McCain: I will not suspend campaign
September 22nd, 2008
After several days of speculation, and a major economic downturn beginning, Republican Presidential candidate John McCain ended days of rumors that he would suspend his campaign to return to Washington to help end the financial crisis. He said during a campaign event in Portland, Oregon, that "I'm going to end the rumors right now. I will not suspend my campaign. If the Congress is going to vote on a provision to help repair the economy, I will return to vote, but to end this crisis, we need to win the Presidency first and foremost." John Edwards slammed back hours later by saying that it was the Bush Administration's fault that the nation was even in a crisis, and that "Four years of McCain would be like giving Bush a third term."
As the first debate nears, both candidates are going into their final weeks of this campaign. Both are at a statistical tie at 46% each, while more states appear to be in play. Virginia for example, which has been considered a safe-Edwards state for the last few weeks has been considered a swing-state once more, while Wisconsin now appears to have polling closer than comfort for Edwards. McCain seems to have pulled ahead in Ohio however, which is a sign in most recent Presidential elections of a victory.
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Debate close; Consensus is Edwards victory
September 26th, 2008
The first Presidential debate took place today between Republican John McCain and Democrat John Edwards at the University of Mississippi, where moderator Jim Lehrer touched on issues of foreign policy and the economy. John Edwards seemed to have won the support of a majority of voters on the economy, which, according to 55% of those viewing, was more important than foreign policy, which McCain seems to have polled higher on. McCain's failure to touch on economic issues did not bode well for independents, who saw Edwards as the more moderate during this debate on economic issues. Around 48% of those polled believe Edwards won the debate, 40% believe McCain won, and the other 12% are unsure, or believe it was a tie. On economic issues, Edwards polled 55% ahead of McCain's 44%, while McCain pulled ahead on foreign policy with 62% against Edwards' 35%.
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