BARACK OBAMA - COURIC LOSES CHANCE TO MODERATE DEMOCRATIC DEBATE

Katie Couric's hopes of finally being able to moderate a Democratic presidential debate were dashed Monday when the North Carolina Democratic Party canceled the debate she had hoped to co-host on Sunday, citing the lack of a commitment by Sen. Barack Obama to participate and concerns that the growing personal attacks by Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton might damage party unity. Obama is expected to win the North Carolina primary handily. In an interview with today's (Tuesday) Los Angeles Times, CBS News Senior VP Paul Friedman said that the planned debate, which Couric had been tapped to moderate, "would have been good for us in the sense that it would have shown Katie's skills. ... She's a very good interviewer and passionate about politics. So it would have been good for her. On the other hand, she's done a lot of great work for which she hasn't gotten any credit or recognition."

22/04/2008