by Paul Schingle

Created on: October 30, 2008   Last Updated: November 23, 2010

Let me start by saying that I think everything John McCain has done since the Republican National Convention has been a ploy of some type or another. I would also state that, If Barack Obama had "suspended" his campaign at the same time, it would have been a ploy. Starting with the convention and the naming of Sarah Palin as his running mate, McCain has done everything he can to get attention away from the Obama juggernaut. (Did McCain really think he was going to steal votes away from Obama by naming just any old female to please Hillary Democrats?) Of course McCain's suspension of his campaign was a ploy. And, if I recall, he suspended his campaign for all of about 48 hours. It was a sham.

Now, the reasoning behind his purported campaign suspension was fine. Various congressional leaders (including Barack Obama, by the way) met with the president to try and hash out a compromise of some kind for the financial bailout. But, the whole idea of making an announcement, "Hey, everyone, look at me, I'm suspending my campaign to help out with the crisis. I don't see Obama doing the same thing. Look at me. Pay attention to me." In the end, John McCain and Barack Obama attended the same meetings and spent about the same amount of time addressing the crisis. Only time will tell if it does any good. But, McCain is the only one who went out of his way to "suspend his campaign" and make an announcement about it.

McCain followers will state, and maybe with some reason, that Barack Obama is getting the lion's share of the media coverage. I think there's even some truth to that. Of course, McCain backers will tell you it's because the media is biased to the left. I think the answer is much more simple than that. Obama is inspiring young people everywhere with his message. The media follow Obama because the people are following him. And every time McCain finds some way to get his name on television or in the newspapers, he takes advantage of it. It's part of the game. I'm not blaming McCain. I'm just stating that McCain's campaign suspension was a ploy to get attention.

So, was John McCain's call to suspend his campaign and push congress on the financial bailout sincere or a ploy? Well, let's look at the facts. He suspended his campaign for less than three days. He went to Washington-Obama went to Washington. They were both in on hammering out the final details. Essentially, they both did the same amount of work and got the same things accomplished. John McCain was the only one to go out of his way to "suspend his campaign." Of course it was a ploy.

Learn more about this author, Paul Schingle.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.