Writers strike threatens debate

If the WGA strike drags on for two more weeks, it could claim another casualty: CBS News’ Dec. 10 Democratic presidential debate.

Last week, the five top candidates said they would not participate in the debate if the news division’s WGA-represented news writers and other employees walked off the job. The CBS staffers, who have worked without a contract for 2 1/2 years, voted earlier this month to authorize a strike. Union officials are meeting this week to consider whether to call for a work action, which would be separate from the current WGA strike.

But even if the news writers continue working, CBS might still be forced to scrap its debate, set to be held in Los Angeles at CBS Television City and anchored by Katie Couric.

That’s because the candidates could face the prospect of walking past WGA members marching outside in support of the ongoing television and film writers’ strike -- something Democratic contenders eager for the support of organized labor are unlikely to do.

On Tuesday, representatives for former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina and Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois confirmed they would not participate in the CBS debate if it is picketed.

Edwards senior advisor Joe Trippi said the campaign was already making plans for him to stump elsewhere that day unless the WGA strike is resolved.

“If there’s a picket line, he’s not going to cross,” Trippi said.

CBS executives said that if the strike is not settled in time, they’re hoping the guild will agree not to picket to allow the debate to continue as a public service.

It remains to be seen whether the WGA would be willing to make that concession. CBS Television City, home of “The Price Is Right,” among other shows, has been a frequent picket location for the union, which had members outside the studio’s gates as recently as Tuesday morning.

A WGA official said the guild had not yet decided whether to picket the debate.

CBS is the only struck network holding a presidential forum before the end of the year. ABC would be the next network forced to deal with the ramifications of the WGA strike if the labor stoppage hasn’t been resolved by Jan. 5, when it holds separate Republican and Democratic debates in New Hampshire.

matea.gold@latimes.com