GatewayRedbirds.com

Their dueling positions came after the two senators spoke privately, each trying to portray himself as the bipartisan leader at a time of crisis.

But McCain beat Obama to the punch with the first public statement, saying the Bush administration's Wall Street $700 billion bailout proposal seemed headed for defeat and a bipartisan solution was urgently needed. If not, McCain said ominously, credit will dry up, people will no longer be able to buy homes, life savings will be at stake and businesses will not have enough money to pay workers.

"It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the administration's proposal," McCain said. "I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time."

McCain said he had spoken to President Bush and asked him to convene a leadership meeting in Washington that would include him and Obama.

Even as McCain said he was putting the good of the country ahead of politics, his surprise announcement was clearly political. It was an attempt to try to out-maneuver Obama on an issue he's trailing on, the economy, as the Democrat gains in polls. He swiftly went before TV cameras minutes after speaking with Obama and before the two campaigns had hammered out a joint statement expressing that Congress act urgently on the bailout.

And while McCain's campaign said he would "suspend" his campaign, it simply will move to Washington knowing the spotlight will remain on him no matter where he is.

Obama repeatedly stressed at his news conference that he called McCain first to propose that they issue a joint statement in support of a package to help fix the economy as soon as possible. He said McCain called back several hours later, as Obama was leaving a rally in Florida, and agreed to the idea of a statement but also said he wanted to postpone the debate and hold joint meetings in Washington.

Obama said he suggested they first issue a joint statement showing bipartisanship.

"When I got back to the hotel, he had gone on television to announce what he was going to do," Obama said.

Michael wrote:McCain's tactics have been really disappointing in this campaign. I really thought better of him.

pop_haines wrote:

heyzeus wrote:
Now Obama is fairly screwed. Stay on the campaign trail, and look like you're indifferent to the economic situation. Suspend the campaign, and you're a follower or flip flopper.

Once again, gotta hand it to the Republicans, they know how to play this game to a T

I think it backfires.

clevername wrote:apparently McCain cancelled his Letterman show appearance tonight and Dave let him have it during the taping. On top of that they got Olbermann to replace him.

I hope this continues to backfire. It's so transparent that I hope my fellow countrymen don't fall for it and lower my opinion of them even further (how's that for elitist!?!).