Obama says won't debate Clinton before Indiana vote

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Sunday he would not hold another debate with rival Hillary Clinton until after the May 6 nominating contests in North Carolina and Indiana.

Clinton, a senator from New York, on Saturday challenged the national front-runner for the Democratic White House nomination to a 90-minute debate in Indiana without a moderator.

Obama, a senator from Illinois, turned her down.

"We've got nine days to try to campaign and reach as many voters as possible, and so rather than being in a studio, I want to make sure that we're reaching out to folks where they live, answering their questions," he told reporters.

He said he would be "more than happy to consider" another debate with the former first lady after those two upcoming contests were finished.

After Indiana and North Carolina, there will be only six more contests in one month to finish the process of voting for a Democrat to face Republican John McCain in the November election.