September 27, 2008
Posted: 036 GMT

With just minutes left before the presidential debate gets underway in Oxford, Mississippi, we're learning more about how and why McCain decided to get back in.It turns out that his own campaign strategists began getting nervous very soon after his announcement Wednesday that he wouldn't go.

By the very next day (Sept. 25), McCain had a podium set up in his apartment in Washington and last night, he did two hours of debate preparation.

He announced the about-face, of course, just a few hours ago.

CNN's Dana Bash says the campaign staff just realized "he had no choice, politically."

Even they came to believe McCain's only reason for suspending his campaign and urging a debate delay was disappearing. He told Americans he wanted to return to Washington to help Congressional leaders work out a Wall Street bailout. But they found he was hindering the negotiating process rather than helping it. The Congressional talks are not going well and a bailout deal is still days away.

Dana says the feeling was, "Get McCain out of this and get him out of town."

Jonathan Mann is blogging during the Live debate – so join the discussion!

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Filed under: General • Politics


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Inka / Miami FLA   September 27th, 2008 046 GMT

Dana says the feeling was, “Get McCain out of this and get him out of town.”
My feeling is: get him out of the campaign, too...

mary beth collins   September 27th, 2008 155 GMT

Did Obama mispronounce Pakiston?

ani1409   September 27th, 2008 204 GMT

Didn't McCain, talk about the bracelet at the Convention... They are not debating.... at all.

samcanada   September 27th, 2008 206 GMT

I am a regular watcher of cnn, and live in Ontario Canada. I cannot believe that Mccain supports the war in Iraq, (at cost of lives and money), but states that there are cuts to be made in defence spending? As well as opposing health care spending!! As a Canadian, with disability,paying child support payments, if I had to pay for my health care as well, and a car payment, and rent, where would that leave me in Rep. plans? I know where, dead or on street, and is that ok for u Rep. supporters? Both parties ae guilty of making health care providers rich, and leaving some 1.8 million americians/year seeking banckruptcy, due to medical debt. Someone (nobody yet) in the race better address the health care / housing crisis before they give billions away for a small few!!! If u can't afford your medical bills, how does giving some relief to banks/mortgage holders help these people??? Gov't run health care may not be the best solution, but as a Canadian with health problems, medical bills r one less thing to stress about while trying to cope with problems. Is a lower tax bracket in the U.S. worth the worry/stress bankruptcy worth that?

Maria Brown/NY   September 27th, 2008 210 GMT

Does the media need to editorialize everything? This isn't the Olympics people... let the American people decide how each of the candidates are faring for themselves. CNN, can you at least wait until after the debate to let "experts" tell us whose side their on?

Maria Brown/NY   September 27th, 2008 211 GMT

I meant they're on :)

lachheb ahmed   September 27th, 2008 252 GMT

both of them did a great job in this debate.
but the best one is OBAMA.
and mr MCAIN is looked a little bit tough about iran issue.
good luck for both.

Connie from Ohio   September 27th, 2008 442 GMT

I think Senator Obama looked very Presidential and held his own in the Foreign Policy questions. McCain was just more of the same old retoric. We want to hear the true, not what he is practicing in his room for two hours. I think Senator Obama answer right back to him on lies that McCain was still trying to put in peoples mines again. I just can't believe people still want to vote for McCain after this week. Hello people 4 more years of the same "I don't think so!".

Connie Morsher   September 27th, 2008 443 GMT

Hey Chris, I'm a democrat and I think Obama was the winner.

Anthony Davis   September 27th, 2008 503 GMT

I wonder what McCain will do to get out of the next two. Will Palin also cook up reasons not to debate, the way she has been avoiding the media beyond soundbites?

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