McCain suspending campaign due to US economic crisis
Saying that the Wall Street bailout plan is in jeopardy and the US economy at stake, John McCain said today that he is suspending his presidential campaign on Thursday and called for postponing the first presidential debate on Friday night.
"It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the Administration’s proposal," he said in New York. "I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time.
"Tomorrow morning, I will suspend my campaign and return to Washington after speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative. I have spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of my decision and have asked him to join me.
"I am calling on the President to convene a meeting with the leadership from both houses of Congress, including Senator Obama and myself. It is time for both parties to come together to solve this problem."
"We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved. I am directing my campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the commission on presidential debates to delay Friday night’s debate until we have taken action to address this crisis."
The McCain campaign clarified that in addition to suspending campaign events, it is also putting advertising and fundraising on hold.
But Obama told reporters that he believes the debate is "more important than ever."
"It's my belief that this is exactly the time the American people need to hear from the person in approximately 40 days will be responsible for dealing with this mess," Obama said.
UPDATE: The candidates, along with congressional leaders, were invited to a White House meeting Thursday on the bailout, Obama's camp said tonight.
“A few moments ago, President Bush called Senator Obama and asked him to attend a meeting in Washington tomorrow, which he agreed to do. Senator Obama has been working all week with leaders in Congress, Secretary Paulson, and Chairman Bernanke to improve this proposal, and he has said that he will continue to work in a bipartisan spirit and do whatever is necessary to come up with a final solution. He strongly believes the debate should go forward on Friday so that the American people can hear from their next President about how he will lead America forward at this defining moment for our country,” said Obama spokesman Bill Burton.
A McCain spokesman also confirmed tonight that the Arizona senator will be at the White House meeting, noting it was what McCain proposed today.
Obama said he called McCain this morning after he said he determined that McCain had adopted many of his principles -- a point McCain would dispute.
This afternoon, Obama said, they talked again about issuing a joint statement on principles such as creating an independent oversight board, protecting taxpayers, and demanding more transparency. They agreed on the need for bipartisanship and talked about having a meeting in Washington.
UPDATE: Tonight, the two campaigns issued that joint statement:
“The American people are facing a moment of economic crisis. No matter how this began, we all have a responsibility to work through it and restore confidence in our economy. The jobs, savings, and prosperity of the American people are at stake.
“Now is a time to come together – Democrats and Republicans – in a spirit of cooperation for the sake of the American people. The plan that has been submitted to Congress by the Bush Administration is flawed, but the effort to protect the American economy must not fail.
This is a time to rise above politics for the good of the country. We cannot risk an economic catastrophe. Now is our chance to come together to prove that Washington is once again capable of leading this country.”
McCain mentioned suspending the debate, but Obama said he didn't know McCain had made up his mind.
"Presidents are going to have to deal with more than one thing at a time," Obama added in his news conference.
Later, Obama's campaign honed in on the critique of a president being able to do more than one thing at a time, sending a rather snarky list of crises and big news events close to other debates, going all the way back to 1960 and saber-rattling by the Soviet Union.
Before the first debate in 2004, the list noted, North Korea admitted progress on a nuclear weapons program.
In his news conference, Obama said he believed the joint statement would go out first, before any press conferences or announcements.
Obama wouldn't directly answer questions about whether he believed McCain was playing politics with the suggested debate delay.
But other Democrats weren't as circumspect.
Senator Charles Schumer of New York said McCain acted "unilaterally" in a "very strange political move.
"This was seeking political one-upsmanship," Schumer said on CNN. "....He could upset some very delicate negotiations."
"It's the longest Haily Mary pass in the history of either football or Mary's," Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, who leads one of the committees scrutinizing the bailout, told reporters on Capitol Hill.
Republicans, on the other hand, praised McCain for taking a maverick stand, yet again.
"He's willing to risk being president to help the country," Senator Orrin Hatch said on MSNBC.
Responding to Obama, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, McCain's economic adviser, wouldn't say whether McCain will skip the debate and let it proceed with an empty chair in his place.
