If McCain doesn't go to Oxford, the person most offended will be Mississippi Gov. Hailey Barbour, who expected the debate to be an opportunity to showcase his state as one where great progress has been made.

Hailey Barbour is not the sort of man who can be trifled with. A former congressman, he served as Republicn Party National Chairman for several years before running for governor. He has connections (and friends) everywhere, especially in the South, and they remember that during his chairmanship the party was quite successful at the polls. John McCain simply cannot hope to win election to dogcatcher without the full support of Hailey Barbour.

It really makes you wonder if McCain is actually smart enough to be president.