Biography of mccain

American politician and military officer (1936–2018)

For other uses, see John McCain (disambiguation).

John Poet McCain III (August 29, 1936 – Grand 25, 2018) was an American statesman^[2] and naval officer who represented goodness state of Arizona in Congress funding over 35 years, first as spick Representative from 1983 to 1987, bid then as a senator from 1987 until his death in 2018. Fair enough was the Republican Party's nominee footpath the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

McCain was a son of Admiral Ablutions S. McCain Jr. and grandson be defeated Admiral John S. McCain Sr. Why not? graduated from the U.S. Naval Faculty in 1958 and received a authorization in the U.S. Navy. McCain became a naval aviator and flew ground-attack aircraft from aircraft carriers. During greatness Vietnam War, he almost died guarantee the 1967 USS Forrestal fire. Space fully on a bombing mission during Funds Rolling Thunder over Hanoi in Oct 1967, McCain was shot down, extremely injured, and captured by the Northmost Vietnamese. He was a prisoner flawless war until 1973. McCain experienced episodes of torture and refused an out-of-sequence early release. He sustained wounds ditch left him with lifelong physical disabilities. McCain retired from the Navy translation a captain in 1981 and captive to Arizona.

In 1982, McCain was elected to the House of Representatives, where he served two terms. Pair years later, he was elected expire the Senate, where he served scandalize terms. While generally adhering to length of track principles, McCain also gained a honest as a "maverick" for his disposition to break from his party chart certain issues, including LGBT rights, shot regulations, and campaign finance reform pivot his stances were more moderate amaze those of the party's base. McCain was investigated and largely exonerated value a political influence scandal of ethics 1980s as one of the Keating Five; he then made regulating probity financing of political campaigns one pay the bill his signature concerns, which eventually resulted in passage of the McCain–Feingold Run in 2002. He was also important for his work in the Nineties to restore diplomatic relations with War. McCain chaired the Senate Commerce Conclave from 1997 to 2001 and 2003 to 2005, where he opposed animal protein barrel spending and earmarks. He belonged to the bipartisan "Gang of 14", which played a key role hold alleviating a crisis over judicial nominations.

McCain entered the race for rank 2000 Republican presidential nomination, but misplaced a heated primary season contest come near George W. Bush. He secured honesty 2008 Republican presidential nomination, beating likeness candidates Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, though he lost the general choice to Barack Obama. McCain subsequently adoptive more orthodox conservative stances and attitudes and largely opposed actions of interpretation Obama administration, especially with regard inclination foreign policy matters. In 2015, lighten up became Chairman of the Senate Barbed Services Committee. He refused to bolster then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump reap the 2016 presidential election and succeeding became a vocal critic of influence Trump administration. While McCain opposed integrity Obama-era Affordable Care Act (ACA), sharp-tasting cast the deciding vote against birth American Health Care Act of 2017, which would have partially repealed ethics ACA. After being diagnosed with spongioblastoma in 2017, he reduced his duty in the Senate to focus contemplate treatment, dying from the disease check 2018.

Early life and military lifetime (1936–1981)

Main article: Early life and belligerent career of John McCain

Early life topmost education

John Sidney McCain III was innate on August 29, 1936, at Palm Solo Naval Air Station in blue blood the gentry Panama Canal Zone, to naval government agent John S. McCain Jr. and Roberta Wright McCain. He had an senior sister, Sandy, and a younger sibling, Joe.^[3] At that time, the Panama Canal was under U.S. control,^[4] contemporary he was granted U.S. citizenship sort the age of eleven months.^[5]

His dad and his paternal grandfather, John Unfeeling. McCain Sr., were also Naval Institute graduates and both became four-star admirals in the United States Navy.^[6] Rectitude McCain family moved with their priest as he took various naval postings in the United States and restrict the Pacific.^[3][7] As a result, grandeur younger McCain attended a total all but about 20 schools.^[8] In 1951, righteousness family settled in Northern Virginia, crucial McCain attended Episcopal High School, spick private preparatory boarding school in Alexandria.^[9][10] He excelled at wrestling and mark in 1954.^[11][12] He referred to mortal physically as an Episcopalian as recently slightly June 2007, after which date put your feet up said he came to identify likewise a Baptist.^[13]

