Senator John McCain (R-AZ), 73, is pulling out of this Friday's presidential debate and "suspending his campaign" citing his decision to focus on "the economic crisis," reports MSNBC. But as recently as last week McCain said, "the fundamentals of our economy are strong" as the Dow fell 300 points, according to National Journal. Perhaps voters see him as out of touch. In any case, McCain's standing in the polls has changed -- a recent Washington Post-ABC poll shows him nine points behind his opponent.
So exactly why is he so afraid to fight back to regain some of that lost standing in the polls? Is it possible that his well established track record as a foe of financial regulation will make it too obvious to voters that he shares responsibility for the mess we're in and can't credibly solve it? Or is he afraid that he'd lose even more ground by debating his opponent than he would by suspending his campaign?
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I am not aware of a candidate who has received the nomination of his party ever suspending his campaign days before the first debate with his opponent. It does not instill much confidence in his leadership skills.
Update. The enclosed video from David Letterman suggests that McCain should have appointed his vice presidential nominee to run the campaign while he ran away from the debate with his opponent.
Peter Cohan is President of Peter S. Cohan & Associates. He also teaches management at Babson College and edits The Cohan Letter.
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Reader Comments (Page 3 of 3)
9-26-2008 @ 8:59AM
Irish said...
Karen: You know, your comments would be accepted if they made any sense. Obama and McCain are both involved in the bailout. They receive updates on a continual basis. The two of them are NOT the only two that will determine the success or failure of the proposal. There was NO need for McCain to dart off to Washington as if the house was burning down. This was purely a grand-stand tactic to give a false impression that America won't succeed without John McCain at the helm. It would have been much better for him to take the same stand as Obama. He has shown the American people that he can't handle crisis very well. Instead of handling this situation with a calm and logical approach, he chose to manipulate the people once again to buff his own star. He's selfish and dangerous. His next move better be getting his a** to the debate. I've have never seen such a pathetic election before. These tactics may have proved worthy 4 years ago, but the smoke has cleared and now we see just how blind we've been. McCain does need to do his job and he needs to show America that he is ready to be President. He can keep the "maverick" theatrics behind the curtains and act like a professional by taking responsibility on behalf of Americans.
9-26-2008 @ 3:13PM
Gloria said...
Around 1979 Obama started college at Occidental in California. He is very open about his two years at Occidental, he tried all kinds of drugs and was wasting his time but, even though he had a brilliant mind, did not apply himself to his studies. 'Barry' (that was the name he used all his life) during this time had two roommates, Muhammad Hasan Chandoo and Wahid Hamid, both from Pakistan. During the summer of 1981, after his second year in college, he made a 'round the world' trip. Stopping to see his mother in Indonesia, next Hyderabad in India, three weeks in Karachi, Pakistan where he stayed with his roommate's family, then off to Africa to visit his father's family. My question - Where did he get the money for this tr ip? Nether I, nor any one of my children would have had money for a trip like this when they where in college. When he came back he started school at Columbia University in New York. It is at this time he wants everyone to call him Barack - not Barry. Do you know what the tuition is at Columbia? It's not cheap! to say the least. Where did he get money for tuition? Student Loans? Maybe. After Columbia, he went to Chicago to work as a Community Organizer for $12,000. a year. Why Chicago? Why not New York? He was already living in New York.
By 'chance' he met Antoin 'Tony' Rezko, born in Aleppo Syria, and a real estate developer in Chicago. Rezko has been convicted of fraud and bribery this year. Rezko, was named 'Entrepreneur of the Decade' by the Arab-American Business and Professional Association'. About two years later, Obama entered Harvard Law School. Do you have any idea what tuition is for Harvard Law School? Where did he get the money for Law School? More student loans? After Law school, he went back to Chicago. Rezko offered him a job, which he turned down. But, he did take a job with Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland. Guess what? They represented 'Rezar' which Rezko's firm. Rezko was one of Obama's first major financial contributors when he ran for office in Chicago. In 2003, Rezko threw an early fundraiser for Obama which Chicago Tribune reporter David Mendelland claims was instrumental in providing Obama with 'seed money' for his U.S. Senate race. In 2005, Obama purchased a new home in Kenwoood District of Chicago for $1.65 million (less than asking price). With ALL those Student Loans - Where did he get the money for the property? On the same day Rezko's wife, Rita, purchased the adjoining empty lot for full price. The London Times reported that Nadhmi Auchi, an Iraqi-born Billionaire loaned Rezko $3.5 million three weeks before Obama's new home was purchased. Obama met Nadhmi Auchi many times with Rezko.
