No debate change, according to Concord Monitor (Obama and Hillary criticize. Edwards not so much.)

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No debate change

Pleas to change the format of this weekend's debates seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

Despite criticism from the chairmen of both state political parties, officials in charge of the WMUR/ABC Republican and Democratic debates are sticking with their planned criteria, an ABC spokeswoman said. Participants have to finish in the top four in Iowa's caucuses or have rated above 5 percent in one of the latest four national or New Hampshire opinion polls. As for the Fox News / New Hampshire Republican Party forum scheduled for Sunday, GOP Chairman Fergus Cullen hadn't heard any news about a change in format. That forum has the toughest standard, with only five candidates invited to attend.

Obama and Clinton both released statements criticizing the debate format on Tuesday.

"The voters of New Hampshire deserve to hear all the Democratic candidates' views on who can best lead America in a fundamentally new direction, and that's why I urge these networks to allow full participation," Obama said in a statement.

As for Clinton: "I welcome the opportunity to have a substantive debate with my fellow Democratic candidates," she said. "I believe in the true spirit of the New Hampshire process."

Yesterday afternoon, Sen. John Sununu added his voice to the critical chorus. "Unfortunately, ABC and FOX are using unusual participation criteria to limit who will appear on debate stages this weekend," Sununu said in a statement. "That may serve them well, but does little to serve the electorate."

http://www.cmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080103/OPINION/801030323/1017