Fighting in Iowa, Hillary Clinton fears repeat of 2008 loss

The event upholds a longstanding tradition and will be the Democratic presidential candidates’ only face-to-face debate after the Iowa caucuses and before the first-in-the-nation primary.

The debate, which is scheduled to take place February 4, is unsanctioned by the Democratic Party, meaning any candidate who actually participates would be unable to attend any Democratic National Committee sanctioned debates.

USA Today reported that, “Jennifer Palmieri, a Clinton spokeswoman, told the Union Leader that Clinton would be happy to participate ‘if the other candidates agree, which would allow the DNC to sanction the debate.'” Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malle, has accepted the invitation.

Across the small town of Mason City that same evening, her rival Senator Bernie Sanders was hosting a larger rally with Hollywood star Susan Sarandon on hand.

After his meeting with Obama on Wednesday, Sanders said he was getting “updated on some of the issues facing this country” and said he believes the president is trying to do the right thing when it comes to fighting terrorism.

“Well, my No. 1 priority is having a Democratic President succeed me, and I think there’s no doubt that, given our history, I want more women in politics generally, and I want my daughters to feel that there’s nothing that they can’t do”.

“I do want you to know that I am not just shouting slogans, I am not just engaging in rhetoric”, Clinton said.

The DNC had said any candidates who participated in non-sanctioned debates would not be invited to the official six.

“There’s nothing more in this life that I would look forward to than running against Donald Trump”, Sanders said. But in a statement, the DNC says it will reconvene with the campaigns after the New Hampshire primary to “review” the schedule.

Both Sanders and O’Malley have criticized the DNC for organizing a relatively skimpy debate schedule.

Although Obama has remained studiously neutral in the Democratic race, as good form demands, the meeting – and its timing – was an opportunity for Sanders to gain credibility and gravitas.

Late Tuesday, Wasserman Schultz said the proposed debate would not be sanctioned.

Speaking in the White House driveway, the anti-establishment figure laughed as he said he did not directly ask for Obama’s endorsement. But exactly what’s going to happen with that debate is very much up in the air.

It came just ahead of the first contests to pick the Democratic and Republican nominees: Iowa, on Monday, and New Hampshire, on February 9.