McCain to roll up sleeves and head to Senate following family time break

Washington, Nov 7 : Senator John McCain, who lost to Democrat Barack Obama in US presidential race, will be returning to Congress and continue to reach across the Senate to remain a powerful voice for the Republican Party, strategists and experts have said.

"John is someone who has always served his country and he has his entire adult life, and I anticipate that after some time off, well deserved, and some time with his family, well deserved, he'll be back in Washington, rolling up his sleeves and getting back to work," John Weaver, McCain's former top campaign strategist, told said.

"This is his last run, obviously, for national political office, but he's still got many years of service ahead of him," FOX News quoted Weaver, as saying.

Weaver said he thinks McCain will be a positive voice for Republicans who will find themselves in the minority in both the House and Senate when Congress convenes in January.

Michael Steele, former lieutenant governor of Maryland and chairman of GOPAC, said: "John McCain will be John McCain. I think he'll continue to be a maverick in the Senate. He'll continue to be a voice of leadership and a voice of opposition to the coming administration."

McCain has two more years remaining in his fourth term in the Senate, and there's no reason to suspect he won't run again and win in 2010.

McCain's office confirmed that he will be back in Washington to finish out his term, but didn't have any other information regarding his future plans. He will be 74 years old on Election Day, 2010.

The Republican candidate conceded defeat and congratulated President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday night after a grueling and expensive battle for the presidency.

ANI