EXCLUSIVE: LETTERMAN MOCKS MCCAIN CANCELLATION
Wed Sep 24 2008 17:41:58 ET

David Letterman tells audience that McCain called him today to tell him he had to rush back to DC to deal with the economy.

Then in the middle of the taping Dave got word that McCain was, in fact just down the street being interviewed by Katie Couric. Dave even cut over to the live video of the interview, and said, "Hey Senator, can I give you a ride home?"

Earlier in the show, Dave kept saying, "You don't suspend your campaign. This doesn't smell right. This isn't the way a tested hero behaves." And he joked: "I think someone's putting something in his metamucil."

"He can't run the campaign because the economy is cratering? Fine, put in your second string quarterback, Sara Palin. Where is she?"

"What are you going to do if you're elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We've got a guy like that now!"

Developing...

I don't doubt that McCain is ready for Obama in the debate, but it was an act to put Obama off footing.  Like Bush in 2000 and 2004, the press will lower the expectations for McCain in debate.

He wanted McCain on the hook so that Reid could blame McCain for the political fallout.  When McCain called Reid's bluff -- and that's what appears to have happened here -- Reid did what Reid always does: retreat.

I think Reid fears more than just the idea that McCain will "risk injecting presidential politics into this process or distract important talks about the future of our nation's economy."  What Reid fears is that McCain will return to lead the Republican effort to reach a compromise, and the Senate and House GOP will let him do it.  If McCain takes ownership of the bailout effort and manages to get his suggestions on limiting executive compensation and so on as part of the finished product, he will be able to trot McCain-Dodd on the campaign trail as yet another reform he's accomplished by working across the aisle.  And in a time of crisis, no less.

And what will Obama be able to say?  He gave a couple of speeches and raised cash for himself while McCain went to work for the nation.

If that's what McCain and the Republicans have in mind, this could be the coup of the entire campaign.  While Obama went out and sucked up to fundraisers, McCain built the bipartisan compromise that saved the American financial system.  If he succeeds, McCain will have trumped Obama on what should have been the Democrats' best issue.

"Tom Kise would like to recall the message, "TALKING POINTS: Suspending; The Campaign".
Please see talking points on the suspension of the campaign. Please do not proactively reach out to the media on this. If you are contacted independently, please let me know.

Thanks,

Tom

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Tom Kise
Regional Communications Director - South Central Region
John McCain '08

Email: tkise@mccain08hq.com
Cell: (303) 885-8915
Direct Dial: (303) 952-4696
Press Office: (703) 650-5550

TALKING POINTS: SUSPENDING THE CAMPAIGN
Topline Messaging:

·         To address our nation's financial crisis, John McCain will suspend his campaign and return to Washington. He has spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of his decision and has asked Senator Obama to join him.  The campaign is suspending its advertising and fundraising.

·         John McCain is calling on the President to convene a meeting with the leadership from both houses of Congress, including himself and Senator Obama.

·         John McCain is directing his campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the commission on presidential debates to delay Friday night's debate until action has been taken to address this crisis.

·         It is time for both parties to come together to solve this problem.  This is a time to put our country first. We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved.

·         It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the Administration's proposal.  He does not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time.

·         Last Friday, John McCain laid out his proposal and has discussed his priorities and concerns with the bill the Administration has put forward.

·         America faces an historic crisis in our financial system, and we must pass legislation to address this crisis. If we do not, credit will dry up, with devastating consequences for our economy.

Shouldn't a SENATOR know what to do in the Senate in this situation??????

But I hate the Unity Pony stuff.

In the long run, I think it's a loser.

But it probably makes centrists cream in their jeans.

What to do about debates?
Hold as Scheduled 50%
Hold with Econ Focus 36%
Postpone 10%

When asked what motivated his dramatic bailout proposal, Sen. McCain said, "When I woke up this morning and I saw those terrible numbers, I knew that a bailout was necessary to keep those numbers from getting worse."

Mr. McCain refused to answer a reporter's question about whether he was talking about economic numbers or poll numbers, saying, "I am bailing out of any response to that question."

"In the middle of the taping Dave got word that McCain was, in fact just down the street being interviewed by Katie Couric. Dave even cut over to the live video of the interview, and said, "Hey Senator, can I give you a ride home?"

"He can't run the campaign because the economy is cratering? Fine, put in your second string quarterback, Sarah Palin. Where is she?"

"What are you going to do if you're elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We've got a guy like that now!"