November 18, 2008
Posted: November 18th, 2008 09:47 PM ET

From
Sen. John McCain is looking forward to returning to the Senate full time, aides say.
Sen. John McCain is looking forward to returning to the Senate full time, aides say.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Two weeks after losing his bid for the presidency in an electoral landslide, Sen. John McCain is beginning the thorny transition back to life out of the spotlight as he weighs his future role in the Senate.

Aides say McCain is looking forward to returning to the chamber full-time after a nearly two-year hiatus.

But the road from Republican Party standard-bearer to merely one of a hundred senators can be a bumpy one, political observers say, especially since the Arizona senator is without a leadership position as his party faces its slimmest minority in the chamber in nearly three decades.

McCain's return to a lower profile is made more precarious by the fact that he has to grapple with a stinging public rejection and ongoing criticism from some Republicans who say his campaign was mismanaged. Other Republicans have said it was downright incompetent.

Full story

Filed under: John McCain


JUNIOR   November 19th, 2008 3:02 am ET

McCAIN´S PROBLEMS WERE PARTLY HIS OWN. HIS IGNORANCE IN MANY WAYS. HE CHOSE A CAMPAIGN SLOGAN OPPOSITE TO HIS ACTIONS, DECLARING SOME PART OF CITIES AS PRO AND SOME AS CONTRA AMERICAN, HIS POOR WISDOME IN VP PICK THAT COULD ONLY SERVE REPUBLICAN BASE AND EXTREMISM. HIS CAMPAIGN THAT INSIGHTED EXTREMIST KKK AND SOME RACIST PRIEST PLAYING AROUND WITH HOLY CROSS IN DISGUISE. PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA OUTSMARTED HIM IN MANY WAYS, BOTH FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC POLICIES . HE FACED A VERY INTELLIGENT CANDIDATE THAT AT THE END IS GOOD FOR AMERICA AFTER LONG YEARS OF REPUBLICAN INCOMPETENCE THAT HAS SPELLT OUR DOOM ! McCAIN IS ERRATIC AND IMPATIENT, GOING BACK TO RANCH MAY SERVE HIM BEST!

Thomas [ Lindsay, CA.]   November 19th, 2008 2:52 am ET

I am a democrat. I also agree with WAW. he does deserves some respect for serving our country. Its time to fogive and forget and move on.
Dont bring yourself down to the Republican level. Its a new day to think
positve.

Allan   November 19th, 2008 2:44 am ET

And the best is yet to come.

He's up for reelection in 2010. If he's still alive by then and hasn't been institutionalized for senility, polls taken on Election Day show that the voters of Arizona prefer their Democratic Governor Napolitano over Grandpa Simpson.

If he has the chutzpah to run again he will lose. Again.

LOOOOOOOOOOOSER.

Richard Larson   November 19th, 2008 2:39 am ET

Senator McCain will adapt to his new status probably as easily as John Kerry did. Both men are able legislators and McCain will have more than a few of his former colleagues with which he can interact and begin to adjust. About the only thing that will change will be his office location and the number of personnel in his staff. He's been through it before and nothing new will occur now. To say that he is Lieberman light is probably true. Those who disagreed with him in the campaign will be forced to work with him if they want to get anything concrete done in this congress. If the republicans become too radical, I see McCain following Lieberman's lead in becomming an independant. Both men will eventually end up in the nexus of power in the senate when super-majority votes are cast. Pres. Elect Obama did well to smooth over relations with both men. They both may end up being vital contributors to his presidency.

Jae (Maryland)   November 19th, 2008 2:37 am ET

You know, as a Democrat that voted for President-Elect Obama, some of the comments here made by my fellow Democrats are just rude and mean. Let us not forget the great amount of service that Senator McCain gave to his country. For crying out loud, the man endured years of torture from the NVA for his COUNTRY! How many of us would have had the guts to do that? Give credit where credit is due. I may not have wanted him as PODUS, but I sure as heck respect the man.

