John McCain suspended his presidential campaign today, suggested Barack Obama do the same and they both go to Washington DC to address the financial crisis and postpone Friday’s debate until the crisis, he compares to Pearl Harbor, is resolved.

McCain’s first Hail Mary came during the RNC when he suspended activities for a hurricane, his second Hail Mary was selecting Sarah Palin the VP nominee and he scored on both taking headlines away from Obama.

Obama said today that a president has to deal with more than one thing at a time, implying that McCain can’t.  He said he would go to DC if he can be helpful, but rejected postponing Friday’s debate.  He said he plans on being in Oxford.

It is questionable whether or not McCain will leave the debate open for a free Obama forum.

So the political chess game goes on.  The McCain move comes at a time when he is down in the polls to Obama by some 6 points and the political pundits are placing the blame on the financial crisis.

Scoring on a Hail Mary once is against the odds, but scoring on it three times is pushing the envelope.

However, if by some stroke of genius, or perhaps luck, Congress passes a bailout bill by Thursday evening, McCain’s move, no matter how politically motivated, will make him appear presidential, especially if the stock market soars on Friday.

Conversely, if Congress fails to act and the stock market tanks on Friday Obama will still not look like a leader waiting to hear from someone if he “can be helpful.”

And, if McCain stays the course and works with Congress over the weekend and a bill passes and the stock market recovers Monday, McCain will still have the upper hand from a leadership position.

The dilemma for the McCain campaign is whether to appear at the debate.  The Presidential Commission on debates is going forward with its plans as is Old Miss.  I don’t believe McCain can afford not to be there Friday evening and allow Obama to have a one hour open discussion without opposition.  This would be political suicide.  McCain is throwing his third Hail Mary, all that’s left is to see if someone catches it. . . developing.