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  We asked viewers what you think of McCain's decision to suspend his campaign. Here are your responses:

NO. McCain is avoiding the debate because he knows this will reduce his ratings more. He knows that the majority of Americans realizes that this is a problem created mostly by the mis-managed Bush administration, including votes for deregulation in the past by members of Congress, including John McCain. If this does go forward, it should not be done without a block of the Golden Parachute for the heads of these failed financial institutions. I'm a moderate Independent voter and I endorse Barack Obama 100%. --Kathy Moore

Let the war hero get out of politics altogether if he really wants to help the country. God Bless America --Greg

McCain's decision is a political stunt. He's not on the Senate Banking Committee and has no power as to what goes forward. Anyone who thinks this is a good idea was already voting for McCain anyway. --Erin

Yes. He shows he is still interested in our country and wants to see how much he can help solve this devastating problem. Obama hasn't voted as a Senator representing our state of Illinois for a very long time. --Carol Gabiner

Yes! We need to take care of this economy first. We have plenty of time to decide our votes later. We the people and our economy should be #1. --Sue Tinsley

It's a blatant political move; he's not putting country first; it's his campaign. . . another Palin type stunt to try to shake things up. He can have all the input he wants into the bailout plan without suspending anything; certainly not the debate. --Gail Margolis

No it is not. Like most of his decisions, it is done for political pandering and this one seems to be a "panic" move since he is losing ground in the polls. --Andy U.

McCain's decision is the right decision for once our country's well being is being put before the campaign. This is such an important Bill for our country that all efforts should be surrounding a situation not a idea of what one individual is "going" to do. --Nicole Pasdertz

No If Lincoln and FDR were able to continue campaigning during wars then there is no reason to do that now. It shows that his team does not think McCain or his VP choice are capable of debating. One other thing it shows, its all McCain first not country first. --Byron

No. We need to hear what each candidate intends to do to turn the economy around. I think he's afraid of how he'll look in a debate against Obama. --Rhonda B.

YES It is his job to as a member of the US Senate to work to help solve this crisis. Was Sen Obama elected from Il to represent the state or his bid to be President? --P. Mayer

NO. He's just trying to avoid the debate. He can make his case on the economy at the debate. --Emily Lozano

Yes, a great idea. He is thinking of the country first with this economic crisis and not being selfish. We can wait a few more days to hear the debate. --J. Quinlan

with many other politicians, one might think this is just another political ploy. With McCain, he has shown and proven that he truly bases his actions on what's best for the country. I am reminded of when Jimmy Carter stopped campaigning to work on the Iran Hostage Crisis. He lost the election. McCain is taking a huge risk politically, but a huge step in showing what is top priority. After all, aren't both he and Obama Senators first, candidates second? I haven't seen much representation from our junior senator during this long political season! --Ronn

No, it is a bad idea. He is running scared and doesn't want to be put on the hot seat. His party has brought us to the brink of another depression just as they did back in 1929. --Bob

Not only is McCain's decision the right one it proves he's the leader and Obama is not. If Obama were a leader he would be suspending his campaign and doing the job he was elected to do. Otherwise he's part of the problem not the solution --Anonymous

He should not suspend his campaign - He needs to take part in the legislative debate on the Hill but he is not in a decision making position so he should continue his campaign. We need the debates. --Kris Cihlar

it was great idea,shows his leadership --Leslie Westerhold

The economy is in trouble. To solve the problem, the Administration is urging Congress to pass a bailout plan quickly. I could write a letter siding with one of the editors, journalists or analysts who have an expert opinion. However, let me give you a "grassroots" take on what concerns me: We are being asked to trust an Administration that: 1. Said we were going into Iraq because of weapons of mass destruction. Thousands of lives and billions of dollars later, we're still there. 2. Allowed "the fat cats" to put us in this situation and they can now leave with golden packages that many of us won't see in a lifetime. 3. Has not shown integrity in the last 8 years nor during this election campaign and are steering this fiasco to their benefit rather than for the people. How can you honestly expect us to agree to having a lame-duck president tell us he wants this huge package filled with benefits for the rich to help the country? Many of us suspect there are negative underlying results beneath the mountains of lies. Should we really believe that the U.S. will fall apart if a rescue plan is not passed before we have a president-elect? Every part of the Republican Party?s election process is filled with doubts, innuendos, and lies leaving us with nothing but skepticism about McCain as well as Palin. Elected officials, Wall Street and corporate executives should not be exempt from the basic rules of parenting or employment. Young children are punished by timeouts or stricter measures for selfish behavior. Parents discipline teenagers and revoke privileges after careful review of their misbehavior. It isn't until they prove they can be trusted that privileges are restored.  Employees are put on probation when they fail to follow their job description. If progress isn't seen in 90 days, the employee is fired without any thought of a package. Yet, the Administration is asking the American public, to clean up the problems they made. That is against all parenting guidelines. If Americans must do the cleanup, revocation of privileges and appropriate punishment should apply to the selfish behavior of everyone involved. A MESSAGE FOR OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS: WE, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, ARE WATCHING!!! DO NOT RUSH INTO A QUICK DECISION. WEIGH YOUR VOTES CAREFULLY. We have been burned too many times for us to let you get away with burning us again. Remember, your political career depends on us! --Beverly Rogers

