Mixed thoughts. McCain is a veteran of the Senate and involved in committee work with a direct bearing on the crisis and I think he needs to be there. I think it's fair to say that if negotiations are on-going Friday evening then he can't commit to the debate because we're paying him to be a Senator.

This is a really tricky situation, Mike. McCain, as a now active participant in the process, rises or falls on the results. Ranking Dems claim that his being present wasn't necessary as they nailed garlic to their windowframes and threw holy water around but that was posturing.

We shall see. By maintaining an aloofness Obama also incurs a political risk but he also knows the media is in bed with him so it's a risk he can take.


>John McCain announced yesterday that he is suspending his campaign to help deal with the financial crisis. He said he would not participate in tomorrow night's scheduled Presidential debate if the Senate has not passed a bill in response to the administration's bailout proposal. Barack Obama said he wants the debate to proceed as scheduled.
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>Thoughts?