He Should Have Stopped At 20. . . . . .

Democratic North Carolinians vote in one week and CBS News planned to host a debate last Sunday between the two front runners. It didn't happen. According to a press release from the North Carolina Democratic Party "We regret to inform you that the proposed Democratic Presidential Debate. . . . has been cancelled due to time constraints and logistical issues associated with such a large national event. There were also growing concerns about what another debate would do to party unity."

The "real" story is probably CBS News' take on things:

"Hillary Clinton had accepted the invitation but Barack Obama's campaign had not. In an interview with the Charlotte Observer earlier this month, Obama voiced skepticism about participating in too many debates. "I will tell you, after the 21st debate." Obama told the paper (in advance of the 21st debate). . . . . North Carolinians have had ample 0pportunity to watch these debates. . . . I don't know that they are ending up being more informative than the kind of town hall meetings we've scheduled."

After the last debate, I'm guessing Obama wished he had stopped at 20.

But does it make sense strategically? Obama may be setting himself up for a fall. Remember John Kerry in 2004 - He won the nomination easily with the media buying his "war hero" story. No tough questions, other than ABC's Charlie Gibson who did ask Kerry some tough questions. Once Kerry won the nomination, questions that should have been asked much earlier were finally asked. And the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ultimately did the media's job for them. If Obama succeeds in avoiding the touch questions now, someone will end up asking them in fall.

And then the fun begins in earnest.