One Debate On, Another Off in Raleigh

Raleigh, N.C. — The two leading Democratic candidates for governor will debate Tuesday evening on WRAL-TV. Details for the meeting between State Treasurer Richard Moore and Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue were still being formulated Monday afternoon.

A debate at the top of the ticket has fallen through, though. The proposed meeting in Raleigh between Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton has been called off, state party officials said Monday.

Moore and Perdue had attended forums sponsored by different groups in recent months but haven't engaged in a head-to-head debate. Moore agreed weeks ago to take part in a one-hour debate broadcast by WRAL, but the campaigns couldn't agree on a location or format for a debate, and Perdue didn't commit to participating until Monday.

Clinton had agreed to a CBS-televised debate at the RBC Center, tentatively scheduled for Sunday. Obama, who had earlier committed to an April 19 debate, said repeatedly he wasn't sure whether he could fit next Sunday into his campaign schedule.

The North Carolina Democratic Party said in a statement Monday that the logistics of staging a national event on short notice, if Obama were to agree to the debate this week, were too daunting to try to pull everything together.

"Certainly, we're disappointed. We were looking forward to this chance for a debate here in North Carolina," said Jerry Meek, executive director of the North Carolina Democratic Party. "But we also know both campaigns are going to be in North Carolina on a regular basis between now and May 6."

David McLennan, a political science professor at Peace College, said he wasn't surprised the debate fell through.

"This is a reflection more of the Obama campaign feeling they don't have much to gain from a debate in North Carolina. (He has) a fairly substantial lead in the polls, (and) he got beat up in the last debate in Philadelphia," McLennan said.

Clinton and Obama have agreed to attend the state's annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner on May 2 in Raleigh.

The dinner will be four days before the May 6 primary, which is seen as critical in the tight race for the Democratic nomination.

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Latest Comments

how come people attack obama for his association w/ people, but when other refer to stuff bill clinton has done, they say that he is not running for president. I don't think you can be closer to somebody than being their wife.

bullet656
April 22, 2008 3:20 p.m.

Wait Presidential Candidates Cancel and now we have to watch the whinning of Perdue and Moore????? OMG what is WRAL smoking? Who is his/her right mind would watch such dribble. I won't.

NC_VET
April 22, 2008 2:24 p.m.

The last debate was the first one Obama was really challenged. I think those issues aren't trival but are about character. I am really unhappy that he won't be debating in NC too. I hope NC voters take this into account.

wolff
April 22, 2008 1:43 p.m.

wildervb: "In fact, you would have to agree, that had Hillary had not been married to Bill she wouldn't even be a major candidate for President."

On the contrary, I respectfully disagree with most of your viewpoints as they relate to the 2008 presidential primary.

wildervb: "Jeremiah Wright? He never worked for the Obama campaign, not even related."

MSNBC: Obama’s campaign announced that the minister, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., had left its spiritual advisory committee after videotapes of his sermons again ignited fierce debate in news accounts and political blogs.

Obama did not clarify whether Wright volunteered to leave his African American Religious Leadership Committee, a loose group of supporters associated with the campaign, or whether the campaign asked him to leave.

Just Ice
April 22, 2008 11:30 a.m.

Samantha Power was a lower level worker for Obama, not leading his campaign, she spoke her own mind and was let go. She wasn't actually making money as a lobbyist working directly against the policies of the campaign as Mark Penn was doing. The fact that Clinton employed Mark Penn while he was lobbying for Columbia seems far, far worse.

Jeremiah Wright? He never worked for the Obama campaign, not even related.

In most cases of course I wouldn't put much weight on the opinions or words of a candidate's spouse. However, since Hillary bases all her "years of experience" on the fact that she was married to Bill makes this completely different. Obviously Bill is part of her campaign, he'll be a major part of her White House. In fact, you would have to agree, that had Hillary had not been married to Bill she wouldn't even be a major candidate for President.

wildervb
April 22, 2008 11:08 a.m.