Also, consider this, John McCain ran as clean of a campaign as he could get away with. As a person who wrestles with my conscious a lot, I can see that the erratic behavior of his campaign was not a sign of age, but rather a conflict between his sense of personal honor and the requirements of a politician to win a presidential election. Were mistakes made? Yes. But remember this, John McCain stuck to his word and did not make use of the Jeremiah Wright issue. He defended then Senator Obama at some of his campaign events and he publicly corrected people's misunderstandings of Senator Obama. How many politicians would have gone that far to stick with their sense of honor? I doubt many of us could stand the high level of conduct that we demand from our politicians. God Bless John McCain and God Bless the United States of America. We are going to need it to get this country out of this financial crisis.

Beverly in NC   November 19th, 2008 2:10 am ET

McCain is now a lame duck Senator. He compromised his character, his integrity, and his honor to run the nastiest, most hate-filled, and racist campaign in history. He alienated everyone and he has shown he has no common sense or judgment by having chosen the nutjob ignorant Palin. No one will ever take McCain seriously again. He should just retire. He is too old and his career is over. He has no credibility. I am ready for him to disappear just as Palin finally has.

Rave   November 19th, 2008 1:55 am ET

From War Hero to Total Zero
He brought it to himself with all the negative attacks
There are thousands more war heros in this country who continue to live with dignity and respect.

Dan   November 19th, 2008 1:41 am ET

I hear in Louisiana (i know in Lafayette)....kids have been warned not to discuss their new President Elect or risk disciplinary action.
All i want to know is....Is this legal? Would it have been same if McCain won? Are our children's teachers trying to drag us back to the 50s.

CNN SHINE UR LIGHT ON THIS MATTER....Would be good investigative journalism for Soledad or Cooper!

db   November 19th, 2008 1:32 am ET

go take some Boniva...

Bill,ca   November 19th, 2008 1:29 am ET

Re: Peter

You Republicans have brought this country down, with Obama it only can turn to the better.

Remember what we predicted all along:

" Landslide Victory "

Now you can scream USA

Linda32   November 19th, 2008 1:28 am ET

It is so funny to me to hear the pundits say it was close until the financial crisis. Truth is each party always gets a bump in the polls then it levels off. So in truth, Palin and the polls were temporary.

Yes we did!   November 19th, 2008 1:28 am ET

McCain ran a dirty campaign and the people are sick and tired of that kind of politics. Learn your lesson the hard way. The best MAN won!

McCain should not serve in President Obama's cabinet. He has proved that he will lie at any cost. Not a trait we want in our administration.

Move on, McCain!

Watermann   November 19th, 2008 1:22 am ET

The world has changed, the communication has changed, the politics have changed, the economy has changed, the environment has changed, the view on religion has changed, the age of the voters has changed and, last but not least, the dreams and the feelings of the people, not only in the US, have changed.

It is time that politicians and media are going to recognize these facts. It will be a long and demanding process but there is no other way to deal with the future challenges.

Al the bits and pieces known in the past are not longer valid. A broader view, not left, centre or right will be our future.

deinse   November 19th, 2008 1:21 am ET

I'm sure the transition will be bumpy for Sen. McCain, but he deserves to eat a little crow after such a horrible campaign.

Marrow   November 19th, 2008 1:19 am ET

John McCain lost the election because he did not stay true to himself. Instead of going with his own pick for VP (Lieberman or Romney) he listened to his advisers and chose Palin. From that point onward, he was saddled with an inexperienced, ill informed running mate, and was forced to run his campaign according to the strategy his advisers had created built around Palin as VP. We saw occasional glimpses of the real McCain, but most of the time he was hidden behind the tired, outdated image that so many GOP candidates have run on in the past.

I have a lot of respect for John McCain, but I believe the better candidate won this election. Obama is intelligent, much more moderate than the right-wingers have made him out to be, and is proving that he meant what he said about bringing bi-partisanship and change to Washington.

Phil Newton in Murphy, Oregon   November 19th, 2008 1:14 am ET

Good man. Bad campaign.

We need you, John!

Unity in 09!

Anonymous   November 19th, 2008 1:07 am ET

Now the old man can go to bed with some warm milk and crackers, oh hows cindy and the 80's rocker the one she was caught kissing?

