McCain, Obama Plan Joint Appearance at Ground Zero on 9/11

The Associated Press just reported that McCain and Obama will attend a ceremony at Ground Zero to mark the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks next Thursday in order "to honor the memory of each and every American who died" in the 2001 attacks.

The campaigns have agreed to suspend television advertising critical of each other on Sept. 11, and McCain has announced its campaign will air no ads at all that day.

"All of us came together on 9/11 — not as Democrats or Republicans — but as Americans," they said. "We were united as one American family. On Thursday, we will put aside politics and come together to renew that unity," a joint statement said.

Here is the joint statement:

"On September 11, 2008, we will join together to mark the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks at Ground Zero.

"All of us came together on 9/11 — not as Democrats or Republicans — but as Americans. In smoke-filled corridors and on the steps of the Capitol; at blood banks and at vigils — we were united as one American family. On Thursday, we will put aside politics and come together to renew that unity, to honor the memory of each and every American who died, and to grieve with the families and friends who lost loved ones. We will also give thanks for the firefighters, police and emergency responders who set a heroic example of selfless service, and for the men and women who serve today in defense of the freedom and security that came under attack in New York City, at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pa."