Clinton challenges Obama to N.C. debate

Hillary Clinton's campaign said this morning that Barack Obama is brushing off North Carolina voters -- just like he brushed off criticism like so much lint on his suit's shoulders in an appearance last week in the Tar Heel state -- by not agreeing to debate before the May 6 primary.

The state Democratic Party announced on Monday that it had cancelled plans for an April 27 debate to be broadcast on CBS because of logistical problems. Clinton had accepted the invitation, but Obama had not. He did accept an earlier date, before today's primary in Pennsylvania, but Clinton had not.

“It is unfortunate that Senator Obama has chosen to brush off the people of North Carolina by flatly refusing to debate," Clinton's director in North Carolina, Ace Smith, said in a statement. "But we are willing to move forward with another time and location for the debate so that he has no excuse for not participating. Unfortunately, it is becoming clear that Senator Obama simply does not believe that North Carolinians deserve the opportunity to hear directly from the candidates about how they will fix our economy, bring our troops home and provide quality health care for every American."

The Democrats have debated 21 times, most recently last Wednesday in Philadelphia.