Officials say McCain an active GOP member

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is responding to his presidential election loss by attempting to reshape the Republican Party, officials say.

Political strategist John Weaver said McCain, who was defeated in the 2008 presidential election by Barack Obama, is a politician who can help the Republican Party recover from its recent political losses, The Politico reported Friday.

"At a time when our party is struggling and has a lot of shrill voices and aggressive voices, he's one that can expand our party," Weaver said.

U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., said McCain has also become active in supporting certain Republican candidates that match the senator's goals for their political party.

"He ... tells me that he has been very circumspect in what races to get involved in. From my vantage point, it's not a broad scale 'I'm for everybody,'" Moran told The Politico. "It's 'I'm picking candidates that I feel very comfortable with,' candidates that I think share some of his beliefs and philosophies of governing, and the largest part of that, I think, was fiscal responsibility."