ABOUT FIRST READ

First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC Political Researcher



McCain camp mood

Posted: Tuesday, November 04, 2008 10:36 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
Senior staffers are gathering to spend time with Sen. McCain at the "family villa" they are using tonight on the hotel grounds.

Various senior staffers describe McCain's mood as "good" and "he's fine."

There is a collective sense among staffers that this has been a "valiant effort" and a "great fight" in "historically difficult times."

Other describe a feeling of "no regrets" and members of the senior team contend they "left it all on the table."

One advisor says McCain himself feels "that he let his staff and supporters down."

They continue to watch results and await more actual vote totals.

No details yet on when Sen. McCain will appear.

MAIN PAGE

Email this EMAIL THIS

Comments

Oh, CONCEDE already, will ya!
I know how badly he wanted the presidency. I hope he stays in the Senate and continues to reach across the aisle.  I hope he gives a gracious concession speech and doesn't incite hate and division. I hope he says, "America has spoken."
I'm beyond upset that things are going the way they are 7:49 pst My husband has been in the USMC 16 1/2 yrs I'm really scared for this person to be "In Charge" Camp Pendleton Loves John McCain
If he has at least one regret it should be choosing someone who is completely unqualified to be his running mate.  At that point I completely wrote him off.  He should have gone with the guy that helped him win Florida in the primaries:  Charlie Crist.
McCain has nothing to be ashamed or the feeling of letting anyone down. This election was bought and won with the money and young uneducated young people going with the crowd.
They called Obama a socialist. They said he would pal around with terrorists. Now they are going down. I don't have one bit of simpathy for McCain or Palin. They deserve to go down in flames. This kind of campaigning cannot be rewarded.
He has given so much to his country and for that he should be proud.  Well done, Senator McCain, the original Maverick.
Obama has brought our nation together. These are truly historic times, my friends.
I should wait till the election has been called, but his own staff is starting to see the handwriting.mcain/palin didn't let his staff and his supporters down. He let the American people his "friends" down. That always annoyed me, because mccain you HAVE NOT nor WOULD EVER BE MY FRIEND!!!! Your pick of palin was the biggest political mistake you made. You made a fool of yourself and minimized the inteligence of the American people. They nominated you because they knew they could'nt win.So they gave it to you as the "good ole boy". Watch your back...isn't palin with you tonight? Palin go back to Alaska,stare at Russia, watch for Putin to fly over.And always remember the AMERICAN people DID NOT BUY YOUR NASTINESS.Go back to Alaska and see how they are going to watch every move you make. They will watch your travel,look at you outfits.The republican "right" base is GONE!!! You both have been so divisive and plain MEAN. Your two do not reflect  the people of AMerica. God Bless OBAMA/BIDEN!!!!!
From what I have read, Obama would want McCain to continue his work & be able to work with him in regards to helping rebuild the USA.

Hopefully, this will happen.
Wow, I guess I didn't expect him to concede this
early. All I can say is thank You, Jesus! Obama won!
I feel as soon as obama takes office (if he does) that some of us will be regretting our decision.
Sarah Palin  ruined any chance he may have had of getting votes.  Bad decision.  She was a joke.  Previous Republican, but never again.  What a screwed up party.
Unfortunately, it's President Bush who failed and caused the Democrats to win this election.
As an Obama supporter I think that McCain is a good man and it is unfortunate that he had to let low-life GOP party people run a negative campaign.  Win or lose, and he'll probably lose, he could have established his legacy by running a positive campaign.
Can Palin return to Alaska ASAP? I pay for her ticket and her family tickets
I feel little remorse for John Mccain.  I lost respect for him as a result of his "gutter" campaign and it's strategy.  This serves him well and should be a lesson to the Republican and Democratic parties that.  Always try to win honorably!  Mr. Mccain, there was nothing honorable about you or your campaign  
I've put my kids to bed.  My wife is sound asleep.  And I have just witnessed the second revolution of my lifetime.  Ronald Reagan did this in 1980.
I pray that the country comes together and America will thrive once again
I cannot understand a party such as the Democrats that say they are for the American people, unity and change yet they behave the way they do and say the things they say. John McCain is a true American patriot that is overqualified to lead this country. Sarah Palin has proven herself an able administrator and a woman worthy of being our country's vice president. I am proud I left the Democratic party over 35 years ago and look forward to the day when America wakes up and recognizes true leadership patriotism, honor and most of all integrity. We don't have it now with our currently chosen president. God help America, the future of our country and most of all the lives of our children.
God help us all!  I never thought I would see the day the the United States would be destroyed by the Liberal Left Media and their ability to provide a platform for an unqualified, no-term senator to BUY the office of President of the United States.  There are no united states now.  Advertising and race won the election, what happened to principals, integrity, and experience. Such a sad day for real Americans.

