John McCain addresses the National Urban League's annual conference this morning, less than 24 hours after his campaign accused Barack Obama of "playing the race card." Urban League President Marc Morial has urged the audience to keep an open mind despite the candidates' bickering. He called the crossfire "an old fashioned three stooges pie throwing contest," and told the crowd to ignore it.

McCain didn't accept the Urban League's invitation the last time he was invited (in 2000). Two weeks ago before another predominantly African-American crowd at the NAACP, McCain began his remarks with an apology for ignoring the group's previous invitations. We'll be watching to see whether he will do the same today, and whether he will address the same issues (education and the economy) as he did with the NAACP.

Barack Obama is slated to address the Urban League tomorrow.