Politics | John McCain McCain to Leno: Don't Blame Palin By John Johnson Posted Nov 11, 2008 9:17 PM CST Copied In this August file photo, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., left, makes an appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) John McCain poked fun at himself and his campaign on Jay Leno tonight but refused to place blame for his loss on Sarah Palin or the media, Politico reports. "The one thing I think Americans don't want is a sore loser," said McCain. "I'm a fighter. I knew I had a headwind. I can read the polls. They tried to keep them away from me. But I knew we had a real headwind." McCain said he was "very proud" to have had Palin as a running mate and scoffed at the so-called "top advisers" who were quoted criticizing her. He said they were probably "people that I've never even heard of, much less a top adviser." As for the prospects of him running in 2012: "I wouldn't think so, my friend. It's been a great experience and we're going to have another generation of leaders come along." Read These Next Horrific tragedy reported at Rob Reiner's house. Suspect in Brown University shooting is a Wisconsin man, 24. A beach massacre at a Jewish event in Australia killed 12. Father and son killed 15 people on Bondi Beach, police say. Report an error