And I'm still trying to figure out why Hillary declined the first North Carolina debate.

Didn't want to insult her Jewish voters as April 19th was the start of Passover.

I don't know if he will refuse the debate invitation. There won't be any corporate moderators to screw anything up, and that was the main criticism of the ABC debate, too many idiotic questions. Hillary's challenge is also a chance to replace the debate that NC turned down.

Obama should just ignore her on this one. He only has to do so for a few more days before the question is moot. Address the economy, jobs, and health care while she's prattling on about debates and she where that gets her.

I also don't think anybody but Hillary supporters actually want a debate.

All that being said, I don't think a controlled debate would be likely to hurt Obama at all at this point. He's coming off what has been decided to be a very poor debate performance in Philly. He'd been performing increasingly well in debates up until then. It could rehabilitate the perception of him as a debater.

But why take a chance. The contests come pretty fast and furious at this point. And there will be plenty opportunity to win debates against John McCain.

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."

In other words, Obama is essentially saying, "I look forward to debating my opponent John McCain later this summer."

I don't think anybody commented on the obvious (or perhaps no one, therefore, felt it was necessary), that HRC knows Obama wouldn't accept her debate challenge and that she can (and is) use it out on the stump to give the impression that he's wimping out, too afraid of her (who isn't?) It's a playground bully technique -- "here, knock this off my shoulder, I dare ya! Yeah, I knew you were too much of a sissy ro do it!" BTW, does this woman own ANY dresses?

If there's reason to have a debate after May 6, Obama should agree to one.

Maybe the Giants and Patriots should play a 5th quarter. That would make about as much sense.

Obama's the frontrunner with the goalpost in sight. Not debating is smart politics for any frontrunner close to sewing up the deal.

Its pretty clear that there have been more then enough debates. The Obama supporters have been telling us this for the last few debates. I remember all the posts telling us that there were 18 debates, no one wants any more. Now there have been 21 and its the same convincing argument, no one wants any more. The evidence is clear. Nobody wants these debates. Just take a look at the number of viewers.

California 4.9 million

Texas 7.6 million

Ohio 7.8 million

PA 10.7 million

You can see how the American public watched each debate in greater and greater numbers to express their desire that there be no more debates. Not only that, the public's desire for an end to the debates was sustained throughout the whole 90 minutes of the debate. Even against American Idol 96% of the viewers decided to stick with the debate to make it clear to the networks that they didn't want the debate to occur.

"The first hour of Wednesday's debate ranked first in its time period among Total Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54. Up against Fox's "American Idol" and an original episode of CBS' "Criminal Minds" at 9 p.m., the debate retained 96% of it Total Viewing audience, retained 100% of its Adults 25-54 audience, and grew 4% among Adults 18-49 from the first hour to the second hour."

Given this trend it appears that if there is another debate even more people will tune in and watch the whole debate to show the networks that the American people don't want debates. Enough already. No one wants debates.