Wag the Blog: Debate Over Debates

Over the last few weeks, former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) has led the charge against Fox News Channel's attempts to cosponsor a Democratic presidential debate.

Last month, Edwards was the first Democratic candidate to back out of a planned August debate co-sponsored by the Nevada Democratic party and Fox News, citing scheduling conflicts as well as a reluctance to give the allegedly Republican-leaning network a high-profile platform. After several other top tier candidates followed Edwards lead, the debate was scrapped.

Late last week Edwards pulled out of a Detroit debate set for Sept. 23 and co-sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus Institute and Fox. "We believe there's just no reason for Democrats to give Fox a platform to advance the right-wing agenda while pretending they're objective," explained Edwards' deputy campaign manager Jonathan Prince.

Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Ill.) have followed Edwards lead and backed out; debate organizers insist the show will go on.

Today's Wag the Blog question is whether this debate over debates is much ado about nothing or a significant moment in the campaign. Does Edwards' refusal to appear at a Fox-sanctioned debate bolster him in the eyes of a significant number of voters? Or is it meaningless in the broader narrative of the campaign?

Offer your thoughts in the comments section. We'll monitor the discussion and pluck out a few of the most insightful and interesting comments to be featured in a post of their own.