ID, it looks like a political move to me (then again I'm a skeptic), I hope it works out for him. I do give him some credit cause that has been the type of guy he (McCain) is.

As for Obama, his constituents give him a pass on his senate attendance now, so why would they care if he's a no show now.

It all boils down to what the independents believe, it always does.

Not the best choice of words IMO, since their failure to do so would paint him as kinda useless at best.

I just don't see why the debate needs to be forgone and I especially think that suggesting it be reschedule in the stead of the VP debates is highly suspect.  I'm behind the idea of doing his job and helping as much as he can to get a better solution for the financial crisis but I still don't see why he can't show up for the debate and I especially don't think they should replace the VP debate.

Agreed.

It does make one wonder. But I would hope it has nothing to do with it.

This is funny coming from the guy who has voted "Present" pretty often while when he is there.

Maybe because when he does show he single handedly helps the majority of the "Present" votes.  The marks of a true leader.

It's shaping up to look like a good move. Obama comes off like a petty partisan in this and even worse, he seemed  'out of touch.' 'Multi-tasking' isn't such a great idea when the nation is facing its worst financial crisis since the great depression.

I'd like to believe you Anthony R but the Polls (although I agree are usually pretty bias) show Obama up 1% as a result.

McCain made the right call.  He's doing what he thinks is best for the country which might not necessarily be the best for himself.  I think what he's showing is the same stuff he showed back in his POW days when he had the opportunity to be released but would not take the offer given that others were held captive longer than he was. 

Having said that I also think McCain is a chess player, and a darn good one at that!  He's showing us lately that he has some unusual moves that keeps us guessing.   I guess what we're seeing is the wisdom that old age can bring.  Obama, on the other hand, is a young whippersnapper that needs to be schooled still.  He'd best just sit down and watch McCain show him a thing or two. 

How exactly is Obama multi-tasking? All he's doing is campaigning.

I wouldn't take too much stock in polls. Remember the 'Kerry landslide' in 04? These things can be manipulated and skewed. If we believed every poll we ever saw, Ron Paul would now be the ruler of all time, space, and dimension.

Obama seems to be at his best when he is following a script... whenever McCain takes him off that script, he seems to give up ground.

No one said a thing when the RNC toned down its convention because of the hurricane.  (In fact some Dems said God hated the republicans because of the timing.  If that's true, then I guess he really hates the Republicans now since McCain is the only one of the two running for Pres willing to stop campaigning to take care of it.)

Anyway, the hurricane only affected a few states.  Now there is something far more reaching to deal with and people wonder why he's going back to DC?  To do his job?  Seriously?

That makes no sense to me.

It's like running for Sheriff, having a big crime committed on your watch while you are campaigning.  Do you go back to the office and do your job or let the "others" take care of it knowing in the end you were elected for just such emergencies?

When has there ever been a time in John's career when he "let the other guy deal with it?"

I don't understand why people are surprised.  Going back to DC to handle this problem is totally acting in character.  If he ignored it, or let someone else do the work, now THAT WOULD BE OUT OF CHARACTER.

Does he benefit?  Maybe, maybe not.  But I can't fault the guy for doing his job.

And if elected the American people should be prepared for this attitude of country first.  Lots of people play lip service to it, but when it's inconvenient or keeps them from getting their way then its called, "foolish."

Haha Obama is at the White House sitting at the opposite end of the table from McCain. I'll bet he needs a high chair. He had to be dragged kicking and screaming like a child to go deal with a crisis.

As a lean to McCain, I have to say Obama wins this one.  Obama may not be multi-tasking, but it is the right idea.

I thought it was a clever move by McCain myself - as it was he was haemorrhaging support in the polls the worse the financial crisis got, and so needed to try and do something to reverse the situation. It doesn't look like it's worked, but then not all gambles do.