En route to Phoenix on his last flight on board his Straight Talk Air, John McCain came back and said goodbye to the traveling press who has been tracking him for more than a year. It was the first time McCain had visited the press cabin in months, and prior to his arrival, aides asked that reporters not ask questions, that the candidate really only wanted to come back and say farewell. Walking into the back cabin, McCain was stoic, insisting that he was “feeling good, feeling confident about the way things turned out.”

He wasn’t emotional but you couldn’t say the same about others on the plane. Standing at his side, his wife, Cindy, smiled but had tears in her eyes. Behind him, Sens. Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham, two of McCain’s best friends, were equally emotional, their eyes wet with tears. “We’ve had a great ride, a great experience and it’s full of memories that we will always treasure,” McCain told reporters. ‘We’ve spent a lot of time together … We’ve had a great time. I wish you all every success and look forward to being with you in the future.”

McCain skipped many of his election rituals, including watching a movie. For the past several hours, he has been holed up at his Phoenix condo, watching returns with his family and friends. Shortly before 10 p.m. ET, McCain and his entourage arrived at the Arizona Biltmore, the hotel where he is set to address supporters shortly.