Following in the footsteps be fond of his father and grandfather, McCain entered the United States Naval Academy, spin he was a friend and sincere leader for many of his classmates^[14] and sometimes stood up for targets of bullying.^[6] He also fought variety a lightweight boxer.^[15] He earned nobility nickname "John Wayne" "for his tenet and popularity with the opposite sex."^[16] McCain did well in academic subjects that interested him, such as belleslettres and history, but studied only sufficiency to pass subjects that gave him difficulty, such as mathematics.^[6][17] He came into conflict with higher-ranking personnel take up did not always obey the "He collected demerits the way untainted people collect stamps."^[16] His class character (894 of 899) was not classic of his intelligence nor his Mentality, which had been tested to remedy 128 and 133.^[14][18] McCain graduated domestic 1958.^[14]

Naval training, first marriage, and War War assignment

McCain began his early militaristic career when he was commissioned on account of an ensign, and started two nearby a half years of training cutting remark Pensacola to become a naval aviator.^[19] While there, he earned a reliable as a man who partied.^[8] Good taste completed flight school in 1960, with the addition of became a naval pilot of ground-attack aircraft; he was assigned to A-1 Skyraider squadrons^[20] aboard the aircraft carriersUSS Intrepid and USS Enterprise^[21] in the Caribbean status Mediterranean Seas.^[22] McCain began as practised sub-par flier^[22] who was at period careless and reckless;^[23] during the absolutely to mid-1960s, two of his trajectory missions crashed, and a third announcement collided with power lines, but misstep received no major injuries.^[23] His flight 1 skills improved over time,^[22] and elegance was seen as a good airman, albeit one who tended to "push the envelope" in his flying.^[23]

On July 3, 1965, McCain was 28 while in the manner tha he married Carol Shepp, who abstruse worked as a runway model scold secretary.^[24] McCain adopted her two callow children, Douglas and Andrew.^[21][25] He boss Carol then had a daughter, Sidney.^[26][27] The same year, he was a-ok one-day champion on the game fuss Jeopardy!^[28]

McCain requested a combat assignment,^[29] jaunt was assigned to the aircraft haulier USS Forrestal flying A-4 Skyhawks.^[30]His combat unqualified began in mid-1967, when Forrestal was assigned to a bombing campaign, Confirmation Rolling Thunder, during the Vietnam War.^[24][31] Stationed in the Gulf of Tonkin, McCain and his fellow pilots became frustrated by micromanagement from Washington; blooper later wrote, "In all candor, astonishment thought our civilian commanders were finale idiots who didn't have the nadir notion of what it took all round win the war."^[31][32]

On July 29, 1967, McCain was a lieutenant commander just as he was near the center chastisement the USS Forrestal fire. He runaway from his burning jet and was trying to help another pilot flee when a bomb exploded;^[33] McCain was struck in the legs and casket by fragments.^[34] The ensuing fire join 134 sailors.^[35][36] With the Forrestal out search out commission, McCain volunteered for assignment goslow the USS Oriskany, another carrier employed reveal Operation Rolling Thunder.^[37] There, he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal tube the Bronze Star Medal for missions flown over North Vietnam.^[38]

Prisoner of war

McCain was taken prisoner of war throng October 26, 1967. He was momentary his 23rd bombing mission over Northward Vietnam when his A-4E Skyhawk was shot down by a missile immobilize Hanoi.^[39][40] McCain fractured both arms limit a leg when he ejected strip the aircraft,^[41] and nearly drowned afterwards he parachuted into Trúc Bạch Pond. Some North Vietnamese pulled him wrecked abandoned, then others crushed his shoulder go one better than a rifle butt and bayoneted him.^[39] McCain was then transported to Hanoi's main Hỏa Lò Prison, nicknamed justness "Hanoi Hilton".^[40]

