now its a no win scenario for him. Either he gaffes, which is what she's trying to force, or he beats her like a drum. If he beats her like a drum, she'll sniffle about how she was bullied by the big mean boy and amp up her support among her S/DWF base.

And, honestly, if I had to listen to 45 minutes of her sing-song droning of her endless laundry list of policy plans and wonky trivia, I'd shoot myself.

CNN is reporting that:

Sen. Barack Obama flat out denied any possibility that he would accept a debate with rival Sen. Hillary Clinton prior to the next big round of primaries.

As justification for his denial, Obama tells CNN:

"I'm not ducking one. We've had 21, we want to make sure we're talking to as many folks possible on the ground taking questions from voters."