Clinton presses for debate before N.H. primary

ADEL, Iowa (AP) — Hillary Clinton pressed the Democratic National Committee today to add a presidential debate before next month's New Hampshire primary, seeking another high-profile exchange with rival Bernie Sanders.

The push by Clinton for more debates – and Sanders' resistance to adding another forum – underscores his strength in Iowa and New Hampshire and the heightened concern within Clinton's team that she could lose both of the first early voting states.

Clinton is trailing Sanders in New Hampshire and locked in a tight contest in Monday's Iowa caucuses, raising the possibility that the Democratic front-runner could lose the first two presidential contests. Adding another debate before New Hampshire's Feb. 9 primary would give her a large television audience that might help her reach undecided voters.

"I am, you know, anxious if we can get something set up to be able to be there. So let's try to make it happen," Clinton said in a phone interview with MSNBC, which announced the new debate with the Union Leader, New Hampshire's largest newspaper.