Sen. Barack Obama asked the debates commission to urge networks to rebroadcast the first presidential debate for Jewish viewers who observe Shabbat.
Obama (D-Il.) is set to meet Republican rival Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for their first debate on Friday night, although McCain has called for a postponement of the debate because of the financial crisis. The topic is foreign policy.
“I want to raise one issue, and ask for your assistance,” Obama wrote to the Commission on Presidential Debates on Wednesday. “Due to the schedule set by the Commission and presented to the campaigns, the first debate falls on Friday night after the Jewish Sabbath has begun. Unfortunately, that means many Jewish Americans will not have the opportunity to watch the debate live.
“Because I know there is strong interest in this debate in the Jewish community, and to be as inclusive as possible, I ask for the Commission’s help in encouraging the television networks covering the debate to rebroadcast it on Saturday night after the Sabbath has concluded.”
