Aide: McCain Likely To Confront Obama Over Ayers At Next Debate

On Monday afternoon, John McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds offered a quick preview of the third and final presidential debate this Wednesday at Hofstra University.

After being asked by a Fox News host whether the lack of any mention of William Ayers during today's speeches from McCain and Palin meant that "the gloves [are] going back on" after a week of tough attacks, Bounds rejected the idea.

"I don't think so at all... If you see some of the advertising coming from the RNC today, which we stand behind, and some of advertising that we'll see going forward," Bounds said, hinting at another onslaught of Ayers material still to come.

When asked if McCain plans to "go after" Obama on these topics this Wednesday, Bounds added: "So much of a debate is determined by the moderator and the questions that are posed to the candidates. I expect it could come up and I expect John McCain will ask Barack Obama to speak truthfully about his relationship with friend and unrepentant terrorist Bill Ayers. I think that voters deserve to know, deserve to vet these candidates to the fullest extent... Certainly, Bill Ayers raises questions. Certainly, Tony Rezko raises questions."

If it is McCain's intention to raise the issue of Ayers -- with or without moderator Bob Schieffer's prompting -- it would serve as something of an answered prayer to many of the Arizonan's town hall attendees, one of whom even begged McCain to bring on the character attacks in the last presidential debate of the season.

Comments

[BandsofBlack]

01:19 PM on 10/14/2008

As ignorant as they are, I would wager that none of those Joe and Joanne Six-packs who support the Palin-McCain ticket truly believe that Obama is a terrorist.

They're all just a bunch of racists and the word "terrorist" is just a substitute for the word they'd really like to be yelling.

McCain and Palin know this and are pandering to it and exploiting it.

They are despicable.

[free2u]

01:15 PM on 10/14/2008

Anyone interested in what Bill Ayers is doing can go to billayers.org I'm not sure how Barack Obama is going to handle,but I'm sure he is ready to take it to McCain! McCain is running a desperate campaign and is trying another hail mary pass, he is going to look foolish no matter what he does.

[rbspickles]

12:06 PM on 10/14/2008

BRING IT ON!!!!!!

[cjinaz]

12:03 PM on 10/14/2008

If the Ayers topic comes up, then it's fair game to question McCain about her and Todd's involvement with the AIP (Alaskan Independence Party). Face it...if you want to be the V-P of the United States you then have to face the scrutiny of why your husband wanted the state to secede from the union. How loyal is that??

[ScottishJohn]

11:53 AM on 10/14/2008

If McCain and Palin are so convinced of Obama's terrorist connections why not have him arrested without charge and detained and tortured in Guantanamo Bay without trial?
Is that not the American way?

[Leahk]

11:23 AM on 10/14/2008

If McCain attacks Obama with the Ayers issue, he [McCain] will be in for a surprise. In fact, Obama probably would probably welcome such an attack, as this will then feel justified to inform millions of American voters--in one whop--about McCain's associations with proven unshady figures like G. Gordon Liddy.
And should McCain attempt to use live TV to tie Obama to any preemptive voter fraud, whatever that means, I am sure that those same viewers will find out that McCain himself has a connection to ACORN: He was the keynote speaker at ACORN's '06 rally.
Who has been palling around with whom?
Addendum:
Regarding ACORN, according to the ACORN directors that I have heard, suspicious applications are flagged before being turned in by ACORN. Sounds as if someone (and it's not ACORN) is preparing to scream "voter fraud" if their candidate loses the election. I would not be surprise if the McCain camp non-Obama supporters to infiltrate ACORN

[nibblybits]

12:17 PM on 10/14/2008

Obama won't attack, over Liddy or AIP or anything like that. He will just reply that he was 8 years old when Ayers did his bad business, then start talking about the economy and the middle class again. While McCain looks angry and petty dwelling on past associations, Obama will show the public that he's more concerned about people and the economic situation.

Same old politcs vs. statesmanship. Game, set, match.

