The GOP's future: McCain on Leno

In an appearance on Leno -- his first interview since losing the general election -- McCain defended Palin and gave a bit of analysis on the campaign. "'I knew I had a headwind. I can read the polls,' he said, in an obvious reference to a political climate soured by an economic crisis and unpopular Republican president and war. What's this say about the GOP brand? The 'party has a lot of work to do. We just got back from the woodshed,' he said." “Aside from wryly indicting his own ‘personality,’ Mr. McCain declined to speculate on why he lost the election,” the New York Times adds. “He defended his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, who some of his own aides, speaking anonymously, have blamed for his defeat. ‘Did you expect mavericks to stay on message?’ he asked, before saying he ‘couldn’t be happier with Sarah Palin’ and identifying her as part of a group of young governors, including Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, who represent ‘the next generation of our ... (link)