John McCain bares no ill will toward any TV personality who didn’t support him during his bid for The White House.
In an interview on Tuesday’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” the veteran serviceman, Senator and former Presidential candidate said he had a thick skin when the late night host asked if there was “any hostility in the media, like that ‘Letterman’ fall out?”
“No,” the composed Senator said. “You should have seen ‘The View!’… We’re big guys, we’re supposed to be able to take this kind of stuff. One thing I think Americans don’t want is a sore loser. I’ve got a great [job]. I get to go back to the United States Senate and work on a lot of issues… That’s been my life.”
McCain, who appeared on the show in front of an audience consisting mostly of veterans and active military service members in honor of Veteran’s Day, also tackled questions about his vice presidential pick, Sarah Palin.
When Leno asked McCain if he thought Palin hurt his campaign, the Senator stood by his former running mate.
“No,” he said. “I’m so proud of her and I’m very grateful that she agreed to run with me. She inspired people, she still does. And look, I couldn’t be happier with Sarah Palin and she’s going back to be a great Governor and I think she will play a big role in the future of this country.”
Leno also asked the Senator if Palin “ever got off message,” something McCain conceded on.
“Did you expect mavericks to stay on message? I’m sure that from time… Look, we did a lot of things together, a lot of these rallies. The people were very excited and inspired by her and that’s what really mattered, I think,” McCain said. “Look, she’s a great reformer. She took on the Governor of her own party when she ran for Governor. She understands all the energy issues… She’s a marvelous person.”
The late night host also brought up a subject on everyone’s minds – the leaks from the Republican camp about Palin — something McCain played down.
“One, these things happen in campaigns. Two, I think I have at least a thousand quote ‘top advisors,’… people I’ve never even heard of much less a top advisor or a high ranking Republican official,” McCain said. “These things go on in campaigns and you just move on…. I’m just very proud to have had Sarah Palin and her family, a wonderful family.”
As for Joe the Plumber, aka Joe Wurzelbacher, an Ohio man who became famous after he was name-dropped multiple times in the third and final Presidential debate, McCain said he was impressed by how the Buckeye handled his instant fame.
“I loved him. He’s a great guy, Joe Wurzelbacher… Had a chance to get to know him a bit… Great guy, great guy,” McCain smiled. “That guy went from 0 to 70 percent name ID in 48 hours. Really. It was amazing and he handled it incredibly well, incredibly well.”
While he received over 57.9 million votes in the Presidential election and made plenty of friends along the campaign trail, McCain said he won’t be running again in 2012.
“I wouldn’t think so my friend,” McCain said. “It’s been a great experience and we’re going to have another great generation of leaders to come along and I hope I can contribute. That’s all.”
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