The fate of the debate
Will McCain show up for his first televised duel with Obama? Should he?
John McCain will be doing the nation a disservice if he skips the Friday night debate, said the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune in an editorial. He wants the event postponed until Washington has hammered out a fix for the financial crisis. But Americans are more worried than ever, and they deserve “to hear more from the candidates for president, not less.”
Ditching the debate would be a big mistake for McCain, said Walter Shapiro in Salon. Even many Republicans have ridiculed his “hardline position.” But it’s his opponent, Barack Obama, as a freshman senator, who “has the most to gain or lose” when the candidates finally face off.
Actions are more important than a few hours of talk, said William Kristol in The Weekly Standard online. And if McCain’s decisive and risky stand helps bring about a deal to save the financial system, “he’ll benefit politically, and he deserves to.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The debates of 2008 will happen, eventually, said Marie Cocco in the Indianapolis Star, regardless of McCain’s “gambit” of holding them hostage. As usual, the candidate with the most “mordant sound bites” and the fewest gaffes will win. The question is whether this is “any way to pick a president.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The genetic secrets of South Korea's female free-divers
Under The Radar Unique physiology of 'real-life mermaid' haenyeo women could help treat chronic diseases
-
Democrats: How to rebuild a damaged brand
Feature Trump's approval rating is sinking, but so is the Democratic brand
-
Unraveling autism
Feature RFK Jr. has vowed to find the root cause of the 'autism epidemic' in months. Scientists have doubts.
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy