McCain's Graceful Exit
Nov. 4, 2008
"Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that."
— Sen. John McCain, delivering his Election Night concession speech in Phoenix
After months of personal attacks on Obama which ratcheted up even further in the contest's final weeks, McCain capped his campaign effort on a high note. In a gracious Election Night concession speech, the Senator paid tribute to Obama's history-making run and generously offered Godspeed to the man who "will be my President." McCain also seemed to go out of his way to step back from one of his and Palin's most pernicious attacks on the young Democrat — the suggestion that he had associated with "terrorists" such as former radical leader William Ayers.