Clinton Accepts Granite State Debate

ABC News’ Rick Klein Reports: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., will attend next month’s Democratic debate in New Hampshire, leaving Senator Barack Obama, D-Ill., as the only major candidate who has not committed to appearing at the first debate in the state that is home to the first presidential primary in the nation.

Clinton and Obama had been reluctant to commit to attending the forum because it is not among the six debates sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee; the first of those events will be held in July.  But, after all of the Democrats attended another non-sanctioned debate last week in South Carolina, Clinton today decided to sign up for the Manchester, N.H., event, with her campaign calling it "an important part of the New Hampshire primary tradition."

"She looks forward to this opportunity to continue her conversation with Granite Staters and demonstrate why she is the candidate most ready to lead and deliver the change we need," Clinton spokesperson Mo Elleithee said in a statement.

The June 3 forum will be sponsored by ABC affiliate WMUR-TV, The New Hampshire Union Leader, and CNN.

The Obama campaign did not immediately respond to inquiries about whether the Illinois senator plans to attend.