Strike May Jeopardize CBS Presidential Debate

ABC News’ David Chalian Reports: The CBS Democratic presidential debate scheduled for Dec. 10th in Los Angeles has taken its first public hit.

The debate — sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee — may be in jeopardy because some of the presidential candidates are concerned that the CBS News WGA members may be on strike at the time of the debate.

CBS News employees who are members of WGA voted last week to authorize a strike — but they are not on strike right now.

If the WGA west union pickets the CBS debate, expect no Democratic candidates to show up to spar with Katie Couric.

In a statement released Wednesday, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., said she would refuse to cross the picket line for the debate if CBS workers strike.

"The workers at CBS News have been without a contract for close to two and a half years.  It is my hope that both sides will reach an agreement that results in a secure contract for the workers at CBS News but let me be clear: I will honor the picket line if the workers at CBS News decide to strike," Clinton said in a written statement.

On a conference call with reporters, former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., said Wednesday that he, too, would not participate in the CBS debate if the writers’ strike persists.

Edwards also issued a written statement Wednesday indicating that he and his wife Elizabeth canceled their scheduled appearance on ABC’s The View next week due to the WGA writer’s strike.

“Elizabeth and I will honor the members of the Writers Guild of America who are on strike at The View by canceling our appearance on the show next week. I call on all of my fellow candidates and their campaigns to do the same,” Edwards said in the statement.

Michelle Obama, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., responded to the challenge, canceling her scheduled Dec. 5th appearance co-hosting The View.

“Michelle Obama will not cross a picket line to appear on ‘the View.’ When the strike ends she looks forward to appearing,” read an emailed statement from campaign spokesperson Bill Burton.

ABC News’ Teddy Davis, Sunlen Miller, and Karen Travers contributed to this report.