Working without a contract for over two years, writers for CBS News are reportedly “strongly considering” to strike on December 10th, CBS said this morning. The timing would affect both CBS and a presidential debate, scheduled for that day. According to the report, candidates Barack Obama, John Edwards, and Hillary Clinton have all said they would not cross a picket line if a strike was held on the date of a debate.

Rumor of a date spread this morning as internal CBS emails said the writers had been notified by the union. But according to the WGA, neither an official email nor a strike date had been set.

The strike would impact approximately 500 CBS writers, and essentially cripple the news operation. It would have, perhaps, the most immediately noticeable effect of the strike to date.

Both sides are currently meeting to negotiate terms, and sources familiar with the matter have told us the outlook for a deal is optimistic.

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