John McCain

Biography

John McCain is a Republican candidate in the 2008 presidential election and a U.S. senator from Arizona.

Early Life, Education and Career

Son of a Naval admiral, John Sidney McCain III was born in the Panama Canal Zone while his father was on duty.

McCain graduated from Episcopal High School in Alexandria, V.a., and enrolled at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, M.d., in 1954. After graduation, he began his career as a Naval aviator.

In 1967, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy and deployed to Vietnam. He spent over two years as a prisoner of war at the "Hanoi Hilton" in solitary confinement and was often beaten by Northern Vietnamese troops.

McCain retired from the Navy as a captain in 1981. He was elected to Congress, representing the first Congressional district of Arizona, in 1982, and became senator in 1986.

North Carolina Fundraising

McCain visited Charlotte on March 9, 2007, for a private fundraiser.

Endorsements

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr supports McCain, joining him on the campaign trail several times this year and has been rumored as potential vice presidential pick.

Other supporters include former governor Jim Martin, former ambassador Fred Eckert, state Rep. Ric Killian and Republican National Committeewoman Linda Shaw.

Martin and Republican Party Chairman Ferrell Blount and former Charlotte mayor Richard Vinroot serve on McCain's Tar Heel Steering Committee.

2000 Election

In his first campaign for the White House, McCain received 35,018 votes, or 10.86 percent, in the Republican primary on May 2, 2000.

May 6 Primary

In a Jan. 20-21 poll conducted by the Civitas Insitute, McCain held a 10-point lead over Republican competitors among conservative voters. The 800-person poll found that MCCain outdistanced Mike Huckabee by 16 percent with a margin of error was plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. 

Research and reporting by Cori Sue Morris. 

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