McCain Says Palin Not at Fault for Campaign Loss

Despite a lingering cloud of doubt surrounding whether or not Sarah Palin was the correct choice as a vice presidential candidate, John McCain still seems sure that his decision was the right one. McCain was steadfast when he explained to Jay Leno that he believed Sarah Palin was a positive force in his unsuccessful campaign for president. He pointed to the fact that she got people talking immediately and that she energized the GOP base, especially in the early days after her selection and introduction to the country.

McCain dismissed the reports about officials within the campaign blaming Palin for the campaign's failure and leaking scathing information to the press about Palin's alleged misunderstandings of global geography. It has been widely reported that she believed Africa was a country as opposed a continent. Palin herself dismissed these reports as cowardly campaign officials taking her comments out of context in an attempt to sensationalize any negative images of her.

Then, of course, there is the ongoing controversy surrounding the wardrobe that was purchased for her by the GOP -- over $150,000 in clothing from some very exclusive department stores and clothiers. Palin also addressed this issue, saying that she never wanted nor asked for any clothes from the GOP and that she would have preferred to wear her own. Nonetheless, the fashion scandal has now progressed to find Palin and her family - as well as lawyers for the GOP - trying to determine where the clothes are now and what she can possibly return.

As McCain defended his running mate both personally and as a vice presidential candidate, he wisely pointed to the absurdity of unnamed media sources, including "top adviser" and "high-ranking Republican officials". McCain told Jay Leno that he probably had about 1000 "top advisers" working for him at any time during the campaign. He also said he had never even heard of a high-ranking Republican official.