"That's getting ahead of where we are," Holtz-Eakin said on MSNBC.
Holtz-Eakin said the focus should be on resolving the bailout. "It's time to stand down from partisan politics," he said.
The debate host, the University of Mississippi, issued a statement saying it's still planning on the debate. "The University of Mississippi is going forward with the preparation for the debate. We are ready to host the debate, and we expect the debate to occur as planned," the statement said. "At present, the University has received no notification of any change in the timing or venue of the debate. We have been notified by the Commission on Presidential Debates that we are proceeding as scheduled. We will keep you posted as information becomes available."
The debate organizers also said they're moving forward for now.
The Commission on Presidential Debates said in a statement: "The plans for this forum have been underway for more than a year and a half. The CPD’s mission is to provide a forum in which the American public has an opportunity to hear the leading candidates for the president of the United States debate the critical issues facing the nation. We believe the public will be well served by having all of the debates go forward as scheduled."
Obama spokesman Bill Burton issued a statement on the timeline: "At 8:30 this morning, Senator Obama called Senator McCain to ask him if he would join in issuing a joint statement outlining their shared principles and conditions for the Treasury proposal and urging Congress and the White House to act in a bipartisan manner to pass such a proposal. At 2:30 this afternoon, Senator McCain returned Senator Obama’s call and agreed to join him in issuing such a statement. The two campaigns are currently working together on the details."
The McCain campaign issued its own statement on the timeline: "Senator Obama phoned Senator McCain at 8:30 am this morning but did not reach him. The topic of Senator Obama’s call to Senator McCain was never discussed. Senator McCain was meeting with economic advisers and talking to leaders in Congress throughout the day prior to calling Senator Obama. At 2:30 pm, Senator McCain phoned Senator Obama and expressed deep concern that the plan on the table would not pass as it currently stands. He asked Senator Obama to join him in returning to Washington to lead a bipartisan effort to solve this problem."
White House press secretary Dana Perino issued a statement welcoming McCain's announcement, saying that the support of the presidential candidates would help a deal be reached.
But Harry Reid, the top Democrat in the US Senate, issued a statement that it would not be helpful for McCain and Obama to return for the negotiations because that would risk "injecting presidential politics" into the process.
And, of course, independent Ralph Nader and Libertarian Bob Barr had to get their two cents in. They're not invited to the presidential debates because neither has reached 15 percent in the national polls.
In a joint statement, they said, "The fact that a candidate can call for changing the date of the debate only two days before it is scheduled indicates how easy it would be for the candidates to also call for the inclusion of the leading third party and independent candidates, which would bring fresh ideas to the table on how our country can truly tackle this heavy challenge."
McCain jumps the Shark!
We have elections during wars...This is america. We don't stop democracy for convience sake or crisis.
Someone's VP isn't ready
Group hug
I don't trust McCain...what kind of a ploy is this? It's the Re.publicans who got us in this mess to begin with
Well...could it be that Sen. Obama contacted Sen. McCain FIRST, in an effort to work together and address this issue, and Sen McCain then issued a statement in an attempt to use this to his political advantage? Kind of an "I thought of it first" situation? It wouldn't surprise me a bit.
NO!
No way should the FEC delay the debate!
This is a power grab, pure and simple. (We never had debates, guess we'll have to postpone the election now...)
In other times of crisis, the US elections marched on and took their natural course; there is no reason we should do anything different now.
McCain doesn't want to debate now that the polls are not in his favor? Hopefully he is telling the truth and the crisis is the real reason he is suspending his campaign. I hate to doubt the guy, especially at a time like this, but with all the lies that have come out of his camp, it's hard not to.
no
This is real leadership. Now watch the Obama campaign fall all over themselves calling this a campaign tactic.
I guess he has to at least pretend to care about the common man
The debate should go on. We need to see the candidates debate before the election.
sounds like someone is affraid to lose the debate!
Wow, responsible citzenship!! From a Republican? I am shocked, this must be the beginning of the end.
the debates should not be delayed.
this is pure political bull. McCain knows his campaign is floundering and is about to choke under the weight of it's own lies.
