A McCain adviser revealed that she didn't know Africa was a continent rather than a country.

"It's not a character trait of John's to say 'yes, sir, no, sir' to anybody," says a McCain adviser.

One McCain adviser said television commercials had already been prepared emphasizing the candidate's conservative positions on issues like gun control, abortion, taxes and government spending.

McCain advisers said that Palin "did not have the time or focus to prepare for the interview."

"She did not say, 'I will not prepare,'" a McCain adviser said.

"Internally there has been no discussion of 2008," said John Weaver, a McCain political adviser.

The campaign has also received $70,000 since the polls closed in South Carolina, McCain advisers said.

I recall a McCain adviser coming up to me after his candidate had performed particularly poorly.

A McCain adviser fears Bush will "get out the blowtorch and go after McCain."

"It hurts her when she gets in a defensive crouch on her husband's record," a McCain adviser said.