Pat Dollard | Young Americans

Is that an empty suit I see?

Does not want to answer questions not asked by Democrat journalists who want him to win. And most importantly, does not want to be examined too closely, or else we might see the void…and again, has no problem lying. This started with him saying about the town hall debates McCain proposed, “I think that’s a great idea”. And this shows the level of his strength in the face of a challenge.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic candidate Barack Obama on Saturday backed away from rival John McCain’s challenge for a series of joint appearances before the political conventions, agreeing only to the standard three debates in the fall.

In May, when a McCain adviser proposed a series of pre-convention appearances at town hall meetings, Obama said, “I think that’s a great idea.” In summer stumping on the campaign trail, McCain has often noted that Obama had not followed through and joined him in any events.

On Saturday, in a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said the short period between the last political convention and the first proposed debate made it likely that the commission-sponsored debates would be the only ones in the fall.

“We’ve committed to the three debates on the table,” campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Saturday in an interview. “It’s likely they will be the three appearances by the candidates this fall.”

Asked by The Associated Press if that meant Obama would not agree to any other debates, Psaki said, “We’re not saying that.” She said the McCain campaign had rejected Obama’s proposal for two joint town hall meetings.

The McCain campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The first debate planned by the commission is set for Sept. 26 in Oxford, Miss., three weeks after the Republican National Convention concludes Sept. 4. The Democratic convention is scheduled for Aug. 25-28.

The other presidential debates are set for Oct. 7 and Oct. 15 and the vice presidential debate for Oct. 2.