John McCain rushes to Mississippi for the debate, but may hurry back to D.C.

John McCain’s departure from Washington to Mississippi for tonight’s debate with Barack Obama was so rushed that when a last-minute arrival hurried aboard the plane, Secret Service agents complained they had not screened his bags, as is their duty.

Two agents opened and searched his bags in the aisle, finding nothing of note.

McCain advisor and pal Mark Salter spoke to reporters on the plane, saying McCain would return to Washington immediately after the debate tonight if he feels no consensus is in sight on the economic bailout package.

McCain decided only this morning, an hour or so before departure from Washington, that congressional colleagues had made enough progress to permit his taking part in the debate.

He did two or three hours of intense debate prep late last night in a room in his apartment building that the campaign has set up with podiums.

Aides threw questions and coached his performance. The campaign would not say who, if anyone, played Obama.

McCain touched down in Memphis 1:07 p.m. local time, with a contingent that included chief strategist Steve Schmidt and longtime ally and friend Sen. Lindsey Graham.

McCain will walk through the debate site upon arrival at Ole Miss in Oxford.

Tonight’s goal, said Salter: “To do well, against a guy who’s a pretty good debater, show presidential leadership, and be able to speak directly to the American people about what he believes.”

-- Bob Drogin

Comments

[archangel]

OK people, you heard it here second (I e-mailed this to LAT's Mark Barabak and Bob Drogin already).
Since it has been quite popular to fix nicknames upon certain types of historical characters, likely gangsters and sometimes caught welfare cheats I derived a quaint pick for McCain.
Considering we have his history in the Keating 5 scandal, his campaign associate lobbying for Fanny and Freddy and now his backpedal pandering-gone-wrong decision on the debate, I herein proclaim the nickname, John "the Waffle" McCain! Pass it on.
This guy is the perfect poster boy for Alzheimer’s research.

[Kevin]

McCain's going to experience flashbacks of getting shot down, just like over Vietnam in his glory days. Prepare to get owned old man, you're off your rocker.

[Campbell]

The problem with Obama is that he has to count on his handlers and the media to prop him up. His interview with ABC was typical with the "what's up doc" about Thursday's meeting. While McCain was fighting for American rights on the House floor, Obama was cooling his heals in his jet with a happy meal.

[Vince F]

Watching Obama debate on something he has no experience in should be HIGHLY entertaining.

[twiggy]

what does mccain believes these days? does he even know? no debate? suspend campaign? the economy is fundamentlly strong? no it's broken? maverick? reformer? change agent? what ever barak says i'll agree! is he running for president or class clown?

[Travis]

McCain took off pretty early in the day. I wonder what miracle of bipartisanship occurred between last night and 11am this morning that changed his mind.

[John]

"Watching Obama debate on something he has no experience in should be HIGHLY entertaining."

Posted by: Vince F

Then you must be really pumped for the vice presidential debates, huh!

[Mike]

"While McCain was fighting for American rights on the House floor"

Sorry honey, he was never fighting anything but old age in Washington these last few days. Whatever made you think he made it to the house floor? He hasn't voted on any legislation since April. What a maverick indeed. UGH!

[lipreader]

If the debate lasts long enough McCain will be able to debate statements he made earlier in the evening. The biggest flip flopper ever (and his tendency to lie about everything is pretty awesome as well).

[When Elephants Fly (http://whenelephantsfly.blogspot.com)]

What value did McCain provide during the bailout discussions? He is not on the Senate banking committee. He admits not knowing anything about the economy. And his mindset as well as those of his closest advisors is what caused this mess in the first place. It seems to me that he was interested in pulling a media stunt. It's not country first, it's McCain first. This man repeatedly waffles and lies, and even his fellow Republicans (God forbid!) are calling him on it. Comments welcome: http://whenelephantsfly.blogspot.com

[kw]

Oh, it'll be entertaining, allright.

[jason]

McCain fighting on the house floor? No he was as dumb founded as Sarah Palin was with Katie Couric.

[Andy2]

I can't help wondering whether this was all a tactic on McCain's part to throw Obama off his game.

Other blogs have pointed out for example that McCain has already purchased ads claiming victory in the debate.

[Freedom Eagle]

"While McCain was fighting for American rights on the House floor"

If you meant, "showing up at the White House and not saying much at the end" you you're exactly right.

And why isn't he still there fighting for that deal like he said we would?

Is is the same reason as saying he'd suspend his campaign and not?

Or the same reason Palin says being next to Russia in Alaska is foreign policy experience?

How many economic bills has McCain sponsored this year? I'll give you a hint: It's less than one.

At this point he's ready to try any strategy to win, and it doesn't have to be consistent from minute to minute.

