Two Republicans Demur (object, hesitate, or delay) on a YouTube Debate

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The Republicans’ presidential YouTube debate, scheduled for Sept. 17 in Florida, may move to another date, given reservations that some of the candidates have expressed about both the date and the format. Read the entire story here.

Sept. 17 comes near the end of the third-quarter fund-raising period and could interfere with the candidates’ intense dash for cash. Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, has turned down the invitation because of a heavy fund-raising schedule, Kevin Madden, his spokesman, said yesterday.

Aides to Rudolph W. Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, said he had potential scheduling conflicts. Earlier yesterday, it seemed that the candidates were fleeing the unconventional format, in which the public asks questions via video.

Mr. Romney told The Union Leader in Manchester, N.H., that it could be demeaning for presidential candidates to “answer questions from a snowman,” a reference to a video question that was presented to the Democratic presidential candidates in their YouTube debate on Monday.

Will young voters be disappointed in Mitt if he doesn't participate? Is it really about schedules or more about the format? CNN (Anderson Cooper) may let the YouTube questioners really pound the Republicans.

Hat tip: David M.

Update #1: Romney May Debate After All

Mitt Romney snubbing the CNN-YouTube debate?. . .Not so fast. CNN Washington Bureau Chief David Bohrman, the mastermind behind the CNN-YouTube marriage, spoke with Romney's campaign late yesterday. CNN says the former Massachusetts governor may participate if the debate, scheduled for Sept. 17 in St. Petersburg, Fla., can be pushed back.

Update #2 Patrick Ruffini explains why the YouTube debate matters.