No presidential debate in California after Clinton breaks promise

There will be no Democratic presidential debate in California, because Hillary Clinton’s campaign reneged Monday on its earlier promise to participate in one. In February, the campaigns of both Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders agreed to debate in California before the state’s June 7 primary.

But with Clinton comfortably ahead in both pledged delegates and superdelegates — plus her desire to pivot to her likely general election matchup against Republican Donald Trump — there was little political incentive for her campaign to participate.

The Chronicle, as the Sanders campaign noted last week, also expressed interest in co-hosting a debate. But that debate will not happen.

“We have declined Fox News’ invitation to participate in a debate in California,” said campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri. “As we have said previously, we plan to compete hard in the remaining primary states, particularly California, while turning our attention to the threat a Donald Trump presidency poses.”

Sanders said in a statement Monday that he was disappointed there would be no debate.

Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, shown at a debate earlier this year in Charleston, S.C. Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, shown at a debate earlier this year in Charleston, S.C. Photo: Associated Press Photo: Associated Press Image 1 of / 57 Caption Close No presidential debate in California after Clinton breaks promise 1 / 57 Back to Gallery

“I also would suggest that Secretary Clinton may want to be not quite so presumptuous about thinking that she is a certain winner,” he said. “In the last several weeks, the people of Indiana, West Virginia and Oregon have suggested otherwise.”

Fox News Washington Managing Editor Bill Sammon said the network “is disappointed that Secretary Clinton has declined our debate invitation, especially given that the race is still contested and she had previously agreed to a final debate before the California primary.”

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicle’s senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: joegarofoli