Game Playing

by Steve Soto

I missed it at first, but McCain is actually suspending his campaign, not just skipping the debate. That reeks of desperation, and indicates that his campaign and the candidate are unable to deal with multiple problems simultaneously. When you are losing in the polls on the economy, and your opponent is lashing you for your support of the policies and employment of the people who got us into this mess, perhaps it looked smart for McCain to run and hide from the next haymaker.

The guy hasn't made a roll call vote in five months, but suddenly wants to come back to Capitol Hill and inject himself into a debate that didn't need him?

Obama for his part plans to appear at the debate on Friday, and questioned why McCain wants to inject presidential politics into what should be a congressional effort at problem-solving. He also questioned how McCain can demonstrate his readiness for handling the job when it appears he is unable to multi-task. Obama should go a step farther and ask why McCain wants to run away from answering on the campaign trail for his ongoing support of deregulation over the last two decades.

As far as the debate organizers are concerned, they have no plans to cancel the debate.

Update: I'm sure these developments are not connected, but . . .

Was it a coincidence that McCain wants to ditch the VP debate and replace it with a postponed first Obama/McCain debate on the same day that Sarah Palin tanked her CBS interview with Katie Couric, and after the campaign eliminated any future media opportunities for Palin?

Second, why are you coming back to DC senator when the deal is already done?

Lastly, how concerned was McCain about a bipartisan approach to this crisis if he dodged responding to Obama’s offer of a joint statement this morning so that he could privately schmooze with a former Clinton supporter?