It's a stunt, in my opinion. Pausing the campaign isn't going to help the crises in any way.

I completely agree mondaymoos.

I think it's a stunt as well. I don't care about the McCain's campaign stops but the election is coming fast and the televised debates are one of the best forums to really understand the candidates stances on the issues. I don't think they should postpone the debate...maybe make the economy the focus of the debate so we can hear their solutions.

well i think that it all depends on how productive the teams are in their meetings if they aren't campaigning. you can't just say 'no class today, but please study for your mid-terms anyway' and have that make any affect. i think that if there are profitable conversations and things stert to take a turn for the better, then it's fine.

we also have to remember that mccain was the front runner for his party from the very beginning so we didn't have to listen to debates from all the candidates to figure out where they stood. he's been clear about his position on issues, and i don't think that cancelling stops will make any impact on his voter support.

'we also have to remember that mccain was the front runner for his party from the very beginning so we didn't have to listen to debates from all the candidates to figure out where they stood. he's been clear about his position on issues, and i don't think that cancelling stops will make any impact on his voter support'

Maybe not for people that just vote on party lines and have already decided. For the many independent and undecided voters out there the debates are going to be a 'game changer' for them.

Noooo, I have nothing to do Friday night if there's no debate!

But my lack of a life aside, it is obviously very important for McCain and Obama to be involved in this since whoever wins the Presidency will inherit the situation. But, the way the situation is now, McCain is only 1 of 100 senators and while that isn't unimportant, I do agree it feels like a stunt. It's a way of saying to the public, see I care about the economy more than my campaign. It's the old setting aside politics for political reasons.

We need to suspend the campaign and the debate. It's more important that we watch politicians grandstand during their question and answer sessions with Bernanke and Paulson.

Yep, smells like a stunt. The election is coming no matter what and there are other issues to consider beyond the economy AND we should hear the candidates consider what these economic changes mean for our relations with other countries.

Plus, I think McCain is contributing to that 'let's all panic' mode that the GOP loves to stir up before elections or important votes.

Well that's convenient.

Well that's convenient.

Wouldn't the debate be a great place if he was really interested in working in a bi-partisan way with Obama, other dems, and independents to show unity in a time of Economic Crisis and still address other issues War in Iraq, Health Care, Supreme Court, etc in the same debate? Seems really fishy to me, because putting off this debate this late in the game when there is only 39 days left before we vote and for the most part neither campaign has really addressed "the issues" like the American people deserve.

Are you kidding me?! It's a stunt.He waits ten days after the economic crisis began to finally figure things out?

I believe it's a stunt but it's pretty genius, no? I mean, he gets to say he's putting "country first" AND get out of having possible embarrassment. If the Obama campaign complains, they'll be accused of putting politics first and that Obama would rather lose the economy than risk losing the election. Well played.

Yeah woop it's smart. But, I keep losing more and more respect for a man that I used to genuinely admire.

I know Woop the McCain camp are pulling out all the tricks.

Woop's right though, his base will think its Presidential.

Better yet if McCain really wishes for he and Obama to be in D.C. working wit others on this why not contact the debate commission to get the venue of the debate change to D.C. so that the can be closer to the situation yet still fulfill what I think is each of their duties to the American Public i.e. The debate!

YUP and if Obama complains he will "just care about winning." I'm completely OVER this election.

I don't think the campaigns stopping for the economy sends a good message to the world though.

As candidates they don't have any power over this situation except as senators.

"The Obama campaign said Obama had called McCain around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday to propose that they issue a joint statement in support of a package to help fix the economy as soon as possible. McCain called back six hours later and agreed to the idea of the statement, the Obama campaign said. McCain's statement was issued to the media a few minutes later."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/24/mccain-asks-to-postpone-f_n_128...

Stunt! But unfortunately, I'm not sure that others will see it that way. The less time he has to face off with Obama face to face, the better. He knows he'll be no match for Obama in a debate type forum, so the "crisis" is a good excuse to hold off as long as possible.

"In a statement, McCain says he will stop campaigning after addressing former President Bill Clinton's Global Initiative session on Thursday and return to Washington to focus on the nation's financial problems."
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iE2JCSH5p9r2GBkQWS9TWAMzmuvQD93D8TDO0

McCain can go to Clinton's Global Initiative but he can't do a debate. McCain has become a joke.

