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, in a 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.

Update: An Obama aide tells ABC News on Wednesday afternoon, "the debate is on."

Comments (39)

1. the wheels on the bus go round and round.....

   Posted by frosty zoom at 09/24/2008 @ 3:21pm

2. well,

   i bet st. sarah's got time on her hands.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 09/24/2008 @ 3:25pm

3. Holy shit, is this for real? This isn't SNL or Colbert or Stewart or Maher pulling a fast sly one?

   If true, McCain is the coward/bully that whispers have claimed.

   He deserves to lose in a landslide.

   Will Palin become the presidential nominee if McC falls down?

   Who's writing this script?

   Posted by sloper at 09/24/2008 @ 3:33pm

4. MCain is posturing...he has absolutely NO clue how to solve this financial crisis because his advisers were the same folks that created it!

   Posted by Metteyya at 09/24/2008 @ 3:37pm

5. MCain is posturing...he has absolutely NO clue how to solve this financial crisis because his advisers were the same folks that created it!

   Posted by Metteyya at 09/24/2008 @ 3:37pm

   Obama's advisers, too, Mett.

   However, this action on the part of McCain is absolutely bizarre. What a load of crap.

   Posted by cka2nd at 09/24/2008 @ 3:43pm

6. WHAT THE HELL. First Palin refuses to speak to the Press. Now McCain is evading a debate with an obviously BS reason.

   Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/24/2008 @ 3:44pm

7. Tactically smart, strategically?...dunno.

   But it has advantages for McDaddy-

   1. Looks like he cares more about the crises than his campaign (which is just looks by the way).

   2. Puts Obama on the defensive on it. Best case- he agrees and McCain gets relief from a bad debate on a week of bad news for him. Worst case- Obama balks too long and it seems "McCain cares more".

   3. Keeps Rick Davis off the radar...and keeps "keeping Rick Davis off the radar" off the radar.

   4. Palin might be able to cancel HER debate with Joe Biden now.

   5. Saves him a lot of cash...he doesn't have to spend.

   6. Free and friendlier media coverage from the Sunday talk shows.

   Posted by Maskdelta at 09/24/2008 @ 3:45pm

8. i think the debate is the kind of solution the taxpayer is looking for.

   after all, talk is cheap.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 09/24/2008 @ 3:51pm

9. for some reason,

   this reminds me of when mccain was the only senator to vote

   "no vote" (i.e. i dunno....)

   on gramm-leach-bliley in 1999.....

   Posted by frosty zoom at 09/24/2008 @ 3:52pm

10. Posted by Maskdelta at 09/24/2008 @ 3:45pm

    I don't think the people are dumb enough to fall for this. This is too obvious. You don't need to be in IN Washington to concentrate on the bailout before and after the debate. There are telephones and internet. I think people will be asking the same questions we are.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/24/2008 @ 3:56pm

11. Well, a ten point drop in a week or two, along with the arrival of an emergency which undermines his chances further with every further day, will certainly cause a candidate to hide from the debate. The McCain campaign must be pretty terrified, though, to take such a drastic step. Posted by Zero at 09/24/2008 @ 3:39pm

    Very true. The Republican's are losing their hot button issues. Now McCain has nothing to look forward to other than sleazier tactics to win. The debates were always going to be a hard thing for him because in general the issues are not on his side. This is a quick attempt to try to possible waylay the pain that will be felt.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/24/2008 @ 3:59pm

12. Here is the McCain campaign position on debates

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhEQ1E8XPp4

    Posted by leftofcenter at 09/24/2008 @ 4:01pm

13. It doesn't really matter what McSame does. His past is his past, there's no way to erase all the positions he's taken that have gotten us in so much trouble. His image as a straight shooter takes a hit every time he opens his mouth these days. His only chance is to avoid actually talking about anything in detail, keep up the constant bitching about how the media loves Obama, and stall until there's three weeks to go and then blanket the nation with bullshit Country First ads.

    Posted by MyParadigm at 09/24/2008 @ 4:05pm

14. The way this election is going... maybe McCain is just trying to save his seat in the Senate...;^)

    Posted by ttr at 09/24/2008 @ 4:19pm

15. Posted by Maskdelta at 09/24/2008 @ 3:45pm

    I don't think the people are dumb enough to fall for this. This is too obvious. You don't need to be in IN Washington to concentrate on the bailout before and after the debate. There are telephones and internet. I think people will be asking the same questions we are. ******************************************** Umm... not to get partisan, as I don't care much for either major party candidate, but since McCain is not comfortable with computers, it looks like his comfort zone does not extend to such newfangled gadgets as telephones too... This "postponement" is almost as obvious as the "bailout" grab the billionaires are making for the taxpayer's (our!) money...