No. It is just politics as usual. He could keep informed, debate and fly to Washington when necessary. --L. Morissette

Great idea. He's taking care of a problem before thinking of himself --Frank

No, it is blatant grandstanding and a diversionary tactic on the part of the republican party. As soon as he slips in the polls, he pulls a stunt like this. --Peggy Bailey

Yes, these issues are very critical to our country at this time. I applaud McCain for this. Obama doesn't have a clue. What has this man every done for the state of Illinois or for the US? He has missed over 70% of his chances to votes on issues and has voted to raise taxes 94% of the time. All that most people are looking at that he could be the first black president, which is a honor that this muslim does not deserve. If the american public puts this man in office, they do not have a clue who this man really is. --Mark

McCain's decision to suspend his campaign is a high risk attempt to save his campaign from defeat by pretending to be a Senator. Barack Obama is correct: now is the time for transparency. McCain's stunt won't work. --Dave

Not a good idea!! Just another political move from a desperate Republican. --Murray Simon

No, he needs to be out on the campaign trail to let us know as a candidate what he is going to do about out economic crisis. If McCain is prepared then the debate should not keep him from returning to the senate after. The debate is only one day. --Gwendolyn Carson

It's a ridiculous idea, both desperate and politically motivated. McCain never suspended his campaign during the wars on terror, in Iraq and Afghanistan; only now when he is teetering in the polls. --Thomas Aldrich

it is not a good decision. This is another McCain attempt to appear that he is in touch with Americas working class. He was one of the republicans that was a Bush puppet he is responsible for this mess --Bill

McCain's decision is not a good idea. The American people deserve to hear his Obama's positions on the issues so we can make an informed decision about who is going to lead our country in these trying times. Do the debate from Washington DC - it only takes a couple hours to complete! --KWP

No. This is precisely the time for each candidate to demonstrate their ability to deal with a crisis before the American public. There is no reason he cannot return to Washington on Saturday. --See

McCain is throwing a Hail Mary and it's drifting out of bounds. Both Democrats and Republicans alike do not understand what his return to Washington will do other than provide a distraction when one truly isn't needed at this point. Don't forget however, McCain wants to push the debate back to the date already scheduled for the veep debate. Is Sarah still fuzzy on the facts? Hmmm --Kip Gire

He is working as a senator when he suspends his campaign not like Obama who just wants to get elected and has not worked at his job in the senate since his election. --Ed Downs

Bad bad idea to cancel the debate. I want to hear what the candidates for President have to say. It is politically incorrect for him to walk away from the debates. It is telling me that he does not care about the people to teach us who he is. He needs to tell us why he would be the best candidate over Obama for President of the United States. No one else is going to do it for him. --Mary Hawley

Bad idea reeking of political complicity with W. Last person I want to have input on the economy is McCain who very, very recently tried to tell us the fundamentals of the economy were strong --Charles Rohde

I think that McCain is using this an reason to postpone his debate with Obama because he is unprepared to address the country with a plan. He is part of the problem as to why this country is in the mess it is in. After all, he thinks middle class makes over $200,000/year - what universe is he in? --Barb

You bet it's a good idea!! It's about time one of our political candidates thinks of us and our country before his own campaign. That's the kind of president I want in the White House!! --Judy

Absolutely NOT! This is the time to come out and talk to the public about what's going on with the economy and why are we were we are. Not to mention how does he propose to help out make it better. --Oliver

No. It's merely a political gambit to obscure the essential problems facing any potential president. It's the ill-thought out move of a candidate irate at his dropping poll numbers. --Bonita Del Ray

Sen. McCain has his and our priorities correct. Sen. Obama is showing his immaturity by doing what makes him happy. Who do you think is ready to be President? --Frank

Mccain Is right on not going forward with the campaign and debate. Obama once again wants to be in the spotlight instead of taking serious matters before himself. He should come down off of his high horse. Mccain postponed his convention during the hurricane, I think this is far more urgent. --Pam

Its the only idea. He is a senator with a vote to represent his people. O'Bama doesn't seem that concerned with the cares of his constituents. Both nominees should be present to represent those who elected them. --Laura

I believe that McCain's decision to suspend his campaign for economic purposes is the wrong thing to do. The only person its helping is himself, all he wants is votes. --Ted Sadowski

He's a coward! --T.D.