Democrats No Matter What!!   November 19th, 2008 1:05 am ET

Report the story about Cindy McCain cheating on him and stop censoring my comments!

Pat, NJ   November 19th, 2008 12:57 am ET

The Palin pick was idiotic. I wish Barrack all the best, and he will need it with this mess left by Bush.

A Republican that voted for Obama.

Anonymous   November 19th, 2008 12:48 am ET

Every one keeps saying this guy is too old! Crap on that, I'm in my thirtys and this man has been more stewardship and had common manners and fair game in the political race, showed good sportsmanship, when he lost,..i'ts to bad people are writing him off.
I hope he contiues the senate, AMERICA needs a few good men like him! Keep him in!.

Jack 64 year old   November 19th, 2008 12:45 am ET

It was not just a mismanaged campaign that cost John McCain the election, it was a rejection of his and the republican message.

Now, John McCain can either go back to the Senate with the same old failed GOP policies or he can help this country recover from those failures.

The question: Is John McCain the real patriot that he proclaimed during the campaign or just another minor party obstructionists? The first 6 months of the Obama presidency will bring out the real John McCain, I can't wait to see who the "real John McCain" really is.

Sara from Arizona   November 19th, 2008 12:40 am ET

John, AF vet, It is truly frightening how many Americans voted for Obama.

Sara from Arizona   November 19th, 2008 12:37 am ET

John McCain, a good man and war hero. I have nothing but respect for him.

Justin W.J. in Phoenix   November 19th, 2008 12:35 am ET

I wonder if he would consider a position as Secretary of Defense.

J.C.   November 19th, 2008 12:30 am ET

Senator McCain lost, because he did not have enough confidence in himself, which hurt his leadership.
But I still respect him as one of our best public servants in D.C. He is one strong voice we should keep in the Senate.

Craig in Kansas   November 19th, 2008 12:30 am ET

He lost control of the campaign. All of his advisors lead him down a path that he did not want to take. He has served the country with honor. His campaign staff did not serve him well.

Peter (CA)   November 19th, 2008 12:28 am ET

"Proud to be an American"-
Just going to twist facts, huh?
Can't trust the media because it is all liberal, right? Better to check out a video made by someone with an agenda to "prove" why your side is right.
How about a video of some racist rednecks to balance it out?

We understand history and we also know that if we repeat the same mistakes, we are doomed. It might fit your narrow agenda, but not mine and, luckily, not the MAJORITY of voters.

S. Boatman Warrensburg, Mo.   November 19th, 2008 12:24 am ET

Thats The Way You Look After Getting A Landslide!

PETER   November 19th, 2008 12:19 am ET

JOHN

YOU ARE RICH IT IS TME TO ENJOY IT! RETIRE!!!
SURELY YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE PART OF THE OBAMA SIRCUS!!!

THE USA IS GOING DOWN!!!!

Democrat   November 19th, 2008 12:02 am ET

People,

McCain is the only GOP candidate who would have challenged Obama this year. It was close up until the financial crisis even though it should have been a Reagan like blowout. With Romney, Huckabee or any other wanna be clown the Republicans had to offer it would have very much been a total blue map on Nov 4th

Bill Charlotte,NC   November 19th, 2008 12:01 am ET

Tell McCain to be on the look out. I hear there are un-American, terrorists, socialists, Marxists, Communists, "that-one," celebrities and people who are "not one of us" about to move into Washington. But not to worry, he has them right where he wants them.

jack myhoph   November 18th, 2008 11:51 pm ET

Obama won, McCain lost. Let's all move on.

SOUTHERN HOTTIE   November 18th, 2008 11:49 pm ET

He served our country. As such he deserves our respect and courtesy.

BUT J-MAC PICKING PALIN? THAT WAS JUST STUPID!

Yikes!   November 18th, 2008 11:46 pm ET

Thank God they lost by a landslide, especially with the person he picked as his running mate, give me a break! That woman is more scary than his photo, and that's scary! Country first? More like Johnny first. Karma is real, oh yeah!.

