John McCain Suspends his Campaign, Challenges Obama to do the Same

 Today John McCain announced that he was suspending his campaign, stopping all advertising and fund-raising, and flying back to Washington to try to work on the bailout bill. He challenged Barack Obama to do the same. He also announced that he wanted to postpone the debate scheduled for Friday.

 Let me start off by saying that I understand that this is purely a political move designed to help McCain because when it comes to the economy the polls show that Obama has the edge on this issue. This is an attempt by McCain to boost his image on this issue with the American people. But will it work? That is the question that I am going to write about here.

 Let me also say that I haven’t quite figured out whether it will work or not, I am still running scenarios through me head, so hopefully I don’t wander too much here.

 And one more thing, I am putting aside the issue of whether the bailout is a good idea or not. I don’t necessarily think that it is, to me it seems a form of economic socialism is about to be implemented. I am looking at this as purely a political issue .

 Here we go.

 My initial reaction today to John McCain’s announcement was that he had just hit a home run. He was showing the American people that he has leadership qualities and also a willingness to work in a bi-partisan manner. He is showing that he believes that the economic problems facing the country are more important to him than winning an election. He is willing to put the future of the country ahead of his own future. And that may be how this whole scenario plays out.

  If John McCain goes to Washington and is able to pull off some kind of deal, or at least be involved in any negotiation that leads to a deal he will look like the leader that he wants to be and this would probably help him with the undecided voters who are sick of all talk and no action. He could be seen as rising above politics as usual and doing what is best for America and putting his own ambitions on the back burner.

 As of right now Barack Obama has not met John McCain’s challenge and in all honesty there is no way that he could. If Barack Obama capitulated to John McCain’s challenge it would have been the political equivalent of a father grabbing his child by the ear and dragging him home. That would have been disastrous for Obama. John McCain would have looked like the leader while Obama would have looked as though he was just tagging along for the ride.

 This could be a home run for McCain still, if it pans out that while Barack Obama is talking about the economy that John McCain brokers a deal to fix the economy it will be perceived that Obama was still talking while McCain did the walking.

 Now on to the lingering question that I have that prevents me from truly believing that John McCain won this battle with his challenge today.

 During Barack Obama’s response today he alluded to the fact that he could do two things at once where apparently John McCain can’t. How will this play to the voters? I am not sure. If Barack Obama is perceived as not being up to John McCain’s challenge it could hurt him. After all hasn’t congress suspended all other votes because they want to focus on this ONE issue? That is how important congress believes this issue is. But that is not what has me second guessing how effective McCain’s challenge will be.

 I have this vision of turning on the television on Friday night when the debate was scheduled to begin and seeing Barack Obama on the stage alone. I can see him calling out John McCain as being afraid to debate him on the issues and then inviting questions from the moderators and maybe even the audience. What kind of effect would this have on the voters? Barack Obama would have a national forum to discuss the issues all to himself. Now that could have a downside, he wouldn’t have a teleprompter and we have all seen how inept he is without it. Maybe that would end up hurting him.

 I have a feeling before all is said and done that John McCain will end up on that stage on Friday night to debate Barack Obama, but we will see.

 This was a huge political gamble taken by McCain. To suspend all ads and fund-raising may end up hurting McCain beyond the point of recovery, but if he is able to win over enough undecided voters who see this as leadership and unselfishness he may pull this off.

  I think that this will be a win for McCain, but not a home run. Maybe just an RBI double. He has put Obama on the defensive, but I don’t think that we will see the final results until after this plays out on Friday. One thing is for sure though, this has been one hell of an interesting day in this presidential race.

 Hopefully I haven’t rambled on too much.

To be continued……