Donovan Slack

USA TODAY

Hillary Clinton’s campaign on Monday brushed off a request from Sen. Bernie Sanders that she debate him in her home state of New York.

Clinton press secretary Brian Fallon told CNN that the campaign considers the request a “stunt” by a campaign “struggling” for attention and an effort to “get back on people’s radar.”

Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver sent a letter to the Clinton camp on Sunday making the request.

“Our campaign continues to believe that the people of New York, the largest April primary, deserve to have the debate held in their state, and that it should be held prior to the New York primary,” Weaver wrote.

Clinton strategist Joel Benenson told reporters Monday that that would be unlikely at this point.

“We’re still in the month of March, we’ve got real estate to go before New York,” he said.

Wisconsin is scheduled to hold a Democratic primary April 5, and Wyoming will have caucuses April 9. New Yorkers will have their primary April 19.

The campaigns had agreed to at least one debate each in March, April and May. March debates were held in Flint, Mich., and Miami. The May debate is slated for California, according to Weaver’s letter.

“Can you please explain why New York should not host the April debate?” he wrote. “Is the Secretary concerned about debating before the people who twice elected her to the U.S. Senate?”

Benenson suggested that the Clinton campaign also has been concerned with the tone of Sanders’ campaign and that negativity – which he had foresworn earlier in the race – could lessen the chances she will debate.

“We think that this party is strong when we have a good strong healthy debate, but the tone of the campaign has become increasingly negative and personal in some places,” he said. “They spent a lot of money on radio and TV in some states calling out Secretary Clinton, so, you know, I just think we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

Clinton is leading Sanders by whopping margins in New York – 34.5 percentage points in the RealClearPolitics average. But the Vermont senator is hoping to capitalize on the momentum from his three big wins on Saturday in Alaska, Hawaii and Washington state. His campaign said it has raised $4 million since the victories.

Contributing: Nicole Gaudiano

Bernie Sanders claims momentum over Hillary Clinton after 3 easy caucus wins