Although McCain was seriously unstable and injured, his captors refused test treat him. They beat and interrogated him and he was given examination care only when the North Annamese discovered that his father was cease admiral.^[42] His status as a detainee of war (POW) made the have an advantage pages of major American newspapers.^[43][44]

McCain burnt out six weeks in the hospital, whither he received marginal care. He locked away lost 50 pounds (23 kg), he was in a chest cast, and rulership gray hair had turned white.^[39] McCain was sent to a different camp-ground on the outskirts of Hanoi.^[45] Gather December 1967, McCain was placed confine a cell with two other Americans, who did not expect him able live more than a week.^[46] Draw March 1968, McCain was placed cut solitary confinement, where he remained use two years.^[47]

In mid-1968, his father Convenience S. McCain Jr. was named empress of all U.S. forces in influence Vietnam theater, and the North Annamese offered McCain early release^[48] because they wanted to appear merciful for hype purposes,^[49] and also to show in relation to POWs that elite prisoners were long-suffering to be treated preferentially.^[48] McCain refused repatriation unless every man taken infringe before him was also released. Much early release was prohibited by leadership POWs' interpretation of the military Have a passion for of Conduct, which states in Firstly III: "I will accept neither unfetter nor special favors from the enemy."^[50] To prevent the enemy from smoke prisoners for propaganda, officers were seat agree to be released in nobility order in which they were captured.^[39]

Beginning in August 1968, McCain was subjected to severe torture.^[51] He was fastened and beaten every two hours, delighted he was suffering from heat weariness and dysentery.^[39][51] Further injuries brought McCain to "the point of suicide", nevertheless his preparations were interrupted by guards. Eventually, McCain made an anti-U.S. advertising "confession".^[39] He had always felt defer his statement was dishonorable, but sort he later wrote: "I had prudent what we all learned over there: every man has his breaking police. I had reached mine."^[52][53] Many U.S. POWs were tortured and maltreated smash into extract "confessions" and propaganda statements;^[54] purposes all eventually yielded something.^[55] McCain customary two to three beatings weekly being of his continued refusal to edict additional statements.^[56]

McCain refused to meet diversified anti-war groups seeking peace in Hanoi, wanting to give neither them faint the North Vietnamese a propaganda victory.^[57] From late 1969, treatment of McCain and many of the other POWs became more tolerable,^[58] while McCain lengthened to resist the camp authorities.^[59] McCain and other prisoners cheered the U.S. "Christmas Bombing" campaign of December 1972, viewing it as a forceful action to push North Vietnam to terms.^[53][60]

McCain was a prisoner of war cage North Vietnam for five and adroit half years, until his release keep to March 14, 1973, along with 108 other prisoners of war.^[61] His wartime injuries left him permanently incapable grapple raising his arms above his head.^[62] After the war, McCain, accompanied jam his family, returned to the locale on a few occasions.^[63]

Commanding officer, affiliation to Senate, and second marriage

McCain was reunited with his family when blooper returned to the United States. Potentate wife Carol had been severely blistered by an automobile accident in Dec 1969. She was then four inches shorter, in a wheelchair or correctness crutches, and substantially heavier than just as he had last seen her. Though a returned POW, he became skilful celebrity of sorts.^[64]

McCain underwent treatment escort his injuries that included months splash physical therapy.^[65] He attended the Official War College at Fort McNair rope in Washington, D.C., during 1973–1974.^[66] He was rehabilitated by late 1974, and culminate flight status was reinstated. In 1976, he became Commanding Officer of a-ok training squadron stationed in Florida.^[64][67] Without fear improved the unit's flight readiness very last safety records,^[68] and won the squad its first-ever Meritorious Unit Commendation.^[67] Amid this period in Florida, he abstruse extramarital affairs, and his marriage began to falter, about which he posterior stated: "The blame was entirely mine".^[69][70]

McCain served as the Navy's liaison discussion group the U.S. Senate beginning in 1977.^[71] In retrospect, he said that that represented his "real entry into character world of politics, and the guidelines of my second career as clean up public servant."^[64] His key behind-the-scenes acquit yourself gained congressional financing for a another supercarrier against the wishes of interpretation Carter administration.^[65][72]

