768
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 1:
Line 1: − + − However, McCain may be weaker than prior front-runners. He skipped the first primary in Iowa in 2000 because he is weak there, and only did well in New Hampshire based on strong independent support. Those independents may flock to a more interesting Democratic primary in 2008. McCain is likely to be weak again in the following primary in South Carolina, where independents are not allowed to vote in the [[2008 Republican Primary]].+ + − + + + + + − Notably, if McCain were to win the presidency in 2008, he would be the only President to be born on soil the United States has since relinquished to another government (the [[Panama Canal Zone]]). While this is a potential problem under a strict reading of [[Article II]] of the Constitution, McCain has spent very little time in the Zone and it is unthinkable that any residual attachment to "native soil" could override his loyalty to this country. Also, residency or region is probably not taken seriously as an obstacle to Presidential candidacies in this day and age -- see the article on [[Dick Cheney]]. − McCain's political record has been generally conservative, but he has alienated some conservatives on several important issues: − + Line 27:
Line 30: − 8. John McCain, like Gary Hart and John Tower before him, is at the complete mercy of the media. The media could destroy McCain's public reputation based on his role in the Keating Five scandal, and the media can be expected to do so in a general election. − 9. An intangible, but a very important one, is the issue of trust. Many people, particularly evangelicals, do not trust McCain. That can be an insurmountable problem for a presidential candidate. However, recently, McCain has attempted to reach out to evangelical leaders to regain their trust. An example was his recent speech at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University.+ + − 10. In a general election, the media and the Democrats will likely make an issue about John McCain's health. He has suffered from recurring cancer (melanoma) and will be 72 years old on Election Day. Critics may view McCain as an easy Republican to defeat in a general election for this reason. − ==References== − <references/>
added actual biographical data, removed speculation and uncited opinion
{{stub}}
{{stub}}
'''John Sidney McCain III''' (born August 29, 1936) is the frontrunner to become the presidential nominee for the Republican Party in 2008, earned as a result being the runner-up in the last contested Republican presidential primary. Since at least 1976, the runner-up in the Republican primary has become the nominee in the next election cycle, as Republican primary voters respect seniority.
'''John Sidney McCain III''' (born August 29, 1936) <ref> http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=m000303</ref> is the senior Senator from the state of [[Arizona]], having served 20 years after replacing [[Barry Goldwater]] in 1986. He is currently the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. <ref> http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=m000303</ref> McCain has announced his intention to declare his candidacy for the [[Republican]] nomination for [[President of the United States]] in the [[2008 Presidential Election|2008 Election]].<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,255535,00.html</ref>
==Early Life==
McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone. He was educated in Alexandria, VA before receiving his Bachelors of Science from the United States Naval Academy in 1958.
McCain is currently the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. He was a prisoner of war (POW) in Vietnam and acquired wealth through his second marriage. He has curried favor with the media as an alternative to more conservative Republicans.
==Military Career==
McCain served in the [[United States Navy]] from 1958 to 1981. He was shot down over Hanoi in 1967 during the Vietnam Conflict and held as a Prisoner of War for seven years. McCain graduated from the National War College in 1974. Upon his retirement from the Navy in 1981, as a Captain, he had been commended with the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, and Distinguished Flying Cross.<ref>http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=m000303</ref>
==Political Career==
McCain was elected to the [[House of Representatives]] from Arizona's 1st district in 1982 and served two terms before being elected to the [[Senate]] in 1986. In 2000, he pursued the presidency but lost his bid for the Republican nomination to [[George W. Bush]]. He intends to announce his candidacy for the 2008 election in April. <ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,255535,00.html</ref>
==Political Record==
==Political Record==
1. Immigration. In 2005-2006, McCain joined with liberal Senator Ted Kennedy to support a sweeping bill that reformed the tangled mass of immigration law, but in some ways was was favorable to illegal aliens. It has not passed.
1. Immigration. In 2005-2006, McCain joined with liberal Senator Ted Kennedy to support a sweeping bill that reformed immigration law. It has not passed.
2. Same-sex marriage. In 2006, McCain joined [[Democrat]]s and liberal Republicans in voting against the Federal Marriage Amendment, a proposed constitutional amendment to forbid non-traditional marriage. Later, on ''Hardball'', McCain took a [[Libertarian]] position, "On the issue of the gay marriage, I believe that people want to have private ceremonies, that's fine."
2. Same-sex marriage. In 2006, McCain joined [[Democrat]]s and liberal Republicans in voting against the Federal Marriage Amendment, a proposed constitutional amendment to forbid non-traditional marriage. Later, on ''Hardball'', McCain took a [[Libertarian]] position, "On the issue of the gay marriage, I believe that people want to have private ceremonies, that's fine."
7. Embryonic stem cell research. McCain supports embryonic stem cell research as a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership.
7. Embryonic stem cell research. McCain supports embryonic stem cell research as a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership.
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Biographies]]
[[Category:Biographies]]