by Geoffrey Bennett

This Friday's planned presidential debate should go on with our without Sen. John McCain — so says Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney.

She's volunteered to stand in his place and debate Barack Obama should the Arizona senator not show up.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports:

"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."