From Fair and Balanced:
In an attempt to goad McCain to the debate, Obama had said a presidential candidate should be able to handle the 90-minute forum and the financial crisis at the same time.
On Thursday, both McCain and Obama returned to Washington at the urging of President Bush, who invited them to a meeting with congressional leaders at the White House. But the session, which was designed to show unity in fixing the financial crisis, degenerated into a public conflict.
McCain would not commit to supporting a plan proposed by Democratic negotiators, and House Republicans offered an alternative option that had not been given discussion time.
McCain’s campaign said the meeting “devolved into a contentious shouting match” and suggested that Obama was to blame. Democrats said McCain had jumped into the negotiations in mid-discussion and had upended an agreement that was close to fruition.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid suggested that McCain’s return to Washington led to the fight at the White House.
“Guess who came to town? And it completely fell apart,” Reid, D-Nev., said Friday, while still expressing optimism that a deal could be done by the end of the weekend.
On learning of McCain’s decision to attend the debate, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer questioned whether the Republican candidate’s intention all along was a “political ploy.”
First you’re on, first you’re off, very mercurial dealing with issues and circumstances. Frankly I believe this is a political ploy by the McCain campaign,” Hoyer told FOX News Radio. “When it came back here, it frankly was a dud and not only was not helpful, it was unhelpful.”
Rest of it:
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09...f-mississippi/