McCain takes the Initiative

In the continuing saga of unusual campaign events for this season, Senator McCain announced that he was suspending his campaign in order to return to Washington to concentrate on the economic crisis and he challenged Senator Obama to do the same.  A stunt, perhaps, certainly with a lot of political calculation attached.

First, I do not approve of McCain suspending advertising and fund raising – this is pure politics and an attempt to get Senator Obama to give up some of his advantage in advertising spending and fund raising.  There is no reason why McCain cannot concentrate on Washington issues while ads continue to play.  So this is transparent politics in my view, and will be viewed as such by the public.

However, from here it gets more interesting.  Senator Obama is staying very Presidential and continuing his schedule (and prep for the Friday debate) saying that he can do more than one thing at once.  I believe Senator Obama is on thin ice here and is giving McCain an advantage.

The economic situation is being touted as the most important economic crisis since the great depression and is clearly a significant event.  One of these two candidates will have to deal with the clean up of this mess after January 20.  I believe that both of them should be in Washington and should be inserted into the political process that is going on between the present administration and the Congress.  Both of their input should be heard and considered at this time.  Further Both of these men are US Senators and are being paid to do the country’s business in the Senate and to represent their respective constituencies in Illinois and Arizona.  Both (and Senator Biden) should be in the halls of Congress working with their colleagues on this vital situation. 

Senator McCain should be responding to Senator Obama that he is not President yet and he needs to be back in Washington doing his job as a Senator – for which the taxpayers are paying him.  They have certainly not gotten their money’s worth so far.

As for Friday’s debate, at a minimum I believe that the subject matter should be changed to the economy and hold foreign affairs for another debate night.  If there is a bill passed by Friday morning, I would have no problem with the debate as scheduled – but if the work is not done, both Senators have more important things to be doing than making televised pleas for votes. 

Senator McCain is showing proper concern for a major situation – not unlike his decision to stay the opening of the Republican Convention out of respect for the gravity of the potential harm for the Gulf Coast during a hurricane.  But McCain should not have included advertising and fund raising in his announcement because they are irrelevant and political.  He will succeed in changing the dialog at a critical point in the campaign and possibly make up for lost points last week.

Senator Obama is taking a chance on being perceived as putting Presidential politics above his obligations as Senator and the serious nature of the emergency in Washington.  I believe he is vulnerable on this issue, as currently expressed. 

Watch the polls for the impact of these games and the perceptions that will attach to the motives of both candidates. 

In my view – advantage McCain