McCain running for Senate, praising Palin

Republican presidential candidate John McCain confirmed today that he plans to seek re-election to the US Senate from Arizona in 2010.

McCain said if wins, he is committed to serving the full six-year term. Asked about running for president again, he replied, laughing, "I do not envision a scenario that would entail that."

Asked about getting over a crushing loss, he said "you really have to take an attitude" that it was an honor to run as the GOP nominee and that the American people rendered their verdict.

"We worked hard and inspired a lot of people," he said. "We look back with pride on the campaign we ran."

Asked about the lessons of the election, he said Republicans have to return to fiscal discipline and said Americans are very worried about the economy.

At a press conference in Phoenix, McCain also continued to talk up his running mate, Sarah Palin, who he called "a breath of fresh air that swept the country."

"I think Governor Palin's future is very bright," McCain said. "I think she did a great job of energizing our base. I'm very proud of her."

McCain also said he plans to return soon to the war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In Iraq, he said, he will talk to US military and Iraqi government leaders about the status-of-forces agreement being voted on in parliament that would require US troops to withdraw by 2011.

"And, of course, we know we face significant challenges in Afghanistan, which I think almost all of us are in agreement will require increased US presence, NATO participation, and obviously -- also, we'll be visiting Pakistan to discuss with the Pakistani government, the prime minister, and others, the -- and president, the state of our relations with Afghanistan and how we can work more closely together," McCain said.