John McCain and David Letterman during an April 2008 episode

McCain originally snubbed Letterman for Katie Couric
By Matthew B. Zeidman

NEW YORK (Hollywood Today) 10/14/08 – Sen. John McCain apparently doesn’t want to be known as a talk-show two-timer. After standing up the titular host of the “Late Show with David Letterman” on Sept. 24 in favor of CBS anchor Katie Couric, the Republican presidential candidate has agreed to finally appear on the program Thursday, according to the network.

McCain canceled his original engagement the day he announced he was suspending his campaign and hurrying back to Washington to work on the now-completed economic bailout package. Letterman became incensed when he learned McCain had taken the time to interview with Couric in her New York studio before heading to the airport.

“When you call up at the last minute and cancel a show, ladies and gentlemen, that’s starting to smell,” Letterman told his audience on Sept. 24. “This is not the John McCain I know, by God.”

The late-night funnyman spent a great deal of that night’s episode berating McCain, even while interviewing other luminaries, and criticized his decision to suspend his campaign, suggesting Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin should have continued in his place. Letterman did, however, make clear he admired and respected McCain for the sacrifices he made as a soldier in Vietnam.

At the time, McCain suggested postponing his first debate with Democratic rival Sen. Barack Obama, but the event went on as planned later that week. The final exchange between the two will be televised on Wednesday live from Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.