    Posted by ucnick at 09/24/2008 @ 4:24pm

16. Posted by leftofcenter at 09/24/2008 @ 4:01pm

    Nice joke.

    So this is all really being scripted by SNL.

    And why not? What's left?

    Posted by sloper at 09/24/2008 @ 4:24pm

17. McCain did not suspend his campaign.He moved it to Washington DC where he will continue to campaign as the new economic leader.It's a slick ploy,that will get him a few votes.Personally,I don't care that they canceled the debate because they bore the crap out of me, as do their speeches.Politicians should be seen and not heard.The less they say and do the better I feel.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 09/24/2008 @ 4:26pm

18. Sloper ... see my Post #1 in the "going gets tough" thread

    Posted by leftofcenter at 09/24/2008 @ 4:27pm

19. I don't think the people are dumb enough to fall for this. This is too obvious.-----Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/24/2008 @ 3:56pm

    Dare we bring up the "Seift Boat Vets for Truth"?

    It still may not work, but it's DESPERATELY needed for Maverick. If he couldn't pull out a "Reagan v Mondale in the 2nd debate" BIG score agaisnt Obama on Friday...he'd go down to 8 maybe TEN points in most polls and NEVER recover in the 2nd debates.

    He NEEDED this move and badly...if just to distract from Rick Davis.

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/24/2008 @ 4:46pm

20. Clarification: Frank Raines is not, was not, has never been an advisor of any sort whatsoever on the Obama campaign. The one supposed link is a Washington Post story stating that Raines received two phone calls from someone on the Obama campaign about general economic issues.

    The McCain charge that Obama has advisors who participated in de-regulation of the financial industry is a complete and total lie. But that's how McCain works. Just keep telling the same lie repeatedly and it finally becomes fact in the mind of some voters.

    Rick Davis, McCains campaign manager, on the other hand received over $3M dollars as head of the lobbying firm that advocated for removal of all regulation on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

    Posted by ccrider27 at 09/24/2008 @ 5:27pm

21. I wonder if he even wants to do ONE town hall meeting now....

    Posted by Daisenryaku at 09/24/2008 @ 6:39pm

22. Posted by leftofcenter at 09/24/2008 @ 4:01pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    L.O.L.

    Posted by Daisenryaku at 09/24/2008 @ 6:44pm

23. Also. Before we hear from the Republican's about how Presidential McCain is being. Why is he still speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative on Thursday if this is of such importance? Why didn't he suspend his campaign TODAY, fly to Washington and start hammering this out?

    Why is it only the debate he is choosing to miss?

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/24/2008 @ 7:33pm

24. 4. Palin might be able to cancel HER debate with Joe Biden now.----Posted by Maskdelta at 09/24/2008 @ 3:45pm

    Told ya....

    (CNN) -- McCain supporter Sen. Lindsey Graham tells CNN the McCain campaign is proposing to the Presidential Debate Commission and the Obama camp that if there's no bailout deal by Friday, the first presidential debate should take the place of the VP debate, currently scheduled for next Thursday, October 2 in St. Louis.

    In this scenario, the vice presidential debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin would be rescheduled for a date yet to be determined, and take place in Oxford, Mississippi, currently slated to be the site of the first presidential faceoff this Friday.

    Graham says the McCain camp is well aware of the position of the Obama campaign and the debate commission that the debate should go on as planned -- but both he and another senior McCain adviser insist the Republican nominee will not go to the debate Friday if there's no deal on the bailout.

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/24/2008 @ 8:11pm

25. 4. Palin might be able to cancel HER debate with Joe Biden now.----Posted by Maskdelta at 09/24/2008 @ 3:45pm

    Told ya....

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/24/2008 @ 8:11pm

    One of these days, I'm gonna figure out how you do that.

    Posted by Benchrest at 09/24/2008 @ 8:21pm

26. One of these days, I'm gonna figure out how you do that. Posted by Benchrest at 09/24/2008 @ 8:21pm

    The Wizard of Oz.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/24/2008 @ 8:26pm

27. Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/24/2008 @ 8:26pm

    I swear the man has a crystal ball.

    Posted by Benchrest at 09/24/2008 @ 8:29pm

28. Posted by Benchrest at 09/24/2008 @ 8:21pm

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/24/2008 @ 8:26pm

    Come on, boys...this is T-ball baseball stuff.

