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The first presidential debate between John McCain, the US Republican presidential candidate, and Barack Obama, his Democratic rival, is currently still slated for Friday on the theme of foreign policy, despite calls from McCain to delay the debate over the current financial crisis.
Al Jazeera asked five people in Oxford, Mississippi - where the debate will be held - what they thought about McCain's call and their views on the controversial $700bn government bail-out plan.
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Sarah Gates, university student
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This is a political move by McCain and the debate should be held.
It's a bit hubristic of him to say that he, personally, needs to be in Washington to solve the crisis. There are plenty of people capable of doing that.
The most important thing to do in this situation [the bail-out] is to consider every possible option and it seems that the Bush administration really just wants to use taxpayers' money.
Sometimes I think that all the options aren't being considered.
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Sandford Johnson, graduate student
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I agree with what Senator Obama said - that this is the time that we need to debate.
I think it's possible that they do what they need to do in Washington and then come back here and face the American people.
We've got a senate, we've got a house of representatives, we've got a president, let them come up with a good plan.
If the bail-out if something that has to be done, then it has to be done, but there also has to be more regulation and more oversight.
There also has to be something for the millions of Americans who have lost their homes after trying to do everything right.
Let's rescue them as well, if we are going to try and rescue Merrill Lynch, AIG, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
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John Currence, restaurant owner
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These guys' presence in Washington DC is not going to make or break what happens in terms of a bail-out plan.
You can't put together a comprehensive plan in just 48 hours for the problems we have to deal with so I think yes, he [McCain] should be here.
The bail-out continues a dangerous precedent that was set when we gave the airlines a bunch of money after 9/11 and there was no indication that any of that has been paid back.
We walk a very dangerous line in this country with people being extended credit beyond their means.
It has led to a really disturbing "entitlement" mentality in this country and the concept of saving to purchase something has gone completely out of the window.
John McCain is being responsible because this is a crisis and he is taking responsibility as a leader.
It is fine to have a conversation and a debate but now it's time to take action.
Wall Street is the core of our economy and if they are failing and we don't bail them out it's going to be a lot worse in the future.
McCain will be sure that they act responsibly.
We are helping the poor with welfare and the middle class, so why is it a problem to help out our major economic corporations?
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Nathan Burkhalter, language student
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Can McCain actually do anything if he does remain in Washington?
Personally, I believe it's respectable if he can contribute anything by going back to Washington.
[But] if he can't do anything, then it's clearly a ploy and he's putting off something that he's either not prepared for or not up to.
If the bail-out is really going to help the American public as much as they say it will then it should go ahead, but the details of how it would help have not be clearly defined.
If you try and control free markets it's a move towards socialism and I believe that free markets are very important for American culture and society in general.
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