As news of his campaign’s unraveling was breaking, McCain was debating Iraq on the Senate floor. The strain of the campaign shake-up was evident, breaking through at one point when McCain lost his temper with Barbara Boxer:
MCCAIN: The fact is, I do read the polls. And if the Senator from California had paid attention to my opening statement she would have known that I made it clear that I understand the frustration and the sorrow of the American people.
I also know that a lot of us are not driven by polls. A lot of us are driven by principle. And a lot of us do what we think is right no matter what the polls say.