The stars and their stripes

8226; In 1997, Time named him as one of the 25 Most Influential People in America.

8226; At 5 foot 7 inches and 127 pounds, he competed as a lightweight boxer for three years, where he lacked skills but was fearless and 8220;didn8217;t have a reverse gear.8221;

8226; His best-selling family memoir, Faith of My Fathers, helped propel his presidential run for 2000.

8226; He voted in favour of the war in Iraq in 2003 and is still supportive of that decision. 8220;I agreed with the President8217;s difficult decision to go to war in Iraq. I remain fully supportive of his determination to not to leave Iraq until the freely elected government of that country and its armed forces are able to defend their country from foreign and domestic enemies.8221;

8226; Supported Bush during the 2004 Presidential elections.

8226; Born in a family with strong naval traditions, his father and grandfather were both admirals in the US Navy. He joined the US Naval Academy and went on to become a naval aviator.

8226; He had his share of run-ins with the faculty and leadership; each year he was given over 100 demerits for unshined shoes, formation faults, talking out of place, and the like, earning him membership in the 8220;Century Club8221;.

8226; He participated actively in the Vietnam War and was taken as a prisoner of war for over five-and-a-half before being released in 1973. Elected Senator from Arizona in 1986, 1992, 1998, and 2004.

8226; He campaigned on a bus called the Straight Talk Express, whose name capitalised on his reputation as a political maverick who would speak his mind.

8226; Considered a bit of a maverick, McCain is very clear on where he stands on certain issues, for instance on abortion rights, 8220;I do not support Roe vs Wade. It should be overturned8221;.

8226; On the issue of climate change, he believes that the US should work towards a global effort that would include developing countries. 8220;I believe America did the right thing by not joining the Kyoto Treaty. But I believe if we could get China and India into it, then the US should seriously consider8212; on our terms 8212; joining with every other nation in the world to try to reduce greenhouse gases.8221;

8226; McCain has pledged healthcare for every American, without a federal mandate and believes universal health care is possible without a tax increase.