Convenient.

John McCain suspends his campaign just in time to avoid his first real debate with Barack Obama. How very interesting...

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The Economist | WASHINGTON

JOHN MCCAIN, apparently, will stop campaigning tomorrow in order to work full-time on the financial crisis. As a coworker of mine put it, it seems like he’s suspending his campaign in order to help his campaign. He is also asking for Friday’s presidential debate to be postponed. Maybe I’m being cynical, but that’s a canny move. Friday’s debate was supposed to cover foreign affairs, Mr McCain’s strength vis-à-vis Barack Obama. With the financial crisis on, the economy, Mr Obama’s strength vis-à-vis Mr McCain, would have inevitably found a prominent place, depriving Mr McCain of a chance to showcase himself.

The question I want answered, of course, is whether Sarah Palin has to cancel her photo-ops at the UN, too, or if she can continue to pretend that sitting in expensive armchairs across from foreign leaders who know nothing about her in half-hour increments counts as an education in international affairs.

And, for those of you who continue to insist that Sarah Palin has plenty of experience to become the vice president, or even (and likely) president, I give you this. If you don't have 12 minutes, come back later.