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McCain and Palin Go Their Separate Ways, in Separate Ways
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ShareNovember 05, 2008 9:15 PM
ABC News' Imtiyaz Delawala and Bret Hovell report: One day after conceding the presidential election to Sen. Barack Obama, Sen. John McCain and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin have gone their separate ways, both departing Phoenix today after two months on the campaign trail as the Republican presidential ticket.
Palin left the Arizona Biltmore hotel Wednesday afternoon in a motorcade stretching more than a dozen vehicles, flanked by a dozen more cops on motorcycles. She was joined by some 18 family members and friends who had made the trip from Alaska to Phoenix to watch Election Night returns.
In contrast, John McCain drove himself in his own gold Toyota Sequoia SUV -- with friend and Senate colleague Lindsey Graham riding shotgun -- from his condo in Phoenix to his secluded compound in Sedona for a few days of rest there.
The separate departures seemed a striking metaphor for the two who together sought the White House: one the party elder, not expected to run for president again, back on his own after the pomp and circumstance died down; the other a rising star in the Republican party, whose political celebrity is now nearly as big as the president-elect’s.
To be sure, McCain had resisted the Secret Service when he gained his party’s nomination, and was likely anxious for them to conclude their protection of him, preferring to drive to his Sedona ranch on his own.
Palin, on the other hand, was still 2,500 miles away from her home in Wasilla, Alaska, and was traveling with her large contingent of family and friends returning home, as well as three staff members and a full secret service detail who will continue with her for a few more days as she transitions back to her life in Alaska – where Palin drives herself to work every day.
While McCain did not speak with the press at any point today, Gov. Palin fielded questions from reporters for a second time as she departed the Arizona Biltmore hotel for the Phoenix airport, where her plane took off shortly after 4 p.m. mountain time for the nearly six-hour flight back to Alaska.
As she did this morning, Palin declined to speculate on her own future political ambitions, saying she was looking forward to returning to the governor’s office in Alaska.
But she said she plans to stay on the national scene by pushing the new Obama administration on energy policy – the issue she focused the most passion and detail on during her two months on the national campaign trail.
"I see my role as the governor of Alaska allowing our nation to become energy secure," Palin said to reporters before leaving her Phoenix hotel. "Alaska can lead this effort, and as governor I wanna be there on the forefront helping to make this nation more secure."
"So we’ll reach out to Barack Obama and to the people who he surrounds himself with," Palin said of her desire to work with the new president-elect on the issue. "A united effort that we certainly will be making here in order to secure our nation and allow us to be more prosperous."
While she had often served as the attack dog on the campaign trail, Palin expressed pride in the election of Obama as the first African-American president, and in her own historic run as the first female Republican vice presidential nominee.
"It’s been an honor and I feel like it’s just been such a blessing to have the opportunity to represent women who work hard all across this nation every single day, as they too balance that life/work balance that needs to be struck, and just being able to represent women," Palin said, while holding her six-month-old son Trig in her arms, while her seven-year-old daughter Piper and husband Todd stood at her side. Palin was dressed casually in black sweatpants and a blue sweatshirt with the words "Alaska Grown" on it -- looking more like the Alaska "hockey mom" she often touted in campaign speeches.
"It says all good things about our country, and the progress that we have made and the barriers that have come down," Palin added. "I couldn’t be more proud of where we are today, you know, this minority status now being kind of propelled to the forefront, that’s healthy."
Palin declined to engage in any criticism of her campaign, saying the experience had been "entirely positive and refreshing and energizing," and adding that the day should instead belong to President-Elect Obama and his historic election win.
"I have absolutely no intention of engaging in any of the negativity because this has been all positive for me for what I believe in, the values that I represent and the progress that I wanna see America be able to make," Palin said when asked about post-election finger-pointing. "Just absolutely no time for the pettiness. And that’s kinda just the way I’m wired. I don’t have time for that."
"This is an historic moment. Barack Obama has been elected president," Palin added. "And God bless Barack Obama and his beautiful family and the new administration coming in. It is time that we all pulled together and worked together and America’s going to reach her destiny."
November 5, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (854)
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The left are so afraid and insecure about this woman, they can't help themselves. It's obvious to everyone that she wasn't ready. However, they know she has HUGE star power and if she could get her act together, she would threaten the Dem's. This is why they are trying to destroy her before she rises out of the ashes.
Posted by: bfree007 | Nov 5, 2008 9:56:22 PM
sara - she said that once. Bill Ayers is a domestic terrorist, whether reformed or not (and by his own admission, not). Obama spent time with him. Perhaps "palling around" was not the best choice of words, but would you object to "involved with" or "associated with"?
