Obama Refuses to Delay the Debate

McCain had invited his opponent to join him in returning to Washington to deal with the crisis. He also asked for a delay in the first debate of the General election which is scheduled for Friday evening in Mississippi.

NEW YORK (Catholic Online) - "In my mind, it's more important than ever that we present ourselves to the American people and describe where we want to take the country and where we want to take the economy," said the Democratic candidate for the Presidency, Senator Barack Obama.

The statement was given in response to Senator John McCain's surprising announcement that he had suspended his campaign to focus on the looming financial crisis in America by returning to Washington to help craft and pass emergency legislation.

McCain had invited his opponent to join him in returning to Washington to deal with the crisis. He also asked for a delay in the first debate of the General election which is scheduled for Friday evening in Mississippi.

Senator Obama refused, telling the media "This is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person who in approximately 40 days will be responsible for dealing with this mess." Earlier in the day, Obama had agreed to issue a joint statement with McCain concerning the crisis. However, sources in the Obama campaign are now intimating that Senator McCain's move is some kind of political "ploy".

McCain has gone so far as to pull his commercials from the air and seems unwilling to alter his decision. His aides deny any political motivation and seem incensed at the suggestion. They maintain it is a part of the Senators' effort to demonstrate leadership by calling for a "political free zone" in order to promote a bipartisan approach to solving this urgent crisis for the American people. The candidate was deeply concerned that there is no consensus to the proposal set forth by the Administration and fears the implications of non-activity for the Nation.

Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., a supporter and close advisor to the Obama campaign added to the rhetoric when he indicated to reporters that Senator McCain's effort was "the longest Hail Mary pass in the history of either football or Marys."

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