The Democratic presidential candidates are at odds over whether to participate in a newly proposed debate to be held just days before New Hampshire's Feb. 9 primary. The event is not sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee.
Hillary Clinton's campaign says she'll participate in the debate, to be hosted by MSNBC and the Union Leader newspaper, if her competitors do. But Bernie Sanders' campaign says he has no plans to attend a debate not approved by the party. Martin O'Malley plans to participate. The debate is scheduled for Feb. 4.
The proposal comes as Sanders and Clinton are locked in a tight battle in the first-to-vote states of Iowa and New Hampshire.
Of the DNC's six sanctioned debates only one was held in New Hampshire, on the Saturday before Christmas.