No, the debate should not be postponed. I think the time is right for people to see what the candidates believe or propose for the economy. Neither candidate has much effect on the current problem, but I would like to hear what they propose for the future.
They both should have been in Washington since last week. This just looks like a cheap political trick now. Too little, too late.
What, does McCain think the reason why the bailout issue hasn't been resolved yet is because he hasn't been there to bring everyone together?
This morning's news announces that Obama is ahead in some of the polls again and all of a sudden McCain is scared to debate...
Call me cynical, but this is just another attempt by McCain and company to grab headlines and seem presidential and above the fray, especially since he is behind in the polls. This is the time when America needs to hear from our future leaders. This country is going to be in crisis for many more months, so according to McCain logic, maybe we should delay all the debates and even the presidential election!
It's all politics.
Did McCain steal Obama's thunder? The title of news piece suggests it was Senator McCain alone who initiated this.
No, it is more important than ever to hear them debate. This is a crisis that needs to be dealt with wisely, and Obama and McCain need to tell us how they would handle it. Also, there are other issues that I have been waiting for weeks to hear them debate.
NO. What a coward.
These issues will continue well beyond the election. Postponing the debate(s) and/or suspending campaigns will have no real impact on solving them. McCain's proposal seems impulsive and should make voters question his judgements even more.
Definitely not. I think this is a stalling tactic used because Senator McCain does not have a believable response to the economic crisis. This would buy him some more time to develop one. I think that the American people have a right to know what the candidates would do to handle the different issues and it especially important for them to show us now in the middle of a crisis. We need to know how they can think on their feet. The one who should be concentrating on the actual crisis right now is George Bush and his administration since he is the President.
Really?
Really?
Of all the transparent, pathetic, crybaby, look at me cheap stunts to
1) draw attention to himself, and make it look like he wants to solve the crisis
2) magnify the "crisis" and ramrod the bailout through Congress...
Wow. I'm amazed. Just when I didn't think McCain could outdo himself, he does. And Obama is going along with this?
Wow.
Unbelievable; if this is such a crisis that needs to be addressed immediately he should skip the Clinton Global Initiative, take Gov. Palin down to Washington and give her a crash course in crisis management. Unfortuately, that's not what this is about. It's an obvious political stunt to appear bipartisan and to look like a "leader" on the issue. Good way to change the conversation from the latest polling data I guess...
NO. What a coward.
Of course not. Mr. Straight Talk is slipping in the polls and with public sentiment squarely against the Republicans and this massive bailout he doesn't want to get hammered in Friday's debate. Classic stall tactic. What a "maverick". Run and hide Senator.
Congratulations! Senator McCain...this is a monumental crisis that needs to be addressed.
We know we will be electing a new president who will be inherting this crisis. I would think that most people have made up their minds at this pont. Do we need to watch you spend millions more dollars to prove your points, while many many people in this country stand to loose millions
There is not a chance in hell that the debate should be delayed.
McCain sees the results in the polls and knows that if he goes into this debate and performs poorly when it comes to questions regarding the economy, he will see his chances of winning this race slip away very quickly.
There is no legitimate reason why these two candidates should not debate as planned for a few hours on Friday night. This is a copout.
Good grief...
McCain has shown up for fewer votes than any other Senator. Even less than Tim Johnson of SD (the one who had the stroke). Sometimes, he was the only senator who didn't bother to show up; the 2008 energy bill failed by one vote, and McCain was the only Senator didn't vote.
NOW-- when he's behind in the polls-- he suddenly decides to start doing his job as Senator??
Looks like desperation to me. Reminiscent of Bob Dole's desperate move to resign from the Senate. And look how well that worked out for him.
No. This is what a president does; reacts to crisis'.
Yes, give them some time to prepare for a debate that no one cares about.
