Ole Miss Officials: Debate Cancellation Would Be $5.5 Million Loss

Ironically enough, if John McCain goes through with his threat to skip the foreign policy debate scheduled for this Friday for the sake of prolonging and complicating the ongoing negotiations over the Paulson bailout package, it may end up creating another distressed asset -- the University of Mississippi's investment in Friday's face-off. Officials from Ole Miss told ABC News today that a cancellation would be "devastating" to the University -- and that a postponement might not be possible:

Andrew Mullins, special assistant to University Chancellor Robert Khayat, told ABC News that the Ole Miss campus has been transformed to accommodate the candidates and the press. Road blocks are in place on campus and in the community and the debate television set for the candidates has already been constructed. He said the university has spent roughly five and half million dollars getting ready for the debate.

Mullins also noted that if the Commission on Presidential Debates asks the campus to hold the debate at a later date, he is not sure the university would be able to accommodate them.

"It's huge. You cannot just say that you're not going to do this thing," Mullins said. "I don't have any idea whether we do the debate" at a later date. "[We] probably wouldn't do it."

Comments

[Speet]

McCain has lost all sense of propriety. Can you imagine this man as the senility really takes hold in 2-3 years.

[21stCenturyMan]

You mean two to three year...ago.

[thinbluetorpedo]

Little man McCain is trying his second Hail Mary. When failing, try, try, again. The country and Mississippi be damned.

[SoCalNick]

OH SNAP!!! Can THIS be the REAL reason McCain PUNTED!!

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/national_enquirer_world_exclusive_sarah_palins_secret_lover_revealed/celebrity/65481

[DaveC19]

Frank on McCain parachuting in to "save the day":

"We're trying to rescue the economy, not the McCain campaign," Frank said.

Priceless.

[Anastasia]

That's 5.5 Million for Ole Miss, plus whatever it will cost the media to pack up their bags and go home, with nothing to show for it.

It's crazy, it's arrogant and it's unrealistic. Yet he wants us to trust him with the presidency.

[Memo10023]

The Straight -Talk Express has run out of Gas!
Not only does McCain want to hide Palin in the closet,he also wants to fit himself in there with her! He is tyrying to dodge Obama because he knows that his stance on deregulation is indefensible and inexcusable! Yes the first debate is a foreign policy debate but the economy and foreign policy are siamesed which is why McCain wants a "Time-Out"!
Hey McCain, how can you justify making the Bush tax cuts permanent now? How are you going to continue the war in Iraq which is costing us 40 Billion a month? How you gonna "ba ba ba bomb bomb Iran"?
Oh, and by the way, if you dont show up to the first debate, you owe Mississippi $5.5 big ones which is probably gonna put your campaign in the red.

[AxelDC]

The answer is simple: hold the debates no matter what. If McCain fails to show, then give Obama the entire time to explain his views and answer questions.

Obama and the American voter should not be punished for McCain's quixotic behavior.

[goodog]

They SHOILD send Palin in McCain's place, but I like your idea as a runner up... you know... because you know they ain't sending her.

[Plowboy]

So what if it costs Ole Miss $5.5 to have the debate cancelled. The tax payers there shouldn't mind.
Ole John is interested in something more important than them; himself.
Besides, even if Mississippi is red, the (working) people there aren't rich enough to be concerned with. But they can help with any bailout!

[Faith101]

Well Well, what do you know? Look who else wants to bail out now.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13883.html

[Plowboy]

John McKeating doesn't want to be looked at right now.
I wouldn't mind if I never had to look at his image again.
He is a loser beyond belief.

[DieHardObamaSupporter]

Do not allow Mc to postpone the debates call Commission on Presidential Debates at

[phone]

Leave a voicemail message.

[Old time Dem]

Bob Barr would be glad to take his place and debate Obama.

I think the two would have a vigorous debate - a real debate - without any of the John McCain sniping and snide comments when he can't come up with an answer.

[Kache]

And McPalin would be painted with Barr's answers!! Love It!!!!

[trubluelefty]

Just called. The voicemail is full... I can well imagine why and what the opinion is. I am going to try back tomorrow and hope many others wil as well thank you for posting this!

[brooklynkevin]

Good job, DieHardObamaSupporter. The VM is full!

I'll call tomorrrow!

Thank you,
Kb

[letsgetrealpeople]

Anybody have an e-mail address we can write to?

[CJsway]

McCain's posturing; his customary form.

He's trying to be the 'mav' again and take the notice away from the fact that the poll numbers show the people are finally and rightly turning against him. What a piece of work!

Obama needs to come back and say "I have full confidence in my coworkers, the rest of the Democratic Senate, and even the Republicans to get the job done!" Cause, frankly, McCain is saying the Repubs are incompetent without him. What a confidence booster. LOL.

McPale can't compete in a debate and they know it so they're running scared under cover!!!

[MissKaren]

The debate will not be cancelled. Obama may be the only person to show up but the debate will go on.

[RebaG]

As a native of Mississippi, our nation's poorest state, I am furious. Once again, John McCain has shown that his candidcay is not about honor, the economy, or our country. It is all about his ambition. Shame, Mr. McCain. Shame on you.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

More proof that McCaint camp doesnt give a damn about the little guys.What a cruel thing to do to this University community! I hope Obama does not disappoint them! Can you imagine the wonderful Obama Rally Luv-In he can turn this into? Camp McCaint will rue the day they pulled this stunt!