    McCain looking for an out for HIS debate, OBVIOUSLY (especially after the Couric interview) he'd look for an out for St. Sarah's.

    Biden would eat her for lunch (metaphorically...please!) and the GOP knows it. Now they try to squeeze the debates closer to the end and closer TOGETHER, so that Obama/McCain's debates swamp hers and Biden's.

    If for Palin alone, they needed to delay her debate as much as possible to cram....she's like a doctoral student, who's still a freshman, and her PhD thesis is due in a week.

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/24/2008 @ 8:45pm

29. Posted by Maskdelta at 09/24/2008 @ 8:45pm

    Great idea was presented on the other thread. Make the Palin vs. Biden debate Friday. I suggested it should be about foreign policy since that's what the Presidential debates were supposed to be about.

    What's funny is the reason you presented isn't even coherent to move the Biden/Palin debate. If the agreement isn't made by Friday we should move the VP debate? WHY?

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/24/2008 @ 8:53pm

30. If the agreement isn't made by Friday we should move the VP debate? WHY?

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/24/2008 @ 8:53pm

    Biden is also a Senator, obviously, and if he says he can handle the bailout crisis AND still do the debate, with no problems because he is actually competent, and not grasping for straws, then how the HELL can Palin not do the debate and maintain credibility?

    WHY is an excellent question.

    Posted by Benchrest at 09/24/2008 @ 9:16pm

31. this gets stinkier by the nanosecond.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/24/2008 @ 9:38pm

32. Biden is also a Senator, obviously, and if he says he can handle the bailout crisis AND still do the debate, with no problems because he is actually competent, and not grasping for straws, then how the HELL can Palin not do the debate and maintain credibility? WHY is an excellent question. Posted by Benchrest at 09/24/2008 @ 9:16pm

    Exactly. How is it a Senator can not go to a debate that will take maybe 5 hours of his time at 9 o clock at night?

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/24/2008 @ 9:50pm

33. this gets stinkier by the nanosecond.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/24/2008 @ 9:38pm

    Exactly. How is it a Senator can not go to a debate that will take maybe 5 hours of his time at 9 o clock at night?

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/24/2008 @ 9:50pm

    Something is up. The regular McCain supporters are not posting anything. I know LVL is here because of a recent post on the Palin witch thread, and Happy is always here. JOM, Ponti, Rio all awol. VERY strange.

    Posted by Benchrest at 09/24/2008 @ 10:06pm

34. Something is up. The regular McCain supporters are not posting anything. I know LVL is here because of a recent post on the Palin witch thread, and Happy is always here. JOM, Ponti, Rio all awol. VERY strange. Posted by Benchrest at 09/24/2008 @ 10:06pm |

    Haven't gotten the talking points yet?

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/24/2008 @ 10:46pm

35. Posted by Benchrest at 09/24/2008 @ 10:06pm

    I think happy has been busy cleaning up after Ike. I know he lives in Texas.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/24/2008 @ 11:32pm

36. Is the McCain campaign imploding? What can they possibly gain from this prom night type of drama? It just leaves me wondering if there are some mental problems going on with McCain and Palin that their handlers have to shield them from the media and now the debates. My guess is that the Bush administration and McCain want to prop up the economy until after Nov. 4. They keep telling us that there will be dire consequences in the economy if they don't get the money they want. What on earth makes them think that the economy won't tank even if they get the 700 billion? It just sounds like a threat and an obvious bank or treasury heist. With the incredibly dark and dire language the feds and Paulson are using it seems that the American people are being held hostage by the feds & Wall Street. And, the taxpayers are the ones that have to pay for our own release without getting any relief for it. Geesuz, when will this nightmare of the Bushonomics end.

    Posted by lltrix at 09/25/2008 @ 02:56am

37. ARI, if he sets up the debate for NEXT Friday instead will he be a good leader again?

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 09/25/2008 @ 10:29am

38. Posted by SooHAPPY at 09/24/2008 @ 11:34pm

    Then explain to me Happy. Why didn't he suspend today and cancel his speech at the Clinton global initiative? Why is he waiting till Thursday night to suspend and why is he using stalled negotiations to in effect cancel the VP debate.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/25/2008 @ 11:31am

39. ARI, if he sets up the debate for NEXT Friday instead will he be a good leader again? Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 09/25/2008 @ 10:29am

    Isn't there already another debate for next week? Besides he has already tried to move the debate, in place of the VP debate. As of that isn't an obvious enough ploy.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/25/2008 @ 12:42pm