Suitably Flip

McCain Asks for Debate Postponement

I guess he's confident the debate commission will grant the request, because if they don't, this would seem to give off the odor of McCain trying (and failing) to avoid squaring off with Obama in the first official round.

John McCain announced that he will suspend his presidential campaign on Thursday to return to Washington to help with bailout negotiations. He urged his opponent Barack Obama to do the same.

The Arizona senator also asked the Presidential Debate Commission to postpone Friday’s scheduled debate with Obama so that he can work on the financial crisis bailout plan now on Capitol Hill.

“America this week faces an historic crisis in our financial system. We must pass legislation to address this crisis. If we do not, credit will dry up, with devastating consequences for our economy. People will no longer be able to buy homes and their life savings will be at stake. Businesses will not have enough money to pay their employees. If we do not act, ever corner of our country will be impacted. We cannot allow this to happen,” McCain said.

It puts Obama momentarily on defense, I suppose, forcing him either to follow McCain's lead or to explain why his active Senatorial duties do not (for the next few days, at least) preclude him from extra-currciculars.

Hat tip to Allah, who notes that McCain should be eager about this debate, which ostensibly concerns only foreign policy.  But I have a hard time believing that the moderator wouldn't tolerate frequent tangents (if not a wholesale migration) into the economic realm.  With that in mind, a postponement preserves what should be McCain's best debate for a time when the public may be less singularly focused on the economy.

Update: And maybe that's why Obama's saying the show must go on.

The begrudging reluctance with which he's willing to return to Washington to do his job as a legislator (while the legislature contends with emergency legislation) is a nice touch.

An Obama campaign official told ABC News the Democratic presidential candidate called McCain this morning to suggest a joint statement of principles.

McCain called back this afternoon and suggested returning to Washington.

Obama is willing to return to Washington "if it would be helpful." But reiterated Obama intends to debate on Friday.

Update: Great chess move or epic fail?

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McCain Asks for Debate Postponement

I guess he's confident the debate commission will grant the request, because if they don't, this would seem to give off the odor of McCain trying (and failing) to avoid squaring off with Obama in the first official round.

John McCain announced that he will suspend his presidential campaign on Thursday to return to Washington to help with bailout negotiations. He urged his opponent Barack Obama to do the same.

The Arizona senator also asked the Presidential Debate Commission to postpone Friday’s scheduled debate with Obama so that he can work on the financial crisis bailout plan now on Capitol Hill.

“America this week faces an historic crisis in our financial system. We must pass legislation to address this crisis. If we do not, credit will dry up, with devastating consequences for our economy. People will no longer be able to buy homes and their life savings will be at stake. Businesses will not have enough money to pay their employees. If we do not act, ever corner of our country will be impacted. We cannot allow this to happen,” McCain said.

It puts Obama momentarily on defense, I suppose, forcing him either to follow McCain's lead or to explain why his active Senatorial duties do not (for the next few days, at least) preclude him from extra-currciculars.

Hat tip to Allah, who notes that McCain should be eager about this debate, which ostensibly concerns only foreign policy.  But I have a hard time believing that the moderator wouldn't tolerate frequent tangents (if not a wholesale migration) into the economic realm.  With that in mind, a postponement preserves what should be McCain's best debate for a time when the public may be less singularly focused on the economy.

Update: And maybe that's why Obama's saying the show must go on.

The begrudging reluctance with which he's willing to return to Washington to do his job as a legislator (while the legislature contends with emergency legislation) is a nice touch.

An Obama campaign official told ABC News the Democratic presidential candidate called McCain this morning to suggest a joint statement of principles.

McCain called back this afternoon and suggested returning to Washington.

Obama is willing to return to Washington "if it would be helpful." But reiterated Obama intends to debate on Friday.

Update: Great chess move or epic fail?