Politics | 09/24/2008 3:30 pm

John McCain Suspends Campaign, Asks to Postpone Friday Presidential Debate UPDATE

Breaking: In a move sure to rock an already dramatic week in a campaign season fraught with surprises, and amid a national emergency in the country’s financial markets, Republican presidential candidate John McCain has suspended his campaign today in order to return to Washington to work with his Senate colleagues on the Wall Street bailout package.

He has also contacted the Obama campaign, asking to postpone this Friday night’s debate in order to work on the financial crisis.

In a brand-new Washington Post-ABC News Poll, McCain has lost significant ground since the financial crisis became topic A among mainstream Americans, trailing at 43% versus Obama at 52%.

Update: one question circulating…what does this extraordinary move say to the average American? Will it be a source of encouragement…or will they think the sky is falling economically…?

Update: another thread circulating…wouldn’t this Friday night be the perfect time for a debate…with all of American engaged and watching? Just changing the topic from foreign affairs to the economy…

President Bush addresses the nation on the economic crisis at 9 PM EST …

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I just watched the Katie Couric interview, and all I could think of was the Chatty Cathy doll. You remember…she can speak when you pull the string, but she only has six sentences in her vocabulary.

By Vivvy Stewart on 09/25/2008 9:14 am

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The 30 second Press rule. I wondered if her batteries are running low and they need to rewind her!

By Jennifer Dooley on 09/25/2008 12:30 pm

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Here is the number for the commission that handles presidential debates: 202-872-1020. Call them and tell them what you think.

By margaret britt on 09/25/2008 10:26 am

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Bill Clinton: Don’t ‘Overly Parse’ McCain Request to Delay Debate September 25, 2008 8:26 AM ABC News’ Nitya Venkataraman Reports: Former President Bill Clinton defended Sen. John McCain’s request to delay the first presidential debate, saying McCain did it in “good faith” and pushed organizers to reserve time for economy talk during the debate if the Friday plans move forward. Appearing on Good Morning America Thursday, Clinton told ABC News’ Chris Cuomo that McCain’s push to postpone the debate would only be a good political move if both candidates agreed. McCain announced on Wednesday that he would “suspend” his presidential campaign to come to Washington to help negotiate a financial bailout bill “We know he didn’t do it because he’s afraid because Sen. McCain wanted more debates,” Clinton said, adding that he was “encouraged” by the joint statement from McCain and Sen. Barack Obama. “You can put it off a few days the problem is it’s hard to reschedule those things,” Clinton said, “I presume he did that in good faith since I know he wanted — I remember he asked for more debates to go all around the country and so I don’t think we ought to overly parse that.” If the debate moves forward as planned for Friday night, Clinton says “they should be able to talk about this some of the debate because it is a security issue.” The former president thought Bush’s address Wednesday night on the economic crisis had a “positive reaction”. “I thought it was the clearest statement of why we’re in the fix we’re in, at least what the nature of it is and why some national action is needed,” Clinton said. He said that both Democrats and Republicans “should move as quickly as they can” on the president’s economic rescue plan but that both parties “want to know exactly how this $700 billion is going to be invested..to stabilize the system.” President Bush’s bipartisan meeting on the economic crisis will take place at 4pm at the White House, both Obama and McCain will be in attendance.

By eleanor roche on 09/25/2008 10:36 am

Eleanor - Early this week I saw a news clip of President Clinton appearing on The View. The ladies sans Elizabeth were waiting for his glorious endorsement of Senator Obama when asked about the election. President Clinton instead said he liked both men and then went on to say that he would never has been able to reestablishment diplomatic ties to Viet Nam without the help and support of Senator McCain. “I like him”, he said. Oh, the disappointment among those ladies…..too bad.

By Bonnie Oliver on 09/25/2008 11:31 am

I don’t know what you were watching - but President Clinton did say that he predicted that Barack Obama would win the election - that sounds like an endoresment to me - or does it have to be spelled out for ya!?

