McCain suspends campaign!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 03:17PM Wow, hand it to the McCain folks: They know how to make a splash.
First, Sarah Palin, and now he's suspending his campaign and returning to Washington to help solve this financial mess.
It's a brilliant move on several fronts. It looks presidential -- it's a big gesture -- and it makes him a part of the conversation again. It also steals the agenda back from Obama, who has owned it for the past two weeks.
But more importantly it may actually help end the gridlock over the Paulson bailout plan. He can position himself as a broker between the administration and Congress and help bring about a speedy resolution. At this point, it's uncertain if Paulson and Bernanke will get their package, and without it we could be facing a cataclysmic recession.
While Obama will be on the stump railing against President Bush, McCain will be in DC with his sleeves rolled up trying to solve the most pressing issue of the day.
It's a bold move, and puts Obama on the defensive. Let's see how he responds.
Reader Comments (13)
actually Nick, it WAS JUST reportered that Obama approached McCain about doing this together...
McCain gets first mover advantage.
The Cubs gets first mover advantage. McCain/Phalin get nothing.
CNN has not yet reported that this was Obama's Idea, suggested privately to McCain. If indeed it was Obama's idea, that information should be publicized, to show that Obama was the leader in this suggestion, wanted to "collaborate across the aisle," and was rebuffed by a knife in the back from the McCain campaign (how's that for a mixed metaphor?).
If it wasn't Obama's idea, and if it actually came from the McCain campaign, then the Democrats should legitimately question how McCain can CLAIM to work and play well with both parties in order to put country first, and then sneak behind the Democrats with this b.s idea. Besides, it smells of the Evil Karl Rove. And anything that the Evil Karl Rove touches is (a) filet mignon for the Republicans, and (b) poison for the rest of the country.
In either case, the Democrats can claim, probably legitimately, that McCain isn't ready for the debate--whose topic is FOREIGN POLICY, not the economy--and hence chickened out. He just can't keep his information straight in his own mind or coming out of his mouth. Call McCain's bluff on this one, show him for the excessively-elder non-statesman that he is, and force him to appear on Friday.
If McCain refuses to debate, Obama should show up and, using the old Monty Python bit, debate with a puddle of brown gravy.
Damn, but I'm sick of the Evil Karl Rove. But I like Nick's blog and my own blog, in fact pretty equally. Y'all be well, y,hear?
-- triton --
touche triton...this is a hail mary pass from mccain to ebb falling poll numbers. nothing more, nothing less. for a guy who admitted he knows very little about the economy, what is he going to do, walk into the senate hearings and demand to be heard? what a scam...
There is a whiff of desperation to this, but there was to Palin, too. That's mostly because McCain is a Republican in a change year. In theory, this election should be a blowout. He needs to keep throwing hail mary's to keep this competitive.
I agree with that Nick, but a stunt is a stunt. The debate commission is already saying the debate will go on. Obama is saying the debate will go on. The idea McCain can simply fly into washington and air drop some piece of information, wisdom ,etc and then leave and carry on his campaign duties is childish. Thi stunt is already backfiring faster than a Phalin's broken shotgun. I love it. He is digging a hole for himself even further
as sad as it is to say this, the ONLY reason Obama is ahead by smaller margins than one would expect, given the change year -- is because he is black. If he was Barry Smith, he would have a 30% lead. I hate to admit it, but it is reality.
Oh Lord is this a red-meat post. Too bad I have to go to class.
Bottom line, McCain needs to stay below the radar until this mess blows over. He's dropping, what may have been poll noise 2 days ago is becoming a trend.
I don't think the debate will be canceled, and I hope it isn't. I'm supposed to be on CW11 Friday and Monday morning to give analysis.
I dunno Nick. If they put off the first presidential debate, Palin has more time to prepare for hers. Did you see her with Katie Couric? It's sad. Out of her league.
She may in fact be a real smart woman. But she's not ready. At least not yet.
That's a fairly one sided analysis and you are assuming that McCain has anything useful to say. Surely Palin should go up against Obama in the debate - she's the 2ic and John is tied up (no pun intended). McCain is going to have to turn his attention to more than one thing if he makes the Presidency, why can't he now? Cynical tactics in my book.
So much for the bold move. Weak stunt is more like it.