David Letterman Rails on John McCain Campaign Suspension; Why Did He Do It? What Do Ordinary Americans Think?

In a surprise move yesterday, Republican Presidential candidate John McCain suspended campaigning for the U.S. Presidency to return to the Senate and work on a plan to fix the looming economic crisis facing the country. McCain phoned David Letterman to cancel a scheduled appearance on Letterman's Late Night show Wednesday night and also asked Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama to postpone the first Presidential candidate debate scheduled for Friday evening. David Letterman initially praised McCain's patriotism, but quickly changed his posture upon learning that instead of heading straight to the airport, McCain participated in a hastily arranged exclusive interview with CBS News Anchor Katie Couric. Late Night Show host David Letterman then attacked McCain's motives, suggesting that the campaign suspension was designed to invigorate sliding poll numbers.

Why Did John McCain Suspend His Campaign, Cancel Letterman Appearance, Seek Debate Postponement? Is the Face of American Politics Changing?

John McCain's campaign suspension has alternately been called brilliant, impulsive, and desperate, among other adjectives; but admirers and naysayers agree that John McCain's campaign suspension is a pivotal moment in the historic 2008 Presidential election campaign. The blogosphere is full of pro and con commentary ranging from admiration of McCain's leaderhip qualities inherent in the campaign suspension decision to challenge of his multitasking capability. One consensus that emerges from the commentary is that John McCain's announcement puts Barack Obama in a tenuous position where he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't suspend his own campaigning.

John McCain's statement announcing his campaign suspension described the nation's economic crisis in sobering terms: