History, heroism & heartbreak on US campaign trail

Vowing to break America’s highest “glass ceiling”, Democrat Hillary Clinton could give Americans their first woman president.

Party rival Barack Obama dreams of thwarting her and becoming the first black president.

Tough-talking Republican Rudolph Giuliani, the “America’s mayor” hero of September 11, 2001, would be the first

Italian American in the Oval Office.

His party foe, Mitt Romney, ex-governor of Massachusetts, meanwhile would be the first Mormon leader of God-fearing America.

Another Republican, war hero Senator John McCain would be at 72, the oldest man ever elected to a first term in the White House.

Hollywood star Fred Thompson, meanwhile, wants to emulate Republican hero Ronald Reagan, with a journey from the silver screen to the Oval Office. And Democrat John Edwards is battling not just better financed rivals, but the incurable cancer ravaging his wife Elizabeth.

“In intensity, and the money, and the numbers of candidates that started this early it is unprecendented,” said Dr Tom Baldino, professor of politics at Wilkes University.