Recognizing the Republican gambit is to get one debate, at least, nixed, or else try to raise the bar on Obama's performance and lower it on McCains if it does go through by trying to force Obama to argue for going ahead with it, one possibility is words to this effect:    I would expect that questions about how we would handle the current financial crisis should we be elected, as well as our records on issues relevant to the situation, could be asked at the debate on Friday.  And I believe the public should know how we are thinking about the situation, based on whatever the facts are as of that time.   The voters know they have an important decision to make in November.  How are they supposed to form judgments about who they would prefer to see as their next president if we don't give them the opportunity to see us respond to questions and tell them what we think? 

How many current senators who are up for re-election are planning on holing up in Washington instead of talking to the voters this weekend to "work on the economy"?  If I were in that situation I think I would be at pains to be back in my state of Illinois so that I could listen to what my constituents are saying on the situation.  I would not duck--nor would I want them possibly thinking that I was ducking--a matter of such importance to them and to all of us.

Wherever Senator McCain and I will be physically we are going to be following the situation closely in our roles as senators in preparation for what I assume will be votes upcoming.  Why not let the American people in on whatever our thinking is as of Friday?