Afraid of Partisans?

Mike Allen of the the Washington Post reports:

"President Bush may skip one of the three debates that have been proposed by the Commission on Presidential Debates and accepted by Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), Republican officials said yesterday.

"The officials said Bush's negotiating team plans to resist the middle debate, which was to be Oct. 8 in a town meeting format in the crucial state of Missouri. . . .

"The commission said participants should be undecided voters from the St. Louis area.

"A presidential adviser said campaign officials were concerned that people could pose as undecided when they actually are partisans."

How can we trust this man with the safety of our nation if he's afraid to be confronted by a few partisan Missouri ruffians?