Aside from John McCain, Ron Paul, and Tommy Thompson it appears that the Republican presidential candidates are already afraid to face the American public.

– and rank and file Republicans are already worried about the fallout from those decisions

Republicans are getting worried. Several prominent GOP web types have started a petition drive at Savethedebate.com to get the candidates to participate. It would be “a serious mistake” for major candidates to skip the event, they say. “Republicans cannot write off the Internet … And Republicans cannot write off the youth vote.”