McCain Wants Debate Postponed

Matt Lewis | September 24, 2008 3:13 PM

Update: "The debate is on," a senior Obama campaign official told ABC News.

John McCain wants to postpone the debate and focus on the economy.

From Fox:

"John McCain announced that he will suspend his presidential campaign on Thursday to return to Washington to help with bailout negotiations. He urged his opponent Barack Obama to do the same.

The Arizona senator also asked the Presidential Debate Commission to postpone Friday’s scheduled debate with Obama so that he can work on the financial crisis bailout plan now on Capitol Hill.

“America this week faces an historic crisis in our financial system. We must pass legislation to address this crisis. If we do not, credit will dry up, with devastating consequences for our economy. People will no longer be able to buy homes and their life savings will be at stake. Businesses will not have enough money to pay their employees. If we do not act, ever corner of our country will be impacted. We cannot allow this to happen,” McCain said."

Developing ...

This seems to me to be a very politically sagacious move. It shows McCain is putting the economy before politics and is putting his Senatorial duties before politics. By calling for this unilaterally, McCain is demonstrating bold and strong leadership -- and is once again defining the "debate".

This may also serve to sort of recalibrate the political mood, which has been decidedly bad for McCain since the economic news broke ...

Regardless of what Obama wants to do, McCain should not, at this point -- having made this statement, show up on Friday.