It would be a smart and very cleaver ploy on Obama's part to skip the debates if The Newt is the GOP candidate.
The MSM might not like that all that much. Those debates do bring in the TV revenues, now don't they. Obama will have more than enough money to placate (read buy off) the MSM.
I predict that Obama will debate whoever the Republican nominee turns out to be.
Newt will be a more formidable candidate than McCain was, but then so would Romney, or Huntsman.
Perry and Cain would be dream opponents for anyone, should the Republicans be foolish enough to nominate one of them.