Obama Campaign: Obama Made First Gesture Towards Joint Action On Crisis

[RedEarth]

By Greg Sargent - September 24, 2008, 3:24PM
In response to McCain's announcement today that he is suspending his campaign in response to the meltdown, the Obama campaign is arguing that Obama is the one who made the first suggestion to McCain that the two candidates act jointly in response to the crisis.

From Obama spokesperson Bill Burton:

At 8:30 this morning, Senator Obama called Senator McCain to ask him if he would join in issuing a joint statement outlining their shared principles and conditions for the Treasury proposal and urging Congress and the White House to act in a bipartisan manner to pass such a proposal. At 2:30 this afternoon, Senator McCain returned Senator Obama's call and agreed to join him in issuing such a statement. The two campaigns are currently working together on the details.

This statement, however, doesn't appear to say that Obama had suggested a suspension of the campaign or that the two men discussed such a move.

McCain made his announcement of the suspension unilaterally, rather than jointly with Obama. So, did McCain really speak to Obama privately about his intention to suspend before going public with it?


http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/obama_campaign_obama_made_firs.php