By Candis Malone on 09/25/2008 1:08 pm

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Candis, oh yeah he stumbled finally upon saying that he thinks Obama would win. That was not an endorsement; that was a prediction. The Clintons have been amazingly nimble in their disaffection for the junior senator from Illinois.

By Bonnie Oliver on 09/25/2008 3:51 pm

The panel asked former President Clinton “who will win the election” (paraphrased) - and he said (again paraphrased - as I did not save the recording to quote verbatem) -“I believe Barack Obama will win the election” and then went on to say why - which IMHO was an endorsement. Being a past president - he is above all the name calling, mudslinging, and rhetoric that the campaigns are using. I, too, respect what McCain has done in the past - but feel he has sold his soul to the republican party and no matter what he believes, has thrown it aside to get elected.

By Candis Malone on 09/25/2008 4:23 pm

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Bonnie—Exactly!! The Clinton’s don’t just say things off the cuff, they know exactly how the game is played and they know exactly what to say to get their point across. You don’t mess with the Clinton’s and Obama is finding out now how well that worked for him. Nobody is better at double-speak than Bill Clinton. They are ever so clever in their almost “none-endorsement” of Obama. Anyone who has followed the Clintons over the years knows they know how to attack opponents. They couldn’t be more cordial to McCain. Hey, I’m just saying, if it walks like a duck…..Like I said before, they have nothing to gain by helping Obama.

By eleanor roche on 09/25/2008 4:56 pm

Eleanor - Just today I heard another President Clinton remark advising a reporter that he did not think Senator McCain was asking for a postponement of the debate for political reasons inasmuch Clinton went on to say that John McCain “after all John McCain did want to have debates all over the country”…… Oh yeah, no one should discount the Clintons and what they say. You are so right…they know “exactly” what they are saying and they are most definitely getting their point across.

By Bonnie Oliver on 09/25/2008 5:34 pm

In good faith, or some sort of subterfuge, it is ridiculous

By John G on 09/25/2008 10:40 am

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I forgot about the interview with Katie. I’ll check out the CBS News website as soon as the boss leaves the office, LOL.

By Sherrie Crews on 09/25/2008 10:47 am

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She is a heart beat away from the presidency. Really!! Come On people!! Just watch this. http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/09/25/politics/horserace/entry4477239…. So to all you Palin supports especially the women, do you honestly think she is ready, I mean honestly. This is not a joke, this is the Presidency of the United States of America we are talking about here. Please be true to yourselves.

By Edwina Cooper on 09/25/2008 11:00 am

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Ya Edwina, what were we “Palin supporters” thinking? Much rather have Biden a “heartbeat away from the Presidency”—if for anything, the shear enjoyment factor. “When the stock market crashed, Franklin Roosevelt got on the television and didn’t just talk about the princes of greed,” Biden told Couric. “He said, ‘Look, here’s what happened.’” “Hillary Clinton is as qualified or more qualified than I am to be vice president of the United States of America,” Biden said Wednesday in Nashua, New Hampshire. “Quite frankly it might have been a better pick than me.” Earlier in the week, in Columbia, Missouri, Biden urged a paraplegic state official to stand up to be recognized. “Chuck, stand up, let the people see you,” Biden shouted to State Senator Chuck Graham, before realizing, to his horror, that Graham uses a wheelchair. “Oh, God love ya,” Biden said. “What am I talking about?”—I can’t hear that clip without losing it—“Stand up Chuck, stand up!” I prayed Obama would pick Biden for this very reason. The only position Biden is ready for is White House stand-up comic. I agree with you, the presidency or the vice pres for that matter is not a joke, but someone forgot to tell Biden.

By eleanor roche on 09/25/2008 11:37 am

Eleanor…I bet he also knows a little something about foreign policy and not he doesn’t see Russia from his front porch or backyard or whatever. Lets talk about real issues not gaffes like these. Real issues like the Iraq war, the escalating Afghan war, the economic turmoil we are in right now etc. And talking about stand-up comedy don’t you think John McCain is the number choice, he has more dry jokes and big gaffes than Biden.

By Edwina Cooper on 09/25/2008 1:22 pm