Posted by: Chad | Nov 5, 2008 9:57:57 PM
God bless you, Sarah. You are one classy lady.
Posted by: Gina | Nov 5, 2008 9:59:03 PM
Question to all the women who still cannot let go of their anger towards Palin: is it because she is prettier than you?
Posted by: gby82 | Nov 5, 2008 9:59:33 PM
I have know ax to grind with Gov Palin and I voted for Senator Obama but I do want Know where is Joe The Plumber who hung around just enough to get his book deal he used McCain/Palin
Posted by: bonita | Nov 5, 2008 9:59:49 PM
The Mac is Back...in Arizona where he belongs.
Posted by: New Yorker | Nov 5, 2008 10:00:17 PM
If you are a conservative woman, check out this site, www.smartgirlpolitics.blogspot.com. Believe it or not, smart women do support Sarah Palin.
Posted by: Eva | Nov 5, 2008 10:01:50 PM
Eyes... can't you tell? We are smiling and waving goodbye!
Posted by: Lambofgoth | Nov 5, 2008 10:02:01 PM
You haters are so lame. Sarah rocks and was very gracious at the end. She put up with 10 lifetimes of crap and handled it very well-much better than most of you fools would.
Posted by: deb | Nov 5, 2008 10:02:02 PM
bree007
Now that the election is over and Obama won, I would like to come clean about that.
Yes.
Yes I was against her because I knew she was huge for the republican party. I had to fight her every step of the way.
She is damaged now and will not return.
Obama won and we have work to do!
I'm sorry, but hey that's politics.
Posted by: jenny | Nov 5, 2008 10:02:54 PM
Palin has done more for her country than most of you posting ignorant comments abou her. Your President is black? Why does that matter. You forget he is half black/half white. Does that mean you hate the white in him...which is why you probably hate Palin. Typical comment from a stupid N-I-G-G-E-R. Ignorance is voting or not voting for someone because of their skin color.
Posted by: Adolf | Nov 5, 2008 10:03:01 PM
bye bye Sam the Plumber
Posted by: Steve Barnes | Nov 5, 2008 10:03:17 PM
Question to men that need to ask if we're not in love with the woman because we think she's prettier. Is this all you think women are about?
Posted by: Susan-1 | Nov 5, 2008 10:03:26 PM
Bye,
Hope you get eaten by a polar bear!
Posted by: Tina | Nov 5, 2008 10:04:06 PM
I have only respect and admiration for Governor Palin. I really don't know how she took all the adverse and negative remarks from the MSM who tried to make her seem a simpleton. I pray for her and her family and pray that she will remain "on the scene". It was because of her that my family members and I eagerly voted for McCain/Palin.
Posted by: Sherrill Myers | Nov 5, 2008 10:05:13 PM
To all the negative commentors on this blog-please do shut up. She didn't win and she has bowed down gracefully along with John McCain-why can't you except that? Why must you carry on with the divisive insults? What does that accomplish other than to divide? Please learn something from this historic election and please get off of your many pedestals. Sooner rather than later would be nice. Obama wants you to.
Posted by: Aly | Nov 5, 2008 10:05:45 PM
Hey rickyt1234!!! Colin Powell endorsed Ted Stevens, and he got elected, too. All you poseur nuns of the Donkey Party need to drop the holier-than-thou routine. The President-elect had the FBI looking into his land deal with Rezko recently. You'll say OLD NEWS, but you just prove my point.
Government is slow to act or do anything, and your party will just expand it. You've brought on the financial crisis. Obama blaming Bush for the next four years will get old. And Sarah Palin will have more experience.
Posted by: chunderroad | Nov 5, 2008 10:06:05 PM
Guess what? It's over. Palin was and still is unprepared for the presidency - but she ran for the VP position. She will be back. I used to be like you guys in thinking that small town style is something to be laughed at but not any more. I grew up! By the way my wife agrees that women (some anyway)can't stand to see a prettier woman advance. Would it help if she looked like HC?
Posted by: josephblinded | Nov 5, 2008 10:06:30 PM
I have nothing against Palin i just would find it very difficult to accept her being V.P. theres no doubt about it she does have star power.she's an entertainer just not presidential material.
Posted by: REMY | Nov 5, 2008 10:06:45 PM
@ gby82
No it's because she is dumber than I am and she had the nerve to think she could lead this great nation.
Yes I said she is dumber than even me.
HA HA HA Dumb A$$
Posted by: gbYruadumbdumb | Nov 5, 2008 10:06:47 PM
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