Blink

McCain will debate tonight.

(H/t TPM)

This was such a strange thing to do - and the reaction was so negative, you wonder what kind of thinking went into this.

In some alternate universe - McCain might have had a vital role to play. If his party was in the majority, if he was on the Senate banking committee, if he was seen as a leader on - or had any credibility with - economic issues.

In that other reality - you could have created a situation where Sen. Obama would appear at a debate by himself and look foolish for not tending to the crisis at hand.

But in order for that to work, Sen. McCain has to be seen solving the crisis - and that just did not happen. All the discussions were led by other people. The house republicans revolted, and McCain did not or could not rein them in.

So McCain goes to Washington and does not save the day. No deal is in sight, and he's looking at a deadline for debating Sen. Obama. What the hell was he thinking? You stay in Washington, you are clearly a fifth wheel who doesn't want to debate.

McCain will slouch back to Mississippi like he's been repremanded for running off - and Obama looks like the responsible one.

Was this another hipshot, or did the McCain campaign actually think this was a good move?