He’s got time to tape a short segment for Monday Night Raw …

… but when it comes to debating in North Carolina, Barack Obama doesn’t have the time:

We regret to inform you that the proposed Democratic Presidential Debate scheduled for April 27 has been cancelled due to time constraints and logistical issues associated with such a large, national event.

You have shown tremendous passion and interest in being a part of history as Democrats are poised this year to elect the first female or African-American President. However, there were also growing concerns about what another debate would do to party unity.

We hope your interest in the North Carolina Democratic Party will not end with the cancellation of the debate.

We will keep your e-mail addresses for a random drawing to attend a special event in the fall featuring the nominee.

Senators Clinton and Obama have offered additional opportunities to be seen and heard across the state in the coming weeks and months.

Both candidates have committed to attending our Jefferson-Jackson Dinner on Friday, May 2 in Raleigh.

As I wrote over in the comments section at Hot Air, BO never actually committed do doing a debate in NC, at least from what I’ve read. Our liberal governor even put out a public request last week asking him to debate in NC. He’s been wishy washy on it for the last month or so. The verbal beating he got last week in PA just pushed him to make it official that he wasn’t going to debate here in NC. (Note: Obama spokesman Bill Burton claims BO agreed to “a” debate in NC “long before” Hillary Clinton did. I don’t recall anything about him actually committing to debating here at anytime, although there were discussions at one point of a possible debate here in Charlotte at an earlier date.)

In fairness, it’s probably not necessary as he’s going to win the state easily if these numbers are any indication, but it still makes him look like even more of a wuss all the same.

Regarding the WWE guest segment, eyeroll, please:

(CNN) – The road to the White House apparently runs through WWE Monday Night Raw.

All three presidential candidates are scheduled to make taped appearances on tonight’s episode, hoping to tap into the show’s approximately 5 million weekly viewers. The messages will also come on the eve of the crucial Democratic presidential primary in Pennsylvania.

The transcript for Hill-Rod and baRACK is as follows (the McCain transcript has not yet been posted):

Clinton on WWE

Hi, I’m Hillary Clinton. But tonight, in honor of the WWE, you can call me Hill-Rod.

This election is starting to feel a lot like “King of the Ring.” The only difference? The last man standing may just be a woman.

The truth is, this election is so important. The next president will face a stack full of difficult challenges right from the opening bell… to fix the economy, bring our troops home from Iraq, and make college more affordable. You need a president who will go to the mat for you. And that’s exactly what I’ll do.

I’ve been knocked down, but I’ve always gotten back up. And I know how to take a hit for the American people. And if things get a little tough, I may even have to deliver the “people’s elbow.”

Because this country is worth fighting for.

Now, I promise to stick to the political arena. So don’t worry Randy Orton you’re safe… for now.

When it comes to standing up for the American people though, I am ready to rumble.

Barack Obama on WWE

Hey WWE fans – I hope you’re all enjoying the program tonight. You know, this is a historic time for America. It’s not just that the reign of Randy Orton may soon be coming to an end. It’s that at this moment, in this election, we have a chance to finally end business-as-usual in Washington. For a long time now, we’ve had a politics where our leaders go after each other like they’re competing to become King of the Ring instead of coming together to provide universal health care, fix our economy, and solve our other problems. That’s what I’m running for President to change. So to the special interests who’ve been setting the agenda in Washington for too long – and to all the forces of division and distraction that have stopped us from making progress for the American people – I’ve got one question: Do you smell what Barack is cooking?

Yeah. We do. And it stinks.

Here are snippets of their taped segments (via Ben Smith). The most natural looking, of course, is Obama, who looks right at home acting (perhaps it’s something he hopes to fall back on should this presidential thing fall through – he’s certainly got more than a few connections). Hillary looks like an iceberg (what’s the weather like right now in PA, anyway, or does it matter when it comes to her?), and McCain looks so unnatural and scripted:

*shudders* I think now’s as good a time as any to remind the candidates to can the whole “man of the people” act. Most of the time it just comes off looking phony .. because it usually is.

Cross-posted to Jules Crittenden’s blog, where I am helping guestblog the next couple of days while he takes a mini-vaca.