This is ridiculous. Less than 45 days until the election. We have a President (such as it is) who was elected to handle these crisis (of his own making) and until January 20th he is still in charge. I am sure that consensus can be reached without John McCain's vast knowledge of the credit markets. He's never had anything important to add before, why stop campaigning now that his poll numbers have dropped. What a stunt!
Ooooh, John McCain is scared of Barack. Boo-hoo!
That's odd, I thought he said the fundamentals of the economy are strong. Hmmm....
Absolutely not.
No are you kidding me......what a joke.. the people want to here from these two, face to face... enough of these attack adds on T.V... I for one cann't take much more of it.. I want to see the both of them talk about real issues facing the American people, and I want to see it now...
no way in hell!!
he wants it delayed so he doesnt have to talk about it.
he knows the deregulation that the repubs and mccain have been touting for the past 20 years led to this!
he makes me sick...
Absolutely not. He hasn't done anything about this issue in the past, what's two more days?
its all a campaign ploy
Sure, let's delay the election, too! Things can only get better, right?
When we were kids we called it chickening out.
Debating on Friday in the midst of this meltdown would be a disaster for McCain, not that he wasn't going to get waxed anyway. He and his cronies (Rick Davis, Phil Gramm, et al.) are all wrapped up in this financial mess. There would be a bulls-eye on him for Obama, like shooting ducks on a pond. While he asserts that this is "not the time for politics," post-poning the is politics at its most pathetic. A clever, yet seemingly desperate ploy, to try and divert attention away from the matters at hand. Rovian tactics, plain and simple. At the end of the day, pretty chicksh*t behavior for a war hero, if you ask me.
This is such a transparentally political move on McCain's part. McCain has stated repeatedly that economics is not his strong suit and now he is going to rush to save the economy for us. He's trying to dig his way out of the hole he's in. It hasn't worked on me but I guess it is worth a shot. He had to do something.
As usual, John McCain brings intelligent,proactive response to any situation, including the debate. Why pretend there is a real deadline for talking about foreign affairs, instead of recognizing its artificiality and probing the current crisis. This kind of tactic demonstrates why we need a leader who's not afraid to step outside the box as President.
McCain should not suspend his campaign and neither should Obama. The determination of the next President of the United States is more important than two Senators participating in the negotiations for the bail out.
I think this is more of a ploy for McCain to avoid facing tough questions (and facts) during the debate about Republican policies that led to the financial crisis.
Absolutely not. He's not the President and I think he needs to stand there and explain to everyone what his position on this mess is.
This is just a political ploy. He is thinking only of how well this ploy will benefit him in the polls.
Which, I guess is all that we can expect of any politician.
It's much more important that the two candidates debate this Friday (and on a different topic, foreign affairs) than it is to suspend the campaign, which is fast coming to an end without much clarity on many issues. We really should get a better idea of how both look at foreign affairs head on, so to speak. Obama's idea of a joint statement is just fine and may prode the others to find a solution faster, but let's face it, neither is now in charge of anything except their own campaign.
Typical McCain showboating. No substance, just theatrics, and a handy diversion from the damning news this morning about his campaign manager.
NO WAY. We need to see how Mr McCain preforms under pressure.
On second though, I think McCain is trying to stall the debates. The only thing that has changed is the polls in Obama's favor. The debate only takes a couple of hours. Why not suspend his compaign today, do what he has to do and be ready for the debate on Friday?
No, it should not be delayed. McCain and Obama cannot fix the current crisis. They are campaigning to show us who our next leader will be. Let the current leaders wallow in the mess they have made, and let McCain and Obama make the case for our future. The future is coming - Jan 20, 09 is coming, and McCain cannot put it off. So show us how he will be ready and what he will do then, don't go hide because he doesn't know what to say.
Seems like all the more reason to debate. Stop running John.
McCain and his crew are obviously worried that they're careening toward defeat and aren't quite sure how to deal not only with the financial crisis but also, and above all, with the erosion of their support due to the Palin implosion and the critical response to their lie-based political advertising campaign. It's a smart move on their part to do to try to take a "timeout" and, perhaps, develop a new campaign strategy, but using the financial crisis as an excuse to delay the first debate on foreign policy should be recognized as the self-serving political maneuver it obviously is.