Now, we have Obama running for President. Valerie Jarrett, was Michele Obama's boss. She is now Obama's chief advisor and he does not make any major decisions without talking to her first. Where was Jarrett born? Ready for this? Shiraz, Iran! Do we see a pattern here? Or am I going crazy?
On May 10, 2008 The Times reported, Robert Malley advisor to Obama was 'sacked' after the press found out he was having regular contacts with 'Hamas', which controls Gaza and is connected with Iran. This past week, buried in the back part of the papers, Iraqi newspapers reported that during Obama's visit to Iraq, he asked their leaders to do nothing about the war until after he is elected, and he will 'Take care of things'.
Oh, and by the way, remember the college roommates that where born in Pakistan? They are in charge of all those 'small' Internet campaign contribution for Obama. Where is that money coming from? The poor and middle class in this country? Or could it be from the Middle East?
And the final bit of news. On September 7, 2008, The Washington Times posted a verbal slip that was made on 'This Week' with George Stephanapoulos. Obama on talking about his religion said, 'My Muslim faith'. When questioned, 'he make a mistake'. Some mistake!
All of the above information I got on line. If you would like to check it - Wikipedia, encyclopedia, Barack Obama; Tony Rezko; Valerie Jarrett: Daily Times - Obama visited Pakistan in 1981; The Washington Times - September 7, 2008; The Times May 10, 2008.
Now the BIG question - If I found out all this information on my own, Why haven't all of our 'intelligent' members of the press been reporting this?
9-26-2008 @ 2:38PM
Bill Carithers said...
The question should be; How can B. Obama even think of something as unimportant than an apportunity to make more flowery speaches? The American financial system is under attack and every one and I mean everyone especially 2 Senators should be concentrating on getting a fair and honest program to handle the crisis not one put together by one party of our political system. As a tax payer I am very upset with the suggestion of eliminating the tax cuts now in place instead of eliminating the marriage penalty and cap. gains tax for retirement plans. John Mc Cain is absolutely needed in DC at the meetings now he is more knowledgeable than Obama but the latter should be there as well to enhance his learning program.
I am ready to write in Newt Gingrich'es name in for pres. but will still vote as I planned.
10-03-2008 @ 12:05AM
m.scheib said...
Gloria nice cut and paste of a chain letter that has been going around .. couldn't you come up with your own slander
9-26-2008 @ 3:13PM
Gloria said...
Around 1979 Obama started college at Occidental in California. He is very open about his two years at Occidental, he tried all kinds of drugs and was wasting his time but, even though he had a brilliant mind, did not apply himself to his studies. 'Barry' (that was the name he used all his life) during this time had two roommates, Muhammad Hasan Chandoo and Wahid Hamid, both from Pakistan. During the summer of 1981, after his second year in college, he made a 'round the world' trip. Stopping to see his mother in Indonesia, next Hyderabad in India, three weeks in Karachi, Pakistan where he stayed with his roommate's family, then off to Africa to visit his father's family. My question - Where did he get the money for this tr ip? Nether I, nor any one of my children would have had money for a trip like this when they where in college. When he came back he started school at Columbia University in New York. It is at this time he wants everyone to call him Barack - not Barry. Do you know what the tuition is at Columbia? It's not cheap! to say the least. Where did he get money for tuition? Student Loans? Maybe. After Columbia, he went to Chicago to work as a Community Organizer for $12,000. a year. Why Chicago? Why not New York? He was already living in New York.
10-06-2008 @ 2:43AM
Jerry said...
When will you reporters ether report real things or get your facts strait Because McCain has Challenged Obama to atleast 10 or so town hall meettings and he says nothing to that like hm I don't want to say something because to me it seems he doesn't have a plan for it if he was asked about oh sure he talks about this and that but ask him one thing today and he says one thing and then just like he wants to have happen in D.C. atleast he says he does change his own mind and goes the other way so So who is the real one Not wanting to debate