From the Atlanta paper:

Republican presidential candidate John McCain has said he won’t debate Democrat Barack Obama on Friday.

Not to worry.

A stunt double has already raised her hand and volunteered her services as a stand-in at the Oxford, Miss., forum.

“If John McCain wants to bow out, I’m willing to step in and take his podium on Friday,” said Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney, the former Georgia congresswoman. “The financial meltdown won’t come any closer to a resolution because a presidential debate is postponed. Now is the best time for Americans to see how prepared their leaders are to handle emergencies.”

Ralph Nader, independent candidate for president, and Bob Barr, the Libertarian immediately issued a statement noting that the national debate process seems flexible when it comes to the two major parties — and not so flexible when it applies to third party candidates.

Nader was the less proud of the pair, and went a McKinney-like step further. He said:

“Should [McCain] choose to maintain his present, impulsive course and leave an empty chair on the stage, I would be most pleased to take his place as the number-three presidential candidate in the race.”