The debate should absolutely not be postponned. Why not debate what strategies both candidates feel need to be implemented immediately to address the dire situation. They could also weigh in on their feelings regarding a possible bail out and how that should or should not be implemented.
Have both candidates look America in the eye and say this is what we need to do !
It's 3:00 AM. A phone rings in the White House. It's an international crisis. John McCain answers the phone and says, "Not now.. Call me back in the morning."
Yes, and NOT on a Friday night
Good call by McCain, besides him and Obama should be in D.C. doing their jobs. All politics should cease before we spend 700 billion in a matter of minutes!
To me this is just an attempt by the McCain campaign to appear as though they are taking a stong and informed stance on the economy as a way to try and recovery from McCain previously admitting that the economy was not one of his strong points and other statements in recent months about the soundness of the economy. I think that postponing the debate will likely only add to the histeria and scare tactics that are already being employed to fast track a major piece of policy before fully analyzing its implications and addressing the lack of oversight. I think that the debate should not be postponed and that McCain should show how well informed and concerned he has apparently become now that this is a centeral issue for the election by debating Obama.
Another gimmick from McCain...his polling numbers are sinking so he calls for delaying a debate...he looks like a coward.
Brilliant move by McCain. If Obama agrees, he's perceived the follower to McCain's show of leadership. If he disagrees, then he's perpetuating the partisan politics of Washington. Not sure if postponing the debate helps McCain or not.
Though it does look Obama saved face by asking for the joint statement to be issued. Hmmm.
Absolutely not!!!!!!! I want to hear what Grandpa McCain's Ideas are on this subject and just how he is going to defend the deregulation he has advocated, help write, supported and voted for his entire life.
Yes, because the House is going on a break this Friday until the election is over. Everything, including breaks, should be set aside until this situation is resolved, including debates and campaigns. This is the time for the Reps and Dems to get together as one for our country and this is why we vote for them...to work for us. they are our public servants.
No, the debate is more important than ever.
Change the topic to the economy - and let us hear from both candidates.
McCain should not be able to get away with this ploy. political b.s.
WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a brazen stunt!!! Who can respect such a vile manipulation on the same day the WP poll shows McPalin down by 9?
"to delay the debate until we have taken action, McCain, or until you can figure out some talking points to absolve yourself of the blame for being so anti-regulation and are admittedly baffled on how to fix this issue, except maybe use the ol' Bush trick of diverting attention to the immigrants and gays.
McCain has hinted he wont even vote on the bill to solve the issue, probably since he knows he will flip flop in a few weeks.
this is just a ploy to get votes. he's just trying to make himself look good. first sarah palin and now this. whats next?
Why not...delay it. Election talk has taken a back seat...we need to find out of the mess we have been put in. I do feel the Statement is a little bit self serving...but thats what I expected from both of these knuckleheads.
Do not postpone debate - let's see what they each have to say
Obama took the initiative to call McCain campaign this morning and he asked him to put out a joint bipartisan statement on the economy. McCain turned it around on him and put out his own statement. McCain saw he was behind in the polls. He got scared and felt that he had to do something drastic, and this is it. The debate should not be put off just to help out McCains' campaign.
Good move by McCain. He is putting his country first, once again. Obama will likely do more fund raising with his liberal pals while important decisions are being made without him.
No. I'd like to hear their responses to this crisis.
What about the American people, the war, global warming, poverty, the elderly, education, pollution, health care and the list goes on and on and on ....
We are being driven by the crooks in the white house and wall street, not by the PEOPLE!
The debate SHOULD go on!
Sounds like the debate may not happen Friday after all.
NO.
What a wuss. Talk on the economy. Are you scared?
NO! Given the current state of affairs, the debate should focus on the economic situation instead of national security.
I did feel like it was a conflict of interest to be campaigning during this crisis. They need to get to work at their jobs. Both of them.
How about putting Palin up against Obama? That seems to be how the campaign has been running anyway...
