The New York Times’ Raymond Hernandez and Jacques Steinberg write about the Divide among Democrats regarding the debate…

Despite a fierce debate within the 43-member caucus over whether to sever ties with Fox News, those representing the caucus in its dealings with Fox have thus far held firm. The network itself has apparently urged the caucus to do just that. There was, for example, a meeting for caucus press secretaries attended by representatives of News Corporation and Fox News, where talk turned to how to publicly present the merits of the debate. (Also working in Fox’s favor is that the debate is to be held in Detroit, the home city of Representative Carolyn Cheeks Kirkpatrick, the caucus chairwoman.)

Democratic advocates, meanwhile, especially with those affiliated with Moveon.org, have sought to drive a wedge between the caucus and Fox News.

But all of these machinations may ultimately prove moot. “If the candidates are not going to participate, then you don’t have a debate worthy of viewership,” said Representative Charles B. Rangel, one of the most prominent members of the caucus, whose district includes Harlem. “They made the decision for us, and for Fox.”

A Fox News spokeswoman declined to comment for this article, or to make available anyone else at the channel, including Roger Ailes, the chairman and chief executive of Fox News.

UPDATE: The article fails to mention this but Time Warner is also a financial contributor even though CNN has two debates with the CBC as well.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune’s C.J. doesn’t think there’s much chemistry between John Roberts and Kiran Chetry apparently…

THE QUOTE: “… one of the most clearest explanations,” CNN’s John Roberts said on the air. And kudos to Roberts because then he did his very best to correct the mistake.

I almost didn’t hear this because I haven’t tuned into Roberts and Kiran Chetry in about two weeks. Their morning show doesn’t have much charm or chemistry. I miss Soledad O’Brien, who I am sure does not miss arriving at work in the middle of the night.

The Monterey Herald’s Kevin Howe writes about the Bill O’Reilly and James Carville’s appearance yesterday in Monterey, California…

They talked about the coming election at a press conference at CSU-Monterey Bay on Friday. Both said presidential candidates’ spouses can be good and bad for a campaign.

Laura Bush was a plus for George W. Bush’s two winning campaigns, O’Reilly said, while Teresa Heinz Kerry was a liability for her husband, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., in his bid against Bush in 2004.

Bill Clinton’s popularity, he said, “will help Hillary.”

Both men agree that the upsurge of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has been a surprise.

Obama “has run the best media campaign,” O’Reilly said. “He has put himself front and center as a contender. I’ve got to be skeptical about him, but I have to respect that he’s broken through.”

“The Obama phenomenon,” Carville said, “is not quite like anything we’ve seen in American politics. He’s impressive.”