Sept. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Democrat Barack Obama challenged Republican rival John McCain to go through with their debate tomorrow night, as lawmakers agreed on principles for a financial rescue plan.

``The American people deserve to hear directly from myself and Senator McCain about how we intend to lead our country,'' Obama said in a speech to the Clinton Global Initiative. ``The times are too serious to put our campaign on hold, or to ignore the full range of issues that the next president will face.''

McCain, who spoke earlier to the same group, said the economic crisis should take precedence over the campaign.

``With so much on the line, for America and the world, the debate that matters most right now is taking place in the United States Capitol -- and I intend to join it,'' McCain said.

Obama plans to meet with McCain, President George W. Bush and congressional leaders at the White House later today as lawmakers worked on a $700 billion package to deal with the turmoil on Wall Street.

The Illinois senator said he would go to Oxford, Mississippi, for the debate though McCain said he has suspended his campaign and wants the event delayed until the rescue plan is finished.

`Debate Will Happen'

In Oxford today, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, a Republican, said at a news conference that he and University of Mississippi officials are forging ahead on the assumption the ``debate will happen.''

A majority of the public favors holding the debate on schedule, according to a Marist Institute of Public Opinion poll. The survey of 435 registered voters taken yesterday by Poughkeepsie, New York-based Marist found 53 percent agree with Obama's stance. Forty-eight percent, though, said the candidates should discuss the economy rather than foreign policy.

The issue may be settled by the announcement of an agreement. At the White House, press secretary Dana Perino said, ``We're going to try to drive that deal to a conclusion today.''

At the Capitol, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd said Republicans and Democrats have worked out a ``set of principles'' for the plan that would win passage in Congress.

Conditions for Support

Obama and McCain this week laid out their conditions for supporting a rescue package. They include curbs on executive pay, an independent oversight board, aid for struggling homeowners and a provision to give taxpayers a share of any profit from the purchase and subsequent sale of distressed assets.

The presidential nominees issued a joint statement last night calling for a bipartisan agreement. ``This is a time to rise above politics for the good of the country. We cannot risk an economic catastrophe,'' the statement said.

Obama reinforced that sentiment today.

``Now is a time to come together -- Democrats and Republicans -- in a spirit of cooperation on behalf of the American people,'' he told the Clinton Global Initiative.

McCain, calling for a swift, bipartisan agreement, said the legislation should be shaped in public, not behind closed doors.

``The American people have the right to know which businesses will be helped, what that selection will be based on, and how much that help will cost,'' he said. ``I am confident that before the markets open on Monday we can achieve consensus on legislation that will stabilize our financial markets, protect taxpayers and homeowners, and earn the confidence of the American people.''

To contact the reporters on this story: Jonathan D. Salant in Washington at jsalant@bloomberg.net; Julianna Goldman in New York at jgoldman6@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: September 25, 2008 14:04 EDT