Presidential Debate Cancellation Would Be "Devastating," Says Ole Miss Official

ABC:

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE UPDATES: Click here for the latest news and video of Friday's presidential debate.

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ABC News' Tahman Bradley Reports: A senior University of Mississippi official reacted Wednesday to the news that Sen. John McCain R-Ariz., wants to postpone Friday's presidential debate, saying that such a move would be "devastating" for the university which has already invested millions in preparation for the debate.

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.

Read the whole story: ABC

Comments

[sarale23]

What is more important - to work on the maybe most important piece of legislation since WWII to rescue the economy, or to debate on FOREIGN POLICY? It clearly showed who puts country first, and who is the true leader.

[JFaye]

Is it a coincidence Mr. McCain pulls this stunt on a day when in all likelihood the media story would have been: McCain Aide's Firm Was Paid by Freddie Mac One of the giant mortgage companies at the heart of the credit crisis paid $15,000 a month to a firm owned by Senator John McCain's campaign manager from the end of 2005 through last month, according to two people with direct knowledge of
the arrangement. The disclosure contradicts a statement Sunday night by Mr. McCain that the campaign manager, Rick Davis, had no involvement with the company for the last several years.

[surferbuoy]

Old news, McCain already debunked it on his web site although I am sure you haven't been there...yo­u know, fair & balanced as Fox says. Gave dates & everything­....Have you seen the money Obama got..two year in the Senate & he got the 2nd highest contributi­ons...Why?

[BenjitheWolfdog]

I hope Obama doesn't fall for McCain's ploy. All the networks and cable shows aren't falling for the scam and are calling it what it is, a desperate political manuver. McCain is painting himself into a corner on this one, though an empty chair in the debate may be less harmful than McCain making a fool of himself. I wonder what's next from then ticket of Dipstick and Lipstick?

[stickshift]

McCancel. What's next?

[SeenItBefore]

A debate in Mississipp­i... for the presidency­... you don't say! And a white, conservative Republican doesn't want to show up? I never realized the state's electoral votes were that critical to either party. And don't forget what happened when someone of color wandered into that state in the 60's. "Is Mississippi Burning", "In the Heat of the Night". Can you spell Philadelphia? For goodness sake, even Oprah decided to build her schools in So. Africa... and she grew up in, and is a native daughter, of Mississippi!

I'm sorry, but as a son of the South, I cannot muster even a single crocodile tear for those poor unfortunates still waving the battle flag of the Confederacy.

[Bitsko]

As of as of June 30, 2007, Ole Miss had an endowment of $495,000,000.

[londonrainbow]

McRass is as confused as hell. LOL

[londonrainbow]

SEND TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS WORLDWIDE

http://www.iftheworldcouldvote.com

[levibatgirl]

His zero legislative power in negotiating the market mess bail out is WAY more important than whether he is devastating The University of Mississippi or not.

His short run stunts always end up biting him in the arse in the long run.

[surferbuoy]

Why should either McCain or Obama worry about the cash output for this debate by anyone especially the media....t­hey both need to worry about the $700billion output & the 300 million citizens of the USA who will be paying all of this with OUR tax dollars...­they both belong in Washington doing their Day job & worry about campaigning later...Be­fore you jump all over me I voted for Obama & helped put him in the USA senate..no­w I want him to do the job I gave him two years ago...he can campaign another day. There are 40 some left after all.

[larazon]

Oh yaaaa! Give McCain a pass. He's trying to dodge the debate and delay Palin's debate! The negotiations will be better off without all the grandstanding by McCain. 0bama already put forth a statement to move negotiations forward. He's absolutely right not to inject himself into this unless necessary.

[surferbuoy]

Do you think he has a responsibility to be there to vote or is this just another time he doesn't have to go on the record. Voting "present " might have worked in Illinois but not this time..like it or not voters will remember.

[bayside]

We have already bailed out enough. Pretty soon our money will be worthless if cons get their way..No Bailout is needed. We have been hearing of financial meltdown for years if we dont hurry hurry. Baloney..T­hese companies want to eat..They will put other people in or regroup and be back..Just like we have to do..They seem to think they are special They are not.

[dayala]

all the talk show pundits are saying there is no reason for McCain not to attend the debate, he has no critical role in the deliberations. Barney Frank commented critical people involved have everything under control and are making progress..­.they don't need McCain and an entourage injecting political photo ops.

This is just another McPanic Attack stunt.

Obama should go the event request that the debate forum be changed to a televised town hall question and answer event.

McCain wants to reschedule the debate for the same night as the VP Debate.
one pundit commented it's like McCain is conducting guerilla warfare tactics, everyday attack with something different, retract then move on to something else to throw Obama off.

[boogiewoman]

They are not ready for the master minds of Obama and Biden. This is just sick. Hey lets cancel the IRAG WAR! Folks are dying over there. Kids miss their Moms and Dads. Mothers miss their sons. Dads miss their daughters. Wiives miss their husband. McCain and Palin aren't ready for PRIME TIME ! If McCain doesn't show, then Obama does it alone. Obama wins.

[zitlight73]

Send in Ron Paul if McCain isn't up to the task, if he's unfit to debate he's unfit to serve. Maybe Nader too.

[whognu]

This is how he helps the economy? Hurting the little people who put so much on the line, planned and worked for ten months to put this together. This man does NOT think. He had time to interview with Couric and Ms. Rothschild, he can take a couple hours for the debate to let us know what is going on and not hurt the wallets of ordinary Americans.

[nutty4tahoe]

Once again McCain demonstrates that he's only in this for himself and his political obsessions. He has no concern at all for anyone other than himself. This is purely McCain's reaction to his own plunging poll numbers and has nothing to do with the financial bail-out mess which he is partially responsible for, by the way (with his consistent support of financial institution deregulation championed by Phil Gramm, the guy who said we're all whiners suffering from a mental recession and who would certainly be McCain's Secretary of the Treasury). McCain obviously needs time to regroup and hide from the heat but why is that our problem? How does that bode for how he'd handle the rigors of being president? I shudder at the thought. If our country was attacked, say, by South Korea would McCain need to take a time out? Get out there, McCain, and smell the coffee. You got yourself into this thing, now let's see you try to get out.

[Austintatious]

Austintatious say

Don't let up, keep the pressure on, and don't fall for any of the McCain/Bus­h/Republic­an tricks. Don't buy into this phoney baloney, delay the debate garbage. Barack, show up with your gloves on, dodgin' and dancin', trim and fit, fired up and ready to go!

They're panicking, so watch out. The ugly stuff is yet to come. The Obama folks simply need to keep doing exactly what they're doing now. Attack, attack, attack, but ONLY with the truth, for the truth is the Republicans' worst enemy. There's more than plenty of ammunition in the Bush/McCain record for the last eight years. Keep the media informed and do everything you can to make sure they report the truth.

Above all, keep the faith!

[slimcat]

Dang Austintatious! You got me so fire up I'm ready to go out and kick some republican't butt.

I'd also like to subscribe to your news letter. ;)

[myangeldog1]

You are soooo right Austin! Hang tough people....­..Let's get out there and fight the GOOD FIGHT!!!

OBAMA / BIDEN '08!!!!!