Mr. McCain you were an honorable man who ran a campaign in disarray from the get go.  When you and your running mate turned nasty, you went back on what you promised the American people and that was to speak the issues, speak positively or not all.  You should have listened to you. And Mrs. Palin, in the words of a recent poster, "American women did not wait 232 years for you."  
CONGRATS PRESIDENT OBAMA!! Is anyone else freaked out by the "live via hologram" interviews on CNN?!
I am so happy that Obama has won the election! John McCain may have had my vote until the unforunate arrival of Palin.  Needless to say both ran a good race.  I am the only person in my workplace that voted Obama.  I can only hope he brings the change he has promised!
I am ecstatic!  I am 48 years old.  I first voted for president in 1980, the year Ronald Reagan was elected.  Since that time, I feel like dark stain has marred our country.  Tonight, that stain is gone.  The Reagan revolution is dead.  Right wing religious conservatism is dead.  Neoconservatism is dead.  The center is restored.  Our country is back on track to greatness.  My most fervent hope is that all you younger people who got enthused over this candidate and this election stay solid and stay enthused.  I hope to never, ever have to live under a republican administration again.  Or, if the republican party does come to power again, I hope it is a new, better, centralist republican party, free of the taint of faith-based government, free of the neoconservative fear that has driven out hysterical, bullying foreign policy these past 8 years.  Free of the insanity of right wing jingoism. In other words, I hope my next choice is between two parties with strong, positive messages, and not between one sane party and one thoroughly insane one.  Tonight, we are better.  Tonight, we can finally hold our heads up again.  If you voted for Obama, thank you.  If you voted for McCain, please consider helping the rest of us bring about the postive change this mandate calls for.  If you cannot this, please do us the courtesy of stepping gracefully.
Hang on to that GOD Bless because Obama stands for nothing under GOD! Praise to McCain and Palin and shame on you for speaking of one of our veteran's that fought for your right to even post on the Internet. What is your deal with Palin, she stands for values what our forefathers fought for. I'll go to bed tonight and sleep soundly knowing that my soul lies with GOD. I pray for this country and what direction is unseen. I pray for your eyes to be opened and your hatred lifted. Enough with the bashing.. we have young children to show the way. They are our future and they need clear direction. I pray that you and your nastiness is beyond the reach of our children! Proud to be an AMERICAN- Pro-Life- Christian!
Man, we are screwed. Well, at least I'm old enough to remember what Communism was like. Because we'll have it again.

Once again, America fails in the intelligence department. Money, greed and a flashy "presence" win over substance.

