Reid: Presidential debates should go as scheduled (UPDATED)

By Lisa Mascaro

Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008 | 5:14 p.m.

Updated at 5:14 p.m.

The McCain campaign shot back that just “24 hours ago Reid and his Democratic colleagues on the Hill couldn't have been more desperate for Senator McCain's help in resolving this crisis,” spokesman Brian Rogers said. “Now they’ve got it.”

On Tuesday, as Republicans were joining Democrats in raising questions about the Bush administration's $700 billion Wall Street bailout proposal, Reid had told reporters, “We need the Republican nominee for president to let us know where he stands and what we should do."

Tonight, Reid said that when McCain called him today, he told the candidate “we should not have partisan politics interfere.”

“With all due respect to my friend John McCain, we’re doing just fine,” Reid said. “It appears to me John McCain is trying to divert attention from his failing campaign.”

Reid added that 85 percent of Americans are expected to watch the Friday debate. “He can spare an hour and a half of his time,” Reid said.

Posted at 1:57 p.m.

WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says the presidential debates should go on as scheduled after Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain announced he will suspend his campaign to turn attention to the economic crisis.

"While I appreciate that both candidates have signaled their willingness to help, Congress and the Administration have a process in place to reach a solution to this unprecedented financial crisis," Reid said in a statement.

He notes that McCain and the Democratic candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, are preparing a joint statement.

“It would not be helpful at this time to have them come back during these negotiations and risk injecting presidential politics into this process or distract important talks about the future of our nation’s economy. If that changes, we will call upon them. We need leadership; not a campaign photo op."