John McCain just announced that he will be suspending his campaign to return to Washington and participate in the bailout negotiations. He has requested that Obama to the same and join him.
In his statement McCain said:
"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 has also requested that the debate, scheduled for Friday evening, be delayed until the negotiations are complete.
As of this writing, 2:55 PM, Obama has yet to officially respond.
If Obama chooses not follow McCain, this will be fodder for McCain ads during the remainder of the elections. Can you imagine the ads showing on Obama was more concerned about his campaign, election and himself than he was about the American people?
Whether Obama follows McCain or not this is a “High Noon” move. In the old Western movie genre, you almost didn’t need to watch the 2 hours of movie prior to the “High Noon” event as long as you just saw that part of the Western. After the “High Noon” event of the old Westerns, you knew who the winners, the losers, the living and the dying or dead were. I believe the same will be so of this “High Noon” event.
McCain’s suspension will be viewed either as a political stunt or an “America First” move. McCain will be viewed as either more partisan or a uniter. McCain will either further invigorate the Republican base or again, poke them in the eye. McCain’s choice to personally participate in the debate may well be the factor on which he either is or isn’t the winner of the November election.
We all know that Obama will pander his way through this event regardless of how he chooses to respond.
The problem for McCain is that I don’t know how, now that he has personally inserted himself in the debate, he can appear to be both a uniter and a holder of conservative values.
It’s High Noon at the campaign corral. We’ll have to wait until the smoke clears to see who wins and who looses.
Update 3:50 PM. Barck Obama has declined to suspend his campaign and says “the debate is on.” In one of the weirdest quotes of the campaign Obama says he told Reid and Pelosi “If you need me, call me.” Perhaps the fact that Reid and Pelosi haven’t picked up the bat phone says more about what help they think Obama could provide than it does about the seriousness of the situation?
I hope McCain has been practicing his quick draw. The bullets will be coming fast and furious until this thing is decided!