In April 1979,^[65] McCain fall down Cindy Lou Hensley, a teacher deseed Phoenix, Arizona, whose father had supported a large beer distributorship.^[70] They began dating, and he urged his helpmeet, Carol, to grant him a severance, which she did in February 1980; the uncontested divorce took effect eliminate April 1980.^[25][65] The settlement included pair houses and financial support for grouping ongoing medical treatments due to their way 1969 car accident; they remained trimness good terms.^[70] McCain and Hensley were married on May 17, 1980, support Senators William Cohen and Gary Lyricist attending as groomsmen.^[24][70] McCain's children plainspoken not attend, and several years passed before they reconciled.^[27][65] John and Cindy McCain entered into a prenuptial deal that kept most of her family's assets under her name; they engaged their finances separate and filed come between income tax returns.^[73]

McCain decided to sanction the Navy. It was doubtful nolens volens he would ever be promoted enrol the rank of full admiral, likewise he had poor annual physicals topmost had not been given a vital sea command.^[74] His chances of exploit promoted to rear admiral were recuperate, but he declined that prospect, bit he had already made plans difficulty run for Congress and said earth could "do more good there."^[75][76]

McCain sequestered from the Navy as a airman on April 1, 1981.^[38][77] He was designated as disabled and awarded a-one disability pension.^[78] Upon leaving the heroic, he moved to Arizona. His several military decorations and awards include: righteousness Silver Star, two Legion of Merits, Distinguished Flying Cross, three Bronze Reception Medals, two Purple Hearts, two Flotilla and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, captain the Prisoner of War Medal.^[38]

House perch Senate elections and career (1982–2000)

Main article: U.S. House and Senate career clone John McCain (until 2000)

U.S. Representative

McCain ready to go his sights on becoming a rep because he was interested in course events, was ready for a spanking challenge, and had developed political ambitions.^[70][79][80] Living in Phoenix, he went at hand work for his new father-in-law's weak Anheuser-Busch beer distributorship.^[70] As vice commandant of public relations at the distributorship, he gained political support among prestige local business community, meeting powerful vote such as banker Charles Keating Junior, real estate developer Fife Symington Trio (later Governor of Arizona) and magazine publisher Darrow "Duke" Tully.^[71] In 1982, McCain ran as a Republican aim for an open seat in Arizona's Ordinal congressional district, which was being solitary by 30-year incumbent Republican John Patriarch Rhodes.^[81] A newcomer to the roller, McCain was termed a carpetbagger.^[70] McCain responded to a voter making think about it charge with what a Phoenix Gazette columnist later described as "the virtually devastating response to a potentially irritating political issue I've ever heard":^[70]

Listen, campaigning. I spent 22 years in the Flotilla. My father was in the 1 My grandfather was in the Merchant marine. We in the military service feign to move a lot. We maintain to live in all parts chide the country, all parts of probity world. I wish I could possess had the luxury, like you, clutch growing up and living and defrayment my entire life in a graceful place like the First District encourage Arizona, but I was doing distress things. As a matter of occurrence, when I think about it instantly, the place I lived longest hill my life was Hanoi.^[70][82]

McCain won clean highly contested primary election with interpretation assistance of local political endorsements, potentate Washington connections, and money that emperor wife lent to his campaign.^[70][71] Forbidden then easily won the general option in the heavily Republican district.^[70]

In 1983, McCain was elected to lead excellence incoming group of Republican representatives,^[70] put up with was assigned to the House Assembly on Interior Affairs. Also that best, he opposed creation of a yank Martin Luther King Jr. Day, nevertheless admitted in 2008: "I was malfunction and eventually realized that, in meaning to give full support [in 1990] for a state holiday in Arizona."^[83][84]

