I think this puts the Obama camp in a tough place. They can't get upset about it because that plays to McCain and makes them look like the campaign is more important to them than the economy. The best they can do is agree with McCain, but that also makes McCain look good.

Political move. A very smart one.

I agree.

Substantively, I don't see any reason why they would need to suspend their campaigns, as long as they spent some time in Washington for votes and negotiations. The campaigns actually would provide a way for them to publicize their plans for the economy and to hear from actual people what they think. And it should certainly be possible to both debate on Friday night and work on the economy.

The Obama campaign has said that the two campaigns will be releasing a joint statement on the economic crisis later. The Obama campaign also just announced that they are still inclined to hold Friday's debate.

McCain is weasel. I like how the importance of Senate business wasn't important enough for either one to not seek the job of President, but suddenly is when McCain knows he's going to be trounced in debates that are likely to be largely about the very economic disaster that his role as a Senator has contributed to and that he would be hard pressed to explain away.


The only thing McCain had going for him was his admirable Code of Honor. He has chucked that with a dirty campaign of lies and smears, and has now obliterated with sniveling cowardice.

Here is a link to the full text of McCain's statement. Obama is to speak soon.

I don't think McCain thought he was going to get trounced. Particularly if the debate Friday was scheduled to be on froeign policy, as I've heard it was to be. Also, as noted by press releases and columns from the McCain campaign, they have at least a decent shield considering his expressed concern and proposed legislation 3 years ago on Fannie and Freddie.

I also believe that normal day to day business of the senate is probably not vitally important be present for every second of. A national emergency is somewhat different and their presence I believe is more important than usual.

That being said, I still agree this is a political consideration. I don't think the level of importance of senate business really comes into play as a good argument here as this is definitely more important than 99.9% of the issues debated on a day to day basis.

I think this can easily be dismissed as a political ploy with no damaging repercussions. However, to the extent Obama wants to concede an ounce of genuineness to the proposal, the response is to agree but have the debates proceed as scheduled from Washington, DC. After all, McCain surely knows the answers to all possible questions already.

McCain had to do this....he couldn't risk Obama doing it first.

It's the melodramatic call by McCain to "suspend the campaign" that invites that argument. They go in for Senate business during the campaign regularly. Being on the Senate floor is being on the Senate floor, whether it's to vote for free pizza on Friday or to vote to further screw our economy. Do they "suspend their campaign" every time they show up to their job to vote on something, or go to sleep, or make a personal phone call, or run to 7-11?

As you've pointed out, it's a PR move and I think it's perfectly valid to point out the reality that it shouldn't require this silly bit of theatrics just to go and do part of your job.

Obama is speaking now.

In short, in regards to the debates, he is saying that now more than ever the American people need to hear from their prospective leaders. He wants to have the debate as planned.

Good response.
:)