"The one way you can't win a race is to quit it, and until somebody beats me, I'm going to answer the bell for every round of this fight, " he said.

NPR: Solid Wins for McCain; Clinton, Obama Close

It seemed to me that there were just as many earnings beats as earnings misses, so a favorable holiday sales outlook is not a factor in the positive technical divergences.

FORBES: Consumer Sectors Rebounded Friday: Could There Be A Santa Claus Rally?