Make McCain likely to seek an active role in Congress , former aides say . McCain could position himself as a powerful member of the Obama administration . But the road from Republican Party standard-bearer to merely one of a hundred senators can be a bumpy one , political observers say , especially since the Arizona senator is without a leadership position as his party faces its slimmest minority in the chamber in nearly three decades . Republicans face slimmest minority in Congress in nearly two decades . It 's unclear just how much political influence McCain has left in Washington .
Make McCain likely to seek an active role in Congress , former aides say . McCain could position himself as a powerful member of the Obama administration . Republicans face slimmest minority in Congress in nearly two decades . It 's unclear just how much political influence McCain has left in Washington .