September 24th, 2008
04:43 PM ET
15 years ago
Obama 'inclined' to debate
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/09/24/art.debate.gi.jpg caption="Obama wants to press on with the debate."](CNN) - Barack Obama is 'inclined" to go ahead with the debate Friday night, campaign sources tell CNN.
McCain said Wednesday the debate should be postponed if the economic bailout has not passed congress by that time.
Obama is expected to make a statement around 4:30 p.m. ET.
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I think debates, at this point in the race, are crucial! Yes, things are going pretty badly but that mightn't change much in the next few weeks.
I have a debate watch party to attend friday......the debate must go on. NO TIME FOR DELAY CHICHEN MCCAIN
McCain is a scaredy cat...so much for being such a big tough guy POW!
McCain's campaign is floundering and this hail mary gimmick is just a desperate attempt to generate something positive for himself. This is the the epitome of hypocrisy when he attempts to sell it as country first.
Yeah right! McCain is scared! I think as president you have to be able to multitask! Iknow he's old don't cancel Obama!!!!!!!!! Let's get it done.
So McCain who admitted he was weak on economic issues wants to cancel the debate, go to DC and save us all..........what a crock !!
sly political move by McCain, even though there is no reason these two candidates cannot walk and chew gum at the same time. If you are going to be prez you are going to have to learn to juggle. We are getting close to the election. There is no reason to post pone the debate.
What is the McCain/Palin compaign running from now?
If McCain is not up to holding a debate because of the financial crisis, how could we count on him to be up to handling more than one thing at a time as president?
I can only hope Obama decides to stand behind this Friday's debate. I won't speak on whether or not this is another political ploy, but I will say McCain's "need" to push back the debate so that he can focus on the economy issue smells of an inability to multitask, and that's not a character trait I'd like the next President of this country to have.
Yes! Way to go, Obama! That's a presidential decision!
DEBATE !!!!!!!!
Democracy does not stop for criminal corporatists and greedy Wallstreet financiers !!
This country needs the debate and it should start on time Friday night.
John McCCain is trying to "default" on his obligation to face the American people and debate his Democratic rival. No More Defaulting!
Debate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then decide.............and vote for positvie change!!!!
Nice try McCain. Your trying to use this to your political advantage and then you will say that's what Obama is doing! Big surprise like we didn't see something like coming down the pike.
You, your whole campaign crew(including that waste of space Palin) and the bush administration should be kicked of our country.
YOUR A SHAME!!!
Obama can debate himself, since there are so many versions of Obama anyway.
McCain has once again staked his reputation on the COUNTRY FIRST as opposed to his EGO. This selfless move to return to D.C. and the U.S. Senate to address this economic crisis is a risky move at best, but it emphasizes McCain's true character.
McCain/Palin '08
I want to see a debate!! Barack, don't let McCain skip out of this!!! Don't fall for his dirty stall tactic.
OK ...
Let's swap the Presidential and the Vice Presidential debate dates.
Next ....
I think the candidates have to do both. They have to get to work as Senators AND they have to keep to their debate schedule. Debates affect the votes of many citizens the way TV ads don't, so messing around with the schedule seems intended to interfere with the education of the electorate.
McCain and Obama are just 2 out of 100 senators and are not the experts in the matter, like Dodd and Shelby are. Each candidate is seeking to get the singular position as president. A proper mix of legislating and campaigning is critical at this point, and not doing one full-time and the other not at all is wrong.
Obama, I smell a rat in the McCain camp. You made a good judgement call ONCE AGAIN to stick with the debate that Amberica has been waiting to see. Pro Obama!
Sooooo when if McCain were president and in the middle of a crisis, he'd ask for a time out?! You've got to be kidding me! Loser.
There is no reason this debate cannot take place as scheduled. We are talking about electing a new president of the United States and this debate is very important. These debates are the only real glimpse a lot of us have at the two candidates in a issue based back and forth discussion. There are lots of people with a lot more knowledge of this crisis than McCain or Obama working on it. Let them work out the details and then McCain and Obama can go back to Washington to vote on it. Let the debate go on as scheduled. If Mccain can't multi task then he has no business in the White House. This election is TOO important.
Thank you Obama for letting the people hear your voice.
The rumor mill is that the republican party is looking to replace Sarah Palin. Troopergate is said to be way over her head.
Right on- the show must go on! There's nothing that can be done for the economy that this debate would get in the way of. I'm tired of McCain's ploys: sophmoric transparent challenge to town hall meetings & blaming their bad behavior on Obama not going along with the proposal and their dodges: sequestering Palin, no press questions, hiding in general.
Obama..remain strong and call McShame a bluff! Don't fall for this political ploy and bring on the debate!
For God's sake – this country has a General Election in less that 6 weeks – we need this Debate – McCain is just chicken and is running for the hills!
He's looking at the battleground states and seeing his numbers declining,Sen McCain does not want to debate he wants to pull the wool over the eyes of the American people.
They have been dealing with this bill for a week now... putting off the debates will only delay McCrazy for looking as Out of Touch as we all know him to be.
I think McCrazy is just using this as a ploy & it is not a major concern for him... he's trying to make the American people think something different than what it is.
Obama/Biden '08