The Republican nominee is suspending his campaign because he can’t make a decision about the bailout.

But what he’s going to do in Washington is very unclear. He’s not on any major committee that deals with the economic crisis. (Unless you believe his assertion that the commerce committee “oversights every part of our economy.” It doesn’t.) Negotiations have been taking place for at least the past five days, and McCain hasn’t been tangibly involved in any of them. In the Senate, Chris Dodd, Chuck Schumer, and Richard Shelby have been the main players, primarily because they’re all high-ranking members of the banking committee. McCain hasn’t showed up for a roll call vote in five months. (Obama hasn’t showed in two.) Nor has he demonstrated much proficiency on these issues. He’s like a dinner guest who arrives to a restaurant after everybody has already discussed what they’re ordering but then tries to order for the table anyway.

But McCain won’t be scoffed as he tries to lead the charge among Republicans on this issue. After all, he’s still the party’s de facto leader. Yesterday, George Stephanopoulos reported that a “top House Republican” said, “If McCain doesn't come out for this, it's over” and that Democratic votes may not fall in for the bailout unless McCain voices backing. (An explanation for that requires far too deep of a primer in arcane congressional politics.) Upon hearing the news that McCain was coming home to the Hill, Republicans voiced their approval and lined up behind their nominee.

McCain’s decision and the Republicans’ embrace does basically guarantee that a bailout will happen. (President Bush’s address Wednesday night will also help grease the axles.) McCain can’t suspend his campaign, move to delay the debate, and pull all of his advertising down just to chum around with his congressional pals all weekend. The Republicans have more of an incentive to get the bailout done than ever—or risk handing Democrats the White House and a congressional supermajority.

There are too many pieces to know exactly what kind of bailout McCain will advocate. But if Chuck Schumer’s $150 billion alternative gains more support, it’s possible the Republicans could glom on. Schumer’s plan calls for the government to give $150 billion of funds now to help stave off total apocalypse, and for Congress to readdress whether more funds are needed as time goes on. It would allow Republicans to say they were keen not to spend too much money and that they still kept the economy moving. (Henry Paulson thinks this is an awful idea but hasn’t explicitly said why.)

So, McCain is now a major player for the Republicans in the negotiations. This despite not partaking in the Paulson and Bernanke testimony and despite a demonstrated lack of nuanced economic knowledge. Because of these deficiencies and his previous inaction, expect McCain’s role to be limited behind the scenes, but bold in front of the cameras. Considering McCain’s past thumb-twiddling, that dynamic should suit him just fine.