McCain Aide Claims Credit For Deal, Says "We're Going Into A Debate"

Shortly before 2pm ET, McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said on MSNBC that his boss deserves credit for the bipartisan bailout deal.

Bounds then apparently went way off message, indicating that McCain would attend tomorrow's debate. "We're going into a debate," Bounds said, adding "I think we're going there strong."

Here's a transcript of his conversation with Andrea Mitchell:

Before John McCain suspended his campaign yesterday, the situation that we're looking at today looked very different then. After he showed leadership and called for bipartisanship, for us to partisanship aside and tackle this solution head on, here we are. And we're going into a debate, I think we're going there strong.

Here's video:

This is unlikely to represent an official change in position for the campaign. Earlier in the interview Bounds was more on message, saying that the McCain campaign was "hoping to go into" the debate.

Comments

[stevietheman]

10:47 AM on 09/26/2008

McCain only worked to screw up the deal. And what suspension­? That was a lie.

[dayala]

09:31 AM on 09/26/2008

deal????..­..what deal???
if Tucker Bounds had any brains he would bail out of McCain's campaign.

[patianneb]

09:24 AM on 09/26/2008

TUCKER IS RIGHT FOR ONCE: ANOTHER SKRU-UP FOR McDuff....­.
Since I've come to think anything is possible with McSnake, when he met with the ultra-cons­ervatives, he probably promised them "ANYTHING" in return for a virtual filibuster on any kind of bipartisan plan.
He could then "stick to his guns" and avoid the debate with what he thinks passes for "honor".

[BigBendMan]

08:55 AM on 09/26/2008

Tucker - shut your lying trap. Now I know where the McCain/pal­in campaign gets their finese for story telling. A - you HAVE NOT suspended your campaign. McCain/Pal­in campaignin­g is still going strong around the county. B - per ALL the news reports, McCain has done NOTHING but sit in meetings and keep his mouth shut which is exactly what he needs to do. He has NOTHING to offer but political diatribe. Leave the bail out wrangling to the pros and start acting like you are running for president. You ARE NOT showing ANYONE your TAKE CHARGE mentality. You are only making a clear case that your age is affecting your mental capabiliti­es.

[Susej]

08:33 AM on 09/26/2008

Imagine McCain gets elected.
It's not enough that Sarah P will be second in command, and most probably at the wheel during McSame's daily naps.
Tucker could become secretary of state. Think about it.
I hear Australia has nice outbacks.

[markusmarkus]

08:15 AM on 09/26/2008

What lying dweeb!

[windyYooper]

08:00 AM on 09/26/2008

"strong smelling"
somthing stinks like road kill on the phoenix bypass

[Susej]

07:54 AM on 09/26/2008

"Tucker...­we love you..."
Translatio­n: "You're cute, but politicall­y immature. Now collect your marbles and go play outside."

[PhilTListener]

07:24 AM on 09/26/2008

Growing up in Queens, NY, I can honestly say guys like Tucker would have been the brunt of many jokes on his personalit­y and especially his name.

I can't believe this is the best John "The Gambler" McCain can do. Maybe he comes at a bargain basement salary level or he's part of an eternal intern program. We all know how well "trickle down" economics works.

He definitely would not be representi­ng me.

[MF73]

07:12 AM on 09/26/2008

hOW CAN jOHN mCcAIN BE A HERO HERE WHEN HE AND HIS FRIENDS (LOBBYIST) CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. ITS WRONG, HE IS PLAYING A GAME HERE REMEMBER HE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT THE ECONOMY. HE IS IN THIS FOR ONE REASON TO WIN. HE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT AMERICANS! THERE ARE 39 DAYS TO THE ELECTION AND WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO TO HEAR FROM OUR LEADERS. THIS DEBATE IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THEM EVER. BARACK OBAMA IS THE TRUE LEADER AND HE HAS MY VOTE. RETIRE JOHN!

[Susej]

07:55 AM on 09/26/2008

You have your Caps Lock on, MF, lol.

[WAWTU31]

07:00 AM on 09/26/2008

too bad the stupid poor republican followers are not smart enough to see that mcbush is playing politics with their money and future. this, for mcbush, was never about solving the problem it was about trying to claim credit for ANY bill that would leave congress.

[Smirk]

06:30 AM on 09/26/2008

Tucker Wucker hasn't a clue / Tucker Wucker just won't do.

[penelopepunditwatcher]

04:37 AM on 09/26/2008

Beeep! This is Tucker's phone. Tucker has no bars. So, when the campaign calls to tell Tucker the deal isn't done and don't say the deal is done, don't hint the deal is done, don't even think the deal is done ...

Tucker won't get that message.

Come to think of it, Tucker's brain has no bars, either. Fancy that.

[nanton29]

04:51 AM on 09/26/2008

that is funny ....

[alijean]

06:18 AM on 09/26/2008

Too funny,
I had to read the quote a couple of times. It still doesn't make any since.

[Mysticalsister]

03:19 AM on 09/26/2008

Who is this pissant and why am I suddenly having to look at his stupid face every day? Does the repugnican party have an official voodoo priest who turns these people into mindless zombies for pay?

Oh, right -- Sarah Palin's witch doctor.

[cluelessinSD]

05:33 AM on 09/26/2008

He is the court jester for the McSame campaign hee hee heee heee

[StillAmused]

03:08 AM on 09/26/2008

... and all this, just because Tucker once managed his fraternity president'­s campaign (mainly fetching beer and hooking up girls from neighborin­g sororities­), so the guy wrote him a great reference letter on College Republican­s letterhead­.

Vetting, Johnny... it's all about vetting.