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[[Image:Casmier.jpg|right|thumb|250px|'''Senator John McCain, R-Arizona''']] '''John Sidney McCain III''' (born in the U.S. [[Panama Canal]] Zone, August 29, 1936) <ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=m0003http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/13/Button_enter.png Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]</ref>, the Republican candidate for President in 2008, is a prominent maverick politician and Vietnam War hero, and he is the senior [[United States Senate|Senator]] of [[Arizona]]. He has been an influential leader in American politics since 1986, when he ran for office attacking corruption, attacking [[pork barrel]] spending and working for [[campaign finance reform]].  He was defeated by [[George W. Bush]] for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, and in 2008 kept his distance from the president, despite efforts of Democrats to paint the two as close allies.

[[Image:Casmier.jpg|right|thumb|250px|'''Senator John McCain, R-Arizona''']] '''John Sidney McCain III''' (born in the U.S. [[Panama Canal]] Zone, August 29, 1936) <ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=m0003http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/13/Button_enter.png Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]</ref>, was the Republican candidate for President in 2008,remains a prominent maverick politician and Vietnam War hero, and he is the senior [[United States Senate|Senator]] of [[Arizona]]. He has been an influential leader in American politics since 1986, when he ran for office attacking corruption, attacking [[pork barrel]] spending and working for [[campaign finance reform]].  He was defeated by [[George W. Bush]] for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, and in 2008 kept his distance from the president despite efforts of Democrats to paint the two as close allies. John McCain conceded the presidential race to Democratic senator [Barack Obama] on November 4th 2008 following reports of an overwhelming electoral majority for Obama.  

As a pilot for the United States Navy and former Prisoner-of-War (POW), he served in the military for 22 years.<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=m000303 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]</ref> McCain, a [[Baptist]],<ref> http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,296973,00.html</ref> has impressive credentials on issues of foreign policy and national security, which have propelled him in the forefront of national politics as both an outspoken voice for the United States military and as a Presidential contender for the Republican Party since 1993.<ref>Alexander, Paul. John McCain: Man of the People. Published 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-47545-9</ref> McCain is the [[Republican]] nominee for [[President of the United States of America|President of the United States]] in the [[2008 Presidential Election|2008 Election]]. <ref>[http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080305/NATIONWORLD/803050441/0/LOCAL1901 ''McCain clinches GOP nomination; Huckabee bows out''] 5 March 2008 IndyStar.com</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,255535,00.html John McCain Announces Plans for '08 Presidential Candidacy on 'Late Night With David Letterman'], Associated Press, 1 March 2007</ref> If elected, John McCain would be the first President who was ever a POW of a foreign conflict.

As a pilot for the United States Navy and former Prisoner-of-War (POW), he served in the military for 22 years.<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=m000303 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]</ref> McCain, a [[Baptist]],<ref> http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,296973,00.html</ref> has impressive credentials on issues of foreign policy and national security, which have propelled him in the forefront of national politics as both an outspoken voice for the United States military and as a Presidential contender for the Republican Party since 1993.<ref>Alexander, Paul. John McCain: Man of the People. Published 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-47545-9</ref> McCain is the [[Republican]] nominee for [[President of the United States of America|President of the United States]] in the [[2008 Presidential Election|2008 Election]]. <ref>[http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080305/NATIONWORLD/803050441/0/LOCAL1901 ''McCain clinches GOP nomination; Huckabee bows out''] 5 March 2008 IndyStar.com</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,255535,00.html John McCain Announces Plans for '08 Presidential Candidacy on 'Late Night With David Letterman'], Associated Press, 1 March 2007</ref>

==Early Life==

==Early Life==

As October rolled around, media reports began to surface on Barack Obama's relationship with Bill Ayers, a domestic terrorist who had worked with Obama during his community-organizing past. McCain capitalized on the issue, making mention of the terrorist during Town Hall meetings and in the Presidential debates. Media reaction was mixed, as Fox News continued the story, while most other outlets were all too happy to disregard the issue. John McCain's crowds also became rowdy when discussing the issue, making jeers of "terrorist" during campaign events. Bad publicity surrounded the campaign after a woman in Lakeville, Minnesota said she had heard Obama was "an Arab".<ref>Amie Parnes and Lisa Lerer. "McCain avoids trouble from crowds." October 1, 2008. Politico. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/15147.html</ref>

As October rolled around, media reports began to surface on Barack Obama's relationship with Bill Ayers, a domestic terrorist who had worked with Obama during his community-organizing past. McCain capitalized on the issue, making mention of the terrorist during Town Hall meetings and in the Presidential debates. Media reaction was mixed, as Fox News continued the story, while most other outlets were all too happy to disregard the issue. John McCain's crowds also became rowdy when discussing the issue, making jeers of "terrorist" during campaign events. Bad publicity surrounded the campaign after a woman in Lakeville, Minnesota said she had heard Obama was "an Arab".<ref>Amie Parnes and Lisa Lerer. "McCain avoids trouble from crowds." October 1, 2008. Politico. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/15147.html</ref>

In the closing weeks of the election, as many news sources and electoral projections had claimed that McCain's chances of winning were slim to none, John McCain cultivated a strong following in western Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and several Southwestern states, tightening the race in many battleground states. Barack Obama's lead shrank from a 7-8 point lead to a mere 5 points in the last two weeks of October, and strong campaign efforts threatened prospects of an Obama victory in Pennsylvania. John McCain shifted through several messages comparing himself to his opponent, underscoring the risky Socialist policies and the extremist past that detracted many from Senator Obama.

In the closing weeks of the election, as many news sources and electoral projections had claimed that McCain's chances of winning were slim to none, John McCain cultivated a strong following in western Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and several Southwestern states, tightening the race in many battleground states. Barack Obama's lead shrank from a 7-8 point lead to a mere 5 points in the last two weeks of October, and strong campaign efforts threatened prospects of an Obama victory in Pennsylvania. John McCain shifted through several messages comparing himself to his opponent, underscoring the risky Socialist policies and the extremist past that detracted many from Senator Obama. Despite significantly closing the gap between himself and Obama, John McCain ended the race conceding to Obama.

==Domestic Policy==

==Domestic Policy==