WASHINGTON–Presumptive GOP nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Az.) asked rival Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for 10 open format town hall debates between now and the conventions. On Friday, the Obama campaign rejected the McCain proposal, offering an altnernative for five joint sessions turned down by Obama campaign manager David Plouffe.
Click below for Plouffe statement
Statement on McCains Refusal of Joint Appearances Offer
June 13, 2008
Barack Obama offered to meet John McCain at five joint appearances between now and Election Daythe three traditional debates plus a joint town hall on the economy in July and an in-depth debate on foreign policy in August. That package of five engagements would have been the most of any Presidential campaign in the modern eraoffering a broad range of formatsand representing a historic commitment to openness and transparency.
Its disappointing that Senator McCain and his campaign decided to decline this proposal. Apparently they would rather contrive a political issue than foster a genuine discussion about the future of our country.
Senator Obama believes that the American people deserve an open and accessible debate as they choose between real change and four more years of failed Bush policies, and he welcomed McCains invitation to offer voters the rare opportunity of witnessing candidates for the highest office in the land discuss civilly and extensively the great issues at stake in the election, said Obama campaign manager David Plouffe.
