Breaking: McCain Proposes Suspending Campaign To Focus On Financial Crisis
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is announcing that he would like to suspend his campaign and delay Friday’s foreign policy debate to focus on the financial crisis. According to MSNBC, McCain would like to come back to Washington and help work out a bailout package on Thursday. Watch MSNBC’s report:
This interest in the bailout is new for McCain. As recently as yesterday, when a reporter asked him about his position on the Bush administration's financial proposals, McCain said, "I have not had a chance to see it in writing. I have to examine it." As the stock market tanked and the federal government bailed out financial institutions over the past week, McCain has been campaigning around the country. Originally, McCain McCain planned to skip the vote on the bailout and continue campaigning. The last time McCain voted in the Senate was on April 10.
UPDATE I: Statement from Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton:
At 8:30 this morning, Senator Obama called Senator McCain to ask him if he would join in issuing a joint statement outlining their shared principles and conditions for the Treasury proposal and urging Congress and the White House to act in a bipartisan manner to pass such a proposal. At 2:30 this afternoon, Senator McCain returned Senator Obama’s call and agreed to join him in issuing such a statement. The two campaigns are currently working together on the details.
UPDATE II: Matt Yglesias observes, "Meanwhile, I think walking and chewing gum at the same time is part of the president’s job."
UPDATE III: McCain has also canceled his planned appearance on David Letterman tonight.
UPDATE IV: Fox reporter Carl Cameron lauded the "very, very big move" by McCain. Fox host Martha MacCallum hailed it as "a bold move, a very strong move." Cameron added that McCain is making "some political sacrifice" by volunteering to leave the campaign trail.
McCain's campaign is in such trouble he is making ridiculous decisions, like this one. He is trying to leave all options open, like quitting because he is unfit for POTUS. Jeebus! Crazy seems mild.