Feb. 7, 2008 (AP): Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama agreed Thursday to debate opponent Hillary Clinton in Ohio and Texas before the March 4 primaries.

``We don't have a specific date or time identified yet, but Barack Obama is committed to holding a debate in Ohio [and Texas] before March 4th as he travels around the state listening to Ohioans’ [and Texans’] concerns about the economy, outsourcing, and the mortgage crisis,'' Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt said in an e-mail.

LaBolt said Obama also remains committed to listening to voters’ concerns.

Clinton, a U.S. senator from New York, has pushed for the debate since she and the U.S. senator from Illinois essentially split the Super Tuesday vote.

Obama and Clinton face each other in March 4 primaries in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island, and Vermont. They've debated 18 times during the campaign.

CNN had announced last week that it would partner with the Democratic Party in Ohio to bring a debate to the politically important state on Feb. 27. CNN also is working with the Republican Party in Ohio for a Feb. 28 debate.