Gerry in Va. for Obama.   November 18th, 2008 11:44 pm ET

John McCains campaign was not a campaign to get him elected. It was a campaign to get him out of the way. The Bush white house didn't want him elected so there was no one who wanted to take responsiblity for the expert political guidance an election team requires. The Republican party simply stood back and watched as the "maverick" buried himself in lies and hate mongering, knowing full well he would never be elected. McCains attitude towards the Republican party was one reason, but the fact that George Bush hates John McCain was the main reason. Senator McCain will hopefully learn before he dies that one can't be a fence straddler with out paying a price when it comes to politics or, like his buddy Lieberman, he may find himself forced to stand on one side or the other, of a fence that is not his choice.

Sarah Smith   November 18th, 2008 11:38 pm ET

DOWNRIGHT

INCOMPENTENT

resonates w/me..

that's my opinion too..

CanIcallyouJoe   November 18th, 2008 11:37 pm ET

McCain: Because 2008 really should be 1935.

Get out.

WAW   November 18th, 2008 11:28 pm ET

I'm a democrat, that said, John McCain is responsible to no one but himself. For the GOP he was to be the "also ran". He was to be out of it early in the primaries and Mitt was to be the shinning standard barer. The only problem was the GOP's religious right base, their strongest supporters. The Southern Baptist, Farwellians and Focus on the Family was more concerned about Mitt's "cult underware" that winning the White House. McCain even had to select one of "them ones" as VP in order to even have a chance. McCain did what he had to do in order to launch a campaign that offered any possibility. Nobody guarded his back or his front for that matter. He may be on his own, but it is not anywhere he has not been before and PEOTUS Obama recognizes that this man meant it when reached across the aisle. John McCain was a valiant opponent and will continue to be honored as a Great American.

G.R.I.T - Girl Raised in the South   November 18th, 2008 11:23 pm ET

I'm sure the transition will be bumpy for Sen. McCain, but he deserves to eat a little crow after such a horrible campaign. On the other hand, for the GOP to blame him for a poorly managed campaign and the problems within the GOP is ridiculous. There were other people running the campaign, McCain tried to appease the extreme right with the Palin pick, and McCain bears some of the blame. Lots of others deserve their share of the blame, as well. Let this man do what he does best, work in the Senate.

Just to keep the record straight, I did not support McCain, I am a lifelong Democrat and a newly minted Obamamaniac!

Proud to be an American and willing to defend America   November 18th, 2008 11:22 pm ET

McCain didn't stand a chance because of the censorship by the liberal mainstream media and ignorance of mainstream America. Check out theYouTube video titled "How Obama Got Elected", and you will see why this country is in the mess it's in. With ignorance to this degree we are ripe for an onslaught like that of Rwanda, Sudan, Congo. You young Americans so eager for change better do some independent research instead of getting your "facts" from SNL, PBS, NSNBC, CNN and the New York imes. Try reading some real history books while you're at it. BTW when the "Fairness Doctrine " is reinstated will PBS have to give equal time to conservatives? I doubt it.

davesarush   November 18th, 2008 11:14 pm ET

yes the photo proves McCain has a bumpy face.

John, Air Force Vet   November 18th, 2008 11:14 pm ET

He IS incompetent. And he picked a more incompetent person as a VP canidate. It is truely frightening how many millions of Americans voted for those two. There are many far better options for the Party.

beartrack   November 18th, 2008 11:13 pm ET

It will be very hard for McCain to return to the Senate as if nothing has happened. Time to call it day John. Retitement to Sedona doesn't sound bad about now.

John   November 18th, 2008 11:10 pm ET

Johny boy, reality start hitting home!!

Mike   November 18th, 2008 11:06 pm ET

Stinging public rejection? 8 million votes short out of over 125 million cast?

Ilona Hussein Proud Canadian   November 18th, 2008 11:02 pm ET

INCOMPETENT? YES!

MEAN? YES!

DISGUSTING? YES!

Please, WHAT ELSE CAN ONE SAY ABOUT THE McCAIN
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN?

I have absolutely no idea, how John McCain can look in
the mirror everyday, and remember the way in which he
conducted his Presidential Election Campaign! How can
he look at himself in the mirror and justify his actions?

Paul   November 18th, 2008 11:01 pm ET

You heard it here–landslide.

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