McCain Ducks Debate and "Suspends" Campaign

After calling for debates all summer, John McCain is cutting and running from the first one.

In one of the weirder political ploys of a long campaign season, McCain says he will "suspend" his campaign on Thursday. He is also pushing for a postponement of the first presidential debate. McCain says he is taking these dramatic steps because he wants to focus on congressional negotiations over the bailout. It's not clear how a national presidential debate -- the ultimate bully pulpit in this political season -- would detract from any effort to build national consensus on solutions for the economic crisis.

The debate, scheduled for 9pm EST on Friday, would have provided the first direct, extended exchange between the nominees on foreign policy, and presumably would have included economic discussions as well, given the current crisis. Both candidates could travel to Washington the next morning -- Obama is already scheduled to do so -- so McCain's decision to bail on the debate as his polling slips is odd. Today's Washington Post/ABC poll showed Obama taking a national lead, powered by voters flocking to him on economic issues.

The Obama campaign just released a statement describing their collaboration with McCain, though it did not directly address his debate gambit:

At 8:30 this morning, Senator Obama called Senator McCain to ask him if he would join in issuing a joint statement outlining their shared principles and conditions for the Treasury proposal and urging Congress and the White House to act in a bipartisan manner to pass such a proposal. At 2:30 this afternoon, Senator McCain returned Senator Obama's call and agreed to join him in issuing such a statement. The two campaigns are currently working together on the details.

That's nice. Here's a better idea: Lay out those details in public, transparent, free-wheeling televised debate this Friday, after officially changing the topic from foreign policy to the economy. Good leaders can change course to meet a crisis, but they don't run from public scrutiny. John McCain may hope his Beltway trip looks presidential, but you don't need to be in Washington to rally the American people to a solution to these problems.

From The Nation.

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Comments

[sammiek]

McCain there you go again..........All of his political ads were supposed to be suspended but its business as usual in my tv viewing area!! Does he think we are stupid?!
Such a Fraud!!

[dnels14]

This POW cannot take a beating- McCain suspends campaign

[peterg76]

So, when it's a matter of US soldiers fighting and dying for the next hundred years trying to steal oil in an illegal, immoral war in Iraq, he's fine with it, but when it's his own personal humiliation in a debate, he wants to cut and run.

I truly did not think my respect for him could get any lower, but it has.

[AlButerol]

The Kennedy - Nixon debates killed Nixon because he came off looking like a car salesman and Kennedy looked and sounded presidential. McCain knows that debating side-by-side with Obama will deliver the last nail in his campaign coffin because he will look and sound feeble compared to his extremely well-spoken opponent. I'm not even addressing the content of what will be said which of course will further convince the American public that Obama is a leader and McCain is not. Add to that the inevitable gaffes that McCain cannot prevent from leaping from his maw. McCain is simply trying to postpone the final inevitable death blow. I bet he keeps on coming out with lofty excuses to avoid debates. That's his only hope of winning (assuming there is any hope of this).

[JenIA]

Hey Ari, why don't you and Tucker Bounds do a debate too? Please? The smackdowns you put on Brad Blakeman and Joe Watkins were so freaking awesome. I'd buy a ticket to Melber v. Bounds any day!

[anniegirl9]

To be fair, maybe this is a personal crisis for McCain. He and Cindy could have just gotten thier AIG shareholders statement.

[blueinthebigred]

what does McCain put first? The oil companies.(Drill Now), IRAQ, (how many Bills for the unnecessary war, Republic of Georgia(who was cheerleading them to stand up to russia)The fat cats on wall street(who has surrounded himself with lobbiest for adviser) and how about that Phil Gram, architect of this wall street mess, the 5% of wealthiest American, (who like him have several (7) houses, a private jet, 13 cars, servants and groundskeepers, The companies that send jobs overseas, (supports tax incentives) George Bush's legacy(who is George's Mini Me).Oh and here, let me stick it to the rest of you!

[TexasDem0]

Apparently, under the right conditions, he DOES support immediate withdrawal.

[PioneerKing]

CALL THEIR BLUFF - demand that the republicans move up the VP debate and have Biden and Palin debate about the economy on Friday. This would allow Sen. Obama and McCain to spend the entire day in Washington working on the economy.

[MinneapolisBob]

As usual, Grumpy McSame is politicizing the situation. With only 41 days left, and the nation in a debacle the rebushlicans created, the debates are now even more important. What no better stage than seeing both candidates telling us what their plans are.

McSame is only trying to buy some time because his poll numbers are in free-fall.
__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­_______
VOTE! Save the right wing extremists from taking over the Supreme Court.

[HanSolomente]

I've got an idea, McCain and Obama go back to Washington so we move up the VP debate to Friday. If Sarah Palin can't step up to a change in debate schedule then she isn't ready to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency. Move up the VP debate to Friday! I think that's fair and good for the country.

[MourningDude]

A "bully pulpit" on NATIONAL SECURITY issues is supposed to focus the nation's attention on solving the economic crisis???

[SeriousBlack]

Try to pay attention. Most people have commented that due to the severity of the economic situation, it would almost certainly be also talked about during the debate. You REALLY think that the debate moderator wouldn't even mention it? I say again, PAY ATTENTION.

[unhipcat]

I agree. Change the debate topic to the economy.

[AtomicMan]

I think this was going to happen anyway.

[bannorhill]

What an idea!!! Have McCain and Obama go to Washington and do the jobs they are paid to do. They both tell us they know how to fix this mess. Why don't we let them show us. Put your Trillion dollars where you mouth is!!! Maybe one or both will show some real leadership.

[Housewife]

What a mess this guy is. Is he really the guy you want on the phone at 3AM? I don't think so.

[dmsdzinr]

How many BONEHEADED Americans will buy this PLOY??? Too many I am afraid.

[waarpe]

CNN Quick Vote:
"John McCain's request to delay campaigning and this week's debate is:
An effort to help the economy - 27%
A political gimmick - 69%
Something else - 5%"

Go vote and give Wolf Blitzer something to talk about.

[deeppeace]

I dunno. I haven't seen anyone agree with him yet.

[RealityBaseCamp]

That OR the blank check bailout. We're seeing a lot of eyes opening, however briefly.