September 28, 2008
by Amy Chozick & Elizabeth Holmes
WASHINGTON -- John McCain will attend the first presidential debate against Barack Obama and resume all campaign activities, his campaign said Friday. (See the text of McCain's statement.)
A statement from his campaign said that while no deal had been struck, the Arizona senator is "optimistic that there has been significant progress."
Sen. McCain will return to Washington following the debate to "ensure that all voices and interests are represented in the final agreement."
Sen. McCain made a political wager on Wednesday calling for a delay in the debate because of the unprecedented turmoil in U.S. financial markets. His Democratic opponent called for the debate to continue as planned and said he would go to Mississippi whether or not Sen. McCain showed up. Obama aides said he would likely turn the event into a televised town hall meeting.
The decision to attend came after nearly 24 hours of chaotic interactions on both Capitol Hill and at a meeting with the White House that cast doubt both over the bailout package, and the status of the debate.
Sen. McCain's decision to leave Washington for Mississippi came after a lengthy public scolding by Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Banking Chair Chris Dodd, two prominent Democrats in the deal. Both asked Sen. McCain Friday morning to excuse himself from further negotiations.
"The insertion of presidential politics has not been helpful," Sen. Reid said. "I repeat: The insertion of presidential politics has not been helpful. It's been harmful." Sen. Reid, who originally called for Sen. McCain to take a stance on the package on Tuesday, said Sen. McCain has done nothing but "stand in front of the cameras. We still don't know where he stands on this issue."
One of Sen. McCain's closest congressional allies, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, paved the way for Sen. McCain's announcement early Friday morning by lowering the bar he was seeking. Sen. Graham said on NBC-TV's "Today" show that what was important was "an outline or proposal" for a financial rescue deal. Sen. Graham is the McCain's representative to the debate commission.
In his Friday morning statement, Sen. McCain made clear his disdain for the political games at play this week -- and placed the blame for them on Sen. Obama and the Democrats. "Much of yesterday was spent fighting over who would get credit for a deal and who would get the blame for failure," the statement read.
Sen. McCain also placed blame on the Democrats for blocking any changes to the deal. "The Democratic interests stood together in opposition to an agreement that would accommodate additional taxpayer protections," the statement read.
Signs of McCain's participation in the debate emerged throughout the morning, including reports of his advance staff on the debate site in Oxford, Miss. preparing for his arrival.
Sen. McCain was at his Senate office for less than two hours Friday and returned to his Arlington, Va. campaign headquarters just after 10:40 a.m.
Write to Amy Chozick at amy.chozick@wsj.com and Elizabeth Holmes at elizabeth.holmes@wsj.com
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