McCain, Obama Reject ABC Town Hall Meeting

John McCain and Barack Obama turned down an invitation from Mayor Michael Bloomberg and ABC News to hold the first town hall meeting in New York, AP reports. While the candidates are both enthusiastic about the idea of such a forum, they want it to be broadcast by multiple stations. Both camps have shown interest in a series of joint stops, new to modern presidential campaigns.

“I don't think we need any big media-run productions, no processed questions from reporters, no spin rooms, just two Americans responding to the concerns of the people whose trust we must earn,” McCain said. (More John McCain stories.)