McCain should debate

REPUBLICAN Sen. John McCain will look silly and erratic if he does not participate in tonight's presidential debate at the University of Mississippi. The American people need to hear from him and his Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, on a range of issues.

As long as the 9 p.m. debate time does not interfere with voting on Wall Street rescue legislation, McCain should be able to handle the debate and the bailout maneuvering. He has a cellphone and an airplane. The latter can whisk him 870 miles from Oxford, Miss., to Washington, D.C.

McCain's plan to suspend his campaign and skip the debate is further proof he behaves in an erratic, unpredictable manner.

His bobbing and weaving gives people whiplash. A week ago, he called the fundamentals of the economy strong. When criticized, he explained his comments were intended as praise for the resilience of American workers.

If McCain is not throwing a Hail Mary pass by nominating the unqualified Sarah Palin as his vice president, he is proposing with a straight face to move the presidential debate to the night of the vice-presidential debate. Does Palin need more prep time or does McCain really aim to cancel that much-needed session?

Obama plans to attend Friday's debate. He notes a president has to deal with more than one thing at once. McCain is either afraid to debate or is trying one of his political game-changers. His conduct is desperate, even a little scary.