Desperate for a narrative change

Wow. What a ploy. Check this out,

John McCain is calling for the first presidential debate, scheduled for Friday in Mississippi, to be delayed so he can focus on the economic crisis.

Because he's been so involved in the legislation thus far?

Here's a little more from TPM,

The McCain camp has just sent word that the senator is suspending his campaign and returning to Washington to deal with the financial crisis.

As this is breaking right now, I'll try to save some analysis for a little later when we have a little more detail, but, at first blush, this has a smell of desperation to it, trying to reshape the macro narrative, trying to take the headlines away from Rick Davis, the Obama polling surge, the perception that he's losing on the economy, and ten days of chaotic messaging.

This is yet another wild gamble. He's desperately swinging for a narrative "reset."

Also, This is part of that broader effort to turn the race into personality, not issues. Whenever "issues" start to drag on McCain's polling numbers, they pull a stunt.

I think the key question is this: Does the press cover this as serious or as a gimmick?

PS. It's his party that's killing the bailout, and he's been roped into the position of having to vote for it.

Later: The more I think about this, the more I think this is about "personality campaigning." McCain as "a man of action" who puts "country first" and is willing to work "bi-partisan."

Also, I think this is part of a "rebranding effort," however, he will be fighting his well established brand, Obama's brand, and the brand of both parties on the economy.

On the economy, he's not branded as "maverick." It's his worst ground.

And, a good point, this crisis is so important that he'll cancel the debate, but not important enough to cancel his speech tomorrow at the Clinton Global Initiative?