Barack Obama replied to John McCain’s call to postpone Friday’s debate, the first of the election season between the two candidates after their official nominations, shortly after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

He agreed that bipartisan cooperation is necessary to solve the economic crisis, but said he believes the debate should go forward as planned.

“I think that it is going to be part of the president’s job to deal with more than one thing at once,” Obama said.

“It’s my belief that this is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person will be the next president,” he added.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain announced Tuesday afternoon that he is suspending his campaign to focus on the current economic situation.

McCain called on Barack Obama to join him and suspend the first presidential debate, scheduled for Friday.

“It is time for both parties to come together to solve this problem,” McCain said in a speech delivered shortly after 1:30 p.m.