McCain's gambit  —  McCain suspends his campaign, and asks to postpone Friday's debate, to address the financial crisis.  —  Both candidates have been marginal players; McCain, though, seems to have the potential to make himself a major one, and his move is a mark, most of all, that he doesn't like the way this campaign is going.

McCain: Scrap Friday Debate for Bailout; Obama Camp: ‘The Debate is On’  —  ABC News' George Stephanopoulos and Rick Klein report: Sen. John McCain on Wednesday said he would “suspend” his presidential campaign to come to Washington to help negotiate a financial bailout bill, a dramatic move designed to seize a powerful issue.

McCain Asks To Postpone Friday Debate Due To Economic Crisis  —  NEW YORK — Republican John McCain said Wednesday he wants to delay Friday's debate with Democratic rival Barack Obama and temporarily put aside their partisan campaign to resolve the nation's financial crisis.

McCain wants to delay Friday debate, focus on economic crisis  —  John McCain is calling for the first presidential debate, scheduled for Friday in Mississippi, to be delayed and urging Barack Obama to join him in Washington for a high-level meeting of congressional leaders to address the financial crisis.

Campbell Brown Rips McCain Camp's “Sexist” Treatment Of Palin  —  A prominent female news anchor chastised the McCain campaign Tuesday evening for engaging in sexism and insulting behavior in its attempt to shield Gov. Sarah Palin from members of the press.  —  In a fiery commentary …

ASK A SILLY QUESTION.... John McCain and Sarah Palin met with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvilli and Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, and in a break from preferred campaign policy, reporters were briefly allowed into the room for the photo-op.  Big mistake.

McCain camp attacks Times, doesn't deny report  —  The Mccain camp has a 698-word statement out in response to today's story that Rick Davis's firm, Davis Manafort, was paid a consulting fee of $15,000 a month starting in 2005, and ending last month.  —  The statement from McCain aide Michael Goldfarb begins:

Economic Fears Give Obama Clear Lead Over McCain in Poll  —  Turmoil in the financial industry and growing pessimism about the economy have altered the shape of the presidential race, giving Democratic nominee Barack Obama the first clear lead of the general-election campaign over Republican John McCain …