Republican Sen. John McCain had not confirmed Thursday night that he will debate rival Sen. Barack Obama on the Ole Miss campus tonight, but signs gave organizers reason to believe the event will occur.
But a McCain campaign source said early Friday that while McCain will be involved in federal bailout negotiations for most of the day, the Republican nominee is expected to fly to Mississippi at the last minute to take part in the Ole Miss debate.
The McCain campaign canceled two scheduled Friday campaign appearances in Oxford by the candidate’s wife. Cindy McCain had been scheduled to appear at a local Republican womens’ gathering at the Oxford University Club and then make a second stop at an Ole Miss sorority house in conjunction with one of her charitable causes.
But those appearances have been canceled, according to Mrs. McCain’s communications director Mellisa Shuffield. Shuffield also canceled scheduled media interviews with Cindy McCain on Friday.
After meeting with Obama and President Bush on Thursday, McCain said he was hopeful he would make the first presidential debate at the University of Mississippi. He had called for the debate, scheduled for 8 p.m., to be postponed while he and Obama focus on the nation’s financial crisis and a $700 billion bailout proposal.
Magnolia Tribune
