I think McCain will resign from the senate soon after he loses..

[SoCalDem]

I think he will re-evaluate his presence there, and find that he will have NO friends, aftre what he's done..

The line he crossed, cannot be stepped back over, and all is forgiven.

He knows he's in over his head, and there will be no more running for president for him.. I don't think he's enjoyed being a senator for a very long time anyway..

ANY shred of good-will he had banked, has long ago been spent, and all the "my frennnnnz" in the world, will not make amends to the soon-to-be BIG majority dem senate..

John needs to go back to Arizona & talk to the cactus & tumbleweeds...and venture out to the VFW & tell war stories with his old cronies...

There's an old saying about shitting where you eat..and he's covered in shit..and no one at the "diner" wants him around any longer...

[DarthDem]

1. Possible

I think he will definitely retire rather than run for reelection in 2010, faced with a presumably bluer-evolving Arizona (which has sent Dems to teh Senate in the past in any case) and a probable challenge from Napolitano. It doesn't seem in his character or makeup to go home before his term is up, although I agree with all the points you make.

[GoesTo11]

2. He'll chase money and adoration in retirement

Lobbying, corporate boards, think tanks, speaking appearances.

They all do it if they can.

[KharmaTrain]

3. He'll Play Out The String

No matter how much he says he isn't, Gramps is a creature of the beltway. From nearly the moment he was released from captivity, he's been a captive of the beltway...serving as a military liason before going to the House and then to the Senate. The Beltway is his life...and you saw it on display at the Al Smith Dinner...he loves the limelight and the attention. He relishes being the media creature as well...able to walk onto almost any TV set and is easily one of the most reconizable faces. He's a big fish in a very small pond and you can see with psycophants like Liebermann and Graham always hanging on him, this is a big part of his life. He has very little going for him in Arizona.

One thing holds Gramps back from resigning: Janet Napolitano. She would have the say in who replaces him...losing yet another GOOP seat. He only has two years left on his term and he's been a virtual no-show for the past two years. He'll play out the string...become the "darling" of the beltway media and party circuit (just like BobDole) and try to "rehabilitate" his image. I could even see him become a "gracious" loser...as surely he'll have a lot fewer repugnican friends if he does lose.