Sorry if this has already been diaried, but I haven't seen it.
EDIT: Already Diaried. Sorry...
According to George Snuffalupagus, this thing ain't going nowhere unless Johnny Mac is on board:
ABC News' George Stephanopoulos reports: If Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain doesn't vote for the Bush administration's $700 billion economic bailout plan, some Republican and Democratic congressional leaders tell ABC News the plan won't pass.
Looks like the Dems want Grampy McSame's blessing as well:
A Democratic leadership source says that White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten has been told that
Democratic votes will not be there if McCain votes no -- that there is no deal if McCain doesn't go along.
More below......
Of course if JMac wants to play up his populist image and refuse to go along with the MOAB, then we could get the nightmare scenario everyone's been wringing their hands about over here: Namely that the repugs join McCain in opposing the bill, Johnny Mac gets the cover he needs and is able to distance himself from the Bush admin and we lose the election:
Some senior Democrats on Capitol Hill have voiced concern that McCain will continue to oppose the Bush administration's plan as a way to position himself as a critic of Wall Street and the Bush Administration.
If McCain doesn't vote for the legislation, other Republicans might follow suit, leaving the Democratic-led majority to fight in Congress to pass the risky bailout plan.
But Paulson says not to worry, Grampy's on board...trust me
However a Democratic congressional leadership source tells ABC News' Jake Tapper that Paulson went so far as to assure Democratic leaders that McCain "won't be a problem" -- in other words that McCain will vote for the proposal.
Hmmmmmm...the plot thickens....a trap perhaps?