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Remember that YouTube debate September that the candidates couldn't quite schedule(it wound up getting moved to November)? The reason is obvious why so many balked--there is a big race to get all the loose change out of the couch in advance of the September 30 Thrid Q fundraising close. Debates take time- preparation, travel, and attendance. In the time spent to get 7 minutes or so of your own candidate's time on screen, a million or so could be scooped up. So no debate this month and lots of finance events. Rudy and Romney will make every effort to pull away from the pack and demonstrate that only they have the funds, organization and stamina to get big bucks that will fuel crucial media buys heading into January. Will Romney need to cut another big check to himself? Will Rudy sneak into first again(or has that low expectations game been used up)? As for McCain he needs to demonstrate his fudraising operation has a pulse and that he has enough at least to get ads on the air in crucial early states. (If he does the "McCain is back" theme becomes a chorus). And for Thompson, the real danger is that he lags McCain or Huckabee or is half of what the frontrunner brings in. (Remember fundraising is supposed to be easier at the beginning when you get all the "low hanging fruit.")

UPDATE:Actually, Thompson may not want to do many debates regardless of the circumstances. In Florida AP has the following:
"Later, in Celebration, he was asked why he was not participating in the Values Voter debate in Fort Lauderdale on Monday. He said he will do his best to participate in debates, but he can't make all of them. ''Debates are important, but let's don't let the tail wag the dog here. Standing up there 10 in a row, you know, like a bunch of seals waiting for someone to throw you the next fish is not necessarily the best way to impart your information to the American people,' Thompson said. 'I'm not above acting like a seal very once in a while and waiting for the next fish, I just don't want to do it all the time.'"  If you think some commentators are peeved by his lack of substance and willingness to engage on ideas, wait until he starts ducking debates. Well, I mean, ducks more of them.