Obama to curb participation in debates, forums
They cut into time better spent 'engaging with voters,' aide says
Campaign manager David Plouffe wrote on the campaign Web site: "We simply cannot run the kind of campaign we want to and need to, engaging with voters in the early states and Feb. 5 states, if our schedule is dictated by dozens of forums and debates."
Two weeks ago, Obama and the other candidates met in Chicago at an AFL/CIO forum. Saturday, they all spoke at the Workers For a Better Iowa Forum in Cedar Rapids, and this morning, they are in Des Moines for the ABC/Iowa Democratic Party debate.
David Axelrod, Obama's media strategist, said in Waverly that the number of debates has grown "like Topsy, to the point where invitations were coming in one, two, three and four times a day."
If the campaign met all the requests, "we'd be running from one debate to another," he said. "We wouldn't be able to meet voters."
So far, Obama has participated in seven Democratic debates and 19 candidate forums.
After Labor Day, there are only 120 days before the early caucuses, limiting the time candidates can hit the stump.
Obama will attend only the five remaining sanctioned Democratic National Committee debates, two Iowa debates in December and the Univision television debate. He is unlikely to appear at candidate forums.
This morning's Des Moines meeting, moderator George Stephanopoulos said in a telephone interview, will be a "real debate."
It will be a mix of video questions, e-mails and questions from Stephanopoulos, who says he wants to give the "viewers a clear idea of where the candidates stand on the issues."
Stephanopoulos wouldn't comment on Obama's decision to limit debate appearances.
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During his speech in Waverly, Obama elaborated on his energy policy, saying his goal if elected president is to require that 20 percent of electricity be based on renewable energy.
He lauds the use of ethanol, derived from corn, which he says will generate jobs and economic development in rural areas. But he notes ethanol is not the only answer to America's energy needs.
The country must invest in the development of cellulosic ethanol, which uses wood chips and even manure in its manufacture, he said. Wind and solar power also should be expanded, Obama said.
Obama talked about a bill he co-sponsored with Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin to further reduce the carbon in fuels sold in the United States.
He repeated the need for radically improved miles per gallon in Detroit-made autos, a step Congress has been reluctant to take.
Obama ended his fourth day in Iowa with a barbecue in Marion at the home of Gretchen and Nick Lawyer, then attended a candidates' forum in Cedar Rapids.