'Debate' Clinton

While the Obama and Clinton campaign traded "negative" or "attack" radio ads during the South Carolina Democratic primary, today is another first. What many call a "contrast" ad was released by the Hillary Clinton campaign focusing on Barack Obama's lack of interest in debating.

The :30 second spot, airing in Wisconsin, is titled "Debate."


The ad's script reads:

ANNCR: Both Democratic candidates have been invited to a televised Wisconsin debate.
Hillary Clinton has said yes.
Barack Obama hasn't.
Maybe he'd prefer to give speeches than have to answer questions.
Like why Hillary Clinton has the only health care plan that covers every American, and the only economic plan that freezes foreclosures.
Wisconsin deserves to hear BOTH candidates debate the issues that matter.
And that's...not debatable.
Hillary Clinton: "I'm Hillary Clinton and I approved this message.

In political campaigns, the debate over debates, is almost always engaged by the challenger against an incumbent. And it rarely works. Attacking Obama for not debating makes Clinton sound like just another politician bickering about a process issue, voters of the Badger state have no interest in.

Pretend you were conducting a survey - with an open-ended question - seeking a honest list of the issue or issues of the greatest concern to the residents of Wisconsin. How many voters would you have to ask before someone responded "Not enough debates in Presidential primaries"?

It's a bank shot. Clinton is clever in trying to demonstrate that Obama's oratory skill is a ruse and more teleprompter than cognitive muscle. But it's probably too cute and persuades no one but those already in her camp.

Obama and Clinton have appeared in 18 debates during this cycle and have two more scheduled in the next three weeks.

Wisconsin's 92 Democrat delegates will be allocated by a primary on February 19.