The federal bailout deliberations in Congress have generated at least one immediate impact locally. The congressional candidate forum scheduled for Friday by the St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce has been postponed.

Chamber officials said they are working with the campaign organizations of incumbent Rep. Sam Graves and challenging Democrat Kay Barnes to find a new date for the event.

Word came Tuesday after congressional leaders scheduled lawmakers back into session at noon on Thursday. Mr. Graves, a Tarkio Republican, would have to be in Washington for a possible vote on Friday.

“We read the tea leaves early,” said Ted Allison, chamber president, on Tuesday. “Given the gravity of this economic crisis, the one place we want our congressman to be is in Washington.”

Friday’s event was meant to be the Fall Chairman’s Breakfast. This year’s chamber chairman, Gary Exline, said the breakfast centered on the candidate forum, so the Ramada Inn get-together was put on hold.

“What they’re doing there is more important that anything we could do here,” Mr. Exline said.