No reason to delay the debate. Maybe just change the focus of the debate a bit. As voters, we need to see these people debate now. The election is in less than 2 months. I don't think Obama was looking to delay the debate.
No...
Smart, but cynical move by McCain, askiing to delay the debate and asking Obama to join him in a "joint approach". Since McCain is closely linked with the Republicans who are seen as being largely responsible for the economic mess, he wants to wiggle out by being able to say that he and Obama are in it together, etc.
whatever...the debates are completely useless...they say the same crap....
all elections are about which bowl of sh*t stinks less...because they all stink...
I think Obama's stinks less. I would rather have a candidate promise less and not get into great specifics because they don't know ALL the intricacies of the situation and as we all know, no candidate actually ever delivers on their campaign "promises" so I would just rather not hear them...
At such an uncertain time in our economy, the need for intelligent debate over possible course of action has never been so important.
While this need extends far beyond the two candidates currently posturing for our votes, I cannot think of a better time to hear these candidates debate their economic policies -- to see not only the way they handle themselves in a crisis, but to see both their openness and resolve.
Dear Barack Hussein Obama,
Take copious notes as your lessons learned:
This is what's called LEADERSHIP.
This is called putting COUNTRY FIRST.
You have no choice but to follow or get the hell out of the way.
You have been out-maneuvered by a pro.
You are a rookie.
Check and soon to be Checkmate.
Sincerely,
The American Voter
Well, they ARE senators/congressmen--they probably DO their job when they NEED to...
Translation of quote from Bill Burton "No fair! It was our idea!" So childish
The debate shouldn't be delayed - we need to hear these candidates talk about a true crisis while it's happening, in real time.
Absolutely Both Senators are elected officials who should be in Washington doing their job at this time not campaigning.
No, the debate should not be delayed. What exactly are the senators going to do that will make such a large difference on a Friday night? It is important for the American people to hear from the two men who may next lead our nation and their vision for foreign policy in a post-Bush world
Suspend the campains and all nominees, including Palin, should work on the issue. However, no there is no need to suspend the debate
How can he go from saying the "fundamentals of our economy are strong" one week to suspending his campaign and wanting to postpone the debate the next? Sounds like he's getting nervous about his poor polling...
Let the debate go on as scheduled!
Like they will actually be doing work instead?
No, the debate has been long awaited and should take place. This is more about slippage in the polls than anything else. Many people are already working on the financial situation and there are crucial issues of foreign policy to be covered in the debate. What next, postpone the election ?
His very act of wanting to postpone the debate is politicking.
The 90 minute debate should go on as scheduled. I would think that the job of President would require the sucessful applicant to be able to mulit-task. This comes from the same man who called for a "9/11-type" comission to look into Wall Street's meltdown, but when it came time to vote on the reccomendations of the actual 9/11 Committee, he skipped the vote but did make time to attend a Republican fund raiser in California.
No. Rather than cancelling the debate, the subject should be changed from foreign policy to the economy.
If McCain is a real leader, he should be able to participate in a debate on Friday night and also tend to business in DC. There is no need for a delay in the debate! The debate does not need to be "political" unless McCain wants it to be. It is more important that Americans hear what the candidates have to say on the economy in an open debate/discussion as soon as possible since one of them will be leading the country in a few short months. A presidential candidate should be prepared to debate and legislate whenever necessary!
no, it shouldn't be delayed. mccain is desperate.
No. McCain says the fundamentals of the economy are strong last week but now it's the biggest crisis ever? Will the real John McCain please stand up?
McCain is doing this because of the shift in the polls. He's playing games because that's all he has to offer. He's clueless and we need to see that in the debate. It was the Obama campaign that contacted the McCain campaign this morning with the bipartisan approach -- for McCain to try and take credit for it this afternoon is just one more in a long pack of lies that he calls a campaign.
McCain is terrified he will be crucified on the economy in this debate and will not recover before the election. It is all he can do to stay in the race and he is running out of options. I sense the tactics of one Carl Rove behind all this scheming. Politics as usual!