[linda]

"While McCain was fighting for American rights on the house floor..." Excuse me. Do you not watch or read any news? After "suspending" his campaign to rush back and handle this crisis McCain had NOTHING of SUBSTANCE to say. He sat through the entire 43 minute meeting without uttering a word. He was not on the floor fighting for anything. He dropped by the Senate then went to the meeting where he sat MUTE!!!! Because he has nothing to say.

[Hans Meiser]

This is getting entirely ridiculous, really.

"Guys, guys! Wait for me before doing anything on the bailout plan! I must save the nation and I must be there!"

What a crock. He was lucky that Pres. Bush bailed him out by calling a meeting, because nobody else in DC would talk to him.

It makes zero actual sense for a guy who admits to know less than he should about the economy to rush to those meetings, accomplish nothing but distracting those who know actual economics, and then claim it as an accomplishment.

He accomplished nothing positive with this panic move.

And just to bring in another aspect: how would you feel about working on a complicated, urgent matter and have somebody who knows nothing about the matter interrupt you and throw in their uninformed opinions, just to have some political drama and photo shoot available for boasting?

That is not presidential.
I mean, picture him as president! "WAIT GUYS LET ME HANDLE THIS" when his job is to facilitate, educate himself with opinions and status reports from his experts and then make judgement calls based on those.
4 more years of unilateral decisions based on nothing but your own opinion? 4 more of go it all alone, advisors be damned? Please.. no.

[Max Pat]

C'mon you guys, go easy on him, John is old and has suffered severe PTSD and it is very difficult to keep up with too much change and stress with that psychological background, he tries to manage it any way he can, I know it looks crazy, but he just is trying to do his best, please do not blame him for his eradic irresponsibility, he cannot help it, it is needed as a coping mechanism to deal with complicated situations. Give him a break, don't put too much pressure on him and there is a chance he could start making a little sense to the rest of us.

[Sandra S]

McCain reminds me of the guinea pig on a Nordic Track - the faster he runs, the faster he stays still, or like a roulette wheel - round and round and where he stops noone knows. I think he's heading for a meltdown - he's writing his own script as he goes along.

The debates were being held whether McCain was there or not. If he didn't show, Obama would have answered the questions that people want to know. McCain could not afford to not be there.

And your reporting of this story is what right out of the mouth of McCain's handlers? HE decided that enough progress had been made, HE will decide whether enough progress is being made - he is going so fast that HE doesn't know what HE's decided. HE, HE, HE - obviously this is about McCain first!

Country first! Americans for Obama 08.

[Tom]

Weeeeeee doggie!

Just look at that Maverick go!

LOL

[Man Overboard]

John McCain needs neither prep time or a good nights sleep to mop the floor with Barack Obama in a debate about foreign policy.

Not only did McCain set aside politics for two days (which Mr. Obama is incapable of doing) but he also did his job which teh taxpayers pay him to do (also which Mr. Obama is capable of doing).

McCain will see a 10 point bounce in the polls by monday night - read em n weep Liberals.

[John S.]

Andy2 says:
"I can't help wondering whether this was all a tactic on McCain's part to throw Obama off his game."

I think McCain's trying to win this like a fighter pilot in a dog fight. If the other guy's on your tail, you've got to make a move - any move. He's not so much hoping that his bizarre behavior will win him votes. He's hoping that he can somehow trip Obama up.

For myself, I don't want a 72 year old who still thinks he's a fighter pilot (nor a pit bull with lipstick, for that matter) as President. I want a President. And Obama and Biden are the only two in this race who look Presidential quality to me.

[steve rodriguez]

I can hear it now, Senator McCain what is your strategy for a Russian or Chinese attack? Senator Obama do you prefer Chinese or French cuisine?

[Aycee Tee]

Mr. Machi so sorry you wOn't be watching MSNBC, I'm sure you will be missed...

But back to reality...McCain is inconsistent and makes decisions on the fly, with little thought process to the consequences of his actions:
1.Selecting an inexperienced running mate over other qualified candidates
2. Not looking into Palin's backround more carefully (ie, troopergate, bridge to nowhere, taking funds for pork barrel projects)
2. Guarding his running mate from the media, further re-enforcing the view that she can't handle questions that she hasn't rehearsed for.
3. Saying the fundamentals of our economy are strong, when it's in a crash a burn mode.
4. Voting to deregulate banking and financial sectors, the very cause of the current financial crisis.
5. Cancelling the debates. Then skirting off to a closed door meeting between Congree and Bush--interfering with and reversing the progress that that Republican and Democrat Senators had made toward a solution to the economic crisis.
6.Saying "the American people are wrong" when interviewed by 60 minutes and told that the vast majority of Americans do not support the Iraq war.

The list could go on, but I stuck to the most current.

[dan]

Obama's rehearsed shuck and jive...er...I mean nuanced answers...vs...McCains' honest straight talk based on experience. It will certainly be interesting to see whether America prefers style over substance.

[Sara]

Archangel thanks!!!

John the Waffle is going to be history soon.