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.


Filed under: Candidate Barack Obama • John McCain
soundoff (862 Responses)
  1. comickey

    Stick to your guns, Barack! McCain is only trying to politicize this. Did he REALLY need to be in MS during the hurricane and make the big hullaboloo about it's patriotic not to whoop and cheer during theconvention? They sure did the whooping within 24 hours.

    McCain plays games and I used to be a supporter of his. I have so lost respect for him. I would rather have you both on the debate stage to hear your ideas for running this country than any posturing back in Washington to try and be something he isn't anymore.

    September 24, 2008 04:31 pm at 4:31 pm |
  2. Cato

    McCain is just looking for an excuse to put it off. Just like putting off Palin speaking off the top of her head for as long as possible by not allowing her to speak to the gaggle of reporters. And mainly because they don't believe a woman can actually handle the pressure!

    September 24, 2008 04:31 pm at 4:31 pm |
  3. JASON FROM LOS ANGELES .

    YEA!!!!!!
    OBAMA DONT FALL FOR MCLAME'S TRICK!!
    THE DEBATE IS FOR THESE KINDS OF ISSUES!!

    September 24, 2008 04:31 pm at 4:31 pm |
  4. Never obama

    All your lies will catch up with you. You will never be more than a disgrace in this country.

    September 24, 2008 04:31 pm at 4:31 pm |
  5. Roger

    Remember McPain 'calls' on Obama to stop the campaign and not debate. Obama should 'just say no!' Which republican pulled this one out of his/her butt??

    September 24, 2008 04:31 pm at 4:31 pm |
  6. george

    wow i smell fishy on mcsame...2hrs of debate cant stop anything i know that mught be karl rove idea

    September 24, 2008 04:31 pm at 4:31 pm |
  7. Rick

    He's holing up for 3 days just to prepare. In the real world as President, he won't get 3 days to prepare if a crisis hits. Meanwhile, McCain is shifting gears to meet the current crisis – and actually doing the jobs he's being paid for. Meanwhile, Obama is not showing the flexibility or the ability to prioritize, traits a leader needs to deal with multiple events.

    September 24, 2008 04:31 pm at 4:31 pm |
  8. bb

    I agree with Obama...keep the debate plans for Fri night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    September 24, 2008 04:31 pm at 4:31 pm |
  9. Unshrub

    The only way McCain isn't going to put his foot in his mouth is to suspend campaigning.

    September 24, 2008 04:31 pm at 4:31 pm |
  10. Alison

    John McChicken!

    September 24, 2008 04:31 pm at 4:31 pm |
  11. MemeForObama

    I say move on with the Debate. Mcain is looking to make himselve look good. A president is suppose to be able to multi-task and if he can't then he's not ready to govern this great country.

    We the American public is looking forwar to these debates and Obama should not fall for this Sham(the republicans are good in this kind of gimmicks)

    September 24, 2008 04:31 pm at 4:31 pm |
  12. Alice

    Yes, absolutely, you should debate!

    This is a cheap trick by McCain to break your growing momentum in the polls. No one needs McCain's economic "expertise" in Washington. All he has to do is cast a vote as Senator when the time comes.

    September 24, 2008 04:31 pm at 4:31 pm |
  13. Stupid is as stupid does!

    That's right. Don't fall into that POW trap. He's scared so he wants to derail everything. Hey McSame, you and your ice puppet can go back to where you came from. Your friend Bush helped screw the country out of Billions, now look where we are.

    September 24, 2008 04:31 pm at 4:31 pm |
  14. JC

    McCain is behaving as though the process of electing a president is some sort of sideshow that can be suspended at will, whether because of hurricanes or Treasury pronouncements. His actions are a cynical attempt to shake up an election dynamic that is not in his favor, see his nomination of Sarah Palin, and more worryingly reflect his contempt for the democratic process, see his campaign's wanton disregard for honesty in advertising.

    September 24, 2008 04:31 pm at 4:31 pm |
  15. Franky

    A rescue plan?? What are we, the Justice League now? LOL!!

    September 24, 2008 04:31 pm at 4:31 pm |
  16. Donna

    The country has had campaigns and debates during crises including the Depression and world wars. If McCain chooses to suspend, that is his decision. However, it is not in the public's interest for Obama to do likewise or for the debate to be deferred.

    September 24, 2008 04:31 pm at 4:31 pm |
  17. R Dworman

    I note that Obama called McCain early this morning to ask about creating a joint statement. McCain, on the other hand, did not deign to talk to Obama about suspending campaigns and debates before going public with his announcement. This is grandstanding by McCain. Rather then cancel the debate, how about switching the topic from foreign policy to economic policy. At this point in time, the debates are not sideshows, as McCain seems to think. Rather, a debate between the two candidates – one of whom will shortly inherit this mess- is all the more important.

    September 24, 2008 04:32 pm at 4:32 pm |
  18. k in Texas

    If Congress cannot proceed with the "Bailout Crisis" without John McCain and Barack Obama, we are in far worse shape than what they are saying. I say, they should proceed with the debate unless McCain's camp is fearful of the reaction the Republican Party is receiving due to getting us in this mess in the first place. McCain's poll numbers are already dropping in States he thought they had sealed up. A debate could move those numbers further towards Obama.

    September 24, 2008 04:32 pm at 4:32 pm |
  19. a Mama for Obama

    You go, Senator Obama! Don't fall for McSame's ploy. This is a dire miscalculation on the part of the McCain camp to make him really seem like that "maverick" we keep hearing about. But it has come off as a totally different animal - namely, a feathered one that's the centerpiece of Sunday dinner! What difference will the time spent in a 90-minute debate make to the economic crisis? It will show the world what we already know - that Obama is the man for the job of President!

    September 24, 2008 04:32 pm at 4:32 pm |
  20. RJ Show me state

    if barack postpones the debate he will likly lose his chance of being president. because the gop are trying to put thier history of deregulation under the rug so people can't see how bad they ripped off the american people.. go OBAMA

    September 24, 2008 04:32 pm at 4:32 pm |
  21. Mr. Scary

    Why does McCain need to postpone his campaign? When you're the president of the US, you don't get to postpone everything so you can focus on one crisis...you need to be able to handle multiple issues. If he wants to go hang around Washington to be involved, that's fine, but if he feels the need to postpone his entire campaign, I'm not sure he has what it takes to sit in the White House. Unless this is all just political posturing, in which case he doesn't deserve to sit anyway.

    September 24, 2008 04:32 pm at 4:32 pm |
  22. Sharon

    Yes,
    Please have the debate. I want to see McCain go down in flames.

    September 24, 2008 04:32 pm at 4:32 pm |
  23. Darren

    McCain's Senate committees are Indian Affairs, Armed Services, and Transportation. His presence in Washington right now serves no purpose at all.

    September 24, 2008 04:32 pm at 4:32 pm |
  24. tired of delusional blind sheep

    now is the time for debate....when our country is in crisis and some americans still need to see that george mccain (mistake intended) and sarah cheney are not qualified or smart enough to get us our of this mess...... actually george mccain helped get us into this mess..

    we need this debate now.. lets not stall any longer.. our future is waiting.

    September 24, 2008 04:32 pm at 4:32 pm |
  25. Ex-mod-GOP for Obama

    They should debate. Having McCain and Obama in Washington isn't going to make the difference between succeeding and failing on this issue. Game on.

    September 24, 2008 04:32 pm at 4:32 pm |
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