John McCain and Barack Obama may not be in Washington right now taking part in the day-to-day negotiations over the bank bailout bill, but they have their ears to the ground and are weighing in on what’s happening.

And they’re also blaming each other for playing a part in the plan’s failure.

"I believe the crisis facing our economy could have a grave impact on every American worker, small business owner and family if our leaders fail to act," McCain said in a statement. "Our leaders are expected to leave partisanship at the door and come to the table to solve our problems. Sen. Obama and his allies in Congress infused unnecessary partisanship into the process. Now is not the time to fix the blame. It’s time to fix the problem.

"I would hope that all our leaders, all of them, can put aside short-term political goals and do what’s in the best interest of the American people."

The New York Times reports that senior McCain adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin said "partisan attacks" by Obama and congressional Democrats had caused some Republicans in Congress to turn against the bailout bill and so had "put at risk the homes, livelihoods and savings of millions of American families."

The Obama campaign immediately dismissed that response as "angry and hyperpartisan."

"This is a moment of national crisis, and today’s inaction in Congress as well as the angry and hyper-partisan statement released by the McCain campaign are exactly why the American people are disgusted with Washington," said Obama spokesman Bill Burton. "Now is the time for Democrats and Republicans to join together and act in a way that prevents an economic catastrophe."

Obama, the senator from Illinois, says Congress should not start from scratch, but should build on the rejected bill. He’s also proposing to raise the amount of federal deposit insurance for bank accounts from $100,000 to $250,000. He says that would help small businesses and would make the U.S. banking system more secure as well as restore public confidence in the nation’s financial system. He’s going to offer this plan to some in Congress today.

In a statement issued early Tuesday, Obama said further inaction on a rescue plan would be catastrophic for the economy and for American families.

McCain also voiced support for this plan early Tuesday. He said he spoke to President Bush Tuesday morning and recommended that Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. limits be raised to help protect Americans’ bank deposits.

In an interview with MSNBC Tuesday morning, McCain said he would leave the campaign trail and "come back again [to Washington] if it’s necessary" to help push a package through.

"Americans out there are very frightened about their ability to maintain their jobs, their home, their future," the Republican presidential hopeful added. "We have to provide the American people the confidence to move forward."