Republican presidential hopeful John McCain will attend the first televised debate with Barack Obama tonight, reversing a move to delay it over the financial crisis. Senator McCain had vowed not to attend the forum in Oxford, MS, until Congress approved a bail-out plan for U.S. banks and financial institutions. However, his campaign said that enough progress had been made for it to occur.
Democratic leaders in Congress earlier criticized Senator McCain for his appearance there during efforts to agree a deal. Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said the "insertion of presidential politics" into the delicate negotiations had been "harmful"
The topics for the debate (scheduled for 9pm EDT) are national security and foreign policy, considered Senator McCain's strengths, although correspondents say the financial crisis is almost certainly going to be discussed.
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