Yes. It PROVES that he alone thinks our Country First. --Warren Reese

Think great idea -- he is going to go do what he was elected to do - represent the people -- at the possible expense of the election --- the good of many over the good of one. I say hurray for him. --Linda Silverio

Yes, it is a splendid vote. Both candidates were voted by the people to work for the people in Congress. That is where they both should be. --Gale

I think it is a very good idea. When the country is in trouble politics should be put aside. I imagine privately Obama must be thinking, "why didn't I think of this"? --Scott Pierce

No it's grandstanding he is still going to campaign he just won't be shaking anyone's hand and it's a good way out of the debate which he will lose. --Rich Peters

No. I agree with Obama that we need to hear from the candidates on the economic issue. I believe McCain is stalling and playing a political strategy to get more votes since he is behind Obama regarding the economic issue. --Cassandra Britton

While I believe it is vital that both candidtes stay in contact with Washington and be available to work on the economy solutions - I think Barack Obama is absolute correct. In less than 2 months we will be electing a new president. They can and should be able to do more than one thing at a time. I also agree that it is a political stunt because now he's falling behind (and will continue) in the polls. The congress is saying not so fast - you're not going to get credit for any solutions. I understand that the republicans are luke warm on the idea. --Lynda Young

No. He's doing b/c he's trying to deflect attention from Davis and Palin's incompetence. --Gizzard

Yes. He's acting more presidential than Obama in that he's putting the destiny of the country first over the debate, which could easily be postponed for a few days or a week. --Al Roberts

Of course it is a good idea, he needs to do what he was elected to do by the citizens of Arizona and the idea of him putting the country first again is great !!! Obama could take a lesson from someone who loves his country and is willing to take a risk. --Barbara

Absolutely not. Come on, at some point John McCain is going to need to take a stand for something. --Haven

No. The public needs to know where both candidates stand on the issues. McCain knows he is trouble. --Martin Krogh

Is this how McCain and Palin will run the country duck and run and be secretive? --Gary

I believe this is another of John McCain's erratic attempts too politicize the problem. The debate should go on as scheduled. McCain should debate, ready or not. --Gerry McNichols

The only reason he's pulling this stunt is because of the new polls that show he's falling behind. The debates are incredibly important right now so people can really get an idea of who is most capable of leading this country. Shame on McCain. --Ronald Seymour

Yes. It is imperative we deal with the financial crisis first. It would be hard to even think about election until the markets are back on the right track. The average Joe does not know how close we came to a meltdown which would have devastating consequences. --Carolyn

This is not at all a good idea. It's either a stunt that uses the crisis to appear heroic and righteous, or a way to avoid a debate he was dreading to begin with. I agree with Obama that this is EXACTLY the time we need to hear from the candidates we'll be voting for in just a few weeks. --Carol Oster

Bad Idea. He needs to be communicating with the voters. There are more than enough politicians in Washington already, to work out the details of the bailout. --James Schultz

Yes; Because he's putting the country ahead of politics. He's showing that he is a more capable (potential) leader than Obama. --John Boulet

I think its fantastic that he is going. Too bad Obama thinks campaign first country second. --Bob Tasa

Hardly.......what is he going to do if he is elected and he has several catastrophes to deal with at the same time....postpone them! He is just afraid that Obama will kick his butt in the debate! --Tanya Chavez

Some things are more important than partisan politics...like the welfare of the country. Too bad Obama put his welfare before that of the country. --Terrence Hagen

I believe your first responsibility should be to the job you have not the job you are trying to get elected to. When the country is in need a good leader responds. I am not surprised that Barack Obama has chosen not to suspend his campaign. That is another example of how he speaks a good game but does not back it up with action. --Peter Gilles

I feel McCain's decision to be right on! Our Economy is a mess and our country comes 1st! McCain is right! Lets think of the hard working American 1st! --Carol

No. This is exactly the moment when we need to have debate. A few hours of McCain's time is not going to have any meaningful impact on our country or economy. Shame on him for using a crisis to pull a cheap political maneuver. --David

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