So what’s the story with Friday’s presidential debate? In a move that blindsided the Obama team, which was working on a joint statement about the current financial climate with the McCain campaign, the McCain camp announced that the debates should be called off. Team Obama said not a chance, “the debate is on.”

Ben Smith of Politico saw it as “not an easy or obvious choice” for Obama, since if he maintains his stance that the debate should occur, he’s vulnerable to the argument that “the Republican puts country first while the Democrat puts himself first.”

Actually, that’s exactly why Obama is right to insist that things go ahead. Here’s a little free advice: