McCain, Obama react differently to failed bailout bill

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama reacted in different ways to Monday's failure of the bailout bill in the House, the U.S. News and World Report reported Tuesday.

Republican McCain took credit for positive changes he said were made to the bill while blaming its defeat on Obama and his fellow Democrats.

U.S. presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama reacted in different ways to Monday's failure of the bailout bill in the House, the U.S. News and World Report reported Tuesday.

"Our leaders are expected to leave partisanship at the door and come to the table to solve our problems. Obama and his allies in Congress infused unnecessary partisanship in the process," said McCain.

But U.S. media pointed out that Democrats in the House mustered 140 votes for the bailout plan drafted by lawmakers from both parties and the Bush administration, while Republicans delivered only 65 votes.

Some 133 House Republicans opposed it, as did 95 Democrats.

Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama extended his slight advantage over his Republican rival John McCain after Friday's presidential debate, according to a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg survey published on Monday.
In contrast, Obama urged calm and assured supporters that a rescue plan would get done.

"No one person is at fault in this crisis, there's a lot of blame to spread around," he said.

"Right now, Democratic and Republican leaders have agreed, but members have not agreed," Obama said.

"It's important for the American people and the markets to stay calm because things are never smooth in Congress, and to understand that it will get done. We are going to make sure that an emergency package is put together because it is required for us to stabilize the markets," he noted.

Analysts said playing the blame game is a gamble for McCain, because it could deflect attention from his own unsuccessful effort since to rally House Republicans behind the bailout.

It could backfire if voters don't think his criticism of Obama is credible.

It also could encourage Obama and his surrogates to paint McCain as temperamental and impulsive, a tactic they're weighing.

For Obama, the political risk lies in his continuing calculations over how strongly to defend himself against attacks versus refusing to take the bait.

Many of his Democratic supporters worry that he's too aloof under fire sometimes, although his calm performance in the face of McCain's jabs during their first debate last week seemed to work in Obama's favor, as polls showed him pulling ahead.