Looks like the financial mess that eclipsed the election campaign, well sort of eclipsed, is now nearing a bipartisan agreement. Cross your fingers (and toes.) Time will tell what this is all about. As the article in the New York Times notes, "After the overnight drafting efforts on both sides of Capitol Hill — with pizza on the House side, and Thai food in the Senate — Democratic officials said they had completed a unified draft of a bill. (Negotiations between the House and the Senate can be nearly as complicated as negotiations between Democrats and Republicans.)" At a minimum, we know something about how the two houses differ in terms of diet.

The Status of debate remains uncertain. The difference between the two candidates was startling, to say the least. After Obama called McCain suggesting that they issue a joint statement and thinking they had an agreement, McCain dropped a bomb shell with a press conference by suggesting that the debate be postponed.

Obama came right back saying no, it was important for the American people to hear the difference between the two candidates on this critical issue. Obama noted, “It is my belief that this is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person who, in approximately 40 days, will be responsible for dealing with this mess, It is going to be part of the president’s job to deal with more than one thing at once.”

Majority Leader Reid summed it up best when he urged the candidates to stay away and said, “We need leadership, not a photo op,” Do I smell grand standing? Is there a walking and chewing gum issue here? The voting public needs to know.

I have decided that I am totally out of touch with the American voter. To me, Obama has performed better than McCain throughout this mess. I am not alone, even normally conservative commentators seem to share my view. What has the voting public concluded? Well, Obama is down and McCain is up in the daily tracking poll.

Want to see how out of touch Gov Palin is, watch this video of an interview with Katie Couric. Given McCain's age and health history, f you are not worried you should be.

Of course if you watch a lot of TV, Fact Check reports you may have seen the McCain ad that says "'McCain and his congressional allies led' on the financial crisis while Obama was 'mum.'" Fact Check goes on to say that is simply not true.

McCain/Palin fail to note that Obama has made several statements including one last spring that detailed his approach. "The 'mum' quote is from a Sept. 20 Washington Times story, which went on to say Obama did 'not to divulge details of his recovery plan ... fearing it would stir Wall Street jitters.' The ad falsely says that Obama stayed quiet because 'no one knows what to do.'" Finally, they repeat the higher taxes claim. You tell a lie often enough and people will believe it.