Republican strategist Rob Stutzman agreed, saying the move provided McCain with an “opportunity to demonstrate leadership.” As for Obama, Stutzman said, “His campaign probably shouldn't fall for the bait and call it a political ploy. He should come back to Washington and try to match McCain toe for toe."

But top Democratic strategists said that Obama could not afford to let McCain dictate the campaign narrative.

“Obama should continue to press his advantage. He’s broken the race open. He shouldn’t make himself an accomplice to McCain’s cheesy desperate stunt,” said Jim Jordan, who served as John F. Kerry’s campaign manager early in the 2004 race.

Tad Devine, Kerry’s chief strategist in 2004, viewed McCain’s proposal as an act of desperation.

“You don’t do something like this if you think you are in good shape. This is a Hail Mary,” he said. “The McCain people feel they have to somehow put the brakes on this slide.”

Steve Elmendorf, Kerry’s deputy campaign manager in 2004, said that in rejecting McCain’s proposal, Obama is “showing people he’s presidential, and McCain looks desperate.”

Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), who negotiated debate rules for Obama, said that the two candidates were not needed in Washington and that the debates should go on as planned.

“I'm not so sure that their presence is going to resolve this issue,” he said in an interview on MSNBC. “We know where we have to go, what we have to do, and we're making the good progress to do that.”

Not all criticism of McCain came from the left.

“What idiot came up with this stunt?” former Republican Rep. Mickey Edwards of Oklahoma asked in a post on Politico’s Arena forum. “Sorry, John; it really sounds like you're afraid to debate. This sounds like the sort of ploy we used to use in junior high school elections.”

The final verdict, of course, will come from voters.

A Survey USA poll conducted immediately after the announcement showed that roughly three out of every four Americans think the debate should go on as scheduled, while only 14 percent agreed with McCain that it should be suspended.

Thirty-six percent of those who thought the debate should still be held said the focus should be shifted from foreign policy to the economy.

Nearly half, 46 percent, said it would be “bad for America” if the debate was pushed.

Politico reporters David Kuhn, Avi Zenilman and Alex Burns contributed to this report.