McCain had thrown debate preparation into turmoil on Wednesday afternoon after he announced that he intended to skip the debate in order to be in Washington for the negotiations. His campaign issued a statement Friday morning saying he was now “optimistic” that a bipartisan bailout agreement would be reached soon, citing “significant progress” in the talks.

The statement was sharply critical of Obama, who, like McCain, returned to Washington on Thursday to take part in the bailout talks. The statement portrayed Obama as unduly partisan and insufficiently concerned with protecting taxpayer interests in the bailout negotiations, while McCain was framed as the leader of House and Senate Republicans seeking to reach a compromise agreement.

“The difference between Barack Obama and John McCain was apparent during the White House meeting yesterday where Barack Obama’s priority was political posturing in his opening monologue defending the package as it stands,” said the McCain campaign statement.

“John McCain listened to all sides so he could help focus the debate on finding a bipartisan resolution that is in the interest of taxpayers and homeowners. The Democratic interests stood together in opposition to an agreement that would accommodate additional taxpayer protections.”

This is not very helpful to the working poor who cannot afford a Prius, and may have to choose between gas and food.

We can’t drill our way out of the foreign oil crisis, but we can’t inflate our way out of it either. Until a suitable alternative is developed, people still need to get to work.

John McCain wants to find an alternative to oil, and step up production in the meantime.

Barack Obama says no to drilling. He says put more air in your tires. Well we cannot inflate our way out of it either.

Meanwhile, Nancy Pelosi also says no to drilling. In this video she says she wants to use the strategic petroleum reserve instead of exploring for more oil. Using the petroleum reserve unless we are absolutely unable to get oil elsewhere, or have to fight a war is the epitome of irresponsibility. She will not allow an up or down vote on the floor of the House because she knows it will pass. She has another agenda. Too bad it is not the agenda of the American people.

We need an alternative to oil. But while we are looking for it, people need to drive to work. Having these irresponsible Democrats in charge of the congress is bad enough. If they control the Presidency and the congress there will be no hope for low income Americans, the ones most affected by high gas prices.

Remember to inflate your tires on your way to the polls in November. If that doesn’t save you any money, vote no on irresponsibility, vote no on Democrats.

The Main Street Press may be in love with Barry, but his weakness in the polls is telling. He is polling even or a few points ahead of McCain after his “I’m not the President but I play one on TV” speech in Berlin.

This election may not be the slam dunk the media is hyping it up to be!

Democrats are recruiting voters in Germany as Barak Obama prepares to speak there.

The group Democrats Abroad reports record high interest levels among Americans. Over the last six months, its membership rolls have doubled, the organization said. The Berlin chapter said Americans from the Netherland and Switzerland were coming to the speech, and to volunteer. The chapter has been calling for members to help out with its voter registration drive at the event. -source

An estimated two hundred thousand Berliners went to see Barak Obama speak in Berlin. If he was running for President of Berlin, perhaps he would already be President.

One can’t help but wonder if some of them will register and fraudulently vote for Obama by absentee ballot.

AP: CLINTON SAYS SHE’S OPEN TO BEING OBAMA’S VP CANDIDATE

WASHINGTON — Hillary Rodham Clinton has told New York lawmakers she’s open to being Barack Obama’s vice presidential candidate

FOXnews