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Naked Politics

I think McCain seriously underestimated the response from Democrats to his decision.

Reid sneered at McCain's plans to cancel his campaigning -- including his participation in Friday night's debate -- to return to the Capitol to work on the Wall Street bailout bill.

"It appears to me John McCain is trying to divert attention to his failing campaign," said Reid. "He can spare an hour and a half of his time and participate in that debate."

Reid re-told the story ABC News reported earlier, that McCain called Reid to offer his help and Reid read him the statement he'd already issued, implying McCain's plans were nothing more than "a campaign photo op."

How is this helpful to passing the bailout? It's actually really sad, I think, for everyone.

McCain may want to actually help get something done in Washington, but the counter-narrative of "desperate PR stunt" is just too easy to avoid. That his actions, if in good faith, could be perceived as anything but, sort of makes me wonder whether there was any good solution to this crisis.

Either McCain responds to Reid's statement that McCain needs to be more hands on, or he doesn't respond to it. At the very least, there may have no way a perfectly honorably and well-meaning John McCain could have helped the effort without triggering the massive pushback from the Dems.

That speaks poorly for the Dems, I think. But moreso the political process generally.

Full post as published by Expressio Unius on September 26, 2008 (boomark / email).