Debate Dream Team

Discussion Policy

Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.

And this is the kind of challenge McCain enjoys. He might just say yes because it appeals to his risk-taking side and reinforces his image as a maverick. Back when it looked as if Obama was about to clinch the Democratic nomination, McCain's staff was discussing the prospect of holding presidential debates this summer, well in advance of the normal schedule.

"He loves debates," campaign manager Rick Davis said last month at a lunch sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor. "We will want as many as we can possibly get." Excellent -- why not start now? Indeed, when I mentioned my modest proposal to a different senior

McCain aide the other day, he dismissed the notion of a three-way debate but didn't rule out separate encounters.

As for the Democrats, Clinton's interest in this kind of matchup is clear. Of the two candidates, she is the more experienced debater. Lagging in pledged delegates, she has more to gain from a potentially game-changing event.

That doesn't necessarily mean that Obama would be walking into a trap. He wins the Most Improved Debater award of Campaign 2008; there's every chance that he could hold his own against McCain or even a McCain-Clinton combo. (I'm not giving up on seeing them all on stage at once.) Imagine how much a bravura Obama performance could quell Democratic nerves about how he'll stand up to the inevitable GOP assault if he wins the nomination.

In any case, if Clinton and McCain were to agree to a meet-up, this would be an offer Obama couldn't afford to refuse.

Candidates?

marcusr@washpost.com