CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A debate in North Carolina between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, proposed for April 27, is hanging in the balance.
Obama, the leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, declined on Friday to commit to debating in the state before the May 6 primary elections. In a telephone interview with The Charlotte Observer, he cited scheduling difficulties and suggested voters might not get much out of a debate anyway.
The two candidates have appeared in 20 debates, with another set for Wednesday in Pennsylvania.
"I will tell you, after the 21st debate -- all of which have been nationally televised, and so North Carolinians have had ample opportunity to watch these debates -- I don't know that they are ending up being more informative than the kinds of town hall meetings that we've scheduled," Obama said.
Obama's comments came during an interview about his economic plan, in which he supports tax cuts for the middle class, changes to trade agreements and relief for homeowners facing foreclosure.
He declined to criticize the U.S. State Department for announcing a week ago that it was renewing its security contract with North Carolina-based Blackwater USA. He called for "careful oversight" of such contractors in Iraq. The company has drawn increased scrutiny since a September incident in Baghdad in which 17 Iraqis were killed.
Obama made clear that both scheduling and strategy will determine his participation.
"I am always open to debates," he said, "but I think that obviously we've got to structure our campaign so that we're reaching as many voters as possible."
He had previously agreed to a North Carolina debate April 19. Clinton did not agree. The Pennsylvania primary is three days later.
Clinton's North Carolina director Ace Smith said, "It looks like their intention is to stop debating."
There's little incentive for Obama to commit now, said Ferrel Guillory, founder of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill's Program on Public Life. If Obama wins Pennsylvania, where Clinton is favored, then pressure would mount for her to drop out, he said.
"It may be uncomfortable for the folks in Raleigh who are setting it up, and for CBS," Guillory said. "But there's still time to let the process play out a few more days."
He also said the number of debates so far means neither candidate can be accused of ducking.
"I don't think the party folks should try to steamroll candidates into debating just for them to have the fun of having a debate," Guillory said.
In an attempt to attract undecided voters, Obama's campaign released an economic plan Friday. Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius appeared in Raleigh to tout the plan, and the campaign says it's distributing 10,000 copies in book form.
Much of the 50-page plan is identical to a national economic plan he released two months ago. Among the proposals is a $10 billion fund to help homeowners facing foreclosure, a tax cut of $500 per worker or $1,000 per working family and a mortgage tax credit for homeowners who don't itemize their returns.
In the interview, Obama said it's designed to help both urban and rural areas.
"One of the central premises of this campaign is that we can't have uneven economic growth," he said. "If it's not good for Main Street, it's not going to be good for Wall Street."
Another part of the plan focuses on strengthening labor unions -- a risk given that North Carolina is among the least unionized states. It also calls for a "crack down on China."
"There are a host of areas where China has not abided by the rules of the road that should govern our trade," Obama said.
Some parts of the plan would hurt North Carolina, said Joe Coletti of the conservative John Locke Foundation. A $10 billion relief fund for states and localities hit worst by the housing crisis would probably go elsewhere, he said. Obama's plan doesn't specify how the money would be divided up.
John Quinterno of the liberal N.C. Budget & Tax Center applauded the plan for focusing on problems that are prevalent among N.C. workers. "It ultimately will depend on the actual details and a commitment to actually do something should he win," Quinterno said.
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A lot of people in middle America are going to be offended that he took the time to go see the rich libs in SF and he doesn't even care about actually debating and dealing with normal people. It sounds to me like he's an elitist.
