What would happen if there was a presidential debate, and one of the candidates failed to show up?
There's a possibility of that happening Friday night in Oxford, Miss., when major-party candidates John McCain and Barack Obama are scheduled to have their first presidential debate. McCain on Wednesday said he is suspending his campaign until a bailout plan for the nation's financial institutions is finalized. He also called for a postponement of the debate until the deal is done.
Obama said a postponement is unnecessary, saying the American people expect their next leader to be able to "deal with more than one thing at once." At least for now, he says he plans to be in Mississippi whether McCain shows or not.
There is no good reason for McCain not to debate on Friday, regardless of the status of the bailout plan. McCain hadn't been in Washington this week until a meeting today with President Bush - Obama was invited and planned to be at that meeting, too. McCain hasn't voted in the Senate since April. Neither candidate is on the Senate banking committee directly involved in the negotiations.
Talks about the bailout plan have been ongoing since late last week without assistance from either candidate. All reports indicate Democrats and Republicans are near agreement on a deal, and the president's national address Wednesday included concessions of oversight and taxpayer protections that some members of both parties have called for.
It could actually be that heavy involvement from either presidential candidate would threaten that progress. There are so many political implications in the outcome of this process that it is impossible for McCain or Obama to participate without the line between the campaigning and legislating being blurred.
Both candidates have weighed in - from the campaign trail - on the bailout negotiations. They should continue to do so. And, of course, they both should cast their votes on the ultimate proposal.
But as Obama pointed out, both campaigns have big jets. The candidates can fly back and forth from Washington and Mississippi to fulfill both their duties as senators and candidates. There's no reason either candidate can't be in Oxford on Friday night.
For better or worse, the economic bailout will get done with or without McCain's or Obama's involvement. There are fewer than six weeks left before the Nov. 4 election, and the four essential debates (three presidential, one vice presidential) should go on as planned. The American electorate deserves to hear from each of the presidential and vice presidential candidates, as scheduled.
There's a possibility of that happening Friday night in Oxford, Miss., when major-party candidates John McCain and Barack Obama are scheduled to have their first presidential debate. McCain on Wednesday said he is suspending his campaign until a bailout plan for the nation's financial institutions is finalized. He also called for a postponement of the debate until the deal is done.
Obama said a postponement is unnecessary, saying the American people expect their next leader to be able to "deal with more than one thing at once." At least for now, he says he plans to be in Mississippi whether McCain shows or not.
There is no good reason for McCain not to debate on Friday, regardless of the status of the bailout plan. McCain hadn't been in Washington this week until a meeting today with President Bush - Obama was invited and planned to be at that meeting, too. McCain hasn't voted in the Senate since April. Neither candidate is on the Senate banking committee directly involved in the negotiations.
Talks about the bailout plan have been ongoing since late last week without assistance from either candidate. All reports indicate Democrats and Republicans are near agreement on a deal, and the president's national address Wednesday included concessions of oversight and taxpayer protections that some members of both parties have called for.
It could actually be that heavy involvement from either presidential candidate would threaten that progress. There are so many political implications in the outcome of this process that it is impossible for McCain or Obama to participate without the line between the campaigning and legislating being blurred.
Both candidates have weighed in - from the campaign trail - on the bailout negotiations. They should continue to do so. And, of course, they both should cast their votes on the ultimate proposal.
But as Obama pointed out, both campaigns have big jets. The candidates can fly back and forth from Washington and Mississippi to fulfill both their duties as senators and candidates. There's no reason either candidate can't be in Oxford on Friday night.
For better or worse, the economic bailout will get done with or without McCain's or Obama's involvement. There are fewer than six weeks left before the Nov. 4 election, and the four essential debates (three presidential, one vice presidential) should go on as planned. The American electorate deserves to hear from each of the presidential and vice presidential candidates, as scheduled.
