Lt. Gov. Brown calls out Obama on “Chesapeake Primary debate”

Obama Camp Says 'Clinton Doesn't Dictate Schedule'

Former President Clinton, Lt. Gov. Brown and Gov. O'Malley: In 2006The Maryland leadership team for the presidential campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton is demanding that Sen. Barack Obama participate in a debate between the two candidates prior to Tuesday's ‘Chesapeake Primary,' when voters in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. go to the polls.

This afternoon, Clinton supporter Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown and campaign spokesperson Melissa Schwartz held a conference call with reporters to discuss the issue.

According to Schwartz, ABC News, Fox News, and The Politico have all agreed to sponsor a pre-primary debate on either Sunday or Monday. Clinton has agreed to such a debate on Tuesday, but Obama, while not rejecting an invitation, has yet to commit to participating.

"Hopefully, a debate will be set-up by next Tuesday," Brown said.

The two candidates have participated in a number of debates to this point, the last being a pre-Super Tuesday debate in California. That debate, however, was the first and only time the two candidates' debated one-on-one.

The lieutenant governor said he was "optimistic" that a debate would be scheduled, adding, "We've put a lot of work into Maryland."

Schwartz was more forceful, saying, "If Sen. Obama can't debate Sen. Clinton, I'm not sure how he is going to debate Sen. McCain," a reference to the presumptive GOP candidate.

That drew the response of Maryland for Obama spokesperson David Weaver, who told PolitickerMD.com, "We've debated 18 times, and will again."

"But our schedule is not going to be dictated by the Clinton campaign"

He added, "People in Maryland are looking forward to seeing Barack Obama, we're going to be keeping that commitment."

Schwartz also used the call to announce the senator would open campaign offices in Cecil and Prince George's counties.

She would not say when or if Clinton would be campaigning in Maryland in person.