We are seeing a parallel situation in regard to Romney's tax returns. When he delayed releasing them it was because he was hiding something. Now that he has the issue becomes he overpaid his taxes in order to make himself look good.
This sort of thing is constantly employed against Republicans, never Democrats. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Anybody ever seen the MSM getting its collective panties all in a bunch over Reid's refusal to release his tax returns?
No, they couldn't have done that effectively, because Obama was in the senate, too, and he just kept on campaigning. As I remember, Obama said they could call him if needed.
McCain showed he had an inflated sense of his own value during the "crisis". No one cared if he was in Washington or not.