McCain, who had planned to stay overnight in the Boston area, also postponed a business luncheon at WBZ-TV scheduled for Wednesday.

Aides said the Senator's health was also a factor in the decision not to try to accommodate the events.

McCain had surgery this summer to remove a melanoma from his face and upper arm. The senator has a clean bill of health, but he has limited his public schedule and rarely holds public events in the evenings.

"He's still in a recovery period," Davis said. "And we've intentionally not scheduled late nights that would remind us of the campaign times."

The Bush campaign's request that McCain sit with the family at the debate was sudden, coming after renewed speculation in the national media that McCain--ranked in public opinion polls as one of the most admired men in America--wasn't doing all he could to promote his party's presidential ticket.

An article in Friday's New York Times cited unnamed Republican Party and campaign officials who wondered why the Bush campaign hadn't been more active in requesting McCain's help.

Davis said yesterday he thinks the article, written by James Dao, was the decisive factor in persuading the Bush campaign to more aggressively court the senator.