Debate panel: Wait and see

WASHINGTON -- A co-chairman of the presidential debate commission said Thursday that he did not know what would happen if Sen. John McCain followed through on his plan to stay away from the first debate tonight at the University of Mississippi.

"If he's not going to show up, you can't have a debate with one person," said Frank Fahrenkopf, co-chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates. "How that is going to play with the American people is something we'll have to wait and see. I have no idea."

Fahrenkopf, who is president of the American Gaming Association, said he was in Rome on Wednesday when he heard the news that McCain was seeking to postpone the debate to focus on the nation's financial crisis.

"Of course, I was surprised," he said. "But you know, I've known John McCain for 30 years, and when he feels very strongly about something, he takes what he feels is the right action."

Some have suggested the debate could be rescheduled for Oct. 2, the same day as the debate between vice presidential nominees Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., and Gov. Sarah Palin, R-Alaska.

"I wouldn't try to speculate right now whether we're going forward with the debate or schedule another date," Fahrenkopf said.

The University of Mississippi in Oxford has spent about $5.5 million to prepare for the debate, according to Andrew Mullins, a special assistant to University Chancellor Robert Khayat.

The university and Republican Gov. Haley Barbour have issued statements saying they expect the debate will take place as scheduled.

"It's quite an elaborate thing," Fahrenkopf said. "There probably will be 4,000 to 5,000 reporters there, and we provide facilities for them. Every reporter will have a desk and computer capacity. It's a big job."

This would not be the first time a presidential debate has been canceled, Fahrenkopf said.

A debate in 1988 in Louisville, Ky., was called off after the campaigns of Republican George Bush and Democrat Michael Dukakis were unable to reach an agreement with the commission, Fahrenkopf said.

In 1996, President Clinton and Republican Robert Dole canceled a debate in St. Louis because Clinton was scheduled to speak at the United Nations.

Fahrenkopf, a former Reno attorney, came to Washington in 1983 to serve as chairman of the Republican National Committee. Paul Kirk, the debate commission's other co-chair, is a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and other Democrats have charged McCain is trying to gain a political advantage by calling for a postponement of the debate.

"As you know, because I chair the commission, I don't get involved in partisan attacks one way or another or pass judgment on whether or not the debate should go forward," Fahrenkopf said.