Variety’s Michael Learmonth writes about CNN and the CBC Institute partnering for the South Carolina debate and other debate related news…

“These debates are a meaningful addition to our coverage of the 2008 presidential election, particularly as they give us an opportunity to explore a range of issues that impact the African-American vote,” said CNN U.S. prexy Jon Klein.

The CBC is under pressure not to partner with Fox from Colorofchange.org, an online advocacy group with backing from MoveOn.org.

The group said it launched a letter-writing campaign calling on the CBC to reject Fox as a sponsor of debates; as of Wednesday night, it was unclear which of the CBC debates Fox would end up with or when they would be held.

MoveOn successfully pressured the Nevada Democrats into dropping Fox as co-sponsor of a debate in August. But Fox has a history with the CBC, sponsoring a Democratic debate the group held in the 2004 election cycle.