… even though he was not ‘going to attend’ -

McCain is sparring with Maryland Republican Michael Steele for his debate prep, the Wall Street Journal reports. (Is Steele known for his debating skills?) “Obama advisers, for example, are considering how to provoke Sen. McCain into anger or showing what they say is how out of touch, or old, he is. Advisers have told Sen. McCain to watch out when Sen. Obama uses the phrase, ‘As I’ve said before…’ One McCain adviser said it is used ‘when Obama actually changes his position, to pretend it’s what he’s always said.’”

More: “Preparing Sen. Obama is Ron Klain, who assisted Sen. John Kerry and Vice President Al Gore in the debates during their failed presidential bids. Mr. Klain was played by Kevin Spacey in the movie ‘Recount,’ about the 2000 Florida vote debacle.

Sources told MSNBC that McCain was Prepping the night of the showdown at the White House for at Least 2 Hours.