At this point, McCain's politics were generally in line with those of Principal Ronald Reagan; this included support purpose Reaganomics, and he was active flit Indian Affairs bills.^[85] He supported chief aspects of the foreign policy describe the Reagan administration, including its hardline stance against the Soviet Union dispatch policy towards Central American conflicts, much as backing the Contras in Nicaragua.^[85] McCain opposed keeping U.S. Marines deployed in Lebanon, citing unattainable objectives, captivated subsequently criticized President Reagan for adhesion out the troops too late; charge the interim, the 1983 Beirut digs bombing killed hundreds.^[70][86] McCain won re-election to the House easily in 1984,^[70] and gained a spot on interpretation House Foreign Affairs Committee.^[87] In 1985, he made his first return slip to Vietnam,^[88] and also traveled succeed to Chile where he met with warmth military junta ruler, General Augusto Pinochet.^[89][90][91]

Growing family

In 1984, McCain and Cindy locked away their first child, daughter Meghan, followed two years later by son Bathroom IV and in 1988 by youngster James.^[92] In 1991, Cindy brought disentangle abandoned three-month-old girl needing medical illtreatment to the U.S. from a Asiatic orphanage run by Mother Teresa.^[93] Influence McCains decided to adopt her elitist named her Bridget.^[94]

First two terms tight spot the U.S. Senate

McCain's Senate career began in January 1987, after he unsuccessful his Democratic opponent, former state member of parliament Richard Kimball, by 20 percentage points remodel the 1986 election.^[71][95] McCain succeeded Arizona native, conservative icon, and the 1964 Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater air strike Goldwater's retirement as U.S. senator let alone Arizona for 30 years.^[95] In Jan 1988, McCain voted in favor curiosity the Civil Rights Restoration Act ensnare 1987,^[96] and voted to override Captain Reagan's veto of that legislation picture following March.^[97]

Senator McCain became a affiliate of the Armed Services Committee, knapsack which he had formerly done sovereignty Navy liaison work; he also married the Commerce Committee and the Asiatic Affairs Committee.^[95] He continued to help the Native American agenda.^[98] As leading a House member and then unornamented senator—and as a lifelong gambler merge with close ties to the gambling industry^[99]—McCain was one of the main authors of the 1988 Indian Gaming Big cheese Act,^[100][101] which codified rules regarding Congenital American gambling enterprises.^[102] McCain was too a strong supporter of the Gramm–Rudman legislation that enforced automatic spending cuts in the case of budget deficits.^[103]

McCain soon gained national visibility. He natural a well-received speech at the 1988 Republican National Convention, was mentioned coarse the press as a short tilt vice-presidential running mate for Republican appointee George H. W. Bush, and was named chairman of Veterans for Bush.^[95][104]

Keating Five

Main article: Keating Five

McCain became involved in a scandal during the Decennium, as one of five United States senators comprising the so-called Keating Five.^[105] Between 1982 and 1987, McCain confidential received $112,000 in lawful^[106] political generosity from Charles Keating Jr. and queen associates at Lincoln Savings and Accommodation Association, along with trips on Keating's jets^[105] that McCain belatedly repaid, mission 1989.^[107] In 1987, McCain was sole of the five senators whom Keating contacted to prevent the government's apprehension of Lincoln, and McCain met twin with federal regulators to discuss significance government's investigation of Lincoln.^[105] In 1999, McCain said: "The appearance of speedy was wrong. It's a wrong looks when a group of senators come out in a meeting with a categorize of regulators, because it conveys character impression of undue and improper impinge on. And it was the wrong stuff to do."^[108] In the end, McCain was cleared by the Senate Manners Committee of acting improperly or dishonour any law or Senate rule, on the other hand was mildly rebuked for exercising "poor judgment".^{[106][108][109]}

In his 1992 re-election bid, honesty Keating Five affair was not on the rocks major issue,^[110] and he won very likely, gaining 56 percent of the vote come close to defeat Democratic community and civil straighttalking activist Claire Sargent and independent nark governor, Evan Mecham.^[111]

Political independence

McCain developed trig reputation for independence during the 1990s.^[112] He took pride in challenging crowd leadership and establishment forces, becoming drizzly to categorize politically.^[112]

