Obama Agrees to Debates in Ohio and Texas

Yields to half of Clinton's challenge; would rather do rallies
By Lucas Laursen,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 8, 2008 8:33 AM CST
Obama Agrees to Debates in Ohio and Texas
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., addresses supporters during a community gathering at Tulane University Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)   (Associated Press)

Yielding to pressure from the Clinton camp, Barack Obama accepted two of  four proposed debates in advance of the March 4th primaries yesterday, one in Ohio and one in Texas. Obama is favored in the eight contests to be held between now and March 4, but he trails in Texas and Ohio. His team prefers rallies to debates as a way to win supporters, the Dallas Morning News notes.

But Clinton trails in fundraising, and may see debates as the best way to get airtime in the expensive Texas media market. Both campaigns have raked in the cash since their Super Tuesday tie, with Obama scoring $7.2 million and Clinton $6.4 million. The Ohio event Feb. 26  will be moderated by NBC at Cleveland State University; the date for the Texas forum hasn't been set. (More Election 2008 stories.)

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