by John McCormick
Sen. Barack Obama's campaign released a letter today to the Commission on Presidential Debates that accepts their framework for three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate.
Campaign manager David Plouffe's language in the letter also seems to suggests it is unlikely Obama will take Sen. John McCain up on his challenge for additional town-hall-style debates.
"Due to the late date of the two parties' nominating conventions, and the relatively short period between the end of the conventions and the first proposed debate, it is likely that the four Commission debates will be the sole series of debates in the fall campaign," Plouffe wrote.
Obama's campaign also said Rep. Rahm Emanuel would serve as its negotiator with the commission and McCain campaign.
The full text of the letter is below the jump.
August 2, 2008
Mr. Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.
Mr. Paul G. Kirk, Jr.
Commission on Presidential Debates
1200 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W.
Suite 445
Washington, D.C. 20036
Dear Chairmen Kirk and Fahrenkopf:
I am writing on behalf of Senator Obama to accept the Commission on Presidential Debates' framework for three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate to be held in September and October. Senator Obama has designated Congressman Rahm Emanuel as our representative to meet with the Commission and the McCain campaign to review the specifics of the Commission's proposal, discuss any requested changes to that proposal, and resolve any issues left open by the Commission's framework. We will make our representative available at the earliest convenience of the Commission and the McCain campaign.
Due to the late date of the two parties' nominating conventions, and the relatively short period between the end of the conventions and the first proposed debate, it is likely that the four Commission debates will be the sole series of debates in the fall campaign. Consequently, we believe that finalizing the arrangements for these debates with promptness and certainty is in the interests of both campaigns and the American people.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
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Comments
Beijing isn't the only place where gymnastics are going to be held.
Now we're going to hear from the McCain sycophants that after 25 years in Washington John "Maverick" McCain will be the underdog against Barack Obama in debates.
McCain sold his soul when he took money from Karl Rove and will do anything to be president. Cindy McCain to her credit won't have anything to do with Karl Rove. It's too bad her husband doesn't have the honor too do the same.
Posted by: Zook | August 2, 2008 2:32 PM
Emanuel is another hot air expert-
Posted by: George | August 2, 2008 2:45 PM
Better donate more money to Obama cuz they'll need to buy Rahm some ear plugs as we now know that McCain's not only a WHINER--he's a pre-emptive WHINER!
And given his 4 crashes and no courts martial due to daddy's big shoulder brass, this guy has NOTHING to whine about.
Obama was merely warning people of the ONLY strategy they can use--FEAR. And the 'rallying scary europeans shot after the ridiculously rude diss with Brittany and Paris (As John Stewart deemed a **** move since Paris' parents DONATED to McSame) everybody perhaps glossed over this calling Obama a totalitarian.
So, before McSame can get in trouble with Mom and Dad, up from the baseement rec room he ran WHINING before Obama could get him in trouble.
Posted by: Golden "Hussein" Oldie wondering if McSame was the baby of the family birth order wise? | August 2, 2008 3:24 PM
Well, well, well does this come as a surprise. NOOOOOO! We all know how Obam does in the debates. So surprise here.
Posted by: RFB | August 2, 2008 5:06 PM
"Hussein" why don't you give up on your whining. It is getting a lot old.
Posted by: RFB | August 2, 2008 5:08 PM
"Campaign manager David Plouffe's language in the letter also seems to suggests it is unlikely Obama will take Sen. John McCain up on his challenge for additional town-hall-style debates."
Why?
Because without a teleprompter, Obama just stumbles all over the place, and without a written script, Obama is just an empty suit incapable of responding to real people with real questions. Remember the townhall-style debates with Hillary? She buried Obama every single time.
Posted by: Ryan | August 2, 2008 5:48 PM
See the obama machine is ready to spread thier lies. Why is O'Bama so afraid of someone with experience. O'Bama is also afraid to debate McCain? Let the people hear the two men and contrast them against each other in the tradition of ..... the great Democratic debates. Or is their no more hot air in the blow heart?
Posted by: Bob from Illinois | August 2, 2008 5:57 PM
So much for debating "any time, anywhere."
Posted by: VivianC | August 2, 2008 5:57 PM
Funny how the guy thats running as the outsider, and the guy thats going to do things differently has the most connected insider from the Democratic Machine in Chicago running things for his debate. Flip Flop! Flip Flop
Posted by: Bob from Illinois | August 2, 2008 6:02 PM
All this talk is just "putting the cart before the horse" in terms of the Democratic nominee. The longer Obama puts himself out there before the nomination, the more the Super Delegates have to consider, "Can Obama beat McCain?" If the answer is no, then they have no choice but to choose Clinton, as after 8 years of Bush, then cannot save face if McCain wins in November.
Posted by: SS | August 2, 2008 6:31 PM
It's funny to hear you McCain parrots try to criticize Obama's debate skills, knowing full well that your crusty old stain of a candidate can barely string a sentence together. I look forward to the world being introduced to that creepy yellow-toothed smile in addition to that great McCain wit.
Hopefully McCain will use his monkey rape joke. I'm sure everyone will get a kick out of that.
Posted by: Ed | August 2, 2008 6:59 PM
I'd say Obama is doing McBush a favor by not agreeing to those town hall meetings since John "Low Road" McBush is such a deadly dull speaker who neither inspires nor has any ideas for our country's future other than continuing the destructive policies of the Bush administration to which he is so surgically attached.
Posted by: oaklynne | August 2, 2008 7:52 PM
Obama is the best, look at the great state of Illinois, we have the best educated kids in Chicago, the lowest crime rate, almost no murders, very low sales taxes....oh wait that was just a dream...
Democrats, nothing good about them, all they are good for is for socialism and class warfare.
Posted by: breen | August 2, 2008 7:52 PM
That's it for me. I'm out. And I actually was thinking of voting for BO. Anyone who would associate themselves with another corrupt Illinois loser like Emanuel must be equally if not more corrupt. I guess Rahm must swallow. What has Obama done for Illinois while on the job anyway? Meatpuppets all.
Posted by: lou | August 2, 2008 7:57 PM
So much for the "relevance to the topic, obscenity, spam and over-the-top personal attack screening"...
Posted by: Alan Smith | August 2, 2008 8:03 PM
Ed 6:59 PM- Um uh um uh um, yeah Ed, there's some real pearls of wisdom ha.
Bob-someone just told me he also has a temper that is above and beyond anyone elses. I don't know much about Emanuel.
Posted by: Ha! | August 2, 2008 8:11 PM
Who needs a "debate negotiator" - let's schedule a few games and play ball.
Posted by: PJ | August 2, 2008 8:59 PM
Rahmanuel's campaign for the Senate proceeds apace.
How was he able to insinuate himself into this position??
He probably demanded a "role" in the campaign, and they decided, OK, let's give him the most thankless task.
Like, Rahm, could you take out the trash?
The "scheduler". Like, who's that Congressman from NY who succeeded Schumer?? NKYT had an article about how abusive he is to his "schedulers".
I'm sure Rahm will demand better treatment.
Given his close association with Hillary, however, I'd be a bit cautious.
Hmmm. Where does Rahm go after this???
Posted by: ornery | August 2, 2008 11:26 PM