[JPhillips]

Here's a question for everyone. What happens to each of the candidates if they lose?

The first two are easy.

Biden: He'll have one or two more terms in the Senate
McCain: Finish this term, maybe run for reelection. He'll be a pain in the ass for an Obama administration.

Obama: I think he'd get tired of being in the Senate. He might serve a second term, but it wouldn't surprise me to see him leave the Senate for a foundation and the speaker's circuit.

Palin: This is the most difficult. If McCain wins she'll almost certainly be a Presidential candidate in four or eight years. However, if McCain loses I don't think she'll have a good shot at winning a Presidential election. She could be a Senator for life if she wanted, but that doesn't seem to fit her well. I see her finishing her term as Governor and relocating to be closer to Washington. She'll get writing and speaking jobs and run for the Presidency in 2012, but by then the newness will be gone and she won't win the primary. After that she stays moderately visible as a sometimes writer/talking head with forays into lower cabinet level positions.