McCain, Obama debate question still uncertain

Politics may be part of problem
Obama, for his part, held a news conference at a Washington hotel and suggested McCain was part of the problem.

"I'm not clear that in a very difficult situation like this that doing things in the spotlight and injecting presidential politics is necessarily useful," Obama said.

Before heading to Washington, both candidates spoke to President Clinton's Global Initiative — McCain in person in New York, Obama via satellite.

McCain again portrayed his announced halt to campaign events, fundraising and advertising as an example of putting the country before politics. But in doing so he also hoped to get political credit for a decisive step on a national crisis as polls show him trailing Obama on the economy and slipping in the presidential race.

Despite his stated hiatus, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, paid a highly visible visit to memorials in lower Manhattan to those killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and McCain campaign aides appeared on news programs. Chief strategist Steve Schmidt said all television advertising was "down."

Industry officials said Obama's campaign was inquiring about buying airtime made available where McCain was absent. But McCain's campaign also has indicated to TV stations that it may soon return to the airwaves.

Political stunt?
Obama's campaign derided McCain's claim to have halted activity as a political stunt.

Spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement: "John McCain hasn't suspended his campaign, he only wants us to suspend disbelief."

In turn, Schmidt said Obama was acting in "politically predatory fashion" by seeking McCain's abandoned air time.

Obama, for his part, didn't curtail any of his campaign activities. In fact, the Democrat also rolled out a new 60-second, TV ad in which he cited economic policies endorsed by Bush and McCain as essentially to blame for the troubles.

"For eight years we've been told that the way to a stronger economy was to give huge tax breaks to corporations and the wealthiest. Cut oversight on Wall Street. And somehow all Americans would benefit," Obama says in the ad. "Well now we know the truth."

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