Wow. A Senator suspends his campaign to go back to Washington to do his job, because he needs to be there, and suddenly it's a stunt. It's only a stunt because Obama didn't think to do it first?

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight UD.

That's right UD, because not one person who called it a stunt gave any other explanation.

I wonder if anyone is going to see this not as a stunt, not as being Presidential, but as a sign that McCain may not be able to multitask? Seriously I don't think Obama/McCain actually run their campaigns to the extent that either one would have to "suspend" it. I can see cancelling a frivolous guest appearances at a late night talk show,but not having a debate not really logical?

liliblu - hmm, seems the Obama campaign left themselves open to a sucker punch on this one.

UnD, there is nothing wrong with him going back to Washington DC to do his job although both candidates have missed votes during this campaign already! If we are going to make request of the debate commission why not ask for the debate to be moved to Washington DC? Both can be done, to make is seem impossible is my big problem with the situation.

he just needs an extra few days to cram so someone to tell him what "economy" means and explain this whole "bank" situation to him because he's got no clue. ha!

stunt or not, it doesn't matter. john mccain has deregulatory blood all over his hands and going back to washington to pretend like he's all for fixing this through regulation (like he's been saying the past couple days) is NOT going to help him. he's already proven himself, for the past 20 or so years, to be a total shill for the financial industry.

could it be that he's just bummed about obama's numbers going up today??

Has Obama agreed to postponing the debates?

Yes, both have missed votes, but isn't it smart to go back and do your job in an emergency situation? I can see asking to move the debates, but it's the timing that makes it difficult. How do you get all the camera crews moved to DC, and all the support staff? Where do they stay? How do you move all of the staging for the debate in two days?

I'm not seeing this a big deal. A debate can be postponed. A financial crisis that affects the entire country can't. So postpone the debate. Go back to Washington and do what you're being paid to do. My 401k is shrinking by the day so if their presence in Washington will help matters then I'm all for it.

I question your ability to lead on day one if you can't multitask on day 39 ( before we vote) there I said it!

I just hope he's going back to vote against the bailout. Obama too.

they both will, mich. if they don't its political suicide.

"I question your ability to lead on day one if you can't multitask on day 39 ( before we vote) there I said it!"

:rotfl; I found that statement funny!

Hmm. Clever indeed.

"Yes, both have missed votes, but isn't it smart to go back and do your job in an emergency situation? I can see asking to move the debates, but it's the timing that makes it difficult. How do you get all the camera crews moved to DC, and all the support staff? Where do they stay? How do you move all of the staging for the debate in two days?"

Yes it's smart to get back to do your job,and I hope they do as well as have this debate on Friday via Satalite or in person. This is one of the most historic Presidental campaigns in history ( on both sides) the Camera's will get there, most major media outlets have D.C. office, and budgets for this campaign they will get there. I also don't think the involved American pvoter would care if they had the debate on a cardboard box as long as the issue were addressed!

Dave there are plenty of venues that could be pressed into service in DC for a debate - several major universities and networks have crews all over the area. It would be a pain in the butt, but moving to DC would be doable if anyone seriously wanted to do it, or felt it was important.

Looks like the Obama campaign was first to suggest a joint statement in support of a package to help fix the economy, McCain agreed and then issued his own statement. Sounds pretty sleazy and political.

It's a stunt. And for anyone that thinks its not because he's "just doing his job" try to remember when this fallout began--LAST WEEK. The time to suspend was then. Not when suddenly you have sunk in the polls and are being labeled as someone uncapable of handling an economic crisis.

NYFashionista - ABC News is reporting that the Obama campaign said, "The debate is on."
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/09/mccain-not-comm.html

Great! So we can stop arguing and get on with most of our Friday night plans

It's ON is right! anyone with half a brain and an internet connection can find out what john mccain REALLY believes about our financial system. to deny that and believe what he's saying now... well, it's just stupid.

Bad, bad move. It looks like a stunt. The debates should go on.

Stunt.

Neither McCain nor Obama is a member of the relevant committee, the Senate Banking Committee. Both Senators have missed the vast majority of their Senate votes this year

That'll be cool, if Obama shows up and McCain doesn't.

Just to be clear, McCain was NOT the GOP front runner in the primaries, his campaign was almost entirely dead before the debates really helped him.

Wow so Obama came up with the idea for the both of them to have a joint venture. McCain just took the idea and claimed it as his own.