It's On!

Republican Presidential hopeful John McCain isn’t ready to face his first presidential debate, set for this Friday in Mississippi.

As we mentioned earlier, McCain wants to “suspend” campaigning to go to Washington and “help negotiate a financial bailout bill, a dramatic move designed to seize a powerful issue.”

But Barack Obama‘s side isn’t having any of that!

A senior Obama campaign official has responded saying that Obama “intends to debate.” Adding that, “The debate is on.”

McCain is even going as far as calling on the Commission on Presidential Debates to postpone the debate scheduled for this week in order to “ensure quick congressional action.”

In a statement released by McCain’s camp, the potential future Pres says, ├óΓé¼┼ôI have spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of my decision and have asked him to join me. I am calling on the president to convene a meeting with the leadership from both houses of Congress, including Senator Obama and myself. It is time for both parties to come together to solve this problem.├óΓé¼┬¥

When asked about McCain’s plan to postpone the first debate because of the administration’s bailout plan, chief debate negotiator, Democratic Rep. Rahm Emanuel, said that “we can handle both.” Adding that progress is being made on Capitol Hill and that should not stop the debate from taking place.

Amen!!!!

An Obama campaign official added that Obama is willing to go to DC, “if it would be helpful,” but stated that they still intend on debating this Friday as they see no need to postpone.

Mike DuHaime, McCain’s campaign political director said McCain is “going to do what he thinks is right. He├óΓé¼Γäóll make a vote as a leader in this country, and people will look to him.”

DuHaime added:

├óΓé¼┼ôQuite frankly, I think you could ask Sen. Obama if he├óΓé¼Γäós going to do what he thinks is right. I mean, he has never — I believe — never once made a decision that is an unpopular decision or went against the orthodoxy of his party, and was one that was a tough decision to make. . . . Sen. McCain has done that throughout his entire career, his entire life — not just in politics, but his life.

When you start talking about $10,000 per household or per family to go toward bailing out Wall Street, they have legitimate questions about it. People understand that that is a big thing and it affects them, and they do legitimately have questions about, is this really going to go to bail out companies or leaders of companies who now are relying on taxpayer dollars to bail them out, and are going to get these huge compensation packages after they come to the taxpayers for it.

There is some frustration, certainly, in that, and it’s understandable to say the least. And it has not been a quick rush to say yes or no. People understand the gravity of this, want to see it done right, while still understanding the timing factor.”

So what do U think?

Should the debate go on, or should McCain be allowed to go to DC and fight for what he believes in?