McConnell To McCain: Come On Down!

While Harry Reid thinks John McCain's return to the Senate to engage on the bailout bill is a bad idea, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell seems to relish the opportunity for his presidential candidate to steal some of the show.

"Sen. McCain has just announced that he is willing to suspend his campaign, set politics aside and sit down with all sides to come to a solution to the looming threats to our economy," McConnell said.  “That’s an outstanding idea: The threats to Americans, and their homes, savings and retirements, is not a partisan problem and it won’t be fixed with a partisan approach. ... So I appreciate my colleague’s proposal, and I hope that it is given serious consideration."

Of course this isn't just a non-political kumbaya moment that McCain is pitching. He wants to be seen as engaged in the economic crisis and helping Congress solve the problem. Barack Obama may very well be coming back to Washington, too, by the end of the week, but that's up in the air.

Reid sees this all as just campaign posturing.

"I understand that the candidates are putting together a joint statement at Sen. Obama’s suggestion," Reid said. "But 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."