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

[DoPaisa]

Please everyone, read this:
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain

Obama should name all the repubs tha were on the board.

[Gardinia]

I agree that Obama was ready in the last debate to discuss Ayers. If Mccain brings up and I hope he does, Obama is ready with Mccain's Laundry List. Mccain will be sorry. I am sure Mccain does not know that most of that board members contributed to his campaign. Do not worry Obama will mop the floor with him. Remember he is a Harvard Lawyer.

[momwith4girlz]

And Troopergate and Palin husband being a card carrying member of the Alaskan Independence Party...an­d oh yeah Palin give a thnumbs up speech when they were having a convetntion. I say let it rip Barack

[Grannysue]

Oh goody, then Obama can ask McGrumps about his connections to the Iran Contra debacle, and of course Keating five!

[onlyonce]

I’ll choose someone who sat on a board with Bill Ayers with other appointees with GOP ties over what Todd Palin was up to in Troopergate. It doesn't compare. And that's only a small piece of T.P.'s nefarious acts. Why were the Palin's endorsing the Alaska Independence Party as late as this summer?
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/02/politics/animal/main4407224.shtml

[marthlois]

Bring it on you spineless, hate-mongering, sad excuse for a man.
You'll go to your grave ashamed of yourself for all you're doing. And I
never thought I could say something this hateful.

[Gardinia]

Tom Brokaw was on Hardball this evening. The reason for Mccain erratic behaviour, he said
(and Brokaw I heard is a republican) Maccain thinks he served his country, been politics for 26 years, then come this young man Obama and compete with him and probably will be president.
Americans owes him the presidency.

.Did anybody noticed Mccain face today? He looked so pale and defeated. Felt sorry for the man.

[Chansmom]

McCain should never rely on what he's done in the past to bring him the Presidency. Especially these days. If someone who's younger, better educated, and more confident comes along, don't think for a minute you wouldn't be replaced at your job. The same should go for McCain. And besides, McCain is too old. Not a kind thing for me to say, I'm all about equality and right to work, but he's too old to be elected, as well as dishonest.

[marthlois]

Get a grip on yourself! No place for feeling sorry for him:):)

[Ann Louise]

Did anybody noticed Mccain face today?

And it is sad. I don't feel sorry for him, but seeing him spew out this "unrepentant terrorist" crap - like he has to keep going because he has to, not because he thinks he can win. You can see this whole end-game is just sad.

[Totto]

No need McCain, just go to Wikipedia and read that they both served on the Chicago Annenberg Challenge Project Board of Directors and on the board of a community poverty group. And, oh yes, Ayers contributed $200 to Obama's re-election fund. And that the New York Times, The Washington Post, Time magazine, The Chicagp Sun-Times, The New Yorker and The New Republic "have said that their reporting doesn't support the idea that Obama and Ayers had a close relationship". Oh, forgot, you can't figure out how to get to Wikipedia.

[mooses4obama]

Great footage from a McCain Palin rally:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cyH65_USo4&feature=user

[GoBarryGo]

Mr. Puddles?..­. Mr. Puddles?..­. I have Snausages.­...

[jerzygrl]

I love Jon Stewart!!!!! LMAO!

[Fenianheart]

If McCain does not bring it up, Obama must. These debates have been getting huge ratings and Wednesday night provides a great opportunity to reach all of those who have not heard Obama dismiss this accusation. He can get it all out on the table and end the discussion.

[iswideopen]

Fenianheart:
This has been a long election. We have been here and done this during the primaries. IT WAS ALL BROUGHT UP AND ADDRESSED AND ANSWERED BY OBAMA. This is a "LIE" from John McCain because he is DOWN IN THE POLLS, IN THE WORST KIND OF WAY; RED STATES.

[NeoLiberal]

See my other comment, and here are some points that support the strategy:

--McC has been courting the far right-wing religious fundamentalists through Palin;
--BHO is hoping to spread his message of hope to solidly red states, mostly in the Bible Belt;
--mentioning God's forgiveness in his rebuttal would place that wing of the GOP in a very precarious dilemma, to which they could not respond except to agree with BHO;
--and McC response other than agreement would make him look uncompassionate and merciless;
--Ayers issue then is put to rest.

Anyone want to discuss???

[BobsNotWorking]

Maybe "that wing" would be in a precarious position, but Bill Ayers and Barack Obama don't need to ask forgiveness for anything. In Bill Ayers' case it is Lyndon Johnson and the lying criminal Richard Nixon who need to receive forgiveness. No lying about the Gulf of Tonkin, no promises to end the Vietnam War just to get elected, no bombing of Cambodia - no Bill Ayers.

[Rutabaga]

Will that be the moment when John McCain's pants finally catch on fire? On national TV?

McCain also needs to remember the fine old cliche...b­e careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.

[mscriblerus]

Finally!!! I've been waiting for this. This has the potential to be a nationally televised "Dukakis in the tank" moment. There's nothing to the suggestions, and when it's out in the open at the debate, people will be amazed at the nothing that Mccain has been making much ado about.
All those poor deluded people who show up at Palin rallies and holler "terrorist" are going to be furious that McCain doesn't "expose" all the crazy garbage that they haven't realized only exists in their minds.

[ohio4obama]

Tucker! Tucker! Come out and play!! I have juice boxes!!

[myangeldog1]

Sour grape flavored!!

[miocid31]

I'm guessing this will test mccain's temperamen­t... lol...i know he's gonna slip and call Obama the N word!!! oh man....

[catinca]

OMG ...I wouldn't doubt it

[jhw22]

I don't know that he'd use the n word, he'd be more likely to refer to "that one" as "boy". I am surprised he hasn't lost his temper yet so I really doubt he will this time.

I think what makes me most angry about all of this Ayres stuff is that Obama has thoroughly explained his relationship with Ayres but the McCain camp keeps syaing he hasn't or they choose snippets of what Obama has said to play it against him. The relationship is defendable. I hate that they are spinning it more about Obama's honesty.

Jennifer