David Letterman was harsh on presidential hopeful John McCain after the latter's PR stunt concerning the so called canceling of his campaign in order to allegedly focus on the economic crisis that the Bush administration helped create. McCain canceled his appearance on the "Late Show" just before its start, claiming through spokeswoman Nicole Wallace that the campaign "felt this wasn't a night for comedy."

Letterman said that you can’t just suspend your campaign for an economic crisis or is it "because the poll numbers are sliding?"

Letterman was initially only disappointed, but grew bitter after he saw that, while talking with substitute guest Keith Olbermann of MSNBC’s Countdown, McCain was only five blocks away in Manhattan, preparing for an interview with Katie Couric, and was in no rush for Washington.

"This doesn’t smell right," Letterman said. "Because this is not the way a tested hero behaves. I think someone's put something in his Metamucil." Metamucil is the popular laxative and fiber supplement manufactured by Procter & Gamble. Indeed, McCain's gesture seems more desperate and less patriotic than the campaign wants us to believe.

While looking at the feed of McCain with Couric, Letterman couldn't help being ironic: "He doesn’t seem to be racing to the airport, does he? Hey, John, I got a question! You need a ride to the airport?"

Meanwhile, McCain called on Obama to agree to a delay of the first presidential debate scheduled for Friday, so the two candidates can return to the US Senate. While the tactic might help him in the polls, it could risk accusations of politicizing the financial crisis and even arouse suspicions that McCain is avoiding a debate with the younger Obama about the economy.