Ole Miss proceeding with debate prep

Officials at the University of Mississippi, the site of Friday night’s planned presidential debate, said Wednesday they are proceeding with preparations despite GOP candidate John McCain's call for postponement in light of the financial crisis. 

{mosads}The university said it has been notified by the Commission on Presidential Debates that the commission is “proceeding as scheduled.”

Sen. McCain (Ariz.) jolted the presidential race earlier in the day when he announced that he was suspending his campaign and called on Democratic rival Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) to join him in asking the commission to postpone the debate so that the two men could join a bipartisan group from Capitol Hill and President Bush to find a solution to the Wall Street upheaval.

"We are ready to host the debate, and we expect the debate to occur as planned," the university said.