McCain Cancels Debate
WSJ
Susan Davis
September 24, 2008

John McCain is calling for a delay in Friday's national security debate with Barack Obama at the University of Mississippi, but the school is moving full steam ahead, according to a statement released this afternoon. The Associated Press also reported that Obama is seeking to keep the debate on schedule.

"The University of Mississippi is going forward with the preparation for the debate. We are ready to host the debate, and we expect the debate to occur as planned," the statement said, "At present, the University has received no notification of any change in the timing or venue of the debate. We have been notified by the Commission on Presidential Debates that we are proceeding as scheduled."

McCain's call for both he and Obama to immediately suspend their presidential campaigns and return to Capitol Hill to address the ongoing economic crisis and proposed $700 billion financial sector bailout was dismissed quickly by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada as a "campaign photo op" for McCain.

"While I appreciate that both candidates have signaled their willingness to help, Congress and the Administration have a process in place to reach a solution to this unprecedented financial crisis," he said, calling for the debate to occur on schedule.

"I understand that the candidates are putting together a joint statement at Senator Obama's suggestion. But it would not be helpful at this time to have them come back during these negotiations and risk injecting presidential politics into this process or distract important talks about the future of our nation's economy."

The two presidential campaigns have issued competing timelines of events today leading up to McCain's call to cancel the debates. Here is Obama's version:

"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."

Shortly after, the McCain campaign released their version:

"Senator Obama phoned Senator McCain at 8:30 am this morning but did not reach him. The topic of Senator Obama's call to Senator McCain was never discussed. Senator McCain was meeting with economic advisers and talking to leaders in Congress throughout the day prior to calling Senator Obama. At 2:30 pm, Senator McCain phoned Senator Obama and expressed deep concern that the plan on the table would not pass as it currently stands. He asked Senator Obama to join him in returning to Washington to lead a bipartisan effort to solve this problem."

A spokesman for McCain also said the campaign is suspending all political activities, including fund-raising and advertising.

The $700 billion bailout proposal is being met with resistance from lawmakers of both parties on Capitol Hill. Politico reported that lawmakers may scale back the package in order to build bipartisan support for the plan. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told bloggers on a video conference today that she would not put a bill on the floor without significant bipartisan support. "We [Democrats] are not taking ownership of this," she told www.meetthebloggers.org.

Original Text