The debate between Senator McCain and Senator Obama tonight is on, but not without some damage to the Republican candidate – and to President Bush’s flailing credibility, for that matter.
So says Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.
Huckabee stated yesterday that Senator McCain made a “huge mistake” in publicly announcing to suspend his campaign in the face of the financial crisis. “You can’t just say, ‘World stop for a moment. I’m going to cancel everything,” Huckabee said.
Huckabee’s comments come on the heels of a scathing editorial in the right-leaning Wall Street Journal on Senator McCain’s unusual decision.
This criticism comes among a dead heat in the presidential race between McCain and Obama, with the Democratic camp seizing on the opportunity to demonstrate McCain’s inability to handle more than one crisis at a time. The decision by the McCain campaign to participate in tonight’s debate also reflects a misdirected leadership, Democrats argue.
All in all, the Democratic argument is supported by Huckabee. The people need to hear from both candidates, he asserted in his comments. Obama’s camp agrees.
But Huckabee is also displeased with President Bush. The Bush administration’s demands to decide on the $700 billion bailout amounts to “holding the country hostage,” Huckabee said.
“I just think the American people ought to be screaming their lungs out, saying to Congress, not so fast. That’s our money you’re giving away,” said Huckabee.