*headdesk* I need to call Hell. I think it might have just froze over.
I hope in the future that Republican party leaders  will remember what poor results they got in this election from the cynical, divisive, and ultimately backfiring personal attacks the party machine heaped on President Obama.  Perhaps they will decide next time to at least lose with dignity.
America will regret this election.  These people in power will do lasting harm that we may never recover from.    This Junior Senator has absolutely no experience.  He will be a puppet - paying back all those crooks who put him in office.  He and his wife hate this country and have said so.    
As I read through many of these emotional comments I can only think we'll get exactly what we deserve. Americans want social freedoms without the responsibility required to maintain those freedoms. We have now began the journey to giving our power to to "big brother" because we have grown increasingly lazy.....I hope my fears are wrong.
As a teen who did not support either candidate, I'm disappointed in some of the negative comments on here. I expected that the adults of this country would be adults and not post unnecessary, insulting remarks regarding either candidates. Seriously, can't we all just congratulate the winner and give the losing candidate a pat on the back, despite who we voted for? I don't think that's too much to ask.
Does Canada have room for one more?
I think before anyone should be putting blame on anyone, see if you can accomplish what they have done. McCAIN has nothing to prove he did that during the war, as well in the senate. Obama has a lot to prove, nothing comes to mind as to anything he has done, but talk. Actions speak louder then words and people a fickle, look what has happend to Bush, he was elected and now everyone wants him out. Guess its wait a see time, and are you really any better then they are if your calling them names? Just a thought. All I can say is Obama was not my vote, but he had better step up to the plate.
If there is still a GOD...which I believe this word is not allowed in Washington DC... I think this will be a good time to start praying for Obama...he is really going to need spiritual help in lieu of his advisers!
Being an Air Force member for 8 years, i've known nothing but Bush. i'm ready for change. maybe we'll start respecting other countries and cultures from now on, and i'll not have to fight misguided wars...
Remeber this over the next 4 years; "Don't blame me, I voted McCain!"
America has spoken.  This was not the way I voted or what I had hoped for, but that is democracy.  I hope our nation prospers and there is an end to the War within sight.  God Bless the USA and our new President.  
This is the worst thing that could of happened to the country. McCain is the better canidate hands down.
G.O.P FOR LIFE
Thank you for giving us a try... God be with you, and all of us... lets see what happens next!
those of you who say God Bless Obama should be ashamed anyone who is for Gay marriage and abortion is not right with God, time to read your bibles and get familar with the end times!!!!  Obama has made promises he cannot keep and to many people think he is the answer to our problems.....news flash it will take more than TALK to get us out of this mess, God help us if Obama wins...at that point we better all pray to God!!!!
Well I think we can safely say that racism is not a huge problem anymore.
I would've like to see someone who has spent 30 yrs. in civil service for president.  I guess if you spend only 3 year as senator, two of which was spent campaigning for presidentcy (and being black) then your automatically qualified.  At least Palin did something during her govenorship...What has Barak done? I've never heard anything substatial!
McCain remains simply the Mac. I wish it ended the other way for him.
As an Obama supporter, I would like to thank McCain for a job well done.  You gave the man a run for his money.  You are very much respected and appreciated.
I am proud to say I supported John McCain and Sarah Palin. John is a true American patriot and so qualified to have been our president during these difficult times. I am proud of Sarah Palin, for the woman and the leader she is. I fail to understand how the Democrats can constantly say they are trying to bring the country together when their rhetoric is so negative, mean-spirited and devisive. I proudly left the Democratic party over 35 years ago and I pray the country is able to muddle through the next four years until her citizens wake up again.
I think the better man won, and he did it with out having to lower is standards and attach McCain Personally.  This is a Historically moment for the United State of American...Theres only good things to come..
I feel a lot of hate already...WOW..we should all be together inspite of who won. I hope America didn't make a mistake and let's see how much Obama with ALL THE EXPERIENCE he has, how can he make America a better place.
I can see that John McCain is back to being himself...hooray!  I like this John McCain very much, great speech.  My candidate, Barack Obama won, but seeing McCain back to his positive and honorable self, and made me twice as happy tonight.... God bless America!
By not running an effective campaign,and not getting out to vote,  we republicans have brought this on ourselves.  May God have mercy on America.  Pro-lifers, those who value the sanctity of family/marriage, and believe in small gov't, strong military...maybe now we'll stand up for what we believe in...when the road now will be harder to hoe than ever!
I hope SO much that this begins to move the world's view of America towards the positive that it once was.
John McCain went out like the man he was before his obsession with the presidency.
We will see how you all like paying 20% interest on a mortgage with A+ credit!  Nobama doesn't have a clue of how to pay for all he has promised.  Wake Up America!


SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=1639843

First Read e-mail alerts


Sign up for First Read alerts
The first place for key political news and analysis

Syndicate This Site

Add First Read to your news reader:
live.com xml
myyahoo msn
bloglines newsgator
google