McCain Suspends Campaign

- McCain to suspend campaign on morning of September 25, 2008
- Has called for postponement of September 26 debate with Barack ObamaWall Street Journal: McCain to 'Suspend' Campaign Amid Crisis (September 24, 2008)

Republican presidential nominee John McCain announced on September 24, 2008, that he would suspend his presidential campaign in order to focus on the financial crisis and pending mortgage bailout bill.Wall Street Journal: McCain to 'Suspend' Campaign Amid Crisis (September 24, 2008) McCain asked Barack Obama to suspend his campaign as well, and called for the postponement of the first presidential debate, scheduled for Friday, September 26.Wall Street Journal: McCain to 'Suspend' Campaign Amid Crisis (September 24, 2008)
Obama gave a press conference later in the day, rejecting McCain's call to cancel the debate, and saying that he does not wish to "infuse presidential politics" into Congress' debate over the mortgage bailout plan.Telegraph: Obama rejects McCain's call to delay debates (September 24, 2008) Obama said that McCain's announcement had been made without his knowledge, while the two campaigns were working on a joint statement on the financial crisis.Telegraph: Obama rejects McCain's call to delay debates (September 24, 2008)
Quotes

"It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the administration's proposal [for a mortgage bailout plan]. I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time. Tomorrow morning, I will suspend my campaign and return to Washington."Wall Street Journal: McCain to 'Suspend' Campaign Amid Crisis (September 24, 2008)

"It is time for both parties to come together to solve this problem. We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved."Wall Street Journal: McCain to 'Suspend' Campaign Amid Crisis (September 24, 2008)