[thepianodiva]

11:16 AM on 10/14/2008

This whole Ayers thing is a complete fabrication. It's as if the McCain camp was accusing Obama
of having conversed with the Tooth Fairy. The lie is a hodgepodge of odd historical juxtapositions, code words, and trumped up associations. It's astounding that people actually debate this
nothing as if it were a real thing. It is not real!

So bring it up by all means and Obama can stick a stake in the heart of this stupid non-issue once and for all.

[ShamusNYC]

11:09 AM on 10/14/2008

Bring it on.

Then, let's talk about Gordo & that wacky right-wing anti-semite group & Keating 5 & AIP & abuses of power & ethics violations...

Sure, another great McCain idea.

[desertbloom]

11:16 AM on 10/14/2008

Is McCain even aware that Annenberg was involved, and that, by association, McCain is connected with Ayers, as well?!

This will be fun to watch!

[BandsofBlack]

11:04 AM on 10/14/2008

Obama needs to bring it up if McCain doesn't.

He needs to slam McCain on this and slam him hard.

[nibblybits]

12:20 PM on 10/14/2008

You're wrong.

The reason McCain is losing is that his attacks only appeal to the rabid base while turning off the undecideds and center. Obama will be cool and know that attacks won't win him any new votes. He will talk coolly and calmly about the economy, the economy, the economy, and the middle class. He will not attack at all. He will deftly parry, then just keep going back to what he will do for the public.

That's why he and his campaign are smarter than you and the rest of us angry left. He's playing it just right.

[OTTAWA man]

10:56 AM on 10/14/2008

EVERYONE!! GO OUT AND VOTE EARLY IF YOU CAN...

VOTE EARLY! VOTE NOW IF YOU CAN! THE EARLIER THE BETTER! ... JUST TRY AND IMAGINE THE LINE UPS ON NOV 4TH...DO IT NOW.

[WFV]

10:56 AM on 10/14/2008

I wish that Wm. Ayers would come out TODAY and tell his story to the MSM. Go on the evening circuit and talk about how he turned himself in to the Feds and how charges against him and his wife were dropped. This story is becoming SO OLD and it is losing its punch, but it could die immediately with him stepping forward.

[BandsofBlack]

11:09 AM on 10/14/2008

That would be great.

[loax]

10:43 AM on 10/14/2008

Tucker, please have him do so. And just maybe Obama can confront McCain on his own terroist pal G. Gordon Liddy, a convicted felo who McCain is so proud of!

[GrammieJ]

10:37 AM on 10/14/2008

Personally, I don't think McCain has the 'balls" to say to Obama's face anything about Ayers. He could not even look Obama in the eye in the last two debates, why do we think he has the courage to do so in this debate.

McCain uses people, he uses Palin, Tucker, Nancy, and a hosts of others to say what he won't say to Obamas face. I think we will see that again in the debate tomorrow night. His USERS will not be there, so nothing will be said about Ayers.

Just my thoughts

[pablito]

10:36 AM on 10/14/2008

But, don't forget the simple formula of understanding the McCain campaign's public statements: If Tucker Bounds says it, it can't possibly be correct.

[koyak23]

10:21 AM on 10/14/2008

Obama can respond by pointing out that McCain has a closer relationship with bill Ayers than Obama does.

[MizLiz]

10:28 AM on 10/14/2008

Not only that, but McCain did an interview in which he fawned all over G. Gordon Liddy, a convicted felon.

[Adebukola]

11:12 AM on 10/14/2008

Yes he does. Three (3) people who sat on the Annenberg board (Walter Herbert Annenberg, Financier of the $49.2 Million grant) are now associated with Senator McCain.
1. Walter's widow, Leonore endorsed John McCain in 2008
2. David Kearns - Deputy Secretary of Education (George H.W. Bush administration) currently works on Senator McCain's 2008 campaign.
3. Arnold R. Weber - Former President of Northwestern University - donated money to Senator McCain's 2008 campaign.