Obama still planning vacation -- for now

President Obama is still scheduled to go on vacation at Martha's Vineyard next week -- for now.

But things could always change.

"The president's travel schedule is always malleable," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

Earnest's comment came after an intriguing comment by campaign adviser David Axelrod on ABC's Good Morning America.

"The president's family is going on vacation," Axelrod said. "He's going to join them if he can."

If he can.

The White House schedule shows Obama departing for Martha's Vineyard Thursday, with a return on Aug. 27.

But, again, things can change.

The president's vacation plans have come under scrutiny in light of economic problems that include a gyrating stock market and a downgrade of the U.S. credit rating.

At last night's Republican presidential candidates debate, former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty called on Obama to change his getaway plans (though he flubbed the president's planned destination).

"He should cancel his Cape Cod vacation, call the Congress back into session, and get to work on this," Pawlenty said. "Barack Obama is missing in action."

Axelrod and other Obama aides pointed out that presidents are never really on vacation, taking staffs with them wherever they go. "The president's working on the problem all the time," Axelrod said on ABC.

One thing Obama has said he will not do this August: Call Congress back into session.

"The last thing we need is Congress spending more time arguing in D.C.," Obama said in Michigan.