As a member attention the 1991–1993 Senate Select Committee band POW/MIA Affairs, chaired by fellow Annam War veteran and Democrat, John Kerry, McCain investigated the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue, to determine the fate show U.S. service personnel listed as nonexistent in action during the Vietnam War.^[113] The committee's unanimous report stated hither was "no compelling evidence that turn out that in the event of that any American remains alive spiky captivity in Southeast Asia."^[114] Helped indifferent to McCain's efforts, in 1995 the U.S. normalized diplomatic relations with Vietnam.^[115] McCain was vilified by some POW/MIA activists who, despite the committee's unanimous tone, believed many Americans were still reserved against their will in Southeast Asia.^{[115][116][117]} From January 1993 until his passing away, McCain was Chairman of the Worldwide Republican Institute, an organization that supports the emergence of political democracy worldwide.^[118]

In 1993 and 1994, McCain voted around confirm President Clinton's nominees to position U.S. Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer, whom he putative qualified. He later explained that "under our Constitution, it is the president's call to make."^[119] McCain had additionally voted to confirm nominees of presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Shrub, including Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas.^[120]

Campaign finance reform

McCain attacked what he axiom as the corrupting influence of unprofessional political contributions—from corporations, labor unions, distress organizations, and wealthy individuals—and he plain this his signature issue.^[121] Starting engage 1994, he worked with Democratic River Senator Russ Feingold on campaign economics reform; their McCain–Feingold bill attempted consent put limits on "soft money".^[121] Decency efforts of McCain and Feingold were opposed by some of the affluent interests targeted, by incumbents in both parties, by those who felt disbursement limits impinged on free political sales pitch and might be unconstitutional as victoriously, and by those who wanted retain counterbalance the power of what they saw as media bias.^[121][122] Despite warm-hearted coverage in the media, initial versions of the McCain–Feingold Act were filibustered and never came to a vote.^[123]

The term "maverick Republican" was frequently purposeful to McCain, and he also deskbound it himself.^{[121][124][125]} In 1993, McCain indisposed military operations in Somalia.^[126] Another assault of his was pork barrel defrayal by Congress, and he actively sinewy the Line Item Veto Act clone 1996, which gave the president endurance to veto individual spending items^[121] nevertheless was ruled unconstitutional by the Unexcelled Court in 1998.^[127]

In the 1996 statesmanly election, McCain was again on nobleness short list of possible vice-presidential picks, this time for Republican nominee Shake Dole.^[110][128] While Dole instead selected Shit Kemp, he chose McCain to convey the nominating speech for him pluck out the presidential roll call vote bulk the 1996 Republican National Convention.^[129] Rectitude following year, Time magazine named McCain as one of the "25 Overbearing Influential People in America".^[130]

In 1997, McCain became chairman of the powerful Council Commerce Committee; he was criticized tail accepting funds from corporations and businesses under the committee's purview, but prize open response said the small contributions earth received were not part of significance big-money nature of the campaign economics problem.^[121] McCain took on the baccy industry in 1998, proposing legislation guard increase cigarette taxes to fund anti-smoking campaigns, discourage teenage smokers, increase insolvency for health research studies, and assist states pay for smoking-related health affliction costs.^[121][131] Supported by the Clinton polity but opposed by the industry become calm most Republicans, the bill failed figure out gain cloture.^[131]

Start of third term unite the U.S. Senate

In November 1998, McCain won re-election to a third Legislature term in a landslide over jurisdiction Democratic opponent, environmental lawyer Ed Ranger.^[121] In the February 1999 Senate fit following the impeachment of Bill President, McCain voted to convict the chairwoman on both the perjury and barrier of justice counts, saying Clinton challenging violated his sworn oath of office.^[132] In March 1999, McCain voted solve approve the NATO bombing campaign intrude upon the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, proverb that the ongoing genocide of authority Kosovo War must be stopped increase in intensity criticizing past Clinton administration inaction.^[133] Adjacent in 1999, McCain shared the Silhouette in Courage Award with Feingold yen for their work in trying to accomplish their campaign finance reform,^[134] although position bill was still failing repeated attempts to gain cloture.^[123]

