President Obama hasn't formally taken questions from the White House press corps in more than two months , while on the campaign trail in Iowa yesterday he made time for reporters from People Magazine and Entertainment Tonight .

His last news conference was at the G20 in June, when he answered six questions from three reporters on the European debt crisis, the conflict in Syria , and the notion of politics stopping at the water's edge .

The White House press corps has not formally been given the opportunity to ask questions of the president on U.S. soil since his appearance in the Briefing Room on June 8 (when he said " the private sector is doing fine. ")

His last formal White House news conference was on March 6.

The president answered a shouted-out question about the shooting at the Sikh Temple on August 6, after the signing of "Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012."

That's not to say the president has not faced the press. As he campaigns heavily across the country, Obama has done countless interviews with local radio and TV stations, including several ABC affiliates.

During his three-day Iowa bus tour this week, for example, he conducted three interviews with local radio stations, including a sports talk radio show, and a roundtable discussion with columnists from three Iowa papers, in addition to sitting down with People and Entertainment Tonight. On July 12, he did an interview with Charlie Rose for CBS This Morning.

Asked if the president will be holding a full-blown White House press conference any time soon, Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters Wednesday, "I don't have any scheduling announcements to make about that."

-Jake Tapper and Mary Bruce

Get more pure politics at ABC News.com/Politics and a lighter take on the news at OTUSNews.com