Op-Ed: What Will The Final Outcome Of McCain's Announcement Be?

If the United States election wasn't heated before today's surprise announcement by McCain to suspend his campaign stepped it up a notch. In the end though will that announcement be in his favor or did he just hand over the White House to Obama?

For those who have already decided who they support in this election, today's announcement by McCain to suspend his campaign to focus on the economic crisis won't matter. It's those who aren't yet sure which name they name will check in November that could be swayed by the move. But which way will they be swayed? Those who see a man whose actions will lose votes may think that it was a bold move for McCain to put the country first. Others may question his motives in announcing this decision moments after agreeing with Obama to make a joint statement Did McCain just shot himself in the foot by going solo on his announcement? Reports are filtering in that McCain and Obama had just finished talking at 2:30 p.m. finalizing a united stand and agreeing on some broad principles about the bailout. With the surprise announcement by McCain could that shot at bi-partition unity be over? Stabbing someone in the back with an invisible knife tends to come back with a deeper cut. Some may say that this proves McCain is country first. Others will say that the man who could be President should be able to handle several fires at once. Stopping everything for a crisis isn't always the best management policy. Let's put it in layman's terms. In a family, if a child is sick and the other kids need dinner, a parent has to do tend to the sick child while taking care of the rest. If that parent ignores the other children then they have failed their job. The final fall out from McCain's choice to make his announcement first won't be seen until later. Will it be the outcome that he wanted?