McCain will participate in tonight's debate

[starfish1113]

According to breaking news on cnn.com.

I think he had to.

[SportsFan68]

I agree with Fishie.

[danielh41]

From Politico.com...

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) ended three days of suspense on Friday morning and announced that he will leave bailout negotiations in Washington and fly to Oxford, Miss., for the opening presidential debate.

McCain had said he would suspend his campaign until an agreement was reached on the administration's $700 billion mortgage proposal.

No such an agreement has been reached, but Republicans said the standoff was hurting McCain's campaign, and he would look terrible if he ruined the nationally televised, eagerly anticipated debate while Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) was ready to go onstage.

The text of the statement:

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) announces: "The McCain campaign is resuming all activities and the senator will travel to the debate this afternoon. Following the debate, he will return to Washington to ensure that all voices and interests are represented in the final agreement, especially those of taxpayers and homeowners.

The text of a statement from his camapign at about 11:20 a.m. Eastern:

John McCain’s decision to suspend his campaign was made in the hopes that politics could be set aside to address our economic crisis.

In response, Americans saw a familiar spectacle in Washington. At a moment of crisis that threatened the economic security of American families, Washington played the blame game rather than work together to find a solution that would avert a collapse of financial markets without squandering hundreds of billions of taxpayers’ money to bailout bankers and brokers who bet their fortunes on unsafe lending practices.

Both parties in both houses of Congress and the administration needed to come together to find a solution that would deserve the trust of the American people. And while there were attempts to do that, much of yesterday was spent fighting over who would get the credit for a deal and who would get the blame for failure. There was no deal or offer yesterday that had a majority of support in Congress. There was no deal yesterday that included adequate protections for the taxpayers. It is not enough to cut deals behind closed doors and then try to force it on the rest of Congress — especially when it amounts to thousands of dollars for every American family.

The difference between Barack Obama and John McCain was apparent during the White House meeting yesterday, where Barack Obama’s priority was political posturing in his opening monologue defending the package as it stands. John McCain listened to all sides so he could help focus the debate on finding a bipartisan resolution that is in the interest of taxpayers and homeowners. The Democratic interests stood together in opposition to an agreement that would accommodate additional taxpayer protections.

Senator McCain has spent the morning talking to members of the administration, members of the Senate, and members of the House. He is optimistic that there has been significant progress toward a bipartisan agreement now that there is a framework for all parties to be represented in negotiations, including Representative Blunt as a designated negotiator for House Republicans. The McCain campaign is resuming all activities and the senator will travel to the debate this afternoon. Following the debate, he will return to Washington to ensure that all voices and interests are represented in the final agreement, especially those of taxpayers and homeowners.

[gsabc]

Quoting Ben Franklin from "1776", "Oh, good for you, John!"

[silverscreenselect]

The stakes have been raised for this debate considerably as a result of what's happened the last few days, and the pressure is on McCain.

Fair or not (and I think it's not), he has to explain inserting himself into the process for the bailout legislation. He's in a good position to explain the current status of the bailout negotiations and to instill a sense of confidence in himself and the process. He's also in a position to completely destroy his campaign if he comes off as a bumbling hothead.

Normally, one would expect a debate ostensibly on foreign policy to be a test for Obama and his credentials on the issue, but the focus tonight will be much more on McCain. If he confirms the media buzz about him, Obama's lead could skyrocket. If however, he comes across as knowledgeable and presidential (and able to explain things in a manner most people can understand), he can bring the campaign back to dead even. Obama's usual problems with wordiness and aloofness may still be there, but people will be looking at this debate more to get a gauge on McCain than Obama.

[frogman042]

I wonder if they will play Dylan's "Oxford Town" at the start of the debate - I think it would be great.

(If you are not familer with it - it is easy to find the lyrics and remember that it was written in the early 60's)

---Jay

[5LD]

You say "wordiness" -- I say well spoken.

Unusual in politics lately, I know......
Amerikuns ain't used to hearing full sentences that make sense and answer questions. *this is a reference to the WHouse resident from the last 8 years

[gsabc]

... but people will be looking at this debate more to get a gauge on McCain than Obama.

Personally, I will be watching for two things:

Obama - Do the things he says about, and what he will do about, the international issues seem to have a basis in reality? Or is it more "looking into his soul" stuff and what IMO (and only mine, not anyone else's) is an overly optimistic reading of those issues and the players involved?

I'm not sure exactly what I'm looking for from McCain. Maybe the same thing. Maybe more expounding on some of these issues which have been brought up earlier in the campaign.

From both - less attacks on the other's positions (past and present) and more substance on how they themselves see things and what they will do.

We could do worse than imposing the European product advertising rules on campaigns in general - you can't mention your competition, but can only talk about your own attributes, policies, etc.

[Bob Juch]

... but people will be looking at this debate more to get a gauge on McCain than Obama.

Personally, I will be watching for two things:

Obama - Do the things he says about, and what he will do about, the international issues seem to have a basis in reality? Or is it more "looking into his soul" stuff and what IMO (and only mine, not anyone else's) is an overly optimistic reading of those issues and the players involved?

I'm not sure exactly what I'm looking for from McCain. Maybe the same thing. Maybe more expounding on some of these issues which have been brought up earlier in the campaign.

From both - less attacks on the other's positions (past and present) and more substance on how they themselves see things and what they will do.

We could do worse than imposing the European product advertising rules on campaigns in general - you can't mention your competition, but can only talk about your own attributes, policies, etc.

I doubt we'll see anything more than what they've already shown: That McCain is confrontational and Obama is conciliatory in their approach to foreign relations.

[dodgersteve182]

I will go too if they pay me a substantial honorarium! I need the bucks and I'd like to tell them and the media what I really think! (in a non partisan way of course.)

[sunflower]

You say "wordiness" -- I say well spoken.

Unusual in politics lately, I know......
Amerikuns ain't used to hearing full sentences that make sense and answer questions. *this is a reference to the WHouse resident from the last 8 years

I don't care about the politics...5LD that is the cutest avatar ever!!!!

[BackInTex]

The stakes have been raised for this debate considerably as a result of what's happened the last few days, and the pressure is on McCain.

Fair or not (and I think it's not), he has to explain inserting himself into the process for the bailout legislation.

Really?

Let me help....he still represents the good folks of Arizona. This an important issue. This is his job and he takes it seriously.

Too bad Obama doesn't feel that way. Probably won't be any different if he gets the job he's trying to get now. Seems to be a pattern for him.