Obama Will Make Friday Debate - A TOWNHALL - If McCain Doesn't Show

[kpete]

Obama Will Make Debate A Townhall If McCain Doesn't Show
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September 25, 2008 11:45 AM

Barack Obama is committed to hosting a public, televised event Friday night in Mississippi even if John McCain does not show up, an official close to the Obama campaign tells the Huffington Post.

In McCain's absence, the Senator is willing to make the scheduled debate a townhall meeting, a one-on-one interview with NewsHour's Jim Lehrer, or the combination of the two, the official said.

Such a course of action could make life incredibly difficult for McCain, who has called for the suspension of the debate in light of the current economic crisis. Should he stay in Washington D.C. -- if a bailout is not completed by then -- and let Obama alone reach tens of millions of television viewers?

A lot, of course, depends upon what the debate commission decides to do. At this point in time, there is no indication that they are going to postpone the affair, as the McCain campaign has asked.

more at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/25/obama-will-make-debate-a_n_129250.html

[terrya]

1. Good. Might as well do some fundraising at the same time.

Obama/Biden can advertise the town meeting with a request for donations.

Since crybaby McCain is dropping out of it, it's win/win for Obama.

[onenote]

8. Can't do that without losing the equal opportunities exemption

What makes this such a smart move is that a "town hall" type event, if conducted pursuant to certain rules, is exempt from the equal opportunities rule, which means McCain can't demand a comparable amount of free time from the stations airing the town hall. But soliciting donations during it would mean it wasn't exempt and McCain could invoke the rule to get a comparable amount of free time (which he could use however he wants -- not just for a town hall style event).

[aquamarina]

2. Good - Obama gets 90 minutes free airtime to lay out his plan

for America.

[ej510]

5. McCain will show up because that would help Obama immensely.

[Bucky]

3. maybe McCain can call in and still ask President Obama how to fix this mess.

The mess I'm referring to is McCain's reputation as a "tested leader."

[weezie1317]

4. Brilliant response! Obama needs to keep stressing that America needs to hear from the candidates..

now more than ever!

[Marrah_G]

6. Specifically calling it a "town hall" is the perfect slap to McCain

Great Job Obama Campaign!

[progressoid]

7. Hah! That's especially good since McLosing kept asking for town halls

Now he creates one from his failures.