NO
Absolutely not!! It should be changed however, from a 30 second sound bite format to an actual discussion of 1) how we got into this mess 2) how to get OUT of this mess and 3) how to avoid this from happening again.
It should FOCUS on the economy, and the candidates should HAVE TO explain to us what they will do differently as president.
half of this article is blocked by your advertsing. Please fix.
I think the McCain proposal to delay the debate is all smoke and mirrors. If anything, we would benefit from hearing our two main Presidential candidates discuss the economy face-to-face, perhaps devoting a good portion of the debate to the economic crisis as instead a "discussion and analysis." I see it as much of a tactic as McCain keeping Sarah Palin from meeting with the press, having her views widely and freely questioned and parsed.
No. Just political grandstanding by McCain. They don't need him in town to get a bill ready. Just a wild stab at trying to look presidential after ricocheting from one point to another the last 10 days. And don't forget the Rick Davis thing. Lets go for another distraction.
I think the McCain proposal to delay the debate is all smoke and mirrors. If anything, we would benefit from hearing our two main Presidential candidates discuss the economy face-to-face, perhaps devoting a good portion of the debate to the economic crisis as instead a "discussion and analysis." I see it as much of a tactic as McCain keeping Sarah Palin from meeting with the press, having her views widely and freely questioned and parsed.
What a COWARD
Of course not! Delaying the debate is a cowering move to avoid being in public during this crisis. Leaders should stand up and be heard, not duck and cover in Washington.
Absolutely not. Now, more than ever we need to hear the candidates' views on the economy.
I think it's good that they're working together in this time of need but I doubt any campaign is being "suspended" for the time being. Just look at the statements from both sides. There seems to be a difference in who initiated with who first.
This is ridiculous! Not only does he try to make it look like it was his idea to issue joint support for himself and Obama but he's trying to get out of the ONLY event voters have been looking forward to re: substantive answers!! What a joke.
The debate absolutely should not be delayed. McCain and Obama could go back to DC to make their votes and still make the debate. A discussion between the two candidates is more important than empty gestures and attempts to manipulate public sentiment. McCain's call to reschedule is strategic and nothing else.
This is ridiculous! Not only does he try to make it look like it was his idea to issue joint support for himself and Obama but he's trying to get out of the ONLY event voters have been looking forward to re: substantive answers!! What a joke.
NO --McCain is stalling because he is a novice on the economy. His poll numbers are in the toilet, and Obama is surging so this a stall tactic to delay further damage to his campaign.
He should instead ask that the topic of the debate be economic issues, not foreign policy. Americans are looking for answers, not political stall tactics.
McCain is a joke. Presidents are supposed to be able to MULTITASK.
Do it in Washington then. Mccain is obviously ducking this debate. This is yet another hail mary pass from a desperate Mccain camp.
How very lame. If the man can't plan for a debate and be a senator at the same time, how competant a president will he be?
Sounds like he's just blowing smoke. I had a lot of respect for McCain before this presidential election, but after witnessing the Rove-ian style politics I've had enough. McCain and Obama have been preparing for this debate for ages now. I understand the bailout legislation needs to be revamped (add more oversight), but at this critical time it is also important for the nation to understand their policies. I can't imagine one debate with these two will have serious consequences on the bill.
Maybe the circus they call a campaign could stand to take a break so that they, both McCain and Obama, can really learn more about this crisis and help out. After all, they are elected, working Senators.
Maybe move the VP debate up instead. After all, that is what people are waiting for.
No, I do not think that McCain is scared. He is better with debates than Obama. But the liberals will use this to callhim a coward, just watch. Hello liberals, think again.
What a cheap excuse on McCain's part to duck the debate, while his poll numbers plummet, his running mate continues to be sequestered from reporters, and his campaign manager skips town. Nice!
No - if he can't multitask, he shouldn't be president.
It would be a silly distraction for these two jokers to be having some television debates while the fate of the country is being decided behind closed doors. Whatever Congress decides to do, no decision they could make as president will be as important as what Congress is now being asked to do.