Politics / John McCain Candidates Spar Over Debate Schedule Obama wants five, McCain wants 13 By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff Posted Jun 13, 2008 5:20 PM CDT Copied Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks during a town hall meeting in Pemberton, N.J., Friday, June 13, 2008. (AP Photo/LM Otero) Camp Obama and Camp McCain are jousting over debates, with both candidates, New York Times blogger Michael Falcone jokes, appearing to feel “a little rejected.” Obama has suggested five forums: three traditional debates and two town halls, one on the economy and another on foreign policy. A rep said he was “disappointed” that McCain hasn’t agreed and would rather “contrive a political issue.” McCain continues to press his opponent on holding weekly appearances together, saying an event last night—the first he’d invited Obama to attend—“would have been a little more interesting” if Obama had shown. A McCain aide said Obama had turned the scheduling into “a debate about process,” exactly what McCain had sought to avoid. (More John McCain stories.) Report an error