(CNN) – Sen. John McCain has not yet confirmed whether he will participate in Friday night's presidential debate, but Barack Obama's campaign is moving forward with its plans for the event.
The campaign announced Thursday evening that Michelle Obama will be joined at the debate by Shannon Kendall, whose husband is currently serving his second tour in Iraq, according to a press release issued by the campaign Thursday evening. Kendall, a mother, met Michelle Obama during a recent roundtable with military families in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Friday's debate will focus on foreign policy, a topic agreed to by both presidential campaigns before the nation's financial system and broader economic issues took center stage two weeks ago.
From CNN Politics
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Big deal!!!!! Not interested in hearing about Michelle. Why don't she just go home and look after her kids.
Keep pressing with the debate, it's too important not to have.
Military, really........ When it is not a photo op Obama skips the military!
But McCain is willing to sell this soldier's wife out and dodge the debate altogether! For shame.
McCain, who only 2 weeks ago was touting himself as a "deregulator" (who admittedly doesn't know a lot about the economy) and who 1 week ago said that the economy is fundamentally strong, has all of a sudden gotten the memo: deregulation is at the heart of our financial woes and the economy is tanking. Now he's sinking even worse: waiting out the public's response to the bailout package before taking a real stance, spending a few hours in Washington for photo ops, and thoroughly politicizing (and mocking) a process that required sincere negotiation. His shameless political pandering will ultimately hurt the American people. Country first? I don't think so. Campaign first is more like it. John McCain has made a mockery of any honorable intentions towards aiding in this economic crisis.
We cannot afford McCain as president. He is an opportunist and a liar.
Please post me CNN
If Sen. McCain doesn't want to debate then, the Obama campaign should invite some Independents like Bob Barr and Ralph Nader to participate so there can be a serious discussion of the issues amongst serious people.
Wow...I am speechless...as a military wife who has been married to an Air Force officer for 15 years and who's husband is about to deploy to Iraq for his THIRD time, I would proudly sit by Cindy McCain over Michelle Obama any day!
Kudos Michelle! Thank you for continuing to focus on reaching voters. You'll be a great first lady!
she is going to act as the SECOND TIME she is proud to be an american.what a drag 1go mccain.hillary 2012
I am so proud of Michelle Obama, she is showing America that there are positive African American women out there. She is going to be a great first lady.
Not every Hero is a warrior.
Not every American who has paid the ultimate price has perished.
All across America there are the wives, husbands, sons, daughters, and parents of those who have died. And these are the souls who pay the highest price of all.
It is good to remember that the pains of more than two decades ago are not an entitlement to behave badly. Honor is for those who behave honorably. Bravery is for the Brave.
If an honorable man loses his honor, he is no longer honorable.
If a brave man runs away from conflicts that aren't going his way, isn't brave.
He may live to fight another day, but those who depended upon him probably will not.
Let the debate go forward, let the candidates show that they can walk and chew gum while seeing to the needs of the nation.
Let's see the depth of their respective "benches/teams"
And remember, this isn't just about your guy winning, this about having someone in the Office of the President who will lead the American People.
Not the Blue or Red People.
But ALL of us, Christian, Pagan, Jewish, Muslim, Atheist, whatever..
Great. And if John McCain doesn't show, turn it into a town hall
meeting / campaign rally / pre-inaugural gala.
a very nice touch by ms. obama, its good to know she is willing to be open with groups and meetings like these. also good to see the truth in the fact that the dem ticket is far from ducking the military and families, rather being proactive to all.
Good poker bluff Obama. Continue to put the pressure on by saying you are planning a town hall if McCain does not show up and have a woman whose husband is in a 2nd tour of duty. McCain will be there. He does not want Obama to have the stage all by himself.
Michele Obama will be a great First Lady.
Don't worry McCain will be at the debate he just likes pulling the American people and the media's chain. I hope this guy goes down hard.
GO MRS. OBAMA THIS IS THE WAY USA FIRST LADY ACT ..
OBAMA 08
I'm not looking forward in having Michelle Obama for 1st lady. She just seems so....unappealing.
Great idea!!
What about a panel of everyday citizens at the debate as well...trying to figure out what is going on in McCain's head? A panel of questions for the Absentee McCain that he can practice and answer later...like what the BLEEP were you thinking when you chose McPlane for your running mate? SUSPEND your campaign...was it a bad one (like a bad child in school)? Was that a political tactic (the DC meeting)? If so, you apparantly didn't mind to risk the US and the international economies for your own political gain to 1) avoid a debate 2) to "appear like a non-partisan or bipartisan leader"??? HUH? What are you thinking? Who is up to these little antics? The same people who conspiracists say were behind 9/11? Makes some sceptics wonder!
McCain and his Republican cronies will stop at nothing to distract the American electorate from the fact that he is utterly unqualified in temperament, intellect, and honor to lead this country - and his idiot running mate is worse.
Stand firm, Sen. Obama. Americans can't possibly be as stupid as the Republicans want us to be.
We luv U Michelle ..
Mc Cain wants to push Back the debate .... because Sarah is a dimwit .. who cannot get her talking points right ... she made bush look like scholar in the Katie Couric interview
Great. Rev Wright with lipstick returns.
Let's show that we don't have to play hide and seek and score political points. We are proud democrats and we can take initiative w/w/o them. Let them take the low road that's what they're good at anyway.
Have all you Obamabots already forgotten that MCCAIN WANTED NINE DEBATES BUT OBAMA REFUSED. Nice try spinning this one CNN, but America isn't that stupid.
It's all a silly ploy to look like McCain has control by faking like it's his decision whether to have the debate. It's not exactly difficult to see through the bluff. All you gotta do Obama is offer to pay for the nationally televised town hall meeting that will ensue if he doesn't show up.