The countdown is under way.

Shock waves flowed through the Obama for President campaign.

No, it was not the arduous task of swaying a superdelegate away from Hillary Clinton and into his presidential campaign fold.

No, it was not the pressure of Michigan and Florida to figure out how to seat their unwanted delegates at the Democratic National Convention.

And no, it was not awaiting the next adviser attached to either his or his opponent’s campaign team who at any given moment makes an inappropriate statement and is sent to the penalty box.

This countdown is more meaningful.

The countdown that faces Mr. Obama is how many days have passed without his appearing on the Sunday news program on the Fox network.

Too bad Fred Thompson is unable to intervene. Mr. Thompson was such a regular on any Fox broadcast that they needed to give him a credit line at the end of the programs.

Chris Wallace, the Fox weekend host, launched his Obama Watch on March 16. Every week until the wall comes down and Mr. Obama sits in a chair on the Fox set, Mr. Wallace will share with his anxious viewers the number of days in waiting.

This is somewhat reminiscent of other television countdowns, such as “Day ( ) of America held hostage” or “Day ( ) of the War on Terror.”

Trivial topics for sure when compared to appearing on a television show. But presidential decisions always are loftier.

To make his point even stronger, Mr. Wallace chided Mr. Obama that his Democratic opponent, Mrs. Clinton, has been on twice, and the expected Republican presidential nominee, John McCain, has appeared six times.

For perspective, this is the same Mr. Wallace who panicked during a Reagan news conference when his name had not been called more than halfway into the event and who missed — only to request that it be repeated — President Reagan making his famous statement that he was “not a potted plant.”

One television contract measure must not have changed over the years. Face time on air or at least equal sightings with your major competitors is critical.

Sorry that Mr. Obama and/or his handlers have decided where the senator will appear and the audience to reach in his quest for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Maybe at this point in the delegate battle with Mrs. Clinton, appealing to the more conservative base of viewers who make up the Fox audience is not in the Obama primary mix.

And if Mr. Thompson’s strategy of relying on Fox News to carry his message as “the” conservative Republican candidate for president is any example, Mr. Obama should avoid the invitation at all costs.

They are not Mr. Obama’s Democratic primary voters or convention delegates; they did not deliver for a candidate who thought he fit the audience demographic.