McCain to suspend campaign and ask to delay debate

...stay tuned for a live feed of McCain and Obama making out.

This is why we love you

As for what the candidates are claiming about what they claimed and who claimed it before the other guy claimed it preventing the second guy from claiming that he actually claimed it first, when in reality the first one claimed it first and the second guy claimed it second, but the second guy said I claimed something different and the first guy said well my claim was better and the second guy says you're a poopy head... I have one word

Whatever

Not dismissing McCain's genuine interest in fixing the economy, but I can't help to think this is a very Rovian political move. 

--McCain is falling further behind in the polls
--There is speculation of major in-fighting in his campaign
--The debate could help him but most people won't pay attention
--There is an ever increase focus in polls on America's putting the economy as a priority
--McCain lags FAR behind on economic polling

By suspending his campaign, he demonstrates leadership.  And the type of leadership that the American public likens to.  But more importantly, he paints Obama into a corner

Obama's options--

 1.  Don't suspend and he wants to continue on with the debate and he seems to put politics above the people

2.  Don't suspend but lets McCain out of the debate and he doesn't get to address foreign policy (his said weakness)

3.  Suspend the campaign and return to DC.  He is following McCain's lead and might look weak on domestic issues (his strength)

IMO, he shouldn't suspend his campaign but issue a statement that he will be a part of any meetings.  But in the meantime, he says he wants to be with the people that are impacted the most by the 'failed economic policies' of the current administration.  

(Personally, I don't think they will resolve anything by all meeting in DC.)  

^^^^^^^^  POST OF THE DAY!  (greatness, Chris)

**ETA** $1.79 posted first, but my p.o.t.d. comment was meant for ChrisM's "whatever" post. 

What.... is McCain working on hill repeats????

Oh, wait a minute, you mean you are referring to your quote in my sig line... How vain.....

Good reason to suspend a campaign in my book.  "Working on a marathon PR, gotta get in some hill repeats."

Then Obama says that he has been training more intelligently, and has a much better plan for completing said marathon.

Then the two of them get into some sort of sissy-girl slapfight, and I sit here and laugh at the commentary about who hits more or less like a girl.

Whew, I thought for a second that he was telling America to HTFU

puellasolis - 2008-09-24 4:24 PM  I think there's a fourth option for Obama, which is to propose that they change the topic of Friday's debate to the economy. ETA: Not saying that McCain will take him up on it, or even that it's an ideal option, just saying it's an option.

the irony there is that the debate WAS on domestic issues (probably the economy) but both campaigns switched it to foreign policy.  it could be switched but debate prep would be difficult given the short timeline

That, too.

Don't forget the website.  I could use the hits

pfffttt...  What does seaweed and fish have to do with our melting economy and presidential debates?  Goober.

Someone clearly hasn't been paying attention, to wit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU7MSaN6zUU

(And, FTR, he has a valid point, even some enviros out here in California want the oil rig sub surface structures to remain in place as they are a thriving habitat)

wildee - 2008-09-24 3:44 PM I don't know if Obama will actually suspened his campaign as it suggests he might actually have to vote on something. 

You keep harping on this, but have you checked who has missed the most votes in the current session of Congress ( missing 65% of votes cast so far ). 

Think about the obvious people... THE OBVIOUS!

McCain is limited to Federal matching funds.  Obama has probably 20 times more money.  Of course McCain would want to "suspend" BOTH campaigns for any amount of time.  It allows him to spend what little he has in a shorter period of time and get more bang for the buck.

Here's why it's a mistake:

1. NOW is the time to look Presidential and tell the country how you plan to fix the problem.  The campaigns should be stepping it UP a notch.
   
   
2. At this point, two Senators aren't going to make all the difference in the world.  Honestly, what can McCain and Obama do other than throw in their 2 cents on the floor?  They can briefly come back in to vote.  Besides, by the time the plan is agreed upon and the billions begin to flow, it may be past election day.
   
   
3. The LAST thing McCain wants is to be seen and have his picture taken with "Bankrupting Bush" in the oval office.  He's trying to distance himself from Dubya!
   
   
4. And the Hill is no better place to be.  Approval ratings for Congress are even LOWER than the President's!  A smart politician would be avoid Washington like the plague right now.
   
   
5. It plays right into Obama's attack message, "McCain was and is part of the Bush-Republicans who got us into this mess.  You can't ask the people who created the problem to try and fix it!"  If McCain goes back to those same people in Washington - it basically proves Obama right.  McCain is better off avoiding Washington and saying, "here's how I plan to fix the problem and the people I would work with are fresh, new and different.  I'm not going to deal with the idiots who got us here in the first place."
   
   
6. That $700 billion will have so much riders attached to it and so little oversight, that when it is given back to Paulsen and Bernanke, it'll be over $1 trillion and the American people will be even more disgusted.  You DO NOT want to be associated as one of the authors of this ugly heap of turd.  This is ugly legislation to get us out of a horrible situation.  No immediate good can come of it.  It will be nearly a decade before anything positive, if anything positive CAN come out of it!  While it's probably necessary, it's an ugly, bloody, messy, fetid piece of work that the American people will speak of through gritted teeth.  If you're running for office... avoid associating publicly with such toxic stuff.
   
   
7. McCain will come across as a coward for wanting to avoid a debate with Obama.  He's not quick on his feet and witty in his open speaking so of course he would want to avoid his weaknesses (debates).  But if Obama calls him out and insists that it go on and McCain says no - it just comes across as cowardly.

That's an interesting take on his recent action.

Do you think he will be going back to Washington to rally the troops and bring the strays (Republicans) back into the fold?

Or do you think he will play the "maverick" card and join the dessenters in voicing skepticism/outrage at the prospect of a Republican Congress and President being party to the "Socialization of America". (Paraphrasing some of the recent testimony)