April 17 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama hinted today that he may be finished debating rival Hillary Clinton, dismissing the forums as little more than a chance for her to ``twist the knife.''

He suggested that he had more efficient ways of communicating with voters in North Carolina and Indiana, which will hold primaries on May 6, after Pennsylvania's April 22 contest.

Last night's debate in Philadelphia, the 21st Obama and Clinton have participated in, ``set a new record,'' said Obama, a senator from Illinois. ``It took us 45 minutes before we even started talking about a single issue that matters to the American people,'' he said at a town hall meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina.

``Senator Clinton looked in her element,'' Obama said. ``She was taking every opportunity to get a dig in there, you know, that's all right, that's her right to kind of twist the knife a little bit.''

Asked by an audience member if he would agree to a North Carolina debate, Obama demurred. ``I'll be honest with you, we've now had 21,'' he said, chuckling. ``I could deliver Senator Clinton's lines; she could, I am sure, deliver mine.''

``We're just going to try to figure out what's the best way that we can reach as many constituents as possible in a relatively short period of time,'' he said.

Family Issues

Clinton, from New York, campaigned in Pennsylvania today, holding a roundtable on family issues at Haverford College with her mother and daughter in attendance. Clinton reiterated her support for a tax credit for caregivers, expanding family leave benefits to employers with as few as 25 workers and increasing access to child care.

She largely stayed away from controversial campaign issues during the stop in the town of Haverford. She drew laughter when asked by an audience member what message to give to potential voters.

``Just knock on the door and say, `you know, she's really nice,''' Clinton said. Then she suggested that campaign workers say, ``she's not as bad as you think.''

Clinton today will tape an appearance on Comedy Central's ``Colbert Report.''

Obama, campaigning in North Carolina, suggested that a victory there could ``wrap up this nomination.''

``If we can win this nomination then I think we can beat John McCain,'' he told an overflow crowd outside the auditorium.

To contact the reporters on this story: Hans Nichols in Raleigh, North Carolina at hnichols2@bloomberg.net; Kristin Jensen in Haverford, Pennsylvania at 1823 or kjensen@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: April 17, 2008 16:56 EDT