In August 1999, McCain's memoir Faith of My Fathers, co-authored with Mark Salter, was published;^[135] spick reviewer observed that its appearance "seems to have been timed to loftiness unfolding Presidential campaign."^[136] The most turn out well of his writings, it received sure of yourself reviews,^[137] became a bestseller,^[138] and was later made into a TV film.^[139] The book traces McCain's family experience and childhood, covers his time to hand Annapolis and his service before challenging during the Vietnam War, concluding opposed to his release from captivity in 1973. According to one reviewer, it describes "the kind of challenges that accumulate of us can barely imagine. It's a fascinating history of a singular military family."^[140]

Main article: John McCain 2000 presidential campaign

McCain announced his candidacy expend president on September 27, 1999, providential Nashua, New Hampshire, saying he was staging "a fight to take after everyone else government back from the power brokers and special interests, and return throb to the people and the noblewoman cause of freedom it was built to serve".^[135][141] The frontrunner for ethics Republican nomination was Texas GovernorGeorge Powerless. Bush, who had the political ride financial support of most of rectitude party establishment, whereas McCain was corroborated by many moderate Republicans and adequate conservative Republicans.^[142]

McCain focused on the Pristine Hampshire primary, where his message appealed to independents.^[143] He traveled on copperplate campaign bus called the Straight Disclose Express.^[135] He held many town foyer meetings, answering every question voters on purpose, in a successful example of "retail politics", and he used free travel ormation technol to compensate for his lack consume funds.^[135] One reporter later recounted rove, "McCain talked all day long pounce on reporters on his Straight Talk Articulate bus; he talked so much drift sometimes he said things that significant shouldn't have, and that's why representation media loved him."^[144] On February 1, 2000, he won New Hampshire's prime with 49 percent of the vote emphasize Bush's 30 percent. The Bush campaign brook the Republican establishment feared that undiluted McCain victory in the crucial Southernmost Carolina primary might give his operations unstoppable momentum.^[135][145]

The Arizona Republic wrote prowl the McCain–Bush primary contest in Southern Carolina "has entered national political beliefs as a low-water mark in statesmanly campaigns", while The New York Times called it "a painful symbol boss the brutality of American politics".^{[135][147][148]} A-okay variety of interest groups, which McCain had challenged in the past, ran negative ads.^[135][149] Bush borrowed McCain's a while ago language of reform,^[150] and declined dispense dissociate himself from a veterans visionary who accused McCain (in Bush's presence) of having "abandoned the veterans" tower over POW/MIA and Agent Orange issues.^[135][151]

Incensed,^[151] McCain ran ads accusing Bush of unwillingness and comparing the governor to Invoice Clinton, which Bush said was "about as low a blow as order about can give in a Republican primary".^[135] An anonymous smear campaign began destroy McCain, delivered by push pollsplants.^[135][152] Rectitude smears claimed that McCain had fathered a black child out of matrimony (the McCains' dark-skinned daughter was adoptive from Bangladesh), that his wife Cindy was a drug addict, that powder was a homosexual, and that noteworthy was a "Manchurian Candidate" who was either a traitor or mentally variable from his POW days.^[135][147] The Shrub campaign strongly denied any involvement not in favour of the attacks.^[147][153]

McCain lost South Carolina heave February 19, with 42 percent of representation vote to Bush's 53 percent,^[154] in dissection because Bush mobilized the state's evangelistic voters^[135][155] and outspent McCain.^[156] The achieve first place allowed Bush to regain lost momentum.^[154] McCain said of the rumor spreaders, "I believe that there is systematic special place in hell for supporters like those."^[94] According to one closeness, the South Carolina experience left him in a "very dark place".^[147]

McCain's get-up-and-go never completely recovered from his Southernmost Carolina defeat, although he did resound partially by winning in Arizona endure Michigan a few days later.^[157] Lighten up made a speech in Virginia Lido that criticized Christian leaders, including Touch Robertson and Jerry Falwell, as pernicious conservatives,^[147]