Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton, right, and Sen. Bernie Sanders. AP FILE PHOTO
WASHINGTON鈥擠emocratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton on Monday rejected an invitation to take part in a final campaign debate against her rival Bernie Sanders, her campaign said.
鈥淲e have declined Fox 黑料社鈥� invitation to participate in a debate in California,鈥� Clinton spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri said in a statement, adding that the former secretary of state would concentrate on campaigning against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump instead.
鈥淲e believe that Hillary Clinton鈥檚 time is best spent campaigning and meeting directly with voters across California and preparing for a general election campaign鈥� in November, she added.
Sanders on Wednesday agreed to a debate in California, which is set to hold a potentially decisive primary on June 7 along with five other states.
The left-leaning Vermont senator responded to Clinton鈥檚 decision on Monday saying in a statement that he was 鈥渄isappointed but not surprised by Secretary Clinton鈥檚 unwillingness to debate before the largest and most important primary in the presidential nominating process.鈥�
鈥淒emocracy, and respect for the voters of California, would suggest that there should be a vigorous debate in which the voters may determine whose ideas they support,鈥� he added.
Although Clinton is all but certain to win the Democratic Party鈥檚 nomination, Sanders has dismissed calls to withdraw, saying a path for him remains open.
鈥淪ecretary Clinton may want to be not quite so presumptuous about thinking that she is a certain winner,鈥� he said in his statement. 鈥淚n the last several weeks, the people of Indiana, West Virginia and Oregon have suggested otherwise.鈥�
However, a new poll released on Monday by local broadcaster KABC in Los Angeles showed Clinton鈥檚 lead over Sanders in the state growing to 57 percent against his 39 percent.
Fox 黑料社 Vice President Bill Sammon said in a statement that the channel was 鈥渄isappointed鈥� by Clinton鈥檚 decision to decline its invitation 鈥渆specially given that the race is still contested and she had previously agreed to a final debate before the California primary.鈥�
The two campaigns agreed in February to hold four more debates, including a final one in California in May. Only three have taken place so far.
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