U.S. House candidate Tom McClintock has chosen not to participate in a Thursday evening debate with Republican challenger Doug Ose, McClintock's campaign told PolitickerCA.com Wednesday afternoon.

Stan Devereux, a spokesman for McClintock, said the campaign notified the Lincoln clubs of El Dorado and Sacramento counties that it would not participate in the debate unless lower-tier candidates Theodore Terbolizard and Suzanne Jones are included in the format. When the Lincoln clubs declined the request, McClintock's side pulled the plug, Devereux said.

The McClintock campaign has steadfastly insisted that it is far ahead of Ose heading into the final days of the campaign. That judgment was privately shared by two congressmen last week, including one who is publicly backing Ose. But the McClintock campaign said the decision to skip the Thursday evening event should not be seen as play-it-safe move.

John Feliz, McClintock's consultant, said the decision was made because the campaign had grown tired of what he said were Ose's relentless attacks on McClintock and it did not want to provide Ose with a one-on-one format that allow an open opportunity to hammer McClintock again.

"As far as I'm concerned, people don't have to listen (the attacks) anymore. People should have the opportunity to listen to what the other candidates have to say," Feliz said.

Devereux, the campaign spokesman, was quick to argue that the Lincoln club had a number of Ose's supporters on its leadership.

Michelle Smira, the president of the Sacramento chapter of the Lincoln club, insisted the club was not taking sides in the primary. She also said the McClintock side has known about the debate format for eight weeks and that up until now he was committed to attending.

"I guess I would ask Tom to stick by his word," she said.

Doug Elmets, a spokesman for Ose, slammed McClintock for the last-minute pullout.

"In the final week of the campaign pulling out of the debate is the height of arrogance," he said. "This is classic Tom McClintock."